Chapter 6
This was not the first time that Maeve and Garreth would be sneaking into the Restricted Section in the library... nor the second, third, or fourth. Since their fifth year, the pair had made countless trips there together. They found ways to justify their escapades through the books they retrieved - a dueling manual, a potions guide - but the truth of the matter was that the only real desire was the adrenaline that came along with rule breaking alongside one another. Once they fine tuned their approach to entering the area, they had a pretty good success rate, having only been caught and given detention three times. As Maeve reminded Garreth several times, those times they were caught were always due to his loud mouth. To that, Garreth would remind her that it was actually her laughing at his “loud mouth” that gave them away. Secretly, neither of them minded the time spent in detention arguing over who was at fault.
It was well past curfew when the two of them left the Gryffindor common room, dusting off their Disillusionment Charms and easily making their way past the prefects into the library. Garreth was particularly fond of distracting the prefects with dramatic charms in order to sneak past easier, and though Maeve didn’t see it as entirely necessary, she always loved seeing what he came up with. Tonight, he transfigured a variety of feathers into several jobberknolls that took flight throughout Central Hall.
After entering the library, Garreth led them behind a bookshelf to prepare for their next steps. Maeve released her Disillusionment charm, appearing before Garreth with a smirk. “You’ve got your aunt’s knack for transfiguration, I see.” She said. “Maybe I should inform her just how well that worked for sneaking us in the library.”
He rolled his eyes, releasing his cast as well. “Yeah, and maybe I should tell Moon that you’re the one placing all those blasted demiguise-statue-things he’s always whining about.”
“Oi, lighten up Weasley,” she patted her hand against his shoulder. “It’s okay if you want to follow in Aunt Matilda’s footsteps.”
He couldn’t help but chuckle at the thought. “You want to call me Professor Weasley too, do you?” He joked, but the expression on his face conveyed instant regret. Maeve covered her mouth to not audibly laugh at his clear discomfort. He cleared his throat and spoke again, “Well, I just made that bloody weird, didn’t I?”
“Yes, but I'll pretend it didn't happen.”
"No, you won't." He grumbled. Garreth looked past her toward the center of the library, and Maeve followed his gaze. Madam Scribner was walking away from her desk and into a far corner of the library, briefly allowing them the benefit of not having to lure her away from the key to the Restricted Section. In unison, the pair cast Disillusionment Charms once again and took off.
It was best that Garreth was the one to retrieve the key from Scribner’s desk. Despite his boisterous nature most of the time, Garreth was actually much stealthier and lighter on his feet than Maeve was in these situations. Though most students would assume it was the other way around (Garreth and Maeve included), it was actually Maeve whose steps were a little too loud and who always made the cabinet squeak whenever she tried to retrieve the key. It was ironic, since the agility needed to duel at her level should work in her favor. Luckily, her quick reaction time and mastery of nonverbal spellcasting were much better suited for keeping an eye out for Scribner, and distracting her when necessary.
It didn’t take long at all for Garreth to meet her at the Restricted Section entrance. He proudly held up the key, his freckled cheeks lifting as he grinned. “Would you like to do the honors, Miss Delaney?”
“Why certainly, Professor Weasley.” Maeve said, chucking as he raised his eyebrows in offense. In an childish act of revenge, he lifted the key high above her just as she was about to grab it. She dramatically rolled her eyes, to which he smirked triumphantly and finally allowed her to grab it on her second attempt.
“Careful provoking me, or I'll be taking points away from Gryffindor.” He threatened nonchalantly, though the amused grin on his face contradicted his implied frustration.
“Yeah, yeah,” She muttered as she fiddled with the lock. After easily unlocking the gate, she opened it widely and motioned for Garreth to head in ahead of her. “Ladies first.”
“What a gentleman!” He complimented, curtsying with an imaginary skirt before entering.
“Now, where exactly are we heading?” Maeve questioned as she walked in, locking the gate again behind her. She realized he never quite explained what they were doing in the first place.
“Erm, it’s actually in the furthest section - the one that's just past that old toad statue. I’m looking for a book."
She raised an eyebrow. “Which book? And how in Merlin’s name do you know where one specific book is in this whole section?”
Maeve took notice of how Garreth’s posture stiffened significantly. “Actually, I can’t remember what it’s called, but I noticed it last time we were here. I’ll know it when I see it. One of those weird things that just sticks with you, I guess.”
It wasn’t hard to see that he was acting weird, and Maeve became very interested in finding out exactly what this book was. But, given their visibility in this part of the Restricted Section, Maeve decided it wasn’t worth it to question him on it now and just start moving.
The path through the Restricted Section was familiar. Maeve’s chest lifted with great pride as they navigated the section with ease. The roaming ghosts in the middle section no longer even phased them; they effortlessly were able to distract them and sneak past them as if it were second nature. When they reached the deepest and least-monitored part of the Restricted Section (in record time, might they add), the two released their Disillusionment Charms to reveal proud smiles.
“Always a pleasure doing business with you.” Garreth complimented, holding out his hand for a formal handshake.
“Save it for when we make it out without detection as well.” She said, lightly smacking his hand away.
He gasped as he clutched his chest in faux-offense. “Don’t lose faith on us now!”
She squinted as she looked around the room, dimly lit with only one torch in the far corner. A book on the shelf closest to her caught her eye, The Dark History Behind Protego. “How about you just go find your mystery book while I take a look at this one?” Maeve said, picking up the book and dusting it off.
She skimmed the first few pages, ultimately disappointed that the title seemed to be the only appealing thing about the book. Briefly mourning the loss of an interesting read, she turned toward Garreth at the shelf behind her. She looked at him at the exact perfect moment to see him slide a small vial of a clear potion in the pocket of his cloak. What in Merlin’s name did he find back there?
“Oi, Garreth, what’s in the vial?” She questioned, taking the few steps necessary to reach him.
His head shot up, clearly unaware that Maeve witnessed it. He reached back in his pocket and pulled out the vial again, examining it in his hand. “I don’t quite know what it is. I just found it sitting on the shelf over here, and thought maybe I could look at it later and figure it out.”
Maeve’s eyes flickered back and forth between Garreth and the vial. He held completely still, clearly aware that she was analyzing him. She had the gut feeling that he was lying to her, but that conclusion came with a sharp pain in her chest. What what he actually doing, and why did he feel like he had to lie to her about it? He was supposed to be her best friend, but his decision to not share whatever this is with her made her feel incredibly anxious.
“Is there even a book you’re coming down here for, or did you just come for that vial?” She asked.
“No! No, there is a book. It’s right here -” He turned to the shelf next to him, grabbing the closest book to him. He held it close to his face to examine it briefly in the dim lighting, before facing it outwards to allow her to see it as well. “It’s called Ashwinder Eggs and Other Dangerous Ingredients. The vial was sitting just next to it, which is why I found it.”
Maeve looked at him skeptically. His story technically all made sense; that was a book Garreth would definitely be interested in, and they have found stranger things in the Restricted Section than unmarked potions. Still, something about his clearly nervous demeanor and uncertain tone made her question his honesty.
Suddenly, the lilt of Peeves’ musical voice captured the attention of them both, making her stomach drop. He sounded close. They were in no position to be able to leave the area before he could appear, and she turned back to Garreth with pleading eyes, hoping he’d know what to do. It seemed he was one step ahead of her, and before Maeve knew it, she was being led into the tight space between the two bookshelves behind her. Scratch that; she was being shoved into the tight space between the bookshelves, her elbows hitting the wood and stone wall harshly. Surely, nasty bruises were in her future. Not a moment later did she feel herself become pressed up against the wall, as Garreth somehow fit his large frame into the space as well.
It was just in time, as Peeves entered the area seconds after Garreth squeezed in. His voice rang out as he floated through the rows of shelves, singing about hearing the voices of naughty, naughty students. He apparently did not see them yet, though Maeve had no idea how hidden they actually were in this spot. Her stomach tightened with nerves, but that was only partially due to the poltergeist's presence.
It was drastically darker in the hidden space, and Maeve’s eyes finally adjusted to find that all she could see was him. His arms were pressed against the wall behind her, forearms resting on either side of her head, capturing her. With his face only inches from hers, no matter where she looked she saw his freckles, his flushed cheeks, or his pronounced Adam’s apple. She must have looked frantic with her eyes darting around to avoid looking directly into his, when meanwhile he stood there looking like a Greek God.
His curls drooped down, the ends of them just barely grazing her own forehead. That must be why it smelled so strongly of his shampoo - he must have just showered before they left for the section. It was a combination of that and his minty breath, laced with the sweet smell of those Fizzing Whizzbees he could never say no to. It was intoxicating.
She could still hear Peeves hovering around the room. She inhaled sharply before holding her breath, closing her eyes, and willing the ghost to please just leave already. Otherwise, she risked losing herself in admiring Garreth for hours and hours. Luckily, his voice sounded more and more distant, until finally she couldn’t hear him at all anymore.
However, neither one of them moved.
Well, Maeve couldn’t move. The weight of Garreth’s large frame held her tightly to the wall, and it reminded her of the disparity in their sizes. Maeve had always been petite amongst her peers (a frustrating source of being underestimated for her first several years dueling, until everybody became very familiar with what she could do with a wand), meanwhile Garreth was quite tall. Not as tall as Leander, but also nowhere near as lanky, as Garreth’s shoulders were actually quite broad. She could kick his arse in a duel any day, but it was clear that he could physically overpower her if he wanted to.
It only took a few more moments of admiring for her to realize that she really wished Garreth would just kiss her. Her feelings for Garreth were complex but absolutely beyond platonic, though she never allowed herself the time to really sort them out. She knew how her body reacted to him, though. She knew the comfort that just his smile brought her, and how her stomach flooded with butterflies with every “champ” and infuriating-but-affectionate ruffle of her hair. Right now, with the dim lighting and unprecedented proximity, her eyes landed on his freckled and parted lips, and she could only think about how they would feel against hers.
She watched his eyes land on her lips too, and her head went fuzzy with nerves. Oh Merlin, was this actually going to happen? The tension only built with each second that passed, and she tried to telepathically communicate to him to just kiss her already, but he only looked down at her. Did she really have to be the one to finally break the tension? She let out a shaky breath at the realization, and waited for the nerve to come to her to just close the barely-there gap between them.
Garreth's sudden clearing of his throat made Maeve jump, having been accustomed to the complete silence they were in for the past several minutes. “I believe we’re probably in the clear now.” He said quietly, stepping backwards into the open space. He began slowly walking around the area towards nothing in particular, stretching his arms and legs as he went.
Even without Garreth’s weight, Maeve felt glued to that spot. What just happened? She wanted to call out to him to get his arse back over here and finish what her mind had started, but she flooded with embarrassment at the realization that maybe he just didn’t want to kiss her. For a moment, she had been absolutely certain it was going to happen, but he was easily able to step back and look entirely unphased. Maybe it hadn’t been on his mind at all, and she was the only one who spent their time hiding thinking about a friend in a very unfriendly way. She peeled herself from the wall, and knew she had to quickly get out of here.
The two were able to easily make their way out of the Restricted Section, the years of practice creating a sort of muscle memory that allowed them to sneak around together in complete silence. That silence didn’t break until they were at the stairways to their dormitories where they diverged, when Garreth casually wished her a goodnight. She didn’t even remember what she responded, just choking out something along the lines of “you too” and going to splash cold water on her face.
The next morning, Maeve brushed off Natty shaking her awake, insisting she would meet them in the Great Hall after she got ten more minutes of sleep. In reality, she stared at the ceiling from her bed, thinking through the events of last night after a scattered bits of sleep. Not only the part where they hid from Peeves, though that was running on a loop through her mind as well, but also Garreth’s odd behavior surrounding their trip to the Restricted Section. He was so set on retrieving a book he seemingly knew nothing about until it was in his hands, and it was only this morning that Maeve realized he didn’t even take it with him when they left. She was sure that he had whatever that vial was, though, and she couldn’t quite decipher from his reaction to being caught pocketing it whether or not he knew what was in it. Her mind strained to put together some sort of logical explanation, but when it couldn’t, she conceded to getting out of bed and getting ready for classes.
The Great Hall was buzzing. As Maeve took a seat across from Natty and Saoirse, she added Garreth’s absence to the list of his recent strange behavior. “What’s going on?”
“Maeve! You just missed it!” Saoirse laughed brightly. “Garreth was walking over near the Slytherin table, and spilled Charity Newton’s tea all over her!”
“What? On purpose?”
“No, he accidentally bumped into her.” Natty clarified. “He has never been a graceful one, has he?”
“Wait, so where is he now?” Maeve asked.
“Probably crying about it in the boy's bathroom, if I had to guess.” Leander leaned over from his spot nearly, laughing as he remembered the mishap himself. Maeve turned to Natty and Saoirse for a more reliable answer, who only shrugged in response.
Maeve collected some food on her plate while she debated bringing up Garreth’s odd behavior. Ultimately, she decided there was no harm in it. “Have any of you noticed Garreth acting... strange?”
“Strange in what way?” Natty asked. Maeve noticed the corners of Natty’s mouth undeniably curl into a slight smile before she quickly covered it with a sip of her tea.
“I don’t know, he just seems like he’s been very distracted by something lately.”
“That’s what happens when you drink all those homemade brews - it turns your brain to mush.” Leander loudly explained, his mouth filled with pumpkin scone.
“I haven’t noticed anything.” Saoirse added.
Maeve looked between the three of them, but their expressions did not add any insight into her question. She shrugged it off. Perhaps she was just projecting her own instability onto him; she definitely felt unbalanced after the loss of the duel, and the recent resurfacing of her feelings for him. She didn’t want to allow her own uncertainty to affect her relationship with her best friend. Still, her gut kept telling her that he actually was acting odd.
Once breakfast was finished and Maeve walking into the Transfiguration classroom, she immediately locked eyes with the star of her thoughts this morning. Garreth was standing with Sebastian near Professor Weasley’s desk, but immediately abandoned their conversation when he saw her enter. He walked over quickly, the speed producing fear in her. When he reached her, she barely had time to ask him what what going on before he grabbed her arm to lead her away from the students who were beginning to enter the classroom as well.
“Look, I don’t know they’re going to do about it yet, but you need to know what just happened.” He said. His eyes conveyed a level of intensity she wasn’t used to.
“Garreth, you’re freaking me out. Just tell me.” She responded, her anxiety spiking.
After a deep breath, he answered. “I walked in on a conversation my aunt was having with Sebastian and Charity, and during that conversation, Charity admitted that she used a Maxima potion in her duel with you.”
Maeve’s reaction was delayed as she processed information. “Wait, what? In our duel for the Tournament?” She asked. He nodded, and suddenly she felt as though so much made sense: the too-confident look in Charity’s eyes before the duel started, the disproportionate impact of her Bombarda cast. Slowly, as Maeve allowed the information to set it, she swelled with a sense of pride as realizing she wasn’t actually beat out for the tournament spot. Like Garreth said, he didn’t know how they were going to proceed with the tournament, but they both highly suspected it would mean she would be competing alongside Sebastian.