up all night

Stuffing his hands in his pocket, Frodo sighed as he walked around aimlessly once more. That's all he had been doing these days, unless he was cooped up in his room studying for OWL exams. He couldn't remember the last time he did something fun, and couldn't wait for the year to be over.

He missed Kait but was glad that she was having a good time at Hogwarts. As he was taking one more round, he spotted a familiar figure sitting on the park bench. "Anya?" He asked as he neared and waved. "Long time, no see." He smiled weakly and sat down next to the Hrabrost.

Frodo accepted the hug gratefully and hugged Anya back. He chuckled lightly at her rapid questions and replied, "Everything at Durmstrang's going well, really. And I haven't really talked to Yefrem but I think he's doing alright." He smiled lightly as the Hrabrost asked about her siblings. "They're doing okay I guess. I haven't really been out of my dorm room a lot, much less than usual actually." He admitted.

"So have you been? Are you enjoying at Hogwarts so far?" He asked, attempting a smile.

"Torment Muggle borns? Are you sure he's related to you?" Frodo asked, mostly being serious. Anya was one of the most kindest people he knows and he figured it'd probably be the same for her siblings as well. Apparently not."I'll keep my eye on him if you want," he offered with a smile.

Frodo listened in shock as he listened to the Hrabrost's narration of events. "I wish I was there with you all," he said simply, his heart breaking more. He could handle bad things happening to him, but not with his friends. "I hope you all come back soon," he smiled lightly. He began to get worried and wondered if Lena had mentioned about the incident. Judging by his friend's question, he didn't think she knew. "No idea really," he muttered and ran his hands through his hair.

"No problem. I could use the distraction of caring for someone else's sibling since my sister is pretty much annoyed with me right now," Frodo told with a slight smile.

He chuckled and nodded his head. "Well, I hope you're right. The school's kind of quiet without you all anyway."

Rubbing the back of his neck, a sure sign of nervousness, he said, "I don't think you'd like to know what happened between me and Lena. Me and her are trying to get past it. But there's something else I have to say." He took a deep breath, but couldn't look at Anya. "My step father disowned me. I got the owl last week."

Frodo's eyes widened at the Hrabrost's suggestion and he stuttered, "W-What? N-No! Of course not!" He exclaimed. And then his voice became a whisper, "It was much worse than that." Shaking his head, he once again rubbed the back of his neck. "Lena kissed me," he mumbled, hoping he didn't have to repeat what he said.

"It's because I've been standing up to my stepfather ever since my mother died. Especially since he's the reason she's not here anymore," he muttered, suddenly not feeling like himself. "But luckily, he managed to keep my sister out of it."

Frodo's eyes widened even more at the girl's outburst, even though he shouldn't have been surprised. He got up and tried to make her to stop pacing. "Anya, please calm down." He pleaded in a quiet voice. "I know what she did entirely out of bounds, but I told you because I needed to let it out and because I trust you." He sighed softly. "We promised each other we wouldn't say a word to anyone and clearly, I broke that promise. So please, just give me some time to get through this as well."

"Don't worry about it, you didn't do anything," he shrugged and smiled a little at the Hrabrost as he gave her a hug. "I feel awful because things between me and Lena ever since have been really weird and awkward...and I'm not liking it much," he admitted. "But at the same time, I can't face her because a part of me is still angry at her."

He tried to focus his attention anywhere but on her. "No, I think I'll be able to stay with some relatives. But it doesn't matter where I stay anyway."

Frodo watched helplessly as his friend continued to rant in anger. He couldn't blame her, he understood why she was so mad, any normal person would be. He didn't regret telling her, though the guilt within intensified even more. Why did things get so messed up? He thought sadly.

"I'm sure Lena would have wanted to tell you, just that she might have been scared," he told. "Did you not want me to tell you? I mean, did you really want to hear it from her only?" He asked worriedly. "I'm sorry then, I just wanted to tell it to you because I knew that you wouldn't be too angry at me," he whispered.

He nodded his head slowly and felt even more saddened. "Yes, I told her and she had a similar reaction to yours," he murmured and buried his head in his hands, not sure what to say anymore. "I'm sorry," he whispered again to no one in particular.

Hugging the Hrabrost even tighter, he felt the need to get rid of some of the guilt. "I didn't mean for it to happen Anya," he kept telling, his voice going hoarse. He pulled back from the hug and looked at her. "I really did push her away, I don't know what she was thinking..."

"There are more important things to worry about than where I'm going to stay," he told quietly but in a firm voice, still looking at her. "I'll stay outside if I have to as long as I know that things will be a bit better."

Frodo didn't know whether Lena would have wanted to tell anyone, though he knew if given the choice, she wouldn't open her mouth about it. But was she that ashamed or scared to not even tell Anya? He put an arm around her, once again not having the right words to say. "Thanks for understanding," he told softly.

He smiled humourlessly at the brunette's question. "I have been asking myself that same thing for a long time since. And I still don't know the answer. Maybe it's fate's twisted sense of humour or something."

"What's the point of crying?" He whispered brokenly, though a few tears did begin to fall. "I don't think I'm that mad at Lena, I'm just confused. I know she and Kait might have a fall out but the thought of Kait hating me, is just too much," he mumbled and smiled sheepishly, embarrassed that cried in front of his friend.

He sighed and said, "Just forgot about it for the time being, Anya. I don't want to have to think about another problem at the moment." Truth is, he didn't know where he was going to stay. Would any relative accept him now?

"No problem," she responded with a smile as her anger began to diminish. After all, she'd deal with Lena later and Frodo had absolutely no fault for her best friend's actions. He was just an innocent by stander in her eyes.

She nodded, agreeing with his statement as she hugged him tightly, Anya patted his back soothingly when a few tears began to shed from his eyes."It's okay, I'll take the job at being mad at her," she tried to joke, a slightly fake laugh emitting from her mouth. "Besides, believe it or not, sometimes crying does help."

"No," she answered quickly, as she stood up and faced him with her arms crossed. "I will worry no matter what. I'm sorry to say that I'll have to be on my way out but you'll tell me where you're staying at the current moment so I can send you some keys to one of the many unused apartment my family has and if you don't, I will be a very angry, teenage girl."