The Darkest Star

Chapter 19: Lyra-Bella Cassiopeia Malfoy

I've been spelling Cassiopeia wrong this whole time. Whoops. I'll go and fix them soon lmao. 

Yes! I am aware the Sectumsempra incident did not happen until spring! I don't care!!

Si Vis Amari, Ama // If You Want To Be Loved, Love. 

     After gifts were exchanged I saw Jake and Dray leave the Slytherin common room together. I sighed and shook my head at those two. Andy left not long after with her new dress and clutching a small note in her hand. I wasn't sure who the note was from but clearly, it was important. I suspected either Aunt Bella, her father, or Fred. I was looking at my own note in my hand, the neat writing and signature on the bottom showed it was from my mother. I hadn't expected anything from them this year as we hadn't even gone back to the manor, albeit part of that was due to Draco's injury.  

     Since I didn't have anyone to see at the moment, because Jaiden was still upset with me, I walked around the castle just looking at the small groups of students enjoying Christmas. As I entered the library I saw Ginger, Granger, and Potter and sitting together at a table. I thought about what Potter had said before about joining them. The idea disgusted me, but I didn't really have anything else to do. I waltzed over to the table and they silenced as I approached. 

     "Can I join?" Potter smiled while Granger looked at me with a curious, and confused, expression. Ginger's mouth was hanging open and I wanted to tell him to stop gaping like a dumb fish, but that would contradict the reason I was here in the first place. I reminded myself that I was doing this for Jaiden. 

     "Of course," Potter smiled and pulled an extra chair forward between him and Granger. 

     "Harry!" Weaslebee screeched, "have you gone bloody mad? She's a Malfoy. M-A-L-F-O-Y!" I rolled my eyes, not quite catching myself and response slipped through my lips. 

     "Congrats, that is how you spell my name. Remarkable you managed to understand such complex words, truly impressive for a Weasley." Potter gave me a disapproving look and Ginger looked purely enraged. I sat down in the chair Potter had offered me feeling remarkably foolish and stupid. This was mad if someone saw me the whole Malfoy reputation was down the drain. Better to do it now though at the break with fewer people around. 

     "Apologies Ginger, I suppose that was a bit rude," I said reluctantly. I shifted awkwardly as the three simply stared at me. I wasn't sure why my apology called for uncomfortable staring but I wasn't a fan. "You can stop staring at me like a bunch of baboons now," I hissed. I couldn't help looking down at what Granger was reading. It was a charms book, my best skill. I was the best at charms out of Pansy, Andy, and Dray. In fact, I've been top of the charms class since the first year. Granger was somewhat close to me but if I actually tried she'd just be a small ant in my path. Non-verbal spells were a breeze and I could even do a couple of wandless spells. The only larger scale thing I couldn't do yet producing a Patronus. But that wasn't my fault I had no happy memories. 

     "Reading up on Occlumency?" I asked. Granger looked up and nodded, 

     "It seems like a good skill to know I guess," she responded. I hummed my approval at her. 

     "It is, I was taught Occlumency over the summer by my Aunt," I said.  Granger looked at me with an air of curiosity, 

     "Was it difficult?" I nodded, 

     "At first yes, because you need to shove away and compartmentalize your emotions. And when you can't get it you get frustrated, which doesn't help with the emotional aspect of the skill." Granger chuckled,