Peregrine walks me to the library after the chimes dismissing us for lunch. He insisted on carrying my books and is discussing the recent quidditch practice the Slytherin team had early that morning. I hold my tongue, annoyed by his obvious attempt to deter me from demanding to know why he discussed me to Marcus Flint the night before.
"Draco's getting better," Peregrine says. "You'll be proud of him the next match."
I can feel the muscles in my face twitch as I try to hold back the giggles that dare to escape. I desperately want to tell him how much quidditch bores me, that I've never attended a single game. and how much I dislike my cousin Draco. I bite my lip to hold back the words that dare threaten to stumble out. I cannot risk giving him another reason to go running back to Marcus to tell on me.
"I'm sure I will." I manage to say as we enter the library. George is sitting at a table by the windows with his brother and his partner, Fern Adamson. George is leaning back in his chair, laughing quietly about something his brother has said.
"Didn't realize it was a study group." Peregrine says with a quick look in my direction. He's annoyed and I hope that he doesn't take it upon himself to stay. I have enough babysitters between Hera, Marcus and Draco.
"It's not," I respond too quickly. "George and Fred are a pair. I figured he would be here with his partner as well. We obviously have different topics to work on." I'm saying too much about nothing, but I can't stop the words from escaping my lips. Between the annoyance of Peregrine persistence, the nerves from Hera, and the butterflies that fluttered whenever I saw George Weasley it was becoming too difficult to think clearly. I try to take my books from him, but Peregrine pulls them back.
He looks at me darkly, licking his lips as he tries to determine his next move. I know that Hera must have put him up to this. Wanted a first-hand report back and now Peregrine could not determine what to do next. Hera would have expected him to stay if it was just George, but they had not considered Fred and Fern to be present.
My stomach flips in anger and I hold out my hand. "My books," I repeat, "I need them."
"I know," and his dark look shifts into a smile that infuriates me. How dare he stand here and act like this in front of everyone in the library. I glance around, no one is paying attention to us, yet.
"So give them here." I demand. My voice inflicting a tad bit higher than I expect. Glancing carefully behind me I find that the Weasley twins and Fern are carefully watching now, waiting for me to join them. Interested in why I was almost yelling in the library. I turn my back and feel my face fluster in embarrassment. I hate having an audience. I hate even more to have the audience be George.
"You're causing a scene," I whisper, but this just makes his smile curl. I have said the wrong thing. I have placed all the cards in his hands now.
"I'm causing a scene?" He asks, "Lenora, I've just kindly walked you to the library. You're the one upset."
"Because you won't give me my books. I need to study."
"You're so eager to join the table," he chuckles."You forgot to ask me to join you." Peregrine says with a glance back towards George. I feel my stomach flip and know he's cornered me.
While Hera would have expected Peregrine to stay, she most likely expected it to be from my invitation. I should have asked him to stay once I saw the company. One blood traitor was bad enough, but two blood traitors and a Muggle born? Unthinkable company.
If I was truly serious about not being friendly with George Weasley like I told Hera I was; than I would have demanded Peregrine to stay.
I open my mouth to retort, but I'm not able to find the words. I don't want him to stay. I don't even want to humor him for my sister's sake. Peregrine's smile is wickedly dangerous now. He knows, I think, he knows.
Unsure of my next move, I toss a look over my shoulder once more. George and his brother are watching intently, muttering quietly to one another as they watch. When I meet George's eyes, he grins, but stands quickly. Beginning to make his way over here. I feel my stomach twist even further.
"What are you going to do, Lenora?" Peregrine asks, pulling me back into the reality of my life.
It's a quick decision. One that I know I'll regret. "I don't want you to join us," I hiss.
This turns his grin into something dangerous. If he wasn't going to tell Hera before, she'll know before the end of lunch now. He dangles my textbook in front of me, only to pull it back once I reach for them again.
"Now, Lenora," he sighs with a shake of his head. "That's not very nice."
"I think we know that Lenora isn't known for her kindness, mate." George chimes in from behind me. His smile is easy, almost careless, but it's hard to miss the clenched muscle in his jaw and how tall he stands now; much taller than Peregrine.
Peregrine licks his lips and frowns. Tightening his hold on my books. With George standing next to us now, more eyes have begun to watch us. Peregrine can no longer taunt me without causing a true scene. If he was anything like Marcus or Hera, who I knew liked to air their dirty laundry behind closed doors; he would corner me later in the safety of the common room.
No, our conversation isn't finished, just a placeholder set in the pages for later.
"He's right," I agree with a well casted glare. "I'll take my books now."
"I'll see you in herbology then," Peregrine sneers as he hands over my captive textbooks. George grabs them quickly, holding them with one hand at his side.
"We'll see you then." George grins crookedly and then looks over at me, dismissing Peregrine from the conversation entirely. "Ready for some research?"
"Always am." I respond with a small grin, but quickly drop it when I remember that Peregrine is watching carefully. The look on his face says it all. He is not pleased and the fight has only just begun.
George nudges me with his arm and I push the thought away. The row with Peregrine, Marcus, and Hera would just have to wait. Turning my back on Peregrine and joining George, Fred, and Fern at their table. I briefly watch as he storms out of the library, most likely on his way to find my sister and Marcus to discuss how I have embarrassed them further today. I let out a small sigh and catch the eyes of Fern, who smiles sympathetically in my direction before returning to pour over the books spread in front of her with Fred.
"Who is that bloke?" Fred asks as he turns to watch Peregrine storm out.
"Peregrine Derrick," I say with a sigh. George has pulled a few books on animagi off the library shelves for us to look over. I open one up hoping that the action will signify the end of the conversation.
"I know that," Fred says, "he's one of the worst Quidditch Keepers in the history of the school."
This makes me smile as I cast a quick glance in his direction. He's watching me carefully, unsure of what to make of me yet.
"I think he was asking how you know Peregrine," Fern chimes in and I can tell by the way she leans forwards she's curious too.
"Family friend." I mutter but I can still feel their eyes on me. When I offer nothing else on the subject, they move on.
George and I narrow the book pile down to two separate books from the pile. One on the history of famous animagi and another on the details of what it takes to become one.
"I'll take this one," George decides as the warning charms signifying the end of our lunch period ring out across the library.
He holds the book on the process to become an animagus close to himself, glancing carefully at Fred.
"I don't really care," I remark before grabbing the other book and adding it to my personal textbook pile.
The four of us leave the library, splitting off from Fern at the staircase since she has divination. I awkwardly follow the Weasley twins, trying to give good distance between myself and them, but George makes this difficult as he continues to turn around to bring me into the conversation.
Similar to Peregrine they're discussing their own quidditch practice, looking forward to their upcoming season. As we exit the school I am unsurprised to find Peregrine waiting for me in the courtyard. Surrounded by a few of his friends, I feel my steps immediately slow, wondering how faraway my sister and Marcus are.
"What's this bloke want?" Fred asks with a small glance in my direction. "Jealous boyfriend?"
The question catches me off guard and I trip over my own feet. Fred and George chuckle, but wait patiently for me to regain my proper footing.
"No," I say with an uneasy look at Peregrine. We're getting closer now and I can tell he's becoming impatient waiting for me to approach.
"No he's not jealous?" Fred asks.
"Or no he's not your boyfriend?" George finishes and I try not to meet his eyes.
"No, he's not my boyfriend." I answer.
"So he is jealous then?" Fred asks.
"Yes - I mean, no. Maybe." I sigh, bringing my books closer to my chest like a shield. "It's complicated." I decide watching the twins exchange a glance.
When we finally meet Peregrine, he immediatly takes my books without so much a glance in the twin's direction. "Hurry. We'll be late." He states before leading the way with his friends.
I give a small nod to George and Fred, but quickly follow Peregrine down the path to the greenhouses, knowing better than to push my luck. I knew what was waiting for me at the end of the day.