Fragile Delay

Chapter 3 - Chapter Three

"I think we'll leave class there for today," Umbridge said. Cecelia smirked at the woman's obvious annoyance at the way the conversation had gone. She clearly hadn't expected so many people to agree with Harry. "Please finish your reading for homework and take notes on what you've learned. Class dismissed."

Cecelia was one of the first out the door, Draco hot on her heels. She could feel him burning to say something, but he kept his lips pressed tightly together in a thin line, throwing furtive glances at Pansy now and then as she trotted along beside them.

They eventually left the girl behind at her final class of the day, heading outside towards Hagrid's hut for Care of Magical Creatures in a tense silence. As soon as they'd stepped outside, Draco grabbed her arm with a tense hand.

"The hell were you thinking back there?" He asked, shooting her a dark look. "Talking back to Umbridge like that. She has the power to make your fifth year a rather miserable one."

"I'm well aware," Cecelia sulked. "Will you let me go, Malfoy? I'd really rather not be late to class."

"It's right over there," he said, jerking his head in the direction of where the class had gathered across the grounds. "We have plenty of time. I just thought I ought to warn you. Umbridge is not a woman you want to mess with. You should really consider being more careful around her."

"What's with you all of a sudden?" Cecelia asked, jerking her arm out of his grip. "We've never been close. I haven't even talked to you until two nights ago, and suddenly you're trying to be all buddy-buddy and looking out for me. The hell is that about?"

"Sue me for trying to be nice," he snapped. "I was trying to be a sympathetic housemate with what happened to Diggory last year."

"You? Nice and sympathetic?" Cecelia snorted derisively. "You're doing a piss poor job of it, I assure you. Someone trying to be nice and sympathetic would be more understanding as to why exactly that woman pisses me off so much."

"I don't understand personally, no, but I can see why you would dislike her," Draco admitted huffily. "But you're a Slytherin. You can't go mouthing off like that in a House like ours. A lot of kids in our House are related to death eaters, and if they don't think you're on their side, you'll become a target. Don't be stupid enough to let that happen, or maybe you'll be seeing your boyfriend a lot sooner than you thought."

With that, he stomped off petulantly like the dramatic child he was. Despite this, Cecelia had to admit he had a point. She hated admitting Draco may be right, but he made surprisingly good points now and then. Her housemates would definitely be wary of her now with how she'd acted with Umbridge, and if she wanted to avoid becoming a target in the upcoming war, she'd need to make it clear where her loyalties lied to them—and it couldn't be with Harry Potter.

-

"Susan."

Devara found the girl sitting alone in the Hufflepuff common room. Those who had been present in their class earlier kept shooting her sad looks, but made no move to approach. Others could tell something was off but couldn't quite pinpoint what. Devara walked towards her slumped figure as soon as she saw her.

"What's up?" She muttered quietly in return to Devara's call. She offered Devara a weak, wobbly smile.

She sat down on the couch beside the girl, wanting to reach out to comfort her but not being sure how much it would really help. She didn't know Susan all that well. But she had to do her best to make her housemate feel better.

"I am so, so sorry about what you have gone through. With your family," Devara started, her voice quiet. "I cannot imagine how you feel, and the Professor surely didn't help with the pain I imagine you must be going through."