disclaimer disclaimer disclaimer

(walking)

She was walking down the corridor towards the Astronomy Tower when he found her.

She was still angry, he could see this by the way she was touching each finger with her thumb and her strides were short and sharp. She was breathing deeply, and as he caught up, he could see her jaw clench, her only acknowledgement that she knew he was there.

"I'm sorry – " he started, stopping as she put a hand up and continued walking.

"I was totally out of line – " he tried to continue, stopping once again as she let out a burst of sardonic, angry laughter.

She kept walking.

"Turpin, what are you doing?" Michael asked, and finally she whirled around to face him.

"I'm walking, Michael. Just walking. So piss off."

She had tears streaming down her face, and Michael realised how beautiful she really was, even when with a red nose and eyes.

"Lisa, I didn't mean it."

"What part? The part where you called my parents filthy Death Eaters, or the part where you accused me of being one, or wait, was it the other thing, where you called a filthy slag for sleeping with Zach and Justin Flinch-Fletchley? Oh wait, no, I know – "

"Lisa, stop." He said forcefully, walking towards her and crossing his arms.

She snivelled a little more.

"You know that I don't think you're a slag. You're too annoying and gorgeous to be a slag and I know you didn't sleep with Justin."

She scoffed. "Then why did you say it?"

He sighed deeply and rubbed his eyes.

"Because Tony and Terry have been trying to tell me that I fancy you, and I had to say something like that to make myself believe they were wrong."

There, they'd got to the crux of the matter, and now Michael knew he really was going to hell.

"I already know you like me Corner, but you were a complete prick tonight."

"I didn't mean it. Our arguments always make me so angry, and so I have to insult you, and I can't make excuses, but I've had a really bad week,"

She slapped him.

"Oi, Turpin!" He yelled out as she stormed away.

"I'm walking, Corner, piss off!"

So he ran to catch up with her again.

"Lisa, you're not a Death Eater, your parents are, and you've called them filthy Death Eaters before so I thought you wouldn't mind. I didn't even mean to call you one, because I've seen you help this year and I know you would never do that!"

She slumped down onto the ground and curled up, her head in her knees. Michael sat down gingerly beside her, debating whether or not to touch her.

"I know you didn't mean it. It's just, you infuriate me and then you say stuff that just hits right in the nerves and I know everyone calls me a slag, but I didn't want you to call me one, and oh Merlin." She started crying again.

Michael had never seen her cry before today, so he did the only logical thing he could think of. He hugged her.

"I'm sorry." He whispered into her blonde hair.

She hiccupped.

They sat there for a while, and after her crying had subsided, he pulled her to her feet.

"Come on." He said, letting go of her and starting off down the corridor again.

"What are we doing?"

"We're walking, Lisa." He beckoned her forwards, and she went willingly with a smile on her lips.

She may have pushed him into a wall just around the corner too.