Fair Game | theodore nott

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER EIGHT

"I'm gonna burn that shit if you don't put it away, Granger."

"You wouldn't dare!" The Gryffindor glared.

"I think she would, Hermione." Neville warned from his place sitting against a tree.

Wednesday was an odd day in Cecile's opinion. It's halfway through the week and the day where Cecile start's to slowly not care about school. Like towards the beginning of the week she has all the energy to power through her assignments and classes. But when Wednesday hit, all she felt like doing was skipping and taking a nice long nap.

But Hermione wouldn't have any of that and dragged her and Neville to study for their Herbology exam that was coming up on Friday. Usually the Gryffindor wouldn't be so adamant about it but when she found out Cecile had hardly started to study, she made it clear she wasn't budging.

Neville had already studied but decided to come along and help them.

And now they were sitting outside near the Black Lake during free period, book bags scattered on the ground as they attempted to study. Heavy on attempt.

With a huff, Hermione rolled the recent Daily Prophet paper up and stuffed it in her bag and replaced it with her Herbology book, "Apologies for wanting some sort of update about all the missing Death Eaters."

Cecile rolled her eyes at the subject, "Uh-huh, we're on the aconite page."

"Honestly," Hermione kept going while turning the pages furiously, "I don't understand how you all could ignore what's going on."

"Easy." Cecile took her own book and began reading, though she barely registered the words on the pages. "It's like ignoring you when you go on about Arithmancy."

"As a Ravenclaw, you should know that there's wisdom in knowledge. We can't be so oblivious to the world or else our ignorance would be harmful. How would you feel if someone said something offhanded to you, ignorant of how it may affect you?"

"Well, I'm black so, duh, it happens all the time." Hermione blushed sheepishly while Neville chuckled, "While what your saying sounds great and all, there's also wisdom in not burying yourself in so much of the press and media. Stressing yourself out could also be harmful to your physical and mental health. There's nothing wrong with not wanting to read every little thing happening in the world if it's for your peace of mind."

Trauma was also a big part of why Cecile disagreed so strongly, but she wouldn't bring light to that as many of them, including Hermione and Neville, still suffered from the war. They were teenagers for Merlin's sake, fighting in a grown ups battle when they should be worried about school and passing exams. Not who's going to die next.

Some just simply wanted to move on, like Cecile. While others wanted to tackle it head on like Hermione.

Hermione bristled, "You're impossible."

"No, you just hate it when I challenge you." She grinned proudly.

After a while they sat in silence as they finally began to study. But Cecile, knowing the stubborn lion, wasn't surprised when Hermione suddenly raised her head up and furrowed her brows, "What's wrong with Arithmancy?"

Cecile stared at her in confusion, "When did I say anything about Arithmancy?"

Hermione rolled her eyes at the girl's short memory, "You say you ignore me when I talk about it." She then narrowed her eyes suspiciously at Neville was really keeping his face in his book, "Do all of you do that?"

"Oh." Cecile remembered and then shrugged, "Yep."

"That's so rude!"

"Let's not pretend Ron and Harry haven't done the same thing." Neville said while clearing his throat.