entanglements | d.m.

51.stoodup

January '99 | H E R

"This is creepy."

"It's stupid is what it is," Devyn drawls, knowing what Tarquin is talking about without lifting her eyes from the book. "Stupid to a level I can't get my head around."

But unlike two days ago, Devyn has gotten a hold on her sour mood. She's grown to accept their new assignment. That's all it is; a means to receive good grades and an even greater score at the end of the year.

And since she knows roughly how to handle a baby thanks to taking care of her brother Noah whenever she could, Devyn has little trouble with the knowledge. She's no expert by any means but seeing some of her classmates, she can call herself lucky for the experience.

Speaking of, one of the dolls present in the common room this Saturday morning gives a piercing wail. Devyn is brought out of her study mood instantly. It's one thing to have one thing cry, another to be around so many and half their caretakers don't know how to calm them.

Friday morning, when most of the students moved like zombies in the common room, Draco announced loudly that everyone cast a Silencing Charm on their dorm at night.

"Fifteen bloody babies screaming from every corner make me wish I'd have gone Azkaban instead," he'd said.

"You're not the only one," is a smart reply Zacharias couldn't seem to hold back.

Before Devyn could think the best way to shut the idiot up—scratch his eyes or kick him in the nuts—Draco had already cast a spell that dislodged a leg from the armchair Zacharias was sitting on, sending him tumbling to the floor.

No one else disagreed to the Charm idea and this night has been a lot better—well, a good as having to get up for a doll that makes it's presence known every hour or so gets.

The worst so far has to be meal times. Breakfast and dinner, every pair is forced to bring bloody dolls down to the Great Hall, where Sparks is seated at the High Table overlooking her students. She never specified, but it's a thing she'd expect.

The mortifaction is unreal. To sit with a doll on your lap at the age of eighteen and up.

Draco, too, looks as close to embarrassed as Devyn has ever seen him during dinner. She has called dibs on the breakfast shift, thinking that she is pretty early there and the few students who are there are too bleary eyed to notice much.

At least it's fifty-fifty though. Draco is giving the care as much effort as she is. Part of her wants him to be an asshole and push all the work onto her. That would make it easier not to want him.

Tarq is touching his doll's face, watching it dent in and pop back into place. The doll sniffs, as if offended. "That's creepy, fucking hell," he breathes.

"Mandy, for fucksake," snaps Zacharias from across the common room. "Would you finally shut it up!"

Tarq takes in a sharp breath, head snapping up, mouth opening, but it's someone else who speaks.

"Go and get your own ass over there!" Stephen bites back, one of Zacharias's friends. "I haven't seen you carry the bloody doll once since we have them."

Several girls stand up when Zacharias opens his mouth, surely a misogynistic reply at the tip of his tongue. Devyn's heart is beating for Mandy, who looks close to tears, and then hurries up the steps to the dorms with a screaming doll in hand. The reply dies as Zacky presses his mouth in a fine line.

"Go after her, fucker!" Tarq finally barks. "Give her a damn break from the baby and yourself."

Zacharias doesn't move for a moment, only watching the stairs, his jaw ticking. Only when many other shout their hateful encouragement does he move his feet, hands balled to fists.