Cast yourself (you are the spell)

Chapter 43

Hope stands in the Divination section of the library a couple of moments later, tapping her foot against the floor.

It's about a minute before the time the pureblood and Josie had agreed to meet here, and Hope can't find her in the library at all. The pureblood is pretty sure that she's the only person in here other than Madame Pince, who she had snuck past on her way in. She's not completely sure that the library is even open, since most of the lights are turned off.

The minute passes and there's still no sign of Josie. An anxious knot double-ties itself into Hope's stomach, and she wonders if she's about to be stood up for a second time.

It's fine. She'll wait five minutes, that's all. She'll wait, and if there's still no sign of Josie, she'll leave. It's fine.

Just as she sits down on the floor in resignation, she catches a glimpse of a familiar head of brown hair and pouty lips through the dim lighting of the aisle she's in. She brightens immediately.

"I was afraid you wouldn't come." Hope startles up, standing without realizing it. In fact, she doesn't even notice that she did so until Josie puts a hand on her chest to stop her from coming forward. Hope then takes a step back, dread forming a vice-like grip around her heart. She holds up the chocolate croissant between them.

Josie glances at the plate, but doesn't take it. She only crosses her arms and stares down to the floor.

"Yeah, well..." A corner of her lip snaps down, so swiftly that Hope almost misses it. Bile rises in the pureblood's throat at her dismissive tone. "...The mud mark is important, and we still need to figure out what this prophecy is all about."

Before, the sight of Josie had made her so incredibly giddy and about ready to burst, but now her next words only destroy Hope's mood so quickly that she feels sick to her stomach. Is that all the muggleborn cares about? Solving puzzles and mysteries like they're ministry investigators?

The blatant rejection settles into her skin like a burn. She turns away, feeling slightly—incredibly—hurt.

"A-Alright," Hope breathes, the exhale on her tongue too shaky. Her hand clenches around the plate in her hand, and yes, her fingers are too shaky as well. "I brought you a—nevermind."

She turns around and places the plate on an empty shelf nearby, wringing her hands nervously while her back is to Josie. When she summons the will to face her again, Josie isn't even looking at her, instead skimming the spines of a couple of Divination books.

It makes the pureblood very angry, indeed.

"No. You know what?" Hope storms up to her, teeth bared. Josie simply pushes a book back into its correct spot, appearing completely unfazed at the sudden change. It only infuriates the girl more. "Screw Snape's little research project. Screw the prophecy. You're more important. You need to know that."

It gives the brunette pause enough that she looks Hope in the eye. Almost blankly. The pureblood nearly sighs. "I would love to be your date to the ball, but that can't happen, okay? I'm not going, and it's better that way. My family can't find out about us, they can't. They would hurt you, and then we can never be together. Do you understand now?"

Josie nods impassively. Hope can barely interpret the expression on her face. "Okay."

"Did you bring the paper you found in Snape's desk?" she then asks, completely ignoring everything Hope just said.

The pureblood's jaw visibly ticks. A scoff falls short of the tip of her tongue. "You're unbelievable."

She stuffs her hand down the pocket in her quidditch robe, where the note she had been carrying all of practice resides. She pulls it out and throws it on the floor. "Here's your fucking prophecy. Enjoy figuring out what it means by yourself."