Chapter 4
The summer after their sixth year, Bea spends a month at Jaquie’s house, most of which is spent in the air, playing Quidditch as best they can one on one. And when they aren’t in the air, they’re making out on the grassy hill behind Jaquie’s house, their broomsticks a few feet away. Bea is pretty sure this hill gets more sun than any other part of England, but it’s also possible that it’s just Jaquie’s presence going to her head.
They’re lying in the sunlight holding hands when Bea says, “I wish we never had to go back to school. I wish it could be August forever.”
“Mmm,” Jaquie says, eyes closed. “That sounds nice. Though that means I’d never get to beat you in a real game of Quidditch.”
“Aren’t you supposed to cheer for your girlfriend’s team?”
Jaquie gives her a look. “Not when it’s the team you’re competing against.”
“Okay, fair point,” Bea replies and rolls over to drape herself across Jaquie. “We’re just going to be busy all the time, getting ready for our N.E.W.T.s and you’ll be Quidditch captain so it’ll take up even more of your time than usual and I’ll miss you.” She sighs, closing her eyes and focusing on the feeling of Jaquie’s hand combing through her hair. “We’re never going to be one of those gross, attached-at-the-hip couples like Peter and Costa or Paige and Chelsea, but I feel like we’re never going to have time to hang out, you know?”
“Yeah, I get what you’re saying. But I don’t think you should worry. We’re always going to make time for each other, because we love each other.”
“Aww,” Bea says, propping herself up on her elbows and grinning down at Jaquie. “You said something sappy. You have to put a galleon in the Hogsmeade fund.”
Jaquie sits up, looking outraged. “No fair! You said something sappy first.”
“I just said that to trick you.”
Jaquie folds her arms across her chest and raises an eyebrow. “That’s a big fat lie, Beatrice.”
“Yeah, okay,” Bea says, lying back down. “It was. We both owe a galleon to the Hogsmeade fund. Hey, that just means more butterbeer.”
Jaquie settles herself with her head on Bea’s chest. “I did mean it, though. I know it’s going to be a busy year, but that doesn’t mean we’ll never see each other.”
“Pinky promise?”
Jaquie hooks her pinky around Bea’s and they both kiss their fists. “Pinky promise. And I was thinking --” Bea feels Jaquie’s hold on her hip tighten, “that maybe next summer, after we graduate, we could get a place together. Since we’ll both need somewhere to live and I don’t think either of us wants to move back in with our parents.”
Bea grins into Jaquie’s hair. “Yeah, that sounds like a really good plan. I’d really like that.”
“Yeah?” Jaquie’s voice brightens. “I just thought it’d be nice to have it be like this summer all the time. You know, waking up together and doing our grocery shopping together and cooking together and everything.”
“Oh, you so owe the Hogsmeade fund.”
“Shut up, Bea, I’m trying to be sweet!”
“That,” Bea says, “is exactly the point of the Hogsmeade fund.” Jaquie grumbles a little and Bea laughs. “For the record, though, that sounds really nice to me, too.”