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JANUARY 1977
6th Year
• • • •
"And back on board we go." Tobias sighed, pulling himself onto the Hogwarts Express.
"You say that like you don't want to get on." Lydia smiled as they both waved their last goodbyes to their families.
"Yes, because going back to Hogwarts means homework, trying not to get detention-"
"Facing your feelings." Lydia added as they walked down the aisle of the train.
"Shut up!" Toby blushed.
Lydia smiled, "Never."
"'Sup bros." A voice called out and Toby let out a loud breath of air as he felt a weight on his back.
"Stop doing that." The boy said with a small laugh.
"Why?" Avery chuckled, "It's funny."
"Yeah, for you." Toby rolled his eyes, shoving the girl off of his back.
"Exactly." Avery smiled, greeting Lydia with a kiss on the cheek.
Lydia eyed her wearily, "You're awfully cheery."
Avery shrugged, "I had a good Christmas."
A smirk made its way onto Toby's lips, "How good, exactly? My spidey senses are tingling."
"Shut up, Toby-Man." Aver rolled her eyes.
The Hufflepuff boy threw his hands in the air, "It's stuck!"
"Just like Spider-Man to a wall." Lydia nodded, her and Toby high-fiving.
Avery let out a groan, "You two are such nerds."
Lydia grinned, squeezing the Gryffindor's cheeks, "And you love us."
"Hey guys." A voice said and the three of them looked up to see Addeline stood across from them.
"Hey, Addie." The girls smiled.
"Hey," Toby nodded, awkwardly clearing his throat, "Hey, Ads - I mean, Addie. Addeline."
"Stop." Lydia whispered.
"Yep."
"Uh, this carriage's free." Avery said, pointing at the empty compartment next to them.
"Yes, and we shall go into it." Toby nodded, ducking into the empty space.
Addeline turned to her two friends with a raised eyebrow, "Is he okay?"
Lydia shrugged, "He's Toby. Is he ever okay?"
Addeline nodded, "Fair point." She nodded, she and Avery entering the compartment.
Lydia let out a small sigh, going to follow her friends when she heard someone shout out her name.
"Lydia!"
The brunette turned her head to the left to see the Marauders about to enter a carriage a few feet down from her and her friends.
"Hi." The Hufflepuff sent them all a smile before they entered their compartment, one of them hanging back.
Lydia sent a soft smile and a small wave to Remus, a smile which quickly turned into a frown when the boy only sent her a small nod before following his friends. The girl's frown deepened as she looked down, picking at the skin around her fingers.
"Lyds."
She looked up, seeing Avery sticking her head out of the compartment, "You coming in?" Avery asked.
Lydia swallowed thickly, glancing over at where Remus was stood, before nodding and following the Gryffindor into the carriage, sitting next to her. She raised an eyebrow when she saw Toby and Addeline sat across from her, Toby pushing his side into the window as though he was trying to get as far away from her as possible, not seeing the disheartened look on Addeline's face.
***
After Dumbledor's new year speech, the Hogwarts students were left to dig into the feast, which they all did so without hesitation.
"You realise Addie thinks you hate her now." Lydia said.
Across from her, the piece of chicken dropped out of Toby's mouth, "What?"
Lydia shrugged, "Well, with the way you were acting towards her on the train here, I thought you hated her for a minute."
"But I don't hate her," Toby shook his head, looking at Lydia like he was a wounded puppy, "It's the complete opposite, which is actually the problem."
"Toby, you loving her doesn't mean that you can just completely ignore her." Lydia told him.
The boy held out his hands, "Well, then what am I supposed to do? I look at her and I just want to her, but if I tell her, then I'll ruin everything."
Lydia shrugged, "Maybe it won't."
Toby raised an eyebrow, "Do you know something I don't?"
"I'm just saying that you won't know until you try."
Toby pointed his fork accusingly at Lydia, "You know something."
"Get your fork out of my face." Lydia chuckled.
"Not until you tell me." Toby shook his head, only pushing the utensil closer to her.
"Stop." Lydia laughed, hitting the prongs of his fork with her spoon.
"Please tell me." Toby begged.
"Tobias." Lydia warned in a low voice.
"Okay, fine," Toby shrugged, retracting his fork, "I'll get it out of you."
"Sure."
"I will."
"Good luck with that."
"Thank you, I'll need it."
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