Flint and Flame ━━ H. Potter

chapter three

( III )

Though the sun has just barely risen, by the time it's visible through the waters of the Black Lake outside my window, I've already been awake for what feels like hours. My head is slightly better, but my chest has begun to ache annoyingly. I hold my hand over my heart, praying to a God that I do not know to just let me lay down and die.

When he (or she?) doesn't give in to my wishes, I groan loudly. Forcing myself up out of bed, I reluctantly get myself ready for the day before following the trail of students who are eager for breakfast down to the Great Hall. The aroma of assorted breakfast foods wafts through the air and into my nose, to which I wrinkle it in disgust. Food still does not seem appetizing, and it becomes even less so when the first person I see upon my arrival is the disgusting face of Zacharias.

I'm surprised I don't hurl.

I spoon myself a bowl of strawberry yogurt, as that is all I can stomach. I make a point to sit where someone else is blocking the view of the boy, and for a moment, I feel calm.

"Morning!"

"Oh, fuck—" I flinch so hard that I nearly knock my bowl of yogurt off the table as Theo slides into the seat across from me, further blocking the Hufflepuff table from view. The spoon I was holding clatters to the floor, and I growl angrily under my breath. Before picking it up, I reach to my left and pick up my copy of the Daily Prophet, smacking him directly in the head with the rather thick paper. "Don't! Do! That!" I seethe between hits, and he raises his arms to protect his head.

"Don't do what— ow! Will you please put that away?" He pleads as I go to hit him once more. My heart is beating a million miles an hour and my elbow, after hitting the table so hard after the shock, throbs slightly. With a glare, I set the newspaper beside me, flinching again when it is snatched up by someone who slides into the seat beside me.

Turns out it isn't my copy, after all.

"So sorry, Millicent," I apologize, making a point that I didn't mean it. I'd have ripped that paper to shreds if I had known it was hers."In my defense, he deserves it."

I shoot Theo a look as his jaw falls open in protest, and he falls silent, seeing my expression. "Keep your hands to yourself next time, alright?" My cousin snaps at me, scooting farther down the bench and shaking out her Prophet to read it properly.

"Yes, your majesty," I drawl, glaring at her one more time before turning back to Theo. I kick his shin under the table, and he yelps in pain, smacking a hand over his mouth to conceal the noise. "Why would you do that?"

"Why would I do what?" He whispers harshly, rubbing his shin. "You're the one who has resorted to physical violence, Flint."

The sound of my last name rolling off his tongue makes me cringe slightly. "Don't break out the last name, Nott, unless you're prepared for a fight," I say to him, finally picking up my spoon off the floor. "Now, don't bloody scare me again like that! It's too early for your bullshit."

"Why are you attacking him, Cordelia?" Tracey Davis appears, sliding into the seat beside home. Her dark hair is pulled together in a knot on top of her head with a rather pretty phoenix feather pin. I clench my jaw, sending Theo an irritated look.

"Theo is being a jerk," I tell her confidently, ignoring the way Theo raises his voice to argue. "Wanker's got some nerve sliding in here and scaring the absolute shit out of me at—" I check the silver watch that adorns my wrist, "— eight in the morning."

"Seems like your knickers are just in a twist," Theo mutters under his breath. My mouth falls open. "I just greeted you, and you flipped out! What's your deal?"