Updated: September 27th, 2017
Chapter 14: John
An hour later, I found myself sitting at the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall with Ron. He was obviously still pissed about last night because he was stabbing at his food violently and muttering to himself. Hermione had joined us for all of five minutes before grabbing a stack of buttered toast and taking off. She gave me a look that clearly read, "I'll deal with Harry", and I knew I had to deal with Ron at some point. As I quietly ate my sugary, owl-shaped puff cereal, Ron's stabbing grew more vicious.
"Ron," I hissed, grabbing his wrist. "Stop it!"
"That lying prick," he seethed as he slammed his fork down. Our fellow housemates sent shifty glances at Ron. He was too busy glaring a hole in his plate to care.
"Ron, did you see the look on his face when his name was called? The look on Dumbledore's face?"
"He gets all the attention! Everyone just loves Harry Potter. Everyone loves the Boy Who Lived."
"A student wouldn't have been able to put another student's name in the cup. Dumbledore said so."
Ron was still staring at his plate when he muttered, "You don't get it."
"Get what? The fact that you're jealous of Harry," Ron's head finally snapped up. His eyes narrowed into menacing slits. "No, I get it. You have five brothers to compete against. You're Harry's best friend; famous Harry Potter's best friend. Everyone sees only him when you're together. The Boy Who Lived and his sidekick, The Ginger. Sure, you have a right to be upset, you put up with all that. I don't know how you do it."
Ron's features returned to normal. He looked me in the eye, hope shining in his, "So…you're on my side? You think Harry placed his name in the cup too?"
"What," my voice rose sharply, questioning Ron. "Weren't you listening to anything I just said?!"
"Yeah, you said I shouldn't have to compete with Harry and that I have a right to be upset and be seen and I put up with too much of his –"
I scoffed, pushing my bowl away from me and grabbing my bag. I swiveled around and stood, giving Ron the evil-eye the entire time. He turned to look at me questioningly. "You don't listen, that's your problem. You and Harry have to work this out. Together. I can't help you if you won't try. If you need me, I'll be outside."
Sooner than I expected, I found myself strolling across the lawn and towards the lake. I felt like every part of me was on fire as I reached my favorite tree by the shore. As I sat down, I let out the breath I forgot I was holding in. My breath was almost noticeable in the chilly morning air. I shuffled through my bag and grasped the leather binding of my sketch book. Across from me, the Durmstrang ship was anchored, making it the perfect subject for my drawing.
"May I join you," the voice of the bane of my existence asked just as I finished sketching the outline of the ship.
Not looking up, I started outlining the water on the lake. "No," I said.
"What…why," the Scottish accent with the slight lisp chuckled.
"Because you annoy me and I don't like you."
"Ouch…harsh. Okay, so I deserve that."
John Haring sat down next to me. I could feel the warmth of his body (and those toned Quidditch muscles) under his clothes and Ravenclaw cloak. I kept drawing but, to my surprise, he was silent. I don't know how long we sat in silence; me drawing and John staring at the lake. I had just finished darkening the waves on the lake when I sighed.
"What are you doing here, John?"
I didn't look at him, but I could tell he was smiling, "Well, when two people love each other –"
"Oh god, not that," I slammed down my pencil and finally looked at him. "I meant, what are you doing here?"
"Well, when a child of two magical parents turns eleven –"
"You are so immature," I slammed by book shut and stood up. I slung my bag over my shoulder and began to walk away.
"Wait," John said softly. Feeling something warm on in my hand, I turned. John was standing up, his fingers gently laced in my own. I looked at John quizzically. Something in the pit of my stomach churned and I yanked my hand away as if it was on fire. I cradled it close to my chest, feeling the warmth. "I wanted to apologize, for everything. I acted like an ass trying to get your attention. It only made you hate me. Can I – I mean, what I want is – can we start over?"
I felt stupid as I stared down at my feet. I mean, here was this guy who had been annoying me since I got to Hogwarts. Every chance he had to befriend me, instead he used to piss me off. I am half Black. And, as I'm told, we hold grudges that can last a lifetime. Dumbest reason on the planet, I know. Sure, John's quips are seemingly harmless but, for some reason completely unknown to me, I couldn't let it go. Finally getting the courage, I looked at the boy who was patiently waiting for a response.
"I – I don't know," I admitted with a sad sigh. "You – I just – god, I don't know! I just can't let two years of your annoying me go. Yes, I know it's stupid and…if you really want to be my friend stop with the pickup lines and the immaturity and just –"
John crossed his arms. "I just thought you'd like it. I mean, Fred Weasley –"
"What does Fred have to do with this," I asked, exasperated.
"Well, for one, he's a jokester. I'm a jokester. He's pretty immature. Apparently, I'm immature. I don't get why you like him as much as you do. Is it because he has a twin? Because, I have a cousin who looks just like me."
"What," I frowned in confusion. "Who said anything about me liking him?"
"It's kinda obvious. You seriously need to work on being discrete when staring," John smiled as he leaned against the tree. "I can teach you. I've been doing it for years."
I looked at John in disbelief, "You're really proud of yourself, aren't you?"
John pushed himself off of the trunk and closed the gap between us. With his every advance, I stepped back, not liking the closeness. John took my cold hands in his surprisingly warm ones and looked at me softly. His lips twitched up slightly. "I like you, Cora. I like you a lot."
I laughed nervously. I forced myself to look anywhere but his. Suddenly, John began to lean in, closing the gap even more. I leaned further back, trying to get my hands out of his.
DANGER! DANGER! DANGER! RUN AWAY!
"Look, just…stop and let me think okay? I – I gotta go. Owlery," I stuttered as I finally slipped out of the Ravenclaw's grasp.
John stopped his advance, "Oh, okay, well, then let me come with you. We can get to know –"
"No," I practically shouted at the boy. "I mean, it's a private letter and it – I – I just have to go now."
I turned around and walked as fast as I could in the direction of the Owlery. I made no effort to look back as my walk turned into a jog. I had to get as far away from John as I could. Holy shit, girl! He just tried to kiss you! I couldn't wrap my head around the idea that John Haring would want to kiss me. What did he think? He could kiss me and everything would change? That I would fall hopelessly in love with him? Ew! God no! I haven't kissed a boy since the incident with Harry and the mistletoe (wince) and I wasn't going to waste my first given kiss to a boy like stupid, immature John Haring!
I stopped to catch my breath once I was in the corridor to the Owlery. No one was around so I didn't have to worry about curious eyes and gossip. Apparently, I was the number one topic for gossip at this school. Well, not for long. Harry, being chosen as the fourth Triwizard Tournament champion, would now be the main gossip topic. Instead of going to the Owlery, I turned around and walked straight to the Gryffindor Tower, deciding not to think about John Haring.