Henry watched in concern as his friend, Macy, put three (she counted) peas, two baby carrots, and one potato on her plate. When Amy asked her if she was okay, she replied with a forced-sounding laugh and a "Yeah! I'm just not hungry..". He wanted to help, but if she said she was fine, maybe she was? He didn't want to pry.

Macy had always had trouble with bullies. She wasn't as skinny as most of the girls her age, and was very self-conscious. Ever since the start of Hogwarts, he had noticed her eating less and less. Today was the least he had ever seen on her plate.

With that in mind, when he saw a Slytherin stand up and start heading in the direction of the Hufflepuff table, he immediately got his defensive speech ready.

The Great Hall quickly fell into silence as they watched the girl move to the table.

When the girl moved to Macy, Henry quickly stood up and got ready to protect her from the bully.

Crack

Silence.

The Slytherin had slapped Macy.

Before Henry could react, the Slytherin picked up a chicken drumstick. Henry could only watch in horror as the Slytherin moved it towards Macy. Memories of simialar occerances, always ending with Macy crying while they covered her in the grease of the food, all while calling her names like 'pig' and 'fat'. So of corse, he was very suprised when the Slytherin put some of it in Macy'z mouth, moved her jaw so that she took at bite, and said in a deadly calm voice "Chew".

Once Macy had swallowed, the girl pushed Amy to the side (although it was more like a harsh tap), and sat down next to Macy. She repeated this until Macy had finished the chicken. The hall remained silent while this was happening. The girl put more food on Macy's plate, and sat there. After a minuet of silence, Macy started eating, keeping her eyes on the Slytherin cautiously.

When Macy had finished about half the food, the Slytherin stood up and turned to Amy.

"Keep an eye on her"

She turned to Macy once more

"You better not puke everything up tonight".

She then walked out the hall.

Henry, along with every other student and teacher, was left to ponder exactly what had just happened.

{~}*=*{~}

It had been three months since the Slytherin girl-Macy occurrence. Henry had yet to see the Slytherin girl again.

He had been wandering around, trying to find a abandoned classroom to use, when he had seen her. She was sitting at the and of an empty corridor looking out of one of the many windows. He had just one question to ask her.

"Sorry to bother you.. but.. uhm..."

She continued staring dreamily, and he wasn't sure she had heard him

"Well.. why did you help her?" He blurted out

There was a few awkward seconds before a reply came.

"Because nobody else was"

The simple reply confused him. Was she accusing him of not helping Macy?! She was his friend! But he hadn't done anything, had he..

She stood up, startling him out of his thoughts.

She began walking away from his, but stopped a few feet away

"I lost someone to anorexia. Nobody else should suffer simply because some sniffy little brats are insecure. Keep her close"

That was the closest he would get to an answer he guessed.

"Thank you" he muttered as she turned around the corner.

There was no reply.