Impossible Love
Chapter 16 – Exciting News
Lara leaned forwards, re-reading her mother's letter again with a bemused expression on her face.
Returning to the table with a pile of Defence Against the Dark Arts books, Hestia asked, "Everything ok?"
"Yeah … it is. My mum, she's started seeing someone."
Hestia raised her eyebrows. "Oh?"
"Robert," stated Lara. "Apparently, he knew my dad from the rugby club … think I've probably met him there when I was little. He's a bit older than my mum by the sounds of it."
Unearthing a book from the pile, Hestia passed it to Lara. "Pince said this had just come in."
The book was inky navy with a gold embossed title: Medieval Britain: Riots and Runes – A Retrospective. Lara's attention was drawn to the listed authors – Claudia Blishen-Wingrove, Carrick Bevington and Michael Corner.
Setting the letter to one side, Lara flicked to the foreword and started reading.
"So, is it serious, with your mum and this Robert guy?"
With the book left open, Lara leaned back on her chair, gripping the edge of the table with both hands. "Well he's joining us for Christmas, seems so."
Hestia's blonde ponytail flicked round as she asked concernedly, "You ok with that?"
Lara contemplated the whir of emotions that she felt.
"It'll be weird for definite," began Lara. "Ultimately, I want my mum to be happy. It's been years … think dad would have been alright with her moving on."
With a closed expression on her face, Lara's gaze fell back to her book. Hestia recognised the familiar signs from her friend and didn't push the conversation further. Instead, she pulled a patterned pheasant feather quill out of the back of her ponytail and began making notes as she read.
Privately sifting through her thoughts on the letter, Lara thought that this Christmas would definitely be different with a man in the house. She didn't begrudge her mother this; 10 years was a long time to spend alone. Whilst the timing of the letter wasn't great, with Lara receiving it the day before what would have been her dad's birthday, she reflected that perhaps Christmas this year would feel lighter somehow. The Christmas holidays in years gone by had always seemed weighted by the absent presence of her father. It was as if both her and her mother spent so much time thinking of him, and repressing the need to talk about him, that he was in the room with them despite his death.
Outside, the hours of daylight diminished quickly and the shadows in the Library lengthened. Hestia and Lara had worked solidly all afternoon with a patchwork of parchment and scrawled notes covering the table. This wasn't unusual for Lara, but it was a clear sign that Hestia was finding seventh year more intense than other years.
As the darkness announced the arrival of early evening, the Library emptied slowly, with groups of students slipping away like sand in an hourglass.
Dropping her quill to the table and stretching her fingers outwards to alleviate the slight writing cramp, Hestia said, "I'm off up to the dorm. You stopping here?"
"I'm just going to finish this chapter," said Lara, flicking through the pages and seeing she was only six pages from the end. "Then I'll head back."
Left alone, Lara felt the relaxing influence of one of her favourite places in Hogwarts. She'd been far too hung up on personal matters this term. It felt nice to spend a Saturday focusing on work, and it was a welcome break to let her head take over from her heart for a little while.
She had rattled through Michael Corner's first published chapter about social unrest amongst Medieval wizards, and was part way through another chapter about runic evidence for violent reprisals against perceived blood traitors, when Madam Pince approached her table with a stack of books levitating next to her.
Sitting up and starting to pack her books away, Lara said, "Have I forgotten the time again?"
"No," Madam Pince said quickly. "Well yes – a little – but that's not it. Professor McGonagall wants to see you in her office."
Lara stuffed the remaining items into her satchel hurriedly and made her way to McGonagall's office.
Thanks to their frequent meetings with the Headmistress, Lara and Jamie were always kept informed of the changes to McGonagall's office password.
"Maine Coon," Lara said breathlessly to the gargoyle guarding the entrance, before stepping onto the slowly ascending circular staircase.
The heavy oak doors were already open. McGonagall looked up from the stack of papers on her desk and smiled.
"Just in time Lara," she said, gesturing to an armchair by the fire. "Please take a seat."
Lara found it a little odd that she wasn't asked to sit in front of the desk, but her attention was soon drawn to the fire.
Appearing in the centre of the flames, unperturbed by their flickering presence, was a man with dark hair and dark eyes with a peek of a blue striped shirt and broad shoulders on display; Lara thought she'd seen him before.
Addressing McGonagall, he said in a mild Sheffield accent, "Ahh Professor, sorry for the slight delay, just had to clean up a few bits and pieces."
"It's no bother, Michael," McGonagall said kindly. "I'd like you to meet Lara Hepworth, our Head Girl."
Lara remembered where she'd seen him. This was the man on the cover of the Prophet that Neville had shown her: Michael Corner. His hair was a little longer than on that picture and he had a slight beard, but it was definitely him.
"Wonderful to meet you, Lara," greeted Michael warmly.
"Wow. Mr Corner, sir, I've just been reading your latest book," she said enthusiastically. Lara continued to talk at the head of Michael Corner, not stopping to let him respond. "… and it's remarkable that your discovery completely changed the acknowledged historical facts of the period. I wonder if there's more evidence that displays the redundancy of - "
McGonagall coughed, drawing Lara's attention to the fact that she'd barely drawn breath through her babbling. She'd effectively repeated one of Corner's chapters back to him with her thoughts added in for good measure.
Embarrassed, Lara said, "Oh, I'll stop talking now."
"Don't worry," said Michael, smiling up at her through the flames. "I'm impressed. Some of that runic lore is complex, and you've clearly understood its implications. Just what I wanted to hear to be honest."
Michael began explaining that this conversation had satisfied him as to Lara's suitability for an internship and there would be no need for a more formal interview.
"Your application speaks for itself. I know Bill is impressed with your work, and Neville, Professor Longbottom, has told me repeatedly these last few weeks how brilliant a witch you are. It'd be a pleasure."
At this mention of Neville, McGonagall looked approvingly at Lara and she felt uncomfortable and awkward, hoping her blushing face seemed a justifiable response to the praise and not a giveaway as to her real feelings for her mentor.
Michael Corner not only offered her a summer internship, but also the chance to spend a week on site at the start of the Easter holidays. Lara would have to rethink her revision timetable, but it was too good an opportunity to miss. In fact, it was everything she had hoped for since McGonagall had announced the changes to seventh year.
Lara walked back to her common room in a daze – her feet seemed to take her there of their own volition. Just before reaching for her key in her bag, Lara realised she hadn't even known that Neville submitted her application.
Acting on impulse, she decided she had to go and thank him.
Rushing through the grounds, Lara's mind emptied. She had the single-minded focus on getting to the greenhouses. Never mind it was a Saturday, or that it had gone dark, or that Neville might not even be in school, she had to share the news with him.
Especially given everything he's clearly said about me.
Startling a tabby cat that had been lazily pawing at the puffapods planted in neat rows, Lara saw a light glowing from the first greenhouse and burst through the doors. She'd not been in this greenhouse since the end of her fifth year but remembered the hours potting aconite samples or caring for screechsnap seedlings. The smell of rich fertiliser filled the air with the heady scent of asphodel a singing top note.
The door to the small storeroom was ajar. Lara practically swung around the door frame, straight into a stunned Neville.
"I did it!" exclaimed Lara, barrelling into Neville and hugging him tightly.
Neville's confusion lasted all of a second before he returned the embrace, allowing his body to momentarily mould to hers.
Tilting her chin upwards to counteract Neville's five inch height advantage, Lara felt the slight brush of stubble against her cheek as he held her.
The hug couldn't last though. Pushing her away from his with firm hands, Neville stepped back and ran his hands through his hair as if doing so would keep him from pulling her close. He opened his mouth to speak.
"I spoke to Corner," she said before she could process what Neville had just started to say. "I got the internship."
"Lara, you shouldn't be here," Neville repeated gently, this time his statement wasn't lost amidst Lara's excitement. "Congrats on the internship … that's really good –"
"– You don't want me here?" Lara interrupted.
Silence reigned.
Neville's pained expression was striking. "No. I mean yes," he said, taking a step towards her. "I don't even know what's right anymore."
Her back pushed against the door frame.
"I can't do this right now," he finished as the sound of footsteps racing through the greenhouse brought them both back to their location.
"Professor!" shouted a first year with dark braided hair and a Hufflepuff tie. "Lisette is throwing dung at me again."
"I am not!" retorted Lisette Rosier, clattering behind her. "Verity threw it at me first."
"You've got no proof," said Verity with her arms crossed.
"Only because you missed me!"
Both girls stopped bickering when they saw Lara standing close to Neville in the doorway.
"Girls, the reason you're here is for messing about and not getting along in class," said Neville sternly. "You're both going the right way for another detention right now."
With their curious glances weighing on her mind, Lara felt the need to explain her presence.
"Thanks for all your help with the mentorship," she offered stiltedly. "I best get back … I promised Jamie we'd look over duty rotas."
Retreating out of the greenhouse, Lara heard Neville say with an edge of desperation, "See Hufflepuffs and Slytherins can get along, just look at Hepworth and Burke. Perhaps you two could try being friends?"