"ARDEN," CEDRIC SAID for the fifth time in a row. He held up his quill and tickled her nose with it, making her scowl as she shut her eyes harder.
"I am sleeping," she huffed, flicking his quill from her nose. They were currently in the library, and, like before, had formed a schedule of researching for hours upon hours every day after classes. The task was't until February, fortunately, but remembering how stressful it was with only three weeks to spare, the two decided to start preparing sooner rather than later.
"I know. So why don't you go to your dormitory and sleep in your actual bed, not on a library desk," Cedric hummed, closing the book in front of him. "It's late and you did a lot today. I know how to use Crinus Muto now, yeah?" He was resting his chin on his own arms now, which were folded on the table, adjusting his head so that it was at the same level as hers. She opened one eye and peeked, seeing that he was now right in front of her. His stupid face was biting back an even stupider grin.
"That spell transfigures hair color," she muttered, narrowing the single eye that she had opened.
"Don't forget that you brushed up my abilities on Immobolus, that will surely come in handy."
She opened her other eye, her frown deepening at his words. "We learned that our second year, it's not exactly a challenge."
"Okay, but I completely forgot about it. And besides, maybe I will need to restyle my hair or freeze something in the next task, you never know."
"Yeah, yeah, whatever. We should hit the sack for the night," Arden mumbled, lifting her head up off the table and rubbing her eyes. Cedric frowned as he got up and began to pack his bag, realizing that her mood only worsened.
"Hey, why don't we take a break tomorrow, yeah? We'll do something else, something fun, or you could hang out with Giselle. . ." He said with optimism, looking at her. She slipped on her bag and nodded, shooting him a small smile.
"Sounds like a plan, Stan."
As she entered the Gryffindor common room, Arden noticed Giselle, Angelina, and Alicia sitting by the fire, talking. It was late, so the room was vacant besides the three — now four — girls.
"Arden!" Giselle smiled, taking notice of her friend's arrival first. "We haven't seen you all day."
"She was busy helping Diggory," Alicia smirked, nudging Giselle. "Weren't you, Arden?"
"I think help is a bit of a stretch," she muttered, walking over to the group and collapsing onto the couch. The three girls, who were sitting on the floor in front of the couch, all shared quick glances before looking up at their friend.
"You're with him everyday for hours in the library though," encouraged Angelina.
"If that's not helping, then curse me," Giselle finished, scooting over so she was now kneeling directly in front of the couch, her face leveled with Arden's.
"The only thing I have helped him with is learning how to change his hair and remembering a few second year spells. Second year! Merlins beard I am so useless!" Arden groaned, shoving her hands over her face. She let out a deep breath, shutting her eyes behind her hands so that all that was visible was black.
