Chapter 13

It was finally Halloween! The castle had been festooned with pumpkins with scary cutout eyes (those fucking creeped me out – every since James charmed one to chase me – well, let's just not go there).

I put on an extra coat of mascara (while being threatened by Charlotte) and slipped on my heels, which I never learned to walk in properly, despite countless lessons from Charlotte. I could pretend for a bit with minimal movement, but after a while they just came off.

I was wearing a champagne-colored dress made of a shimmery material – no idea what it was made of, ask Charlotte. My hair was falling in loose waves (again, courtesy of Charlotte), and my necklace (ditto) was sparkling elegantly in the evening light.

I looked over to see Miranda, elegantly dressed in a blue number, and then turned to Charlotte, who was… in jeans and a sweater? HUH?

I glanced over at her in confusion. She flushed.

"Er, Char, why aren't you ready?" I asked perplexedly.

"I … I don't feel well," she said, her eyes darting around. She really was a horrible liar.

I looked at her.

She obstinately avoided my gaze.

I stared unabashedly.

After five minutes of this, she hit her bed with a fist and cried out, "OKAY! Okay. I'll tell you."

"Now."

She picked at a loose thread in her duvet. "Well, the thing is," she said plaintively, looking earnestly at me, "I don't want a repeat of the last party."

Ah. That made sense.

I nodded in sympathy. "I understand. But maybe you could just not drink as much this time?" I suggested gently.

She shook her head in misery. "No, it's alright. I just … I'm not up to going," she finished, shrugging.

Miranda put a hand on her shoulder and squeezed. "It's okay, Char," Miranda said comfortingly. I nodded in assent.

Char smiled softly. "Thanks, but you lot go. You look lovely. Have a brilliant time."

I nodded and turned to walk down the stairs, Miranda in tow. As I tottered precariously down the stairs (bloody heels!), I heard Charlotte calling after me, "And don't take those heels off, Milla!"

Ugh. Bloody Charlotte.

Miranda sniggered at me and I pinched her. I know, I'm so mature.

After eventually making it down the stairs without catapulting to my death, I grabbed a drink and started to sip it (hopefully to numb the thudding pain in my feet – urgh). Music was playing in the background and people were clustered in groups, chatting and drinking (or chugging, as was the case of Luke and Freddie Weasley).

Ben sidled up to me, a confused expression on his face. "Eh, Milla, where's Char?'

Shit. Double shit. Quick! What do I say! I looked around, panicking, for Miranda – for her to extricate me from this horrific situation, but she was nowhere to be found. Blast.

I pasted a bright social smile on my face and let out a pealing laugh, slapping Ben on the arm. He look alarmed.

"Well, it's funny you should ask, she's uh … come down with the measles…" I fibbed, averting my eyes.

Ben fixed a stern glare on his face, I cowered a bit. "Camilla Bancroft Hobbes, you tell me this instant what's going on," he said, sounding eerily like my mum.

Bloody hell.

"She, uh, had an engagement with the Minister of .. of Magic, Ernest Sinclair," I said with an apologetic smile. Motherfuck. Why was I such a shitty liar?

"MILLA!"

"Okay, okay. She's afraid there'll be a repeat of last time."

A look of understanding flashed over his face. "Oh. I need … I need to go talk to her," he said determinedly.

To my utter astonishment, he Summoned his broom and rode it up to our dorm. Oh, lovely.

I'll be dead by tomorrow.

I gulped down the remnants of my champagne, and decided it was time for something stronger. Firewhiskey. Preferably lots of it.

I decided that it looked strange for me to be standing in a corner alone – and since James was undoubtedly with HRH – I went to find Miranda.

With a new glass of a strong cocktail (dunno what's in it, I just got Luke to get me one) in my hand, I set out to find my errant friend. Cursing my heels as I tripped over a drunken Gryffindor who was sprawled on the ground, I continued on, past people busy engaged in dances one only does when one is extremely smashed (I will not tell you about my experiences last Halloween, sorry, not happening), and I neatly sidestepped a brawl, locating Miranda flirting heavily with Nate.

Of course.

Her cheeks were flushed from drink and she was gazing intimately at Nate. I felt like I was intruding on them by just looking at them. So I hastily tore away my gaze and evaluated my options.

I could go interrupt and officially be the worst friend ever.

I could go upstairs with Char and sulk in misery.

I could go out for some air and wander aimlessly.

Ah, yes, finally a decent choice.

I slipped past Miranda and Nate flirting, and was going to go up to my dorm to get a cardigan when I saw Ben and Charlotte coming down the stairs, laughing and talking.

I smiled and greeted them. "So, what are you lot up to?"

Charlotte's eyes were shining and Ben had a huge grin on his face. "What…?" I asked in bemusement as my gaze traveled down their forms to their entwined hands. Oh my God!

"Oh my God!" I breathed, eyes dancing. "Congratulations!"

I hugged both of them, happy for them, but I felt an odd emptiness settle in my stomach. I gazed at all the couples around the room, and felt a bit forlorn. I was the only one not in a couple. I was a Singleton. Bah.

"So how did it happen?" I asked, smiling brightly.

"Well, Ben came up, and demanded why I wasn't down their, and we got to talking, and then …" Char shrugged, smiling, and spread her arm to indicate them. As a couple.

I shot Maid of Honor! Oh my goodness.

Ben gave a hearty laugh and ruffled Charlotte's hair. "About bloody time," he said contentedly.

Ohh-kayy. I could be happy, but I was personally uninvolved with someone, so I couldn't be that effusive. Sorry. I'm a selfish bint.

Well, I could hide that. "I'm so happy," I gushed, sincerely. I mean, I was. I just wanted what they had for myself.

"I think," I said after a moment, "I'm going to go out for a bit of air, okay?"

Char smiled and nodded. With a wave, I walked toward the portrait of the Fat Lady.

I passed Miranda and Nate again, and pointed out Char and Ben to Miranda. She laughed.

Then I spotted a familiar dark head. I rushed over to say hi but I didn't see what he was doing.

Or rather, who.

He was sitting in a lounge chair, with Lucia sodding Thomas straddling his lap, and snogging his brains out. They were practically shagging, for fuck's sake. I felt my fists clench and my heartbeat speed up out of anger and disgust. The thing that really struck me in the gut was that James looked so into it. He had his hands cupping Lucia's face, kissing her voraciously.

I felt my vision blind with unshed tears, and I blinked them back furiously as I strode to the portrait, breathing hard.

I walked quickly through corridors, taking shortcuts to get out of the castle as rapidly as I could. I needed to be outside. Stupid bloody heels. I finally reached the exit and pushed open the heavy doors into the bracing air.

Merlin, that felt good. There was nothing like a splash of cold air to alleviate anger.

There were a few people milling about and I caught sight of a familiar head in the distance.

"Luke!" I shouted thickly. I ambled over to him, blinking and pulling out my wand to erase any evidence that I'd been about to cry.

"Hey, Milla," he said jovially, shoving his hands into his pockets.

"Why are you out here?" I asked curiously.

"I needed some air. Had too much to drink," he explained.

I nodded. "I did too."

He raised an eyebrow. "Really? It's not because you saw James eating HRH's face off?"

I shoved him. He scowled. "Maybe," I mumbled. "But you should've seen them! They were practically shagging, right there. It was disgusting."

"I know," he said in sympathy. "It was rather off-setting."

"I needed to leave. I couldn't handle it," I said, wishing I had a cardigan.

Hey, I was a witch. I could just Summon it. Ah, I was such a genius.

I pulled it on, saying, "I don't know how much more I can handle of them."

"Look, James will come round eventually. He gets so angry when you're with other blokes. You're his best mate. I think he just hasn't noticed it yet. You know, he's quite stupid," Luke said with a grin.

I smiled, my eyes watery again. Blast, stupid hormones. I erased the tears with a flick of my wand. I hated crying in front of others. It was embarrassing.

"Did you notice," I said, changing the subject. "Charlotte and Ben together?"

Luke's eyes opened wide as saucers. "No!" he said loudly, flabbergasted.

"Yes," I said gleefully.

Charlotte's twin looked shocked. "But it's my … mate and my sister!"

"Yep."

"But … but… it's them."

"Yep."

'But…"

"Yep."

"Oh, Christ," he said forcefully. "I can't believe this."

"Me neither," I agreed. "But they're a good couple."

Luke sighed. "I know, it's just weird. Well, now I can prank them and tease them till they die."

I laughed. "That's one way of looking at it."

"The world's gone crazy," he commented.

"I know. Look at me. I'm pining after my best mate," I said, shrugging.

Luke laughed sarcastically. "Yeah, it's a fucked up world," he said wryly. "Who knew?"

I punched his arm lightly and leaned against Luke. "Well, hopefully we'll end up together."

"Who will?" a deep voice interrupted us.

Ugh fuck. James. I didn't know if I could handle him right now.

"Nothing," I said lightly. "Me and Ben. I was joking," I added after I noticed a deep scowl form on his handsome features. Even his posture screamed dislike. His broad shoulders were set in a tense stance.

James ran a hand anxiously through his hair. "Why are you here?" he asked with a slight frown as he surveyed Luke and me.

" We needed some air," I explained with a shrug.

"Yeah, mate," added Luke with an easy grin.

"Some air?" he asked suspiciously, with a raised eyebrow. His brown eyes flashed.

"Yes," I said, crossing my arms. What was his problem? I mean, come on, it was me and Luke. Luke who thought flinging food at people was funny.

James was looking at me with an expression I'd never seen before on his face. His jaw was set in a grim line, and his body was still tense. His gaze was smoldering and I felt myself flush involuntarily. I quickly cleared my throat and said, "James, we just needed to get away for a bit. I'm sure you saw Ben and Char?"

He nodded curtly. "Yes," he said shortly.

Luke gave him a weird look. I agreed. What the fuck was going on with James?

"Well, I hate to cut short this lovely chat, but I'm going to go back in. Lucia is probably wondering where I am," he said flatly and turned and stalked back to the castle.

Well, blow me down. I've rarely seen James behave that shortly to anyone, and never to me.

"I don't understand," I said vaguely to Luke who was just as perplexed.

"Not a clue," said Luke with a shrug.