Late night. Infirmary Ward.


It was raining outside but a murky sheen of moonlight still came through the tall windows of the infirmary, criss crossed by shadow and drizzle that slept across the white bedcovers of his ward bed. Virgil curled up underneath the blankets with a tuft of tousled blonde hair sticking out just above.

There were no other patients, nobody around to disturb his thoughts. He listened to the rain.

His fingers traced the soft skin around his mouth: it was still sore even through there was little trace of the wound he had sliced open in the kitchens[1]. It had all happened so quickly. He had panicked. It had been all his fault.

Virgil brought his knees up into foetal position, one arm wrapped around Beatrice Bear. Gracie had been kind enough to bring the teddy up for him before her prefect rounds after curfew - she had also brought a mild torrent of critique over what he had said to provoke Cadance's particular brand of violence. She didn't appreciate it any more than the other two Slytherin girls. She was right.
     
       "Of course not. You have manners."[2]

He thought of what Professor Duerr had said over a month ago in her private quarters. Manners. Him? He'd been trying, he really had, and you couldn't offer him enough to tell on Cadance because there was a chance the Arithmancy professor might hear about everything. And how could he look her in the eye if she knew what he'd said? He felt ashamed even thinking of it now, alone. That wasn't how you were supposed to treat other people.

Even sociopathic prudes like his housemate. Virgil felt his stomach clench, he curled in tighter. Why had he said those things? Why couldn't he just behave? It would be so much easier if he would simply keep his pretty little mouth shut, that's a lovely bo--

A soft thud at the foot of his bed gave the Slytherin a jolt, causing him to peek over the covers. Squinting. The blue and green gaze of his odd-eyed cat stared back. Soft paws treaded over the sheets, kneaded down so that she could make herself comfortable on top of his feet.

Virgil slipped back into the blankets, sighing listlessly in relief. It was getting late and he was so tired. He would have to apologise to Cadance at some point. And thank Jordyn. And Isla. And the house elves. God, he was so tired.

1.	Forbidden Fruit - 29th March
2.	Tread Softly - 24th March