Alfie was the only person Julien had ever known who was a close enough friend to ask him to stay over. His dad had seemed pleased at the development, because it was only a step from making friends to having girlfriends in his eyes and he was starting to worry that his son was a faggot. His mother had barely responded when he'd told her and had given him permission to go with a distracted wave of her hand. Alfie's mum was a contrast and a half and he'd been completely hosted into silent embarassment at her welcoming nature, something he wasn't used to and was a little intimidated by. He didn't know how to respond to it and the more he mumbled and stammered and called her 'ma'am' the more self-aware he felt.
Alfie rescued him and they'd left the house with more murmured thanks. Julien had never really had a good time while out like the one he'd had with Alfie that day either; sure a lot of other kids his age would say that going out to study was the exact opposite of something they'd choose to do during the holidays but Julien had wanted to be useful to Alfie after what the other boy had said in his journal and hoped he'd lessened the burden a little.
He was busy shyly waving off Alfie's continued thanks as they went into the Hufflepuff's room, head down. "It's not a problem, really." he said again. Truthfully, he wouldn't have minded doing all of Alfie's homework for him, and not just to say thanks for having him over either.