Chapter 2
The first night back to Hogwarts was always a sort of peaceful chaos. After the feast everyone headed back to their dorms to catch up with friends and unpack.
Classes would start tomorrow, so it was essential that I had everything prepared for the morning. After checking off each box on my mental to-do list I crawled into bed, quickly falling asleep, anticipating the morning.
When the morning arrived, I was first out of bed. Taking my time to shower and get ready before slipping into the common room which was mostly empty except some lingering seventh years who didn’t care to attend breakfast.
Judging by the small clock just off the side of the couch, breakfast had already started, so I made my way down to the great hall to grab a bite before class.
A striking difference from the common room the great hall was. Compared to the deserted lounge and corridors the great hall was flooding with students and noisy chatter.
Breakfast was always crazy the first month back, with every kid dying to stuff their faces full of Hogwarts cooking. As I walked in I spotted Diana at the Hufflepuff table with some of her friends and made my way to her side.
“OMG ANDY” Diana jumped up, pulling me into a tight hug before pulling me into the seat next to her, almost knocking me over in the process. “How was your summer? Tell me EVERYTHING!”
I chuckled at my friends growing enthusiasm, “I wrote to you only last week, nothing exciting has happened since” I said reaching for a spot of breakfast.
Diana frowned at this but quickly cheered up, “Oh my god, I didn’t tell you did I?” she asked almost jumping out of her seat. “My cousin from France came to visit for the summer, I wish you could have met her she’s actually the coolest”
“Sorry D, you know I wanted to visit but my father wouldn’t let me step foot outside the manor”
“I know” she sighed, “Maybe you can come for the Christmas holidays? You can bring Theo so he won’t spend the holidays alone” she included cheerily. Diana was always super welcoming and kind towards Theo, even though he was a sarcastic git, she always made sure to extend the invite to him as well.
“I’ll see what I can do,” I agreed. After a while longer of chattering with Diana and some of her other Hufflepuff friends, Adrian found his way over.
“Hey Nott, here’s your timetable” he said handing a paper across the table to me, “Hi Diana” he said timidly, and it took everything in me not to snort.
“Hey Adrian” Diana said cheerily, “How was your summer?”
“It was fine, and yours” he asked, a goofy grin threatening to explode across his face.
“It was great!” Diana responded. Adrian went to say something back but a figure walking in our direction stole Diana’s attention, “Hey Diana, hey Andrea” Cedric said stopping just off to the side of Adrian.
“Hey Ced” we both chided.
“Have an alright summer?” He asked. “Yep” we said almost in unison. “And you?” Diana asked her finger slightly twirling around her black locks.
“It was alright,” he smiled, “I’ll see you in class yea? My buddies are waiting for me” he said pointing towards the entrance to the great hall not taking his gaze off Diana.
“Yea see you in class” she said dreamily. He smiled before walking away. Diana’s eyes didn’t leave him until he left the hall, and when I turned back to Adrian he had a sour look on his face.
I shot him a glare before turning to Diana, “D you look thirsty as fuck, just ask him out already” I said forking a lone strawberry on my plate.
“I’ll see you in class Nott” Adrian said moodily walking away from what had become girl talk.
“You think he likes me too?” Diana asked her eyes glazed over like she was in some kind of trance.
“Considering you were both just ogling at each other like lovesick first years, I’m gonna say yea” I chuckled.
“Ok I’m gonna do it, I’ll ask him out this year” she said hyping herself up.
“About time” I mumbled taking a sip of tea.
Diana had been crushing on Cedric since our 3rd year and it was safe to say the feelings were mutual. It was painfully obvious to everyone around them how much they liked each other. But neither of them had made a move, Despite my constant attempts to bring the two together.
Glancing down, I quickly scanned my time table and groaned. “What?” Diana asked concerned. “I have double potions with Gryffindor today” I said turning to pout at her. “Oh knock it off they’re not that bad” She said slapping me lightly.
“Yea, I know but those goddamn Weasley twins are relentless, and they hate all Slytherins” I said
“You’ll be fine, plus we have transfiguration together first so you get to spend your morning with your lovely best friend.”
“Oh you mean my best friend that will be entirely distracted by,” I pause to sigh dreamily, “Cedric” I say batting my eyes at her.
“Rubbish,” she rolled her eyes, “I do not sound like that”
“Oh you totally do.” I smirked.
“Oh whatever,” she said getting up and walking away.
“D, Wait for me” I called out rushing to follow her almost tripping over the seat.
Diana waited for me by the door as I grabbed a slice of toast to go before bursting into a quick sprint to catch up. Our first class of the morning didn’t start until 10:45, so after walking with D to the Hufflepuff common room, I made my way back to the Slytherin common room.
Stopping at the entrance and quickly mumbling “Pureblood,” a password that was entirely blood supremacist, I made my way back to my room.
After grabbing my transfiguration book and throwing it into my tote with a few quills and my wand, I headed down to pass the remaining hour before class by reading by the window that looked out onto the black lake.