Acceptance: Hogwarts Legacy Continued

Chapter 54: MC- a good distraction

The final traces of summer disappeared, and autumn was in full swing. Diana now had to wear a thicker cloak when she trekked down to care of magical creatures with Poppy. It was also getting darker faster, and it created a dreary sort of atmosphere for her. It had been three weeks since the incident with Sebastian and its effects weighed heavily on her, although thankfully it seemed to be long gone as a topic of conversation.

She had tried to remain civil with the Slytherin boy. She had told him she didn't want to stop being friends, she just wanted space. He on the other hand seemed to want nothing to do with her anymore.. Well sort of. At meals Poppy would often mention to her that he was staring at her from his table, but when she would turn to look he would shift his gaze swiftly to somewhere else and just glare. In classes that they had she tried to be polite, passing him pages or picking up something he dropped near her. Every attempt was met with a wall, as he ignored her entire existence. In a potions class he had dropped an ingredient that roller over to her station, when she picked it up and handed it out he refused to take it. He ended up failing the assignment as a result, but seemed unbothered.

Thankfully at least the physical effects of the post quidditch event were fading for the boy. His face, which was bruised badly for the past month, was almost back to normal. Imelda had mentioned to her that he refused to get it treated once he had woken up initially. It was very sensitive and made practices and subsequent games more difficult, but he refused every time the slytherin captain told him to go in.

She was glad though that she wasn't completely in the dark concerning him, she did occasionally get snippets from Imelda about how he was fairing, and Ominis also kept her up to date. She was afraid that maybe the blind boy would be cut off as well after he came to her aid during their confrontation, but it wasn't the case. She was glad that they had grown somewhat closer this year, so that if not with her, Sebastian would still have someone he could turn to. She wished it could be her though....

Diana knew that space was a good thing; she had let her friend push her too far. She wanted to have a healthy relationship with him, one that was going to last a long time. If she had just swept their issues under the rug she knew it would have broken one of them at some point anyway, and she hoped this way the bond could be mended. Seeing him everyday hurt her a lot though, and it took all her effort not to beg him to forget everything that happened. Yes things with him were hard to deal with before, but this was also miserable. She wanted to be there for him, to talk with him, laugh with him- to have her friend back. If not for her other friends she may have given in weeks ago.

Poppy and Ominis knew she was upset, they had seen what happened and they had many talks afterwards about it all. Even Anne had figured out she was unhappy; apparently it was coming out in her writing. All three of them were a good support, and helped her to not be so down. She also was able to talk more with Natty and Garreth; two people she had not gotten as much time to converse with as she would have liked. With Sebastian now not constantly at her side she found it was easier to meet with Natty amongst her busy prefect schedule, and the hours spent in the Library usually with him were now spent frequently with Garreth.

Things weren't all bad, but some days just felt harder than others. Today was one of those days- a rainy and dreary day in October. She was using her time before potions class to study in the library. She usually waited until the last possible second before heading to the class, dreading being ignored by Sebastian. She felt empty and hollow, and that made her brain feel hollow, and that made studying hard. She put her book on the table and then dropped her face into it, wishing that this day was already over.

"Rough morning?"

She peaked up from her wallows in the book to see Garreth standing next to her. She just moved her face back down in response, and heard his chuckle as he took a seat at her table.

"You haven't had a class yet today, surely you can't be feeling this down about going to potions today. In what other class can you create a deathly sleeping potion and fireworks all in the same period?"

She twisted her head so she was facing him from her book now turned pillow.

"That's how you spend potions, the rest of us are barely managing the Draft of Living Death."

He shrugged nonchalantly, but had a grin on his face. Despite herself she let a smile form as well; he had made some impressive fireworks shoot from his cauldron last class. It had been another rocky period, but the show had made her laugh.

"Are you still working off the detention for that one?" she smirked, referring to the consequences from his bright display.

"Actually I only had the two to work off, so now I am free" his face then dropped a little, and he seemed to get a little fidgety in his chair. She raised an eyebrow at him, but before she could question anything he said;

"So um, how about this weekend we go out and do something together? You seem to need some cheering up and it will be great motivation for me not to get any more detentions this week..."

She lifted her head off her book and cocked her head at him, a little surprised.
"What would we do?"

He coughed and turned away, clearing his throat. When he turned back to her she thought he was looking a little more pink.

"Well it's getting closer to Halloween, and Hogsmead is getting all decked out. We could look around town and get a drink at the three broomsticks. They are also selling pumpkins at a stand just outside of town, we could bring one back and carve it if you like."

She thought about his offer. It didn't sound like a bad way to spend the day, and she liked being with the Gryffindor boy. She had spent the last few weekends just working and sulking, so it would probably be best to force herself to go out.

"Sure, that sounds like fun. Thanks for inviting me."

Garreth beamed at her and she couldn't help again but smile back.

"Then it's a date!"

Diana started collecting her things so that she could walk with him to their class. She figured going a bit earlier than the last second wouldn't be so bad if she was with him. Together they walked, and she listened to his stories about how he was currently trying to work through a long list of antidotes. They parted ways when they got to the room, making their ways to their respective stations. Throughout the class as she worked she would feel someone's eyes on her. Sometimes when she looked up she found Sebastian's gaze that was quickly diverted, but it was mostly Garreth. Every time they locked eyes he sent her a smile, and she returned the same. It ended up being the most enjoyable period she had had in a long time.