Chapter 13
It was warm and sunny, and I was happy to see the snow beginning to melt. But then again, everything seemed more beautiful than usual because I was walking with a most attractive young man who seemed to like me, too.
We passed the Quidditch pitch, where the Ravenclaw team was finishing an early morning practise. A few of them waved at Will and then nudged each other.
"What was that about?" I asked Will.
"Nothing," he said, although he was smiling knowingly.
"Come on," I said, "tell me why your friends were pointing and staring at me like that."
"They weren't staring at you," he said. I raised my eyebrows. "Alright, they probably were."
"Why?"
"Because…," he paused, "I might have mentioned you a little bit." He became immensely interested in his shoes.
He told his friends about me, I thought to myself. This has got to prove he likes me!
"Are you angry?"
"No, why would I be? Will, you have to stop worrying so much about what I think," I said, exasperated.
"Yes, mademoiselle," Will said, bowing.
"Thank you." I walked back towards the castle, leaving him behind. He was forced to run to catch up.
We were nearing the end of our walk and I didn't want to go, so I thought of a reason to still talk to him. "Do you think you could help me with my Defense Against the Dark Arts homework? Since you had it last year and everything…"
"I'd be happy to help," Will said enthusiastically.
I raced up the stairs to the dormitory, shoving my things in my bag. Once I had everything, I slowed down. I wanted to keep him waiting a bit, so as not to seem too eager, yet not too long or else he might leave. I came down the stairs, trying to catch my breath.
"Where are you off to?" Ella asked as she came into the common room, Orion following rather closely behind. Ella's normally tame dark brown curls were a ruffled mess.
"I've got a study date with Will," I said, grinning. I noted that Orion didn't even look at me; he was staring at Ella as if he'd never seen a female before.
"Well, have fun," she said, trying to talk to me around Orion, who was practically knocking her over in his rush to her mouth. She finally succumbed to his not-so-subtle advances. I wrinkled my nose and left as fast as possible.
Will was waiting at a table near the back, nervously tapping his foot, which he stopped doing the second he saw me. That brilliant smile was back. "Here's what we're doing," I told him, sitting down.
He scooted his chair closer, as if to see better, but I suspected he wanted to be closer to me. "Ah, yes, I remember this," Will said. He went on to explain things I knew perfectly well, but I pretended to only just now understand. I felt a little guilty about this form of lying. However, we soon were talking about things that had nothing to do with Defense Against the Dark Arts.
Eventually we came back to the subject of the boys on the Ravenclaw team pointing at us. After some gentle yet persistent prying, Will told me, "I told them I met a girl in Gryffindor, and then they all went completely mad."
"Why?"
"Because they thought you were my girlfriend," he mumbled.
"Why would they be surprised about that?"
"Well, because… because I've never had a girlfriend before."
"You've never had a girlfriend?" I asked in disbelief.
"I've just never met the right girl before," he said, colouring and glancing at me. "But while we're on the subject, how many blokes have you dated?"
"I don't recall being on that particular subject," I said, feeling myself turn pink. I turned away slightly and let a curtain of my wavy brown hide my face.
"Well, now we are on that subject. Are you going to answer?"
I sighed in defeat, then turned and looked him in the eye. "None."
"Really? Now that I find hard to believe," Will said, appearing to think I was lying.
"Why is that hard to believe?"
"I expected you to say loads of them beg you to go out with them," he said.
We sat still for a moment. He was close enough to kiss me if he wanted. Although I'd only known him for three days, I wouldn't have protested if he did. And for a moment, I thought he would.
Of course he didn't, but he did say, "We ought to get back to your homework."
"No, that's ok. I think I can take it from here."
I practically floated to lunch. I was happier than I'd been in a long time. I couldn't believe I'd just spent all morning with a handsome 17-year-old sixth year Ravenclaw boy who was funny, charming, and sweet.
On Sunday, I walked to breakfast with my friends. Rose and I were in front, talking about our grades on a Potions exam, Al and James were arguing behind us like the brothers they were, and Ella and Orion came last, holding hands.
"Mae!" I heard a voice say. I turned to see Will jogging after us.
"You go ahead," I told Rose, "I'll catch up in a minute." Rose grinned and squeezed my hand good luck.
"Good morning," I said brightly.
"I've been waiting for you for ages! Why do you come to breakfast so late?"
"I would have been here earlier, but I had to come with the gang," I told him, blushing at the fact that he was actually waiting for me.
"Well, anyway, I have a surprise for you. Close your eyes," Will said, taking my hand.
I didn't know what he was going to do, so I just closed my eyes and felt him lead me away from the Great Hall. When I felt us go outside, I asked, "Where are we going?"
"You'll see."
I was tempted to peek, but I didn't. Finally, we stopped and he said I could open my eyes. We were near the Black Lake, a little farther from the castle than I expected. There was a great boulder, and at its foot was a blanket. On the blanket was a huge amount of various breakfast foods.
"Shall we dine?" he asked, handing me a plate.
The day was chilly, but the sun and the company warmed me. After we'd eaten our fill, we talked for a long, long time. Neither of us wanted to return to the castle, but eventually we did. The walk back was in comfortable silence. Will's hand brushed mine, and then he took it. I smiled.
We started talking once we got closer to the castle. At one point, in an empty hall with windows overlooking the lake, Will stopped. "Mae," he said, making me stop, too. I leaned against the cool stone wall.
I was about to ask him what he was going to say when he raised his hand and brushed my cheek. My stomach exploded into butterflies. He came closer, and closer, and closer. I stared up at him, knowing what would happen and being both excited and afraid.
Oh, his eyes were so lovely, his jaw so strong, his lips… soft as they touched mine. His hand was on the back of my neck, exactly where he'd touched when he fixed my necklace. I was in heaven.
He pulled away after a moment, and we both grinned like asylum patients. Another quick peck and we were on our way, strolling merrily along.
Please review and tell me what you think! All Harry Potter characters belong to JK Rowling. All other characters (Ella, Mae, etc.) are mine.
