Chasing The Keeper

Rumours and Planning

I sat down in my DADA classroom in a good mood. So good in fact, that it wasn't even soiled by Lockhart's gargantuan ego.

"Is it true?" Lori whispered to me, reaching into her bag and pulling out the newspaper from Saturday.

"Which part?" I snickered, looking over the statement about me. It was frustrating that my relationship with Vincent was already being gossiped about, but I couldn't help but be mildly impressed at how fast Rita managed to print that.

"Did you really have a forbidden workplace romance with Vincent Ford?" Lori looked at me, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

"No, this was our first date." I laughed. "And either way, most of that article is completely horse shit, so don't take it too seriously."

"Oh, well it doesn't change the fact that you and Vincent went on a date." She said dreamily.

"Don't you have Elio?" I asked with a snicker, June also holding in a laugh.

"Oh yes, no of course!" Lori reddened, "I love Elio, and I wouldn't leave him for anyone in the world!"

"Not even for Lockhart?" June snorted, and Lori reddened even further.

~~~~

I kept getting jealous stares from girls throughout the day, and some even came up to me trying to ask questions. I brushed most of them off with quick yes/no answers and mostly took the attention as a compliment. My social status was doing well enough to prevent mean-spirited rumours, and for the most part, people started admiring me more from the article, rather than hating me, which seemed to be the intended purpose.

I walked into potions with a beaming smile that quickly faded when it was met with Oliver's shit-eating grin. My eyes darted to the newspaper that was wide open in front of him.

"What's got your knickers in a twist this fine afternoon Wood?" I grinned sarcastically.

"Nothing much," He snickered as I plopped down next to him. "Just your cruel abandonment of Marky."

"Shut up Wood." I rolled my eyes, suppressing a snicker. "It was tough for the both of us."

"So what happened at Hogsmeade anyway?" Oliver asked, clearly interested.

"Wouldn't you like to know weather boy." I rolled my eyes sarcastically.

"Well either you tell me, or I'll think that you two snogged in an alleyway the entire time." He grinned victoriously, and I couldn't help but burst out laughing.

"About that, " I wheezed, but before I could finish Snape cut me off.

"Are you always such a nuisance Stone? Is one boyfriend not enough for you?" He scowled, and his remark received snickers from the while class, and Oliver and I's cheeks reddened.

"Five points from Ravenclaw."

Suddenly the door to the classroom bursts open and Lockhart's pearly grin was peering into the classroom.

"Yes, Gilderoy?" Snape drawled, his voice riddled with annoyance.

"Can I borrow Miss Stone for a moment?" He said, giving me an exaggerated wink.

"Actually-" Snape tried to protest.

"Great," Lockhart gave me a thumbs up, "Miss Stone come outside with me for a second."I sheepishly stood up, and quickly walked out of the room, feeling Snape's stare bore holes in the back of my head.

The dungeon air was cold and damp and was dimly lit by the torches hanging along its walls. I never liked spending more than five minutes in the dungeons because they were highly unpleasant to be in. Lockhart and I stood outside the large potions classroom door, and Lockhart was grinning like a madman.