Ravenclaw

Chapter 4- Sneak

     "Goodbye, Rowena! Take care of the dress! You too, Flaura! We paid much for your dress despite receiving such decent grades!" Nan called to the two girls who were boarding the train, and leaving the station yet again.
     They walked away from their family,  really sweetly and laughing every once and a while, pretending to chat about the school year to come. When Rowena Ravenclaw looked back, their family was unidentifiable behind the mass of people crowding on to the platform. It was then she breathed a sigh of relief and turned to her sister, Flaura Mae Ravenclaw, who no longer wore the delighted smile on her face but a cruel, cold sneer.
     "I don't think they can see us."
     "Good! I can finally get away from you," she replied, her voice dripping with disgust.
     "Let's walk a little further, you know, just in case. It's the smart thing to do if we want them to believe us."
     "The smart thing huh?" Flaura Mae retorted, rolling her eyes at her sister as they walked to the next carriage door." Smart, like how you are? Smart, like I somehow am not?"
     "Really Flaura?" Rowena said exasperatedly, tired of the useless bickering. With a wave of her wand, their trunks disappeared and they both were only left with their pets and their carry-ons. Salazar appeared behind them, and immediately acknowledged the two girls with a nod.
     "Flaura. Ro."
     "Zar!"
     Flaura stood awkwardly at the side as her sister hugged Salazar. When she released him from her grip, they continued walking towards the door. Upon reaching, Flaura immediately set out to find Ophichus, while the other two searched for the other half of their friend group.
     "The ball, Zar, the ball!" Rowena sighed as she waltzed a little while looking into compartments, a dreamy, wistful look on her face. "It will be amazing, even you'll enjoy it!"
     Salazar scoffed and laughed at his friend." I don't dance, Ro."
     She shook her head at him." Who are you asking out? It's a must anyway." Salazar immediately turned beet red. He had someone in mind, but his pride and ego made him shy, embarrassed even, to tell his best friends.
     "No one. I told you, I don't dance." He replied, wishing the conversation would end.
     "I have someone in mind, but I can't ask him." She said, turning equally as sheepish.
     "Godric?"
     "Salazar!"
     "No, look, Godric!"
     And true enough, Godric and Helga were marching towards them, big grins plastered on their bright faces. Rowena immediately hugged them as they entered an empty compartment. Salazar smiled at them while looking at Helga intently, who seemed not to notice his burning gaze.
     "I reckon we take each other. I'll take Zar, and you'll take Hel, for a change! It'll be a fun night, who says it has to be romantic?" Rowena gushed, and she and Helga started planning the four's night. Godric looked at his pal and nodded towards the door, and the two exited to talk.
     "Taking Rowena, huh?" Godric said, a hint of jealousy in his voice.
     "We have no choice. I can't ask Helga, no, not yet. But you can ask--"
     "Then she'll know. It's better this way. We can ask them if they want to dance--"
     "I don't dance God--"
     "You don't what?" Helga asked. She came out of the compartment, fiddling with her fingers. 
     "Sorry, Rowena was worried you two went off to try and get out of going." She smiled at Salazar, then went back inside. The two boys were then obliged to go in, looking at each other to indicate that the conversation was to continue later.
     "Show us your dress, Rowena!" Helga squealed. Rowena turned pink for a second before her face returned to normal, shaking her head as it did." No way, it's a surprise!" 
     "Boo!" Helga jeered, and she slumped back in her seat.
     Godric was disappointed as well. He wanted to see Rowena in a dress that would most definitely make him one of the boys that would want to take her to the ball. But he had to go slow. Yes, that's it. Coax her slowly and then ask her out the following year. Yes, that's the way. That's definitely the way.
     "What's with the frown?" He heard Salazar's deep voice say, a hint of amusement hidden in his words. 
     Godric immediately put on a mask. "Nothing." He could not let himself slip the fact that he enjoyed Rowena's presences more than the others, and couldn't let Salazar slip the news as well.
     Slow and steady.