An Opposite is a Perfect Match (MC x Garreth Weasley)

When Girls Run in Packs

Rosaline never liked that saying, "girls run in packs. Packs. As though women were roaming bands of wolves on the prowl. Even as she, Poppy, Imelda, and Natty descended the stairs to Central Hall, she fancied they appeared as a flock of myriad exotic birds; sweet, graceful as they descended, belying their potential ferocity.

Natty had relayed that Cressida was often found in or around the library, often studying charms and experimenting with her own. The word around the Gryffindor common room was that Cressida had been avoiding the library itself and considering her strained relationship with the librarian it wasn't hard to assume some sort of trouble was brewing. Indeed, as the group descended, they noticed Cressida sitting on a bench just off the final landing. There was a large empty bookbag sitting at her feet, and her face was pinched as she attempted to balance both a large tome and a piece of parchment on her lap-a pot of ink and quill sat on the marble beside her.

Poppy, Natty, and Imelda shared a glance as Rosaline strode confidently ahead, though her heart beat rapidly against her chest. Cressida noticed her approach and was quick to cast her work to the side and stand to meet her. "Oh, hello," she said. Cressida's voice was low and soft, a pitch a perfect balance between girlish and feminine. Rosaline almost envied Cressida her voice, but her own slightly too high tone fit her image quite perfectly and she had learned to enjoy it.

"Hello Cressida," Rosaline greeted with a sincere smile. "I was just wondering, is everything alright? You looked so forlorn sitting here I just had to check." Rosaline didn't often condone lying, but the group had agreed that an unknown Slytherin girl suddenly showing up and asking questions about Cressida's diary problem would probably lead to disastrous results. She had tried to tell the other girls she was horrible at lying, one of the reasons she refrained from telling them. None of them had listened and now Rosaline could almost hear Imelda smacking her palm to her forehead. She could only hope her confident body language covered her awful performance.

Cressida did look a bit suspicious, eyebrows lifted, mouth set in a slim line, but luckily Rosaline's friends were ready to rescue this suddenly floundering plan. Natty placed a hand on Rosaline's shoulder, a warm smile on her face. "Indeed," she agreed with her statement, we thought we should all check on you." She then looked towards Poppy and Imelda, the latter finally nodding in agreement after a quick glare.

"Oh," Cressida blinked a few times before a shy smile appeared on her face, "That's very kind. I admit I am having some trouble but, I wouldn't want to bother you." Cressida's face fell then, and Rosaline reached forward to take one of the girl's hands in both of hers.

"Try me."

Cressida then revealed her small mistake with a charm she had created to carry her textbooks, a mistake that caused her books to fly rather than float; a mistake without too many consequences one might think, except now Cressida's diary was flying around the library with those same textbooks. She had been banished from the library for her trouble and her books had been flying around the library all day. "I tried to get Gretchen Verond to help me earlier, she's a friend of mine but...well she said it would be too much trouble. I've been waiting for the end of the night hoping I could sneak in while Madam Scribner is doing her rounds but, well its surprising no one's gotten curious about them this long."

The group of girls had moved to sit around a nearby table. Cressida, Rosaline, and Poppy were sitting in the only chairs, Natty and Imelda reclined against the marble banister. Rosaline was still holding Cressida's hand. The girl was obviously distraught, and though her plan wasn't too complicated, wrangling five flying books that had been loose in the large room all day would still be difficult for one person.