It was too cold to walk around outside, and Lizzie knew if she suggested meeting in the study hall Tucker would find an excuse not to go. The student lounge she found too crowded with third years and the Library was impossible. They were neither of them Prefects so the office was a non-starter and halls were as cold as out of doors.
Which was why she suggested the Kitchens. It was always warm there, and there was a ready supply of hot drinks. And oddly enough, at this time of day, there weren’t any other students about. They mostly came down after lights-out, it seemed, and the House elves seemed doubly glad to see the two of them.
She sat, sipping her mulled apple juice and munching an oatcake watching Tucker dig into a pile of sand witches.
By and large, she was quite happy with the way things were. But there was one wee problem… no, not problem really, just a wee burr under her blanket, so to speak. So she sat down her mug and took Tucker’s hand.
“So, my bonnie lad, do you think it’s really very nice tae try and make a fool of yer girlfriend, or was that entirely Joel’s idea?”






Jane Scrivener
Millicent Helen Skrumpkin