"Do you want to try again?" Ally asked, rubbing Lauren's back. Lauren let out a defeated sigh as she ran her fingers through her hair.
"It's just too much, Ally," Lauren huffed. "I don't know how to get the stupid rock to open, and I'm going to fail Lupin's class cause I can't conjure up a dumb patronus,"
"Hey, it's okay," Ally reassured. "I'm going to try to help you in any way I can,"
It was a lazy Saturday morning, the day of the Hufflepuff versus Ravenclaw quidditch match. Since everyone was at the match, Ally thought it would be a good idea to help Lauren with her studies.
"Do you think your memory is strong enough?" Ally asked.
"I guess," Lauren mumbled, "I mean I was really excited when I first learned how to fly,"
Ally pursed her lips, contemplating on how to word this. "Perhaps try something else?"
"Like what?"
"I don't know, my memory is when I found out I was accepted for that training program at St. Mungo's after graduation, but I don't know how that can help you,"
Lauren racked her brain for something like that. She remembered that day, Ally was so excited she Apparated to Lauren's house to share the news. Lauren had never seen anyone so happy.
Something clicked inside of Lauren's head. Accepted...
FLASHBACK
"Daddy, is the mail here yet?" Lauren asked hopefully.
"Not yet, mija, give it time," Mike said, putting down his work to look at his barely eleven year old daughter.
"But I don't wanna!" Lauren protested. "I need to know!"
"Patience, Lauren," Clara scolded. "The mail will be here any moment,"
Lauren huffed and stomped her foot. She didn't want to be patient, she wanted to know now.
Mike and Clara obviously knew their daughter would get into Hogwarts. They were both alums of the scarlet and gold house and Lauren was a very bright girl. Mike chuckled at how excited and anxious Lauren was about her letter.
"Chris! Is the mail here yet?" Lauren called from the kitchen. Chris was coming down the stairs, passing the front door.
"No," he answered simply. Lauren whined.
She laid down on the kitchen floor and sighed dramatically. Clara rolled her eyes.
"Let her have this, it's an exciting day," Mike said calmly.
The sound of rapid knocking on the door made Lauren bolt upright.
Clara opened the door to see a blur of green rush past her. The blur tackled Lauren.
"Lolo! I got in!" Camila flashed a toothy grin, waving a letter in the air. Clara looked outside the door to see the Cabello's looking outside their house, knowing Camila ran down the block to tell her friend the news.
"Merlin! Congratulations!" Lauren beamed. She hugged her friend tightly.
A letter was dropped at Clara's feet, but Lauren didn't notice because she was squealing with Camila.
Clara looked at the girls lovingly. Camila was like a daughter to her, she was so proud that she got in. Clara didn't want to ruin the moment the girls were having by giving Lauren her letter. It was Camila's moment.
"I'm so happy for you, Camz!" Lauren gushed.
"Me too! I can't wait for us to go to Hogwarts! It's going to be the best time ever! Especially because my best friend will be with me," the smaller girl smiled.
Lauren's smile fell slightly. Again, the anxious feeling filled her stomach. What if Camila's dream couldn't come true because Lauren didn't get in?
Clara thought this would be a good time to cut in on the girl's moment. She cleared her throat, causing both of the girls to look up. Then she handed Lauren the letter.
Lauren took the letter gingerly, as if it would break if she was too harsh with it.
She opened the edges of the envelop carefully. Her heart was pounding in her chest.
Dear Miss Jauregui, the letter said. We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry-
"I got in," Lauren let out quietly. Camila squealed.
"Yay! Lolo! We're going to Hogwarts together! And we will be best friends! Forever!" Camila clapped, jumping up and down. Lauren joined her, laughing and giggling with her best friend.
She was going to spend the next seven years with her best friend in the entire world, the two of them. And nothing was going to tear them apart.
This was the best moment of her life.
FLASHBACK ENDS
"You good?" Ally asked once Lauren opened her eyes.
"Yeah, I think so," Lauren said. She took a deep breath. "Expecto patronum,"
Warmth spread to Lauren's fingertips. The silvery light poured out the end of her wand, taking a form in front of her. Ally gasped. Lauren felt her jaw drop.
"Holy shit," she mumbled.
"Language," Ally said, still staring at the patronus, wide eyed.
"It's-"
"A dragon,"
"Oh my-"
"Gosh," Ally's face broke into a grin. "Laur! This is amazing!"
"Wow," Lauren said, still staring at the figure. "That was... unexpected. I expected like, a tiger or something..."
"They're supposed to reflect your personality, not what you like," Ally said. "I think I read that dragons represent power and courage,"
"Sick," Lauren mumbled. She then collapsed on her bed, letting out a sigh.
Ally hopped onto the open spot next to her, crossing her legs. "Alright, spill,"
"Spill what?"
"Whatever's troubling you. I know you, Laur. Something's wrong,"
"Nothing's wrong,"
"You're lying to me," Ally smiled lightly. "I can always tell when something's bothering you. Is it still the tournament thing? Cause we're making progress,"
"No,"
"Is it boy drama?"
"Definitely not that,"
"Is it a girl?"
Lauren shot up, looking at Ally with a panicked expression. "No! What made you think that? Who told you?"
"Whoa, calm down," Ally put a steady hand on Lauren's shoulder. "It was just an observation,"
"Oh," Lauren looked down. "I- um, well-"
"Hey, don't worry about it. You can tell me whenever you're ready,"
"It's fine," Lauren sighed. "It's just... Camila,"
"Oh okay. What did she do?"
"She um," Lauren bit her lip. "We had sex,"
"Oh my," Ally covered her hand with her mouth. "I thought you hated her,"
Lauren lied back on her bed, covering her eyes with her arms. "I don't know what to think anymore,"
Ally had a problem. She kind of wished that Lauren never told her this. Especially since Keana told Ally that she had developed feelings for the Slytherin the night before.
Lauren was obviously distressed over this, regret and misery washed over her body.
Ally had no idea what to do, which was odd, since she usually had a plan or advice for her friends.
She stroked Lauren's hair, trying to be there for her.
"Everything will get better with time," Ally said softly. "This won't last forever,"
Lauren grimaced at the last word. She only wished that the word fell from another girl's lips.
~~
"This is impossible," Ally sighed, slamming another textbook. Her and her friends were in the Gryffindor common room, trying to help Lauren with the next task.
"Ugh, I know right? Why won't this stupid rock tell me what the next task is?" Lauren smashed the rock on the table. It was left unscathed.
"What did you try so far?" Harry Styles asked, walking over to the group.
Ally started to list things off. "Well, we drowned it, like how Harry Potter did with the egg, set it on fire, dropped it off the Astronomy tower, boiled it, painted it, tried to solve it like a puzzle, serenaded it, put it next to an exploding Dungbomb, doused it in Firewhiskey, put shaving cream on it then slide a razor over it, put it in an oven, planted it in the ground, and hit it with countless amounts of charms,"
"Yikes," Harry said.
"Have you tried hitting it with a hammer?" Keana piped up. The three purebloods looks at the half-blood like she lit herself on fire.
"What?" Keana asked, looking behind her. "Is there something on my face?"
"Is that how Muggles try to solve things?" Ally asked. "By hitting them with hammers?"
"I don't think that Muggle invention is going to help us, sorry K," Lauren said, pushing her hair behind her ear.
"I mean it's worth a try," Harry said. "What do you got to lose?"
"Alright," Lauren sighed. She had officially given up. Maybe she could bribe the answer out of Liam. "Do you have a hammer, K?"
"No but we can get one," Keana hopped up, rushing to the window. "Accio hammer,"
For a minute, nothing happened. Then a hammer came crashing through the window, shattering the glass.
The Gryffindors in the common room screamed, crouching down to not get hit by the glass.
"Okay," Keana said, standing up. "That was not my brightest idea. Sorry, kids,"
Ally and Harry helped the first years who had been scared by the object flying through the closed window as Lauren walked over and picked up the hammer out of the shattered glass. Keana took out her wand to fix the window.
"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Lauren asked skeptically.
"No," Keana answered.
"You got nothing to lose,"Ally said, walking up to her two friends. Harry followed.
"Here goes nothing," Lauren mumbled, before taking the object and hitting the rock that sat on the table.
It came down with a loud thwack! and split into two. A bright light shined out of each half.
"Oh god," Lauren gaped. "It actually fucking worked,"
"I did not expect that," Keana admitted.
Ally walked over and picked up the pieces of the rock. The light died down on one side, and on the other six letters emblazed themselves on the crystal.
Desire.
"What the bloody hell does that mean?" Harry asked, scratching the back of his head.
"I have no idea," Lauren muttered, staring at the broken pieces of rock.
A thought suddenly invaded her brain. Camila had warned her about the first task, it was only right if she did the same.
"I gotta go," she stuttered, rushing out of the common room. The hammer was still in her hand.
She ran. Ran through the corridors and towers trying to find the one Slytherin girl. She ended up at the Slytherin dungeons, out of breath and sweaty.
The snakehead looked at her mockingly, or at least that's how Lauren saw it. She didn't know the password, but knowing the Slyths it was probably something like hiss hiss motherfuckers!
"Jauregui?" a voice came out behind Lauren. She turned around.
Hailee eyed the girl warily. Lauren knew that this girl was in Camila's posse, so she didn't like Lauren, but it was better that she ran into Hailee instead of Ariana or Dinah.
"Hi," Lauren gasped, still out of breath. "I need to talk to Camila,"
"Why?" Hailee questioned, tightening her grip on her books.
"It's about the tournament,"
"You can tell me, I'll deliver the message," Hailee said, emotionless.
"Please," Lauren begged. "She helped me with the last task-"
"Yeah, I don't know why," Hailee sassed, interrupting her.
Lauren rolled her eyes, brushing it off. "I'm here to repay the favor,"
Hailee glared at the girl, unsure on what to do. She knew that Camila had already sort of gotten her revenge on her, but she didn't want her friend to get sucked back into Jauregui's twisted clutches.
"Alright, fine. I'll get her," Hailee caved. She walked up to the door of the dungeons.
"Pepe the frog," Hailee said to the door. It opened.
A minute later, Camila came through. Lauren held the hammer in her hand awkwardly.
"Um, hi," Lauren coughed.
"Hey," Camila nodded, leaning against the doorframe. "What's up?"
Not really thinking straight, Lauren thrusted the hammer towards Camila.
Camila looked at it strangely. "What?"
"Uh, okay," Lauren stuttered. "This looks weird, but, um, I hit the rock from the tourney with this Muggle invention and um, Keana had mentioned that you hadn't opened yours yet so, um... here,"
Camila took the hammer from Lauren, feeling the tool in her hands. "Uh, thanks,"
"You're welcome," Lauren blurted out. "I don't know if it helps but mine says 'desire.' I don't know what it means though. Me and my friends are trying to figure it out,"
Camila gave her a tight smile. "Thanks, Lo, it means a lot,"
Lauren shifted on her feet. She caught Hailee eyeing her suspiciously. "Right, well, I'm going to leave now,"
She took off down the hall, cheeks flushing red. The memory that had invoked her patronus burned in the back of her mind, the one thing Camila said echoing through her head.
"And we'll be best friends! Forever!"
Oh, how she longed for the glory days.
~~
"Karla Cabello! Where have you been? Your mother and Hailee and I have been worried sick!" Ariana scolded as Camila walked into the common room.
"Uh, tutoring? Remember?" Camila said, confused.
"And by that she means hooking up with Issartel in an empty classroom," Dinah smirked.
Camila's ears turned pink. "No, I wasn't,"
"Lies,"
"You're delusional,"
"More lies," Dinah hopped of the chair and sat at Hailee's feet. "So what's new with Miss Scarlet and Gold?"
"Not much. We were discussing the difference between mine and Lauren's stones," Camila said. She took the half with words out of her pocket.
Fear.
"I talked to Normani today, she hit hers with the hammer. Hers also said 'fear.'" Camila said.
"What does Keana think it means?" Hailee asked.
"Well, mine and Mani's says 'fear' while Lauren's says 'desire,' and I bet you anything that Liam's says 'desire' too. She thinks it's going to be something that everyone fears, and also wants,"
"Oh! I know!" Dinah shot her hand up. "Vampires! Like that hot guy in The Vampire Diaries!"
"Oh my god! You're going to battle a vampire!" Ariana's mouth dropped open.
"It's like that lesbian vampire show you love," Hailee said.
Camila felt uneasiness wash over her. She swallowed thickly. "Great,"
"Do you guys want to go Yule Ball shopping this weekend?" Dinah asked, changing the subject. "I need a dress,"
"We all do, DJ," Hailee said.
"And Camila needs material to ask Keana to the ball," Ariana smirked.
"No way," Hailee drew her legs up, which caused Dinah to fall backwards. "You're actually going to ask her?"
"Ask who where?" Luke asked, walking in and sitting on the couch.
"Mila,"
"Whatcha doing, Milz?"
"I, um," Camila blushed. "I was thinking about asking Keana to the Yule Ball,"
"Why not ask me? Did that year and a half of dating mean nothing to you?" said a voice. Camila jumped out of her skin when she saw a new person appear out of nowhere, two feet in front of her.
"No fucking way," Ariana said, astonished. She grinned. "This is unbelievable,"
"Surprise, bitch," Jade smiled wickedly. "I bet you thought you'd seen the last of me,"
~~
Hope y'all are having a good break :)
qotd: favorite song atm?
mine is 'love yourself' by justin bieber
Twitter: dinahsdilemma
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