The Suspected Becomes Reality

Chapter 9: A Teasing, a Realization, and a Curveball

"Come on, we all know it!" Kane looks at me suggestively, and I shake my head. "Why do you always have to be judging us? Maybe a guy and a girl can just be friends!" I scowl at Kane and he shakes his head. "Say what you want, but I know..." Kane replies defiantly, and I continue to scowl.

"Why so angry?" A much- needed smiling face also known as William Hart comes into view, which quickly twists into a scowl to imitate my own. I can't help but burst out laughing. Hart can NEVER accurately imitate any of the faces I make, which makes it HILARIOUS! I look over to see Kane rolling his eyes, but I know he's suppressing the tiniest smirk.

Later, at the Portrait in Front of the Ravenclaw Common Room

"Well, how am I supposed to know that? Everyone knows that I'm just barely passing the Ravenclaw standards!" "Well, you come from a huge family of Ravenclaws! YOU should know!" Nightlock and Double Douglas are arguing in front of the portrait. "Well, if you're so smart, then maybe YOU should solve it!" Nightlock fires, and Douglas steps back a bit, fading away until he's almost invisible. He's gotten quite good at these invisibility charms, or at least he likes to say that they're charms. I myself know that there are no such things as invisibility charms, although there are objects that can render you invisible. I do not believe that Double Douglas uses such objects, however, as I think I would notice him putting an object like an invisibility hat or cloak on. I suppose there is more magic in Hogwarts than just in wands and potions. Evil or good magic, however, is something I cannot know.

As I stand there, speculating about this new theory, I almost don't notice the great Casper Lupin, son of Victoire Weasley and Teddy Lupin. He's a bit of a show- off, but he's really funny and isn't really that bad once you actually talk to him. I mean, Casper is the son of the marvelous Teddy Lupin, and the fact that he inherited the Metamorphmagus gene makes him pretty powerful as a wizard.

"Step out of the way, amateurs. I will solve this puzzle." Casper stands in front of the portrait, and it chants the riddle that Double Douglas, Nightlock, and many others have been trying to solve. I know the answer, but I want to see someone else solve the riddle.

Casper answers the question confidently, and the door to our common room swings open. (A/N: I'm not telling you the answer! You can answer the question in the comments!)

In the common room, 10 minutes after dinner

"Are you SURE you don't like him?" Mandy pries. We're sitting cross- legged on the floor in the Ravenclaw common room. There's barely anyone here, just two first year girls reading silently in the corner and a seventh year boy that seems to be studying frantically... must have gotten so caught up in doing experiments with eggs that he forgot to study. You've gotta love us Ravenclaws! "Helloooooo? Earth to Rain!" I look back to Mandy, who is now waving her hand in front of my face. Another frustrating/ annoying (but great for me because I'm the one being frustrating/
annoying) trait in some Ravenclaws- easily distracted. It's not like we can't pay attention, it's just that, with all of the thoughts bouncing around in our heads, sometimes those thoughts become more important in our minds than other things that are happening. "RAIN!!!!!!" Mandy shouts at me. Whoops. "Sorry," my attention snaps back to Mandy. "As I was SAYING, are you sure you don't like him?" Mandy makes a suggestive face (why does everyone do this?) and stares at me, her eyes burning into my soul. "No!" I shout, backing up into a wall. The next thing that happens confuses me, however. All of a sudden, the idea of me liking Hart becomes so funny that I start giggling uncontrollably. Mandy looks confused. "Why are you laughing?" She scrunches up her face for a moment, thinking, and then her face changes to sly. "Maybe this is supposed to be a hint? You don't have to hide it, you know." I'm not sure if Mandy was thinking aloud or talking to me, but nevertheless I heard it. It can't be, I think. Hart? No way. Then it hits me all like a wave, and I stand up suddenly. "Gotta go," I mumble to Mandy, and walk to the only place I can think to go.

A small, closed place to think. A small, closed place to think. A small, closed place to think. I think clearly as I pace back and forth, taking quick strides. A place to think a place to think a place to think a place to- the room is revealed, and I dash in, locking the door behind me even though I know no one can get in anyway.

The Room of Requirement has always been a place that I have enjoyed. I love having whatever I want or need, right in a room all to myself. I come to 'a small, closed place to think' a lot. Thinking is something I need to do on a day-to-day basis, and it's not quite as easy when you're constantly bothered by all of your friends. Let's just say that this room comes to my aid a lot.

What just happened?! I think, my thoughts going haywire. This has never happened before. This ISN'T supposed to happen. But it did. But it is. And I guess there's no turning back now? Oh gods, what have I done?! What has my brain done? We're just friends, we're just friends, we're just friends. And I like that. Hart isn't like that- no, no, stop it, brain! Ew no, no no, it's gross! Then I give in to my thoughts, because no, no it isn't.

Back in the Common Room, 5 minutes after the Room of Requirement

"Where did you go?" Mandy practically crushes me when I come back into the Common Room. "I just had to go do something. Don't worry about it," I wave Mandy's questions off. "Well, someone's being cryptic," Mandy huffs, crossing her arms. Then her face brightens. "Well if you aren't going to answer my questions, then why don't we go back to what we were talking about before you zoomed off?" I know my face is probably burning. "Fine. Shot away!" I answer, much to Mandy's delight and surprise. "Do you like William Hart?" Mandy raises an eyebrow, already knowing what I'll say. "Yes," I answer certainly, standing up and leaving an extremely surprised Mandy behind. Sometimes it's nice to throw a curveball every once in a while!

THANKS TO MY AMAZING PENGUINS FOR READING! PLEASE COMMENT WITH ANY SUGGESTIONS (PLEASE NO MORE 'more this person' OR 'more that person,' PLEASE!) FOR THE STORY, AND PLEASE COMMENT ANY TYPOS OR ANY CONFUSING THINGS ABOUT THE CHAPTER THAT YOU WANT FIXED!
TILL NEXT TIME,

❤️❤️~meliketosmile4~❤️❤️