Sweets

CHAPTER 3

Walking along the corridors, I still felt his eyes on me even though I knew that he was still back in the Great Hall. Or should be at least. Kristie, of course, immediately started ranting about Ryuzaki again, occasionally throwing in rude remarks about the toad-woman, as she called her, because she interrupted Dumbledore during his speech. I could already tell that I wouldn't like that professor.

"And come on, I just know that you like him too. It's hidden in there, I know it." She said. Oh, she just doesn't give up does she? But I couldn't like him. Not after...

"Hey, where are you going? The library's this way!" Kristie called. I just walked by it huh? I must've been deeply in thought...

"Oh yeah. I just got lost in thought, I guess." I replied. We entered the library and, as usual, got a dirty look from Madam Pince first because technically, we should be going straight back to the dormitories and not sneaking about the castle. But as it has happened every year so far, we weren't fazed by it anymore. So we just passed by and sat at our - or rather my - usual spot way in the back. Kristie just sat there while I went around, getting books I had been dying to get my hands on ever since I had heard about them. She wasn't one for reading and she always filled me in on the latest gossip when I was trying to concentrate. Sometimes it was quite interesting, because I didn't get to hear that kind of stuff often, but today it was just disturbing - How did she already have so much new info and gossip about the other students when we were still on the first night back? And of course, she kept talking about Ryuzaki and I couldn't escape her without having to explain why I ran away.

"Ok, ok. I get it! You think he's great. But frankly, I don't see it." I finally snapped after staring at the same page for 10 minutes.

"What's the matter with you Sil? It's like you detest him from the deepest depth of your heart." Kristie sounded surprised. I reckoned that she didn't expect me to blow up at her like that all of a sudden.

"Look Kristie. I'm sorry. But I just don't like him. There's something fishy going on, I just know it. Besides, I don't like the way he looks. He probably has insomnia or something." I explained. After all, it wasn't her fault that she didn't know the real reason behind my position against him.

"So you just judge him by his looks? That's cruel! What if it's because of some sickness he has? He couldn't do a thing about it!" Kristie was outraged. But she had every right to be.

"I'm sorry. Maybe I phrased that wrong. It's just my opinion that I don't really like him or the aura around him. Just seems weird y'know?" I resented. I couldn't stop her "crush" anyway and if there was one thing I learned, it's that one shouldn't try to crush one of Kristie's crushes. I tried it once and she just ignored me for weeks on end. It was terrible since I didn't have any other friends to turn to so those were few of the loneliest weeks I had ever experienced.

"Well, I guess everyone really has different point of views. But I still think you shouldn't judge him without getting to know him first." Kristie's low voice reached my ears. It wasn't that bad. At least she didn't plan on ignoring me again. Yet.

"Maybe you're right." I gave in. And I knew that this statement was going to come back and punch me when I least expected it already.

"So... how about we talk to him after you finish your reading session?" Kristie was immediately back on track with wanting to get to know Ryuzaki.

"Na, I'm good. But you can talk to him if you want to." I tried shooting her down. And surprisingly, it worked. She just agreed and said that she would try talking to him as soon as we get back to the common room. And she didn't pester me about backing her up either.

#

Some time later, we made our way back to the Ravenclaw Tower. Stopping in front of the door, Kristie picked up the eagle-shaped doorknob and knocked it. As always, it fascinated me how the eagle came alive and gave us the riddle in a hoarse voice:

"What travels around the world, but always stays in one corner?"

I had to admit, this was not the easiest riddle. But being a muggle-born had its advantages and so, I solved the riddle pretty quickly if I dare say so myself.

"A stamp."

"How do you know things like that?" Kristie asked as the door swung open. "And why was that the answer?"

"Well, sometimes being a muggle-born can be quite useful" I smiled. "You see , muggles use mailmen to deliver letters and packages. And to deliver you need to pay a fee and - Come on Kristie, I told you before!"

"Yeah, can you repeat then? I tend to forget things I don't use." She pleaded.

Giving an exasperated sigh I continued explaining: "Oh alright. The fee needs to paid so to kind of 'prove' that you paid, you get a stamp for your money. It's a little piece of paper you stick anto the letter - and you stick it in a corner. So the stamp sometimes travels around the world along with the letter or package, but it always stays in the corner of it. Kapiesch?" Sometimes it was really unnerving having to explain the muggle world to Kristie, but in return, she answered all my questions about the wizarding world.

"That was quite some explanation. Easy to understand - I couldn't have done it better myself. Though I don't know why you make being a muggle-born sound so bad."

My head snapped in his direction as soon as I heard and recognized his voice.

It was him.

He caught me sooner than I would have liked to believe.