Intertwined

Chapter Six

Maggie couldn't believe how much she'd revealed of herself in one night. Really, it was amazing and terrifying. All her life she'd been trying to hide who she thought she truly was. That manipulative eleven year old who had killed with her meddling. But Carter allowed her to think that she was actually who she had been in all her time at Hogwarts, the sweet golden maiden who wouldn't hurt a fly. He'd allowed her for the first time to pull the blame for the death of that poor man away from herself. That she was her own person with tremendous will power, that she would stay the same person no matter who she dated or associated with. 'Because choices us make us who we are.' That was his saying.

No matter what she had to end things with Elijah, something she was not looking forward to. She did feel incredibly guilty about kissing Carter before Elijah and her were done. He was also part of her group of friends, and it would be hard to hang with out with them without him. First, she told her girlfriends that she didn't feel like she liked Elijah in the same way anymore. That she felt that they were just really good friends, who enjoyed spending time together, but that there was no romantic chemistry.

To her relief her friends agreed, even encouraging her to break things off as soon as possible. Her friend Violet said: "You don't want to wait until these feelings grow stronger, and you begin to resent him for your lack of passion for each other."

Chloe agreed, saying she knew it would end like this from the beginning. "I mean, the two of you were never really happy or excited, just content. Content is for married couples, and you can't start out this way. Romance needs a bit of fire doesn't it?" They all proceeded to wish her good luck for the undesirable task, predicting that their usual group would split in gender as the boys sided with Elijah, and the girls with Maggie, but they weren't too upset.

Maggie had woken up late, exhausted from her encounter with Carter (who she hadn't mentioned to the girls), and had missed breakfast. She caught Elijah as he was coming back into the common room. "Hey!" he said, a wide (but slightly forced, she thought) grin on his face. "I missed you at breakfast."

"Yeah, I was tired, can we go somewhere to talk?"  she asked hesitantly. His smile faltered for a second when he heard her tone, but followed he rout of the common room to an empty classroom nonetheless. "Elijah, I don't think we should keep dating. I like you, but there's no passion in our relationship, and I think we're better off as friends because of that."

"What?! Maggie, I really like you, I love hanging out with you! I thought we had a good time last night? Where is this coming from?"

"Elijah I think my contentment has just worn out, I want fire and I think I noticed that in a party atmosphere-"

"Wait, you noticed this last night?! You didn't happen to decide that when you were dancing with that Slytherin did you?" Maggie opened her mouth to counter, but he didn't let her. "I thought he was holding you much to close! And what did you whisper in his ear, hm ? That you wanted him too?!"

Maggie found herself in a dilemma. She always told the truth, and Elijah had pinpointed pretty much exactly what happened. But how to explain to him that she had had feelings for Carter since first year, without upsetting him further and making him feel used? It seemed her only option was to lie, which worried her, he was already making her lie. "No! I don't even know that boy, but he was very nice. I noticed when you went to bed at 11:30 and said goodnight, with a peck on the cheek! Not even a full out kiss! And we didn't make out once! That's why!"

"You want passion?" he asked growling low in his throat. He grabbed her sharply by her shoulders and kissed her. She responded minimally, but even his end felt forced.

"You see what I mean?" she asked hopefully.

"Yeah, I guess." he conceded.

"I do hope we can be friends in the future, because we're great friends, but I understand if you never want to be."

"No I do, I just need some time. I thought I loved you, this is messing me up. I'm sorry about what I said about you and the Slytherin."

"That's fine, take as much time as you need." she said carefully, not responding to his apology. "I should go." He didn't say another word to her as she quietly exited the room. As soon as the door was shut behind her she took off at half walk, half run toward the library. It was her safe haven and she needed to think. Elijah would be ok, and he understood. But she doubted he would be so understanding if she started dating the very boy he accused of ending their relationship. If she wanted to date Carter in the open, she would have to wait until Elijah's friendship with her was strong enough. Secret dating? That wasn't Maggie. She didn't do things like that. But the shield had been broken, and she couldn't hold back her feelings for the boy now.

Of course he was in the library when she came in, pouring over one of her favorite books. He looked up and flashed her a smile, she blushed and hurried away to a secluded corner of the stacks of books.

Pulling one out she sat down at the table. It was a saturday so she was wearing a sweater and a plaid miniskirt. She rubbed her thigh with nerves, half wanting never to see him again, half wanting him to come over.

A few minutes later he did indeed come over and sit down, not across from her, but near enough to talk to her at a low whisper, careful though it was unlikely many people would come to the library the saturday before winter break. "So, did you break it off with him?"

"Yes, but he accused me of doing it for you."

"Did you tell him you were?"

"How could I? It would make him needlessly angrier. I can't date you openly until I have a strong enough friendship with him."

"Why does he matter?" Carter hissed. "I want you, this is between you and me." He kissed her gently, and she swore he was addicting. She already loved tracing the shape of his lips.

Reluctantly, she broke away. "It should be between the two of us, but I can't do that to Elijah, and it would mess up all of my other friendships. You're a Slytherin, can't you deal with a secret relationship for a few months?"

"Of course I can, but I don't want to. What does Elijah matter anyways?"

"He matters because I care about him, and you shouldn't steam roll other peoples feelings just because it suits us." He shook his head and smiled slightly. 

"And you're worried about being bad?" He kissed her again, and she couldn't hold back a little a sigh of pleasure into his mouth. He broke away. "Just when do you think we can date, without it having to be a secret I mean?"

"Two, three months?" She said, melancholy.  "I need to know Elijah won't freak out. I do care about him, and I don't want to lose him, or my other male friends."

He raised bis eyebrow. "Just how many male friends do you have?" 

She whispered, laughing. "Don't be jealous already, I don't like jealous. Lets go find somewhere to...be alone. Meet me by the troll statue, but don't leave until I've been gone a few minutes." He nodded slightly. She put away the unread book and left. Once at the third floor she leaned against the statue and waited. He was there pretty quickly, and after she made sure no one was there she called forth the room of requirement, which they slipped into quickly.