I really hope you guys enjoy this chapter, I had too much fun writing it.
Disclaimer: I own nothing!
Chapter 3: An Argument of Love
"I'm not sure what I should show tonight," Stiles commented, twirling his wand idly between his fingers. He and Lydia leaned against a column watching the First Years scurry around in a panic, readily avoiding Transfiguration with Peter, Derek's creepy ass uncle who always seemed to be sniffing them. Every time they walked into his classroom, he'd give them a look that seemed to accuse, or maybe congratulate, them on taking his nephew's supposed virtue. Even his questions, when asking them, always seemed pointed on figuring out their relationship to Derek. Disconcerting was not even the word for how the whole thing made them feel.
"You should show 'Forest Gump' or-"
Stiles cut her off. "We are not watching 'The Notebook', Lydia, my darling. 'Forest Gump' will do just fine. Thank you for your suggestion. Maybe we'll watch 'How to Train Your Dragon' also."
Lydia flashed him a sharp smile, a smile that said she'd get her way soon enough. Her eyes slid over the crowd landing on a suspiciously dark crevice behind a statue. Twitching her wand, the faked darkness lifted revealing Kate Argent thoroughly kissing one Mr. Derek I-should-be-heading-to-Potions Hale. Her eyes narrowed.
Kate Argent wasn't significantly older than them, maybe five or six years older, but the gap in maturity added a nasty taste to the illicit relationship. Kate still thought her charm was up because her eyes slid to them, a triumphant, wicked light sparking in her eyes.
The pair could almost taste her ulterior motive. They wondered idly if Professor Gerard Argent knew his daughter was a skank who was into pubescent boys because they were almost positive that her brother, Chris Argent, knew. What with the way he was constantly avoiding conversations with her and steering students clear of her.
Stiles ground his teeth audibly. "Bitch," he snarled. A Fifth Year student yelped as his book burst into confetti. Stiles flinched, muttering a quiet apology before turning his attention back to the problem at hand. "Hey, Lydia, want to see something funny?"
"Always," Lydia said, smiling widely as she tucked her fingers into her crossed arms.
Almost exploding with magical energy, Stiles slid out of Kate's line of sight. Once she'd turned her attention back to the teen in her claws, Stiles whispered, "Expecto patronum." A white ball of light burst from the tip of his wand, landing in the center of the group of Third Year Hufflepuffs in the form of a large she-wolf.
Coming around to resume his position, Stiles smiled broadly as the hall dissolved in panic. His patronus held her head high watching them for a prolonged moment. Raising her muzzle, she released a long, angered howl. She rushed between Derek and Kate, knocking them apart before standing possessively over Derek.
Lydia laughed, watching the commotion. "My turn," she said, holding out her wand, "Expecto patronum."
Her patronus formed on the Seventh Year's back that is had accidentally knocked to the dusty floor. The pointed features of a small fox stared back at them, her tail flicking playfully. Turning, she pounced onto Kate's stomach, flattening her to the ground once more before jumping around Derek and Stiles' wolf, batting at them, trying to get them to join in her fun.
Lydia smiled, then frowned. "Stiles, I thought your patronus was a hummingbird."
"It used to be back at the beginning of last year," Stiles nodded, watching his wolf snarl at the bewildered Kate while simultaneously playing with Lydia's fox, "I'm still surprised that the spell came so easily to me for how difficult everyone says it is."
"Yeah, you and everyone else who ever saw you perform it. I remember seeing you practice by the Whomping Willow a few times. When you finally got it, it was just this tiny hummingbird that kept flitting around your head. You were disgustingly glowing when you walked into Potions that morning."
Stiles beamed. "Yeah, it was awesome, but my patronus changed sometime after Christmas last year. I'm still not sure why though."
Staring at her friend for a long moment, Lydia sighed. "Let's go take a walk." She threaded her arm through his, pulling him towards the grounds. Kate had already shot them a nasty glare and stormed off to her Charms classroom leaving Derek staring at the patronuses, so she figured it was safe to leave.
"What? Right now? Class is about to start I hope you know," Stiles said, not attempting to resist her.
"Did you really want to go to Professor Peter's? Truly? Honestly? It's not like we actually need to be in class for today's lesson. He might try to play chess with you or, I don't know, kidnap you and leave you tied up in a maid's uniform that's two sizes too small on Derek's bed for him to find."
Stiles stared over at her. "I… I can tell you've had a long thought about this. Did you come up with that scenario while you watched Peter resist tearing out my throat during class?"
Lydia rolled her eyes dramatically, complete with the fluttering of her eyelashes. "Come on, Stiles. Even Scott, oblivious Scott, can feel the sexual tension between you and Derek. Someone like Peter can probably taste it on the air, and he was only in the same room as you two once over summer. Remember Talia? She almost burst from trying to control her need to start planning a wedding!"
Stiles scoffed, waving her off, "You are delusional, my dear."
"Am I? Am I really? Honestly, half the time when I see the two of you together, I just want to cast a gravitation charm or sticking charm to the two of you. Or run up and slam your faces together, screaming, 'Now kiss!'"
"Lydia, are you crazy? You know how I feel about you. I'm pretty sure I'm attracted to those of the female gender, and gay guys aren't attracted to me anyway. I already asked Danny. Plus, did you see how that bitch and Derek were glued together? I'm certain he's just as attracted to the opposite gender as I am."
Again, Lydia rolled her eyes. "No, I'm extremely sane, thank you. You, on the other hand, are not. You're not in love with me, at least not romantically anymore. I don't get that vibe off of you. Anyway, you can be attracted to boys and girls at the same time. It's called being bisexual or having sexual fluidity, which, let's be honest, has you written all over it. As for Danny, just ignore his assessment. He's more into the 'tall, dark and mysterious', not the 'small, pale and possibly related to a pixie.'"
"What about my tastes?" Danny asked, suddenly appearing on Lydia's other side, "Were those your patronuses in the corridor? I got a video. Kate looks pissed."
"As she should, the stupid…" Stiles words disappeared into an angry mutter.
Danny raised an eyebrow at Lydia in question.
She waved it away in her way of silently saying, 'I'll tell you later.' Patting Stiles' hand a little forcefully, she explained, "We're discussing his possible bisexuality and utter denial of the fact. Oh, and how everyone can smell the hormones between Derek and he."
"She's right on all accounts, you know?" Danny said even as he played the video he'd recorder for them.
"What? But you said I wasn't attractive to gay guys!" Stiles cried indignantly, "And anyway, Derek and I aren't attracted to each other!"
"Oh please, you two practically eye-fuck each other every time you're together. It's disgusting, but kind of a turn-on sometimes when I'm feeling frisky," Danny explained calmly, not looking to Stiles, "'sides, I said I wasn't attracted to you, not that others wouldn't be. You have the feminine, pixie qualities that guys like sometimes in a bottom. Aesthetically, you're pleasing to look at on occasion, just not my cup of tea."
Stiles laughed without humor. "We do not eye-fuck each other."
"Yeah, and neither did Isaac, Erica and Jackson that one time they got totally hammered," Lydia said sarcastically. Then seriously, "They looked really good that night. We should get them drunk more often."
"Guys, I'm not bisexual!" Stiles cried, throwing his hands into the air.
"Stiles, can you tell me with complete certainty that you are not gay, even a little gay?" Lydia asked, looking at him with raised eyebrows.
Stiles opened his mouth, but a second later he snapped it shut. Was he certain? He couldn't ignore the dreams that he had almost on a nightly. You could only have so many dreams about doing a friend until you have to admit that they're not caused by sexual frustration. His frown, though, was caused completely by frustration.
…..
"What are you three doing out here? Aren't you supposed to be in class?" Laura asked without actual concern, sitting side-saddle on her broom and floating above their heads. They were close to the cottage she occupied as Grounds Keeper, walking slowly through her garden. She had wolfsbane growing on the outer edge of the garden.
"Of course, but where's the fun in sitting through a class with your uncle?" Lydia asked brightly, smiling widely. Laura grimaced. "Exactly, plus, our conversation is much more interesting than intermediate transfiguration lessons."
"Oh, and what is this conversation you speak of?" Laura asked, raising an eyebrow in undisguised interest.
"Stiles' sexuality," Danny said simply.
"I am not bisexual, I keep telling you two this," Stiles grumbled.
"Oh," Laura cooed, propping her chin in her hands, "Bisexual for who? Please tell me my brother. After, you know…" she trailed off, locking eyes with Stiles, "he needs someone good in his life."
Stiles groaned. Lydia and Danny grinned.
"Stiles' patronus is a wolf," Lydia supplied as evidence and Danny held out his phone to show her the video from the corridor.
Laura whistled, grinning. "You've got it bad, my friend," she said, touching down to watch the video more closely. "Did you know my brother's patronus is also a wolf? You need to slit that bitch's throat and decorate the Great Hall in her blood." A growl rumbled deep in her chest.
"That's some animosity you've got there," Danny murmured.
"Okay," Stiles interrupted in utter annoyance before they could continue on that line of discussion, "Just because the shape of our patronuses match means nothing."
"When did it change?" Laura asked suddenly, glancing at him.
"What?"
"When did your patronus change shape?"
"Sometime… after Christmas vacation… third year," Stiles said haltingly, feeling his face light as he remembered how he'd stuck close to Derek and Scott for those two days they were snowed in. The way Laura's eyes were boring into his soul like she knew even secrets he didn't had him wanting to crawl under a rock and never reappear.
She pursed her lips in the way that said she was trying not to grin. "Interesting," she murmured through the purse, "You know, people's patronuses often take another form after they develop strong feelings for another, something that mirrors the other's patronus, or compliments it. Did you ever hear of the patronuses of James Potter, Lily Potter and Severus Snape?"
Stiles looked to his other two companions. Both shook their heads.
"I suppose not. It's not well known, but I learned of it from a distant… family friend, Teddy Lupin. It even happened with his parents. After Nymphadora Tonks fell in love with Remus Lupin, hers changed shape as well."
"Okay, but what about the Potters and Severus Snape?" Lydia asked, interest sparkling in her eyes.
"Well, Lily and James had patronuses that complimented each other. James' was a stag, Lily's a doe. They loved each other very dearly, but Snape, he was a different story. He'd been in love with Lily since they were children, but it was only returned as friendship. It was still deep love. His patronus mirrored Lily's, also a doe."
Stiles face was still flushed, his heart fluttering with how flustered he was. "I'm not in love with Derek Hale! It's just… not true!"
Laura smiled softly. "You don't get to choose who you fall in love with Stiles, just like you don't get to choose your genetic donors. Don't worry. We won't tell."
His eyes facing away from the gooey trio, trying to cull down the burning in his cheeks, he looked out over the grounds. Down the hill, near the forest's edge, blonde hair was splayed across the ground, unmoving.
"Is that…" he whispered, squinting at the hair. His eyes widened, and he was on the move before the others knew what was happening. "Erica!" he shouted, stumbling his way down the hill.
He crashed to his knees beside Erica, his breath coming hard. "Timer! Someone start a timer!" he shouted as he turned Erica onto her side, pillowing her head in his lap. A thin trail of spittle and puke slipped from the corner of her mouth to the leafy ground. "Did someone start a timer?" His eyes were wild as he jerked his head around towards the others, his pupils blown wide nearly eclipsing his irises.
"Started!" Lydia shouted, a set of blue numbers clicking quickly through the seconds as they stumbled towards him.
"What's happening to her?" Laura asked, sniffing the air subtly, "She's sick, but what's happening to her?"
Stiles had to remember that Laura was only two years older than them, still young and as inexperienced as they were. "She's having a seizure," he said, gently running his fingers through her hair to give his hands something to do. He didn't want to accidentally hurt her by restricting her movements.
"What do we do?" Laura asked, her voice becoming increasingly worried with each passing second.
"How long has it been?" Stiles asked.
"Two minutes and forty-three seconds," Danny said, glancing at the timer.
"Laura, if it reaches five minutes, get Melissa," Stiles instructed, but as the words left his mouth, Erica's trembling slowed to a stop. "Oh, thank god," he whispered, wiping the spittle and puke from her mouth with his sleeve. Rearranging her limbs, he settled her in a more comfortable position.
"What… what do we do now?" Laura asked, crouched beside Stiles, scenting the pair.
"Wait until she wakes up," Stiles said simply, soothingly smoothing back Erica's sweaty hair.
…..
Stiles lay beside Erica in the Slytherin common room listening to the tired, sleepy sounds of the student body as Melissa quietly shut off the projector running the credits of the last movie. Erica was pressed against his side, head pillowed on his shoulder, leeching magic and heat from him like some kind of succubus as Melissa had suggested. They would have been in one of their beds, but Stiles hadn't figured out how to get passed the charms to the dorms. Erica's soft breath tickled his neck, but his mind was miles away.
His patronus pranced around the room, galloped up the walls, across the ceiling, stuck her nose deep into his hand or armpit or against his neck. She repeated the same to Derek sleeping soundly on the floor beside Scott, Cora and Laura every few minutes. She yipped happily and let out quiet howls at the moon shining through the water and windows. At the moment though, she was curled up beneath his tented legs, pressed to Erica and shimmering gently. She huffed quietly.
His mind had split in two. Part of his brain was concentrated on the memory that brought her to life as if it was happening that very minute. He heard the music filling the courtyard beneath the dark sky and twinkling stars. He felt the press of bodies around him, of Scott's back against his and Derek's hands on him, Cora's breath on his neck. He heard Lydia's high, delighted laugh as he pushed her into the air, of Derek's low, dark chuckle as he pulled Stiles back against him. He saw fireworks he'd shot into the sky above the dancing student body. He felt his lips pressing to Derek's cheek, laughter bursting from them.
The other part of his mind was still back during the conversation hours ago. He thought of Lydia's and Laura's words, of the way Laura had looked at him like she knew everything. He wondered if there was any stock in his friends' words. Surely there wasn't. There couldn't be.
But how would he know, because if Lydia had been right, if he only loved her as a friend, he didn't really know what love felt like. How, then, was he supposed to know if he was in love? Simple, he wouldn't.
Oh wow, that was… really fun to write. I don't know, I just love the thought of patronuses and Danny and Lydia ganging up on Stiles and Laura being a big sister to everyone. I would love to hear your guys' thoughts on this so far!