QFDIDGAD - Quite Frankly, Dear, I Don't Give A Damn

"Hey, watch this."

Snickers erupted from behind Mara's head as she sat in Charms class, trying to learn her very first spell.

"Wingardium Leviosa."

A crick appeared in Mara's forehead, and she was tempted to throw a nasty glare at the pair behind her.

"Oh, lookit go! It's working..." More riotous laughter ensued, unbeknownst to Professor Flitwick, who was helping a student on the opposite side of the room.

Beside Mara, the black-haired girl let out a small, confused whimper as the quill she had been using rose out of her fingers for the umpteenth time. She struggled to capture her writing utensil again, but it slipped out of grasp whenever her fingertips got too close. Finally, the quill dove toward her hand-and then past it-and slammed ink all over her crisp, white shirt. "Mrangh!" The girl let out a distressed cry as she swabbed at the ink stain on her chest with her hands, but only seemed to make it worse.

Mara watched her for a moment more. "Don't worry too much over it. It'll come out just fine with some bleach and a washing machine."

The girl turned to her, wide-eyed, as if she was taken aback that she was being spoken to. "Oh-uh, thanks. I mean, yeah. Don't worry about it, it happens to me all the time. I guess I'm really clumsy or something-but I think there's something wrong with this quill. It keeps-" While she spoke, the quill began to wriggle out of her fingers.

Mara caught the movement immediately, and she snatched the quill out of the girl's hand without a second thought.

"What-" For a second, the girl looked scared and startled, but then she looked hurt.

"Hold on." Mara didn't care that she looked rude just now; first things first. She spun around and delivered a venomous look to the prats behind her. "Stop it," she snarled. "It's not funny, no one finds it funny, and you're being rude."

For a second, the boys stopped to glance at each other, but then, one of them spoke. "Aw, nah, it's alright. Right, Potter? The ink'll come out with some bleach."

"Right, pal, and maybe a washing machine." The pair bust out laughing once more.

It was then that Mara was faintly aware of the fact that both of the items she had listed were very Muggle applications. But coming from an all-Muggle family, she found her suggestion natural and didn't care to be made fun of for it. "Alright, you buggers, laugh all you want. But mark my words-" She gathered her robes and drew herself up to the tallest height she could make herself-"watch your back." She stared at them, not breaking to blink.

"Oh?" The first boy who had spoken drew himself up now, and he leaned in to meet her posture. His light-colored eyes burned into her with a challenge. "Whatcha gonna do about it, Goldilocks?"

"I guess you'll just have to wait and found out," Mara retorted, "aren't you?"

"Haa." Slowly, the boy retracted himself and plopped back down into his seat. "We'll see what a girl can do." He opened his arms out as if to say, Go for it. Next to him, the Potter boy slapped him a high-five.

Mara returned to her seat, the hairs on her neck still bristling. The girl beside her stared at her, dumbfounded. "I'm sorry-I thought-I didn't know-"

"It's fine. Do you need something to mop that up?" Mara gestured to the swelling stain on the girl's shirt.

"No, it's okay. I'll just let it...dry." The girl waved her hand dismissively. "Um...my name's Megan. Megan Neill. What's yours?"

"I'm Mara. Mara May." Mara smiled at her, pocketing a bottle of ink.

"Nice to meet you. Do you think you could help me out with this Charm? Because I just don't think I'm getting it. I was trying to scratch out some notes for myself earlier..."

Mara and Megan pored over the mechanics of the spell for the rest of the period, but in the end, neither of them were able to completely grasp the Levitation Charm. Still, at least they had a good time poking fun at the spell. And the prats behind them didn't bother them again, but she did get the feeling they were busy harassing other people from their undying sniggers.

As the students filed out of the classroom for their next class, Mara flattened herself against the wall next to the doorway.

"-great class, eh, mate?" A familiar, cocky voice grew closer.

"I'll say. See ya around, Black!" Potter slapped another high-five with his buddy before turning off in the opposite direction.

The other boy-"Sirius Black", she learned over the course of the class-started to walk past Mara, oblivious to the fact that she was standing there.

Until her arm lunged out and grabbed a fistful of his hair.

"Ruddy-hell!" He cried out, his hands flying up to his head.

"Listen up, and listen good, pretty boy," Mara growled, digging her fingernails into his head. "I may not have a magical upbringing, and sure, I don't know all your fancy spells, but you know what I do have? I have a Muggle upbringing." She paused, and when all he did was glare at her, she pulled him closer. "Wrong answer. That should terrify you." She drew something from the sleeve of her robes.

"What do you think you're doing-? HOLY SH-!"

Mara uncapped the bottle of ink and poured it down his shirt. Under his violent flailing, she released her hold on his hair and stepped back. "And that's what my Muggle older brother taught me." She stashed the empty bottle back into her robes and dusted her hands, satisfied.

Then she stalked off.

Sirius Black learned never to underestimate a witch that day, all-Muggle family or not.