We Will Shine {Book 6 in the Star of Gryffindor Series}

Chapter 41 - A Boggart

"You should be," Colette said, rolling her eyes. "I told you you were annoying her."

James put his arm around me. "This is a little uncalled for, don't you think?"

"I'm not wrong!"

"So?" James scoffed. "I could tell you you're a prat who doesn't have any tact, and I wouldn't be wrong, but I don't go around saying things like that because I'm not horrible."

"Oh, yeah, sure you aren't." Colette rolled her eyes. "I'm just trying to keep this from happening again, okay? Wren keeps doing things like this."

"I'm not meaning to!"

"And yet it's still happening." Colette closed her eyes, rubbing her temples with her fingers. When she opened her eyes again, she seemed less annoyed. "Listen, I'm sorry. I know you're trying. But I think maybe you should try something else..."

James shook his head. "She trying her best, Colette."

"Maybe that's not what Astra needs right now."

"Maybe you don't know what Astra needs right now!"

"It's obviously not that!" Colette gestured to me.

"Shut up!"

"James, stop." I pulled back to turn and look at him. "Is she wrong? I mean, what am I doing right?"

He opened his mouth, then hesitated for a moment. That gave it away. "You're trying Wren. We all know you are."

"Trying isn't good enough," I snapped. "I keep trying, and just end up ruining things."

James raised an eyebrow, suddenly even more serious. "Okay, no, that's not right. You know she didn't mean that."

"Why else would she have said it?"

"Wren, it's just been a long couple of days for her."

"Does that mean we shouldn't believe what she's saying? Astra's not going crazy, James. She means what she says, and you know what? It's true. I'm ruining things. And I don't really know how to stop, or what to do about it, but clearly I'm doing something wrong." James opened his mouth, and I shook my head, cutting him off before he could argue. "Am I not? Am I not doing something wrong? What exactly am I doing right, James?"

"Well, right now you're just being ridiculous," he said, narrowing his eyes.

I was about to make him mad. But if I gave in and agreed, it would just make Colette more upset with me, and in the end she was right. James was just just trying to defend me, I knew, but right then I didn't need to be defended.

"No, I'm not being ridiculous," I said, frowning. "Stop dismissing what I'm saying."

"Would you rather I sit here and just go along with a bunch of bullshit, Wren?"

"If I'm saying it, yes!" I shook my head. That wasn't the point. "This isn't... It's not that. Colette's right, and arguing with her isn't going help anything."

"What do you think you should be doing better then, huh?"

"I don't know!" I frowned. "I... I just try to be there for her, like you guys do..."

"Exactly!" James held out his arms exaggeratedly. "You're doing everything we are, everything you can. This isn't your fault."

I blinked at him, then glanced at Colette and Albus. Colette looked frustrated, Albus simply concerned. It felt like something has just shifted, though. "If I'm doing everything you are, and it's making things worse..." I glanced back at James. He had an eyebrow raised warningly, daring me to go on. I dared. "The problem is me."