The Year of the Revolution IV. The Outbreak

9. To bed

When Sev got to the Common Room of the dungeons, which was crowded, since it was Sunday and people were rested, he saw Lauren writing alone, concentrating, with her back turned, at the table in front of the glass window, but at the opposite end to the one they used to sit together.

Good... she's doing her homework. Do I greet her? I don't want to disturb her, but it would be nice to say good night. I'm going to go up for the notebook to write down what Cecile has explained to me, at least that about the three chords, less I forget it. I'll sit in my corner and we'll chat a bit.

He did it. She hasn't realized yet that I've sat here. I am going to take the opportunity to draw three diagrams of the keyboard and write down the chords with the corresponding fingers.

When he finished he projected to her, "Good night gorgeous."

She pretended that she was still writing. "Hello! What a surprise!"

"I'm glad you're studying."

"It is fantastic to do it with your help. How well you write and what beautiful handwriting you have."

"Look who is speaking, I still remember your letter," Sev said. "Too bad I burned it."

"Yeah... you hadn't discovered the warding spell yet."

"I hadn't."

"I will write you another so you can keep it," Lauren said.

"Oh... thank you very much, I will never get rid of it."

"I plan to do the same with all yours, I am not going to burn anything. I've talked to Lily for a while in the Library. She was with Lupin, but not with her friend."

"Cecile," he clarified.

"Ah okay. What are you up to?"

Ah... she's curious, Sev thought. "You will know at the proper time. It's nothing dangerous."

"You mysterious... I can tell it has something to do with the Room of Requirement."

This one is able to read me to find out. I'll occlude it. "You are right. But respect my privacy, please."

"That always, do not doubt it. Can't you give me a clue?" she asked.

"I can't."

"Well, I'll wait. Knowing you, I'm sure it's worth it."

"I hope so," he replied.

"Go to bed, come on, you've gotten up very early. We'll talk at breakfast or in class."

"Okay, but don't go to bed late either, don't think about staying up reading."

"No. I trust you," Lauren said. "As soon as I'm done with this I'm going to sleep."

That it will be past midnight, Sev thought. "Good night gorgeous."

She looked at him. "Good night, sweetie."

Merlin... I'm crazy about her.

Lauren looked down and focused again, and Sev went to bed.

The next day, in Arithmancy, he explained to Anthony how to get to Barnabas's portrait through the passage from the third to the seventh floor, asking him the three of them, Jack, Deborah and him, to come after dinner. He didn't told him yet that it was the Room of Requirement.