“mhmm. Sure. Whatever helps you sleep at night Winona”, he nodded as he bit into his cracker. Monday, Wednesday, Friday lunches by the Black Lake with Winona was easily one of the highlights of his week. He got to hang out with his best friend, just the two of them. And, yeah sure they were secret best friends. But Caradoc had never admitted to minding that bit too much, he was fine with everyone not knowing his business. Plus, Winona’s family situation was different than his own- the last thing Doc wanted was to have to constantly be looking over his shoulder for a brooding Antonin Dolohov.
He pulled the half of the cracker away from his mouth, quickly losing his appetite. “How many times have I told you that I don’t like that word?” he asked quietly, looking away from her.
He sat quietly for a few moments after his question, stewing on it. Still looking away from her, “You know attacks on squibs and their families that remain active in the wizarding world have risen by half in the last four years? But you don’t have to, you know, worry about these sorts of things.”
Winona snorted and playfully shoved him in his side, her eyes lighting up. She truly treasured her time with Doc, he was her best friend and always would be, but she hated having to sneak around just to see him. Monday, Wednesday and Friday were her favourite times of the day, because she got to see Doc. And it was a great distraction to forget about her own shitty little life. Pausing her sandwich as his tone went quiet, she slowly started going cold. Fuck.
Looking down, she hung her head as he continued talking. He was right. Winona didn’t have to worry about it, and for the most part, she didn’t. Win knew she should have, because Caradoc was her best friend and his mother was a squi- unmagical magic person, so really, it was just common courtesy. “You’re right,” Winona said thickly, clearing her throat. “I don’t have to worry about it.” No doubt her father had something to do with the declining rates in Squibs; if there was one thing he hated, it was them. “And it’s just a word, Caradoc. Just like muggleborn is one, and half-blood. It doesn’t mean anything bad.” Or maybe she was just naive.