Doe (#Wattys2016)

Chapter Six

For the next year, Francis had to be contented with this new part of their friendship. Draco took Darlin out on Sunday afternoons, which meant Francis could return to The Lab without giving it much thought. Except, she did secretly resent Draco driving passed them, Darlin's arms draped about his neck. Perhaps to counteract this, Francis became more daring in her ventures with The Scientists; they roamed further from home to seek amusement. Francis was an invaluable leader to the girls in the group suddenly, by being able to share with them the latest trends and fashions from the top. She was regularly called upon to fix someone's hair or do their make up. They would never be able to afford to buy the clothes but with the one sewing machine between them, they did pretty well with their cheap copies.

Lessons at the Lurie's also changed, the studying was intense with regular tests to show them where they were in their progress. Draco was always top of the class; with the gap between him and them exaggerating the difference in academic ability and it made Francis and Tim feel stupid. Francis was actually threatened with the hint that her results would be shown to Lord Lurie or even her father if they were bad enough. Her hours spent with Draco were not so much lazing around doing nothing together but sitting in the library studying. Except it took Draco two minutes to do his homework and two hours to help Francis with hers.

"It sounds terrible," Harrison laughed at her one evening, "Why don't you just pack in it? Work in the pub with our mums and have an easy life."

"Maybe I would, if I could." Francis sighed, passing the cigarette on in the circle.

"Try your best, but you know you always have a home here," Harrison blushed a little.

"I know. Though, thanks for saying it."

"Maybe when you're older...you can really think about it."

Francis stared at him but he just shrugged and started a fight with Gregory. She laughed it off as she watched them tussle in the gutter. Doe was staring at her, thoughtfully but kindly, so Francis laughed even harder.

"I think Harrison likes you," Doe whispered in her ear later that night.

"No he doesn't." Francis replied too quickly, "He already has a girlfriend, Daisy."

"It's not serious though," Doe said softly, "I don't mean to upset you."

"I'm not upset," Francis told her warmly, "We're sisters, we're supposed to gossip like this."

"He was so worried at last year's Winter's feast when you weren't here."

"Really? Why?"

"I wasn't too worried. But then Mummy and Harri's reactions scared me. It's as if something terrible had happened to you."

"Why didn't you tell me? I suppose I had never been away at night." Francis wondered out loud, pulling the blanket further up both of their shoulders.

"I think Harrison may even love you."

"As a friend." Francis sighed.

"No, he was panicked. It looked like he was going to cry. Tonight just reminded me of that. Then, I wasn't sure what I was seeing but now...He called Draco an awful thing and kept asking where you would sleep, and why had he kept you away." Doe's whispers picked up their pace, "It started to feel strange that Draco had done that, when it hadn't when he had been explaining it to me. And everything I repeated to Harrison made it seem worse."