𝐂𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐋𝐄𝐒 𝐂𝐑𝐔𝐌𝐁𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐆 (OC x OC)

[002] Chapter 33

Annelise

I wait impatiently in The Great Hall for my friends to return from Professor Dumbledore's office. If they get expelled, I might hit someone.

Louis and Ron walk into The Great Hall by themselves, Harry and Makayla still missing. Either way, I run over and give Louis the tightest hug. "Are you guys okay? Are you getting expelled?"

Louis chuckles, "We're fine."

"I saw Lucius Malfoy walk to Dumbledore's office and I got nervous."

"He's here?"

"Yeah, you didn't know?"

"Dumbledore turned us to mailmen." I try my best to not laugh, but it's a little difficult. "Shut up."

Harry walks in, alone. I'm confused now. Where is Makayla?

"Where's Makayla?" I ask. "Is she getting expelled?"

"No, she's looking for Mackarel."

"She lost him again?"

"As always."

We all laugh and sit at our tables. That's when Hermione and Makayla walk in. Makayla is holding Mackarel, so she obviously found him. Hermione runs to Ron and Harry, hugging them both. Makayla walks to the Slytherin table, Louis, Jordyn, and Grayson sitting with them.

I was previously speaking with Katelyn, who is now asking, "Ann? Are you even listening?"

"Yeah—uh, I'll be right back."

I get up, abandoning Katelyn, and walking to the Slytherin table. Makayla and Louis are arguing over who Mackarel loves more, and Jordyn and Grayson are trying their best to not laugh, or make kissing noises.

"He always pops up in my room!" Louis argues.

"I don't care! He loves me! He just likes your stupid cologne!" Makayla responds.

"Did he say that?"

"Yes, actually!"

"Oh, really?"

I sit down next to Louis and Grayson as Makayla says, "Yes! He talks to me every day!"

"Yeah, and that would mean that he could speak to anyone else, correct?"

"No..." Makayla says. "He only speaks to me!"

"Uh huh," Louis chuckles.

"I'm serious!"

"Whatever helps you sleep at night."

"You guys are an old married couple and it makes me want to kill someone," Draco says, annoyed.

"Okay, first of all, ew," Makayla responds. "Second of all, cry about it."

Draco rolls his eyes. Makayla glances around the room, meeting the eyes of Cedric Diggory, her best friend. She smiles and waves. He waves back. When I look at Louis, I watch him swallow hard and look back at his dinner plate.

"So! What are you guys doing over the summer?" I try to start a new—more positive—conversation so that Louis can stop wallowing into his food.

"I'm going to Buffalo," Jordyn says.

"Where is that?" I ask.

"Some place in New York—so in the United States."

Makayla is playing with her food as she says, "It's closer to Canada and it snows a lot."

I wasn't aware that Makayla knew stuff about Geography, especially when it comes to the Americas. She's smart, though, so I shouldn't be so surprised.

"You should come!" Jordyn smiles at Makayla as she looks up.

"I would, but my father would say no."

"You still go under his orders?" she asks. "You're turning fourteen in July, you should be allowed to! Plus you're going with us, and your father loves my dad."

Something about Makayla and Jordyn's expressions and tones changes when Jordyn says the final sentence. I don't know why, and I want to know why, but I can't ask, that'd be weird.

"I'll ask, but don't get your hopes up."

"Great!"

"We finished our third year," Grayson says, throwing his hands up in the air as dramatic as can be and making the loudest WOOOOO! noise I've ever heard. It is so loud that the entire room's volume lowers. Makayla and Jordyn laugh.

"It's about time," Louis says, still wallowing in his food. It seems that he's back to being desperately in love with Makayla, if that even stopped in the first place.

"What are you guys doing for summer?" Makayla asks.

Louis finally looks up from his food, "I don't really know, to be honest," he laughs awkwardly.

"We're taking Christopher to the zoo! Remember?" I exclaim.

"Oh, right," he slaps himself in the face, which is well deserved.

"Who's Christopher?" Makayla asks.

"How do you not know?" I ask. "Christopher and Nora are like—best friends."

"I never know anything about Nora's life unless she comes to visit for Christmas break, so I don't know who Christopher is."

"Christopher is our little brother."

"There's another Lupin—"

"Yep! And it seems that Nora likes all of us!" I exclaim.

She groans.