Fantastic Beasts: Alone

6 - Return

"Lia Scamander!" I laughed as I heard the sound of Edwin's voice. We had just been in the feast in the Great Hall, but unfortunately, we had missed each other. I had been staying at school over the holidays, and I was pretty much alone, apart from, of course, a rotation of professors looking after me. I turned and saw Edwin walking with Ellen and Evelyn. I walked towards them, smiling.

"Hello, you three!" 

Evelyn laughed. "And how's our Scamander friend doing?" She asked.

"Yeah, I'm doing all right. You?"

Edwin hugged me suddenly. I looked at the other two girls for help. They just laughed quietly together.

"Edwin?" Edwin finally released me and held my hand.

"I, uh... Could we talk?" I looked at Ellen and Evelyn, who smiled at us and left. I turned to Edwin, confused.

"Edwin? You... uh, you alright?" Edwin sighed and covered my eyes. "Edwin?"

"Let me take you somewhere... Please?"

I laughed nervously and nodded. "Okay." I closed my eyes and I felt Edwin hold my hand again.

I felt Edwin guiding me outside, in a grassy area. Where even were we? I asked this to Edwin, but he just told me to wait and see, so I gave up trying to get answers and let him guide me. I fell over something, but Edwin caught me.

"Tree root." He said, before leading me again. I couldn't tell where we were at all. I presumed we were in some kind of forest, because I kept on falling on more tree roots. Edwin finally told me to stop and open my eyes. I did so and saw Edwin facing me, holding out a Chocolate Frog.

"Lia, would you, uh, consider being my girlfriend?" He asked, looking down nervously. 

"I... I..." I laughed softly, nodding. "Yes, yes. Yes, Edwin. I'd- I'd love to!" Edwin smiled broadly and gave me the Chocolate Frog. I pocketed it and hugged him. He definitely looked rather flustered, but I'd never seen him look so happy. I smiled too. Seeing Edwin happy made me happy as well. I suppose that's why we loved each other.

"And what were you two talking about?" Ellen asked us as we returned to the castle. We both looked down, awkward.

"Well?" She prompted after a pause.

I stammered. "I-I-I... u-uh... w-w-w-well, uh... w-we, uh... um..." I looked back up to see Evelyn crossing her arms, tilting her head, and Ellen putting her hands on her hips, eyebrows raised.

"Uh... w-well... um, we were-"

"Congratulations, you two!" My stammering was interrupted by Clarice and Anna running to us all. Ellen frowned.

"Congratulations?"

Clarice laughed, shaking her head at us both. Edwin and I looked at each other, bracing ourselves...

"Haven't they told you yet?"

"Wait a minute..." Evelyn scoffed. "You're dating, aren't you?"

Ellen laughed. "I should have guessed! Well, yes, congrats, you two! When were you going to tell us the truth?"

"Uh... I..." Edwin shrugged. "Merlin knows..." We all laughed, before we went our separate ways to the dorms.

The following day, Edwin and Evelyn were both in the big Slytherin versus Gryffindor match, and I decided to watch and cheer for them. Edwin was one of the Gryffindor chasers, and he was well on his way to becoming Quidditch captain for Gryffindor in my opinion, whereas Evelyn was the Slytherin Keeper. I sat in the stands with Ellen, Fern, and Anna. Madam Hooch, who was the referee for the game, released the Bludgers, then the Golden Snitch, and then the Quaffle, and the match began.