"Would you like to read the next line miss Noire?" Minerva asked and roped me in from my daydreams.
"Sorry" I said and looked up at her, everyone in the class turned and waited for me to do whatever she was asking of me.
"The next line, would you read it out loud" she repeated, and I shifted in my seat trying to quickly find something to reply with.
"Um. I'm sorry I have brought the wrong book" I lied and put my arm over the book so she wouldn't notice .
"I'm sure on of your classmates can lend you theirs for just a moment" she said and crossed her arms.
I sighed and looked around avoiding eye contact with those closest to me in hope that they wouldn't offer me their books.
"Merlin, do you want to spend the whole class looking around Noire?" Malfoy said an jumped out of his seat with his book in his hand. He walked over and dropped it harshly in front of me.
"Go on, read the damn line so I can take the book." He mumbled and towered over me where he stood.
My eyes flickered while I frantically tried to find the right page, he must've noticed my panic because he tapped the book slightly with his wand and it opened at the right page. I hastily read out the line and mouthed a thank you to him. He just clenched his defined jaw, grabbed his book and walked back to his seat.
"better be prepared next time miss Noire" Minerva said and moved on to the next student.
I looked straight ahead and caught eye contact with Granger, her mouth was open and she was studying me with a confused look. Harry bumped her side and showed her a piece of parchment that caused them both to giggle, before turning and showing it to Weasley as well. It is one of those small things that make you smile when you watch, good friends.
We fortunately didn't do any more reading the rest of that day, and I must admit I was feeling rather motivated to learn occlumency after being embarrassed like that.
when I came back to the dorm from the last class I was met with Astoria crying. I froze in my steps not knowing exactly what to say, but then she turned and looked at me.
"Alice, I don't know what to do" she snuffled and wiped her tears off with her hands.
"What's going on? What do you need to do" I asked and took cautious steps in her direction, and then crouched down to where she was sitting on the floor. My mind was racing and trying to find a cause which might have made her cry, could it possibly be Theo? No she doesn't cry over boys much, more like they cry over her.
"I don't have anything" she mumbled and tears rolled down her cheeks
"Astoria you know that's not true, there's so much for you" I tried and put a comforting hand on her shoulder, i must admit I still don't know what she's talking about but it's best to go with it.
"What? Yes I know. I don't have anything to wear" she said and looked at me with furrowed brows. It didn't even occur to me that she might be crying over clothes.
"Alright, well you do have a closet that is almost exploding.. there must be something. And uhm what- what is the occasion?" I asked and she turned with a thin smile.
"The quidditch practices start today, I wanted to watch the boys" she said and her smile faded again.
"Oh. Well you have so many pretty clothes" I said and gestured towards her closet.
"I know, all my clothes are nice. But I want to look different today because I heard Theo has a thing for office woman, and I don't have the ugly clothes? How am I gonna find something" she cried again and I snorted by reflex.
