This may be a long chapter, lol.
R&R you lovely people!
I'll love you forever.
Caity.
Chapter seven: Sometimes all you need is Gwen.
I don't even know how long I sat out in the rain. Maybe minutes, or hours. But I felt the most alone I have ever felt in my life. I'm just realising that I'm pushing everyone away. So I did the only thing I could think of. I ran to my dad. I ran to my Dad's office and knocked. He muttered a 'come in'. So I ran in, and ran into his arms, crying. "I played with fire, dad. And I got burned!" I cried. I was shaking. "I've lost everything!"
"Whoa, wait? Everything. Come on Luce, explain." he said soothingly.
"I played with fire- don't ask me how. And now I've had a big argument with Gwen about telling her about it, because I didn't want to tell her, well I did want to but I couldn't. Now she's angry at me. I'm angry at myself. I just need your help dad." I said, my voice shaking.
"Right, you played with fire, no questions asked. Gwen is angry at you for not telling her, which is common with these types of things. I think you need to tell Gwen. Then she'll help you be yourself again Luce. Just talk to her." He said, planting a kiss on my forehead.
"Thanks dad." I say as I leave his office, and head to the kitchens. I can't tell her dad. I'm sorry. I know this is pathetic.
Once at the portrait of the fruit bowl, I quickly tickled the pear and was let in. "Miss Longbottom, how can Holly help?" A small house elf with large tennis ball sized brown eyes squeaked, tottering over to me in a overly large teal coloured jumper with numerous holes in. "Just a hot chocolate and a biscuit please, Holly." I smile, sitting down at the little table. I hadn't realised how hungry I was, I must have missed lunch and dinner. But now that I had run out of pathetic, angry tears, I was empty. I felt disgusted in myself. I felt pathetic and weak. Why do I find myself drawn to Malfoy even more…? Maybe it was that unknown emotion in his eyes when he looked at me. I don't know, but I need to get to know him better. I know there's someone good in him, even if he doesn't believe it. "Miss, your hot chocolate and biscuits." Holly squeaked, placing a small silver tray on the table.
"Thank you, Holly." I grinned. I felt like I hadn't smiled in days- probably true. I felt peaceful again. Almost happy. That was until the portrait once again swung open to reveal a rather flushed Malfoy. "Mister Malfoy, what can Holly gets you?" Holly squeaked to him. He smiled- rather genuinely. "Just a cup of coffee please, Holly." He said, still smiling. He walked over to where I was sat, and jumped a little when he saw me. "Longbottom?" he said, he must have forgotten how to drawl.
"Yup." I replied, my eyes on my steaming cup of hot chocolate.
"You look terrible." He said, sounding actually concerned.
"Thanks." I muttered sarcastically.
"No, you look actually physically unwell." he smirked.
"Thanks. Anyway, I thought you hated me. Why do you care?" I said quietly.
"Jeez. Sorry for actually caring. You know I could have said you look half dead, but I didn't. God, can't a guy ask if someone's alright?" he snarled.
"I thought Malfoys didn't care about anyone but themselves?" I said again in a quiet voice- I knew I was being a bitch to him, but hey that's what my dad wanted.
"Usually. But I'm a different form of Malfoy." he says with a wink. I scoff.
"Oh really? I thought you were heartless?" I say, taking a sip from my luke-warm hot chocolate. "Mister, your coffee." Says Holly, placing an identical tray on the table.
"Thanks." Malfoy grunts, "Well, I am most days. But it's a Sunday. I like Sundays, they're so peaceful." he smirks.
"I like Sundays too." I laugh, oh god! Me and Malfoy have things in common… What is wrong with the world?
"Cool." he drawls, taking a sip of his milky coffee.
"Yeah. Hey, can I ask you something?"
"Shoot."
"Where are your little cronies? And your fan club?" I smirk, he laughed, showing his perfectly straight and white teeth.
"Well, Jake is with Maisie. And my fan club? By that you mean the whole school, Julia and Pippa, I don't even know." he smirks. Jake Flint is Malfoy's best friend, he's got tanned skin, black hair and brown eyes, then Maisie Zabbini is his other best friend, she's really gorgeous for a Slytherin, with honey coloured hair and blue eyes. She's the only Slytherin that I'm jealous of.
"Oh, right. Are them two like an item now?" I cough Malfoy looks at me strangely.
"Well, yeah. Kind of." He says vaguely, taking another sip of coffee. I quickly check my watch 7.10pm. "Listen, I've got to go." I say standing up, he nods curtly and also stands up; I shoot him a curious glance. "I'm meeting Jake and Maisie." he explains.
"Ah, right. Bye." I say, walking out of the kitchens onto the staircase, right now I have to talk to Gwen. Wish me luck!
By the time I had made it to my dorm it was half past 7, much to my disappointment its empty. So I quickly jumped in the shower and put my pyjamas on (red and gold striped trousers with a Weird Sisters tee) and rummage through my satchel and find my Romeo and Juliet novel and sit on the window sill wrapped in my fleece blanket. I was reading for at least an hour when I saw a little dot appear in the sky, it was getting closer and closer towards the window. I noticed it was my mum's owl, Pheebs. I let her sit on the windowsill and untie the letter from her leg.
Dear Lucie,
Your dad told me you were upset earlier today and he said you played with fire, which neither of us understands. You know you can tell me, I promise I won't tell your father! You know I don't like seeing you or Alice upset. I also know that Gwen is angry at you for not telling her, which you know, Lucie is understandable. How would you feel if Gwen didn't tell you something if she was really upset?
Look, I'm not going to lecture you, I promise. You don't have to tell me the full details just a very vague description of what happened to make you go crying to your father. He was very concerned Lucie. It must have been something big to upset you on your first weekend back!
Also remember, your dad wants to see you and your sister on Wednesday after lessons- I'm sure Alice will have already told you. I heard you enjoyed spending time with your dad! You even said he look handsome, which of course he laughed at! The idiot.
I'll see you soon, sweetheart.
Love, Mum. X
I smiled and folded the letter up and stood up and put it on my bedside table, I was about to reply when I heard footsteps heading towards the door. I scrambled onto my bed and began to 'read' when Gwen walked in with Rose. "Lucie? Are you okay?" Rose screeched, running over to my bed.
"I'm fine Rose. I promise. I went to see my dad. It's okay now." I smile. Gwen once again is looking at me suspiciously. "Rose, go and tell Jordy that I need the quidditch timetable." Gwen seethes at Rose, who nods her head vigorously and leaves without another word.
"I'm so sorry, Gwen. I was just upset." I say in that tiny voice which seems to always be there when I speak.
"It's fine. It's just its our first week, and you must think we're going to have a pretty shit year if your first weekend is spent crying and wearing oversized hoodies." she laughed, "Can you tell me what was wrong? I understand if you can't tell me. I don't want you to have another cry-a-thon…" I scoffed.
"I'm so sorry Gwen I can't. Not even my dad knows. It was a pathetic thing anyway. I promise, I'll tell you everything else, just not that okay? And guess who I was talking to rather civilly in the kitchens?" Her eyes lit up at this question.
"Who?" she said in awe.
"Malfoy!" I giggled.
"Really? You and Malfoy? Being civil? NEVER!" she said dramatically.
I laughed. It was nice to have my best friend being nice to me and vice versa.
The rest of the night was spent gossiping and giggling and eating loads of sweets from Honeydukes. By the time we realised it was midnight we had all passed out on the floor surrounded by sweet wrappers and feathers from our pillow fight. We all woke with a start at 6 in the morning, groaning loudly as we tried our best to get off the floor. We all showered and dressed in our robes and went down to breakfast. "What do we have today?" said Albus, spraying food everywhere. Gwen looked absolutely disgusted- which made me snort.
"Erm, Herbology, potions, divination, charms and muggle studies." Rose said in a matter-of-fact tone- the swat. I groaned, "Great, an hour with bloody slug horn. Kill me now!" I said, laying my head down on the table and closing my eyes.
"That can be arranged." Said a drawling girls voice.
"Go away, Vane." Snarled Gwen from beside me. Pippa vane, the school slut, with her voluptuous figure and long spider-like legs. My head shot up. "I don't think I will, Mills. I think Longbottom needs to be killed anyways- she's a freak." Vane drawled.
"If we wanted your opinion, we would've kicked your kennel, love." Spat Gwen (woo! Go Gwen!) I heard Vane scoff and strut away muttering something like 'stupid bloody welsh cow'- yeah, I forgot to mention that Gwen is welsh, she's from a place called Cardiff- where ever that is.
The month of September flew by too quickly for my liking and we found ourselves in the month of October- yes! My birthday's on the 30th and there's Halloween of course. Last month I had written back to my mum, seen my dad and had less and less encounters with Malfoy (which is a result).
I've always loved Care of magical creatures, especially with Hagrid. Today we were learning about unicorns, which truth be told are just a tad too girly for me, and how they are looked after. It's the only class which I am alone in, because Rose and Gwen were put off when the blast ended screwts burned each and every part of undressed skin, and of course Jordy and Al, weren't interested. The only unfortunate thing is that I have to spend an hour with the Slytherins. "Well, well, well. If it isn't Longbottom." Sneered Parker Goyle, a burly, troll like boy.
"Yup, it's me." I said, concentrating on my rather good drawing of a unicorn.
"Well, yes. I know it's you. I could see your plainness from a mile away. I also could see your big ego from a mile away." He sniggered.
"Ego? I don't even have an ego. Even if I did, at least I wouldn't have to bully people to have one." I shot at him, still not looking up.
"Why you little-"
"Goyle! She's not worth it." Malfoy sniggered. The slytherins all sniggered. But I refused to look at anyone. Of course they eventually left me alone. Bloody pricks.
After the lesson I went to dinner. "Lucie!" I heard Gwen yell in her thick accent. I sit down next to her. "If I could have your attention please?" McGonagall yelled from the teacher's table, and the hall fell silent, "I would like to announce that we are to have a Halloween ball. Years 4,5,6,7 are all supposed to go, but if they wish they may invite a student from a younger year. I expect you all to perfectly behaved and amazingly dressed. That is all. Tuck in." she smiled her thin lipped smile. There were loads of groans and mutterings echoing around the hall. I just lay my head on the table with a bang and groaned. A ball? Seriously? With dresses?
Kill me now?