𝐄𝐏𝐇𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐋 | g. w

4. mia and the quartet

"Thank God that's over", I groan as we leave the feast after having sat through Umbridge's never ending speech. I spot the twins, Lee and Alfie making their way towards the Gryffindor tower, laughing as they go. I give Luna a warm smile as I stop her, hinting at the fact that I wish to follow them.

"Go", she says, "Well meet up later".

"Thank you", I mouth, before running after my other friends, excited to be reunited with them once more.

Once I'm back with the quartet, we all head towards the Gryffindor common room, giving the Fat Lady the weeks password before she lets us venture inside. As I take in my surroundings, I can't help but feel a little bit jealous. Even though I consider the Ravenclaw dormitories to be very cozy and relaxing, it can't seem to hold a candle to where I am right now.

The room is draped in crimson, portraits lining the walls on each side. Opposite the stairs to the girl and boys dormitories is a small open fire, cracking soothingly. We seat ourselves just by it, on comfortable velvet sofas that can just about fit the five of us.

"So...", I start, carefully going over the things I want to say to them. I've been waiting for the perfect time to ask them why they haven't answered any of my letters this summer, and now seems as good a time as any. "I've been meaning to ask...", I continue, for some reason speaking quite slowly, as if I'm scared to find out the answer. Maybe they've grown tired of me, I think, going over all the possible reasons for them ghosting me.

The boys look at each other and then at me.

"I was just wondering why you haven't answered any of my letters this summer. I guess I just thought it just seemed quite strange." I frown, holding my breath and hoping they won't be mad at me for asking. I don't know why I would think that, but I'm not really thinking rationally these days.

"Well,—" Fred starts.

"—We wanted to—," George continued.

"—-But?", I ask, getting to  be quite annoyed at the way they only seem to make me more confused when they try to explain.

"We can't tell you", Alfie concludes, looking at me sadly and I feel a weight drop at the pit of my stomach.

What aren't they telling me?

"Oh. That's fine, I guess..." I stand up.

"Mia—-", George grasps at my hand, prompting me to look at him. His grin has turned into a deep frown and I can tell that whatever they're keeping from me is weighing heavily on him.

"—No, I get it. You can't tell me. I guess I just wished you'd trust me enough to share with me whatever's going on." I pull my hand back, letting his drop to his lap as I give them a final look of disappointment.

"I'm gonna head back. Goodnight". Then I leave for the Ravenclaw dormitories.

When I finally settle in my bed in the dorm which I share with Luna, Cho and Marietta, I can't help but feel heartbroken by the knowledge of my best friends keeping something fro me. Something that made them not keep in contact with me all throughout this summer. It's sucks, to be honest, feeling as if the few people you care about most in this world, don't trust you enough to share in their secrets.

"You alright there, Mia?", Luna asks kindly, a worried expression across her face. She smiles sadly, and I know she can tell that I'm broken up about something.

I shrug, letting my whole body fall into bed. "It's just—-I don't understand them sometimes. I though we were best friends, you know? I thought we told each other everything? But apparently I was dead wrong." I groan into my pillow, letting all my frustration out.

"I don't consider myself to know a lot about boys, but I think you should talk to them again. Give them a chance to explain. Who knows—maybe it was all a big misunderstanding?".

"Yeah—maybe." I whisper under my breath before heaving myself out of bed and getting myself ready for the night. Once I'm in bed again, it doesn't take long before I'm off to the land of dreams.

The following day, I try to stay clear of the boys, giving them the silent treatment and hoping they'll realise their mistake and come back asking for my forgiveness. Of course, they're only seventeen year old boys, and no such thing happens. Instead, I'm left walking in corridors hoping not to run into them, and in class,  I spend half my time worrying about our friendship.

Is this it? Is it over? Is this when they kick me to the curb?

After a whole day of wishing I never even asked them about it in the first place and praying things will go back to normal, I spot George walking my way. I'm just about to leave to walk into the Great Hall for dinner, when he grabs my arm and turns me around.

"Mia", he says quietly.

"George", I imitate, refusing to look into his eyes.

"I'm sorry".

"What for?", I ask demandingly, finally locking eyes with him. He looks sad, as if he hasn't slept in days.

"You know what for. I'm sorry for not telling you why we couldn't respond to you this summer. It's just—-it's dangerous. We'd tell you, but we're trying to keep you safe."

"I can take care of myself", I mutter annoyingly, resulting in that signature smirk growing on his face.

"Oh I know." He smiles before taking a deep breath. "Just—trust me. You're better off not knowing about it."

How I wish those last few words didn't leave his lips. I was so close to actually consider forgiving them, but then I realised something. How can I be friends with people who don't trust me? How can I abandon my self respect and let them treat me like this?

The answer is simple yet so so difficult;

I can't.

So I say to George, before turning around and heading back to the Ravenclaw common room;

"Then I guess I'm better off not knowing you either".

Even though it breaks my heart to do this, I feel I have no other choice, just like they chose not to tell me whatever they're keeping a secret. I can't keep putting my heart on the line like this, if I'm only going to get burned as a result. It's not fair.