Delilah Jane Spinnet
25 Flavors
3. Sad
Delilah hadn’t moved from her spot on the couch since she had crashed there hours before.
She had spent the entire morning meeting with pro-dueling sponsors and couches, having graduated and spent a year and a half on the amateur circuit, she felt that she was more than ready to jump up to the next level. Apparently, she was alone in that line of thought. Everyone she had spoken with had said something along the same lines. No one seemed up to backing the pretty, cheeky dueler. Although they were impressed with what she had been doing at her current level, they doubted that she could handle the stress and demands of the sport, claim a huge difference between dueling for fun and dueling for a living.
At first she was insulted, angry. Could hardly speak by the time she left the last meeting, just curtly thanked them for their time and just left. She stewed the entire way home. How dare they just dismiss her just because she was a pretty flirty blonde. Just because she looked a bit delicate didn’t mean she couldn’t hold her own on the dueling floor.
But by the time she had made home, the last of her anger left her when she slammed her door shut. Delilah just collapsed on her couch not even bothering to kick off her shoes let alone change out of her nice outfit. What if they were right? What if she wasn’t cut out for professional dueling. What would she do? That’s all she thought about doing since she joined dueling club in third year. She didn’t have the N.E.W.T.s to even consider trying to be and Auror or Hit-Wizard or Healer. And now some of the best sponsors and coaches just had told her that she didn’t have what it takes. She was going to spend the rest of her life leeching off her soon to be famous quidditch brother because she wouldn’t be able to get a proper job. How utterly depressing.
There was knock on her door that she ignored, not in the mood to talk to anyone. But whoever it was, wasn’t going away, in fact she heard the click of her door unlocking followed by it opening. Charlie. He was the only person that had such access to her flat. She had forgotten that she was suppose to meet him after her morning appointments.
“Aw Delly.” he said quietly walking over to the couch and squatting down in front of her. “Don’t cry.” Delilah’s eyes cut from the spot on the wall she had been staring at looking up at her twin. She hadn’t even realised she was crying until he had sad it. Charlie hadn’t seen her cry since some time in fifth year, and honestly a crying Delilah was a lot more scary than an angry Delilah. At least Charlie knew what to expect from her when she was yelling and hitting things. “What happened?”
She tried to hide a sniffle as she spoke. “No one wants to stake their reputation on me. They all said I should consider a different career option. I don’t know what else I could possibly do. I only got like three NEWTs.”
“Well, you’re going to duel. That’s what you’re going to do. Obviously, these people you talked to today have have no idea what they are talking about.” he said simply. “Forget them. Do you have to have a sponsor or couch to duel?” Delilah shook her head slightly. You didn’t need either, but it certainly made making a break on the professional level easier. “Well there you go then. You’ll just have to prove them wrong, won’t you.”
Delilah wiped her tears with the back of her hand. “But what if they are right? What if I’m not good enough?”
Charlie just snorted in laughter at the question as he stood up. “That was a joke, right?” he gestured for Delilah to sit up, taking the seat next to her once she did. “The dueling world won’t know what hit them. You’ll be fine.” He kicked his feet up on her coffee table and wrapped his arm around her as she rested her head on his shoulder.
“Now if you are quite done with the tears, there is a show on the wireless I don’t want to miss.” He reached over, turned on her wireless. Eventually she would realize that he was right, like always, and would go back to her overly confident obnoxious self, and until then, Charlie supposed he could put up with sitting next to her while she sniffled through the entire program.
4. Concerned
Delilah jumped at the camera flash in her face. “What are you doing?” She demanded whirling around on her husband poking him in the chest. There was a crisis going on and here he was taking pictures. Of her. Did he not see? Was he blind to that-- that Gryffindor boy who was suddenly sitting awfully close to their daughter on the Hogwarts Express. As if they weren’t standing right there. Had he no respect. Delilah’s eyes narrowed at the grin on his face, trying to figure out what he was saying to make Hazel laugh is such a way. Another flash and Delilah was certain she was going to murder Henry with her bare hands.
“I want to remember this day forever.” Amusement danced in his eyes as Delilah’s glare moved from the train to him. He managed one more picture before she snatched the camera out of his hand, nearly throwing it to the floor in utter frustration. Henry’s lips pursed together as he tried his very best not to laugh at his Gryffindor. It was a difficult task.
“What is wrong with you? Don’t you see? Don’t you see what is happening right in front of our eyes?” she gestured wildly to the train, which was starting to move from the platform, both Hazel and that Gryffindor boy too occupied in each other to even care about what was happening on the platform. “That boy is going to get her into so much trouble.”
Henry snorted, pulling Delilah towards the exit. “Hazel is plenty capable of getting herself in trouble. She is your daughter, after all.”
“No. Nooo.” Delilah insisted emphatically, trying to get Henry to understand. He was suppose to be smart. Why did he not understand. “No. Hazel is a prefect. She got your clever. Your smarts. You didn’t get into any trouble. Nope, not until I came along and dragged you into all sorts of trouble. Maybe you were all nice and well behaved, or maybe, JUST MAYBE you just didn’t get caught until the pretty dumb blond Gryffindor came along and distracted you. Oh god. She is doomed, doesn’t even stand a chance. I can’t-- we have to--”
Her words were caught off with Henry grabbing her face and forcing her to look at him. He gave her a smile, then a kiss and soundly told her to stop talking. When she opened her mouth again, Henry just put his finger on her lips. “No. I’ve been waiting twenty years for this moment, I want to savor it. Delilah Jane Spinnet finally admits she caused all the trouble in my life. A Gryffindor no good for our daughter.”
“Have you met my brother? Have you met your brother? Have you met me?” Her voice escalated with each question. “I shoved you in a broom closet, Henry. I got you so drunk you couldn’t get back to the common room and then with the help of your best friend, shoved you into a broom closet and left you there for the entire night to avoid detention.”
Henry laughed wrapping his arm around Delilah’s shoulder and pulling her close. Even with how drunk he was that night and the fuzzy memories that led up to that moment, he was certain he would never forget waking up in that broom cupboard the next morning. He was livid, swore up and down he was never ever speaking to that Gryffindor girl ever again. They hadn’t even been dating at the time, what had he been thinking? Now the memory just made him laugh. “I’m sure if history is going to repeat itself, it will be Hazel shoving him into a cupboard if that makes you feel any better. Gryffindors are far too foolhardy and chivalrous to leave girls behind to save their own skin.”
Delilah halted as the conversation took a sudden turn. “Excuse me? I am a Gryffindor!”
“Yes, dear, of course you are, but you have to admit, that has to be the most Slytherin thing you’ve ever done.” He couldn’t help the tiny bit of pride that leaked into his voice.
“I did it to save you from detention! You couldn’t walk and you were about to vomit on my shoes.” She huffed.
“And saved yourself a detention while you were at it. Plus if I remember correctly, you got to sleep in your nice warm bed in your nice warm tower. What a night for you!” Henry kissed her temple as she pouted, muttering something about ‘should’ve been use to it’ and ‘dungeons are cold anyways’. He knew he had won, she knew it too, she just refused to admit he was absolutely right. “It’s that boy I’m worried about. Hazel will be just fine.”
5. Scared
Delilah pulled the comforter that she had pulled off the side of the bed tighter around her as she heard the knock and the subsequent opening of the door. She pulled her knees closer to her chest as if making herself smaller would actually make her disappear. She knew who it was and she did not want to see Charlie. She specifically came to this room because as much as she loved Daniel, he didn’t get her the way her twin did. She came to Daniel because he never quite knew how to deal with her when she got like this was liable to let her just curl in a corner and stew until a time she felt ready to return to the world.
Daniel couldn’t take one look at her and know exactly what she needed to hear. Charlie could, and Delilah wasn’t quite sure she wanted to hear it.
“Where is she?” she heard Charlie ask causing her to pull the blanket over her head not at all caring if she was ruining her hair. There was a bed between her spot on the floor and the door and there was a chance that Daniel still might send him away claiming not to know. There was no such luck, she didn’t hear a response, but she imagined Daniel rolling his eyes and somehow silently giving up her location as seconds later she felt someone sitting down next to her on the floor. It was another beat before he spoke to her. “Are you going to come out from under there on your own?”
“I will never forgive this betrayal Danny!” Delilah called not moving at all.
Her elder brother just scoffed. “If you think he wasn’t going to find you without my help, you are more delusional than I thought. Anyways, I suppose I am on damage control. Again. This was not the role I signed up for in life. Try not to take too long, would you? I know I’m good, but there is only so much I can do. I think mom is in hysterics.”
Delilah huffed and Charlie stayed silent until the door opened and shut again. “Delly, you can’t stay under there all day.”
“Go away Charlie.” she bit out.
“No.”
“I don’t want to talk about it.” she tried again.
“I don’t care.”
“I didn’t ask for your help.”
Silence followed that one, then she felt him shift beside her, getting up and walking away. Tears welled in her eyes at the victory. That was too easy. Charlie use to be more stubborn. Well it was what she wanted. She was too focused on not letting her tears spill over that she didn’t notice his return until the blanket was gently being gently lifted from her leaving her face to face with her double.
“When have you ever asked for my help?” he asked settling down next to her again. “No. You never ask, Delly. You always demand. Sometimes in the most dramatic ways possible. It’s okay, I forgive you. After all these years, I’m use to it. Like it or not, you are stuck my help because I’m not going anywhere. If I’m stuck with you, you’re stuck with me.” Delilah sniffled as a few of her tears fell listening to Charlie and he absently handed her a tissue before continuing on.
“But this, as for dramatic ways to ask for my help, Delly, this one takes the cake. All the cakes, including the very nice one down stairs with the ---”
“That is not funny Charlie.” Delilah rasped out cutting him off.
“No it is not. But it is true.”
She had no response to that, so instead she stared down at her hands as she ran them across the lace of her dress trying to smooth the wrinkles that were starting to form. She was probably going to ruin it sitting on the floor like this. What could she possibly say? Out of all the things she had done, she felt this one was probably the worst. Delilah had no idea what came over her. She was there, she was ready, but then the music started and all those people stood and turned to look at her. She panicked. She had locked eyes with him for a mere second before she turned on her heel and bolted. The last thing she saw was his stupid grin faltering while shocked gasps of the crowd chased her out. She covered her face with her hand. How could she explain it to Charlie if she couldn’t even explain it to herself.
“He’s still out there waiting for you, in case you were wondering.” Charlie commented causing Delilah to let out some strangled noise through her hand. He was looking out the window up at the cloudless blue sky as he continued on. “Before Nora or I could even jump to your defense, he just laughed a bit and said ‘Well looks like the bride needs a few more minutes to get ready.’ Then sat down right where he was standing and said he would wait for as long as you needed.”
Delilah’s heart tightened at his words, her shoulders shaking as she tried to hold back another sob. This right here was a perfect example of why she couldn’t get married. She had just left the most perfect man at the altar for no reason whatsoever. “I can’t even get through a wedding, I’m sure I’ll ruin a marriage too.” she let out her words getting muffled through her hands.
“Twenty-seven. This will be the twenty-seventh time we’ve had this conversation since he proposed, Delly.”
“You are not funny, Charles.”
“I’m not trying to be,” he said honestly reaching over fixing some of the tangled spirals in her hair. “I’m just saying, you’re going to have to run a bit farther if you want to be a successful runaway bride. He’s not going to believe it if you are just up here hiding in a room. And if that’s what you really want, I’ll take you wherever you want to go. But I’m telling you right now, that man out there gets you. He understands you and your unique brand of crazy and he still loves you. He’s probably out there cracking jokes with Danny and Nora at your expense and enjoying the moment because you’re not there to get all indignant about it.”
“Still not funny.”
“Still true.”
“I just don’t want to mess everything up.” Delilah mumbled wiping at her eyes. “I don’t have a very good track record when it comes to dating, and this is so much more---forever.”
“So then don’t mess it up.” he said standing offering a hand to help his sister up. She let him pull her to her feet, fidgeting awkwardly once she was up. “What do you want to do?”
“I don’t know.”
“Do you love him?”
“Yes but--”
Charlie cut her off placing a finger to her lips. “Do you love him enough right now, at this moment, to get married?”
Delilah paused, her heart racing as she thought over the question. Of course she loved him enough right now to get married. She wouldn’t be standing her in a wedding dress if she didn’t. How she felt right now wasn’t what concerned her, it was how--
“Right now, Delly, how do you feel right now?” Charlie asked again interrupting her thoughts.
“Yes, I love him more than anything. I’m in a bloody wedding dress, obviously I love him enough to get married today. But today is not---”
“Well then, that’s what really matters.” He spoke over her not letting her finish. “How you feel today is what you’ve got to go on. Not how you might feel tomorrow, or next month or next year or never. You can’t worry about that now or you’ll end up not living your life at all. So what do you want to do right now?”
Delilah bit her lip as his words sunk in. Right now, she wanted to get married. She wanted to go back out there with her head held high and walk down that aisle like nothing happened and she was almost an hour late. She engulfed him in a hug burying her head in his neck. He was right. Just like he always was, when it really mattered. “I couldn’t have asked for a better brother. I love you best.” she said not letting him go.
“Yea yea, I know. But for today, let’s pretend its your future husband you love best, alright?” Charlie laughed kissing the top of her head. “Are you ready now?”
“Yea, I’m ready.”
“Good, I’m so ready to be done with all this nonsense. After today your his problem. I’ve been waiting all my life for this moment.”
A chuckle escaped from Delilah’s lips as she pulled away from her twin and wiped the remaining tears from her eyes. She supposed just for today, she could let him think that.
8. First Crush
He was over at the house again. Not that Delilah cared, because she didn’t, not one bit. And why should she care. Daniel certainly pretended like she didn’t exist at all when he had friends over and Delilah was determined to do just the same. In a few minutes, once she was done staring through the crack of the door.
“Spying is unbecoming of a lady.” Charlie whispered quietly in her ear, startling her so much she jumped up, knocking her head into his chin.
“Ow! Charlie what are you doing! You scared me!” she said slapping him on his arm. What a terrible twin. Wasn’t he suppose to be helpful and not a hindrance.
“Hey hey! Stop that! I’m already going to have a bruise from your hard head.” he said rubbing his chin. “And I just thought you’d like to know you couldn’t be more obvious, if you tried. You’re like a lost baby duckling following them around. It’s like clockwork every time he comes over.”
“I am not.” She said all sorts of offended, forgetting to keep her voice down. “I was-- I was just passing by.” Charlie just stared at her, not believing a word coming out of her mouth. She may be able to spin a pretty tale for just about every one else, but Charlie had always thought she was a terrible liar.
“You need to improve your stalking skills. And lying. You’d make a horrible spy. I bet Daniel has known you’ve been out here the whole time and is just too nice to---” But he never finished the sentence as he was cut off by the door they were standing by opening.
“Don’t you two have something better to be doing?” Daniel asked, tired of their bickering interrupting his study session. N.E.W.T.s were next year and he wanted to be prepared. But of course his annoying duo of siblings just didn’t understand.
“Delilah doesn’t. She practically worships the ground Patrick walks on.” Charlie quipped, and her jaw just dropped horrified that her so-call twin would say such a thing. She couldn’t even manage to stutter our a response before the aforementioned boy appeared behind Daniel with an amused look playing on his face.
“Aww, let them be. I don’t mind it. You should see my little sister when Archie comes over. She turns four shades of red in less than five minutes. Its adorable. Anyways, you got any food in this place?”
“Yea, come on lets move into the kitchen. You, go find something else to do.” He said shooing off his sister, who was still standing there looking scandalized, before turning to leave.
It took a moment for Delilah a moment to regain motor function but when she did, she punched Charlie in the arm. “I cannot believe you just said that.”
“OW! What? It’s true!”
“It is not! ARG CHARLIE! That was not cool!” Delilah huffed greatly. “I’m going to go owl Maggie to see if I can visit. I’m sure there’s plenty of stories I can tell her. Maybe that one from summer before Hogwarts. We’ll talk for hours.”
“You wouldn’t!”
“What? They are all true.” She said spinning on her heel and stalking off to her room.
“Delly! Delilah! That is not equal retaliation!” He called, chasing after his sister.
12. Baby
Delilah stared at her reflection in the mirror, her one hand holding up her shirt while she used her other to poke at her abdomen. She certainly did not look pregnant. If anything it just looked like she slacked off her morning exercises for a week too long. But three pregnancy test did not lie. Turning sideways, she studied her profile, not wanting to believe it at all. She sighed letting her shirt fall back down and started cleaning up the mess she made in the bathroom.
Pregnant.
Delilah didn’t even know what to do with that. If she was completely honest with herself, she certainly didn’t want to be pregnant. The season was just winding down, and she definitely ended on a high. Winning two out of the three major end of the year opens, placing second in the third. She was sure that next year she would get all three.
Now there wouldn’t be a next year. Having a kid would take her out of the game for that long at the very least. A year that she couldn’t even practice. Granted she could cast spells but what good was that with out keeping up on the training of deflecting, quick thinking, actually dueling. All the contracts and sponsors. She was becoming one of the major duelers in the world. Career wise a baby was such a huge set back.
Delilah wasn’t even sure that she would make a good mother. She thrived on hexing people and winning, and that wasn’t a very nurturing thing, was it? Having Alicia for a weekend was completely different than having a child of her own. She was too spastic, too forgetful to be a mother. With another sigh she threw the last of the trash away and walked out of the bathroom.
She froze in the doorway of the living room catching sight of Scott reclined on the couch reading the latest issue of Touché. She wonder briefly if he was reading the article about her. “Hey, everything okay?” he asked looking over his magazine concerned. And Delilah couldn’t help but smile a little. Even if she made a horrible mother, Scott would make a fantastic father, more than enough of one to make up the difference. “Yea, everything is just fine.” she said taking up a seat next to him, cuddling into his side so she could see what he was reading. And when Scott grinned that grin that just about made her fall in love with him the first time she saw it, Delilah really did believe that things would be just fine. She would think of a way to tell him, they would work it out, and everything was going to be just fine. Even if it did mean giving up dueling for a while.
18. Flustered
Delilah sulked as she was herded over to where the hopeful fans were waiting for the team to come by and potentially give autographs. “But I’m not a fan.” She tried once more, though she was sure the ridiculous amount of blue and gold she was wearing was not helping her case. She never had this issue before. Kestrel’s pitch she just wandered where she pleased. She even managed to make her way to the Magpies’ locker room and she wasn’t even related to anyone on that team. Though, perhaps their security just sucked. It would explain all the stories that got published about them. “I’m sort of seeing one of the players. I came to surprise him. If you’d just let me---”
“You and all these other witches.” The guard said with a laugh escorting her behind the barrier. “You can wait here with all the other ‘girlfriends’.”
Delilah folded her arms across her chest, resisting the urge to stick out her tongue at the man. This was not at all how she planned this to go. Matt probably wouldn’t even see her among all these crazy screaming (how did their voices even get that high) fans. She lasted all of three minutes before turning heel. She would just have to track Matthew down at some other point.
There was no way she was going to be one of those girls. She wasn’t even sure that this was a good idea. They had only gone on their second date yesterday and here she was getting last minute tickets to his game and standing outside the exit like a crazed fan. It was too much, too soon. Delilah didn’t even like quidditch. Though she did have to admit that dive at the end of the game where Matthew caught the snitch was rather spectacular.
She turned down another hall, forgetting how she got to where she was and how exactly she was suppose to leave. Pitches were so confusing. Delilah didn’t even realize she had almost made a full circle and ended up where she got caught before until someone was yelling at her.
“Oh erm. Hi.” She scratched behind her ear nervously. “I was just leaving. Don’t mind me.”
“Fans aren’t allowed in this area.” He said sternly. “How did you even get here?”
“Er.” Delilah fidgeted not sure what to say. She just walked here, and there were no signs. Honestly she was just trying to leave and now her brother’s girlfriend’s brother didn’t even seem to recognize her, not that they ever actually spoke, but there was that birthday party and they were both there. Maybe it was the stupid blue streaks she put in her hair. She knew it was too much. It wasn’t like the Gryffindor/Slytherin match where she was expected to go out. “I walked? It’s not very well guarded you know.”
The captain didn’t seem to take too kindly to that answer at all, she could just tell she was about to get a lecture on was and wasn’t appropriate behaviour. She had seen that look enough times to know what to expect.
“Delilah?” She spun at her name to find Matthew just a few feet away staring at her. Oh, and didn’t he look nice, all freshly showered and his hair still damp. Delilah couldn’t help but stare back for a moment. Right. She was suppose to be escaping before she made a fool of herself. And now it was too late, thank you Mr. Fawcett. Delilah couldn’t even tell what the look on his face meant, other than he was shocked. Shocked that he had been fooled into dating a girl who did crazy things like dress up ridiculously to attend his games she wasn’t even invited too. “You came to the game?”
“I--er--yes. That was a nice catch. I’m glad you didn’t crash into the ground, for a second I thought you might.”
“I do tend to try to avoid crashing,” he said with a small laugh now close enough to pull at one of the blue streaks in her hair. “Your hair is blue.”
“I charmed it for the game? I wanted to thank you for showing me a great time last night, and I remembered you saying you had a game today. I know, its a bit over board. I’ve been told that I have the tendency to---”
Matt had cut off her ramble with a quick kiss. “I like the hair. And I’m glad you came.”
Delilah blinked a couple times before grinning brightly and letting out a bit of a giggle. “I’m glad I came too. Even though I did get accused of being a Puddlemere Fan. Twice.”
“The nerve of some people. Not even sure how they would make such a mistake, let me buy you a drink to make up for it.” He said offering his arm to her and leading the way out of the pitch.
19. Bitchy
“What do you mean its my fault!” .
“Of course its your fault! Who else is there to blame?” Henry spat. Really, as if he were to take any blame in this at all. It was all Delilah’s idea in the first place. He only agreed because she batted her eyelashes and snogged him thoroughly making him forget the question.
Delilah bristled visibly, like hell she was going to take all the blame for this. “Excuse me? Are you kidding me right now? Its just detention. You are just as guilty as I am. And I don’t remember any complaints before we got caught.”
“Three! Three detentions! And the Slytherin Gryffindor match is on Saturday, which I won’t be playing in because McGonagall, your head of house who caught us, has no qualms scheduling detention on game days. And of course I wasn’t complaining at the time. In case you haven’t noticed you can be very distracting when your hands are nearly down my pants.”
Delilah threw her hands up in the air. She really just wanted to reiterate the whole ‘no complaints at the time’ bit. “So its all fine and dandy until we get caught? You act like I plan for these things to happen, like I’ve been playing girlfriend to you for the past year just so the Gryffindor team would have a leg up.” Which was the most ridiculous thought in the history of stupid thoughts. Who would do such a thing, Delilah could care less about quidditch. “In case you forgot, I got detention too. I’m missing dueling meets for a month, you aren’t the only one suffering here.”
“House Cup doesn’t rely on dueling. Maybe if you were a normal girlfriend who was content with hand holding in the corridors and dates to Hogsmeade on actual Hogsmeade weekends, the thought wouldn’t have crossed my mind. I never been in detention before I started dating you. And look now, three in one go.”
Henry always, always got huffy whenever they got in trouble. Normally it was just rants and raves but Delilah could usually talk him down. Its what made him so fun, she loosen up his stiff personality and made him have some adventure in his life, and it was just so adorable when he got all flaily about it. But this time was different. Granted, this was the first time she’s caused him to miss a quidditch match. But still. It wasn’t all her fault.
And for him to even think that she was doing it on purpose. She only said it because she never expected him to actually agree. Her fingers twitched for her wand, but instead she just took a breathe and stood up a bit straighter. “Glad to finally know what you really think of me after all this time. You think I’m trying to ruin your life now, while we were dating. Just wait and see. Now that we’re not, I’m positive things will get so. much. better.” That's right, he would regret pissing off Delilah Spinnet. She spun on her heel and stormed off ignoring anything else he had to say.
21. First Year
Delilah jaw was set as she glared down to the end of the Gryffindor table where her twin was sitting. Not only did he not wait for her like he promised he would, he didn’t even bother saving a seat for her at breakfast. Stupid Octavius Pepper and equally stupid Rafe Kirke were sitting on either side of him. Even the seats across the table were taken by some boys she didn’t even know yet.
Not even a week at Hogwarts and Delilah was already losing Charlie to some stupid boys. She knew he would make friends, but he wasn’t suppose to replace her. He was suppose to be her best friend and she his. That’s what twins were. Best friends lucky enough to be born together. This had to be fixed now, or everything would be ruined.
She marched over to the boys and question resting her hands on her hip. “You have to be my friend too.” she interrupted their conversation petulantly. Charlie cringed a bit as turned to look at his sister. He should have seen this coming. Why didn’t he see this coming, he would have warned Octavius, who was currently staring at Delilah completely bewildered.
“Er, come again?”
“You have to be my friend too.” Delilah repeated. “If you’re friends with Charlie, you have to be friends with me too. We’re twins, we come together. That’s how it works.”
“No it’s not, Delly. Go away.” Charlie said on the verge of a whine, and very close to hiding his face in his hands. Delilah always did this. Taking what was his, and claiming it as hers as well, under the guise of sharing. It was one thing at home, but now they were at school. Things were different. “You are being embarrassing.”
Delilah’s mouth gaped for just a second before she snapped it shut, her eyes certainly not welling with tears. “You said nothing would change, Charlie!”
“And nothing has, you are still my sister. I’m still your brother, but right now I’m eating with my friends. So why don’t you go eat with yours.” he said returning his attention back to his breakfast, and away from her.
Delilah turned on her heel and walked right back the way she came, ignoring the other kids who were watching the scene behind their post and over their meals as she left the Great Hall, skipping the meal all together. It wasn’t like she hadn’t made friends yet, because she had. She just never bothered to ask where they sat, or if she could sit with them because she just assumed she’d be sitting with Charlie.
“Um. I could be friends with her too...” Octavius said quietly after she was gone.
“No, you don’t have to. Don’t let her think she can boss you around too, or she’ll never stop.”
24. Surprise
Charlie glared across the room at his supposed best friend and sister. This was like the tenth time he walked into the common room to find the two of them together. Which wasn’t really new, the new part was they were spending time together without him. He rolled his eyes as Delilah’s giggles floated across the room to him.
He made his way across the room and once again their conversation hushed once he was with in ear shot. “Hey what’s up? Didn’t see you guys at breakfast.” He said casually.
“Homework.” Delilah said shrugging a shoulder shove some parchment back into her bag.
“You don’t do homework on Hogsmeade weekends.” Charlie said looking between the two of them, trying to figure out what was going on.
“Octavius was helping me. This is when he had time.” she responded, straight faced, but Charlie knew better, she was lying.
“Well now you’re done. Pepe, lets go out to Hogsmeade. I’m sure Delly can occupy herself.”
“Sur---ow-- I, er can’t sorry. I promised Delilah I’d help her with her transfiguration essay after this.” If Delilah thought Charlie didn’t see her kick Octavius under the table, she was just plain stupid.
“Sorry Charlie. Maybe next time.” she said getting up from the table. “Come on Eight, the library beckons us.” She looped her arm with his and half dragged him towards the portrait door. Octavius just looked back at Charlie with a shrug, gesturing towards Delilah as if to say ‘It’s Delilah, you try and stop her.’
~-~-~-~-~
“He thinks we are dating.” Octavius complained once the were in the corridor.
“Really? Good. That means he has no idea what we are really up to.”
“Gross Delilah.”
“Gee. Thanks. I really like you too.” Delilah rolled her eyes skipping down the stairs leading Octavius to the library.
“It is gross. You are Charlie’s twin, kissing you would be like kissing Charlie.”
“How about I get you a shovel so you can dig your hole faster. Maybe next time Charlie is in the room I’ll kiss you just for giggles. I bet the look on his face would be priceless.”
“Not funny. Back to the point, he thinks we’re dating and I’m pretty sure he has issues with it.” He said following her, barely keeping up with her skipping.
“He’ll get over it evetually.”
“We’re not dating Delilah!”
“You are so fun to rile up. Don’t worry so much. There’s only like a week left and then no more secrets. And Charlie will love this, so all will be forgiven.”
“It better be.”
~-~-~-~-~
“What do you think you are doing Delly?” Charlie said cornering his twin a few days later.
“Er... Eating?” she said taking another bit of her bagel.
“Not now! With Octavius! What are you doing? You are stupid if you think I haven’t noticed you two sneaking around. And don’t say homework because I don’t buy it.”
Delilah took a sip of her pumpkin juice as she watched her brother rant. “Er, I’m pretty sure I remember telling you in first year that he had to be my friend too.”
“Stop joking Delilah! I know you, and how you act. This is how you start off with all your boyfriends.”
“So you would have a problem with me dating Octavius.” she asked still looking more interesting in her breakfast.
“Yes! Yes I would! You can’t date my best friend Delilah! And finding out about it on my birthday is the worst present ever.”
Delilah finally put down her bagel and stood up from her seat. “Our birthday, Charlie. And its too bad you don’t dictate my life.” she spun on her heel and walked out of the room.
~-~-~-~-~
Charlie was in a mood for the rest of the day. And it certainly wasn’t any better by the time he trudged up to the common room at the end of it. He wasn’t sure who he was more mad at, Delilah or Octavius. Both of them equally for sneaking around behind his back. Stupid sister. Stupid friend.
He muttered the password to the Fat Lady was blindsided by shouts of ‘Surprise’ and ‘Happy Birthday’s. He blinked as he looked around taking in all the streamers, balloons and a banner that said ‘Happy Birthday Charlie’. And Chocolate cake. Which was his favorite, but Delilah didn’t like chocolate cake which always caused issues on their birthday.
“Charlie, you there mate? You seem stuck.” Octavius said clapping his friend on his shoulder.
“Is this a surprise birthday party for Delilah and me?” he asked looking around the room for his twin.
“Noo, this is a surprise party just for you. Note the banner with your name and the chocolate cake.” Octavius corrected pulling his friend into the room. “It was Delilah’s idea, she thought you might like having your own birthday this year. We spent the last month planning.”
“So you aren’t dating my sister.”
“Ew gross. No. I still can’t believe you would think that. Delilah thought it was hilarious.”
“Oh good. Speaking of my sneaky sister, where is she?” Charlie asked looking around the room and not spotting her.
“I think she’s off making out with her boyfriend in the astronomy tower. Told me to tell you, she's not mad and Happy Birthday, enjoy the only one you’re going to get solo.”
25. Distracted
Her first duel was a disaster. Well not a disaster but she barely scraped by with a win and she should have trounced her opponent. He had horrible form and mediocre spells at best. Delilah should be walking away leaving him in tears, instead she had a cut on her cheek from where she barely dodged a spell that would have taken her out of the competition and whatever his name was smirking because he gained a point off of her.
She waved off the healer that came over once the duel was over and head straight over to Rich in the spectator stands. He stood up once he spotted her heading his way, still biting on his lip like he was earlier. Delilah almost changed her mind about kicking him out at the sight of him. He was just worried, which was adorable. It showed that he cared, and that was a good thing.
No! She shook the thought from her head. He was distracting her, sending her on these long tumbling lines of thought that kept her from focusing on what was in front of her. Obviously she was not ready to have him sitting in the stands fretting over her.
“You’re bleeding.” Rich started as she approached him.
“It’s nothing, just a flesh wound, look I need---”
“But you’re bleeding, here I can fix that for you.” he continued cutting her off.
“Rich, it’s fine.” Delilah said trying to get back to her point but he just kept looking around to find his wand and saying something about it was a quick fix and she should really stop waving off healers, they were just doing their jobs.
Delilah put her hands on either side of his face and pulled him in for a kiss effectively shutting him up. “You know I love you, but you need to leave now.” She said once they broke apart.
“W-what?” Rich stuttered out staring at her wide eyed.
“I need you to leave because you are distracting me. I almost lost that duel because I caught sight of you over here. You and your lip biting--- and no. I can’t have you here, I will lose everything because of your worried pretty face and if I don’t kick you out right now I will tell myself its all worth it because --- ah just shoo. I’m not ready to have you here.” She flicked her hands at him trying to get him to move before she changed her mind but he stayed rooted in his spot.
“What did you just say?” Richard asked trying to ignore the long winded babel she just gave him that was trying to convince him he had just misheard what she had said.
“I need you to leave? I’m sorry Rich I just--”
“No before that.”
“Uh... Its just a flesh wound?” Delilah tried again, now confused.
Rich shook his head slowly. “After that.”
“Ugh! I don’t know what you mean.” Delilah let out frustrated not understanding what he was getting at. She only had a ten minute break before she had to be back out on the floor and she still needed to get her cut patched up. Time was wasting. Why was she allowing him to distract her so much. She ran their short conversation over again in her head, just not getting it. “I don’t know what you are looking for I just said ‘You know I love----oh,” she stopped mid-sentence. She hadn’t realized she had said that. “Well, I do. I probably shouldn’t have said it while kicking you out, but it just kinda slipped out. And yeah.”
Not that she didn’t mean it, because she did. This was just a shitty time to say such a thing, while she was kicking him out of one her events. The first time you say ‘I love you’ to someone should be romantic. Right? She didn’t have the chance to fret over it much longer though, as it was Rich’s turn to pull her into a kiss. One that garnered a cat call from a passerby as he dipped her ever so slightly before pulling back.
He was blushing and offering her a small stupid grin by the time Delilah blinked a few times to let her mind catch up to where she was standing. “Oh.” She repeated dumbly then quickly placed her finger on Rich’s lips before they could even finish forming the word sorry copying his stupid grin.
“I love you too.” He said quietly after kissing her finger. Delilah tittered a bit as she laced her fingers between his before leaning in to kiss him again. “I still need to go though, don’t I?”
Delilah wrinkled up her nose slightly and nodded. “Otherwise I’ll end up sneaking off with you to some cupboard or locker room.”
“I’ll see you later?”
“Heh. Obviously.” She stole one last kiss as her name was being called for her next duel.
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