From friends to this -Year six (re-uploaded) Book 1/4

Chapter 34

The first day of classes began and it was not well received. After a very exciting two weeks off, most students had more or less given up by lunch. However, there had been a momentary remaining period of excitement for the sixth years when they had walked down to the common room and seen a new poster stuck to the notice board. Appartition lessons would be beginning at the start of March.

The first class of Ancient Runes of the new year was an especially awkward. Before Christmas, Gabriel had sat next to her in class but now he had taken to a table next to another Beauxbatons student.

Ciara had moved back beside her when she saw Tara was sitting alone.

"I'm just feeling guilty is all," Tara told her on the way out of class, "I mean I get why he doesn't want to sit next to me."

"Tara, you can't beat yourself up for not fancying a guy," Ciara reassured her, "You're happy now aren't you? Yourself and Fred are basically dating now."

"Of course I'm happy," Tara sighed, "But Gabriel was nice, and I feel bad."

"Well, it's nice you feel bad in a way, means you're a nice person but Tara trust me," Ciara said, elbowing her gently, "Gabriel would be more than happy for you to be happy."

"I guess."

"Anyways, you coming back to the common room first?" Ciara asked, as they neared the entrance hall.

"Nah, Fred is meeting me in the great hall," Tara explained, "I'll go in first."

"Have fun," Ciara teased, winking at Tara, making her scoff.

Tara went into the great hall and laughed in amusement at the sheer number of students who had simply just fallen asleep at the tables.

She looked around until her eyes found Fred. He was sitting at their usual spot with a notebook out in front of him, frowning slightly.

Tara couldn't help the smile that crept onto her expression, making her way over to him. She threw her bag down before sitting beside him, "You look bothered."

Fred looked up from the page and turned to her with a grin, "Hello there," he greeted her enthusiastically, "And yeah, I am a bit."

"What's up?" Tara asked, reaching forward and taking a sandwich from the platter in the centre of the table, "Is it a class?" 

"Who do you think I am?" He joked, "When am I ever stressed about a class?"

"I should've known," Tara mumbled, looking over at the book. It was his notebook for the shop. She held a hand out and he handed it to her.  She read the page he had opened it on, "Shield cloaks," she read the heading aloud. "That shouldn't be too hard," Tara commented, handing it back, "A simple shield charm."

"I know," Fred agreed, "But the problem is making it strong enough."

"Well, how strong do you want it to be?"

"You're gonna laugh at me," he replied, closing the notebook sharply.

"I won't," Tara responded, "Fred, I think this whole thing is brilliant you know I do." She paused as she turned to look at him, "So, what's your goal with these?"

"I want them to be strong enough that we could try reach out to the ministry," he answered, suddenly in advertising mode, "The goal is, to make these strong enough that they can be used by the aurors or any department really."

Tara felt her chest well with pride, "That's amazing," she said, "I think you could definitely achieve that, not a shadow of a doubt."

"You think?" He nudged her playfully, "Thanks."