Penny sat on my lap in the Hogwarts Express on September 1st. She had gained a healthy amount of weight since the day James and I found her, and I was happy to see her getting along with Tracey and Daphne who sat across from us in a train compartment.
"Have you two heard about what's going on at Hogwarts, this year?" Daphne asked us. Tracey and I raised our eyebrows in unision. "The Tri-Wizard Tournament?"
We both stared at Daphne blankly.
"Salazar, have your parents not told you anything? The ministry has been planning it for months apparently," she said.
Daphne Greengrass was still the same blonde-haired, green-eyed girl I knew since long before attending Hogwarts. But there was something a little different about her, this year, something more mature.
"Well, my parents don't work for the ministry. So, they wouldn't have known," I said. "Although, they did say something about how things at Hogwarts will be interesting, this year."
"I suppose they just wanted to leave it a surprise," Daphne pondered. "Oh, well... too late. Now you know."
"What exactly is the Tri-Wizard Tournament, anyway?" Tracey asked the same question that was resting on my tongue. I supposed she didn't know about it either, which made sense because her mother also did not work for the ministry. Probably not, at least. I always had the impression that she was a herbologist anyway.
"You'll find out soon enough. I reckon they'll explain everything when we get to Hogwarts." Suddenly, Daphne gasped, taking both Tracey and I by surprise. "WAIT!" she exclaimed. "You two have got your dress robes, haven't you?"
"Oh, yes, it was in the list of school supplies, this year. How odd," I said.
"That's because one of the special events this year will include a ball!" Daphne squealed. She hid her mouth with her hands as she expressed her excitement.
"Oh, brilliant!" Tracey said.
"I brought multiple gowns because I wasn't sure which one I should wear. When the time comes, I need you two to help me pick, promise?" Daphne said, eyes twinkling with eagerness.
"Of course, Daph," I said.
Having another ball at Hogwarts did sound like a lot of fun, especially considering that we wouldn't have to plan all of it. I wondered why they were hosting such an occasion.
The compartment door slid open.
"Daphne, there you are," said Blaise. He was standing by himself at the entrance, looking rather self-assured. "Why don't you join my compartment, Daphne?"
"No, thank you," Daphne said simply.
Tracey and I exchanged a confused look. Even Penny, who was laying comfortably on my lap, lifted her head to watch.
"No?" Blaise repeated, rather perplexed. "Why not?"
"I want to sit with my friends," Daphne said as if it were obvious. Blaise frowned. "Bye, Blaise!" She smiled and waved at him.
Blaise, looking rather dumbfounded now, left the compartment, not bothering to shut the door behind him.
"What was that all about?" Tracey asked, taking the words right out of my mouth again.
"Oh, nothing. I just lost interest in Blaise," Daphne said with a shrug.
"Why? What happened?" I asked, surprised because Daphne was all over him last year.
"He asked me to be his girlfriend. Officially. And I guess, in that moment, whatever I felt for him kind of just disappeared. I realized I didn't actually want him to be my boyfriend," Daphne said with a giggle, as if the whole thing was actually quite amusing. "You know, I think I just liked the attention I would get from him and not him."
"How... erm... well, interesting," Tracey said. I also didn't really know what to say, so I shared Tracey's sentiment.
"It's actually rather boring to talk about," Daphne said airily. "Anyway, it feels good not to have my attention fixed on a boy, now. I really prefer being around you two."
"Aw, me too, Daph!" Tracey said. She gave Daphne a hug, which I would have done too had I not a cat on my lap.
Tracey was exactly as I remembered her last year. Deep ebony skin with dark glistening eyes. She wore her dark hair in braids, this year, and they reached her waist. I, on the other hand, kept my hair in its naturally curly state, only that my mother had finally cut the split ends so it looked a lot nicer than before, in my opinion.
"Anything from the trolley, dears?"
"Oh! Yes, I want some pumpkin pasties," I said. I gingerly got up from my seat, giving Penny to Daphne who looked really happy to have her. Penny also looked very happy to have Daphne.
"Some lemon tarts, please," someone just came up to the cart as I was paying for my sweets. "Hello, Maeve," she said.
Ivy Law. Just as I remembered her, she had long white-blonde hair and striking grey eyes. That Gryffindor girl was a lot more trouble than you would think. Last year, she poisoned nearly all of Slytherin house "as a prank."
"Hello, Ivy," I said rather stifly as the trolley lady moved on to the next carriage, but Ivy just stayed there as if hoping for some kind of conversation with me. "Where's your friend, Romeo?" I asked.
"Oh, he's nearby. You know, Maeve. Last year, you didn't help me prank the Weasley twins on their birthday. This year, I'm hoping you'll be a lot more... cooperative."
She wasn't asking. She was demanding that I helped her, and knowing her, she would not give up.
"Ah. Well, this year, I'm hoping you'll be a lot less... naggy, but I suppose, we don't always get what we want."
Oops. The words just slipped out of my mouth.
Ivy's lips parted, taken aback. Then, finally, her eyes narrowed at me.
"Watch yourself, Blackwood," she said, clearly vexed. She gave me a parting look of indignance and contempt before leaving.
"Who's that asshole?"
Turns out, there was another asshole behind me too. It was Malfoy. Because, of course, he just loved lingering behind me. Crabbe and Goyle were there too, but as always, they wouldn't be participating in the conversation.
"Oh, no one. Just some annoying Gryffindor girl," I said dismissively.
"You're finally starting to talk some sense, Blackwood," Malfoy said approvingly.
"Oh, no. Don't get your hopes up, Malfoy. I'm still a muggle-lover," I said. It came off as a joke, but I wasn't lying.
He laughed.
"Good one, Blackwood."
Okay, he thought I was joking. Not what I meant to do.
"No, really, I do. Have you ever watched a movie, Malfoy? I have, this summer. It's quite literally the best muggle invention, yet."
He frowned slightly, but there was still a look of amusement on his face.
"Oh, really? Surprised you weren't born a squib, Blackwood. You'd fit right in," he said. Even though it was a messed up joke, I snorted at that quip.
"Good one, Malfoy," I shot right back at him, though I laced my tone with sarcasm.
He smirked, looking a little too satisfied with our conversation. "I'll see you at Hogwarts, Blackwood."
"Let's hope not," I mumbled as he left.
I couldn't be seen speaking to Malfoy like this in front of the Gryffindors. They'd think I was friends with him, again.
Okay, maybe I sort of was on speaking/bantering terms with Malfoy again, but that was just because it got exhausting having to hate him all the time. And besides, I doubted that the Gryffindors would understand my situation. I still remembered the glare they gave me when they saw me with him at the quidditch match.
I went to the bathroom a moment later, and it was like I was meeting everybody and their mums on the train today because when I got out of the bathroom, I bumped right into James.
Of all people, of course.
"Er, hello," I said awkwardly.
"Hello," he said.
"Er, I have to, erm, go," I said.
I was beginning to leave, but James called out, "Wait, Maeve."
I tried to ignore my heart beating in the palms of my sweaty hands.
"Are we still friends?" he asked. There was a hint of worry in his dark eyes.
"Well, yes, of course," I told him, surprised by the question. "Why'd'you ask?" I added quickly.
"It's just that... I was under the impression that you were avoiding me all summer, after that day at your parents' shop.."
Busted. I didn't really know how to save myself from this one. I was at a loss for words. My lips were parted but nothing was coming out except for strained air.
"Well, you were, weren't you?" James pointed out. "Maeve. I'm sorry for the... er... conversation we had. I didn't realize it would make you feel so uncomfortable."
"Yeah," I said softly. I didn't know what else to say. My mind was racing, my heart was pounding, and I was starting to feel a little queasy.
"To be fair, you asked the question first," he went on. "I was just curious because you asked first."
"I did," I managed to say. No point in denying it. "But I didn't mean to ask you to be my... boyfriend. I was just asking if you... wanted to."
"And why did you want to know that?"
"Because... I, well, I told you, didn't I?" I said. My heart quickened and constricted in my chest. James implored me with his eyes to explain it anyway. "I just thought it was curious that you didn't care if people thought that we were together, so I thought that maybe that was because you... wanted it to be true."
James was quiet for a moment, as if carefully selecting his words.
"Would it be so bad if I did?"
"Do you?" I queried, blinking.
"Well, do you?"
"Why do you do that? Why do you keep reversing the question and having me answer first?" I said, slighting frustrated with that notion.
James huffed a nervous laugh. "Because my answer will depend on yours."
"Why? Why not just be honest with me?"
"Because if you do not want us to be... together..." he said in a small voice. "I wouldn't want to ruin our friendship."
"Do you want to ruin our friendship, James?" I asked him directly. He averted his gaze, looking everywhere except at me.
"Only if you're... okay with it."
"I might be..." I said. "Okay with it, I mean".
It was suddenly very hot. My face was flushed red, that much was obvious.
James smirked.
"Do you fancy me?" he asked. I frowned. My heart sank. Was this just a trick to see if I liked him so that he could make fun of me?
Before I could say anything, he gently grabbed my hands and looked down at them. His hands were soft, and mine were definitely... clammy from being so anxious. But I didn't pull them away. I just hoped he wouldn't notice.
"Is it okay if I hold your hands like this?" he asked. My heart was going to explode out of my chest. I felt like I was about to vomit out my innards.
Then, the toilet flushed loudly next to us, and the sink from inside the bathroom turned on. I laughed awkwardly. Not the most romantic of locations being next to the bathrooms.
James pulled me to the side, away from the washrooms, surely thinking the same thing as me. We were now at a different section of the train, where there were four-seated booths on either sides of the train, open for everyone to see. This compartment seemed particularly filled with Slytherins. I thought I saw Wyatt and the others at the very end, but we didn't end up joining them.
Still holding my hand, James brought me to an empty booth. We sat across from each other, a table separating us. My stomach twisted into knots, and my heart hammered in my throat. It was hard to make eye contact with him.
He opened my hand with his fingers and traced the lines in my palms. I wondered if he could feel my heart thundering through my skin.
"You know," he said, tracing a thick line across my palm. "They say that this is the fate line. Yours is thick and defined. That usually means you are destined for great things."
I chuckled softly. "You think I'm destined for great things?"
"Well, that depends if you believe in that sort of stuff," James said.
"Do you believe in that sort of stuff?" I asked him.
"Sometimes."
"May I see your fate line?" I reached for his hand and he opened it up to me.
"I don't have a fate line," he said. And sure enough, he didn't even have a line going across the center of his palm. "Means I don't have a destiny. I'm not necessarily destined for anything great."
"Or maybe it means that you will forge your own destiny. The world is your oyster," I said optimistically to him.
He considered the idea for a moment before saying, "I suppose that makes sense."
For a moment, I had forgotten that we were seated at the open section of the train where there were a bunch of students all around who could see us... holding hands.
"You know, you didn't answer my question before, Maeve," James said suddenly. His hands were still on mine but they weren't moving anymore. I wondered if he could sense that I was incredibly, terribly, very anxious.
"What was the question, again?" I asked him, having genuinely forgotten.
"Do you fancy me, Maeve?"
"Hah," I said. He raised an eyebrow at me, hanging onto my every word. "I don't think it's fair that I have to answer that question. Let me just do what you do, and return the question to you, James."
"Very well," he said. He looked uncertain and a little bit afraid, which was odd because I was always under the impression that James was a cool and collected sort of person. "I find you very interesting, Maeve. I find you very... pretty, and... smart, and talented." He paused, smiling to himself. "I do fancy you, Maeve. And I was wondering if you wanted to be... more than friends."
His ears were pink, and he played with my fingers as he confessed all of this to me. I couldn't help myself from grinning like an idiot.
"I also... fancy you," I managed to say, despite the ball in my stomach. I felt sick. I felt so incredibly nervous. I wondered how in the Hells people did this.
James laughed, his eyes smiling with his lips. I laughed sheepishly.
"Why did it take so long for this to happen?" he asked, raising his hand up a little, which was holding onto mine tightly. "I fancied you for ages, but I was always worried that you didn't — I mean, I thought you did, at first. But then, on the astronomy tower, you told me that you didn't, which... sort of bothered me. And... that's how I realized I liked you."
"I sort of figured it out recently," I admitted. "That I... fancied you, I mean," I added in a small voice.
"How recently?"
"Erm... well, the day after we found Penny and all..."
"And you just... ignored me after finding out?" he said, slightly outraged, but still amused.
"I — Hey, I didn't know how this worked, okay? I have never... fancied anyone before, and I just felt incredibly awkward, and I didn't know if I could face you after realizing that I... liked you."
I was suddenly very aware once again about how everyone around us could potentially hear everything we were saying, but when I glanced around, everybody looked busy with their own conversations, or at the very least, they were really good at pretending not to listen.
James smiled. His eyes wrinkled. My heart pounded. Everything felt surreal.
"So," he finally said. He was still playing with my hands. "Are we..."
"Together?" I offered. He nodded. "I don't know. I have never done this before."
"Well, me neither," James said. "How about we... hangout a bit more, and find out?"
"Yeah, okay," I agreed.
We didn't really talk about our feelings after this. James asked me how my summer went, and I asked about his. My nerves were dying down slowly as the conversation went on. It felt like we were friends but we... held hands.
When the train arrived, James was still holding my hand, as if he were trying to show me off to everyone. And the notion of that made me feel nervous again.
I was okay with everyone knowing, but I still felt awkward about it. I didn't even know if I could call James my boyfriend yet. Whatever was happening between us was very new and uncertain, but I felt like our friendship was worth letting go of for now just to explore those feelings — not that we weren't friends anymore. But we were... more than just friends, which felt like its own unique thing.
We had to enter a carriage with a lone Ravenclaw girl as all the other carriages were filled. And it was raining quite heavily as well so we didn't bother looking too hard for another one either.
The Ravenclaw was reading a magazine upside down, and she had funky-looking glasses on. Just under her blonde hair, I could see she had dragon earrings on. She even had her wand tucked behind her left ear for safekeeping.
James and I settled ourselves right across from her.
"You're heads are filled with wrackspurts," she said softly but flippantly.
"Ah, and what are those exactly?" James asked before I could.
"Invisible creatures. They fly through your ears and make your brain go all fuzzy," she said airily.
"Ah. Well, good to know..." James said, though I could tell he didn't really think those were real.
"You can read all about them in The Quibbler. Want one?" She lifted up her magazine to show. James and I both shook our heads. "I'm Luna Lovegood, by the way."
"Maeve Blackwood," I said.
"James Lancaster," James said too.
"Pleasure," Luna said. She was a very soft-spoken person. So much so that I was surprised I could hear her voice at all.
"So, how do you get rid of those... erm... what were they called?" I asked her. I wasn't so sure that those creatures were real, but while we were here, I had to entertain some kind of conversation with the peculiar girl.
"Wrackspurts. You just have to think positive thoughts," she said.
"That's odd because I am thinking positive thoughts," James said, his grip tightening on my hand.
"Maybe it's the nerves. They tend to cling to people who are nervous about something," she said. "Want a pair of Spectrespecs? You can see wrackspurts through them. That's how I know you two have them."
James looked like he was going to refuse, but I was curious, so I said, "Sure!"
She rummaged through her bag and pulled out another pair of the peculiar glasses she was wearing. They were large colourful spectacles that gave the appearance of a demented multicoloured owl.
James laughed when I put them on, but I quickly found out that Luna was right. There were little white dots flying around James' head and around me too, but not around her.
"Oh, dear. James, think positive thoughts," I told him semi-urgently. He looked skeptical, but apparently he did think positive thoughts because the wrackspurts were zooming away from him.
Now, I supposed it was my turn to think positive thoughts because I could still see some wrackspurts flying around my head.
Okay. Positive thoughts. Let's see... oh, yeah, Penny! I love her. She's so cute. And fluffy, and... where is she, anyway? Oh, right... with Daphne. Should be fine. I can't wait to show her around Hogwarts. I bet she'll love it there.
The wrackspurts were gone by the time I stopped thinking. I took off the glasses and gave them back to Luna but she shook her head at me.
"No, you should keep them. You seem like a nervous person," she said. I tried not to get offended by that and just slipped the Spectrespecs in my pocket.
We didn't converse much for the rest of the ride to Hogwarts, but when we all exited the carriage, Luna said, "Thank you for sitting with me. It was like having friends."
And then she sauntered away, leaving James and I a little dumbfounded.
"Why do I get the feeling you and her could become friends?" James said with a chuckle. I laughed in my hand.
"You're not wrong there," I replied. "I like her...odd personality. Very charming."
"Thought you'd say that," James said.
The feast began right after the sorting ceremony, which was nice because I was rather famished. And so was James, apparently, because he didn't really say much and just ate.
We were seated with Elijah, Isaiah, and Wyatt, and the lot of them were jesting, chaffing, and chuckling.
James and I didn't say anything to the others about what happened with us on the train. We just quietly listened in on the their conversation, instead.
"You're joking," Wyatt was saying to Isaiah.
"I am not. The three headmasters were badly injured too. That's why they canceled it. Was hard to reestablish an event like this one after such bloodshed, not to mention that the death toll was very high," Isaiah said seriously. "But I think the rules have changed this year. They must be prepared for the worst, now."
"Too bad, really," Elijah said. "Would've loved to see a bit of gore. Would've be entertaining."
"That I agree with," Wyatt said. "Hey, did you know they were meant to slaughter a hippogriff here at Hogwarts last year. I was hoping to get its head, but apparently the creature flew away or something, never got butchered."
"Oh, that would have been grand to witness," Elijah said fondly.
"You two are vile," Isaiah said in disgust. "What's so appealing about witnessing... death?"
"Well, I've always wanted to know what a thestral looked like," Elijah responded thoughtfully.
"Not to mention, it's kind of fascinating to see all the innards spill out, and the blood splattering everywhere," Wyatt added as if that were the most interesting thing in the word.
I looked at James, who was seated next to me and who return my wide eyes with a shrug.
"That's just Wyatt being Wyatt," he said lowly.
"One day, you'll kill someone, Wyatt, and I won't even be able to defend you because the evidence would be too strong," Isaiah said.
"He would be the type to show up in court with blood on his face and entrails around his neck," Elijah said with a hearty laugh. "I swear I didn't do it!" he added in a mocking imitation of Wyatt's voice.
"Hey, I never said anything about murdering anyone," Wyatt said defensively.
"Well, good. You'd make a terrible murderer," Elijah said as-matter-of-factly. James and I laughed at that.
"As in, he would get caught or his murder techniques would be terrible?" Isaiah asked.
"Both," Elijah decided just as Wyatt shouted, "Neither!" Everyone laughed at that.
"Maeve, help me!" Wyatt said desperately to me.
"What?"
"Tell them I don't have the temperament of a murderer, or something."
"Oh, no. I'm just here to watch and listen. That's your mess," I said. Wyatt groaned.
"Well, if I were a murderer, Elijah," he began, though I could tell he was making this up as he spoke. "I would... erm, well — You would be my first victim, actually. So, watch it."
That threat was laced with such good humour that it was almost endearing. We all laughed, again.
"I feel like we're all forgetting the part where Elijah admitted he's always wanted to watch someone die just so he could see a thestral," James chimed in.
"Hey, I'm innocent," Elijah said rapidly, raising his hands up in surrender.
Soon, plates, bowls, and cups were emptied, and students' bellies were filled. The feast was over, at last, and the buzz of chatter in the Great Hall ceased the moment Albus Dumbledore got to his feet.
It was still raining outside, thundering even, and we could see it above our heads in the enchanting ceiling.
So!" said Dumbledore, smiling around at us all. "Now that we are all fed and watered, I must once more ask for your attention, while I give out a few notices."
He told us about a few obvious things such as the forbidden forest being forbidden (no shit), and new additions to the list of banned objects in the castle (as requested by Mr. Filch).
"It is also my painful duty to inform you that the Inter-House Quidditch Cup will not take place this year."
"What?"
Students were outraged, confused, and murmuring amongst each other.
Dumbledore went on, "This is due to an event that will be starting in October, and continuing throughout the school year, taking up much of the teachers' time and energy — but I am sure you will all enjoy it immensely. I have great pleasure in announcing that this year at Hogwarts —" But at that moment, there was a deafening rumble of thunder and the doors of the Great Hall banged open.
A cloaked man stood there, leaning on a long staff. Everyone's heads swiveled toward the stranger who was abruptly brightly illuminated by a fork of lightning that flashed across the ceiling. He lowered his hood to reveal a shaggy grey mane of grizzled hair. He began walking up to the teachers' table. Metal clunked on his every other step as he limped heavily toward Dumbledore.
There was another flash of lighting, which illuminated the man's face. He looked like he had been disfigured multiple times throughout his life. Every inch of his skin was scarred, a large chunk of his nose was missing, and his eye — one of them was large, round as a coin, and a vivid electric blue. It was moving ceaselessly without blinking as if it had its own independent mind.
The man reached Dumbledore. The two shook hands. They muttered some words to each other, until Dumbledore motioned at him to sit at an empty seat at the staff's table.
"May I introduce our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher?" said Dumbledore brightly into the silence. "Professor Moody."
Usually, new staff members were greeted with applause but no one even clapped except for Dumbledore and Hagrid whose claps and and applauses echoes dismally into the silence. It was like everyone was too transfixed on Professor Moody's bizarre appearance to do anything more than stare rather openly at him.
The man didn't even seem to be bothered at all by the less-than-warm welcome he was getting. He casually reached into his cloak, took out a hip flask and drank deeply from it.
"Isn't he an ex-auror?" I hissed at James.
"He is. Half the cells in Azkaban are filled up thanks to him," James said. "Though, I hear that these days he's just a paranoid old man."
Dumbledore cleared his throat.
"As I was saying," he said, smiling at the sea of students before him, all of whom were still staring at Mad-Eye Moody, "we are to have the honor of hosting a very exciting event over the coming months, an event that has not been held for over a century. It is my very great pleasure to inform you that the Triwizard Tournament will be taking place at Hogwarts this year."
"You're JOKING!" one of the Weasley twins shouted.
The tension that had filled the Hall ever since Moody's arrival suddenly broke. Nearly everyone laughed, and Dumbledore chuckled appreciatively.
"I am not joking, Mr. Weasley," he said, "though now that you mention it, I did hear an excellent one over the summer about a troll, a hag, and a leprechaun who all go into a bar . . ."
Professor McGonagall cleared her throat loudly. James and I looked at each other in bewilderment and laughed.
"He's mad," I said through a fit of chortles.
"Er — but maybe this is not the time . . . no . . ." said Dumbledore. "Where was I? Ah yes, the Triwizard Tournament . . . well, some of you will not know what this tournament involves, so I hope those who do know will forgive me for giving a short explanation, and allow their attention to wander freely.
"The Triwizard Tournament was first established some seven hundred years ago as a friendly competition between the three largest European schools of wizardry: Hogwarts, Beauxbatons, and Durmstrang. A champion was selected to represent each school, and the three champions competed in three magical tasks. The schools took it in turns to host the tournament once every five years, and it was generally agreed to be a most excellent way of establishing ties between young witches and wizards of different nationalities — until, that is, the death toll mounted so high that the tournament was discontinued."
Students whispered excitedly to one another.
"There have been several attempts over the centuries to reinstate the tournament," Dumbledore continued, "none of which has been very successful. However, our own Departments of International Magical Cooperation and Magical Games and Sports have decided the time is ripe for another attempt. We have worked hard over the summer to ensure that this time, no champion will find themself in mortal danger.
"The Heads of Beauxbatons and Durmstrang will be arriving with their shortlisted contenders in October, and the selection of the three champions will take place at Halloween. An impartial judge will decide which students are most worthy to compete for the Triwizard Cup, the glory of their school, and a thousand Galleons personal prize money."
"I'm going for it!" Wyatt hissed at us four. He wasn't the only one getting ideas with all the glory the tournament entailed. Several other students hissed excitedly at their friends.
"Eager though I know all of you will be to bring the Triwizard Cup to Hogwarts," he said, "the Heads of the participating schools, along with the Ministry of Magic, have agreed to impose an age restriction on contenders this year. Only students who are of age — that is to say, seventeen years or older — will be allowed to put forward their names for consideration. This" — Dumbledore had to raise his voice slightly because several students had made noises of outrage at these words, and Wyatt was suddenly looking very furious at this — "is a measure we feel is necessary, given that the tournament tasks will still be difficult and dangerous, whatever precautions we take, and it is highly unlikely that students below sixth and seventh year will be able to cope with them. I will personally be ensuring that no underage student hoodwinks our impartial judge into making them Hogwarts champion. I therefore beg you not to waste your time submitting yourself if you are under seventeen.
"The delegations from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang will be arriving in October and remaining with us for the greater part of this year. I know that you will all extend every courtesy to our foreign guests while they are with us, and will give your whole-hearted support to the Hogwarts champion when they are selected."
That meant I might see my cousins. They didn't say anything about that, however... maybe they also didn't know.
"And now, it is late, and I know how important it is to you all to be alert and rested as you enter your lessons tomorrow morning. Bedtime! Chop chop!"
There was a great scraping and banging as student got to their feet and swarmped out of the Great Hall. James and I followed our friends but lingered behind a little.
"Are you seventeen, yet, James?" I asked him. Come to think of it, I wasn't sure when his birthday was.
"No. I just turned sixteen last month," he said.
"It was your birthday last month and you didn't tell me?" I nearly cried out. I was shocked. "I — I didn't even know! How is it that I didn't know?"
James chuckled. "Well, you were sort of ignoring me all summer," he said rather awkwardly.
"Oh, right..."
Well, that was embarrassing.
"I am really sorry about that. Truly, I am... But I probably wouldn't have ignored your birthday had I known..."
"Ah, you're right. It's all my fault," James said humbly.
"Wait, no, I didn't mean it like that—"
"I know. I'm just kidding," James said, laughing.
The corners of his eyes wrinkled with his smile, and my heart melted a little. I had now just remembered once again what had happened between us in the train. James and I were... together. More than friends.
Before we knew it, we were already at the Slytherin common room. This year, there wouldn't be any curfew, so the prefects didn't have to take attendance. People just traiiled right to their dorms, except for the first years who were being given a little introduction speech by the seventh year prefects.
James and I stood at the center of the dorm hall, right where the girls and boys' dorms were separated.
"Good night, Maeve," he said softly.
Without thinking too hard about it because otherwise I wouldn't do it, I inched closer to James and wrapped my arms around him, pulling him into a hug.
He seemed surprised at first, but reciprocated the embrace by putting his arms around me too. Our hug only lasted a short moment, but it felt like it had lasted an hour because of how nervous I was. It was like time slowed down when his arms wrapped around me.
When I pulled away, feeling rather awkward, I said, "Good night, James."
We held each other's gaze for a short second longer before going our separate ways.
I didn't really sleep that night.