A Friendly Campfire
The fire lighting the firepit crackled in the dim sky, lifting smoke into the air, the burnt orange embers danced and flickered every time the warm breeze swept past the group of teenagers sat around it, each invested in their own hushed conversations.
Harry and Jess sat close together, Jess idly played with the sand on the beach while Harry fidgeted with his oversized blue shirt, they were whispering about things like recent noteworthy events to secrets within their friend groups; Alisa sat next to these two and sighed when realized that she was a third wheel.
Once in a while, Alisa would give a spiteful look to Hermione who had sat as far across from Alisa as possible, however, this ended with the two directly facing each other. Hermione rolled her eyes and turned to face Ron who sat next to her and his two brothers; George and Fred. Fred was currently attempting to scare the group with lame horror stories he remembered reading in a children’s book, no one was amused or even slightly scared. Maybe, except, Ron.
George didn't divulge in this attempt but instead took it upon himself to talk to Katia Petrov. Katia was sat upright and proper, straightening her clothes while she watched the sparks of fire dance into the night.
“You going to the Yule Ball?” He asked with a bright smile on his face.
Katia looked him up and down, he felt like she was judging him. His smile faltered as she continued to remain silent. However, his spirits lifted once more when she gave a small nod. This encouraged George to continue talking to the girl.
“I’ve heard about you, Katia Petrov?” George asked.
Katia nodded, “that is me, and who are you?” She raised a perfect eyebrow at the boy.
“George,” he faltered, “Weasley.”
Katia’s eyebrows raised, she was aware of this family. Malfoy would constantly pester about them and their poverty, how they’re disgusting. Katia never paid attention to his ramblings, she didn’t judge and the Weasleys were purelbood anyway.
“I know a lot about you George, you’re a шутник, no?” Katia smirked.
“A what?” George snickered, “I don’t speak Russian.”
Katia couldn’t think as to what the word was in English, this was her worst weakness. She scrunched her eyebrows and gazed at the floor.
“You make jokes and people laugh,” Katia peered back up at George’s eyes.
“A joker?” George smirked, “I’d consider myself one.”
Katia smiled and continued talking to the boy. She found him interesting and she was aware of his childish antics, making him even more enticing.
Next to Katia were Jessica and Harry, the childhood best friends. The two were still sat in whispers that no one could hear. Alisa attempted numerous times to try and join their conversation but it always ended up failing; she resigned herself to being the ultimate third wheel. She sighed and leaned her head on her hand, in doing this she accidentally made eye contact with her worst enemy: Hermione Granger.
Alisa frowned as she watched how the sparse wind lazily blew through Granger's bushy hair and how the red glow of the fire illuminated all of Granger's features (features that may have been considered pretty if not for the fact that they belonged to Granger), Alisa rolled her eyes at the girl’s simple existence before mouthing the words ‘I hate you’ when Granger locked eyes with her.
Hermione groaned at the petty act but instead of trying to be the bigger person (something she just couldn't do in front of Alisa, that girl brought out the worst in her) she mouthed back 'I hate you more'.
Alisa quelled an amused smile that threatened to mark her lips and fake gasped before mouthing 'bitch'.
Hermione's face scrunched up in anger- 'dick' she mouthed before she turned her attention to Ron, who seemed very hesitant and awkward to talk to Hermione seeing as the girl looked particularly enraged.
This decision angered Alisa, for some reason. Why... did she even care who Granger talked to? Why was she trying so hard to get Granger's attention? Alisa shook herself out of her stupor and decided to trace patterns into the sand, she didn't want to even think about the answers to those questions.