Defying Gravity

IV: Circe

You're in luck! We forgot all about updating our Wattpad account last week, so you're getting two updates, and one less author's note. Hope you're excited to see how things have changed since third year! This is taking place the summer before their fifth year. The jump was big, but we think you guys will manage. Enjoy!

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25 August 2013
Exmoor, England
Rosier Manor

He won.

Then again, I could have easily prevented it, but I'd be a liar if I said I didn't want his friendship. I owe my happiness to Wynn. Without his kindness, I'm not sure what the past two years would have looked like. We still kept our school interactions within the classroom, and the occasional private conversation in abandoned corridors. My hesitations, while still present, had ceased to a small doubt at the back of my mind. Occasionally they would probe the surface, but he had become an expert in soothing away my worries.

Most of my worries anyway.

That nasty voice still came, haunting me with things that could be. I fight them, but it's becoming increasingly difficult to do it alone, especially with my grandmother whispering plots into my ear. It was almost as if she knew the darkness was rising, threatening to consume me.

"Circe! Where are you, girl?"

I groaned in irritation before rushing from my room and down the vast staircase. Hesitating just around the corner of the sitting room, I took a moment to straighten out my appearance and correct my posture. "Yes, grandmother?" I acknowledged after entering.

Even in the comfort of our own manor she looked every bit the imposing matriarch. Seated with back straight and her white hair pulled into an elegant bun, she looked down her nose at me, "How is your relationship with the MacKendrick heir coming along?"

"As you expect it to, grandmother. He is eating out of my hand." I answered, face completely blank.

Her expression never changed, but I thought I might have seen something flicker in her eyes. "Good, good. You know, they are one of the families who still hold a grudge for the way the war ended? Rumor has it the boy's father is practicing the dark arts, but it's a bit foolish in this day. It's quite obvious that if a great wizard like Voldemort couldn't change things, then washed up fool doesn't stand a chance."

My hands clenched into fists behind my back, "Of course, grandmother."

She seemed pleased that I was in agreement with her. A year ago I would have been elated, but now it only left an unpleasant feeling in the pit of my stomach. "Go get ready, we are having dinner with them tonight."

What a way to tell me, I thought bitterly. I wanted to get out of here. I needed to, but where would I go?

An idea hit me. It was crazy. I'm not even sure it would work, but I needed to try. I just needed to get through this dinner.

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I paired on off white dress with sandals before twisting my hair into a bun. While I waited to be summoned again, I wrote Liera a letter, explaining my plan. It was a bit funny, they way she was more encouraging of the friendship between Wynn and I than perhaps Wynn himself. At first I thought it was to get closer to Teddy, but when she moved on from him after Christmas break of Third year, I started to notice the way she left the seat next to me open in all of the classes we had with Hufflepuff. She stood up for me when a curious Slytherin questioned our closeness, and didn't question me when I'd return to our dorm a bit later than normal.