Always There For You (Harry Potter OC X OC)

39. Butterflies-

The room was quiet. Classes didn't seem important. It was raining outside. Time was midnight. She was bundled in thick blankets, looking out at a window.

No one, not even Sandra, knew she had been crying. As time was ticking, she lulled asleep, feeling bad about herself, remembering Toby.

Her parents stood side by side. Toby walked up to her in the dark. 'I don't like you anymore,' he said. Joel was there. His owl perched up on his raised arm. 'Have you seen Flurry? Oh... what's that Flurry? She fancies me? No way, we're friends.' He laughed. Sue and Isobel whispered to each other.

'Look at her.'

'What's so good about her?'

'She looks dumb.'

'I know. Loook at her ugly hair,' one of them said.

Sandra stood behind her. 'Lizzy, are you keeping secrets from me? I thought we're friends.'

***

A door creaked open.

Someone touched Lizzy's forehead. The dream felt so vivid. She opened her eyes, escaping her dream with a tired groan.

'How're you feeling?' asked a voice.

Lizzy opened her eyes and saw Sandra, looking.

'It's free period before lunch. I can hang out with you until then,' Sandra said and sat at the end of the bed, taking out her wand. She flew books around the room, entertaining herself. 'I challenged Toby right before tranfiguration class. It was a helluva bickering.' Sandra laughed. 'His friends wanted to help him. Markus and Carl stepped up to help me.'

'You don't have to do that... You'll make it worse.'

'I'm not letting him tremple you like that. We just got back to Hogwarts and he just breaks up with you? That's so mean!'

'Just let it be, San.'

'If we see him talk up to you, we'll beat him down into a pulp.'

Lizzy snorted.

'So he doesn't like you anymore? Are you feeling alright?'

'Yeah...' Lizzy didn't have the guts to tell her about Joel's note.

'He's so mean. Can't believe when we've just arrived back in Hogwarts... He must have thought about it over Christmas.'

'Maybe...' She snorted, hiding the deep the guilt of the real deal.

Sandra grinned. 'We all got detention with McGonnagall. You're welcome.'

'San.' She got up, looking appalled, laughing in disbelief. 'I can't believe you.'

The inter-cup quidditch week came around. The first game of the year had the hufflepuff versus the gryffindor.

Lizzy and her friends were ready to support their house. Lizzy had yellow paint, streaking under her eyes, like Sandra. Her hair was tied up for practicality, knowing she would be jumping around and cheering for the hufflepuff team all day long.

Markus had a dramatically crazy face painting. He added a badger hat and the house's scarf to complete the get up.

Carl did the most mininal of the groul. No paints on his face, no quidditch merch. He had thought that just by wearing the house's scarf was enough to show people who he was supporting. And that it was more about to combat the cold air than the first.

They headed to the pitch. Half of the bleachers jad been filled in when they arrived. Lizzy and her friends settled on the middle half, next to some second year gryffindors. They exchanged gimmics. It was all fun and games though. The gryffindors were friendly, as always, with the hufflepuffs.