Chaos, Panic and Disorder.

3: Carmen.

"Hey Carmen!" I looked up from my Transfiguration essay to see who was calling me.

"Yeah what?"

"There's a Gryffindor at the portrait for you, looks pretty upset if you ask me." Replied a sixth year, shrugging. I nodded and gathered together my stuff, shoving it into my bag without really caring. Leaving my bag on my seat I headed for the portrait hole. I found Marcia stood with her arms wrapped tightly around herself, tears drying on her cheeks, leaving faded mascara marks in their wake.

"Carmen, I'm sorry but …" I stepped out of the portrait and pulled her into my arms.

"Shut it Marcia. You don't need to apologise for anything." Slowly I pulled away. "Come on, come inside." Ignoring her protests, I pulled her in through the still open portrait. Most of the House were used to me letting my friends in by now, but a few of the younger students still stared as I walked through the Common Room with Marci. I paused only to grab my bag before continuing up to my dorm. Once she was seated on my bed I turned to her, tucking a lock of her dark brown hair behind her ear.

"What's the matter babes?" At my words she burst out sobbing again, her tears falling thick and fast. I got to my feet and walked into the bathroom, returning with a packet of make-up wipes. Wordlessly I pulled one out and began to wipe the tears and smeared make-up from her cheeks. Slowly, her sobs quietened. "Oh Marcia …"

"I…know." She hiccupped, cutting me off. "You're … you're going to … tell me how s-stupid I am." I frowned at her.

"Don't be daft. You're not stupid for loving someone."

"B-but I am stupid for acting like this over it." I shook my head and scooted across the bed to give her a hug.

"You're not. Having your heart broken sucks, never mind having to be reminded of it every day. We all get more than our fair share of heartbreak in this world." I gently ran a hand through her hair, soothing her. "Marcia, it takes a moment to fall in love, but a lifetime to fall out of love, you know that. You are going to get through this. Now it may not be easy, or simple, or pain free, but you are going to do it."

"How?" I released her so that I could look her square in the eye.

"Because none of us are going to let you fight alone. We'll always be here with you. No matter what. Besides, you're a Gryffindor, your courage can get you through it." She snorted and shook her head.

"What courage? I've never had the courage to tell him how I feel have I?" I smiled.

"Maybe not, but you were pretty fucking courageous to come back here last year under You-Know-Who's regime. And by all accounts you showed them that it's not just the Weasley Twins that could raise hell around here."

"Aidie helped with that."

"So? You still had the courage to do it! It's more than I did." I sighed, thinking back to the time that I spent in hiding last year.

"You weren't uncourageous Carmen! You're muggleborn, it was the most sensible thing to do." I raised one shoulder in a shrug.

"Enough! It's Friday night and I know just what we need." I grinned at Marci. "To invade a certain Slytherin's room for a girly night." Marci grinned back.

"I'll grab the Witch Weekly's, you get hold of the other two."

Less than an hour later we were all gathered in Aidie's dorm. Aidie had been given her own small room since her previous dorm mates had made no less than 350 different complaints about having to share a room with her. I smiled as I observed the muggle band posters that littered the walls along with both wizard and muggle photos of us.

"Ah! Watch what you're pulling!" Protested Hannah.

"Sorry babes." I apologised, continuing to plait a section of her hair.

"So how have your first few days back been Puff?" She asked, flicking through the pages of a Witch Weekly.

"Urgh. It's school." I sighed, leaning over and tapping a picture of a witch modelling a new line of robes. "Those are nice. Anyway, not only is it school, but that creep Goldstein is following me again." Aidie groaned from where she was hanging upside down from the end of the bed.

"Tell me that you're kidding! I thought that had finished ages ago." She sat up and looked at me.

"It had, but he seems to have started again." I twisted the plait up onto the top of Hannah's head in an elegant twist, securing it in place with my wand.

"Do you want me to talk to him?" Offered Hannah, half-turning to look at me.

"Nah, I can deal with him. Stop fretting. Now stay still." I ordered, swatting her shoulder. She sighed and turned back around, allowing me to finish her hair. No-one else mentioned it again.

I sighed and rolled over, unable to sleep.

"You're worrying again." Whispered Aidie's voice. I opened my eyes and rolled over again so that I was facing her.

"What are you wittering on about now?"

"You can't sleep because you're worrying about how far Goldstein will take it this time."

"I am not!" I protested. Aidie just raised her eyebrows at me.

"Don't try and lie to me Carmen Amelia Hudson!" I sighed but didn't reply. "Carmen! I know you too well."

"Fine, fine. Maybe I am worrying a little bit, I don't know how far he's likely to go. He's just too unpredictable." Aidie sighed and gently hit my arm.

"You are being daft. No matter how far he may or may not go, you are forgetting one important factor."
"And what is that Aidie?"

"You have us. Hannah, Marci and I are never going to let him go too far. If he gets to you too much then just let us know and we'll step in and help. We're always here for you Carmen." I smiled and hugged her.

"I love you Aidie."

"I love you too Carmen. And don't you go forgetting it." I laughed softly and rolled over, slipping into a dreamless sleep.