Reactance | James Potter

"UGHHHHH!"

OLIVIA WOKE on November 1st to a twinging ache in the front of her skull. She forced her eyes open as distant, pained groans echoed throughout her dormitory.

She blinked up at the ceiling, laying still in her bed and avoiding the morning sun as it shone in through the window to her right.

"Uurghhhhhh!"

Footsteps scrambled nearby. There was a thud of something dropping to the floor, followed by a quiet curse.

Olivia forced herself to sit up. Rubbing at her head sleepily, she peered through the posts at the foot of her bed. Lily was straightening up from having picked up whatever she dropped — a bottle of Muggle medication, it looked like. She met Olivia's eye, and a solemn frown sunk her lips.

"Ughhhhhh! Lily!"

"It's Marlene," said Lily quietly. "A few too many last night." With that, she turned and hurried off towards the lav. Through the open door, Olivia caught a glimpse of Marlene's legs.

Olivia, wincing, hauled herself out of bed. When her bare feet met cold stone, she jolted. The clock on the table between hers and Lily's beds read seven.

Olivia went into the lav. Lily was crouched over Marlene, one leg on either side of her, holding back her blonde hair above her head — which was bent over the toilet bowl.

"You alright, Marls?" said Olivia as she glanced over her reflection in the mirror. She got out her toothbrush, lined it with a bit of paste, and stuck it in her mouth. Behind her, Marlene groaned in response. Olivia tsked; Turning around, her hip against the sink, she swiped some foam from the corner of her lip and asked curiously, "What happened with Dory? She wasn't here when I came up."

Marlene pulled her head from the toilet. As she settled on her knees, Lily hurried to shuffle back out of her way. Marlene was pale in the face when she turned towards Olivia and said, breathlessly, "Left when we were done."

Olivia bit the end of her toothbrush. Nudging the bristles with her tongue, she hesitated. Her and Lily exchanged a glance.

"She . . ." Lily swallowed, then continued, biding her breath, "didn't want to stay?"

Marlene shot her a stern look. Lily's shoulders slumped.

"If I let her stay, she won't leave," said Marlene. Unsteadily, she rose to her feet. Lily held out her hands, ready to help if needed, but Marlene only moved away from them. She squeezed by Olivia and out of the lav entirely.

"How'd she take it then?" called Olivia through the doorway. Lily came for her toothbrush. "When you made her go."

Marlene popped her head back in. Leaning casually against the frame, her shoulders shrugged, "Fine, actually. I didn't even have to tell her. She up and went on her own."

Olivia's brows furrowed in confusion. She glanced at Lily again, finding her just as surprised. Again, Marlene only shrugged.

"Perhaps she's coming 'round. If she is, we'll finally be able to get a real thing going .  .  . as long as she knows the boundaries."

Lily stepped aside to let Marlene reach the sink. Lily and Olivia watched Marlene rinse her mouth beneath the faucet, then Lily said, "I don't think it's a good idea. Dory's always been gentler than you about it. Now she's suddenly changed her mind? I don't believe it."

Olivia nodded in agreement. Pulling her toothbrush from her mouth, she said, "There has to be a catch."

Marlene turned to Olivia and Lily, clearly unconcerned, a bit of cheek to her tone, "Well, suppose I'll just have to test the waters and find out."