Disclaimer: And I still don't own Harry Potter...

Author's Note: This is a short one, I'm afraid. Still, I hope you like it.

Chapter Thirty-Two

Thursday, October 20th 2022

Ravenclaw Common Room, Hogwarts, Scotland

Grace laughs and hits Lorcan's arm with a pillow. "You're terrible," she says.

"What? I'm just pointing out some things to you," he grins at her.

"I did not need to know that Carissa is making eyes at your brother," she protests, giggling.

He is still grinning when he plucks the pillow out of her hands. "She's not the only one, you know." When she looks at him questioningly, he motions her closer and leans forward to whisper in her ear. "Have you see Zoe look at him lately?"

His breath tickles her ear and she bites her lip for a moment. "She asked me about him a couple of weeks ago actually," Grace says, "That was the week when you didn't have dinner."

"Right, I remember the two of you came in together," he nods. "What did she want to know?"

Grace shrugs. "I think she wanted to find out if he was seeing someone. I mean… she didn't exactly come out and say it, but you know… she seemed to think he and I…" she shakes her head. "I mean… it's ridiculous, why would I want to date your brother?"

He looks at her strangely for a moment before he smiles just a little. "I don't know. Why would you?"

She rolls her eyes. "You tell me, because I have no idea."

Lorcan laughs. "He's considered good looking, isn't he? And funny enough, I suppose. And he flirts with you. A lot." His eyes are unreadable even though he's still smiling.

"We both know he doesn't mean anything by that," she points out. "That's just his way of… his way of life, I guess."

He smiles and leans forward, "So do you think Zoe and Ly would like… work out?"

She looks at him as she contemplates his question. "I don't know," she says finally, "I mean they get along well, but… dating is something else still, isn't it?"

"Yeah," he plays with the fraying edge of the pillow. "It is."

"You alright?" she looks at him worriedly and touches his shoulder lightly.

"Just fine," he smiles. "Let's talk about something else, yes?"

She accepts his request without hesitation and tries to come up with something that won't possibly lead them back to this slightly awkward, strangely hopeful topic. "Did you finish the Never-Ending Story?"

Thank you for reading :)