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"I've got something here about a Morgan Morrigan in 1776," says Hermione, flicking through the pages of the book before her. It's early Saturday morning and they've all made their place in a corner of the library, skimming through hundreds of books in search of Sage's tormentor. "She invented a potion to get rid of scabby knees."
"Thinking it's probably not her, 'Mione," Sage replies with a snicker. "Old Mogs looks a bit weird.. like, her teeth are rotten. Green eyes. Scraggly, yucky hair."
"So, me after I eat this Easter egg?" Stevie asks, before shoving an egg into her mouth. Sage smacks her arm.
"Yeah, you're the crazy old bag that's been terrorising my dreams for months," she grins. "And you'd better let me have one, pig. I haven't had any."
The three of them continue poring over the books, old newspapers, history books. They scour a book Sage ordered in from a records place in the Ministry, but there's nothing there either.
"Maybe Morrigan is a nickname or something," suggests Stevie. "Like, her pals call her Morrigan. Maybe her name's, like, Emily or something."
Sage snorts, shakes her head, takes another egg from Stevie's small collection. "Yeah, sure. Let's look for Emily the Demon Bitch in the history books."
"Shut up, you know what I mean."
"What about this?" Says Hermione suddenly, putting down a heavy, musty book on the table before them. It thuds loudly, and the librarian shushes them. "The ancient Celtic witch known as Morrigan, which loosely translates to 'Phantom Queen', by the muggles who witnessed her power."
"Yeah, but she's from ancient times," says Stevie. "Why would this old bat be showing in Sage's head?"
"Keep reading," says Sage, staring off ahead of her with unfocused eyes.
Hermione stammers for a second, then continues, "er— Her power stems from a trio of powerful witches. Macha, who was associated with victory in battle, Badb, associated with loss in battle, and Morrigan, whose power of predicting death has been passed through the generations of witches descended from her—"
"Stop!" cries Sage, her hands over her ears. "That's ridiculous. That's made up stories. Like, Greek gods and stuff. Fairytale."
"Actually, most deities can be traced back to early witches and wizards—"
And she storms out of the library, leaving the two girls staring after her in shock.
Hi Remus, says the letter,
Thanks for the Easter eggs, they're great. How are you? I'm not very good, if you were wondering. I've been having these weird dream things again and now there's a woman called Morrigan, who me and Stevie researched and found out that I'm probably descended from this whack lady way back when who predicted death? So that's cool and fun and nice for me to know. Also did you want me to send you any Honeydukes chocolate? I know you like it. I think that's all I wanted to say in this letter. Any news on Dad? I hope they find him soon. Perhaps he's gone to the Bahamas on holiday and forgot to write letters back to us. Maybe he'll bring us back some souvenirs.
Sage xxxxx
She gives the letter to a school owl, which swoops out of the window and off into the distance in the blink of an eye. Conner is perched on Sage's shoulder, and he pecks at the top of her ear.
"What?" She asks. Another peck. "What do you want?"
The bird hops along the floor and pecks at a newspaper in the corner, then takes it in his mouth and brings it to Sage.
"Have you been trained to do that?" Sage wonders aloud as she peers at the paper. It isn't a paper. It is Witch Weekly, and there's a picture of Hermione Granger on the front of it.
Sage's jaw drops as she skims the text, which trashes Hermione as a good-for-nothing screw-around, and describes her romantic relationships with both Viktor Krum and Harry Potter. So she bolts down the stairs, through the castle, and is almost back up at the Gryffindor tower when she spots Hermione sitting in a window by herself.
"Did you see that article about you?" Sage pants, then bends double to catch her breath.
"Erm, yeah. I did." Hermione gazes out of the rain-streaked window, which Sage thinks is a bit dramatic but isn't going to say anything to spoil her sulk.
"Sucks, huh?"
"Yeah, it's rotten," says Hermione. Sage shuffles over and slides into the window seat beside her, their shoulders pressed together. Her heart is hopping up and down and playing double-dutch with her arteries, but she ignores it. There's silence between them both, sitting peacefully in the other's company.
"I think Remus sending you an Easter egg," says Sage, finally. Hermione smiles at her.
"I can get my parents to send you one too, if you want?"
"Oh, no. I didn't ask him to, he just did."
"Did he send Stevie one too?"
"I don't know. He didn't say anything about it."
"Oh," says Hermione, blinking. "Okay. I'm sorry about all that in the library earlier."
"All what— oh, forget it," Sage smiles. "You didn't do anything wrong at all."
"I did," argues Hermione, "because you were obviously upset and I kept going on with the facts like I always do. I didn't even think. So I'm sorry."
Sage mumbles, "It's alright. I just don't want another thing making me different."
"What do you mean?" Hermione's voice is soft. "Different how?"
Sage scuffs her trainer toe along the wall opposite them. "Just... I don't know. Just different."
"Because of your dad? And Professor Lupin?"
Sage takes a shaky deep breath. "No. It's— erm, it's because— 'Mione, I'm g—"
"Oh, bloody hell!" shouts a familiar voice. "We've been looking all over for you, Hermione!"
Ron skids into view, closely followed by Harry, both of their robes flapping against their ankles as they stop.
"It's a Hogsmeade day!" Harry adds. Hermione stares at them blankly until Harry raises his eyebrows, then Hermione gasps.
"Oh, I'd completely forgotten!" she cries, climbing out of the nook over Sage's legs. "Sage, we'll finish this conversation later, yeah?"
Sage nods, her heart snapped in two. "Yeah. Of course. Have fun."
Hermione beams at her, and the three of them scamper off down the corridor.
And the girl left sitting in the window cries, because she almost just ruined her life.
a/n: sage got ronblocked. share ur thoughts and feelings babeys xoxo