Adeen's Recovery

Adeen didn't want to go into the Great Hall anymore. She didn't care that Headmaster Dumbledore would probably send for her later, she just wanted to avoid everyone for as long as possible.

The Slytherin managed to lose Cedric in the dinner crowd. She was by her lonesome self in the courtyard and stared up at the stars. Adeen felt the cold nip at her bare skin. It was refreshing and for once, she appreciated the chilling winds.

Her head snapped towards loud laughs coming from a distance. She wasn't sure how long she had sat outside but she presumed dinner had ended. Adeen left the courtyard quickly before anyone could spot her.

Despite wanting to leave the hospital wing for so long, now that she was out she felt vulnerable. She knew the rumors and stories of why she was not in class were spreading like wild fire and she had no desire to put them to rest. Adeen had enough problems to deal with.

Unfortunately for her, despite wanting to be left to her own, Adeen was quickly found in the corridors of the castle by one of her friends. Adeen felt someone sit right next to her on the ground. She glanced to her side before clearing her throat.

"We've all missed you," Marcus said softly and Adeen hummed.

"I did something stupid," she responded, "I was foolish."

"I feel like I should scold you for being so reckless. But I'm sure you've learned your lesson," he said and Adeen sighed.

"I suppose I have."

Adeen laid her head down on Marcus' shoulder. She felt drained from her altercation with her housemates and the lack of food. Marcus felt her fatigueness so he stood up and offered his hand to her.

He led her to the kitchens where a house elf immediately offered them all kinds of foods. The two ate in silence. Adeen started eating off slowly but the more she ate, the more her hunger grew. She stopped trying to eat like a lady and instead began shoving food into her mouth. Marcus had never seen Adeen eat so unmannered before but he didn't judge. He knew she was lacking nutrients. He could tell by the paleness of her skin and the lack of natural blush her cheeks always carried. Her eyes were red and her undereyes were black.

Marcus knew how to get her fire burning again. He handed her a red chili pepper and Adeen immediately ate it. The spice didn't bother her and she continued to eat uncontrollably.

"Pace yourself, Dee, you're going to get a belly ache," the Ravenclaw warned her but Adeen didn't listen.

Eventually, Adeen ate so much she fell into a food coma. Marcus sipped on his tea and watched as Adeen's body moved with every soft breath she took. 

"There you are."

Marcus shone a tired smile towards his group of friends sneaking into the kitchen. Wendy peeked down at Adeen and sighed.

"She's lost color in her cheeks," Wendy said with a click of her tongue. She was about to pinch Adeen's cheek but her hand was quickly slapped away by an annoyed Cedric.

Wendy and Hannah didn't hesitate to pick up Adeen and take her to the Slytherin common room to put her properly to sleep. By the next morning, Adeen woke to find Wendy's cat on her chest. She groaned and pushed the cat off with a frown.

"That damn cat."

"Leave Shiro alone. She just wants you to feel better."

Adeen peeked up to Wendy and gave her a small smile. After a sappy reunion, and Adeen swearing up and down that she would never do something so irresponsible, Wendy filled Adeen with all the gossip that happened while she was hospitalized. While Adeen didn't care much for any rumors, she listened intently to whatever her friend had to say.

They got ready and together, they went to the Great Hall for breakfast. Adeen's mind was filled with all the essays and papers she had to catch up on. She could feel her temperature growing to an unsafe high but her thoughts were interrupted by Hannah rushing up to the girls.

"There's going to be a ball!" Hannah squealed. Wendy cheered with her and the girls jumped up together in glee.

"Why are they having a ball? Did someone we hate die?" Adeen asked as Hannah looped her arms with both girls and dragged them toward the Great Hall.

"Oh hush! It's called the Yule Ball and it's held every time the Tri-Wizard Tournament is in motion. It's going to be placed on Christmas Eve-"

"And we are so going!" Wendy exclaimed as she waved her free arm around. Sparkles filled her eyes and Adeen could see Wendy starting to rile herself up.

"Breathe, Wendy."

The girls all sat at the Slytherin table. Adeen drooled at the food in front of her and didn't hesitate to fill her plate to the brim. She immediately began to scoop spoonfuls of egg and biscuits.

"We already got scolded by Professor McGonagall about our behaviour. She doesn't want us to embaress the school," Hannah mused, but her friends weren't even listening. Wendy was already scribbling down a list of things she needed to buy for the ball. Adeen was eating disastrously again.

But Adeen suddenly stopped and frowned. She swallowed her mouth full of egg and turned to Hannah.

"People usually dance at balls, right?"

"Yes, what a stupid question."

Adeen scowled. She was an awful dancer. She had two left feet and was too stiff to move gracefully. She was already dreading the ball.

"We need dresses and dates! And shoes! And make-up! We have so much to do in such little time!" Wendy squealed and shook Adeen's arm. The redhead squeaked in pain and pushed Wendy off. Wendy didn't notice the irritated look on Adeen's face.

"I need to get my hair done! Nobody will want to go with me while I look like a dirty mop!" Wendy whined and held up strands of her hair and shoved it in Hannah's face.

"Can you see the bloody split ends?! Because I can! You can see them from a mile away!" She yelled dramatically again. The two other girls knew to ignore Wendy when she was overly excited.

Adeen started thinking about the worse possible thing.

Who would be her date?

Adeen wasn't exactly a friendly, welcoming person. She scared first and second years so much, they went out of their way to avoid her. She constantly made babies cry by how emotionless she was. Overall, a lot of people didn't see how caring she could be. Her emotional detachment made it difficult for her to make new friends, let alone allow someone to ask her out.

Hannah must've read her mind because she smiled at Adeen with a comforting grin.

"Any man would be lucky to ask you to be their date."

The Slytherin returned a soft smile before biting back into her food. She glanced to Wendy who was still ranting.

Adeen allowed her to talk her ear off. She needed a distraction.

From the other side of the Great Hall, Fred was staring past his brother's head at the lovely Slytherin that had been tormenting his brain.

After Professor McGonagall had told the Gryffindors about the dance, the only thing Fred could think of was dancing with Adeen. He couldn't shake the tingles in his palms and the burn in his cheeks as he continued to stare at the her. George cleared his throat to catch his brother's attention but Fred didn't waiver his gaze.

"You're being creepy again, Freddie."

Fred sighed and bit into a cheese roll.

"What are the chances of a certain Slytherin saying yes to a certain Gryfinndor asking her to the Yule Ball?"

George sighed.

"You're so screwed."

*unedited*