About a half hour later, Edmund and Lucius had left Bella and the other girls alone in their compartment. The boys had moved into the dining area on the train so they could continue their conversation "in private."
"I hope you know what you're doing." Lucius sipped his overly sweetened butterbeer smoothly, attempting sophistication.
"Don't worry about me, in no time Rodolphus will thank us for all this."
"Thank you for what?" Rodolphus sat down at the table, "The girls told me you were up here."
Edmund and Lucius were baffled.
"Uh, um… we were just d-discussing…" Lucius stuttered.
"I know there's only one thing Edmund has ever cared about regarding me."
Edmund pretended to be in shock, "What?! That's crazy!" He looked behind him.
Rodolphus looked around as well and then came close to Edmund.
"Look, stay away from her, okay?"
"What?"
"Don't lie to me. Every day before you found out about us, she was all you spoke of."
"Who?" Lucius cut in.
"No one. Shut up, Lucy." Edmund shot.
"Oh, I see, little Lucy doesn't know." Rodolphus tilted his head and continued to look about, "This one," he pointed to Edmund, "Is trying to steal her from me."
"But who's her?"
"You'll just have to find out." Rodolphus slammed his fist on the table and walked out.
"Do you think he's mad?" Bella asked the other girls.
"Who?" Athena asked blankly.
"Rodolphus!" Wisteria shot at her, "Bella's worried that he heard everything she said about them being able to get together whenever they want because they have a planned marriage. But! I overheard Edmund telling Lucius that Rodolphus doesn't even like Bella."
"Well, that's good, right? I thought Bella didn't like Rodolphus."
"No! She just pretends not to be that interested in him because…"
"What?!" Bella screeched, "God, no! I like Rodolphus. He's nice. It's just that I've never really spoken to him since we were like eight. We have almost no classes together at school and he's just a year younger than us."
"So???"
"I just find it weird to go out with a younger guy."
"Even though Rodolphus looks like a French male supermodel." Wisteria responded.
Both girls gave her a looks of awe and confusion.
"What? Have you ever seen him swimming in the lake after class?"
"Hahahahaha, no matter what, I just don't really know him!"
"I thought he came to that Halloween party every year, and you guys had like an annual dance!"
"Like a super awkward dance! It's all ballroom! No twist, mashed potato, nothing! Just waltz! Waltz! Waltz!"
Screeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeech! The train came to a halt and suddenly a body was hurled into the compartment from outside. The girls screamed and were thrown back.
"Shoot! I haven't even changed into my robes!"
Rodolphus, who turned out to be the one thrown into the room, was getting up, but was soon trampled by Athena leaving the compartment to hit the changing rooms.
"Oh, sorry about that." Bella grabbed his arm and helped him back up.
"Thanks." He smiled at her, grabbed his bags, and quickly exited the compartment.