Chapter 51
LB
I was too tired to climb the last stairs to the dorm, so I crashed on the couch in the common room. I was sprawled out on the couch, lying on my stomach. My hair was spread around me, covering my vision and the sun rays.
"Alec." A hand nudged me softly. "Wakey-wakey."
I grumbled in the cushion. "Too tired. Laat me slapen."
"What was that?" I heard the grin in his voice.
"Let me sleep." I turned my head. The hand that nudged me lifted my hair. I looked up to George and Fred. They were sitting on the coffee table, looking at me with a little smile. "Morning." I offered them a smile.
"You look cute when you sleep." Fred grinned.
"Bugger off." I huffed as I pushed myself up. "I must look like a mess, I barely slept." I grabbed my wand and waved it over my head. My hair combed itself and put it in a bun while my face refreshed. "That's better."
"I liked the rougher look better." George smirked.
Like a grown-up, I stuck out my tongue at him. "What time is it?"
"We still have time. An hour before first class."
"Let me go change really quick, then I'll come down for breakfast."
"We'll wait." They said as I walked to the stairs. I looked back to see them sitting on my spot. I was opening my mouth to protest, but I knew them, they won't go, no matter what I say. So, I headed up the stairs to change.
LB
At our last class, which was Charms, I rested my head on the large book in front of me. I managed to stay awake all day, but this class was just too much. The class was theoretical, so I didn't really miss much as I took a little nap. I was dreaming about my mother; it was one of the memories Moony had showed me. The one where I was walking in the garden, disappearing in a molehill.
"Alec." I was nudged awake once again. I blinked my eyes open. Cedric smiled down at me with a cocked head. "Nice nap?"
"Not bad. Sorry." I grinned sheepishly as I lifted my head.
"I fell asleep last week during History of Magic, don't worry." He winked. "I just wanted to tell you class is over."
"Oh." I looked around the classroom and saw it was mostly empty. The twins, Angelina and Lee were waiting at the door. "Did Flitwick notice?"
"No, I put a notice-me-not charm on you."
"You - you did?" I grinned broadly. He shrugged smiling. "Good thinking." I kissed his cheek. "Thank you."
"You're welcome." He stood up and handed me my bag. "Oh, we're having a party in the Hufflepuff common room in two weeks." He said as he searched his pockets. He pulled out a small yellow flyer. "You and your friends should come."
"Sounds like fun. I'll ask them." I smiled as I accepted the flyer.
"Brilliant. See you later." He waved, he nodded to the others as he walked out the classroom.
"Here's our little sleepy head." Fred smiled as he wrapped an arm around my shoulders.
"I think I am heading straight to bed after dinner." I said stifling a yawn. I leaned into Fred as we walked towards the great hall. "Cedric invited us to a party." I said once we sat down for dinner. I took out the flyer from my pocket and handed it over to Angelina in front of me.
"Oh, I love a good party. What's the occasion?" Angelina said excitedly as Lee looked at the flyer with her.
"I don't know exactly, didn't ask." I shrugged. "So, are we going?"
"Duh." Angelina grinned.
I looked at the twins, who were quiet. I raised my eyebrows at them. "Earth to Weasley."
They both blinked, shaking their heads slightly. Sitting on either side of me, they looked over my head for a second before George said. "Sure, why not."
They didn't say more as the food appeared on the table. I just ate my last potato when Angelina spoke up. "So, have you decided yet? If you're going to enter the tournament?"
"I have actually." I smiled and everyone turned to me. "I'm going to enter."
"Brilliant! Me too." Angelina beamed.
"What made you decide?" George asked.
"Black." I muttered, and the rest raised their eyebrows. "He forbids me to enter." I snorted. The others shared nervous glances. "My uncle said I could enter, he's the one I listen to, not Black."
"Right." The twins said. Everyone looked uncomfortable, that happened frequently when Black is mentioned.
I cleared my throat and changed the subject. "So, is there a dress code?" I asked as I took the flyer again.
LB
Since I shared my dorm with a group of cackling seventh years, I took my stuff and headed a level lower. I pushed the door open and sighed.
"That bad?" Angelina snickered as she poked her head out of her closet.
"You have no idea. They're all giggling and talking about boys and the party." I said dropping my things on her bed. "Nightmare."
"We talk about boys too." Alicia said from her place in front of the vanity. I walked over closer as she put on her make-up.
"I know but believe me, it's different. You can go up and check." I grinned in the mirror.
"I'm good here." She smiled back before she puckered her lips to put on lipstick.
"You look beautiful, Alicia. Is it for someone in particular?" I asked, wiggling my eyebrows.
"Nope, but you've seen the guys in Hufflepuff." Her red coloured lips turned into a smirk.
"Not bad." I laughed before going over to Angelina's bed to dress myself. Angelina had already put on a dark-blue dress that reached her knees. Just as I zipped up my burgundy skirt, Alicia stood up.
"Cedric doesn't look too bad either, does he?" She said as she adjusted her skirt. She was wearing a light pink cocktail dress, with over the shoulder sleeves.
"He does not." I agreed. I turned to the mirror as I put on the white, lace crop top before letting my black curls fall on my back.
"He seems to like you."
"I am very likeable." I snickered.
"But he likes you likes you." Alicia insisted.
"I don't know." I said turning around, leaning against the vanity. "He's the same as last year, and last year he was interested in that Ravenclaw girl. Weren't they dating?"
"I think so." Angelina said once she put her heels on. "But haven't seen them together this year."
"Or do you like someone else?" Alicia asked as she put her other clothes away. Angelina looked at me with interest.
Immediately the twins jumped in my mind, but I pushed them back quickly. "Not -" I looked from Angelina to Alicia. "Particularly." I was debating on telling Angelina, but not in front of Alicia. We just didn't have that kind of friendship.
"It seems like the twins like you."
I sat down on the bed and tucked on my shoes. I looked down and my hair covered my face, hiding a blush. "As a friend, they act the same with me as with any other girl."
"I don't thi-"
"Let's head down, the guys are probably already waiting for us." Angelina interjected. I sighed in relief, and I put my wand in my ankle boots before following the girls down the spiral staircase.
LB
Angelina and I were standing at the improvised bar in the Hufflepuff common room, both nursing a glass of fire whiskey as we glanced around the room. The Hufflepuffs had a dartboard in the room which the twins are trying their hand in. A group of Hufflepuff girls were surrounding them as they giggled and cheered at the twins, even if they missed by half a meter. I frowned and turned my eyes elsewhere.
"Who is it?" Angelina whispered.
I looked at her confused. "Who's what?"
She nodded her head at the twins. "The one you like? Fred or George?"
"I -" No more lying. I sighed and leaned against the table. "It's not that simple."
"Because they both like you?"
"No, because-" I looked at her nervously. "Because I like them both."
"Oh."
"Yeah, so complicated. I can't have them both, and I can't choose between them. I won't. I won't come between them, Ange" I shook my head.
Angelina wrapped an arm around my shoulders and hugged me sideways. "I'm sorry."
"S' okay. I just need to get over them."
"Or under someone else." Angelina snickered, trying to light the mood. I shoved her before we both started laughing. Angelina refilled our glasses again, still laughing before we leaned against the table again. Alicia was talking to a Hufflepuff boy in the corner, smiling as she twirled her hair between her fingers. Lee was talking to the head boy from Hufflepuff, looking very serious. The common room was crowded, students from all houses except Slytherin, I frowned a little at that.
"Why are the two most beautiful girls standing here on their lonesome?" Cedric grinned as he leaned against the table next to me.
"I'm guessing my man is discussing quidditch with Zachariah." She pushed herself off the table. "I should go before it gets too heated." She shot me a wink before she walked over to her boyfriend. I glared at her back before looking at Cedric with a smile.
"So, enjoying the party?"
"It's okay." I teased. I chuckled as he pursed his lips at me. "Didn't invite any Slytherins?"
Cedric puffed up his chest. "I did." He said proudly. He pointed to another corner of the room. A girl with brown plated hair was snogging her face off with someone. When they finally came up for air, I saw on who's lap the girl was sitting on.
"Nott?" I turned to Cedric grinning. "You invited Emmett Nott?"
"Yes and no. He's a cool guy, I was going to invite him anyway. But Kat beat me to it." He snickered.
"So, that's his new girlfriend. Finally made it official then."
"Are you upset?"
"No." I shook my head with a smile. "We parted as friends. I told him to make it official."
"So, you're not seeing anyone?" He said while he eyed the twins.
"Nope. You?"
"Not at the moment."
"What about that Ravenclaw girl, Cho?"
"We hooked up, but never really dated." He shrugged. "So, if you're single..."
"Yeah?" I asked warily, afraid of the answer.
"Then it's time for SPIN THE BOTTLE!" He called out over the room. Several people cheered, and some were already making space in front of the fireplace.
"Aren't we a little old for that?"
"Old? We're sixteen." He raised an eyebrow at me. "What age were you when you played this?"
"I -" I slapped his chest playfully. "I developed young, alright." He chuckled. "Fine, let's go." I grabbed his hand, and he followed me to the group that had already gathered. Cedric laughed behind me.
LB
I sat down with Cedric on my left. The twins had joined the group too, leaning back on their hands with their lopsided grin. Angelina and Lee had taking place on the couch behind them, not playing the game but watching with interest. The group was equally divided with boys and girls. "So, who's first?"
"Maybe the birthday boy?" One of Cedric's friends suggested as he nudged his head to Cedric.
"It's your birthday?" I asked surprised.
"Not until midnight." He grinned as he accepted the empty whiskey bottle from a girl. He winked at her, making her blush fiercely. He put the bottle in the middle of the group and spun it around. It turned, and turned, and turned, until... Of course. "Well, well, will you look at that?" Cedric grinned at me, as he looked from the bottle to me. I didn't dare to look at the twins, but I did see Angelina smirk.
"Well, consider this your birthday present then." I chuckled. Cedric smiled as he leaned in. Our lips touched in a rather innocent kiss, that was until his hand went in my hair and tilted my head, deepening the kiss. The crowd cheered around us, and we pulled back. We smiled at each other before turning back to the game. I purposely avoided the twins' stare.
The game continued, and I was happy to note that the bottle landed on another kid every time. Fred had to kiss the girl who had been blushing at Cedric's wink, she was now beet red. George had to kiss Alicia, who had joined, but that was an awkward peck. When the twins turned the bottle, my nerves grew but was happy it didn't land on me. But when everyone had spun, it was my turn. I looked nervously at Angelina before looking back at the bottle and spun it around. I was holding my breath as it turned in circles in front of me.
Don't, please don't. I pleaded to myself. No, no, no. The bottle was slowing down, and I saw it happen in slow motion as it stopped in front of the twins. The others all leaned forward to look at it, the bottle had stopped just between them.
"Who is she supposed to kiss?" A Ravenclaw girl piped up.
"I don't know." A boy frowned as he hiccupped drunkenly. "But I don't know the difference either way."
Angelina bit her lip nervously, but sweet obliviously Lee, suggested something else. "Kiss them both." He clapped his hand excitedly on the couch, and Angelina groaned in her hands.
"Both?" Cedric frowned. "Isn't that a little excessive?"
"I'll kiss one of them for you." I turned to a tall Ravenclaw girl, a year above us. She had her hair in a low ponytail, bit greasy on the top, and when she smiled you could see her slightly crooked teeth. I turned to the twins for the first time. They both looked a little disturbed at the thought and looked at me with pleading eyes.
I smiled at them, even though my heart was beating fast in my chest. It's fine. "It's fine, I can kiss them both." The twins took in a deep breath, their eyes large. "We're friends, it's okay." The twins' shoulders slumped a little. It's going to be okay. I could feel every eye on me, but I looked to the twins only. "Who's first?"
George without question, gestured to his twin. Probably thinking he had a kiss already. I came closer to Fred on my hands and knees. Fred was holding his breath when I came over. I tucked my hair behind my ear and looked up to him. "Are you sure?"
"Yeah." He croaked. I smiled at him, I cupped his cheek lightly and my stomach fluttered even more as he leaned into the touch a little. The look he was giving me was maddening, and I bit my lower lip softly. His eyes flickered to my lips when he saw the movement and the next moment, he had cupped both my cheeks and kissed me hungrily. My chest exploded as his lips moved around mine and I had to hold back a moan. Fuck, this is even better than I imagined. Fuck! Fuck! I'm making this harder on myself. I pulled away slowly. Fred was looking at me, breathing hard. He was looking at me like he was going to kiss me again, so I sat back on my heels while the others cheered.
"Now Fred!" One of the girls squealed.
"George." I corrected her without looking, my eyes were already on the boy in question. "Can I have a glass of water?" I asked Angelina, who conjured it quickly.
"I bet you need it." A boy snickered somewhere on my right.
I knew my lips must've looked red and swollen already but George had the same hungry look as his twin had. I took a sip of water. "Hi."
George gave me a lopsided smile, my heart was just slowing down, but with that smile it started up again. "You don't have to." He said quietly.
"I already know you're a great kisser." I whispered with a wink and grinned as he blushed. George was less direct than Fred, so I wrapped my hand around his neck and leaned in. The kiss started out slow, our tongues slowly caressing each other's. But when George's hand went to my waist, his thumb grazing a spot on my bare waist, the kiss intensified. Fuck, this feels good! Fred and George kissed so differently but made me the same amount of crazy. I really need to get over this crush, now! I pulled back; George was breathing hard like his twin. He caressed my waist one last time before pulling back.
"So, are they good kissers?" The Ravenclaw girl who volunteered asked.
I sat back next to Cedric as I looked to the twins, with a crooked smile, I said. "Not bad."