Lovingly, not yours.

Chapter 8

"I don't think I can bear you looking at me the way the others do, Ode. You don't know just how much you mean to me. There's more to us than just silly little hidden love!"

Chapter 8 : "Library of Fallacy"

Potions and Snape had terrified the wits out of her, so much as she almost stumbled on the step at the exit of the classroom. Her hand gripped tightly on stone, breathing slightly heavily as if the air outside was the salvation heavens bestowed upon her.

Ron, Harry and Hermione had stepped out of the class just before her. She walked with a blank mind thereafter, letting her feet guide her through the dazed world around her.

She hissed when she tripped on her own feet, falling down and scratching her knees. The burn of the scratch reminded her of Neville and with a speed she could win a race with, dashed off to the hospital wing. 

In the hurry she managed to ask the directions for the hospital wing, and good for her as found the Gryffindor quidditch team players, walking to the same destination as hers for they had a rough training session apparently. Their captain, Oliver Wood, seemed to be too strong of a fanatic of the sport, more than one would like. Though the girl couldn't help but regard the shine of the brooms, thinking - are they fast enough to take me to the clouds?

"Odele!" She heard Neville's voice call out to her as soon as she peeked from the tall players, as if a small kitten amongst the grass.

The moment her eyes found him through his voice, she frowned, stomping up to him, "Neville Longbottom! What did you even do in Potions? Are you okay?"

Neville smiled nervously at her, "I... am sorry?"

Odele sighs at his reaction and relaxed a bit, "What did Madam Pomfrey say?"

She hastily sat herself down on one of the stools by his bedside, eyes scanning over him for any injuries. When she finds none, she raises her gaze to look at him. Another sigh of relief and a smile of the same etched beautifully on her features. So much so that perhaps for the first time since July, he found that she had a beauty mark under her lips.

They engage in little chatter of their own, with Odele fussing over his condition and Neville trying to dissipate the excessive worry. Surely Neville knew he had a friend in her, but this moment where he's sitting on his bed listening to her vent about her concerns for him made him feel warm, more so than the potion that Madam Pompfrey gave.

After Madam Pompfrey shooed her away saying, 'He needs to rest, young lady. You can save your lover's quarrel for later.' A crimson flush tinted her cheeks at the embarrassment.

The girl gave his hand a reassuring squeeze before exiting the medical wing as per Madam Pompfrey's remarks; having felt rather embarrassed about having the elderly lady confuse the air around the kids, to be involved in that sense. But what actually was baffling to her was that she didn't feel repulsed by it.

Once outside, she was swarmed and swayed by the crowds of students who were ushering out of the classes, done with the day. The crowd displaced her to the couryard She felt out of place, amongst groups of friends who were chattering around or playing gobble stones, some others were practising duelling as well. Odele's mind tugging on her insecurities led her to rush away from the place; it reminded her of her friends who were nowhere to be seen ever since the potions class, apart from Neville of course.

 Odele then made her way to the library, trying to distract herself from the disappointment by focusing herself to study in advance for Transfiguration, and Charms. Unlucky for her, the library was filling up with students and for a place she quickly sat down beside a familiar head of pale hair.

Smiling in achievement of securing a seat over the other students, she took her books and busied herself in it, not realising that she sat awfully close to someone who'd find her rather annoying.

The pale head rose and grumbled, "Ugh, mudblood get away from me."

She'd known the voice, and felt angered at the blatant disregard. She lifted her head and looked at him, "Excuse me?"

Draco simply scoffed and as if disgusted by her presence, scooted away from her.

Odele's cheeks flushed a deep crimson, a wave of heat radiating outward at the sudden humiliation. She cast a furtive glance around the table, her eyes catching Blaise Zabini's for a mere heartbeat. But Blaise's reaction was like a dismissal. He flinched, yanking his head away as if she were a stranger, effectively severing any silent connection that might have existed between them. Hurt, she grabbed her books and dashed out of the library, done with humiliation. By the time she'd reached the exit, there were small tears in her eyes, she felt hurt and betrayed but a resolve had grown around her heart as a shield - to never, ever again trust her heart when it feels like it resonates with someone else. No. It's painful.

On the doorstep of the common room, Fay Dunbar, another Gryffindor student in Odele's year, managed to gently catch her when she stumbled, preventing her from falling to the ground. Odele blushed a deep shade of red and quickly righted herself, grateful for Fay's help.

"Thank you," Odele said with a smile.

Fay returned the smile warmly, "Are you okay, Odele?"

Taken aback by the unexpected familiarity, Odele refrained from questioning how Fay knew her name and simply offered a casual shrug in response. It's not like she disliked Fay, she just didn't want to be around anyone, and that meant everyone. 

With a curt nod, Odele then excused herself into her dorm, not surprised to find it empty. She sat down on her desk, taking out her parents' letter and re-reading the lines that her mother wrote at the very end - 'Ode, sweetheart. You are a kind child, and as always, you need to see the other side of the situation too. Make a lot of friends and be happy, but do not tolerate any disrespect, okay?'

She chuckled as she could hear her mother's stern voice as she read it in her mind. Sighing, she opened the window of the dorm letting the gentle breeze whoosh in. And all of a sudden her heart bled into tears with full force. Overwhelmed, she cried for a few hours, before clutching the letter close to her heart and falling asleep yet again on the desk.

Hi, thank you for reading. I'd love to read your thoughts on it and please drop a like as well. Much appreciated! Thank you!

It shall update every Wednesday, I look forward to reading your comments!

Once again I am sorry for the delay in the chapter update this week, hope you've enjoyed this one.