Not Happy

James Potter

Professor Flitwick finally finished lecturing me about the dangers of throwing accordions ten minutes later, and, though he said several things that in normal situations I could have converted into sex jokes, I just didn't have the heart.

I couldn't stop thinking about what I must have done to Gaby.

I had to have done something. It couldn't be just that she didn't like the accordion, she hadn't looked happy before. And she couldn't just be hormonal, because all the girls are synced together, and I know for a fact that Roxanne was last week.

It happened during my helpful phase (though I don't think she appreciated my help).

Flitwick frowned at me. "Are you alright, James?"

I nodded listlessly.

"Are you sure? You look like you're about to keel over," he said worriedly.

I resisted the urge to fall on him. I nodded again.

"Alright," said Flitwick. "Well, just be more careful, James."

I nodded for the third time.

I missed Gaby, and I wanted to make it right, but how could I do that if I didn't know what I'd done?

***

"Roxanne!"

Roxanne turned around, brushing the hair out of her eyes. "What, James?"

"Can I ask you a favour?" I said winningly, using up practically all my energy. "Please?"

She sighed. "What is it?"

It's a shame she's not a morning person, but I hadn't been able to find her the previous night.

"Can you talk to Gaby for me?" I asked brightly. "'Cos she's annoyed at me, but I don't know why, and-"

"James," Roxanne held up her hand for silence. "There's no point asking, I won't be able to get anything out of Gaby."

I blinked. "Why not? You two are best friends!"

"We were," corrected Roxanne. "Most of us have barely even spoken to her since she started getting all... Gryffindory."

And, leaving me no chance to respond, Roxanne smiled sarcastically at me and left.

And, just as suddenly, I knew what was wrong with Gaby.

***

"Hey," I said gently, looking down at the very same lump on the very same staircase.

Gaby didn't even look up at me, but just wiped her eyes and looked down at her knees.

I refused to take offence at this, and sat down beside her, resisting the urge to pull her into a hug.

"Gaby, what's wrong?" I asked quietly again, giving her one more chance to show that she trusted me. "Please."

"I'm fine, James," she mumbled, still not looking at me.

There was a short pause, while I tried to think how to put this.

"I talked to Roxanne," I said at last. "I know they've dropped you, but Gaby, you don't need them! If they can't see how-"

"James, stop," she said in a low voice. "You just don't get it, James, so just... don't bother, alright?"

"OK, so I don't really get it," I admitted. "But it can't be that bad."

Gaby took a deep breath, and then lifted her head to look out of the window. She still wouldn't look at me.

"James, when you were away yesterday," she began, sounding like she was about to burst out sobbing again. "And it was my birthday, not a single person said a word to me. Not even "Hey," or "Have you done the Transfiguration homework?" Because, now that we started this stupid bet, they all hate me, and all the teachers hate me, and you just don't get it!"

And, as I thought she would, Gaby put her face into her hands and started to gently cry.

I took a deep breath, and tried to put my arms around her, like I'd wanted to every since we'd been sitting here, but she wouldn't let me. Gaby stood up, and moved down a few steps.

"Gaby, I'm so sorry," I said, looking down at the top of her fair head. "I never thought this would happen... I mean, you were all such good friends... And I know you're upset, but, please, don't take it out on me. I really like you."

Gaby took a few deep breaths and managed to stop crying, but still she didn't come and sit beside me.

"They've made it very clear," she said, after a moment, her voice still muffled from her robes, "that it's you or them."

There was a pause, while I tried not to imagine what was coming.

"I really like you too, James," she said quietly. "But I don't want to be alone, every time you're ill, or in a different class."

"What are you saying?" I asked bluntly. "Are we breaking up?"

And still not looking up at me, Gaby nodded.

I took a deep breath, and stood up. "I wasn't ill, yesterday," I told her, deciding to be open. "I took Polyjuice Potion so I could turn into Longbottom for a day, to see what the teachers thought of me. And you know, the first thing they said was – "He's so sweet to Gaby." But yet, you're still picking the girls who haven't spoken to you in months, just because – in Roxanne's own words – you've gotten Gryffindory."

Gaby still didn't look at me. "I'm sorry, James," she mumbled. "I think it'd be best if you just left."

I shrugged. "Yeah, perhaps it would. But, before I go, do you want to know the worst thing about this? You didn't even trust me enough to tell me yourself."

Gaby didn't respond, but, to my almost satisfaction, I heard her start to stifle tears again.

And, without another word, I turned around and walked away.