Fair Game | theodore nott

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER TWO

Cecile woke up the next morning from the little sleep she was able to achieve, to find the bed next to her empty.

At that point, she thought it would be the last time she'd ever see the strange boy.

Apparently, she was too quick to assume.

It wasn't long before October rolled in. The sun was out a lot less, the air becoming colder, students now fashioned jumpers whenever they weren't in their school robes. Despite most people's complaints, Cecile happened to love the fall. It was down the middle, between warm and cold, just right for her.

But of course Quidditch played a big part in her favoring this season. Quidditch season had begun which gave Cecile more of an excuse to be on her broom, against Madam Pomfrey's warnings.

It wasn't just Madam Pomfrey though. Even some of her friends sided with her.

As soon as Cecile seated herself at the Gryffindor table, Hermione Granger instantly ambushed her.

"You promised you'd be more careful!" She snapped in a low whisper.

Cecile raised her brows in confusion until she realized what the Gryffindor girl meant. She sent a glare towards the boy sitting on Hermione's left, "Longbottom!"

Neville shifted in his seat, "I mean you did miss the group study yesterday and Hermione asked so I—"

"Was this some elaborate plan just to get out of this week's Potions test or are you really that reckless?" Hermione huffed while stabbing at her food.

"There's a Potion's test?"

She gave her the most deadliest scowl she could ever muster. The only thing Cecile could do was offer a sheepish grin, "I've just been practicing for the season. Yeah, I may have had some hiccups but it won't stop me from improving my skill."

"Yeah, but everyday though?" Ginny Weasley asked, looking up from a pile of opened letters that she had received this morning. It was no question that her family sent them, they've been doing it at least a couple times a week ever since the semester started. They've sent so many one time, a couple fell into Cecile's bowl of porridge, fortunately saving her from the disgusting meal. "You shouldn't tire yourself out like that, you know, we still have school the next day which is equally as tiring."

Cecile stuffed her mouth with the muffin and shrugged, "Hey, my house hasn't been lucky in the department of winning any Quidditch matches—especially against Gryffindor—so sue me if I wanna be the best Chaser on my team and beat all of your asses."

Hermione rolled her eyes while Ginny chuckled. Ginny could understand her drive perfectly as someone who is also on the Quidditch team. But Hermione had no interest in the sport, therefore found it all rubbish, so of course she would find Cecile's proclamation a bit dramatic.

"Oi, look at this one." Seamus Finnigan suddenly said as he passed down the Daily Prophet to Hermione, "Says the Ministry has located some of the Death Eaters hiding in London."

Cecile grabbed some fruit as both Hermione, Neville, and Ginny read over the newspaper. "They've already gotten Marcus Flint and Gregory Goyle." Hermione frowned. "Some are still missing, even Parkinson."

Seamus scoffed, "Surprised Malfoy isn't being rounded up with the lot of them. Instead he got all of his charges dismissed and now labeled a defected Death Eater. Can you believe that utter crap?"

Cecile rolled her eyes at the conversation "Why do you guys keep reading that shit anyways?" It's not like it's anything new. Most of the Death Eaters that were close allies to Voldemort were either dead or thrown away in Azkaban. But the ones left were still trotting about, hiding, or trying to carry on their master's ideals.

Seeing it everyday in the paper was becoming repetitive, Cecile decided. The war was over, can't people move on? It's bad enough that people have to live with the lasting effects but having to be reminded of it everyday in the media certainly didn't help.

"I kind of agree with Cecile," Neville said, "Wouldn't want to ruin our day when we keep reading stuff like this."

"So should we pretend that nothing is happening?" Hermione countered. "Because I see no point in that."

Cecile frowned, "No, but I rather not spend the rest of the day worrying about it. Or every day for the matter. It's just constant fear mongering." And when stuff like this keeps coming out, Cecile thankfully had Quidditch to distract her.

Hermione went to protest against it but at that point, Cecile had lost interest in the conversation. Instead she let her eyes wander the Great Hall, watching each of the house tables sit among themselves. Especially the newer ones.

There were more first years this year. All of them are either unaware of the damage that came before them or those that know little bits of the story. Sometimes, she couldn't help but envy their naivety. It would certainly save her from all the knowledge she knew, all the stuff she's seen.

She would give anything to be them at that very moment.

Her eyes didn't stay long and began dancing around the room until it landed on the entrance to the Great Hall. Cecile's head perked up when she spotted the boy.

It was the same boy that had been in the Hospital Wing with her. The very one that had acted like she offended him somehow by waking him up from a nightmare. The same boy that walked with a certain air of confidence and strutted over to the Slytherin table.

Of course he's a Slytherin.

Cecile should've figured it out sooner as she watched him seat himself next to Blaise Zabini. Yes, now that the sickliness had gone and his skin returned to a healthy shade, the aristocratic features were more prominent now. If that wasn't enough, it was also the way he walked into the room, like he owned it, like most Slytherins.

It was a trait that Cecile admired actually. She would think of herself as confident. Slytherin's were more elegant and poised.

Ravenclaws were more cool and relaxed.

But then again, she could be biased.

The boy had been talking to both Blaise and a blonde girl until his eyes met hers which caused Cecile to quickly turn back to her now empty plate and listen in on the conversation between her friends.

"It's the principal, Finnigan!" Ginny scowled, glaring at the light haired wizard.

"Don't get angry at me. We're all thinkin' it; I just had the guts to say it." Seamus argued.

Even if Cecile tried her best to listen in on the conversation, she couldn't pretend she didn't feel a pair of eyes burning into her back.