Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or its related works.

Author's Note: So... hi. I know it's been over a week, since the last update, but well... I'm headed for finals and tend to be forgetful occasionally, so with no reminder of this or of in general, well... I forgot. I'd say I'm sorry, but I don't know if anyone actually reads this/cares, soo... anyways. Finals. Finals mean less updates, because I have to focus on real life. I can't give you a regular schedule for updates or anything like that. I will try for once a week for as long as I still have prewritten chapters, but I will eventually run out (especially if writer's block continues the way it has for the last month or so). And since this AN is only getting longer because I'm procrastinating (and I should be studying. I need to get a good twenty theories on culture down in the next few week.), I'll end this here.

Chapter Thirty-Six

Thursday, November 10th 2022

Ravenclaw Common Room, Hogwarts, Scotland

Grace runs her fingers over the cover of the Tales of Beedle the Bard, but she can't quite bring herself to open it. She knows what she will find in there, apart from fairy tales. It's the reason she grabbed the book earlier, but now that she's sitting there on the couch (just a couch now, a couch and a whole lot of memories) she isn't sure any longer if she wants to read his letters.

She is saved from the decision by a voice. "Grace?" she looks up. Archie is looking back at her uncertainly. "Do you have a moment?"

"Sure," she puts the book aside. "What is it?"

"I was… I was wondering," he chews on his lip and Grace wonders what's wrong, it's not like Archie to not just come out and say what he want to say.

"You were wondering?" she prompts gently.

"It's… about Zoe," he says slowly, "and Lysander." She studies him closely as he speaks. "I… she's been talking about him for a couple of months now, but… I just never thought anything would come of it, because… well, you know…" She actually doesn't know, but she doesn't interrupt him. "And… I just… do you think this is revenge of some sort?"

"Revenge for what?" Grace looks at him uncomprehendingly. "Who would he be getting revenge on?"

"His brother?" Archie looks at her as if that much should have been obvious.

"Lorcan?" she steadfastly ignores the fact that her heart feels like it's been stabbed. "I don't think so… I mean they weren't on the best of terms this summer but they were fine these last couple of months and besides… it's not like Lorcan did anything that might have upset Lysander." Archie stares at her as if she just grew another head, but she keeps on talking. "Though, if you were actually talking about Scorpius… I have no idea what's going on there."

Archie looks at her. "I just… I don't want her to get hurt. Can you promise me he won't hurt her?"

Grace shakes her head. "This is Lysander we're talking about. No one can promise anything when it comes to him… but I do think he genuinely likes her." She pauses, not sure if she should continue. "Still… so do you, don't you?"

"Of course I like her, she's my best friend," Archie says, but there's something almost panicked in his eyes and Grace smiles softly.

"You know that's not what I meant," she absently brushes her fingertips over the cover again. When he tries to protest, she chuckles, because with his cheeks so red and stuttering himself through his defense it's not very believable. "Archie that's more of an open secret, you're aware of that, aren't you? I mean… I don't think anyone ever knew for sure, but… it's hard to miss."

"Zoe misses it just fine," Archie points out, his cheeks still red.

"That's… that's because it's much easier to miss the way someone is looking at you when you're the one being looked at," she doesn't look at him, she can't make herself. Instead, she focuses on the Tales of Beedle the Bard. "Just… be there for her in case he does hurt her. And please don't kill him should that happen." She grabs the book and gets up. Maybe she will read those letters after all. But not here. She makes for the stairs to the girls' dorms and ignores the little voice in her head that tells her to go back into the common room, because she should be there, she should be waiting.