Duplicitous | T.N.

LXVII • Complexion

TW: If readers may feel triggered or uncomfortable by any sexual activities or events,
I advise that you skip this chapter
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"Tell me," she read aloud, eyes shifted down towards the words before her "can the 'wolfsbane' potion effectively cure a werewolf curse?" The palm card fell face down upon her lap as she awaited Theodore's answer.

"Wolfsbane Potion doesn't cure but alleviates the symptoms of lycanthropy." The boy offered a boyish grin, seemingly impressed by his own intelligence. "Come on, give me a hard one."

The two, dressed in flimsy pyjamas and fluffed socks, sat drawled across her double canopy with study on their mind and hands all over the other. Inspired by the depths of her own humour her hand placed upon his thigh. The boys eyebrow raised "You said you wanted a hard one?"

His laughter was awfully boisterous.

The night before proved all and well in the end. It despite his utter shock that Aurora Flores wasn't actually a virgin that swayed his mind. Somewhat petty and cranky, childishly so, the boy allowed his thoughts to be possessed by such obsession.

His thoughts dwelled upon no less than the name of said boy - and where could he find him. This petty jealousy an unsuitable occupation of the mind craved answers and tortured him for such, he chewed his nails as she sought for another question, yet unable to truely sulk how he wished to the boy had to simply let it go, despite how much he really did not want to.

"Okay, here's a good one." She grinned. "How many–" and he interrupted her with a kiss.

• • •

The morning of Ronald Weasleys return was undoubtedly the single most disastrous morning of that year by far. The boy, pale – yet that could have just been his natural complexion – stumbled toward his seat, hand clutching his bandaged torso as he searched hopelessly for the appetite he never thought he'd loose.

Rory, surprised to find her friend next to her, threw an arm around his shoulder and pulled the boy in for a hug, her kiss gentle upon the side of his head in greeting. "Welcome back." She mumbled stealing a spoonful of porridge from her nearly empty bowl.

Light shifted through panelled windows and ran down faces, some students blinded by the light squinted. Their eyes narrowed as pesky beams bothered their vision. Lavender Browns eyes formed slits but did so not as a retaliation to the blinding light that cursed her face. Instead, she sneered for the purpose of igniting her newfound hatred and in the process hopefully burning Ron.

"So we're broken up now?" He flinched upon her gaze.

"Uh, yeah." Hermiones eyes refused to meet his.

"How?" The boy asked, seemingly oblivious.

"You don't remember?" Harry swallowed a grape, eyes shifting from Ron to Hermione and back again. The redhead shook his head ignorantly. Conversation soon burnt out.

The great hall seemingly drowsy that very morning did not particularly buzz like it often had. A peaceful form of serenity bothered none. That was until a new presence entered the premises.

Katie Bell, pale - and not due to her complexion - wandered through the doors. Skinnier than she ever had been and far more tired, smiled upon the crowd that rushed to greet her. Aurora pounced from her seat, Angelina close behind her; the two witches dove through the small flock of greeters and snatched their dorm mate for a tight embrace.

And as their statures pulled hesitantly from the others, Aurora gripped her friends face. Directing the girls chin once to the left and then towards the right, she assessed Katie for wounds. "I'm fine, Rory." She smiled. A presence lingered from behind her. Katie's body went stiff. Aurora, cautious, turned to face Harry and she paused, already aware of what he planned to do. "I know your going to ask Harry but I don't know who cursed me." She spoke softly. "I've been trying to remember, honestly.