Alone

Chapter 23

The news that the famous heroine of Hogwarts was no longer available to be dated on the night of the Yule Ball spread around the school like a wildfire.

Marian hadn't told anyone besides Ominis about it and yet, by the time they both made their way across the Transfiguration Courtyard to meet up with Sebastian, everyone seemed to know about it.

She felt as if everyone was staring at her, both girls and boys turning their heads before looking away and whispering to their friends.

Trying to ignore the spiteful glances some five-year Slytherin girls shot her way, she reckoned it was commonly knows she was going to the ball with the six-year-heartthrob Sebastian Sallow, too.

Ominis still was rather reserved and stayed quiet most of the way. She didn't fail to notice though that he kept a lot less distance between them than usual, almost as if he was trying to shield her from the glances of their classmates. Marian didn't mind.

When they finally reached the Transfiguration classroom, she exhaled relieved and plopped into her seat.

Ominis took the empty seat beside her, still remaining silent. Marian suppressed a sigh, racking her brain for something to talk about to him that didn't involve the topic of the Yule Ball, his best friend or questions about what he thought of the whole thing.

But before she could come with up anything, they were joined by Sebastian, closely followed by Garreth.

Sebastian gave her a small smile and a wink before being shooed away from her desk by Garreth, who shot a rather gloomy, out-of-character look after the two Slytherin boys.

Then he took his seat beside her, giving her a wary look.

"How much did he pay you?"

Marian lifted one brow, already annoyed.

"Good morning, Garreth. How are you today?"

He sighed and rolled his eyes, pulling up a rather pouty looking face.

"Sorry. Good morning to you, too. Would be better if I hadn't woken up to those news..."

She frowned, giving him a considering look.

"You... weren't really going to ask me, were you?"

He just shrugged, arms crossed.

"Doesn't matter now, does it?"

Marian bit her lip, suddenly feeling her conscience prick her. She had laughed at him when he had made the offer at the beginning of the year. Apparently, he had been more serious than she had assumed and she hadn't even properly turned him down.

"Garreth, I'm sorry. Sebastian is a really good friend, that's the only reason I agreed to go with him."

Again, her conscience pricked her.

Lies.

Garreth made an even poutier face.

"I thought I was your friend, too."

She channelled an annoyed groan into a long exhale and nudged him gently with her elbow.

"Of course you're my friend. I don't see why I shouldn't promise you a dance or two."

That seemed to do the trick. Garreth's features lit up a bit and he sighed, nodding.

"I'll take what I can get. That also means I'll have to come up with a date of my own now. There's no way I'm showing up alone like a pity pumpkin."

Marian didn't know what a pity pumpkin was, but she still chuckled along with Garreth, relieved to see him moving past the whole thing.

They spent the rest of the time before the start of class with debating on how realistic it was for him to get himself an eligible girl as a date and who was up as candidates.