ALLURING || D.M.

Chapter 17

She sat at the breakfast table, sipping her tea on the warm porcelain cup as Eleonora, ever the animated, went on and on, recounting the latest chapter of the new romance book she was reading. "And you will not believe what she said back" The redhead said enthusiastically, Ariel however couldn't hide the slight roll of her eyes, she hated romance books, always had, always would. Overdone.

Corine was politely nodding along, cutting some bacon on her plate, not minding the chatter. Meanwhile, for the tenth time, Lilianne forced herself to ignore Warren's fidgeting beside her. Had he always been so jumpy, was it just today or was she just today noticing? She looked to her other side as his fingers drummed on the table, where her blonde friend also had her gaze fixed on her subtly, an eyebrow raised.

She looked back at her plate immediately, she could practically hear her friend lecturing her. Lord, I'm a chicken. Letting some minutes pass by, she looked back at Warren again. He was the only male with them. The fifth years had gone off to Hogsmeade with the Snape slip they always used for days like these. She'd been meaning to ask them how they got them in the first place but she always forgot.

Parkinson was pretending pointedly they were not there. Chin tilted as Daphne listened to Eleonora, much invested in the book. The boy was again moving his food around, looking at Hazelton for a bit then back at his plate. Enough is enough, I have to do this.

"Warren" Lilianne whispered, not to interrupt Eleonora. He instantly looked her way, taking only a mere moment before catching herself and mumbling a short 'yes?' a bit comically as his left cheek puffed with half-chewed food. She pursed her lips into a smile, "Are you busy later? Maybe we could do the Transfiguration homework in the library" she proposed.

His eyebrows raised in a hopeful manner, "Yeah, yeah. After breakfast?" he asked quickly. "Sure" She nodded, her tone even. She was going for the safest bet there. McGonagall had assigned it just the day before, odds are neither had even started.

He smiled at her, that nervous, expectant smile she had just noticed now. She looked back at her plate to get the last scone when she saw the proud smirk Ariel had beside her. Lilianne just sided her head, taking a bite.

About twenty minutes later, that went faster than expected, the group dismantled, each about to head in their own direction for the rest of the morning. "I'll see you in the library?" Warren asked, "Yeah, I'll just get my stuff" she replied.

"You're going to the library?" Eleonora asked with a pensive edge, "Why?". Lilianne just froze, she was not supposed to find out. In an effort to dodge the question she opened her mouth yet someone spoke first. "We're doing McGonagall's homework" The boy explained, she noticed how the redhead lowered her gaze, then raised it towards Lilianne with an unreadable smile.

"Well, I haven't done it ei..." Eleonora began to speak. Fuck, that was not her plan. It was going to be just Warren and her, without any interruptions they would talk over and she would make it clear she was not interested, it was already panned out to be awkward the redhead would only make it more painfully so.

"You know I have this new cream I want to show you Elly" Corine said quickly, grasping the girl's arm, "Come on, let's go". Lilianne sent her way thank-you eyes, the redhead simply gave her a knowing look back as she pulled on Eleonora towards the dorms.

Lilianne groaned when she realised she still had to go to the same place as them. Looking down she kept walking, closing the door behind her as the wood creaked. Eleonora was looking straight at the door as though she had been waiting for her arrival.

She said nothing, the silence thick and unwavering. She tried to stay focused, picking up her scrolls and quill as fast as her arms would let her. Lilianne was determined to never go through something like that again. 'Bye' She said lightly, hearing Elly take in some air as if ready to speak.