Chapter 17

I ran up to my dormitory first, rummaging through my trunk until I found what I needed. Then I ran over to the boys' dormitories and knocked hard on the sixth years' door. There was no answer, so, slamming it open, I went right in.

Predictably, Lee was sitting in a crumpled heap on his bed, staring at the floor.

"Hey, Lee," I said briskly, going over to him. "Snap out of it."

He looked up but didn't meet my eyes. "What do you want, Angelina?"

"I want you to come down to - "

"Forget it," he said flatly, cutting me off. "The twins already tried. I'm not budging from this spot."

"The twins botch everything up," I told him. "I'll get you to come down. You'll see."

He just rolled his eyes at me went back to staring at the floor. "Go back to Fred and leave me alone."

"Shut up and listen. You're being such a baby. I mean - look, Lee - I know. Okay? I know."

He said nothing, but I could tell he was listening.

"You like Alicia," I said. "And don't even bother denying it because we really don't have time for that."

He seemed to struggle for a minute with what to say. "What are you - that's - of course no - "

"Didn't I tell you not to deny it? You wanted to ask her to the ball and Eric beat you to it. And I am sorry about that - really. It totally sucks, but moping around isn't going to help anything."

Lee gave a false laugh. "Ange, you've got it all wrong. Alicia and I are just friends. I was just mad because she's dating such a jerk - "

"Whatever," I rolled my eyes. "We both know you're lying, but it really doesn't matter. The point is that you can't keep moping around up here. Alicia needs you."

He went very still. "What?"

"I mean that you were right - well, so I was, sort of - but, anyway, Eric is a complete - "

Lee offered a suitable noun.

I nodded. "And now she's upset."

He sat up. "Wait, what?"

"Eric only asked Alicia out to make Kristin Doyle jealous."

Lee swore. "I told you, didn't I?"

"Yeah, but he's not the only one that hurt her," I said. "She's been really cut up about you ignoring her. She cried when she realised you didn't get her anything for Christmas. I mean, I don't want to get your hopes up or anything. I dunno if she'll ever see you as anything more than a friend, but I know she needs you."

"Angelina, I really don't - "

"Save it for someone who'll believe it," I said. "Which is probably only Alicia."

"I did get her something for Christmas, though," he mumbled.

"I know," I handed him the necklace. "I repaired it for you."

"How did you - "

"I saw you last night. Now go get ready, Lee."

"I never said I was coming."

"Oh, really?" I asked him sarcastically. "You're going to let Alicia sit down there and cry?"

He shoved me out into the corridor and shut the door. "I hate you, Johnson."

I grinned. "Told you I'd get you to come."

He didn't answer, but emerged a minute later with his dress robes on. "You remind me a lot of Fred, sometimes, you know that?"

"Is that supposed to me a compliment or an insult?"

He shrugged as we started down the stairs. "I dunno. You're both stubborn, kind of annoying, total busybodies. Never shut your mouths..."

I scowled at him. "I don't think - "

He interrupted me. "Damn, I just remembered - I have to go get something."

"What?"

He didn't answer me; having already started running back to his dormitory.

"Lee, if you're going back to moping, I swear I'll - "

"Merlin's pants, Angelina, no need to get your knickers in a twist," Lee said, turning around, already halfway up the stairs. "I just have to get something for, well, Hale."

"What, did you get him a Christmas present?" I joked, but he didn't elaborate further, instead continuing up the stairs. A minute later he returned with a small parcel, and thrust it into my hands.

"Here - it's a regift, actually," Lee said, and then, seeing my confusion, added, "From Fred and George."

"Oh," I groaned, finally catching on.

"Got there?" he smirked. "You always were a bit slow..."

"Shut it," I told him. "What is it, exactly, though?"

"The twins can explain," Lee said, walking faster. "I want to see how Alicia is." He looked over at me in blushed faintly. "Not that - "

"I already told you there was no point in denying it."


The entrance hall was very much like I had left it - Alicia was still crying, Katie was still sitting next to her, and Maya was still standing above them.

It had gotten louder, though, because the twins had now joined the attempt to comfort Alicia.

" - then we'll lock him in a room with fifty Dungbombs - "

" - and Snape - "

" - plus whatever monster Hagrid's currently in love with - "

" - add to that Percy, being his wonderful prattish self - "

Alicia gave a dry sob.

"Fred, George - shut up," I commanded. "Alicia, look who I brought down to see you."

She lifted her head up from her knees, her eyes instantly lighting up at the sight of him. "Lee?"

He gave a wane smile. "Uh - yeah."

"Your artful oratory skills confound us all," Fred said gleefully, walking over to his best friend and pounding him on the back.

"Good to see you've joined the world of the living again, mate," George grinned at Lee.

Lee gave them both a glare, which only served to make them more pleased with themselves.

"Well, we'll let you two catch up," I said, and Alicia gave me a watery smile. "C'mon, Fred and George, we've got work to do. Maya and Katie - you can help too, if you like."

"I've been looking for you, my lovely," Fred said as the four of them followed me up a flight of stairs and into an empty classroom.

"Missed me?" I grumbled. "What were telling Alicia, by the way?"

"Just explaining what we're going to do to get back at Hale," George answered.

"In theory," Fred sighed, "Though I can't tell you how much I'd love to put old Snape and Percy in a room with Dungbombs and mad creatures and some sort of being that was a cross between Hermione Granger and Lord Voldemort... think you missed that one..."

"I did," I groaned. "Thank Merlin you filled me in. It would have been terrible to have missed having that image in my mind - "

"You have to admit, it'd be the worst thing ever, though," Fred said earnestly, "I mean - annoying and evil, bushy-haired and noseless, obsessed with House-Elf Liberation and the mass killing of Muggle-borns..."

"You really seem to have thought this through," I told him wearily.

He gave me a wicked grin, "Oh you have no idea - "

"You've got a sick mind, Weasley."

Maya was staring at the two of us. "Okay, no offense, but you two are the strangest couple I've ever seen."

Katie shook her head. "Uh-uh. That's definitely me and Franklin. Who I should probably go find, actually..." She sighed, but didn't move.

"No," Fred and I said together. "It's definitely us."

"Okay," George rolled his eyes. "Can we get back on task here? What exactly are we supposed to be doing, Angelina?"

"Getting revenge on Hale," I told them. Fred opened his mouth and I cut him off. "Nope."

"I didn't even say anything yet!" he protested.

"I don't care. The answer's still no."


I'd forgotten how much fun Angelina and the twins are to write. Sorry for the long delay (again!), but I think updates will be quicker now. I know I've been promising that for a while, but it's summer now, and I have been writing a lot of Harry Potter fanfic lately, just not on this piece. So... I'll try to get Chapter 18 up ASAP, 'kay?

Please review!