Disclaimer: I do not own anything except my characters.
Note: I had planned to write all afternoon but I was running on low gas so today's writing has been slow. I'll post as much as I can tonight. Personal hello and happy reading to the one and only SiobhanPhelps (little note to you, I'm working on Fred's POV on all this, slowly, but once I made some progress you'll be the first to know). Happy reading and thanks to all those who have looked/glanced/started reading/skimmed through this story.
One Step Forward, Two Steps Back
"Morin" she said as she walked over to Charity who was lying still on the ground. She lightly kicked her foot and then shrugged. "Ready for breakfast?" she asked as I continued to stare at her. "My sister is Penelope, I've been saying that spell in my head for years to her…" she said looking down at Charity and then shaking her head.
"Er, thanks" Harry finally spoke up and I nodded.
"Yeah, but, next time—"
"I know, I know, don't stun fellow classmate" she finished with a roll of the eyes as she came back over to us.
"I was actually going to say don't do it so close to a Quidditch practice. She's on the team you know" I said with a snort.
"How? All she did was whine" Abby said as I shrugged. I didn't want to talk about Charity, I couldn't think about what she said.
"Hey, Ron's still a bit…upset" Harry started as we entered the Great Hall.
"It's okay, she can sit with me" Abby said kindly as she lightly started dragging me in the opposite direction.
"Thanks again Abby" I told her as we sat down. She smiled but shrugged as if it was nothing. "You don't have to sit with me" I added feeling slightly guilty as I watched her wave to her friends as they passed.
"No, I want, we haven't really gotten the chance to talk anyway" she said as I nodded. "Not sure how I feel about talking now that you and Fred aren't back together yet" she said as I twitched a little. "You and him are getting back together" she said passing me a pastry and taking some cherries out of the bowl in front of her and popping one into her mouth.
"What makes you so sure?" I asked trying to pass it off as a meaningless causal question but I knew she could see through that.
"You guys love each other" she said simply as cleared my throat and looked away willing my eyes to stop stinging.
"We'll see" I said quietly.
"We'll see?" she said rising an eyebrow at me. I had to laugh, she looked so much older when she did that. "If you care about him it will be more than just an 'we'll see'" she said matter-of-factly. "Uh-oh, I'm afraid I can't defend you for what's coming next…" she said as she hid her face. I started to go into shock, had she seen Burnner? I looked around, spotting Melinda walking toward me. Even worst. I thought to myself as I braced for impact.
"Are you okay?" she asked as I felt myself still holding my breath. What? I asked myself as I looked at her with confusion. "I heard about you and Fred, I heard what he said" she said as I became less confused and more, depressed, again. "That wasn't fair—I know what you said wasn't right or fair either, but at least you're not lying. God, after everything he told me, and ugh!" she shook her head in anger and disappointment.
"Calm down, trust me, it doesn't help" I said as she took a deep breath and sat down. "How was your morning?" I asked her as she continued seething as she looked at a random wall.
"First Burnner, then Courtney, then Fred? Who's next?" she asked.
"If you keep going the way you're going it might be you" I told her trying to sound 'perkier.' "How has your morning been? Do anything exciting?" I asked, mainly for the sake of asking.
"Nope, did you guys?" she said finally bringing herself back to a somewhat half relaxed mood as she turned her attention to us.
"I stunned Charity" Abby said cheerfully as Melinda gave her an impressed and approving look. "She was being mean and annoying" she added.
"Five points to Gryffindor" she waving a hand.
"Wait, are you allowed to do that?" I asked as Abby laughed and patted herself on the back.
"Who cares? Melinda was impressed" Abby said as Melinda gave her a half cheerful smile. "Besides, it will even out the five points Draco took from our house" she said though truthfully I wasn't surprised.
"Why?" Melinda asked as Abby waved a hand as if it wasn't a big deal.
"He saw Fred" she said as I looked over at her, a hint of curiosity peeking. "He was coming in and Draco was leaving and snorted at him and he said 'five points from Gryffindor, you prat'. I thought George was going to kill him" she said though she sounded happy about Draco's deduction.
"What did Fred do?" I asked, thinking maybe, maybe he laughed.
"Nothing, he just got all quiet and sorta slouched over as he continued walking." Good, at least he's feeling it too.
"I'm sure once Charity wakes up he'll be just fine" I told her as Melinda gave me a look. "Oh, you didn't know? Fred and Charity have a thing going on, had a thing, having, whatever. He's kissed her" I said, a stinging in my chest.
"When? He's been with you or pouting because he's not with you" she said in complete surprise.
"I don't know, I don't care. I don't want to care" I said deciding now was a good time to walk away.
I hadn't made it far before I noticed Matt walking down the stairs. "Hey" I called to him as he stopped, though oddly not moving toward me. I looked around, waited a second and then moved toward him. "You okay?" I asked him slowly as I watched him tense up.
"Yeah" he lied.
"Haven't you seen you since the library thing" I reminded him as he nodded but still seemed, awkward almost.
"I should go Tam" he said as he started to move but I grabbed his arm, the electricity nearing making me fall backwards.
"Sorry" I said breathlessly as I pulled my hand back. He continued to look at me, his eyes making my toes tingle and curl as he turned around to face me.
"Tammie, I have to talk to my sister right now, she's not feeling well" he said though he didn't sound entirely willing about it.
"Will she be okay?" I asked trying to sound as if I actually cared.
"I don't know, I just, I have a feeling I need to tend to her" he explained as I half nodded. "I know you and Draco aren't close like that and trust me, I'm not with Courtney either but…" he trailed off to shake his head. "I can't shake this feeling" he said as I nodded.
"Wait, Draco let me cry on his shoulder last night," I quickly—painfully remembered. Matt looked at me questionably but then squinted like he was thinking.
"I think someone is playing with the Seals…" he said but didn't make eye contact as he continued thinking. "If it's Burnner she's definitely more powerful than I thought…" he continued. "But it wouldn't make sense and…" he paused to look at me. "Tammie," he licked his lips. "I know this is gonna be really hard on you, but, do you think you can talk to George today?" he asked as I raised an eyebrow at him.
"Yeah, sure, would you like me to do that before or after he jinxes the shit out of me?" I asked sarcastically.
"He won't hurt you" Matt replied but I wanted to disagree, if he knew George, if he knew what I had done to Fred he wouldn't have spoken so surely.
"Ask him how he's feeling" I laughed before I could stop myself. "He'll be honest and it's important we find out, after that, come talk to me" he said as he turned to head down the stairs. I reached out my hand to grab him again but quickly remembered last time, I would not feel that way about him. I was still reeling from Fred's words, I told myself as I headed off to my first class.
I spent most of my morning classes thinking of ways to approach George and the other portion dodging Ron. I had hoped Hermione would explain I was upset and would try and get him to see things from my point; Harry would surely be able to help, but it seemed at most all they could do was convince him to let me sit with them at lunch. During most of our conversation he spent grunting, though he did perk up a little when Abby mentioned she jinxed Charity. It was even better when I saw Charity later on and she moved almost instantly, not saying one sly comment. Granted it was probably because Abby was with me.
After dinner Charity seemed to get some of her courage back, she would occasionally at me or snort if I reached for food or mumble some name as I walked by. As much as I wanted to Petrificus Totalus her ass I knew she couldn't be stunned twice in one day. Professors would get suspicious. Sure Neville went through a phase but that was mostly on himself. It didn't help when I saw her leaving the common room and strolling down hall until she met with Courtney, the two of them walking off giggling. When the hell did they become friends? I asked myself as I entered the common room.
Almost instantly I spotted Fred, he was the only one with his head down as he wrote something, I half wondered if it was schoolwork. "Wanna play cards?" Abby asked as she walked over to me. She would've been blocking my direct line of vision had she been taller, but I caught Fred look up, probably just to see who Abby was talking to. We made eye contact but he looked away first, and slowly I did the same, just in time to see Abby roll her eyes. "You two are being dumb" she said flatly. I shifted and quickly looked over at Fred who seemed just as surprised to hear it. "I mean really, I don't get it—"
"Hush," I interrupted as I went over to where she had been playing. "I'll play a round with you when I get back" I told her as she pouted. I ignored it and went over to George though I seemed extra cautious about how close I got. "Er, um," I started as George continued to do whatever he was doing, pretending I didn't exist. "I need to talk to you," I said in one big rush as he looked up at me, making me stiff and almost gulp. "It's important…" I added in a near whisper
"In here?" he asked casually nodding around.
"No, in the hallway" I said as I watched a mischievous smile spread across his face. "Please" I added as he seemed to mentally weigh his options.
"Alright," he said much to my complete and utter surprise. He stood up, stretched, patted Fred on the shoulder. "If anything, I'll bring her back alive" he said as I felt my insides tense as I followed him out of the common room.
"I only agreed because I knew you'd keep bugging me and I want you as far away from my brother as possible" he snapped.
"You don't get to decide that" I snapped back but he merely snorted.
"You didn't see him last, you don't know what you did to him" he said. I bit my next words, I did not need to explain how I felt right now.
"Why?" he asked after minute of silence.
"It's complicated George" I said sadly.
"Do you love him?" he asked as I looked away.
"I care about him, a lot" I replied as George shook his head.
"That's not good enough anymore" he said quietly. We stood in silence for a few more seconds. "Why are we out here?" he asked tiredly.
"It's a stupid question, but, how do you feel? Has your bond with Fred been, stronger?" I asked trying to figure out how I wanted it to come out.
"No, because when he pushed you away he pushed me away and I hate that he did that, I blame you, I hate you" he said bluntly. I sucked in air, I would pretend he didn't say it. I would deal with that later.
"Matt thinks some kind of Seal is being messed with and he wants to look into it, and I'm supposed to find out how you feel" I explained as George sneered at me. "I know Draco has been weird," I added as an example. "I cried on his shoulder last night, after practice" I said blinking away the thoughts of tears.
"You cried?" George though he sounded highly skeptical. I nodded but didn't allow myself to say anything else on that.
"Melinda seems fine" He said either catching my sadness or making a point to be sarcastic. I wanted to remind him that was his fault but I held back. Not to mention he did have a point, Melinda was fine, but that didn't make sense, if Burnner was Sealing people Melinda would be one of the first. "I guess blood is thicker" he added with a roll of the eyes.
"Wait, that's it!" I said excitedly as George gave me a look. "Thank you, I have to go tell—" I was cut off by a strong stabbing pain in my head. I knew it was a vision but I didn't realize they could be strong, so painful.
"Tammie" George said with an unexpected slight concern as he went to grab my arm before my mind went blank.
