Chapter 10

I was in the library with Miranda and Charlotte, finishing up a Charms essay. I tapped my quill on my parchment impatiently. I added another flourish to my name, trying to procrastinate from actually writing the essay.

"Miranda, do you have A Compilation of Consequences of Crudely Executed Charms?" I asked exhaustedly.

She thought for a moment, digging through the stacks of books on our table. "Shit, no. Let me go get it."

I sighed wearily. I hated doing work. Only eight months till we graduated? Uggh.

Charlotte looked up from the essay she was toiling over. "I HATE THIS!" she said loudly, earning a quelling look from Madam Pince who was still here after all these years.

"How much longer?" I whined, as the mature sixteen year old I was (almost seventeen, okay? My birthday was November 8th).

Suddenly Miranda appeared … with Nate Walters in tow. I looked at Miranda curiously. She smiled happily and Char gave me a look.

"Can I join you lot?" Nate asked with a smile.

"Sure," I said warmly, trying to forget how awkward it was that I grabbed him and started snogging him randomly. I was so good with people, wasn't I?

Psh. Not even I can pass that off as a sarcastic comment. This was probably a good reason that I was stuck with the same group of people my entire life and hadn't been social enough to venture beyond the confines of my familiar world. Humph. I was fucked when I got out of Hogwarts. Maybe I could go live with my parents after Hogwarts and be a recluse?

Yeah right. Okay, focus. I pasted a bright smile on my face, ignoring the awkwardness.

But Mr. Smartarse here had to shatter the fragile veneer of sociability painted over the situation. Great.

"Milla, how are you holding up after the Quidditch party?" he asked conversationally.

Fuck me HARD. Ugh. This was so embarrassing.

"I'm, you know, better," I chirped brightly. "Er, I was drunk and that was a fuckup."

He laughed. "I know. You were so bloody pissed and that whole thing with James."

Ugh. James. Just thinking about my recent realization that I fancied him made me cringe. I was so mad at myself! How could I something like this happen? It could ruin our friendship.

"Yeah," I said overly cheerfully. "Anyway!" I clapped my hands and Charlotte stared at me. "Let's get to it, shall we?"

Miranda smiled brightly and looked up him from under her eyelashes with a … flirty expression? Oh my goodness! Miranda was flirting with Nate. Finally she made a move on her crush. She usually waited for her potential boyfriends to make a move on her first.

But this, this was new. And damn fun to watch.

Miranda placed her chin in her hand and looked up at him slightly adoringly. Wow, she must really fancy this bloke.

"So, Nate, what were you saying?" she asked.

He smiled down at her. "Oh, how it's Hogsmeade this weekend."

She said casually – too casually, "Any plans?"

He laughed. "None at the moment. But I was hoping to … run into some people."

Miranda frowned. "Oh, okay."

He continued, "Maybe some lovely ladies."

Her frown deepened. Oh, for Merlin's sake! She was so oblivious.

Charlotte was also rolling her eyes. "Okay, what Miranda's distraught facial expression is really saying is that we'll be seeing you there. Oh, and Milla and I have to go."

Char pulled me up and I grabbed our books and we left, throwing meaningful glances back at Miranda. I waved at Nate who looked a bit grateful since Miranda was being a dense ninny.

Char burst out laughing as soon as we exited the library. Soon after her I broke out laughing, at first lightly then convulsively. Soon, we were both laughing so hard and I was crying from mirth and I had to sit down against the wall. I was clutching Char and our hysterics didn't subside for an hour.

God, don't you just love your friends sometimes?

"So Miranda, you really fancy Nate, don't you?" I asked with a big grin that night while I was lying on my bed.

She picked at a loose seam and looked a little flushed but she nodded, finally meeting my eye. "I do."

Charlotte clasped her hands together. "Aw! That's so sweet. And he fits most of criteria on my checklist."

"How generous of you," Miranda said dryly.

Char ignored her. "But I wonder who I'm going to take to Hogsmeade. I've been asked out by a load of blokes in the past couple days but none of them seems to be dating material, much less husband material."

I rolled my eyes. "Char, are you EVER going to find anyone who fits your checklist?"

"Sure, she will," commented Miranda, "when hell freezes over."

Char threw her book at Miranda. "I will, and when it happens, you'll be sorry when I find new best friends to be my bridesmaids!"

She gave us a triumphant look and I laughed.

"Anyway," continued Char with a serious look, "it looks like I'll be spending my time with you lot."

"Makes me feel so loved," I said.

"Shut up," she said. "You know it's depressing to go dateless to Hogsmeade. You have to be like an ultimate loser with buck teeth and no friends to do that."

"Thanks," I said again.

"You know what I mean!" she cried in exasperation.

I laughed. I loved being evil and messing with Charlotte's mind.

For my efforts, I got a pillow thrown at me.

Sometimes, I hate my friends.

I was sitting on a rickety old chair in the Three Broomsticks with Char, Miranda, Ben, and Luke. Taking a big gulp of my butterbeer, I turned back to my conversation with Luke. Pushing my blonde hair out of my face (which Char had curled so it fell in pretty waves with a flick of her wand – she must teach me that sometime), I said, "I cannot believe I'll be seventeen in a few weeks!"

November 8th! YES! I know it was a bit childish to love my birthday so much, but come on, any excuse to get presents, get smashed, and have fun is a great day.

Luke smiled indulgently. "Yes, excellent time for drinking. I'll be sure to buy lots of alcohol, but it'd be more fun to sneak to Hogsmeade for a few pints, eh?"

He winked. Charlotte hit him upside the head from her seat next to him where she was drinking a glass of wine ("Ich, beer, how bourgeois and tacky. Now, a nice glass of chardonnay…").

"I'll tell Dad!" Char said warningly to Luke.

He laughed. "And what's he going to do? He doesn't exactly care that we drink. He knows we do."

Oliver Wood was a player for Puddlemere and wildly famous and successful. He'd met and married Margaret (Maggie) Lawrence who also played on the team. Now let me tell you, he was bloody hot, even for a middle-aged man. Of course, thinking that about your mate's dad was a bit creepy, but it was nonetheless true.

Ben raised his bottle. "To drinking and a bloody gorgeous day outside."

Char smiled happily and raised her glass. Miranda echoed Ben's words and we clinked bottles and glasses. Merlin, I LOVED Hogsmeade days. They were so much fun.

Suddenly the door to the Three Broomsticks pinged and in walked Nate Walters. Miranda immediately flushed and I grinned smugly at her. He saw us and made a beeline in our direction, looking down at Miranda. Ooh, this was nice.

He put his hand on the back of Miranda's chair, and she looked at me pleadingly.

"Hey, Nate," I said cheerfully. "Care for a pint?"

Nate shook his head. "Actually," he said with a look at Miranda, who was flushed red, "I came to ask if Miranda wanted to come with me for the rest of the day."

Her eyes bugged and she said, "Bugger…er… sure, yes, I'd love to."

I'd never seen Miranda so flustered or tongue-tied around a bloke. She must REALLY fancy him. His blue eyes twinkled at Miranda and she gave him a smile, her usual cynical self nowhere to be found. Miranda stood, and grabbed her trench, quickly throwing it on. She tossed a couple of coins onto the table, and with a wave, tucked her arm into Nate's outstretched one and left.

"Blow me," said Ben wondrously.

"Wow," echoed Charlotte, and they exchanged a look.

"Well then, you lot, seems like it's just us for the day." I drained my bottle and looked around. "How does everyone fancy a trip to Honeydukes'?"

"Sounds lovely," said Char.

The other two nodded, and we paid and left in a hurry, anxious to buy loads of candy and sugar till the next trip. As soon as I stepped outside, the autumn wind whipped my face and the trees had leaves in various shades of orange and red and yellow. It was gorgeous.

I waved to Fred Weasley (who was on his way to Zonko's no doubt) and smiled at Albus, James's brother. After spending so much time with the Potters (and Weasleys), I tended to form friendships with his ever-growing family. Hey, at least I was good with knowing people's names.

I pushed open the door to Honeydukes' and held it open for everyone to file in. Char and Luke went straight for the lollipops (their favorite – a twin thing) and I headed for the back of the store with Miranda where the chocolate was stashed. Bugger! They were out of white chocolate. Oh well, I would just get a load of milk, my next favorite. I started grabbing bar after bar and shoving it into Miranda's outstretched hands. She was grinning maliciously. Merlin, we LOVED chocolate.

I mean, who doesn't?

After getting enough to last until the next trip (I'd need to work out A LOT to burn off all those calories. It's okay, more Quidditch!), we headed to the front of the store to pay for our goods. By the till stood James with his arm around Lucia, who was looking up at him adoringly in a dress that would only be appropriate on a balmy summer day.

Bloody HRH. Fuck her.

"Milla," said Miranda worriedly.

I shook my head and grimaced. James's head whipped round.

"Milla," he said with a smile. "Fancy seeing you here."

Lucia's brown eyes glimmered malevolently. "Camilla," she said smoothly, stretching out her hand with her perfectly painted nails.

I outstretched my own arm and grasped her hand lightly and I responded equally smoothly, "Lovely to see you."

James gave me a strange look. I ignored him.

Lucia looked at me appraisingly. "You have such an … unusual look today. Although I suppose you needn't give much thought to your clothes since you're here dateless."

James blanched a little as I stood up to my full height and put a hand on my hip. "Listen here, bitch," I snarled, "I'm here with my mates because I choose to and anything I do is none of your business, not that your bird shit-sized brain is capable of comprehending anything. Moreover, your look that you've got going here –" I looked her up and down "- is so unique that I can't look at it any longer. Now I'm paying for my candy and I'll leave you to go fuck yourself."

I shoved twenty galleons at the cashier, grabbed Miranda by the arm, and left, my heart pounding.

Holy shit.

I leaned against the entranceway to Honeydukes', my chest heaving and my head pounding. Motherfuck. I pushed a hand through my hair when I heard an irate voice shouting, "What the fuck, Milla?"

I looked up and saw James furiously striding over. "What's going on is that your girlfriend is a cow," I said scathingly.

His eyes flashed. "That's not cause to insult her and fly into a strop."

I drew myself up to my full height and snapped, "No need to defend your bitch. I'll be going."

I turned and started taking large strides. Away from James, away from this whole mess.

I vaguely heard Charlotte yelling after me, "Milla!"

I ignored her and continued on my way.

I ended up at the pitch and sat down, tucking my head on my knees.

Oh my God. What had I done?

A while later, I heard Ben's voice calling to me from the other side of the pitch.

"Milla!" he said once he arrived, sitting down beside me. "What the fuck happened?"

I shrugged, and continued shoving my hair into a ponytail. So much for my waves that Charlotte had so painstakingly created.

His brown eyes were concerned. "Milla," he said, his voice laced with worry, "You need to talk to me. Everyone's worried."

I sighed deeply. "I suppose I'll just tell you then, shall I?"

He nodded. I took a deep breath and looked at the ground. "You know James and I have been best friends since we were born?"

He nodded. I continued on, "Well, he and I have always been so close. Since we were in nappies. And he was – and is – my best mate. And now, all of a sudden, I realize …" my voice faltered.

Ben looked at me questioningly, running a hand through his blond hair. "I realize I fancy him," I said quietly. My blue eyes looked beseechingly up at Ben, whose face had an expression of shock.

"Christ," he swore. "I cannot believe this."

"I know," I said, picking at the grass.

"How… when did this happen?" he asked.

"I realized it when James and I were messing around in the common room the other night," I said heavily. "And I think it's been happening this whole year."

He nodded slowly. "Okay, so you fancy him. What are you going to do about it?"

I looked at him like had run mad. "Are you bonkers? First off, James is dating HRH, and he clearly fancies here. Second, he currently hates me right now."

I looked at Ben miserably.

"Third," I added, "James would never think of me like that."

Ben shook his head bemusedly. "Milla," he said suddenly. "James loves you. He doesn't hate you. He couldn't. You're his best mate. You always come first, not HRH. No matter what it seems like. On top of that, I think you and James would be a good couple, come to think of it. Can't believe I haven't seen it before, actually."

He gave me a wry smile. I sniffed.

"Thanks, Ben," I said softly. He wrapped his arm around me and squeezed.

"What about you and Char, eh?" I said teasingly.

Ben gave me a look and swatted me.