Reactance | James Potter

Chapter 17

HOGSMEADE VILLAGE WAS gorgeous, perfect like a posed picture taken straight out of a catalogue of beautiful places to live. The cobblestone street stretched long between rows of tinkering consignment shops, pubs with smoke still pumping from their chimneys due to drunk stragglers over the long night, and tiny family cottages. Every building was a different shape and colour, forming a sloping sight to admire as far as the eye could see. Today each roof was hung with icicles and the first white wisps of light, fluttering snow which was already beginning to melt in the November sun.

It was the first trip of the term for Hogwarts students, the 20th — a Saturday. Some students shortened the journey by riding in self-pulling carriages, eager to just get there, while others made the most of the nice weather on foot. Olivia and her friends had been walking for over half an hour, continuously getting distracted by things they saw along the path.

Again they stepped off of the path, out of the way of their peers and into the long grass. Olivia toyed with the itchy fingers of her wool gloves as she peered over Alice's shoulder, who was crouched low to admire a toad in the mud.

"I think it's a baby!" she said with excitement, making Olivia smile small when their eyes met in a glance. Alice clicked her fingers in front of the toad, cooing and urging for it to come near. In a sickly sweet voice she whispered, "I won't bite, c'mon, little baby."

"Would you leave it alone?" sniped Marlene where she stood a few feet away, Dorcas close to her side. "It doesn't wanna be bothered by you."

Alice scoffed, rubbing dust from her palms onto the knees of her trousers as she straightened up to her full height. She glared at Marlene, who was tapping her foot impatiently.

"What's got you in such a hurry?" asked Olivia curiously as Marlene peered down the path, ahead at the backs of students. On the distant horizon stretched the buildings of Hogsmeade, visible as the girls were only feet from the tall entry gates.

"I'm cold and hungry," grumbled Marlene, shifting beneath her heavy jacket. She hated to wear a jacket. "I haven't had lunch yet."

"Because we've just eaten breakfast," said Alice spitefully but, nonetheless, she started on the path again. Everyone followed after her. "But I could go for a butterbeer myself, so let's hurry."

"Oh now you want to hurry. . . ." muttered Marlene beneath her breath. Olivia whipped around and gave her a stern, silent warning. Marlene only rolled her eyes; She didn't seem to notice how Dorcas was watching her fondly, but Olivia did. She glanced all around Dorcas' lovestruck face suspiciously, but made no comment and turned forward again.

"Did Lily say if she'll be with Jon all day?" Alice asked Olivia curiously as they passed through the open metal gates and stepped off of the dirt path onto the cobblestone street.

Today was Lily's first date with Jon. It was all she had talked about that morning whilst the girls (her, Olivia and Marlene) got ready in their dorm. She was a giddy, excited mess over it. She needed Olivia and Marlene's opinion on every single thing; She couldn't decide what to wear, how to do her makeup, whether to tie her hair up or leave it down.  .  .  .

   Olivia had been more than glad to help, Marlene too .  .  . well, Marlene was willing for the first half hour. After that, she was all but thrashing her head against the wall due to sheer annoyance and pleading for a minute's peace. Lily, however, hardly acknowledged Marlene's aggravation as she held up the same two blouses and asked, for the fifth time, which she should wear.

"GREEN, DAMMIT!"

   Olivia was relieved when Lily bid her and Marlene farewell outside of the Great Hall before breakfast. She feared Lily wouldn't have made it through the courtyard alive if Marlene, whose eye was twitching jerkingly, had to spend another minute in her company.