Note: So, in case you didn't notice by now, This is taking place in Harry's third year, which would make it Katie's fifth year in this story. In reality, it would make it her fourth, but as said before I upped her grade level by one.
I hope I don't have to do another disclaimer again. ...Nah.
Chapter Two -The Cat and the Mouse-
I don't know what I was thinking.
Honestly, dumping pumpkin juice over Flint's head? Am I that mental? I must be, for I already did it.
It has been 30 minutes since the incident. Because of my terrible lack of logic and unwise reasoning, I am now considered all of Europe's biggest prat to the one and only: Marcus Flint. Last time I saw the troll was just a few minutes ago in the Great Hall, eating, laughing, sneering, being a snake as always. I know it was for Alicia but I honestly didn't know what in Merlin's beard I was getting myself into.
I can't tell much from inside the dormitory, but I can hear several whispers of other girls conversations. I noticed Hermione Granger's voice and possibly Lavender Brown and Parvarti Patil's voice as they descended down the stairs towards the Common Room.
"Marcus Flint? Of the Slytherin Quidditch Team?"
"That's what I heard."
"Oh that's terrible. Do you know where she is now?"
"All I know is that Flint is throwing a fit and bringing all the Slytherin lot to go look for her."
"Wow."
"I would be scared if I was her."
"Lavender, you wouldn't even do it in the first place."
"Hermione, do you know why Katie levitated pumpkin juice over Flint's head?"
"I don't know all the details... I just heard bits from Ron shouting about it to Harry."
Unfortunately that was all of the conversation I could hear. Judging from their conversation, Flint's still looking for me, which means I'm still trapped here.
To try to get my mind off of what's happening, I started pacing around the room. My wand was useless to me now, just as my whole mind now is. The room was spinning now and my heart beats seemed to echo throughout the room. The thumps pounded into my ear along with my harsh breathing. I stopped walking for a second and stared at my wand. The stupid thing was the main cause of all this. From all the confusion and self-pity left on my mind, I threw the pathetic piece of wood across the room. It swiveled through the air aimlessly and landed on the soft, crimson carpet. It was useless. Taking my anger and frustration out on my wand left nothing but guilt and regret, which made me feel even worse. I walked over and picked up the 9-inch piece of wood and tucked it safely in my robes.
Though I haven't got the slightest clue as of what I'm going to do, I grabbed my books and headed for the door.
I know it may not be the smartest thing to do, but what was hiding in my room really going to do? It wasn't going to solve anything. Flint is going to stay fumed and heated up with pumpkin juice still stained on his hair, and I'm just going to stay this confused and guilty. It's not exactly a very good idea, but it's a start.
To make sure there were no students around the Griffindor Common Room, I poked my head out the door and quietly tiptoed down the stairs. The whole area seemed to be clear of students, seeing as how it was about 10 minutes before classes started. Nonetheless, without making any noise, I sneaked past the Common Room and pushed past the portrait.
"Finally coming out of your shell?" The Fat Lady called out as soon as I slipped past the towering portrait door.
"And it's about time too. Those Slytherin boys have been quite close to figuring out where you're hiding. At least you had some logic left in you to choose a wise place to hide," she added, smoothing out her pink satin dress and waving her hands.
"So, they don't know where I am?" I asked desperately, looking up at the Fat Lady and praying for a no.
"Fortunately, no. However my dear, they are bound to get to you eventually. For you see, the Slytherin Boys have set up guards all around the school. The only remaining question is, how long?"
These words were very discouraging to me. I didn't want to listen to the Fat Lady predicting my death anymore, so I merely nodded my head and thanked her for all the information she gave me, which actually didn't help me at all.
The halls were questionably empty and the absence of students made me start doubting whether or not the Fat Lady was lying.
There were no guards, no sneaking Slytherin trolls, no Slytherins, no nothing. All the corridors were empty except for the few couples who were taking this time to snog and the several students who were heading towards their classes. Other than that, I saw no trace of Flint or any of his trolls.
I didn't know whether to be on guard or to just take the opportunity and run. So I cautiously walked past the occupied hallways, avoiding my usual routes. McGonagall's class was not far away, but it was a fairly good distance from the Griffindor Common Room. Turning past my last curve, I approached one of the crowded hallways in Hogwarts. Unfortunately, it was crowded as always and it was also the only way to get to McGonagall's class.
I immediately searched for Flint and any other Slytherins that might be working for Flint, but I failed to see any. However, I ran into Wood.
"Wood!" I whispered, keeping my books close to my face to avoid others spotting me.
"Katie? What are you doing?" Wood raised his eyebrows. I didn't want to discuss matters with him in a crowded hallway, with fear of being overheard, so I grabbed his arm and dragged him away from the crowds of people.
"Katie, would you mind telling me what's going on?" I let go of his arm and looked frantically around for Flint. As soon as the coast was clear, I replied,
"Wood, I'm sorry and - and I know it was silly of me to even consider pulling a stunt like that but I wasn't thinking straight, and, and Alicia...Oh you should've seen her...she was so sad-and, and that stupid prat Flint- he was just bragging about it...and I couldn't, I just couldn't-"
Wood interrupted.
"Katie. Katie!"
"Oh right," I stopped muttering, "It's a bit of a long story and I promise, I promise, that you can yell about it later but right now I'm in bit of a trouble."
Just as I finished talking and sighed for a breath of air, I heard a loud growl and the voice of which I least wanted to hear right now.
"BELL!"
Oh, Bloody Hell. Why now?
Flint immediately shoved Wood to the side, and before I could pull out my wand, he grabbed my collar and shoved his face in front of me. Though I knew this was coming, I have to say, I didn't expect it to be this frightening. Flint's eyes were piercing knives at my heart and causing it to beat faster, his hands gripping tighter and tighter at my collar, causing me to choke. Words escaped me and only small gasps of breaths left my trembling lips.
"SO, YOU THINK IT'S FUNNY DUMPING PUMPKIN JUICE OVER MY HEAD, DO YOU BELL?" Flint growled furiously, his grip tightening by the minute.
I couldn't talk because my windpipe was being crushed by Flint's bear-like hands. Only another gasp of breath escaped my mouth.
"Flint, what are you bloody doing!? LET KATIE GO," Wood straddled up and shot for Flint, but Warrington, who was standing right by Flint, grabbed his arms and held him back. Flint laughed at Wood and grabbed his wand from his with his free hand and tucked it safely in his pocket. Wood sent a second attempt at hitting Flint, but was pulled back abruptly by Warrington.
"What's this? Wood and Bell together? That's what I call an odd couple," Flint sneered, taunting Wood by making kissing noises and reciting poorly done imitations of me.
I tried kicking Flint's crotch, but Flint tightened his choke hold and stopped my leg with his free hand.
"Oh how cute, the lovebirds are trying to fight us," Flint taunted again.
I was hopelessly useless at this point, with or without my wand. I couldn't hurt Flint in fear of what he was going to do to Wood, and Warrington was just as bad as Flint, if not worse. They were both large, not to mention, and armed with their wands. Whereas, Wood was deprived of his wand and cuffed by Warrington's bulging arms, and my attempts at reaching for my wand were futile.
"Wood, your girlfriend's got a lot of nerve pulling a prank like that," Flint spat, now tossing Wood's wand back and forth between Warrington.
"Katie. is. not. my. girlfriend!" Wood protested through gritted teeth.
I was slightly disappointed at this comment. Although this has nothing to do with my situation right now, I want to mention that I have liked Wood for as long as I can remember. All those excruciating Quidditch Practices at 5 in the morning, those numerous trips to the Hospital Wing after being hit in the face with a Bludger, and even the small group conferences where Wood gets out his pointless charts and statistics were all somewhat enjoyable because it was a chance for me to be with Wood. But now that he's denying my relationship with him, even though it is false, it just added another pain to my heart.
"Oh really?" Flint unfortunately, didn't buy it, "Well then, why don't I just hex her right here and see what you think then?"
I should've seen this coming.
Right when Flint pointed his wand at me, I saw the recognizable pointed hat and glimmering spectacles on a witch dressed in lush, dark forest green robes. The moment I saw her, I immediately shouted,
"Hello Professor McGonagall!"
Flint quickly loosened his grip on my robes and turned around with widened eyes. Warrington let go of Wood and pushed him away from his direction as soon as he saw McGonagall walking towards his way. As soon as he was released, I quickly rushed towards Wood and caught him before he crashed onto the ground, giving him support.
"Is there a problem here?" McGonagall tipped her spectacles and glared at both Flint and Warrington, who looked as Guilty Sirius Black in the Ministry.
Wood opened his mouth to reply but I interrupted sweetly, "No professor. Everything's fine."
"Well then, I suggest both of you go to your classes, Flint and Warrington, before I am forced to give you both detention."
As soon as McGonagall said this, both Flint and Warrington immediately stalked off through the hallway. I grinned to myself as I watched the two pushing and shoving each other like primates while heading in the opposite direction.
"As for you Wood, I need to discuss some matters about the next Quidditch game. Miss Bell, I shall see you in my class in less than five minutes or that would mean detention for you as well."
Handing me my books, Wood smiled wryly and nodded at McGonagall as he followed her through the Hallway. I followed his every move with my eyes until they turned at the corner and disappeared behind the stone walls. The statement was still ringing in my mind and left me slightly heartbroken. I never expected Wood to be with me, but the fantasy was still somewhat reasonable before. But now that I know what his intentions are, it was hopeless. Not to mention I have an ever more angry Flint to deal with later.
Not wanting to get detention for being late, I headed gloomily to McGonagall's class for some Transfiguration.
"I'm so glad you're alive," Alicia sighed in relief. George was still closely attached to her as though they were caught in some sort of spell. She didn't seem to mind though, luckily for George.
"I was sure you'd be dead by now," Fred stated, throwing another batch of Bertie-Botts Beans into his mouth.
"By now, I would have said 'I told you so', but I think you've learned your lesson by now," Ange lectured, stroking Fred's vibrantly colored hair.
It was past ten o'clock now, and most of the students started heading to their own rooms to sleep. I buried my head in Potions homework to avoid the others lectures and taunts about today. From the corner of my eye, I saw Wood entering the Common Room. From the looks of it, he just returned from a solitary Quidditch practice and a quick shower. His dark brown hair, which was usually nicely combed during the day, was ruffled and slightly wet from showering. I didn't mean to, but I couldn't help but stare at him while he was talking to some kid about homework or something of the sort.
His eyes flickered right over to my direction and our eyes met. I felt my cheeks growing brighter so I turned my head back onto the Potions essay I was writing. I realized I had written absolute nonsense the last couple sentences and felt silly for making such an elementary error. I looked over at Wood again from the corner of my eye to see if he was still looking over at my direction. He was walking towards my direction now, which made me turn even redder and slightly wet. (Several fantasies were running through my head, you see)
"Oi Wood!" Fred called out, head still settled nicely on Angelina's lap, "I didn't know you and Katie were together!"
All the heads in the Common Room spun around at this new information, and I found myself being showered with questions by Ange and Alicia.
Ange leaned closer to me and whispered, "You were dating Wood? Why didn't you tell me?"
"I'm not!" I retorted. I left my potions essay and leaned towards Ange to strike the bobbing red head, formally known as Fred, settled on her lap.
"OW!" Fred whined, rubbing the spot where I hit him. Ange shot me a look but I ignored it. I could really care less about her unending love towards Fred.
"Er, Katie can I have a word with you?" Wood approached my table and asked nervously. My face felt increasingly hot now, and I couldn't help but feel slightly happy.
"Sure," I replied sheepishly. I got up from my chair and followed Wood out the Common Room. With the whole room throwing a fit, we couldn't risk talking in there.
As I followed Wood out the Common Room and through the halls, I couldn't help but feel extremely happy and also slightly worried for what's to come. I knew somewhere in the back of my head that he would approach me and confront me about something that happened today, but when the moment had actually come, the suspense was unbearable. My heart beats were pumping really loud, I could've sworn Wood noticed how nervous I was.
The night was bittersweet.
It was raining. It had been for about a week now, which caused Wood to cancel some Quidditch practices in the afternoon. The rain had gotten even worse over the several hours and several thunderbolts were heard every now and then. I can't say I wasn't frightened at all, for that would be lying. Every time one fell down and crashed onto the earth, I felt myself jump in fright.
It was close to midnight now.
Wood had been fairly quiet for the past several minutes. We were now settled in an empty classroom, surrounded by the sounds of harsh rain and thunderclaps. I didn't quite know how to break the ice, and I wasn't sure if Wood was ready to talk. Right when I opened my mouth to say something, Wood said,
"Er, I'm sorry for what I said before. I didn't mean for it to come out like that."
"Oh, you know Fred. He was just taunting us," I replied. I assumed he meant having a word alone without the disturbances of Fred and the rest of the lot.
"That I don't mind. I knew Fred or George was going to say something. I meant - er- about today. In the morning," Wood answered nervously. He shifted his eyes from my face to the ground to avoid staring into my eyes.
"Oh."
"I didn't mean to get shirty like that. It's just... Flint sort of egged me on and well--anyways, I'm sorry," he apologized. I didn't know why he was apologizing about that. Though I was slightly disappointed (Slightly disappointed is an understatement), I didn't think he would actually care about it.
"It's alright. Really."
After hearing my approval, he grinned broadly. Small sensations shot down my spine when I saw him smile at me like that. Merlin's beard I have to stop falling for this boy.
"Well then, come on. We should head back before the others get rowdy and start wonderin'." Wood grabbed my hands and started leading me back to the Griffindor Common Room. Now, this. THIS. This action sent more sensations down my spine and even maybe some in my knickers.
I don't reckon it's too late to erase what I said before about him and say: Wood is a walking dream come true.
I don't care about Flint and his trolls.
I don't care if I die the next day.
I don't care if I'm hexed in front of everyone.
All I want to do is just cherish this moment at least.
Well, that is until we go back to the Common Room and Fred says another stupid joke.
Then it ends.
A/N: Though no one might've really noticed, I did edit the Chapter a little along with the update of the fifth Chapter. I honestly need to stop updating at 5 in the morning like I did for this one. I hope you all enjoy what's coming along so far.