An Eagle's Legacy

AN EAGLE'S LEGACY

CHAPTER FIVE: THE SERPENT'S KISS

It was three days until the Yule Ball, and Christiella Thomas still did not have a date. She could understand if she had been in Kes' situation, meaning she had been asked, but had declined the offer, but she didn't even have that. She waited until three days before the Yule Ball to get asked, so it looked like she would have to take matters into her own hands.

So she had decided. Today. She is gong to get a date for the ball today. She had given up on waiting to be asked, so she would be asking. Today.

But the only problem was she didn't know who, today, she was going to ask to the ball.

"Well" she told herself "you've got nearly an entire school to choose from, it can't be that difficult to find just one."

So she began to consider. "There were so many to choose from! But most of them probably already have dates-"

Realizing this traumatic piece of information, she thought of going to the common room. "Surely everyone would know who still hasn't been asked..." And with that, she was off.

"I've already told you Malcolm, I don't want to go with you to the ball" Kes said, picking up her pace.

Malcolm had been following her the entire day, trying to get her to go to the ball with him. She almost considered giving in and just saying yes so he would leave her alone, surely it wasn't worth all of this trouble of avoiding him, but then the thought of him kissing her hand -- though she, with Malcolm, would have to worry about more than kissing hands -- the way Timothy did, she wanted to hurl. Not going with Malcolm was definitely worth the trouble of avoiding and persistent refusals.

"Come on, it's just one date, nothing more" Malcolm begged, having to run to keep up with Kes, who was walking as fast as she could without running.

"Malcolm" Kes said, stopping and turning around to face him. "Why do you want to go to the ball with me so badly? How much is this bet for?"

"Two Galleons, A sickle, and eight knuts" Malcolm said, somewhat ashamed.

"You realize that's barely 7 pounds in muggle money?" Kes asked. "Are you really going through all this trouble for 7 pounds?! You might not even win..."

"Yes but also....." Malcolm said somewhat shyly

"But what?" Kes asked impatiently

"I....I think I'm in love with you.." he admitted genuinely.

"YOU WHA-?" Kes began to protest in disgust, but suddenly, Malcolm grabbed her, pulling her up to him and kissed her.

"Get...Off!" Kes screamed, pulling Malcolm off of her.

Malcolm looked proud, yet somewhat hurt at the same time.

"I'm sorry Malcolm, I just.......urgh!" Kes screamed, and then ran down the rest of the hallway at full speed.

To Christie's surprise, the common room was fairly empty. The only ones in there were Chez and Alexia, who were playing a game of wizards chess. Chess seemed to be either teaching Alexia how, or beating her severely, she couldn't tell. When she had asked them where everyone was, there were many answers. "Cheerleading, Student Council, Library, Helping prepare for the Yule Ball" and the list went on. To Christie's despair, she went back through the hallway to grab some food in the Great Hal to help her think. She never thought she would see the day when she would be upset that Melissa and Katrina weren't present -- they would know EVERYHING about the ball.

The great hall was slightly more crowded. Some students were helping to plan, others were simply sitting down, catching the latest gossip about the ball from those setting up. Though there were people, Christie felt comfortable doing her thinking here. She grabbed an apple from the table, and stood up. She took a bit out of it, and paced while she thought. "Hmm ok, so there's Andrew Finnigan, Chris Ackerly, Adam Lewinsky, Matthew Diggory -- oh I can dream...ok...." Little to her knowledge did Christie know that she was talking aloud, causing some students to stare at her and giggle a bit. Though they were out of earshot and had no idea what she was saying, the idea of a student talking to themselves was pretty entertaining.

Chris Ackerly was a fifth year Hufflepuff who was a chaser on the Quidditch team. He was fairly tall for a fifth year at 5 foot 10 ½. He had dark blonde hair, and long eyelashes that were sun bleached on the tips from days of playing Quidditch the in sun. He was sitting with his friends in the Great Hall when he noticed a girl, tall, and very pretty, pacing back and forth while eating an apple, and apparently talking to herself. Interested, he got up from his seat, and began to walk towards her.

"Ok" Christie said to herself, taking another bite of the apple. "I've narrowed it down; it will either be Jordon Brown or Chris Ackerly...now which o-"

"Um, excuse me?" said a voice from behind her.

Quickly, Christie turned around to see Christ Ackerly standing right behind her. He smiled faintly. "Hey, I saw you over here pacing, you looked worried. Just checking if everything's ok..." he said.

Christie suddenly became incredibly embarrassed, something she wasn't often. "Yeah I'm fine" she laughed. "Just sorting out a dilemma in my head...well not so much, but you know what I mean..."

"Yeah" he said, and then sat down at the bench next to where Christie had been pacing. "So what dilemma were you thinking out?"

Christie laughed. She was never really nervous around guys, because she seemed to grow up with them. "My 'I-have-no-date-for-the-ball' dilemma" Christie laughed, sitting down next to Chris.

"I happen to suffer from the same problem" Chris said. "And it's in, what now, three days?"

"Is that so?" Christie said. "Unless you find someone entirely better, would you mind saving my dignity and taking me to the dance?"

"I'd love to" Chris said. "Neglected, we shall be!"

They laughed, and talked throughout the afternoon.

Andrew Finnagin was a 5th year Gryffindor at Hogwarts, and also was dateless for the dance. Unfortunately, the only girl left in Gryffindor who did not have a date was Loraine O'Donnell, the most hygienically challenged, and obnoxious girl Andrew had ever known. Much his misfortune, Andrew was exiting the library when Loraine confronted him. She was about to open her mouth to ask him to the ball, when he suddenly said "would you excuse me, I left my book somewhere..." and sprinted out of the room.

He ran as fast as he could, which was fairly fast. He sprinted down the corridors with only one thing in mind. I have got to get a date before she asks me, because I can't just say no to her face, but then again, how can I say yes to Loraine O'Donnell?

He rounded the corner when he saw another student, a girl, running -- sprinting- like he was, in the opposite direction.

The cold wind stung Kes' eyes as she sprinted down the hallway trying to get away from Malcolm. As she zoomed by classrooms and secret passages, thoughts flooded her mind. Did Malcolm just kiss me? Oh my god, I hope I didn't crush him, ugh but I have to get away! That was so gross....ugh I have to brush my teeth.

She dashed around the corner, her hair blowing behind her, her bag slipping off of her shoulder. She didn't know where she was going, but all she could think about was getting away. Did that really just happen? Ugh! Am I hallucinating or someth-"

When Kes was rounding the corner, she didn't see Andrew Finnigan sprinting at her at full speed, and they collided head on. They both fell to their feet, and Books and papers flew everywhere. Andrew rubbed his head, and jumped to his feet at the sight of Kes. He leaned over her and asked "Are you alright? I am so sorry..." giving her a hand to help her to her feet.

"Yeah I'm fine thanks" Kes said, "just a little bump on the head I think" then bending down to pick up her books and papers that had littered the floor. "I am so sorry...." Andrew said in his Irish accent, and began to pick up Kes' notebook papers as well. After they had gathered all of Kes' things, she slipped them into her bag.

"Ugh I've got quite a headache..." she said, somewhat laughing at what had just happened.

"Here" he said "I'll walk you to the hospital wing..."

"No no" Kes insisted "I'm really ok, you don't have to-"

"Well" said Andrew, smiling slightly "It's the least I could do, for running straight into you at full speed...by the way, I'm Andrew Finnigan"

"Allison Clearwater, but my friends call me Kes..."

"Ok Kes..."

"Can I ask you something Andrew Finnigan?"

"Sure" Andrew said. "Anything at all"

"What were you doing, running down from the library at full speed?"

"Well" Andrew laughed. "That's what I was going to ask you myself...Its not every day I see pretty girls sprinting down the corridors"

"Ugh, well it's a long story...." Kes said.

"It's a bit of a walk to the Hospital wing from here...." He said, his brown eyes grinning.

So Kes told Andrew the story of Malcolm and his posse of weasels asking her to the Yule Ball multiple times a day, and the story of Timothy and the whole hand-kissing incident. Then she, completely disgusted and mortified, told him about what happened with Malcolm.

"Ugh, it was terrible. I didn't want to crush him or anything, but I just had to get away from him...."

"So that slimy git Bullthroise in Slytherin just grabbed you and......kissed you?" Andrew said, looking equally disgusted.

Kes buried her face in her hands as she walked, letting out a cross between a laugh and a groan. "Yes.....oh God it was terrible. Anyway" She said, lifting her head from her hands, "now it's your turn to explain your dashing down the hall."

"Well" Andrew began "I am one of the remaining few who is still dateless for the ball, among only the hygienically challenged Loraine O'Donnell." Both Kes and Andrew laughed aloud at this remark. "I am one of those, obviously, otherwise I wouldn't have had the pleasure to kiss Malcolm Bullthroise"

"Now don't start that again" Andrew smiled. "Anyway, she was about to ask me to the Yule ball, and I couldn't possibly go with her. I'd rather miss it and not go at all. So instead I told her I had a book missing, or something, and ran off in hope of finding relief."

"Well that's quite a story, but I'm afraid it doesn't beat mine with Malcolm Bullthroise" contested Kes in a playful manner.

They continued the talk and were nearly to the Hospital wing, when Andrew suddenly heard the high pitched voice of the one person he dreaded the most behind him.

"Aaaaaaaann-dreeeeewwwwwww" Loraine called behind him, barely in earshot.

"Oh speak of the devil" Andrew said.

"What?" Questioned a confused Kes.

"Where aree youu Andreeeeeewwwwwww, I wanted to ask you something......"

"oh THAT" stated Kes, giving Andrew a sympathetic look.

Suddenly, Andrew got a look in his eyes that he had an idea that would strike gold. He turned to Kes, eagerness in his eyes.

"Go to the Yule ball with me" he said.

"What?" Kes said. The combination of the numerous proposals, the bump on the head and Loraine's screeching voice made her lose focus for a moment.

"Quickly- go to the dance with me -- please" He looked desperately at Kes. She realized then she was the only thing that could possibly save him from the hygienically challenged Loraine O'Donnell.

"I'd love to" Kes said, smiling.

"Thank you so much" Andrew said with a look of happiness and relief in his eyes. "Now here she comes, do me a favor, just -- play along."

Loraine skipped toward Andrew, trying to look flattering. "Hello Andrew."

"Hey Loraine...have you met my......erm......girlfriend?" Andrew stammered.

Loraine just started at Andrew, astonished, not moving.

Kes flashed a white pearly smile. "Hi Loraine" she said, sticking out a hand. "I'm Kes, Andrew's told me a lot about you."

"Really" Loraine said, shaking Kes' hand, the same blank expression on her face.

"What did you want to ask me?" Andrew asked with a curious look on his face.

"Oh nothing, I didn't realize that you......never mind. Ill see you later." She said, and sulked away.

"Oh I feel bad now" Andrew said. "I didn't mean to.....make her so upset...."

"Don't worry about it, Andrew, I'm sure shell find someone at the ball to dance with."

"Thanks for doing that -- you know, agreeing to come with me and covering form me..."

"Hey it's no problem" said Kes. "Well, I ought to go back to the common room before dinner, so I'll see you around."

She flashed a quick smile, and then turned to leave.

"Wait -- Kes?" Andrew called behind her.

She swung around and looked him in the eye. "Yes?"

"I just wanted you to know" he began "that I asked you to the ball, not just because I didn't want to go with Loraine. I really do want to go with you..."

His curly dark blonde hair caught the light, and appeared more blonde than ever. The freckles on his nose moved as a smile curved on his lips.

He looked back at Kes, and she smiled too. "I know Andrew" she said, in a very soft voice. "Thank you." And she turned toward the common room.