It was beautiful, until it wasn't
The day turned to dusk as you and Del make your way into the Great Hall for dinner.
"Have you seen Harry? I haven't talked to him all day since the challenge." she asks softly.
You shake your head.
Something was clearly off.
The four of them stuck together like glue.
You and Chid part ways with a hug as she makes her way over to the Gryffindor table.
Del
I made my way over to the table, confusion and frustration looming over me like a low hanging branch.
They usually always keep me in the loop but it feels like something in the air sort of shifted.
"Hey, guys" I greet softly, making sure I announce myself loud enough.
They all look up at me startled like I just interrupted a deep and serious conversation.
They're plotting.
I just know it.
Hermione clears her throat uncomfortably as I take a seat next to Harry.
Tears sting the back of my eyes as I try to mask it with a giddy and oblivious smile.
One of the very few things I'm good at.
Ron just shoves his face, and Hermione looks down uncomfortably, clearly suffering from the deep secret she has to hide from me.
"So... What have you lot been up to?...I feel like after the challenge you all just disappeared." I say half laughing.
Harry's eyebrows furrow and Hermione gives me an 'i'm really sorry for this' glance.
A forewarning before my life imploded from the inside out.
"Erm... Del. Can I talk to you?" Harry asks hesitantly.
Yep.
Definitely planning something.
Ron throws me a sorrowful glance as we get up and make our way outside.
Y/n gives me a confused stare as we head out into the hall to talk.
Harry stands in front of me somewhat towering over me.
"—I really don't know how to say this...But we need to stop being involved with you." he mutters.
His words hit me like a pound of bricks.
"—What... Is this some kind of sick joke? If so, you really got me." I laugh softly.
Guilt loomed over his emerald green eyes.
"—You're being serious?" I question.
Tears pool in my eyes as I try to blink them back.
"You're too much of a liability" he says.
Liability.
His words cut deep into my chest.
Burning an imprint in the back of my skull.
"—Y—you don't mean that..." I say shakily.
Harry looks down at the floor not meeting my eyes.
The hot tears stream down my face.
Hermione and Ron finally come out looking at me sadly.
"—I'm really sorry Delilah.." Hermione mumbles lowly.
Her voice stings against my ears as I remember she was a part of this.
"You all planned this. Didn't you?" I ask sadly.
No one responds.
"I was always just the idiot that sat in the corner and took up space." I say lowly.
Tears run down my face as I shoulder check Harry and run up towards Gryffindor Tower.
Hurt and betrayal stinging my eyes.
—————————————
Harry, Hermione, and Ron return into the Great Hall.
You look over at them and see that Del isn't with them.
You could tell that something big really went down.
You get up and walk over towards them eyeing them suspiciously.
"Hey, did you see where Delilah ran off to?" you ask, slightly confused.
They were expressionless.
"She wasn't feeling good." Hermione says lowly.
Clearly a lie.
You nod convincingly and make your way towards Gryffindor Tower hoping to not get caught breaking and entering into the common room.
You ditched your Hufflepuff house robe and tie in a fake bush and made your way up towards the tower.
Hoping that you look less inconspicuous.
Two Gryffindor first years head into the common room through the portrait hole obliviously leaving an opening for you to sneak in and go talk to Del.
The common room is cozy as a lazy fire cracks in the distance illuminating the red walls with a faint orange tint.
You didn't know where you were going so you had to make it seem like you did.
You make your way up the stairs towards what you thought are the dormitories looking for Delilah's room.
After a few questions to some suspicious Gryffindor's you finally reach the suspected room and knock softly on the door.
"Hermione if that's you I swear to Merlin I will strangle you with your own knotty curls." she seethes.
Her wand was drawn, clearly ready to hurt the supposed Hermione.
As she opens the door clearly ready to throw a hex any minute.
"Y/n? How'd you get in here?" she asks sadly.
Something clearly went down.
Black mascara runs down her eyes and her hair is disheveled she looked as though she had been crying for awhile before you came.
She beckons you to come in.
Her room was really pretty.
Vines hung from her sealings, and her baby pink walls were covered in album covers and posters.
Her bed was filled with stuffed animals of all shapes and sizes.
"Are you okay?" you ask softly, pulling her into a comforting hug.
"No..." she replies, burying her face into your shoulder.
Sadness overcomes her as she balls into your shoulder letting it all out.
She tells you everything that went down at dinner.
You can't help but stare in anger in shock.
How could they? I thought they were best friends?
You felt bad for her.
People who she thought were her childhood friends leaving her for what they thought was her 'own good'.
"—I feel like a stranger in my own life." Del whispers.
Clearly emotionally drained from the crying.
"It really hurt... Especially coming from Harry." she chokes out in between sniffles.
You give her a pitiful glance.
"I thought—" she starts and trails off, not finishing the sentence.
"Y/n... Can you stay? I don't wanna be alone right now." she says sadly.
You nod and cozy up to her.
You lay back against her comfy bed enveloped in warmth as unconsciousness overcomes you.