✮˚. ᵎᵎ 𖦹彡⋆｡˚

For the first two weeks the egg trade off went pretty well. There was barely interactions, some minor comments towards each other, but all in all, Leia has been treating me like I'm a whole other person.

Finally February rolled around and so did Valentine's Day. The Hufflepuff's garden party was approaching in a few hours. Charlotte had to leave studying with me to go help set up, she explained it was like an old fashioned tea party theme and how the Hufflepuffs' thought it would be a good idea to dress the part too although it wasn't required for everyone.

It started in a few hours, while I waited, I sat in the library studying my disease. The end of me was approaching quick, and I needed to find a way to beat time.

I could tell Reece has been losing sleep over it, I know because we have the same sunken eyes now. I just thought it was from the smoking.

Scanning the pages my head began to pound. Then a ringing started happening in my ears. It only went away when someone approached me at the table I was at.

"Hey." Leia looked down at me, sliding into the chair across from me. I looked up,

"Hey." I responded, closing the book in front of me. A look of confusion flashed across my face,
"The egg trade isn't until-"

"Are you going to the this Hufflepuff thing?" She asked quickly. I nodded, then she continued,

"Do you want to go with me? We could discuss our egg project while we're there. Less tension."

I scrunched up my face, starting to feel very hot.

"Yeah sure." I replied, she nodded quickly,

"Do you mind if I wait with you?"

I shook my head and continued reading, I had read a few paragraphs before I peeked up at her. Her leg bouncing and was chewing the inside of her lip.

"Was there...something else?"

"Can we go somewhere private?" She asked abruptly. I stared at her, my eyes wide, and slowly nodded my head.

We both got up and she grabbed my wrist, leading me down the corridor and into the Room and Requirement.

"Leia- what are we doing-"

She whipped around before I could finish and slammed her hand over my mouth.

"Have you told anyone about what happened at the ball?" She asked, her voice trembling, I could tell this was serious.

"N-no of course not. Why?" I stammered, I've never seen her so worked up about something other than course work.

That's when she started to cry. I ignored what felt like a fever forming and stood there.

She looked up at me with hatred. "Liar! I never told anyone else." She yelled. I took a step back and opened my mouth,

"I swear I didn't Leia! I didn't tell anyone! Not even Sirius!" She seemed to calm down after that.

"I'm sorry...I just- someone sent me a note outing me and I haven't told anyone about..." she swallowed, "that."

I stood there silently, gazing at her face. Why was my worst enemy confronting me about exposing her secret? Why did she decide to be vulnerable to me?

"Why are you here? With me?" I asked. I could hear the ringing in my ears again, it was louder, and I was still unexplainably hot. Leia got close, and I mean super close to me. I glanced up and down before staring at her pink lips.

My lips dreamed of hers on me and I drew myself towards her.

But instead of feeling her warmth I felt the chill of the stone floor below me as I passed out.

✮˚. ᵎᵎ 𖦹彡⋆｡˚

I woke up with in the hospital wing. Leia was no where to be found and Charlotte and Reece were next to my bed.

"Guys...?" I muttered weakly, Reece's head flickered up before rushing to my aid.

"Ruthie...what happened??" He exclaimed, I winced at the volume of which he was speaking.

"Ruth you're getting worse." He told me. A grim expression on his face. I nodded my head,

"I know. I feel like I'm on fire."

Charlotte looked at me before getting Madam Promfrey's attention, "Madam Promfrey said she was going to put you in an ice bath. She said your temperature was really really high."

When Madam Promfrey came over she ordered Reece and Charlotte out, and helping me over to a private sector of the hospital wing.

There was a bucket of ice water in a metal tub in the middle of the room. I shivered and looked at her,

"Must I?" She nodded and helped me in.

I let the coldness of the ice consume me completely, it felt much better than I ever could've imagined. I smiled to Madam Promfrey.

"Madame, who brought me here?" I furrowed my brow as I tried to remember where I was when I fell.

"If I recall correctly it was Miss Monroe who found you and brought you here."

I nodded, Leia. It all came back to me. I had to see her.

"Madam I think I'm feeling a lot better, may I go?" I asked quickly, struggling to stand but Madam Promfrey just pushed me gently back into the ice.

"Oh no dear I need to keep you here for a couple days of observation."

I frowned, "Will I at least get to have visitors?"

She smiled warmly, "Yes dear, you aren't contagious."

That made me feel better. After about 20 more minutes, she helped me get out of the tub, get dressed and back into bed.

"I'll arrange one of my house elves to collect your schoolwork and any books you might need from the library." She told me, I was so eternally grateful for her.

I thanked her and she went to manage her other patients. Her house elf assistant came up to me about five minutes later, introducing herself and letting me know if she could get me anything at the moment.

"Can you please find every book there is on the Maledictus disease?" I asked politely.

✮˚. ᵎᵎ 𖦹彡⋆｡˚
ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝟙𝟡 𝕔𝕠𝕞𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕤𝕠𝕠𝕟
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