Chapter 8: Deja Vu
My heart beat quickened as I slowly stepped in front of the Mirror, wondering myself what my result would be. I blinked. All I saw was a girl with blond wavy hair in pink and orange polka dot pants and a white tank top. Me.
What?
I stepped closer to the mirror and concentrated on it for a moment. And before my eyes, a boy appeared. Now, don't be getting all excited. I kind of knew it was coming, though a little disappointed since this trip didn't seem nearly as exciting as before.
But that didn't stop me from gazing dreamily at the mirror. Draco was smiling seductively at me in the mirror, sitting only centimeters away from my own reflection. I had on a sweet smile to match and we were sitting together in the Great Hall, perhaps one of my favorite rooms in the entire castle. Draco winked at me and scooted closer. I could see myself giggling and blushing because it looked like he was about to kiss me.
I was so mesmerized by my own little fantasy that I didn't notice someone else coming into the picture...
Draco leaned in and I followed his example. His soft looking lips touched mine and it looked so right as I watched, making every moment last. I pretty much forgot that it wasn't even real. The kiss was exactly how I pictured it. I didn't look nervous at all.
Sometimes I wondered what made you a "good kisser" and when the right time is to make a move. I know that everyone says it just comes naturally but I always get bothered by the thought of it all. What if I got the chance to kiss someone I really liked but ended up completely messing everything up? I'd probably be so ashamed. Some girlfriend I would be.
I sighed and turned my full attention back to the Mirror of Erised, only to find a certain red head sitting next to me instead of Draco.
"Bailey?"
My heart practically stopped as I turned around stiffly. Standing behind me was that "certain red head" in person.
"Ron? You scared me half to death, you idiot," I snapped angrily.
Ron frowned. "Sorry..." he mumbled, trying but failing to hide the embarrassment in his voice.
I turned quickly back to the Mirror to catch another glimpse but Ron and I were the only ones who appeared.
Damn it. I was so upset to be interrupted that I didn't think before I said anything.
"No, sorry. It's my fault. I didn't mean that, Ron," I said. "So, um, what are you doing up so early?"
"Oh, me? N-nothing. I was just...bored. Uh, what were you doing down here?"
"I don't know. I couldn't really sleep," I said.
Ron inclined his head toward the Mirror expectantly. "Well---"
"Oh, I know! Isn't that so cool? I thought Dumbledore would've moved this thing out ages ago like he promised," I said, smiling genuinely at him.
Ron nodded and walked forward to touch the Mirror.
I grinned. I remembered in our first year here he saw himself as Quidditch Captain and Head Boy. I wondered what he saw now and if anything changed but decided against asking since it might be a little personal like mine was.
The two of us stood in silence for a little while, him stationed in front of the Mirror, and me just wandering around the rest of the room with nothing else to look at.
"So, did you see anything?" I heard Ron say.
"Sorry?"
"I mean---er---what did you see in the Mirror?" he asked anxiously.
I shook my head and blushed. "It was just something stupid," I said hesitantly.
"Right," he said quickly. "Well, I s'pose we should get back to the tower. You know, before someone finds us..."
"Okay, I'll be right there. You go on ahead of me," I replied.
"All right. See you tomorrow," Ron said.
I waited until I heard his softly echoing footsteps reach the stairwells then looked back at the Mirror.
I wanted to relive the kiss before I had to go back to bed but this time, I saw Ron and I in our pajamas again. He was smiling and I looked slightly dazed in my reflection.
I furrowed my eyebrows and looked behind me, convinced that Ron was just waiting for me outside the doorway but no one was there.
Puzzled, I closed my eyes for a few moments and opened them as I placed myself in the center path of the Mirror of Erised. Ron and I were standing next to each other this time too. Ron was smiling and held me close with one arm. I saw myself looking back up at him, admiring him. I stood in shock at us. At the pair of us.
My heart raced. Was this for real? Should I tell Hermione? I practically sprinted out of the vacant room, ready to find my way back to the dorms. I reached the end of the hallway and was about to round the corner when I had second thoughts and ran all the way back to the room.
Screw this... now I can officially understand why Dumbledore said this Mirror has driven some people mad, I thought hopelessly.
I wasn't even sure how I felt with it all. Me and Ron? I mean, I loved him like a brother but then I recalled the day at the Burrow a few weeks ago. It was the first time I actually noticed. Maybe one last look would clarify it all.
The Mirror displayed me and only me for a fleeting second, but the next, I found myself in the Great Hall sitting next to Draco.
Woah, talk about deja vu...
I held my head in my hands, now realizing how tired and out of breath I was. I dragged myself out of the room and into Gryffindor tower, taking a few minutes longer than it should have on account of the attitude I received from the Fat Lady. In the end, I was so tired that I fell asleep on the couch, curled up underneath three of the pillows, unable to make it to the dorm.
Let me tell you this: that was totally fine with me.
I sat up groggily, unaware of where I was as the too bright, sparkling sunlight beat down on me at an angle where it was impossible to stay asleep.
"Can someone tell me what time it is?" I said, sitting up reluctantly while combing my fingers through my hair.
I figured Parvati would tell me the time like she usually did and when no one spoke, I remembered the little adventure I had earlier.
I walked unsteadily, aiming for the stairwell. If anyone was watching, they probably would've thought I was tipsy from drinking a lot of firewhisky or something.
My eyes were half closed so I had to feel my way around the walls and when I thought I found the correct place, I raised my foot to step on the bottom step, narrowly missing and falling down to the ground and landing on my side with my head next to the bottom step.
"I think I found the stairs," I muttered stupidly as clutched my side and stumbled up the stairs to change into my uniform.
It was needless to say the time it took for me to get dressed or the fact that Crookshanks still hadn't forgiven me from last night's escapade as I walked to the Great Hall alone with my half filled book bag slung over one shoulder. The Great Hall was already starting to empty as kids left for classes a few minutes early but Ron was still eating with Harry and Hermione. Well, if you call "eating" letting your morning pumpkin juice spill onto your toast with your head face down on the table. Apparently it took a while for him to get back to sleep after the whole Mirror of Erised ordeal. I was wondering whether to tell Hermione about it but I sure wasn't telling Alyson this. Nothing would ever make me tell her.
Anyway, I took a seat next to Harry and reached for a drink when Hermione raised her head over a Charms book curiously.
"You two sleep much?" she asked sarcastically as she eyed the look on my face.
I swallowed my drink and nodded. "Yep. Getting up in the morning is my favorite part of the day. Whoo hoo..."
"Well it better be. We have a quiz this morning," she replied.
"What?" I asked in horror. So far, I've managed good grades in all my classes---except maybe Herbology---and I didn't want this quiz to ruin my lucky streak. I can even keep up with Hermione for the most part. "If it's a Potions quiz, I swear, you better keep my away from Alyson."
Ron sniffed as he looked up and pushed his plate away disgustedly and reached across the table for Harry's uneaten glazed doughnut without permission then took a giant bite. "That makes two of us."
Harry grabbed another doughnut. "Yeah. Alyson dumped her breakfast in Ron's bag today to hide it from McGonagall when she got in trouble for taking like twelve pieces of bacon and a whole platter of biscuits and toast."
"Right..." I said.
"See, this is one of the reasons why I wonder why we let her hang out with you," Ron spoke up.
"Since when do I need your permission to have my own friends?" I asked, annoyed. "And why would she take that much food?"
Harry shrugged. "To stash in the Gryffindor common room?"
"...Which also proves my point," Ron mumbled.
"Just---stop it guys," Hermione said as she turned another page in her book. "Our quiz today is in Charms, in case you haven't noticed. And we should get going anyway."
Hermione closed her book and gathered her things then walked out of the Great Hall with Harry following close behind. I ate a little more of my cereal and caught Ron's eye as he picked a stray piece of bacon out of his bag.
Awww...
I kind of wanted to talk about it but I wasn't sure how.
He seemed to read my mind and gave me a look of sympathy mixed with thoughtfulness. Then he shrugged and said, "So...what d'you reckon Flitwick's quiz will be about?"
I gave him a half hearted smile and walked out of the Great Hall with him. "I dunno. Probably something stupid anyway. Sit with me?"
He shrugged again. "Why not?"
As it turns out, all Professor Flitwick wanted us to do was perform the Summoning Charm nonverbally. I haven't exactly practiced but I've been able to do it before.
"Excellent, Hermione. 5 points to Gryffindor," Professor Flitwick exclaimed in delight as Hermione summoned two scrolls of parchment from across the room straight to her desk and had them open themselves.
"Seamus, your turn," Flitwick said, moving along the line. "Very good. I shall give you an A for that."
Then it was Alyson's turn and all she got was a P but that seemed to make her perfectly happy, even if it was a failing grade...
20 minutes into class, it was my turn. Well, here goes nothing.
I waved my wand briskly. Accio books! I thought as clearly and confidently as I could.
One of the books on Professor Flitwick's desk gave a feeble twitch across the desk but otherwise, stayed put.
"Go on and try again," he said.
I furrowed my eyebrow in frustration and waved my wand again. Accio books!! I thought even more clearly than before.
This time all the books moved, fell off the desk, sprawled onto the floor and knocked over a potted plant.
I blushed, embarrassed that I couldn't get it right.
Whoops. There goes my O, I thought.
Oh, Merlin. This is stupid.
I made a third attempt and he was beginning to grow impatient. "Accio books!" I muttered as quietly as I could, hoping Professor Flitwick wouldn't notice I did it verbally. And sure enough, this time the books floated perfectly towards me, stacking themselves neatly.
Flitwick nodded approvingly and made a note on the clipboard he had. "I'll give you an A for that but I know you can do better," he said. "Practice for the rest of the lesson, okay?"
"Yes, sir."
For the rest of the period, I gave 60% of my effort towards getting the Nonverbal Summoning Charm as perfect as it could be, and the other 40% talking to my friends. I never really cheated on a test but this was just a quiz, I guess. No big deal. I just made myself a promise that I'd never do it again.
"Well, today should be an exciting day for Gryffindor," Hermione said as she turned to look at Harry.
"Why, what's going on?" I asked.
"Quidditch tryouts," Ron simply said.
Accio Results! >>>
"Loads of people signed up yesterday on the bulletin board I'll probably be down in the Quidditch pitch with the rest of the team for hours," Harry added.
I turned to look at Alyson, holding her wand limply in her left hand, who was busy talking to Lavender. "I bet she'll be trying out," I said.
"And aren't you?" asked Harry.
"Harry, you know me as well as you have for the past six years. I'm like deathly afraid of heights," I said simply.
"Oh come on," said Ron. "You said so yourself that you've never been on a broomstick before. So how can you be afraid of heights?"
I sighed like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "Giant ferris wheels. The last time I've been on one was when I was six or seven with my two cousins who were seventeen-year-olds at the time. They kept rocking the seats back and forth and they were open seats too! So basically, it was just like a bench with a bar to keep us in. I was screaming the whole time and I haven't been on since. My cousins are like Fred and George...except more extreme, if you can believe it. Hermione would die of a heart attack if she had to spend three days with them at my dad's house."
"Hey!" Hermione said.
"Just kidding," I replied. "Kind of."
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Whatever," she said as she summoned the plant I knocked over to her.
"Still!! That was when you were six! What, was that like ten years ago or something? How do you know that riding on a broom will feel the same? No one will be rocking you back and forth. I promise," said Harry. "Besides we only have three players! Without Fred, George, Angelina and Alicia we need both Beaters and two Chasers."
I laughed. "Yeah. I have to say that you're right but I doubt I'll tryout. I guess if I have time I'll come watch though."
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