Secrets Lie Within: Year 1

Secrets Lie Within: Year 1 Part 3

Chapter 3:

Roselia seems to be in a loophole. She will be one of the first people to arrive for breakfast, eats her food. Then Softpaw will leave while everyone's in the middle of their breakfast and becomes the first student in the classroom for the first period - sometimes before the professor. Write down notes or classwork, be done well before the class ends. Repeats with the following periods before lunch comes around.

Once again, the white-haired girl arrives for lunch as one of the first people there. She'll do her homework while eating lunch. Then heads towards her next class, where she repeats the process, but when dinner arrives, Roselia finishes up any homework or classwork after eating dinner. Lastly, she disappears into the Hufflepuff Basement.

This routine frustrates Hermione because she doesn't understand how someone will make the same pattern for hours, days, and weeks on end for TWO months. She has decided to do something different for Softpaw. One Saturday, when nothing else is going on because of the upcoming Quidditch game in a couple of weeks, Granger walks over towards the Hufflepuff table for Roselia.

Softpaw turns her head towards the side, surprised to see the Gryffindor female walking towards her.

"Come on, Roselia, we need to go!" Hermione casually smiles at her, grabbing her arm.

Roselia's confused by the comment but didn't have time to think or react because Hermione drags her like a rag doll towards the library.

"We need to finish up homework and classwork," she smiles, confusing the white-haired girl more.

Granger got them a table, facing each other, and begins working on her work.

Softpaw stays silent while looking down. No homework, no parchment, not even quills with ink are in front of her.

"Roselia, we have assignments due this week," Hermione tells her. "Why are you working on them?"

The Hufflepuff lifts her head to look at the Gryffindor again before pulling out her school supplies and everything from her bookbag. Seeing this shocks Granger. "Everything is done for me," Softpaw whispers. "May I please leave now?" she asked, not wanting to be here, especially with Granger at this point.

"Sure?" Hermione answers, still shocked and unsure about this.

"Thank you," she mumbles, gathering her things and leaving.

"What is wrong with that girl?" Granger asked under her breath, watching her leave.

Roselia needed to get away from Granger as soon as she can because she's getting nervous. Certain things happened when the secret wolf is nervous or excited. The speck of white hair finds herself in an empty corridor. Knowing no one's around, she leans against a wall before sliding down onto the floor. Soft whimpers echos the hallway as she pulls her knees close.

Unfortunately, the whimpers caught the attention of a particular professor. He hides behind a corner to see the familiar sight of one of his students. A smirk curls on his lips, gaining an idea. "Hey, hey, what's the matter, little one?" Professor Quirrell faked concern as he kneels next to her and placing a hand on her shoulder.

Softpaw gets startled by the touch, but she sees one of her professors with tears in her eyes. "N-Nothing," she answers, looking away sadly.

"It must be something if it's bothering you," Professor Quirrell says softly with a soft smile. "You can tell your favorite professor or anything!" he jokes, making a silly face to make the wolf girl laugh or smile.

It works as a soft chuckle appears out of her small lips. "I-I just wish I-I was normal," Roselia whispers, lowering her head with her eyes closed. "I was born c-cursed." She willing shows her wolf ears and tail.

Professor Quirrell smirks again, getting interested. "There's nothing wrong with you," he says, gaining her trust, "but not everyone will be accepting this."

Her ear flattened.

"I accept it, though," he smiles. "I have something we can do together in the classroom."

"What is it, professor?"

"Come on," Professor Quirrell smiles again, standing back up on his feet.

Roselia watches him walk a couple of steps before following him towards the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom.