Unrequited

17

It was two in the morning when Asphodel was awaken by the sound of retching echoing across the walls in the bathroom. Asphodel tried to cover her ears, but seeing as she felt bad for whoever was throwing up, she got up and grabbed her wand, making her way to the bathroom.

"Lumos," She muttered under her breath and watched as the tip of her wand illuminated the room around her. She took a step into the bathroom, which had its light already on, so she flicked her wand and the light went off.

One of the bathroom stalls had been swung open and someone's legs were sticking out as they kneeled into the toilet. Asphodel rubbed her eyes, seemingly trying to get rid of the tiredness she felt. "Hey, are you okay?" Asphodel asked as she lightly touched the person's back.

"Asphodel?" Faun jumped and turned around, before quickly facing the toilet for another round.

"Merlin," Asphodel said as she brushed Faun's hair with her fingers and held it back as she puked into the toilet bowl once again. "You shouldn't have drank last night." She scolded. "I told you."

"It was worth it," Faun replied, breathing heavily. "Twelve Galleons is a lot."

"Whatever," Asphodel said annoyedly. She was cranky. All Hufflepuffs seemed to enjoy their sleep. Especially when Asphodel had just competed in a Quidditch match and had tutoring to do the next morning. "Promise me you'll never drink that much again."

"Ever?" Faun reiterated with her back turned against Asphodel.

"At least for this year." Asphodel said, hoping that would at least convince her best friend.

Faun turned around and wiped her mouth with her sleeve. She slumped against the side of the stall as Asphodel flushed the toilet for her. With a flick of her wand a cold towel came floating towards Asphodel's hand and she pressed the cloth against Faun's forehead.

Faun could be a little reckless at times, she acknowledged that. But she was glad that Asphodel was there to take care of her and she didn't get mad when Asphodel reprimanded her. Friends were supposed to look out for each other after all. Asphodel sighed as she counted in her head the seconds until she could stop pressing the cold towel against her friend's head.

"I'm sorry for waking you up," Faun muttered as she took the cloth from Asphodel's hand as she pressed it to her forehead, saving Asphodel the work. "I could have handled it by myself."

"It's fine." Asphodel answered but Faun knew she was lying. "And no you couldn't." Asphodel added and Faun smiled lightly because she knew that was true.

"Your Hufflepuff teammates are so cool. I mean, you're the ones on the team with them, didn't you want to bond with them?" Faun asked as she ran a hand through her hair that was damp with sweat.

"There are other ways to bond." Asphodel replied in a monotone voice. "I don't give into peer pressure."

"Okay I get that," Faun replied defensively, not wanting to get on Asphodel's moody side. It was only a side she had seen a few times before, but Asphodel's parents and James had become accustomed to it from time to time. "I'm really sorry." Was the only thing Faun could say.

"I said it was fine. I'll just be a little tired in the morning. I have to tutor Marlene McKinnon for Transfiguration. Even if I didn't, I'd still be tired from the match last night." Asphodel replied and made a motion for Faun to give the cold cloth to her.

"Marlene's a good friend of Lily's. Maybe you can get her to run her mouth about Evans." Faun said and shrugged as Asphodel shook her head.

"I'm tutoring, not investigating." Asphodel replied and yawned. "Take a shower and change. I'm going back to bed."

"Goodnight, love you!" Faun exclaimed in a hushed tone as she watched Asphodel leave the bathroom.

"Love you too."