Disclaimer: I own none of the HP characters. You know which ones are mine. =)
Note: To the wonderful SiobhanPhelps, it's the weekend so that means tons of chapters! Hope everyone enjoys, thank you all for reading!
Two of a Kind
"Hello" he said politely as I continued staring at him. I was glad he wasn't annoyed, then again, he must have been used to people staring. Not that that was an excuse to stare. But he was attractive. Still. I shook my head as I brought myself back to attention, he was staring at me. Patient looking, as if waiting until I got my mind back on track. It made me feel good, that he was waiting.
"Sorry" I said realizing I had basically been zoning off as I stared at him. "It's been a crazy night" I decided on saying as he seemed to relax. Whatwas he nervous about? I couldn't help but wonder as I took a step closer. Certainly not me, there was nothing intimidating about me.
"Yeah, I saw you left before the food came out," he said with a simple nod as I nodded back. "That's pretty cool, the food" he added.
"Well, house elves do all the work so it's not really cool" I said remembering the Malfoy's house elf.
"Fair" he said as he continued to stand almost rooted to his spot.
"I'm Tammie" I said unable to not introduce myself as he nodded and stuck out his hand.
"Matt" he said, his cheeks a little pink.
"Yeah, I figured, you know, the announcement and stuff" I reminded him as he turned even pinker, a shy sort of embarrassed smile crossing his face.
"I could say the same about you, you know, with the competition and all that last year, you're an easy face to place Tammie Allen" he said. I smiled myself, my stomach doing a little flip, I liked how he said my name, like he knew me this whole time, like I was person who had a run with bad luck instead of the heroin-sometimes friend-Malfoy-Weasley lover. "Or would you rather I give you some sort of title?" he asked with a light laugh. I laughed too, the awkwardness I thought I'd feel wasn't there and he seemed to be enjoying himself. Besides, I knew how hard it was making friends when you only came with one other person.
Suddenly I remembered Courtney, that was his sister, but, they didn't show any resemblance except that fact that they were downright attractive. But that was it, she was, well, scary. Matthew—Matt seemed a little friendlier. Though, something about his interaction, how far away he was still standing made me wonder if that was just an act. But it couldn't have been, he was so warm and seemed rather comfortable talking to me.
"Um, have you been inside yet?" I asked for lack of another joke. Thinking of his sister made me start thinking about Burnner and that would get me all upset again and I wasn't going to do that to myself.
"Yes, but, I came out, some of the girls kept talking to me and I just don't care" he said shaking his head. I had to laugh at that, he seemed honest.
"Shouldn't have sat with Lavender" I told him already knowing that was who he was talking to.
"Had I known you were a Gryffindor I definitely would've moved down" he replied in the same tone he had been using and with the same smile he had been giving me. Still, I couldn't help but twitch a little at his words. That was a flirtatious comment, I knew it was, I could feel it. No it wasn't, it was just a regular comment. I told myself as I shifted. To my relief the portrait swung open and Lee Jordan walked out.
"Oh, hey" he said looking at me with a bright smile but then sort of twisted his face as he looked over at Matt and then back at me. Don't read into I mentally told him but Lee seemed to already have some idea in his head because he walked closer to me, though not much. "Fred's inside, he thought you were too" he said as I tensed. Crap. I told myself as I glanced over at Matt.
"The Sorting Hat's Song" he said as the Fat Lady swung open.
"Really?" I asked making a face and looking over my shoulder at Lee who shrugged. "We're getting lazy" I said as I followed Matt in.
Sure enough Fred was inside but it didn't look like he was overly worried about my whereabouts as he sat on the arm of the couch talking to George.
"Hey" he said sliding off the arm as he saw me. "I was looking for you" he said. I started to respond but decided against it as I nodded. "Feeling any better?" he asked. I knew he meant it as concern and he was worried but, 'feeling any better' roughly translated into 'I still don't believe you.'
"No" I replied simply. He blinked a few times and then took a heavy sigh. "Oh, have you met Matt?" I asked, just to get off the topic of Burnner. Matt, who had been still by the entrance—what was wrong with him?—came over, though this time that almost shy-awkward vibe was gone. I looked at him and then Fred, Fred had squinted his eyes at Matt for a moment but didn't do anything in particular to respond.
"Fred Weasley?" he asked as Fred half nodded.
"The one and only" he replied.
"My sister mentioned you, you have a twin, right?" Matt asked. Even though I knew he was just trying to make conversation I couldn't help but notice the sincerity lacked in his voice. I also couldn't help but remember how Courtney flirted with Fred.
"George, he's over there" he said nodding off toward George who was indeed across the room.
"Well, I think I'm going to head downstairs, put my stuff away, read" Matt said as he gave Fred a goodbye smile. "Tammie" he started as he turned toward me. "It was really nice to meet you, I'll see you tomorrow?" he asked.
"Of course" I replied trying my hardest to sound friendly and not eager. He smiled and went off, not even minding the students who were staring after him. "Well, go on, say it" I told Fred who had been watching Matt as well.
"I don't like him" he said, though his voice was flatter than it should've been for half meaning it as a joke.
"He seems okay, nice enough" I said just for the sake of arguing about it.
"Uh-huh" Fred said and then, instead of continuing to argue the case he walked off, back over to his brother who was gave me a look but quickly went on with his conversation with Lee.
"Okay" I said with slight annoyance. First he didn't believe me, now he wasn't jealous. But I didn't want him to be jealous. Did I? I wondered as I myself started to head downstairs.
"Tammie, what did you think about the Professor?" Ron asked as I went pass the small area they were sitting at. I turned to look at Fred who no doubt heard his brother, he was giving me a 'don't start again, please' sort of look.
"Don't know, wasn't paying attention" I said trying to hide my sadness. "I'm…I think I need to lay down" I told them as I watched Hermione's forehead scrunch up. "Headache" I added, which was partly a lie. I was thinking too hard. Thinking of Burnner mostly. I knew my head would explode if I let all the thoughts in. "Night Fred" I called out as he paused from talking. He said something, got up and came over.
"Hey, it's not that I don't want you to tell them, I just don't want everyone in a twist" he explained quietly.
"How do you think that makes me—" he interrupted me with a kiss.
"Please Tamm," he said with a second light kiss. I didn't feel better but at least he was a good kisser. "Get a good night's rest, yes?" he said and I slowly gave a non-commitment nod.
"Night" I said with one last kiss before rushing up the stairs.
I didn't even remember falling asleep, I knew I went in the bathroom to change and I was thinking about Burnner, I knew I was sitting in bed looking over an old book as I thought about Burnner. I knew when Hermione came up to say something I was still thinking about Burnner. But I didn't remember much of the thoughts, thankfully it wasn't all anxiety, not that it wasn't some. She did try and kill me. And I thought I—we—killed her. If she was alive knowing that I couldn't imagine the type of revenge she had.
"Tammie?" I lifted my head up at the sound of the voice as I entered the common room after getting dressed and ready for the day. Matt. Even before I saw him, just hearing his voice I knew it was him.
"Morning" I said as I joined him at the bulletin board. "Looking for anything particular?" I asked as I absently searched the board.
"A boy named Neville—I think—lost his…toad it appears" he said squinting a little as he reread the note.
"He's always losing something, but I think he'll be fantastic in the end" I said as Matt nodded and took a step away from the board.
"May I walk you to breakfast?" he asked. I was more taken back by his manners, who said words like 'may' I asked myself as I glanced around the room. "He went down to the Great Hall already" he said as I brought my attention to Matt. "Fred and his brother and Lee Jordan" he elaborated.
"Oh" I said shortly. "Well, sure, c'mon on" I said as we left the common room and headed down the first set of stairs.
"Did you sleep well?" he asked. I assumed he said it to be making conversation but something about the way he asked, something about the concern and sincerity. It was like he was actually interested.
"Yeah, you?" I asked trying to my match my tone with his.
"After getting over all the excitement, yes" he said, a little smile dancing on his face. I smiled back, he seemed so—innocent? No, happy. He seemed genuinely happy about everything.
"Matt," I started, though not sure how to word it. "Have we met before?" I asked as he gave a little laugh. "Let me guess, 'you get that a lot'?" I asked but he shook his head.
"I'm honored you think we have" he said as I wrinkled my nose at him. "Well I mean, me knowing you" he started nodding at me. "You're Tammie Allen" he said as I shrugged, what's in a name? I wondered. "You're pretty special that's all" he said as I stopped to look at him. "I didn't mean any harm by it" he said sounding truly apologetic and upset.
"No, no, I mean, I know you didn't, I just…" I trailed off, why did I feel so comfortable him, the urge to spill everything? "You'll think I'm crazy" I told him feeling slightly embarrassed already.
"Everyone is" he said with a shrug.
"I saw you before I met you, before school started. Well, not you, your eyes. I er, had this, thing and—"
"A vision" he interrupted, the word rolling off his tongue ever so casually.
"Y-y-yeah" I stuttered out. He furrowed his eyebrows as he looked over my expression, I could tell he was trying not to frown.
"You don't know you're a Seer, do you?" he asked as I stared at him. "A Seer, you have visions about the future, I saw the one you had" he said as I continued staring at him.
"How did…" but I trailed off unable to form the words.
"I'm what they call an Alternate Seer—but," he paused to wave his hand at the thought. "But sometimes, sometimes if you can train yourself hard enough you can sort of, get into someone's head. See their vision" he explained as I felt my jaw nearly hanging open. "You didn't know that?" he asked, though he sounded beyond skeptical. Not that I blamed him, what Seer didn't know about the history of Seers. "Don't they have classes on that?" he asked with a frown.
"Yeah, but, Divinations isn't exactly, a learning experience" I told him. "So hang on, you were in my vision? Do you get them a lot?" I asked, feeling excited even though he shook his head.
"Comes and goes, but, I can sense other Seers, there's sort of a bond between us—us Seers I mean" he explained, though I couldn't help but hear the tone. As if there was indeed a bond but not because of any Seer thing.
