Chapter Text
“You told.” Ralph looked up from his textbook. Nicky was trembling slightly, his fists clenched. It was just the two of them in the dorms. Ralph had been reading the assigned chapters for History of Magic, his eyes repeating the same few lines over and over in boredom. “I told you I didn’t want to be called that, that I didn’t want them to call me that and you–” He trailed off, looking for something in Ralph’s eyes that made his skin prickle with something he didn’t want to admit. Ralph had forgotten that moment, that insignificant moment days ago, swallowed out by the exhilarating feeling of freedom that flying had given him. He swallowed, shutting his book and standing up from his bed. He began pulling on his robes and slipping on his socks, needing something to interrupt the silence.
“Look,” He started, eyes focused on his own fingers, carefully tying the laces on his shoes. “Better Piggy than Fatty. It’s not like that many people call you that anyway.” Ralph moved for the door.
“Ralph.” Nicky pleaded. He paused at the entrance.
“I’m going out to play with the twins. You coming?”
…
“Yeah, I’m coming.” Nicky sighing, conceding. The moment passed, what needed to be said buried, the feelings unresolved.
They went down to the common room, spotting Will and Anthony snacking and lying in front of the fireplace, textbooks long forgotten. Grace and Calla, two other first years were doing their assignments side by side at one of the tables.
“We’re going to the lake to meet the twins, wanna come with?”
“Yes!” The boys quickly sat up in unison, eager for anything to do instead of their homework.
“You’re trying to get out of doing that History of Magic essay, aren’t you?” Grace laughed, looking up from her schoolwork.
“It’s boringggg!” Will groaned, flopping back down on the rug. “Just some research on some witch trials from hundreds of years ago, who cares!”
“It’s not due ‘til Wednesday, we have time.” Anthony offered. Ralph nodded in agreement. “Plus, Nicky probably finished it already, we can always copy off him.”
“Absolutely not!” Nicky retorted, scandalized. Anthony shrugged. Nicky always complained about the others copying his homework but somehow it always ended up happening.
“True.” Calla turned to Grace, already putting her books and papers away. “We’re already almost done with it anyway.”
“I suppose you’re right.” Grace sighed, putting her things away as well. They headed up to the girl’s dorm to drop their schoolwork off and rally some of the other girls.
“I’m going ahead!” Ralph announced to the boys. “You can invite whoever to come play!” He exited the common room, Nicky scrambling to follow.
They walked through the corridors in silence for a while, Ralph pointedly ignoring Nicky’s gaze boring a hole in his face. After enduring for a few minutes, Ralph turned a corner before whirling back to meet Nicky’s stare.
“What.” Ralph gritted, exasperated. He leaned back against the stone wall in a huff.
“Ralph. You know that wasn’t ri–”
“Ugh. It’s done! What else do you want me to do? It’s not that big of a deal, just give it up.” He rolled his eyes, turning around and walking off. After a moment, he heard the sound of footsteps following him again.
When they made it outside of the castle, the brisk air allowed Ralph to breathe again. He closed his eyes, inhaling deeply and exhaling slowly. They walked down the steps and onto the lawn by the lake, a sprawling expanse of lush green grass and trees whose leaves were littering the ground in hues of reds, oranges, and yellows. In the distance they could see two figures surrounded by a large pile of leaves. It was the twins, throwing themselves into the bunch,causing an explosion of leaves to burst up into the air.
“Sam! Eric!” Ralph shouted excitedly, tearing down the field in a blur of black robes. They turned their heads, pushing out of the leaves to holler back. He ran up to them before jumping wide-armed into the large pile they had accumulated, shouting with glee. They cheered, shoving him deeper in.
“I’m sure there’s all sorts of gross things in those leaves.” Nicky wrinkled his nose in disgust, setting up beneath the closest tree and pulling out a book. The others paid him no mind.
Soon, a small gathering had formed, nearly the entire Gryffindor first year students there, and even a few Hufflepuffs, following Samneric’s lead. Some students set up picnic spots, blankets strewn out and baskets of pastries and sandwiches, chilled bottles of pumpkin juice at hand. Others, like Nicky, brought homework and books, preferring to study outside in nature than stuffed inside a dorm.
“A pity we can’t go swimming.” A twin started.
“It’s way too cold.” The other finished. They sighed, staring longingly into the enticing waters of the Great Lake.
“When it warms up we’ll go.” Ralph fantasized. He too wished he could go for a swim.
“My auntie says I shouldn’t swim. On account of my asthma” Nicky added from where he sat. The three others laughed knowingly.
“I’m a great swimmer.” Ralph bragged. He mimicked the motions in the leaves, throwing a bunch into the air and into the twin’s faces, to their shrieks and giggles. “My father taught me.” He stood and looked at Nicky properly for the first time that day. “When the time comes, I’ll teach you.” He suggested; a peace offering.
Nicky looked back at him, and for the first time that day, smiled. “You’d teach me?”
“I would. I will.” Ralph promised.
The twins grabbed him by the arms and dragged him back down into the leaves, resuming their fun.
“By the way,” Nicky looked up from his books after a while. “Where’s Simon?” He asked the twins who, tired from running around, were simply lying in the leaves with Ralph and gazing at the clouds. Over the weeks at Hogwarts, Nicky and Simon had gotten a bit close, both attentive to their studies, often at the library together. They didn’t speak much about themselves to each other, but they enjoyed one another’s company when it came to homework.
“Who knows?” Sam, or Eric, got up on his elbows and shrugged. “He keeps to himself mostly, just wanders around like a ghost–”
“Shows up here then disappears and reappears over there!” The other continued.
“The term isn’t even half over and he’s already fainted twice!”
“He mutters to himself all the time, it gives me the creeps to be honest. He’s batty!”
“He’s pretty good at schoolwork I have to admit–”
“Copied off a couple of his assignments.”
“Do you think he knows?”
“Well, whatever if he does!”
Ralph remained silent. Truthfully, apart from the first day, he hadn’t really spent much time with Simon, apart from some study sessions in the library, for the reasons previously stated by the twins. He didn’t think Simon was bad by any means but, he was batty. He was an odd, quiet, little boy, could you blame Ralph for not being able to relate?
Then, as if he had been summoned, Simon walked up behind them. For a minute, none of them noticed.
“Simon?” Nicky exclaimed. They turned in shock.
“Christ, you scared us!” The twins complained, flashing Ralph a look as if to recall their previous conversation.
Simon stood before them, mud up to his knees, smeared on his robes, and patches of dirt on his face and in his hair. In his hands was a fat, croaking toad, eyes bulging and looking in all directions. It was an ugly thing, but Simon was beaming with pride, cradling it with his hands.
“I was down on the other side of the lake and found him in the mud. He hopped right into my hands, I think he wants to be my pet.” He smiled at them, a rare sight, and thrust the toad closer to them. “Isn’t he cute?”
The others backed away slightly, tight smiles on their faces.
“Sure, Simon.” Ralph reassured him halfheartedly.
“Do any of you know how to keep a toad?” Simon inquired.
“Absolutely not!” Nicky shrieked. “Absolutely not and don’t you dare bring that muddy thing close to me.”
Simon pulled the toad in closer, a pout on his lips; affronted. “Don’t talk about Ryan that way.”
“Ryan?” Ralph asked, bewildered. “Who the bloody hell is Ryan?”
“My toad.”
“You named your toad Ryan?” Eric’s eyes bulged.
“Who names a toad Ryan?” Sam laughed incredulously.
“What’s all this, then?” They all whipped their heads the other way, to see Jack and his crew walking up to them from the castle.
“Jack.” Ralph nodded in greeting.
“Ralph.” Jack acknowledged.
“What’re you three doing?” Nicky asked curiously.
“If you must know, Piggy, we came to play.” Roger and Maurice laughed. There were some titters among the crowd as well. Nicky flushed bright red. “Or are we not good enough to come near you lot?”
“Everyone’s welcome.” Ralph stood, arms spread. “Please, join us.”
“And what’s with you?” Roger looked at Simon with a sneer. “What’s with that dirty thing, it’s gross!”
Simon looked down. “It’s my new pet.” He muttered softly.
Jack scoffed at him. Simon looked at him, large eyes turned downward. “You seem like the sort to have a pet like that, crawling around in the mud.”
“Pfft!” Maurice burst into laughter. Simon’s jaw clenched.
“Well, I’ll be off then.” Simon left quickly with his head down, to the stares and silence of the others.
The others recovered quickly, resuming their afternoon. Jack, Roger, and Maurice joined in on the romp, jumping into the leaves and playing with the others.
Chris was among those reluctant, his disdain for Slytherins muted now in their presence. In this moment, they were all just children.