A fire blazed nearby, keeping the room warm as I read. Salem was curled up on my feet and gave a soft purr every so often to let me know that she was still there, as if her weight alone was not enough of a clue. Hushed voices on the other side of the room and the sound of a quill scratching frantically on parchment was the only inclination that life existed outside of the little bubble the common room provided, and that finals were coming up.
“Hey, I got you some toffee from Honeydukes.”
I glanced up from my book to see Matt standing in front of me, a small box in his hand. His expression was one of guilt, and I sighed as I sat up slightly, allowing him to sit.
“Thanks, Matt. You know that you didn’t have to do that, though. Christmas is just around the corner.”
He shrugged. “I know how you like to suck on something while you study.” My eyebrows shot up. “That’s not- I didn’t mean- Oh fuck!”
I laughed and shook my head. “I know, Matt. Thank you for the toffee. How was the village?”
“It was… awkward. I mean, it was fun and all, but I think we all kind of missed having you there.”
I opened my mouth to respond, but was interrupted by Salem jumping onto my lap and meowing at me. “I think she’s mad that we woke her up.”
Matt reached over and petted her under her chin, making her eyes close as she started to purr. “I’m sorry. Do you forgive me?”
“Keep doing that and she’ll be your best friend.” I chuckled. We sat there in silence for a little while, letting Salem absorb all the attention.
“You want to join us all for dinner?” Matt muttered finally, breaking the slight trance I was in.
“Uh… yeah. Sure. I mean, if it’s okay with everyone. I don’t want to intrude.”
Matt scowled. “Did you not hear me earlier when I said that we all missed you today? Come on.”
He wrapped his long fingers around my wrist and pulled me off the couch. Salem protested, but we were headed out the door before I could say a word. After a few twists and turns, we were standing in front of the doors to the Great Hall.
I froze, pulling Matt to a stop alongside me. “Matt!” He glanced at me quizzically. “What if he’s with them? I can’t… What if I see him again and remember?”
Matt turned towards the door, then reached back to hold my hands. “If anything happens, I’m here. And so are the others. You know that we won’t let anything happen to you.”
I took a deep breath before nodding and walking through the doors. Our group was seated together like usual, but this time there was an empty spot beside Jeremy instead of by Ryan, who was on the far end of the table. I took my seat and Jeremy smiled at me.
“Hey! I missed you today. But it gave me a chance to get your Christmas gift.”
Lindsay and Meg grinned too. “So did we. Maybe we should make people stay in the castle more often.”
I smiled at their attempts to make me feel better before our attention was drawn to the front of the hall. McGonagall was standing at the podium, and we all quieted down as she prepared to speak. “Now, we all know that winter has arrived and with that comes final examinations and the Christmas feast before we depart for the holiday. If there are any of you who wish to remain here for the holiday, please inform your Head of House as soon as possible. And please do not wait until the last possible moment to begin studying for the final examinations, as they require a great deal of work.” She shot a pointed glance at Michael, Gavin, and Alfredo. “Enjoy the meal.”
We started to eat, and everyone started to joke and laugh about what they had seen in the village while I sat in silence.
“And when that rouge broom knocked that board over and hit the old bitch in the head! I thought for sure she was going to jinx Gavin!” Michael cackled in glee, his eyes disappearing.
Gavin squawked. “She came at me! And I was just standing there!”
They all laughed, and I felt Jeremy chuckle beside me before elbowing me. “What did you do today? Did you piss off Ray again?”
“No. I stayed in the common room and read by the fire with Salem.”
“The entire time?” Neal piped in.
I nodded. “The entire time. Can you pass the potatoes?”
The table fell silent, as if they didn’t know what to say. Finally, Trevor broke the silence. “I was thinking about staying here for break.”
“You usually go home.” Jeremy replied curtly.
“I know. But with it being the end of our group as we know it-”
“Way to be a downer.” Larry muttered. I chuckled and Larry smirked, pleased that he had gotten me to laugh.
“I just thought it would be cool to hang around here.”
We all grew silent again before I sighed. “I doubt that McG would let me.”
“She’s not the Head of Hufflepuff.” Geoff replied with a glimmer of mischief in his eye.
Suddenly, Ray was hovering in the center of the table. “What are you fuckers bitching about now?”
I rolled my eyes. “We were talking about the right way to get rid of a ghost.”
Jack smirked, catching onto my plan. “I want to exorcise you.”
“I say burn the bones.” Ryan added as he stared at his plate. I turned and met his half-lidded eyes as he glanced my way before looking back down.
“You guys suck ass.” Ray muttered before he floated away.
Michael and Gavin started to laugh. “That has to be the fastest he has ever left!”
“Nah. I’ve made him leave just by saying ‘hi’ before.” Matt replied, earning another laugh.
“Oh man. Not even the ghost wants to be near you!” Andy sneered. I glared at him and he ducked his head.
After dinner, I went back to the common room. It was much quieter and I sighed as I settled into the couch I was in before. Salem appeared again and curled up in my lap as I grabbed my book. Geoff had followed me, and he sat down on the other end of the couch. We read in silence for a long while before I noticed that he was watching me.
“I’m not a book, Geoffrey.”
He jumped, as though he wasn’t expecting me to speak. “Huh?”
I glanced up at him, looking over my book. “I’m not a book. Stop trying to read me.”
“Oh. I uh…” He slumped down, defeated. “I’m worried about you. All this shit… it’s not good for you. And locking yourself away in here all day isn’t good either.”
I smirked and went back to my book. “If you haven’t noticed, Geoffrey, I like locking myself away in here.”
“It’s not good for you. And stop calling me that.” He sat forward and gently placed his hands on my knees. “I’m worried about you. You’re like a little sister to me and I want to protect you, but I can’t do that if you won’t let me.”
I closed my book and scooped Salem up. “You especially can’t do that if you’re not here.” He flinched at my sharp tone, but didn’t respond. “Goodnight, Geoffrey.”
“Goodnight, Renee.” He muttered to my back, his tone making me ache as I walked away from him.
A few days later after classes were over, I went to the library. The room was filled with groups studying and I wove my way through the rows of books until I neared the table that Neal and I had claimed years ago.
I stopped around the corner from it however, because I heard voices. One of which I did not recognize.
“It seems like she’s having a hard time too.”
The voice was female, and carried a warm accent that I couldn’t place.
“Oh, so now you’re on her side? Thanks a lot.”
The response was from Ryan, and my breath caught when I realized that they were talking about me. I debated on what to do, and in my unresponsiveness, I stood frozen and heard more of the conversation.
“What I’m saying is that you guys were so close, and maybe she wants to be close again. But she doesn’t want to get hurt. Try to start over.”
Ryan sighed. “But how do I do that when I still feel how I do?”
Footsteps behind me made me turn and I saw Neal coming towards me. He met my eyes, then glanced at the table before giving me a slight shove. Ryan’s head shot up at the sudden motion, and his eyes flicked over to the girl. She was sitting with her back to me, but I could see her bright blue hair that framed her face. Neal silently sat down and nodded an acknowledgement to the girl before Ryan cleared his throat.
“Uh.. Renee. This is Elise. She’s a Ravenclaw third year.”
She turned and offered a kind smile, and I waved before walking around the table to sit across from her. “Hi. I didn’t know that you guys used this table too. I thought it was only Neal, Larry, and I.”
Elise and Ryan exchanged glances, and Neal leaned forward. “Ryan has always studied here with us, Renee. Elise is a new addition, though.” Neal turned towards her. “Why are you here?”
“I offered to help her study. For her exams.” Ryan’s tone was dark and dared Neal to challenge him, and a fire was lit within me.
“Oh really?” I smirked, looking directly at Elise. “What are you studying with your closed books?” She stared at the table, then glanced at Ryan, who cleared his throat again. I ignored him. “I heard you two talking about me. It’s like you’ve been talking about me before today.”
“Renee. Drop it.” Ryan growled.
I finally directed my aim towards him. “Why, when this is so fun?” I grinned. “You know… I’m starting to remember exactly why I enjoyed being around you.” I stood, still maintaining eye contact. “Because it’s so fun to piss you off, you ass.”
With that, I grabbed my bag and left the table. Footsteps followed and as I turned a corner, I saw blue hair. I stopped just outside of the library and waited until Elise rounded the corner. “You’re quick!” She exclaimed with a smile.
“Yeah, well… Raven-dick pissed me off.” I muttered. She nodded and ducked her head slightly.
“He told me everything that’s happened between you two, and I just want to say that I’m sorry. And for what it’s worth…” She glanced behind her. “He is an ass.”
I laughed, then quieted. “Would you mind telling me what happened? Everyone else knows and acts differently because of it… but…”
“Say no more. I know that perfect place.” She smiled.
Soon enough we were sitting in an alcove in Ravenclaw tower. Elise had made tea and was recounting the entire tale, laughing at the good parts and calming me at the bad. Towards the end, she sighed.
“And then he asked if I wanted to study with him and I thought that we would come here like we always do, but he brought me there instead, and then…”
I nodded. “The rest is history.”
“In a way, I’m glad that he did what he did.”
I scowled. “Why is that?”
“Cause now I have a new friend.” She rose her tea cup. “To new beginnings.”
“To new beginnings.” I grinned as I clinked my cup with hers before taking a sip.
We sat and talked for a while more before it was time for me to head back to my dorm. On my way back out of the tower, I ran into Larry and Neal. They were sitting on a couch together and looked embarrassed before Neal scowled.
“Wait… what are you even doing here?”
Larry’s eyes went wide. “You were with Ryan, weren’t you?!?”
“No, I wasn’t.” I replied quickly. “I was talking to my new friend Elise.”
Neal smiled and Larry looked very confused. “Wait, the third year? How’d you even meet her?”
I smiled and waved goodbye as I headed towards the door. The last thing I heard was Neal’s chuckle. “I’ll explain everything later.”
Salem was on Jack’s lap when I entered the common room, and didn’t bother to move when I sat beside them. Jack was reading something, but set it down when he noticed the look on my face.
“What’s up?”
I blinked. “Nothing. This is just my face.” I replied too quickly, making him stare at me over his glasses until I sighed. “I met someone today who’s been a confidente to Ryan through all this, and she told me everything. And now…”
“Now you don’t know what to think?”
“No. Now I don’t know if what I did then was the right thing to do.”
Jack shrugged. “You did it. No changing that. It was raw emotion and action. Cause and effect, and the consequences of that. What you do now is more important.”
“Well, I know for sure that whatever I felt for him is gone.”
“What the hell did I just walk in on?!?” Geoff muttered as he sat on the chair on the other side of me.
“Deciding my next steps, Geoff. So good timing.” I beamed before continuing. “Step one… no more emotions first, think later.”
Geoff laughed. “Yeah, like that’ll work!”
“That’s why I have you guys!” Jack nodded but Geoff made a face. “Step two... “ I paused, thinking for far too long.
“Well that’s promising.” Jack muttered, earning a light slap.
“I’m working on it, alright! This place wasn’t rebuilt in a day, and neither will I.”
“Gettin’ real deep.” A monotone voice interjected. “Can’t see the bottom of that one.”
I turned and glared at the ghost in the corner. “Ray, if you’re not going to help, then fucking… go die somewhere.”
“Tell a fucking ghost to go die. Real original.” He deadpanned as he stayed put.
I rolled my eyes and went back to the conversation at hand. “As I was saying… I’m getting there. I just know that I need to change things. I that I’ll need help.”
“Well, good thing we have a lot of friends cause you’ll need all the help you can get.” Geoff muttered. Even Ray laughed as a well-aimed pillow smacked him in the face, making him fall back into the chair.
I groaned and opened my eyes to see Ray hovering over my bed, an annoyed expression spread across his face. “The hell you want, ghostie?” I muttered as I rolled over.
“If I were alive, I would slap you. McGonagall wants to talk to you about the stunt you pulled.” My eyes shot open. “Yeah. Might want to get up now.”
“She’s mad, isn’t she?”
Ray shook his head. “More like… concerned and disappointed.”
I groaned again and pulled the blankets over my head. “That’s even worse! Why can’t she just be mad like a normal person?!?”
“She doesn’t roll like that.” Ray chuckled. “Come on. It’s tea time.”
After I had gotten dressed and ready, Ray escorted me to the Headmaster’s tower. I paused and glanced at the snow as it fell, then blinked at Ray. “I remember… something.”
Ray scowled. “How much do you remember?”
“It hurt…” I frowned and continued walking.
McGonagall was waiting for us with the door open when we arrived, and barely acknowledged me as I walked forward into her office. She had her back to the door, but turned her head slightly before turning back towards her desk. The room was silent and I sighed.
“This is the girl, huh? She seems… unsteady.”
“Hush, Severus. No need to be a brute to this one.”
I glanced up at the wall of portraits to see that two of them were staring at me. I recognized both of them, and bit my lip anxiously.
“Look at her, Albus. What does she have to offer?”
A soft click followed by the brush of fabric on stone made me turn to see that McGonagall was behind me. She gently placed her hand on my shoulder and glared at the stern-looking man on the wall. “This ‘unsteady’ girl performed a memory spell on herself. I for one would consider her brave.”
“I consider her scared.” He countered, making McGonagall stiffen.
“You two will never see eye to eye, will you?” The second man sighed with a shake of his head.
“Of course not. She’s on the ground and he’s hanging on the fucking wall.” Ray interjected, breaking the tension. McGonagall turned away from the wall, her hand guiding me to the seats and tea set.
A tense silence filled the air as we sipped our tea. I didn’t want to start the conversation, and she was waiting for me to, so we were locked in a stalemate. Ray floated off to the side, his eyes darting between us like he was watching a silent tennis match. Finally, a knock on the open door broke the draw.
“Headmaster? May I-”
The hair on the back of my neck stood on end as Ryan’s voice filled the room. McGonagall stood and her eyes flicked towards me briefly before walking towards the door. “I will send for you later, Mr. Haywood. We can talk then.”
“No. We’re finished here.” I stood and joined then at the door, meeting the Headmaster’s eyes with a determined look. “Goodbye, Professor.”
With that, I turned and left the tower. Ray followed with a grin. “You should have seen her face! And Dumbledore is so happy! You are a badass.”
I shrugged. “I didn’t feel like sitting there not talking about why I was there. And it seemed like whatever he wanted to talk about was important.”
“He wanted to talk about you.”
I paused, then continued on my way to the Great Hall. “That doesn’t matter anymore.”
“It matters more than you think.” Ray muttered.
The hall was full of students and Ray rolled his eyes before disappearing, leaving me alone to face our group of friends. They were talking animatedly about something and didn’t notice when I sat down. I grabbed toast and dished out some eggs before tea appeared in my mug, and I ate quietly while trying to piece together what the conversation was about.
“Good luck catching up.” Kent smirked as he leaned over, greeting me.
“I’m scared and confused.” I replied. “I’m guessing either a game pissed someone off, or a class?”
He shrugged. “A little bit of both. But does it really matter at this point?”
“Not at all. Pass the fruit?”
Half an hour later, the conversation had changed and Lindsay turned to meet my eyes. “Renee! How long have you been sitting here?!?”
“Somewhere between ‘we better not have Transfiguration homework’ and ‘fuck you Gavin, your game sucks’. It was hard to follow.”
Meg laughed. “You followed well enough to pick that up.”
I shrugged and offered a slight smile. “I’ve been around all of you long enough to be able to pick out what you’re all talking about. Even without Ryan here to break up the fighting.” An odd silence fell as everyone exchanged glances with each other, and it took me a minute to notice that Ashley was giving me an apologetic and sad look. “Why are you all looking at me like that?”
“You… you remembered him.” Neal muttered, his eyes meeting mine slightly before staring at his hands again.
Ray appeared again, but chose to silently hover just above the floor. He stared at me with a pointed look, and I sighed. “I remembered something earlier too, but it was more of a feeling than an actual memory.”
“What did you remember?” Gavin leaned forward, fully engrossed in the story and forgetting about the in-depth conversation he was having with Michael moments ago.
“It was cold and I was numb.” I glanced at Geoff as he ducked his head. “But my heart was broken. Like someone had stepped on it.” A strand of hair fell in my face, and I frowned. “I remember that I loved this color once, but then it hurt to see it.”
Suddenly, Trevor slammed his hands on the table. “It’s a nice day. We’re going to Hogsmeade or something to get us out of this fucking castle.” He met my wide eyes. “Let the past stay in the past. Let’s have some fun.”
I nodded silently and some of the others agreed, so we departed to gather our coats before meeting back up near the large doors. When we got there, Hagrid was standing in front of the doors.
“Hello, Hagrid!” I greeted cheerfully.
He nodded curtly at me. “‘Ello. I hope you aren’t planning on going to the village.”
Alfredo nodded as he and the other Gryffindors joined us Puffs. “Yeah, that’s exactly where we were going to go.”
Hagrid shook his head. “I can’t let you out. Headmaster’s orders.”
Michael narrowed his eyes at the giant. “You can tell the Headmaster to shove her head up her-”
“Thank you, Hagrid! Do you know if we’ll be able to go tomorrow? We have some shopping to do before the holidays.” I interrupted, sending Michael a warning glance.
“They can go out tomorrow. The Headmaster doesn’t want you to leave the castle.”
Jack and Geoff grew angry now and started to argue, but I nodded and turned away. Somehow, I locked eyes with one of the portraits. It was the stern one who had called me ‘unsteady’. Severus. I maintained eye contact as I pulled out my wand.
“Renee? What’s up?” Matt called, worry in his voice.
I ignored his concern, my grip on my wand growing into a clenched fist. “He called me unsteady, and now I can’t leave the castle and he’s sitting there smug as can be.”
Hagrid heard me, and instantly stepped in my line of sight. “It wasn’t any one person’s fault. We just want you to be safe.”
I scoffed and dropped my wand before leaving the entryway. Alfredo’s voice echoed against the walls in a loud whisper.
“Yeah, because everyone knows that the best way to calm a badger is to lock her up.”
It’s the first day of the school year. What adventures await the motley crew?
Chapter 2: September First
Rummaging through my trunk one last time, I frowned. Something was missing, but I couldn’t put a finger on what it was. My wand was in my pocket along with my list of required items for the year. I glanced to the side as my cat jumped up beside me, her tail twitching in annoyance.
“Alright, Salem. What am I forgetting?” She meowed at me and left me to my own devices. “You’re no help!” I called after her, getting an angry meow in reply.
“Sweetie? I found this in the hall.” I turned to see my mom in the doorway. She was holding my black and yellow striped scarf, and I grinned.
Crossing the room, I nodded. “Yeah. I knew I was missing something important. Thank you!” She handed me the fabric and she smiled slightly.
“All set? Do you have everything now?”
I glanced at my trunk again before nodding and closing it. “All set! My friend Jack is coming to pick me up so you don’t have to worry about the traffic around King’s Cross.”
“Oh. Okay then. Do you need help with anything?” Her voice wavered slightly.
I shook my head. “I’m good. You know, I’ll only be gone for-”
“Renee! Your friends are here!” My dad’s voice carried through the house, along with the muffled voices of our visitors.
“Go on and have a good year.” My mom smiled as she hugged me.
Geoff appeared and grinned as he grabbed my trunk and disappeared again. “Salem! Time to go!” I called as I followed down the stairs.
Jack was standing in the entryway, my silky black cat in his arms. We waved at each other before I hugged my dad.
“You’ll call when you get there, right?”
I wrinkled my nose slightly as I shook my head. “Phones don’t work at Hogwarts, Dad. But I’ll send an owl as soon as I can.”
With one last wave, I left the house and got into Geoff’s car. He drove off as we all talked about what was to come this year.
Stepping onto the platform, I was instantly surrounded by all of my friends. Most were still saying goodbye to their families and I smiled as I found our car. Ryan was already in there, and he grinned when he saw me.
“Hey! Welcome to the fun car.”
I nodded as I looked around. There were plenty of seats, and no one except our close friends would be sitting with us, making it a safe place.
“I love it. How’d you and Geoff pull this off?”
Ryan gave me a sly look. “I have my ways. And he has a lot of friends outside of Hogwarts.”
“Should I be worried about your “ways”, Ryan?” I glanced at him as I sat down across from him.
He chuckled darkly as the door opened and the train car started to fill with everyone. Jeremy and Matt were already laughing about something while Gavin and Michael were bickering. The girls all grinned as they swept me up and away from the growing group of guys.
“Come on! Get away from the stupid boys!” LIndsay laughed as she and Meg pulled me.
Larry scowled. “I’m not stupid!” The others started to say differently and he frowned.
“Leave him alone.” Neal muttered as he sat off to the side, a book already in his hands.
Alfredo stepped into the car and everyone turned their attention to him as he closed the door behind him. “Hey guys! Am I the last one?”
“The Sauce has finally arrived!” Andy called.
I laughed and waved before looking over at Trevor. “Hey, Trev! Your twin is here!”
“My brother!” Trevor cried in an anguished tone. “I am so very glad that you are here!”
Alfredo laughed and waved at me before sitting with Michael and Gavin.
The train started to roll, making all of us smile and set in. Small conversations were started, but I didn’t join in. The view was always amazing as we sped further away from the city, and I sank back into my seat as I watched the world go by. Salem had finally left Jack and opted to curl up on my lap, purring as her eyes closed.
“The view keeps getting better.”
I jumped slightly as Jeremy spoke from where he stood in front of me. He motioned to the seat beside me and I nodded.
“How was the rest of your summer, J?” I tried to keep my voice low as to not wake up the black bundle on me.
He shrugged. “It was alright. Managed to talk the parents into letting me stay for the holidays. How about yours?”
“I couldn’t ask them. I’ll try in a letter.” My tone was soft, but had an underlying edge that said that I wasn’t happy.
“Why couldn’t you ask?”
Turning my head from him, I sighed. “My parents like to keep me close. If I wasn’t a witch and they had a choice of where I went to school, I would live with them forever.”
“Man… That sucks. Smart move asking when you’re already out of reach.”
I scowled. “Can we not talk anymore? At least about that?”
“Yeah... “ An awkward silence filled the air between us. “So that view huh?”
His nonchalant tone made me laugh, which woke up the sleeping cat and made her jump down. Jeremy smiled as I shook my head, his grin making my heart leap.
“Anything from the trolley, dears?”
We all jumped up and crowded around the sweet old lady, practically clearing her out as we chatted with her. Geoff asked about her hip, Jack patted her back with a warm smile, and I hugged her after she handed me my sweets. When she left, her cart and spirits lighter, we all settled back in. The only sounds were wrappers and the occasional question of ‘Can I have some?’ followed by a muffled ‘yes’ or ‘hell no’.
Time went on and we got closer to the magical school. “Alright. Get your robes on, folks!” I called as I stood. “We’re almost there.”
Suddenly, the room was filled with excitement and mayhem as we all rushed to get ready. Some accidental punches were thrown as we all tugged on our long, black robes over our Muggle clothes, which range from hoodies and jeans, to sweaters and heels.
“Oi! Get off my robe!” Gavin screeched.
Michael growled. “What is your robe doing on the floor?!?”
“Boys, boys!” I called as I went over to them. “Why don’t you just kiss and get it over with?”
Both of them pushed me away slightly, trying to ignore the others as they agreed with my question. “Come on, we all know you two love each other!” Matt grinned.
“You shut your damn mouth!” Gavin scowled as Michael silently grew red.
I patted their shoulders lightly. “You know that we’re just joking.”
“You started it!” Kent shook his head at my statement.
I glanced around. “And now I’m finishing it!”
We all quieted down again, waiting for the small station to come into view. The sun had gone down, and the only speck of light was the full moon. My heart ached for a moment before everyone stood and gathered their things. The train slowed and another spot of light appeared as we came to a complete stop. Rushing out, I waved to the tall man who was waiting to welcome the first years.
“Good evening, Hagrid! Save me a cup of tea!”
He grinned, his voice booming as he called over the heads of the other students. “Will do, Renee! Good to have you back.” With that, he turned to usher the small children to the boats.
“Come on, the carriages are filling up quick.” Trevor rose his voice above the murmur of the crowd. He reached for my hand and guided me through the crowd. When we got to the wooded path, I hid my smile as I saw the thestrals that pulled the carriages. “You’re with the girls I guess.”
I glanced at Trevor’s crestfallen face before squeezing his hand. “We’ll have plenty of time together this year.”
“I’ll take your word for it. See you at the castle.”
I watched as he climbed into a carriage before glancing at the front, where Kent stood. He turned and met my eyes with a sad smile before walking away. The girls weren’t there yet, so I took the time to say hello to the creatures at the head of the carriage.
“Hey, guys. Long time no see.” I kept my voice low and forced my hand to not reach up and pet them, knowing that most people didn’t see them like I could. With a sad sigh, I climbed into the carriage and waited the few short minutes for the rest of the seats to be taken.
“Did you say hello to them?” Steffie half-whispered, noticing the reflective look on my face and how quiet I was being compared to the others. I nodded and she sat back. I listened to Meg and Steffie talk while Lindsay and Ashley struck up their own conversation.
I sat alone and watched the horizon, gasping when the castle finally came into view. “Guys… We’re here.”
“Fucking finally.” Meg grinned. I smirked and got ready to jump out as the carriage came to a stop.
“Thanks, guys!” I muttered without a second thought. Lindsay heard me and shot me a worried glance. “I’m fine, Linds. Let’s go eat.”
Ashley lead the way as we joined the guys. Kent and I hung back and I glanced at him as we walked up the stone stairs. “They look healthy.”
I nodded. “Hagrid must be taking care of them.” We fell back into step with the rest of our friends and I grinned when we walked into the Great Hall. “Man, it’s great to be home.”
“Hell yeah it is!” Geoff agreed as we sat beside each other. Kent, Jack, and Matt sat around us, and I searched the room to find the others as they sat with their houses.
Michael, Gavin, Alfredo, and Ashley sat just behind us. I laughed and made faces at them, which they returned tenfold. Behind them, Ryan was glaring at everyone as he sat beside Larry, with Neal across the table from him. I tried to catch his eye, but he was on the lookout for the bullies from the alley. I couldn’t see the Slytherin table, but I knew that Steffie, Meg, and Lindsay were holding their own against Jeremy, Trevor, and Andy.
The doors opened again and the first years were paraded in to be sorted. There were a few Hufflepuffs that joined our table, and they were as timid as I was when I started. One girl was sitting on the other side of me, her long hair covering her face.
“Hey, I’m Renee and welcome to Hufflepuff.” I greeted, my voice soft. She smiled slightly and I glanced at the four guys sitting nearby. They introduced themselves and the girl said her name. “Well, I know that we are all looking forward to this year. How about you?”
She was about to reply when the Headmaster drew our attention to the front. “Welcome to another year at Hogwarts!” I grinned as I clapped. “This year, the last surviving members of the War are leaving us, but first, we have to learn new things and celebrate those around us.” Her voice shook, and I felt her eyes on me. “Here’s to a new, wonderful year!” We all cheered as Headmaster McGonagall rose her hands to calm us. When we were silent, she smirked. “Bring the feast!”
As soon as the words left her mouth, overflowing platters appeared on the long tables. A smooth string of music started to play as we ate and talked, most forgetting that we have food in our mouths as we told stories about the summer.
“Wow. That must've been a real bummer.” A monotone voice cut off a story about a dog that was hit by a gnome. I jumped as a figure appeared to go with the voice.
“Ray, if you weren’t dead already, I would kill you.” I shook my head at his indifference.
He was wearing a hoodie with the hood covering his dark hair. I glanced at the black spot on his chest where he was clawed, causing his death. “What’s with the new kids?”
“This literally happens every year.” Geoff replied. “Or is your dead-ness starting to affect your memory?”
“Very funny.” His face shifted and he stopped smiling. “I’m fucking dead not stupid.”
I shook my head. “No one said that you were stupid.”
“I don’t like seeing the little ones.” Ray muttered before he disappeared.
Jack and Geoff exchanged knowing looks before digging back into their meals. I sat in silence for a moment, deep in thought.
“Hello, earth to Renee!” Matt waved his hand in front of my face and I blinked.
“What? What’s up?” I questioned, noting that the hall was quieter.
“The feast is over. Time to go.”
I nodded and stood to follow before I shook my head. “I’m going to go down to Hagrid’s.”
Matt stopped and gave me a worried look. “You sure? Want me to go with?”
“No, you go on ahead. I’ll be there.”
He nodded and started to walk away before he stopped again and turned towards me. “You know that you can talk to me, right?”
I smirked. “Yeah, Matt. I know.”
He seemed satisfied with my answer and left. I sighed as I took in the silence of the giant building around me. The stones all told their own story, as did the paintings that covered the walls. Walking into the night, the stars twinkled in greeting as the trees waved. The air was cool compared to the stifling atmosphere of the hall when it is filled with students. I smiled to myself as I walked down the path leading to Hagrid’s hut, the faint glow of candles inside guiding me.
After I knocked, the giant man swung the door open. “Renee, how good it is to see you!” he wrapped me in a hug before welcoming me into his home. Fang jumped up and lumbered over to slobber on my legs, making me laugh. “How did you enjoy the feast?”
I took a sip of my tea, not wanting to answer the question yet. “Ray showed up.” I muttered, hiding my expression behind my oversized mug.
“He usually does at some point.” Hagrid chuckled before he saw the tears welling in my eyes. “What’s on your mind?”
I took a deep breath. “The last of the War kids are leaving, but Ray can’t. He was one of them and he can’t move on like the others.” My breath was ragged. “And he said…” My voice broke as I refused to continue my sentence. “I can’t help him, and it hurts.”
“Oh, dearie. The first days back are always tough for him, and the professors. And me. But we get through it the only way we can; by helping others.” Hagrid’s voice was tender as he spoke and calmed my anxieties.
“Thank you, Hagrid. I should be getting back.” We stood and said our goodbyes before I walked away. The light from his doorway never left, and I smiled knowing that he was watching to make sure I was safe.
When I got back into the castle and into the common room, I was surprised to see that the trio and Matt were still sitting by the fire.
“Matt told us where you went, so we decided to stay up.” Kent supplied, answering my question before I could ask it.
Jack stood and crossed the room. “You’ve been crying.” His tone was laced with worry.
“She always cries on the first day back for different reasons. And I bet I know the reason this time.” Geoff watched me.
I shook my head. “I’m tired guys. Can I just go to bed?”
They were all silent for an uncomfortably long time before Geoff nodded. “Yeah. We all need sleep.”
I mentally thanked him as we parted. Salem was curled up on my bed, and after I changed, I snuggled in beside her. “Night, Salem.” He offered a quiet meow. “Night, Ray.”
Secrets are being told, and hearts are being shared.
Chapter 3: Mischief
September went on as it usually did; homework and new schedules, reuniting with housemates, and helping the first years so they didn’t get lost on their way to class.
I enjoyed the first few weeks, but the thought of what came at the end of the year still haunted me. One day as I walked to Potions, my mind cluttered with memories and thoughts, I passed a door that I hadn’t seen in a long time. The hall was clear as I glanced around me.
“Alright, room. What do you have to show me?” I muttered aloud as I slowly opened the door.
The room looked like any other room in the castle and I narrowed my eyes suspiciously. After some time, candles lit themselves and drew my attention to the center of the room. Standing in the faint glow of the candles was a single chair facing a mirror. I glanced behind me, making sure that no one had followed me in, before slowly walking forward. As I gently placed my hand on the soft, worn fabric of the chair a voice spoke to me.
“Don’t be afraid. It won’t hurt you.”
I jumped, looked around for the source of the sound. Finding nothing, I sat in the cushion cautiously. “Who said that? Where are you?”
A figure appeared in the mirror, and my breath caught. Standing in front of me was someone I had never met, but had heard stories of and had wanted to meet, but never got the chance.
“I know what you’re thinking about.” She said, her hair changing color slightly. “You’re worried about your friends.”
I sat forward a bit, wanting to figure out how I was talking to someone who had died in the War. “How do you know that I’m worried about them?”
“Because I’ve been there. From one Hufflepuff to another, trust me when I say that it’ll be alright.”
My jaw dropped as my brain tried to form words, but nothing came out.
“Miss Renee, what are you doing in here?”
I whipped around and stood quickly to see McGonagall standing behind me, a worried yet knowing expression on her face.
“I was… She…” I stuttered as I glanced at the empty mirror. “How did she?…”
The Headmaster stepped forward and gently placed her hand on my shoulder. “That was Nymphadora Tonks, and you should have never found this room. But because you have, why don’t we go have some tea in my office? I’m sure you have many questions.”
“But I have to get to Potions.” I muttered, still trying to wrap my head around what I had seen.
McGonagall chuckled as she lead me to the door. “I’ll let your professor know where you are.”
I followed her as we passed many classrooms on the way to her office. Most of them had their doors open, and I couldn’t help but look into the rooms that I knew my friends were in. Geoff and Ryan met my eyes with worried expressions and I knew that they would have questions later. Alfredo nudged Michael’s arm and they whispered to each other as I passed. Andy paled as he saw my expression and I shook my head, telling him not to worry.
“Your friends are watching us.” McGonagall chuckled as we neared the staircase to her office.
“They’re probably wondering what I did to have to follow you to your office.” I replied, my voice low.
A faint smirk crossed her face before she ushered me into the large room. Books filled the walls and above them hung the portraits of the past headmasters. Some of them glared at me, but one offered a comforting nod of his head. The man in the next frame met my eyes with a solemn expression, as if he knew exactly why I was there.
“Please, have a seat.” I glanced over my shoulder to see that a tea set had appeared. At closer inspection, I saw that there were three cups.
“Professor? There are only two of us here.” My voice came out as a meek question, and she nodded wordlessly.
“Think again, Renee.”
I jumped as a voice echoed behind me, but rolled my eyes when I saw Ray floating in midair. He was laughing and I huffed. “That’s not funny!”
“It was slightly amusing.” I glanced at the Headmaster, who sat with a smile. “Come sit and we’ll talk about what you saw in the mirror.”
I took a deep breath as the room grew solemn again. After a few awkward moments, Ray cleared his throat. “So, the mirror huh? Who did you see?”
“Tonks. She told me not to worry about… everyone.”
Ray nodded. “That’s good ole Tonks for ya. She worried about everyone and look where it got her.”
I blinked and studied his face. “You knew her, didn’t you?”
“I knew of her. Heard stories while I was here. And then I saw her fight.” He shook his head. “Badass doesn’t even begin to describe her.”
“Yes, she was very good. She was also a member of the Order, and a Hufflepuff.”
I nodded. “She said that I should trust that everything would be okay. But how can she say that when-”
“When she’s dead?” Ray interrupted before he reached for his mug of tea. His hand went through it and he huffed in anger. “Dead people can be right, you know.”
“Or they can be a pain in the ass.” I replied with a slight smile. Ray smirked with a shrug.
McGonagall sat forward slightly. “What he means is that you should listen to the past, but only to help you in the future.”
“Careful, McG, you’re starting to sound like Dumbledore.”
McGonagall and Ray both smiled at each other, leaving me out of the loop. “Alright. It should be time for your next class by now. Go on.”
I stood and turned to the door before glancing back. McGonagall had stood, her long robes falling back into place and her hat perfectly straight on her head. Ray floated beside her and offered a slight smile, his hoodie pulled tight as he tucked his hands into the pockets. “Can we do this again? I would love to hear more about what happened.”
Ray’s smile faded. “Maybe the past should stay in the past.”
“Come whenever you need to, dear.”
I nodded and headed back to the halls, my mind more scattered than it was before. Students brushed past me and I moved easily between them. Suddenly, two hands caught my arms.
“Renee! Are you okay? Why did you have to go with McGonagall?” Ryan’s voice shook in worry and I patted his hands reassuringly.
“I’m alright. I saw something that I wasn’t meant to, so she and I had a little talk. Ray was there too.”
My explanation did little to soothe his questions, and he pestered me for answers as we continued down the hall. Geoff and Kent caught up with us, and they were adamant to know what was going on.
“I told you! It’s fine, really.” I huffed, growing annoyed.
I glanced up the hallway to see Michael, Gavin, and Alfredo coming towards us. They each had huge grins on their faces and I groaned. “Hey, troublemaker!”
Gavin squealed in excitement. “Now we can drag you into our shenanigans!”
“It wasn’t like that, you guys.” I rolled my eyes, ignoring their attempts to convince me to join them.
“Oh my god! I thought you were a goner!” Andy exclaimed as he rushed towards me and wrapped his arms around my shoulders.
“Woah now! Calm down.” Michael growled as he pulled Andy off of me.
A large group had formed around me and some of the other students grumbled as they tried to squeeze past us. “Guys! Can we just go to class? I’ll explain everything later.”
Some of them nodded and drifted into the crowd, while Michael grabbed Andy and dragged him away. I could hear the reprimands from the older boy as they faded into the distance. Shaking my head, I kept on my way to the classroom, knowing that word would travel among the group until everyone knew about my visit to the Headmaster’s office.
The rest of the day went by uneventfully, and I dreaded dinner and the thousand questions that I would surely face. When I sat down beside Matt, he smiled at me. ‘How was your day?”
I gave him a sidelong glare, refusing to answer. Geoff, Jack, and Kent joined us and I prepared myself for a flood of requests for answers, but none came. As we ate, conversation was directed elsewhere until I sighed.
“Alright, what do you want to know?”
Geoff shook his head. “You don’t have to talk if you don’t want to.”
“But we’ll listen when you’re ready.” Jack added.
I met all of their eyes individually, seeing different things in each of their expressions. “I saw Tonks. And then McG caught me and we had tea with Ray.”
Kent scowled. “Ray can’t have tea, though.”
“Out of everything she just said, you question the tea?” Geoff squawked before he turned toward me. “What did Tonks say?”
I stared at my hands as I told them everything, and when I was finished I sighed. “They said that I could go have tea with them again if I want.”
Matt shook his head. “That’s insane. Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I mean… It’s not everyday that you sit down for tea with the Headmaster and a ghost, right?” We all chuckled and finished our meal before wandering out into the courtyard where the rest of our friends had gathered.
Jeremy and Trevor were talking and they both rushed forward when they saw me. “We heard what happened. Are you alright? Do you need something?”
I shook my head and patted their arms. “I’m okay, guys. Really.” Glancing over their shoulders, I met Ryan’s sharp gaze. He was watching me closely. “I’m alright.” I muttered, directing my statement towards him.
“Well, all this excitement has made me want to go to Hogsmeade. How about we go this weekend?” Meg suggested, drawing everyone’s attention away from me and toward the prospect of venturing into the wizarding town.
Lindsay appeared beside me and draped her arm over my shoulders. “We got you. Anything else weird happens, you let us girls know.”
“I will. But I have a feeling that Geoff will know before anyone else.”
She chuckled and nodded in agreement. “He’s weird like that.”
“He’s overprotective like that.” I countered.
Geoff perked up. “I heard that!”
The next day, I woke up to see Salem staring at the window.
“What’s wrong, girl?” I muttered, earning a meow in reply. She started to pace on the windowsill and I scowled as I got out of bed. “Salem? What’s out there?”
When I looked, it took a moment to comprehend. A figure was standing beside the Whomping Willow and seemed to calm it’s swinging branches. I dressed quickly and ventured into the common room to see that Geoff and Jack were sitting drinking coffee.
“Morning, Renee. How’d you sleep?”
“There’s someone by the Willow. They cast a spell on it.” I scowled deeper when they exchanged glances.
Geoff stood and walked away from me as he shrugged. “Don’t worry about it.”
I opened my mouth to argue, but Jack shook his head at me. Frowning, I left the common room and went to the Great Hall. Some of the group was already there, sitting together at the Gryffindor table. Walking by, I ruffled Michael’s hair before sitting beside Gavin.
“Why do you have to do that?” Michael grumbled as he glared at me.
I offered him a smile before shrugging. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He rolled his eyes and Gavin laughed before a group of Gryffindors walked by. They were talking about the Quidditch match coming up and how great the team was, and Gavin frowned. I glanced at the passing group before putting my hand on my friend’s arm. “You okay?”
“Yeah. They’re just… so Gryffindor. Same with Michael and Alfredo. But me? How am I like them? Hell, you’re more of a lion than I am!”
I saw that Michael, Lindsay, and Meg were now listening in. Ryan, Larry, and Neal joined us and were shushed.
“Well, you might not be the bravest person I know, but you are courageous and stand up to others. I wouldn’t want you in any other house because you firmly belong there.” I met Michael’s eyes over his best friend’s shoulder. “And if you were in a different house, you wouldn’t have your Michael.”
They both scoffed as everyone else laughed. By that time, the rest of the group had joined us and we started eating. Jack, who was beside me, had a pile of eggs on his plate that smelled amazing.
“Hey, Jack? Mind if I take a bite of those?” Andy leaned over with his fork in his hand poised to stab at the pile.
Jack scowled and covered his plate with his hands. “Mine.”
I watched them for a moment before tapping Jack’s shoulder. When he turned with a quizzical expression, I held up my fork and peeked over his arm at the pile of eggs. He nodded and moved his arm to the side so that I could steal a bite of the fluffy food.
“Wha- What the hell?” Andy gasped as he watched us.
Jack shrugged before continuing to eat, and I gave Andy a shit-eating grin. “He likes me more.”
Chuckles floated down the table but subsided as we finished our meal. Trevor, Jeremy, Andy and I headed off to Transfiguration while the others went to their classes. When the four of us got to the room, I paused.
“Oh no.” I muttered. The guys all frowned and glanced around before they spotted what I was staring at. “Why is McG at the head of the class?”
As I spoke, McGonagall turned and flashed a smirk. “Welcome. You’re here early.”
“Yeah… we wanted to get some homework done before class started.” Trevor offered as we slowly approached our desks.
“Oh, you mean the homework that is due today?”
Jeremy glanced at me and my eyes went wide. “Not at all! We were… uh…”
“Going to get a headstart for today’s assignment!” Andy supplied too enthusiastically, knowing fully well that the boys all had plans to work on the assignment due today.
I rolled my eyes and sat down, opting out of whatever punishment she was coming up with. “Well, why don’t we double your work for tonight then, since you all seem to get through it so quickly.” The three boys exchanged glances, not knowing what to say. “I’ll take that as an agreement then, gentlemen.”
“What did they do this time?”
Looking over my shoulder, I smiled at Ray. “Didn’t do their work and lied about it.”
“Classic move. She doesn’t fall for that shit, though.”
“No I do not.” McGonagall turned, giving Ray a sharp look. “But you would know all about that, wouldn’t you?”
Ray grinned. “You know it!” I shook my head and waited for the rest of the class to file in.
“Now, I’m sure all of you have one question; why I am here. Your professor is indisposed for the time being, so I will be taking over until they return.” A wave of hushed voices filled the room and she put her hands up to quiet us. “I am lead to believe that you all had a roll of parchment to present today?”
The rest of the class went by alright, and before I knew it, the day was finished. After dinner the group went back to our respective common rooms, and I sighed as I sank into a comfy couch. I grabbed a book and started to read when Geoff joined me. He lifted my feet and sat down in their place before gently resting my ankles on his leg. We sat in silence with our books for far longer than we should have until Geoff patted my foot.
“Time for bed, little one.”
I yawned, but didn’t move. “I’ll just finish this chapter first.” Geoff nodded before heading off. A comfortable silence fell before I say Ray appear out of the corner of my eye.
“You’re still up.” Ray muttered.
I closed my book, knowing that he was here for a reason. “Wanted to read some.”
“I see.” The room filled with tension. “So you saw Tonks. Have you seen anyone else?”
I refused to meet his gaze. “This morning I saw someone put a spell on the Whomping Willow. But I didn’t see them clear enough to tell who it was.”
“Huh. I thought that that bit was over.” Ray’s tone was reflective and I watched him.
“Ray? How did you die?” I paused as he flinched. “I’ve known you for so long, but never had the guts to ask.”
He glanced at me, his face awash in pain. “It was during the War. People were everywhere, running around and screaming and trying to save the castle while not dying at the same time.” He paused and furrowed his brow. “I ran into a group of first years. They were all huddled together and scared to death, so I helped them to safety. That went great and all, but on the way down to… to here actually… we got attacked.” He stopped and I saw tears in his eyes.
“You don’t have to keep going if you don’t want to.”
Ray shook his head, determined to tell his story. “I wanted to save them. So when the wolves came, the only thing I could do was sacrifice myself until someone came. And that someone was McG herself.”
“She tried to save you?” My eyes were wide.
“And damn near died herself.” Ray nodded. “She was always my favorite, you know.”
I nodded, a slight smile on my face. “Yeah, she’s pretty great.”
We kept talking, trying not to laugh too loud. After a while, though, I felt my eyes get heavy and curled into the couch cushions more. As my eyes closed, I saw Ray go towards the boy’s dorms. A few minutes later, two arms wrapped around me.
I opened my eyes just enough to see Kent carrying me. “You… why are you?”
“Ray couldn’t get Geoff or Jack up. But I’ve got you.”
Trusting him fully, I fell back asleep. The last thing I heard was a soft, haunting voice.
“Good night, Renee. I hope your future is better than mine.”
Before we knew it, finals were upon us. Nights after class were filled with studying in the library together or in our Game Room. The tv was always off now, and the sounds that filled the room were more somber than joyful.
“Kill me now, before I have to take my Potions final.” Gavin groaned, his head on the table.
“I can arrange that.” Lindsay deadpanned as she read her Transfiguration notes again.
I sighed from my seat on the couch. “No one’s killing any one.”
“I get first dibs anyway.” Geoff muttered as he walked to the kitchen.
The door opened to reveal Jeremy, Trevor, and Andy. They were unusually happy as they sauntered over to my seat and grinned at me.
“This isn’t creepy at all. What do you want?” I sighed, putting my textbook down.
Andy was practically bouncing. “Guess what we heard today!”
“You get three guesses!” Trevor beamed.
Jeremy nodded. “Cause there’s three of us.”
“I got it.” I sat up, glancing wearily at them. “Uhh… A new shipment of sweets came in to Honeydukes?”
“Nope! Strike one!” Jeremy shook his head.
“Okay. One of you got laid and the other two are so excited for them?”
Geoff chuckled as Andy scowled. “No. One more guess.”
“Alright.” I thought for a moment. “It has something to do with classes, right?” They nodded. “McG is done teaching Transfig?”
“Wrong again! Man, I thought for sure you would get it…” Trevor muttered.
Ray appeared beside me on the couch and shook his head at me. “Really, Renee? You couldn’t guess that you don’t have to take your History of Magic final.”
All three boys had varying degrees of annoyance and Ray grinned. “That’s awesome! But why not?”
“Binns and I might have had a… disagreement. No big deal. But McG decided to give him a break. So you guys get a break.” Ray shrugged.
I narrowed my eyes at him. “Why’d you do that?”
“Don’t think too hard on it.” He muttered before disappearing again. I thought for a moment before shaking my head and going back to my studies.
Two days later, I slumped unto the couch after my last exam. No one else was there so I took advantage of the quiet and closed my eyes.
“How long do you think she’s been here?”
“Her last exam got out a few hours ago, so at least that long.”
“She looks peaceful.”
“And cute.”
Shut the fuck up, Andy.”
I opened my eyes to see Michael, Andy, Gavin, Lindsay, and Meg standing over me. They smiled and I jumped at the sight, which made them all back up slightly.
“How long was I asleep?” I muttered as I stretched.
“We have no clue. But you looked comfy.” Meg grinned as she sat down beside me. The others settled in and we started to chat about classes before the large doors opened. The sound of laughter alerted us and we all turned to see Ryan and Elise walk in.
“Uhh… I wasn’t expecting other people to be here. Usually the room is empty this time of day.” Ryan muttered, his eyes wide as he looked at all of us.
I smiled and waved to Elise. “Hey. How are exams going?”
“Alright. I could do for a distraction, though.” She replied as she walked out of Ryan’s shadow to join the group.
Ryan stood still and I could see that he was confused before he followed, a deep scowl on his face. “What’s going on here?”
“We’re friends, Ryan.” I glanced at him. “And I remember.”
His eyes went wide momentarily, and he settled into a chair to silently listen to the lively conversation around him. I could see that he was distraught, and met his eyes to signal for him to follow me to the kitchen.
“Are you okay, Ryan?” I muttered as I poured myself a glass of pumpkin juice.
He watched me, then sighed deeply as if he was preparing himself. “I’m sorry. I know that I should have said that before, but I am so fucking sorry. I was an ass… I’m still an ass... “ He cautiously reached forward and held my hands. When I didn’t pull away, he smirked and continued. “It would make saying goodbye at the end of the year much easier if we did it on good terms.”
“Ryan, I-” Before I could say another word, the door flew open.
“RENEE! I need to talk to you!” Jeremy exclaimed as he ran into the room.
Trevor was right on his heels. “Don’t listen to him! I need to talk to you!”
Steffie walked in with Ashley and Meg. “I kept telling him not to say anything to Jeremy, but he doesn’t listen.”
Lindsay jumped up and rushed to stop Jeremy. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?!?”
Jeremy beamed. “Finally saying how I feel!”
“So am I! I’m tired of hiding it.” Trevor grinned.
I pulled my hands away from Ryan’s grasp and stepped away while the two younger boys rounded the corner. They saw our expressions and their smiles dimmed. “Did we interrupt something?”
“Yeah, you did.” Ryan growled.
“Guys… what’s going on?”
“They all like you, dumbass.” Ray chuckled over my shoulder.
The halls were quiet and I was content as I watched more snow fall in flurries. Salem wove around my feet, glad to be able to leave the common room due to the lack of traffic. We went to the Game Room, where Salem bolted towards Matt’s lounging form.
“Hey, Salem! If you’re here…” He sat up a bit and smirked when he saw me entering the room.
Jeremy was sitting on the other couch, and glanced over his shoulder before sheepishly avoiding my eyes. I sat beside Matt and we started to pet Salem before she realized that Jeremy was there. In an instant, she jumped from one couch to the other and settled onto his lap. Her purring filled the room and I leaned forward with a smile.
“I think someone’s missed you.”
Jeremy stroked her soft fur before finally making eye contact. “You glad that Christmas break is here?”
“Oh yeah. Not having to interact with people on a regular basis? Best holiday ever.” I grinned.
Matt and Jeremy chuckled before silence fell comfortably over the room again. After a while, the door opened and the silence was splintered by loud voices as they rushed towards the tv.
“Get the fuck up, suckas! It’s Mario time!” Michael called as he motioned towards the three of us on the couches.
Meg and Lindsay followed, their arms full of pillows and blankets. “Come on, Michael. Don’t be an ass.” Gavin chided as he brought up the rear carrying snacks. Andy smiled as he waved, trying not to drop the jugs of pumpkin juice that he was hugging against his chest.
“I told them that today was game day. Not my fault if they decided to sit there.”
I rolled my eyes and refused to move an inch. Michael glared at me before sighing and bending down to lift me and gently place me on the chair. I scoffed and settled in as he offered a shit-eating grin.
“That was rude.” Meg muttered as they all settled in.
The game was started and I was fully invested in watching when the door opened and the rest of the group walked in. Geoff, Jack, and Kent were talking about something from class, while Alfredo and Trevor were laughing about something. Steffie and Ashley were on either side of Elise, and I grinned as her head swiveled between the two girls as they spoke animatedly. Ryan followed behind, his hands in his pockets and head down as he pretended like he wasn’t listening to the conversation that the girls were having. Larry and Neal were beside Ryan but were talking amongst themselves, oblivious to what was going on around them.
“The gang’s all here!” Jeremy cheered as he walked into the kitchen.
Jack appeared with Salem in his arms, and I laughed. “Let’s get this party started!” He agreed.
“How did you find her already?!?” I questioned as he reached out to scratch my cat behind the ears.
“Jack likes the-”
“HEY! Keep it PG.” Kent interrupted Geoff, who was grinning too wide.
I shook my head and got up to greet Elise. “Hey! I didn’t know you were staying over break.”
“I wasn’t planning on it. But I was convinced.” She glanced at Ryan, who was now talking to Geoff and Jack.
“He’s pretty convincing, huh?”
She nodded, then took a deep breath. “I’m just glad that it’s holiday. And that I was able to come join you guys.”
“Of course! The more the merrier.” I grinned as the volume rose in the main room, spurred on by a heated discussion between Jeremy and Gavin.
“Gavin! If you would shut your fat mouth and listen for more than two seconds, I would explain why you’re idea is stupid!”
“Why is it stupid?!? Just because you’re too short to hear me properly doesn’t make me stupid!”
Jeremy stood fuming, and I could see that the others were laughing. “I’m… I’m mad.” Jeremy stated before he turned and saw me watching. “Help me deal with this fuckhead!”
“Nope! You started this fight, you end it.”
Michael chuckled. “It’ll end with Gavin’s head through the wall.”
After a few more tense moments, they sorted out their issues and continued on with their game before Gavin eventually killed everyone. “WHAT! WHAT! You fuck!” Geoff screamed, making us laugh.
In an instant, we went from crowded around the tv to scrambling for the gifts under the tree. There was no order until Jack and Ryan started to yell and push the younger group of boys back before proceeding in handing out the gifts.
“Oh hell yeah! I’ve been looking for this book!” Geoff beamed as he flipped through the yellowed pages.
Jack chuckled. “Nice! I call movie night next!” He held up a plastic case and we all laughed with him.
Soon, all the gifts were open and we were laughing and sharing our new items with each other. “Wait, there’s one more back here.” Jack scowled as he reached into the back of the tree and pulled out a small box. “It’s for Renee.” He glanced at me as he read the tag before handing it to me.
“Who’s it from?”I questioned as I took it. Jack shrugged and I glanced around at the group. No one fessed up, so I opened it cautiously.
Inside the box was a small necklace. The jewel was a dark blue circle that turned into a striking aquamarine when I moved it into the light. I gasped and turned the pendant over to see that there was an inscription on the back. ‘I’m sorry’. Tears clouded my vision and I closed the box before standing.
“What is it?” Jeremy muttered, a look of concern spread across his face as he rose to his feet.
I met his eyes and he scowled before I turned and walked away from the group and out the door. I knew that someone would follow me, but I wasn’t expecting two steps of footsteps to echo down the hall or the lowered voices that accompanied them.
“What are you doing out here, Ryan?”
“Jeremy, just go back to the room.”
After a short distance, I stopped in an alcove that was shielded from the hallway. I could hear the bickering and I took a deep breath before facing them. “What are you doing?”
They both froze and exchanged looks, waiting for the other to speak. When neither one did, I held up the box. “Why?”
Ryan’s shoulders dropped and my sharp tone. “I knew that you were tired of hearing me say it. And I worked really hard on trying to get the stone to do that.”
Jeremy scowled and took the box from my hand. When he opened it, he rolled his eyes. “Really dude? Bribe jewelry? She doesn’t get that distracted by sparkly things to forget that she still hates you.”
“I don’t hate him!” I snapped. “I just… I know that you’re sorry. But that doesn’t change anything.”
Ryan took a step back on his heel before nodding. “I get it. I had one chance with you, and I blew it.” he turned to Jeremy. “I won’t stand in your way.”
Before another word could be said, Ryan went back down the hall that we came from. Jeremy and I stood in silence for a few minutes before he chuckled.
“If there’s one thing to be said about Ryan; he’s one weird dude.”
I nodded before sighing. “Well, why’d you follow me out here? Any secret presents to give me?”
“I really only came to see if you were okay.” He stared at the ground. “But there is one thing…”
In one motion, he looked up and took a step forward as his arm came around me. My hands instinctively went to his chest as our lips met tenderly. He smiled into the kiss and wrapped his arms around me tighter, giving me a light squeeze before we pulled away. Our bodies were still close as we grinned.
“So, that was the thing?” I questioned.
He nodded. “That was the thing. I wasn’t sure how you would react.”
“We should get back to the others before they get any ideas.” I replied before giving him quick kiss.Jeremy dropped his arms but found my hand, intertwining our fingers together as we started to walk.
I glanced down and he flinched. “Is this okay?”
“Yeah, J. It’s okay.” I replied quietly as I leaned into his shoulder.
I just realized yesterday that I haven't been linking the new chapters of 'Magical Difficulties' on my writing page... I'll do that sometime this weekend!
