Changing the elements

Chapter 34

Alexandra

I used my air magic to push Sirius out of the door. He made me so angry with his jealous behaviour, and his accusations. I also felt angry at myself for letting him get to me like this.

Still angry, I got out of my dress, and put on my yoga pants, and a sports top, switched my high heels for my indoor sports shoes and headed for the gym, grabbing my gloves from the desk on my way out. I had seen u punching bag in the gym that would help me let go of the anger. I was glad that Sirius was nowhere to be seen when I left my room.

The gym was locked, so I had to use magic to open the lock. I looked around to make sure no one could see me, no one was around, so I unlocked the door. The nightlights were on, but I wasn’t bothered by that, I preferred to be in the dark. I made a beeline for the punching bag, and punched away all the anger I felt towards Sirius and this entire stupid situation. I hated myself for the moment of weakness I had when I as good as admitted that I loved him. As if I had had any choice in the matter, my elemental bond had decided whom would be my anchors. I wondered what would happen if either of them walked away from this, the thought of Sirius with Lydia made me sick to the core. I was so lost in thought that I didn’t notice anyone approaching, until I heard a voice behind me ‘Bonsoir  mademoiselle Zabini’ Without thinking I wheeled around, and swung my arm, almost punching Philippe Leblanc straight in the face, luckily he caught my fist just in time. As soon as I recognised him I dropped my arm. ‘You know, eet eez not nice to punch an old friend in the face.’ He said. I smiled despite myself ‘je suis désolée Philippe, mais tu sais que ce n’est pas sympa a ta part de me faire mourir de frayeur.’

He made to hug me, but changed his mind on the last minute ‘You are, comment le dire en Anglais, en sueur?’ he asked. I laughed, and took a towel from the pile in the corner, understanding what he meant. ‘We say sweaty’ I told him. He held out a small bottle of water, which I took gratefully.

I studied him as the silence stretched out. Philippe had   been graced with his father’s good looks, and from what I had heard, his mother’s brain. My mother told me that last summer, he had been accepted at the Sorbonne university in Paris, which was a huge accomplishment. The wizarding Sorbonne, located in the centre of Paris, was even more selective about the students admitted than the muggle one, making it one of the most prestigious schools in Europe. Seen as wizarding universities were uncommon, there weren’t as many as in the muggle world. Most wizards and witches took their NEWT’s, and studied on the job, or stayed at home to pop out kids. I myself was planning on applying to several universities after taking my NEWT’s.

‘Alexandra, what do you know about Sirius wiz my Lydia?’ he asked, breaking the silence at long last. Philippe had been dating Lydia on and off for the past few years, I had always thought they made a fine couple, and would end up getting married.  Now it seemed that the once so confident Frenchman had doubts about Lydia’s feelings towards him. I wasn’t sure what to tell him, it wasn’t as if I knew anything. ‘I really don’t know what to make of them’ I told him honestly.  He sat down on one of the yoga mats, I plopped down next to him sighing. ‘I wish I could tell you more, but I don’t know myself I feel like I don’t understand their relation.’ I told him. ‘You are Lydia’s friend, she eez not talking to you about it?’  he wanted to know. I shook my head ‘She never talked about Sirius, I never even knew that she knew him that well, but they have been nearly inseparable since we arrived.’ I couldn’t help but putting some dismay in those last words. From the look he gave me, it was clear that Philippe had noticed. ‘You are in love with him?’ he asked me incredulously. ‘it’s complicated’ I told him. He smiled ‘Eezn’t it always?’

‘What happened between you and Lydia? You used to be such a great couple, I never understood the frequent break-ups you guys had.’ I asked.

‘It eez complicated’ he said still smiling, he took a deep breath and started talking, I finally got to hear the entire story, because Lydia had flat out refused to talk about it when I had asked her.

Philippe told me he had always admired Lydia, mostly from afar, seen as he was almost three years older. The had corresponded frequently, and had become very good friends by the time they first kissed, two years ago. I remembered it well, Lydia had told me everything in detail on her next visit, she had considered herself to be in love with Philippe. A few months later, at a Christmas function, Philippe had refused to kiss Lydia in public, as it would still be inappropriate, Lydia had dumped him for being to proper. She gave him the silent treatment for a few months, starting to write again by Easter. She had told him she came to her senses, and that was that, Philippe forgave her. This time they lasted until the end of the summer. Philippe had  spent a few nights with family at the côte d’ Azur. He had written Lydia, and she had thought that he was cheating on her with a girl named

Céline. Philippe never ceased to write, but Lydia didn’t answer him.  After several months of silence, he sent her a newspaper clipping that his cousin Céline had married, and all was well again.

By the last summer holidays were over, they had broken up again. Philippe couldn’t understand what had gone wrong. He had even gone so far as to ask Lydia’s father for his permission to officially court his daughter. This was a big step, as it was usually the step that came before an engagement. Mostly couples who had an age difference, but wanted to out themselves as a couple tended to officially court one another.

Lydia had, however taken it as an insult that everything was arranged trough her father, and never directly with her, which was possibly why she ended it.

I still couldn’t understand why on earth she had taken a shine to Sirius, she knew  of his reputation. Lydia was jealous, my conversation with Philippe had just proved that. It was as if someone hit me over the head with a club ‘What if she’s doing it to get a reaction from you?’ I asked him.

He shook his head ‘she’d never do that.’ I was surprised by his naivety, of course she would do this Lydia wanted Philippe to prove himself to her, to prove that he was willing to go to the ends of the world for her. I explained this to him, but he didn’t believe me, he was sure she was moving on. I assured him that I would get to the bottom of this, but not now. I glanced at the clock, it was almost midnight, and I had a session with Tom planned at 5.

Philippe asked if he could walk me to my room but I declined, we said our goodbyes, and I promised him that I would poke around a little.

Once I had showered, I asked Pixie to wake me up at 4, and fell asleep before my head hit the pillow.

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