Sunday morning I refused to climb out of bed. Marie tried to make the thought appealing but when she left the room I couldn’t help but to cry. I felt so horrible; how could I be so insensitive.

I knew, to an extent, that I shouldn’t care. After all, he wouldn’t grasp the idea that I had more than a last name so why should I care about his future?

No matter how much I argued with myself, I couldn’t make the guilt evaporate. Then, I wondered if he’d done it on purpose. Was this just a clever scheme to make me feel sorry for him? I shoved that though to the back of my mind, too. That was just stupid.

I didn’t know what to do with myself. Half of me wanted to lie in bed for the rest of my life, eating chocolates and the other half knew that I needed to take a shower and face the consequences.

I decided to be the better part of me and I climber out of bed. As I stood in the shower, I wondered why this bothered me so much. For the majority of the last six or seven years I’d been trying to get James off my back, but know that it had happened I felt miserable.

After deciding that I just needed to rid myself of all emotions, I went down to the Common Room where a few people were sitting around, reading, chatting, and huddling by the fire. Marie was over in the corner, whispering to Sirius.
I coughed to announce my arrival.

“Oh!” Marie said, surprised but oddly relieved to see me. “Good morning… it’s only three in the afternoon. You okay, then?”

“Yes, who ever said anything was wrong?” I asked stiffly.

Sirius and Marie shared knowing looks.

“Well, as I was saying,” Sirius said softly. “James has spent all day at the flying pitch. I went down there once and…”

I made up an excuse that I was hungry and that I’d see them later, and they shared another look. I wanted to slap Marie but hag her all the same.

The grounds were deserted, most likely due to the chilly weather and fierce approaching winds. I climber up the steps and sat in the middle, seeing James instantly.

He was racing over the field, oblivious to anything else. Only after a minute did I realize he was chasing the Snitch in a high-speed race. He was only an inch from his broom and his face showed anger and irritation. His fingers grasped around the flying ball tightly and he slowed down.

“Ha, still got you,” he said, rubbing the Snitch thoughtfully.

“Good catch,” I called.

He jumped, looked at me, and then sped away.

“James, wait! JAMES!” he wouldn’t listen to me, so I grabbed the broom I’d brought up with me and nervously climbed on. I’d always been afraid to fly for my whole life and I wasn’t prepared to face that fear now. Desperate times call for desperate measures, I thought and kicked off.

My hands were trembling and I called his name again. He slowed down, not seeing me, and looked around. I came up behind him, wobbling dangerously.

His shocked face met mine as he turned around. “You-you hate to fly.”

“Yeah, a little,” I replied, trying not to look down. “I hate having you mad at me more.”

“What’s it to you?” he said angrily, as if this conversation were taking place on the ground instead of fifty feet in the air.

I tried to tighten my grip but only succeeded in scaring myself for. If James had noticed, he didn’t show it.

“Listen, I’m really sorry for spacing out on you yesterday. I just had a lot on my mind. I know I may be a pain sometimes-” I said and he grunted in agreement. “-But you’ve still always been a good friend, no matter how arrogant you are.”

“Great, was that a compliment or an insult?”

I didn’t have time to answer. I don’t know what was shaking-the broom, or me- but I lost my grip and slid off.

Cold air was rushing around me and I’d thought that I’d hit the ground but I wasn’t sure. Before I could decide everything went black.