"Spill everything!" Rose says, dragging me onto the couch beside her in the Gryffindor common room.
On the table in front of us are a pile of sweets which they bought in Honeydukes awhile ago. I add my own sweets to the pile. "It was fun," I say simply, shrugging my shoulders.
"Fun?" El asks, narrowing her eyes in suspicion. She knows when I'm holding back information.
I bite my lip. "Well... he may have kissed me, too," I admit quietly, blushing.
Dani, El, and Rose squeal in delight. "I knew it!" Dani says.
"Was he good at kissing?" Rose asks, nudging me with her elbow.
"I don't exactly have anything to compare it to," I tell her sheepishly. "But, yeah." I smile. "He asked me out."
Eleanor's eyes widen. "Did you say yes?"
I nod my head, biting my lip.
Rose jumps up excitedly. "This is cause for celebration," she announces, running up the narrow stairs to the girls dormitory. I look to the other girls, who also look as confused as I do. Moments later, Rose dashes back down to us, holding a large jar in her hand. I look at the jar, and see Butterbeer written on it.
I recall a faint taste of Butterbeer off of Jason, and I grin. She places out small cups in front of us, and begins to pour us each a glass.
"What are we celebrating, ladies?" Alex asks, sitting down on the armchair, joining us. He looks to Rose, raising an eyebrow. She simply smiles and pours him a glass. A few seconds later, James and Fred join us as well, who also get a glass of Butterbeer.
"We're just celebrating friendship," Rose obviously lies.
James narrows his eyes at his cousin. "No, what are you really celebrating?"
She looks at me, smiling, before taking a sip of her drink. This causes the boys to look at each of us suspiciously. We all take a drink from our glasses; I feel somewhat ecstatic and part of me wants to announce to them that I now have a boyfriend. However, I think of earlier and how Alex had reacted to me going on a date with Jason.
Plus, who wants to discuss this stuff with their brother, anyway?
"And does Hermione know you took this?" Fred asks, nodding to the bottle of Butterbeer.
"She'll be fine without the Butterbeer," Rose says, waving off his question. "It's not like they ever drink the stuff, anyway."
Fred simply shrugs, drinking his drink.
"So, what else did you guys do on your date?" Rose continues on, not caring that the guys are now sitting with us.
I peer over at them. Alex is pursing his lips, still not happy with my decision to go on a date with Jason. Wait until he finds out Jason and I are going out now... yikes. Fred looks somewhat interested in the conversation, but looks anxiously at Alex, waiting for him to blow up about my decision. James sips away at his Butterbeer, looking bored already. For a moment I see him look somewhat coldly at Rose, and I wonder did something happen while I was at Hogsmeade.
I tell them about the date, and where we went around Hogsmeade. I avoid the topic of us kissing, and the fact that we're now a couple. I'm sure news will spread fast, as it always does in Hogwarts. For a massive castle, news tends to travel quickly.
"So, are you going to go on another date soon?" Dani asks, giving me a knowing smile.
"Well, he asked me to come to the Slytherin and Gryffindor match with him," I reply, smiling.
"You'll be supporting Gryffindor, won't you?" James asks, finally interested in the conversation.
I look to him, shrugging. "Probably not," I admit, giving Dani and Rose an apologetic look. "No offense, of course, but I'm not over last year, and... Well, Jason is hoping Slytherin will win, too. So, it would be odd if went together and didn't root for the same team, I think."
James rolls his eyes, but it's Alex that replies. "That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard," he groans.
"Can you guys please leave for a little while?" I beg, my neck burning from embarrassment.
"It's our common room," James reminds me.
"So," Rose pipes up, "on a scale of one to ten, how great was Jason at snogging, Mia?"
I look to Alex, my eyes widened in alarm. He looks suddenly uncomfortable with where the conversation is heading, so I look back to Rose. She looks at me, slowly nodding her head to egg me on. I catch her drift, and smile. "I'd give him a ten out of ten," I answer.
"And he's so good looking," Eleanor sighs.
"His eyes are beautiful," Dani declares, also letting out a sigh.
"Okay, okay, we're not wanted," Alex says. He stands up, but looks at me. "Mia, I'm telling you right now, you can do better than Jason." With that, Alex storms off.
"Why does he keep saying that?" I ask Fred and James before they can leave.
Fred looks in the direction which Alex left, his lips tugged into a frown. "He probably has his reasons." Fred sounds like he knows more than he's letting on, but he doesn't say anything else. I glance to James, who simply shrugs.
I let out a long sigh when they leave to follow Alex. Maybe Alex does have his reasons; the thought fills me with some doubt, but I push those thoughts away. I'm not going to let what Alex thinks of someone get in my way. I like Jason, and he likes me. He's nice to me. I don't see why what Alex has to say should effect how I feel about Jason. Plus, Alex is obviously hiding something from me, which makes me suspicious.
I mean, I know Alex and I haven't been as close as we used to be in recent years, but we told each other nearly everything. Lately, he seems to have drifted further away than usual. Growing up with a small family, you become close. You know things about one another. Whenever I used to have my nightmares, I used to go running to Alex. Now, I feel like I can't talk to him about it anymore.
Maybe Alex has a decent reason, but right now, I don't care.
That night, I wake up panting from another nightmare- flashback.
I stare into the darkness, my eyes burning from tears that threaten to flow down my face. Why now? I purse my lips, glancing out the window. The moon melts in and out from between the clouds, the distant forest looking eerie in the darkness. I sit up, finding it hard to breathe. I try to forget what happened to me when I was younger, but it's hard to forget when it haunts your dreams at night.
I wonder does Alex still think of dad often. Does he think I overreact? Has he told anyone what happened to our father? Even I haven't worked up the courage to tell anyone about our father and how he died.
I can imagine the conversation, though:
"So, what happened to your dad?"
"Oh, yeah, he killed himself and I found his body when I was nine years old."
Queue awkward silence, and pitying looks.
No, that's not a conversation I want to have with anyone. I pull myself out of bed, wishing I could go to Alex and talk to him, but knowing I can't. I consider telling him in private tomorrow, but decide against it. As if Alex wants to talk about that.
I wipe away my tears, lowering my feet to the cold wooden floor. I search under my bed, quietly pulling out my trunk. Everything sounds so loud in the quietness, that every single sound causes me to pause, holding my breath. Finally, I open my trunk, taking out the journals stacked on top of my clothes. I sit back on my bed, flicking through the many poems I had copied down, and quotes I loved from plays, or novels. Things that made me feel something.
My breathing begins to return to normal once I reach the sonnets section in my journal. My fingers trace over one line in one of Shakespeare's Sonnets: 'To love that well, which thou must leave ere long'.
Closing the journals, I place them on my nightstand, feeling a little better. Cautiously, I close my eyes, hoping that sweet dreams will find me, instead of the dream that haunts my nights.
...
On Sunday morning, as I head down to the Great Hall, Jason catches up with me, taking my hand in his. I feel my heart flutter, but I also wonder does he find my hands gross. I mean, due to anxiousness, they are often sweaty, and the last time I checked, that's not very attractive. However, like the last time he took my hand, he doesn't seem to care.
I smile down at our intertwined hands, and then find myself smiling up at him. Merlin, I'm so lucky to have him, and it hasn't even been twenty four hours.
"You look tired," he notes, looking worried. "Is everything okay?"
My smile vanishes, but I force it back quickly. "Yeah, I'm fine," I lie. "I was just up going over some homework for Defense Against the Dark Arts."
He doesn't look like he believes me, but he doesn't push me. "So, seeing as we didn't get to train yesterday morning, I was thinking we could do it Wednesday evening? I mean, the pitch is free that day-"
"I can't," I tell him. I remember my promise to James, about not telling anyone I tutor him. So, instead I make up a partially true lie. "I tutor a fifth year on Wednesdays."
He frowns. "Oh." He thinks for a moment. "I could see about Monday, I guess, but the pitch seems pretty booked out... Bloody Gryffindors and Slytherins have it booked out for extra training before their match."
"I could ask to reschedule with the fifth year," I suggest.
Jason shakes his head. "We'll figure something out."
As we head to the hall, I notice a few people looking at us. Everybody loves gossip, it seems. Some of the girls begin whispering, and I feel suddenly self conscious. I can almost imagine what they're saying: "he's going out with her?!"
Plus, there's not much to talk about around Hogwarts, so all gossip is good gossip.
Jason absent-mindedly rubs his thumb on my hand, which makes me feel better.
Before we get to the Entrance Hall, I see Alex approaching us alone. I feel my heart speed up, knowing from the look on his face that this won't be a nice meeting. His eyes are narrowed at Jason, who doesn't look at all phased. For a moment, he looks coldly towards Alex, but he quickly changes his expression to neutral.
When Alex reaches us, he folds his arms, not even acknowledging me. Part of me expects Jason go let go of my hand, but he doesn't. Instead, he holds it s little tighter, almost protectively.
"Jason," Alex greets him, his voice low and almost angry.
Jason sighs, and I feel somewhat confused. Had something happened between the two of them? Something I don't know about?
"I'm going to assume you're here to talk to me?" Jason guesses, raising an eyebrow.
"Good guess," Alex grumbles. "But I want to talk to you alone." Finally, Alex looks at me, and I'm startled by the anger in his eyes. I know he didn't want me to go out with Jason, but I hadn't expected this hostility from him.
"I'll see you later," Jason says to me, his voice now soft and gentle again. He kisses my forehead, which makes my face turn red. Really? In front of Alex? I look cautiously to my brother, whose jaw is clenched.
For a moment I consider not leaving, as Alex looks ready to murder, but Jason gives my hand a squeeze to reassure me.
Feeling confused, I leave them both. I head into the Great Hall, and head straight over to the Gryffindor table. My mind is replaying what just happened, but I feel more and more lost the more I think about it.
"Are you two sure you don't know what happened between Jason and Alex?" I ask James and Fred the moment I sit down.
"No," James says, chewing on toast. "Why?"
"He wants to talk to Jason alone, and he looks ready to kill," I explain, feeling too worried to eat anything. I keep glancing at the door, ready to run at the first sound of trouble.
"Hey, don't worry," James says softly. "Jason will be fine."
I bite my lip, something that's become a habit of mine recently. I wonder what Alex is saying to Jason- he doesn't seem like someone to give any boyfriend I might have the "brother talk". Alex never mentioned Jason much before, so I wonder if he's only acting as a brother should. However, this feels out of character for Alex.
I drum my fingers on the table, when the sound of wings, and hooting gathers my attention.
Owls of every colour come swooping into the Great Hall, dropping packages and letters onto tables in front of their owners. Our owl drops down three letters, and the Daily Prophet, which sparks my interest. I notice two letters for Alex, one addressed in handwriting I don't recognize.
I give the owl a treat, and watch as she flies out of the Great Hall.
I open the letter for me, knowing it's from my mother.
She wishes me well, agreeing to let my Friends stay for the Christmas Break. I smile, wishing I could talk to her in person. I wonder if I should tell her about Jason, wondering if there's a time limit between when you start going out, and when you tell your mother or father that you have a boyfriend. I choose to wait a little bit longer, just in case.
Alex sits down next to me, bringing me out of my thoughts. I glare at him. "Care to tell me what that was about?" He gathers the two letters into his hands, not opening them. He looks at the letters as though they did something wrong go him.
"Why don't you ask your bloody boyfriend," Alex snaps, causing us all to stare at him in surprise.
"Stop being a git," I grumble through gritted teeth.
"Whatever," he replies.
Fred stands up. "Alex, let's go for a walk," he says in a voice, letting Alex know that this wasn't a suggestion.
Sighing, Alex stands up, and follows Fred out of the hall. I look over to the Ravenclaw table, searching for Jason.
"Your boyfriend didn't come in," James tells me. "Where's the other girls?"
"At the lake, I think," I tell him. "I told them I'd join them later. If not there, they said they'd be in the Gryffindor common room."
"Why didn't you stay with them last night?" he asks. "El stayed."
I shrug, but I remember my nightmare, knowing full well it's the reason I decided not to stay. I hadn't told them about it yet, and I worry that they'll be awake when I wake up in fright. I don't want them to see me crying.
"Do you want to look for Jason?" James suggests.
I shrug my shoulders. "I... I don't know," I admit in a whisper. "I feel like all of this is my fault. I don't want them to hate each other."
"Look, you know Alex," James replies, "he probably has a good reason for being this way." He pushes his empty bowl away from him. "Now, come on, let's go to the lake. It's a nice morning, and it's actually dry out. Gotta enjoy it while we have it."
I agree, and James gathers up the mail he received, still left untouched.
Together, the two of us exit the hall. I find myself peering over heads in hopes of seeing Jason around. I want to know what happened between Jason and Alex, but I feel as though it's a topic neither of them wants to discuss with me.
As we walk in silence, James begins to open his letters.
He lets out a delighted sound from his mouth, and I look over at him. "They're getting married, finally!" James says happily.
"Who?"
"Teddy and Victorie! I mean, I know they had been planning it, but now they're actually doing it- on Christmas Day? Cool!" James reads over the invitation, looking really happy for his cousin.
I recall the second letter Alex had gotten this morning, and glance to the envelope still in James' hand. The same handwriting is sprawled across it. Well, of course Alex was invited I suppose. He is basically like family to them.
Still, I feel a little envious. I love weddings so much. I've only been to one, for a distant family member I haven't seen since the wedding almost ten years ago.
"They're so cute together," I say, pointing to the picture on the card. Teddy and Victorie smile out at the viewer, both looking in love and happy.
"They're great together," James says quietly. He opens the second letter and his eyes widen in shock. "Teddy wants me to be a groomsman!"
I smile at him. "Congratulations, James," I reply.
He pauses for a moment to read the rest of the letter, the smile never fading from his face. "He tells me to bring someone," James says. He looks up at me. "You fancy coming to a wedding with me?" he asks me.
I blink, surprised. "Wait- what?"
James shrugs. "I mean, they already know you so there's no awkward introductions, and he told me he invited Alex. I can ask them to invite your mum, too. It is Christmas day, after all."
"Oh," I say, still a little surprised. "Sure, I guess."
"You don't have to," he reassures me. "But, I just..." He trails off, not sure how to finish that sentence. "It'll be fun." He shrugs his shoulders, looking a little embarrassed. It's really rare to see James looking embarrassed.
"No, I'd love to," I reply. "I love weddings."
James smiles at me, looking happy with my response. A second later, his eyes flick to something over my shoulder, and his smile vanishes.
I glance behind me, and see Jason walking towards us. He looks a little troubled, but other than that, he looks fine. I feel relief flow through me when I see him, glad to see he's okay.
"I'll see you later," James says. "I should go look for Alex and Fred."
He gives a nod in salute to Jason as he passes him. Jason reaches me, and I raise an eyebrow.
"What was that about?" I ask him.
He takes my hand, pulling me closer to him. He shakes his head. "Nothing to worry about, it's sorted," he tells me. When I don't respond, he smiles. "He was just giving me the brother talk."
I smile, trying to imagine Alex giving anyone the brother talk. "As long as it's okay now," I reply. "Alex looked ready to murder you."
Jason kisses my nose, and I grin. "Trust me, it's okay now." He presses his lips to mine, and I feel myself relax. However, a small part of me doubts what he told me. I've never seen Alex look so mad before.
It's hard to focus on that, though, while Jason kisses me.
Thanks for all the reviews guys! I really appreciate them! They really motivate me to write- and also, I'm gonna reply to your questions here, seeing as a good few of you are guests!
Guest (1): Aha, you'll have to wait and see if he's jealous or not! Thanks for the review:)
lifeismorethanaprettyface: I really enjoy writing Jason and Mia, if being honest, but I have not-so-fun plans for their future :P And also, Carter will be making an appearance soon, so don't worry! I just haven't found the most suitable situation to add him into, yet. He was supposed to make an appearance in the previous chapter, but I cut that scene out. And yeah, Mia's dreams are reoccurring, sadly! Thanks for reviewing :D
Guest (2): I have plans for Jason and Mia, which may or may not shock you, depending on how deeply you're reading into this story (and this chapter in particular). I really can't wait to get to the future chapters, because I have them all planned out and I think it's quite a plot twist... maybe.
Yay for Jia: I think everyone is rooting for Jia, so don't worry :P #Jiasislife
Cara Lavender: Oh my gosh, that is such a kind thing to say! I'd recommend other next gen stories, but they're far better than mine! (if you'd like the names, though, you can message me?).
Guest (3): A fight between Mia and Alex is sort of beginning in this chapter... It's a slow build up, I guess. But there's definitely tension there right now! Thanks for the comment :)
Please review for more!
xx