Maura sighed a bit as she looked over her notes. It was her fourth year at Hogwarts and their defense against the dark arts professor was losing hope in her. It wasn't even October and they already were holding her after class to talk. The last teacher's notes about her had obviously been passed on. Her ashy brown hair covered her bright blue eyes as she wandered outside. Her professor had recommended talking to three students in the class for help. The three most troublesome, smart, ever popular, Gryffindor students, James Potter, Remus Lupin, and Sirius Black.
Maura's stomach did a backflip. She was nothing more than a small Hufflepuff student herself, let alone not the most popular person. Her face seemed to be an easy target for people to make fun of, between her overly fluffed hair, off-center mole, and darker skin, girls went nuts over making sure that her family name would mean nothing by her seventh year. Her hand moved to cover the small mole on her cheek, a bad habit that started in first year. It was horribly off center for everyone it seemed, too far off to be thought of "cute" despite its acceptable size. On top of that, her hair had broken more than one hair tie in class, and the memory of it pegging Remus in his ear the first week back at Hogwarts was enough to know not he, nor his friends, would help.
Maura was busy in her thoughts when she bumped into a Slytherin boy, also her age. This was Severus Snape, another student that didn't like her. Though he seemed to dislike her obvious well-off family and the fact that both of her parents came from two different mudblood lines.
"I am so sorry!" Maura gasped, her eyes having flicked to the papers and ink well spilling from Severus's arms. "Please, let me-"
"I don't need help from people like you," Severus sneered, stooping to collect his things.
"Oh. oh... at least let me replace the ink. It... it did break," Maura stammered, only to fall into a still silence at a cold glare from the other student. She felt frozen to the spot.
"I don't need your pity!" Severus snapped at her.
Maura mouthed wordlessly before she managed to nod. Shaking, she took a step back. She tried to calm herself as she turned away and left the scene. Her face burned in embarrassment, feeling countless eyes on her. She had again done something stupid in front of the school. Her classmates, though rarely angry, tried to toughen her up constantly and keep her from making such simple mistakes. She had to stop offering help to her known enemies, in other words, nearly everyone in the school minus a select handful.
Maura sighed softly as she strode outside. She needed to clear her head, that was all. She hugged her notes close to herself. She needed to practice more than anything else. She had notes on the spells they would learn that year, the entire year. She was going to do well in Defense Against The Dark Arts that year. She had to, she absolutely had to, she...
"Maura Bay?" A very calm, kind, and all too familiar voice made Maura jump in shock.
Maura whipped around to see Remus, and a little ways behind him waited for the rest of the usual gang. She calmed herself quietly and gave the male a kind smile, throwing off the mole even more off center. It took her a moment for her hand to cover it again.
"Sorry, yes, uh... Remus Lupin, correct?" Maura spoke, amazed at her own calmness.
"Yes," he smiled. "I believe your hair band decided to say hello to me last week?" Remus inquired, though in a jovial manner.
Maura felt herself flush deeply. "I am so sorry about that," she said. "I try to make them as strong as I can, I just... my hair... ah... I do hope it didn't hurt you." She rambled slightly before she decided to finish on an uneventful note.
Remus could not help but laugh at Maura's lost phrases. "No, no, I am fine. It woke me up, actually, before I was caught dozing in class," he told her kindly.
Maura blinked and felt relief wash over her. "Oh, oh okay. I am glad I could help," she said, and gave him another smile, though keeping the mole covered as she pretended to fix her hair.
"By the way, speaking of class, the professor told me you might need some help?"
Maura felt her stomach drop. Remus, despite smiling through it, had seen her struggle in class for that year and the last. The professor must have warned him, knowing she would never talk to him on her own. Her eyes flew to the ground, and Maura felt awful. She had been planning on avoiding him and the others. She wanted to practice on her own, not become their new favorite thing to pick on.
"I... do..." Maura managed to admit to the male in front of her. "I… uh… don't... don't feel the need to... if it bothers you..."
"Ah, come on, Moony." Sirius had walked over. "Be nice to the little Hufflepuff, I think you're scaring her. We can't be scaring the school yet, that isn't until six."
Maura looked at the next boy. He had always fancied himself very handsome, even with his long hair. All Maura could think of was her mother, scoffing and telling her how badly she wished to just chop all of that hair off.
"Boys these days, no class," her mother would mutter to Maura on the platform. "Their hair is all over the place... I swear, if I worked there, I would change that. It'd take me no time at all. Just a quick trim."
Even the memory of her mother threatening every long-haired boy at the school with a pair of scissors under her breath could not make Maura smile. She looked nervously between the boys, starting to roll the parchment in her hands, hoping they would just leave.
"I am not trying to scare her," Remus told his friend matter-of-factly. "I was actually asking her if she wanted to study Defense Against The Dark Arts with us, just as the professor asked." Remus had turned his face back to Maura, making her open her mouth as if to respond.
Maura stopped, thought, and closed her mouth again, she noticed Sirius move, as if to speak again. He did.
"Always trying to be helpful, aren't you?" Sirius looked at his friend quizzically before he looked at Maura. "Well?" He pushed Maura's answer a bit.
"I..." Maura started, but she felt her voice leave her. "Oh... yes, help... I, uh, do need it," she said through a mess of breath and words. She began to dig her toe into the earth. "But-" she felt a jolt as she spoke over Sirius as he opened his mouth. "If, if you can't find the time to help. I can't blame you. Don't, don't worry too much about it. Actually, I think I can do this myself... I was given wonderful notes on the spells we will be doing this year and a hint at everything for next year today-"
"What?" Sirius suddenly looked interested. "You know what we are going to be learning and when?"
Maura froze, feeling odd that he was looking at her. "Yes..." she said slowly.
"Well," Sirius smiled to his friend. "Well," he repeated himself to look back at the other two boys, who took the invitation to walk over. "I think with that, we can probably find time. You know, get ahead in class so we can relax," he announced to the group.
"Is that what is going on?" James smiled, absently ruffling his hair, a habit Maura figured came from a broom hitting his head a few times too many, and him getting used to the feeling. "Little Bay has some class notes? I think knowing too much might get you in trouble," he looked at Maura.
"I... no! No, it's not like I am cheating!" Maura looked appalled, sending the boys into laughter. Her face fell slightly. "It's just the class plan for Defense Against The Dark arts... that is all," Maura told the boys, her voice falling into a whisper. "The professor wants to give me the best chance they can..." her voice shrank even more. "I'm sorry to have bothered you," she stepped back.
"Bay," Remus smiled kindly. "It is all right, I am sorry for laughing. That was quite out of line. I would be honored to help you practice for class."
Maura felt herself fall into silence again. Honored? Either Remus was very good at lying, or he knew her parents' money and wanted a bit in on it.
"It gives us something to do," Sirius shrugged. "Maybe it can put us into some good graces... hey Bay, need any help with any other classes? You can pass some good words around for us."
Maura blinked dumbly to the boys in front of her. "Oh... I..." she looked utterly lost. A prickle on the back of her neck told her that the conversation was starting to get attention, and judging by Sirius and James adjusting their posture, it was female attention. "Let's just start with the one class," Maura's words grew much faster, not wanting to waste too much more of their time. "I am free most days, so, whenever you all have time, I would be more than willing to meet with all of you," she spoke kindly, though she could feel eyes burning into her head.
"How about tomorrow, after classes?" Remus offered. "We can meet right here," he finished kindly.
"Oh, yes, perfect!" Maura said, with a little too much desperation.
Sirius flashed her a dazzling smile. Maura could hear her grave being dug. "Then we'll meet you here tomorrow," he said, and Maura was thankful it was only at a volume they could hear.
"Yes," Maura nodded. "Thank you so much for all of this."
"And don't forget to ask about the other classes," James gave her a little wink. "For us, Kay?"
Maura nodded. "Speaking of... I do need to get to Care of Magical Creatures," she covered quickly. She gave a quick wave to the boys before speeding off, feeling sick under the hostile glares from quite a number of girls.
"Maura!" A girl ran over to Maura as she made it to class a few minutes after Maura had calmed herself down. "I heard a rumor about you," the very pretty blond stood in front of her friend, her deep brown eyes looking at Maura with utter amazement. "You talked to Black, Lupin, Potter, and Pettigrew?" She asked.
Maura groaned. "Yes, but it wasn't about what you are going to think. I was asking them for class help. Nothing special," she answered, tucking her face behind her robes a bit as she felt other people look over.
"But you talked to them," her friend insisted.
"Lisa," Maura mumbled. "Not so loud... it was on a request from the professor..."
"Fine, Fine," Lisa giggled. "I'll bug you later."
Maura rolled her eyes and settled in for class, one of the few classes she was more than proficient at. She didn't even listen most days. She only paid attention to see the creatures. Maura had loved the creatures from day one and had studied them since she was small. Lisa could attest to that, having known Maura since they were both three years old. Lisa barely needed to listen, herself, Maura having rambled to her for years. The girls didn't let that on, however, just enjoying the classes with excitement, no matter the creature.
They laughed as the small creatures ran around happily, Maura easily picking them up, impressing their professor.
"You are very well liked by them," Professor Kettleburn said calmly. "I am surprised."
Maura blushed a bit. "Thank you," She said kindly in return.
"Well, she kind of looks like them," snickered a few girls. Maura flinched a bit but pretended not to hear them.
Maura smiled as the creature squealed happily and put them back down to let them play. She laughed and stood back up as the lesson continued, her and Lisa watching the small creatures running around. They enjoyed the time there, and just waited for the class to end, even with charms as their next subject.
That night, Maura ate at the quietest side of the Hufflepuff table with Lisa. They were happily giggling away at some pictures Lisa had drawn in class when footsteps haunted behind them.
"Well, look here," a girl said from above Maura. She knew the voice well enough and knew there was no escape. She sighed and looked back. Her shoulders fell at seeing a mismatched group of girls from all the houses, as they had apparently decided to bring in everyone. The speaker, however, was a Gryffindor, she was also the ring leader. "What was up with you harassing Lupin earlier, huh?" She girl asked.
"Harassing?" Maura gave the most innocent of smiles. "No. Talking seems to be more of what I was doing," she answered. "Why? Was someone bothering them today?"
"Yes, and she just so happens to have too much hair and looks like a chipmunk," sniffed the girl down at Maura, who bit the inside of her cheek a bit.
"Oh... I see... I suppose they might have not told me to my face..." Maura said.
"Oh shut up," Lisa rolled her eyes. "She didn't bother them. According to what I heard, they walked over to her, in fact."
The girls looked at Lisa. Maura silently begged her to stop, knowing that Lisa was going to go too far. She grabbed Lisa's robe, but Lisa pulled away. "You know what, let me go ask to be sure."
Lisa stood, and Maura felt herself lose all hope as she knew she couldn't stop her. Her eyes moved to the four boys, sitting at the far table, talking and laughing. "After all, It is late in dinner, so no one should mind," Lisa smiled happily. With that, Maura gaped after her friend as she strode away, straight over to the boys, who looked up curiously.
Maura was left with the glaring group of admirers, feeling very small indeed. She tried to rationalize that maybe if they had some self-confidence that they could have spoken to the group first, not after she was forced to. She watched Lisa hopelessly as she waved to the boys and happily struck up a conversation as if it were nothing. Then again, Lisa never had a problem making friends, she just talked as if she knew the perfect thing to say to whatever they were thinking.
Lisa was always brave in the face of people, no one person was really more important than any other, and popularity was nothing to her. Money, blood, appearance, or anything of the like meant nothing to Lisa. She only cared about the person, something Maura loved about her, but also was scared it would lead her into trouble.
Maura watched as the five talked, laughed, and Lisa finally gestured over to her. Eight eyes all rested on Maura, and she became more self-conscious than ever. She brushed some food crumbs off of her robes, looking for anything that could get her out of the situation. Why did Lisa have to talk and make a scene? There were more than those four watching by that point. Maura took a shaking breath, not noticing the table beside her. Her hand hit her goblet and with a small crash, it fell and spilled pumpkin juice everywhere. Maura lept to her feet and felt her face burn at the sudden laughter from the girls, as well as a few others who had been nearby.
"Aww, something wrong?" The all too smug leader of the group asked. "Did the poor, little Bay scare herself again? You can hardly see your shadow in here, but I guess everything is scary to a little chipmunk," She jeered.
Maura looked down and set her goblet up again before sighing. She didn't bother to look back at Lisa before leaving, ignoring a few other rude comments. She wanted to vanish into the common room again. Slowly, she tucked her face behind her robes, hiding her mole and her reddening cheeks.
"Maura!" Lisa's voice rang out clearly in the hall. Maura didn't pause but the clattering feet caught up to her quickly, anyway. "Oh gosh, I didn't mean for this to happen, Maura." Lisa looked apologetic as she pulled Maura to a stop. "I am so sorry. I saw them tip your goblet..."
"Them?" Maura blinked in shock. "No, no, I hit it," she said.
"After they moved it," Lisa nodded sadly. "Maura, I didn't think they would do anything. I should have just stayed with you..."
"Bay," Remus had spoken from behind Lisa and Maura looked up to see him. She felt herself loose more of whatever dignity she had left and looked down. "I am glad that Lisa stopped you," he smiled. "Are you all right?"
The question made Maura look up, shocked. "Me?" She asked, only to be answered with a nod. "Well, Yes... a bit embarrassed, but I have had worse... uh, thank you," she said kindly to the male. She didn't understand his concern but was slightly thankful for it. Then again, out of the four, he always did seem to be the most approachable.
Remus nodded. "Good," he said, "I will tell the others before they get too into what they plan of doing to get them back, that was rather out of line," he had continued before pausing at Maura's light laugh.
"They've done worse to me before," Maura shrugged, looking back down. She had laughed to brush it all off, she knew it, but it helped. "Please, you are all helping me with classes. Don't worry yourselves over little, petty things girls do," she said kindly to the boy. She didn't need them losing any popularity because of her, feeling bad enough they had to sacrifice their time for her.
Remus blinked but smiled. "I will send the message on," he said and left.
"Well, they do like you," Lisa tried to help improve Maura's mood more. "When I was talking, they said that you seemed really nice. I said you were. Naturally." Lisa smiled proudly at her words. As if her having told them how sweet she was, was the best thing ever.
Maura felt herself blush. "Don't talk me up," she said to her friend. "Please... I hit Lupin in the ear with my hair band last week... he remembers. I'm not to be spoken of highly," Maura said flatly.
Lisa laughed before hooking her arm with Maura's and walking back to their common room. Maura stayed quiet, sinking in her seat as they found their way to their ritual spots. She pulled out her homework quietly, while Lisa frowned across the table.
"Hey," Lisa said softly. "Don't let them get to you, Maura," she rubbed her friend's shoulder kindly. "They just want to feel better about something, and you shouldn't let them use you like that."
Maura nodded slowly and sat back, merely starting her homework. Lisa sighed and sat back a bit as well, doing her work quietly. It was going to be a long night, both girls knew it by the mountain of homework next to them.