Disclaimer: I only own my characters.
Note: Simple chapter, straightforward. Thanks for the amazing comment SiobhanPhelps, brought a huge smile to my face! Thanks to everyone else who has been reading too!
The Aligning Stars
My humor faded at the sight of the Headmaster Dumbledore and it was almost as if I could feel George's worry electrocute me. We moved closer, I pushed my way between Madame Pomfrey and Professor Sprout, looking down at Fred whose eyes were still closed, every few seconds he'd give a twitch or mumble.
"Miss Allen…" Dumbledore started but I was already sitting on the bed next to Fred, George kneeling beside him. "I know now is not the best time for discussing the matter but we do need to figure out what happened today."
"What happened was that Courtney went a little haywire and decided to almost kill my brother" George said standing up.
"Mr. Weasley, please sit down, I know you're upset, but if you'll notice, Courtney is over there so it would best to keep your voice down" Professor Dumbledore said, his eyes still twinkling. I looked across the room to see Courtney laying on a bed, no one was at her side.
"It was simply a matter of spells colliding and both Fred and Courtney getting the effects" I explained in a plain voice not taking my eyes off Fred.
"Oh course, and we can sort out the details later, right now I believe it's best they spend time with those in need" Professor Snape said looking from me to George. I looked at him, why was he being so kind about any of this? I wondered.
"Perhaps you're right, come, let us go make sure the other students are safe and there have been no other quarrels at Hogsmade." They left us to be with Fred in peace, Madame Pomfrey came over a few times to check on him but otherwise he showed no sign of waking up. "You should go eat…" I said to George as the clock hit five. He shook head and leaned back in his chair.
"I'll leave when you leave" he said with a tired smile. I gave him a weak smile back and then we turned our heads to the sound of footsteps. Melinda had just entered. "Hey…" he said looking back at her.
"Hey, how is he?" she asked, though she too looked worried.
"He hasn't even woken up yet" I said sadly, and slightly disappointed. "How are you? How are the others?" I asked, but she just shook her head.
"Are they still down there or did they come up with you?" I asked.
"Matt wanted to take care of a few things and then Draco disappeared; Matt might be up later but I don't think Draco will." She said crossing her arms over her chest and walked closer. "How are you?" she asked now looking at George, who, for the first time looked slightly uncomfortable.
"Er, can we talk Melinda?" he asked. I looked at him questionably; he wasn't seriously going to use this moment to ask her out, again. I wondered, but based on his still uncomfortable expression he was about to say something he was probably wasn't too sure of himself.
"Sure" Melinda said looking uncertainly at me then back to George.
"I still like you and things have been better with everything, I'm better now, back to me. I know you're waiting for Draco, but, I don't want to wait anymore—"
"Me neither" Melinda said quickly, interrupting him.
"What?" George and I said in unison; she was just telling me about Draco and how she wanted him. What could have gone so quickly? She was just going to on a date with him two weeks ago. What happened?
"I still like you too and if…well, if I'm going to be with anyone it might as well be someone knows they're sure about it and will stand up for me and speak up for me and not be afraid to go into public with me and who doesn't act all weird when I come around and…" she trailed off, taking a breath.
"Yeah, all that. But, more importantly, I miss you and I think we'd be wonderful together, again, brilliant this time." George stated giving her a playful pat on the hand as he stood up to hug her.
"I agree" she said happily. "I want to be happy and you make me happy" she added, still smiling. George smiled back at her as they both lightly laughed.
"I'm glad you're both happy again" I said, truly meaning it. If she wasn't going for Draco there had a reason but all that mattered right now was that she was happy. Besides, George said he was okay now—whatever that—meant so if it meant he wasn't going to be a jerk I was fine with the two of them together.
"You lot are supposed to be gathered at my bed side pouring out tears, not laughing and joking about" Fred said his voice groggy and low. I quickly turned around to him, he looked tired but at least he was awake.
"You're awake!" I shouted flinging my arms around him.
"Mmmhmm" he said hugging me tightly. "I'm fine, are you okay?" he asked as I let go to nod. "And you two?" he asked looking for George to Melinda who both nodded, George moved closer to pat his brother on the shoulder, his other arm still around Melinda; Melinda patted Fred's knee.
"We're just glad you're okay" she said looking over at me as I nodded.
"What happened?" I asked, sitting back down.
"It's all a bit complicated and foggy I was sort of wondering if you'd go down and get some soup? Potato soup if you will." Fred said looking at me. I made a face as I looked at George and then back at Fred.
"You're not going down?" I asked after a moment.
"And miss being catered to? Waited on? No, no, I'm not going down yet" he said shaking his head as he laughed a bit.
"Um, alright, Melinda, wanna come?" I asked looking at her.
"Actually she's going to stay here and fluff my pillow" Fred said looking directly at her as she nodded.
"Okay, George?" I asked but he shook his head.
"Brother mate" he said with a regretful smile.
"Alright, then I'll be back" I said standing up and headed out, giving them a questionable look but Melinda just shrugged and Fred shooed me away.
"Where are you going?" I nearly jumped out of my skin at the sight of Draco. "Sorry" he said, though he didn't sound anywhere near apologetic.
"What are you doing? Were you eavesdropping?" I asked, half hopeful that he didn't hear Melinda. Thankfully he shook his head as he walked with me down the stairs as we were quickly joined by more footsteps.
"Draco, Tammie," Matt said as I glanced over my shoulder to look at him.
"Hey" I said as Draco grunted.
"Did he hear?" Matt asked, making Draco stop in his tracks. I turned to look at Matt but he was no longer looking at me but now Draco. "I'm sorry Draco, really I am, I know how much you care for her and all, I just really think, for the time being she really is better off with George." It took another few minutes for Draco to realize what Matt was saying and then pull himself together as we continued down the stairs to the Great Hall.
"So they're back together" Draco said quietly as we headed inside.
"Yeah" I replied picking up a bowl and scooping out some soup. I wanted to ask what he did, what happened, what went wrong, why he was an idiot? But mostly I just wanted to get back to Fred. "We can talk later if you like" I said gently as Draco turned his attention back to me.
"No" he said. I gave him a sympathetic smile but he was trying too hard to unaffected. I suddenly regretted not talking to him, not trying to get him to show his true feelings, not encouraging him. I felt bad not talk to Melinda more. Then again, she seemed to be doing fine. "Who's that for?" he asked turning his nose up at the bowl, distracting himself once again from his feelings.
"Obviously not you" I responded.
"Well, where are you going?" he asked, now trying to stall me.
"Back up to see Fred…" I said turning to look at Matt who was rocking back and forth on the heels of his shoes. "Draco…I'm sorry" I said but he just snorted.
"Tell Fred that was a stupid plan" he said as I sighed.
"Come on, before the soup gets cold" Matt reminded me gently touching my arm. I nodded and headed back out, looking back at Draco who seemed to remember he was standing at the Gryffindor table and hurried off to the join the Slytherins. "Sorry" Matt said as we headed back up the stairs. "I thought he should know the truth, that's all." I didn't respond as we made our way to the hospital wing. "Tammie, wait…" Matt said reaching for my arm but I managed to make the motion to avoid him and I walked down the hall toward Fred's bed.
"Here, I got you this one" I told him as I tried to hand him the soup. He stood up, adjusted his shirt and looked down at the bowl.
"Who's the soup for?" he asked playfully.
"You, remember?" I responded pushing it toward him a little.
"What makes you think I want soup?" he continued now looking around for what I imaged was his wand.
"You said you wanted soup, that's why I had to leave" I reminded him.
"Nah, only joking; at least you got some food for yourself" he said picking up his wand off the dresser. "Matt" he said spinning back around to face Matt who looked slightly amused.
"How are you feeling?" Matt asked nodding toward George and Melinda who were both giving him weird looks.
"I don't want soup" I told Fred trying again to push the bowl into his hand but he was now pushing it back.
"You haven't eaten since breakfast" he said quietly before looking back at the rest of us. "Why are we all still standing around?" he asked clapping his hands and walking closer to Matt. "Can we chat for a moment?" he asked Matt patting his shoulder as they strolled off. I stared after them, soup still in hand.
"Who wants this soup?" I asked looking at George and Melinda.
"I'll take it…since you know, you don't want any…" she said holding out her hand. I shrugged and passed it along as I looked back at the bed and noticed Fred's jacket was still lying there. I absently folded it up and held it close as I gazed off toward Courtney's bed.
"How long do you think she'll be sleep for?" I asked, but George just shrugged. "I didn't think she hit the wall that hard" I added, slightly remembering Matt stupefy his sister. "But I could be wrong."
"Or it could be something else, remember what Matt said" Melinda said in between spoon-fulls.
"Yeah, maybe she's not being controlled anymore and all her energy is gone" George suggested but I shook my head.
"Maybe it's temporary" I said looking back over at Courtney. "Hey guys, we should get going…unless you want to tell me what you were talking about?" I asked looking from George to Melinda but only the sound of Melinda's spoon clanging her bowl was heard. "Or not…" I said with a sigh. "But can we at least go and see what they're up to, you, since they're alone and everything" I reminded them, already feeling a bit worried.
"Hold on" George said holding a finger up as he looked at Melinda who finally finished the soup. "I enjoy watching you eat at super speeds, means you're nice and healthy and makes me feel all sorts of inappropriate feelings" George said grinning at Melinda who quickly turned a deep shade of red.
"Yeah, cuz that's not creepy at all…" I said to him but he just smiled.
"We should—we should go" Melinda said, still red.
"Good idea" I told her as she handed me back the bowl. We walked out together but George quickly said goodbye before strolling off to find his brother since he knew I probably wasn't going to do it right away.
"I'm glad you two are back together, and I'm glad he makes you feel all those feelings and things you said" I told her giving her a smile.
"You weren't listening to what I said were you?" she asked with a laugh.
"Truthfully no, because, well, you know, Fred was still unconscious at that point and, um, I was kind of worried about him a little more than your relationship" I said jokingly.
"Maybe if you listened once, or twice, I don't know, it might help" she suggested as we made our way toward the Ravenclaw Tower.
"What did Fred say to you two?" I asked, merely wanting to change the topic. Melinda shrugged, as if she forgot but I knew she hadn't since she was still staring ahead, something she did when she was either lying or depressed. "Is it that bad?" I asked, trying to get out some information but she just shrugged again. "Okay, c'mon, you gotta tell me something" I insisted but she just gave a snort. "Well, then, Draco knows you're back with George" I said, feeling a bit disappointed that she couldn't, wouldn't tell me what Fred saw.
"What?" she asked, nearly tripping over a stair.
"Draco, he knows" I repeated.
"You told him?" she asked, her eyes getting bigger. I shook my head.
"Matt did" I said as she shook her head again but sighed.
"Today made me realize a lot of things, and, well, Draco still had a huge window of opportunity today after you and George left; you know what he did?" I shook my head. "Nothing! He sat there and then Matt started a conversation with me and then suggested we leave, just in case, you know, you needed moral support…" she said.
"And Draco said nothing?" I asked but she shook her head.
"Actually, he sorta grunted and then got all upset and slammed his hands on the table…" she repeated in the motion and making grunting sounds. I couldn't help but laugh. "So I obviously left because I'm not putting up with that anymore; especially if I can do better" she concluded.
"I'm proud of you" I said patting her back as we stopped at the bottom of the flight of stairs leading to the door with the raven doorknocker.
"I just hope he gets it, you know?" she said looking sadly at me. I forced myself to nod, only agreeing because it was nice to see her happy. "But I know he won't, he'll just do the same stuff he usually does and make me think he actually means something by it" she added with a sigh looking up at the group of girls.
"Who knows, maybe he does mean something by all this…" I said quietly as she slowly turned to look at me. "I don't mean now, or even this year, but, you know, maybe one day he'll realize, you know, what he's supposed to realize" I said, now feeling anxious as she started at me.
"Yeah, and it will be too late, just like it always is" she insisted.
"But you'll still give him a chance" I reminded her.
"Didn't we just reach the same conclusion, that we want me to be happy?" she asked looking disappointed at me.
"Sorry, I was just thinking aloud" I told her, already regretting my words anyway. "Won't happen again" I quickly added saluting her.
"You're an idiot" she said with a laugh after a moment.
"I know" I said proudly. "You should go, those girls got the riddle right" I said nodding toward the groups who were now squealing excitedly as the door opened. I made a face that meant I clearly didn't understand the excitement. Melinda waved in the direction of the girls.
"I'll get the next one" she said with a shrug. "I just wanted to say one more thing…" she started looking serious at me.
"I know, fix things with Fred, it's getting there" I said rolling my eyes.
"Good. I was going to say" she said. "For now, can we just drop all conversations about Draco and his supposed 'feelings;' I don't want to care anymore, it hurts too much. I just need to face the fact that anything with me and Draco is just not going to happen. I really like George and I really want to be with him, so can we just leave it at that? Please?" she asked taking another deep sigh. I started to protest but Melinda held her up again. "I know he doesn't like you, I get that, but, he's okay now, he was really stressed after him and Fred had a conversation and he just…he knew how you'd react if you ever found out. Granted, a lot of stuff has happened since then which is so much bigger. So, I think he's done, he's always going to worry about his brother, but I think he'll worry a little less now and he'll be less of a jerk to both of us, so, please, let it be" she said as I smiled. She was right, she was happy. She would be okay with George, George was feeling better and I would eventually get back with Fred. I thought as we said our goodbyes and parted ways.
