Until The End

Until The End

Chapter 7: Revelations

“I have no talent. I am only passionately curious.”

Xavier Desmond’s P.O.V:

A flaxen light coloured Xavier’s peripheral vision as his eyes blinked sluggishly, aching faintly. Xavier placed a hand on his sore temples and groaned quietly. His eyes searched the place he was currently residing in and to his confusion, he found himself laying in one of the comfortable beds of the infirmary. What… what am I doing here? 

A recollection of memories came rushing through Xavier’s mind, reminding him of the last encounter he had witnessed. That mirror… and that demon…

The enigmatic monster’s inhumane voice rang through Xavier’s body, and he shuddered to himself. That voice… has to belong to the Devil…

Xavier knew he had to figure out the answers to his latest conundrum soon enough, no matter how dangerous and minacious whatever that thing could be, and he would make sure not to speak of his confrontation to anyone.

“Ah, you’re awake,” came Madam Pomfrey’s voice, and Xavier looked over to his left at her approaching figure.

“Madam Pomfrey, what happened?” Xavier questioned, a clueless look plastered on his face.  

“You were found bleeding heavily in a room by Mr. Filch and he called for Professor Snape who brought you here and healed you,” Madam Pomfrey explained sincerely.

“Oh… I… how?” Xavier asked dumbly, his brow furrowed.

“Well, Mr. Desmond, from what my scans and report conclude, it seems that you had a small seizure of some sort,” Madam Pomfrey replied, and Xavier masked his perplexed expression smartly. Small seizure? Was this the work of that demon in the mirror?  

The doors to the infirmary opened with a piercing creak from its hinges and Albus Dumbledore came strolling in, his soft smile directed at Xavier’s bedridden figure.

“Albus, the boy just woke up,” Madam Pomfrey started sternly.

“I’m afraid this can’t wait, Poppy,” Dumbledore reasoned apologetically. Madam Pomfrey emitted a heavy sigh before walking away with a not-so-subtle look of annoyance fixed at the Headmaster.  

“Xavier, my boy,” Dumbledore greeted merrily, conjuring a chair wandlessly and placing a hand on Xavier’s shoulder. “How are you feeling?”

“I’m feeling fine, sir,” Xavier replied smoothly, cracking his neck grotesquely.  

“What were you doing out roaming in the night?” Dumbledore asked calmly, and Xavier detected no hint of ire or scolding in the old man’s tone.  

Xavier responded truthfully, “I was just wayfaring due to boredom, sir. I served detention with Professor Snape and when I finished, I didn’t feel the urge to sleep. The night was quite soothing, and I decided to wander around aimlessly. When I looked into a spare room, there was a mirror-”

“The Mirror of Erised,” Dumbledore interjected with understanding, and Xavier nodded firmly.  

“What did you see in it?” the Headmaster asked with delight, and Xavier cocked an eyebrow involuntarily. Does he know what I saw?

Dumbledore noticed Xavier’s slightly baffled look and said, “I see myself holding a pair of socks. One can never have the right amount.”

The old man then chuckled heartily to himself, while Xavier hid his shell-shocked expression. The greatest wizard since Merlin sees socks in that mirror? How intriguing… That means everyone sees something different in that mirror…

“What did you see, my boy?” Dumbledore repeated after returning to his interested demeanour. I have to lie…

“I saw my parents…” Xavier muttered softly, and Dumbledore’s lips formed a paternal smile.  

“Tell me, Mr. Desmond, what does ‘Erised’ pronounce when you read it backwards?” the Headmaster suddenly asked.

Xavier took a second before answering, “It reads ‘desire’.”  

“Indeed. The mirror shows us what our hearts truly desire. It explains how your deepest desire is to be with your family,” Dumbledore elucidated gently, and Xavier nodded curtly. Except, I didn’t see my parents… I saw some demonic spectre with the Devil’s voice. How could that be my heart’s desire?

“It’s best if you don’t visit that mirror so often, my boy,” Dumbledore advised solemnly. “There have been times where men and women alike have met their ends by their obsessive fascination of what the mirror reveals them. One should never get too attached to what reflections the mirror cements as it can lead them to perform incongruent actions and, in the end, all will be lost due to the foolish belief that the mirror was showing one’s destiny, not desire.”    

Xavier nodded tersely, taking the old man’s words into account and as Dumbledore patted Xavier’s shoulder and departed, Ron, Theo, Blaise, Tracey, Pansy, and Millie all rushed in and surrounded Xavier’s bed with alacrity.

“Xavier!” Tracey exclaimed in relief as she hugged him tightly much to his perplexity.

“Are you alright, mate?” Ron inquired, concern written all over his face.

“What happened?” Theo asked, eyeing Xavier’s blood-soaked bandages.

“I’m fine. I just fell over and it cost me some damage, that’s all,” Xavier lied nonchalantly, and he couldn’t help but smirk at how far-fetched his reply was, albeit none of the others looked amused.

“Don’t smirk about that, we were all worried to death!” Pansy frowned at Xavier, and the dark-skinned boy raised an eyebrow. Worried to death? Why would you lot feel concerned over me?

“Speak for yourself,” Blaise remarked aloofly at Pansy who just took her frown to Blaise instead.

“Are you feeling better now, Xavier?” Millie questioned with a serious expression plastered on her face.

“I feel much better, I assure you,” Xavier replied shyly. “I’m… I’m sorry if I frightened you lot.”

“It’s fine, mate,” Ron reassured firmly. “You look ok now.”

“So, was there any confrontation of sorts I missed out on?” Xavier inquired, swiftly changing the subject. Everyone else tensed at what Xavier was implying.

“Daphne stayed in her dorm mostly and she broke down when Pansy and I tried to speak with her,” Millie explained, and Pansy nodded vigorously. “A lot of blaming herself, regrets and laments. She had never used the word before and apparently, it just slipped out.” Slipped out, eh? I’m not even sure anymore…

“It’s all my fault,” Tracey croaked, a countenance of guilt and remorse flitting across her face.  

“No, Greengrass should have never said that vile word,” Ron assured indignantly, and the others nodded in agreement.

“None of this wouldn’t have happened if she didn’t,” Blaise added firmly.  

“None of this is your fault either, Tracey,” Theo promised pacifyingly. 

“Why are you all disturbing my patient?” came Madam Pomfrey’s stern voice.

“They weren’t, Madam Pomfrey,” Xavier immediately clarified.

“We were just worried over our injured friend, and we wanted to see him,” Theo added in with a sigh, and that softened Madam Pomfrey’s strict look.

“Breakfast will start soon, so I suggest you lot leave my patient to rest for the day, and visit him later,” Madam Pomfrey suggested, and Xavier’s brow furrowed.

“Wait, am I not discharged?” Xavier questioned and Madam Pomfrey frowned.

“No, young man, you still need to take the appropriate potions and let your body heal more before I can discharge you,” Madam Pomfrey replied inflexibly.  

Ron, Theo, and Blaise stifled their laughter at Xavier’s cross look, while the girls lapsed into giggles.

“Please come back and visit me, I don’t want to be left alone here with her,” Xavier pleaded jokingly, but he quickly regressed to his aloof demeanour when Madam Pomfrey shot him a patronising glare. Everyone else snickered at Xavier’s expense, and it felt quite good to make everyone laugh for once. Maybe I should try it more…

Xavier had spent the rest of the day in that bed, filled with boredom, but at several intervals, he was reminded of the puzzling fiend from the Mirror of Erised and would instantaneously ponder over it, getting lost in his thoughts.

Harry and Neville had come to visit before lunch commenced and Neville had ended up thanking Xavier profusely for the whole Quidditch incident. The potions that were distributed to heal Xavier tasted repulsive and when Madam Pomfrey prepared the suitable food for Xavier to consume, it made the food back at the orphanage look like the food that a royal king would devour.  

The doors suddenly opened and in came Ron, and Xavier sat up. Finally…

“Xavier,” Ron greeted as he sat on a stool near Xavier’s bed.

“How was Defence Against the Dark Arts?” Xavier eagerly inquired, and a look of pure dissatisfaction filled Ron’s face as he sighed heavily. 

“It was a bloody disappointment, mate. Professor Quirrell just kept going on and on about his adventures with vampires and whatnot, but didn’t even get to any of the spells,” Ron relayed with frustration.

“Damn, I was looking forward to that class. From your tone, Quirrell seemed to be rather incompetent,” Xavier pointed out, and Ron nodded vigorously.

“Yeah, mate, I’d much rather have Snape as the professor for Defence Against the Dark Arts,” Ron admitted, and Xavier couldn’t help but nod in agreement.

“I believe I agree. Professor Snape would be much for straightforward and-”

Xavier and Ron were interrupted when the doors to the infirmary were pushed open, and to their surprise, Hermione came strolling in. Her eyes landed on the two Slytherins and a look of relief filled her face.

“I started to become worried over your absence,” Hermione admitted as she joined them.

“Why?” Xavier asked, cocking an eyebrow. Seriously, why are people worrying over me?

“Well, I was hoping we could… you know… study together today,” Hermione answered, her cheeks flushing up a bit.  

“Oh right, of course. I guess fate has postponed our chance to study together,” Xavier responded noncommittally, and Hermione huffed crossly.  

“Or you should have used your brain and gone to sleep instead of wandering around the castle late at night! Seriously, what were you thinking?” Hermione reprimanded, and Xavier’s brow furrowed.

“How did you know that I was wandering around last night?” Xavier queried.

“Oh, Ron told me,” Hermione replied, smiling at the red-haired boy.

“We sat together in Defense Against the Dark Arts class and since Quirrell was too busy droning on and on about escaping werewolves in bloody Denmark, I just caught Hermione up on your situation,” Ron provided with a shrug.

“It’s Professor Quirrell, Ronald,” Hermione corrected, and Ron grinned sheepishly. “And don’t just use the word ‘bloody’ so much.”

“You two are friends now, eh?” Xavier asked, and they both blushed unwillingly. That’s good… Ron can join us in a study session as I’m sure he can supply us with his extensive knowledge as well…

“Your absence provided me the opportunity to acquire more House points,” Hermione added in smugly as she changed the topic hastily and she then frowned. “Ron, however, made the process difficult at times.”  

“Hey, you’re not the only smart one around here,” Ron reasoned arrogantly, and Xavier smirked a little. Guess these two really bonded over the lesson.

“Hey…” Hermione started, her expression shifting to one of curiosity. “What happened yesterday? I saw you both leave your table before lunch even ended.”

Ron tensed up noticeably, while Xavier’s smirk dropped as a cold look filled his face. Someone, for God knows what, has a problem with you and didn’t want any association between you and me…

“It’s… nothing, Hermione,” Ron grit out after a moment, unclenching his fists. “Just a little argument between allies, that’s all.”

Hermione seemed to have noticed the agitated expression on Ron’s face and composure and slowly reached out to put a gentle hand on Ron’s shoulder, which was so bizarre of Hermione to do. However, Ron’s expression suddenly went blank, and his eyes widened strikingly, gazing directly at the other side of the infirmary with a mindless look. What’s wrong?  

“Ronald?” Hermione called, her brow furrowed at Ron’s sudden change of demeanour.  

Ron Weasley’s P.O.V:

Ron found his vision go black and white as he found himself standing in a hallway in Hogwarts that led to the girl’s lavatory. Another vision!?

A sudden crash followed by a high-pitched, desperate scream sent waves of terror down Ron’s spine and he realised that it came from inside the girl’s lavatory. What the bloody fuck was that?!

Without another thought, Ron dashed into the lavatory to investigate the cause and he halted in his tracks as he paled severely. A twelve-foot intimidating Troll holding a deadly club in its’ hand growled furiously as it instigated havoc in the area. Pieces of the walls, sinks and doors were shattered across the floor and what frightened Ron the most was the fact that Troll wasn’t the only living thing inside the loo. Harry, Neville, and Hermione were all in there with the Troll, dodging the Troll’s attacks for dear life as blood rushed down their sweaty faces and tattered robes. OH MY GOD-

Neville pushed Hermione over just before the Troll’s club could strike her and Harry jumped onto the Troll’s back, causing a distraction but it backfired as the Troll shook poor Harry off its’ back with ease. Harry plummeted to the ground and his glasses came off, much to Harry’s disadvantage.

The Troll then swung its’ club at Harry and to Ron’s absolute heart-thumping horror, the club struck Harry by the face and Ron heard several bones crack in Harry’s skull before his face split apart. Harry was no more. WHAT THE FUCK?!

Ron wanted to scream at the brutal end of Harry Potter, but he couldn’t as the Troll then turned to Hermione and Neville with a greedy, blood-thirsty look and swung its’ club at Neville’s affrighted figure to the wall. 

Neville’s scream was abrupt as he was effectively knocked out and he slumped against the wall. The Troll then stepped on Neville’s unconscious form with its’ giant foot savagely, squishing the Gryffindor boy instantly. Bones rippled and blood oozed out of the dead Neville, and Ron felt nausea quickly rush through him and he threw up all over the place. FUCKING FUCK!

Ron wanted everything to end. This vision would surely give him nightmares for the rest of his days on earth, but it seemed that it wasn’t over yet.

Hermione’s eyes watered as she whimpered fearfully, and the Troll growled menacingly as its’ abhorrent eyes fixated themselves on its’ last victim. Ron wanted to do something… anything… but he couldn’t and that was that… He just hoped that Hermione would be able to find a way to escape. Please… God, help her… give her strength…

Hermione then swiftly got up and she screamed as the Troll swung its’ bloodied club. She ducked in time and Ron watched Hermione approach his direction but the feeling of rising hope in Ron’s stomach evaporated forthwith as the Troll grabbed Hermione with its’ scarred, scabby hand. Oh no, no, shit! Let go of her, you ugly fuck!  

Hermione tried to squeeze her way out frantically, but the grip of the Troll’s hand was tightening immensely by the second and Ron felt his soul leave his body when the Troll opened its’ mouth and bit off Hermione’s head.

A horrified bellow tore out of Ron’s mouth as he dropped to knees with hopelessness. All he heard was the bones of his newest friend crunch inside the bloody monster’s mouth and Ron felt the bile of nausea skyrocket again.

Out of all the scariest things that Ron had been seen, this topped them all, even when Pandora was strangled by her own work back at the Rookery, and the fact that this would happen sometime in the future terrified him even more. How could this have happened?!

Harry Potter, the boy-who-lived, had been killed by a Troll’s club, Neville Longbottom, a pure-blood child, had been stepped to death by the same Troll and Hermione Granger, an intelligent Muggle-born, had been eaten by that Troll. HOW DID THIS THING EVEN GET INTO HOGWARTS?!

Ron couldn’t DARE let this happen, no matter how much risk he would be putting himself at, and he knew he had to either work out how the Troll was let in and prevent it or to ready himself for the day it would occur.

The vision began to fade away into the distance and Ron watched with a detached look as the gory images of the three Gryffindor’s fate flooded his mind.

“Ron, are you alright?” came Xavier’s voice, and he almost sounded concerned. Ron shut his eyes tightly and opened them properly. I can’t get it out of my head…

“Ronald, you are very pale,” Hermione added worriedly, and Ron could feel a sense of grim fill his stomach as he slowly stared at Hermione. She dies at the hands of a filthy Troll… I can’t let that happen…

Seeing a vision of Hermione getting eaten by a Troll and then seeing her disturbed face in the present moment was too much for Ron to handle.

“S-Sorry guys… I just remembered I had to write something… to my parents… and I completely forgot,” Ron lied lamely, and he then rushed off, missing Xavier and Hermione’s looks of deeper bewilderment.

Xavier Desmond’s P.O.V:

October had come quicker than anyone would have expected, and the student body was anticipating the Halloween Feast more than anything.

Xavier and Ron continued to awe their teachers, allies, and fellow students by receiving House points every lesson and to top it off, the usually cold and withdrawn Professor Snape even congratulated them in the Slytherin Common Room, much to Malfoy’s annoyance and jealousy. Xavier and Ron grew closer to each other as they did with their Slytherin allies, and Xavier felt his demeanour change quite considerably. He began to chuckle more, joke more, and even swear more openly, much to Ron and Theo’s influence.  

As for Daphne, Xavier had an idea that she and Tracey were reconciling in secret, but he hadn’t really spoken to her and started to forget about the blonde Slytherin girl.

Xavier also noticed that Ron kept zoning out at times when they were all engaged in conversation, and that made Xavier slightly cautious as he had a feeling that something happened back at the infirmary when Ron had stared unresponsively at a wall for a minute or so before making an excuse and taking off.

Xavier and Ron also grew closer with Hermione as the trio studied together and compared notes in the library, and they blessed each other with their intelligence and widespread knowledge. Sometimes, Xavier caught Ron unable to look Hermione in the eye properly when she addressed him and wondered if it correlated with the bizarre situation that occurred in the infirmary.  

Xavier would utilize some of his spare time investigating Lady Dysnomia and even sneaking into the Restricted Area after hours. All Xavier knew about Lady Dysnomia was that she was a pure-blood that attended Ilvermorny around the seventies and became a quick prodigy in a diverse amount of areas in magic. All of this information only procured more questions. He didn’t know why he was infatuated with learning of the dark witch’s identity but anything that involved his parents was worth looking into.   

And as for the inscrutable phantom in the Mirror of Erised, Xavier quickly forgot about it as his attention was too focused on studying, learning new spells, and researching Lady Dysnomia.

Xavier and Ron tied their shoelaces on their runners and got ready to head out to their favourite spot past the Great Lake, where a forest clearing with a few trees were as Xavier and Ron wanted to practise their blasting spells, such as the Confringo and Expulso spells. As they set off to the exit of the Slytherin Common Room, Tracey appeared in front of them and both Xavier and Ron noticed that she had a slightly anxious look.

“Tracey,” Xavier greeted with a curt nod.

“What’s up, Trace?” Ron asked with a smile and her eyes were fixed on her feet.

“Do you two have a few minutes?” Tracey started. “I… Well, Millie, Pansy, Theo, Blaise, and I just wanted to talk with you two. It just feels like we’ve all kind of lost you guys a bit.”

Xavier and Ron exchanged slow glances; they weren’t expecting this, but at the same time only a fool could deny what she said.  

“I guess we can skip one day, right Xavier?” Ron asked slowly.

“Sure, this sounds important,” Xavier agreed smoothly, and Tracey beamed.

Tracey then led the two boys into her dorm, which surprised them both a bit, but as they entered, they saw the rest of their friends and joined them. Everyone wore bright blushes on their faces since they were all in the Girl’s Dorm together.

Blaise and Theo sat on presumably Pansy’s bed since there were several magazines on new hairstyles, stylish clothing, and witches, which were all things that Pansy ranted about on the daily. Pansy and Millie were sitting on Millie’s bed and Xavier, Ron and Tracey sat on her bed, while another empty bed occupied the room, meaning it was Daphne’s.

“So, what did you guys want to talk about?” Ron asked as he made himself comfortable.  

“We just wanted to talk for a bit, you know. Have a proper conversation.” Pansy answered with a nervous giggle, and Xavier cocked an eyebrow. What is this all really about?

“If you think it’s weird, then you must know that Theo and I are on the same boat with you two,” Blaise assured dispassionately, and the girls all glared at him, while Theo just nodded in agreement.  

“Well, lately I’ve just been practising on my blasting spells and studying on more advanced potions and transfiguration work… other than that, there’s not much else,” Ron spoke quietly, and Xavier could immediately tell he was hiding something. Xavier prided himself in figuring out when someone lied, hid something, or deviated from their normal attitude.

“I’ve been doing the same as Ron. And I’ve been looking into anything that tells me about Lady Dysnomia,” Xavier stated reticently. “Anything that couples with my parents is what I might need to find out what might have happened to them.”  

“I still remember the tales my aunt from the states told me when I was younger. Tales of how your mother defeated Lady Dysnomia,” Tracey added in, reminiscing with a smile. “And now I’m friends with you, who turned out to be the son of the woman who brought Lady Dysnomia down.”

“Trust me, when I first met him at Ollivander’s and he told me his name, I was in so much shock that I actually froze,” Ron chimed in, and everyone chuckled at the thought of it. Xavier smirked slightly as he remembered the day.  

“Well, if my parents killed a dark witch who had a steadfast following, surely there were many who despised my parents and rebelled against them, right?” Xavier pointed out thoughtfully.

“My mother once told me that Lady Dysnomia was so powerful that she wanted both the Magical American Empire and the Magical British Empire and when the old British Families refused to co-operate as some of them… had joined the Dark Lord, she caused destruction and she became an enemy to all of Europe,” Pansy explained sincerely, and Xavier’s brow furrowed. Interesting… Magical Britain, including those pure-blood fanatics that joined Lord Voldemort’s ranks, rebelled against Lady Dysnomia? That means Lord Voldemort and Lady Dysomnia opposed each other as well…

“That’s why your father and mother were hailed as saviours to Magical America and became quickly feared by death-eaters here in Great Britain and the rest of Europe,” Blaise noted.

There was a silence between them all and Xavier could tell that most of them were feeling sympathetic towards him right now. There was another burning question in Xavier’s mind. One that he was surprisingly reluctant of asking.

“So, no one really knows of how my parents died?” Xavier muttered, and the girls flinched, while the boys looked uneasy.

“No one truly knows,” Tracey spoke after a minute. “Maybe those few who do know kept it under wraps as I’m sure the death of your parents scared everyone senseless.”  

“Rumours have been spreading for years, mate,” Ron added in, his own brow furrowed in deep thought.

“Some say that a group of loyal followers from Lady Dysnomia’s that escaped from being captured and incarcerated took revenge and killed you and your parents,” Blaise admitted, reciting a rumour he had heard from his mother. 

“I h-heard that some ally your father made betrayed them and went to k-kill them,” Pansy stammered, and she had a really frightened etched on her face.

“But why in the name of Merlin did everyone think I died?” Xavier questioned and there was frustration evident in his quiet voice. It just didn’t make sense. If he had died, how would he be alive and in some orphanage while the whole Wizarding Empire believed he was deceased along with his heroic parents.    

His friends stared at the floor or the wall, unable to sate Xavier with answers to his inexplicable question.

“I highly doubt I heard this properly, but there was this one time where I overheard my father discussing something about your family with an old friend of his. He mentioned that when a good friend of your parents’ visited their manor, he or she found your father’s dead body, your mother’s dead body, and your dead body,” Theo suddenly provided grimly, and everyone shuddered. A few tears leaked out of Pansy’s eyes, and Millie comforted her.

All Xavier could do was stare at his own hands; his mind was once again flooded and brimming with endless, perpetual questions of how it all even made sense. Xavier felt a hand rest on his shoulder, and he looked back to see that it was Ron’s.

“Could there be anyone who knows the location of my family’s manor?” Xavier inquired, taking a different perspective.

“Your parents were known for being extremely secretive and I’m willing to bet that there is not even a single person who knows the current location of the mansion your parent’s resided in, and that includes Albus Dumbledore,” Tracey responded with a deep sigh. Xavier nodded tersely and he had one thought centred in his mind. Find my parent’s Manor, even if it’s the last thing you ever do…

“Who knows?” Blaise suddenly spoke up. “The Desmond family, just like most pure-blood families, were probably interlinked with some other pure-blood families. You might have second cousins that you don’t even know about right now.” Hmm… Blaise could be right…  

“Well, the Desmond’s weren’t listed as one of the Sacred Twenty-Eight,” Theo pointed out.   

“I thought the Desmond family came to Britain a little after your grandfather settled the Sacred Twenty-Eight, Theo,” Millie reminded. Theo’s grandfather instigated the list of the remaining pure-blood families in Great Britain?

“Well, I’ll take all of your words into consideration,” Xavier spoke up, looking between them. “I… I guess I should thank you for your opinions-”

“Aww,” Tracey cooed, and Xavier couldn’t help but frown.

“Stop it, Xavier, you’re making us all blush,” Theo teased with a smirk, and Xavier shot Theo a death glare. Everyone laughed at Xavier’s reaction, and even he fought his lips from smirking at their banter.

Their shared moment of contentment came to a hasty end when the door swung open, and Daphne appeared. A surprised look coloured her face, while everyone else instantly became uncomfortable.

“Well, I guess Xavier and I should get going,” Ron concluded quickly, signalling Xavier to depart the place.

“We’ve still got time to practise some curses, right?” Xavier questioned, and Ron nodded a little too enthusiastically.

“Guys just hold up, there was one more thing I wanted to tell you two,” Tracey admitted, and her tone was tense. Xavier looked between the others and noticed the same uneasiness displayed on their face. Maybe this is what they really wanted to talk about…

Xavier and Ron glanced at each other before they waited silently for Tracey to imply what she wanted to talk about.

“Well… Uh, I um… er… I well I er…” Tracey stuttered as she gulped.

“Trace, just spit it out already,” Blaise ordered firmly, and Tracey sighed, though her hands couldn’t stop fidgeting.

“Daphne and I… have made up and so has she with everyone besides you two. And I want her back in our group,” Tracey confessed after a deep breath. Xavier just stared at Tracey expressionlessly, while Ron raised an eyebrow incredulously.

“Why?” Ron demanded, his eyes refusing to acknowledge Daphne. “After what she said, you’re gonna invite her back?! You even slapped her, Trace!”

“I know, I know, just hear me out,” Tracey reasoned, her eyes darting towards the others for help. “I thought we should give second chances-"

“We did give her a second chance. She almost called Hermione Granger a ‘Mud-Blood’, and we warned her,” Ron urged with irritation and Daphne flinched.

“And yet, she still had a problem with a girl who didn’t even do anything to her,” Xavier whispered coldly as his black, intimidating eyes bored into Daphne’s frightened, blue ones. Hermione’s doesn’t even have a single friend from her own House…  

“Daphne was my first real friend, and I don’t want to lose her because she accidentally slipped a word she wasn’t even trying to say!” Tracey argued defiantly.

“Yeah, a friend who would probably insult you if you weren’t her friend,” Ron countered strongly. Daphne walked over to her bed, and she sat down with a sad sigh. Xavier noticed the glints of regret in her eyes.

“Look, I know you two must hate everything about me right now, especially you Ron. And I don’t blame you. My own father would be overly disappointed in me as the Greengrass Family have always been neutral and I grew up being told that I should believe what was right and to not care about blood status,” Daphne explained softly, and Xavier scoffed.

“And yet, you were ready to call Hermione a slur and then did it anyway,” Xavier cut in, and Daphne flinched again.

“I don’t dislike Granger because she is a Muggle-born. I just…” Daphne sighed as she trailed off.

“Daphne, just tell them,” Pansy encouraged gently, and Daphne nodded.

“I was jealous-” Daphne started but she was stopped by Ron’s bark of laughter.

“Jealous?! What for?” Ron inquired, his confusion matching Xavier’s. Yeah, what for?

“I… I think I might have an issue… every time someone becomes friends with my own, I’m just… jealous,” Daphne started difficultly, but Xavier didn’t buy that shit for a second.  

“I thought you would be a better liar than that, Greengrass,” Xavier sneered, and she shook her head. “After all, we weren’t even friends. We were mere allies.”  

“I’m not lying, I promise,” Daphne assured, looking firmly at Xavier and Ron.

“Tell us the truth, Greengrass,” Ron commanded, his frown widening. “You didn’t get jealous when Tracey befriended me, did you? You’re clearly lying.” Indeed…

“Fine!” Daphne snapped. “I was jealous because I had a crush on you, Xavier!”

Silence was all that followed afterwards. As if time stood still, Xavier and Ron did too, just staring at Daphne. Blaise and Theo looked bored, Pansy and Millie looked uncomfortable, and Tracey looked oddly relieved.

“Is this one of your attempted jokes, Trace? Because you’re making Greengrass look like the joke than the joke itself,” Xavier commented indifferently, but Tracey had a fierce expression of reassurance, and Xavier cocked an eyebrow.

“Are you serious?” Xavier questioned, his tone filled with disbelief, and Daphne’s cheeks turned rosy.

“So, let me get this straight,” Ron started with a perplexed countenance. “You called Hermione Granger, someone who wasn’t even friends with Xavier properly, a ‘Mud-Blood’ because you had a crush on him?”

“No, I never intended to call her that. All I can say is hanging around with Malfoy for a long time does something to you, but… I guess I became… possessive… because I liked Xavier,” Daphne replied softly, her eyes unable to acknowledge Xavier.

“Girls are so weird…” Theo mumbled with a frown, while Blaise scoffed to himself.

“Greengrass, we only knew each other for two days, and you had a crush on me?” Xavier further questioned, his eyes digging into Daphne’s composure, searching for answers. Is she actually being sincere with me?

No one said anything for a few moments. There was an unambiguous sense of awkwardness hanging in the air.  

“I’m sorry. To both of you. Especially you, Ron,” Daphne sighed softly. “I’ve hated myself for using that word. I promise you I will never use it ever again.”

Xavier stared at her wordlessly for a few seconds before glancing at his red-haired mate. Ron was in a debate in his own mind as he glared disdainfully at Daphne. The glare then relaxed, and Ron sighed to himself.  

“Fine… I accept your apology. I’m only doing this for Tracey, remember that,” Ron concluded firmly, and he walked away. Xavier shot one curt nod at Daphne and followed after Ron, eager to get out of the dorm. What the hell was all of that?