Chapter 17: To the Chamber
It was a few days later Adelaine was waiting in Charms maybe she could get Lee to talk to her now. Alicia and Angelina walked in and sat in their normal spots. Lee walked in. She couldn't help but blush a little when he walked in. What's up with her? He's her best friend or at least was.
"Find a seat, Mr. Jordan. Might I suggest you're regular seat next to Miss Romero," Professor Flitwick shrugged.
Adelaine smiled briefly at the Professor as Lee reluctantly sat down next to her.
"Hey Lee," she greeted, happily.
He just glared at her and said. "Let's get this over with." he grumbled crossing his arms.
That caught her off guard he's never treated her like that.
"Fine if you're going to be that way," Adelaine grumbled.
The two friends continued interacting that way. It was kind of entertaining. Lee would grumble whenever Adelaine would say something to him and she would hit with her book when he didn't reply.
George who was the more sensitive and quiet twin felt like they should tell her so she wouldn't worry so much or maybe he can talk Lee into telling Adelaine how he feels about her. Despite what he thinks.
They were in the common room in the middle of May.
"Lee, I think you should tell Adelaine how you feel about her. I bet you being distant with her is hurting her."
The dreadlocked boy shook his head at his friend and replied stubbornly, "There's so many things at risk. I can't even imagine how much it would ruin our friendship if she doesn't reciprocate and I can't risk the rejection either. It was bad enough when I discovered Alicia was dating someone else and I don't want to feel that way again. Alicia was just a friend but Adelaine is my best friend I'll be double as heartbroken if she doesn't feel the same way."
George nodded at least he tried.
Cedric walked up to Lee a few days later in the corridor.
"Hey Cedric," Lee greeted, his best friend's/crush's honorary brother.
"Lee, is there a reason why you've been distant with Addie?"
He wasn't used to Cedric being this blunt.
"So?"
Lee rubbed his neck nervously and said. "There's no reason."
Cedric just smirked at him and said. "Whatever you say." And walked away.
Adelaine was walking with Angie and Oliver by the lake later that month. It was a nice day. The sun was out.
"So, Adelaine. When are you going to realize you have feelings for Lee?" The brown haired boy smirked at the younger golden haired girl.
"I don't have feelings for Lee, what makes you say that?" Adelaine said defensively, but in vain trying to hide a blush.
She couldn't use the excuse that it was cold outside since it was quite warm outside at least for Scotland anyway.
"Then why are you blushing?" Angie asked her.
Curses.
"And why does it bother you so much that he's been distant with you since Valentine's Day ever since he basically set us up on that date?"
"Shouldn't it he's my best mate who's always been quite affectionate with me. I miss having his arm around me, the smell of his cologne -" Adelaine trailed off digging herself deeper into a hole
"I say that's love, wouldn't you agree Oliver?" Angelina asked the older boy.
Oliver nodded smirking.
"Okay, fine I fancy Lee Patrick Jordan!, you happy?" Adelaine practically screamed.
"Patrick, so that's his middle name." Angie said thoughtfully.
Adelaine nodded and said. "Yes, but only Fred, George and I knew his middle name until now; but I do call him Paddy sometimes to annoy him."
Angie and Oliver nodded.
Adalaine mentioned, "Lee is sorta of like the Laurie to my Jo. Although Jo, is a lot more outspoken then I am but there's a few other similarities between us."
The two Quidditch players looked confused at the reference.
"Well, I'm going to go find Lee and tell him how I feel about him," Adelaine said.
"Okay, good luck."
Adelaine walked away from the two of them to go find Lee. He's probably with the twins. She reached the castle.
"Adelaine!" George exclaimed running up to her.
She turned to lock eyes with the tall ginger. She was slowly catching up to him in height though. In their first year she was looking up at him.
"I need to tell you something."
Adelaine nodded and said, "Can it wait, I need to find Lee." She snapped impatiently searching the crowd for any sign of her dreadlocked best mate.
"This is about Lee."
Adelaine stopped in her tracks and snapped at the ginger again, "Spit it out, Weasley."
George was about to tell her but Professor Sprout walked up to them.
"Hi professor," Adelaine greeted cheerily.
"Ms. Romero, just the student I was looking for."
Adelaine's expression changed and asked. "What's wrong?" Professors never look for her.
"Follow me to my office, I'll explain there."
Adelaine nodded and started following Professor Sprout to her office. George didn't even ask to follow them but he did.
Adelaine walked in Sprout's office. She noticed Cedric was there too. McGonagall was also there. Were they in trouble?
"What's wrong, Ced?" Adelaine asked worriedly.
He shrugged in response and McGonagall said, "I'm afraid your friend Ms. Hopkins has been taken down to the Chamber of Secrets."
"Chamber of Secrets, I thought that was a legend," Cedric said.
"It's not, I've read about it."
Cedric shook his head trying to hold back a laugh.
"But the only way we can get in is if we know someone who is a Parselmouth." Adelaine said logically.
There was silence for a second and Cedric asked, "Who do we know that is a Parselmouth?
The gears in Adelaine's head turned and turned as she said, "Harry is such a nice boy, I don't want to get him involved but I know that's the only way."
Cedric glanced at his honorary sister and asked. "How do you know that Harry is a Parselmouth?"
"I've been working with Harry and before she was petrified Hermione," Adelaine answered him.
He nodded.
"I'll go fetch him," McGonagall said.
Cedric and Adelaine nodded. McGonagall left to go fetch Harry. Adelaine paced and paced.
"You're about to give me whiplash, Addie," Cedric complained.
Adelaine snapped and said. "Excuse me for being worried, Cedric."
She was usually very calm and collected in a crisis but her friend's life is on the line here.
"Sorry, I'm worried about her too," he said, hugging Adelaine .
Adelaine relaxed into her honorary brother's embrace and said. "The worse thing is I ran out of chocolate and I haven't been to Honeydukes with Lee in ages."
In spite of himself Cedric laughed and said. "It just so happens, I have a piece in my pocket."
"Give it to me and nobody gets hurt," Adelaine demanded.
She hadn't her chocolate fix in weeks. Cedric handed it to her laughing even harder now. Adelaine nodded and started to examine the chocolate. She couldn't be too careful she learned that from being best friends with the twins and Lee. Her heart thumped loudly when she thought of Lee. She popped the chocolate in her mouth as Harry walked in with McGonagall. He looked quite confused.
"Harry, we need your help," Cedric said.
"Why?"
Adelaine finally swallowed and said. "Our friend Leslie is in the Chamber of Secrets."
"And since I'm a Parselmouth, I'm the only way you can get in," Harry said.
Adelaine nodded and said. "I didn't want involve you but I don't want Leslie to die either."
"I'll help," He said instantly. Adelaine didn't think it would be that easy.
The two Hufflepuff fourth years sighed in relief. They left the office. George was still waiting for her.
"Where are you going?" He asked urgently.
"We have to go save Leslie," she said and added as an afterthought, "Tell Lee to see if he cares."
George just nodded. They went their separate ways.
