26 Chapter 8 - Cloak of Fear (1/2)
”Here, a crepe with strawberries.” Vincent handed a crepe to a first year boy who looked hungrily at the food, ”enjoy.”
”Thank you!” the boy dropped a couple of sickles into Vincent's hand before he ran off to join his friends who each had one.
*munch munch*
”Crepes do seem pretty popular,” Vincent said to himself as he did his homework at the stall, ”earning a lot more than I thought I would with these.”
*munch munch*
”The library packed with books about cooking,” Luna said as she took a bite out of her own crepe. She jotted down a few notes, ”What's impressive is that you managed to learn some of the recipes in a week.”
*munch munch*
”Well, there were more than a few failures than I'd like to admit,” Vincent smiled wryly.
*munch munch*
”...Not to mention,” Vincent turned to the other person in the stall, ”someone seems to like it a bit too much.”
*munch munch*
Arnya's eyes sparkled as she finished her crepe only to grab another on a large platter. She then proceeded to continue munching down on it, finishing it in a few bites. Nyx and Blimp were nibbling one to the side.
*gulp*
Arnya swallowed her bite before seeing Vincent and Luna staring at her with wry smiles, ”What?”
”Nothing,” they both said at the same time. Arnya looked at them in confusion before shrugging it off. She then grabbed another crepe before eating it.
”You doing ok, Luna?” Vincent asked as he folded his parchment. Luna paused before continuing on with her homework.
”Why do you ask?”
”Just wanted to check in with you,” Vincent replied. ”I mean, you come here pretty much everyday, you doing alright with school?”
”I'm, fine,” Luna said, smiling as she saw Vincent's worried expression. ”Really, I'm fine. I'm happy that you're worrying about me, I really am, but I can take care of myself.”
”I know that, but still...” Vincent trailed off. He took a deep breath. ”Just, well, talk to me if you need help.”
”I will,” Luna nodded.
”Hey Vince, can I get a crepe with strawberries?” a dark-haired handsome boy asked as he came up to the stand.
”Hey, Cedric,” Vincent got up and heated up a pan. ”Finished Quidditch practice? Ain't the cold getting to you?”
”You know how it is, practice makes perfect,” Cedric Diggory gave Vincent a smile that has made several female students fall for him.
Cedric was one of Vincent's first customers when he started up his stall. With him coming at least once a week, he could be called a regular of Vincent's food stall. While they weren't particularly close, they were at least on speaking terms.
”Speaking of the cold, stuff that'll warm you up might help earn you a bit more cash,” Cedric pointed out as he looked around his stall to see Luna and Arnya. He gave a wave which was returned by Luna, Arnya was too preoccupied with her food to notice.
”Hmm, that's true,” Vincent muttered to himself as he poured the crepe mix into the pan.
”First Hogsmeade Weekend for third year students this week if I remember,” Cedric mentioned. ”You excited?”
”Yeah, I'm interested in the shops there I guess,” Vincent replied ”Seems like a cool place.”
”You'll love it,” Cedric reassured, he sniffed and sighed as he smelt the faint fragrance of the crepe.
”Here you go, one crepe with strawberries.” Vincent handed him a wrapped crepe.
”Thanks, two sickles was it?” Cedric took out two sickles and placed it on the counter. ”Take care man.”
”You too.” Vincent waved him off as Cedric made his way back to the castle.
...
On Halloween morning, Vincent woke up early for a run when he noticed Harry sitting at the edge of his bed.
”You ok Harry?” he asked.
”Oh, Vince,” Harry greeted glumly. ”Yeah, I'm fine, never been better.”
”Clearly, you have something bothering you,” Vincent said as he scarred his head. Harry remained silent. ”How about you come for a run with me, you know, to keep your mind on other things.”
Harry looked thoughtful before nodding, ”That sounds like a good idea.”
It wasn't...
Half an hour later, Harry finally finished his second lap around Hogwarts, exhausted, sweaty and cold. Originally, he was confident in his own ability to run, but then he met Vincent, sprinting, not jogging around Hogwarts for what was the seventh, eighth? Harry lost count.
Not mention how cold the weather was that morning!
”Tired?” Vincent called out as he passed by. ”We can stop early if you want.”
”...Yeah...right!” Harry gritted his teeth and managed to force in another lap and a half before collapsing.
”Here.”
Harry caught and drank greedily from the bottle that Vincent passed over, not giving any time to taste it. He paused in amazement as he felt all the sore spots and pain in his body fade, being replaced by a cooling sensation.
”So this is that comfort water.” Harry thought.
”So, what's up?”
Harry took another sip, ”Hogsmeade trip is today.”
”Professor McGonagall still not allowing you?” Vincent asked as he sat down.
”Yeah, probably worried that Black will be present there,” Harry muttered.
”Fair enough,” Harry looked at Vincent annoyed.
”You agree with her?” He asked.
”There is a killer after you Harry,” Vincent said calmly. ”Put yourself in Professor McGonagall's place. If one of your students had a well-known serial killer after them, would you let them go out to have fun at the risk of them getting killed?”
Harry looked down while Vincent continued, ”You have people that care for you in their own ways, whether you want to acknowledge them or not is entirely up to you.”
The two of them sat there for a while until Harry sneezed. They both entered the castle, happy to be out of the cold. They reunited with Ron and Hermione at the Great Hall with Arnya nowhere in sight.
”Where's Arnya?” Vincent asked Hermione as they sat down.
”She said she had something to do today,” Hermione answered. ”Doesn't seem like she's coming to Hogsmeade with us today.”
”Really?” Vincent asked sceptically. ”That seems a bit odd.”
Vincent felt a bit strange hearing that Arnya wasn't going to be with him for the day. Somehow, he had gotten used to having her around. They quickly finished breakfast before leaving the Great Hall.
”Don't worry about me, I'll see you guys at the Halloween feast,” Harry said as he waved them off.
”Hope Harry will fine,” Hermione said worriedly.
”Nothing we can do about it, let's just take as much back for him as we can,” Vincent said.
The three of them traveled down the road to Hogwarts before turning at an intersection along with other students, mostly other excited third years. They trekked through several fields before finding themselves at Hogsmeade.