MORNING

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The air was crisp, the sun began to rise along the hilly horizon, casting shimmering reflections on the surface of the Black Lake. Grey clouds were frequent and formed a gloomy blanket that was occasionally punctured by the golden light seeping between the gaps.

The first day of lessons had arrived to everyone's dismay. Vulpecula awoke with the sliver of sunlight shining through the gap in her bed's red curtains. She turned over to avoid the light but her attempts were futile and the realisation that there was no escaping the inevitable dawned on her.

With a groan, she sat up and pulled apart the curtains around her. Hermione's bed was empty while Lavender and Pavarti were still lost in slumber.

She rose from her bed, grabbing the uniform she'd laid out on her trunk, and dragged herself to the bathroom. She prepared herself for the day, putting minimal effort into her appearance. She wore a bare face while her hair was messily pulled into a bun at the nape of her neck.

She stared straight ahead of her, her eyes never leaving her reflection. Unblinking. It was as if she was having some sort of staring contest with herself. Taking a deep breath, she finally let her eyes fall closed.

"You're okay." She whispered. "You'll be fine."

For the past two days, the girl had not left her dormitory. Hermione had been bringing up food from meals and sitting with her occasionally, but for the most part, Vulpecula was curled up in her covers.

She would allow her mind to race, tears would spill as she silently sobbed into her pillow, and when she'd cried all her tears, she would pick up a book and distract herself. Until the cycle repeated itself.

Now that the first official day of school had arrived, she demanded herself to get up. She had her O.W.Ls this year, and although she didn't know the path of her future, if she was even going  to have one, she figured it would be good to have options.

"Get it together, Black."

She turned and walked out of the bathroom. Lavender and Pavarti had woken up and they each gave Vulpecula a kind smile which she returned as best she could.

Vulpecula's school shoes echoed on the stone floor as she descended the stairs, the sound becoming muffled when she stepped out onto the carpet of the common room. It had been cleaned since she last saw it, there was not a single trace of the party. 

The common room was surprisingly empty, with only two first years sat in a corner writing frantically, most likely finishing an essay last minute.

Vulpecula headed out of the portrait and walked through the corridors towards the Great Hall. Making her way around Hogwarts was something she could do in her sleep, she knew the corridors and stairways like the back of her hand.

As her footsteps echoed through the castle, her thoughts ran through her. She knew that there was no evading the fact that she was in danger; previously, she may have seen the fact as a possibility or a minute detail, yet now Voldemort was growing stronger and he was finding ways to get to her, as he did Harry.

She worried about Theodore, he'd been so cautious about her because of his association with the Dark Lord because of his father. She hadn't been able to have the simple conversation she wanted to have about their where the relationship was going, and now what he wants may be different.

As she approached the Great Hall's large doors, she heard the growing sound of chatter and cutlery against plates. She smiled softly at the sound, something so simple was so comforting.

Entering the Great Hall, Vulpecula felt herself being watched by millions of eyes. They burnt into her as she walked through the doors and over to the Gryffindor table, where her chatting friends were awaiting her arrival.

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