Glory |A. Potter|

Eight

Walking beside Annabeth, Jane felt as if she truly didn't belong. The corridors were filled with people but as Annabeth had turned her whole body to face Charlotte, it felt as if she was alone, no one caring enough to spare her a second look. She had come to expect it, in all honesty, becoming something like a third-wheel when Annabeth and Charlotte were around was normal. Even though she had gotten prepared beforehand, however, that didn't guarantee she had stopped feeling left out.

Ramona had left earlier as she had a free period and from what she had told her before she left, she had gathered she had scheduled some time off for her and Louis to spend the evening together, as just friends. Jane had warned her no one else in the school would see it as them being just friends and that rumours would start circulating soon enough. Ramona hadn't seemed to care.

It was during times like these that Jane wondered with Albus Potter in the same year and house as her and Ramona Vasquez—only the most beautiful girl in the school—as her best friend how people could even know her name, considering the rumours around Hogwarts circulated around the two of them more than half the year. She thought it should be considered a special feat, to manage to have people knowing her name under such circumstances.

Charlotte and Annabeth couldn't have a way of knowing her thoughts for if they did, they would appear sympathetic and then would start claiming Jane was jealous behind closed doors, something that thankfully wasn't happening at the moment to Jane's knowledge. They headed to the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom with Jane keeping her thoughts private, walking a few ways behind Charlotte and Annabeth as there wasn't much space for her to walk beside them with all the students around and naturally, she stepped back in an effort to not disturb them.

They got in the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom earlier than they should but some students were already seated. Charlotte and Annabeth sat down next to each other, their conversation never ending but carrying on in a much quieter tone so that no one would hear them. Jane took a seat at the desk behind their own, alone. She took out her books, readied herself for the class that was to come, and by the time she had gotten prepared, Scorpius had gotten in the classroom.

He looked the way he always did. His Slytherin robes appeared well-kept, his bag hanging from one shoulder, his light hair carefully combed to the side, a strand of hair falling in front of stunning grey eyes. Even though Jane was certain she could never feel anything for Scorpius above friendship, she was observant enough to catch the looks the girls in the room—and one particular Ravenclaw boy in the back of the class—sent him as he passed. Annabeth was looking at him in a similar manner as well, and at once, Jane felt a sense of protectiveness as she glared lightly at the back of Annabeth's head. She absolutely did not want her anywhere near him.

She felt a sense of accomplishment as Scorpius headed straight towards her without sparing a look at those around them—and especially not at Annabeth—and as he sat down beside her, he sent her one of his usual smiles. "Hey there."

"I didn't see you at breakfast," she mused as she placed an elbow on the desk. She hadn't seen him all day even though it was nearing lunch at this point but Scorpius didn't seem bothered as his smile widened.

"Believe it or not, I almost missed breakfast today. For some reason I couldn't leave the bed."

"Happens to the best of us," she laughed as Scorpius joined in. It was then Annabeth turned around to face them—mainly Scorpius—with a small smile and a soft look that almost made her seem nice. Jane stiffened at once and Scorpius—always so observant when it came to her—sent her a brief look of concern before he turned to face Annabeth.

"Hello, Scorpius," she told him, "how have you been?"

"Fine, thank you for asking," he smiled slightly, the motion guarded. Annabeth didn't seem to notice.