Considering it was the first day back at Hogwarts, Combeferre was in a considerably good mood, if a little tired.
He stifled a yawn as he clumsily packed away his potions supply's, Éponine thwacking him on the head when he nearly spilt the strengthening solution which they'd just spent the entire lesson perfecting.
"Sorry," Combeferee muttered, blushing slightly at his potions partners exasperated expression.
"Just don't spill it, for Merlin's sake you're worst than my brother," the dark haired girl joked. Éponine leaned against the desk writing for Combeferre to finish packing up his things as the rest of the class filled out of the dark class room. Finally growing bored of waiting for her friend to finish packing up his books (Combeferre managed to be the last one out of the classroom every single time) Éponine snatched up his potion making kit and lent down to shove it in Combeferre's bag.
"Um, Combeferre, why do you have condoms in your bag?" Éponine asked, eyebrows raised. She had never known him to have either a girlfriend or boyfriend, and most definatly didn't have him down as the secret-affair type, but you never can tell.
Upon the discovery, Combeferre flushed a darker shade of red, suddenly becoming fascinated with the dungeon floor as he awkwardly replied "They're for Courfeyrac,"
Éponine's mouth formed a silent 'Oh', before a small smirk wormed it's way into her pretty face. It was no secret that Courfeyrac had a somewhat varied sex life, and as she'd never seen Combeferre with a romantic partner of any kind, it wasn't too difficult to picture the two friends as something slightly more than friends.
Her thoughts must had been showing on her face, because Combeferre made a loud spluttering sound before squawking "No! Not like that." The blush creeping higher "They're Courfeyrac's, for him to use, with his girlfriends."
"And you carry them around?" Éponine enquired, finally standing up, and letting Combeferre lead the way out of the now deserted classroom.
"Well, despite Joly's constant lectures on STDs Courfeyrac is obviously not going to... um, settle down, and the last thing he needs is to become a Dad, so I just make sure that that doesn't happen," Combeferre babbled as the two of them walked down the corridors. Seeing Éponine's half amused, half disbelieving look, he quickly added "I carry emergency supplies for most of my friends."
"Supplies?"
"Well, condoms for Courf, a book for Enjolras, he gets really restless when he's bored, some spare parchment for Jehan, and a first aid kit for Joly." He rattled off the list as though it was nothing, apparently unaware of Éponine's incredulous face.
"My God, you are a good friend." She exclaimed, eyeing Combeferre's bag with an expression somewhere between fear and respect.
"It's got an undetectable extension charm," he said fighting with his robes, feeling more than a little self conscious.
"What are you, their mother?" The girl replied rolling her eyes
"I do wonder sometimes," he replied with a small laugh. Combeferre would be the first to admit that between Enjolras' stubbornness, Courfeyrac's sleeping habits, and Marius' clumsiness it was a small miracle that all of them had survived this long. "Should I start carrying around some fire whiskey for Grantaire, in case he runs out and gets a withdrawal?" He asked lightly, as the two of them neared the entrance hall.
"Trust me Grantaire has enough fire whiskey to kill a hippogriff," Éponine shot back, only half joking. Even with Éponine and Scourpius' attempts to monitor his alcohol consumption, Grantaire still managed to keep himself dangerously close to a constant hangover.
Speaking of which, she really ought to get back to the Slytherin common room, and make sure than Grantaire and Scorpius hadn't managed to flood the dorms, or something to that effect.
The bell signalling the beginning of the next lesson echoed through the castle. Thankfully the sixth years all had a free period. Éponine was able to say a hasty goodbye to Combeferre and push her way through the people now swarming from every doorway, all intent on getting to their next classes to get back to her common room.
Smiling to himself Combeferre started to climb the elegant marble staircase. He'd only just managed to turn left onto the busy corridor when another familiar face made it's appearance.
"Oi, Ferre! " the Ravenclaw turned to see Courfeyrac making his way down the crowded corridor towards him, shoving several second years out of the way as he went "Aren't you going to wait for your favourite Hufflepuff?"
"Oh, I didn't realise Jehan was with you," The Ravenclaw said, smirking slightly, and receiving a light punch in the arm for his comment.
"So where we off?" Courfeyrac asked through a yawn as the two of them reached the marble staircase.
"The library, it's where I said we'd meet the others" he answered casually, as a gaggle of loud third year students squeezed past them.
Courfeyrac glared at the small blue badge on the front of one of the younger boys robes, it went without saying that none of Courfeyrac's friends were allowed to support the Tornados quidditch team.
"Ugh, I could happily kill everyone with a tornados badge!" He said looking disgusted as soon as they were out of earshot.
"Really? Just one tornados badge?" His companion asked, totally straight-faced.
Turning to grin at his friend Courfeyrac replied "You know for the nice one in the group you really can be a sarcastic little shit."
"Just my way of getting through the day," Combeferre chuckled, dodging another half-hearted blow from Courfeyrac, before the two of them at last reached the library.
Joly was sitting on one of the small tables scribbling frantically onto a piece of parchment, Marius and Cosette sat either side of him, apparently helping him. Enjolras was sat opposite, his complete attention once again on the book he held in front of him. Joly looked anxious, perhaphs not to the point where he was convinced of impending death, which Combeferre supposed was a plus, but still not far off of needing another medical examination.
"Hi guys," Combeferre greeted on autopilot, receiving muttered 'hello's from everyone at the table while Courfeyrac peered over Joly's shoulder at the piece of parchment he was scribbling at frantically.
"What you do-in?" The brunette asked in a sing-song voice, drawing out each syllable.
"Revision," Joly replied, his eyes whizzing between his quill and the transfiguration book sat in front of him.
"Revision?" Courfeyrac repeated, sounding scandalised, his face twisting into a most displeased expression.
"You don't revise?" Joly asked whipping around in his seat so fast it was a wonder he didn't crack his neck.
" 'Course not." The brunette replied with a casual shrug.
"How have you not been expelled for failing you're exams yet?" Joly's voice raising slightly in panic.
"Ooh, let me see. Is it because exams are easy peasy lemon squeezy or because I'm brilliant? Oh, wait, It's both!" Courfeyrac replied leaning forward and hitting his friend on the back.
"Don't listen to him Joly," Cosette reassured him kindly, while simultaneously shooting Courf a warning look.
"Yeah I mean even if you're grades were lower this time, they're still better than his," Combeferre stated as diplomatically as one could.
"Ah, I see, you're all just jealous of my looks," The Hufflepuff shot back, flicking his hair back in an exaggerated way "I've heard that jealously can do terrible things to people."
As the others made muttered grumbling sounds, Enjolras irritably grumbled "Don't you somewhere to be, a girlfriend, or boyfriend, or something of the sort?"
"Enjolras don't encourage him,"Joly said frantically, the Ravenclaw was always the one to panic at his friends many love affairs.
"I'm not going to apologise for havering a healthy sex life." Courfeyrac said defensively.
"Healthy!" Joly squeaked, his voice ripping through two octaves.
Sensing an oncoming storm Combeferre quickly excused himself from the table "Well as fun as this has been I promised that I'd help Jehan with his Defence Against the Dark Arts." Before walking briskly away from the table. Courfeyrac watched him go, his eyes narrowing slightly.
"Where is Jehan?" The brunette asked Marius, as he casually leaned against one of the chairs.
"Oh, he's just round the corner, he just wanted somewhere a little quieter to work. He's got an essay due tomorrow, so he asked 'Ferre to help him with it." Marius replied, not really paying his friend much attention.
"Why?" Courfeyrac asked, perhaps a little too quickly.
Marius looked up at his friends irritated voice "Well, I guess cause Combeferre's good at Defence Against the Dark Arts."
"I'm good at Defence Against the Dark Arts," Courfeyrac blushed slightly, he hadn't meant to say that out loud. All four of his friends raised their heads at his unhappy tone. "Just saying." He added quickly, trying to sound indifferent. Marius merely gave a non-committal shrug before returning to his work along with Enjolras, Cosette, and Joly.
"Well, I have a thing," Courfeyrac said after a second, trying to remember exactly where he'd seen Combeferre go. He hastily snatched up his back and walked off to evade coming up with a more plausible excuse. Enjolras looked up from his book as Courfeyrac left, a thoughtful expression on his face. But after a moment he shook his head slightly and turned back to the book he had been reading, though it didn't seem quiet as interesting as it had done before.
Courfeyrac walked quietly through the rows of bookshelves, not so subtly looking for his two missing friends.
Well, he wasn't technically looking for them, this just happened to be the way out of the library. Courfeyrac assured himself as he continued his brisk walk towards the library doors.
He was just a few yards away when he spotted the two of them, hidden away in a quieter part of the library. Courfeyrac couldn't help but notice that neither of them looked as though either of them were doing much work. Combeferre was sat on the left, a slight smile on his face as he spoke quietly, apparently saying something very sincere, and Jehan was smiling his shy but adoring smile, that Courfeyrac would usually have to spend hours of time trying to provoke, if only to make his heart swell a little. They were sitting close together. Very close together. In fact they really were sitting far too close together.
A bitter feeling exploded in Courfeyrac's stomach. He quickly turned his head away and continued walking towards the door, not breaking his pace and decidedly not slowing down.
The irritable dark mood that had been hovering in the pit of his chest all year returned with full intensity. An ugly scowl twisted it's way onto Courfeyrac's face.
He was supposed to be the closest to Jehan. Jehan was supposed to come to Courfeyrac for help. But now he seemed to prefer spending all his time with Combe-fucking-ferre. It just wasn't fair. Courfeyrac huffed at the thought of them together as he strode out onto the corridor, completely ignoring the gaggle of third year girls who were all giggling and whispering about him.
He couldn't even be bothered to roll his eyes. More than anything he just wanted this issue to go away. He was allowed to be jealous of his friends doing things without him, it was only natural. But, on the other hand, he hadn't felt like this when it became obvious that Enjolras and Combeferre were each other's best friends. Or when Marius had opted to spend all his time with Cosette. Or when his last long term girlfriend had dumped him for the Ravenclaw seeker. Or-
Shit!
The realisation hit him like a tonne of bricks, causing him to stop dead directly in the middle of the corridor.
There was a reason he hadn't felt anything remotely like this before. It was one very big and very obvious reason and it was staring him right in the face.
Could it be that simply?
The world sped up, his legs moving of their own accord. All thoughts of sulking in his dorm gone. He was now running down the corridors, barely holding on to his bag and his mind desperately tried to decide what to do.
It was like when you're eating pizza with your friends. There is always that piece of pizza, that perfect piece, and you have mentally claimed that piece of pizza.
In your head that piece is yours.
But then someone goes and takes that very piece! And it's not as though you can say 'hey I saw that piece first, so put-it-the-hell-back!' Because you never told anyone that you had your eye on that particular piece of pizza.
But even so, you feel cheated whenever this happens, you can eat the entire rest of the pizza in compensation, but none of it will taste as nice as that one perfect piece.
Courfeyrac skidded to a halt.
"Shit!" He hissed again, as he realised exactly what his hypothetical pizza metaphor might mean.
Éponine walked briskly down the second floor corridor, all the sixth years had a free period right now, so the hallway was silent and deserted.
She couldn't stop herself smiling slightly; there was a certain satisfaction to how loud she could make her footsteps echo.
The girl had just turned the corner when she heard another sound. Freezing mid-stride Éponine took three steps backwards so she ended up stood directly in front of one of the many broom cupboards. Someone inside was crying.
Carefully pushing the flimsy wooden door open, the Slytherin girl stepped inside, locating the source of the noise almost immediately, and recognising the messy black hair even quicker.
"Courfeyrac... are you okay?" She asked softly, reaching out to hold his shoulder, the way she sometimes did with Grantaire if he was upset.
"Don't touch me." He spat at her, his face still covered by his arms. Courfeyrac had his knees drawn into his get and was lent against the back wall of the cupboard, half concealed by the row of brooms. Unperturbed Éponine sat down on the cold floor next to him.
"And you're hiding in the broom cupboard because?"
"I just wanted some space - would you just go away?" The boy retorted, jerking away from Éponine again.
"No. Now what's the problem?" She asked, her eyes trained on his face, when she wanted to know something she always ended up getting it. She was practically a professional interrogator, how else would she know everything she did about Grantaire?
"Things," Courfeyrac said drawing out each syllable, his face still hidden from her.
Éponine remained silent, waiting for the boy to continue.
Taking a deep breath Courfeyrac sat up. He looked terrible "It's just... I realised something, something that's really, really important. But I think I realised too late! And my life is just a shambles and now it's getting worse," he broke off, frantically undoing another button on his shirt, trying to help himself breath again "And now I've gone and fucking cried about it. As if it wasn't bad enough, I mean, look at my eyes," Courfeyrac croaked gesturing vaguely towards his face.
"There's nothing wrong with your eyes - you have very nice eyes. If a little on the swollen side." Éponine replied.
"Just leave me alone." Courfeyrac whined turning his head away about to continue wallowing in self-pity.
In a lightning fast movement, Éponine slapped him hard on the side of his face, forcing him to look at her again.
"Ow, Eponine, what the hell?"
"I just needed to get you to listen," she paused for a second, her head turned slightly to the side as she observed him "Because despite what you what everyone else to think you have a pretty shit self-esteem." She replied very in a casual voice.
"Don't psycho-analyse me, you bitch." Courfeyrac growled, glaring at her as hard as he could "And stop being so-" he waved his hands vaugely at the girl's form "...nice to me."
"Oh, all right! Pull yourself together you cretinous Fuckwit! What sort of a man hides in a broom cupboard? Rocking and whinging to themselves?" Éponine snarled, returning swiftly to usual self.
"B-but, I just... I just told you that-" the boy stuttered, shocked by his companions sudden change in tone.
"Well boo hoo! I'm so sorry you're feeling a bit upset." She stood up abruptly, yanking Courfeyrac with her by his collar. "Now get out and stop being so pathetic. You never cry! You're too busy being a self-righteous, over-opinionated wanker! So go out there and do whatever the hell it is that you need to do, and make a total idiot of yourself because that's what you do best!"
With a final shove, Éponine pushed the boy out if the door. Nearly falling over an empty bucket as he went. The grin suddenly back on his face.
"You know what?" Courfeyrac said, as he shakily fixed his uniform, his voice triumphant "I will," The boy looked down at Éponine, now beaming at her as though she'd granted his dreams "You. Are. Brilliant." He muttered pausing between each word to kiss her forehead like a child.
Without a seconds hesitation he pushed away from the broom cupboard and strode down the corridor, grinning from ear to ear. Even Éponine was unable to keep a small smile from her face as she watched the Hufflepuff walk away, a new spring in his step.
Combeferre and Jehan strolled leisurely through the halls, most of which were so that Combeferre felt it safe to breach the subject of his friends secret.
"I heard that Courfeyrac called a certain someone everyday during the Christmas holidays," Combeferre said as innocently as possible, when he received no reply other than a blush he continued, smirking just a little "Considering he forgot his last girlfriend's birthday, I think you deserve some kind of award."
"If you're going to be a dick about it, then you can go back to the library and put up with Marius and Cosette for another hour," Jehan replied huffily, but despite his the blond was almost certain he was happier than he had been in all his life. He should have known that it was too good to last.
Just up the corridor one of the broom cupboard's doors sprung open and the Hufflepuff puff in question stumbled out. Only he wasn't alone. A girl which the pair of them recognised as Éponine followed.
In less than the two watching them took in their appearance. Éponine's slightly messed up hair, crumpled uniform, and smiling face, the absence of her usual knowing smirk was the most alarming observation.
Courfeyrac was talking to her, his face alight with wonder as he hastily tucked in his shirt. His tie askew and his hair even messier than normal, before he leant down to plant a kiss on her forehead before practically springing down the corridor.
With Courfeyrac's history it didn't take Combeferre a long to time to reach his conclusion. The Ravenclaw turned to his companion to comfort, reassure, to just do something. Jehan just continued walking as though nothing had happened, but his eyes told a different story. The boy looked broken. He wanted this so much, dared to hope that he could have this, but apparently he'd been expecting a little too much.
Combeferre couldn't help but grit his teeth slightly as he began to follow his friend down the now unwelcoming corridor. Jehan was the nicest, kindest person he knew, and he deserved so much better than this.