Arcane [Sirius Black]

Chapter 13 - Nothin' but Copious Trauma

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DIANA slumped down on a stool, sighing loudly as she took in the predicament.

"How in Merlin's name did we both not take our wands?"

"We're idiots," Mary said, leaning against the wall, "It's the only explanation."

Diana looked up at the girl, the two making eye contact as they pondered their situation. Then, taking in Mary's words, Diana began to chuckle. Small laughs turned to big ones and soon they both were giggling away.

"Complete idiots!" Diana caught her breath.

"At least we might have a reasonable excuse to skip class?" Mary offered.

"I was excited to see the Porlock!" Diana pouted.

"That weird thing?" Mary laughed, "Why?"

"It's interesting!" Diana defended, "I mean, it's got those little legs and a little brain and everything under that red fur."

Mary quirked an eyebrow and smiled, "You like animals a lot don't you?"

"I do," Diana smiled to herself, thinking about the warmth she got in thinking about the creatures. Animals were just so innocent and loving in her eyes, each just trying to get their chance in life the same way humans were. They also were always happy to see her, something that couldn't be said for others in her life.

"Do you have any pets?"

"My parents would never allow that," Diana frowned, "Merlin knows I've tried."

"That strict, huh?"

"Whatever you're thinking, amplify it by ten."

"Are they really about all that...blood supremacy?" Mary seemed a bit uncomfortable asking.

Diana nodded, not wanting to verbally confirm the question.

"And you don't...you know, believe in that too, right?"

"Never," she said strongly, the thought that someone might believe she to be like the others physically painful in her chest. The world greyed in the short moment of silence after her word.

"Well, that's a relief!" Mary broke into a smile big enough to bring the sunshine back into the room, "I assumed because you're getting on so well with Lily, but it's always good to check."

Diana didn't respond to that, only giving a meaningful glance toward Mary. She hated the fact that anyone even had to check things like that. People should be able to trust others to admire them without ensuring they didn't preemptively look down on them first.

"It's blazin' hot in here," Mary looked up at the dusty ceiling, trying to change the subject.

Diana didn't respond to that either, too lost thinking about how she tended to enjoy the heat. Summer wasn't her favourite season — she didn't enjoy being away from school for long periods — but she didn't like the cold either. The cold wasn't lofty snowflakes and warm mugs of butterbeer to her, but rather empty rooms, frigid shudders, and a lack of blankets. Her favourite weather of all was a happy medium — crunching autumn leaves or spring breezes. The in-between seasons were more than transitions to her; they were freedom and serenity.

Mary shifted a bit, uncomfortable with the silence. Diana hadn't noticed how her lack of lengthy responses affected the other. She tended to get too absorbed in her own thoughts, not realising that to others it would come across as blankness and dead air. A lot of the time she thought she had already responded, forgot that those around her couldn't hear her whizzing thoughts.