Lady Stardust

29. Seraphina Miller

September 10th

Ariene was used to being at school now. She ignored the rumors that were still circulating, and the marauders would shut them down the best that they could, but Ariene couldn't care less. She spent her time smoking or studying, not that there was much to learn. She would silently go about her day, ignoring people's thoughts and making notes of her visions. She carried a small leather pocketbook around and a self-inking quill and whenever she had a vision she jotted the time and place and the vision. The pocketbook was already a quarter full. Ariene was in the library again, looking around for the divination books. She figured since she would have to start training soon she might as well learn a bit about the subject.

"Hello!" Ariene turned around, startled. Dorcas was standing behind her, smiling, arms wrapped around three leather-bound books.

"Hi," Ariene said, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear.

"What are you looking for? Maybe I can help!" Dorcas tilted her head. Ariene blinked.

"Nothing. Just searching,"

"Oh, okay. When is your next class?" Dorcas walked with Ariene as she tried to walk away.

"I don't have any more classes," Ariene sighed.

"Really?" Dorcas frowned a little. "How many classes do you have?"

"Three,"

"Three?!" Dorcas stopped walking and turned to Ariene, who made a small nod. Dorcas raised her eyebrows for a moment and grinned. "So are you some sort of genius?"

"No," Ariene looked away and started walking again.

"You don't say much," Dorcas said. Ariene stayed quiet. "Hm. I remember you from last year," Ariene frowned for a second.

"Oh?"

"You were the one that put Sirius in all the portraits, right? Those Marauders," Dorcas sighed.

"What's wrong with the Marauders?" Ariene snapped. Dorcas smiled in amusement.

"Nothing. Personally, I think the Slytherins take it all too seriously. They're funny, the Marauders. It's such an awful time, you know?" Dorcas ranted. Ariene looked up at this and met Dorcas's face.

"Of course it's an awful time. Slytherins are hexing students left and right," Ariene narrowed her eyes. Dorcas looked down and fiddled with her fingers for a moment.

"I know. I mean, I'm not like that, right? My dad is muggle-born," Dorcas said. Ariene nodded. "Anyways, it's just nice to have a reason to laugh, you know?" Dorcas continued. Ariene smiled a little bit.

"I dorm with them." Ariene looked away.

"I heard! That's so interesting," Dorcas said. Ariene shrugged. She considered for a moment, and then looked down and put her hand in her pocket, feeling for her cigarettes.

"Hey, Dorcas, I'm going out for a smoke, would you like to join me?" Ariene said, rather quickly. Dorcas smiled.

"I'm so happy you asked,"

***

September 16th

Ariene and Dorcas spent more time together over the next few days, talking in the library, walking around the grounds. The Marauders were highly skeptical that she was spending so much time with a Slytherin. Sirius was outraged, and Ariene made the decision to do nothing about it. Dorcas took Ariene's mind off things, and Ariene was extremely grateful for her, so Ariene would continue hanging out with her, despite the opinions of her dormmates.