stages of denial

ch 9

"can you believe it, slept with him!" a brown hair girl whispered to her friend, giggles following shortly after.

that morning rumors filled every dorm that isabel cunningham had slept with draco malfoy.

"is it true?" hermione tugged the blanket off of a tired isabel.

"no! i cant believe people are saying that." she groaned, slowly pulling herself up in bed.

"draco is saying it himself." one of their roommates added in.

"are you kidding me?" isabel felt so much anger build in her chest after the girl spoke.

it only took her moments to flee out of her bed and out to the hall, her mind was set on who she was looking for.

"what is wrong with you!" she stormed towards malfoy who was surrounded by a group of girls drooling over him.

"what do you mean love?" a smirk crossed his lips.

"why are you telling people we slept together, that never happened!" she spoke sternly, her breaths coming out shaky.

"it's the stage of denial." he spoke to the girls surrounding him before looking back to her.

she huffed angrily, storming away from the boy who was now gaining high fives from the slytherin group.

on her way back to the dorm, cedric passed her without a word, his eyes focused on the ground.

"cedric, wait!" she tugged gently at his arm after catching up with him.

he turned toward her but said nothing.

"you've heard what they're saying haven't you?" she spoke softly, her hand still gently grasping his arm.

"is it true?" he glanced up at her, his eyes now lingering on the faint hickies that still laid on her neck.

"no it's not true, i told you what happened, you have to believe me." she begged, shaking her head.

"the whole school is saying it." he looked defeated.

"cedric," she cupped his face in her hands, "it is not true, i promise you." she looked at him pleadingly, not wanting to lose him again.

"okay, i believe you." he nodded his head hesitantly.

"can we meet tonight?" her thumb caressed his cheek gently.

"yeah, i'll come after hours." he forced a smile on his lips, his heart still aching at the idea of what people were saying.

"i'll see you then." she pressed her lips against his softly. something was missing in the kiss, but they both ignored the feeling and went their separate ways.

—

"why did you excuse my absence the other day?" her eyes wandered over all the books, looking back to the professor.

"you haven't slept well in 15 years, consider it a.. favor." dumbledore spoke quietly, filing his fingers through papers.

"professor, the other day snape taught a lesson, banshees," her eyes fell on the old man in front of her.

"ah, those that hear death coming in the night." he nodded his head.

"well, do you th-" dumbledore cut her off almost immediately.

"my dear, i do not know what you are, your mother was wrong sending you here for help." he spoke sternly, his warm embrace escaping and leaving his voice bitter cold.

she looked down to her hands as if she had done something wrong, tugging at the loose ends of her robe anxiously.

"i'm sorry." he huffed, breaking the silence.

"clara delvington, you've heard her name, yes?" he spoke softly.

"no sir, i haven't heard of her." the girl shook her head, glancing up from her fidgeting.

"a powerful wizard, a banshee too." his eyes lowered to the girl.

"what happened to her?" isabel's eyes lingered on him, noticing a shift in his body language.

"her own scream," the professor lowered his voice, a wave of sadness overcoming his body as he relived the scene.

"professor, did you know her, personally?" the girl spoke curiously.

"she was my wife." he nodded slowly, offering a sad smile to the girl.

A/N: sorry this chapters a little bit shorter but wanted to update <3

- the end of this makes me emotional, i don't even know why