Spawn of Azkaban

Chapter Twenty-Two

"He's hungover, and he had to deal with Bianca all night," Juniper laughs, quirking up slightly. "He had to play babysitter and share a bed with her." Juni wrinkles her nose in a teasing way.

The table filled with a silence that was unusual for the group, even when they were hungover. After breakfast, the girls went back to their dormitory. Bianca got in the shower quickly, she wasn't ready to talk to Juniper about everything yet. Bianca relaxed slightly under the warm water. All her problems seemed to disappear temporarily with the steam. When she got out of the shower, she went straight into bed and fell asleep again.

***

Before Bianca knows it, her days spent in the blissful bubble that was Christmas break are over. Well, it wasn't exactly blissful since she and George rarely spoke. They talked to each other in the group just so their friends wouldn't ask questions. The two were never alone together, so didn't have to worry about carrying on a conversation then. It hurt Bianca to think that she and George's relationship was facing this kind of strain. She kept reminding herself it was for the better though, and they would bounce back to how it was before. They both just needed some time.

The first day back to classes was easy enough, Bianca never struggled with school. Sometimes she did get overwhelmed with homework but never because she didn't understand. Oftentimes, life just got in the way. The day flew by and after dinner, Bianca had to go to her first detention. She wasn't nervous about detentions, she'd had her fair share with the twins and Juniper. The thought of being stuck with Moody and Cassie all night was what got to her. These two were probably the two people she disliked most in the world and now she was stuck with them for two months.

"If she tries anything just tackle her again," Juniper suggests as she chews on the end of her quill.

"Then she's just going to get more detention?" Cedric says but it comes out more like a question. His eyebrows knitted together and he seemed to be truly perplexed by Juniper. Bianca had to admit, they were a weird combination.

"I'm not going to fight anyone," Bianca sighs setting her book down. "At least not while I'm sober."

"That a girl," Juniper smirks and nods her head approvingly. "I raised you right."

"I don't think I'll ever understand you, Graves," Cedric sighs with a shake of his head. "When does your detention start anyway?"

Bianca looks up at the clock in the Hufflepuff common room. "Fifteen minutes, I should probably head out now."

"Well, good luck," Cedric smirks while Juniper just smiles at Bianca, her blue eyes practically glowing with mischief.

Bianca thanks Cedric before packing up her things. She was just about to walk through the door to leave when Juniper calls out to her, "Hey Bianca!" Bianca turns to look at her best friend. Juniper's face was serious now. "If she tries anything, give her hell."

Bianca smiles at this before disappearing through the door. If there was one thing Juniper was good at, it was encouraging her friends. Bianca felt slightly better about the situation as she made her way through the castle. The ignorant bliss didn't last long. When Bianca got to Moody's office, she saw him and Cassie sitting there talking. She felt angry that they seemed to be chummy, she felt betrayed because like it or not, Cassie was still her sister and Moody was a freak. Most of all though, she felt scared. Those two were both powerful and Bianca didn't enjoy feeling like they were on a team.

"Ah Miss Lestrange, I'm glad you finally joined us," Moody smiles. His face was so covered in scars and his eye was swiveling around its socket, the sight was frightening. Suddenly, Bianca was glass Moody was so, well, moody. She didn't think she'd like the idea of him constantly smiling like that.