I Heard A Rumour That We're In Love // Lams (HAMILTON)

Chapter Nine

A/N: Hey folks, how are you? Sorry this chapter kinda sucks, I was just really struggling to make it through writing this one, though you'll (hopefully) be pleased to know that I have written up to Chapter Eighteen so far. As always, leave comments, I love feedback. Enjoy!

Trigger warnings for implied substance abuse, implied child abuse, and implied previous abusive relationships. Stay safe!

John's POV:

I find myself wedged between Laf and someone I've never met before, but I suppose that's what comes from being late to a meal, having to sit next to people you don't know. I don't like it, it feels like an invasion of my personal space, but it's my fault I suppose. I could have spent my free period studying or doing homework like most other fifth years, but I just had to get a little bit tipsy on my balcony, losing track of time and having to run down here. I don't even know why I was so desperate. I should have skipped. That would have been a better idea. Then I wouldn't be wedged next to some stranger, watching Alex sitting opposite me, whispering something into Eliza's ear to make her blush and giggle. They may not be 'official' yet, but they will be soon. I can already see it, Eliza and Alexander, Hogwarts power couple. He'd be the type to walk her to class and leave her with a peck on the cheek before he has to go. They'd be the couple that should be studying together in the library but got too caught up in one another to focus. And I'd be watching from the side-lines, hopelessly pining.

"John," Alex calls, shaking me from my thoughts. "How was your free period?" So he's managed to take his eyes off of Eliza for a moment, it seems.

"It was alright. I didn't do much. You had divination, right?"

"Ancient runes, actually."

"Right, Laf and Herc had divination. Did you enjoy it?"

"It's really interesting! Languages are fascinating." Languages. I'm good at languages.

"I love learning new languages, I know quite a few."

"Oh, what do you know?"

"I'm fluent in English and French, and semi-fluent in Latin, Italian, Greek and Spanish." I learned French and English growing up. My mum raised us speaking both languages, her native French and my father's English. The others I chose to learn in my spare time. It was something intellectually stimulating and it made me seem educated. Maybe it was a way to try to impress my father. I thought he would be proud of me. He never was.

"I speak French too. How did you learn so many?" Alex seems genuinely invested in what I have to say. He's probably just being nice, can't wait to get back to Eliza.

"I grew up speaking French and English, French is my mother's native language. Everything else I learned for fun in my spare time." That is, when I wasn't looking after four younger siblings.

"You learn languages for fun?" He says incredulously. "I picked them up when I was working in a harbour in the Caribbean. English, French, Danish, and a little Hebrew." Hebrew? That's not something I've heard people speak in a while, unless they're Jewish. Then again, I don't know any Jewish people.

"You worked in a harbour?"

"Trading mainly, keeping track of imports and exports. It was nothing interesting, but I met a lot of people from different places. You pick up languages quickly when you're around them a lot."

"My mum spoke mostly French at home to make sure me and my siblings would pick it up."

"You have siblings?"