Ordinary Muggle In An Extraordinary Predicament

Erika smiled as she watched Fred fussing around with one of his inventions with George. The wizard had been a complete darling ever since the foiled murder attempt, not that he had been a darling before but it seemed like he was being extra sweet than normal. She checked her watch and bit her lower lip, Damn, I’m going to be late. “Fred,” she called out, “I’m going out for a while.”



Fred stopped talking to his brother and approached Erika, “I’m going with you.”



She sighed and shook her head, “You don’t have too. I’m just going out to meet Ginny.”



His eyes narrowed, “Why?”



“Do I need a reason to see your sister?”



“You live in the same house! Why do you have to see her now?”



Erika frowned, “What’s wrong? Why don’t you want me to see her now?”



“I didn’t say that,” he answered defensively and turned to face his twin.



George watched the two and shook his head. He knew about the plan to marry her off to Malfoy and like his twin he didn’t agree. The difference was, he understood why Harry and the others came up with that plan. “Did Ginny say anything about why she wanted to see you now? Couldn’t she wait at the Burrow to tell you? She knows that you are in a precarious situation right now, why would she ask you to see her?”



He threw up his hands, “Thank you for pointing that out George!”



“Am I to let one foiled attempt on my life prevent me from enjoying it? I will go ALONE to meet Ginny and I don’t want to hear anything from the both of you.” She stormed out of the shop and slammed the door behind her. Erika mentally kicked herself for telling the twins off, especially Fred. Damn, I didn’t have to do that. They were just looking out for my safety and I just had to be an ass and raise my voice.



She shook her head as she walked toward Florean Fortescue’s Ice cream parlor where she would meet Ginny. Fred started it, he was the first one who raised his voice. I just wanted to see Ginny.



You shouldn’t have raised your voice nonetheless.



Ah, so you want to go back and apologize?



Why would I apologize? I admit I was an ass but so was he. She frowned, Great! I’m having conversations with myself now.



“Hey, what the matter?” she heard Ginny’s voice ask her.



Erika looked up and smiled at Ginny, “Nothing’s the matter Ginny.”



She looked behind Erika and raised an eyebrow, “That’s a surprise.”



“I told them not to come,” Erika explained, catching on to Ginny’s expression.



Ginny’s eyebrow rose even higher, “And they listened to you?”



“Apparently they did. So what did you want to talk to me about that you couldn’t discuss at the Burrow?”



“Harry and the others still aren’t here. I suppose they should be the one’s to tell you about it. Would you like to eat while waiting for them?”



“No, that’s alright Ginny. I think I’ll just walk around for a while.” She started to leave but stopped when she noticed that Ginny was following her.



“Yes, do you need anything else?”



“I can’t leave you alone. Fred and the others will murder me if they find out I let you walk out alone.”



“I’ll be alright. I’ll just meet you back here in may be an hour or three.” She resumed walking and was relieved when the Weasley girl didn’t follow her anymore. She needed time to think. For some time since the attempt in her life she had not been able to have her alone time and she badly needed it now. There were a lot of things that she needed to think about.



Who would want to hurt me? Why would they want to hurt me? I know that I’ve insulted a lot of wizards and witches in the short span of time that I usually spend here but is that enough for a vendetta? Are they that petty? I’ve razzed people worse than what I’ve been doing here and nobody has ever come close as to carrying out murder. Hmmm…magic folk have a shorter fuse I suppose.



What about Fred? He’s been acting really weird. I mean, I know that we are in a relationship but it just means that he likes me, right? When you like someone you don’t always have to be with that person 24/7, right? He’s being overly sweet and I find that a bit odd. Maybe I’m just not used to being treated this way. She frowned when she remembered that those were her beliefs when she was younger. She believed then that love was a fairytale that people attained once they grew older but that image was shattered when she was hurt far too many times than anyone would’ve liked. Like is more of admiration, right? No deep feeling for someone really, just an attraction. As expected, a guy will always want to dominate a girl, yeah, that’s exactly what Fred’s been doing. I don’t have to feel guilty about raising my voice.



Damn it! What the hell am I thinking? I don’t make sense at all. To hell with what he wants to think!



No! I care for him that’s why I care about what he thinks. I cannot dismiss it that easily.



He’s confusing me just like every guy I’ve liked in the past, this will not turn out good. Nothing usually turns out good for me when it comes to relationships. I just always happen to be on the losing end of a relationship, the one used, the one not wanted, the friend, the meantime girl as one of my bestfriends called it. I’ve come to accept that I’m not the type of girl that guys take seriously. Not the marrying type to be loved, housed, and protected. Once I realized that fact I started acting strong so that they wouldn’t pity me. I wanted them to genuinely care for me because of an emotion like love and not pity. Pathetic really, I’ve resigned to a life of being alone, of having no one to hold me during the cold nights, having no one to wipe away my tears when I get hurt, having no one to worry about my welfare, having no one to look me in the eye just because he loved staring at them, having no one to check up on me if I’m still alive, having no one to protect my honor, having no one beside me when I wake up in the morning, having no one to whisper sweet nothings in my ears. The notion wasn’t really that bad, at least no one can hurt me if I just learn not to care too much, if I just keep my heart to myself.



Erika’s reverie was broken when she slammed into someone’s chest. She mumbled an apology and started to walk away when a hand caught her waist. Frowning, she turned around to confront whoever it was. “Get your hand away from me!” She frowned even more when she saw that the hand belonged to a smirking Draco Malfoy.



“Something wrong Mudblood?”



“Again with the Mudblood insult. What makes you think that something’s wrong Pureblood?”



“Well, you just mumbled an apology when you bumped into me. Something must be wrong for you not to insult me.”



“Is this what this is about? Fine, you want me to insult you then I will. You’re a stupid Pureblood who doesn’t look where he’s going, thinks he owns the entire street and expects people to stand aside when he walks by.”



Malfoy nodded in approval, “That’s more like it. Clumsy Mudblood, you’ll eventually go loony if you don’t stop thinking of trivial stuff.”



“I’ve insulted you and you’ve insulted me. Can you now take your hand off my waist?”



“Where are you going?”



Erika struggled from his hold but he was too strong for her, she scowled when she finally gave up struggling. “I’m going to hell, now let me go.”



“That’s interesting. Most wizards and witches would prefer to go to heaven rather than hell and here you are, a Mudblood, preferring to go the other way. Trouble in your little paradise?” He was amused when she gave him a blank look, “I was asking if you and that blood traitor boyfriend of yours are having a dispute.”



“It’s none of your business, now let me go.”



Malfoy stared at her and suddenly frowned, he could’ve sworn that he saw something in her eyes just a second ago as he stared at them. Something that was so fleeting that he wondered if he really saw it or was imagining it, in its place was now spite. He let her go and she quickly walked away from him.



Stupid Malfoy, he just doesn’t know when to let up.



Stupid Mudblood, confusing me again.



Erika continued walking aimlessly at Diagon Alley, bumping a few wizards and witches at the process but she paid no heed to some of the dirty looks she received when she mumbled an apology with her head bowed down.



This isn’t right. This situation really shouldn’t bother me this much. I’ve got to distract myself and stop thinking of unpleasant things. She looked up and noticed that she was right in front of Flourish and Blott’s Bookshop. She walked right in and started searching for something to read. She had been perusing quite a few books already in the past hours, mostly of the Dark Arts and Charms. Erika closed the book she had been reading and ventured to find another good read.



“Fancy meeting you here again. If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were following me,” a familiarly annoying voice drawled from behind her.



Erika raised an eyebrow, “Who would want to see you twice in a day?”



“You obviously are not aware of my reputation with women.”



She nodded her head, “Oh yes I’ve heard of your reputation with women. The thing is, I don’t really see what they find so interesting in you.”



Malfoy stood really close to her that she could feel his breath on her back. “Do you really not see it, or you just keep on trying to ignore it?”



Erika moved away from him and faced him. “Arrogant prat!”



He just smirked at her and crossed his arms in front of her. “In case you haven’t noticed, this is a bookshop not a library. You’re supposed to buy books here, not read them for leisure.”



She glared at him, “I know this is a bookshop.”



“Ah, so I guess you haven’t got any galleons to spend then. Weasley not giving you money?”



“I’m not his wife, why would he give me money?



“I never said anything about you being Weasley’s wife.”



“Then why would you inquire about money matters between us?”



“He is your employer and that warrants a salary right?”



She blushed at her mistake but quickly retorted, “Of course Fred and George gives me the salary I deserve.” She was about to say more when she heard her name shouted from below the bookshop. Erika walked over to the railing and saw that it was Hermione calling her name. “Hermione, I’m here.”



“Thank goodness, we thought something bad had happened to you already.”



She frowned, “Why would you think that?”



“You were supposed to meet us at Fortescue’s Ice cream parlor, remember?”



Erika hit her forehead with her palm and scurried downstairs to where Hermione was standing, “I’m sorry, I forgot about the time.”



Hermione sighed, “Next time, don’t scare us like that.”