Lazy, Hazy College Days

Hannah - Library Romances.

Hermione stared at me owlishly when I walked in. I happen to know her stares very well, and this one was a you're-ten-minutes-late-for-work-young-lady stare. I know this one particularly well, I get it every morning. So what if we're not all as punctual as her? I had an important appointment with my duvet this morning anyway.

"Hannah Eve Abbott!" Eurgh I hate my middle name. Although it did help me in some ways. Eve decided to rebel and so have I. Just not in such a huge 'changing the world' way. "You are ten minutes late for work. What is your excuse?"

"I had a very important appointment with my duvet." Hermione looks murderous. "Oh come on Mione, lighten up. No one's even here yet!"

"Hmph. I'm going to go arrange the Y section; we had a new order come in last night."

"Knock yourself out," I mutter. Not loud enough for her to hear though. Hermione-rage can be a very scary thing once it gets going. Ask Ron. I settle back into the chair and begin my daily routine. It consists of chair-spinning, followed by some head-banging to my music, followed by a little more chair spinning. And if we have a quiet day, I go shopping. I'm sure Hermione can cope, she has before.

I'm trying to combine head-banging with chair-spinning when someone stops the chair abruptly. I look up into bright green eyes, scared out of my wits.

"Jesus Christ, Sea, warn me if you're gunna do that 'k? What d'ya want?"

"I see ya're working as usual gorgeous?" He grins. Why did God make all the gorgeous guys either complete arses or gay? I mean there's Zach, Seamus, Ron, and not one of them is datable. The gods are a cruel lot.

"I see you're working as usual as well? Now what did you want?"

"The mornin' rush's just died down. And what makes ya think I wan' anythin' gorgeous?"

"Number one; you're actually in a library when I know for a fact you haven't read anything outside of school textbooks in your life. Number two; you called me gorgeous. Twice. Now out with it."

"We-ll, the Saints an' Sinners have managed to get a gig at Dana's finally and I was wondering if ya knew the words to our song 'Kneel for Love'?"

"I do, but why is that important?"

"Because it sounds sooo much better when a girl manages to sing it, and I happen to know that ya're a damn good singer. And you've got that rock-y look and attitude. Please?"

"So let me get this straight. You want me to get up in front of god knows how many people and sing a very rude song, just to save your arse?"

"Basically, yeah."

"I like it. One condition though."

"Anything, oh gorgeous one."

"Wow, that's the third gorgeous in one conversation, you must be desperate. I'll do it on the condition that after the gig's over, I'm allowed to get you drunk beyond all belief and then snog you, and then laugh at you when you snog some random bloke. Deal?"

"Me dearest Hannah, all that went without asking!"

He winks and slouches of whistling. Couldn't find a gayer bloke, you really couldn't. Ron comes a close second though. Suddenly the bell jangles again. Two customers in two hours? World record.

"Hello and welcome to St. Austell's main library. How may I... oh Blaise, it's only you. You missed Hermione and unless you want to traipse all the way down to the Y section, you won't see her for the next hour or so."

"Damn, I always seem to miss her. Do you think she's avoiding me?"

I roll my eyes. Bloody romances between people who can't deal with mushy stuff. Why does everyone seem to come to me for an Agony Aunt? Can no one see that I myself am single? What do I need to do, hang a sign up that says; 'You will get no good romantic advice here so bugger off.'? "No Blaise, I don't think she's avoiding you, I think she doesn't know you exist."

"Ah well. What was Sea doing in here?"

"Asking me if I'd sing 'Kneel for Love' tonight."

"What did you say?"

"I said yes, on the condition that I get a drunken snog out of it."

Blaise looks impressed. "That's a pretty good exchange."

I grin devilishly. "Yes, yes it is."

Ron - Wassamajiggers.

God, this place is a madhouse. One gig we've got, one gig, and everyone's already panicking. Blaise is doing emergency drum practice, Seamus has drunk waaay too much banana milkshake and Hannah has just run in here with her hair... in ringlets? What the bloody hell?

"Jesus Christ Han, what happened to your hair?"

"It's naturally like this and if you say one word, one fucking word, to Michael, I will write to your mother and tell her about those two blokes you slept with at the same time. And don't think I won't, because we both know I will."

"Alright, alright I was only asking. I think Sea has got the straightening wassamajiggers at the moment though."

"Irons. They're called straightening irons you idiot."

"Whatever." What happened to the people like me, the people who sling on some jeans and a t-shirt and trainers and go? Even blokes these days take half an hour longer than I do. And they're straight. Heaven help us how long Zach would take if he was gay.

Oh god Hannah's got half straight hair and I really don't want to be the bringer of bad news but... "Erm guys? I hate to tell you this but we've got to leave. Like now."

"Shit, shit, shit! How the hell am I gunna straighten half my hair in ten seconds?"

Zach's just walked in, looking annoyed. Oh great, now everyone's annoyed. What did my mum always say in situations like these? Just let the madness unfold around you, that was it. Oh great, now Zach's yelling. Bloody marvellous.

"Oh for the love of, here." Uh-oh, I really don't think it's good idea to grab Hannah's hair like that... "Corrigo! There, happy now?"

There's silence. Zach looks confused.

"What? What?"

"Zach, where did you learn a hair straightening charm?"

He shrugs. "Hey, I went out with Lavender."

"Well that explains a lot."

Uh-oh, I feel the madness coming on again. "Guys we've got exactly ten minutes to load all this stuff onto my van and lug it all the way down City Street. Let's move." Thank god I can drive. Vaguely, but vaguely more than any of this lot can. I actually got dad to put a couple of charms on the van before I left. What, I wasn't doing any magic myself, I just didn't tell Hermione. Do I look like I enjoy pain?

So we lug Blaise's drum kit and all the amps into the back of the van, Blaise and Seamus piling in after it. Hannah apparently gets to sit up front with me because she's a girl. I, personally, think Seamus is much more girly, but one thing I've learnt, you do not argue with Hannah Abbott.

Then we have to get all the stuff back out of the van. Man I hate this bit.

"Guys, a little help here?" I whine. "Why do I always get the heaviest amp anyway?"

"Oh for the love of Merlin." Hannah mutters, yanking the amp off me and walking away with it, as if it weighed no more than an ordinary shopping bag. Damn strong that girl, I'm telling you. I shamble over to help Blaise with his drum kit.

"How're you doin'?" I ask, picking up his cymbals. "How's it goin' with Mione?"

"Weasley, unless you actually want a drum stick stuck somewhere where most people really wouldn't want one stuck, I'd shut up," he growls and then marches off into Dana's. Jeez, I can see why he's in Slytherin. I follow him and dump the cymbals in place with his drum kit at the back of the stage. We stand in front of it, admiring our handiwork. We then walk backstage to wait for everyone to arrive.

"Right then," I announce clapping my hands together. "Let's have a look at these t-shirts." We've decided that as it's our first gig, we should have a competition for the funniest t-shirt. Until now we've all been wearing jackets over our t-shirts, but now we all unzip them. I gaze at them with scrutiny.

"Hmm, Blaise yours is quite clever, although a little clichéd, as is mine. Seamus, I'm not even going to go there. Hannah, let's have a look... That's genius! Hannah definitely wins." Hannah's t-shirt consists of two handprints in very appropriate places, and then above them two arrows which lead to, in very sloppy handwriting, a scrawling inscription which says; 'Seamus woz 'ere'. "I did wonder what Seamus was doing standing there with his hands on your boobs the other day."

Hannah grins. "Well now you know. This was also part of the agreement."

We nod knowledgably. "Well now we've all agreed that Hannah wins, are you all quite ready?" Seamus asks. "Hannah you know that we're doing 'Kneel for Love' last right?" She nods resolutely. "Good because I think everyone's here now. Dana's motioning for us to go on."

"Good luck everyone," Hannah squeals, giving us all a kiss on the cheek. I put it down to a random out burst of Hannah-ness. I take a few deep, steadying breaths as I sling my guitar over my neck,

hand Seamus his bass and walk purposefully onto the stage, trying to remember my lines.

"Hello everybody, my name is Ron Weasley, this is Seamus Finnegan," I point to Sea who waves at everyone, "Blaise Zabini," I point to Blaise who raises his drumsticks in the air, in true rock fashion, "and together we are 'Saints & Sinners'... and I've just realised how completely corny that introduction is." There's quite a bit of laughter at this. A good sign. "We're here tonight for your entertainment pleasure, although not that sort of pleasure so calm down over there Mione." I grin at Hermione, who laughs. "Tonight we will be playing some oldies mixed in with some of our new stuff, so there should be something to suit everyone. Now, we're going to start with an old classic from Free, 'All Right Now'. Cheer if you know it!" There's a huge cheer as Blaise and I start up the first line and I begin to sing.

There she stood in the street
Smiling from her head to her feet
I said "Hey, what is this"
Now baby, maybe she's in need of a kiss
I said " Hey, what's your name baby"
maybe we can see things the same
Now don't you wait or hesitate
Let's move before they raise the parking rent

For fear of sounding cheesy I'm warning you before I say this. As we moved into the chorus there was another huge cheer and as I grinned at Seamus, I really meant the words I was singing;

All right now baby, it's all right now
All right now baby, it's all right now

I don't think we're going to have any more trouble getting a gig in here from now on, let me tell you that.

Draco - Christ on a Bicycle.

"Paaansyyy, why are we here?" Good god I hate this woman. Girl. Whatever. She's only gone and led us to the most rubbish bar in the whole town. You can't even drink unless you smuggle your own in somehow. Rock music blares out from the door. Eurgh. "What was wrong with our usual Saturday night venue?"

"You know full well that it's being refurbished," Pansy snaps. "And if you don't shut up whining, I won't let you have any of the alcohol I've got with me."

"You're a cold-hearted bitch Parkinson." She nods her thanks. "I know for a fact the only reason you're here is to see Potter." She doesn't even look pissed. Damn, taking the piss about her infatuation with Potter usually works. Now she's only smiling scarily. I don't like that smile. I don't fucking like it at all.

"We know each other far too well Draco dearest."

What the hell is she going on about? I roll my eyes as she drags me down the steps into the smoky club. Hmm, the band doesn't seem that bad from down here. Unusually, the lead singer's pretty good. Damn good in fact. I wonder who he... fucking Christ on a bicycle is that...

"Pansy, is that Weasley up there?" She nods. "And is he singing and mores the point singing well?" She nods again. "And have I gone completely mad, or is he wearing a t-shirt that says 'Blondes may have fun but Redheads rock'?" She nods again. "You evil cow. You evil, sadistic son, err, daughter of a bitch."

"Gorgeous isn't he?" I recognise that smile now. It's her sadistic one. "In a completely rugged, uncivilised way of course. I told you I knew you too well."

"Pansy did I, or did I not, tell you straight after my fit of drunken stupidity, never to mention this ever again?"

"You did. Oh come on Draco, lighten up, it's no big deal."

"No big deal? No big deal? It's completely inappropriate! Not only is he poor as shit, completely uncivilised and hates my guts, but he's a Weasley!"

"And a boy," she points out. "You forgot that he's a boy."

"That," I mutter darkly, "is the least of my problems right now."

"You're so cute when you panic, do you know that Draco? Oooh look, there's Eloise. Heya Lou!"

Oh dear god, this night is not going to go well. At all.