𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐈𝐋𝐈𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄

xix. a trick of the mind

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CHAPTER NINETEEN
❝ A Trick of the Mind ❞

The morning started off horrendous, worse than yesterday and the day before that. Aurora had woken up in a cold sweat three times already, and all three times she's been having a persistent fever and gruesome hallucinations which have resulted in vomiting. Headaches no longer felt dull and tolerable, they became rather sharp and made her feel sensitive to light and sound. Despite how she was feeling, Hagen was pushing herself through in order not to worry those around her.

Her roommates had suggested she go to the Hospital Wing, but Aurora had refused numerous times. Zacharias and Ernie had even threatened to take her themselves if they caught her losing consciousness, which has happened only once; nonetheless, they were left frightened. The lot of them weren't allowed to say a word to anyone as a promise they were forced to make.

Although they each promised and kept their mouths shut, it didn't stop others from noticing how dreadful Aurora appeared every morning and every day. Taking the time to get ready in the mornings wasn't at all in her favor. It didn't matter whether it took her an hour or two to get ready, she was always looking like it took her five minutes. The dark circles under her eyes and her cold skin said a lot more than she anticipated.

One person who was quick to realize there was something wrong was Theodore. How couldn't he? Since the day he and Hagen made up, he went back to being as affectionate as ever. He'd hold her hand, he'd caress her cheeks, he'd kiss her forehead or cheeks — he saw and felt how different Aurora was. He of course questioned her, yet he wasn't given much of an answer. He knew that asking continuously wouldn't gain him anything; Aurora was a closed book when it came to her health.

Which was why Theodore made it his duty to sneak into the kitchen and try to eavesdrop on the Hufflepuffs' conversations; he gained nothing from doing so. Less likely when Blaise was always with him followed by Daphne and Tracey. With the lot of them around, it was impossible for Theodore to stay hidden. He was beginning to think that his friends were doing it on purpose. Tracey was always assuring him that whatever Aurora was hiding, she would come to speak about it whenever she was ready. Nott had no option but to agree.

Davis, however, wasn't entirely on board with that decision. She was going to find out what the matter was with her friend, even if it meant tricking her into speaking.

"I swear it's nothing," Hagen said for the third time already as she, Tracey, and Lisa entered Professor Babbling's classroom for the first lesson of the day.

Lisa, who had been agreeing with Tracey the entire time, said, "You haven't exactly been bubbly these past few days, Aurora. You've been edgy lately, as if you're expecting to be scared at any moment. Not to mention, you look horrible. I don't say it to be rude, I'm just making an observation like everyone has been. Ernie certainly has been making observations and he's gone completely mad just worrying about you. It's stressing him out as well as the rest of your roommates. Whatever it is that's going on with you is scaring the living soul out of them."