Hogwarts Mystery [HP APPLY FIC]

year two, chapter four

"Did you see the school newspaper yet?"

"Did you hear that it was set up by that pretty girl in the third year?"

"Did you think it was a real thing when you saw the sign-up sheet? I thought it was a joke!"

"Did you see what they called it?"

"Hey!" The impact of Merula slamming the newspaper down on the table in front of her broke Delilah's focus on eavesdropping on the conversations happening around her about the newspaper. "Did you write this?"

She took a moment to school her expression. "I might have had something to do with it."

Merula nodded before quickly turning away to object to something Ismelda was proclaiming loudly.

Achilles kept his eyes on Delilah, frowning slightly.

"You're wondering how I did that," she observed.

"Did what?" He asked, taking the bait.

Delilah smiled to herself. "Brushed off Merula like that."

He didn't answer, his jaw tightening as he realised she'd read him like a book.

"I'll give you a piece of advice, since writing this newspaper has made us so close," she offered. "Just because Merula's the biggest bully in town, it doesn't mean you have to idolise her. I know you, and I know that's not why you do it, but that's what she thinks. If you really want to be her friend, despite all her glaring flaws, I'd try acting a little differently, and I'd stop taking tips from Ismelda."

"What makes you think your tips are so much better?" He raised an eyebrow, but there was no real malice behind his words.

"I have a different perspective. Achilles, if you're going to make someone like that your closest friend, you'd do well to make sure they're actually your friend."

He paused for a moment, taking it in, a mischievous smile blossoming on his face. "Thank you. You seem to have misunderstood things a little, but thank you anyway."

"That's alright." Her mouth curved into a mischievous grin. "Did you happen to read this newspaper? Perhaps we could read it together."

"Of course. It's not as if we wrote it, or anything."

'THE HALLS OF HOGWARTS

Reading this newspaper should feel like walking down the halls of Hogwarts. Whispers of 'did you hear' and 'what happened next?' with rumours confirmed and denied like clockwork, the only difference being that they're told by a reputable source, this time. (Thanks, Penny, but we'll take it from here.)

Anything newsworthy will be printed in these pages, alongside a little too much gossip for anyone's good.

Tired of missing out, misunderstanding, or just looking for something fresh to sink your teeth into? Don't worry, we've got your back.

That reminds this writer of a rather charming story about Milah Frontlands and the fifth year who wasn't her boyfriend...'

Further down the table, Winnie rolled her eyes, putting the paper down. "That's old news."

"Is it?" Ian nudged her and pointed to the Ravenclaw boy at the table next to them who was scrunching up the paper in his fists and whispering angrily to Milah, who sat like a frozen statue next to him.

"I thought he knew." Nadine, who had sneakily joined Winnie to slip her a copy of the newspaper for free, covered her mouth in shock. "Oh no, Milah's going up to Anya!"

"Avert your gaze," Ian instructed looking back down at the paper in front of them.

"Ugh," Winnie sighed. "I have other, more interesting things to do other than look at a gossip column (no offence, Nadine) and talk to idiots like Ian (full offence, Wilczek)."

"And reading..." Ian titled his head to read the title of the thick book Winnie had pulled out of her bag. "'An Extensive History on the Meaning of Symbols in Relation to Curses (Extinct, Dormant and Active)' is considered interesting?"

"Yes, it is, Mr I Read The Ingredients Index my Potions Textbook For Fun. Now shut up and let me focus."

Ian made a 'what can you do' face at Nadine, who covered her mouth again, this time to stifle laughter.

"You guys so like each other," she giggled, darting away from them and over to the Ravenclaw table to visit more of her friends before Winnie could smack her with her big, dusty book.

"Hey guys!" She waved at the group in front of her (Camille, Kai, Maddie, Orion and Talbott), wilfully ignoring Winnie's exclaims of 'Get back here Seok!'.

"Hey Nadine," Camille smiled back, eyes glancing over at Talbott, who was ignoring the newspaper Camille had out and staring moodily off into the distance, and back to Nadine again. "It's a nice article."

"Thanks! I, uh, helped edit it. What's his deal?"

"Oh, he thinks gossip is wrong and we should all be recluse instead, or that's what I imagine," Camille offered. "He's not exactly done much talking this morning."

"Maddie and I agree with him," Orion chimed in. "Everyone should focus on their own inner improvement in order to make a calmer outer environment."

"Not that we don't like the newspaper!" Maddie added hastily. "It's really something. What does Barnaby think?"

Nadine wrinkled her nose. "Why would I know what he thinks? I could ask, but he looks preoccupied."

She looked over to where Ismelda was beating Barnaby over the head with the rolled-up paper and he was loudly saying something to Merula, who was cackling like the evil witch she was.

"Anyway," she shrugged, "I should get back to Penny and eat something. It looks like Skye finally left. Good thing too: I'm starving!"  

A/N

hi! a bit of a shorter chapter today to tie up some loose ends and give the magazine some time to shine before the vaults kick off

I'm kind of unsure about who's still reading rn so please put a little message here! I really want to focus on your characters based off your activity. 

trying to keep the upload schedule pretty stable, so the next chapter should be out soon(ish)! 

also most of you have already seen it, but I have a new apply fic up! it's called sabotage and it's a selection apply fic! I would love it if you could check it out! (shameless self-promo haha)

love, Im