Coiled (Book 1 of 2)

Rosier

I wait until I return from my meeting with Regulus. There, in the quiet of my dorm, I allow myself the smallest secret smile.

That was ...

... Unexpectedly pleasant.

And when we sat next to one another, with his hand right there –

No - no!

NO!

Are you out of your mind?

Snapping back to reality, I scold myself for slipping and daring to entertain such a treacherous thought.

I mean, really -

Are you mad?

You don't even know him. Not really. You can't truly feel any real attraction to him.

Sighing, I set my bag down on my trunk and slip my robe off, folding it neatly over the foot of my bed. As I roll the cuffs of my jumper, I sternly reminded myself how inappropriate - not to mention completely unacceptable - it is for me to think about Regulus like this.

You shouldn't be enjoying or looking forward to anything regarding him.

Seemingly moving automatically, I remove my bracelet and set it aside.

It'll pass.

Of course it'll pass.

It's just the novelty of finally meeting him. Residual adrenaline since the guys made such a big deal over the pairing.

Leaning forward, I glance at my reflection in the mirror as I run my hands through my hair.

It won't go anywhere. The mere idea's absurd. He'd never -

As my thoughts grow louder, I stick my tongue out at my reflection.

It's completely nothing.

And yet ...

The knock at my door brings me immediately out of my thoughts.

"Come in?"

I've barely got the words out before the door flies open and in pours Lily, Marlene, Dorcas, and Mary.

Ah, so that's where roomie's been, with the other girls.

"Y/N!"

Mary reaches me first, taking my hand in hers and pulling me down onto my bed, the rest of them hopping on as well.

The bed's crowded with all of us on it together like this. For a moment, my mind drifts back to our Year One nights together.

... How huge the beds had seemed back then;

How tiny we were.

Little mice huddled together with plenty of room to spare.

And now, all grown up, practically piled on top of one another ...

We settle there on the bed, Mary, Lily, and I leaning shoulder to shoulder, our backs against my headboard. At the foot of the bed, Dorcas pulls Marlene close to her, her arms draped around her shoulders affectionately.

Finally, Mary clears her throat meaningfully, "... Well?"

"Well, what?"

I murmur my reply as nonchalantly as I can. Judging from their faces, I've failed handily.

Marlene lets out a sharp laugh at this, "Oh come now! You know what."

Lily's voice, drifting into my ear from her place beside me, "... Tell us everything."