𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐋𝐃 𝐋𝐈𝐄𝐒 || 𝐅𝐑𝐄𝐃 𝐖𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐋𝐄𝐘

N I N E.

The One With Miles.

Kayla found the Slytherin common room to be a very aesthetically pleasing place, if you were into the mysterious, cool and pristine type. It was always quite chilly, with the Slytherin students always pulling on an extra layer before they left their dorms in the morning. The black marble fireplace seemed to only be there for decoration and was usually forgotten about by the students.

"I don't see how it couldn't work," Benjamin said to Kayla as they inspected the clean fireplace. "There's wood beside it. I'd say we just incendio it."

"Salazar Slytherin was a very cold person," Kayla said as she looked at her reflection in the marble. "Maybe he's put a curse on it. I don't think I've ever seen a fire lighting."

Benjamin shrugged. "We'll never know if we never try." He then bent down and threw some of the wooden logs into the fire place. He took a step back, shared a look with Kayla, and lit the wood on fire.

The two friends held their breaths for the first few seconds, as if they were expecting the fireplace to explode in their faces. It didn't however, and they shared a grin as the flame flickered merrily in the hearth.

"That's so much better," Benjamin cheered, sitting down on the emerald couch and lifted his palms to face the flames. "It's so cold down here. Look, there's ice floating in the black lake."

Kayla turned to look at the large window that gave them a view of below the Black Lake's surface. Benjamin was right, little chunks of ice were floating in the dark water, and Kayla could see the Giant Squid crush one with its tenticles.

"Will the four of us be having our annual sleepover down in the common room?" Benjamin asked after he cleared his throat. "Since it's the last Friday before the Christmas break."

Kayla cringed, keeping her eyes on the window as she tried to decide how she'd break the news to him. "I don't think I can. And neither can Jade. We have to patrol for the Inquisitorial Squad tonight."

"Right," Benjamin forced out, rubbing his hands together. Silence settled between them and Kayla longed for the silence to be filled, so she was very grateful when Benjamin spoke again. "Do Jade have a problem with Claire?"

Kayla turned to look at Benjamin, who was still staring into the fire. "I don't think so," she said.

Benjamin scoffed. "Then how come Jade always finds a way to upset her. For some reason, this year she's just being so horrible to Claire. To sweet Claire, the most lovely and least deserving of hate person I know."

Kayla sat down next to Benjamin and let out a sigh. "You still like her?"

Benjamin glanced around the room, to check if anyone was listening to their conversation. Once satisfied they weren't being listened to, the brown-haired boy nodded. "Yes. I like her a bloody lot."

"It's been over two years, Ben," Kayla said softy. "I think you more then like her a bloody lot."

Benjamin groaned and stood from his seat, taking a few steps away from Kayla. He ran his fingers through his hair, visibly frustrated. "Fine. I admit it. I'm bloody in love with her. And it hurts, so bloody much because there's nothing I can do."

"You could tell her?" Kayla tried but Benjamin merely scoffed again.

"No. No way, she's more interested in the Giant Squid then me," Benjamin said sadly. "I'll just have to watch her fall in love with someone else and I'll have to keep all this pain to myself, since she's the one who I usually go to with my problems."

"Hey you can come to me," Kayla said, standing and approaching her friend. Benjamin avoided her eyes, so Kayla wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly.

"Promise me something, Kayla," Benjamin said once Kayla pulled away. "Don't let Jade change you. She's changing, a lot, and I don't know why. Don't let her pull you down with her."

Kayla smiled sweetly. "I'm not changing Ben. You're stuck with me," she said, and felt horrible when she told him she had to go meet Jade.

Jade was leaning against the door of Umbridge's office, being the main speaker in her conversation with Cassius Warrington and Graham Montague. They stopped talking as Kayla came to a halt beside them.

"Kayla," Jade greeted, but her tone wasn't very welcoming. "Cassius has just told me about you and Weasley during Charms class."

Kayla glanced at Cassius, who was avoiding her gaze. Of course he told her, and of course Jade was going to get angry.

"Why would you even speak to a Weasley? Let alone touch one?" Jade hissed. "They're all filthy blood traitors. You're associating yourself with the wrong people."

"He was annoying me," Kayla stressed, lying through her teeth. "So I grabbed his hand and made him do the spell correctly. There was no friendly talk at all."

Jade rolled her eyes. "Just don't take a liking to him, like Claire has to the other one," she said before turning to Graham. "Umbridge said we've to patrol together. So let's get going."

Jade and Graham walked down the abandoned corridor leaving Kayla alone with Cassius. They didn't speak, but silently decided to also start patrolling.

"Why'd you tell her?" Kayla blurted out once they had walked through three corridors. "What was your aim?"

Cassius shrugged. "It was just harmless gossip. I don't know why you're being so weird about it."

"I'm not being weird about it," Kayla spat. "I just want to know why you told her. It was none of your business. You had no right."

"And you've no right hanging out with Blood Traitors," Cassius hissed back, stopping and turning to face her. "You're just as bad as them, you know."

"For the last time, I'm not friends with them!" Kayla groaned. "You know what, screw you. I'm patrolling by myself."

Kayla then stormed off down the corridor. Cassius called after her once, telling her to stop being stupid. Kayla didn't listen, anger bubbling in the pit of her stomach.

"Would you three get back to your dorms," she shouted at three Gryffindors who were wandering the halls. "It's after curfew! Go!"

The Gryffindors scattered down the hall, giggling at the crazy Slytherin girl. Kayla balled her fists, resisting the urge to shoot a spell at them.

She felt like she was about to explode when she heard banging on the door of a nearby classroom. She tore open the door, prepared to scream at the person who chose such a cliche place to hide-

The anger in her body dissolved to fear, then to confusion once she opened the door.

There was Miles, her boyfriend, which a look of pure shock on his face, and his hands down the skirt of a Ravenclaw Kayla didn't recognise.

"Kayla," Miles breathed. "What are you doing-"

"What are you doing, Miles?" Kayla said. She tried to sound angry, but the shakiness of her voice showed her true feelings.

The Ravenclaw girl had froze, avoiding Kayla's eyes at all costs. She had pulled her arms away from Miles neck, as if that would make the situation any better.

"It's not what it looks like," Miles rushed, harshly pushing the girl away from him. Kayla almost felt bad as she went crashing against a couple of desks.

"You sure about that?" Kayla said, raising her voice. "Because it looks like you're fucking cheating on me!"

"I can explain," Miles said, holing his hands up in defence. "I didn't want to. She-"

"Oh save it you foul piece of shit," Kayla growled. "Don't talk to me. Ever. We're fucking done."

Kayla slammed the door of the classroom, giving her a head start, as she believed Miles would come running after her.

He didn't. So Kayla let the tears stream down her cheeks.