SHRINKING ROOM
~written for nekohimebyha (gaiaonline)
Starring: Alexander and Victoria ( Harry Potter FanFic)
It was Halloween’s eve and Alexander regretted dropping a mouse on Victoria’s head during Charms class last Monday. The whole school was excited and anticipating tonight’s Halloween feast and he, Alexander, was going to spend his night tending to sick creatures in the forbidden forest. The teachers were busy decorating the great hall with oversized pumpkins carved into lanterns, spider webs complete with real spiders, and live bats hanging comfortably on walls. Alexander tried to beg Professor Mcgonagall to move his detention the next day so he could join the feast with his friends but unfortunately her decision can’t be wavered
As Alexander walked the first floor corridor leading to the middle courtyard, a girl with long blonde hair approached him and slapped him in the face. The girl’s brows were furrowed in anger and she looked like she was going to skin him alive.
“I cannot put into words how much I hate you right now,” the girl said with clenched teeth, “I can’t believe I’ll be missing the feast because of you!”
Of course, Alexander thought, Victoria was getting detention as well, “you wouldn’t be in detention if you didn’t punch my face Vicky.”
“I wouldn’t have made your nose bleed if you didn’t place that hideous creature on my head in the first place!” Victoria screamed as she tried to reach for Alexander and started hitting his chest.
“Hey, mice have feelings too you know,” Alexander replied as he dodged Victoria’s attacks easily. Victoria stopped hitting Alexander when she looked up and saw Professor Mcgonagall walking towards them. “You would do well to behave yourselves if you don’t want your detention to be extended,” Professor Mcgonagall said in a firm tone, eyeing both of them with disgust, “and if you don’t want us to regret making you both head boy and girl.” Victoria and Alexander lowered their heads, feeling ashamed of themselves, it was a very degrading feeling to be scolded by the headmistress in front of first years, who happened to look up to head boys and girls as role models. When Professor Mcgonagall turned around and walked away, Victoria glared at Alexander before she went on her way. Alexander sighed, what has he gotten himself into? He continued to walk until he came across his friend Maxwell, a happy boy with bright blue eyes and sleek blonde hair. Maxwell smiled at Alexander and he smiled back, but he didn’t feel like talking to his friends anymore. He felt that they’d just be gloating about the surprises he’s going to miss during the feast, he just wanted to be alone until it was time to do detention.
“Alex, I wish you could come to the feast,” Maxwell started, giving Alexander a sad smile, “Delaney said her sister’s friend Gillian told Toby who told his cousin Flynn told Regina who let slip to her brother Jake who told Ashton he heard Professor Longbottom say to Professor-”
“Just skip to your point already,” Alexander said, feeling quite irritated as he rubbed the sides of his temples in exasperation. “Professor Mcgonagall booked the Dancing Skelletons for entertainment for the feast tonight. Imagine how fun it will be!” Maxwell exclaimed almost bouncing up and down, excitement evident in his voice. Alexander gave his friend half a smile. He appreciated Maxwell as well as their friendship but most of the time Maxwell can be so blunt, and Alexander was not in the mood for him, “listen Max, Professor Mcgonagall is probably looking for me in the supplies room. I uh- I should go.” Alexander didn’t even wait for Maxwell to bid his farewell as he half walked half ran away from him. Alexander walked faster, taking two steps at a time on the moving staircase, until he reached the storeroom on the sixth floor of the castle. Victoria was already there, crossing her arms and tapping her foot impatiently.
“Where is Professor Mcgonagall?” Alexander asked her, ignoring her death glares. Victoria took a deep breath as if to compose herself, trying to stop herself from strangling him, “she already went to the great hall, the feast could be starting any minute from now. The feast we’ll happen to miss because of your idiocy!” Alexander rolled his eyes, he knew it was his fault in the first place and he was tired of hearing it over and over most especially when Victoria is the one pointing it out, “know what? Let’s just get this done fast. Maybe we’ll get to see the Dancing Skeletons later.”
Victoria shrugged but followed Alexander inside the storeroom. The storeroom was small and cramped up, reminding Victoria of the little cupboard back at home. Both Alexander and Victoria had to stoop low just for them to fit in the room. “What are we supposed to find in here?” Alexander asked, dusting his robes. “Professor Mcgonagall, wanted us to get some bandages and medical supplies for injured unicorns in the forbidden forest,” Victoria answered.
“How’d medical supplies get in here? Aren’t they supposed to be in the ground keeper’s hut?” Alexander answered, and then it hit him. The door slammed behind them, and a feeling of panic filled the room. “Victoria the door is locked!” Alexander screamed as he violently twisted and pulled the doorknob. Victoria hit the back of his head with her wand, “you are a wizard stupid. Step away,” she answered as she pushed Alexander away from the door and pointed her wand at the doorknob.
“Alohamora,” Victoria said confidently, expecting the door to open up but to her surprise instead of turning the locks for the door to be opened, the doorknob somehow shrank, until it was attached to the door no more. “What the?” Victoria pounded her fists on the door in desperation. Getting stuck with the guy she hates the most in an uncomfortably small room was definitely worse than missing the Halloween feast. “Great,” Victoria said, slumping on the floor. She brought her knees close to her chest and covered her face with her hands, “could this get any worse?”
Right on cue the room started to shake, slowly getting smaller and smaller until the space was enough for Victoria and Alexander to fit in with their limbs all jumbled up together. “Wonderful!” Alexander started, “you had to ask didn’t you?” He felt angry, he didn’t want to be in a situation like this; a totally crammed up room plus Victoria could be the death of him.
“I don’t understand, why are we trapped in here? I thought we were gonna help sick unicorns?” Victoria whined as she tried to stifle a cry. She tried to move backward a bit because Alexander’s arm was sitting awkwardly on her thigh. Alexander on the other hand sighed, he was sure this was their detention. Mcgonagall would want the both of them to be able to handle each other’s company, the unicorns and the forbidden forest was just a hoax.
“Hey, let’s just sit quietly okay? And, and wait for someone to come get us or something,” Alexander said, he was still irritated but he was trying to gloss over his feelings just so Victoria would stop panicking.
“O-okay,” Victoria answered with a strangled voice, wiping her tears with the sleeve of her robes. They both sat quietly for a couple of minutes, ignoring the fact that Victoria’s legs were sort of wrapped around Alexander’s waist and his arms were positioned uncomfortably on her thighs. They were good for some time until the room started to shake once again and got a few inches smaller. Victoria whined, her back was aching and her chest was now leaning on Alexander’s chest; there was barely enough room for the both of them as a part of Victoria was already sitting on Alexander’s lap. “Oh god, this is definitely the worst possible thing that could happen to me,” Victoria said.
“Just stop moving, I don’t want to touch anything,” Alexander replied. Victoria felt his hot breath on her neck, giving her an idea of how dangerously close they really were. “Whatever you do, don’t ever turn your head upward, do you understand me?” Victoria said, “I don’t want anything to happen.”
“I don’t want anything to happen either,” Alexander replied, his arms were starting to hurt but he didn’t want to drop it or else he’ll be able to feel Victoria’s behind.
“Are you okay?” Victoria asked, she could feel her body pressed even more tightly towards Alexander.
“No! I am not okay, my arms are starting to hurt,” Alexander replied.
“Well, put it down then.”
“No thanks, I don’t want to be able to-”
“Just put it down and never ever speak of this again once we get out.”
Alexander couldn’t take down Victoria’s offer anymore; he had to put his arms down because it was already getting numb with pain. He closed his eyes as his hands began to feel something soft, he pushed the thoughts away.
“Don’t ever speak of this,” Victoria said dangerously, “hopefully the room couldn’t get any smaller than this?” On the contrary, the room once again shook and got even smaller, until Victoria and Alexander’s faces were inches from each other; basically they were breathing the same air. Alexander’s face was hot, he was never this close to a girl before. His shirt, wet with sweat, was sticking to his chest, and there was Victoria her soft chest was literally cushioning him and she was already sitting on his lap; that was the only way for them to fit the shrinking room. “Don’t come any closer if you don’t want to get kissed,” Alexander teased.
Victoria shook her head as she pursed her lips, moving her head a little backward but it was no use, she was stuck in his space. “I was just joking alright? I was not really serious,” Alexander said, he meant for the joke to lighten up the mood not to make it more awkward.
“I know, it’s just that,” Victoria started but then stopped herself, ‘I’ve never been kissed’ she thought to herself. Alexander didn’t need to know that tiny bit of information, but as if he understood, Alexander nodded his head.
“When do you reckon we get out of here?” Victoria asked, breaking the awkward silence.
“I dunno, maybe when Mcgonagall feels we’re finally good with each other,”
“Well then,” Victoria said, “I’m sorry alright?”
“I’m sorry too. I never should have played that mean joke on you,” Alexander replied, “truce?”
“Truce,” Victoria answered.
All of a sudden the room began to shake once more, the two were afraid that it will get any smaller, there was barely enough space for them to talk. When the room stopped shaking it was already back to its original size. The door opened with a loud crack and Mcgonagall entered to see Victoria and Alexander still wrapped in each other’s’ arms. She tried to stop herself from smiling, as she tried to get their attention.
“Ahem,” she faked a cough.
Alexander looked up to see Mcgonagall towering above them. “What in Merlin’s beard are you two doing in here?” Mcgonagall asked.
Victoria desperately tried to fix herself as she combed her hand over her hair and tried to flatten her robes, “you told us professor, to get some supplies for the sick unicorns.”
“I did, so what were you doing in the cupboard?”
“We were trying to find the supplies in there, professor,” Alexander replied.
“Well, I expected the both of you to know that medical supplies are to be found in the gate keeper’s hut.”
“But professor, you said it would be in there,” Victoria answered, quite confused. She clearly heard Mcgonagall say that the supplies were inside the room, or did she trick her into getting stuck with Alexander?
“Did I, Victoria?” Mcgonagall said, giving the two a sly smile before turning on her heels, “oh and before I forget; the feast isn’t over yet,” she added before descending down the flight of stairs.