Chapter 9

The Invitation


OWL'S POST
Hogwarts Monthly: December

A Change in Charms
By Sarah T. Dier

An unexpected switch-up took place within the Hogwarts staff not halfway through the school year. Professor Damien Callahan, Head of Ravenclaw House and former Muggle Studies professor, was appointed the recently vacated Charms post after Headmistress Minerva McGonagall received an unanticipated letter of resignation from Professor Ernest Macmillan, a veteran loyal to Hogwarts for over twenty years.

As Muggle Studies professor, Callahan taught less than thirty students per school year therefore majority of Hogwarts attended his first class blindly. Nevertheless, Hogwarts' student body commented nothing but praise for the twenty-five year old Charms master. His classes were described to be challenging, engaging, and unique. The professor himself has gained much popularity amongst the students and (Read more on page 4)


As Christmas season approached, bitterness was a constant in Effie's thoughts and feelings. She might have considered it the worst time of the year behind summer break. The idea of having to return home to her father and stepmother did not exactly repel her, but she would take two weeks with Dominique and Andy any day.

Unfortunately, Dominique was going to France as she did every year for Christmas, and Andy's parents were Muggles. Back in first year, he would tell them everything he learned at his new school, and the subject somehow shifted to History of Magic. Long story short, the Second Wizarding War terrified them and they assumed all Purebloods were prejudiced gits.

Though now that Effie thought of it, meeting Andy's parents did not seem like the most ravishing of ideas. Ever since their little episode in Hogsmeade, they agreed to try it out but take it immensely slow. Neither of them were fond of labels and commitment seemed too big to even consider. Andy called it "dating", but the term confused Effie. Did it mean that would allow him to see other girls? And if the title entailed that, would she be okay with it?

When Effie expressed this thought to Dominique, it was during Charms. It was about a week before the break began, and the seventh years were given an entire period to practice Patronus Charms for their practical exam scheduled the next day. Andy was in the hospital wing after suffering a small prick from a Venomous Tentacula during Herbology the other day. The injury was a millimeter small but required a few days in confinement as Venomous Tentacula spikes were extremely poisonous.

Andy's injury, however, was the least of Dominique's worries as soon as Effie brought up the subject of her strange relationship.

"Dating?" Dominique exclaimed, silvery wisps emitting from her wand. She cursed at her failure to produce a corporeal Patronus once again, abandoned her efforts, and turned onto Effie. "And you're okay with this?"

"I don't know," Effie chuckled nervously, slightly cowering from her intense gaze. "I suppose I am. We both agreed we don't want to jump on anything too quick. We want to put our friendship first."

"Friendship first?" Dominique cackled mockingly. "Do you even hear yourself? Tell me, Effie, do you even like him that way? Or are you just trying to convince yourself that you do so you won't have to hurt him?"

"I do!" Effie said hotly.

"Then do something about it! The guy's been in love with you for years–"

"Don't say that–"

"Oh, sweet Merlin, Effie!" Dominique laughed incredulously. "He is! The boy is smitten and he's only saying that he wants to take it slow because he knows that if he tries too hard, it'll hurt a whole bloody lot more when you decide you don't like him that way after all."

Effie took deep breaths. Even if she knew Dominique was probably right, she still felt rather attacked. She liked Andy. She felt nice and fluttery around him and she could not remember the last time she felt that way around anyone. She wanted to give it a chance.

"I want to give it a chance," Effie said, repeating her thoughts to Dominique.

The blonde sighed but smiled softly at her. "Effie, I'm all for it. Everyone's thought you two were endgame since–what–fifth year? I mean Andy hasn't asked anyone out since then even if Larissa Dirkman was practically throwing herself at him all sixth year. But I just want you to be happy."

"I am, Dom," Effie insisted. "I've never been better."

"Alright, alright," Dominique said. "You know, if this happened last year, I'd be drawing up your wedding plans."

Effie chuckled and rolled her eyes. "What's changed this year?"

Dominique gave her a pointed look. "Knowing how long it took for you to find out about Andy, I'd expect you find out about this when we're McGonagall's age."

"What are you–"

"Less talking, more spell-casting, ladies," a low voice drifted behind the pair, cutting Effie's cry off and putting a scowl on Dominique's delicate features.

Professor Callahan raised an amused eyebrow at the pair before stalking away to the Slytherins who could not even produce smoke puffs from the tip of their wands. Dominique, with a sudden burst of motivation, raised her wand to cast the charm but just as she opened her mouth, a deep confident voice resounded in the room.

"Expecto Patronum!"

Everyone halted in place, eyes wide and mouths gaping at a silvery basset hound dashing around the room. Effie's eyes followed the Patronus in awe until it disappeared into wisps. Once the glow of the spell faded, the room stood still in silence, all eyes glued on James Potter. He stood uncomfortably by the corner of the room next to Fred, who also looked in shock at his cousin's display of extraordinary magic.

"Excellent, Potter." Professor Callahan broke the silence looking significantly impressed.

Fred suddenly began clapping, a proud grin on his face. The rest of the class followed, the Slytherins somewhat reluctantly. James chuckled, cheeks pink. Effie stared at him, still impressed. They had not spoken in weeks but Effie tried not to let it get to her. Part of her was somewhat disappointed, even bitter, but Dominique herself said it: James Potter was odd. He did not seem like the type who made friends with just anyone either.

"How the hell…" Dominique whispered.

Effie turned to her friend, face dropping when she saw the look on Dominique's. Her cold blue eyes leaked of jealousy and spite, mouth agape, and nostrils flared. Her knuckles were white as she held her wand in a deathly grip. Effie reached for her arm, an attempt to calm her down.

"Hey," she said, "you'll get it."

"What the point of getting it when somebody got it first?" Dominique muttered bitterly, resuming her stance with her wand ready. "Expecto Patronum!"

Silvery wisps emitted from her wand even weaker than her last try. She groaned in frustration. Effie sighed and proceeded to practice her own. She knew she was nowhere near a corporeal Patronus, but she could admit that she had been doing better than Dominique the past few days. She wondered what had gotten into her best friend.

"Expecto Patronum!" Effie said, clearly imagining the day she finally left home to attend Hogwarts.

As expected, the silver smoke that emitted from her wand made Dominique's look like a joke. She tried not to look too proud as the blonde still seethed at her own incapability to produce a proper Patronus Charm next to her.

At the end of the class, James was the only one who was able to produce a real Patronus. They had been practicing for days but the next best thing to James' basset hound was a relatively powerful shield of wisps. It was a good thing Callahan was only expecting that much for the practical exam. Unfortunately for Dominique, she was yet to collect her thoughts together and perform how she was expected to. Effie thought it strange to see the brightest witch in her year struggling over something, but she supposed Patronus Charms really were as complex as her essay told.

"You go ahead," Dominique said, fishing a long roll of parchment from her bag. "Callahan gave me an Acceptable for the last essay! It's like the whole bloody universe wants me to fail Charms this year! I wonder why!" She growled in Callahan's direction and approached him as he lounged nonchalantly behind his desk, reading through essay submissions.

Effie followed her request and left the classroom alone. Arithmancy was supposed to be her next class but Professor Vector gave them a free period to catch up on the mounds of homework she assigned last week. Effie briefly thought of visiting Andy in the hospital wing but Vector's homework was not going to do itself. With a sigh, she made her way to the library.

The smell of old parchment and varnished wood was typical to Effie. After all, Ravenclaw Tower never seemed to rid of it. That did not mean, however, that Effie did not appreciate it more each time. Relishing in the beautiful scent of the library, it took her a moment to realize that the place was more packed than she expected it to be. Students of different houses either read in silence or spoke in hushed tones, some standing by the shelves and most occupying the tables. Now that Effie thought of it, the crowd was not all that surprising considering the end of a term meant more homework and more difficult exams for everyone.

She made her way through the aisles, approaching the sitting area for students. She craned her neck to find a free seat and spotted a table by the far corner occupied by a single bushy-haired redhead donning blue robes. Without thinking, Effie sped towards the Ravenclaw.

"Hello, do you mind if I–"

The girl raised her head, cutting Effie off. Blue eyes met brown, and Effie cleared her throat awkwardly, cursing herself for stopping mid-sentence. Rose Weasley gave her a strange slightly suspicious look.

"Er, sure," she said.

Effie gulped, knowing she could not escape now. She sat herself on the chair opposite Rose and unloaded her reading materials.

"Sorry," Effie said, unsure why she was still attempting to continue the conversation. "Everywhere else is full."

"It's not a problem," Rose replied, not looking up from her notes.

"Right," Effie muttered, trying to place her full attention on her Arithmancy readings.

They were able to work in silence for the next half hour. Effie was so engrossed in her homework that she barely even noticed Rose was there. It was somewhat comforting that there was hardly any tension between them, but Effie wondered why there should be in the first place. There was the incident with Marriot Geller's sabotage on Effie's October issue that mentioned Rose quite a few times, but she was pretty sure she sent the message to everyone on campus that she was not the real author of that article after making Marriot's nose bleed yellow.

"Have you seen Al lately?"

Effie's hand froze mid-paper. She slowly looked up and found Rose staring intently at her from her seat. It was the first time one of them spoke since the awkward introductions.

"I actually haven't," Effie said truthfully. "He still attends meetings but he never speaks. I don't see him anywhere else."

"Figures," Rose said, attention back to her work.

"What do you mean?" Effie pressed, curiosity getting the better of her. "Haven't you been seeing him? You're close, aren't you?"

Rose chuckled darkly. "I don't know, are we?"

Effie frowned at her response.

"We haven't exactly been the bestest of cousins lately," Rose said with a shrug.

"What happened?"

"A fight," she replied simply. "This is where we used to sit in the library all the time. Dominique likes to call it our cave." She twisted her face in an unimpressed look.

"So do you know where–"

"Where he's been?" Rose finished the thought knowingly. "Not really. I'm usually just here and it's either he joins me or not. But since we're not exactly in the best of terms, he doesn't show up. From what I see during class, he hangs around Kira. And during meals he's with your lot."

"My lot?" Effie said, confused.

"Your paper's lot," Rose said. "That third year Stacy–"

"Sarah."

"Whatever. They're always here too. They sit in that table over there and Al sits with them."

Effie was distinctly reminded of Dominique as they spoke. Rose's manner of speaking resembled her older cousin's but there was something calmer in her aura. Her words were quick and concise but somehow Effie knew she was choosing them carefully.

"Your fight…" Effie began. "Did it have something to do with what happened in the Quidditch match?"

Rose slightly raised her brow. "Maybe."

Effie nodded silently. Rose continued to stare at her.

"You know, you had a lot of nerve to post that article of James at the start of the year," Rose said, sounding more impressed than angry. "I don't think anyone else would have done it."

"Marriot Geller seemed pretty set on doing it," Effie said without thinking, growing crimson at the mention of James' article. "So was Lysander."

"Geller's dumb as a post."

"I agree."

To Effie's mild surprise, Rose smiled. It was a small twitch of the lips that was barely noticeable but a smile nonetheless.

"You shouldn't judge me too hard, Greengrass."

"Judge you?" Effie said in confusion.

"I know what Dominique told you about us," Rose said pointedly. "That we're selfish and unsupportive and not at all what a family should be like."

"I think it's a bit obvious now," Effie said quietly. "For some reason, this year it's so blatant in my face I can't believe I didn't notice it before."

"You don't even know the beginning of it," Rose said, looking down. "We had a difficult summer. We've always been this way…but you're right. It's twice as bad this year, and I'm not too sure if it'll ever get better."

There was a pregnant pause. Effie watched as Rose's eyes stared straight at her book, unmoving.

"Why are you telling me this?" Effie asked.

"Because you're involved now," Rose said simply. "And there's no one else I can mention it to without getting looks. I don't have many friends, Greengrass. Consider yourself lucky you have two."

Effie blinked, unable to think of anything else to say. Rose returned to her reading and dropped the subject. Effie desperately wanted to know more but decided she probably would not get anything else. Suddenly Rose's head snapped up and her eyes narrowed. Effie looked behind her shoulder to spot whomever she was giving the glare. A few tables down, Al just arrived with half of Effie's club members, Sarah, Kira, and Spencer.

"What a fun little gathering," Rose said dully.

Al caught my eye and awkwardly waved hello. The rest of their table noticed the exchange and waved enthusiastically in Effie's direction as well. Rose rolled her eyes and returned to her readings.

"I think I'll just go over there," Effie said uneasily to the miffed redhead.

"Not a problem, Greengrass," Rose said. "I'll see you around."

Effie nodded and stood quickly but as soon as she turned back, she slammed right into someone's chest. She raised her head to apologize but stuttered as soon as she recognized the crest of Slytherin stitched on his emerald-lined robed and the head of blonde hair. She failed to keep in a squeak of fear and shock but mentally berated herself for feeling so afraid of someone as seemingly harmless as Scorpius Malfoy.

"Sorry for being in your way," Scorpius said politely, a playful glint in his blue eyes. "Not a lot of room in here at the moment. Place is bursting with people; you'd think it's a Quidditch match!"

"As it should be," Rose butted in fiercely. "It's about time people prioritize things that actually matter over that abysmal game."

Scorpius put a hand over his heart in a humorous attempt to look hurt by her words. "You wound me, Rose Weasley."

"I also loathe you," Rose shot back. "Now carry on with your walk. Would like me to call Madame Price for a tour? Though I'll gladly tell you the shelf for bigoted Slytherins is by the exit door."

"And the shelf for Ravenclaws on PMS is right here?" Scorpius said in a sarcastic cheerful tone before turning to Effie and assuring her, "I didn't mean you, love."

"It's alright, er, I was just leaving," Effie said, uncomfortable in the growing tension.

Scorpius grinned, a sinister look on his face.

"If that's the case," he said, "I'll take your seat."

Rose's eyes bulged out of their sockets when Scorpius dropped his bag on Effie's vacated space.

"What–!"

But Scorpius seemed intent on sharing the table with her, clearly enjoying the outrage on Rose's end. Effie gave her an apologetic look and left the redhead shaking in rage on her seat. She approached Al's table and took the last vacant space. Sarah and Kira immediately greeted her while Spencer and Al crouched over what looked like a Potions essay.

"Oi, you rude gits," Kira snapped. "Effie's here."

"Oh, hey Effie!" Spencer said cheerfully. "Al's just helping me with this essay about Girding Potions. He's the best in his year!"

"No, Rose is," Al chuckled humbly and nodded at Effie. "Hey."

"Everyone knows you're better than Rose in Potions," Kira said with a roll of her eyes. "She's the only one who can't accept it just because she's on top in everything else."

Al shrugged. "I suppose."

"What are you two working on?" Effie asked the girl politely.

Kira and Sarah quickly answered Charms and Ancient Runes respectively.

"Great job on the Callahan article by the way, Sarah," Effie said, unpacking her homework on her space on the desk. "He seemed pretty happy about it in our Charms class this morning."

"Did he?" Sarah squeaked, a light blush spreading on her cheeks.

"Oh, do not tell me you've got a crush on that obnoxious, execrable, vile cockroach!" Kira exclaimed.

"Impeccable choice of words, Patil," Al chuckled under his breath.

"He's not even that bad," Sarah muttered, eyes determinedly fixed on her parchment.

"Where have you been, Al?" Effie found herself asking, curiosity getting the better of her. "Speaking of Rose, she just told me you haven't really been around much. I just want to make sure you're–"

"I'm fine, Effie," Al assured her, the table going unusually silent. Kira and Sarah gave him looks for concern. Spencer refused to look up from his parchment.

"Are you sure?" Effie asked, aware of the sudden change of atmosphere within the group. "Is it about the Quidditch match? Because that happened a month ago and really nobody's talking about it anymo–"

"It's not just about the Quidditch match," Al cut her off. "I mean, James and I haven't spoken since and I'm perfectly fine with that–"

"No, you're not," Kira said with a roll of her eyes.

"You're miserable," Sarah agreed.

"I am not–!"

"Al," Kira said forcefully, grabbing his arm, "he's your brother! It's okay to admit that you miss him."

The raven-haired boy fell quiet at his friend's words. Kira pulled back as silence took over. Effie shifted uncomfortably in her seat, keeping a wary eye on Al and expecting him to speak up first. Al visibly took deep breaths, staring blankly at his parchment until he raised his head and addressed the group.

"James tried to defend me when I screwed up with the Snitch," Al began.

"That's what brothers do, right?" Sarah meekly said.

Al chuckled. "Right, well, if that's true, James couldn't have possibly have been my brother for the past–what–four years?"

"He's changed loads this year," Effie said. "At least, from what I heard."

Al looked away. "Yeah, I can't deny he has. I suppose it's just strange seeing him stick up for me like that. I didn't think he was being serious at first."

"Why don't you go talk to him about it?" Effie suggested. "Wouldn't that lift your spirits up?"

"It's not exactly that simple, Ef," Al said. "Firstly, he's near impossible to find. Reckon he goes off alone more than he hangs with Fred nowadays. He's been awfully quiet and hardly anyone knows where he goes off to. Secondly, I can't just walk up to him and demand conversation. Can you imagine how badly that would go?"

"What's wrong with that?" Spencer asked.

Al gave him a bemused look that obviously meant Spencer's question was too dimwitted to even give an answer to. Though, even Effie had to admit she was confused with his reasoning as well. She could tell Sarah and Kira were not too convinced either. Yet, in the back of Effie's head, she somewhat knew where he could be coming from. She may not have fully understood the relationship of the Potter-Weasleys yet, but she knew enough of it to get at least a glimpse of Al's feelings surrounding the situation.

"Is that Rose sitting with Scorpius Malfoy?" Kira suddenly spoke up, eyes staring bewilderedly at the unusual pair on the opposite end of the room.

Effie almost sighed in relief at the change of topic. As Sarah and Spencer gossiped with Kira, Al turned his attention back to his homework and Effie silently watched him. She remembered her first encounter with him this year and how she mistook him for James. Effie almost laughed at the thought of it. They were both incredibly different in so many ways although very similar in other ways as well.

It was warming to know that Al wanted to thank James for what he did for him and the sincerity in his tone (despite the bluntness in his choice of words) was evident. This led to Effie with the radical thought that under all the callousness and jealousy, they must have cared for each other a lot more than they let on.

As time urged on, a slight grumble in Effie's stomach signaled her departure from the library. She excused herself from the group and they offered their goodbyes as she left. Effie made her way through the packed space, dodging floating books left and right. Breathing a sigh of relief at the exit door, she made a move to step out, but just as she was about to leave, she felt a soft tap on her shoulder. Spinning around, she blinked in surprise when she met a familiar pair of hazel eyes.

"Hey," James Potter said, looking mildly uneasy.

"Hi," Effie replied, brain spinning around the fact this what their first encounter in weeks.

"Can I talk to you?"

Caught off guard, Efie nodded swiftly and let him pull her to a deserted nearby bookshelf. When he faced her again, he seemed to have calmed. Effie stared curiously, waiting for him to speak.

"I'm sorry if I haven't been around," he said, avoiding her eye.

Effie, surprised, began stuttering, feeling blood rush up her cheeks. "I, er, didn't even– It's not even– I mean you don't owe me anything. I-It's completely fine for you to do your own thing; I mean I'm not–"

"I notice you staring sometimes," James cut her off, looking at her pointedly.

At that moment, Effie thought she would drop dead of embarrassment.

"It's nothing like that!" she exclaimed in panic. "I'm in some sort of thing with Andy and I look at you because I thought we were friends and I was just worried when you stopped–"

"Effie, whatever you think I meant, it's not that," James said, looking mildly amused. "Also we are friends. Everything's just been so… overwhelming."

Effie blinked, calming down yet embarrassed by her assumption and reaction. Cheeks reddening, she angled her head down to keep him from noticing.

"Oh. Okay, yeah, I could tell. But there's really nothing to apologize for. You don't owe me anything, James."

James chuckled. "When are you going to understand, Effie? I said we're friends and ignoring you with no explanation given doesn't seem like a very friend-like thing to do. That's what I'm apologizing for; it's got nothing to do with any kind of debt."

"I–Okay, yeah," Effie said, still looking rattled but warmed by the apology. "It's alright then."

James smiled though shoulders still tense. "So, you have any plans for Christmas?"

"Just home. My parents aren't too lenient in letting me go anywhere else."

"Oh." His face fell.

"Why?" she asked curiously.

He hesitated. "Well, I was going to ask if you wanted to spend Christmas at my place. Dom's going to be there, so will the rest of my family. It's, er, the first time we'll all be together since the summer…" He trailed off.

Yet, he did not need to finish. Effie understood being under the same roof with all his cousins after all the drama of the first semester was not exactly something James would be too excited about. It was then Effie fully realized the truth in his words when he admitted his lack of real friends.

"James," Effie began, "it's real nice of you to invite me."

"So you'll go?" James said quickly with hopeful eyes.

Effie sighed. "My parents would never let me. And Andy–"

"Ah, right, of course," James chuckled, looking down. "I'm sorry for punching him, by the way. I had no idea you two–"

"No, no, we weren't, er, anything at the time," she quickly butt in. "And he's fine now…"

There was an awkward pause. James gave her a tight smile.

"It's fine, Effie," he said reassuringly. "I'll just see you after the break. Happy holidays."

With a farewell nod of his head, James stepped aside to make his way to the exit door. Before he could leave, however, Effie held his arm in place.

"Are you sure I wouldn't be intruding?" she asked slowly.

James blinked at her. "My parents would love to meet you actually. I don't bring a lot of people home."

Effie softened, looking up with a sigh. "I'll think about it."

Eyes alight, James whooped in joy and engulfed her in a quick hug. Effie chuckled at his excitement against his chest.

"I'll owl you," he said with a smile as he let her go. "Anyway I've got to run. I'm meeting Fred for lunch."

Effie waved goodbye as he swiftly made his way towards the door but similar to her previous attempt to leave the library, somebody stopped him.

"James!"

Recognizing the voice, Effie stepped out of the aisle and to her surprise the source of the call was Dominique and next to her was Andy, well-rested and healed from the Herbology accident. He saw her as soon as she stepped into the light and his eyes were clouded with confusion as they darted from James standing still by the exit to her by the shelves.

"Effie?" he said in mild shock.

"What d'you mean– Oh! Effie, you're here too," Dominique said, acknowledging Effie with wide eyes.

"Hey guys," Effie said slowly, still processing the situation. She focused on Andy first, approaching him as she asked, "When did you get out of the hospital? Are you alright?"

Andy, however, had his inquiries as well.

"Why were you with James Potter?"

Effie blinked, finally realizing how they must have looked like. Despite looking desperate to leave the obvious problematic scene, James surprisingly did not, but he did not look like he wanted to speak with Andy either so he just stood there, waiting for Effie to say something. Unfortunately, this was exactly the kind of situation and misunderstanding she would turn into a spluttering mess explaining. Nevertheless, there was an attempt.

"He was just– He asked me to–"

"I asked her to come over for Christmas," James finally spoke, saving Effie the embarrassment. He did not meet Andy's eye as he chose to address Dominique.

"You did what?!" Andy exclaimed, sounding hurt as he addressed Effie once more, "Didn't you tell him we're–"

"Andy, just as friends," Effie assured him quickly. "It's a Potter-Weasley party and all. Dom's gonna be there."

"Friends go all the time," James added.

"How come you never invited her then?" Andy turned to Dominique, who watched the exchange in shocked silence until she was addressed by him.

"If there's anything worse than Charms class with Callahan, it's dinner parties with my entire family," Dominique snapped, raising an eyebrow at James as if silently inquiring why he would subject Effie to such a horrifying experience. After a short cousin stare off, Dominique suddenly softened with a sigh and faced Andy. "Some of us bring friends to make it more bearable."

The implication was obvious and Andy was too quick a thinker not to read it. When his face was cleared of suspicion, James took it as his cue to leave without another word. Effie sighed in relief but Andy still looked a bit miffed. She gave him a hug which he softly returned. Eventually the three made their way to the Great Hall as well. Dominique attempted to ease up the atmosphere with a little small talk about a prank Fred did on Molly during first period but the conversation seemed lacking without Andy's side comments and lighthearted grin. Instead he lagged behind the girls with a frown on his face.

As soon as they sat on the Ravenclaw table, Effie wasted no time in addressing him.

"Andy, there was nothing going on between me and James Potter," she said patiently. "We're friends and you know that."

Andy, to her surprise, waved her off. "I'm not thinking about that anymore, Ef. I know you're friends. I just have a theory."

Dominique rolled her eyes. "About James? What kind of assumption are you going to cook up this time?"

"Okay, hear me out," Andy said. "No offense, Effie, but why does it seem like he only goes to you when he needs something? I mean think about it! Remember he defended you against Callahan then he asked you to confront Lily with him? And then he ignored you for weeks! Then after you went with him to confront Lily, he literally ditched you by the lake then ignored you again! It's only now he's talking to you again and it's because he needs a babysitter at his family's Christmas party!"

"It's not babysitting, Andy," Effie sighed. "It's called being a friend."

"And he hasn't only been ignoring Effie. He pretty much ignores everyone in Hogwarts save for Fred because, I mean, who would want to eat meals alone?" Dominique added pointedly.

"But it bothers you that he can be so cold, Ef," Andy said stubbornly. "I just don't want you to get hurt if that prick's just been using you."

"James wouldn't do that, Andy," Dominique assured him. "Cousin's honor."

With that, Dominique stuffed her face with roast beef and Andy stared down, worry and suspicion etched on his. Effie reached out across the table for his hand, offering comfort and reassurance.

"Hey, I'll be fine," she said with a soft smile. "I know you don't want me to but I trust James."

Andy softened his stare and squeezed her hand. "Yeah, alright."

Effie felt the tension subside and finally turned her attention to her lunch. Andy did the same, returning to his usual self and practically inhaling his food in one go. Sensing the lighter atmosphere, Dominique almost immediately took advantage to spout a tactless comment as a joke.

"Why do care so much anyway? It's not like she's your girlfriend," she said, eyes alight.

Andy threw her a dirty look.


A/N

I'm so sorry for the delay, but the explanation would be tediously long. Life comes and goes but my inspiration is back for now. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year :)