This Action Will Have Consequences
Max’s feet sunk into the mud.
The ride had been as long as usual. It was dark outside by now - the castle barely visible along the horizon. They’d been dropped off at Hogsmeade station - and had to ride the carriages up to the castle. The first years got to ride a boat across the great lake, but the carriages were faster, and only the first years would appreciate the grandeur of the lake method.
The carriages pulled themselves. More magic. If you asked Max, having the carriages literally pull themselves was a little showy - but she supposed that it was probably a little more efficient, too. Probably.
Chloe had claimed, last year, that they were actually pulled by black, skeletal horses. She’d been rather insistent about this joke - at least, until everyone else paired up to explain to her that no, emo horses did not pull the carriages. She’d finally cracked then, and snickered, telling them all to chill out and take a joke.
Max ripped her boot out of the mud. Chloe had given her the most killer pair of boots for Christmas year before last - they still fit to this day, because Max’s feet were tiny and refused to grow larger before age sixteen.
The rest of the gaggle trotted forward to their carriage. Clearly, everyone else had managed to avoid the patch of mud.
Brooke glanced back.
She paused - and leaned over to stop Kate. The second Kate turned around, she gasped, and started rushing to help her.
Max smiled as she ripped her other boot out of the mud.
“I’m fine,” she said, as Kate and Brooke came close enough to hear her. “Just a little mud.”
Kate gave her boots a worried glance. “Are you sure?”
Max barely caught the glance, and half-smile, Brooke gave Kate at that. About ninety-five percent of Brooke’s smiles were aimed at, or because of, Kate.
“Yes, Katherine, she’s sure. Max, you should really call if you need help. I’m sure Chloe or Rachel would be better people to help yank you from a patch of mud, if they had known.”
Max blushed, walking towards the carriages. Brooke and Kate walked with her - Kate still giving her dirty boots a glance now and then.
“I don’t wanna be a bother. Rachel and Chloe are already having a conversation, and I can get myself out of some mud.”
Brooke peered at her.
Kate did the same over Brooke’s shoulder.
“What if it was something worse than mud?” Brooke asked, just as Kate said, “We’re your friends, Max! It wouldn’t be a bother!”
They both blinked.
Brooke glanced over her shoulder - and leaped back when she noticed how close Kate was.
Kate yanked back a little herself, and flushed to her collar. “Sorry.”
Brooke, after a moment, muttered something under her breath - and said, aloud, “It’s fine.” She glanced at Max. “My point still holds water.”
“Well, it’s done now,” Max muttered. “Let’s get to the school?”
Kate jumped over, and looped an arm around Brooke and Max’s shoulders. “You wanna sit at the Hufflepuff table this time, guys? Rachel and Chloe can do their own thing! It’s about time for the little’uns to hang out!”
“That’s Rachel’s term,” Brooke said flatly, going limp as a noodle the second Kate’s arms were offering firm support.
“Well, I’m sure she won’t mind if we borrow it, right? Rachel’s a sweetheart, she’d lend it to us.”
Max giggled under her breath. Brooke rolled her eyes - but Max saw the smile tugging at her lips.
“Let’s go, then,” Brooke muttered, flopping forward weakly so that she could point towards the carriages.
Kate slipped her arms off their shoulders, and rushed for the carriage.
“I love you,” Brooke murmured under her breath, the second Kate was out of range.
Max turned to her, and did her best to smile. “...She’ll realize some day. And you’ll have the world’s most adorable kiss.”
Brooke sighed.
And then straightened, eyes sharpening again.
“You wish. Our first kiss is gonna make you squirm, Max. I’m not getting any peck or gentle make-out after all this time.
“I’m gonna ravage her,” Brooke muttered, a dark glimmer in her eye.
“That’s the spirit,” Max hummed with a smile. “I’ll make sure to turn away.”
Brooke’s hand curled into a fist. “...Max?”
“Yeah, Brooke?”
“I don’t know what to do.”
Max blinked. “About what?”
“About… this. Being a lesbian. Realizing it.”
They’d had a long conversation about Brooke’s sexuality over Discord, while Brooke’s parents were out of the house. Max had just wished she could’ve been there, to give Brooke a hug.
“...I can let you stay at my place, if you need it. But we aren’t going to change you, Brooke. No spells, no curses. If your parents can’t accept who you are, then… I’ve got a spare sleeping bag? As long as you can live with muggles, of course,” Max muttered with a smile.
Brooke snorted. “Well, I could probably live with it, I suppose.”
There was a pause.
“Thanks, Max.”
Max smiled. “No problem, Brooke.”
“...We should probably catch up with Kate.”
Max hesitated.
And pulled Brooke into a hug.
Brooke froze up - and then melted. Her hands gripped at the back of Max’s robes - and Max felt her let out a heavy, shuddering breath.
Max just held her.
“...Shit, I’m scared,” Brooke muttered, gripping her like she was the only stable thing in the world. “I’m so scared, Max.”
“...You want some chocolate? I’ve got a chocolate frog left from the trolley.”
Brooke laughed weakly - and pulled back. Her eyes were a little wet. “Please.”
Max reached into her pocket, and pulled out the frog.
Brooke devoured it with relish. It was a little scary, honestly.
“...Feel better?”
Brooke nodded - and offered her one of those rare smiles. A wide, full, real one. “Much better.”
“Cool. Let’s go meet up with Kate, okay?”
Brooke nodded - and started walking to the carriage.
Max spent only a moment wondering what might happen because of this. What the consequences might be.
Her hand came to rest next to her pocket - where she knew the letter from Hoida sat.
She wondered what might happen if she could undo it.