■𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐧𝐞■

Falling in love.

That phrase was wrong. Falling in love didn't feel like falling, it felt like tripping over your own two feet and then falling down a spiral staircase that didn't seem to end.

At least, that's what it felt for Vonnie to fall in love. Love is the absolutely best and the terribly worst thing ever a person will ever experience in their lifetime, the rush you feel upon seeing that person or the daily daydreaming of creating a family or home with them, and then the heartbreaking anguish you experience once you notice they won't even look at your direction.

And yet despite all this, Vonnie always will be a complete romantic. Her mind will not stop coming up with idealistic fantasies as her heart beats because and for that person she's enamored with, that feeling of excitement will always never not excite her. The feeling of staring from far away, scared to get her precious little heart broken, scared of the people who would judge her or worse--the girl she loves judging her.

Yep. Vonnie Cinders did in fact fancy girls. It didn't matter if they were short, tall, blonde or a brunette, she didn't have a preference because girls are just fucking amazing. She was young when she realized it, maybe around eight or nine years old, where she felt different towards this other girl in her daycare. They'd play house and naturally she'd pick to play the husband and then kiss the wife as she'd come home from work. Her parents played it off as just kids being kids, but what they don't know won't hurt them anyway.

Vonnie smiled to herself, wriggling around her bed as her sheets crinkled--but then she frowned, realizing she had not written her potions essay that was due this morning, she yawned loudly and got up as strands of her hair fell out of place.

Vonnie loved mornings, she loved waking up and starting a new day. The sun rays gently greeting her in the morning, the warmth she feels, all of it she loved, so it was weird for other people to know that she loved mornings so much. Most people despised waking up, they'd rather sleep all day if they could.

The cold October air blew as Vonnie opened the window, watching the very few students outside from her dorm. She grabbed her parchment, quill and ink and began writing her essay. The scratches of her writing only filled the room while the rest of her roommates slept, except for her sister who was a very light sleeper.

"Ugh.."
Avilla groaned, grabbing a pillow and covering her face with it, "What time is it, Von?"

"Go to sleep Avi, it's still 7am.."

"Why the hell are you up so early?"
Avilla sat up, looking at her sister with furrowed eyebrows and eyes half open.

"I'm just doing my potions essay, forgot to do it before and it's due today so.."
Vonnie glances at Avilla and laughs softly, her wild and messy hair sticking up in different directions and remnants of drool stained the side of her mouth.

"You ought to wipe your face Avi, I can see the drool stain."

Vonnie stood up and rummaged through Avilla's closet, taking out her uniform, tie and socks. She knows that once she sits back down, Avilla will wake up late and rush to put on her uniform and skip breakfast for the umpteenth time this week.

"I can take care of myself Von--"

"Yeah right," Vonnie scoffed, "Just go back to sleep, I'll wake you up for breakfast."

Avilla wasted no time and fell back asleep, causing Vonnie to laugh.

The older girl returned to writing her essay, she could hear shuffling behind her as the other Ravenclaw girls woke up one by one, each of them greeting Vonnie a good morning as they passed her to go to the bathroom.

"Oh no, is that the potions' essay?"
One girl asked worriedly as she tied her tie, "Merlin, I don't think I finished that..."

Another girl laughed,
"You could just rush it while eating breakfast, or you take inspiration from my essay, I'm sure our professor won't notice."

Vonnie drowned their voices out as she nearly finished her essay, finally putting the last period as she stood up and stretched her back after being hunched over for some time.

She took a quick shower and woke Avilla up, dragging her out of bed and forcing her to get ready for the morning. The two sisters get ready in silence and they made their way to the Great hall.

■

It was lively, the Gryffindor table loud and about as usual, the Hufflepuffs filled with laughter and the Ravenclaws  with chatter and, surprisingly, gossip. The Slytherins still continued on with their dread and disgust with other houses and muggle-born students but Vonnie paid no mind to them.

"Hey Avi, Von!"
Abby waved at them, briefly arguing with the boy beside her to give more room for her friends.

"So did you hear?"
Abby giggled, leaning towards the sisters along with the other Ravenclaw girls.

"Hear what? Merlin, you're such a gossip, I love it."
Avilla laughs as Abby glanced at the Gryffindor table,

"See that," she nodded towards the Gryffindors, "Ron Weasley and Lavender clinging at his side,"

Vonnie and Avilla looked discreetly. Pretending to look around as they stole a glance at the said pair.

"Yeah..?"
Vonnie nibbled on her toast, waiting for Abby to talk.

"Apparantly, Lavender was there when Ron was feeling down and shit. She comforted him, basically coddled him, and now they're madly inlove!"

Avilla snorts, her mouth tuning up to a smirk,
"What, so they're dating now?"

The trio looked back at Ron and Lavender, seeing the couple start kissing and sucking each other's faces off.

"Ugh.."
Vonnie shuddered in disgust, "Why do they look like..."

"Like what?"
Abby asked, stifling her laughter.

"Like that."

The girls laughed together as they went back to eating and minding their own business.

The Great hall started emptying out as students started leaving for class, the final bell finally ringing as the remaining students left, some even carrying their food on the way out.

Vonnie made her way to the Defense against the dark arts classroom. Already dreading it the minute she comes closer and closer to the door, with Snape being professor, she definitely won't be having a great morning.

His greasy hair and hooked nose just gave her vibes--and not the good ones. His long, drawn out way of speaking with the monotone voice of his was practically made for making students fall asleep during the first period.

Vonnie was the last to arrive at class, her eyes scanned the room and to her very dismay, the only available seat was next to Lavender and Wonwon. God how she hated that. But she had no choice, she sat down as Snape eyed her and began class.

Vonnie wanted to stab herself in the eye with her quill because of the people she sat beside--no, even worse, she sat inbetween. She could feel the drooling from Lavender and the uncomfortable tension from Weasley. The two made eye contact throughout the lesson-they were basically fucking each other!

Vonnie would write down notes and then a paper crane would fly by right in front of her, landing on Ron's hand. She got so fed up with that when another crane came she raised her hand and snatched it, Vonnie turned to face Lavender and crumpled it.
She had enough with the lovebirds and the paper birds.

■

Vonnie sighed as her last class finally ended. Gathering her books and book bag, she turned in her work sheet before leaving. It was her free period now and lunch doesn't happen until one more hour, so off to the library she goes. Doing all the homework that was assigned today so she wouldn't have to worry about that stuff layer in the day and she can just relax.

Madam Pince looked up from her desk as Vonnie opened the door, begrudgingly walking over to an empty table and setting down her things. Vonnie looked around and discreetly rummaged in her small side pocket on her bag, taking out a piece of gum and chewing it secretly as gum was not allowed in school.

She mindlessly wrote on her parchment and became distracted, not noticing a certain Gryffindor had approached her.

"Hi,"
Hermione Granger spoke, "Can I sit here?"

"Hm?"
Vonnie looked up and stopped chewing her gum, "Oh uh, yeah.."
She moved her bag aside to make room for Hermione.

Vonnie didn't know why Hermione sat down beside her. She was usually around Harry or Ron--well, considering Ron has a girlfriend..

"I saw you earlier."
Hermione whispered,

"Earlier?"

"First period, when you sat between Ron and Lavender Brown," Hermione laughed, "I think it was funny seeing you do that, especially more funny when seeing Brown's face."

Vonnie lets out an oh and chuckles, chewing her gum.

"It was annoying. I could practically hear them wanting to snog right then and there, eugh.."
Vonnie shuddered again, making Hermione laugh.

"Well, serves them right."

"Hm?"

Hermione's eyes go wide a little,
"I mean, they're so disgustingly affectionate and.. clingy, who wouldn't get annoyed by that?"

"I know, right?"
Vonnie agreed, already discarding her quill, "They should really tone it down, like down. Practically just keep 10 feet of distance from each other."

Hermione nodded, closing her book. The Gryffindor sweeps her hair back her ears, and Vonnie notices her shiny earrings.

"Nice earrings Granger."

"Oh thank you, they were from my mother. She wanted to give me something to remember her while I was at Hogwarts."
She unconsciously touched her ears upon remembering her parents back home.

"That's sweet, you got a piece of her by your side always," Vonnie said, almsot bitterly.

"What about you?"

"What about me?"

Hermione shrugged,
"I mean, what about your family?"

Vonnie shrugged in return, an unsure smile formed her lips as Hermione said it was okay she didn't wanna talk about it.

"It's alright Granger," Vonnie looked at the clock, "Oh it's lunch already, do you wanna walk to the great hall with me?"

"Sure--"
Hermione froze.

"Oh my gosh.."

Vonnie asked what's wrong, seeing her sudden behaviour.

"No nothing, I mean..."
Hermione bit her lips nervously.

"I uh, I still don't know your name..."
She said ashamed, making Vonnie snort out loud, earning her a sharp glare from Madam Pince.

"I-I'm sorry, I just-"

"No it's alright Granger.."
She cleared her throat and smiled,

"I'm Vonnie Cinders, nice to meet you."

"I'm Hermione Granger, it's nice to meet you too."

Vonnie took her book bag and walked with Hermione out the Library, opening the door for her as they exit.

"I know your name already."

Hermione rolled her eyes playfully,
"I know, it's just rude to not return the gesture."

"Whatever you say,"
Vonnie mused, "I'll see you around Granger."