The Conquest of the Ember Heart | F! OC x S.S. x O.G. x G.W.

Freckled distractions solve problems best

Tired from the short night, I stood on the Quidditch pitch and watched Griffindoor students strut across the bridge in their red uniforms.

Two books I had checked out from the library after the first hour laid in my arms while I still processed the morning. The cold wind whipping my face made me feel alive. Clouds laid low, making the sky look cold and grey. It was a miracle that it didn't rain.

„So? You still haven't explained yourself" Imelda clarified, holding her broom in one hand and the other was balled into a fist on her hip. I forgot that she was still standing in front of me and wanted an explanation. As fate would have it, she caught me sneaking out of the Slytherin common room that morning.

I rubbed my eyes and watched as Garreth waved at me. I greeted him over the distance with a short smile.

„About what?" I asked her innocently.

„About the obvious fact that you snuck around the dungeons. How do you even know the password? Don't tell me Sebastian told you."

„Like I told you, I sleepwalk sometimes and wake up in the most unusual places" I yawned heartily at her. She looked at me suspiciously. It probably wasn't one of the most convincing lies I've ever told.

„You would tell me if you stayed the night with a admirer, wouldn't you?" she questioned nicely but I knew she was frustrated with me. Who could blame her?

„Of course I would. Only I have not spent the night with an admirer, because firstly I don't have one and secondly I sleepwalked" She gave me another dissatisfied look. I saw Natty walking towards us and far behind her a grim Poppy.

Imelda rolled her eyes and greeted my friend. They all looked so much better than I felt.

„Watch out, Poppy isn't in a good mood today. This is most likely due to us" Natty warned me silently.

„Where have you been?" Poppy asked me in an irritated voice. That's right, I promised her to go to Hogsmead with the others. Instead, I put those plans aside and did my own thing. Without letting her know.

„Who me?" I tried the same tactics as I had with Imelda, who now looked at me even more questioningly.

„Yes, you! We agreed that we would meet in Hogsmead. And you Natty, you just suddenly disappeared. Afterwards I was all alone with Leander and Garreth." she explained annoyed.

„Doesn't sound so bad" I admitted and watched the spectacle of the Griffindor and the Slytherin Quidditch teams fighting for the spot for the tryouts. I'd rather be right there than be snubbed at by an angry Poppy.

„Garreth was in a bad mood all evening which meant we had to deal with a drunk man." she snorted derisively. I pursed my lips and searched for Garreth with my eyes. He looked surprisingly fit for someone who got drunk the night before.

Now who was I to judge? Being able to stand on both feet and talk was still a mystery to me. After absorbing Anne's deadly curse, I should either be dead from the wound or suffer the same bane. Instead I was fine. Considering if you could call unbearable tiredness and a bad conscience fine.

„I'm really sorry Poppy, I fell asleep while studying" I yawned again and wiped the tears from my eyes.

„I forgive you" Poppy said with a more upbeat mood. She gave me a big tight hug.

„That was easy" Imelda scoffed.

„And what about you?" Poppy turned to Natty after she let go of me. That was my sign. I slowly walked away from the others and Imelda did the same.

„Not so fast, Zograf" Garreth called me and caught up with me.

„Garreth, are you sober enough to mount a broomstick?" I teased him and gave him a nudge to his shoulder.