When We Fell In Love

Chapter 17: Balance

Marlene realized that too much time had passed since she last spoke to Harry. She knew he had met a mysterious girl he still had not managed to kiss, but that was before Christmas. She also realized she had not yet told him that she and Dorcas had made up, and quite thoroughly. She had caught a glimpse of him at the New Year's party, but he had disappeared somewhere early on, and she had been too busy becoming Dorcas' girlfriend. Her girlfriend. The word filled her with euphoria, making her feel drunk on something that was so much better than alcohol.

That Saturday afternoon, the first Saturday back from the holidays, she returned to the library, hoping to find someone from the study group to ask for support. Remus, as usual, was hunched over several scrolls and seemed to be reviewing assignments for various people.

"Hey, Remus!" she greeted him, resting her bag against the chair's back and sitting down gently. "I don't know how you manage to keep up with so many things at once."

"It's just a habit," Remus replied, downplaying the enormous work he was doing for so many students.

Marlene took out her books, a few rolls of parchment, her quill, and her ink, then began to silently review and scribble down all the properties of the Bubotuber plant. But after just a few minutes, her eyelids grew heavy with boredom, and her gaze started wandering around the library, looking for any distraction, which soon appeared in the form of Harry.

"Hey, Harry!"

"Hey, Marlene, how are you?" he replied, sitting down next to her. "It's been way too long."

"You're absolutely right," she said, smiling slightly at him.

"Did you end up clearing things up with Dorcas and with Lily and Mary?"

"Oh, yes, definitely yes," Marlene replied, a mischievous smile sparking Harry's interest.

"So what are you waiting for? Tell me everything!" he said, curious. Marlene lowered her voice and told him everything that had happened in the past weeks. Harry gave her such a sense of trust and calm that she felt free to tell him every last detail.

She soon discovered that this trust was mutual, as Harry, too, felt comfortable confiding in her and told her everything about his special someone. Unlike what she had thought, however, it was not a girl but a boy. And, more specifically, it was Louis.

"You know what, Harry? Deep down, I totally get you. Anyone would fall into Tomlinson's arms."

"I think it's his eyes."

"Oh yes, definitely his eyes. But he also has that magnetic charm, that charisma, and that sense of humor..."

"Hey, stop drooling over him. You already have Dorcas, and she's a total knockout!" They both burst out laughing.

"You know, Dorcas told me about a group of people–"

"Louis mentioned it to me," Harry interrupted her.

"Did you go there?"

"I've never actually gone. It's all still so new, and I'm afraid it's... too much."

"Dorcas wants me to go with her, but I'm not sure I'm ready yet to put myself out there like that. Not right now, at least."

"I get it, Marlene, and you know you don't have to do anything you don't feel ready for."

"I know, but at the same time, I don't want to push Dorcas away, not now that things are finally starting to work out between us... I really like her, Harry"

"Maybe you should just be honest." Marlene stopped to reflect for a moment. Honesty was surely the best choice, but what if Dorcas did not take it well?