─── 。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。───

❝ 02 , a thorn in my side ❞

Lenore hated the sorting ceremony and so she had simply elected not to attend. It wasn't technically allowed. Skipping the ceremony was seen as disrespectful and nobody would be caught dead doing it. But Lenore didn't really want to sit for at least three hours watching a bunch of first years be sorted into meaningless categories when she could be raiding Hogwarts' library without Madam Pince glaring at her.

Which is why she found herself curled up in the back corner of the library with a book on the Dark Arts.

The only thing that lit up her nook was a few candle lamps that gave her just enough light for her to read without many issues. After the long train journey and her unsettled stomach, the quiet and calm of the library was helping every part of her feel better. Her stomach had settled, her mind felt soothed and the ache in her butt cheeks from the long train journey was soothed by the incredibly comfortable and soft library armchair.

Plus, the reading was a much better use of her time. It meant that she didn't have to waste time listening to Delphia complain about the Gryffindors and the new Slytherins and instead could focus on her 'studies'.

The hours passed in the blink of an eye and the only thing that broke her out of her trance was the sound of Delphia's shoes clicking against the wooden floor of the library. On any other day, they would have been indiscernible from the general chatter of students but the library was so quiet that they were easy to recognise.

"Peeves said he saw you in here," Delphia said as she rounded the corner to find Lenore curled up with a pile of books on the side table. Delphia crossed her arms over her chest, clearly unimpressed, "By Salazar, what is wrong with you?" Delphia asked, tilting her head to the side slightly. Lenore cocked an eyebrow.

"What?" Lenore asked, her tone only slightly challenging. Even the hours cooped up alone hadn't seemed to cure Lenore of her irritability.

"I have never known someone so uninterested in their studies to commit so much time to them," Delphia said as she crossed her arms over her chest. Lenore rolled her eyes and closed the book she was reading, taking a mental note of the title. She then placed the book among the rest.

"Is the Ceremony over?" Lenore asked. Delphia nodded and she stepped forward.

"Why are you so interested in the Dark Arts all of a sudden? Does this have something to do with him?" The pair had long learnt not to speak Lord Voldemort's name while in the castle walls. It wasn't exactly forbidden but it brought too many risks and too much attention onto them.

Everyone knew that the Slytherin families were often caught up in the Dark Lord's work but it was an unspoken secret. It was something that no-one wanted to admit was the truth but was plainly that. It was easier to ignore the obvious in favour of ignorance.

"Does it matter?" Lenore asked. Delphia scoffed and glanced away, taking a heavy short breathe before meeting Lenore's gaze again.

"Have you ever considered not pushing people away? You can't do it forever," Delphia bit back. Lenore was a little taken aback by her friend's words and paused. Her mind ran through every scenario before eventually shrugging. Delphia scoffed and shook her head, turning her head away for a moment, "Am I not owed at least a little bit of honesty?" She asked. Lenore rolled her eyes.

"Nobody is owed my honesty," Lenore said simply. Delphia narrowed her eyes and the two found themselves locked in a staring contest that neither seemed all that interest in losing. They were stubborn, both of them.

"I know you think you can but you cannot push people out forever. Regulus is nice, he wants to be your friend. I am your friend. You are going to let yourself be eaten alive if you keep it all in," Delphia stated before she broke eye contact to step back and turn away, "You can come with me back to the dorm if you want." It wasn't necessary to answer, Lenore knew that, and she didn't even have to go with her if she didn't want to. But Lenore found herself compelled to.

"Did you save me anything?" Lenore asked reluctantly as she tapped the books with the edge of her wand. The books quickly found their places back on the shelves as Lenore sped up to catch up with Delphia.

Delphia then pulled out a paper bag from the pocket of her robes.

"Of course I did," Delphia said. Lenore couldn't help the little smile that appeared on her face and she found a slice of apple pie and triangle cut sandwiches inside. If Lenore had been at the feast, she would have had something more varied but after long journeys, Delphia knew that her stomach was unsettled.

So, a plain sandwich usually was better for her stomach. It almost made Lenore feel guilty about hiding what she was doing from Delphia but Delphia was loyal to the Dark Lord. Lenore wasn't.

If Delphia had even the tiniest suspicions that Lenore wanted to try and kill her oh-great Lord and Saviour Voldemort then Lenore would be dead by the end of the hour. There was no way of surviving that.

So, Lenore kept her mouth shut and ate her sandwiches as they headed to the dorm together. Delphia informed Lenore about everything that had happened at the ceremony and made a comment about the new Professor being hot before they made it to the Common Room where all the first years were rushing around and chatting.

It made Lenore feel nostalgic for the simpler times but the screeching voices of 11-year-olds also made her feel a little sick. So, she slipped through the crowds and went straight to her dorm.

***

The first week back at Hogwarts was always the worst. First years never stopped asking questions and complaining and everyone tried to talk to her. Lenore wouldn't usually mind some attempts at chatting but as she sat in the Common Room, reading and watching the creatures swim in the Black Lake, it was the last thing she wanted.

The reading was what was important and the more she read, the further away she felt from the truth about Horcruxes. Nothing even seemed to mention them and it was already frustrating her. It felt like something that should have at least been mentioned somewhere but every book on the Dark Arts that she had checked out had been useless.

Which is why she requested for access to the Restricted Section. With reluctance, Madam Pince had given her permission and she had brought out a few books to read in a comfy corner of the library.

Considering it was the start of the year, the library was relatively quiet. It was calming especially without the constant hushing of Madam Pince. It was the first time she had let herself truly relax since she had made her return to Hogwarts.

But, of course, relaxation never stayed for long because just as she was switching to a new book, a familiar mop of black hair rounded the corner. He didn't seem to notice Lenore immediately but then a grin spread across his face. He walked over to her with the same swagger that he approached everything.

"What are you doing with Restricted section books?" Sirius asked as he flicked through one of the books with his finger. He was looming over the armchair that Lenore had settled into. It was blocking her reading light and she lifted her gaze to glare Sirius down.

"And why does that matter to you, traitor?" Lenore snapped. The Black brothers seemed intent on being a thorn in her side this year. Within 8 days of being at Hogwarts, Regulus had tried to speak to her four times and Sirius hadn't been able to resist making comments the few times she had seen him. It felt like some sort of test from Salazar himself. Maybe a punishment.

"You don't read. You hate it," Sirius stated as he picked up a book. He read the title and his nose crinkled up, "Dark magic, not surprising," He said before he dropped the book back down. The sound bounced off the shelves and a sharp hush came back in response. Lenore glared at Sirius. He then simply smirked and stepped back.

"Well, enjoy your reading," He said simply before disappearing behind a shelf. Lenore glared at the back of him as he vanished, wondering what exactly was wrong with him. But rather than dwelling, she returned back to her books.

This was what was important. Finding out what a Horcrux was, was what was important.

"Why are you talking to my brother?" The hushed, angry voice of Regulus brought Lenore out of her book again. She let out a huff of annoyance and slammed the book closed, looking up at Regulus who was standing next to the shelf Sirius had just disappeared behind. Her eyes narrowed.

"Why is it any of your business who I speak to, Regulus? Do you really have nothing better to do with your time?" Lenore snapped, keeping her voice hushed. Another 'shhh' from Madam Pince would lead to more than just stern words and she had no interest in dealing with those consequences.

"When you didn't appear at lunch, I came to look for you. Delphia didn't know where you were," He responded. Lenore scoffed. She shook her head in disbelief before reopening her book.

"I don't need you to look out for me. I'm fine, I'm reading, now please, leave," Lenore said, her voice still hushed as she checked over the table of contents for the newest book she had taken a look at. Regulus crossed his arms over his chest and watched her for a moment. She didn't even bother to look up at him, not entertaining him.

"The more you isolate yourself, the worse this will be," Regulus said before he stepped back and left. It was probably the quickest that he had left her since he had started bugging her at the start of the year. It was a small victory for Lenore as she returned back to her reading.

And finally, she had her peace and quiet back. Even if the reading didn't lead to any new discoveries or really anything of interest at all, the quiet was nice.