Acrasia [t.r]

𝐕. 𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐎𝐍𝐎𝐌𝐘

10th September, 1952.

  Alice flipped the page of her book absentmindedly, her head rested in her hand. It was getting late and twilight was starting to prevail outside the windows of the library where she sat with Edward and Grace. Grace was engrossed in her essay while Edward copied out notes from a hefty library book on the desk next to him. From what she could see it looked like Ancient Runes.

  She yawned and returned her attention to her own book. She wasn't exactly reading it. Her mind randomly flashed back to her tutoring session with Professor Riddle on Monday. In the end he hadn't made her drink the Veritaserum, but he was damn close to persuading her.

  Today's tutoring hour had been a little less eventful. He'd run through the first topic of her History of Magic course while she made notes. Which probably explained why her attention span was entirely exhausted by the time she'd met with Edward and Grace at the library.

  She fell into a daze as she stared at the same three lines she had been for the last half hour before she was interrupted by a strange noise that broke the silence. It sounded–

  It sounded like people kissing.

  Snapping her head up, she made brief eye contact with Grace—the pair of them sharing a confused glance. No more than a second later, Freddie Darlington stumbled past them and noisily into the desk, engaged in a passionate exchange with a blonde Ravenclaw girl.

  Catching sight of the three of them, he looks past the girl making direct eye contact with Grace. "Sorry," He says with a devilish smirk. "I didn't realise this space was occupied."

  "It's a public library, of course its fucking occupied." Grace spat, venom in her tone. She never swore. Alice knew she must be pissed. "Take your exploits somewhere more appropriate Darlington." She barged past him and the blonde, storming out of the library.

  Edward shot Freddie a poisonous look before following after Grace. As soon as they were both out of sight, Freddie shoved the Ravenclaw off of him, muttering some lie about making it up to her later.

  Alice wanted to slap that smarmy smile right off his face. It was obvious he wanted Grace to witness that, Alice just didn't know why. If it was to make a point he's moved on, the fact that he even felt the need to prove it argues otherwise.

  "Just stop messing with her," Alice warned, an intensity to her tone. "She doesn't deserve it."

  Freddie swallowed thickly as Alice left the library. She was right. Grace didn't deserve it. But he could see his plan working, he just needed to agitate Grace just a little more. Because when she finally snapped, Freddie would be there to mend the fallout.

  When Alice got back to the common room Grace was nowhere to be seen so she tried her luck with their dorm instead. Nudging the door open ever so gently she found Grace perched on her bed staring out the window. Tear tracks stained her cheeks but she wore a blank expression.

  Alice tentatively settled on the bed next to her. Grace gave no sign she'd noticed her as another tear spilled from her eyes. They sat like that in silence for a while. When Grace finally spoke her voice was shaky. "I just wish– He just–" She took a steadying breath. "He acts like I wanted to break up with him."

  "Didn't you have a choice? When was this anyway?" Alice asked, trying to wrap her head around the situation.

  "Over summer. I didn't want to, I just couldn't stand to–" Grace choked out. A rogue tear sliding down her face. Alice didn't push her any further to explain. She awkwardly placed a hand on Grace's shoulder in reassurance; though Alice had never been terribly good at comforting people. She hadn't known the girl long, but it pained her to see Grace like this. She plastered on a good front but Alice was starting to realise her easy smiles were merely a facade for the misery she was harbouring deep down.