Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.
Author's Note: Heya... so there was no Sunday update. I blame real life. I had a really busy Sunday and when I got home I just fell asleep. And then I kind of told myself I'd do a Monday update, but I forgot about that and my Tuesdays are simply far too really busy to go anywhere near a computer. I also wanted to let you guys know that since I won't be home (nor anywhere near a computer/internet connection) starting tomorrow, there will be no update on Friday. There might (might being the keyword here) be an update on Sunday, but I can't make any promises since I don't know for sure when I'll be back home. So that's that. And now on to the chapter.
Chapter Thirty
Thursday, October 6th 2022
Ravenclaw Common Room, Hogwarts, Scotland
Grace laughs loudly and looks at Archie as he pushes the door open. "That is ridiculous, Archibald. Honestly, why would you do that?"
He turns bright red and mutters something that Grace can't quite make out over Louisa's giggles and her own laughter. Carla shakes her head at them and follows Archie inside. "Hey, Grace?" she asks, looking confused suddenly. "Isn't that your sister?"
"Ashlyn?" Grace pushes past Louisa into the common room and follows Carla's gaze. Ashlyn is indeed sitting on the couch in front of the fireplace. Her knees are drawn up to her chest and she has wrapped her arms around them. Sitting beside her is Lorcan. His voice is too quiet to be heard, but by the look on his face he's trying to reassure her. "I'll see you guys around," Grace tells her housemates absently already on her way over to Ashlyn and Lorcan. She makes sure to approach where he at least will see her, and he smiles slightly when she catches his eye.
"There she is now, Ashlyn," he says soothingly and when Ashlyn turns, Grace can see that her eyes are faintly red.
"Hey," she says softly and sits on the couch next to Ashlyn. At almost 14, Ashlyn has outgrown her older sister by almost an inch, but when Grace holds out her arms, Ashlyn lets herself fall into them. She isn't crying even if Grace is sure she must have been at some point. "What's wrong, sweetie?" she asks her quietly.
Ashlyn just buries her face deeper in Grace's shoulder and so it's Lorcan who replies. "My sister needs to sort out her priorities."
"Your sister?" Grace is confused for a moment because when she thinks about Lorcan's sister the first person that comes to mind is Eva, but there's nothing she can think of that Eva might have done to upset Ashlyn. Then she realizes he must be talking about his other sister, the one that's far closer to Ashlyn anyways. "Leigh? Why? What happened?"
"I told her he was a jerk," Ashlyn sniffles, "and she wouldn't listen and… and now she hates me."
"Why would she hate you?" Grace asks, before mouthing 'He?' at Lorcan over her sister's shoulder.
'Boyfriend,' Lorcan mouths back and Grace grimaces slightly before turning her attention back to Ashlyn.
"She won't… she won't talk to me," the youngest of the group says, though her voice is muffled by her sister's shoulder. "And Doro said that Leigh doesn't need us anymore now."
Grace sighs quietly. "You know… I think Doro is scared that Leigh won't need you all anymore, that's why she said that. But she's wrong. Do you want to know how I know that?" Ashlyn nods silently. "I know," Grace continues, "because friends are something great and wonderful and when you think everything is going wrong, they'll be there to help you. Leigh won't stop needing you because she has a boyfriend now. That doesn't change that you're best friends. And this is not the first fight you had. She might be mad at you right now, because she really likes that boy and she wants you to be happy for her, so when you told her you're not and you don't like him at all, she got angry and upset. But she'll come around," she pauses, "And you should probably apologize, Lyn. You insulted someone she really likes."
"But he really is a jerk," Ashlyn protests.
Lorcan chuckles, "She's right, you know. Damon Orpington is a stuck up little brat." Ashlyn giggles into Grace's shoulder. "Grace is also right, though, Ashlyn. You should apologize. Because Leigh is still your friend, a boyfriend won't change that."
Ashlyn sighs, but she stops hiding in her sister's arms and smiles at them.
"That's better," Lorcan smiles as well, "Now who's up for some chess?"
"I've never played," Ashlyn admits quietly.
"No worries," he says, as Grace grabs the chess board from underneath the couch and summons the figurines. "I'll explain it to you. And then you can help me beat your sister." He flashes Grace a grin.
Grace laughs, "You're going to need all the help you can get for that. I will wipe the floor with you, Mr. Malfoy."
"We shall see about that," he sets up the board. "We shall see."
Thank you for reading! :)