Nadine couldn't imagine waking up in a happier mood. After all she was dating Harry Potter! Well perhaps that was a bit much to say for just the moment but still, she had a shot. And Harry seemed to be nervous around her. Knowing boys that was a good thing. After all he said he wanted to ask her out himself but was too nervous too. He was nervous about asking her out. Her. Nadine Longbottom. The thought made her ecstatic. It was almost like he didn't know that she was head over heels for him. How he had this effect, without even trying, confused her but in the end she decided she didn't care.
The other girls looked at her with a mixture or jealousy and shock, news having spread fast about her hooking the most eligible bachelor in the school. She would even be going to the ball as his date. "How did she get Harry? Unless he's the type to like flat and chubby" someone said with a snicker. For her part Nadine kept dressing focusing instead on seeing Harry at breakfast. "You Patil, maybe Harry just likes a girl for her personality. You wouldn't know much about that though so I understand your frustrations" came Nadine's voice as she looked over her shoulder and returned to dressing.
"Bloody hell. You just stood up for yourself" she said mentally, her face split ear to ear with a wide smile. This was a first. She didn't just turn the other cheek and she gave it right back. The other girls were stunned and Padma Patil the most who scowled angrily at the back of the girl who was supposed to shrink into herself at the insult. Finally Nadine slipped into her robes and began walking towards the stairs, a wicked smirk developing on her face as she decides to get a little payback on the girls who had helped make her school years miserable. "Sorry ladies but it looks like you'll have to have the crumbs. I've already got the best piece. Looks like big girls do win after all" she teased knowing that her chubbiness was always their default insult when it came to here. "Padma, maybe you can ask out Weasley. It might be good for you to have a date where the boy is only concerned about getting into your knickers. Then again, every date of yours is like that" she said before walking down the stairs, exiting the dorms and robbing her of a chance to respond.
She heard hooting and hollering from behind her, some girls screeching in anger and rage while other like Katie Bell and Hermione giggled. Lavender Brown was the one who had laughed the most and hardest. Nadine knew she always liked Lavender. There had to be something more under that exterior of cliquishness and airheadedness. Nadine walked alright through the portrait, saying the password with a bit of boredom as she exited. Why was she like this? It was strange to say the least. But if it kept her happy she didn't care. She liked being assertive and she was tired of being stepped on by people like Padma Patil. She decided that if she was going to be Harry's girlfriend he couldn't be defending her all the time and as a matter of fact she needed to have his back. That meant that insults wouldn't send her into a fit of tears anymore. If someone said something to her she would bite back just as hard. If Someone cast a spell at her she would make sure they regretted it.
"Look out Hogwarts" she said to herself as she opened the doors to the dining hall. "Here I come". Everyone saw her moving towards the Gryffindor table and even how different she was. Her hips swayed gently as she moved to her position alongside an already sitting Harry at his position at the table. "Good morning Harry" she teases gently into his ear, before pecking his cheek and leaning onto his shoulder. "How did you sleep sweetie?" She cooed gently, her hand trailing over his chest. Harry smiled, his face bright red. Regardless her pulls her closer, his arm going around her waist as he kissed her forehead gently. "It was….well it uhh….it was good. How about yours?" He asked as Nadine herself fought the urge to blush. She wouldn't go back to being the nervous girl. In fact, she thought to herself, 'no reason I shouldn't be in charge here' she thinks as she reaches for a biscuit.
Down the table Ginny and Ron Weasley fume, angry for two different reasons. "That fame seeking git. Who does he think he is replacing us with Longbottom? At least have the guts to go for a real woman" comes Ron's voice in between stuffing his face with food. Ginny, while disgusted with her brother's eating habits, couldn't help but agree. "If he wanted a date to the ball all he needed to do was ask me. He never would've forgotten our date. He really thinks that cow Longbottom is better than me?" She fumes, poking at her eggs. Hermione however, just sat with her boyfriend, too afraid to disagree. After all, the black eye he'd given her when she tried to side with Harry made her less likely open her mouth. Secretly she was happy that Harry was happy and wanted to join in on that happiness. After all she had been best friends with Harry since first year. She wasn't happy that the school just decided to abandon him as they did but…..she herself felt alone and isolated. How could she go to Harry now and tell him about what was happening? What could he do? He had much more important things to worry about than her and Ron.
She also told herself that she did deserve it. As Nadine had proven you're supposed to stick up for your significant other and she hadn't done that. Ron also did apologize, he said it wouldn't happen again. She loved him, didn't she? She just hoped Harry was happy and safe and for some reason she knew that because of Nadine he would be. She returned to eating, quietly agreeing with Ron. "Yes he's a Ponce" she said simply.
"So Harry" began Nadine smiling up at her boyfriend as she had finally detached herself from him. She hated it but she also didn't want to be clingy. Boys did need their space after all. "I had a dress sent from home. My grandmother was very happy that you are escorting me" she added as she used a magically conjured butter knife to spread some jelly over her biscuit. Harry smiled at her and nodded. "I'm glad Nadine" he says simply, smiling at his girlfriend, she was his girlfriend right? It seemed that Nadine had basically told him what was going to happen up to this point. That left another question. What happened to the shy Nadine he had seemed to know all his life. He contemplated these changes as he watched her, delicately munching a biscuit.
When did Nadine turn into such a beautiful woman. Her face was full and cute, her nose remaining slightly upturned. And, well he was a guy so he noticed her body, even through the robes. She hadn't advanced as much as the other girls but she had definitely grown. She was actually a lot curvier than the other girls in his year if he thought about it honestly. While not too large in the chest she definitely had a beautiful rear end. Harry had actually wound up ogling it once when he saw her on a Hogsmeade weekend. She really did look good in jeans, he mused to himself.
"Is there something on my face Harry?" She asked innocently, inwardly shocked that Harry was actually checking her out. Her, plain Jane Longbottom. It was enough to almost make her blush. She couldn't. Not right now though. She had to keep being in control. At least for a little bit. "Uhh no, not at all. Just kind of….." he says trailing off before turning back to his food and trying to hide his blush. How did he just think he could tell a girl he was checking her out? Harry almost hit himself in the head. Unfortunately he had never had a girlfriend before and didn't know what was good and what wasn't. "I'll uhh see you in Herbology" he said quickly before getting up and placing his hands on her shoulders. He kissed her cheek and almost scurried off leaving a very happy Nadine Longbottom to finish her meal.
"Well, well, well. Looks like Potter finally sunk down to his level completely eh boys? Dating Longbottom? Imagine how ugly their children will be. How stupid as well" comes the taunting voice of Draco Malfoy and his two goons, both loudly laughing at the stupid joke. Nadine just sighed and stood up. "What do you want ferret?" She asked making reference to how Malfoy had been turned into a ferret by mad eye Moody. The blonde bully instantly scowled. "Don't talk to me like that you cow. Especially not to your betters" he said to which Nadine smiled, her wand secretly slipping into her hand. "Harry is the only better I answer to Malfoy. Now I suggest you leave. I'd ask for an apology but it isn't worth my time" she said before Malfoy laughed.
"What makes you thi-" he says before being interrupted, a blast from Nadine's wand throwing him and his two goons into the table, knocking Crabbe and Goyle out and spilling pumpkin juice all over Ginny and Ron. "Oi you-" a wand was instantly pointed at Ron. "Shut up Wesley. This is between me and Malfoy" she said before walking over to the now angered and disorientated Malfoy. She leaned down, sitting on her knee before letting a wicked smile break out on to her face. "Malfoy, if you ever insult Harry and I's future children ever again the next thing I'll do to you will make you regret being born. Understand?" She asked simply.
Malfoy just nodded, horrified at the new Longbottom he saw before him. He would get revenge but only after reassessing the situation. "Good" she said with a smile, patting him on the head before she walks away, avoiding the rush of teachers heading over to intercept the situation. Harry and Her kids, she thought. Yes, she liked the thought of that.