CANYON MOON ▇▇▇▇ VOLUME ONE
━━ ❛ 𝒔𝒖𝒈𝒂𝒓𝒑𝒍𝒖𝒎 ❜

chapter no. 005!

     NOBODY HAD SPOKEN OF WHAT HAPPENED LAST NIGHT. It was as if everyone was either pretending it didn't happen, or they simply didn't know what to say. Fawn Depraysie was still dumbfounded. The girl didn't know whether to question Mabel or Marietta about what happened and why the ginger had to pull her into the mess that was their breakup, but all thoughts about confronting the two girls were out of the blonde's mind as she ran after a fuming Mabel Ebonywood down the spiral staircase that led out of their common room. "You don't need to do this!" Fawn yelled at the girl, getting looks from passing students on the staircase.

     "Mabel!" she shouted as the ginger continued to ignore her pleas; the only thing on her mind was Pansy Parkinson. Anger had been boiling inside of her caved-in heart all night as she lay awake, unable to sleep. Jumping off the staircase, she quickened her pace, heading straight for the Great Hall. Right behind her was Fawn, who had a worried-stricken expression written across her face.

     The blonde Ravenclaw was the only one who had chased after the girl. Everybody else had left early for breakfast that morning, leaving the two of them alone to talk, but that never happened. Instead, Mabel avoided speaking to her and headed straight for the Great Hall after she was done getting ready. Fawn didn't need the ginger to talk to know what she was planning to do. She knew Mabel was hurting, but going after Pansy Parkinson was not the smartest thing to do. Let alone the right thing to do.

     Ignoring her curious and nosy stares as she entered the Great Hall, Mabel stalked towards the Slytherin table, a golden flame burning in her eyes as she glowered at the girl she was looking for.

     "Don't do this, please," Fawn pleaded as she trailed closely behind, dozens of eyes noticing her panicked stance.

     "Parkinson!"

     At the sound of her name, the black-haired girl turned her gaze to the furious Ravenclaw, a taunting smirk spreading across her pink lips. "Good morning, Ebonywood," she spoke smugly, swinging her legs around the bench and leaning against the side of the table.

     "Do you go around snogging everyone's girlfriend or just mine?" Mabel's question silenced the entire room. On-lookers gasped quietly while the staff sitting at the table in the front of the room watched apprehensively. Fawn gulped nervously as she stood behind the ginger, her sky-blue eyes darting between the two.

     Draco Malfoy looked up, intrigued for the first time all year, and eyed the two girls before his gaze settled on Fawn Depraysie, biting down on her bottom lip anxiously.

     Everyone watched as Pansy stood up from the table, slowly making her way toward the Ravenclaw. "Just yours," Pansy said calmly, and Mabel took a step forward, the two girls now facing each other. Her fists clenched, and the blonde's eyes widened.

     "Mabel, don't do it. She isn't worth it," Fawn whispered as Draco stood up from the table, coming up from behind his housemate.

     "If you know what's good for you, you'll listen to 'Praysie and back off." Pansy hissed as she got closer to the ginger, their noses inches away from touching.

     Minerva McGonagall watched from the staff table with an anxious expression as she turned to Dumbledore. "Are you going to stop this?" she asked.

     He shook his head firmly. "No, I want to see how Mister Malfoy and Miss Depraysie will handle this." The Head of Gryffindor gave him a bewildered look. "We can't end all of their battles for them anymore. It's time they figure out how to handle these situations without any interference."

     In the world's quickest five seconds, the entire Great Hall watched as the Ravenclaw swung her arm back and her fist made solid contact with the latter's face. A satisfying, at least for Mabel, crunch sounded, and blood dribbled down Pansy's face. Gasps and whispers immediately echoed across the Great Hall, and a few people stood up.

     Spitting a mouthful of blood on the floor, Pansy lunged at Mabel before being pulled back by Draco. Stepping in, Fawn forcefully shoved Mabel away from the black-haired girl as she placed herself in between them, while Draco had Pansy's arms pulled behind her back as he held her.

     Both girls were panting heavily as they glowered at one another. "Stop it! Both of you!" Fawn yelled, and some of the nearby students visibly flinched at the sound of how strong and powerful her voice was. The blonde Ravenclaw, who barely spoke a word to anyone, had surprised the entire school with her tone of voice.

     "You're both acting like complete and utter children, you know that?" Fawn snapped loudly before whipping her head to look at her fellow classmate and friend. "I know you're mad, but violence isn't going to fix or erase what happened, and you," she looked over at Pansy, "the next time you want to snog a girl, make sure she's single or else you're going to have more people wanting to kick your arse than you already do."

     A couple of students snickered at her comment while Pansy narrowed her eyes. "What'd you just say to me?" she growled.

     "She said quit being a tosspot and messing around with other people's girls. Got it?" Draco snapped irritably, and gasps came from every direction around the Hall.

     Draco Malfoy just stood up for Fawn Depraysie— who was not only not a Slytherin, but who was a half-blood. The platinum-haired boy never stood up for anyone, for he was always the instigator in situations. He didn't even stick up for his own friends, yet here he was, sticking up for the blonde and putting Pansy Parkinson in her place.

     The black-haired girl gasped and turned her head to look at him, furry and confusion written across her cheeks. "Have we made ourselves clear?" he hissed, and she gulped, recognizing the familiar cold and killing gaze. Pansy nodded weakly, and he let go of her arms, stepping back. Fawn locked eyes with Draco and gave him a small nod of thanks.

     Mabel let out a heavy breath of air before furiously storming out of the Great Hall. Pansy reluctantly sat back down while Fawn's gaze lingered on the boy before her for a moment. Deciding against saying anything to him, she simply walked out of the Hall as people's eyes followed her. Turning left, she made her way up the steps to head back to the Ravenclaw common room to grab her bag. She had left it on the couch when she went after Mabel.

     Footsteps bounded after the blonde, and a cold hand grabbed her wrist, spinning her around. Fawn hadn't even finished walking up the stairs and stumbled slightly as she was turned and met with icy-blue eyes that were lighter and colder than hers would ever be.

     "Are you all right?" Draco breathed, and she raised a brow, puzzled by his question. "I know you don't like yelling or drama, for that matter."

     The Ravenclaw looked away for a split second to see the Golden Trio making their way out of the Great Hall, their eyes wandering for someone. That someone being her.

     Adverting her eyes back to Draco's, she nodded slightly. "I'm fine. You needn't worry," she mumbled. Her words took an effect on the Slytherin that she wasn't expecting; his eyes and face softened as he tilted his head to the side. The two hadn't talked since fourth year and it seemed likely that things would remain that way.

     "We may not talk anymore, but that doesn't mean I don't still care," Draco whispered as the three came closer, their footsteps becoming audible. Fawn gave him a look, both of them aware that they shouldn't be having this conversation in plain sight.

     "Everything all right here?" Harry asked stiffly, his eyes trained on the boy he loathed. The three Gryfinndor's faces were painted in concern and worry as they eyed the scene before them.

     Draco let go of Fawn's wrist and moved past her, ignoring the trio and disappearing down a corridor.

     "What happened?" Harry asked.

     "Is Malfoy feeling alright? He just defended you, and you're not a Slytherin or pureblood." Ron said, raising a skeptical brow.

     Fawn bit down on her lip, not entirely in the mood to explain anything. "It uh, it's been a difficult morning," she finally spoke, hoping everyone would get the message that she wasn't interested in discussing what just happened.

     Out of the three, Hermione hadn't spoken a word yet. She wasn't entirely sure what she wanted to say or ask first. A hundred questions were swarming in her head, but what was mainly on her mind was how Malfoy went after Fawn and had been nearly holding her hand. Hermione didn't know why, but that didn't settle well with her.

     Fawn ran her hands through her hair and backed away. "I have to go get my things for class. I'll see you all later," she mumbled, turning around before anyone could say anything.

────

     IF IT WERE POSSIBLE FOR FAWN TO AVOID SITTING NEXT TO CALAROOK IN ANY CLASS, SHE WOULD. He talked way too much and made inappropriate jokes that would rightfully earn him a week's worth of detentions from any professor. But not today; however, the blonde was grateful for that. The Ravenclaw table at lunch, during breaks, and currently in Potions was deathly silent. None of the sixth-years made eye contact or spoke to one another. If they did, it was only in hushed whispers.

     Fawn sat next to Calarook while Mable sat at the table next to Theodora. The tension was highly noticeable and evident. Pansy, Mable, Draco, and Fawn all sat in the same room, feet away from each other, while Professor Slughorn taught.

     Only twenty minutes had passed when the door to the dungeon classroom opened, causing the professor to go mute. All eyes cast to the entrance as Professor Dumbledore floated his way in, a solemn expression gracing his features. "Professor Slughorn, if you wouldn't mind, I would like to speak to Mable Ebonywood, Pansy Parkinson, Draco Malfoy, and Fawn Depraysie in my study." His voice was just as relaxed as his demeanor, but that didn't stop three out of the four students from growing uneasy.

     The Golden Trio looked over at Fawn, who appeared as if she were expecting the Headmaster's arrival. She gathered together her belongings, as did the others, and walked towards the elderly man, her expression calm. Dumbledore gave her a polite nod, his bright blue eyes twinkling.

     Fawn and the other three followed behind the Headmaster in rigid silence, each one glancing at the other discretely. "Sugarplum," Dumbledore spoke, and the four watched with vigilant eyes as the gargoyle positioned on the moving stone staircase stepped to the side, allowing room for the five to enter the office.

     It was a large, beautiful circular room full of funny little noises. Several curious silver instruments stood on spindle-legged tables, whirring and emitting little puffs of smoke. The walls were covered with portraits of old headmasters and headmistresses, all of whom were snoozing gently in their frames. There was also an enormous, claw-footed desk and a shabby, tattered wizard's hat on a shelf behind it— the Sorting Hat. The dark wooden double doors to the room closed shut behind everyone as Dumbledore strode towards the desk, leaving the teenagers standing idly at the entrance. Peering through his half-moon spectacles once he sat down in his largely decorated chair, he eyed the four, smiling gently.

     "Miss Parkinson, Miss Ebonywood, please, come have a seat." The Headmaster motioned to the two chairs in front of him. Mabel quickly made her way over and sat down, dropping her satchel to the floor as Pansy huffed a sigh, following the Ravenclaw. The remaining two students remained by the door before Dumbledore motioned to them. "Join us, please."

     Fawn made her way to stand behind the chair Mabel sat in while Draco did the same for Pansy, the two blondes quickly glancing at the other.

     "Your performance in the Great Hall was most enjoyable this morning," he spoke softly, his silver beard reflecting in the light streaming through the room's various windows. "Although I am a theatre fan and have occasionally enjoyed a play or two in my lifetime, I prefer to see them off school grounds. That being said, the fight I, along with your peers and respected faculty members, witnessed was most certainly not appropriate nor necessary, regardless of how amusing it may have been to some." Mabel shifted in her chair uncomfortably as Pansy stared at the floor, her expression blank.

     "Miss Ebonywood, I sympathize with your situation, but as Miss Depraysie said this morning, violence isn't going to fix or erase what happened. You do know that, don't you?" Dumbledore asked, and Mabel nodded. "And Miss Parkinson, you understand that being with someone who already is committed to another is wrong, don't you?" Pansy looked up and nodded, her eyes stone-cold.

     The office was silent before the Headmaster cleared his throat, interlacing his fingers together. "As punishment for your actions this morning, fifty points each will be taken from your houses, as well as a week's worth of detention with Professor Flitwick. Let me be clear with you two, I am being lenient with the transgression of your actions due to the stepping-in of your classmates. If something like this occurs again on school grounds, you will both be suspended and held accountable for your actions. Whether or not someone steps in will not change the outcome of your poor choices. Do I make myself clear?" Dumbledore's voice was calm and smooth, but his words held an unspoken promise that was evident to all who were listening.

     "Yes, Professor." Both girls spoke, and he nodded.

     "If my clock is correct, dinner should be starting soon. You are free to leave. Except for you, Miss Depraysie, and Mister Malfoy." The Headmaster eyed the two platinum blondes as Pansy and Mabel briskly made their way out, neither one glancing at the other.

     The door to the office shut quietly, and Dumbledore stood, making his way around the desk and facing the remaining two. Fawn adjusted the strap of her bag, and Draco stared down at the floor, silently refusing to look up at the elderly man. "I would like to thank both of you for stepping in this morning, I know that mustn't've been easy." Fawn looked to the Headmaster and nodded slightly.

     "Mister Malfoy," the boy in question didn't look up, "I know that going against your usual choice of character was difficult, but maybe this will show you that there is always another way." The Ravenclaw's eyebrows crinkled at the choice of words and diverted her eyes to Draco, whose hands were clenched.

     "Is that all?" Draco asked bitterly.

     Fawn frowned, glancing at the Headmaster, who took no apparent notice of the tone of his voice.

     "Yes, but I would like for you to stay behind for a moment, Miss Depraysie." Draco left the room as quickly as possible, slamming the door behind him. Fawn tore her eyes away from where the Slytherin had once stood and looked to Dumbledore. "Of recently, I've noticed that you have befriended Harry Potter and his friends. From what I know, Harry greatly enjoys having you be a part of their unspoken group and trusts you quite a bit."

     Fawn shifted and eyed the silver-bearded man before her, wondering if a question was hidden among his words. "Do you trust him?" Dumbledore questioned, and she tilted her head.

     "I'm sorry, but I'm afraid I don't quite understand the question, sir," Fawn said as her stomach jumbled itself up in knots.

     "Do you trust him with the truth?"

     The Headmaster's question caught Fawn off-guard, her eyes widening greatly as the bag on her shoulder nearly slipped off. "I-I don't trust anyone with the truth, sir," she stuttered.

     "That's understandable, but may you consider ever trusting someone with the truth, I would suggest Harry or Miss Granger." Once again, his words caught the blonde off-guard and her bag fell to the floor this time. Hastily picking it up, she hoisted it back onto her shoulder and composed herself.

     "Hermione?" she questioned, the name bringing a burning sensation to her cheeks.

     Dumbledore nodded and smiled fondly. "It never hurts to confide in someone. Especially if it's somebody, you like." His bright blue eyes twinkled knowingly, and Fawn gulped. "We all have secret truths, Miss Depraysie, and that will never change, but what can change is who we reveal those truths to— who we allow into our hearts."

     Fawn nodded feebly and looked down at her shoes. "Thank you for what you did today, I'm sure your parents would have been proud." His voice was sincere and quiet, his watchful eyes trained on the silent Ravenclaw who was blinking back tears. "Now, go enjoy the remaining time of dinner."

     As she made her way down the corridor towards the Great Hall, fast-paced footsteps bounded her way, and Fawn glanced up to see a familiar bushy-haired girl running towards her. The bottom of the blonde's mouth opened, but before she could say anything, the Gryffindor girl cut her off. "Are you okay? I saw Mabel, Pansy and Draco show up to dinner, but you were nowhere in sight. I was worried something happened," Hermione breathed as her feet came to halt. She watched as Fawn's cheeks burned into a light pink while she held eye contact.

     "I'm okay. Dumbledore just wanted me to stay behind for a moment," Fawn answered, tucking her hair behind her ears.

     Hermione nodded and played with her fingers. "What did he want to talk to you about?"

     "He wanted to thank me for what I did this morning in the Great Hall," Fawn nodded, not entirely lying to the adorably kind girl in front of her.

     The Gryffindor nodded again, and the two silently began walking to the Great Hall.

     "Hey," Hermione stopped walking a couple of feet away from the entrance, and the Ravenclaw turned around, her eyes soft and warm, making the bushy-haired girl relax slightly. "After dinner, do you want to go to the library together? I know our N.E.W.T.s are ages away, but I've already begun studying, and I assume that you already have too." Fawn nodded. "So, would you? Want to study together, I mean— or just do our homework, it doesn't matter."

     The question was simple but powerful. It brought warmth to both girls' cheeks as they stared at one another silently, the sound of students chattering in the background filling the peaceful void.

     Neither one of them knew it, but they both had a cage of butterflies flying around in the pits of their stomachs, followed by a wave of emotions that directed their thoughts down a path of desire and comfort.

     Eventually, Fawn nodded, a shy smile spreading across her lips which Hermione had been glancing at for the past couple of minutes. "Yeah, I'd love that."

────

     ROW AFTER ROW OF NEATLY LINED UP BOOKS, WITH THEIR SPINES FACING OUTWARD, DECORATED THE ROOM; ALL ORDERLY ARRANGED AND ALIGNED BACK-TO-BACK WHERE THEIR INSIDES COULD NOT BE JUDGED BY THEIR COVERS. Each sat in a group surrounded by wood as deep and dark as blood and a mantra of the previous. Their titles all curled and looped in one direction and turned to the side so that one had to tilt their head to read them. Each book held its own world of wonders and answers to short and lifelong questions about humanity that had lasted for hundreds of years before the Hogwarts library had even been assembled.

     The blue-eyed witch made her way down an aisle, her head turning to various sections of desks where students sat quietly, eyes trained on the words before them. She continued to make her way down the outstretched aisle, searching for the girl she had agreed to meet there.

     Turning her head to the right, her gaze landed on the witch who had pulled her beautiful, brunette wavy hair into a messy ponytail, fallen strands framing her face perfectly. The corner she sat in was a couple of feet away from the Restricted Section, meaning that she had chosen a place where Madam Pince wouldn't be able to hear them if they spoke.

     "Hey," Fawn whispered, placing her bag on the table and sitting down next to the girl who was scribbling down notes from her Advanced Rune Translations textbook.

     Hermione stopped writing at the sound of the blonde's voice and looked up. "Hey," she smiled. Returning the gesture, Fawn opened her bag and pulled out her textbooks, notebooks, pencils, pens, and markers. At Hogwarts, students were meant to use quills to write, but she preferred the writing instruments that Muggles used. Her parents used them all the time when she was growing up, so she grew a keen liking for them.

     "You use pencils, pens, and markers?" Hermione asked curiously, eyeing the very familiar objects on the desk.

     Fawn nodded, "I know that most witches and wizards only use quills, but I like using Muggle inventions more."

     A light shone in Hermione's eyes as her liking for Fawn only grew more. "So, do I. I just don't when I'm here." Fawn nodded understandingly and opened her copy of Confronting the Faceless. "Have you already done the Ancient Runes homework?" Hermione asked quietly while she resumed copying down notes, glancing back to Fawn as she wrote.

     Fawn nodded and pulled out a thirteen-inch parchment scroll. "I finished it during the break after lunch."

     A comfortable silence settled between the two girls as they did their homework, both of them glancing at one another when they thought the other wasn't looking.

     A couple of hours of this continued, where they riffled through papers, did their homework, glanced shyly at the other, and studied their notes. During this time, the Ravenclaw had come to terms with the fact that being in the presence of Hermione Granger was not the same as being in the presence of a friend. With a friend, all the emotions someone could feel were purely platonic. With Hermione, platonic didn't exist. Instead, it was replaced with an addicting longing to sit closer to her— to stare at her and soak in the beauty that she held.

      "Let's take a break," the bushy-haired girl suddenly said, looking over at Fawn, who was running her hand through her hair as her eyes skimmed over a paragraph.

     At the sound of the girl's voice, Fawn adverted her eyes away from the textbook. "Okay," she shrugged, sitting up.

     Hermione turned to face the girl and watched as she did the same, pulling her legs up onto the chair and crossing them. "Twenty-one questions," she whispered, and the blonde raised her brows, "have you ever played?" Fawn nodded. "Do you want to play? I can start first if you'd like," Hermione spoke nervously, and Fawn nodded again. "Okay, I'll start out simple. What's your full name?"

     "Fawn Eudora Depraysie, what's yours?"

     "Hermione Jean Granger."

     "That's really pretty," the Ravenclaw smiled, and Hermione blushed. "When's your birthday?"

     "September 19th, when's yours?"

     "October 4th," Fawn paused, her eyes widening. "Wait, that means your birthday is in four days!" Hermione nodded and watched as the blonde smiled. "What're you going to do for your birthday?"

     The Gryffindor simply shook her head with a playful smile. "One question at a time. It's my turn. What's the most spontaneous thing you've ever done?" she asked, leaning her cheek on the palm of her hand as she stared at the latter.

     Fawn's eyebrows drew in as she thought back to her so far pretty uneventful life. There was only one spontaneous thing she had done before, but she wasn't sure how the girl in front of her would react.

     "Well?"

     "I uh, two summers ago, I had this embarrassingly huge crush on my next-door neighbor. One night, she slept over, and I kissed her in the middle of our conversation. That's probably the only spontaneous thing I've ever done." Fawn rushed out, holding her breath as waited for a look of judgment or disgust to present itself on Hermione's face, but it never did. Instead, the brunette smiled and bit down on her lip.

     "That's really cute. Did she kiss you back?" she asked, genuinely interested.

     The blonde felt a weight lifted off her shoulders and relaxed; knowing that the girl in front of her wasn't bothered by what she said made her feel more comfortable. "Not at first, but eventually, she did. Now, it's my turn. What're you doing for your birthday?" Fawn asked curiously.

     Hermione shrugged and pulled her legs to her chest in the chair, wrapping her arms around them. "I don't know. It's on Sunday, and we can't go to Hogsmeade yet, so I'll probably spend it inside with Ron and Harry. I'm not sure if they remember that my birthday is this weekend or not, but I don't want to do anything, really. Just being around them, and possibly you will be good enough."

     Fawn smiled shyly at the mention of herself. "Well, I'm going to plan something fun to do so you're not cooped up inside all day," she stated firmly, watching as the latter rested her chin on her knees and smiled at her.

     "Was your neighbor your first kiss?" Hermione asked next.

      "My first kiss was with Elaine Thunderbird, she's a seventh-year in Hufflepuff. Who was your first kiss?" Fawn asked, already having a mild idea of her answer.

     "Viktor Krum," Hermione laughed quietly at the disgusted look on Fawn's face. "Yeah, now that I look back on it, I kind of regret it. He wasn't a good kisser. You would think that a guy as popular as him, and who has had many girlfriends, he would kiss better," she mumbled, and the blonde covered her mouth to hold herself back from a fit of laughter that was threatening to come loose. "Anyways, this is a completely basic question, but what's your favorite color?"

     Letting her hand drop from her mouth, Fawn answered with, "Red. What's yours?"

     "Blue," Hermione answered almost immediately as she stared at the latter's eyes, tempted to allow herself to drown in them.

     Subconsciously, Fawn's cheeks turned to light pink as it grew quiet for a second. "What're you doing tomorrow night?" the blonde asked, and Hermione blinked, snapping out of the trance the girl had captured her in.

     "Nothing, aside from studying."

     "Would you want to do this again tomorrow night? Study and talk, I mean."

     Hermione's cheeks became a vibrant red, and her heart seemed to stop, "I'd love to."