The Girl Everybody Forgot
By Raekitty13
Disclaimer: Golly Gee Beave! Would you look at that girl in the shiny window! She doesn't look like J.K. Rowling... oh wait, that'd be a mirror...
Author's Notes: Yep it's here (finally), but where are you?
Thank yous: Thank you Kitty Kat
Chapter Eight Two Weeks In
I went to bed that night, pleasantly full and slightly intoxicated on Oliver. Just sitting with him erased all my fears of the darkness, Fred's warmth and of Kelsey's absence. I didn't remember her until she appeared in my dreams. As enthusiastic as I was for the "date" Oliver and I were going to have the next day, the impact of being so fare from the orphanage hit me like a ton of bricks. It wasn't until I woke up form my night terrors without Haley, Jen, Yasmine, Jasmine, Alley, and the other girls from the orphanage, that I realized how far from home I was.
It was funny really, because I had never thought of the orphanage as home, until I had left it. My friends, at such a distance, suddenly seemed like sisters; missing appendages.
I guess it didn't help that I didn't know any of the faces staring blankly. I had to have been spoiled back at home, because, not a single girl in my dormitory even gave my shrieks and sniffles any consent. Needless to say, i ended up crying myself to sleep.
When I finally woke up the next morning, my eyes were sore and crusted over from my tears. The sun light on my eyelids was so warm and comforting that I didn't want to move. A nice cat nap would have been great. But, as it was, when I rolled over, I realized I was the only one still in the room.
"Crap."
I got up, moving quickly. I threw the covers back on my bed, not really realizing how lumpy they looked at the time. I threw off my night gown without a second thought and slipped into the school uniform wondering frantically what time classes started. My panic sending any fatigue back to where ever it had come from in the first place. I had finished lacing my shoe and was attempting to do something with my hair when I heard the strangest noise I had ever heard.
It was a mix between a call and a shout, with a grating sound reminding me of rock on rock, followed by a horrid "oof!" and a sound that made me cringe- skin on rock.
I threw open the dorm door in time to see Fred land in a heap at the end of the stairca- stair-slide. The stair case had ended up as a stair slide. It had prevented him from reaching my dorm door, the first on the staircase- er slide...
"Fred!" I attempted the slide on my feet, but ended up in a four legged crouch by my friend's head.
He looked up, blushing slightly. "'M alright, Cal."
"What on earth just happened?" I demanded as he righted himself.
"You missed Oliver's date," He pointed to the couch where Oliver was slumped, somehow managing to sleep through Fred's dilemma. "And I was worried... some of the girls who left early for breakfast had been complaining about a girl having had night terrors all night."
I suddenly felt Fred's warm hand on mine. I looked up into his deep brown eyes, my own suddenly watering. I wasn't alone and then impact hit me like a freight train.
"Was it the -" When I had suddenly thrown my arms around his neck, he'd been so taken aback that he had to clear his throat and start over. "Was it because of the dark?"
I let go of his neck and nodded slowly. "And a bit of home sickness."
He smiled at me warmly and patted my shoulder awkwardly, still blushing from my random hug. "Know how that goes."
I resisted the sudden urge to hug him again and he nodded over at Oliver, sending my heart pounding. "Looks like you weren't the only one who couldn't sleep last night. Better go wake up Sleeping Beauty. Breakfast is over in half an hour."
I gave Fred one last smile before standing and offering him a hand up. He didn't take it however, and shoved himself upright using the floor. I walked tensely over to the couch where Oliver was slouched, sound asleep. His sleeping form sent shivers up and down my spine.
He looked so peaceful and fragile. As if all it would take to send him away forever would be one simple touch... And yet, that was all I wanted to do- reach out and touch him.
The thought made me feel guilty. I jumped and looked around, but it was just the two of us- me and Oliver. Even Fred had conveniently disappeared. Oliver and I had the entire common room to ourselves.
Out of nervous habit, I scanned the room once more, taking in the study tables at the back of the room near the boys' staircase, the chess tables near the girls', the open area around the back side of the Fat Lady's portrait and the Message Board, and finally, the warm fireplace before me. Oliver and I were sitting on a large couch with room for about six. A coffee table was before us, with two over-sized chairs on either end, cheerfully capping off the cozy little area nicely.
My eyes landed back on Oliver's vulnerable form and I realized how hungry I suddenly was. I thought about just getting up and leaving but I couldn't do that to him. He either got up extremely early or hadn't slept, but either way, he'd still been waiting for me. Half of me just wanted to sit there and watch him sleep.
The other rumbled with hunger. So I leaned forward, feeling as guilty as a child sneaking a cookie from the cookie jar as I tapped him lightly on the shoulder. He jumped instantly at my touch, making me blush.
"Huh?" He demanded, sitting up and rubbing his eyes.
"Morning, Sleepy Head," I said playfully.
"Cali?" His eyes widened. "I'm sorry! Our before breakfast date-"
I chuckled, cutting him off, drawling his eyes to my own. "S'okay, Oliver. You can show me around tomorrow... under one condition."
"One condition?"
My stomach grumbled and we both laughed before I added, "Okay, two. One: you actually have to get some sleep tonight."
"And two?"
"We make it to breakfast."
He smiled at me. "Deal," he said before taking my hand. "I know a short cut."
We made the last fifteen minutes of breakfast. I was amazed to see that the tables were just as full as the night before. But my surprise was easily forgotten thanks to my hunger. As if I hadn't eaten enough last night or something. I began eating as soon as i sat down next to Fred.
He smiled at me, and George rolled his eyes towards my hair.
"Crap!" I reached up and realized it was only half up thanks to Fred's stair stunt.
I was attempting to fix it when both Fred and Oliver stopped me. "It looks cute!" they chimed, surprising just about everyone at the table.
Franki rolled her eyes and sat her toast back down on her plate. She then proceeded to leave Peter's side and walked around the table so she was standing on our side, before she began to fix my hair for me. "Let me get it, Cali."
"Gracias, Franki."
"No hay de que, Amiga."
It was just as she was finishing up that Professor Dumbledore stood up and the Great Hall became silent. "Welcome to our first day of classes. This is a day to make lasting impressions and inexcusable mistakes, fore all will be forgiven today. But, before you can do either, you will need your schedules, so if all students would kindly return to their own tables..."
It was at that point that I realized that Lee Jordan wasn't at our table. My head instantly turned towards the Ravenclaw table, and sure enough, Lee Jordan was just leaving Kelsey's side. I caught her eye and waved frantically. She smiled and waved back in the same spastic manor.
Surprisingly, Lee Jordan wasn't the only student sitting at the wrong table. Several Ravenclaws left from either the Slytherin or Gryffindor tables and a ton of Hufflepuffs suddenly populated a recently empty table. As the students returned Dumbledore waited patiently.
Once the commotion was over he continued, "The Head of Houses would like to pass out your schedules."
Professor McGonagall was our Head of House and I asked Oliver how long she'd had the position. He had simply shrugged, muttering something about how she was nearly as old as Dumbledore. "She's the Deputy Headmistress, too," He added as she handed the both of us our schedules. "Thank you, Ma'am."
"Wood," she nodded, about to walk past, then paused, whispering; "You had better not skip out on tryouts..."
Oliver smiled at her as she walked away. I gave him a questionable look and her replied, "She can't stand to lose to Slytherin."
I rolled my eyes, not actually knowing what he was talking about, but fearful to admit to it. Instead of asking about it further, I turned to my schedule. I smiled as I read through it. I had potions first with Slytherin- not my reason for smiling I assure you-, transfiguration with Ravenclaw, Herbology with Hufflepuff and then Charms with Ravenclaw today. Tomorrow I'd have double Potions, flying- which was held with all first years- and double Defense Against the Dark Arts. Each day afterward had two different classes that were doubled in length.
I couldn't wait.
After about two weeks time and Oliver's help, I had managed to find my way around Hogwarts. I was no longer always ending up in the dead end corridor on the third floor, or the Gryffindor Common Room. I had also found out which classes I liked, and those of which I didn't.
Charms and Transfiguration were my favorites where as Potions and Herbology I could do without. Potions because of the teacher- who in their right mind could like Snape?- and Herbology? Hello... I don't exactly have a green thumb when it comes to normal- er, Muggle plants, let alone ones that cry or tend to bite you...
It was right as I was finishing my dreaded Potions' essay in study hall before dinner that Oliver bounded over to me. He had been excited all day, not eating, barely talking.
"Are you coming after dinner?" He whispered.
"What?" I asked, laughing softly at his manor. It was just too cute to over look.
"Are you coming to watch the Qudditch try outs?" He elaborated.
"I can do that?"
He nodded. "But just for your House... Say you'll come!"
"What?" Franki demanded, coming up behind him. "I'm not good enough anymore?"
Oliver blushed, unsure of how to answer the question, but Franki just smiled shaking her head. "I'm just kidding, Oliver."
"You'll be there, Franki?" I asked, still not knowing how to respond to Oliver's exclamation.
"Sí," she nodded.
"All right! I'll be there."
"Count us in," Fred, George, and Lee Jordan all cheered.
"Okay," Oliver looked so excited he almost appeared feverish.
"Hey," I said, catching his arm as he walked past me. "Have you eaten anything at all today?"
When he shook his head I shot him a dirty look.
"Ooo," Fred sang cheerfully. "Looks like someone's getting force-fed tonight."
Oliver chuckled, actually smiling. "I might need it."
I rolled my eyes, but an hour later, that's exactly what I was doing. Kelsey was sitting across the table, next to Lee Jordan. The Twins were across from him, on my right, and Oliver was on my left. Peter and Franki next to Kelsey. I was halfway done with dinner when I realized he wasn't eating.
"Oliver..."
"Cali, I'm not hungry."
I glared at him and he flinched.
"If I eat, I'll just throw it up later," and it really did appear as if he was telling the truth. He looked greener than the pea soup sitting in front of him.
"Oliver! You haven't eaten all day! If you don't eat something you're not going to make it to tryouts! Or worse! You'll pass out, fifty feet in the air or something!"
I must have sounded convincing because he finally reached for the soup. I turned to Peter, who was trying out tonight as well.
"I'm eating!" He declared before pointing to Franki. "She beat you to it."
"So," George demanded. "You gonna make sure Fed, Lee and I eat when we try out next year."
"You bet!" Franki, Kelsey and I told him before we all broke out into a fix of giggles.
"Do you two have your own brooms?" Fred asked, talking to Peter and Oliver.
Peter shook his head. "I think my neighbors would all die of shock if I were to practice in my backyard. But Dad said he'd get me one if I made the team. He'll even put an illusionary barrier around the house for me."
"I've got my own, but it's not here. If I make the team, Mum'll send it in by Post."
The Morning Post had been amazing. I saw hundreds of thousands of owls fly in at breakfast. They had all been muttering the names of the students they had been looking for. But there had been so many that it was just mind blowing. I'd even managed to catch one and write a quick note on a napkin to the girls back home. Oliver had laughed at my expression for that first sighting as well, but try as I might, I couldn't see an owl carrying Oliver's broomstick to school.
"What's the illusionary barrier for?" I asked.
"Peter lives in a Muggle Neighborhood." Franki explained.
"My Mum wanted to be closer to her Mum," Peter shrugged. "Dad was happy to oblige."
I nodded as the plates cleared. "So, is you're mum a..."
"Muggle-born Witch," He smiled. "She and Dad met here at Hogwarts. Your folks?"
"Dunno... wish I did though."
Oliver stood up, looking nervous and unsteady. I took his hand, standing beside him, only coming up to his shoulder in height. "It'll be okay. You'll see. One day, you're even going to be the Gryffindor Quidditch Captain!"
"If you say so..." But he was smiling again.
We sat in the stands, tall boxes with wooden bleachers that lined the entire Pitch. I'd been to the Quidditch Pitch before for flying classes, but never in the stands. It was exhilarating being up so high, almost like flying, simply missing that horrid, stomach churning feeling of falling to one's death. I was a natural born spectator.
Quidditch wasn't as confusing as Franki claimed, but that might have been because I actually paid attention during Flying lessons... I was able to follow what was going on so far, then again it was only try outs. After about thirty minutes in, I could honestly tell you that Oliver had to be the best guy trying out for Keeper. He could use some work, but hey, nobody's perfect, right? And it looked like Peter just might have a spot, considering there was more than one position for chaser open.
Tryouts lasted an hour, and McGonagall ended the ordeal by telling the students surrounding her and Madam Hooch, "The results will be posted on the Notice Board in your Common room at the end of the week. You are all dismissed."
Author's Notes: I'm sorry about the late update, anything that is wrong either gramatically or spelling wise, and anything else that is wrong :) - All mistakes are my own and I claim them readily. Oh, and thanks for reading!