LIONHEART ❃ george weasley

047 | apparition lessons

"S.P.E.W.?" Albany echoed, raising a mischievous eyebrow at the girl. "Spew?"

Carly pushed her glasses up her nose. "Not spew," she said, "society for the protection of elfish welfare. She's speaking up for the house elves."

Fred groaned. "She's not still on about that, is she?"

Carly shot the boy a firm look. "She's right about it."

"House elves like to serve, Carly," Albany explained gently; her family had never owned one, but she knew Faith's family did, alongside numerous pureblood households. She reached across the table to lay a hand on Carly's tense arm, but Carly retreated her arm, glaring at Albany.

"No creature is born owing anything to humanity," Carly snapped. "Thinking house elves only exist to serve you is very ignorant."

Albany swallowed, averting her gaze; even the twins looked guilty as they slouched in their seats.

"Well, when you put it like that..." George murmured, scratching at the back of his neck.

Carly sighed, standing from the bench. "I have to go finish something," she explained, at the concerned expressions of her friends. "But please consider joining. Albany, bring the egg to Weasley HQ after class."

"Okay," Albany replied softly, and would have smirked in amusement at what they were now referring to the classroom as if she wasn't still fighting a wave of guilt. "See you later."

"Going back to your girlfriend?" Fred called, grinning in his attempt to ease the mood.

Carly faltered, but continued walking as she glanced over her shoulder to him. "No, I — something else," she stammered, and hurried away.

"Are they?" Albany piped up, confused. "Girlfriends?"

Fred shrugged, and kicked his feet up onto the table. "Beats me. Looks like Curly Carly wouldn't mind it that way, though."

Albany grinned. They would be a cute pair, she thought.

As per George's advice, she did take a breather from all the old magic and destiny stuff. Faith kept her distance, and Merlin and Arthur didn't pester her about anything to do with the situation, so Albany was content to forget about the stress of those aspects of her life for another while. Though Morgana's grand entrance had left her on edge, she had seen Faith with Moody several times since, and it seemed the girl was finally getting help; her eyes looked brighter and her hair neater. Albany was happy for her, and happy to move past it. Well... for now.

Besides, she currently had bigger problems. As Carly had cheerfully pointed out, the second task was drawing nearer, and she was no closer to deciphering the message inside the egg. Carly's theory was that in certain conditions, it wouldn't scream, but Albany was beginning to doubt even that; they had tried opening it everywhere, with no luck. If she ever heard the strangled screeching again, it would be too soon — but she knew she would likely hear it countless more times. What did it mean?

She was pondering the mystery as she sluggishly prepared herself for class one morning.

The cork pin board beside her bed now had on show numerous photographs she had taken with the Polaroid camera Carly had gifted her; still shot memories of the Yule Ball, Fred and George over breakfast, Carly searching for her glasses while they sat atop her head. She smiled fondly at the pictures as she pulled herself out of bed. Having the reminders of good times with her friends to admire every morning made getting up that bit more enjoyable.

There was a commotion in the common room as she left the dorms, rubbing at her tired eyes. A small crowd of Slytherins in her year had gathered around the notice board by the door; Viola was the first to notice her presence, and dragged her over insistently, grinning wide.