Flourish and Blotts//George Weasley

18 ~ The Hogwarts Bridge

They were returning to Beauxbatons in a week. The champions had vanished into the massive hedge labyrinth a little over an hour now, and if it weren't for the band playing cheerful music, Aurella likely would've already returned to the carriage to wait it out. 

"You know," Kira commented, leaning against the railing next to her. It was finally beginning to get warm in England but despite this, both Aurella and Kira were wrapped in warm cloaks. "You could just go speak to him."

Aurella scowled, tucking her face farther into the cloak she wore. For some reason, it smelled like gunpowder, and it was enough to send her spiralling again. "I don't want to speak to him. We ended it, remember."

Kira shook her head. "You are so dumb. If you like him, and are this upset that the arrangement is over, just go speak to him. Something tells me he might be more open to it than you think." 

Aurella leaned forward, staring into the maze. They couldn't see anything-- the whole thing was shrouded by a thick mist-- but she kept looking for glimpses of the champions. 

"Aurella?"

She turned, looking towards Henri, who had appeared out of nowhere. He was wearing a knitted toque that covered his curly hair, and a thick cloak was wrapped around him like a blanket. His face was flushed pink, and even though Aurella still found him handsome, she couldn't feel anything upon seeing his face. It was just bland. 

"I heard you and George are finished,"

Aurella stiffened, and beside her, evidently eavesdropping, Kira sniffed, elbowing her in the side. Aurella elbowed her back. Damn what Kira thought, maybe Henri was right for her. He was normal and familiar-- wasn't that what she wanted?

It couldn't hurt to try, right?"

"Yeah, we are," She responded, ignoring Kira's scathing look. "Why?"

Henri reached a hand up to rub the back of his neck. "Are you interested in grabbing a coffee or something? We could discuss next year."

Aurella paused. She wasn't sure if she wanted to have anything with him, but then again, wasn't that why she had been running this scheme all year? To draw Henri back into her orbit?

She and George were finished anyway, and Henri was normal. Aurella figured that she might as well take the chance. Ignoring Kira's harsh gaze, and the hunch she had that she might find a warm pair of sad brown eyes if she turned towards the Gryffindors, Aurella responded.

"Sure, sounds great."

~~~

The Three Broomsticks might be one of the places that Aurella was going to miss the most upon leaving Hogwarts. The wizarding community in Paris had a shortage of cozy pubs, and she wasn't sure she could go all summer without a butterbeer-- perhaps she could convince the Weasleys to take a trip up here while she was in England. Aurella cringed. The thought of being around the Weasleys this summer was uncomfortable enough, especially now that everyone-- save Fred-- thought that they had dated.

"You good?"

Aurella jolted out of her thoughts, glancing up at Henri. He had returned to the table, holding two foaming mugs of butterbeer. She nodded once, taking the mug he offered her. Aurella took a sip to avoid being the first to speak. Since when had it become so uncomfortable between them? Somewhere between Beauxbatons and George-- she supposed. 

"Are you excited to return to Beauxbatons?" He tried. His hair had gel in it, and was neater than usual-- a sign of effort, but Aurella felt nothing. The taste of the drink became bitter on her tongue and she resisted the urge to spit it out.