3rd PoV:
They (Hermione, Jenna, and Lana) found Elle sitting in front of the fireplace roasting marshmallows with a large gallon of mint brownie ice cream in her lap. There was a silver spoon jutting out of the top, ready for the net bite. Hermione looked her twin over cautiously and found that she looked fine. Sure, she had a green tint around the corners of her mouth, but that was from the ice cream. She wasn't sobbing or anything.
"Elle? You okay?" Hermione sat down next to Elle, pulling her knees up to her chin. Jenna and Lana exhaled in harmony as they plopped down into the couch behind the Granger twins. Hermione couldn't help but notice how in sync they both were-and they weren't even related.
Elle gave her a side glance, but nodded-shrugging off her hoodie. "Yeah I'm fine. I was just tired, and wanted to sleep- sorry for troubling you all." Lana's ears pricked at the monotone sound of Elle's voice, and she couldn't help but feel that she sounded....dead, emotionally dead.
"Can I have some of your Icecream?" Jenna licked her lips, her gaze locked on the tub between her friend's legs-mint brownie was her absolute favorite, aside from chocolate, and vanilla, and strawberry- now that she thought about it...she couldn't chose a favorite-but she knew she wanted some.
Grunting, Lana smacked her ditzy friend upside her head, but Elle just shrugged. "Yeah sure, I don't really care," She gave Jenna the tub of ice cream and then the bag of marshmallows, getting to her feet.
"Where are you going?" Hermione looked up at her, worried that their presence put Elizabeth back into a bad mood.
Elle looked down at her, her stare was blank- but Elle forced a light smile onto her lips and shook her head. "Don't worry - I'm just tired, I think I'll go to bed before Fucking Fred gets back to the common room."
Elle's Pov:
I could see Hermione's hurt look flash behind her eyes, so I forced a smile. "Don't worry. I'm just tired, I think I'll go to bed before Fucking Fred gets back to the common room."
I didn't have much to say other than that. In fact, my brain didn't really have much to think about either. So, emotionally tired and slightly peeved about the events of the day, I trudged around the couch. But, as soon as I did, the Portrait Door swung open with a boisterous creak, allowing a rowdy group of boys to stumble into the Gryffindor Common Room. Laughing and joking around with each other, the Gryffindor Common Room jumped to life.
"Ron, you git. You completely blew it! You can't just ask a girl like that to a Ball!" Fred chuckled, arms tucked cooly behind his neck. His back was to me, so I tried to sneak out of the middle of the room without being seen.
"Oh? And what about you- asking Angelina?" Ron sneered, glaring at his brother- ears red. "We all know that you only did t- Oh, Elle" Ron's eyes saw me and he quickly shut him mouth on the subject. "Are you feeling better?" He frowned, and I smiled lightly- it was nice that he cared a little about how I was feeling.
"Yeah," I whispered, looking at my feet. My loose bangs shielded my eyes as I tried to gather my confidence to speak. "I just had a stomach bug," I lied, "but it's gone now."
I lifted my eyes onto Ron, trying not to acknowledge Fred in any way as I crossed my arms over my puffed-up chest, feeling a rush of conviction. "How was dinner?"
Ron grinned and rubbed his stomach. "Ah, it was really good -- like always. We missed you though. But, at least you won't be sick over break, right?"
"Uh, right Ron." I could tell he wanted to ask me something, but I really was not in the mood.
Ron's ears tinted pink as he looked at his shoes. "Look, Elle- do you have a date to the Yule Ball? Because if not, do you want to go as friends?" My gaze flickered over to Hermione by the fire, I watched her stiffen a little, then my eyes faltered over to a half angry, half smug looking Fred- he probably thought I was going to admit I was going with Oliver.
"Oh, sorry Ron." I sighed and tucked my hair behind my ear, eyes flashing angrily towards Fred. "I'm not going to the Yule Ball- too much drama. But, if you need help finding a date - I can help you, you see I recently got a date for Lana," My eyes turned on to Fred scornfully, I wanted to see his reaction, so far he looked confused. "You know Oliver Wood, yes?"
"Oh," Ron frowned a little, seemingly disappointed that I didn't say yes. But, after he thought it over for a moment, he decided that having a little help would be better than nothing. "Right, 'kay, I'll take you up on that!" Fred's face fell deeply into a scowl at himself as he thought over my words.
His light eyes flickered as he scoured my face for any lie, but I just cocked my head to the side. I played coy, placing my hands on my hips and arching a stern, solemn brow. The fire crackle behind us and the rest of Fred and Ron's friends dispersed to their own rooms, some mentioning studies while some said nothing at all.
"Is something the matter, Fred?" I hissed, still angry. At least I got to see his reaction- it didn't disappoint. Rolling my eyes, I marched over to the stairs and began to climb them hatefully. Fred reached out for me, but I was too quick, slipping away from him.
"Elle, wait!" He called, running up the stairs. Suddenly the stairs fell out from beneath the two of us, turning into a slide. Quickly, I latched onto the railing, refusing to stop climbing. I heard Fred's body slide to the bottom with a hard 'thunk' but I didn't turn to look at him, I just kept hiking up the slope. "Elle, come on- you can't just hide up there-" Fred called.
"-Fuck off!" I yelled, climbing faster and faster until I couldn't see them any more. It was a lot more difficult to climb a slide than stairs, but at least there was a railing here. If there wasn't, my dramatic escape wouldn't be as dramatic.
Fred's Pov:
"Fuck." I cursed and grabbed a fist full of my hair. I still hadn't gotten off of the ground. I could tell that everyone was staring at me but I knew I deserved it. "I'm an ass..."
"Yeah. You are." One of Elle's friends piped up, her hazel burning at me under her deep red hair. "She fucking hates you now. And, even though Elle isn't known to hold grudges, I know you won't be off the hook for a while."
Well, I guess my mission for the rest of the break is to get Letter to like me again, or the rest of the year- if that is what it takes.
Elle's PoV:
"Get up, you lazy bum!" Jenna lightly chirped. I cracked open my left eye, squinting at her as she sat on her bed, fully clothed as her legs swung back and forth. She looked like a child waiting for the bus, with her curly blonde hair tied into two round buns on each side of her neck. Jenna was wearing a Gryffindor scarf around her neck, and her black boots reflected the soft morning light pouring through the stain-glass windows.
Rolling around on the cool bed, I cuddled with my blanket a little longer. I was having such a good dream. I was having my first kiss (and it was with Fred) and Angelina was in the background, she suddenly exploded for no reason.
I jolted up, shaking my head with the realization of the dream - no no no. Fred and I were never going to kiss and he was sure as hell not going to be my first kiss. Fucking Fred....that was his new nickname to me.
"Yoou doing okay?" Jenna asked, her grey gaze hesitantly watching me as I jumped out of bed quickly, and with quiet anger. "Uhhm," she frowned, but shrugged as I didn't reply. "Put on some warm clothes. We are going out today!"
"Where, why?" I groaned, but refused to get back into bed- I may have another nightmare about Fred and me...
"Hogsmeade, and dress shopping!" She sung loudly. I made a possessed hissing/gargling sound in the back of my throat.
Jenna clapped her hands over her ears and shook her head at me with a smile. "No, none of that. Besides, you have to look super sexy to make Fred jealous of your date to the Yule Ball! He will be begging for you to forgive him." She pouted.
"What are you talking about, Jenna?" I sighed and made my bed, feeling a rush of anxious energy. "Did you not hear me last night? I was serious when I told Ron I wasn't going. If I was planning on going... I would have said yes." I turned to her and put my hands on my hips.
Jenna walked to my drawers and pulled out a red trench coat, a light, long sleeved grey scoop neck and black plants for me. "Here, throw these on."
Sighing, I threw them on quickly, knowing Jenna can't be reasoned with- she's a Taurus. "Can you give me a different shirt? This one shows way too much cleavage for a normal outing." I chuckled, pointing at the scoop, but Jenna shook her head.
"Nope! You look sexy- and that is exactly what you need to look."
Rolling my eyes, I shoved my boots on and snorted. "It's not like Fred's coming with us or anything."
Jenna didn't reply. I crossed my arms over my chest and stared her down. "He's not coming... right?"
She stuttered a little, trying to smooth it over: "Yo-you're already dressed! Come on, he'll barely be there. We're ditching the guys as soon as we get to Hogsmeade."
"Why is it that I don't believe you?" I hissed, but shrugged it off- I really couldn't be bothered with it- besides, I had promised Hermione earlier on in the book that I'd go dress shopping with her... "What ever, I'm coming."
The boys were waiting for us at the bottom of the stairs. Harry and Ron where mumbling about dates and making a deal in their overdrawn coats while George, Lee, and Fred were talking business ethics, scratching their heads and bickering amongst themselves.
I chuckled a little at their antics. For guys who joke around a lot, they were pretty smart. Once we reached the base I smiled at them all, except for Fred, I just glanced over him like another face in the crowd.
The girls and the guys took different rides to Hogsmeade, for which I was grateful. The ride didn't last long, only about thirty minutes, maximum. Once we got out, we were greeted by carolers and snow and a strong smell of gingerbread and cinnamon.
The little village was small, but cozy. The old cottages were study brick and tar with patched roofs covered with fresh, crisp piles of snowfall. Every window was ignited by candlelight, casting a warm glow throughout the town. Shoppers clad in festive cloaks clutched their treasures close as the hobbled about the cobbled streets, gathering presents and goodies for Christmas.
It immediately brought a grin to my face. "I love Christmas, it my most favorite holiday." I whispered to Hermione, my eyes flickering happily as I watched a light snow fall, people bustling around buying gifts for loved ones, and pies being baked.
"Come on!" Jenna called, looping an arm through Lana's. "We don't have much time! The dance is next week." Jenna pulled us along, ditching the boys like she had said we would.
"So is Christmas..." I remembered, I haven't gone Christmas shopping yet! "We still have to get presents, you guys."
We began our search at Madame Mux's Millionare Dresses, but all I was thinking about is what I should buy my friends.
Jenna had found a deep blue one that brought out her honey colored hair while Lana had found a jet black, skin tight dress that stopped at her knees-definitely her style.
Hermione was a lot harder to place. We spent nearly two hours at four different places before we found her dress. And, what a dress it was. A satin pink ombre dress that flowed outward 'til it touched the ground softly. I could practically see Hermione in it, flowing through the Great Hall doors like a princess in a movie.
"That one!" I called once I spotted it. "That's the one for you."
Hermione blushed a little. "I don't know...it's pink how many girls are going to wear pink? I'll stick out like a sore-thumb!" But, as she said this she stroked the fabric, smiling softly and I knew I had her dress. "Okay!" She resolved with a head bob. "I'll get it. What about you, Elle?"
Shrugging, I bit my lip. I hadn't found anything that particularly spoke to me, but I wasn't too worried about it. "Why buy a dress when you're not attending the ball?" I chuckled, but my friends just rolled their eyes.
Lana shook her head and spoke up. "Okay, enough of the self-indulgent poor-me. You are going, Elizabeth Granger — whether you like it or not!"
I threw my hands up in defense and just laughed them off, my eyes flickering around the store in search of a dress that spoke to me, but I couldn't find anything. "Oh well- I think this is the last shop and I don't see anything that I like I guess we'd better lea—" But Lana cut me off, and stalked towards the cash register.
Tucking some hair behind her ear, she talked with the feminine man behind the counter. "Excuse me sir, but we seem to have a dilemma-our school's ball is next week but my friend can't find a dress!" He looked appalled at this and quickly made his way over as if the fate of the world was at stake.
"Oh my dear! I'm sorry — I will have a look in the back, come with me." He grabbed my hand daintily and lead me towards my doom.
"No, no really...it's okay!" I tried to reason with him, but he tsked at me and told me it wasn't.
"Oh no, that won't do, but don't you worry child- I am the best at what I do!" He grinned and opened a gold painted door. "Welcome to the stock room!" What I saw behind the door made me want to curl up and die.
Rows and rows of dresses. This was going to take hours.