September 26, 1890 - Gryffindor 5th Year Girls Dormitory, Hogwarts

There was no reason Sisse should have been as upset by the sight of Cam and Sloane’s kiss as she was. Her feelings for Cam had been so third year …. and second year … and first year. But they didn’t exist now, they couldn’t, because now she pictured Ned that way and the two sets of feelings simply couldn’t exist together in her mind. No, the tears and anger were purely because of Sloane, Sisse told herself. Sloane’s stubborn determination that friendship was not friendship at all. That was why she was dashing away tears as she made her way back to the Gryffindor tower, she determined logically.

By the time Sisse had returned to the portrait of the fat lady she felt she could reasonably pass through the common room without attracting attention. She had wiped away her angry tears, had washed her face in a wash room, and was confident she could square her shoulders and plaster a smile onto her face until she could throw herself onto her bed in the dormitory and try to pretend the last half an hour had not happened.

It was rougher than she expected but she blindly smiled through greetings as she made her way through the common room. She didn’t remember what she said to Ned or to Alice, but neither kept her there so that was good, she must have been putting a good face on to escape from the common room so easily.

Opening the door for their room she was grateful to find it empty, she didn’t have to put a brave face on any more. Didn’t have to remind herself that she hadn’t run away from Sloane and Cam because of her own feelings, but because it was more pertinent to give them their privacy. No, for a small time she could wallow completely in the misery that had now wrapped around her. She flung herself across the bed, burying her face in her pillow and allowing the tears to leak out into the cloth as if crying would wash away everything that had just happened and when she opened her tired eyes in the morning she’d realize it was just a bad dream.

It was only a few minutes later that any hope of crying herself to sleep and avoiding the others was crushed by the squeak of their door opening and the quiet steps of one of her dorm mates. Sisse grew still, hoping whoever it was (please Merlin let it be anyone but Sloane) only going to be in the room for a moment and would think her asleep. That wasn’t going to be the case either though.

Alice Dawson

  

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Thank you Bee <3 Your magic has made Sisse bloom

Alice knew from one look at Sisse's face this evening that something had happened. There were many changes within the group this year — primarily centering around Sloane, Cameron and Edison — and neither Sisse nor she were taking well to them. Quietly, as to not attract the attention from any of their fellow Gryffindors, Alice excused herself from her chat with Edison and followed Sisse up into their room.

The muffled cries heard from outside their dormitory only hastened Alice's steps as she rushed over to Sisse. "Hey," Alice prodded gently. Perhaps Mrs. Thompsett had finally pulled the plug on dueling. Sisse had been upset about that a few weeks ago, after all. "What happened?"

  

The steps grew quicker as they approached her and Sisse held her breath. In part she hoped it was Sloane come to apologize, but she had no wish for Sloane to see just what her words had done to her. How mortifying that would be. Instead it was Alice’s voice that met Sisse’s ears. Perhaps she had not been as convincing as she thought she had been in the common room.

Before she could stop the words and consider what she should and shouldn’t say, Sisse found herself blurting into her pillow, “Sloane and I had a fight.” Although what it had been about she’d never be able to say. But the fact that they’d fought would be obvious enough anyway, where was the harm in not keeping that secret from Alice.

  

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Thank you Bee <3 Your magic has made Sisse bloom

Of the possibilities Alice had considered, Sisse and Sloane fighting wasn't the forerunner. An awkward encounter like she had had with Sloane and Cameron, maybe, but not a full blown argument. She sat on the edge of the bed lightly, her hand coming to rest on Sisse's back. Whatever they fought about must've been something serious to cause this kind of reaction.

Her hand moved soothingly, just like her mum's did whenever Alice was upset at home. "Do you want to talk about it?" She asked quietly, not sure of whether or not pushing was the right course of action.

  

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Amazing set by Bee!

Alice’s hand on her back was reassuring, calming. It made her feel like maybe not everyone in the world hated or pitied her. She hadn’t entirely decided which was the case right now, but she must be a horrible friend if what Sloane had said was true and that must, of course, mean that everyone hated her.

“No.” She was quick to say, afraid the words would slip over her lips unbidden if she gave any other answer. But almost unbidden she ended up admitting the truth. “Yes. But I can’t.” Her voice broke on the last word and the tears she had tried to contain came rushing forth again. Was she selfish or was Sloane? She didn’t know which was the truth and she so desperately wished she could talk with Alice about it, but she couldn’t not without giving Sloane and Cameron up - no matter what Sloane said she wouldn’t have done that.

  

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Thank you Bee <3 Your magic has made Sisse bloom

"You can't?" Alice asked skeptically. What could've happened in such a short span of time to have caused this? She and Sisse had just sat besides one another in Charms just a few hours ago, and things were fine. Tense, but fine. "What do you mean you can't? Sisse...what is it?"

  

Sisse had always held the belief that friends told each other everything. They gossiped, chatted, and shared stories between them that could only be told between friends. That had been the type of relationship Sisse had thought she had with her friends. The kind where she could tell them anything and they’d hold her secrets dear to their hearts and in return she had thought they felt the same as her. Sloane’s revelation that she wanted privacy instead went against that entire thought. Maybe sharing secrets was not something most people expected from their friends. Maybe the very thought that she felt that way made her a bad friend.

Instead of answering Alice she rolled over, tears welling in her eyes. She was trying her hardest to look grown up as she sat up in the bed, but she ruined the illusion by pulling her knees up to her chest. “Am I a bad friend?” She asked, proud of herself for looking Alice in the eye at the question even as her lip quivered and she wished for nothing more than to cover her face again, to bury it away in her arms so even Alice couldn’t see her mortification at this revelation.

  

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Thank you Bee <3 Your magic has made Sisse bloom

"What?" Alice asked in genuine surprise at the question. A bad friend?! Sisse?! Merlin, whatever caused this fight had to be something major, though, try as she might, Alice couldn't imagine what. Sloane was a bit much for her sometimes, but she always seemed so anti-dramatics, much like the boys.

(That Sloane had written Alice about Cameron sending her a bracelet over and them arguing over it begged a different tale about Sloane's dramatics, but the bracelet wasn't her tale tell. Nor did Alice believe she had the full story there.)

She inched closer to Sisse, ready to pull her into a hug as soon as the first sign one would be accepted arose. "No. You are not a bad friend. I have no better friend than you." Except Edison, maybe, but Alice already was struggling with keeping the line firm at friendship with him to admit to such. "You're not a bad friend."

  

Scared of Alice’s answer Sisse buried her head in her arms. Next to her she felt Alice move closer instead of further away, instead of freezing at being caught out that had to be a good sign. Indeed Alice was quick to turn away Sisse’s doubts as Sisse peeked up at her. “Truly?” She had to be positive it wasn’t a ploy they were all in to make her feel like she was a good friend when really she was the most selfish being they knew.

  

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Thank you Bee <3 Your magic has made Sisse bloom

"Sisse, you're my best friend," Alice replied with a genuine, albit sad, smile. Sloane was up there, too, but Sisse was always the one to understand her best. Even if their worlds were the direct opposite of one another. "Who else would I confide in if not you? Edison? I doubt he wants to hear about our silly girl drama." She inched towards Sisse until she was close enough to reach for her friend's hand. "People say horrible things in fights, things they don't truly mean. You're not a terrible friend and I doubt Sloane believes that either."

  

At last reassured Sisse gave Alice a watery smile and even a small giggle when Alice continued on to mention Ned. Alice’s warm hand settled over Sisse’s and unbidden Sisse found her smile remained. That was until she brought up Sloane again.

She truly didn’t think Alice was right about Sloane as Sloane herself had made sure Sisse felt every inch the smaller person after their conversation, but she also didn’t think herself entirely at fault either. Perhaps Sloane would never be the close friend that Alice was, perhaps she had been wrong to believe all friends would share the silly girl drama as she did with Alice. But she didn’t want to change getting into the details of it all. “Maybe.” Sisse agreed, biting the inside of her lip as she refrained from adding anymore. Hopefully this would all blow over in a few days, although in truth Sisse wondered if it would ever be mended.

  

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Thank you Bee <3 Your magic has made Sisse bloom

That Sisse refused to divulge the details was concerning, to say the least, but Alice knew better than to press. Instead, she squeezed Sisse's hand in solidarity and reached into the hidden pocket of her dress for a spare handkerchief to offer Sisse. "If you change your mind on talking, you know I'm here for you always."

  

“Thank you Alice.” Sisse whispered as she accepted the handkerchief with a sniffle and a soggy smile. How desperately she wished she could tell Alice what had happened. Alice would understand the whole situation. But she couldn’t. Not without proving Sloane right. Not without betraying two of her other friends. Growing up sucked. If this was it she didn’t want any part of it.

  

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Thank you Bee <3 Your magic has made Sisse bloom