𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬

6. What does "friend" really mean pt 2

Barty's Pov
Library
Friday, fifth week

"I think she's nice." I shrugged, trying to make the small group of boys realise their harsh words towards the poor girl.

Mulciber's angry look turned to pity. Honestly I didn't think the muscles in his face were capable of moving like that.

"She will be useful, so it doesn't matter if any of us like her or not." Evan stated, making a silence fall over the group.

Evan was always either the life of the party or one of lord Voldemorts biggest, bestest, bitches, lately it's gotten worse when regulus isn't around. I guess that when he shows his true colours.

"She's close to Dumbledore and the marauders, it's perfect. She'll know if an attack is coming and she'd obviously tell regulus since their becoming so close." He added to his previous statement.

It hurt seeing regulus with Maeve, I don't know why but I still like her, it's been over a year since the whole "dating" thing happened.
I mean I've lost feelings for her, but she was my first love, even if it was one sided.
I guess I'll always care.

"What do we do in the meantime? Are we supposed to act like we're friends with her?" Mulciber let out a humourless laugh at the idea, crossing his arms and furrowing his brows.

"No, we just show her human decency. It's more than we show most people." Evan shrugged as he sank further into the leather lounge.

I'm not going to lie, we were a peculiar bunch. From Evan being a control freak, Mulciber never being able to focus for more than five seconds, Severus's obsessive tendencies, regulus's self esteem issues, my constant need for validation, and not to mention all of our mummy and daddy issues that cause this.

The boys always thought that I was in love with Maeve because she fed my need for validation, but it wasn't, it was because she was like me in a sense.

I pity her for what she's gone through, and going through. I guess it was seeing her so vulnerable is something that was attracted to, it was weird what I felt for her, but it felt good.
Well until she full smashed my heart that is.

Maeve's Pov
Library
Friday, fifth week

My heart pounded in my chest as I made my way over to the group of Slytherin boys, I gripped onto my book that rested up between my arm and the side of my chest.
If I wanted theses boys to be my friends I had to put myself out there.

"Hey guys." I said with a big enough smile to be friendly but not to big that it made me a try hard. I don't think they really cared about how I smiled but it was something I seemed to care about a lot.

"Hey Maeve." Barty sent back the smile before he opened up his book again. I soon noticed the group had pulled out books, each one of them had their faces buried nose-deep into books that they had no business reading.

Yes, I got the hint, but I tent to push past the line when I comes to making friends,
But because I had nothing to say, I stood awkwardly in front of the group who couldn't bother to look at me. The clutch my hand had on my book tightened and ten seconds had now past. But it was interrupted by evens book slamming shut in annoyance.

"Maeve, can I talk to you?" Even asked with a bitch of a smile.

"Sure." I shrugged as I was guided into an empty row of bookshelves.

"Look, Maeve, I mean this in the nicest way possible." He paused, trying to find a nice way to say the shitty news.
"We're not your friends. We'll sit with you at lunch, show you respect, and make conversation when needed."

A slight pain burned in my chest as I begged my eyes not to cry.

"Okay... I guess I'll go."

But before I could escape he grabbed my arm.

"This is for your own good, I'm truely sorry if it hurts." A small pitiful smile was painted on his face. "Maeve, It doesn't matter how inviting the darkness is, It will destroy someone with a kind heart. Someone like you."

I couldn't open my mouth incase a sob fell out, so I pressed my lips together and nodded before shuffling away, trying to leave the library quickly.

As I pushed past the dirty blonde Slytherin girl while I made my exit, her hand grabbed my arm.
It was firm but caring, like a mother trying to get her child to calm down and not run off.

"Mae? What's wrong?" Amara's asked in a soft whisper.
Her voice was so child-like, it was full of innocence or maybe ignorance, either way it made me feel good, like I was safe with her and she would never want to hurt me.

"I'm fine, you can stop pretending to care." I replied bluntly pulling my arm away.
I know I just said that she made me feel safe, but she's in with Evan and Evan and I'm not. Simply we can't be friends.

"What are you talking about?!" Amara uttered as she followed behind me, practically tripping over her own feel from how flustered my comment made her.

"I'm your friend, why would you think that?" She went on trying to get my focus but I pushed past her.
I don't know why, but the idea of her not caring about me hurt, really hurt, like my heart was pumping shards of glass. I didn't think I wanted her, she was just some girl who wanted me to tutor her, why did I care some much?

"Evan said something didn't he?" The dirty blonde stood frozen as she asked.

"So you admit it?" I say with a broken voice as I turn around to face her.

She pulled me into the closet empty corridor.

"What? No! Evan just wants to keep you out of the group because your a Gryffindor and stuff... I really care- I mean- your my friend."

I looked down at my shoes, holding my breath to stop myself from crying.

"Look you mean so much to me, you just don't understand.... I know you more than you think." She reassured me as she grabbed my hands in hers gently.

I sad smile painted my face, I don't know if she could the tear that rolled down my face since I was still looking down, I hope not, but the small kiss she planted on my head said otherwise.

A/n

Sorry I haven't updated in forever, I've been really busy with school and been really burnt out.
I don't think I like this chapter but I really want to update so I hope it's good enough.