Aldebaran Lake had, amazingly, managed to keep away from creating ruckuses at the Great Hall feast, contrary to what most people expected of her, being Solarian's twin.

That didn't mean that she couldn't stir up a boil in the Slytherin common room, which indeed was buzzing like a cauldron, to use the term.

As she entered into the room of titanic proportions, she found herself accosted by wave after wave of cackling people. She blinked at her new popularity; none of the Slytherins had looked that insane when she had seen them upon the Hogwarts Express...

"Oi, Lydia, let me get a good look--"

"Al! Al, good to see y--"

"We were waiting for you!"

Perhaps all the females had synchronised 'times of the month' and the males were being peculiarly accommodating?

"Ha!"

Aldebaran shuddered and waded through the welcoming committee before locating one of the armchairs that was not occupied.

Which put her in plain view of what she realised was the reason for the collective mirth.

One of the second-year Slytherins, the only one she knew was a Mudblood, was being dangled by some invisible force by his left ankle, resulting in him squealing and flailing about in mid-air, to no avail.

"Please, somebody, get me down from he--"

The rest of his squeakings were drowned out by a flurry of giggles and snorts; surrounding him was an entire troupe of fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh-years, all of whom she also knew were purebloods.

From the looks of it, they were playing what was termed a 'simple joke.'

What was a joke to them was something serious to her.

One of the group ringing him separated and ambled over with a high stride over to Al. She could barely recognise him as Jason Bridgitson, one of the seventh-years. She had used to like him in her second year, that was all...

"Al, why don't you join us? I mean, teaching this Mudblood a lesson is pretty fun," he inquired of her cheerfully with a slight simper, as though asking if there were cookies to be had.

All activity in the room ceased then, except for the Muggle-born's mid-air ministrations; "Aaaaaaaaaaaaaah!"

Despite herself, Al could feel sweat on her back, and started to bite her lip. She couldn't help torture the downtrodden... but she had to.

Every eye in the room was on her. She could feel that as well.

Suddenly, she ricocheted out of her seat, nearly smashing into Jason. His eyes went wide as she wheeled around and dashed through the door, out of the Slytherin common room, and out of sight, all the way screaming an eloquent, "Sorry, lavatory!"

Five minutes later, she found herself in one of the bathrooms. She couldn't remember which one she had dashed into, but she did remember scaring off Moaning Myrtle, who was (or rather, had been) inhabiting it.

Her eyes were damp, but no tears fell; she couldn't weep for a Mudblood. She wouldn't.

Her thoughts strayed suddenly to her siblings...

I hope you're having a better return to Hogwarts than I am.