Not a Gryffindor - a Harry Potter fan fiction

Chapter 21

A/N OH MY NARGLES, THIS IS IT, THIS IS THE LAST CHAPTER!!! ONLY THE TWO EPILOGUES LEFT AFTER THIS!!!
Enjoy :)
-Storm.

One month ago

I lay on the soft grass by the lake, my hands behind my head, my head on Ryder's chest, his scarf wound around my neck. The weather was warm and I didn't by any means need to wear it, but it was Ryder's, and it smelt of Ryder and I wore it with pride.

Ryder lay with one arm draped across my body and the other holding his head up, and he grinned at me as we talked.

"Ryder, you really are terribly uneducated if you really think that Greedo shot first. It was clearly Han Solo, everyone knows it, everyone agrees on it, and you just need to accept that you're wrong."

"Zara honey, I don't think you were listening. I've literally seen it slowed down and it's clearly Greedo, Han's just faster."

"Oh is that right sweetie?" We were wonderfully sarcastic.

"Yes, in actual fact, it is, young padawan." I flicked him gently in the side of the head and he smirked.

"What?! I'm trying to be angry at you here!"

"I know," he said smugly, before leaning down and kissing me gently.

I frowned, fighting the ecstatic feeling within me.

"Do that again and I might just forgive you." 

***

I ran down the stairs to the Great Hall, desperate to meet Carrie before the funeral started. I needed to ask her something, something that had been nagging at me ever since Zara had... Well... Since she left us.

"Hey, Ryder!" Someone called in the distance. I ignored them and continued to navigate my way outside. I was in no means fit, and I began to pant slightly as I reached to main entrance of Hogwarts, but determination drove me on.

With a wave of relief, I found Carrie sitting under the old birch tree that her and Zara used to meet at. She was aimlessly waving her wand in the air, producing miniature silver snakes, and her strawberry-blonde hair danced gently in the soft breeze.

"Hey, Carrie." She looked up in surprise, her wand raised instinctively.

"Oh hey Ryder," she replied, visibly relaxing. She was no doubt still getting over the trauma of the past few days, and, who could blame her?

There was an awkward silence.

"So...." She said. "What's up?"

I took a deep breath. Just get over with, Ryder.
"You know how Zara broke up with me a few weeks ago?" I asked in a rush.

Carrie frowned. "Uh, what?"

I sighed. "You know how Zara broke up with me a few weeks ago?"

Once again, she looked confused, and I could tell that she was trying to decipher what I had said. After a few seconds, realisation dawned upon her face.
"Oh! Yeah... she might have mentioned it.... I'm kidding, Ryder, there's no need to look so disappointed! Yeah, she was pretty damn upset about it to be honest."

"Oh um... Well...-"

"Ooh sorry, gotta go. Funeral starts in 5. Nice talk... I guess?"

My heart sank as Carrie stood up and walked away.

When she was a few metres away, she spun back around, a mischievous grin on her face.

"Oh, by the way, she broke up with you to protect you."