Chapter 19: Under the Stars

I had spent a whole week at home, mostly studying and reading all the case information again and again, trying to find another clue. It got quite boring after the first day already. Finally – it seemed after ages – I’m unpacking my bag again in my dorm room. Lotte, Chantal and Hermione aren’t here, probably at fighting class or studying upstairs.
            Or not, because Lotte just came running through the door and is now hugging me tight.
            “Beckett! It was so boring without you! I’m so glad you’re back! Do you already know why you got send home, I mean, besides the fight?”
            “I missed you too. And no, I don’t know. The only thing I could think of was to study the case, but I didn’t need a whole week to do that.”
            “And? Did you find something new?”
            “Nope.”
            “Well, we still have till Thursday to find something. I wonder what’s going to happen…”
            “Probably another death, I think.”
            “Yeah, probably so. Oh, I almost forgot, I had to give you this.” She hands me a small envelope. “It’s from Fred, and I think it’s to make up for last Tuesday.”
            “Last Tuesday?”
            “Yeah, January 31^st? Rings a bell? Oh come on! Three months after Halloween?”
            And then it hits me. “Three months already?! God, time flies.” I sit down on my bed and open the envelope.
            “What does it say?”
            “‘Meet me at six thirty tonight, same place as where we first kissed’.”
            “Oooooh.” Lotte says teasing.
            “So, what did you and George do?”
            “Dinner date in the Room. It had changed in one of these picturesque French cafés.”
            “Ahw, that’s cute.” I tease.
            Pyrite jumps on my bed and lies down next to me as I caress her.
            “I should tell you she’s been acting weird the past days. I don’t know if she was missing you – what is very likely – or if she’s feeling the tension that’s hanging in school.” I didn’t take Pyrite with me back home because I didn’t want her to get stressed by moving; she has never really liked travelling.
            “Are people still freaked out over Claire’s death?”
            “Yeah, and they’re afraid they could be next.”
            I don’t blame them. “Little do they know.”

At twenty-five past six I walk upstairs. At the door of the library I stand still for a second, checking my dress and hair in the window next to the door. The next second I can’t help it but laugh about how self-conscious I suddenly am. Then I open the door and walk up the stairs to the Astronomy room. The ladder is already set and I climb it to find a table set for two, with a candle in the middle.
            “Evening, gorgeous.” Fred walks to me from one corner of the roof. “I missed you last week.”
            “I missed you too.”
            Fred pulls me close and kisses me softly before leading me to one of the chairs and holds it out for me. “Take a seat, ma’am.”
            “Why thank you. You’re such a gentleman.”
            I look at the plate in front of me; there’s a piece of a quiche, a steak and some vegetables on it. “So, did you make this?” I already know the answer, but I just feel like asking it.
            Fred laughs. “You know how horrible a cook I am. No, all honor goes to Winky. Want some wine?”
            I nod. I’m not really a big fan of alcoholic drinks, but sometimes wine on occasion feels good. Totally on an occasion like this.
            “Did I miss a lot in the past days?” I ask.
            “Not really. George and I got detention yesterday for drawing Umbridge as a toad, but further nothing really  happened.”
            “You drew her as a toad?” I’m more surprised about the drawing-part then the toad-part.
            “Yeah, it was just an ugly toad with a pink hat and a crazy hair-do. We’re not such professional drawers, but we got bored in class.”
            “Do you still got the drawing?”
            “Of course.”
            “Good, because I want to see it.” I take a bite of the quiche. “Okay, this is really good. Winky did some really great job.”
            “I know, isn’t it amazing?” He smiles, but then his face gets more serious. “I think you know why I arranged all this.”
            “Three months.” I just say.
            “Three months and four days to be precisely.” Fred smiles.
            “It’s adorable that you know the exact time.”
            “You always call me adorable.”
            “Yeah, because you just are.”
            He laughs before getting back to his serious face. “Anyway, to celebrate, I want to give you something.” He grabs a little box out of his chest pocket and shoves it to me.
            I wait a second before getting it and then open it. There’s a beautiful crystal in it, with something like another crystal in the middle with crushed rose petals in it.
            I’m stunned. “I… Wow… This is… This is beautiful.”
            “It’s a… It’s a necklace. Here, wait.” He gets off his chair and walks round the table to me. There he picks up the necklace.
            I pull my hair aside so he can put it around my neck. When he’s done, I too stand up.
            “So you like it?”
            “Yeah. I do, I really do. It’s beautiful. Thank you.”
            Fred wraps his arms around me and pulls me close. I can feel my heartbeat racing. I put my arms around his neck and lean in, tilting my head a bit before pressing my lips on his.
            Fred kisses back before murmuring (his lips still pressed on mine): “There’s still dinner.”
            I smile. “Dinner can wait.”

A/N: Well, I think this proofs of how bad I am in writing romance, so please tell me what you think of it. Don't be afraid, it will only make me a better writer!