In the Shadow of Seventh year

Chapter 4: A Trip and a Talk

On the way to the Greenhouses with Natty, Garreth and Poppy, your mind was still going over what happened yesterday with Sebastian.
   At dinner he hadn't been in the Great Hall, though Ominis assured you he was eating. According to him, Sebastian had been mostly coped up in their room being a bit moody, but aside from that there didn't seem to be anything wrong. He had been mostly working on his assignments for the Curse-breaking course he was following and you were relieved he didn't seem to be purposely avoiding you.

This morning at breakfast he hadn't been present either, but then neither were Ominis, Anne or Nerida so you assumed that was probably because they were just sleeping in. Still, it weighed on you and if there was a way to turn back time to prevent all of this, you would've done it. You knew you had messed up and it made you anxious to make it up to him as soon as he would let you.

It didn't take long before you all had the amount of Sopophorous beans that you all needed. With some help from Poppy, Samantha and even Leander –much to Garreth's chagrin as he begrudgingly thanked his fellow Gryffindor– it all took no longer than half an hour to get the three of you the amount needed and even a little extra.
   Afterwards, you were all ready to leave and go to Hogsmeade, when Leander asked Poppy if she had a moment. Garreth, afraid Leander would follow them otherwise and try to tag along with them, urged her to go talk to him and "keep him busy, we'll see you at the school gates, but please don't let on that we're going to Hogsmeade". Poppy wasn't happy, but agreed. It wouldn't do her any good either bumping in Leander there.
   You were sure there was more going on between Leander and Garreth than he let on, but you decided not to bring it up right now.

At the school gates Sebastian, Ominis and Anne were already waiting when you walked up.
"You guys are fast!" Anne said with a smile. "I thought it would take a bit longer– wait, wasn't Poppy with you?"
   "Leander wanted to ask her something and Garreth didn't want him to follow us, so he urged her to talk to him and meet us right after." Natty explained with a roll of her eyes to her boyfriend. The ginger held up his hands. "I'm sorry, but I just really don't want to risk him tagging along with us to Hogsmeade. Besides, it's just Leander."
   Ominis just shook his head with a sigh. "Let's just hope he won't take too much of her time."
You took this opportunity to ask what was on your mind earlier. "So why is Leander possibly tagging along so bad?" Sebastian immediately piped up. "It's Leander Prewitt." Like that was explanation enough.
   Ignoring him, you looked at Garreth suspiciously. "It seems like there's more going on than just wanting to distance yourself from him and his friends."

Natty nudged him and gave a nod, as if telling him it was okay to share.
The Gryffindor sighed. "We had a bit of a falling out this summer." His girlfriend cleared her throat and he threw his hands in the air. "Alright! Alright. Ever since he's been hanging around Duncan Hobhouse, Eric Northcott, Finley Parkinson and a bunch of others since the end of last year, he's changed for the worst." Garreth started explaining. "They're all Purebloods that look down on anyone who isn't. Leander's been getting more and more like them and at one point he dared to call my family 'blood-traitors' just because we associate with Muggleborns and a cousin of mine is engaged to a Muggle."
   As much as you had always thought Leander to be a bit too prideful and never liked his attitude, it did surprise you that he would go as far as to insult Garreth and his family. Then again, if he really hung out with someone like Duncan Hobhouse...
   "Who's Finley Parkinson?" You asked curious, vaguely recognizing the name.
Garreth huffed. "He's a Slytherin. Him and his posse like to bully people. You'll probably recognize him as the one that made fun of Poppy when she fell down because of me on our first night here. His companion was Delilah Vane, a Ravenclaw."
   You did remember those two. It was instant recognition as they were also the ones that made fun of Poppy with Persephone in fifth year.
   "Anyway, since our families are good friends, Leander still tries to talk to me if he gets the chance. Hoping I'd join him and his new friends, but I am just done. If he or any of his friends tagged along to Hogsmeade, it would ruin the whole trip for me."