CHAPTER TWO
Stupid Train
April 1907.

And they were back. Back in this same stupid old train that Elska didn't like much now. Everything seemed so dull without Newt, truly dull. He couldn't even come with Theseus and she because he had a job interview which sounded even more ridiculous now that she, actually, thought about it.

"All right, you two be careful," Erin said as she checked the clock above their heads. One hand on each shoulder, she gave them a squeeze and smiled. "And please, no arguments, okay? I won't be here to step between you two and Merlin knows what will happen," she let out a tired sigh.

Another thing, Theseus and Elska had quite an issue with being friends.

"We promise, mum," Theseus said softly, reassuring his mother. "Don't we, Elska?"

"We do, yeah," she hummed. "We promise, Erin. We won't jump at each other's throats. Well, we'll try."

Erin chuckled, shaking her head, "Good."

Elska and Theseus had discovered how complicated it was to actually stay friends. It was as if one moment they were okay with each other then the next second, all the harsh feelings Theseus had felt weeks ago were coming back and they'd end up arguing. So Elska had spent most of her days with Newt or alone in her room, not that she minded. Erin had changed a whole room in the house to make it Elska's and she was more than grateful for her motherly attitude.

Theseus, on his side, had spent most of his days reading about being an Auror. It had always been his biggest dream and he was so close to realising it. He didn't mind the loneliness; on the contrary, he quite enjoyed it considering he'd be soon sharing a dorm with his friends for a few months again. He had trouble sleeping at night, even though he wouldn't admit it out loud ever—but the truth was, he missed Elska dearly at night. He presumed that getting through the day was easier than getting through the night. During the day, he didn't have to actually think about her nor lay eyes on her which sounded harsh but necessary, but then his bedtime would come and he would feel completely lost. His thoughts would get the best of him and forbid him to sleep for hours.

"T, we are going to miss the train if you don't start walking," Elska said softly, snapping him out of his thoughts and he took a second to notice the frown on her face. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah, just a bit tired. Nothing important," he answered, automatically reaching for her hand so he could walk through the station without losing her.

His heart skipped a beat when she intertwined her hand with his and gave it a soft yet firm squeeze, just like she used to do before. He shouldn't miss her that bad, he really shouldn't because he was the one who broke up with her—said they were better as friends, which was the biggest lie he had ever said to this day.

"Should we sit with each other?" Elska queried, once they were inside the train. "I just—I mean, you can go sit with your friends. No need to stay with me," she added rapidly. "Just habits, I guess."

Theseus winced at her last words and shook his head nevertheless, "Let's find a compartment, shall we?" He asked as he watched her face lighting up as she nodded. "Do you reckon we could work on this whole friend thing, Elskie?"

"I want to."

"Me too."

Luckily, they found a compartment quite easily. They sat in front of each other, both stretching their legs so they could sit comfortably. The compartment was awfully silent without Newt. Elska couldn't help herself but glance at Theseus from time to time, just to see what he was doing. As usual, he was reading a book on how to become an Auror—it never actually crossed her mind that he could become something else than an Auror. Theseus had all the qualities to be one; he was smart, talented and beyond courageous, which were needed qualities for the job.

"Have you settled on being an Auror, then?" Elska asked after an hour or so. She knew the answer but still wanted to get something out of Theseus.

He hummed, closing the book so he could look at her, "I have, yes. That is why I took all the recommended subjects by Professor Dumbledore, he's a brilliant DADA Professor," he said as she nodded. "I already sent the Ministry an application for the Auror training."

Elska could listen to him all day, "Brilliant, T."

He gave her a small smile, "Yeah, I'm really happy. What about you? What are your plans? We never discussed it."

"Oh, well," she took a pause and sighed. "I don't really know? I'd like to work with Newt and other creatures. I'm really great at it," she told Theseus in a small voice, scared that he'd say it was a childish plan.

He hummed, still smiling at her, "If it suits you, then it's all that matters," he finally replied.

"T, do you...do you think we could have worked under better circumstances?" She queried quietly, fidgeting nervously with the hem of her t-shirt.

He let out a soft sigh, his lips forming a thin line, "We could have, yes," he answered honestly.

Somehow, Elska felt lighter to know that he thought they could have worked, that they could have been something great. She offered him a smile as the train came to a stop, and they both threw on their robes and headed outside. Elska stood in the hallway, watching Theseus as he marched to his group of friends.

Right, another thing she had forgotten—she was alone. Newt used to be her best friend and the only person she hung out with, and now that he wasn't there and Theseus wasn't her boyfriend anymore; she had no one.

"Merlin, watch where you're going!" Someone shouted as they hit Elska's shoulder.

"Hey! You watch where you're going, tosser!" Elska replied, using the same tone as he did. Hurrying herself to grab her belongings, she cussed under her breath as she barely caught how he looked. "Bloody first year," she mumbled.

"Need a hand, Prewett?" Another voice queried softly. She looked up just to meet with Henry Potter.

Elska chuckled, "Oh, shove off Potter. It's fine, I can handle myself," she replied. "Thank you, though."

"Right," he said, adjusting his glasses. "How is your friend? Newt Scammander?"

"Fine," she mumbled. "He—he's doing better than I thought he would," she then admitted, rising to her feet again.

"I'm glad. It wasn't fair, you know, that he got expelled," he continued as they started walking towards the exit. "I heard Lestrange talking about it to some classmate—she was very...chatty about it."

She snorted sarcastically, "It doesn't surprise me. Leta's never been the type to shut up," she explained. "Anyways, how was your holiday, Potter? Had fun?"

He shrugged, "The same old routine. Woke up, had breakfast, played Quidditch, read and went to bed," he told her, putting his hands in his pocket.

"Poor you," she joked as he mimicked a cry and she shook her head with a laugh. Not much was said after that, they headed towards the castle in a perfect and comfortable silence that none of them dared to disturb. "Hey Potter—" he stopped in her tracks, looking at her.

"Yes?" He asked, eyes still on her. Though, he was kind of looming over her due to their height difference. He seemed to read right through her as his lips formed a shy yet genuine smile. "We should meet up sometimes," he proposed.

Elska released a breath, still holding her books, "Yes, why not?"

"Why not, eh?"

Elska watched as Henry drifted towards the Gryffindor dormitory. It was a bitter reminder that Elska was now alone–she didn't talk to people much in her house, she knew a few but never talked to them much. There was Margaret with whom she shared a dormitory, they got along.

"Is that Elska Prewett?" A voice echoed behind her as she turned on her heels to meet a girl she had seen briefly in the common room. "I've been looking for you everywhere! I'm Alice."

Oh, Alice! Elska recalled talking to her when they started Hogwarts, they were sitting next to each other in the Great Hall until Newt came along and Elska hadn't been able to start a friendship with anyone else.

"Oh, right. Hello," Elska replied.

"I've heard what happened to your best friend," she started with a pout as Elska grimaced. "I'm sorry. I thought you could use a friend."

Elska snorted sadly, scratching the back of her neck, "I could, yeah."

"Well, let's be friends, yeah?" Alice proposed. "From now on, you are invited to my Quidditch games as I am captain of the team and then we shall go to Hogsmeade and buy sweets."
Elska chuckled but nodded nevertheless. After all, there wasn't much for her to do so she could get used to Quidditch games on weekends and Hogsmeade during the holidays. At least, she had someone. Besides, Alice seemed pure at heart and with only good intentions.

"Are you alright?" Theseus asked, once the common room was emptied and Elska was in front of the fireplace.

Elska smiled softly, her eyes closing by themselves, "Just fine, T. Don't worry about me."

"I saw you talking with Henry Potter," he then said, sitting down next to her.

Without knowing, she found herself smiling, "Yeah, he helped me because a first year bloody bumped into me," she muttered. "Did you know that Alice Monty has asked me to be her friend? She asked me to attend her Quidditch games."

"Isn't it nice?"

Elska hummed, "It is. Just bloody weird," she told him. "I want Newt to be here."

"I know, I do too."

"Just go to bed, alright? I'm just going to stay here for a while," she whispered as he sighed but agreed.

Carefully, he pecked her forehead and made his way to his empty dorm that he used to share with Newt. He stared at the ceiling, his hand behind his head as he thought of Elska. Theseus always had adored Elska since he couldn't remember when. Despite his small hatred for her, he loved her deeply and it was as if she was carved into his heart and soul. Whenever he would see a red-head outside with soft features, he would instantly think of Elska Prewett. As he drifted to sleep, he cussed at himself for thinking of her once again.

—————
authors note, i need to have a potter in my fics somewhere, IT IS A NEED! i lowkey picture josh o'connor for henry, i feel like he fits the character 🥳