Characters: Barnaby Lee, Liz Tuttle, Alana Jordan
Genre: Friendship/Romance
It was a snowy February day. However, no amount of snow would ever shut Care of Magical Creatures class down.
Professor Kettleburn had the 4th years out in the white chilly substance looking for kneazle food. Since kneazles were carnivorous, food was few and far between in the snow, as most of its diet was either in hibernation, or trying to find a warm nook. So the class found themselves having to dig through the freezing snow, which out of a class of about 20, only 3 found this trial pleasant.
"I don't see how you and Charlie do it, Barnaby," said Alana through chattering teeth. "I'm out here freezing parts that I will not say, and you two are acting like you're on summer holiday."
Barnaby laughed. It was true, Charlie and he were the only ones not wearing extra layers under their robes. Though he didn't know Charlie's reasoning, for him it was just that he had always been a very warm bodied person. The cold never seemed to bother him, not even when he was small.
"It isn't all that, come now." said Barnaby, chucking snow to the side. "Perhaps you should wear more than just Weasley's jumper."
"I would if you would just give me that Gryffindor emblem jumper you promised me."
"Can't very well give you that now, can I? We are only on a level 8 friendship." joked Barnaby, throwing a small snowball Alana's way.
"You're impossible," said Alana, as she began to dig a hole into the snow. "Speaking of impossible things, have you spoken to Liz about you know what?"
A shiver not made by the cold ran through Barnaby's body at his Gryffindor mate's words. He stiffened as Alana gave him a smug grin, enjoying the sight of him thinking of some lame excuse to avoid the subject.
"I've...I've spoken to Liz," stuttered Barnaby, avoiding eye contact.
"Annnnnnnnnd?"
"Annnnd, we just spoke. Nothing exciting really, well, not exciting to you," croaked out Barnaby, feeling hot under the collar.
Alana threw down her digging trowel and crossed her arms. "You didn't invite her, did you?"
Barnaby threw up his arms in frustration. "I panicked, alright?" he exclaimed. "That's what you want to hear, isn't it? I'm no good with asking birds questions like that!"
"You've asked me to a butterbeer loads of times!"
"Well I don't fancy you like that now, do I?!"
"Alright, alright," said Alana, lowering her elevated voice and raising her hands to surrender, "I get it, you're nervous. It's normal. I just never took you as a bloke to lose your nerve like that. You're usually tough about things."
"Things, yes. Witches, no." said Barnaby, looking down at his ringed hand. "Fine, I'll talk to her. But if everything goes sour, it'll be your fault."
Alana giggled. "Go on, then," she said, giving Barnaby a gentle shove in the direction of Liz.
Barnaby gulped as he slowly approached the round glasses wearing girl, who was sitting on an uncovered spot on the ground, inspecting the ears of what looked like a very irritated kneazle. The more she inspected, the more irritable it looked. However, it sat still and allowed it.
Barnaby stopped in front of Liz and the kneazle and cleared his throat. Liz glanced up, gave a nod of acknowledgement, and went back to fussing over the kneazle's ear.
"Alright there Liz?"asked Barnaby.
"Well no, if you must know," said Liz sharply. "There's a tiny insect buried within this kneazle's ear, and I'm-"
"Let me look," said Barnaby immediately, as he knelt down beside Liz. Liz gave Barnaby a look of annoyance. She was already looking after the kneazle, why did he have to come and bungle things up?
"Lumos," said Barnaby, lighting the tip of his wand to get a closer look at the insect. "Oh, I see a tick. Nasty little buggers. Can I help?"
"You're really going to help me?" pondered Liz. She had thought he had only come to bother her and keep her from her work.
"I'll hold the light, and you get it out, yeah?" said Barnaby, moving his wand tip closer to the kneazle's ear.
Liz nodded and looked back at the now more visible ear. She took the tweezers that she had been trying to get a hold of the tick with and finally managed to get a firm grip on it. She then yanked it quickly but gently from the kneazle's ear and flung it over her shoulder. The kneazle's attitude did a total 180, and it began to knuzzle Liz's cheek and then Barnaby's.
"You're alright there, mate," said Barnaby as he sat down and scooped the kneazle into his lap and began petting it. Liz watched quietly as he and the kneazle seemed to be connecting in an unspoken manner.
"You're really good at that, comforting creatures." commented Liz after a few moments of observing.
"I love magical creatures," said Barnaby proudly. "Or any for that matter. Muggle ones as well. Have you ever seen a duck billed platypus? It's looks like it should be of the wizarding world, but it isn't."
"I've seen pictures, but not a real one," said Liz, who had made herself comfortable, eager to hear what Barnaby had to say. Animals fascinated her, and hearing about new ones always tickled her fancy.
"Well, as you may have seen, they have a bill and feet like ducks, but did you know they lay eggs like a bird would?"
"Do they really?" gasped Liz. "But it has fur. Is it not a mammal?"
"It is, but a lot of mammals that live in Australia where it lives, lay eggs and do all sorts of strange things. It's all very interesting."
"I've never struck you as the type that cared for animals," said Liz, shyly.
"Why?" asked Barnaby.
"Well, if I am to be completely honest," began Liz, looking at the ground, "I thought you to just be some mindless brute that liked to throw his weight around. You were absolutely horrid third year, you know. When you were hanging around Snyde and Murk."
Barnaby winced at the mention of his old days. "True, I won't deny it. I was a bit of a bully, but I don't associate with them anymore, and have not since the middle of third year. You haven't noticed?"
"I didn't care to," said Liz. "Usually once I make my mind up about a person, it's set. I guess...I guess I shouldn't apply that logic to everyone, should I?"
Barnaby nodded, feeling his nerves begin to take over again. It did indeed sting that Liz had looked at him as nothing more than an idiot bully, but if that was what he was portraying, he couldn't blame her. However, that was in the past. He was not that person anymore. With actual friends in his corner, he said and did as he so chose to, and he was no longer the bully he was when he was associating himself with the riffraff of Slytherin. He was so much more than that. And he definitely wanted Liz to see it.
"I could tell you more about muggle creatures," he said hesitantly. "I have a book. I could show it to you. Maybe...maybe a Hogsmeade visit after classes? Over a butterbeer?"
Liz was taken aback. Was Barnaby Lee really asking her to Hogsmeade with him? No one had ever asked her to have a butterbeer with them before. She felt her cheeks heat with blush and she thanked Merlin her cocoa skin hid what would definitely be redness.
"That...that would be lovely, Barnaby." answered Liz, as a shy grin crept onto her face.
"Really?" said Barnaby, both shocked and ecstatic that she had said yes.
"Really," said Liz, her smile a bit wider, as she nodded her head. The kneazle in Barnaby's lap nodded as well.
"Brilliant!" exclaimed Barnaby, causing both the kneazle and Liz to jump a bit. "Oh sorry, I startled you...and you too little guy."
The kneazle jumped out of Barnaby's lap, gave what definitely appeared to be a humph, and walked off, leaving Liz and Barnaby in laughter.
"I'll see you later then?" said Barnaby, getting up off the ground. He then stuck out his hand to Liz, and helped her off the ground.
Liz smiled and nodded. Barnaby smiled back and took off in the direction of the kneazle. He felt as if he could sprout wings and fly, he was so happy. He trotted confidently back over to where Alana, and now Charlie and Rowan were still foraging for food.
Alana looked over at Barnaby and gave him a cheek to cheek grin. "So? What did she say?"
Barnaby was about to answer, until he suddenly became aware of himself. He looked down at his now dirt covered vest and paw printed trousers with wet spots from melted snow on them. He was an absolute mess.
"Quick, Alana!" said Barnaby in a hushed but panicked voice. "What do I wear?!"