3.1
announcement-
Entering the same classroom we talked in last night, I see her leaning on the same desk I leaned on the night before. Following her, I walk up and lean on the teacher's desk in front of her. She is in her Ravenclaw uniform with knee socks and MaryJanes. Her long brown hair is straight and half up, half down, with what I assume is a bow in the back.
"So, did you think about it?" She asks the moment I place my bag beside me on the desk. Crossing my arms, I nod. "And?"
"I will do it." She smiles wide, showing her perfectly straight and white teeth. But we need to talk about this more," I start pacing. What will we say to questions, or what will we do during school to sell it? There are so many things to consider here."
"Well, first, we need to learn more about each other for this to work." I interrupt her.
"How will we do that when we have breakfast in ten minutes?" She looks at me, and I stop my questions.
"Let me see your schedule." I lean over her shoulder to see the two schedules she is holding. I notice the name Adelaide Lia Ewing at the top of the paper. We share two classes together today. "Clearly, we could choose to spend Latin and History of Magic together to talk more." She returns to my schedule before I return to leaning on the teaching desk opposite her. "We don't need to know much about each other to sell this." True. "All we need is to get the students to tell their parents, and we're good."
"We would have to start hanging out with each other publicly for that to happen." I point out as I cross both my arms and my ankles. "You will have to get approved by my girls."
"Your girls?" I nod. "You mean the two girls you have never seen apart from?" I send her a perfect smile, confirming her question. "Why would I need to be approved? This is between the two of us."
"How would we seem to be dating if my best friends hate you? The entire school knows I would do anything for those two girls." I raise my brows, making a few hand gestures. After how I punished a group of Slytherins who cornered Elle a few years ago, the students know that I will go much farther for my girls than they would have thought.
—
I slide into my spot at the Hufflepuff table to face two unsure faces. Jo hands me my coffee, and I sip to ensure she didn't spit in it. They are quietly staring at me before I speak. "We're doing it." Both girls have their own reactions. Jo sighs and rubs her hand across her face while Elle places her forehead on the table beside her plate of blueberry muffins.
"Okay, look." I take in a breath. "It'll benefit both of us. You two know how I talk about my parents." I place my hands on the table to convince them this is a good idea. "Besides, you two have been telling me to get a partner for the longest time."
"A real one, Eon," Elle says as she rubs the red spot on her forehead. "This can only end badly for the both of you."
"We'll cross that bridge when we get there." I shrug at them. "We have our next two classes together, so we'll learn more about each other before tonight." I try reassuring them, but it doesn't help much.
—
Over the next few hours, I talk with Adelaide during classes while somewhat listening to the teacher. Professor Binns takes no notice of us in the back, quietly talking to the class. Neither does O'brein in Latin. I learn more about her, her parents, her friends, and her childhood. I noticed that she seems to be an extrovert because of the way she interacts with the students around us and how many friends she says she has. We agree on some more things, such as not using pet names with each other and our boundaries on physical touch.
—
"What classes have you had so far?" Remus asks me from my left. I glance at him and see him still staring at the book on the table before him. The aura of the library is calm at the moment. There is hardly anyone in the large room. We are in the corner next to some windows showing us the school grounds. We met up to go over our syllabus and to talk about what we expect from our classes. We have done this since the third year, after all. The boy has assured me that his time with me is the calmest of his day.
"Everything other than Ancient Runes, Divination, and Alchemy," I turn the page of the divination textbook, which looks more like a personal journal than a school textbook. He hums in response before telling me about his classes in the last two days of school. The silence is comforting in a way, knowing that you are beside a close friend in one of your favorite places in school.
"What did you read over the summer, Remus?" This begins our conversation about what we did during the break. He tells me of the books he read in the window seal of his room facing the rolling hills surrounding his home. I told him about the French and the music that filled my break. We make a few inside jokes that we have had for years before we realize how much time has passed. If we were any closer, we would have hugged when we parted ways outside the library doors. I head to the Slytherin common room and suppose he goes to the Gryffindor one. I'm never sure of the way he and his friends are.
"You ready?" I get the text nearly an hour later while sitting at my desk organizing my notes. I respond to Adelaide quickly before putting on my jumper and heading out the door. Arthur waves my way before I step out onto the staircase. The walk to the third floor goes by quickly as I pass many unfamiliar faces. The Ravenclaw girl is standing outside the classroom we have essentially claimed as a meet-up spot.
Arm in arm, we walk to the Great Hall and talk lightly. We entered a few minutes after dinner to make the best impact. Walking into the noisy hall, we turn heads as we walk forward. I help her sit down beside her friends, who are all staring at us with bafflement. They didn't believe I had agreed to do this with Adelaide. The Great Hall is even louder as we sit next to each other before we reach out to make our plates. I pass her the mashed potatoes while I reach for the roasted chicken. The four girls I identified as friends Adelaide told me about started to talk amongst each other. I add in little commentary, mostly paying attention to the girl beside me as she does the same. I rest my arm on her shoulders after I decide I have had enough of dinner. This gets a reaction from my friends that makes me smile slightly.
I make eye contact with my friends at the following table. Jo seems annoyed while the blonde beside her pushes her food around on her plate while staring at the table. I send them an apologetic smile, but I know they are mostly okay with what I am doing—hopefully, at least.
-??? Words-