Time Flys || hphm T.W

eighteen • burning pages

Christmas came and went, with a simple card and a large pouch of galleons from each of her parents Lilianas had been mostly uneventful. They had split again. The ball was a weird topic, not everyone knew of the death eaters there, in fact only Slytherins noticed the active ones and they didn't dare share the information but Talbott knew.

He had made a point to try and restrain from being around Slytherins and that unfortunately included Liliana though not seeing her specifically wasn't on purpose. He couldn't fathom their dismissal of the peoples actions, how casual they were around them. He had seen her in passing and they had made conversation but not quite as often as before and she noticed. She guessed why and it was no surprise, she understood he needed space but she felt something missing and a tugging feeling in her stomach made her think it was Talbott.

She had seen him through the halls but whenever he noticed Merula, Kate or anyone with green ties nearby he moved away. Even Rowan who was nothing but a pure ball of loveliness was being avoided by him and though they weren't friends he made sure he didn't have to talk to any of them, he tried with Barnaby and slowly he became comfortable again. But it was hard.

The holidays were almost over and the new year fast approached the students of Hogwarts, especially those sitting exams in the summer. The hall was full of groups of 5th years revising for mock exams and completing projects with each other, Liliana was sat around the Gryffindor table accompanied by her friends who were all moaning about History of magic.

"I don't like to dwell on the past so why am I leaning it?"

"Shush Diego I can't remember the leading Goblins name from the war."

"Maybe Flitwicks related to him," Jae put a hand to his chin before whipping his head around to see if the professor was near.

"There's so many problems with what you just said." Penny shook her head and just left the question blank.

"Maybe be heard us with his special ears... we're going to be kicked out." Bens teeth chattered while he tugged on his hair with a superstitious look around the room. He had sat with the group for the first time in months and he was still too quiet compared to previously but it was a start.

"I'm sure you'll be fine." Charlie reinforced before turning back to his dragon book.

Penny squinted her eyes at the boy across from her,"Charlie do you not think revising actual topics might be more... useful?" She suggested continuing to look down and finish her sheets while twirling a plait around one of her fingers.

"No."

"I'm with Charlie, this subject can suck my arse-"

The sharp pain of a book hitting her head flew through Lilianas body, she knew that slap anywhere and bowed her head down hoping not to catch Snapes stare as she threw a disgusted look his way.

"I Hope you're more respectful of your other teachers, Gutierrez." She silently nodded and Snapes clicking heels soon marched away from the table.

Liliana scoffed and decided she was done with history of magic, she used to love history in her muggle Primary and reading it for fun but what they taught at Hogwarts was simply not it. She opened her Transfiguration text books to begin annotating them as she read and occasionally spouted a question to the group but none of them were particularly well versed on it. After asking them for the 5th time what the incantation was for turning a rat into a mouse, which is surprising difficult considering how similar they are, she was shouted at to shush again.

Bloody typical.

She went to the library since Mcgnagall was no where to be seen and began looking again for any helpful books since she had been prepared to memorise political and war strategies from centuries ago used by their measly ancestors for the History of Magic exam and didn't have many on hand.