✮˚. ᵎᵎ 𖦹彡⋆｡˚

Speed walking to the library, a plan was already formulated into my head. Grabbing some extra parchment paper off of Madam Pince, I started to write down my plan in the form of a list. The glow of the sunset made everything golden.

"Miss Wilson." A voice interrupted, I looked up to see the frowning face of Professor McGonagall.

"Oh, hello Professor." I muttered, scattering other pieces of parchment to cover my plan. She motioned to the chair across from me, I nodded so she could sit down.

"Miss Wilson. I have noticed your cumulative absences throughout the past month and a half. I wanted to ask what were you doing in this time of leave?"

I swallowed hard, training my eyes on a letter 'm' I wrote. "Um...it was for medical reasons..." I uttered. She pursed her lips,

"Why haven't you gone to see Madam Pomfrey?"

My face grew hot, all of the sudden it was very hot and stuffy in the library, "It was- It was different medical reasons..."

She raised her eyebrows at me and that's when I broke.

I began to explain to her everything, why I was missing class, the health reasons mentally and physically I had suffered. How it was just hard for me to keep going on. When I was done, I had looked up to see her face had softened.

"Well Miss Wilson, I'm very sorry you went through that alone, or feel like you're going through this alone. Please know you are not." She paused and gently touched my hand. I nodded.

"As for your missed work, if you can get a list from all of your professors and make up all the work by Christmas, your absence will be pardoned and we can bring up your marks again." She smiled sweetly, I always knew she favored me at least a little bit.

"Yes Professor McGonagall. I will." I nodded, holding back tears. When she finally walked away I exhaled, I didn't even know I was holding my breath.

Distracted from my plan, I took my notebook to each of my professors and kindly asked about my missing assignments. Pleased, I clutched my filled list to my chest and proceeded to go back to the library.

When I turned the corner towards my table, Lily Evans was sitting across from my seat. Her copper hair shining through the golden sunset from the windows.

"Ruth! What is this?" She asked, holding up a sheet of parchment. I sat down my stuff and swallowed.

"It's just, my plan to help Elise." I said slowly, as if I wasn't intruding in on Elise's personal life. Lily's eyes narrowed.

"I don't recommend meddling but I have to admit," she started, looking up at Ruth, "it is a good plan."

"What are you doing in the library? It's getting kind of late." I pointed out, directing the conversation away from me. Lily cocked an eyebrow,

"Just some homework. Prefect stuff is getting busier now that the holidays are coming up. I saw McGonagall talking to you, is everything okay?"

I gulped, "Oh um- yeah, I'm just behind in a couple...classes." I muttered, sinking into my seat. My face was warm and I felt my hands start to sweat. Lily frowned.

"Do you need any help? We could meet up during free periods in the week and go through all the assignments together?" She smiled,

"That would be...wonderful actually." I nodded. Lily nodded and agreed that we would find a couple times during the week to meet up.

"Good luck with Elise." She said while picking up her stuff. I returned to my list and tried to work out my plan.

I just needed someone to-

A sudden shift in the air caught my attention. I snapped my head up and looked around, I felt a pair of eyes watching me.

"Come out Leia." I groaned, the brunette emerged from behind a bookcase. For once in her life she didn't look, mean?

"How did you know?" She asked, lowering her voice to a whisper. I rolled my eyes,

"What do you want." I asked clearly. Leia stood behind the chair in front of me, she crossed her arms.

"I want to know why Binns called you out last week. For the poor marks." She demanded, "It's not like you to go all awol and fail an exam."

I felt my body jerk back, I sneered at her, "None of your business."

She frowned and pulled out the chair across from me, plopping down, "You're my rival. Everything of yours is my business." She smirked.

"It's personal stuff." I stated blankly, looking back down at my papers and started to organize them better. Leia didn't look satisfied,

"But you've stopped competing with me and then what's the point!?" She whined.

"You know I hate it when we compete, and when you're mean to me."

I glanced up as Leia looked down at the floor.

"I won't be around much longer so you better get used to it anyways." I snapped, adding salt to the wound. It's what she deserved.

"You're the only reason I excel." She muttered.
"Before we met I never had a good reason to get good marks. You've been pushing me since the beginning, bringing out the best in me academically."

I pretended to look touched. "I know you're just saying this stuff to knock me off my game. After the way you've treated me it's not like you to care." I sneered. Leia looked down at the floor, I caught a glimpse of tears forming in her eyes.

"If you ever need help studying, I could be of assist-" she started, pursing her lips shorty after.

"I'll be studying with Lily Evans." I interjected, lifting my chin up high. I scooped up all of my things and turned in for the night. I had a lot of work to do before the Christmas ball.

✮˚. ᵎᵎ 𖦹彡⋆｡˚
ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝟙𝟙 𝕔𝕠𝕞𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕤𝕠𝕠𝕟
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