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"Happy Birthday," Josie whispers to Dorcas, who groans and pulls the blanket over her head. Josephine chuckles, then quietly gets up, leaving Dorcas to rest a bit longer.
As she readies herself, Josephine glances at the faint scratches on her arm. They aren't particularly noticeable. Despite taking a shower immediately upon returning to her dorm last night, she can't shake off the feeling of dirt or even blood staining her hands.
Her movements pause as unsettling thoughts take hold.
Stop.
She despises this feeling, the sensation of guilt clinging to her. The phrase "blood on your hands" strikes oddly, as though the blood could be confined there, contained like a glove. She wishes it were that simple, that the blood didn't infiltrate her mind like a relentless plague, accusing her of the deaths of people she will never get to know.
She is guilty.
Today, though, it doesn't matter.
Regaining focus, Josephine continues preparing. A few minutes later, she quietly emerges from the bathroom. Only two people remain asleep now; the others are slowly getting ready. She returns to Dorcas.
"Time to wake up," Josie urges, shaking Dorcas's shoulder. Dorcas cracks open her eyes and glares.
"Let me sleep, it's my birthday," she grumbles.
"Fine," Josie shrugs. "Just know Marlene is waiting in the common room."
Her eyes widen, then narrow. "You liar," she mutters before turning over.
Josie chuckles, heading back to her own bed. She is definitely fibbing.
Truthfully, she is surprised Dorcas sees through it—usually, she can't.
Snatching her bag, Josephine leaves the dorm and ventures into the common room.
Her brow furrows upon seeing students from other houses in their common area—Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs. She narrows her eyes but continues down the steps from the girls' dormitory.
"Josie!" Pandora practically bolts over. "Help me, they're after homework answers!" Pandora seizes her shoulders.
Josie laughs, observing the group of boys and girls trailing behind Pandora.
"Keep them busy while I go wish Dorcas a happy birthday."
"Wait—" Pandora rushes up the steps. Rolling her eyes, Josephine turns to face the group.
"I'm not providing answers," she states firmly. "But he always has the answers." She points to Davian across the common room. The group shifts towards the boy.
She grins to herself before glancing back at the stairs. Pandora is descending now. "Dorcas told me to fuck off."
Josephine chuckles as they exit the common room.
"Why are there scratches on your arms?" Pandora furrows her brows, eyeing Josephine's arms.
"I was chased through the woods by a giant spider," Josephine narrows her eyes. "I detest spiders now, had a nightmare about them."
Pandora's eyes widen. "Josie, what? You were chased by—" Pandora pauses. "Well, at least you're alive?" She shrugs.
"Yes, and now I'm petrified of spiders."
Both of them laugh as they stroll to the Great Hall.
Eventually arriving, they make their way to the Ravenclaw table, noticing only Barty at the Slytherin table.
"Hello, Barty," Pandora greets with a smile as they sit down.
"Hello," he replies without looking up from his paper.
Josephine and Pandora face forward, serving themselves some food. Josie only adds a few pieces of fruit to her plate. She doesn't notice Regulus and Evan entering until someone touches her arm.
"Why do you have so many scratches on your arm?" Evan's voice holds concern as he inspects her arm. Regulus, seated at the Slytherin table, glances up quickly. Josephine turns more towards Evan.
"It's fine, I was in the forest last night and got chased by a giant spider." She moves her arm away from Evan.
Barty looks up. "You were chased by an acromantula?"
"Yeah," she nods before turning back to her meal.
"Why were you in the woods?" Regulus inquires. Josephine turns to face him.
"I was helping Hagrid find plants."
Evan narrows his eyes. "You're too kind, Josette."
She simply offers him a fake smile before focusing back on her meal. She doesn't feel particularly kind.
Someone settles beside her. "Happy Birthday." Josephine smiles at Dorcas.
"Thank you."
The others extend their birthday wishes to Dorcas.
Josephine has something for her—a ring she found on the last Hogsmeade trip, reminding her of Dorcas. It's in her dorm, waiting to be given later.
~~~
Someone taps her shoulder, and Josie's face immediately lights up as she sees it's Regulus.
"Hey," she greets, glancing at the clock; it's after classes, and she is engrossed in studying at the library.
He smiles back. "It's time."
They have planned to head to the courtyard to celebrate Dorcas's special day. Earlier, Josie tucked the gift she'd prepared for Dorcas into her bag.
"Okay," Josephine nods, swiveling in her seat to grab her bag.
Once she has it, Josie rises from her seat, walking out of the library in tandem with Regulus.
Together, they stroll through the echoing halls of Hogwarts until they reach the outdoors.
The others are already gathered; Dorcas is munching on a cupcake while Pandora attempts to dodge Evan, who seems eager to smear a cupcake on her face.
She chuckles softly as they approach.
"You got it in my hair!" Pandora protests, trying to remove frosting from her hair.
"Oops," Evan shrugs. Dorcas and Barty sit on a nearby bench, while Pandora and Evan settle on the grass.
"Time for presents!" Dorcas announces excitedly after finishing her cupcake.
Josie and Regulus find spots on the grass near Pandora and Evan.
"Don't even think about it," Josephine warns Evan, who appears ready to toss a cupcake at her.
"Fine," he sighs in mock disappointment.
Each of them presents their gifts to Dorcas, which takes longer to unwrap as Evan and Pandora are slightly hyper from the sugar rush.
"Thank you, Jo," Dorcas beams at her. Josephine returns the smile.
