Arcane [Sirius Black]

Chapter 8 - A Bit of a Prat

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THE NEXT MORNING, Diana was up and out of the dormitory before any of the other girls. She was rooming with Lily, Marlene, and Mary, who just so happened to have an extra bed (She'd learned that Alice Fortescue, though close with the three, belonged to Hufflepuff).

The dorms were exceedingly comfortable and welcoming; circular and warm with scarlet-draped four-poster beds, a furnace in the middle, and great windows with intricate metal diamond panes between each person's space, but she didn't have any desire to stick around for small talk, instead wanting to get on and over with classes.

Tie neatly made and hair tamed, she strolled toward the great hall for breakfast. There was barely anyone within, seeing how early it was.

Diana found it comical how her desire to avoid people was the only thing strong enough to pull her out of the happy haven of warmth that was her bed. She'd never be caught dead up so early without an ulterior motive.

She spun her spoon around in the water of her tea and watched as the sun grew brighter and the hall grew busier.

Soon, the rest of the classmates from her grade were waltzing in. Those she'd met cast a hazy glance toward her spot at the end of the table and those she didn't know looked at her with intrigue.

She spared a glance at Sirius, who looked tired at his spot beside James, and felt her heart thump lightly in her chest. She felt bad for walking away last night, but she didn't trust her socially awkward responses would bode any better than her premature flight.

She was drunk off both anger and liquor the last time they spoke, and she trusted that side of her to leave a better impression than the sober reality of who she really was. She might have shared tales from France and anecdotes of familial life, but he didn't know the side of her that got tremors at the idea of a presentation or who withdrew before getting too close to someone.

She'd rather he didn't.

Lily sent a questioning glance Diana's way when she noticed the girl was sitting so far. She'd been curious when she woke to see Diana's bed made with the habitant gone. Lily assumed someone new would want to stick around with people who could make them feel welcome, but apparently she was wrong.

Professor McGonagall stepped down from the teacher's platform, strolling along the Gryffindor table with a fresh stack of parchment in hand. Beginning with first-years and moving up, the poised woman delivered schedules to tens of greedy hands before arriving at Diana's side.

"Here you are," She said and Diana took the timetable between her fingers delicately, "Your prior electives have been transferred and all the rest of your classes will be conducted with your fellow Gryffindor fifth-years."

Diana thanked her and looked down at the paper, indeed seeing the words Divination and Care of Magical Creatures listed.

She nearly let out a sigh of relief, seeing proof that her classes had been transferred rather than re-elected. She was sure her parents would have opted for Ancient Runes if given the choice. They hated that she'd chosen to take a class concerning magical creatures, seeing as they thought it to be un-ladylike and grubby.

She'd also wanted to take Muggle Studies, but they were sorely against that, instead striking a deal for her to take Care of Magical Creatures so long as she picked something different for the second.

Luckily, she didn't mind too much. Divination, though slightly unreliable, was fun, and she didn't think she would miss out on Muggle Studies, as her parents' refusal for the course only fueled the rebellion for her to learn in other ways.