Egos and misunderstandings

Tori’s P.O.V.

I did manage to cool off and I went on with my day walking up to the dorms to sort myself out. I did not have a clean uniform or time to shower, if I wanted breakfast, and since we had to leave to follow Frederick during dinner yesterday, my stomach was telling me I would not get through today without breakfast. So I prepared best I could and walked downstairs, I sniffed my uniform as I walked wanting to check on how bad of a state I was in. I was a wee bit baffled as I did this, the oder that hit me was not bad, or even my own, but a mix of the moss and, that pleasant smell from earlier this morning. I smiled a little at the familiar comforting feeling I got from this. I was also relieved I did not smell too bad. I wondered what that smell was, but figured I must have picked up something pleasant at the forrest. I sat down opposite of Ana and dug in she was glaring at me, but I figured I would deal with her crossed arms once I had some food in me. 

“Not to sound like a teacher. But young lady, where have you been?” She said, definitely sounding like a teacher, I smiled a wee at the thought but her glared shut me right up.

“We were worried sick! I was considering owling Ma and Da!” Cho said, I now noticed my sisters matching glare. I just shrugged, my mouth still too full to speak.

“Oh do not give me that. You are reckless but you are not stupid Tor. You must have known we would notice you not coming home last night!” She continued and I sighed seeing her worried face, my sister always wore her feelings on her sleeves and that was a blessing most times, but a curse now, seeing how much my honest mistake had hurt her. I was the big sister, I was supposed to protect her, but now I felt the guilt, a familiar guilt from the failure I felt every time I failed to protect her, and she had to protect me. I looked down.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to worry you. We got lost in the woods, and there was a centaur, and a cave and then Hagrid came and woke us.” I mumbled out trying to express how sorry I was, while not being able to look at them, like my shame and guilt was weighing me down. I looked up confused when I heard Ana giggle.

“You and George were lost in the woods? Are you guys okay?” Cho said more concerned I just shrugged it off, hating when she wanted to take care of me, my job you know?

“Yeah, fine. I was scared for a moment but the centaur meant no harm, and aside from that moment George was with me. Sometimes a wee too much. Annoying bastard.” I said trying to shrug it off, and shivering a little with the memory of Georges arms around me, it was weird and intimate. No matter how nice and warm it had felt. It also felt wrong.

“Wait what?” Cho said utterly confused, but Ana interrupted with another giggle.

“No no, don’t tell me I have read this one. And you told me those romance books were pure nonsens?” She started, and my eyes widened realising that she had figured it out. And I felt horrible knowing that my friend and sister would think me a slag now!

“Don’t. Please. Ana.” I got out, but she laughed.

“Oh my god! I’m right!” She said and Cho looked at her still confused.

“What? What happened?” 

“Don’t worry about it. You’re far too young to know anyway.” I said glaring at Ana trying to tell her keep her mouth shut. Cho crossed her arms and glared at me before sending Ana a trying look. 

“I think she’s old enough. Unless you did something dirtier that sleep together in the woods.” Ana said smirking. I sighed as she said it. My reputation was irrevocably ruined. Cho’s eyes widened.

“You had sex with George? How?” She said in disbelief and I raised my head and glared at her disgusted.

“No. Ew.” I protested and motioned for them to come closer so I could tell them, at this point there was no point in hiding it from those two. I would always tell them eventually. I might as well get this embarrassment overwith, and hopefully never hear about this again.

“Look. We couldn’t find the way back in time at least, so when we found a cave, we decided it would be safer to sleep there than to wander around defenselessly, in the dark, because we would be able to find our way back, or at least send a signal and not get in trouble in daylight.” I started whispering.

“So, did you accidentally cuddle up and wake up all confused in his embrace?” Ana asked looking dreaming into the distance. I rolled my eyes at her, but I could feel my face heating up.

“No.” I said, both her and my sister gave me a knowing look.

“Shut yer puss. I can’t be held accountable for what I do in my sleep. I mean, sleeping me probably thought he was Adrian or something?” I protested both girls just laughed. I finished eating and we got up and went to class, parting with Cho. Ana put her arm around my shoulder smirking.

“Ready to see you cuddle buddy in class?” She said and I rolled my eyes glaring at her. I tried to also hide the fact that I got a little nervous, it would be weird seeing him right? We had done something that was unlike us, and weirdly intimate to do with a person you despise. 

“You’re never gonna let me live that down are you?” I asked a little pleadingly and she just smirked and shook her head.

“Never.” 

I felt awkward as I took my seat next to George in the next class, I had initially tried to sit next to Ana as perusal, but McGonnagall gave me a knowing look, and I sighed knowing there was no crossing that lady. Even if she did have a soft spot for me. I moved over to him and gave him an awkward smile and nod before sitting down and opening my book. He barely looked at me too, clearly feeling the same weird tension as I was. I turned to say something to him, but he seemed to have turned to do the same at the same time, and it seemed to shut us both up.

We sat there clearly tension filled air as we listened to McGonnagall talk. Finally when it was time for group assignments we looked at each other again before quickly looking away. I finally took it, not liking this, having to be friendly to him seemed almost weirder than this.

“Look. Clearly what happened was weird. But let’s just never talk about and you go back to being an annoying shit, and I go back to being cool? Cool?” I blurted out, it came out pretty nicely and he smiled a little before nodding.

“Thank god. I felt like the universe was a little off its axis. And you have never been cool, ever.” He said and I smiled a little relived that we would be somewhat back to normal. 

“Good, now let’s read up on this spell and you can stop being a dugbog.” I said finding the right page in my book, he scooted closer to me and I looked up at him confused and disgusted. A little part of me even jumped as I felt him scoot closer. He looked at me with an apologetic smile.

“Sorry. Fred and I kind of accidentally set my transbook on fire yesterday. Can we share yours?” He said a little pleadingly, him pulling his best puppyface, knowing fully well that I would never fall for that. I rolled my eyes but sighed, seeing no good reason not to during our truce. I could always mess with him via my book if I wanted to later. So when I gave a nod he grinned wider, as I leaned on my hand to read, he did the same on the other side of the book, our arms touching in the middle, which as always gave me this strange feeling in my stomach. 

We sat there for a while concentrating in comfortable silence. But when I went to take a deep breath, something hit me. That pleasant smell was back, a little stronger now. It could not be my clothes now. And I looked around wondering what could cause it. But then it hit me, and somehow it seemed to hit George at the same time, and we looked at each other eyes wide. Before pointedly scooting as far as way from each other as possible while still sharing a book.

No no no no. This cannot be happening, I thought. The pleasant smell from the woods the one I had noticed and found comforting earlier as it hung gently in my clothes. That smell was George. That can’t possibly be him. George is supposed to smell vile and like the hatred I feel for him, not this pleasant one. He does not smell good. I tried to convince myself. My worst enemy does not smell nice! 

Immediately after class, neither George nor I commented, or could even look in each others general direction, and I proceeded to go to the dorm praying the houseelves who did our laundry would have brought my other uniforms. I sighed a breath of relief when I saw my fresh uniforms lying on my bed and I immediately rid myself of my clothes and seemed to be able to breathe again now. I more slowly put on my new uniform and packed my other one down. I never wanted to smell that ever again! Pleasant yeah, but George made it infinitely terrible. And my brain would have to remember that from now on.

The previous encounter made the twins sitting down with us at lunch an a lot more awkward affair. And I imagined that George had told Fred like I had Ana, this was going to be a long and grueling lunch. What was more was that I noticed how people had started looking at me more, whispering as I walked down the hall today. I figured it had to just be the fact that I was now hanging out more with the twins, usually that was my claim to fame. I was the one crazy person for years who no one would believe didn’t like the twins. But this felt differently. 

“So, despite your sleeping arrangement, what did you find out in the woods?” Fred asked with a grin, I sighed and glared at Ana who was laughing at his stupid comment.

“The most desperate of situations. I assure you that will never happen again. Get your heads outta the gutter.” I spat back annoyed. I was not in the mood for this right now. I already had a short fuse, and me skipping my morning practice due to said sleeping arrangements were not helping my situation.

“Sure. Just let us know before you do it next time? Will make it easier to cover for you.” Fred responded and I rolled my eyes, thankfully George took over now.

“Well, we still don’t know what Frederick was doing in the woods, so inconclusive at the moment.” George said, as Cho sat down beside me and furrowed her brows.

“Frederick Blecher?” She asked and I nodded and she chuckled and shook her head.

“I think I have an idea of what he was doing in the woods.” My sister said and I turned my head glaring at my sister. Apparently our entire debacle in the woods could have been avoided if we had just asked my sister first. She looked at me a little annoyed, I should have known she would know things. With her friendship with Ginny and a few of the other girls it was no wonder that she was on top of the Hogwarts gossipmill.

“Look, I know not every rumour is to be trusted. But Penelope from potions told me he had a secret boyfriend he was meeting in the woods sometimes. She accidentally got his owl one morning.” Cho said and my eyes widended. I had not pegged him like that, but more annoyingly that still meant that we could have just asked my sister and avoided this whole debacle.

“We could have saved a trip to the woods by just asking your sister?” George spat out and I glared at him.

“Shut yer puss. You know her just as well, and you didn’t think of it? Your sisters just as big a gossip as mine is! If not worse! And you didn’t ask her!” I snapped back annoyed he just glared at me.

“Will you at least let her check the rest of our list!” He protested I rolled my eyes but I did take it out of my notebook handing it to Cho.

“I would love nothing more than to spend less time with you. Trust me!” I snapped back. I huffed and crossed my arms turning away from him. I could hear his slight chuckle, which made my blood boil. Cho shook her head a little but took the list and looked it over.

“Well I can cross a few of them out, first off, I don’t think it was Derrick, I heard he was failing potions as is. And Daniella I think really likes you even after the whole ordeal. And Terry is far too busy with her schoolwork, since her parents said she couldn’t go to visit her boyfriend next summer if her grades don’t rise.” Cho said handing me back the list with her usual kind smile. 

“Thank you Cho. You just saved me a lot of time in this dufus’ company.” I said looking annoyed at George as I gestured to him. She chuckled lightly.

“You’re welcome.” She said and I pulled out my pen and crossed off those names.

Fred walked with me and I felt a wee bit confused about all of this. I was in all of these horrendous situations because of the stupid Weasleys. Why my best friend or even anyone liked them so much, was a mystery to me. I grumbled a little to myself as we walked, forced to spend time together and I turned my head as I heard a slight snicker from Fred. I looked at him judgingly as he seemed to actually be laughing at me.

“What could you possibly have to be laughing about right now dickward?” I asked annoyed and he just shook his head.

“Nothing. I just.” He paused for a second composing himself.

“I just. I mean, I kind of get it, but also, really I don’t get how you and George aren’t the best of friends?” He got out I looked at him as if he had just said he loved the smell of dungbombs, with utter bafflement at his statement. I shook my head after a moment.

“You’re mental. Why on earth would me and George ever be best of friends? I can’t go an hour without wanting to tear his hair out!” I said and he chuckled a little and shrugged, before getting in front of me a little and pointing at me with a grin.

“Not mental, just observant, and you could stop cursing him every hour if you wanted to.” He said with a wink I rolled my eyes and pushed him slightly as he went back to his regular position of walking beside me.

“But seriously, from what I know about you, from talking with you, and hearing about you from Ana and George’s bitching about you. I think I have a pretty clear idea of who you are.” He said I looked at him this time a bit more curious but also somewhat wondering and surprised that the twin would have ever paid me much attention. He shrugged and put his hands in his pockets.

“And I certainly like to think I know my brother. Him being my twin, and best friend.” He said and I nodded as if to say: Well that is obvious. I looked at him pointedly.

“So what? From your knowledge about me and George, even if he constantly gets on my nerves, you think we should actually be best friends?” I said a little sarcastically and he just rolled his eyes at me this time.

“You’re too narrow-minded Tor!” He protested before smiling slightly.

“If you for a second would forget the stupid feud between you two, then yes. I think you two would really like each other.” He said, I turned and gave him a pointed look, by rolling my eyes before sighing and nodded as if to say: Go on then.

“I mean, first off you’re very similar: You both like pranking, even if it is each other. You both love quidditch, though objectively you are a bit more dedicated. You’re both people who don’t mind attention but certainly won’t grab it alone. You’re both absurdly stubborn. Which is probably one of the reasons you two keep up this ridiculous fight!” He said and I looked at him with furrowed brows. I had never thought about it like that. Aye I was stubborn, but I had always seen that as one of my strengths. His look however seemed to soften a little with a smile again.

“You’re however also both very witty, and I think you two like fighting, because you like that someone dares oppose you and challenge your wit. You’re both pretty clever. And you like yelling at him and he likes getting on your nerves. And most of all, you two are loyal people who will jump head first into things if it means protecting me and Ana.” He finished and I smiled a little at that.

“Well? Did I get anything wrong?” He asked a little cheekily and I just rolled my eyes before hitting his arm lightly making him laugh.

“Yeah, the fact that me and George should be friends. Weirdo.” I said but I could not help but smile slightly. 

The things Fred had said about us were quite nice, and when I thought about it, I did not hate the George that he described. He may not be the one that I would ever meet completely, but he did sound like someone I would like. Even if it sort of sickened me a little.

Later that day I was heading to the quidditch field, to keep sharp, and to blow off some steam. Even without the Weasleys these days there was a lot of annoying people in this school. And the seemingly growing starring of everyone, giggles and glaring from some girls made me wonder what on earth I had done that would be so news worthy? As I was walking towards the front door, gym bag over my shoulder, I smiled as I bumped into Ginny Weasley. While I despised her brothers the young girl was pleasant, and I knew that my sister liked her, and almost any friend of hers was a friend of mine. She young girl seemed like she was about to squeal and her girlfriends behind her seemed to beam with excitement as well, as she approached me. I looked at them confused before turning to give Ginny a small smile.

“Hey Gin, what’s up with the fan club?” I asked and she looked at me with wide eyes and just shook it off, before grinning widely.

“You tell me? Is it true?” She asked clearly excited and I shrugged trying to show my confusion.

“You’ve got to give me more details than that me wee bairn.” I said but I was getting a wee bit nervous. 

I had once before been the subject of a rumor, and I had not exactly handled it well. I ended up getting a months detention for punching a guy in the face mocking the false rumour a little too much. I always wondered why everyone cared so much about who was dating who and doing whatnots. But I had always been perfectly adamant about the fact that I, like Wood and a few others, would always prefer and prioritise a quidditch field above school and especially dating. 

“Well, Samatha heard from Pavati, that she had overheard George telling Fred that you and George slept together. Are you two dating? I could use more girls in the house you know?” The young girl said excitedly and grinning widely. I was however falling apart but trying to keep a cool exterior. I could feel my hand squeezing hard around the bag with my quidditch robes as I gave the small girl a smile and tried to think of a less incriminating answer than the truth. 

“Sorry Ginny.” I ended up simply saying, not wanting my now terribly sour mood erupt over the girl. I had no idea how to handle this. So I ended up giving the youngest Weasley a small smile as she looked at me confused before stalking off towards the pitch. I felt like everyone was starring and whispering about me, judging me, as I walked past them. I felt overwhelmed by all of the attention and mean looks.

I was doomed! I hated rumours, last time it only stopped because something interesting came along. But I had no idea how to react to these things. I never wanted to be the center of attention unless it was during quidditch. And now mortal enemies sleeping together, that would be scandalous enough for everyone who knew of me and George’s long standing fighting to keep them entertained for weeks, maybe even months. And I knew from the last time that denying it would only put fire to the flames. I was embarrassed as hell. As I passed some 4th years departing from Herbology, a group of girls walked by too closely and clearly so I could hear it, went:

“I heard she slept with George. What a slag.” One of them half whispered looking at me, the others giggling.

“It’s definitely true. I heard she gives it up all willie nillie, also slept with Wood last year.” Another went and I sighed hating this more and more, but tried to keep my tears from swarming in my eyes, while also keeping my anger in check.

“She must give it up to get fit guys like that!” One of them concluded, before I was finally past them.

Sadly it continued with more mean girls and even guys, bumping each other going:

“There’s Tori, wonder if she’ll shag me next?” One of them said to laughter from the others.

“Maybe, though she isn’t that fit.” His friend replied but that just made him grin and made Tori feel like crawling into a hole and never resurfacing.

“Yeah, but that must mean she is wicked in bed, if Weasley shagged her.” He replied to laughter. 

I was embarrassed and I saw no way out right now. How would I explain this to Cho? That from now on her sister would be seen as a slag. That I would now be one of the girls who slept around. It would be different if we were dating, or if the rumour was true. But since it wasn’t I was now stuck with a reputation that I would not get rid of any time soon. I could feel a few tears pricking behind my eyes as I continued on towards the pitch. At least hitting bludgers would clear my head.