-.-.- highlyflammable;; -.- ][dos'two] aero/agoraphobia
' fear of high places and heights '
' fear of open spaces '
' she would seek what she feared and drowned herself in it '
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She sat there, on the wooden stool, in front of thousands of curious eyes. She didn't blink, there was this strange feeling in the pit of her stomach telling her if she did they would leave her and she would be swallowed up by darkness. She took a second to glance at the enchanted ceiling; the sky was so magnificently frightening with its looming thunderclouds and candles lit like stars. It was still like frozen in time; it was unnerving. She looked back to the students. The faces became blurred into one horrifying mass, no longer could she pick out the familiar ones. Her senses were faltering like someone had rewired her brain and the circuits just didn't match up, the room began to spin. The colours blended into a sickening shade of grey, green and red.
She breathed it in. She loved it.
" We have long delayed this, we have failed to sort our lovely student Miss Nott for 5 years. Although we've tried in vain nonetheless." Dumbledore gave Angie a wink and smiled warmly. " Let's give it another try."
The Gryffindors cheered, Angie spotted Fred and George who snuck in unnoticed making use of their unrestricted apparating privileges and joined in, clapping and whistling louder than everyone else.
" Yeah baby come to Gryffindor, we've got all the Weasleys." Fred cat-called.
" And we've got the best common room, not to mention we've got all the Weasleys." George hollered.
The Slytherin table was unnaturally quiet, holding its breath. Every person there had anxious looks on their faces, Zambini stuffed his face with as many tarts as he could get his hands on. Draco spared a glance at his friend; a hopeless case and a nervous eater. Most Slytherins were, how they managed to stay lanky and thin was a mystery. His attention returned to Angie, there was no expression on his face, calm and blank eyes glued on her and the Sorting Hat.
Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs already knew she wouldn't get sorted into their houses. The older students who remember her arriving in 3rd year and the Sorting Hat's droning about ' Slytherin or Gryffindor ' passed the knowledge down the table. She couldn't possibly be a Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff.
Dumbledore's smile widened at the student's actions, quickly surveying the room. He waited another minute for them to settle before he gingerly placed the Sorting Hat on Angie's head, he thought perhaps a softer approach would do it this time. Immediately the hat sprung to life, but the large smirk on his woven face dissipated into a scowl as soon as he realized who's head he was on. The remaining students who were whispering bets hushed themselves and watched with baited breath.
" Oh dear, not Angie Nott. Yet again! Must we go through this every year child, it's not my fault I didn't sort you. I can't sort a fool who doesn't know which house she wants to be in. Merlin's beard! Alright let's get this over with eh? Hmmm, right…right then…"
Dear god, fuck this hat. I'm going to burn you if you don't choose Gryffindor. Gryffindor or Slytherin, either one's fine. Well actually…I…no not either one, choose the right one. Choose Slytherin…or Gryffindor. Fuck.
" Ah, child. You still haven't decided have you? Perhaps I should simply place you in Ravenclaw? No no, Hufflepuff?"
Fuck you hat, I most definitely am going to burn you tonight.
" Alright. Gryffindor," the entire table held their breath, the first years wondering whether to cheer or not as everyone seemed to be waiting some more, " or Slytherin?" There was a resounding fuck from the Slytherin table. Blaise quietly continued stuffing his face, pretending he had not just cursed very audibly and that Snape was not giving him the eye no doubt planning some sort of sinister punishment.
Quit stalling hat. Choose already!
" Choose? It's not my choice Miss Nott. Oh I supposed you will never understand. Which is why you positively can't be in Ravenclaw. And you're just not Hufflepuff material. You won't be good for anything but Gryffindor and Slytherin, both equal matches. One is not better than the other, you must choose for yourself."
Then what is the point of your existence?
" DUMBLEDORE, IT CANNOT BE DONE!"
There was a large exhale from the entire student body as they let our their breath. Most were disappointed as this was her final year and bets made way back when she first arrived would've finally been settled. Draco finished his pumpkin juice with an exasperated sigh, another year of Pansy's bickering and bitching in his ear during Potions, Herbology and an array of other classes. More worthless quarrels with the pathetic Gryffindors when simply trying to talk to Angie in the hall, more eating pudding with Weasleys. " Bloody hat."
" Bloody hat." Harry was looking forward to midnight chess and muggle movies with Angie not just on nights she happened to be in the Gryffindor tower, but every night. Ron on the other hand was slightly relieved knowing that he wouldn't have to stay up whole nights just to keep her entertained as she sometimes desperately needed and came specifically to him for. Hermione was upset but kept her face a neutral smile, Angie and her would have long talks about potions and spells and books, honest to Goddrick, books. They would do work until daybreak and grab an early breakfast the next day almost every Wednesday and Thursday. She could never find that kind of friendship anywhere else, even with Harry or Ron. And now her hopes of having Angie all to the three of them and, to a lesser extent, the rest of the Gryffindor house were dashed. " I hate that wankin' hat." Ron slurred sleepily.
Dumbledore nodded knowingly and took the hat off her head, quietly apologizing in her ear. She dismissed it with a casual wave of her hand, " Apparently I have to sort myself. Too bad there are rules against that, very contrary." She couldn't help but giggle as she saw Fred and George stood on their seats and she knew instantly what they were planning to do. They cleared their throats, glancing around the large hall, George pulled out a tuner as Fred hummed a note. " Right," and began to sing to her.
" WOULDN'T IT BE NICE IF YOU WERE IN OUR HOUSE
WOULDN'T IT BE GRAND IF YOU WERE HERE
YOU COULD BE OUR FRIEND TILL THE END OF TIME
AND AFTER DARK YOU COULD BE MORE DEAR"
They winked simultaneously.
" WOULDN'T IT BE NICE IF YOU WERE IN OUR HOUSE
WOULDN'T IT BE GRAND IF YOU WERE HERE
AND YOU EVEN LOOK LIKE A PROPER GRYFFINDOR
WHY NOT MAKE IT CRYSTAL CLEAR?"
George stepped up onto the table, nudging the plates aside with his foot.
" WOULDN'T IT BE NICE IF YOU WERE IN OUR HOUSE?"
Fred joined him as they sung at a glass shattering pitch.
" WOULDN'T IT BE GRAND,"
They kneeled.
" IF,"
And brought their hands to their hearts.
" YOU WERE,"
They took a lung full of air, pausing for effect.
" HERE!"
They blew a kiss, synchronized bows and stepped down. George grew pink and Fred bowed some more at the laughter and cheering from the rest of the house and each table but the Slytherin's. Even the professors were laughing, Snape was feeling generous and spared a smile.
Zambini made a move to jump on the Slytherin table but before he as well could sing his heart out Draco scuffed him by the collar and sat him forcefully down. " Slytherin's do not sing."
" Aww but Draco! Oh look, now Angie's heading for the Weasley's. If I could just get one verse out-"
" No."
Dumbledore placed the Sorting Hat down on the staff's table and turned to the chair, waving his wand he transfigured it into another pale yellow candle which lit itself and flew up to join the others. " Well we had to try one last time, hmm?" he said to no one in particular.
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Angie sat with her pudding on her lap next to Hermione once again, this time with Fred and George across from her. Harry sat on her other side and Ron sat next to him, dozing off yet again. " I can't believe you're going to go through 5 years of Hogwarts not knowing what it would be like to be a brave and courageous Gryffindor." George gave her a disappointed look, " All the Weasley action in the world and you couldn't have just told the old rag to sort you right."
" Weasley action? I wonder is that action with your dangerously popular treats, which have gotten me out of class many times thank you, or the action with you?"
" Either way darling, it's with us." Fred winked while shoving four different flavoured tarts into his mouth, Hermione made a face of disgust and George followed suit; with the shoving of tarts, not the disgust. " Dinner is already done you know, dessert was supposed to have been finished fifteen minutes ago, can't you stop stuffing your faces. It's only the first day back!" Hermione tried not to sound too revolted at their pig-like table manners.
" 'Mione, we've been starving sweet makers in the lonely and harsh little Diagon Alley. Apparently no one can trust two sixteen year olds who dropped out of school enough to buy treats that are supposed to make them sweat green jelly or vomit slugs. Ridiculous isn't it?"
" We got the slug one from you Ronny-kins, thanks for that."
Ron snored particularly loudly at that.
" Mhmm, fantastic. Now back to your sweets, you owe me about a hundred ton-tongue twists and at least twenty skiving snackers. I'm planning on re-selling them back to some of the dafter Slytherins for a very high profit," she smirked evilly, " They don't have the kind of access to your special sweets like the Gryffindors. Crabbe and Goyle would pay through the nose for just one!"
" I don't think I quite like the idea of Slytherins getting out of class, they should suffer for their…err…Slytherin…y-ness." Fred's eyebrows knitted, " Just a year out of Hogwarts and I can barely speak like I'm literate!"
George shock his head with enthusiasm, " Gred, it's not all about literacy at Hogwarts."
" It's not Forge?"
" No, Gred. You have to be half decent with a wand too." He wiggled his eyebrows at the two females in front of them. Hermione wrinkled her nose and Angie stuck out her tongue, " We should get going now. How is it we're always the last ones left?"
Harry shook Ron awake for the second time that evening, eventually he gave up and asked Fred and George to apparate him upstairs. They did so staving off the temptation to do the job improperly and surprise the three with only an arm and a leg of poor Ronald Weasley when they would return to the common room. Apparation can be very dangerous when learnt by the wrong people, or the most mischievous.
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Draco sat on his chair; the only one in the entire Slytherin dungeon with a view of the sea.
The window it was facing situated itself precisely were the land dipped downwards, exposing only that miniscule stretch of common room. No one else sat in that chair, they knew better. The leather was softer than any other, the armrests were at the perfect height. He sat in it when he first arrived at Hogwarts marvelling at basically everything and simply had to take a break from standing with his eyes wide and mouth agape. He silently sat there when his father blackmailed Ministry officials to suspend Dumbledore from his post. In 3rd he was there, wondering exactly how Sirius Black would murder Pothead Potter.
All through the TriWizarding Tournament he stared out that window calculating to the hundred decimal point what his chances would have been if he some how got his name in the Goblet of Fire. His 5th year was humiliating, being Umbridge's lackey. Each time she would call him to catch one of Potter's chums he would return to that chair and think. Last year had been complete hell. He was only able to sit in his chair for one week before he locked himself in his dorm cutting classes and meals sporadically but often. And now he was back, his final year at Hogwarts, sitting in his chair on the first day.
Everybody knew; it was Draco's chair.
" Don't be such a prat."
She snuck up behind him with a jar of Bertie Bott's beans, having earlier picked out the unfortunately nasty ones. All he saw was her arm, snaking out to present him with the sweets; birthday cake icing, lemon pie, strawberry strudel, London-style cheesecake, New York-style cheesecake and many more appealing flavours. She stalked up next to him and sat cross-legged on an angle from his chair. She leaned her head back against the glass; it was low enough for her to put her arm up on the windowsill.
" Hmm," he spared her a glance, muddy violet locks in disarray and curiously eggshell white irises darted from his own eyes to his hands which were shuffling for a pecan sandy bean. " How were the Gryffindorks?"
She sniggered, " Gryffindorks? That was lame even for you."
" Shut it."
" Fred and George promised me twice what they owe me if I can wait another week, so I've decided that patience will be much more rewarding. I'll have to find something else to do until then, any ideas?"
" You can't wait one week with out exploiting your fellow Slytherins?" Draco almost caught himself but decided she visited their dungeon enough to be one of them.
" Naw, short attention span. Besides, I like to keep myself busy as to stay out of trouble."
" So you cause mass chaos to keep yourself busy as to stay out of even more mass chaos, right bloody mad you are." He popped a chocolate mousse flavoured bean in to his mouth and rolled it around with his tongue before piecing straight through it with his left canine tooth. " Well if I don't keep myself entertained, there's no guessing what I'll do," she stood swiftly and leaned down to run her tongue on the length of his bottom lip. The sweet hint of chocolate lingered on the tip of her tongue; she crawled onto him straddling his lap and stole another lick, this time pushing him against the chair. She dug her nails into his robed shoulders lightly, her lips moved agonizingly slow and wet against his. He groaned lowly grasping her waist, she snaked her tongue into his mouth and swept the chocolate mousse bean into hers.
" Mmm, thanks."
She promptly stood and left, heading up the stairs to the girl's dormitory. She passed a petrified Blaise along the way.
" Holy fuck."
Blaise stood with his mouth hanging open and eyes practically bulging from shock. He looked from Draco to the stairs to the jar of beans and back until his mouth was dry. " I-"
" Draco I can't believe you! I told you a hundred times, you can't go around snogging girls all night and risk the chance of Pansy spotting you! She'll castrate you. No, both of us! For Merlin's sake! And of course you had to snog Angie! What does off-limits mean to you Draco?"
" But she-"
" You'd better hope Pansy hasn't set up her muggle tape recording set gizmo here again, she did it last year you know. And I caught her watching it in slow motion once at The Three Broomsticks under a table. You were brushing your teeth…in the middle of the day."
" I don't enjoy plaque."
A/N:
Yeah, I was getting quite impatient and I wanted to add some spice and zest and CHOCOLATE MOUSSE. Besides Draco is very yummy, I wish his character wasn't so cowardly and just blatantly spineless in the Harry Potter movies and books. I do realize that the story is about Harry and there isn't always time to develop secondary characters, but painting every antagonist as pathetic, egotistical and just full of bullshit in the end is dissatisfying. Especially when the casting has such a delicious Draco, really I can't help myself. I feel giddy and hormonal, urgh darn those HP boys.
Well anyways I did originally plan this to be a Harry/Angie/Draco sort of affair. But truth be told, it's very difficult to write a believable Harry without making him too angsty and depressed. And if I did go that way then any romance with Harry would involve the Hurt/Comfort genre which I avoid at all costs. I despise sappy love stories, can't stand them. I'm not a firm believer in love anyways, I think there are people in the world that one will find they are attached to psychologically more than others, but 'love' doesn't exist in my opinion. If anything it's hormones on the fritz and some extra endorphins floating around. Whew that's slightly off putting, oh well what can I do.
Perhaps make another chapter? I'll try, rate and review? Please and thank you.