adiaphoron | d.m

TWENTY

➸ FINDING OUT THE SECOND TASK

CECILIA TRUDGE ALONG THE UNEVEN PATH through the slushy snow as she approached Hagrid's cabin for Care of Magical Creatures. The weather was abysmal—thick, gray clouds loomed overhead, casting a dreary shadow over everything and chilling her to the bone. Each step was a struggle as she navigated the muddy patches where the snow had begun to melt, splattering her boots and soaking the hems of her robes.

Even as she neared the cabin, she felt a pang of disappointment. Hagrid wouldn't be there today, not after the disastrous article Rita Skeeter had published: "Dumbledore's Giant Mistake." The piece had done nothing but stir up trouble, painting Hagrid in an unflattering light and suggesting that he was unfit for his role as Care of Magical Creatures professor. Her heart ached for him; she knew he only ever wanted to share his love for magical creatures with the students.

The article was littered with malicious quotes, one particularly infuriating line from Malfoy, who had seized the opportunity to berate Hagrid while casting himself as the victim. "...my friend Vincent Crabbe got a bad bite off a flobberworm," he had sneered, a blatant fabrication intended to make Hagrid appear incompetent.

Which wasn't even the least bit true—flobberworms didn't even have teeth. It was the kind of ridiculous fabrication one would expect from Malfoy, eager to make a fool of someone else to elevate his own status. As Cecilia walked alongside her friends, their voices rang with laughter and playful jests, an upbeat contrast to the glum atmosphere created by the overcast sky. Most of them seemed relieved that Hagrid was absent today, likely envisioning a more subdued lesson free from his exuberant antics and towering presence.

"Hey Cecilia!" Blaise called out, his voice cutting through the din of chatter. He was on the other side of the group, but he quickly maneuvered through their throng, drawn to her like a magnet. The first thing she noticed was his mischievous smile, a familiar glint in his eyes that translated into a harmless mischief.

"Yes, Blaise?" Cecilia sighed, giving him a knowing look. She could tell he wanted something, and the glimmer in his eye confirmed her suspicion.

"Have you finished the essay for our History of Magic class yet?" he asked, a hint of desperation in his voice.

"Of course," Cecilia replied, smirking slightly. She knew he had been struggling with the assignment. Professor Binns was notorious for his monotonous lectures that could put even the most enthusiastic students to sleep. "I took plenty of notes during class. I'll let you borrow them when we get back to the common room. Just remind me, okay?"

Blaise's grin grew, relief flooding his features. "You're the best, angel. Honestly, I was staring at an empty scroll for ages. I seriously doubt I could string two sentences together without your help."

Cecilia let out a soft laugh, her joy brightening the air around her. "Yeah, okay," she replied, her voice light.

Harry, distracted by the sound, turned to find the source of her laughter. His eyes landed on Cecilia, completely at ease among the Slytherins, engaging effortlessly with them. Her presence was magnetic—those sharp, calculating eyes holding a certain radiance that demanded attention. She didn't just blend into the background; she commanded them, leaving an unmistakable mark wherever she went.

He recalled the word she'd thrown at Ron that night—"blood-traitor." A heavy term, laden with the weight of old rivalries and prejudices. Perhaps it had been a mistake for him to assume anything different about her. Perhaps Ron was justified in his skepticism towards all Slytherins, and Cecilia was no exception to that instinctive mistrust.

But she wasn't merely a Slytherin; she was a tapestry woven from all four houses. Each thread represented a different facet of her character, a harmonious blend that set her apart. Cecilia was a paradox, defying the neat categorizations that so many clung to. She moved through the crowd with an ease that suggested she belonged everywhere and nowhere all at once. It made her intriguing, yet challenging to understand.