Chapter 6
As it was a Saturday, I was supposed to be able to sleep in that morning, something Lily did not find possible. She woke up at 7 every morning, no exceptions. So, when I woke up at 9:30 the Saturday before she had been up for 2 and a half hours already. That morning she wasn't waiting. At 7:30 I was roughly woken by Lily shaking me.
"You couldn't have waited?" I asked annoyed.
"The waiting was killing me!" I threw a pillow over my head.
"Hurry up, if we go now we'll be the only ones in the Great Hall and can talk privately." I stumbled out of my bed and grabbed some clothes and headed to the bathroom with my toothbrush. After brushing my teeth and hair, I threw on a striped turtleneck sweater, some old, faded jeans and my turquoise high tops. Lily was still sitting on her bed waiting for me.
"Make-up?" Lily asked.
"It's only breakfast, and I thought we were in a rush!"
"Fine, let's go then!" She ran out of the room. I grabbed my bag and followed her out the door.
There was virtually no one in the Great Hall. When we sat down breakfast enough for two appeared on the table. I'd spent a month at Hogwart's and I still wasn't used this magically appearing food. Canada was a mostly Muggle based country so I was still used to hard labour. House elves had left Canada years before the Free Elf Act (A/N: I made that up, take it as you will I imagine Hermione invented it.), all the more reason to love Hogwart's.
I was waiting for Lily to start pounding me with questions, when the face I loved came strolling up. Unfortunately, I knew exactly why he was here and I wasn't looking forward to that confrontation.
"Hey girls, up early are we?" he asked.
"Not when you live with Lily Potter." I said laughing. Hugo laughed too, Lily just looked annoyed.
"Hey Christina, could I talk to you for a second?" Hugo asked.
"Sure," I said trying to hide the weariness in my voice.
"Um, alone?" He asked looking at Lily.
"Anything you can say to Christina you can say to me Hugo." She said calmly. I shot her a dirty look.
"Fine, you've got 5 minutes, and that's it!" She took her plate and moved to the very end of the long table.
"Well..." I said waiting.
"You know my cousin, Albus, right?"
"Sure, I went to the library with him last night." Obviously I had to act innocent; I couldn't let him know I'd eavesdropped on their conversation.
"Okay, I'm not going to beat around the bush, he likes you." I acted as surprised as I could, I couldn't tell if Hugo had fallen for it, his face was oddly hard, not showing any emotion.
"He asked me to ask you out for him, but-" I cut him off.
"I'll only say yes face to face, you can tell him to get some nerve and ask me himself."
"I already told him that this morning, almost word for word!" Hugo said, his face finally showing some emotion.
"Well, great minds think alike!" I said with a grin, he gave me that crooked grin, and then ruined our moment.
"You know how I'm dating your cousin" Hugo asked. I didn't bother to act like I was okay with it.
"Ugh, yes"
"What? Is she too good for me?" He asked looking worried.
"Actually, it's vice versa. I didn't take you as a lover as all things slutty and blonde."
"How can you say that about your own cousin?" He asked in disbelief.
"Because it's true." I said waving over Lily.
"Who said I was done talking to you?" Hugo asked annoyed.
"Who said I cared?" I asked equally annoyed as Lily sat down beside me.
"What did I miss?" She said sipping her pumpkin juice.
"Oh, just the fact that your brother is asking me out." I told her. She did a classic spit take all over Hugo. I was holding my sides I was laughing so hard.
"Please tell me you're joking!" Lily said after I had stopped laughing and preformed a basic drying spell on Hugo.
"Well, unless your cousin here likes to make early morning pranks, then no."
"Please God, no!" Lily said putting her head in her hands.
"Unfortunately, yes. I'm going to my room. If Albus decides to pluck up the courage to ask me himself, let me know." I said. I was actually headed to find Rose. Hopefully she would be in the common room and she could help me decide what to do about Albus. Luckily when I arrived at the common room Rose was the only one there. She was sitting on the couch doing what I expected was homework. I slumped down beside her and sighed.
"Hi Christina," she said with a grin, not taking her eyes off her book.
"Could I ask for some advice?" I asked.
"Sure."
If you were in the position where your best friend's brother asked you out but you liked their cousin, what would you do?"
"Albus asked you out?" Rose asked, sounding only mildly surprised.
"Well, not technically. Hugo asked me out for him but I told him that I wouldn't answer until he could ask me himself."
"Sounds like Albus," Rose said with a chuckle. "Do you like Albus?"
"Sure, he's funny and cute, but like I said I like his cousin."
"How did you figure it out?" I asked.
"Any cousin of Albus' is a cousin of mine except for Hugo; you would have said your cousin."
"Stop being so smart!" I said.
"Sorry, it's genetic." Rose said going back to her book. I sighed.
"Do what your heart tells you." Rose said her nose buried in her book. My heart told me not to hurt his feelings, he was so sweet, and maybe I could learn to love him. I did know that it would probably be awkward for a while, but I wanted to give him a chance. I was feeling a little alone so I decided to write to Beth.
Dear B,
How is it up there? Cold? Sorry I haven't written in a while, lots of homework. I have a pretty personal question for you. A boy about 2 years older than me is about to ask me out. I know because he had his cousin ask me out for him. Don't worry I told him to tell him that I won't answer until he asks me himself. As you know, I have never had a boyfriend, I'm begging for your help and advice. I've got nothing really to ask you right now because he hasn't asked me out yet but you should anticipate another letter soon.
Love,
C
After I'd sent the letter it was about time for lunch so I reluctantly headed down to the Great Hall. When I got there Lily, Hugo and Albus were sitting with each other, Lily sitting facing them. I readied myself and went over to sit beside Lily.
"Hey guys, how's life been treating you today?"
"Great," Hugo answered.
"Fine," Albus said. Lily just gave me a dirty look.
"Poor Lily! What's wrong?" I asked.
"I made the poor choice of hanging out with these two today." I laughed and looked over at the boys. Hugo winked, my heart skipped a beat, and Albus grinned.
"What must you have done to her?" I asked.
"Nothing too bad, I promise." Hugo said, I giggled.
"Um, Christina," Albus said timidly.
"Yah, Albus?" I asked expectantly.
"I was wondering if-" Our food appearing in front of us served as a temporary distraction (A/N: No pun intended, I know it's really not that funny). After we all had our plates filled with food, I decided to get it over with.
"What were you saying, Albus?" I asked.
"I was wondering if you wanted to go to Hogsmeade with me for dinner tonight" He looked mildly terrified.
"I'd love to!" I said with a warm smile and as much excitement as I could muster.
"Great, uh, I'll meet you in the common room for 5, is that all right?" he asked.
"That's perfect." As if on cue, Miranda, Kaylee and Bailey came and sat down.
"Omigosh," Kaylee said "You'll never guess who just asked me out!"
"I'll see you later then?" Albus asked me.
"See you," I said warmly. As soon as he left I asked Kaylee who.
"CHRISTOPHER JORDAN!!!" She nearly screamed.
"When are you going out?" Lily asked.
"Tonight, can you believe it?"
"Me too," I said evenly.
"What, with whom? We should totally double-date!"
"I don't think that's such a good idea..." I said timidly.
"WITH WHO?" Kaylee, Miranda and Bailey asked in unison.
"Albus," Lily answered surprisingly composed. They just stared at us for a minute or two when I said;
"It's rude to stare you know."
"Wait a minute, you're dating her brother?" Bailey asked in shock.
"Who also happens to be Hugo's cousin, which makes us even." I said giving him a look. He looked really embarrassed.
"Lily how are you being so calm about this?" Miranda asked her.
"I can't control who my brother and best friend date, so when they happen to choose each other that doesn't suddenly mean I can." She said.
"Well I've got some homework to do, so I'll see you later." I told them getting up.
"Bye Christina," Hugo said sounding far away.
"I'm coming too!" Lily said. "STAY!" she told the girls. They knew not to cross Lily and nodded grudgingly. We made our way to the portrait of the Fat Lady.
"Password?" She asked us.
"Blast-Ended Skrewt," Lily answered confidently.
"Enter," she said revealing the door to the common room. When Lily saw that there was no one there she started on me.
"Why the hell did you say yes, I was under the impression that you liked Hugo, not MY BROTHER!" she raged.
"Calm down Lily! I do like Hugo but what's the harm? Has Albus ever dated anyone before?" I asked.
"Well there was one time but it didn't end so well..."
"How?" I asked
"She broke his heart!"
"I won't do that to him! I do care about him you know!"
But you will have to hurt him! You don't really like him therefore you will have to dump him sometime!"
"I don't have to! He could dump me first!"
"Not with the way he looks at you, well I guess I'm going to have to make you gorgeous for him!" she said dragging me up to our room.
"Are you bi-polar, or something?" I asked her. When we were in our room she pulled out the only dress I owned. I gave her an exasperated look.
"You've got to be kidding me!" I said.
"You're right; it is way too out of style. You can use one of mine."She pulled out a sparkly, green dress. It made her eyes sparkle and her hair stand out when she wore; it would do the opposite to me.
"NO!" I said to her. "I will look like myself and not like you." I pulled out my best jeans and a teal, scooped necked shirt, which I paired with a matching camisole.
"A camisole, really?" she asked me.
"What you don't want me to be modest for your brother?" I asked laughing.
"Good point, now stay still, I'm going to straighten your hair."
"Magically?" I asked.
"No duh!" she said. When she was done my hair and make-up I had to admit I didn't look half bad.
"He's going to freak!" Lily said looking pleased with her work.
"Let's go show Hugo." She said.
"What!" I said panicked.
"He's a man with an opinion; he'll tell me if I need to change anything." She dragged me down to the common room, where Hugo was playing wizard chess.
"What do you think?" Lily asked him?
"I think I'm losing." He said not taking his eyes away from the game.
"I mean about Christina!" She said annoyed.
"What about her?" he said as he turned around. He stared at me with a smile, until I started to feel like an animal at the zoo.
"Are you going to answer her question or what?" I asked.
"What do you mean?" he asked.
"I made her look gorgeous!" Lily said.
"She's always gorgeous." Hugo said as casually as if he were talking about the weather. I was blushing madly by that point. "You do realize there is still an hour until Albus takes her out for dinner, Lily?"
"I still have to do her nails!"
"Will that that take long?" I asked.
"If we do it right!" she said. I rolled my eyes and Hugo gave me a sympathetic look.
When Lily had finally finished doing my nails she had painted my nails five times then decided to change the colour. She had wanted to change the colour a second time but I told we had five minutes left. I started to get worried during those last few minutes. All kinds of things were going through my head. Lily said I was just nervous but I also felt guilty, sick and even love struck! As I walked down the stairs to meet Albus I wondered what Albus was thinking, if he was as nervous as I was. The expression on his face when I got to the bottom of the stairs made everything I'd done today worth it.
A/N: Sorry I've taken so long to update! School's been really busy. Once again I will say please review and tell me what you want to see in the future.