All He Needed Was A Friend

Chapter 17: Gifts and Snakes

***POV: Beatrix***

Christmas time had finally arrived and this being my first year to go to Hogsmeade during school excited me beyond belief. Tom was still being secretive, but with the Christmas season there to distract me I felt less angry, one might even say I was simply accepting it as a fact. It was a sad thought really, but was there really anything else I could do? If he didn't want to tell me, there was no way I could make him.

"Beatrix?" a voice asked. "That is your name isn't it?" I looked over to my left and saw the same boy who had stopped in the great hall a few weeks ago.

"Yes, that's my name," I replied. "Can I help you? Or are you looking for Ignatius again?" the boy laughed.

"No I'm not looking for Ignatius," the boy responded. "My name's Jason Prince. I was actually hoping to talk to you about your cousin."

"You're going to have to be more specific considering the fact that I have at least ten cousins," I smiled.

"Alright, I wanted to know if you could tell me anything about Walburga," Jason answered. "You two seemed close so I was hoping you could help me out."

"Wait, don't tell me," I joked/whispered. "You have a crush on Walburga."

"Well, no point in hiding it, yea, I do," He admitted. "Do you think you could maybe mention me sometime? You know, put in a good word."

"Well, Mr.Jason that is asking quite the favor," I joked. "How do I know I'm not handing off my precious cousin to some psycho maniac? I mean I don't even know you except for a two minute conversation about where Ignatius was."

"Alright, alright, fair enough," Jason conceded. "How about I show you around Hogsmeade, you get to know that I am not a psycho maniac, and then you consider my offer?"

"I think that could be arranged, Mr. Prince," I agreed.

"Cool," jason stated. "So where are you headed?"

"I'm not really sure to be honest," I admitted. "I want to find a good Christmas present for a friend of mine, but I'm not really sure where to look..."

"Is this friend of yours more than a friend or just a friend?" Jason implied.

"Jason!" I exclaimed playfully hitting him causing him to laugh. Then with a blush I replied, "Well, I don't really know..."

"Ahhh, I see," Jason stated. "The I like you, but I don't know if you like me. I've been there."

I burst out laughing, "You are going to be the death of me."

"Can you die after you put in a good word for me?" Jason joked causing me to hit him again. We both got off the carriage and I looked around at the various shops. "So what can you tell me about this 'friend'?" jason asked.

"Well, he's been kinda avoiding me as of late," I stated, "but usually he shares everything with me. He likes to read on almost every subject and does well in all of his classes. He's really overprotective of me too."

"Well, if he likes to study," Jason suggested. "Why not get him a book? I'm sure you'll find something in Tomes and Scrolls." 

"That's not a half bad idea Jason," I agreed. Jason smiled before staring at something behind me. "What are you.." I stopped turning around and watching as Walburga walked bye toward the Three Broomsticks Inn. I turned back towards Jason and smirking I said, "Well don't just stand here. Go after her.

"What?!" Jason exclaimed. "Are you insane I can't just approach someone like her!"

"You're never going to get her attention if you keep hiding in the background," I countered. "Now go talk to her."