Every Rose Has Its Thorns
It’s been a hard week, since they were cursed on Sunday they had to go through a whole week of classes. As you can probably guess it wasn’t the easiest of tasks. They had to walk together, sit together, sleep together, and use the bathroom together all without anyone suspecting anything, especially Anne. She already told her to avoid Mary and here she was doing everything with her, she had no choice, okay!
It was now Saturday morning, they had no classes today so they finally had time to go to the library to try and find a cure to their curse, that was the plan anyway.
“Get up we're leaving.”
They had been using Mary’s dorm room to sleep since most of her dormmates had either gone missing or been sleeping in the boy's dorms. There were a few times when they were caught but they played it off.
Katherine was still in bed, cuddled up to Neapolitan. You’d think Mary would be a late riser since she was always late to breakfast, that’s what Katherine thought anyways. But Mary was always up before Katherine woke up, just getting ready in silence.
“I’m coming, I’m coming.” Katherine slurred out not moving an inch.
So Mary walked away, flinging Katherine out of bed since the whole bound together thing.
“OWW,” Katherine sat up “You're so mean I said I was coming.”
“We both know you weren’t, your lucky I didn’t make you sleep on the floor” Mary threw a set of clothes at Katherine “Now hurry I wanna make it there before breakfast ends.”
“Aren’t I supposed to be the one embarrassed by you? Why do YOU not wanna be seen with me?”
Mary stayed quiet and turned away.
Maybe I could’ve said that in a nicer way.
“I’m sorry I-”
“-just.. hurry”
Katherine would never understand Mary, sometimes when Katherine says something that upsets her Mary would yell at Katherine and say something mean right back. Other times she acts cold and distant. When Mary starts to act like this it starts to make Katherine feel bad, wishing she could take back whatever she said.
“Okay, I’m ready.. let’s go”
-
Mary was quiet for the rest of the walk to the library usually always preferring to walk in front of Katherine instead of next to her. It's fine though, it most definitely does not bother Katherine at all, 100%. Besides she has Neapolitan! Who needs Mary when you have dogs?
They arrived at the library after a short walk since the Slytherin common room is relatively close to the library.
“Dear, hey!”
Katherine's attention was drawn to the librarian snapping and motioning her over.
“Yes dear, no animals allowed in the library, yes dear.”
Katherine looked to the librarian's left where a Himalayan cat with a messed up face was sprawled out over a stack of books. Katherine's tried to hide her obvious disgust.
“I’m sorry miss uh- miss what about that- 4th grade science experiment..” Katherine said as she eyed the cat or whatever it was.
The woman looked appalled and covered the specimen's ears “Watch your tongue! She’s my child! She’s climbed all the way from the mountains to find me.”
Katherine's eyes widened “She climbed out from somewhere that's for sure”
Mary was a little ways behind them and didn’t even try to contain her laughter.
“Mary Sweetheart, tell your disrespectful friend to be rid of her dog or, I will.” The woman said pulling out her wand.
Mary's face scowled at the woman and grabbed Katherine's arm “Don’t call me that, C’mon Katherine, I don’t wanna be near this harlot and her spawn of satan any longer”
The girls and Neapolitan walked towards the bookshelves as the librarian called after them.
“Well! I’ll let it slide if you ask your father if he still thinks about me!”
Katherine could see Mary’s face turn from anger to disgust as they rounded around a corner of the library out of sight from the librarian.
“What was that about? Do you know her?” Katherine asked as they sat down at a table.
“I really don’t wanna talk about it,” Mary said looking down.
“Oh ok-”
“FINE! If you keep asking.” Mary said as she stood back up
Katherine blinked
“That’s Miss Basset she’s one of fathers whores, or was any way he can’t stand her now.”
“Oh I'm sorry” Katherine’s eyes followed Mary’s as Mary circled around the room
“I told you I didn’t like you saying that, stop.”
“Sorry.”
Mary quickly exhaled at Neapolitan and turned to look at the shelves lined with books.
“So, where do you think we should start?” Katherine questioned while fiddling with her hands in her lap.
“I don’t know why are you asking me?” Mary said still scanning the shelves.
“Well you're the smart one”
That made Mary stop and turn to Katherine who was still fiddling with her hands.
“Whatever you’re doing stop it”
Katherine stopped playing with her hands and looked up confused.
“Huh? Oh sorry, I didn’t realize I’ll stop” Katherine put her hands flat on the table.
“No! Not your stupid hands! Stop saying sorry idiot!”
“Oh sorry”
Katherine abruptly brought up her hand to cover her mouth.
-
It was around 4 pm and she was still sat at the same table in the library reading while Mary rounded around the table trying to find books that might have the answer to their predicament. They were so far unsuccessful.
They had stacks of books scattered across the table with only a third of them actually been looked through.
All was fine and dandy, Mary was behind a bookshelf out of sight from Katherine skimming through books. Neapolitan had crafted a bed out of the piles of books and had been snoring the whole time. And while maybe a tad jealous of Neapolitan Katherine was fine too.
“Katherine there you are! I've been looking for you everywhere!”
Katherine looked up from what seemed endless piles of words to see her cousin Anne approaching.
Anne pushed some books down and sat across from her “Where have you been? You weren’t at breakfast, lunch or the Ravenclaw quidditch tryouts today. Have you even eaten?”
From the corner of her eye, Katherine could see Mary curiously peek out from the bookcase she was hiding behind.
“uhh. well, I’ve been busy.”
Anne shot worried looks around the table filled with books “Well I can see that. You know exams are at the end of the year, right?”
“Yes, yes but you can never be too prepared. Right?”
Anne leaned forward and grabbed Katherine’s hands “This isn’t about that Mary girl is it?”
Katherine shot a quick glance to said Mary girl then back to Anne. “Whatttttt?? Noooo.”
“Cause if it is I can get rid of her for you.”
“No! Oh god no, Anne! I’m just..” Katherine was never good at lying especially not to Anne.
Anne rubbed her thumb over Katherine's hands “Look, I’m worried about you, I haven’t been seeing you much lately and I’ve been hearing some alarming rumours about you and that Tudor girl- I just..” Anne paused and looked up at Katherine “I just wanna make sure you're okay.”
Katherine hated this. Katherine hated having to lie to Anne. Katherine hated not being able to spend time with Anne. Katherine hated that she wanted to tell Anne the truth. Katherine hated the idea of letting Mary down. Katherine hated that she couldn’t have it both ways. Katherine hated the way she looked Anne in the eye and said,
“Everything is fine.”