"I'm fine," I said for what seemed like the hundredth time. I sat at the Gryffindor table next to Bella and Hermione who were keeping close eyes on me.
I was currently shunning Draco Malfoy every time he looked at me or tried to say anything. I pretty much cussed him out last night when I woke up and saw him sitting in a chair next to my hospital bed.
But that wasn't the big gossip anymore. Katie Bell had been cursed by the necklace she had supposedly gotten in the girls lavatory of the Three Broomsticks.
Harry was dead set that it was Malfoy, and for the first time since yesterday I felt a sinking inside me for Malfoy. I knew it was him. Dumbledore had been back at the school yesterday and I had a feeling it was meant for him.
Harry wasn't far off the correct story. He even guessed right about Malfoy being a Death Eater and as much as I wanted to tell everyone what I knew, I kept my moth shut. I would respect the last thing I said to Draco Malfoy that probably meant anything to him.
That I wouldn't tell anyone about his secret, which also meant I couldn't tell about any of the others parts of the secret.
I wasn't really paying attention to anyone's conversation because I was busy playing footsie with Neville who was sitting across from me. I would hear the occasional word. Death Eater. Git. Piece of scum. Hope he dies. I hate him. Idiotic. Unrealistic. You shouldn't jump to conclusions so fast. But you said you saw the mark. I said I didn't know what I saw. The conversation was between Ron, Harry, and Hermione, but if they were really trying to keep it a secret, they weren't doing a very good job.
Neville suddenly stopped his foot and I looked up to see him staring at me intently. I suddenly felt nervous and my cheeks starting heating up.
"You seem upset," he said softly.
"I'm not," I said. "I just don't like the fact of what Malfoy is doing. It's as if he's bipolar. One second he hates me and then the next he saves me in the forest." I stabbed a piece of egg so hard that the plate cracked.
Neville took out his wand and fixed it for me. He was really getting better at spells and school all together. I was happy for him, but I knew he still struggled in plenty of subjects.
"Don't mind him," he said.
"I'm not," I replied. "I'm just confused about so many things right now."
"Just forget about it all," Neville said. I hugged my sweater closer to me and tried to forget everything that was going on. I tried clearing my mind, thinking of happy thoughts and smiling times when nothing was wrong.
"I can't," I huffed after a few minutes had passed. "Everything I'm worried about is all so important and it seems stupid to try and forget them. Nice idea though."
"Thanks." We both sat I silence, just looking at each other.
I wasn't sure what to say.
"Did you get invited to Professor Slughorn's dinner party?" Neville asked.
"No," I replied. "I didn't even hear about it."
"I was, I could talk to him about you, I mean, Ginny's going," he replied.
"I'd love that, but I don't want to be a bother," I replied with a smile.
"It's nothing, trust me," he said. "I'll tell him about you."
"When is it?" I asked.
"This Wednesday night," Neville said.
"Okay, that's fine." I looked over at Bella who was watching Neville and I. "What?" I asked.
"I just love you," she said. "You are the best friend I could ever have."
"I love you, too," I said smiling, then I whispered, "Are your hormones getting to you?"
"I'll talk to you about it later," she replied and went back to talking to Damon, Dean, and Seamus.
"Okay," I murmured, mostly to myself, and stood up from the table. I knew what I was doing today and I wasn't looking forward to it. First I had to find and talk to Professor Slughorn about getting a new Potions tutor. Then I had to talk to that person. After that, I knew I needed to write my paper for Charms that was due tomorrow and start on my Divination paper. Not to mention I needed to study for a Transfiguration test and I told Bella I would come watch the Quidditch team practice for the upcoming match against Slytherin this Saturday. They had practices almost every evening and I was starting to feel glad that I did awful at the tryouts. I didn't know if I would have been able to handle it.
Right as I stepped over the bench to head to Slughorn's office and see if he was there, I felt someone grab my arm. It was Bella.
"Wait," she said. She looked like she was going to be sick.
"Are you okay? Should we take you to Madame Pomfrey?" I asked.
"No, just help me get to the loo," she said, standing up with me. I helped her as we rushed to the nearest lavatory.
"Are you sure you're okay?" I asked.
"Yeah, it's just morning sickness," Bella replied. "My mom had it when she was pregnant with my baby brother." We entered into the tiled room and Bella ran for the nearest stall. I saw her on her knees and heard her as she threw up before I could ask what I should do. I guess I would just wait.
It was awhile after she can out, wiping her mouth with a piece if toilet paper, which she threw away and then washed her hands. She looked at herself in the mirror. Turning to the side, she lifted up her shirt so she could see her stomach.
Other then the fact that she looked like she had gained maybe three pounds, she looked fine, only showing a small bump that was barely noticeable.
She ran her finger over the center of her stomach.
"I may not come to school next year," she said. "I've been talking with Damon about it and we aren't really sure what to do."
"Your mom could take care of the baby after she got over the initial shock," I said.
"I don't want my baby to grow up in someone else's house," Bella replied.
"You have to graduate though," I insisted.
"Aly, you need to understand that I have to do what's best for the baby," she reminded me.
"I know," I said, "it's just, I can't imagine life at Hogwarts without you."
"I guess," she replied. "It'll be fine though."
"Is Damon really okay with you flying?" I asked.
"We actually had an argument yesterday evening about that," Bella replied. "He said I had no business flying pregnant and I told him he was being ridiculous since I'm not even a month along."
"What about later?" I asked.
"I'm still going to fly, Aly," she said. "And nothing anyone says is going to stop me. I know what you have to do, so get going. I'm fine now."
"Okay." I waved goodbye as I walked out of the loo and down to the first floor where Slughorn's office was. I pulled my sweater close as a gust of wind blew through an open window. I could see the snow pouring heavily outside, making it look as if it would be hard to see out there in the weather. I hoped it wouldn't do this on game day. As I got to the door I knocked three times and waited.
The peephole opened up and and the Professor looked down at me.
"Yes, Miss...?"
"Weasley," I replied. "You gave me a tutor for Potions and I'd like to talk to you."
"Oh, yes," he said, "now I remember you. Come right in." He opened up his door and I stepped inside. There was a nice table that could easily sit twelve people and some shelves made out of some dark wood. Sitting on a table was a hourglass made of green and white blown glass. It was rather beautiful. There was a pot of tea and a cup on the table and then a door leading off somewhere I could not see.
"You have a beautiful office," I said.
"Thank you, Miss Weasley," Slughorn replied, giving me a smile. "Why don't you have a seat? I'll go get you a cup for some tea."
I was about to object but he was already walking through the door. I hesitated before walking over and sitting at the fancy looking table and I couldn't help but notice a shelf with a ton of pictures on it. I stood up to go and look at them.
I saw a lot of people I recognized, but couldn't remember their names. Then my eyes fell on her. She was beautiful, with flowing red hair and emerald green eyes, standing right next to Slughorn.
I heard the Professor come in and he came to a stop next to me.
"Professor," I said, "is that Harry's mum?" Slughorn raised his eyebrows at me.
"Yes, indeed it is," he said. "How did you know?"
"Well, her eyes look exactly like Harry's," I replied. "It was a truthful guess."
"Yes, Lily was a lovely student, one of my absolute favorites. That's why she's there at the front," he said, with a smile on his face. "Now, come have a seat."
I listened to him and had a seat as he poured me a cup of scalding tea and handed me the cup. I took it with a nod as he pouring himself a glass, seating the pot down gently before looking up at me.
"Ah, now, what did you want to talk to me about?" he asked. I blew on my tea for a moment, figuring out how to word my sentence.
"Well, you see, Professor," I began, "you have me Draco Malfoy as my tutor earlier this year and it was fine until only a little while ago. You see, Malfoy and I are not really on good terms right now and I feel like I could still use a tutor. Is there a way I could have a new one?"
"I suppose that would be possible," he replied. "As I said before, I'm sure Mr. Potter is rather busy and Miss Granger is already helping with a first year and a third year. You said no to Mr. Malfoy. I'd take it you don't really want to be taught by your brother, though Potions is not his natural ability. Mr. Finnigan is an option, but most likely a last resort. Perhaps Miss Brown or Mr. Thomas? Or I could pair you with a seventh year or fifth year like yourself."
"I like having an older teacher," I replied, "because they already know what I'm struggling with."
"How about I give you Miss Vanderbilt?" he asked. "She's a seventh year Ravenclaw, just about as clever as they come."
"Oh, okay," I said. "I don't know who she is though."
"Why not ask your friend, Miss Lovegood?" he suggested. "She would know her. Anyways, tell her I told you that if she's alright with it, she can tutor you."
"Okay, thank you, Professor," I said. I had already finished my tea and I stood up to leave.
"Um, Miss Weasley," he said. "I know this is rather soon and a late invite, but would you like to come to a dinner that I'm hosting this Wednesday night at six thirty? Select students only."
I smiled and made a note to tell Neville he didn't have to asks and I nodded. "That sounds great," I replied. "Thank you."
"It is rather formal, so dress nicely," he said. I gave him one more smile before walking towards the door.
"Goodbye, Professor and thank you," I said.
"Goodbye, Miss Weasley," he said, giving me a wave with one of his hands. I walked out of the office and shut the door quietly behind me.
Great, now I had to find Luna. I last saw her in the Great Hall, so I decided to take a guess that she would be there still as it had only been about twenty minutes. I hurried down to the Great Hall, only stopping to readjust my wand when it started digging into my ankle. I pulled it out of my boot and stuck it into the other one, realized it was stupid to put it in my left boot anyways since I was right handed.
I finally made it the the Great Hall and I actually noticed Luna right away, sitting at the Gryffindor table. I also saw Neville so I figured I might as well kill two birds with one stone.
"Hey, Luna," I said. "I was wondering if you knew someone named Vanderbilt?"
"Why, of course," she answered. "She's right over there." She pointed to a tall girl with long flowing brown hair and shining brown eyes. She was surrounded by a group of people at her table.
"The girl that's surrounded?" I ask.
"No, no," Luna answered. "The one sitting alone."
I looked down the table until I spotted her. She had brown hair and brow eyes like the other girl, but she was shorter and she had her nose in a book. I could see her eyes darting back and forth over the pages as she read.
"Oh okay," I said. "Thanks, Luna."
"You're welcome."
"Hey, Neville, guess what," I said.
"What?"
"Professor Slughorn asked me to his dinner party on Wednesday, now you won't have to ask!" I exclaimed. "It makes things a lot easier."
"I would agree it does," he said, smiling at me. "Would you do me the honor of letting me escort you to the dinner?"
"Yeah, that'd be great," I said, reaching out and squeezing his hand. "I have to go now, bye."
"Bye."
I started to wonder over to the girl that was still reading, ignoring the food that was still sitting on her plate from who knows how long. I cleared my throat and tapped her shoulder when I was behind her. She took a moment to dog earner page and and then close the book before turning to look at me.
"Um-hi, I'm Aly Weasley," I said.
"Gianna Vanderbilt," she replied. "What can I do for you, Weasley?"
"Well, Professor Slughorn said that I should come to your for tutoring in my Potions class. He said if that was okay with you."
"Of course, what year are you in?" she asked.
"My fifth, oh, and please call me Aly," I said.
"I'll call you Aly if you call me Gianna," she said. I nodded my head. "Well, Aly, I would be happy to help you. Would Thursday night at six be good for you? Right after dinner?"
"That sounds great," I replied.
"Okay, I'll meet you in the Potions classroom then," she said with a smile.
"Thanks, Gianna," I said.
"No problem, Aly," Gianna replied. "I'll see you Thursday."
"Yeah," I said, "see you Thursday."
I glanced back at Gianna when I was halfway to the exit and saw that she was already reading again, still ignoring the food on her plate.
I giggled.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hi, guys!
Here's my update, along with a new character, Gianna Vanderbilt. She doesn't have a big part in this book, though she will have a huge part in the next book!
So, that's Mila Kunis(Gianna) to the side ->
Don't forget to vote and comment. I really enjoy your feedback!
Thanks sooo much! :)