Plot Twist [GEORGE WEASLEY]

22.

James was a gigantic rat.

Amara's expectations of the good day ahead were misguided. She slept peacefully. Her shower spewed out hot water. Perfect for cold autumn. Athena behaved, strangely, loving. It made Amara assume the best when she was in for the worst.

Fastening her tie, she entered the Great Hall. Her bag swinging with the weight of books, as she approached her friends. She greeted them with a bright grin. However, the reaction was not what she hoped. Her friends turned, baring guises a mixture of surprise, betrayal, and disappointment.

James, a night owl, was up bright and early. He had planted himself next to Gina. He fidgeted with a fork, face tensed. His eyes met Amara's for a moment before setting upon the floor. Without a doubt, she knew what came. "We were doing homework," She spoke first.

Gina's chin jutted out, exuding resentment. She pursed her lips. "Don't lie. You're doing something with him? Snogging him? Why haven't you told us anything? We live in the same dorm?" She questioned, anger saturated in her tone.

"I wasn't ready yet! Some things take time to say, guys. George just happened to stumble into it, by accident," Amara protested, with pulse-quickening outrage. "It's not like I had not tried. I tried, but it didn't work."

"You didn't even try. We would have listened, but, no. You just did not want to tell us. You and your privacy. You value your privacy more than you value us," Rose said. Crimson flooded into her face. Clenched jaw, she waited for Amara's response.

"That's not true, Rose," Amara's voice wavered. "Your value is priceless to me. But, some things have to stay under the mat."

Rose's angry features grew crestfallen. Head turned away, she wiped her nose. "Then, let it stay under the mat."

Hurt by Rose's words, Amara swiveled to her other friends. James ignored her. Amara found herself under Camilla's indifferent scrutiny. Gina shook her head, aghast. Amara bit her lip, head bowed down. She grabbed a toast and butter. She set off to her common room, tears threatening to leak.

___

Without her friends, the day became hollow. In Astronomy, the space next to Amara remained cold. It crept over Amara like a blizzard. At lunch, Amara was in the company of Luna Lovegood, a chatty third year. The dreamy girl must have taken pity upon her. As Amara had been in the corner, dejected-looking, reading a book. 

At dinner, sadness prevailed. Though, the events of the evening made it hurt less. Four chairs had been set up at the teacher's table. One of them taken by Igor Karkoff. The other by Madam Maxime. Who were supposed to be in the other seats? "I wonder if new guests are joining because of the tournament?" Luna wondered, in her misty manner.

As she said that, two figures took the remaining seats at the staff's table. Ludo Bagman, former Quidditch player and Bartemius Crouch, a ministry official. Ludo Bagman beamed at the others and shook hands. Bartemius Crouch exchanged words, smile somber ridden. Regardless, anguish hung on his shoulders. A burden. He must have experienced something terrible.

"What are you eating?" Luna asked a Beauxbaton girl who sat opposite of them.

The girl peered up. A pale dessert graced her plate, half-eaten. "A blancmange. Haven't you heard of zem?" She replied, her French accent shining through.

"No. I have not," Luna said, before turning her attention to her magazine.

The girl regarded Luna with raised eyebrows. She shook her head, perplexed. "Breeteesh," she muttered under her breath.