Thistle and Stone [Chaennie]

Chapter 11

PRESSURE

The two of them laid still for a few more moments until a steady rain began and threatened to soak them through. Roseanne stood first, pulling Jennie up on her feet. Jennie smiled uncertainly at Roseanne and blinked back emotion when Roseanne smiled tightly in return.

After they caught up with Chanyeol and Baekhyun they decided to walk for a while before apparating the rest of the way to the inn. Jennie still felt a little shaken up and they all agreed some air could do them good. Roseanne and Chanyeol eventually walked ahead, while Baekhyun waited for Jennie.

"What do you reckon they're talking about?" Baekhyun mused, turning to grin at Jennie. The pair watched as Roseanne and Chanyeol walked side by side metres in front of them.

"I'm surprised they're even talking, to be honest. Maybe arguing about the Cannons' playing this season? I saw some Harpies merch in Roseanne's flat. Or maybe making mildly veiled threats at one another?" Jennie shrugged but she laughed at the look on Baekhyun's face.

Despite not knowing him well, Jennie had grown to enjoy Baekhyun's company. He had been quiet at school and that calm disposition carried into his work. She saw his softness come out when he teased Roseanne and the two of them let down their guard around the other.

"Threats is probably most likely," Baekhyun decided, "though I don't think Roseanne minds him."

"Really?" Jennie turned surprised eyes to him as he nodded.

"Yeah, she's not being nearly as mean as she usually is around Gryffindors."

Jennie gently bumped his shoulder with hers and laughed.

"So that's what's with you all, then? Old school rivalries?"

Baekhyun shook his head as he watched them. "I honestly think she picked it up from Taehyung."

Jennie snorted and had to steady herself against Baekhyun as they walked.

"Taehyung and Chanyeol secretly adore each other, come on. If they stopped antagonizing each other they'd be bored stiff—and Wednesday dinners would be significantly more boring."

Baekhyun offered Jennie his arm and she slipped her hand into the crook of his elbow. His solid weight balanced her and she squinted up to look at him when he spoke.

"You might be right. Sort of like an old married couple, those two."

Jennie agreed and they walked quietly for a while, Baekhyun steadying her over rockier terrain. The wind picked up around them and thin sheets of rain began to fall sideways across the ground. She noticed Baekhyun occasionally glancing down at her, his brows knit together, chewing on the side of his lip. Finally, he spoke.

"Jennie, are you trained in Occlumency at all?"

Startled by his question, Jennie shook her head.

"No, not really. Jungkook tried teaching me years ago but it was awful. I understand the methods behind it but practicing it was different."

Briefly, she was transported to dark nights in a tent in the middle of the woods, Jungkook and her trying to practice it on each other. Jungkook was reluctant, and when he tried reaching into her mind, she found herself helpless to the intrusion. He spun through her memories, as unwilling as she was. Her as a child, gripping her mum's hand tightly as she clung to her in the bustle of the shops. Her first letter from Hogwarts: the letter was the most beautiful thing she had seen, the parchment crisp but soft between her fingers, the red of the wax vibrant against the darkness of the ink. The moment at the Yule Ball when she saw Padma. Her hair shone like silk, the turquoise of her dress skimming and falling across her skin, and Jennie's breath had caught in her throat. When Jungkook emerged from her memories, he held her tightly and they never spoke of it again.