Chapter Forty-Eight
All Is Forgiven ... Or is it?
"For the last couple of months, I've been a part of this - this - well, I can't really tell you what it is. It's sort of an extra-credit class/club...thing. Me and a few other people. It's actually really hard work, y'know." Roxie stumbles through her words. Next to her, realisation lights up in Fred's eyes.
"That's why you've been ditching me? To do work? Jeez Rox, you could've told me." He sighs.
"No I couldn't have, that's my point. It's a secret. Only McGonagal, Professor Fidenchi and the other participants are supposed to know." She tells him, but deliberately keeps staring at James. Fred opens his mouth to object but is cut off by James.
"Well, that's a pretty big deal Rox, but it's not really something tabloid-worthy." He shrugs. She shakes her head.
"It wasn't, until - until just before Chistmas. Something happened and i-if Fr-Frockler finds out t-then, Oh Merlin, It-it's really, Merlin-" She splutters.
Roxie had a stutter when she was little. Coming to Hogwarts, being around so many other people that weren't us, frightened her after years of homeschooling. But being with Freddie gave her confidence. She hasn't stuttered in years, until now. I can see in Freddie's eyes that something must be really wrong to bring it back.
"It's really what, Roxie? What happened?" Insists Freddie, looking anxious. She's near tears now, and Roxie rarely cries.
"You -you c-can't get m-mad, Okay Freddie? P-promise? It - It wasn't his f-f - I mean, I s-sort of, I-I didn't ... b-but - Merlin!" She groans, frustrated at herself. She's wringing her hands at her side now. I don't even recognise this Roxie, she's usually so bubbly and fun.
"Take a breath, Rox. Calm down and tell us. It's Okay." Shushs Fred. She does as he says, but still avoids his gaze.
"Just before Christmas, I stayed back in class to -to c-clear up the b-books. And to-to -to avoid you guys," She looks at the ground ashamed. Takes another breath. "We w-were having a jo-joke around, b-but t-then I started c-cr-crying. And h-he k-ki-kissed me -" Now she actually does burst into tears, Fred grits his teeth as pats her back, managing to look both concerned and murderous. James asks the question that we are all thinking.
"Who, Rox? Who kissed you?" He asks, hesitantly. She looks up, still crying.
"P-Professor Fidenchi." She whispers. The reaction is delayed and then at once there is a shambles. Roxie sobs as Freddie starts hitting things. James and Louis run over to hold him back, before he runs off to, quote, "Pull that arsehole's balls up through his mouth and use them to batter the living hell out of him". I've never seen Freddie so ... angry. His methods of torture normally include amateur pyrotechnics and the newest range of WWW products.
While James pushes him down on his seat, everyone else is talking, outraged. Rose is talking loudly about getting him fired, and Molly is running off a whole list of laws he has broken. Hugo looks kind of creeped out (Fidenchi was his favourite teacher). I am too distracted by my own views to take in anyone else's appearance.
I mean - it's weird. Professor Fidenchi is by far one of the most gorgeous men I've ever seen; sandy blonde hair, designer stubble, killer blue eyes - any girl with eyes has daydreamed about kissing him at some point or another, even me! But him actually doing it, kissing a student ... it's wrong. It's illegal. He is only about 30, but thats still almost twice Roxie's age.
Suddenly, in creepy unison, everyone starts bombarding Roxie with questions.
"What happened?"
"How did it happen?"
"Was it any good?"
"Did he apologise?"
"Do you think the devil with bleed when I punch him?" But then comes the loudest, most outraged question of all.
"Why did he kiss you?!" Everyone shuts up and turns to the voice. Turns to Dom. She blinks and then grimaces.
"Sorry, Rox, I didn't mean it like that." Everyone sits down, feeling another story coming on.
"H-how did you mean it?" Asks Roxie, a bit put-on and still breathless from crying.
"I - Merlin he's attractive isn't he? Well, I think so. I'm not proud of this, but I've sort of being trying to ... to get him to kiss me this year. It started off as a bet with -with someone, but when he kept shooting me down it became - well, it sort of became an ego thing. I kept trying - Merlin, I tried - but he just ... he just didn't want me." She sinks into her seat, evidently defeated. There's a silence, nobody knows what to say.
Then there is a loud laugh. Well, more like a scoff. Everyone's head snaps to look at Rose. Dom raises her eyebrows coldly.
"Got a problem,Princess?" She asks, rhetorically. But Rose shrugs anyway, and scoffs again. "If you have something to say, just say it!"
I'm confused. Dom and Rose are normally really close, it's only looking back now that I realise they haven't been as friendly since way before Christmas.
"I just think it hilarious, Dom, that every guy in school will sleep with you - and boy don't you know it! - and yet one grown-man won't succumb to your "infinite charms" and you take offense!" She says haughtily. Dominique scowls, and yet she is still as beautiful as ever.
"Are you calling me a Slapper, Rose?!" She says in outrage. Rose smirks in a very un-Rose-like way.
"You said it, Dominique, not me." She mutters. Louis tries to intervene, wile everyone else watches the argument unfold akwardly.
"Guys let's just calm-"
"- At least I'm honest about who I am. You are shagging your supposed enemy behind everyone's back's!" Shouts Dom. Everyone except James and I gasp.
"Is - is it true Rosie?" Whispers Hugo looking up at his big sister. Rose either doesn't hear him or is too ashamed to look at him. I'm going with the latter.
Unshed tears well up in Rose's eyes.
"You bitch!" She spits at Dom, standing up. "You little hypocrite. Standing there all high-and-mighty-like everyone and their brother doesn't know that you are shagging Frank Longbottom!" Dom stands and growls.
"So what!?"
"So I feel sorry for him. I mean the stupid prat has obviously fallen in love with a cheating, slutty COW!" She shrieks.
There is a loud CRACK. It takes me a minute to register that it was the sound of Dom's hand on Rose's face. Rose gasps. Dom looks at her hand like it's transfigured into a pineapple.
Dom sinks into her seat. Rose turns to everyone.
"Well, I guess you know my secret now. I'm sort of...with Scorpius Malfoy. Wow, never thought I'd say that." She smiles at Hugo sadly. Everyone waits with baited breath to see his reaction.
"Rosie ... Dad's going to shit a brick." He mutters. And she bursts into a fit of laughter. Soon everyone has joined in, except Dom. She stands and strides over to the door, her high heels sandles,that she wears even in Winter, click-clacking along the floor.
"Where are you going, Dom?" Asks James, "We have more to discuss!" Everyone looks at her except Rose and Hugo who continue their conversation in whispers.
"Why should I? Do any of you really care what I think? I mean, I'm just "The Easy One" right? So now I'm going to go find some guy to be easy with. At least I know what they really think of me!" She cries, tears spilling out of her beautiful blue eyes. Louis stands up, addressing his sister properly for the first time.
"I care what you think, Dominique." He mutters, "And I don't believe that you really enjoy being with these guys. Merlin, knows that before me and Mel, I went out with a few girls, but I was never really happy." Dom sighs.
"Oh Lou, I think at this point, I don't deserve that kind of happiness. And if I do, I'm not ready for it. I don't know how to love." She mutters, crying silently. Wow, she even looks gorgeous when she's crying.
"You love us, don't you Sis?" He grins.
"That's different, Lou." She whispers, but hugs him tightly and sits back down, with no more argument. She and Rose don't look at each other at all.
There is another one of our famous Potter/Weasley akward silences.
The Hugo opens his mouth and quickly shuts it again.
"Go on, Hughie, it's Okay." Whispers Rose. Evidently, she knows what he was going to say. Unlike the others, Hugo doesn't stand. He quite quiet, not one for big spectacles.
"I -um- I have a female-friend." Everyone "aw"s. "But um - Gianna, that's her name - she's Frockler's sister." He announces. We all look at each other.
"Good on you, mate." Says Freddie finally, grinning. It looks fake though. The Roxie thing is obviously still on his mind.
"Surely Frockler won't throw her own sister to the wolves?" Questions Molly.
"Mols, she is the wolf." Mutters James.
"That's not the secret guys." Says Hugo, looking to Rose for reassurance. She nods slightly. "The thing is, I - I cheated off her test at the beggining of the year. It was - it was quite a big test. I started talking to her because I felt so guilty, and now we're ... friendly. She doesn't know and I can't tell her. She always goes on about how she hates liars ... I can't..." He sighs and drops his head into his hands.
Rose pats his back comfortingly as he groans. I scan my family's faces. Everyone looks tired. Worn out at only half 6 in the morning. We have had too much trouble for one day. Evidently I'm not the only one who thinks so. Molly clears her throat.
"I think that's enough sharing for one day." She half-smiles. James shakes his head.
"But we still have to figure out what to tell Frockler!"
"I told you James, she can put my story out. If you give her someone else's then you are just giving her the next few weeks of ammo. More thing to hold over our head. Just let her use up her only source. It's time anyway." She tells him.
"But-" James protests. But, realising something, I interupt.
"It's not her only source though. There's a chance that one of her sources is sitting in this room, soaking up all of our juicy gossip." I mutter sarcastically. I am once more aware of Caleb's magical touch as he rubs my arm soothingly.
"Let's hope they feel guilty enough at the trouble they've caused already. This is tearing us apart and that, at the end of the day, is what Frokler wants." Then she winks at Hugo, "Hailey Frockler, of course." He grins, and blushes as red as his sister's hair.
Everyone stands up to leave, and Molly looks at them wistfully. "I love you lot. You plonkers." She smiles sweetly. Everyone laughs.
"Love you, Mols." Says everyone as they leave. Soon all that's left is me, Molly, Caleb and James. James smiles at me.
"I think that went well."
"So do I." I nod.
"Well, I'm going to go recap to Al. Let's hope he takes it well." He sighs, and then, after patting my shoulder gently, follows the others.
"Molly?" I say, standing. Caleb keeps his arm around my waist, squeezing my hip gently. I've never been more grateful for him than I am today.
"Hm?" She sounds distracted.
"You're - um - looking very ... pregnant today. Distinctly so." She looks at me, her eyebrows raised. "I'm only saying, just incase-"
"- It was deliberate, Lil. Like I said, I have someone I need to tell. And I don't think he'll believe it if he doesn't see it." She whispers, looking kind of sad.
"He?" I ask incredulously, wondering if there is something I've missed. She laughs.
"Yeah. Girls and boys can be friends, y'know."
"Okay. Well, I'm gonna ..."
"Go have fun with your boyfriend. Just not too much fun. One teen pregnancy is enough for now." I blush scarlet and Molly laughs again. I hear Caleb's deep chuckle from behind me.
"I'll be good, I promise." He says. I can hear the grin in his voice without looking at him. He takes my hand and we walk out of the room. As the door closes behind us, I whisper:
"I hope not."
So what did you think? Surprised? PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE review with your opinions. Tell me if you liked the secrets or not, who you like or not, who you think Hailey's spy is! TELL MEEEE! Personally, I love this chapter. And out of the secrets that are still hidden ... what are they?
Read and PLEASE REVIEW even just to say i HAVE FINISHED SAID CHAPTER.