Chapter 8
Alicia did apologize to the twins for yelling at them later. She also told them that she was going with Hale no matter what, and she didn't want to hear anything else from them on the subject. Rather surprisingly, they listened to her, and said nothing more about it, but I don't think they liked it any more than I did.
However, there was nothing we could do about it, and anyway, even if he was a bully, even if he did use people (which I fully believed he did), surely he wouldn't hurt Alicia. He was the one who'd asked to go with her; he had wanted to go with her. It wasn't as if she was stuck with him forever either; it was just one dance.
I told myself all those things again and again, but still- it didn't feel right. Eric was now spending every Arithmancy class shooting Alicia with these big, soppy grins over Kristen Doyle's shoulder. Alicia practically wet herself every time he grinned at her, and even I had to admit he looked really cute. For some reason, though, every time he smiled at her, it made me feel sick to my stomach.
****
"Hey, do any of you fancy a brownie?" Kenneth Towler asked Lee, Fred, George, Alicia, and I on Christmas Eve in an extremely loud and crowded common room. Almost all of the older students (and even a few third years like the twins' younger sister, Ginny) had stayed over Christmas for the Yule Ball. The five of us were all just lounging around, relaxing before the Yule Ball tomorrow. Lee and Fred were playing a game of wizard chess on the floor: George was sitting next to Fred, watching the game; Alicia was draped over a chair, flipping through Witch Weekly, and I was reading Quidditch through the Ages for the hundredth time.
"Fred? Fancy a brownie? They're really good…"
Alicia reached out to take one. They did look good, but before I could grab one as well, Fred snorted. "Yeah, right, Kenneth. There's no way I'm taking one of those, no matter how good they are. I don't fancy being a canary on Christmas Eve." Alicia snatched her hand back, apparently horrified at the idea of almost eating a canary cream.
Looking disappointed, Kenneth slouched away. Fred watched him go, shaking his head. "Stupid git. Does he really think he's going to get me with my own product?"
Lee chuckled. "He still wants to get you back for putting Bulbadox Powder in his pajamas."
Lee was back to being his old cheerful self, except for the way he was treating Alicia. He refused to talk to her directly unless it was absolutely necessary. (It killed him in Transfiguration when McGonagall told him to, "Tell Miss Spinnet not to flourish her wand so much.") He wouldn't look her in the eye either. I'd tried to talk to him about it all, but he walked away before I could get very far.
Alicia was really upset about it all, even though she was adamantly denying it. She was now refusing to even try to talk to Lee, because it was "his problem." She still didn't know what his problem was though, or, at least, I didn't think she did. She was normally good with feelings, relationships, and stuff, but I think this was just too close to home for her to see clearly.
"Yeah, I know he wants revenge on Fred," George was saying. "But did he really think that we wouldn't notice he bought about ten Canary Creams earlier this morning?"
Alicia laughed. "Did he really? This morning?"
"Yep," Fred answered. "I mean, how thick does he think we are?"
"Well, he wasn't exactly impressed when he heard you each only got three O.W.L.s," Lee put in, staring at the chessboard in concentration.
"Yeah, and I heard, Kenneth got ten of 'em," I added, putting my book down.
"Really?" George said sarcastically. "Never heard that before."
"Ken's very modest about stuff like that," Lee snorted, as he finally moved a pawn.
"It's funny, really," Fred said thoughtfully, "How much grades mean to some people."
"Yes, well," I rolled my eyes, "They do tend to mean more to people who actually study, rather than play Exploding Snap all day with their Charms book in front of them."
"In our defense," Fred said as the rest of us laughed, "The Charms book was open."
"Yeah- to the same page all day," Alicia giggled, stretching out her legs.
"Oh, yeah," George said reminiscently, "It was open to the page on Cheering Charms. I got full marks on the question on them on the practical."
"The sad thing is," said Lee, waiting for Fred to make his move, "That you two are actually intelligent. I mean, look at all the stuff you've invented! And you used to get really good marks in your first and second years…."
"True, that," George grinned, "But when we actually had to start putting a real effort in schoolwork, Fred and I decided it wasn't worth it."
"Personally, I think the sad thing is that a kid like Kenneth, who got 10 O.W.L.s can't even pull off a prank on a poor soul like me who only got three," Fred said as he moved his bishop forward, capturing Lee's pawn. "It just goes to show you, doesn't it? All those tests they throw at you, they really don't mean a thing, do they?"
"Well, it's not exactly easy to pull a prank on us, is it?" George said, smiling deviously.
"Has anyone ever gotten you two back for anything?" Lee asked, grinning.
"Uh, I dunno," Fred frowned. "I don't think so."
"Yeah, I can't think of anyone either."
"Hello?" I said, throwing down my book again. "What about me? I got you back for dumping purple goo on me on our very first day here!"
The twins turned to look at me. Slowly, George nodded. "And that's exactly why we love you, Angelina."
We all laughed, including George, as though it was a joke, but, somehow, I don't think it was.
Hey all,
I know this is a bit of a pointless chapter, but I just couldn't cut it! I liked it too much! That doesn't mean you have to, though. Please review, and tell me what you think, and feel free to criticize. Chapter Nine, if you care, should be up today or tomorrow.
Thanks to all who have reviewed!
Julia
