You'll Be Back

"Merlin, Samuel, what took so long," George snapped.

The fifth year rushed towards him, muttering apologies, his face red with exertion as he breathed heavily. The heavy door shut behind me.

"Sorry, Head Boy George," he muttered shamefully as he arrived in front of the seventh year, who was sprawled lazily on one of the large couches in the Ravenclaw common room. "It took me awhile to figure out the riddle."

George scoffed. "Sam, you're so stupid. How did you even get in this house?" Sam shrugged silently, and George frowned.

"So how'd the meeting go this afternoon? Will things finally go back to how they should be?"

Samuel swallowed. "Well, I was about to convince them…"

"Why do I feel like there's a but on the end of that sentence?" George scowled.

"These annoying first years kept talking back!" Samuel burst out. "And then that Gryffindor Veronica came over, and-"

"How many times do I have to tell you?" George interrupted. "They're not the ones in charge, I am."

"I know, I know," Samuel fretted. "It's just… everyone always talks about you like you're a dictator, George," he said softly. "How do we get them to like you, I mean, … us?"

George stood up suddenly, scowling. His robes fluttered across his legs as he walked over in front of the Ravenclaw Common Room's fireplace. The room was well lit and cozy, perfect for most Ravenclaws, but it was currently mostly empty. Most younger kids were asleep, and the Quidditch Team had its practice, so the only sound that could be heard was the crackling of fire and the occasional rustle of paper.

"Samuel Seabury," George said his name slowly but sternly. "I don't care if they don't like me now. They will in the future when I'm Prime Minister, and then they'll have no choice." He smiled proudly, and Sam stayed silent, knowing it was not his place to respond.

"I may be graduating soon, but I'll be back," George pledged. "They'll see me in the Daily Prophet headlines, and on huge banners in the Ministry of Magic." His eyes glinted. "Who cares if they don't love me now? They'll be rushing back to me eventually."

"George? Samuel?" A girl's voice interrupted them suddenly. Angelica Schuyler peered at them suspiciously as she exited the girl's Ravenclaw Tower. Samuel, who thought the girl quite pretty but a tad rebellious, was too shy at the moment to say anything.

"What are you doing?" She said slowly.

George scoffed. "We could ask you the same thing, Miss Schuyler. Isn't curfew soon?" He narrowed his eyes at her, but the third year just rolled her eyes.

"I'm spending the night with Hufflepuff," she explained shortly, gesturing to her armful of books. "The prefects said it was okay," she added when George opened his mouth to dispute. "If you say it's not okay, I can always just ask Headmaster Franklin." She said it innocently, but the defiant way she looked at the Head Boy surprised Samuel.

George glared Angelica. "Go," he snapped. "But we better not see you out and about after curfew during rounds tonight!" A smug look on her face, Angelica just nodded and headed towards the door.

The seventh year boy glared after the third year as she left. "See how disrespectful everyone is?" He grunted to Samuel. "The younger kids show no attention to the rules, and no respect to authority!" George raised his hands in disbelief. "It's like she didn't even see the notice attached to the entrance- stay at Ravenclaw, and no socializing with other houses!" George's scowl deepened along with the shadows on his face from the fire.

"How are you going to get them to listen to you?" Samuel asked hesitantly.

"They're just being cry-babies," George scowled suddenly. "I'm in charge, remember?" he snapped, and Samuel nodded hurriedly.

"It's not like Headmaster Franklin can take away my title," George clenched his fist as his eyes narrowed. "So they all better watch out, because some of those brats are making me mad."

Samuel stared at him, and a smile slowly crept back onto George's face as his fist unclenched.

"They'll see soon," he assured the fifth year. "They'll all see, and they'll understand that my way is the best way. Right?"

Samuel agreed quickly, saying of course, always.

George smiled serenely at him. "See, I'm sure everyone will be as loyal as you someday. It will just take some time. Empires can't be built overnight, you know." A breathy laugh came from the Head Boy as he admired his badge in the warm light of the fireplace. "If they are, those empires will fall."

Samuel nodded again. "Definitely." He paused. "But, um, what will happen if they're not loyal, sir?"

George turned back to the fire, his lips curved upward as the shadow of the flame flashed across his face.

"They will all have to be loyal, whether they like it or not," he murmured. "I would not want to see anyone not be loyal, because that could mean chaos. Do we want chaos, Samuel?"

The fifth year Ravenclaw shook his head, even though George wasn't looking at him. "No chaos," he repeated.

The fire light flickered in George's eyes. "This is only one battle," he explained to Samuel, who listened eagerly.

"And you may lose a battle, but that doesn't mean you won't win the war."