Weasley Twins - A Fate You Can't Escape

Chapter 16 - Quills and Quips

 The next week and a half flies quickly by.  It all feels like a surreal dream.  Thankfully, Edwin was pretty chill about staying friends, and even apologized for springing the kiss on me.

Things with Celeste are going wonderfully.  We've gone on a couple of dates around the castle since its another month until the next trip to Hogsmeade.  Yesterday we had a magical picnic by the lake.  The sunset on the water was so romantic.  Then afterwards we found a secluded nook by the library for some... quality time.  That is, until Filch busted us and threatened us with his push broom.  We had potions together this morning.  I did get in a bit of trouble from Snape for 'day dreaming.'  Really I was just admiring Celeste.  She's so confident in her abilities and it's quite attractive.  She never seems to doubt herself, and always has some sort of answer.

I take a deep breath and focus on what's in front of me.  Right now I'm in defense against the dark arts, copying an entire page on wand safety.  I really don't enjoying using a quill, but I don't want detention.  It just feels so tedious to have to dip it every few words.  At least the scrolls aren't too bad.

I'm almost done with the third paragraph when Umbridge's pacing footsteps stop next to my desk.  I don't dare look up.  If she wants my attention, she'll ask for it.

"Miss Taylor."  Her high pitched voice grates on my poor ears.

"Yes, Professor?"  I look up at her now that I've been addressed.

"What is this in your bag?"  She points down into my open book bag.

"Probably homework?"  I guess.  The desk is blocking my view and I'm not sure what she's talking about.

"Hmmm.  I don't believe so."  She tilts her head and purses her lips in disapproval.  Then, she bends down and snatches something out of my bag.  Brandishing three of my gel pens, she slams them on the desk in front of me.  "I believe I told you that only quills are allowed in my class."

"Yes.  And I'm using one."  I show her the quill that I've very obviously been using.

"Yet, here the pens are.  Still in my class."  Her voice raises higher as her temper flares.

"I had them in there for my other classes."  I try to explain to her, but she's having none of it.

"It is none of my concern what pen you use in other classes.  However, I will not tolerate being disrespected in my own class room.  Therefore, I will be confiscating these permanently."  She scoops the pens back up in her tiny demon claws.

"And this!"  She snatches the quill from my fingers.  "Obviously one of those 'sugar quills' you unruly disgraces keep smuggling into my classroom."

"No.  It's not.  It's a regular quill!  I swear!"  I'm sure I'm already in heaps of trouble, but I don't want extra for something I didn't even do.

"Really?  You swear?"  She sniffs indignantly. "Like your word means anything to me.  Prove it."

"What?"

"Prove it isn't a sugar quill."  She smirks deviously down at me.

"Fine."  Locking eyes with the she devil, I snatch the quill from her and shove it in my mouth.  I chew a couple of times before spitting out the fluffy feather remains.  "See?"

"Very well.  Detention none the less, for these," she hold up the pens, "disrespectful devices."

She back to the front of the class, looking quite pleased with herself.  I watch her back, pondering the best hexes I could fling at her.  Instead, I sigh and pick off the remaining feather bits from my tongue.  Real quills do not taste pleasant at all.

***

During free period the next day, I'm sitting in the library with Mia, Celeste, and the twins.  Since we're all taking Transfiguration we are working on the homework together.  Well, I am trying to work on it.  The twins are just recounting the Umbridge incident to Mia and Celeste.

"It was brilliant!  She just shoved the whole bloody thing in her mouth!"  George exclaims a bit too loudly.  A few of the other students in the area shush him and he brings it down a level.  "She just stared Umbridge right in the face and took a bite of her very real quill."

"It tasted awful."  I shiver at the memory.  "I was picking feather out of my mouth for at least twenty minutes after."

"That was the best idea you could think of when she said 'prove it?'  Couldn't you have just written something, or broken it?"  Mia's giggles turn into a snort and she clamps her hands over her mouth.  This sends the rest of the table into a fit of laughter.  One of the student librarians shoots us a very dirty glance, and we do our best to calm down.

"I might not have been thinking straight.  I just needed to prove Professor Dumbridge wrong."  I cross my arms and lean back in my chair.

"Dumbridge?"  Fred nearly loses it again.

"Sorry, I'm just frustrated."  

"No, don't apologize."  George holds up his hands.  "We love it."

"Well I don't love the detention I have to serve with Snape tonight."  I look over at Celeste who frowns apologetically.

"We at least you'll be with friends."  Fred wraps an arm around my shoulder until Celeste glare at him.  Removing his arm, he returns to his chair.  "Georgie and I also got detention.  For some reason it's believed that we are responsible for Mrs. Norris being pink.  Don't know where they'd get that idea."

"Fred, your hands are still stained pink."  Celeste points out.

"That's not evidence!"  He protests causing us to laugh again.  Unfortunately for us, that is the last straw and we are kicked out of the library.

"Alright, well I have to get some actual homework done," I tell the group.  "And with you lot, I'll never be able to focus."

I give Celeste a quick kiss and wave goodbye to the boys.  Mia and I head back to our dorm.  Her next class starts in a few minutes anyways.

"So things look like their going well with Celeste."  Mia comments as we climb one of the many staircases.

"I think they are.  I'm actually planning her on asking her to be my girlfriend soon.  I was thinking I could plan to take her to the owlery, where we first met.  And then I'd have one of the owls deliver her a little note asking."  I blush as how silly it sounds out loud.

"Aw!  That's so cute!  I'm sure she'll love it!"  Mia assures me, and I feel better about it.  "Did you ever tell her about what happened with Edwin?"

"Actually I did.  I was a bit nervous, but she just thought it was funny."  We reach the door to the common room and Mia taps out the password.

"I'm glad it turned out not to be an issue."

She grabs her things out of her room and heads to class, leaving me to study.  I've fallen behind a bit with everything that's going on.  I've never been behind.

Putting everything else out of my mind, I dig in.

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