human again / hp.

Chapter 84

Days had passed since that fateful letter arrived from my father, yet it refused to leave my mind. His words haunted me like an unshakable shadow, lingering at the edges of my thoughts and casting a dark cloud over everything I did. No matter how hard I tried to push it away, the letter was always there, pressing against my consciousness, tainting every decision I made with its cold, unforgiving tone. My father's disapproval was a weight I couldn't escape. His voice, even from miles away, was always present in the back of my head, reminding me of the expectations he had for me, reminding me that every step I took might be leading me closer to some invisible line I wasn't meant to cross.

It was late afternoon when I found myself in the library, surrounded by the comforting silence of rows upon rows of books. The air smelled faintly of parchment and dust, a smell I used to find calming, but now it felt like a reminder of how trapped I was in my own choices. I had Charms to study for, but the words on the page blurred together. My quill barely moved as I tried to focus, but it was impossible. My mind kept drifting back to that letter, to my father's angry, scornful words, to the uncertainty that clung to me like a second skin.

I sighed, closing the Charms book and leaning back in my chair, running a hand through my hair. I needed a distraction, something to take my mind off the mess I was in. But as I glanced around the library, my eyes landed on a familiar face. Hermione Granger was making her way toward me, her bag slung over her shoulder, a determined look on her face as always. When she reached my table, she lowered her voice, looking around to make sure no one was listening.

"Celeste," she whispered, leaning in slightly. "We've decided. The first meeting is tonight at eight."

My stomach dropped, the weight of the words hitting me harder than I expected. I'd known this was coming—knew it from the moment I had agreed to join. But hearing it spoken aloud, having the reality of it settle over me, made everything suddenly feel very, very real.

I swallowed hard, forcing myself to meet her eyes. "Tonight?" I asked, my voice barely more than a whisper.

Hermione nodded, sitting down across from me, her brown eyes steady and resolute. "It's the best time. Everyone's agreed. We need you to show us how to get into the Room of Requirement. We're relying on you."

I nodded absently, though my heart wasn't in it. Tonight. The first official meeting. The idea of standing in front of a group of students, leading them into a secret room to train and practice—knowing that this was only the beginning—filled me with a kind of unease I couldn't shake. The letter from my father felt heavier now, as if it had found a way to wrap itself around my ribs and squeeze tighter with every breath I took.

I forced my eyes away from Hermione, staring down at the parchment in front of me. I had been pretending to take notes on Charms, but the ink was smeared in places, the words illegible, like some unconscious part of me was rebelling against the mundane task of studying. The weight of the decision I had already made, the fear that gnawed at my insides, was distracting me far more than any textbook could.

"Celeste?" Hermione's voice softened, and I looked up to see her leaning closer, her expression no longer one of unwavering determination but of concern. "Is something wrong?"

For a moment, I considered brushing her off. Pretending that everything was fine, that I was just tired, that my mind was elsewhere. But Hermione wasn't someone you could easily dismiss, and deep down, I didn't want to. She was one of the few people who truly understood what it meant to stand up for something, to fight for what was right even when it was hard.

"I don't know if I can do this," I admitted, the words slipping out before I could stop them. My voice was barely audible, as if I was afraid someone might hear me say it out loud.