= Wands High =

Chapter 16 - 13 May 1998, Wednesday

What he found more interesting was the other person, who was now carefully holding his ex-band mate's elbow with one hand and what seemed to be an issue of a newspaper or magazine in the other.

- Why do you even bother talking to him, Ender? – Cynthia's eyes were all fire and brimstone while she looked at him. – He obviously doesn't need either of us anymore, now that he has his own little band and little Ms. Smartyskirts by his side.

- Her name is Hermione, Cynthia – Daynen said, doing his best to remain collected. Starting something up with these two wasn't going to result in anything good. – You'd do well to start addressing her properly. Or even better - don't address her at all.

- Oh, I know her name alright – the girl responded, though she never did look at him directly. – I never suspected, but as it turns out, she happens to be quite famous. But he already knew that, I assume, why else would he be going out with her?

- You should calm down, Cynth. Just get it over with, I have things to do.

It was actually Ender who had uttered the words, though Daynen himself was likely about to respond in a similar manner. The last bit however did manage to get his attention.

- Here you go! – the girl chuckled and almost slapped him with the object she'd been carrying - what a moment later Daynen saw to be an issue of "WAND". – To be honest with you, when I started reading this I was sure she had been Potter's "little helper" all along, but who can argue with a photograph?

- It's written by Rita Skeeter, Cynthia – Daynen simply said after just a glance at the article printed on the first page.

- You enjoy that, Daynen – the girl growled at him, somewhat mockingly. – You enjoy that well.

And with that she pulled on Ender's arm, apparently finally ready to leave. Her companion however, didn't seem quite ready to depart just yet.

- Just to let you know, we are planning to crush you all tomorrow night – the boy said, enjoying every syllable. – You know, just so to show you I also had a reason to come here.

- Thank you for the heads up – Daynen uttered, now really starting to lose his patience.

The pair were gone soon after thankfully, leaving him alone once again, the issue of "WAND" still resting in his lap.

"National Hero Harry Potter and his two friends in secret love triangle???"

--- Rita Skeeter investigates

Daynen almost laughed out loud, reading the title – a sensation that rapidly took a much different turn as he browsed to page two a moment later, just to discover a photo of a very familiar girl, locked in a firm embrace with a tall boy with red hair and pale skin, in a manner which clearly indicated the two weren't simply good friends.

* * *

- Hey, Fairylocks, wait up!

Hermione stopped at the top of the staircase and looked over her shoulder. Orianna was jogging energetically up the stairs; it seemed like she was already shaking off the side effects of the class with Phaedros.

- Going to meet with Professor Royce, I presume? – the other girl asked taking a deep breath.

- Yes, how do you know?

- I just met Professor Allistor and he asked me to deliver this to Royce – she waved a small parchment scroll tied with leather lacing.

- Great, I suppose you can show me some kind of shortcut to the atrium before I'm late again?