Refrain (preview)

Clarke looked at the girl in annoyance. He leaned back against the cushions of the armchair and coughed loudly.


"Sya, let's duel."


"Are you mad, Walker? Not right now." Her eyes remained glued to her book.


"Come on, no one will know."


"Someone always knows," Sya waved her hand about in the air and pointed her finger at him from across the common room. "And you always pay." 


Clarke grunted.


"Besides," she folded one of the pages she fingered, "I have more important things to do."


Clarke sighed and reached into the sleeve of his cloak, retrieving his wand. With a flick of the wrist, Sya's 
textbook dropped to the ground.

"You're unbearable, Walker! Pester someone else!"

"Come on, fight me. Then I'll leave you be to your important matters and whatnot."

"You'll win as you always do and I'm just a sort of pawn in this twisted game to boost your ego. Sounds fantastic."

"I wouldn't ask if you'd didn't stand a bit of a chance," he remarked, staring in no particular direction.

"Is that supposed to be a compliment? Honestly, you're suffocating me. You're usually bothering First years or was it Ravenclaws in particular that you were quite fond of bullying? Not anymore, hm?"

Clarke found his shoes rather interesting.

"Oh, what's this? The great Clarke Walker at loss for words? Cute. Really." Sya walked over to where he sat and patted him once upon the cheek. 

"Stop changing the subject," Clarke growled, pushing her hand away. He shifted on the cushions so he could sit up straight. He glanced down and rolled his wand about between his index finger and his thumb.


"Fine, let's duel if it'll make you less of a prick," Sya walked to the door and beckoned him to follow, "Come on, I know a place."