Aaron and I avoided eachother like the plague for the rest of the week.
"That's horrible! Who does he think he is?" Penelope exclaimed, after I'd finished telling her and Stacey the story two nights later.
"Exactly!" I responded, glad that at least one of my friends has agreed with my perspective of things.
Stacey, however, had an entirely different point of view. "I dunno" she says, a sly smile playing on her perfectly formed lips, "it sounds like a lovers' quarrel to me".
"Lo-lo-lovers' quarrel?" I spluttered, outraged. How can she say that?
"You do know that Irene has a boyfriend, right? Jacob Davis? Remember him?" asked Penelope sarcastically.
Penelope just shrugged, but I could've sworn I saw her smile become even wider. I sat back and remembered the day after my fight with Aaron . I was walking by the place where he sat at breakfast at the same time that Patil had been going over to sit with him. I heard Adnin gasp in surprise.
"WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO YOU?" he exclaimed. Indeed, Aaron had gotten pretty much the same reaction from everyone who saw him that day. The handprint I'd left on his face the night before had not faded. In fact it looked worse; although the crimson it had been the night before had faded to a light pink, I could now see that I'd inadvertently scratched him with my nails in a few places. I admit I was feeling slightly guilty…not guilty enough to apologize, nor speak or look at him though. All the professors pretended they don't see tha angry red mark, and had continued on with lessons normally. Except of course, for Professor Trillium; being Head of Gryffindor, he felt it was his duty of find and punish Aaron's attacker. Rumor has it that the outrage on his face after Aaron had refused to give him the name of the offender was one to match even McGonogall's angriest face. Trillium gave him detention for "not cooperating with a professor", or so that's what I've heard.
When I mentioned this to Penelope and Stacey, none of us could come up with a reason why Aaron wouldn't rat me out to Trillium. He could have gotten my prefect's status taken away, at the very least. I cannot imagine what he would enjoy more than me being so brutally humiliated, except, perhaps my death.
I was still pondering this the next day in Defense Against the Dark Arts. It was becoming into something of an obsession. Why hadn't he told on me?
"Irene?"
"Miss Boscawen?"
"Boscawen!"
Professor Aldridge's angry voice startled me from my thoughts. The entire class is staring at me.
"Would you please pay attention? Unless you think your thoughts have strayed somewhere more important than this lesson?" said the Professor's stern voice.
"No professor" My voice was barely above a whisper, and I could feel my face turning beet red.
"Then could you please tell me the words, in the correct pronunciation, for the spell used to clear a blocked airway"
"Anapneo " I respond, my voice still barely more than a sqeak. Most people had stopped staring by now, but through my peripheral vision, I could see that Aaron was still watching me. I did not meet his gaze this time. Professor Aldridge continued with the lesson, and after a few moments Aaron turned away.
I was beyond relieved when the bell rang, and I had packed my stuff and was out the door before most of the class had woken up enough to realize it was dinner time. Ahead of everyone, I was halfway down to the Great Hall when Stacey and Penelope caught up to me, panting.
"Why are you walking so fast?" panted Stacey.
"Never mind that. What happened in there? Aldridge had to call your name three times!" Penelope inquired.
"I'm just a bit tired is all" I mumbled, not meeting their eyes. For once, they just let it go, and we sat down for dinner. At least I don't have to patrol with - tonight. Maybe if I finish the Transfiguration essay early, I can get some rest and snap back into reality.
As I was walking down to the common room the next morning, I noticed a small crown gathering around the news board. I pushed past a bunch of second-years and read a note in what I assumed was Aaron's handwriting.
Gryffindor Quidditch Team Tryouts
Sunday, September 5th, 8 am.
Bring your own broom if you've got one
Members of last year's team must re-try out with everyone else
Aaron Everard, team captain.
I sighed, I was really going to miss playing on the team.
"Are you goint to try out again?" asked Penelope as she caught up to me walking down the stairs to the Great Hall.
"Of course not" I answer in a bitter voice.
She stayed silent for you few moments. And then, "You shouldn't give up something you love just because of stupid Everard" she finally said.
Sigh. How well that girl could read my mind.
"Don't be ridiculous Penelope. I told you what he said: 'We'll be better off without you. You fly like a muggle.' There's no way he'll let me on the team, even if I do try out. Besides, I never want to speak to him again, that's going to be pretty difficult if I'm playing on his team."
"Playing on whose team?" Asked the newly arrived Jacob as he sat down beside me and slung his arm over my shoulders. The first few days back have been so hectic that I've barely been able to spend any time with him.
"Nobody's. It's nothing." I mumble, not wanting to discuss it any further.
Penelope however, did. She responded for me, obviously hoping Jacob would take her side on the matter. "Irene doesn't want to join the Quidditch team this year because Aaron Everard is captain." She conveniently left out what Aaron had said on the matter. I hadn't told Jacob yet about the fight with Aaron.
"That's stupid, Irene. You shouldn't let that wanker keep you form playing Quidditch." Jacob said, pretty much repeating what Penelope had adviced.
"Everard is not going to let me onto his team. He hates my existence with the same passion that I hate his." I pointed out, getting frustrated.
"Although this may be true" says Stacey, sitting down beside Penelope, "I think he has no choice but to let you on". How did she even know what we're discussing?
"What do you mean?" I ask, bored and irritated.
"I think his love for Quidditch runs deeper than his hatred for you. You're an amazing Chaser. He needs you on the team to win the cup." She responded smartly.
"He can easily find someone as good as me" I scoff.
"I don't think so" says Jacob, catching on. "And if you fly better than the rest of the tryout he can't turn you down. The other team members won't stand for it. They want to win; they don't care if you two have got issues."
"Besides, imagine how much it'll annoy Everard if he's forced to put you on the team!" exclaimed Penelope, a rare gleam in her eyes.
This caught my attention the most. Yes, it would annoy him. A lot. And I really do want to play on the team. I remember last year, Quidditch was one of the only reasons I made it through the year. With OWL's approaching, and with no support from mum and dad, as usual, I was on the verge of having a nervous breakdown almost all the time.
I sigh. "Fine, I'll try out".