Author's Note: - edited July 13th to add chapter stats

As it says in the summary, I'm representing Ravenclaw house in the Comp. My prompt for this challenge was mean. =D

Chapter Stats:

Rating - K+ / PG

Charries - Molly II, Lorcan

Ships - Molly/Lorcan

Genres - Romance, drama

Title Inspiration - "Knowing Me, Knowing You" by ABBA.

Nothing We Can Do

In twenty years, if someone asks me what the biggest mistake of my life was, I know I'll think back to this night and to the two excruciating hours I spent arguing with my boyfriend of five years. Some people may find it strange that I'm not out trying to correct said mistake, and am packing suitcases instead. I wish it was that simple.

I wonder if he's thinking of me right now. Probably not. He never stays up past eleven, and it's going on one in the morning. But if in twenty years, when I'm an award-winning Lycanthropic specialist and someone decides to write my biography, what will he tell them about me? Will he say I'm mean like he did when we first met and I stole his brother's stuffed owl?

I've been thinking a lot about those days lately. About how simple things were when we were kids, too young to know who Voldemort was or understand the things he did. And how easily we became friends - after I returned Sander's toy. Everything was perfect before we went to Hogwarts and had to endure all the crap that comes from living with hundreds of teenage wizards for most of the year. Cliques, petty rivalries, romances...

Sometimes I long to go back to fourth year, before I realized the feelings I had for my best friend. I can never regret finally telling him how I felt, or any of the moments we spent together in the years afterward, but I miss being able to think about me and my future without including him in that. If we were still friends, maybe tonight wouldn't have been such a disaster. Maybe he would have been happy and supported my decision to take the internship in America, instead of blowing up at me.

Two years isn't such a long time, is it? I didn't think so when I accepted the offer. And let's be honest, it would take me ages to fulfill my dream of being a specialist if I didn't go. But I suppose, deep down, I knew it meant my relationship with Lorcan would suffer for it - and that really is that last thing I want, but what can I do? Everything is set to go. The hospital received my letter two weeks ago, I sent in my resignation on the same day, my sister's ready to move into my flat while I'm gone, and now Lorcan knows. There's no turning back now.

I would do anything not to lose him, but I know it's impossible now. His job and family ground him here. No matter how much I plead, he'll never leave with me, so I won't even try. I'm not selfish enough to ask him to wait for me. Neither of us believe in long-distance relationships. Even one as strong and old as ours will fall apart in the first year. And so, there's nothing we can do. I've accepted it.

There's a knock at the door and I know it's James and Fred, come to help me move my things to the new flat in New York. I call for them to wait a moment. I don't want them to see my tears, or the note I've written hastily to send off with my owl now. Two sentences on a torn bit of parchment 'I never meant to hurt you. Love, Molly.'

Another knock comes. I wipe away my tears as I watch Cleo fly into the dark night, and then hurry to answer the door. My friends aren't there, like I expect, but he is. His shoulder-length, blonde hair is a mess, as if he's run his hands through it a hundred times, like he always does when he's upset, and his gorgeous grey eyes are red-rimmed. I can't remember the last time I saw him cry.

I'm speechless, half-expecting him to tell me again what a big mistake I'm making. He doesn't say anything this time. He comes closer and wraps his arms around me and kisses me on the lips. I smile when he pulls back.

It's not a kiss good-bye.

Author's Note:

A huge thank you goes to xakemii, who beta'd this ficlet and helped me decide on the ending.

Also, a note about titles. The anthology title A Convocation of Eagles is actually what a group of eagles is called... and quite a mouthful. Eagles are the Ravenclaw mascot, and seeing as I'm a Ravenclaw... well, you get the picture. ;)

Nothing We Can Do is a line from the song Knowing Me, Knowing You by ABBA. I was listening to it when I wrote this and it fit nicely as the song is about a couple breaking up. I highly recommend it.

That is all. Please review.

-Lizzy