Not A Mind Reader (Amber)

[Ethan Jacobs G5]

Ethan smiled brightly as he walked down to the Great Hall with the best fourth year ever to enter Hogwarts. Ezzie Mendez was surely that girl. She was amazing. Ezzie had been the best thing that had ever happened to him, and he knew she felt the same way. If it hadn’t been for Ezzie, Ethan would still be hopping around from girl to girl hoping one of them would actually mean something to him. Ezzie had changed that. Ethan felt glad he had made an even bigger effect on Ezzie’s life. If it hadn’t been for him, Ezzie’s life would be completely different. She would still be out fending for herself on the streets (and hotel corridors) of London, celebrating when she picked up loose change on the streets. Ethan knew he couldn’t have someone so beautiful, so wonderful and pure eating only once a day and working hard for minimum wage pay. He couldn’t have that. Ezzie was special. She deserved better. She deserved the life she was living now; as a rock star, dating the most amazing man in the world (that was a bit of a conceited thought, but Ethan had to admit, he was extremely conceited.) and walking around with thousands of galleons in her pocket. He continued smiling as he and Ezzie took their seats at the Gryffindor table to eat their lunch, hand in hand. They were proclaimed Hogwarts’ cutest couple, and all the jealous faces being shot at the couple proved that. He ate his lunch and Ezzie ate hers, and after a moment, Ezzie announced she had a class to attend. Ethan knew this wasn’t true, as Ezzie didn’t have any classes on Fridays, but he let her go anyway. He knew she felt uncomfortable with all those people staring at her. Ethan didn’t mind much, for he was used to it. Ethan had been in the spotlight ever since he was one. Before that, his family had tried to hide from the press in America, not wanting Ethan to be too exposed to life in the spotlight at such a young age. Ethan smirked. Look how well that plan turned out. He kissed Ezzie goodbye, and tried to ignore the loud cheers and applause (and dirty looks from the staff table) that followed the kiss. Honestly, did people have nothing better to do with their lives? Most of them had girlfriends and boyfriends too, and he knew none of them would really enjoy being stared at all the time. Ethan watched her as she left the Great Hall, trying not to look back at the crowd watching her as well. He turned to his friend Carson, who was sitting across from him.

“So, how much do you want to bet that Ez doesn’t actually have a class right now?” He said with a smirk toward his fifth year friend. He smiled too as he shoveled food into his mouth. He swallowed his food and began to speak. “I’d bet half my sister’s paintings for that. Your girlfriend might not have a class right now, but I definitely do. Snape will murder me if I’m late again.” Carson picked up a piece of toast and walked out of the Great Hall with his potions book, totally oblivious to the dozen or so eyes following him out the door. Poor Carson had many girls falling all over him, yet he refused to pick any of them. That was the main difference between Ethan and Carson. When Ethan saw an opportunity, he went for it. Carson just sat back in the sidelines alone, when he could be with pretty much any girl he wanted. Ethan chuckled and picked up his fork. “That kid really needs a girlfriend.” He said, to no one in particular. He swallowed his food and picked up another bite full. He couldn’t understand Carson, and he was only just beginning to understand Ezzie. Sometimes, it was hard to know what his friends were thinking, or why they did the things they did. He sighed as he continued with his food. Ethan’s plate was piled high with food; it was a wonder how he ate it all. He smiled and glanced at the staff table. The Headmaster smiled and the other teachers glared or shook their heads. Some teachers thought it was cute that he and Ezzie were dating, others just didn’t approve. Ethan didn’t care. They could think what they wanted. Ethan was sticking with Ezzie no matter what they thought or said. Nothing would separate them.

[amberr]

NEWTs had the perfect name... Nasty! She hated her classes and the fact that it was all for her NEWTs next year. They were incredibly hard and gave her frequent headaches. The worst part of all, was the fact that none of this was helping Amber achieve her career goal. She wanted a career in journalism. So, how was a NEWT in potions going to help her? Lucky enough, she had acheived an E in potions for her owls, but that was the only one. How she had gotten such a score was beyond her... Sitting the NEWT class, with Snape sneering down his hooked nose at her, was not the way she liked to spend her Fridays...

However, there she was, every Friday before Lunch. Being one of the only Gryffindors in the class. Snape had this way of favoring every Slytherin who entered his dungeon classroom and despise every Gryffindor. This was entirely unfair, for sure, and it got on Amber's nerves more than just a little. She wasn't very good at Potions... although her test scores show otherwise. In truth, she had just been incredibly lucky! The day of OWLs, only one year before, she had been told to make the one potion she was really good at. The Draught of Peace was Amber's specialty. It was a mystery as to why she was good at that one potion, but she was. The moment Snape asked her to brew it, she somehow did it perfectly. Whether it was because she followed the rules in the book all too well, or she just... got lucky...

This particular Friday, however, Amber was feeling far from lucky. How was she sopposed to make a Felix Felicis!? That was impossible even for the perfect little Slytherins who do everything else perfectly. Snape was in a particularly bad mood today, which could be the cause. Amber knew her potion was done for and when the bell signaled the end of class, she knew that Snape was going to dog her for it. Jamming everything in her bag, she made a run for it. Making out the door just in time, before Snape noticed she was gone would have been a miracle, which Amber is very bad at...

"Hess!" Her heart dropped as she turned right around to walk into the classroom.

Twenty minutes later, Amber left the classroom seething. Looking down at her essay, which took her all night to finish, she wanted to rip off the large red 'F' that showed how much her teacher really did hate her. She crumpled the essay in her hand with fury that was mounting with every step. On her way to the Great Hall for lunch, which was late for now, she had to calm herself down. So, she imagined the many ways that she could get Snape fired. None would work and she didn't have to courage to pull any of them off, but the day dreams were enough to make her feel better.

She entered the room with a smile on her face, which dropped immediately as she looked at the Gryffindor table. All of her friends were missing. They must have scampered off already to study. She sighed and made her way to an empty spot by a boy she only barely recognized. As she got closer, she remembered him as 'Hogwarts Cutest Couple' with that one fourth year. They were pretty darn cute, but Amber was a tad resentful, having no one in her own life. She bit her lip, looking around for another spot. None were open. She took a deep breath and came up to the empty spot.

"This seat taken?" She asked as politely as she could.

[Ethan Jacobs G5]

Ethan shoveled the food into his mouth as he thought about the day ahead. He always was a big eater. It was a surprise he wasn’t fat by now. He could never be fat though, it was in his blood. His whole family had always been picture perfect, with little or no work required. Not that they didn’t do any work. Ethan worked out every day, in addition to all his Quidditch practices. Ethan figured it must have been the pressure of the media that kept his body fit. His entire family seemed to be perfect, on the outside at least. The Jacobs family was indeed living a glamorous life, but there was definitely more to the story. Ethan’s family seemed picture perfect and there was never any problems. People who thought this were completely wrong of course. Ethan’s parents worked very hard for the money they received, and worked even harder to maintain a status of good reputation. The constant pressure was grueling, and hard to keep in order. So hard in fact, that it forced the Jacobs family up and about. Ethan was always at some party, trying to keep his face known. He was after all, only famous for his parents. Even though he had decent musical talent and was an excellent skateboarder, Ethan was only known as the heir to the Jacobs Empire. He did wish people would know him for someone other than where he came from, but Ethan really liked to flow with life and not complain about things he didn’t have. Ethan did have a lot, and his life was pretty close to perfect, so he really couldn’t complain. He took a sip of pumpkin juice and swallowed before he saw someone approach the Gryffindor table and ask for a seat.

“Umm, I’m pretty sure Ezzie’s not coming back here for a while; the thirty pairs of eyes staring at her kind of scared her off. I guess I’m used to it though, so I don’t mind much. I’m Ethan by the way. Ethan Jacobs. I know I’ve seen you before, but I can’t quite remember where.” Ethan thought back to last year when he had seen her in the common room. Then the name came to him. “Oh yea, I’m sorry, I forgot you for a second. It’s nice to see you again Amber. You’ll be a fifth year as well? Or are you a sixth year now?” Ethan took a sip of pumpkin juice and drained the glass. He could almost bet he had flirted immensely with Amber just last year. He always was a bit of a flirt. Well, more than just a bit to be honest. Ethan was downright flirtatious, as most people have told him. It was the most commonly used word when it came to describing his personality. His flirting had died down a bit since he started going out with Ezzie, and now he only flirted just a bit when a girl made the first move. Ezzie didn’t mind him flirting with other girls, just as long as it went no farther than flirting. Ezzie normally wasn’t the jealous type. He loved that about her. She was just so accepting, and knew exactly what was going on around her and in the lives of her loved ones. She was so different from all his past girlfriends, and he loved her for it. Ezzie was the most wonderful thing that had ever happened to him. He was glad she was in his life, even if he did barely get to spend time with her. He scooped some bread into his mouth and swallowed it. He chewed his food well, but sometimes he just looked like a vacuum cleaner while eating.

“So how was your summer holiday? Surely a girl as pretty as you would have a man to spend such a time with?” Ethan smiled warmly as he ate more food. He realized he was flirting a bit, but Ezzie wouldn’t mind. She understood that Ethan was allowed an opinion. The fact that he was dating didn’t make every other girl in the world hideous. As long as he didn’t pursue other women, harmless flirting was fine with Ezzie. She had said so herself during a date awhile ago. Ethan had to make sure of her feelings on the matter before he did anything involving girls, he didn’t want to lose Ezzie, and especially not over a bit of harmless flirting.

[amberr]

The boy responded saying that his girlfriend was probably going to be awhile. Amber guessed that meant 'yes' and sat down. However, the boy continued talking as if he was sharing her his life story. Amber felt a tad amused by his openness. Thiry pairs of eyes? What thirty pairs... oh. With one glance around the Great Hall, Amber immediately understood what he meant. Nearly everyone was staring at the boy Amber just sat next to and he didn't seem to mind. She bit her lip, feeling slightly nervous as to what people were going to say now that she took his girlfriend's place. School gossip was vicious and will do anything to ruin what's good in someone's life. Hopefully no one would think wrong of Amber sitting in the boy's girlfriend's vacant seat. Amber took some bacon as the boy mentioned that he knew her from somewhere.

Amber looked up at him, finally getting a good enough look to recognize him. She smiled, realization dawning on her. It was Ethan Jacobs, the boy who everyone knew. How could she not have noticed before? He was dating that one girl... oh what was her name? Everyone called her Ezzie... No matter, anyway. Amber nodded when Ethan proclaimed her recognized her as well. Before she could respond, he had moved on to another question. This made Amber giggle. He was rather hyper, wasn't he?

"Sixth year." She said in response to his question, "Finally, seventeen!" She smiled, excitement coursing through her at the very thought of her latest birthday. September was already zooming by, but not fast enough to miss her seventeeth birthday on the 3rd.

Turning back to her plate as Ethan chugged a glass of pumpkin juice, Amber grabbed a few sandwiches and took a bite out of a bacon strip. The taste flowed through her mouth and tickled her taste buds. Why bacon was on the table for lunch, Amber didn't know, but she liked it very much.

Ethan's voice interupted her bacon trance and sent her reeling into the noisey Great Hall. She looked over at him, a piece of bacon still firmly clasped in her jaws. He asked about her summer and then made a comment about how a pretty girl like her should have a boyfriend. Usually, a flirtatious comment like that would make Amber smile and giggle, but her sudden want of a boyfriend for herself made her sigh.

"Yeah... no such luck in that department." She shrugged, taking a drink of pumpkin juice, "What about you?" She asked, changing the subject, "Ethan and Ezzie... talk of the school, eh?"

[Ethan Jacobs G5]

Ethan smiled at Amber as she looked around the Great Hall nervously. It was every good girl's common worry in this school when hanging around Ethan. Most girls like Amber kept away from Ethan because they didn’t want to interfere with “Hogwarts’ Cutest Couple”. He tried not to roll his eyes as he thought about it. They didn’t want to be known as the girl who came between Ethan and Ezzie. Ethan and Ezzie’s relationship was rocky enough without the interference of other people. They had been on the edge for about two weeks, ever since their quick break-up/make-up (and who could forget the ever popular make-out?) fiasco two weeks ago, the day after Ezzie’s first performance. It was all a matter of time, and how it was spent. Their break-up two weeks ago had nothing to do with other girls, although Ezzie thought it did at first. She knew better now. Ezzie knew Ethan would never cheat on her. She was too wonderful to lose. Ethan remembered how Ezzie had explained to the press during an interview later that day that she and Ethan were over. Just a day later, Ezzie and Ethan were back together after a night of just laying in her bed, wrapped in each other’s arms. Nothing else happened. He smiled a bit as he remembered it. Amber had responded to Ethan’s question by explaining she had just turned seventeen, and was a sixth year Gryffindor. He smiled.

“Wow, seventeen. I can’t wait until that day. I’ll finally be able to give all that floo travel a rest. I’ll save a bundle on floo powder. “He smiled again as he picked up a piece of bacon, which he had not noticed before. He didn’t understand why there was bacon during lunchtime, but if it was food that was to go into his mouth, it didn’t matter much to him. He popped a piece inside his mouth and grabbed a handful more. He couldn’t understand why he was so hungry, or why he was talking so much. He must have just been excited to be able to go back into the open with Ezzie as his girlfriend. Even though the couple had gotten back together a day later, they hadn’t revealed to the public of their dating once more until a few days after term started. He had sent a letter to his mother, who alerted the press immediately. Ethan laughed at Amber’s comment. The poor girl didn’t have a boyfriend. Ethan knew if he wasn’t dating Ezzie he would have risen to the challenge right at that moment.

“Ah, no worries. Trust me, you’ll be taken in no time. I happen to have a friend that needs a girlfriend. Too bad he’s not interested in anyone from this universe.” He sighed as Amber asked about his relationship with Ezzie. “Yea, I’m starting to hear it everywhere. But yea, I guess I’m just happy-as you’ve probably noticed- to be back with her. I don’t really know if you’d heard, but we broke up for a little while. We’ve got it all worked out though. But what about the rest of your summer? Was it at least okay? It may have been guy free, but hopefully you had a good time at least. “He smiled as he cleaned his plate, and it refilled with exactly the same foods that he had on it before. He loved the Great Hall for that specific reason. He had to stop by the kitchens later to thank the elves for all their work.

[amberr]

Ethan had to mention aparation... didn't he? Amber's insides twisted at the very thought. She bit her lip, nerves racing. Just the thought of it made her want to puke. Having done side-aparation only once before, she never wanted to do it again. It made her sick, nervous, and just plain shaky. She looked down at her plate, disgust winding through her. Her food made her sick, the smell made her sick, the sounds made her sick. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. Ok.... Ok... it's perfectly fine... everything's fine... repeating these words in her mind helped a great deal and before Ethan commented on her lack of a boyfriend, she was alright.

Taking another deep breath, just to be sure, Amber looked over at Ethan as he told her that she would have a boyfriend in no time. She shrugged. Boyfriends weren't the priority for her this year. It was all about her grades. True, she wouldn't pass up a chance with someone if it came down to it, but she wasn't going to go looking. Ok, so that was all a lie... She really, really wanted one! Grades were on her list, but boyfriends ranked higher! She smiled a weak smile and poked at her food again, not really hungry any longer. Finally, she just pushed her plate away and turned to Ethan, giving him her full attention, since food was no longer.

"Boyfriend's aren't exactly top on my list, anyway. I really want my grades to go up and I need all my focus. School work just doesn't come naturally to me... I have to work at it," she laughed at herself a little bit, knowing that her lie was a weak one and grabbed some pumpkin juice as Ethan went on about him and Ezzie.

"You did? Oh... I didn't know that you had broken up. That must have been hard on you. It seems like you two are sort of perfect for each other." She smiled. She thought it was cute when she saw couples like them walk down the hall, but at the same time she wished she was one of them...

((sorry not very long...))