Chapter 7:
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, the wonderful J.K. Rowling does!
I was losing my mind when I saw you here,
But you held your pride like you should've held me.
I'm scared to see the ending,
Why are we pretending this is nothing?
I'd tell you I miss you, but I don't know how,
I've never heard silence quite this loud.
Now I'm standing alone in a crowded room and we're not speaking.
And I'm dying to know, is it killing you like it's killing me?
I don't know what to say,
Since the twist of fate when it all broke down.
And the story of us looks a lot like a tragedy now.
-Taylor Swift
Over the next few weeks, Wood was on a mission. The Gryffindor Quidditch team was exhausted because of the many hours of practice they had to endure to prepare for the upcoming game against Slytherin. After two hours of practice on Friday morning the entire team made their way back to the common room.
"Ok! I have a plan! We wake up even earlier tomorrow and we suffocate Wood with his pillow!" Fred said as they entered the common room.
"Oooh! I like it!" Nora said laughing.
"I'll be look-out!" Alicia said full of enthusiasm.
"I'll check if he's asleep." Nora added.
"So you two are leaving the boys with the dirty job?" George teased.
"Potter could explain everything to McGonagall, he's got the cute factor, she won't be able to punish him!" Alicia said as she nudged Harry.
"Anything to get out of practice at five in the morning." Harry said as he yawned.
"Good! Then that's the plan!" Nora said as they all high-fived each other and laughed.
They all dropped off their things upstairs, gathered their books and headed out for breakfast. They sat down at the Gryffindor table and conversation started to pick up.
"Tomorrow's Halloween! And we're going to Hogsmeade so we can load up on candy!" Alicia said laughing.
"True! Liquorice wands here we come!" Nora said as she took a sip of pumpkin juice.
"Your obsession with liquorice wands is almost scary!" Fred said laughing at her.
"Maybe, but you love me anyway!" She said teasingly.
"Of course." He said ruffling her hair as she frowned.
"I can't wait for the feast tomorrow." Wood said as he sat down next to them.
"Why? All the practicing finally catching up to you?" George asked.
"No...I simply enjoy festivities." He stated.
They all shook their heads and laughed at him. That boy was truly crazy about Quidditch.
The Gryffindor fifth years entered Professor Lupin's classroom for DADA. Lupin started talking about inferis and how to get rid of them. Half way through the class Fred passed a piece of paper to Nora who was doodling in the corner of her notebook.
Norabel DeBordeaux not paying attention? What's going on?
I'm just distracted. What about you?
Not much...I've been thinking about the skiving snackboxes, how about nosebleed nougats? It's not as disgusting as puking and teachers won't have a choice to let you out of class if your bleeding all over the place.
That's actually pretty amazing! I like it! But you need to find a way to make the bleeding stop because it could cause some serious trouble.
True...But you could probably help us with that with your healing abilities.
Maybe...But we need to concentrate on our OWLs first!
Yeah, yeah! Don't fret so much!
I don't fret! It's important! And might I add you had a T in History of Magic and P's in both Herbology and Charms!
Thanks for rubbing it in Freckles! And I did get an O in transfig and muggle studies.
And I'm very proud of you Freddykins!
You better be Freckles!
They kept exchanging notes for the rest of the course, occasionally laughing and causing a few heads to turn. As they made their way out of DADA, a few Hufflepuffs seemed to be whispering and chuckling as they passed by.
"What's going on with the Hufflepuffs?" Fred asked.
"No idea." Nora said shrugging her shoulders dismissively as they made their way towards their next class.
The rest of the day went by rather quickly. They studied complicated number charts in arithmancy, studied some disgusting creatures in care for magical creatures and translated an sacred text in ancient runes. The only unusual thing that happened that day was whispering and chuckling coming from most of the students, whether it was in class or in the hallways. As Nora left ancient runes, Cedric passed her without a glimpse.
"I guess you two aren't really on speaking terms yet." Aveline told Nora.
"Not really...It's sad actually that we can't at least be civil." Nora said sighing as she bumped into someone. "Sorry, I'm quite the klutz."
"Watch it Bordeaux!" Keagan said icily.
"It's De Bordeaux! And what the hell is your problem Lawson?" Nora asked as she turned around.
"Being a slut while you date my friend is a problem." He said as he stormed off.
"WHAT?" Nora yelled as she saw Bridget walk out the classroom.
"Hey Bridget!" Nora called.
"You." Bridget said coldly.
"What's going on?"
"Seriously? You sleep with Weasley and then you act all innocent?"
"What are you talking about? I never..." Nora said frowning.
"I don't have time for this... I've gotta get to potions." She said as she walked away.
Nora stood there mortified. After a minute of silence, her expression turned to fury.
"Nora, breathe..." Aveline said sensing her friend's anger.
"Ava, don't tell me to breathe! I've got to talk to Cedric now!" Nora said as she stormed off towards the dungeons. Aveline stood there stunned before heading off towards the common room.
Nora rushed towards the dungeons seeming furious. She could hear Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs whisper which only made her anger grow.
She spotted Cedric who was talking to a group of friends. She shook her head and walked towards him as a Ravenclaw girl chuckled and said:
"Whore!"
Nora simply rolled her eyes and sighed as she arrived in front of Cedric.
"What the bloody hell is your problem?" Nora asked icily.
"What do you mean?" He asked as he passed his fingers through his hair.
"Seriously?" She asked as he simply shrugged his shoulders.
"SERIOUSLY?" She yelled not being able to suppress her emotions any longer. "YOU TOLD YOUR BLOODY FRIENDS I HAD SEX WITH FRED! AND THE ENTIRE SCHOOL IS CALLING ME A WHORE! THAT IS MY PROBLEM!"
"Oh..." He said as students started to gather around them.
"THAT'S ALL YOU HAVE TO SAY FOR YOURSELF? OH?" She screamed, the built-up anger from the past few weeks finally spilling out. "I GET THAT YOU HAVE BLOODY TRUST ISSUES BUT WHERE DO YOU GET OFF TELLING THE ENTIRE SCHOOL?"
"I...I didn't mean..." He tried to say as he kept nervously passing his fingers through is hair.
"I DON'T CARE ABOUT YOUR EXCUSES! FRED AND I HAVE NEVER EVEN KISSED! SO GET OVER IT!"
"Nora...I just..."
"YOU BLOODY GIT! THE ENTIRE SCHOOL THINKS I'M THE ONE RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR BREAK-UP BECAUSE I CHEATED! WHY DON'T YOU JUST SET THE BLOODY RECORD STRAIGHT?"
"Nora..."
"WOULD YOU LIKE TO TELL EVERYONE EXACTLY WHY WE BROKE UP?" Nora said chuckling darkly.
"Nora... I'm sor.."
"DON'T YOU DARE SAY YOU'RE SORRY!" She said rolling her eyes. "YOU LEFT ME...YOU MADE THAT DECISION ALL ALONE BECAUSE I WASN'T GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU!" She yelled tear as tears brimmed her eyes.
"Nora...It's not..." He said as he tried to put his hand or her arm.
"I'm done! I'm done screaming, I'm done blaming myself for this, and I'm definitely done with you. I don't want ANYTHING to do with you. I don't even know who you are anymore." She said looking at him with disappointment and sadness.
"Nora!" He called out to her as she walked away.
As she turned the corner, she bumped into a familiar redhead.
"How much did you hear?" She asked wiping away tears that were threatening to fall.
"More than enough." Fred said as he put his arm around her shoulder. "How about we go for a walk?"
She simply nodded. None of them said a word as they walked through the entrance hall, went out the front door and headed towards the lake. After about ten minutes of walking, Nora finally spoke up.
"How did you know where to find me?" She asked as she looked up at him.
"Ava sent me." He said with a smile.
"Of course she did." Nora said with a chuckle.
"She was just looking out for you." Fred said as he squeezed her shoulder.
"I know." Nora sighed as they arrived near a willow tree next to the lake.
They sat down next to each other and looked out at the lake where the giant squid was playing around in the water. There was a slight October breeze but the sky was clear and blue.
"Are you alright?" Fred asked after a while.
"Actually, for the first time in a while yes." She said as she rested her head on his shoulder.
"Really?" He said smiling.
"Really." She said looking up at him. "I finally have some closure...Even though it did not go the way I thought it would. I can finally move on and stop feeling so guilty for all the crap that's been going on."
"Good. Because it wasn't your fault." He said as he rested his head on top of her's.
"I know now. Even though it took quite some time." She said chuckling.
"Well it's the end result that's important right?" He asked absentmindedly playing with her hair.
"Yep. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger!"
"Nice motto...Quite cliché though." He said teasingly.
"Hey! Don't mock the family motto!" She said as she looked up at him.
"Your family has a motto?" He asked raising an eyebrow.
"Yep!"
"And it's What doesn't kill you makes you stronger?"
"Well actually it's Ce qui ne nous tue pas nous fortifie. But that's the translation." She said with a smile.
He looked into her eyes as he pushed a strand of golden hair from her face. The sun gave her gray eyes a sparkle and he couldn't help but look at her.
"Are you staring at my oversized forehead?" Nora asked though she didn't break eye contact.
"Your forehead is perfectly fine." He said leaning closer to her as she inhaled.
"THERE YOU ARE!" Aveline yelled as she and George made their way towards them
"We should head back for dinner." George said.
"Yeah sure." Fred said as he shot up rubbing the back of his neck.
"Were we interrupting something?" George asked as he raised an eyebrow.
"You're always interrupting Georgie." Nora said teasingly as they all walked back towards the castle.
Later that evening everyone was sitting in the Gryffindor common room in front of a roaring fire.
"So what are you lot doing tomorrow?" Nora asked to the group.
"I have a date with...I want to say Nancy..." Erik said as the entire group laughed and shook their heads disapprovingly.
"We're actually going together." Nataleigh said gesturing to Wood as she turned a slight shade of pink.
"Really?" Nora asked raising an eyebrow suggestively.
"Of course." Wood said matter-of-factly.
"Details later." Nora mouthed to her sister who simply nodded and laughed.
"What about you Ava?" Nataleigh said trying to deflect attention away from her.
"I was thinking about going with someone..." Aveline said blushing a dark shade of red.
"Who?" Lucy asked wiggling her eyebrows.
"Roger Davies." She whispered.
"Wow! Now who's dating the enemy?" Nora said playfully.
"Well I'm not on the Quidditch team so it isn't as bad...Is it?" She asked.
"No it's fine! He's gorgeous...And a Ravenclaw so he's pretty smart and probably really nice." Lucy said. "I'm going with Karl."
"Wasn't his name Kent?" Aveline asked.
"Kent was last week... Karl is this week." She said with a grin.
"You're as bad as he is!" Nataleigh said gesturing towards Erik.
"You're one to talk!" Nora said to her sister.
"Hey! I'm turning over a new leaf people! I'm going on an actual date aren't I?"
"Yes you are! And we're so proud of you female porny." Erik said teasingly as Nataleigh threw a book at him.
"What about you Leesh?" Nora asked.
"She's going with me!" Lee said with a large grin.
"Well then, that leaves me with you two clowns!" Nora said laughing.
"Actually I kind of have a date too." Fred said rubbing the back of his neck as he turned a dark shade of red.
"Oh..." Nora said surprised.
"With who?" Nataleigh asked.
"Angelina." Fred said looking away from the group.
"Oh..." Nora repeted though her surprise had turned to negativity.
"I guess it's just the two of us then." George said
"Yep!" Nora said attempting to smile.
"Oh the joys of being single and dateless!" George said laughing.
Nora gave a weak chuckle as they all started to talk about the Halloween feast and the upcoming Quidditch match. Throughout the rest of the evening Nora stayed unusually silent as Fred kept rubbing the back of his neck.
"I'm not feeling so well. I'm going to head to bed." Nora said.
"Night Freckles!" They all said.
"I'm coming too!" Aveline said. "Big day tomorrow."
Nora came out of the bathroom wearing a tank top and silk shorts as she tied her hair into a loose ponytail.
"How can you look pretty without any make-up?" Aveline asked.
"Just like you do." Nora said with a smile.
Aveline rolled her eyes playfully."Are you feeling any better?"
"Yeah...I guess. I'm just feeling off." She said as she sat down on the side of her bed.
"Because Fred has a date?" Aveline questioned with a smirk.
"What? Why would it bother me?" She asked.
"Because of your undying love for each other?" She proposed grinning.
Nora laughed being used to the bantering from their friends and family.
"Right." She said rolling her eyes. "You sound like our mothers. They've been planning our wedding since we've been eight."
"Well it's only smart to be prepared for the future!" She said with a grin. "But seriously, you never thought about going out with Fred? Not even once?"
"It's not like that... But today at the lake..." Nora started but she stopped talking and shook her head.
"Come on, do tell!" Aveline said excitedly.
"There's nothing to tell, he was just really nice and caring. But he's my best mate and that's all there is to it. Besides he's going out with Angelina and she's alright isn't she?"
"I don't like her...And you don't either." Aveline said laughing.
"I do not dislike her!" Nora said defensively.
"Well she sure as hell dislikes you!" She added smirking.
"Why thank you Ava." Nora said laughing.
"She's jealous...And I get it...The way Fred looks at you I'm even jealous and I don't even fancy the bloke!" Aveline said with a smile.
"The way he looks at me?" Nora asked raising an eyebrow. "You make him sound like a creepy stalker." She added with a chuckle.
"Maybe he is..." Aveline joked. "But really, you should give it a shot."
"Ava, I know you all enjoy making fun of Fred and I but it's nothing serious. We don't feel that way about each other. He's my friend and I want things to stay the way they are."
"But what if he doesn't?" Aveline asked seriously.
"Well that isn't an issue."Nora said rolling her eyes at her friend's insistence. "We should go to bed...You've got a big date tomorrow!"
"Yes I do! And you will help me get ready for it!" Aveline said with a grin.
"Why do I feel like I'm going to play hairdresser and make-up artist all morning?" Nora asked with a smirk.
"Because you love us!" Aveline said smiling.
"And I'm the only single one." She said with a sigh. "Still, I'll be up, bright and early to make you lot look beautiful for all your dates!"
"That's my girl!" Aveline said as she hugged her.
"Yeah, yeah!" Nora said hugging her back and chuckling. "I'm off to bed, tomorrow is going to be a very, very, very, long morning!"
"Sleep tight Nora!"
"You too Ava!" Nora said smiling as she lied in bed unable to fall asleep.
A/N: Another chapter! Two in a few days is pretty awesome! Well thank you to everyone who's reviewed, put this story on alert or favorited it, it really does mean the world to me! I hope you'll take a minute to review because it really does help me with motivation and if you have any ideas or suggestions they would be really appreciated since I'm starting to have a slight case of writers block (which is why the chapter is shorter). Also, I'm back to college as of tomorrow so I'll be uploading less but I'll try and update every Saturday. Finally, I have pictures of the characters on my profile so check them out and tell me if you like them and if you're enjoying the characters in the story! I love you all! And once more sorry for the typos and all, my dear computer is still in the shop and my boyfriend's laptop isn't the best...Don't tell him I said so :P XOXO