Femme Fatale

Femme Fatale

Chapter Two: Katie Bell, Exclamation Point, Exclamation Point

Katie woke up the next morning in a bad mood. She yawned, and the previous day's events flooded back to her. Katie glared at the ceiling and threw off her bright yellow comforter. She swung her legs off the bed, placing her feet on the cold wood floor.

Katie walked over to the oak wardrobe and carefully pulled the doors open.

After the previous day's events, Katie had decided on one thing: she wasn't going to be Katie Bell, exclamation point, exclamation point. She was Katie. Period. Katie Bell (!!) was dead, and had been-Katie checked the clock- for almost ten hours.

So, all the preppy clothes had to go. Katie strolled languidly up to her bathtub, dropped an armful of clothes into it, and turned on the water. She got another load of clothes and dumped it in. Looking in the pantry under the sink, Katie found and took out a bottle of black dye. Two tablespoons, Katie read. She paused in thought, and poured the whole lot in.

*

Before Katie walked into the kitchen, it had been noisy with chatter. Her mother, Eve, was laughing with her father about some outrageous outfit Karenina Parkinson wore at the Ministry ball. Elizabeth was having a tea party with her dolls, and was asking "Rose" if she wanted cream or sugar. The perfect domestic scene. A Hallmark family.

Then Katie sat down, and it was suddenly silent.

"Kate, I-"her mother began, then promptly fainted.

Katie was wearing all black, and had died her long dirty-blonde hair the same color. Thick black kohl lined her eyes. Elizabeth took one look at her sister, and (as if on cue) began to cry hysterically.

"Katie!" Michael cried, magicking his wife onto the couch.

Katie seized a piece of toast and walked out on him.

*

Katie trudged along the gravel path and gazed out on the great expanse of the Bell's grounds. The lake glittered in the distance, and the manor stood out like a pale blue splotch against all the green.

She thrust her hands in the pockets of her ripped black jeans (still a bit stiff from the dye, although they had been rinsed), fuming.

Her stupid, stupid, STUPID parents! Who were they kidding? Katie took a steadying breath and hoisted herself up into a willow tree. Climbing steadily up into the topmost branches, Kate tried to force the thoughts of her parents (and just about anyone else) taking advantage of her.

No such luck.

Her cold anger was replaced by a fit of fiery fury (A/N: Fit of fiery fury. Can you say that three times fast? Heh. Sorry- lame humor...). Katie fought back hot tears, and clenched her fists tightly. She didn't notice as her nails broke the skin.

*

Sunset passed. Darkness fell.

Katie looked up, scanning the sky for the North Star. As she found it, a smile twitched at the corners of her mouth.

Almost five-hundred miles away, Oliver Wood found the same star. He was flying, summer night wind stirring his light brown hair.

Both gazed up at the star, smiling slightly. Oliver tipped his broomstick sharply down, and Katie jumped. They touched the ground at the same time.

*

Katie stared up at her bedroom window, cursing herself for choosing the room on the second floor. She inspected the ivy vine that was crawling on the wall, and tugged. I seamed sturdy enough. She stuck her foot into the plant and began climbing.

Katie inched up, and after what seemed like a lifetime, she reached the twelve-foot window. Fumbling for the latch, Katie squinted inside. Finally getting it open, she jumped in, slamming on the floor.

She fell onto the bed, sighing.

Suddenly super-aware of how much noise she was making, Katie strained her ears for any noise.

Satisfied, Katie leaned back into her pillow, asleep in seconds.

*

The next day, Katie was shaken awake by her father, Michael.

"Katie!"

Katie sat up straight. "Uuuhrrgrh," she gurgled.

"Kate! It's fifteen minutes to eleven! Your train leaves...soon!"

The once blonde girl rubbed the sleep out of her eyes, and said,"How the fuck did you get in my room?"

"Well, there's this novel thing called a 'doorknob.' Now, if you turn this 'doorknob' to the right of left, the door opens. Isn't that fantastic?"

Katie sent him a look.

He stood up and walked towards the door. "We leave in five. And don't be so noisy- your mother's sleeping; she's still in shock."

"I am so amused," Katie informed her father, forcing a smile. She slammed the door in his face, and turned to survey the room. She took a deep breath, and proceeded to empty the contents of her wardrobe into her trunk. While flinging textbooks and shirts in at top speed, Katie quickly dressed and brushed her teeth. She ran a comb through her hair, hurled the comb in, and slammed the trunk closed.

Just then, her father appeared at the door. "C'mon, Katie. Let's just Apparate."

"I can't."

Michael tapped his foot at her. "Why not?"

Katie rolled her eyes. "Maybe because I'm fucking underage, and it would be fucking illegal, smart one."

"Oh yeah."

"What a genius."

"Don't you speak so disrespectfully to me!"

"But don't have any respect left for you. It's fitting."

"What?"

"Oh, quit being such an old lady."

"Me? An old lady? I am not!"

Katie batted her eyelashes at him. "Don't forget your dentures, Granny."

"Can you?"

Katie looked up. "Can I what?"

Michael blinked. "Can you Apparate?"

"Y-e-e-sss," Katie replied slowly.

"I won't tell if you won't," her father said quickly.

Katie shrugged. "What the hell." She seized her trunk, and disappeared with a 'pop!'

Michael sighed and quickly followed.

*

***** Katie's POV *****

Dad and I reappeared behind a bush in front of King's Cross Station. We dashed inside and tossed my trunk onto a trolley. Running to Platform 9 ¾ ,we shoved roughly inside. I glanced at the clock, seeing that I only had 27 seconds left.

I grabbed my trunk, mumbled "bye" to Dad, and flung the doors to the first car I came across open.

Just as I sat down, i looked up.

Big mistake.

I was surrounded by Slytherins.

Malfoy walked over. "Bell?" He was obviously profoundly surprised. No drawl, you see.

Every single Slytherin mouth hung open. Smelly breath filled the room. I swear I saw a fly dive into marcus Flint's mouth.

I arched an eyebrow. "Okay, you people have just hit a new level of wierd that even I marvel at."

No answer.

God, am I glad that I'm not a Slytherin.

I turned on my heel and slid into a compartment full of Second Years. I continued walking past a car of politically correct Ravenclaws, hair-flipping preppy Seventh Years (who gave me haughty and disdainful looks as I rushed by), and a bunch of Sixth Year Hufflepuff Quidditch jocks and their fan club, before finally reaching the compartment which held Fred, George, Lee, Alicia, and Angelina.

Their response to my new "look" wasn't all that different from the Slytherin's, except after a moment Angelina gave a shriek and cried ,"Oh, Katie, I love it! You're almost bloody punk-rock!"

"I aim to please."

"Yeah, I think it's okay," Fred announced.

I swept into a deep bow. "So glad you approve."

"Oh, but she has an attitude problem," Lee muttered to George, who nodded.

"Dare to be subtle, Lee."

"Katie?"

I turned to Alicia. "What?"

"Katie, why?

So I explained about my sister and parents, and how I had no clue who else was taking advantage of me. I wasn't sure, but I thought I saw the twins and Alicia squirm uncomfortably under my green-eyed gaze.

"Oh!" Lee cried. 'You almost look like Harry's sister!"

"Huh?"

Angelina grinned. "Yeah! The black hair, green eyes, slim nose. Aaah, that's so funny!"

I must have had a very shocked expression, because Alicia solemnly pressed a small compact of concealer into my hand.

I flipped it open, and wiped the peachy powder off of the mirror. Then, I peered at myself on the small, reflective glass surface and blanched.

They were right. I looked like a freakin' Potter.

"Oh, fuck. I wish someone could have told me that before I went and dyed my hair black!"

Lee smirked a smirk that would have done a Malfoy proud.

I rolled my eyes. "I hate you all."

And you know what they did?

They laughed.

***** End Katie's POV *****

"Who's that?"

"Oh! Katie! That Gryffindor chaser!"

"What happened to her?"

"Aw, what did she do to her hair?"

Whispers followed Katie as she entered the Great Hall. She pretended not to notice as she sat down at the Gryffindor table, still in debate with Ron Weasley about what the best Quidditch team was.

"Chudley Cannons."

"Greek Spartans."

"Chudley Cannons."

"Greek Spartans."

The argument was interrupted by a slick ,"Hello, Katie."

(But the tears were silent inside you see)

I laid there quiet

and watched you have your way with me

I might have cried

But the tears were silent inside you see

You called me names

Made me feel like I was dumb

I didn't feel a thing

And now I'm gone, gone, gone...

-"Numb" by Pink

Katie snapped her head up, recieving major whiplash. She would have winced, but was much too stubborn to do so. She knew that voice. Knew it and loathed it. She looked up into the sneering face of Pierce Addams. For years he ahd teased her, tormented her, humiliated her. Whenever Pierce struch the slightest blow to her ego, Katie would hide behind Fred or cry on Angelina's shoulder. He obviously expected her to back down.

NO MORE!!! Katie screamed at herself. The words appeared bright and bold behind her eyelids. She stood up, and pressed herself against him. "Hello, sweet cheeks," Katie said, her voice smooth and loow, almost a purr or a hiss. "I've got an idea." She smiled sweetly, twirling her wand. "How 'bout this year I squash your self-esteem into oblivion? Hmm? Well, I've got news for you, sweet cheeks." By this time, she was hissing. "This is me, up- and- in- your- face."

Katie smirked andbacked away from the shocked Slytherin. After a few seconds, Pierce called ,"I'm gonna kick your ass!"

"Why don't you kiss it while you're down there," Katie returned, stepping up to the table.

"Whoa!" Did that just happen?" Angelina shrieked as Katie sat down.

"No- it was your imagination, honey," Katie said sarcastically.

Oliver sat down on Katie's other side, laughing hysterically. "H-*snort* sweet *cough* cheeks! *gasp*"

Katie glared at Oliver."Shut up, sweet cheeks."

And he did.

*

*

*

A/N: Ahhh...Another chapter done..Sorry it took so long to update. I wrote half of this chapter on the back of my math test, so I had to wait until I got it back to type the rest. I wrote the other half during commercial breaks while watching reruns of Buffy. God, WHY did they have to stop the show? *pouts* Thank you to my reviewers ( katt6528, OliverWoodsGal, Dragon Bolt, Louise, Queenalissa, Princess Arianna, and Ollikat)- I was SO FRICKING SURPRISED when I acctually got reviews- thanksies! Y'all rock. Reviews are almost as good as coffee to me- both are necessities, and both are things that keep me running. Javajavajava!

Next Chapter:

There is a Quidditch practice thjat royally sucks, a mental voodoo doll, a poll of someone's lofe, a kiss(!!-woowoosmoochy!), and an implied lapdance. Ooh, and fury. Lots of pissed off unamused people.

"Borrowed" (*wink wink*) Stuff

-I arched an eyebrow. "Okay, you people have just hit a new level of wierd that even I marvel at."

~ from 'Gilmore Girls' I do NOT regularly watch this show (or any other show on the WB-except for Angel-for that matter), but sy ickle sister was watching it at high volume, and I could hear it way up in my bedroom, even while playing linkin park at MAX volume on my cd player. That was how loud it was. Sheesh.

- The whole "sweet cheeks" thing

~Notoriously, from Buffy. Heh. Go Glory!

-After a few seconds, Pierce called ,"I'm gonna kick your ass!"

"Why don't you kiss it while you're down there," Katie returned, stepping up to the table.

~It's from 'ER' It's on at like 1am, so my mom hates that I watch it. Boo frickity hoo.