Chapter Text
Two months. The summer break had just ended and it had been two months since Lucy had seen her friends. A little lost among all the rowdy passengers of the Hogwarts Express, she did her best not to be noticed and sneaked headlong between groups of friends, all in search of a free compartment to settle in. Suddenly, her head hit something firm, black, and exuding a sweet familiar scent of lavender and tea. Lucy looked up and prepared to apologize to the person who had ended up in her way when she recognized the said boy :
- L-Lockwood ? she stuttered.
- Hi Luce. George and I were looking for you, you're coming ?
The boy tried without great success to hide the enthusiasm that had filled him for a few days, or weeks, at the idea of seeing his friend again. He gave her a bright smile before dragging her with him into a compartment of the car where suitcases were already patiently waiting, stored above the seats. Was it him or had Lucy changed ? Was she this... pretty, before ? Lockwood had a twinge in his stomach and blushed internally. He had never thought about all this before but now that she was right in front of him, it felt as if he saw her for the first time. Of course, George chose this moment to appear :
- Lucy, here you are ! the boy exclaimed.
- Hi George ! God, what did you both eat during the holidays to get so tall, I look like a gobelin on the side now ! she complained.
- They seem to call this "puberty", one day you might know what it's like.
- Hey !
- Don't get mad Luce, you know what we say : everything that's small is cute. Lockwood tried to reassure her, unsuccessfully.
George glanced to his friend over his glasses then changed the subject.
- Anyway, we've got so much to tell you. How about I start with all the slip-ups our dear Lockwood did during the break...
Indeed, the two boys lived most of the time together and so had spent the whole summer at George’s place. The other still needed to return regularly to take care of his parents' old house, located in the heart of London, at 35 Portland Row, but he did not like living there. It felt too lonely. Their friend had therefore missed many things.
-What did he do ? Please tell me everything George.It can’t be worse than that time at the carnival right ?
The boy gave him a look of challenges and the two friends immediately bursted out laughing.
-Come on, shut up George. We still have a lot of time left before arriving and Lucy's exhausted, I am certainshe wants to res-
- Whoa, that must have been a big one for you to change the subject so quickly Lockwood, Lucy interrupted him laughing. In any case, I'm gonna learn it one day or another, whether you like it or not.
The three teenagers settled comfortably on the seats, George and Lucy facing Lockwood, who claimed to need more space due to his summer growth spurt. They shared their anecdotes and holiday memories : how George had not stopped talking about the new innovations of the Ministry of Magic, headed by the famous wizard Steve Rotwell, while Lockwood had caused slight problems during a meal with a certain spell he thought he mastered. The stress and apprehension previously weighing on Lucy at the idea of meeting her friends had gradually given way to the joy and laughter that had so often accompanied their conversations over the past two years. She had worried for nothing in the end, in a few hours they would be back in Hogwarts and everything would be for the best.