"Emmaline," I hear behind me. I quickly turn around in the middle of the corridor to see a red-haired Gryffindor looking at me with a weak smile. Tora and I were walking together to the library to get some books for classes, but I suppose this is more important.
"Ron."
"Erm, can I talk to you?" He asks, fidgeting with his fingers.
"Y-yeah, absolutely," I say before looking at Tora with a smile.
"I'll see you later," Tora tells me with a smile, looking Ron up and down, then between the both of us before walking away.
"See you later Tora," I say back with a wave before hugging my Potions book to my chest. "What would you like to talk about?"
"Oh- um," he starts. "Well, at the first task, when Harry was... you know, competing. You grabbed my hand. I-I um, don't know if you meant to, but I just wanted to let you know that I noticed it." Weasley's an odd one for sure.
"Oh, did I? I, uh, didn't notice," I lie before looking at my feet. I swear I've never lied more than I have this year alone. "Must've just been an accident."
"Yeah, I erm... don't know why I brought it up. Sorry," he says and I look up at him and we make eye contact.
"You're alright Ron, don't be sorry. If a random boy grabbed my hand the first time I had a conversation outside of class with him, I'd want to know why," I say, giving him an empathetic smile, trying to lighten the mood. "I should be the one who's sorry."
"No, it's okay. I, erm, didn't mind it," he tells me, trying to make me feel better but honestly, I'm just kind of feeling awkward about the whole situation.
"Well, okay then," I say with a small laugh at his attenpt to cheer me up. "I'll see you around Weasley. I have to go."
"Yeah, see you," he says back with a smile and I walk away towards the library. What was that all about?
___________________________________
"Well, Emmaline, what are you working on?" Genevieve says, coming up and sitting down next to me in the Great Hall.
"Just a research project for Magical Creatures," I say, covering up the letter I was writing for Potter with a book I found in the library on mermaids.
"Hmm, interesting. What exactly does this project entail?" She asks, trying to look over my shoulder at my book.
"Extra credit," I say with a shrug. "I just wanted to learn more and Hagrid told me where to find more information. Why are you so interested?"
"Well, you're my best friend," she tells me making a face like it's obvious.
"Yeah, and?" I ask, a bit impatient. I haven't owled Harry back in a few days.
"We haven't chatted in a while," she tells me, playing with her fingernails. "So... how's Potter?"
"I wouldn't know, we don't talk," I say with a shake of my head.
"Well, let me help with that. From one Hufflepuff with a fancy for a Gryffindor to another," she winks.
"Oh, shut it," I groan, shaking my head and placing it into my hands.
"I'm just trying to help you get your man!" She giggles and says it a bit too loudly. I look around and cover her mouth with my hand.
"Seriously Gen, you're being a bit too loud," I say, this time actually annoyed. I can't have anyone thinking I fancy Harry Potter. But, I guess it's a little too late for that.
