Chapter 2

The Great Hall was packed with people, just like it always was at the start of term feast. Ed hung back, not wanting to be surrounded by her classmates just yet. She was the first person in Hogwarts history to be bumped up a grade. She should have been proud. Her friends should have been happy for her. But wishful thinking wouldn't change anything. It never did.

Whatever nervousness might have showed on her face disappeared when she locked eyes with Lily Evans. The older girl's sneer rivaled that of the slimiest Slytherin in its overt hostility. She'd hated Ed since the day they met. She saw in the younger girl a rival for James's affections. Ed hadn't liked her for the games she played. But Lily's dislike went far deeper than Ed's. But then, most of the school's females hated her. It was a negative by-product of being best friends with the school's hottest guys. It was a pity, though. Lily was a nice enough girl, and pretty smart. She was just a liar. And there were far worse things to be.

Ed lifted her chin another notch and walked into the Great Hall. The Marauders didn't even look at her as she passes. Only Peter raised his soft, kind eyes to hers. She tried for a smile but her lips trembled. Peter looked away.

At the Ravenclaw table a brown-haired girl waved her over. Ed sat down next to her with a bemused smile.

"Hi. I'm Ed."

"I'm Allison. Pleased to meet you."

"Likewise." Ed's smile widened and was answered.

"So you're the resident genius, hunh? You seem a lot nicer than people say."

"Dumb people say dumb things. Any specific people?"

"Lily said you were a snob," Allison said thoughtfully, for the first time wondering at the truth of the words. "But you seem nice enough…"

Ed snorted. "I expected no less from her," she said grimly. "And, as for the nice part, you can say that in a few days; once you've gotten to know me a bit better."

Their conversation was interrupted by the appearance of food. Neither girl bothered with small talk as plate after plate of impossibly delicious food disappeared into their throats. They were in the middle of identical helpings of blueberry pie when both forks clattered to the table. The girls leaned back and sighed.

"I'm stuffed."

"Me too."

They burst out laughing and it hit Ed that she hadn't laughed, or even smiled, in several weeks. She was a bit surprised that she remembered how. She was also shocked by the amount of food she'd consumed. Her appetite has vanished the same day as her sense of humor.

It was amazing what a friendly smile could do.

"So you were really the Female Marauder. That's amazing."

"What makes you think I'm not any more?"

Allison's dark brown eyes were serious as they met Ed's. "I'm not blind. I saw the way James was glaring at your back."

Ed's heart clenched. "And Sirius?"

"He didn't look at you. Neither did the others."

"Oh. I see."

"You really care about them, don't you?"

She nodded miserably. "They've been with me forever. And now…I don't even know why. James wouldn't tell me."

Allison wordlessly extended a piece of chocolate. The move was so much like one Remus would make that it almost brought tears to her eyes. Almost. She took it and nibbled a corner halfheartedly. It had the almost immediate effect of taking the biting edge off her pain. But not nearly enough.

"You'll feel better eventually," Allison said gently. "Come on. We'll go up to the common room now. I'm sure they won't miss us."

Ed let her grab her hand and pull her away from the table. Many heads turned their way but no one made a move to stop them. The headmaster glanced at Ed and nodded almost imperceptibly. If nothing else, she was grateful to him for this one kindness.

Allison didn't let go of her hand until they reached a marble statue. The statue was one of Aristotle holding a book. He chocolate-colored eyes twinkled as she tapped him on the head and said, "Bookworms!"

The heavy head lifted and the philosopher scowled at them. Then he ran a stone hand down the wall, which melted away to reveal an oaken door. Ed went though first, then turned around to face Allison.

"Was the tapping necessary?"

"Not really. It just annoys him."

"I see." She turned again to examine her new common room. "Oh wow," she breathed, amazed at the sight before her.

The entire room was a library. Every wall was covered with floor-to-ceiling bookcases, and those were stuffed to bursting with books of various sizes and shapes. There were even a few floating shelves. In the midst of all this were scattered large, cushy armchairs and a few sofas. There was at least one small table with every seating arrangement, with some having up to four. As if in a trance, Ed moved forward to inspect the titles. To her shock, many of them had nothing at all to do with magic.

"Do you like it?"

She nodded vigorously. "This…this is incredible!"

Allison laughed. "It's a Ravenclaw tradition. And a closely guarded secret. Every Ravenclaw that's ever come through here has left at least one of their favorite books here." She followed Ed with her eyes as she ran reverent fingers across dozens of dusty spines. "It's rumored that Rowena Ravenclaw herself started the tradition and left her favorite book here."

Ed looked back at her. "Is it true?"

Allison shrugged. "Probably not. No one's found it. And we've all looked at one time or another. It's another Ravenclaw tradition."

"Are there many others?"

"A few. We sort of forget about them after a while. Like the password. The first week of term, it's always 'bookworms' and nothing else. Ever. That's how I knew it."

"There are so many muggle books here. Why is that?"

"Well, favorite books aren't necessarily magical in the least. Many people come form muggle families, you know. People like yourself."

"How did you know that?" Ed asked, shocked.

Allison chuckled. "The whole school knows who you are, and now many people want to know you, too."

"Why would people want to know anything about me?"

The girl shrugged lightly. "You'll be the main topic of conversation for a while. You'd better get used to it."

A/N: Yeah, I know this had nothing angsty in it, or anything really dramatic. I haven't even tossed Severus in yet! Bad me. But be patient, and all will be well...ish.