The End of the Affair
It was the first Friday in December. Liam spent the morning with Umberto, Gordon, Sadie and Vanessa, studying for their Runes final. He had Potions before lunch and Astronomy lecture after lunch. At the end of Astronomy, Morwena Felwich organized another study group to prepare for their Arithmancy final. That group included Philip, Rhiannon, Pauline, and Lara. Liam attended, along with Sadie, Umberto and Gordon. Vanessa did not come along, as she took Divination instead of Arithmancy.
In the evening, Liam was on Prefect Patrol, and Morwena was again his partner. They were patrolling the dungeons once more. As they walked together down the stone corridors, Morwena sighed and rubbed her temples. “Sometimes, I ask myself why I pined away so to be prefect. This year is so much work! And to have extra responsibilities on top of all of it.” She smiled brightly at him. “Not that I mind walking around with you, of course.”
“Long as Ness isn’t with me,” said Liam.
She laughed, a high-pitched flutter. They passed one of the castle’s suits of armour, on which someone had hung a holly wreath. “Oh, I do love Christmas.” Setting her hand lightly on his arm, she said, “You must come to Godric’s Hollow some day at Christmastime. The town square, the people, the snow, it’s right out of a song.”
“Yes, someday,” said Liam. On his shoulder, one of Vanessa’s hairs began hissing at him. He brushed it off and it fluttered to the floor.
She gave him a questioning look, but he did not explain himself. After a pause, she said, “If we did some caroling here before we leave, would you come along?”
“Sure. What do you have in mind?”
“I thought we could tag along with Professor Sinistra’s First Years. I think if you and Hark were there, it would encourage the younger boys to participate.”
“Might cut down on shenanigans between Lupin and Marrett,” said Liam.
“That thought, too, had crossed my mind. Why don’t you ask the Gryffindors if they’re interested? I’ll get my group together. I’ll get my cousin Sally to come along, too, and Sadie of course.” Morwena’s coven and Calliope’s no longer socialized or studied together, but Morwena was still on good terms with her cousin Sally.
“Are you looking forward to going home?” she asked.
“Yes,” Liam admitted. “Though once we get through Christmas, I’ll be wishing I were back here. Can’t fly my broom. I have to keep my wand hidden. No magic the whole time I’m home. No one to talk to but my brother.”
Morwena laughed and touched his arm lightly once more. “I know what you mean. Freya gets on my nerves like no one else, and I get on her nerves, too. We’re fine so long as we can be with our own friends, but stick us together for too long, and we’ll start to fight.”
At the end of the patrol, when they were near the spot where Liam would say good-bye to Vanessa, Morwena gave Liam a firm hug. “You’ll come caroling with us, won’t you?”
“Yes,” he said. “Looking forward to it.”
“Good night.”
As soon as Morwena turned away, another blond hair started hissing at him. Liam peeled it off and dropped it on the stone floor.
The next day after breakfast, he was walking with Vanessa along the path that led around the castle. It was very cold, and snow was piled high on either side of the path. Steam shot from their mouths as they talked.
“Morwena said she was flirting shamelessly with you last night.”
“Come on, Ness,” said Liam. “She was just trying to wind you up. We were on patrol together. She asked me if I wanted to join her caroling group.”
“What did you tell her?”
“I said I’d do it. We just want to keep the young ones in line. You’re welcome to come along.” She just glared at him as if this idea was ridiculous.
On Tuesday night, the Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors gathered outside Professor DeVere’s classroom for Potions. Liam shook hands with Paul and Dave, then received a hug from Gillian. He said to the group, “Hey, Felwich and I were talking the other day. She wants to join Sinistra’s First Years when they go caroling. She’d like some of us to come along and be good role models for the younger kids.
Paul, feigning suspicion: “I don’t know. Felwich probably has some scheme in mind.”
“Trying to score House Points,” suggested Adam, and the others laughed.
“Well, I’m going to join her,” said Liam. “You are welcome to come along.”
“Sure,” said Dave.
Gillian eased up beside Liam and took his hand. A thought of hers slipped into his head that no one else could hear. What does Ables think of you and Felwich going singing together?
It won’t be just me and Felwich, responded Liam. But no, she wasn’t too keen on the idea.
I heard you and Ables got into a fight at the Prefects Social and again the other day. Oh my gosh, what is that? Gillian was suddenly aware of the blond hair on Liam’s arm, hissing at her. She plucked the long silvery strand off Liam’s sleeve and held it up in front of her face. Is this Ables’ hair hissing at me?
Yes. It’s hissing at me, actually.
She shook her head and dropped the strand of hair to the floor. What a f-ing veela!
Gillian was Liam’s potion partner that year. Her silver knife was sharp and she made clean, careful cuts of the ingredients. Once all the ingredients were ready, she sat back and whispered thoughts into his head. Do your Liam Wren potion magic, now. Make it come out perfect!
“I’m not going to be there when you’re taking your O.W.L., mind you,” he told her.
I don’t need an O in Potions, was her response. Who knows? I might get one anyway. I’ll just work in a few of your tricks and Bingo! I’ll have a perfect potion!
Gillian continued her telepathic conversation, although she had let go of his hand and therefore, her thoughts were not completely private. Are you going to break up with Ables, or are you just going to string her along all year like you did with Sadie?
I’m not discussing my love life with you, responded Liam.
Well, you should!
And, those two relationships are completely different. Ness and I are just going through a rough patch is all. We’ll be fine.
Like I said, you’re stringing her along, even though she’s a f-ing veela.
Remember, I’m not taking Magical Creatures, so I have no idea what a veela is.
I’ve told you what veelas are! Do I need to read it out of my textbook to you again?
Their banter was playful. Gillian’s blue eyes were bright, and her laughter was infectious. The ninety-minute Potions class passed quickly, despite Liam’s weariness and the late hour. If pressed, he would have been forced to admit, his time with Gillian was far more enjoyable than his recent moments with Vanessa.
The night of caroling was scheduled for Wednesday night of the last week before their trip home for the Christmas holidays. It was during the time the Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors had Herbology and the Slytherins and Ravenclaws had Potions. Morwena spoke to both professors. Since their final exams had been earlier in the week, she was able to convince them to cancel their mid-week class so the Fifth Years could attend the caroling.
Liam brought his First Years to the meeting and Lara brought hers. Philip was with them, as was Stacy, Stephanie and Monique. Bell and her friends tagged along, as did Ben, Cosmo, Alan and Theo.
In addition to Dave and Alma, there was Paul, Adam, Larry and Gillian. With Sadie and Ronald came Morwena’s cousins, Sally and Denise.
Morwena was there, of course, with Pauline, Rhiannon and Tess, along with Q, Alyssa, Freya and Meriko. Gordon joined Umberto and his troop of First Year boys. Neither Vanessa nor Spencer attended.
The groups began to mix. Freya quickly paired up with her cousin Denise, while Alyssa and Meriko joined Bell’s group. Ben blushed brightly when Alyssa gave him a warm hug. Meriko quickly followed with one of her own.
Liam’s boys mixed in with the Gryffindors. This was Liam’s first chance to see Teddy Lupin up close. Liam’s boys were in awe of Lupin, and Liam could see why. The boy had natural charisma and a sharp sense of humour. The rumour that Lupin was a werewolf like his father only enhanced his reputation.
There was palpable tension between Lupin’s gang and that of Nolan Marrett’s. Nolan had managed to do what Reginald Dennison hadn’t – that is, win over boys from another house. Nolan had all of the Ravenclaw boys in his corner. The two gangs of boys gazed coolly at one another. Liam was glad of the extra support from all the older students.
Liam whispered to Philip, “If all of us weren’t here, these two would be tempted to have a go at one another, I bet.”
“I imagine you’re right,” said Philip.
Morwena came by and gave hugs to both Philip and Liam. “Happy Christmas, Wren,” she said with a blushing smile.
“Happy Christmas to you, Felwich. No Vanessa tonight?”
“No,” said Morwena. “Sadly, she didn’t feel up to coming.”
Gillian came over and gave Liam a quick hug. Good. The veela can bug off for all I care. The thought must have carried across to Morwena, for she laughed. Philip received hugs from Pauline and Rhiannon. Liam extended his hand to Rhiannon and they shook.
“Mac,” he said.
“Wren,” she answered.
“Ready for Quidditch?” asked Liam.
“I will be.”
It may have been a brave new world, but Gillian and Rhiannon still did not hug or shake hands. Gryffindor/Slytherin animosity ran deep.
The exception was among the First Year girls. They were quickly interspersed. There was no inter-house hostility at all. Sadie’s two, Marie Claire and Fiona, stuck together, but they were on good terms with all the other girls in their year.
Fiona’s red hair and freckles drew the attention of several of the older students. Philip remarked to Gillian, “That little one of Sadie’s looks just like you did when you were that age.”
Professor Sinistra led the group all around the castle to sing. The vigilance of Liam, Dave, Umberto and Ronald kept the young boys in line. Liam noted that his boys only began to sing when they saw Lupin was singing, too. They sang quietly and more reluctantly than the girls did.
The only mishap of the night occurred when they were gathered outside Professor McGonagall’s office, eating cookies after a night of singing. Sadie came rushing up to Liam and Philip. “Marie Claire has wandered off again! Can you help me look for her?”
“Certainly,” said Philip.
Quickly, a search party was formed: Tess, along with the Little Coven, plus Denise, checked all the nearby bathrooms. Fiona was left in Lara’s care while Sadie and Philip retraced their steps. They found Marie Claire down a side corridor, talking to a painting.
“You had me worried stiff!” cried Sadie.
“I’m sorry,” said Marie Claire. “I always stop to talk to Mr. Groverton. He was groundskeeper at Hogwarts in the 1950s and he knew my grandmother. She used to follow him around and ask him about plants. If she hadn’t gotten married, she might have come here to teach. She always loved Herbology.”
For Liam, his Thursday consisted of his Defence practical and his Ancient Runes final. After Runes, he and Vanessa took a walk around the castle. This was typically a study period for them, but here at the end of the Autumn term, there was nothing left to study.
Liam asked, “How come you didn’t go caroling with us?”
“I didn’t feel like it,” said Vanessa, glumly.
“You should have gone. It was fun.”
“Morwena is just trying to look good for the staff. She’s prefect now, but she wants to be Head Girl in a couple years.”
“So? Why does that matter? Why would that keep you from caroling with us?”
“Why would I help her become Head Girl?”
“Berto was there. So was Gordon.”
“Berto has the same ambition as Morwena – to become Head Boy.”
“You don’t want to help him?”
“He doesn’t need help.”
“Maybe Felwich does this because she likes to sing Christmas carols.”
“I can’t believe you’re taking her side.”
“I had a good time last night. Everybody had a good time. It’s fun to sing carols and be in the Christmas spirit. You should have come.”
Her mood changed suddenly, like sunlight bursting through clouds. “Speaking of Christmas, what are you getting me?”
“Isn’t that supposed to be a surprise?”
“There are good surprises and there are bad surprises,” answered Vanessa.
“Wouldn’t any gift from me be a good surprise?”
“You see, Liam, last year we were mostly just friends. This year, you’re my boyfriend. So, you need to step it up a notch.”
“Well, my income has not stepped up a notch,” said Liam, coolly. “You’ll get what I give you.”
She gazed up at him with her soft blue eyes. He felt the warmth of her aura envelope him. “The thing is, Wren, I’m a very popular girl. There are several boys, some who are older than you, who would love to take your place. You need to show them, and me, how important it is to you that you are my boyfriend. Now, what are you giving me for Christmas?”
Vanessa cast the full force of her enchantments upon him. He felt them crashing upon him in waves, warm in the center but cold and painful at the edges. Her hands clasped his, but her fingernails pressed into his skin. In his mind flashed images of necklaces and rings, gold, platinum, and diamonds. A gift to show the world that she was his and he was hers.
A lesser boy might have knelt, kissed her hand, and begged for her forgiveness. He may have made a rash boast to give her all that she wished.
But Vanessa had been warned: Liam Wren would not be dominated. He yanked his hands away. Her enchantments shattered and melted into the air.
“You think you can do better than me?” he asked, angrily. “Well, you probably can. Go on then. Find yourself a rich boy to buy you presents. I’m done with you.”
She stared up at him in shock. “You can’t break up with me!”
“I just did.” He turned on his heel and left her standing alone in the corridor.
Liam walked back to the common room, to his room. He wanted to lay back on his bed and relax, but the blond hairs would not let him be. They hissed a thousand insults at him. She’s too beautiful for you. She’s a princess and you’re a nobody! A nobody from a little town no one has ever heard of and never will again! He sat up and, drawing his wand, blasted all her hairs from his clothes.
Michael, Philip and Fortney came into the dorm room. “You’re back already?” asked Michael.
“Yes,” said Liam.
“What are you doing?” asked Fortney.
Michael knew, but he was in awe. Philip answered, “He’s blasting away at Ables’ hair. It gets on everything he owns.” To Liam, he said, “Did you break up?”
Liam nodded. He blasted away one more hair from his pillow and then sat back down on his bed. “For the record,” he said, “I broke up with her.”
“You broke up with her?” asked Michael in wonder. “You walked away, just like that?”
“Yes. Just like that. Threw all her enchantments at me, she did. Trying to get me to buy her a fancy Christmas present. I wasn’t having it!”
Fortney: “We did warn her about that. You can’t push Liam around. We said that, didn’t we, Mike?”
“Yeah, but I never thought, I mean, you just walked away? Just like that?” he continued, as if the thought was incomprehensible to him.
“There are other girls, Mike,” said Liam, firmly.
Mike laughed. “I guess there are, aren’t there?”