BETWEEN REVENGE AND LOVE

11

Saturday 06/09/1995

"I'm done, I'm done!"

Tracey's face is delirious with joy as she swings her arms into the air, a quill in one hand and parchment in the other, showing them off victoriously.

"No yelling in the library! Silence!"

Tracey ducks her head, as if that would make Madam Pince forget her rage. "Sorry."

"I believe I've made the rules clear often enough. Everyone is aware of them, including yourself, Miss Davis. That's detention for you. One hour, starting now, in Filch's office!"

"What?!"

Our currently fuming librarian has long since stormed off when Tracey finds her voice again.

"One hour of cleaning for this?! I'm finally done with this bloody potions essay. She should be happy for me, not condemn me to some Filch bullshit!"

"Really sucks." I mutter, yawning as I let go of the quill in my hand.

"It's way too hot in here," Daphne sighs, "it's unbearable." She doesn't even glance up from her notes once.

"No shit, but detention is worse! The absolute worst! And to make matters even worse, I'm starving. Is she aware I have to sacrifice my lunch for this?"

Lunch. Right. Merlin, I'm hungry too.

"You don't get it Tracey, she's mad because of it. The heat's bad for the books and that makes Madam Pince extra insufferable."

"She's always insufferable, Daphne. That's the thing with her."

"No, she's not. You would be upset too if your books were at risk. It's her job."

"Well, I wouldn't be in her place. Who would choose to be a librarian voluntarily?"

"What are y'all bickering about now?"

Blaise appears at our table, balancing a precariously tall stack of books and grinning, as usual.

"Why'd she not lock him up yet?" Tracey snorts at the sight of him, furiously. "That'd look like attempted murder in her eyes!"

"She's right, Blaise, you're playing with fire," I nod, yawning again. I'm too tired for this.

"I'm a master at pushing my luck," Blaise quips, "It's a gift."

He's making jokes now, but I already see Madam Pince emerging from a nearby aisle, her eyes zeroed in on him.

"What are you doing?! In this library, no one carries more than three books at once Mr. Zabini!"

We all flinch at her shrill voice. So, she's allowed to yell?

Her rules are annoying and mostly unfair, judging by the defiant look on his face, Blaise seems to agree with that.

Before she can reach us, he's already calmly placed his perfectly balanced stack of books on the table and dashes away. We can't help but laugh as Madam Pince chases after him, as fast as she's able to with her short legs.

"He's doing everything right," Tracey giggles, "I should've ran too."

"You can still run." Daphne smirks. "To Filch's office, if you don't want her to kill you when she comes back and finds you still here."

"Rude but sadly right," Tracey grumbles. Defeated, she starts packing up her things. We all follow suit, just as ready for food as she is, despite the heat and hassle.

"Give this to Adrian, will you?" Tracey whispers as we head out, slipping a small note into my hand. I nod, smiling as curiosity bubbles inside me.

It's practically common knowledge that she's in love with him.

So it has to be a love letter, right?

. . .

In the Great Hall, I spot Adrian right away.

He's sitting with Blaise, who apparently successfully managed to shake off Madam Pince. Draco's there too.

Giving the note to him in secret could prove difficult, but does it really matter if everyone already knows? It's no secret that they like each other. Tracey and Adrian themselves are probably the only ones who haven't realised it yet.

"Tell me what it says, yeah?" I ask, sliding the note over to Adrian as I take a seat. "I caught it in the wind and magically knew that it's meant for you."

Blaise chuckles. "A love letter?"

"Possibly." I grin.

When I look back at him, Adrian's face is turning an alarming shade of red, and for a moment I seriously worry about his well-being. Tracey should have come with us; she would have loved to see this. Curse Madam Pince. It's a shame.

"I envy you, Adrian," Draco says, his grin as smug as ever. "I wish someone would write me a love letter."

"I could write you a love letter."

Oh no. Too bold, Penelope, too bold. Why the hell did I just say that?

They all laugh, to my relief, and I laugh along with them, even though my face burns with embarrassment.

"Please do," Draco teases. "I'll write back, I promise."

Now my cheeks are on fire. Their laughter still echoes in my ears as my eyes stray to the front of our table. There, sitting with her friends, is Astoria. I don't pay much attention to the others. It's her. She's the one I'm watching, the one I can't tear my eyes away from, even if I wanted to.

I don't know how, but I managed to avoid her until now. And I was happy with that. I was starting to think maybe moving on could be an option one day.

But it hurts to look at her, just like it always did.

I stare, trying to absorb the image of her. All the little details that I've memorised - her face was home to me.

I need it and I need her.

I can't help it. I can't help myself.

I will always, always love her. And every time I see her, I fear, I'll want to be with her more.