Acceptance: Hogwarts Legacy Continued

Chapter 40: Garreth- bravery and courage

Garreth watched her from across the room, trying to steady his beating heart. Today was the day, he was not going to chicken out like he had...every other day this week. He was going to ask Diana out on a date, to spend time together alone, just the two of them. Today was the day- if only he could get his body to stand up...

He had tried every day this week to get up the nerve to ask her out. He had tried other times as well, but she was almost always with someone else. Usually it was Poppy or Ominis, but almost always it was Sallows. He was there after all of her classes and for every moment of free time it seemed she had. He didn't begrudge him that, if he could, he would probably be with her all the time too. It did however make it harder for him to approach her to talk with them there.

He had found that in the evenings, not too long before curfew, she was in the library. He happened to find her on Saturday, searching for books with only half an hour before night. He was ecstatic at his luck, but unfortunately couldn't find the nerve to go to her. He missed his chance then and ended up being kicked out by the librarian. He returned the next night though, and found she was there again. And so began the tragic repeat of events that led him to where he was now. It had been almost a full week of this, and it was rather discouraging.

Today was the day though, he could feel it. She had found a book and was sitting at a table in an alcove of the library. It was perfect; now all he needed to do was walk over- but fate didn't seem to want him to have his moment. Right as he stood, another boy came from nowhere and stood right beside her. It was Andrew... something.. He couldn't remember, but he did know that he was the captain of the Ravenclaw quidditch team.

Garreth held his breath as he watched their interaction from afar. He was leaning into her, making it very clear from his body language what his intent in talking to her was. He let out his breath, feeling his heart start to ache. He was getting so close to her now, he couldn't tell what she was feeling, but what girl wouldn't be all over that?

Then his heart almost leapt out of his chest as he watched Diana stand up so fast that the boy couldn't change the weight he was putting on the back of her chair, starting off a chain reaction of unforeseen events. The chair went flying back due to his touch, and sent him flying forward onto the arched up seat. He hit it with a thud, his feet knocking books off a shelf as they went flying up behind him. The chair also crashed onto the ground, with him on top of it- and Diana looked down in horror. She lingered for a moment, but then turned abruptly and walked away.

Garreth was too shocked at what had just happened to notice that she was walking right towards him. In just a few seconds she had sped over to him and plopped herself down in the seat next to his.

"Can I sit with you" she whispered

He just nodded, a stupid grin on his face and she sighed.

"Hopefully if I am with you I won't have to deal with anyone else trying to talk to me." She then pulled up her book and made herself as small as possible in her chair.

He didn't even bother looking back over to see what had happened to the other boy. Honestly he didn't care. Unfortunately the moment wasn't right for him to ask her out anymore, but he was calling this a win all the same.