Almost

Chapter 46: Bellow

"Harper?" she said softly, watching him jump in his seat. "Sorry, I should have knocked."

She walked around to the open chair in front of him and was immediately taken aback.

"Bellow," she said, recognizing him and the name.

He seemed to recognize the name too, his eyes widening like saucers.

"I promise, miss, I really didn't mean to—"

"No, no, I know. It's really not a big deal. Well, now it isn't—honestly, I probably would have preferred the bludger, but—"

"I know your fiancé is super important and everything, the bat just slipped and—"

"Harper," she said, putting a hand on his shoulder. "I promise, that's not why you're here. I didn't even put two and two together until I saw your face."

"So, you're okay? I didn't hurt you or anything?"

She looked at the poor kid's face and her heart melted. She decided he didn't really need to know about what had happened to her shoulder that day.

"Good as new," she assured him. "Don't even have a bruise anymore."

"So, I'm not in trouble for hitting you? Ezra Crawley isn't having me arrested?"

Katherine chuckled, looking down at the table. "No. Ezra didn't have you arrested. And you aren't in trouble. Let's start over—I'm Katherine. Katherine Waine."

"Harper Bellow," he offered, taking the hand she extended.

"What year are you, Harper Bellow?"

"Third," he answered. "I'm in Thunderbird. But I guess you already know that."

She gave him a soft smile. "I like your colors much better than Wampus. I'm sorry you didn't win."

His eyes crinkled. "Ezra Crawley is a Wampus Quidditch legend."

"Don't remind him," she laughed. "There are a lot of Quidditch players in my family, but I've never much understood it, I'm sorry to say. Flying scares me. Have you been on the team long?"

"This is my first year. I'd really like to be Keeper eventually, but there were only really Beater spots open."

"What about the rest of school? Do you like your classes?"

"My brother and sister are the brains," he shrugged. "I do okay, but not like them."

"What are their names?"

"Josh is my half-brother; Kayla is my sister."

"And were they in Thunderbird, too"

Harper scratched his head uncomfortably. "Josh isn't like us—he's a No-Maj, I mean. My parents are both wizards, but his dad wasn't and he just didn't... well, I guess it's complicated."

"I have my fair share of family complication," she assured him.

He gave her an almost smirk, as if it was enough to ply him to keep talking. "It's not so bad, really. Josh is really smart anyways, he's getting his PhD in some sort of astrology physics thing. I don't normally understand a word he says. But he tries, even came to that Quidditch game with my parents and Kayla."

"And what's she like?"

"She's funny," he answered. "She's a fifth year, in Pukwudgie. Brilliant, but you'd never know it. She helps me study sometimes."

"And do you have a favorite subject?"

"I think Care of Magical Creatures. It's my first year taking it, but I like being outside."