Fragile Delay

Chapter 2 - Chapter Two

Cecelia rolled her eyes, but could feel the effects of drowsiness tugging down her eyelids. "I probably ought to sleep, too." She stood, keeping a loose hold on her book that she'd long abandoned. "I'll see you around, Draco."

To which he responded, "Later, Cecelia. Don't think about me too much, though I understand it may be hard." He smirked teasingly, throwing in a light wave and a quick wink before disappearing out of sight down the hallway to the boys' dormitories.

It was only when they had parted ways, and reached their respective dormitories upstairs, that she realised she hadn't bothered calling him Malfoy, and he registered calling her Cecelia.

-

The next day of Hogwarts wasn't anything special, considering it was only the second day of school. Devara had gotten up and had a hearty breakfast before making her way to her respective classes alone. She tended to arrive much earlier than her fellow housemates who preferred to stay behind and talk in the Great Hall.

First on her schedule was Divination. She entered the class, and took a look around her at the empty seats. It seemed as if she were the first one there for the time being. She knew Professor Trelawney was likely hiding in one of the shadier corners in preparation for one of her "grand" entrances.

Taking a seat in one of the middle tables, she brings out her class materials and sets them before her. Students began trickling in only a few minutes later. She was quickly joined at her table by Dakeira Vakara, a Slytherin whom she'd worked with frequently over the years in both Divination and Care of Magical Creatures. He greeted her with a quiet, "Hey."

She realised that among the students who were the last to arrive, she saw another familiar face. "Aurora, over here!" She called out to the girl. Aurora jumped in surprise at the sound of her name, but her eyes lit up with recognition when she caught sight of Devara.

She hurriedly climbed over the top of the ladder and was by her side in three long strides. Aurora was quick to swoop down and engulf her in a tight hug. "I'm so glad we're in the same class!" She says excitedly.

Devara reciprocates the hug immediately. "Right? At least we both have someone we know." Devara pulls back and scoots her seat over to make space for Aurora's.

Aurora sat next to her eagerly, leaning across the table to grab Dakeira's attention. "Vakara, right? I've seen you around class and the common room sometimes. You're so quiet!"

Dakeira nodded, "Yeah, that's me. Good to see you, Aurora." He then went back to staring intently at something on the table, otherwise ignoring the two girls beside him.

Devara leaned in slightly closer to Aurora, whispering to her. As she did, Trelawney stepped out of her chosen hiding place for the day and announced the beginning of class.

"Have you seen Faye?" She asked in a low voice. "Class is about to start, and she always takes divination." They'd been working on the subject together for the past year. Neither of them were any good, however, but she doubted Faye disliked it enough to completely drop the subject, especially since the class was so easy to pass.

Aurora shrugged, though she seemed a bit annoyed. "Probably skipping," she whispered in return. "Not like Trelawney cares about attendance, anyway. I'm just glad you're here, or else I'd have no one I know well to work with today."

"You'd think she'd have been sorted elsewhere with her distaste for attending class," Devara joked.

"She may miss lessons often," Aurora conceded, "but she's definitely clever. I certainly wouldn't want to play a game of chess with her."