New Romantics | Hermione Granger Book IV

|66| Chapter Sixty-Six

S I X T Y  S I X 

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The general advice that Saffron had received from Lavender with regard to the Ball was to not ask anyone. Initially, Saffron thought that this was good advice as she had been asked by five boys by that next Wednesday. However, that rule wasn't exactly working out for Lavender who still remained without an invite. Therefore, Saffron decided to take it upon herself to deviate from the advice she had been given and to be bold.

Being bold translated into asking Olly to the Ball herself.

The plan was a daring one but one that Saffron was going to risk her dignity and her friendship with Olly for. The ever-present thought of 'what if?' Olly asked her haunted her around the halls of Hogwarts to no end. She had to put that thought to bed and gain either a note of finality or a new beginning. It was a big risk but for the biggest reward she could think of, so she was going to do it after the Charms Club meeting.

The only issue proved to be Saffron's nervousness making her awful at the work of the night resulting in disruptions that could have potentially messed her clear chance to ask to talk to Olly in order to ask him to the Ball.

"Focus, Saffron, your mind cannot waver, or any effort for a sizeable amount will be futile,"

Saffron scrunched her head up in frustration and let out a giant sigh of irritation. An hour had passed of their Charms meeting on Wednesday night, and she still hadn't mastered the 'Aqua Eructo' Charm, which was a larger form of 'Aguamenti', which they had mastered the year previously.

Watching those around her master it in merely a matter of minutes irked her to no end, but put fuel to the fire of her mastering it too. Sadly, the fuel was proving to be ineffective.

"Watch Terry's movements," Amanda was standing behind all of the students, all of whom were casting their charms at the stone wall at the side of the room. Saffron felt like Amanda had been telling her to watch Terry constantly and yet, it was making no difference whatsoever. "His eyes don't leave his wand, which is pointed as straightly as straight can get,"

"I know," retorted Saffron frustratedly, taking another deep breath. She pointed her wand akin to Terry's posture, the Ravenclaw boy had taken to help the other six in their group, due to his effectiveness at the spell and just overall in Charms. "Okay, Aqua Eructo!"

A thin spiral of water burst out of her wand, as thick as a quill, causing Saffron to let out yet another sigh. That wasn't what she was going for, it seemed like only enough to splash someone, not hit someone with a destructive wave of water to knock them off their feet, like Padma.

"I think it's time to call it," Amanda was watching the disheartened Saffron with pity. Olly, Terry, Padma, Lisa, Ernie, Brynn and Daphne all turned to her sadly, whilst Saffron continued to look down at the ground, disheartened. "You should all be pleased, really, we've been seeing major improvements, but, most importantly, you're enjoying it, I hope,"

"Absolutely," Ernie nodded his head profusely. The rest of the group did likewise, less Saffron.

"Until next week," Amanda beamed at the group, before calling out one person individually. "Saffron, a word if you will,"

The rest of the group watched Saffron walk over to Amanda curiously, as Saffron walked over to the woman, and they waited for the door to be closed firmly behind them before speaking. As they did so, Saffron tapped her foot on the floor impatiently before sighing, understanding that she had squandered her chance to get to talk to Olly.

"You're coming along really well," Amanda said to her with her trademark pleasant smile.

"I was lousy," said Saffron with sincere honesty. "But I guess you don't want to talk to meet about Charms,"

"No," agreed Amanda. "I wanted to know if you're doing okay. I understand that these must be difficult times for you, with Maya and Harry going through this tournament,"

"I'm fine, I'm great," said Saffron adamantly, the instincts of her captor kicking in, wanting to ensure the girl they were holding hostage was convincing in the first time since the day in Hogsmeade that anyone had noticed a change in the demeanour of Saffron. "It's just exhausting, having to see them hurt so much, it hurts me,"

"I can only imagine," said Amanda her smile turning into a frown.

"I'm sure you know all about it," Not Moody, but the female from the woods made Saffron insist. "You probably went through lots of it during the war, with my mum, and Sage and Harry's mum and ... and... no, I think that was it, wasn't it?"

Amanda was looking at Saffron plainly, genuinely believing that it was Saffron being unsure if their friend group in school contained one more. To her knowledge, Saffron didn't know of the final member of their circle of friends during Hogwarts. That belief was true but the circumstances revolving around who Saffron was had changed immensely.

"Yes, the four of us. I guess you could call us the female Marauders," Amanda chuckled heartily. "Though, you never would have heard us call ourselves that,"

"The four of you," nodded Saffron, her lips curling into a wide grin. "Anyway, if that was all, I better go, I think I need to get a good sleep and take some doleo, the Grey's been a lot lately,"

That was a complete fabrication as Saffron hadn't been to the Grey since she was imperiused. It appeared her captors were in control of that too.

"Right, of course," Amanda said, exhaling and walking towards the door. She opened it to let Saffron out. "Know I'm always here if you need anything,"

"I really appreciate that, since you weren't always here for me,"

Amanda furrowed her eyebrows. "Sorry?"

"I just mean that you weren't always here," explained the woman controlling Saffron, covering up her tracks again. "Seeing as I've only known you since second-year,"

"Oh, right," said Amanda, realising the point that she assumed Saffron would be making. "Well, I'm here now, I can promise you that much,"

"Thank you," said Saffron. "Goodnight, Amanda,"

"Goodnight Saffron,"

And so Saffron left, leaving behind her Amanda, who, for the first time in eleven years, had come face to face with the girl who had been the fifth member of her circle of friends at school.