Ambrosia • TMR

C.20

EXAMS WERE EASY for someone like her. Much easier than the first time around, anyways. Things like theory and such were a walk in the park with the occasional unfamiliar question. Tom seemed to think of them as easy too as they sat in their last exam room for the year.

His non dominant hand was occupied with a quill, messily tracing his name over and over again. He was obviously trying to become ambidextrous and with each passing glance at his lined paper, she could see him improving.

In front of her was a previously blank piece of white paper filled with sketches and doodles. A pencil was held in her hands and she could feel curious eyes on her whenever she brushed eraser shavings off of her paper. People were so used to quills and magically erasing ink that they were amazed by a pencil with an eraser on the back. Simpletons.

There were still about five minutes left before they were finally dismissed from the class and about two days before the train arrived to take them back to kings cross station. She, personally, was not ready for summer and she could tell Tom shared the same sentiments. He was infinitely more snappy and quiet when not being provoked or spoken to.

Clingier as well. Even though, logically, he would be seeing her all summer, he still stayed close enough to her that she could smell the body wash he used with every breath. She loved it.

"Irene, let's go." Tom said quietly from his desk as he began packing his quill and ink back into his bag. She leaned over and cast a quick drying spell on the paper he was previously practicing on. Just so it wouldn't be wet when he put it back into his bag. She grabbed her bag and stood just as he did. With a quick and discreet flick of her hand, both of their chairs were pushed in.

"Im really not looking forward to summer," Tom muttered under his breath as he and Irene walked aimlessly around the school. There was not much to do after their exams for those not in their third year and up. There professors had allowed their upperclassman a trip to hogsmade for the end of the year to celebrate a hard year. Both of them kept an eye out for either of their court members. Irene hated to admit it but maybe the queen was right with her questioning her logic of recruiting a Ravenclaw.

They weren't even in the same how so how would she have the backs of the rest of the court. But Yavania was the only female in the school to catch her attention and wasn't annoying to hang out around. Plus, she was smart like Hermione and had red hair like Ginny.

A long pause passed before she responded to Tom. The silence was filled with the scraping of their shoes against the stone flooring. When she finally spoke up, her tone was morbidly amused, "Me neither. But I can't wait to see the look on the Matron's face when she realizes we have to come back every summer."

A glance to her right let her see  Tom's cheek lift in a sadistic smirk. "I wonder if little Billy missed us?" He asked rhetorically. Of course, Tom would miss the person he would always steal from and terrorize. Harlene would've stopped him but Irene was too amused to care.

"Tom? Irene? Is that you?" A voice spoke from a few paces behind them. It wasn't too familiar so obviously not one of their court. Irene turned around first and was met with the sight of messy black hair and vivid green eyes. It took a second for her mind to connect the face. It's been a while after all. The boy was Zachary Yaxley, the final member of their court.

"Heir Yaxley," Tom greeted, forcing his face into a polite smile that seemed to match his face perfectly. It was rather rude for Zachary to refer to them by first name out loud. They didn't know each other that well yet but Tom would let it slide. Although, there would be a lot of training in order for his court members. That type of stuff was rather important.