Compartment 451

Part 15

All Liam can talk about for the next two days is his scrimmage game against Slytherin, that is, if Zayn even sees him at all. The wizard has taken it upon himself to hold longer practices, which means any free time he has ends up going to revising. It's not exactly what Zayn had expected their first few days after entering the murky waters of not-entirely-normal-best-friendship-anymore territory to be like, but he's had plenty to keep him occupied as well, so by the time Friday rolls around he's just glad he can finally see Liam without any distractions.

As soon as Liam's History of Magic class let out that afternoon, Zayn headed down to the quidditch pitch to help set up for the game. He doesn't really do much other than set out water and take the trunk of enchanted balls out to the middle of the stadium, but ever since Liam had become team captain the year before, he liked being able to insert himself into this part of the male's life and show that he cared about the other's interest.

Laying flat on the grassy field, eyes closed, Zayn relaxes as the sun alternates between peeking out from the clouds and hiding behind them. There's a slight breeze, but his ears are only tuned into the sound of Liam flying through the air, warming up his muscles before anyone else shows up. Any time that he makes a quick dive there's a soft whistle, Zayn paying extra attention for the moment that it ends to signal that Liam caught himself just in time.

It's so peaceful that Zayn nearly falls asleep to the sound of Liam's broomstick, but he's peeling open an eye when he hears, and feels, the boy land next to him.

"Getting a tan?" Liam inquires as he throws himself onto the grass next to Zayn.

"With all these layers on? Hardly." Zayn turns his head to stare at the boy, noticing the slight sheen that his forehead now had from conditioning. Even with as many hours of practice that he put in regularly, Liam's diligence showed with the extra effort he insisted on making. It was how Zayn knew that he'd get scouted by someone; any athlete willing to go above and beyond was usually the one who turned heads. "You sounded good," he commends.

"If sound counted, then Niall would give me a run for my money with that guitar of his," Liam chuckles. "Thanks for helping me set up by the way."

Zayn's neck hurts from the strain, so he goes back to looking up at the sky. "I'm Gryffindor's unofficial water boy, it's my job."

"If Teddy heard you say that he might kick you out of your dorm for the rest of the year," Liam teases, but the joke wasn't all that far from the truth.

"Wouldn't be the first time," Zayn replies, his fingers pulling at the grass underneath them. "When you beat us last year for the Cup he wouldn't talk to me for days after he found out I went to your guys' after party."

"We're a package deal. He should know that by now."

Anyone who knew either of them, and within a week of getting to know the pair if a person didn't already, could figure out that that was the case. Hearing Liam say it out loud however, that made Zayn's lips twist up in arrogance at the possessive claim.

"Everyone should know that," he confirms in absoluteness. Pausing, the older boy thought about if he should bring up their unusual lack of contact since the night at the Tower, ultimately deciding that it couldn't hurt. "But maybe not this week. I've barely seen you since Tuesday night."

Zayn hears Liam sigh and shift next to him, which causes him to tilt his head to the side once more so he can interpret the male's facial expressions along with his words.

"I know, and I'm sorry." Liam's voice is filled with remorse and now Zayn's wishing that he would've just let it go. "This isn't even the first real game of the season, but I'd rather be prepared and play like it is instead of writing it off." The Ravenclaw's about to tell him that he understands, he doesn't have to explain himself anymore, but Liam keeps talking. "I lost track of time with everything and I'm sorry. You're taking more classes than I am and you're still out here helping me."