A/N: Exams are on and look, who's updating?
Moi! Yes, indeed.
This is probably a very long and tiring chapter with an overdose of Albus.
Because I overlooked him in the last chapter.
Furthermore this is a chapter of great events.
So be sure to review and tell me what you thought about it.
Wish me luck for my Bio exam in Monday!
I do not own this in any way.
Enjoy!
P.S.: I have this new story called 'Happily Ever After?' check it out!
And vote for the poll.
Chapter 7: Speak of the devil
I loosen my tie. Then I shift it a bit. I fix my blue shirt. Maybe I shouldn't have been dressed so formally. Alysia will probably freak out. I look like I plan on going to the Yule Ball. And Malfoy will never forgive me if I appear in public like a dork and lose him his bet.
Of course Rosie will be delighted…
Gaaah, what am I doing thinking of my cousin before a date with probably the best looking girl in school?
But of course it's better. Cause otherwise I'd have to think of the actual date before the date and that'd be far worse, trust me.
"Potter, why are you having a breakdown this time?" I hear a female voice from my back and switch to break-her-heart mode.
"I don't have breakdowns, dear. I may cause some though." I hear a significantly ironic snort which makes me turn around to face the source of it.
Of course.
Ethnie Finnigan, I cannot believe I took her for a girl…Hah…
Ok, that sounded like Scorpius talking about Rose. Though now that I think of it, he's probably lying when he says that to him she's not a girl. I mean if that was true then what was he doing staring at her all night in her birthday. People don't stare at encyclopedias with legs now do they?
Well, fine they do, cause let's just face it, it would be a scary sight, but still not the way Scorpius looked at my cousin.
Merlin am I speaking rubbish today?
I try to focus my attention to the short-haired girl in front of me.
"Listen here you idiot, all those tricks Malfoy has taught you don't work on me. So cut it out." She says disgustedly and I nod like a little child.
"So why are you freaking out?" She repeats her former question and I sigh.
"Today's the date with Alysia." I explain dejectedly. "And I look like a fool."
"You do look like a fool. I mean what's with the tie? Are you going to the Yule Ball or something?" I sigh for the second time. She's one to encourage people.
"It sucks, I know. So what do I do now?" I ask exasperated and point my outfit.
"Now, dear friend, you have the chance to admire my skills." Ethnie smirks devilishly. I should introduce her to Scorpius. I think they'll make a nice smirking duet, those two.
"Skills?" I cock an eyebrow at that. I'm not sure I'm ready for this. But ready or not, Ethnie takes out her wand and starts whispering spells. First my tie disappears. Then my shirt turns dark green, just a tad darker than my eyes. My jeans go black and my converses become a light gray.
"Better huh? Now one more thing." She stands up at the tips of her toes and raises her hands that barely make it to the top of my head. She messes my hair which I had been trying to smooth down all morning.
"What are you doing?" I cry out.
"Well, nature gave you a nice hairstyle. Using your hands to ruin it is not acceptable." She points out with a small smile.
"Shouldn't you have a date or something?" I was sure she said Trevor Bole had asked her out last week.
"I had with that ridiculous sod Bole. But then he annoyed me, so I took his offer and shoved it up his-" She accompanies her words with violent hand moves.
"Language, Finnigan, language." I mutter in a fatherly tone.
"And what exactly did he say?" I wonder. Her face crumbles and she narrows her eyes. I see. Just as I thought.
"Judging by your looks probably something about your hair being nicer before you cut them off." At that she nods and looks away.
"Never mind them Finnigan. You're cool." I chirp and mess her soft tawny hair.
"Al, are you ready?" An angry looking Alysia asks, her hands on her hips. I shrug and take a look at Ethnie who seems deep in thought.
"Do you really need to go Albus?" She bats her eyelashes in a way I didn't know she was capable of.
"Well, didn't I tell you I have…?" As I see her winking meaningfully at me I widen my eyes. Oh! It's an act!
"Who knows Ethinie, maybe next Hogsmeade trip you'll be luckier." I wink back, seductively and Ethnie catching me by the neck pulls me down and gives me a light kiss on the cheek.
Once again I find my self surprised. It's was just a small friendly kiss and yet my heart beats like I've just run a hundred miles. I try to concentrate my attention to my date who looks quite furious by now.
"Let's go." Alysia mutters and I nod.
We take an empty carriage to the village.
"So…" I start.
"Where to?" She looks around thoughtfully.
"I don't really care." I hope I'm not overdoing it with this act. I know Scorpius said I cannot stop now but still it feels like I'm lying. Which I am by the way. But that's unacceptable. You're not supposed to lie to the person you like, now are you?
"Let's take a walk then." Her face shines and I nod obediently.
I start walking and she walks next to me. We pass some shops and a bunch of students fooling around and we end up at the hill right next to Hogsmeade. The view up here really is enchanting. You can see over to Hogwarts from here and the cold wind makes you feel just a little bit livelier.
"It's nice here right?" She wraps her arms around her torso to warm up. Hesitantly I take out my coat and put it on her shoulders. She looks up with a peculiar light in her eyes.
"I didn't know you could be so kind." I bit my lip at that. I almost feel Scorpius smacking me in the head. He'd probably get mad at me for dropping my cool attitude. But hey! I cannot break her heart if she freezes to death, correct?
"I like that." Huh? Wait, she likes that? But I thought… I thought she wanted heartless men. She was pretty clear about that…
"Well, couldn't have you freezing now could I?" I mumble refusing to confront her eye-to-eye.
"Did you know you can even see the Shrieking Shack from over here?" She points her finger at something in the end of the road.
"Zack always said you can-" At that she gasps and falls silent. Zack! What is she doing referring to that sod now? Ok, fine maybe they've been together for almost a year and it was a rather serious relationship but it's over now. Over.
"Sorry." She puts a hand on my stiff shoulder. "Didn't mean to bring that up. It's just that-" I move away causing her hand to fall out of my shoulder.
It must have looked quite cruel, I know, still I couldn't help myself.
I just felt like a wall rose between us and her hand was a burden on my shoulder.
Suddenly I'm scared. Scared that I'll mess this up. Scared I might not mess this up.
Actually mostly the second.
I mean, this is an act. I thought we had cleared that up by now. But it's starting to get out of hand. I pretended to be heartless to get her to notice me. Then I pretended to be an arse to make her date me. Now I'm being awful to make sure she doesn't regret this date.
So what next?
Supposing we become a couple I'm going to keep this up till we break up? For how long? A month, a year, two years? Merlin I've been breaking girls' hearts for almost a month and it's gotten unbearable.
And what if this gets serious?
If we marry I'll have to pretend for the rest of my life?
I take some deep breaths to release the stress.
I've spent the past few months wishing I was in the position I am at the moment. Still I'm pretty sure I'll spend this date wishing I was anywhere but here.
Say hello to insanity.
"Look, Alysia-" I turn to face her, resolution burning in my chest. I have to end this here.
"No, don't say a thing." She takes a very painful for me step closer. I gulp.
She puts her hands around my neck and traps me. Pulling my face closer to hers she bits her lips.
Oh, sweet Merlin, I'm doomed.
Teenage boys are not supposed to have to push away girls with bad intentions. They're just not.
It's against our bloody nature!
She kisses me full on the mouth. At first I freeze undecidedly but soon I respond slowly, regretting and yet enjoying every moment.
This is like…hell!
I put a hand on her waist unsure whether it is to keep her close or at a safe distance. It ends up just touching her lightly, limply just standing there.
My feet appear to have been glued to the ground by an extra strong gluing charm and mental images of lawn stuck under my shoes make me decide not to try and unglue them.
Useless body parts.
Finally after what seems like decades she pulls apart.
I give my thanks to the gods for coming up with oxygen and look down at her.
"So how was it?" She blushes uncomfortably and I stare at her even more uncomfortable.
What am I to say now? That I just ruined our first real kiss?
That all I could think of was gluing charms and my feet?
The most beautiful girl I've ever seen just kissed the daylights out of me and I did everything I could to screw it up.
And to think that I kept telling everyone how much I liked her and how happy I could make her.
Bloody fool.
"Al? How was it?" I almost jump up.
"Great." I mutter though it'd take the mental capabilities of a troll to realize I mean none of the two syllables I just uttered.
"Ehem…" She fiddles her fingers which makes it quite obvious that she is much smarter than a troll. Not that I didn't know that but still.
"Look, I think I've forgotten my bag back at school." I widen my eyes at her words.
"I'll go get it for you!" I exclaim happily.
"No. You can't go up the girls' dorm and you don't know the password. I'll go. Meet me in the Leaky." She calls back leaving.
Leaving me.
And somehow it feels definite.
"No, you see you can't play Quidditch in the street. It's not a playground here. There are people walking around who want-" I chuckle audibly. Of all of Weasley's bad habits bossiness is my favorite, did you know?
Well, never mind. Me neither.
I just found out when I saw her ordering third-years around like she owns the place. It's really a joy to see her shouting at someone else for a change. I understand now why Al always enjoys out fights so much.
In the meantime I spot a red-faced, redhead (well that sounded weird) opening and closing her mouth repeatedly trying to find an adequate way to finish her sentence.
"There are people walking around who don't want a bludger on their head." I oblige shooting her a mocking albeit charming grin.
She rolls her eyes and I re-chuckle.
"I think we're done with those." I comment looking around for third-years like someone would look for dragons.
"Finally." She sighs.
"Finally!" A new voice exclaims from my back.
I who was not able to distinct the owner of the voice (cause I've turned my back at him, duh!) watch as Weasley gasps and wears a wide smile. Just as wide as the one she had after she found out she was Head-Girl and before she found out I was Head-Boy. Which is saying something.
She runs my way and I'm half ready to move aside to avoid her crushing on me when I see her passing by. Instead of bumping on me she seems to be attacking the man behind me.
You know the 'Finally!' one.
Ah, three guesses who it is…
No, not Merlin. Or Johnny Depp.
Never mind.
It's Edgeombe. The Wonder Boy.
Mph…Wonder Boy my arse. He's just a plain guy, just like a million others. Dark hair, blue eyes, tall- ok wow! Tall. Double that.
He's even taller than me. Which is unexpected cause let me just tell you I'm not a short person. As for Weasley, she looks like a dwarf next to him.
No, wait, cross that one off.
Not next to him. On him. He's…he's…
Ok, who gave him the right to do that to her? And in public too.
Has he no decency? There are broom closets for that kind of thing.
Can't he see there are disgusted people here?
"That guy is tall." Andy suddenly appears next to me. I shrug my shoulders.
"That guy is an idiot." I counter looking away from the ungodly sight.
"Why? What did he do?" Andy looks at the 'couple' unaffected and then back at me.
"Apart from the fact that he's snogging the daylights out of her in the middle of the street, nothing much." I reply ironically pointing at our whereabouts.
"In other words, nothing much." He sighs. Seriously, am I the only one who finds this outrageous?
"He's a show-off. I mean there are third-years watching for Merlin's sake!" I hiss.
"And we care about third-years because…?" Andy smirks and stares down at me. Oh, I know he must think he's so smart right now.
"It's just a matter of ethics, which this guy obviously lacks." I clench my fists. Gah, how I wish he'd give me one, just one, bloody reason to go up there and hex his head off his shoulders.
"Oh, I know what's going on." Andy fakes a sweet voice which makes him sound like a pansy.
"Scorpy here is…" I gulp.
"Wait for it…" He comes closer.
"Jealous!" He whispers. Suddenly I can hear my heart in my ears. Idiot. Like that could ever happen.
Just because he's got her in his arms and his fingers are in those curly red hair of hers and his lips are on her neck…Pff, big deal.
Who cares if her eyes are wild and she's clinging on his shirt? Not I for sure.
I sigh audibly and press my hand to my forehead.
What disgusting images. Must stop watching!
Think of something else… McGonagall, my owl, Filch's feet.
Not working. Those awful pictures keep passing before my eyes like a bloody slideshow.
I hate this.
"Wow, mate, are you alright?" I snap out of it thanks to Andy.
"I've been better." He opens his mouth to say something at that but I interrupt him.
"Not a word." He nods obediently.
"So who are those people Rosie?" I narrow my eyes as Edgecombe comes towards us, hand around her waist.
"Ah, well this is Andy Goyle and-" At that she grunts.
"Scorpius Malfoy." She finishes.
"Head-Boy?" He asks like that's the only thing that matters.
"I prefer Scorpius." I mutter. Plus there's this other human next to me who bears no title but still it'd be nice to greet him.
"Hi." Andy offers a hand and Edgecombe shakes it. But still he gives off this feeling that he doesn't even care for him.
Reluctantly I offer my hand too and then –just as I expected- Edgecombe seems significantly more enthusiastic.
"So where are you people going?" I ask sneakily.
"The Broomsticks." Edgecombe replies and I feel my inner self cheering. Exactly what I wanted.
"Awesome, so do we. You know what? Since we just met what do you say, wanna go grab a butterbeer?" I propose as Andy sighs deeply next to me.
Weasley is mouthing 'no's to her boyfriend but luckily he doesn't notice.
"I guess." He shrugs and I smirk. Perfect.
We step in the warm pub and sit on a table near the window. Edgecombe then starts asking me all sorts of questions about Head duties and job expectations which I reply with the fakest of smiles.
At least I'm not the only one who is bored. Both Andy and Weasley seem particularly tired of this conversation.
"Oi, Weasley, pass me that sandwich." I call out massaging my stomach. Hearing utter nonsense about prizes and duties and being important always makes me hungry.
"That's my sandwich you dolt." She retorts and I sigh.
"It's only fair you know. I lend you something of mines and you do the same for me." I wink at her. And then 'bam' reality kicks in.
Why the hell did I just say that?
She didn't know I let her sleep in my bed consciously. She didn't know I acted like I was asleep to make her go. Damn now, I'm so exposed.
Stupid, stupid, stupid!
"So you knew what you were doing!" Let's face the music right?
"No, I'm slow like that." I try to hide a blush and avoid Andy's 'detective' look.
"You finally noticed." Grr…
"Shut up Weasley." I hiss.
"Trying to cover it up now, aren't we?" She smirks in a way that only I'm allowed to.
"Trying to make me regret it now, aren't we?" I mimic her voice.
"Do you always fight like that?" Edgecombe cuts in amused. We both nod.
"I dare say I'm quite envious." He laughs.
"Sorry, but I don't think Weasley will give you the satisfaction to taste her hexing skills." I point out gloomily.
"Well, I suppose it is ok. As long as she gives me every other one." He says plainly in a light joking tone, but still my blood freezes in my veins. I narrow my eye just as I see his wide smile curling up just a little bit and turning into a smirk. Next to me I spot Andy stiffening up as well. Only Weasley is just staring idly at the bottom of her empty glass. She didn't get it. And yet the meaning behind his words would have been as clear as crystal to any guy.
He doesn't care as long as she gives him every other satisfaction huh?
Now, let me introduce you to this interesting phenomenon we just experienced known worldwide as…
The hint.
Everyone knows it and is accustomed to hearing it during male, testosterone-driven conversations. Hints are specifically made to pass unnoticed from females and usually refer to shagging or snogging. Or –like in this case- both. Males consider them to be the best way to show skill and power in a witty way.
And after that entertaining tour around the male mind, back to the point.
That presumptuous, insolent, slimy, revolting bastard!
If it wasn't for Weasley I would just… and then take his pieces and… with a fork and a burning blade so that they would… and then right to the bottom of the Black Lake. I hardly stop myself from swearing out loud and I feel my blood –that was freezing two seconds ago- boiling.
Andy who notices the fume coming out of my ears stands up immediately.
"What about some more butterbeer?" He smiles and grabbing my arm makes me stand up too.
"Sure." Weasley nods and Edgecombe offers to go buy some. But Andy stops him in the kindest of ways. Thank Merlin he didn't ask me to deal with the sod. I would have drowned him in his half empty glass.
We walk past the crowds of students and reach the bar.
"Screw the butterbeer." I growl under my breath. "Let's go back and kill him." At that Andy looks at me sadly.
"I'll have to admit, you were right. He is bad." He finally agrees with me.
"So why are we just standing here? The poor bookworm is with him right now." I motion to the table where Edgecombe is slowly moving towards Weasley.
"Since when are you against this kind of behavior, though?" Andy comments with raised eyebrows.
"For all I know you always enjoyed a little bit of hinting and bragging about girls." He did not just compare me to that sick idiot, he didn't!
"Have I ever insulted a girl? Did I ever show disrespect to her?" I hiss offended.
"No, it's true. Your comments were more like general references to your accomplishments regarding the opposite sex." I order the butterbeers with a grim look.
"Let's go back then." I point at the drinks, but for all intents and purposes I am not referring to them.
"Scorpius! Hold on a moment. Rose is a big girl and a very dangerous one for that matter. She'll be able to handle him." Well, she is but still… I can't just stand here and let that sneaky snake get to her head. On anywhere else for that matter.
I mean look at her! She's got no idea. She still thinks he's her awesome, sweet, caring prince charming.
Which he isn't! Obviously.
"Hey! Didn't I say hold on?" Andy puts a hand in front of me to stop me.
"I will not hold on." My eyesight gets blurry from anger.
"It's Rose we're talking about. I won't let him do anything to hurt her!" I hollow at Andy who practically moves backwards to avoid my waves of rage.
"Scorpius…" He breathes dizzily.
"What?" I snap back.
"You just called her Rose." Now it's my turn to step back. I just… erm…That's right, I did.
"Well, it's a perfectly nice name now isn't it?" I reply hurriedly.
"I thought that's why you didn't call her that." Andy comments with a smirk which I honestly don't comprehend.
"Can you concentrate on the real problem here?" I glower.
"Well, sorry mate but there's nothing we can do." He mutters thoughtfully.
"I have a couple of ideas." I put in.
"Does any of your ideas include us not ending up in Azkaban?" Hm…let me think about it for a moment. First there's the 'drowning him in his butterbeer' plan. And then the 'cutting him in small pieces and throwing him in the Black Lake' plan. Of course not to forget about the-…Well, yeah now that I think of it…
"Erm, sorry no." I reply dejectedly.
"Then there is nothing that we can do." He repeats and I snort.
"But-" But we can't just stand here and watch them kiss when we know what he's got into that sick mind of his.
"If he does anything smart we'll deal with him. Till then nothing." I nod my head submitting. But suddenly I hear shouts from outside the Three Broomsticks.
"It's Albus!" Andy informs me. Not that he had to, cause with all this commotion he is rather hard to miss.
I motion him to follow me outside.
There I spot Albus pointing his wand to an infuriated Zack McLaggen who is sending hexes here and there and yelling. Oh, shoot, this is bound to end badly. I look around at the crowd of people that has gathered and are watching wide-eyed. More than half of them are girls. Or, in other words, date-candidates.
"Well, what are you looking at? Let's go help the poor Gryffindor." Andy says and begins moving towards the two guys.
"No, no, no. We can't interfere." I call behind him. My brown-haired friend turns around to look at me questioningly.
"Why not?" He asks and I sigh, not particularly sure of what I'm doing.
"Look at all those girls. He can use this as advertisement." I explain.
"So you'll just let him fight McLaggen to boost his image and win your deal?" My friend asks incredulously. I just nod.
"You have no restraints, do you?" I shake my head in denial. It's true, I'm not famous for my sensitivity.
"And funny thing is, just some days ago I was telling my mates you weren't too big of an arse. And look at you now. Stealing people's girlfriends." McLaggen yells and a couple of girls gasp. Oh! So that's what it's all about.
"Thomas?" Andy inquires.
"Yup. I'm guessing McLaggen is over the depression period and is now trying to kill Albus." I comment mildly.
"Take it easy McLaggen." Albus says raising both his hands in an attempt to stop the fight. Both I and Andy cringe at that. There is only one thing you must never –under any circumstances- say to a furious person. And this is to 'relax' or 'take it easy'. Because, honestly the guy is mad for a reason, so either fix his problem or shut up.
In this case, just shut up.
"No, I bloody won't take it easy. You ruined everything." The Slytherin beater screams even angrier than before and sends a hex right over Albus' head.
Phew, that was close.
"I did nothing. It was her choice." Albus, who appears to be thinking the exact same thing as I am, retorts.
"Oh, yes sure Potter, you did you damage and now you're fleeing the scene." I take a good look at McLaggen, stunned. I didn't know he could use this kind of vocabulary. Somehow I always thought all he could say was 'sod off' and 'bullshit'.
Apparently not.
Another spell flies from his wand, hitting its target this time, causing the black-haired Gryffindor to fall on the paved street.
"The only reason she broke it off was you." Albus accuses hotly. Aha, now there's no turning back.
"Flipendo!" The otherwise peaceful Gryffindor shouts and I smile as McLaggen falls down as well. Those skills of his in Defense Against the Dark Arts are sure to give him some points from the girls.
"I see, I suppose that's what you tell yourself to feel better. Well, in case you hadn't noticed she was very happy with me." I raise an eyebrow at that as I begin to wonder if there is in fact some truth behind McLaggen's words.
"You mistreated her." Albus narrow his eyes and says while he sends another spell to his opponent.
"It's not true!" Now the Slytherin clenches his shoulder where the spell found him and sends an Engorgio to Albus which luckily misses him.
"I might not speak nicely and be a bit strict," I snort, big understatement here, "but about what mattered I was good and I cared. Damn it all, Potter, I cared, you don't."
I give a glance at Andy dumbfounded.
McLaggen is obviously depressed about it, which means he's not lying. He does care. But still, Albus cares too, right?
So who should have her?
This trivial question seems to be stuck in my mind.
Had I been asked this question a week ago I would say Albus hands up. But now I think McLaggen is growing on me (in a non-homosexual way of course). Sure, Albus is a friend. He's a cool guy and he'd never mistreat a girl. But neither would McLaggen , strangely enough. He might have acted terribly when they were together but that's just cause she likes it and he knows. I'm guessing in more private moments he was nice.
"You have no way to know if I care or not." Albus declares standing right over McLaggen and pointing his wand at his throat.
"Now, that's where you're mistaken. I know better than you the way you feel about her. That's why I never worried that you were friends with her. Cause I knew nothing serious could come out of that." I feel my jaw dropping on the floor. No way!
"Sure you like her, she's pretty and nice to watch with her hair dancing around her. She makes you melt when she pouts and you want to protect her. But that is all." McLaggen is wise, the sun is blue and the earth stands still. Having cleared that up…
"You like the idea of her, not her as a person." The Slytherin beater explains with more restraint and I see the crowd dissolving slowly. Obviously they realized the fight is over by now.
"But I love her for her. I love how she's a snob about ugly people and I love how she spends two hours per day on the mirror and how she enjoys a man who speaks badly but deep down she wants to be looked after." Albus lowers his wand at that and stares at his rival shocked. There was McLaggen, bulldog of the year, and then 'bam' he's turned into a softie. Who wouldn't be shocked?
"Zack!" I turn around quickly and just to be able to gape some more.
Alysia Thomas is currently hugging her small purse tightly and looking at the beater with teary eyes. Oh, sweet, now I've lost the deal. Cause she's heard everything and three guesses what her next word will be.
"Aly?" McLaggen mumbles and blushes. Wait! Blushes? I need to have my eyes checked don't I?
"Zack, I'm- I'm so sorry. I was such a fool." Now she breaks to tears. Yeah, of course.
My black-haired friend looks at them both for about a second. Then giving an understanding glance over at McLaggen he leaves. Just like that, walks away taking his pride with him. Well, I suppose it was the best thing to do.
Meanwhile….
"I always fall for this cool and calm act don't I? I must stop that." The blonde girl mutters darkly looking at her feet. McLaggen then stands up and walk towards her. He takes her face in his hands and makes her look at him.
"It's ok. I know you like it a bit too much to give it up this easily. But just don't forget what's behind it." The guy smiles and removes some tears from the girl's face.
"You're behind it." Thomas puts in. "I won't forget." And at that point both I and Andy turn the other way. That was a little bit too mushy for our tastes.
"Well, I think I've seen more than I'd care to. I'd rather not know what those two do in their –ehem- free time." My friend announces and suddenly, like a light-bulb had shot up in my head I jump up.
"Damn, we forgot all about Rose and her slimy boyfriend." I exclaim.
"I see you're making first-name a habit." Andy breathes out while I drag him back to the Three Broomsticks with me.
But just at the moment we set foot back to the warm interior of the pub, I see Rose –no wait! Weasley- walking out of it. Or maybe running out, that would cut it too.
I barely have time to make out her expression but she sure doesn't look cheerful. More like, mad beyond all compare.
That makes me quite ill at ease. A sudden pain in my gut making itself known.
"Wow, boy does she look angry!" Andy whispers surprised.
"I'm going after her." I say to him quickly but he stops me.
"Dunno mate, if she's mad at you it won't end nicely." He warns me but I shrug him off with a glare.
"She's not mad at me. And I'm going." I mean I know her for six years now. I can tell when she's pissed off about a prank and when she's miserable about something serious.
I pace back to the school where I see her heading.
Ok, remind me again, how did I land myself in this situation?
I'm supposed to be in a date with my incredible boyfriend and then there's Malfoy and Goyle with us. Of course 'supposed to be' is the key to the previous sentence.
Cause this looks nothing like a date. Noah is talking to the bloody blonde all the time and all I do is stare at my butterbeer and sigh. Even Goyle's attempts to talk to me fall on deaf ears. And that's not because I don't like the guy. It's just that, as I said previously I'm here on a date!
Gaaah, I will assassin Malfoy. I know I said I ought to be polite since he let me sleep to his bed when my back hurt but that's quite enough.
"Maybe we should sneak out on them." I propose to Noah when I see them both heading to the bar for some more butterbeer.
My boyfriend gives me a look that would fit into the face of a parent scolding his child.
"That would be particularly rude now wouldn't it?" He asks and I sigh.
"And interrupting our date was what? Polite?" I shoot back pouting.
"We invited them." He reminds me. Actually Malfoy more or less invited himself but I suppose I see his point.
"Fine then can we at least enjoy those few minutes of tranquility?" You know, till the blonde returns.
"My thoughts exactly." Noah whispers sneakily and comes closer to me. I smile and close my eyes as I feel his lips close to mines.
His kisses always make me shiver a bit. Of course he's not the most effusive of people. He kisses softly and slowly whispering stuff to me from time to time.
"Perhaps we should sneak out after all. You know, go to some dark corner and do this properly." He breathes to my lips. I smile weakly at him.
"You lost your chance mister." He looks deep in my eyes to make sure that is my final reply and upon realizing it is, he shrugs.
"I'll manage." He kisses me again, but it's more like a peck this time.
"So, how's your sister?" I suddenly ask, remembering how he didn't make it to my party because she was sick.
"Oh, yes. Well, she's quite fine. She was fully recovered the next morning." I nod in comprehension.
"Sorry I missed your party." He gives me the puppy eyes and I giggle, unlike myself.
"So, do tell me, what exactly is the matter with the Malfoy?" Noah inquires finishing his butterbeer.
"What do you mean?" I hiss scandalized. The matter with Malfoy… There is nothing going on with him. We quarrel and we hex each other –well most of the times I hex him- and then we fight again. That's all.
"Now, don't get too mad at me, baby. All I'm saying is that he looks at you in a certain way." Oh! I roll my eyes. He must mean the go-rot-in-hell look Malfoy usually graces me with.
"It's cause he hates me." I explain plainly.
"Aha… well it sure is a weird way to show hatred, but ok. And may I ask, if you hate him too?" My boyfriend plays with my hair as he speaks and I feel my heart beating fast. Like the murderer who is caught red-handed. Do I hate Malfoy?
"What you mean about the whole Death-Eater past of his family?" I decide to act dumb about it.
"Sure there's that too, but I meant if you hate him as a person." He corrects and I feel the sudden need to hit my head on the wall.
"He is pissing me off most of the time." Except of course for that one time during detention at he Trophy room when he was really hilarious.
"And he can be particularly obnoxious," Then again he can be completely selfless too, like when he slept on the couch and made me go sleep in his bed.
"Not to mention he's always causing trouble." I mean he did pour chocolate on me. Though he cleaned it up and helped me make a new one later.
"Plus I genuinely despise guys who treat girls like shit." I pause at that for a moment. Yes, sure, that's Malfoy alright. He has a new girl every week and he acts like they mean nothing to him. So what he told me that time outside the Slytherin Common Room was obviously a lie.
'Weasley, I'm not half as heartless as you presume me to be.' I mean, who'd fall for that line?
"So, ok, maybe I don't hate him, but I really don't like him." I conclude a bit uneasy. Really, why does it feel like I just contradicted myself?
"He didn't sound too obnoxious and annoying." Noah comments thoughtful.
"Well, it's not like he's always like that…" I bit my lip at that.
"But when a person dislikes you, you just have to dislike him back, don't you?" I look up at him waiting for a word of comfort.
"Indeed." He nods and pecks my cheek.
I smile back and shake my head trying to dispose images of Malfoy wrapping his arms around me with a bowl of chocolate syrup over my head and a playful smirk on his mouth whispering 'Last chance'.
"Let's stop talking about him." I propose and Noah just nods in agreement.
"Noah, baby, what are you doing here?" A female voice calls from behind my back. Slowly, I stand up and turn around, wishing I heard something wrong.
Right there, there's a petite girl with blue bright eyes and perfect long, straight, blonde hair. Her body is ten times better than mine and she seems to know how to use her mascara and make up.
"Monique?" Noah exclaims next to me and I narrow my eyes as I see him looking back and forth between the two of us.
"Sweetie what is going on? I thought you said you sister was sick and you had to go take care of the kids." The blonde girl, Monique, chirps with an innocent face and I feel mine burning up from fury. His sister was sick huh? I feel an unknown pain covering me up. Like he just took my insides and begun squashing them with his bare hands.
"It was just a cold she said she was feeling better so I came for a walk in Hogsmeade before going back to the Headquarters." My boyfriend explains to his girlfriend, not daring to look at me.
"Then who's she?" The blonde female spits with venom and I clench my fists tight.
"Who Rose? Ah, just the cousin of a friend, James Potter, I guess you know him. I run into her and thought I'd buy her a drink." He shrugs like the great actor that he is and I grit my teeth.
Screw the pain. I will choke him to death this instant.
That loathsome, horrid, nauseating, cheating bastard!
"She was dateless huh? Poor girl. Well, sure the way she dresses… No offense darling." Monique gives me a pitiful look to which I reply with a glare. So the two of them have decided to humiliate me as much as it goes. He who lies so shamelessly in front of me to save his relationship with her and she with her looks of pity.
But I'll show them.
Quietly I take out my wand and point it to my ex-boyfriend, all the hexes I know flashing before my eyes.
But then I let my hand drop to my sides.
"You are a worthless, cheap scum Edgecombe." I mutter darkly at the brown-haired guy and taking a step forward I land my fist right in the middle of his face. Multiple times. Agh… that hurt.
But it was worth it.
I inspect my work. He is shocked and holding a bleeding nose with his hand.
Yeah, totally worth it.
"And you totally deserve him." I shout at the airhead before storming off.
Those people! Did they honestly think they could play with me and then walk away with their heads still on their shoulders?
And that won't be the end of it. It was my Heads' badge that saved them. Cause if I hexed them I would loose my place as Head-Girl. But wait till Albus and Luis and Fred and of course James hear about this.
I pace out of the Three Broomsticks, sweeping my eyes in the process. I have the vague feeling Malfoy's somewhere close and watching but I discard it. Imagine what sort of comments he'll have in store for my times of misery.
Misery cause, well let's just face it, it was quite a fiasco. And I really liked that idiot and maybe he was not the 'love of my life' but I cared and he made me laugh.
I sent him letters three times and week and I must have read his letters more than ten times each. And the more I picture his face when he said that I was 'just the cousin of a friend' the more I remember the first time he told me he loved me.
As for that Monique bimbo, it is a matter of pride. Not because she stole my boyfriend. Since, Merlin, if that's what he's really like she can have him with my blessings. But instead because she knew exactly what was going on and she wanted to put me down.
I look around me suddenly and notice I'm back on school grounds. My eyes fall on the Quidditch pitch and an idea crawls up in my mind.
What about an evening flight?
I use the spare keys to the Gryffindor changing rooms and take out an old broom. I mount it and start flying, letting the wind and setting sun hit me, relieve me of this misery.
The air is clear up here but after a while I start getting cold. That's what you get for deciding to take broom rides in mid-autumn.
But it's ok. I can relax like that and then go back to my Common Room take a hot bath and go to bed.
Ah, yes, to bed.
That warm, fuzzy mattress which makes you think you're floating. And then the green, silky covers that smell like cinnamon and the soft pillow that…
…Don't belong to me!
Sweet Merlin!
Was I really planning to exploit that Malfoy's courtesy for more than a night?
"Hey, Weasley!" I look down only to face a small dot of blonde hair.
Agh...speak of the devil.
A/N: Review, review, review!
Cause if you don't review this chapter then when exactly will you?
Tell me what you liked. What you didn't like? Things you found stupid or unfair!
Lots of love.
Sarah