Sorry for the long wait - I had this chapter planned out, but Stronghold takes priority :P

Fourteen: Pranks

"You're so lucky, Lorcan," Lucy said, her tone a bit dreamy. "I wish I could go to Brazil for an entire summer."

Lorcan shrugged modestly as he replied, "Just another one of Mum and Dad's excursions. What else are they going to do with me and Lysander?"

Lucy scoffed and indignantly crossed her arms. "My mum and dad consider it an excursion if we go see one of Erin's races in Scotland. They're done with travelling for a solid year after that," she grumbled. Erin was her mum's best friend, and an exceptional broomstick racer. Unfortunately, those races were usually in the middle of Scotland's rainy season. "Meanwhile, Molly got to travel with our great-uncle for a whole year around Egypt and Morocco after she graduated. Bloody unfair, I tell you."

Lorcan laughed at Lucy's irritation and asked, "What's wrong with Cornwall, anyways? The beach is your backyard."

Lucy shrugged and quietly answered, "Home is home. It's not the same."

Lorcan could understand that answer. He supposed it made some sense - it was pretty easy to get used to a place after staying there for too long. However, he had never really felt that. They had a house, of course, but his parents always travelled for work, and he and Lysander would always tag along.

"Promise you'll write," Lucy said suddenly, breaking the silence between them.

"Of course," Lorcan replied. "Every chance I get. I'll even send photos, if I can."

"Okay, I - ah!"

Lorcan instantly stuck a hand out to grab Lucy's arm before she could trip and fall on her face. The two Ravenclaws observed the thin piece of twine that was pulled taut across the corridor - likely the work of Fred and Riley - with surprise and a small amount of contempt. Lorcan dropped the books he was holding in his other hand to help Lucy stand upright and steady herself.

"You okay?" Lorcan asked. His hands were firmly gripping her shoulders as he bent his neck to get a closer look at her face. Lucy's eyes were wide, and she blinked a few times before she could manage a reply.

"Yes, just fine," she said. "My heart's not likely to be in my chest anymore, but this shouldn't surprise me so much, really. I once got mashed parsnips all over my head thanks to Fred, the git that he is. Uncle George laughed his arse off at that - something about following in my father's footsteps."

Lorcan laughed softly, a kind smile on his face, as he replied, "You nearly fell on your face there. Would've had to take you to the infirmary."

Lucy's eyes finally ceased searching the hall for other booby traps that her ridiculous cousin may have set up and met Lorcan's smiling brown eyes. She immediately felt her face heating up, although she wasn't sure why. However, if Lucy was to put any of her intelligence to use, she would deduce that it had something to do with how close she was standing to Lorcan. Close enough to see that his olive skin actually had a small dusting of freckles across his nose - something she had only just noticed, despite four years of being close friends.

Lorcan started to take notice of the blush creeping up on Lucy's face, although he was still somewhat distracted by what a beautiful shade of green her eyes were. It would be so easy, right then, so perfect.

"We should head back to the Common Room," Lucy said quietly. "Curfew's in a few minutes."

Lorcan nodded slowly, dropped his hands, and took a step back. As the two Ravenclaws bent down to pick up their books, Lorcan couldn't help the dejected sigh that escaped him.

Lucy had not heard it, though, because it was covered by her own similarly dejected sigh.