Ambivalent → Hermione Granger [3] ✔

I 08 I Withdrawn

~*~

The next morning Alexander came to his senses. He believed he may have overreacted. What he saw wasn't real, he knew that, of course. It was just a boggart, a shapeshifter meant to get under his skin. Grandfather wasn't truly in the classroom nor was his mother.

It was all in his head. He understood that now.

He was a little annoyed at how much the boggart affected him, how it managed to manipulate him by using his grandfather. And he'd let it.

Worse still, was how everyone witnessed it. Now they were going to think he was insane. A weak little boy who feared his grandfather. He cringed, recalling their bewildered expressions. He couldn't lose focus and control like that again.

Yet, the incident baffled him. He'd come across boggarts before when reading about them. They're supposed to be easy creatures to defend against. Alexander felt confusion grip him. So why did it feel like there was a gaping hole in his chest? Every time he pictured his grandfather's cruel smirk, his words echoing in his mind, the ache in his chest deepened.

Alexander had an early breakfast. He wanted to leave before his friends could ambush him. He could tell from Hermione's determined glint yesterday that she was buzzing to speak to him. She had a talent for poking into things that shouldn't be poked. Alexander both admired and hated her for it. He shoved a few mouthfuls of egg and toast into his mouth and hurried out before any Gryffindor saw him.

The corridors were mostly empty to his relief. It was too early for most people to be awake apart from a few fifth years and seventh years who rose to revise for their exams.

Alexander mindlessly reached inside his pocket and pulled out his mother's lighter, suddenly remembering that he had it. An urge overcame him, and he then found himself staring at the packet of Marlboro thrown on top of his trunk. He'd been looking at it for quite some time before he reached out and grabbed it. Fiddling with the cover, he grabbed one. It was better than nothing.

He shoved away the disapproving voice in his head that was telling him it wasn't a good decision – which sounded remarkably like Eliot.

On his way to the courtyard, while running his fingers along the smooth cigarette, he bumped into a solid figure. Alexander glanced up in surprise.

"Woah, watch it —" said the other person.

A familiar face peered at him in shocked surprise before turning into relief. They quickly shoved a glass bottle into their robes. Alexander had a sneaky suspicion it was Firewhiskey.

"Oh, it's only you, Laurent. Merlin, you gave me a good scare," grinned the other boy.

Alexander narrowed his eyes, wondering where he'd seen the other boy when he realised. It was Sebastian, the fifth year he'd encountered on the train. His light blonde hair was mussed but his robes were tidy as ever.

Sebastian noticed him staring and pressed a finger to his lips in a shushing gesture. "Be a good chap and don't tell Flitwick, will you?" he said sheepishly. "Or McGonagall for that matter. I'll never hear the end of it."

Alexander shrugged carelessly. "Sure, if you tell me how you managed to smuggle the bottle into the school," said Alexander with a note of curiosity. "Aren't you meant to be seventeen to even wrap your hands around a Firewhiskey bottle let alone enter a bar serving them?"

"Ah, that's my secret to keep, Laurent," smiled Sebastian, tapping the end of his nose. "As I'm sure you have yours." He looked down at the cigarette Alexander held, a mirthful smirk on his face.