the school of extraordinary lovers

XXVI

It rains the day Louis returns to Ravenoir. He doesn't know what that means if it means anything at all. He tries not to think about it. Witches seek signs and omens in everyday instances. Vampires — particularly purebloods — are too wealthy and too eternal to be bothered. But the inscrutable grey shrouding the town does little to improve his already dubious mood. At one point during the day, he was excited. At another, he was terrified. Now that he's been welcomed by his siblings and the staff, now that he's survived lunch with his father and his father's newest consort, now that he's had a drink too many with Zayn, and sits alone in his childhood bedroom, the trouble with his return is apparent and stark.

And the trouble has a name that starts with 'h' and possesses an alternative definition. 'Harry', a verb, meaning 'to persistently harass', 'to annoy' or 'to assault'. All of which is true for his former duet partner.

When Louis first left, he was propelled by an urgency to appease his father and learn what he needed to learn so that he could get back as quickly as possible. Propelled by the promise of Harry waiting for him.

He's passed that now, but he spends most of his first day on campus with his gaze trailing after every brown-haired student that passes through his peripheral. He sees Harry like a phantom at every turn. He hears the almost ghostly echo of his violin.

So perhaps when he finally sees him in Jude O'Meara's third-year class, he stares as hard and as steady as he does because he's not entirely sure he believes his own eyes. Not only is Harry real, but he's the same. As beautiful and familiar as ever. Except the boy Louis once knew promised to write to him and never did. The boy Louis remembers would never look at him the way Harry does right then. Like Louis doesn't belong here or anywhere near him. Like he was right to leave and wrong to ever come back.

†

Sometimes having superior hearing is more of a curse than it is a blessing. If Louis focuses, he can hear every word of Harry's conversation with his friends across the canteen. He tries not to focus, but once he picks up Harry's voice in the chorus of voices, it's impossible not to.

Currently, they're organising plans to go to the cinema that weekend. Niall wants to invite some girl named Ada. Iris whines about being the only single one amongst them, which piques Louis' interest.

"I'm single," Harry interjects.

"What about that first year?"

Harry's brows wrinkle. "Pauline?"

"Yes, you've been to the pub with her three times."

"I'm tutoring her in alchemy," says Harry.

Niall laughs. "Just alchemy?"

Harry rolls his eyes but stops short of outright confirming or denying anything. Which makes Pauline the third girl to be associated with him as far as Louis is aware. There were always girls around who fancied Harry when they were younger, so it's no surprise he's got a rotation, and Louis can't pass any judgement about that because he's only been here a week and already has two girls referring to themselves as his girlfriends.

One of those girls, Sophia, rises from the seat beside Louis. "Making a stop at the lounge before class. Want to join me?"

"I'm not thirsty, but thanks," Louis says, removing a cigarette from his case.

Niall says something that makes Harry laugh and Louis is a little annoyed he missed whatever it was. And maybe a little annoyed that Niall can make Harry laugh.

"You don't have plans with Julie tonight, do you?" Sophia asks.

"Nope," Louis says.

Harry stacks a novel atop his notebook and curls both into his arm.