"Look deeply into the stars, you'll find answers to all your problems," Trelawney drawls and I hear Ron snigger from my left. He mutters something to Harry and they both exchange a grin. I flick through the textbook, bored of the lesson as usual.
"Miss Argent, tell me what do you see in the stars?"
My eyes snap up and I stutter unable to form a complete sentence. Trelawney looks at me expectantly, her eyes wide in anticipation.
"Erm, I'm going to get a nice surprise soon...?" I say trailing off at the end. She doesn't look impressed and I glance around trying to get myself out of this situation. Ron motions as if he's hanging himself and I sigh rolling my eyes. Futures aren't supposed to be happy in this class. "And there's heart break in the future too," I mutter and Trelawney gives me a grave smile, patting my shoulder.
"Yes, yes dear. You should stay clear of pumpkins on Friday," she says with an air of mystery and I snort. Pumpkins? Since when do I go near them anyway? Ron snorts as Harry mutter something inaudible. Honestly this class was such a joke, but since I was already so behind on Potions, I couldn't afford to miss any other lessons.
"And if you're so intent on disrupting my class, you can do an extra assignment on charting the phases of Venus and what they mean," Trelawney snaps at Ron and I laugh as his face turns into horror. "You too, Miss Argent!"
"What? But Profe-" I start but she shoots me a look. Grumbling to myself, I head out of the class and towards the Great Hall. It's just my luck to get extra homework when I actually try in a lesson. I sit at the end of the table with a sigh and grab a sandwich. Scanning the table at the front of the hall, my heart sinks at the empty seat of my guardian. After leaving things so terribly with him, my nightmares have only become more intense. So far the potion has made sure I'm safe whilst I sleep, but it won't be long until I'll have to find him for something stronger.
"Right bat isn't she?" I hear Ron grumble as he sits opposite me. Hermione sits next to me as Harry takes the seat next to Ron.
"Well you should have dropped the subject earlier like I did," Hermione says with a grin and I stare at them all, unable to say a word. Since when do these three sit next to me? Racking my brain, I try to recall a moment where I encouraged the interaction. From the start of first year, Severus warned me to steer clear of Potter, his father apparently had a reputation for getting up to mischief. Managing to avoid all the drama that seems to follow these three required a lot of skill and something I was quite proud of.
"Hey do you want to split the work so we can get it done in one night?" Ron asks looking at me hopefully. All three pairs of eyes stare at me expectantly.
"Sure?" I say after a pause and Ron grins at me. I suppose avoiding them can wait till after I've finished this monster of an assignment.
"You going to come to Keeper tryouts on Friday?" Ron asks, glancing up at Hermione.
"I've got Umbridge," Harry says defeatedly, subconsciously pulling his sleeve over his hand.
"We'll be there," Hermione says confidently and I raise my eyebrows.
"We?" I ask and she gives me a knowing smile.
"Don't you want to see the team in action?" She says and suddenly I feel extremely self conscious, as if I'm being watched or something. My eyes meet familiar brown ones and I scowl. This is his doing. He smirks at me as if he knows what I'm thinking. But then he turns back to Fred and Lee, completely ignoring me. I watch as some students walk up to him and he jokes with them. He passes them a box and a couple of silver coins and they scamper off. One of the girls turn back and I see George wink at her. Narrowing my eyes I turn my attention back to my sandwich.
"I can't believe they're doing this in the Great Hall!" Hermione retorts angrily as Ron pales slightly. I notice Harry hasn't been interested in any of this conversation, but instead keeps glancing up at the other empty space at the table at the front. Hagrid. Potter must be close to him or something. Maybe Hagrid is to him what Severus is to me. Thinking about him makes me feel guilty.
I refuse to communicate with him more than necessary, but I know at some point I'm going to have to apologise. He is after all the only person in the school who understands me. As much as his controlling behaviour seems suffocating right now, I can't help my nightmares if I push away the one person who I can confine to about them.
"We could pretend we didn't see them?" Ron offers hopefully and Hermione shoots him a look.
"Oh look at the time, we should be heading off to Charms," I find myself saying and Ron looks at me gratefully. Hermione presses her lips together but doesn't say a word as we make our way to Charms. I find the stares more apparent and obvious, making me feel uncomfortable.
"What's their problem? Do they think they're all going to catch something from me?" Harry retorts angrily and I realise the stares aren't to me for once. Students move away from us making a clear path to the classroom. Harry kicks the wall in anger.
"Just ignore them," Hermione says tiredly. This must have been going on for sometime. How could I have not noticed? I guess I always assumed that no one took notice of the garbage that was being said in the Prophet.
"I don't think you're insane," I say in a low voice and Harry looks up surprised. He mutters a thanks and I decide to sit next to them instead of my usual place in the corner of the room. I'm not one who makes friends easily, but it's different now that I know how people are treating Harry. I know what that's like.
Hermione gives me what could only be described as a look of gratitude, as she pulls Ron to the other side of us. Harry's stormy mood continues throughout the lesson, but it doesn't effect me. I'm no stranger to being fed up with everything. Instead, I focus on getting on with the lesson without commenting on his anger.
In the common room later, I sit by the fire with Ron as we work on the charts. George still hasn't said a word to me or looked my way. Guess he's taking what I said seriously and it doesn't sit well with me.
"This one means we're going to be mauled by a minotaur on Tuesday," Ron says and I scoff at him. As we've been going through the week, the prophecies are becoming more and more unrealistic. "Alright, you come up with something better then," Ron grumbles and I take the sheet from him.
"I think Friday's a good day to be poisoned," I say scanning the chart. Nothing in particular made me decide that aside from the fact that it would be a good way to end the week.
"But you have to stay away from pumpkins..." Ron trails off, but then looks up excitedly. "I know, you're going to get poisoned by pumpkins on Friday," he says, writing it down before I can say another word. Raising an eyebrow at him, I nod at his enthusiasm.
"Friday's not a good day, you don't think this is an omen about the Keeper tryouts do you?" Ron asks in a low voice and I shake my head at him.
"If any of this was true, we would have died three times already." I laugh and from the corner of my eye I see George glance our way for the first time. "Anyways I think you'll be fine." I say in a quieter voice.
George leans on the wall opposite us and stares in our direction, whilst talking to Fred so it doesn't seem like he's actually looking at us. In fact, it could be me just reading into it all. Or how I want him to look at me. He said he wouldn't give up on me, but for the last week he hasn't said a word to me and listened to my angry retort.
"You know, he'll want you to be there," Ron says quietly causing me to jump. Goosebumps appear on my arm as I consider the scary fact that George has been talking about me to his brother. It would explain why Ron has suddenly become all nice after years of ignoring me like everyone else.
"He's better off without me," I mumble and Ron scoffs.
"If he's better off without you, I'd hate to see what he's like with you. He's been a bloody pain in the arse this week," Ron continues and I find myself smiling slightly. I told Severus that I don't want to be alone anymore and yet I haven't tried to reach out to anyone. Aside from today, the only interaction I've really had is with a house-elf who got frightened at my late night wandering of the common room. Walking helps me fall asleep when the nightmares are really bad. Truthfully, I was trying to convince myself that everything was okay and I didn't need to go see Severus.
I'm scared.
I'm scared he's going to get too close and then find out about who I am, what I've done and then leave me. I don't think I could survive that. But then again, this is his last year, so worst comes to worst, he'll be gone by the end of the year. Then I can go back to my normal life.
"Look, he'll kill me for saying this, but I think he likes you," Ron says, briefly looking up to check we aren't being watched. A warmness spreads my body and again I feel like I matter to someone.
"Don't tell him I told you," Ron pleads and I give him a small smile. George doesn't know what he's doing anyways. He just thinks he likes me, because he thinks I'm someone worth knowing or whatever it was he said.
***
Friday comes around quicker than I could blink and the common room is alight with chatter about the tryouts later on. I hear raised voices in the corner and watch as Harry argues with Seamus Finnigan reminding me a lot of the arguments I had with my dorm-mates in third year. It's a daily occurrence now and not something I enjoy watching. I push past the crowd to the other end of the room and sit in my usual place by the window.
"Guys break it off, it's time for tryouts," Ron says pulling Harry away. To my annoyance they decide to come towards me. I remember a time when this was my own special place and no one disturbed me.
"You have to stop letting him get to you," Ron says to Harry who shrugs himself out of Ron's grip. Not wanting to intrude in what looks like it will be another argument, I pick up a book scanning through it's contents. It's something Severus used to do when I was a child, he would decide whether a book was worth reading by flicking through all the pages quickly like some sort of fan. It would give him a 'sense' of the book and help him decide whether it was worth our time.
"Yeah well you try have everyone call you crazy," Harry retorts. There's an icy silence between the two and then Harry sighs. "I have Umbridge now, good luck with the tryouts," he offers a smile and then walks out. Ron stares at his retreating back, looking like he wants to say something but then glances at me instead.
"Come on Argent, you're coming with me." He says pulling my arm but I shrug him off too. He gives me a hard stare. "You don't have a choice," he grabs my arm and drags me outside. I consider protesting but a part of me wants to see George in action. Perhaps the only interaction we'll get this week since he's adamant on ignoring me.
There is a large crowd gathered already and I see Hermione wave at me from the stands. I mutter a good luck to queasy looking Ron and make my way to her. I watch as the current team huddle around in a circle. A face looks outwards to the stands. Brown eyes search the crowds and I hide my face behind Hermione's shoulders.
"He's not looking anymore," she mutters smiling slightly. I look back and sure enough he's in the air tossing the bat and catching it. A bludger zooms towards him and I can't help but hold my breath. Pay attention you fool! I feel like shouting, but just as its about to hit him, he grabs the bat and whacks it in the opposite direction.
I stare dumbfounded.
Cheering with the rest of the crowd when both brothers flick the bludgers to each other with careful ease, I can't help but marvel at his skill. As someone who is petrified of even getting on a broom for longer than necessary, the fact that he can fly skillfully whilst also beating away the bludgers is a real talent. I'm not even paying any attention to the Keeper anymore, my eyes are fixed on George. Every time the bludger gets close to him, I feel my heart rate speed up, but it never hits him. I feel elated as he raises his arms and hi-fives Fred. But then I hear something that makes me feel like a bucket of icy water has been thrown on me.
"Isn't that her?"
"The creep who stalks George? Yeah, I heard she's using mind control over him. That's what Lav said."
The whispers continue and I can't bring myself to turn around. I can't give them the satisfaction of knowing that they got to me. Hermione gives me a worried look but I shake my head at her. I try to smile but I don't think it's convincing. Suddenly I don't feel like watching the tryouts anymore. The whole thing makes me feel extremely nauseous.
"I'm going to go finish that Potions homework," I say in a barely audible voice and without looking back, I walk away from the stand and the whispering girls. Tears form in my eyes as I blink furiously. How could they have effected me so badly?
I'm strong.
I'm supposed to be strong.
Not really looking where I'm walking I stumble across to the Greenhouse area and lean against a tree, trying to catch my breath. Maybe the reason why it hurts so much is because I actually believe them. I'm a creep and a monster. It makes perfect sense as to why they'd find it odd someone like George paid attention to me. Not that he's been bothered these past few days.
"Lils," a voice says softly causing me to jump, but I recognise it immediately. I keep my face hidden as I'm pretty sure tears are going to fall soon. His hand gently touches my arm and pulls me so that I'm facing him. My eyes shut instinctively and a tear betrays me, falling down my cheek.
"Oh Lily, I'm so sorry," George whispers, his thumb wiping the tear from my face. I take a deep breath and exhale shakily. It's obvious, I feel something for George. It scares me because when I'm around him, I can't be strong. The last time we spoke, he followed me back to the castle and I was the one who pushed him away. It's like I can't help it anymore. I know I want to get to know him, I want to have all the moments with him and more, but at the same time, it's like I'm hardwired to reject all forms of kindness.
"You should know better than to listen to gossipers," he says in a somewhat stern voice, but I can hear humour laced in it as well. "Anyways, it doesn't matter what they say. It matters what I say. And I think you're gorgeous and smart and quirky and strong." He rambles and I shake my head, not allowing myself to believe a word he says.
"I'm not strong," I say, my voice shaking a little. "I just pretend to be," I continue, exhaling deeply again. He wraps his arms around me and pulls me closer. I feel safe for once, safer than I have done for a long time. Without the stability that I get from Severus, it hits me that this particular Weasley and his insistence on following me around gives me that little bit of stability that I crave.
"You don't have to pretend with me," he continues and I open my eyes to look at him. To my horror there's a large bruise on his cheek and I stare at it alarmed.
"I thought you were good at the sport," I scoff and he gives me a small smile.
"I'm the best," he corrects me with a smirk. "But I was distracted when the a certain someone decided to leave the stands early. I mean she was going to miss some of my best moves and all," he says airily and I scowl at him. His words sink in, causing my cheeks to redden.
"You knew I was there?" I ask feeling stupid that I even hid in the first place. I guess I didn't want him to know that it mattered to me that much, but that's all water under the bridge now so to speak.
"Of course. Hiding behind Hermione, honestly who do you think I am?" He raises an eyebrow at me, causing my scowl to darken. "See there's the Argent I know," he smiles at me.
"You told Ron to be nice to me," I say accusingly, folding my arms. He still hasn't removed his arms from around me, a fact that I'm extremely aware of.
"Yeah, you told me to leave you alone. You didn't say anything about anyone else," George purses his lips together, as his eyes darken. "But I never told him to become best buddies with you."
I laugh softly, "were you jealous?" I ask feeling very warm. I've never felt this way before about anyone. No one has ever tried hard enough for me ever have a chance to. People think I've bewitched him, but really it's the other way round. It's almost as if George has poisoned me or something.
"Very much so," he whispers gazing into my eyes. I look away feeling uncomfortable with the intensity and his arms loosen. Cheering can be heard in the distance, I guess they've decided who the Keeper is going to be.
"Lily Argent, how about we become friends?" He steps backward, offering me a hand. I smile and take it. The idea of having a cemented form of stability was enough for me.
"That sounds good," I say in a small voice. I take a step but get my feet twisted in some vines. The world tips upside down around me and I gasp. Two arms hold me tight and prevent me from hitting the floor. My face boils and I grab his arms to steady myself. Slowly, he helps me stand up straight again.
"Stupid pumpkins," I mutter, brushing myself down.
"Really? I think they've just become my new favourite food," George says smirking. He puts an arm around me and we make our way back to the common room.
Trelawney was right, pumpkins spell danger.
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A/N: Ughhh George Ezra is BAE, but his tour is completely sold out.