In the Melancholy Moonlight

Chapter XLII: Close to Something Real

I want to heal, I want to feel,
What I thought was never real
I want to let go of the pain I felt so long
I want to heal, I want to feel
Like I'm close to something real
I want to find something I've wanted all along
Somewhere I belong

"Somewhere I Belong"
Linkin Park

LUCY:

The first Care of Magical Creatures lesson of the new year was incredibly fun, though I found myself doubting Cedric would agree. Hagrid built a bonfire of salamanders, and our task was to collect enough brush to keep the fire alive. I expected to be by myself, given the way I'd been too busy to talk much to anyone over the holiday, but to my pleasant surprise, Archie tagged along with me.

"Hey, Diggory, d'you finish the Narnia books yet?"

"I did!" I exclaimed. "I'll give it back to you in Potions tomorrow."

"What did you think? Favorite characters, favorite books?"

"Well, I think Lucy has a pretty cool name."

Archie laughed. "Was it weird reading about a character with the exact same name?"

"A little," I admitted. "Digory Kirke, too. But honestly, I think my favorite character would have to be Peter."

"The whole fight with Miraz in Prince Caspian is epic," he agreed. "That was probably your favorite book, if Peter was your favorite character."

I nodded. "Yeah, I think so."

"You reckon you're ready for Tolkien over the summer?"

"Are his stories like Narnia?"

"Uh..." He chuckled. "Well, you'll see. I don't think you'll be disappointed."

"I'll keep that in mind," I replied. We tossed our kindling into the roaring fire and left to find more. "Where's Cam today? I thought you two were inseparable."

"She tripped leaving Defense Against the Dark Arts today and fell face-first onto a desk. She's fine, of course, but she'll probably be in the Hospital Wing until after classes end."

"Poor thing," I remarked.

"Clumsy thing," Archie corrected.

"How's that going?" I asked as casually as I could. "You and Cam, I mean. I know you've been smitten with her since day one."

He grinned and looked away. "Still working on it. I think I'll ask her to go to Hogsmeade with me, next time we go. Any advice for me?"

I laughed. "Archie, really. Me? Relationship advice?"

Archie cocked his head. "Well, obviously you've got some idea of what girls like. If a guy asked you to Hogsmeade, what would you want him to say? What would you want to do once you actually get to Hogsmeade?"

I felt my cheeks glow bright red despite the cold. "I don't know," I stammered. "I've never really thought about it."

"Think about it, then. If someone were to ask you right now, what would you want him to say?"

I exhaled sharply, thoroughly flustered. I busied myself with grabbing a handful of dry leaves, trying to honestly think of something that would help. Obviously nobody would ever ask me to Hogsmeade; the notion was ridiculous. But if someone did...

"Well, to be honest." I cleared my throat. "Archie, no one's ever going to ask me. But if someone did, he'd have to be very clear. Really straightforward. He'd literally have to say, 'Lucy, would you like to go with me to Hogsmeade? I promise nobody put me up to it, this is just me honestly wanting to spend the day with you in Hogsmeade, just the two of us.'"