𝐂𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐋𝐄𝐒 𝐂𝐑𝐔𝐌𝐁𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐆 (OC x OC)

[005] Chapter 8 - team

"we're on each other's team."
|| lorde

Makayla

"So that's the plan?" I ask as all five of us walk out of the castle toward Hogsmeade.

"That's the plan," Harry confirms through a sigh.

"We told everyone to get there at three, so we'll have time to get prepared," Hermione adds.

We enter the town and walk into the building that the trio had said the 'meeting' would be held at. It's freezing. I can see my own breath as we set up chairs for people to sit on. Louis is next to me as we work quickly.

I rub my hands together and blow on them to heat them up because I didn't plan ahead and wear any gloves. Louis takes note of this and sets his chair down before taking his own gloves off and handing them to me. At first, I don't notice him, but when I do, I'm obviously hesitant.

"Oh, I'm fine—"

He doesn't let me finish as he says, "For the love of Merlin, put them on."

Sighing, I reluctantly take the gloves and put them on, my hands immediately enveloped in the warmth left there by Louis'. It feels as though I'm holding his hand. It feels nic—No. We aren't doing that.

I clear my throat to regain my composure before putting my last chair down. When I glance at the time, I see that it's twelve minutes until three. We've got twelve minutes. Might as well make use of it. I sit next to Louis on a chair, watching as the trio and Ann get lost in conversation. I don't notice the shake in my breath until Louis points it out.

"Are you still cold?" He asks. His voice isn't filled with amusement, but instead with concern.

At first, I don't know what he means, so I ask, "What? Where'd you get that idea from?"

"Your breath is shaking and you're shivering," he acknowledges. When he says that, for some reason I feel warmer than ever.

"Okay, I might be a little c—"

I feel my voice trail off when I watch him take his coat off. When he tries to give it to me, I shake my head, refusing to let him give me his last line of defense from the winter air.

"Makayla you're going to freeze to death," he tries to convince me, but I don't budge.

"So that means you freeze to death?"

"Exactly!"

"No!"

"Why not?"

I have to think about it for a moment. Sure, we're friends now, but is there any reason other than the fact that I can breath the same air as him now? I feel as though there is but the feeling I've got close to my grasp is so scary and close that I don't even want to put a finger on it.

"Because I was actually just starting to get used to you, Louis," I say, using way too much sass, which makes him snort.

"Wow, I'm flattered," he says sarcastically.

"You should be!"

We both laugh softly, quickly falling into a comfortable silence as I force him to put the jacket back on.

"Do you think it'll work?" I ask.

"The plan?" he asks to confirm. "Sure, if people start believing that Voldemort is actually back."

"Yeah... Grayson and I have been arguing about it lately. He thinks I'm lying,"

I notice a tension enter his jaw. "Your boyfriend doesn't believe you?" he asks, his tone stern and subtly angry. All I respond with is a nod.

Before he gets a chance to respond, Annie yells, "People are coming!"

Everyone sits in there seats as people trickle in. Hermione and Ron to my left, Harry and I in the center, and Louis and Annie to my right.

It's awkwardly silent as people sit around. We didn't exactly write scripts.

Hermione clears her throat, saying nervously, "Uh, hi... Thank you all for meeting with us... We all know why we're here... We need a teacher, a proper teacher, one who's had real experience defending themselves against the Dark Arts."

"Why?" a random Gryffindor asks.

"Why? 'Cause you know who's back, you tosspot," Ron says in a snarky tone.

"So they say," the Gryffindor says, gesturing to Harry and I.

"So Dumbledore says."

"So Dumbledore says because they say."

"The point is," another Gryffindor cuts in, "where's the proof?"

"Maybe if Potter and Malfoy told us more about what happened the night Diggory died—"

I lose it. Stand up.

"Listen, no one is going to talk about Cedric, so if that's why you're here, go ahead and clear out," I say, unable to control my words.

Harry stands, turning to Hermione and murmuring, "Come on, Hermione, let's go. They're only here 'cause they think we're some freaks."

"Is it true that you two can cast Patronus charms?" Loony Lovegood asks suddenly.

Louis and Hermione stand, saying, "We've seen it..."

"And they fought the Basilisk!" Annie jumps in.

"And won the tournament last year," Ron adds. Silence.

"And last year, they really did fight Voldemort in the fle—" Hermione starts.

"Listen—" I cut her off. "All of those things are great."

"But it was mainly pure luck!" Harry adds.

More like God, but okay.

"Almost everytime we always had help," I say. "The world out there is so much different from a classroom. When you're in life or death situations, or you have to watch someone you love die... You don't know what it's like..." I fall back into my seat with Harry. Hermione and Louis shortly follow.

"You're right," Louis says. "We don't know... But you do."

"And if we have any chance at stopping... Voldemort..." Hermione says, struggling to say his name. "We need all the help we can get..."

Nigel, a young Gryffindor, speaks up, his tone sad and discouraged, "He's really back?"

Harry and I nod silently.

"Then count all of us in," the twins say, gesturing to all the people in the room.

I feel a smile grow on my face.