Loneliness in Difference

Chapter 15: A Connection Between Wizards and Magic

"Remember a Mandrake's scream can make a wizard or witch deaf if they are fully exposed to it for ten minutes," Professor Longbottom lectured in class. It had been nearly five months since the New Year had begun and Adelaide wasn't getting any closer to figuring out what had happened to her fellow Slytherins. She had pulled so many all-nighters in the library with Cecillia, Luke, Jakob, and their supervisor that she had lost count, but they hadn't found anything. Headmistress McGonagall had already permitted them to search a quarter of the restricted section, and yet their searches were still fruitless.

Despite being thoroughly exhausted every morning, she was trying to keep her grades the same the same as they had always been, but it was becoming increasingly difficult since studying and sleep deprivation did not mix well.

What shocked Adelaide the most was how fast Jakob had thrown in the towel. About three months ago they had been in the library, for what felt like the hundredth time. Their search was the same as always when Jakob threw a book against the wall and yelled that he gave up.

"Come on Jakob were going to find something I can feel it," Cecillia had said sweetly.

"Okay say by some miracle we find what we're looking for, which I'm not even sure what that is, by the way, what then? It's not like a cure is going to appear in front of us once we figure out what's been going on," Jakob said.

"At least we'll have some sort of information. Headmistress McGonagall might be able to figure what to do from there," Cecillia said.

Jakob shook his head. "This is useless Cecillia, what are four second years supposed to do about this? I'm barely passing Defense Against the Dark Arts, You're barely passing Herbology and don't think I haven't noticed, Adelaide is barely passing muggle studies-"

"That's only because I don't see the rhyme or reason behind what they think or do." Adelaide defended.

"For the final time, Adelaide muggles do not have magic!" Luke groaned, they had had this conversation a dozen times already.

"I'm aware of that Luke, but why do they use strange devices called phones or emails to get in touch? Can't they just use an owl? Any muggle should be able to learn how to use an owl." Luke groaned again.

"They don't use owls, and besides texting is ten times faster than sending an owl for every little thing."

"-and Luke is barely passing any of his classes! We're an incidental group of people who are quite opposite in personalities. Also don't try to contradict me, because you and Adelaide always seem seconds away from having an argument-" Cecillia glared at him, "- fine , the two of you are always second away from having an educated debate , which seems more like a spat between children than anything. What on earth are we supposed to do?" Jakob continued.

"So it's better to give up even though hundreds of lives are on the line and by some miracle, no one else has fallen victim even though we're wide open. It's just better to give up?" Cecillia said angrily.

"Hundreds of lives are on the line every day in other countries so why aren't you helping them to Misses hero ?" Jakob mocked, "Dying is part of the pattern known as life if all of these people die then so what? Death is inevitable anyway."

"Then why don't you join them and die? Since you know so much about death and the meaning of life, why don't you go die? It seems to fit your opposite personality perfectly!"

Jakob shook his head. "You're unbelievable," he glanced over to Adelaide and Luke, "I'm guessing you're staying here too?" They nodded. Jakob rolled his eyes. "Have fun." And with that, he had left.