Chapter 4
“Okay so I figured out a few things.” Charlie told the group as he joined them for a late breakfast. He was just too excited that he couldn’t sleep and it’s not like the Ravenclaw folks would open their door, especially not for Charlie. If they knew he was dating Cameron then maybe, but he’s too loud for them and especially at three in the morning.
“What would that be?” Pitts asked. Charlie didn’t think about how the ravenclaws always let Pittsie in. Speaking of Ravenclaws, Cameron was the only one missing from the group.
“Well, I was thinking that we should all actually become Animagises.” Charlie smiled and then the rest of the group went quiet, avoiding eye contact with Charlie.
“It’s not a bad idea.” Neil shrugged. “It could be useful for sneaking around.”
“Yeah but we would have to look more into it, you know?” Meeks looked at anyone in the group to back him.
“Yeah and I mean it’s been awhile since we’ve even mentioned it.” Knox agreed.
“It shouldn’t be too hard.” Todd joined in, everyone looked at him curiously. “I’m just saying, I’ve heard stories and it seems cool.”
“Also it’s Animagi.” Meeks spoke up.
“Shut up!” Charlie groaned. “Where’s Cameron?”
“Oh, he was talking to Chris.” Knox shrugged. “Something about Transfiguration classes.”
“Oh, I'm surprised she didn’t ask Chet for advice.” Charlie laughed but began piling his plate with food.
“No, he’s talking to Christopher, that one Ravenclaw with glasses.” Knox corrected but went back to eating his food.
“About Transfiguration?” Charlie asked.
“Yeah.” Knox glanced up, mouth opened a little.
“Why?” Meeks asked. “He’ll be over soon, then you can tell us all about your genius ideas.”
“He’s not going to agree with you anyways.” Pitts laughed. “You’re always fighting with him.”
“Is it a crime to have all my friends in one place? Also, I don’t care how much you guys disagree with me, we always end up having fun and learning stuff for you nerds!”
Neil watched quietly as Charlie searched the great hall for Cameron. He didn’t even say anything when he watched Charlie look over to the entrance anytime someone was walking in. It was Saturday morning so a lot of studying and a lot of hanging out was the plan for today.
“So yeah,” the group glanced up to see Cameron and Christopher walking over to the table. “If you need any help, just let me know.”
“Cool, thanks Rich.” Christopher smiled brightly before walking away from the group. Charlie would argue that the smile was way wider and brighter than it needed to be.
“Hello Cameron.” Charlie smiled, scooting over a bit to give him some place to sit.
“Hey everyone.” Cameron sat down and began putting food on top of his plate. He and Charlie shared a small look before both focusing on their food.
“Go on Charlie, tell us about your amazing ideas.” Neil reminded him before Charlie could get too deep into his own brain.
“Oh! Well first of all, I think we should all become animagi.” Charlie smiled proudly, Todd shared a small glance with Cameron. “And I think we should definitely do transfiguration as our next lesson. Also, Neil is going to win MVP today at the quidditch match but only if we help him.”
“And how are you going to do that exactly?” Neil laughed.
“I don’t know, we just need to tell people to make you an mvp.” Charlie smiled.
“I’ll try, last time me and Cam cheered for Neil, everyone in our house kept glaring at us.” Meeks glanced over to Cameron for confirmation, the other red head gave a small nod.
“Well I don’t care Meeks, the rest of Ravenclaw can kiss my-“
“Charlie.” Cameron quickly cut him off. Charlie just gave a small smile before turning his attention back to his food. Though the rest of the table was quiet to have a little quiet time to finish their food, they were more confused than anything else.
“Since when does Cameron tell you to be quiet and you actually listen?” Knox asked when it was just him and Charlie walking down the corridor.
“Since I don’t want him to leave us and hang out with the rest of those smarty pants.” Charlie shrugged, it was true, just not in the sense Knox was thinking.
“Okay since when did it matter if Cameron has other friends?”
“Since third year Knoxious, is it a crime that I like the people I hang out with?”
“I’m just wondering.” Knox threw his hands up in mock surrender. “This has nothing to do with Christopher?”
“Who?” Charlie asked, glancing up at Knox with a scrunched face. “Oh, no. I’m just saying, how are we supposed to pass our classes if we lose one of the smartest people we hang out with, Knox.”
Charlie started getting a little too defensive and stuffy for Knox’s liking, like usual. Knox didn’t want to argue, he knew how much Charlie loved it. He was happy that it was starting to get to the point where Charlie realized Cameron was important to the group and stopped trying to push him away. But Knox wondered what changed.
“Anyways, did you see how Neil kept staring at Todd?” Knox asked.
“Yes, I always see.” Charlie laughed. “Don’t you worry Knoxious, I can bet you five galleons that by the end of the year, those two will be together.”
“I fucking hope so!” Knox shouted. “If they don’t, I’ll throw a fit.”
“Right there with you.”
“Anyways, Gloria asked about you again.”
“For what?” Charlie groaned. Before he confessed his undying love for Cameron, he and Gloria had been going out. And by going out, it just meant they hung out when they were feeling, in other words, lonely. Except Charlie couldn’t lie to himself, or to Gloria, anymore and decided to cut things off. Gloria was fine with it, or so he thought, but then somehow convinced herself that Charlie is the love of her life.
Not to mention all the money his family has. So, if the two of them were to end up together, they could live a happy and luxurious lifestyle. Which is all Gloria could ever care for. Her grades weren’t excellent and her motivation to get a job after school was nonexistent.
“Something about telling all the other Slytherins that you’re the love of her life and asked me to ask you to talk to her.” Knox seemed like he was trying to remember. “I told her that you didn’t want to talk, and she got very upset.”
“Well Knox, my heart belongs to someone else.” Charlie admitted.
“And who is this poor soul?” Knox asked, genuinely curious on what he’s missed.
“That's private information Knox. We want to keep things on the down low until we’re ready to tell everyone.”
“Wow, this is the one time I’ve actually seen you keep a secret. That or you’re messing with me.” Knox laughed at Charlie’s scrunched up face. “But are you being serious? If so, I won’t ask anymore questions.”
“Yes, they really want to keep things a secret.”
“Well, as long as you’re happy.”
“Very.”
~~~
Now that students were allowed to sit wherever they wanted for the quidditch games, the poets took that to their full advantage. Not that it’s stopped Charlie before, he just had no friends in his own house. So why not just sit next to his boyfriend?
“Hi Cam.” Charlie smiled. He was sitting next to Meeks and Pitts. It took Cameron a little bit of time to walk up the bleachers and to find his friends. Todd and Charlie sat in the seats above the three.
“Hello everyone.” He smiled, moving to the side to slowly show the person behind him.
“And hello Christopher.” Meeks smiled. “Sitting with us today?”
“Yeah, if that’s okay with you all? Cameron said I could.”
“Yeah, that’s fine.” Pitts laughed.
“Thanks!”
“So? You have a shadow?” Charlie whispered to Cameron.
“Yeah, his only friend can’t hang out because she’s sick.” Cameron whispered back. “I offered to help him in transfiguration and to hang out with him today.”
“You’re such a good person.” Charlie smiled and the two turned their attention back to the game.
The game went off and the poets began cheering once Neil flew out into the sky. Cameron knew the basics of quidditch but he didn’t care too much, only when Neil was playing. Neil was extremely talented in quidditch and Chet, who was mostly Knox’s friend, was really good too.
Cameron watched the game and only cheered if Neil did something good or super cool. But other than that, he was helping his friend Christopher with some transfiguration homework. Charlie would glance over every once in a while to make sure Cameron was okay.
The poets watched the game with excitement and cheered everytime Neil did something cool, queuing Cameron to join in for a few seconds and then turning his attention back to the homework.
From the sounds of it the game sounded pretty interesting. “Go Neil!” Charlie would shout, and just like that Neil would fly right through the sky.
“He’s seriously a good seeker, could go pro if he wanted to.” Knox smiled.
The game continued for a little while but Ravenclaw stood no chance. Neil quickly caught the snitch and the stadium erupted into a loud roar, mostly cheering for Neil. The poets were cheering and jumping with excitement.
“Guess you don’t have to vote for him to be mvp.” Cameron smiled over to Charlie. It took everything for Charlie to not lean over and kiss his boyfriend.
The game ended and everyone was back in school. The boys went to congratulate their friend on his win. However, Neil’s ego grew ten times the size and decided to shout out that he was going to be throwing a party in the common room. Everyone cheered for that just as loud as when he won.
“This should be interesting.” Cameron said.
“Can’t wait.” Charlie smiled.