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***
- You should have done all this yourself,' Kyle sighed irritably, shoving Lydia's suitcase with his foot.
- You shouldn't have minded your own business,' the redhead shrugged calmly, stepping out onto the porch of her own house.
- I'm so glad we're in different faculties,' the boy rolled his eyes, following the girl.
- I won't even be at Hogwarts, you idiot,' the younger Martin sighed, heading towards the Ministry car that was already waiting for them.
Lydia was unrealistically proud of herself. She'd been able to put up with living with this narcissistic moron a month ago, although she'd expected to be able to cope with it in about five years. She was still avoiding Natalie as if to protest, which of course absolutely no one cared about.
Martin remembered that day to this day. If someone asked her to describe it now, she would tell them everything without leaving out a single detail. She had been happy until noon, as Will had been taking them to all sorts of Muggle entertainment venues since the morning that day. Scott and Stiles, forever sighing in admiration, had sat through the whole session at the cinema surprisingly quiet, not even arguing about much of anything. They broke through later when Allison decided to discuss the film. A very, very unwise thing to do. The only time the two Gryffindors were quiet was when they finally noticed that neither Argent, Lydia, nor Will were around. It was really amusing to watch their confused looks and subsequent bickering as they tried to pinpoint who was to blame for the situation.
As always, the boys decided to go home for lunch, to meet up at Will's place later. If Lydia had known then what a surprise would be waiting for her at home, she would never have returned there at all. The sounds coming from the living room made the Gryffindor wary from the start, realising that there were guests at home. But what the hell?
- Lydia, you're taking too long,' Natalie sighed unhappily as soon as the redhead appeared on the living room doorstep. Without even thinking of apologising, the girl looked at the two guests. A stately middle-aged man with brown hair nodded respectfully, and something told Martin to return the favour. Next to him sat a young boy of about fourteen, who looked very much like his father. Even though he smiled at her, Lydia felt her eyes roll involuntarily, and she turned her head to the side, cursing Stiles to herself. Who else could she get that from?
- Hello, Lydia,' the man said. His voice was beautiful, sonorous. Lydia nodded again.
- You should at least say hello in return,' her mother reproached her, and Lydia gave the man her hand. He raised his eyebrows at first, and then with a wide smile he extended his own hand to the redhead, accepting her handshake. 'That's no way for a lady to behave! - Natalie flared, causing Lydia to roll her eyes.
- Hello, mister,' Lydia said, taking a step back and looking at the man uncertainly.
- Elmers,' the man smiled. Nodding, Martin went back to the door, intending to go to her room, change her clothes and go back to her friends.
- Lydia, we have something important to discuss,' Natalie said, looking at her daughter reproachfully.
- Go ahead, I'm just leaving, I won't disturb you,' Martin shrugged her shoulders. But under the heavy gaze of her mother, the girl turned round reluctantly and glanced at the boy, 'Fine, whatever you say. You didn't introduce yourself,' she reminded the redhead reluctantly, realising that she had no desire to meet him.
- Kyle,' the boy answered, smiling again. The smile seemed warm and almost perfect, but Lydia could barely keep herself from wrinkling her nose.
- Nice to meet you,' the girl nodded just for good measure, 'Any other topics to discuss?
- Are you so eager to see your friends? - The man asked with a smile.
- Exactly, sir,' Lydia nodded. She had respect for him for some reason. So far, at least, he was the only person in the room that Martin felt that way.
- Well, then I guess we'll just tell you and that's it,' the man shrugged, 'Your mother and I are going to get married.
Lydia raised her eyebrows and looked at Natalie. Somehow the realisation came so suddenly that there was no surprise. Like, not at all. Shrugging, Lydia nodded:
- I'm very glad,' she said and left the living room.
As she left, Martin heard Mr Elmers assure Natalie that there was nothing wrong with Lydia leaving. That, he said, was the usual reaction to such a statement. He also said that they could have a proper talk the next day. He didn't know yet that he had said the most ridiculous thing. Lydia spent the next day at Stiles's playing magic chess, spit stones, and other things made up by wizards. Will had brought a twister with him, but it never got to him. That's why Martin spent the next day at Stilinski's. And then another. And then another. And somehow a week went by without a trace. And then another. Lydia only crossed paths with her new neighbours in the mornings, when they came down for breakfast and she went to a friend's house.
- The wedding's next week,' Kyle informed her late one night.
- I'm glad,' Lydia nodded emotionlessly, turning away from him and heading up the stairs. She heard an exasperated sigh, which Martin paid absolutely no attention to.
The boys marvelled at Lydia's calmness, but she just shrugged her shoulders:
- I knew it would happen sooner or later,' she said one afternoon at Stiles' house, lying on the sofa in the boy's living room, 'I knew it would. I certainly didn't expect it to present me with a brother as well,' Martin snorted. Even though Kyle had held on for a long time, her dislike and contempt for him never diminished. Unlike his patience. Smiling at the memory of the first time the boy had snapped, Lydia spoke again, 'I had my first thoughts about it at the Hales' party. I didn't expect it to happen so soon, but I wasn't particularly surprised. She's forgotten about her father, she just needs someone to help her with the ministry and stuff. I don't care.
- What about this,' Stiles started, snapping his fingers as if he'd forgotten the name.
- Kyle pisses me off,' Lydia said calmly, shrugging her shoulders.
- You can tell,' Stilinski snorted.
- Would you believe me if I told you that you pissed me off, too? - Martin asked.
- Of course not,' laughed Stiles.
- You see, I hide it well,' Lydia smiled. Stiles frowned at the cheerful laughter of the others, pouting his lips resentfully.
Kyle had really shown himself the day after his parents' wedding. Lydia was going out later than usual that day out of pure respect for her mother and her new husband. Yes, good manners were still with her. As Martin was pulling on her favourite denim jacket, thinking it would be chilly in her dress, the boy came up behind her, leaning against the wall.
- Do you spend time at home at least sometimes? - he asked. The question was seemingly quite ordinary and innocent, but the guy's cold tone made Martin cringe.
- I don't see the point of it,' the girl threw to him, putting Sophie in her bag.
- I think my company is too good for you too,' the boy nodded. Smirking at the bewildered expression on Martin's face, he walked nonchalantly into the kitchen, stirring his tea.
Would Martin have been surprised to learn that the boy was a Ravenclaw student? Yes. She would have been much less shocked if Kyle had been a Slytherin. He was too stupid by her standards. And by the standards of Stiles, who'd dropped in on Martin in mid-August, too.
- I'm Kyle,' the boy smiled respectfully at him then, extending his hand for a handshake.
- Sorry, your palm is too beautiful for me,' Stiles bowed to him, listening to Lydia snort with pleasure.
- Don't think any of my friends would accept you,' Martin shrugged at the boy's perplexed look.
- May I take you away from this temple, mademoiselle? - Stiles turned to Lydia and offered the girl his palm, leaning slightly. Laughing, Martin curtsied deeply, placing her palm in her friend's hand. The look of distaste on the clawed man's face was the redhead's best reward then.
Lucas, Kyle's father, had turned out to be a rather pleasant man. He actually still commanded Martin's respect, which could be considered quite an accomplishment. The man constantly turned a blind eye to Lydia's dislike for Kyle, however, reprimanding his son. For this the girl was really grateful to him, for sometimes the guy's chatter became really unbearable.
With Natalie Lydia almost never spoke. With the appearance of two men in the house, the woman became even more aristocratic, irritating Lydia to the point of impossibility. Several times the elder Martin tried to influence her daughter, but she responded by going to Allison's house for a few days, appearing only at the end of the week. Lydia shrugged her shoulders and remained stubbornly silent, and Natalie finally gave up.
- Are your friends coming with you? - Kyle's voice sounded disgruntled. Blinking perplexedly, Lydia shifted her gaze to the boy, realising that she had fallen out of reality.
- Just Stiles and Will. And I've told you that at least ten times,' Martin sighed, looking out the window again.
- I didn't have to memorise it,' Kyle said irritably.
- I still have my doubts about you being a Ravenclaw,' Martin snorted.
- You're so annoying, Merlin,' the boy rolled his eyes.
- I'm sorry, it's a Gryffindor thing,' Martin laughed, her head held high.
None of the children said another word all the way to the train station. Lydia drove with the clear intention of spending the day with her friends, realising that a year without them could literally drive her crazy. Malia had spent the whole summer with her parents on holiday, so she was the one Martin missed the most.
- Madam,' the chauffeur's voice brought the girl out of her thoughts and opened the door for her. Nodding and smiling gratefully, Lydia got out of the car and walked to the boot.
The clock read fifteen to eleven and Martin wondered which of her friends she would meet first. Scott and Stiles would probably be late, and Isaac and Matt had probably already taken a compartment for everyone. After thinking for a few seconds, Lydia headed toward the station building, determined to wait for her friends or Will outside the train. When the cherished wall was about five metres away, someone roughly grabbed the redhead's shoulder, stopping her. Hissing and turning around sharply, Martin saw a scowling Kyle in front of her.
- Are you okay? - The girl sighed, snatching her arm away and backing away a few steps.
- Your mother asked me to keep an eye on you,' the boy replied, following.
- I'm unrealistically happy you can't do that at Hogwarts,' Lydia said irritably and didn't even notice she was on the platform.
Noise, noise, laughter, voices, familiar and not-so-familiar faces scurrying around, and the Hogwarts Express ferrying by. Unable to contain her smile, Lydia took a deep breath. She was going home. Even if it was only for one day, she would be home.
- Oh, I'm sorry,' someone suddenly squeaked from downstairs. Martin raised her eyebrows in surprise and looked up to where the sound was coming from. It turned out to be just a freshman who had bumped into her, and was now blushing, stammering in an attempt to apologise. It even slipped Martin's mind that she was now a sophomore.
- It's okay,' she smiled at the boy. He, still unsure, returned her smile. His look was almost puppy-like, a bit like McCall's, -You're a freshman, right? - Martin asked.
- Yes, Miss,' the boy nodded timidly. Lydia laughed and patted the boy on the head.
- I'm not a miss, I'm only a year older than you,' Lydia pulled her suitcase closer to her so as not to disturb the crowd. In the next instant, someone else flew into her. It was dark for a moment, and a moment later Lydia realised that it was only someone's hair that was blocking her view. Laughing happily, Martin hugged the person back, still aware of the freshman's presence.
- 'Leeds, Merlin, I've missed you so much,' Malia whispered in her ear, still hugging her.
- Darling, I've missed you too,' Martin clutched her eyes. When she pulled her friend away from her, the girl nodded her head and pointed at the freshman who was staring back, 'Are you lost? - Lydia asked the boy.
- I just don't know where to go,' he replied embarrassed.
- Oh, that's a familiar problem,' Malia sighed, 'When I went there a year ago, I didn't know where to sit either.
- You ended up sitting with me. Your intuition is very good, sweetheart,' the redhead winked at her friend.
- Just sit where your heart tells you to sit,' I heard nearby.
- That's very good advice, Stiles,' Martin snorted, watching Tate rake McCall and Stilinski into her arms, 'In fact, just sit wherever you can.
- No, it's not that,' the boy shook his head, 'I'm here with a friend, his name's Mason. But I lost sight of him, and now I have no idea where he might be.
- Liam, you've got to be wanted everywhere again! - The boys turned round and saw a dark-skinned boy puffing unhappily, heading straight for them.
- Well, I guess we've found our missing person,' Martin grinned.
- Dudes,' Stiles said as soon as he was free of Tate's embrace, 'I don't know where you want to go, but the best faculty is Gryffindor. Go there. The others only take the most...
- Thank you, Stiles,' Lydia clamped her hand over her friend's mouth as her friends laughed and the two first-years blinked incredulously, 'Go where you want to go, and don't listen to that lunatic. By the way, I want to remind you all that the train is about to start and we're not in a compartment yet.
- You're the problem again, not us,' Scott shrugged.
- Trouble,' Malia rolled her eyes, putting her arm around Martin's shoulder.
- Jesus, just shut up and get to the train,' Stiles rolled his eyes.
Escorted by two perplexed looks, the four Gryffindors headed towards the carriage. Naturally, as expected, Matt, Isaac, and Allison found themselves right in the compartment. Will, on the other hand, had flown into the carriage at the very last second, breathing heavily. As it turned out, the boy had overslept, and Scott shook his hand with a dramatic sigh, mumbling something about there being two of them in the world now. Yeah, it was going to be a fun road trip.
***
- Olivia just loves Jane. I thought she wouldn't give her to me when I was going to the station,' Malia laughed, tucking one leg in to make herself comfortable.
- They're so hard to hide from muggles, Merlin,' Matt shook his head.
- Actually, Tim almost made Jack show up once,' Will said accusingly, stroking his creeper.
- Why are you looking at me? - Stiles said indignantly.
- How will you get to Beauxbaton? - Isaac asked suddenly.
- Tomorrow morning,' Stiles replied. The cheerful mood was slowly leaving the boys.
- And on what? - Allison smiled sadly.
- Dumbledore hasn't said yet,' Will shrugged, 'It's something flying, I think.
- But they're not carriages,' Lydia nodded.
- I heard something about a ship,' Scott frowned.
- 'Quite possibly,' the Slytherin grinned, 'Dumbledore probably wants to appear as spectacular as possible.
In fact, at first the boys didn't even realise why they were going to Hogwarts. Of course, no one was against it, but for what? It turned out that Beauxbaton would start the school year on the second of September on purpose, so that all the students would meet each other and the Headmasters would hold a celebratory dinner.
- Scotty, play Quidditch for me, will you? - Stiles smiled.
- Anything for you, mate,' McCall smiled.
- 'Don't find any adventures up your arse, okay? - Isaac patted Will on the shoulder.
- We'll do our best,' Martin laughed.
The rest of the journey flew by unnaturally fast. Lunch in the form of sweets for the boys and normal food for the girls and Will, followed by a shared nap, the usual run-in with the Slytherins, Scott's lovey-doveyness, Stiles's sarcasm. Everyone sighed enthusiastically as the lights of Hogsmeade appeared outside the window.
Unclearly, the boys had managed to fit the eight of them into the carriage. In a corridor full of people, Lydia lost her friends, releasing Allison's palm. Sighing, the girl began to make her way towards the Great Hall, saying hello to people she knew. Suddenly, someone grabbed her by the shoulder and pulled her into the Hall, pulling her against him.
- There's my sister! - Kyle exclaimed, putting his arm around the redhead's shoulder. Lydia looked around and saw a bunch of clawed Clawmen surrounding them.
- You're Lydia!' the girl with the soft blue dyed tips of her hair exclaimed, 'You did so much last year! You and your friends were talked about all the time. You should be proud of her, Kyle! - the girl smiled, turning to the boy.
- I am proud, Louise! - Kyle nodded his head.
- I'm not proud of you! - Martin snorted and pushed him away, the next moment disappearing into the crowd.
- Are you okay? - Allison asked worriedly, as soon as Lydia plopped down beside her.
- I'm fine,' Martin nodded.
- I hate him,' Stiles growled, glaring angrily at the confused claw.
- Me too, believe me,' Lydia sighed.
Watching the distribution was even more exciting than the boys had expected at first. All the freshmen, white as chalk, were stumbling around, pushing each other, shoving and whispering about something. Allison had to express her sympathy out loud, and Sonia laughed out loud, leaning over to the sophomore.
- You looked even worse a year ago,' the sixth year told her cheerfully.
- Thank you very much,' Argent muttered, turning back to the bunch of first-years.
At that moment McGonagall must have been just talking about the rules of allotments and stuff, because the faces of the kids showed more horror.
- I wonder if she even realised that she was scaring them even more with her icy calm. - Stiles propped his cheek with his fist.
For a while, the boys sighed disappointedly as they looked at the students who had been sent to other departments. When Stiles's gaze fell on the boy they'd met on the platform that morning, he shoved Scott impatiently, his head cocked up in interest.
- Dunbar, Liam! - McGonagall said.
The boy stumbled forward, throwing one last frightened glance at his friend Mason. The eyes running round the hall gave the boy away, and he must have felt an unreal relief when the Hat covered them, falling over his nose. Judging by the boy's moving lips, the Hat had decided to have a conversation with him as well, probably unaware of how frightening it actually was. There was literally silence in the hall. Everyone was wondering who the boy would go to, hoping, naturally, to get him for themselves. And Stiles couldn't hold back a shout of triumph when the Hat thundered out:
- Gryffindor!
Liam jumped off the damn stool and ran back to his desk with a smile, giving his friend a final clap on the shoulder. Scott and Stiles grimaced, remembering how it had been for them a year ago.
- Congratulations,' Sonia smiled at the boy.
- Dude, I believed in you! - Stiles gave the boy his palm.
- You're in the coolest department, congratulations! - Scott cheered him on.
- Now you don't have to worry, you're going to be a great person,' Isaac nodded knowingly.
- Merlin,' Lydia sighed heavily, barely holding back a frustrated groan, 'Don't judge us all by their example, okay? - Martin looked pleadingly at the freshman.
- Come on, Leeds,' Stiles shushed her half-jokingly, 'You know it's true.
- Just shut up,' Martin rolled her eyes to the cheerful laughter of Allison and Malia.
During this time, a certain Violet and Garrett joined the ranks of Slytherin. The Serpent Faculty welcomed their newcomers almost louder than Gryffindor itself, and Stiles seemed intent on remedying that at all costs.
- Hewitt, Mason,' McGonagall announced, and the room fell into silence once more. Liam's awkward squirming caused almost the entire Gryffindor table to smile.
Mason looked a little braver, walking out to the stool. The boy had even only tripped once! And that could truly be considered an achievement. Naturally, everyone expected the Hat to strike up a conversation with the boy, as she had on all previous occasions. But she must have had enough, and she exclaimed, barely touching the boy's head:
- Gryffindor!
Stiles yelped like an injured man. Why? He didn't know why. Liam's happy look reminded Scott of Stiles a year ago, and McCall grinned and patted the boy on the head, eliciting an embarrassed laugh.
More people had joined Gryffindor, and they seemed to have outnumbered last year's first-years, and, I mean, the boys themselves. First year Hazel, smiling embarrassedly, was now listening to something Tyler and Sonia were telling her. Her fellow students were still withdrawn, and the Gryffindors had decided not to push, which, judging by the looks on their faces, the girls were grateful for. Liam and Mason were now chatting away with the other first years, nibbling on everything.
Suddenly, someone shoved Stiles in the back, and the boy turned around to see Brett sitting halfway back.
- What?' Stiles leaned closer to the clawed man.
- 'Professor Flitwick asked me to tell you that we should stop by the teachers' lounge after dinner. Some sort of discussion of organisational matters for tomorrow,' Talbot muttered.
- Jesus, I just got sleepy,' Stiles groaned.
- You'll sleep tomorrow,' the clawed man laughed, turning away.
- We'll go to McGonagall's after dinner,' Stiles whispered to Lydia. Nodding, Martin turned to a laughing Allison, smiling.
- 'Bring us some drawings, will you? - Argent smiled.
- Which ones? - Lydia frowned, cutting into the meat.
- Beauxbaton,' Allison replied.
- Yeah,' Malia nodded, 'And the Durmstrangs and the Charmbatons. French, Spanish. Ells said France was beautiful. Let's check it out.
- Anyway, just draw everything you see. And everyone you see, too,' Argent snorted, finally.
- 'Merlin, stop it,' Lydia laughed.
- Why? Purely scientific interest,' Tate winked at her friend, sending a piece of fried sausage into her mouth.
- I'll miss you,' Martin sighed.
- We'll miss you too, darling,' Malia smiled, 'Though I don't think you'll miss it there.
- And yes, we're going to write to you every day,' Allison joined in.
- Yeah, by the way,' Tate confirmed.
- So you just won't be able to start missing us,' Argent smiled.
- But we won't let you forget us either,' Tate said with a stern finger.
- You'll be forgotten,' Martin snorted.
Naturally, Scott, Malia, and Allison had refused to leave without Stiles and Lydia, and were now sitting on the floor outside the teacher's lounge. And neither professor seemed surprised. First, McGonagall and Dumbledore were discussing the simple rules of behaviour in Beauxbaton and on the flying ship. Yes, Scott was right, Hogwarts students would indeed be appearing at the Tournament on a flying ship. And Lydia really couldn't tell if that made her happy or horrified.
Then McGonagall gave something of a small introduction to life at the other schools. She talked about their faculties, the structure of Beauxbaton, the character of the students at both schools, and so on. The seniors were given some scrolls to hand out to their juniors. Tyler had persuaded Dumbledore to take Sonia instead, citing concern for the team, and now the blonde was carefully putting the papers into her bag, looking at her charges with a certain pride. The undergraduates and fifth years talked through everything about the exams, once again naming the subjects they were going to take. Finally, Dumbledore handed out robes to his students with the Hogwarts emblem emblazoned on their chests. The faculty emblems were much more faded, and were embroidered not on the robes themselves, but on the jumper. The explanation was that in Beauxbaton the boys should forget about the faculty divisions. Everyone nodded in response, thinking to themselves that Dumbledore was probably just joking, knowing full well that none of them would forget about it.
- Faculty Heads are responsible for keeping an eye on their students,' McGonagall informed them, 'Each faculty has two, and sometimes three, Heads. I really hope you don't think of our school as a dwelling of brainless morons.
- I love her language,' Stiles said with a smile.
- Mr Stilinski, I'd ask you to hold off on the compliments,' came a stern voice.
- Yes, Professor, of course,' Stilinski nodded, blushing. Will covered his mouth with his palm and leaned into Lydia's shoulder, trying not to laugh.
They weren't released until half an hour later, checking each of them to make sure they knew the simplest of rules, possessions and all. As soon as the two Gryffindors and the Slytherin showed up in the corridor, they were immediately bombarded with a tirade.
- How many times have we had to do this? - Scott exclaimed indignantly, jumping up from the floor and giving Allison a hand.
- We've been waiting for you for two hours,' Malia nodded, jumping down from the window sill.
- Although the urge to sleep practically sent us to the living room,' Allison shrugged.
- But we still couldn't leave,' Scott stretched out.
- Guys, too much information, okay? - Stiles threw up his hands in a protective gesture.
- Sometimes I wish I lived with you guys,' Will laughed.
- Sometimes? - Scott pouted resentfully.
- Shut up,' the Slytherin nodded angrily, yawning. Reaching the main staircase, Will pulled Allison in for a hug, squinting, 'I have no idea if I'll see you two again this year,' the boy sighed, now hugging Malia, 'Anyway, I'll miss you,' Scott finally got his turn.
- We will too, mate,' Scott hugged his friend back, patting him on the back.
- Don't push it, please. It's hard enough as it is,' Lydia sighed.
- Why? - Will lifted the corners of his lips, 'You have the whole night ahead of you. We're leaving so early that I'm not sure Scott will be able to get out of bed.
- That's a very good point,' Stiles snorted.
- Anyway, guys, I hope to see you again,' the Slytherin smiled one last time, 'And if not, we'll text you. Tomorrow.
- I'll take a collodograph with me, we'll send you the collodographs,' Lydia nodded, seeing the Slytherin off with a glance.
- And I'll have my camera with me, so you can still get the weird non-moving cartons,' Will laughed, remembering how Stiles had characterised the pictures when he'd first seen them.
- Will you ever forget that? - Stilinski blushed.
- Don't get your hopes up, sweetheart,' Will laughed, "Good night, everyone," the boy said, and with a sweet yawn he headed down the stairs to the secret portrait.
- Same to you,' Allison smiled at him.
- What's this about a night together? - Malia raised her eyebrows as she walked up the stairs.
- I don't think we should,' Martin shook her head, skipping up the stairs, 'You have classes starting tomorrow.
- We'll skip it,' Scott waved his hand.
- Really, it's like the first time,' Malia snorted.
- You'd better see us off in the morning,' Stiles said.
- Hey, mate,' Scott looked at him in amazement, 'Get on my side, come on!
- Lydia's right,' the boy shook his head, stopping in front of the portrait, 'What's our password anyway?
- Foritudo*,' Lydia said, holding back a yawn.
- Original,' Stilinski snorted, stepping through the opening.
- Are you at least coming for Christmas? - Allison sighed, stopping at the stairs to the bedrooms.
- We'll try,' Stiles put his arm around Argent, running his palm down her back.
- I'll send you a present anyway,' Martin smiled, hugging Scott.
- We're going to overwhelm you with them,' Malia grinned in response to her words.
- Stiles, I can't send out that many Christmas presents without you,' Scott said with a frightened look in his eyes.
- You won't,' the boy patted his friend's shoulder reassuringly, having let go of Tate's embrace a second ago.
- 'We really don't know if we'll be back,' Lydia sighed as she approached the stairs, 'But we'll try. And if we do, I'll come and visit you for Christmas. Each of you, if I have to.
- We'd better get together,' Malia frowned, 'You can't go round in a day, we live at different ends of London.
- Don't doubt my abilities, dear,' Martin half-jokingly wagged her finger at her friend.
- Let's go to sleep,' Allison sighed softly, smiling, 'We'll get up tomorrow morning to see you off. I promise. And I'll even vouch for Scott. I'll personally go wake him up,' the girl flashed a sly look at McCall.
- Я.. - I don't know what else I can say,' Malia stammered, looking up at Martin helplessly. I'm going to miss you three very much. I don't know how I'll study without you, Leeds,' Tate grinned bitterly, the next moment finding herself in her friend's arms.
- I'll be flooding you with letters every day asking you to study,' Martin whispered, squinting.
- I'll be waiting,' the girl answered her, running her hand along her friend's back.
- I hope you'll miss me too,' Stiles stretched out.
- Sure,' Tate laughed, 'Where would we all be without the great sarcasm of Stiles Stilinski?
- And the equally great clumsiness,' Allison added.
- And perpetual complaining,' Scott nodded.
- And minute-by-minute hunger,' Malia clasped another finger.
- And the unreasonable hatred of Theo,' Scott grinned.
- And the problems that haunted you,' Allison remembered.
- And then dragging us into them,' Tate nodded.
- I get it, you're going to sob into my pillow every night, that's enough! - Stiles exclaimed, throwing up his hands.
- Come on, what night? - Malia marvelled.
- Every day, without interruption,' said Argent.
- I hate you,' Stilinski muttered, walking up the stairs to the boys' bedrooms.
- And we love you,' Allison hugged her friend one last time and, after waiting for Malia to do the same, went to the girls' bedroom, smiling sadly.
- Keep an eye on them, okay? - Lydia ruffled Scott's hair affectionately.
- I'll miss you, too,' McCall said seriously, pulling her friend close to him.
- I'll miss you too,' Martin wrapped her arms around the boy's neck, covering his eyes again.
- Can I trust you with this obnoxious blob of energy? - Scott laughed, looking at the embarrassed Stiles from over Martin's shoulder.
- Trust me, you can,' the girl breathed out into his neck. After a few moments, the boys pulled away, smiling warmly.
- Until tomorrow? - Martin hesitantly stretched out, climbing up two steps.
- Don't oversleep,' Stiles grinned.
- I had to ruin the moment for you, didn't I? - Martin rolled her eyes.
- No, really! I can't go and wake you up, they won't let me in,' the boy ran a hand through his hair in embarrassment.
- Thank Merlin they won't,' Lydia sighed, shaking her head.
- Good night, Lyds,' Scott said with a smile, throwing an arm around Stiles' shoulder.
- Good night, guys,' Martin smiled back, disappearing up the stairs the next moment.
- What did I do to ruin the moment? - Stiles looked at his best friend a few seconds later.
- Nothing, darling, you're as inimitable as ever,' Scott laughed, pulling his friend up the stairs with him.
The six Gryffindors passed out just moments after meeting the warm beds. Lydia didn't even have time to marvel at the fact that all of the girls' small belongings were already in their places, even though they had taken them with them for the summer. Martin's things remained untouched in the suitcase. Apparently, the elves were simply aware of exactly who was leaving tomorrow. This made the part of the room that belonged directly to Martin empty. Frowning, the Gryffindor decided that at least something to keep as a memento for her friends. After hanging up a few collodographs and drawings to Sophie's contented rumblings, the girl lay in bed, enjoying the softness and cosiness of the room.
- I'm home,' was the last thing Martin said before falling into oblivion, forgetting all about Kyle, the Slytherins and other troubles until at least the next morning. Or even the rest of the year.