The bright, forget me not blue of Octobers skies slid slowly into a dense, grey foggy mass as November reared around the corner.
However, the dark and heavy rain fall didn't stop excitement seeping through every last student in the castle, for only 24 hours stood between them all and the first Quidditch match of the season.
Those not participating in the match themselves had already picked teams and were discussing new cheers and songs.
The students in the Great Hall were boisterous and chatty, whenever a member of Gryffindor house entered, the Slytherins booed and hissed, and whenever the Slytherin's hissed and booed Luna Lovegood's massive lion hat would roar wildly over them.
Mara rolled her eyes at the raucous Slytherins at the other end of the table, and looked up with the more involved who had noticed the mail owl's sweep in through the high windows.
When no owl landed in front of her, she pushed her empty bowl away, pulled her bag over her shoulder and made her way to the hospital wing...
Madam Pomfrey was waiting by the first cubicle in site, and smiled at Mara's arrival.
"Good morning, Miss Morris." the Matron smiled "Feel free to use the lockers."
Mara took off her bag and placed it in a free locker, and followed the Matron down the aisle. "Miss Abbott hasn't arrived yet," Pomfrey said as they walked "so we will attend to our first patient without her."
Madam Pomfrey led Mara into a cubicle, and she had to stifle a snigger as a boy laid upon the bed with a huge, protruding horn sticking out of his mouth.
The Matron sighed "When the Quidditch season comes around, students from rival houses always find ways to play 'tricks' on one another, this poor boy must have crossed paths with a particularly excited Slytherin." Mara agreed, considering the boy was a Gryffindor it wasn't hard to place the blame on the rival team.
"Now, can you tell me which hex was used on this boy?" Pomfrey asked, and Mara thought back on the books she had read on particularly nasty hexes in the library back at the manor.
"Er, I think it's the Tongue...tied, hex?" she said "It simply causes the victims whole tongue to be replaced with a dragons horn."
"Excellent. Ten points to Slytherin." Mara beamed, but a look of disgust crossed the dark Gryffindor boy on the bed.
"Now, observe the way I move my wand and listen to the incantation I use to remove this boy's burden."
Madam Pomfrey rose her wand.
"Help us!" Cried a voice that made them both jump, causing Pomfrey to drop her wand.
"You go!" Pomfrey said, Accioing her wand to her hand. Mara turned and dashed out of the cubicle. She paused in the aisle, and stared open mouthed for a moment, as Daniel stood. carrying a limp boy in his arms.
"Quick, in here!" Mara said, ignoring the surprised look Daniel gave her and led them inside an empty cubicle. Daniel laid down his friend on the bed, and Mara pressed her hands to her mouth at the blood that gushed out of three deep slashes on the olive skinned boys face.
They looked around as Madam Pomfrey finally entered, the boy from earlier walked by, all fixed, gaping at the blood that trailed into the cubicle but the curtain suddenly hid him from view.
Pomfrey rushed over, took out her wand and hovered it over the boys cheek, the gashes sealed slowly and the blood seeped back into the cut.
"What on earth happened?" Madam Pomfrey asked calmly, although looked extremely worried.
"I-I dunno, it happened so quickly." Daniel stumbled "I think it was an animal."
"An animal?" Said Pomfrey, astonished "What kind of animal? Where were you when this happened? She asked.
"We were guarding the Greenhouses, standing outside the entrance." Daniel said in a panicked tone. "Then he was just, attacked! For no reason!"
Mara stared at the boy in worry as the matron cleaned the rest of the blood off his cheek and neck.
"What were you doing before he was attacked?" The matron asked, and a shifty look crossed Daniel's face.
"We were talking.." he said.
"What about?"
"...about...nothing, really.." he shrugged, and glanced away nervously at the suspicious look Mara cast him.
"I see.." said Pomfrey, giving Daniel an unconvinced look.
"I will have to let Dumbledore know about this attack," said Pomfrey "we can't be too cautious these days." Daniel sighed and nodded.
"Miss Morris, come, the boy is in good hands."
Mara frowned but followed the matron reluctantly out of the cubicle.
"Oh, Miss Abbot has arrived." said Pomfrey, and Mara looked at the exit to see the Hufflepuff standing by the doors. "Please wait here."
"Mara." she jumped when she felt a hand on her shoulder.
"Sorry," said Daniel, shutting the curtain behind him and removing his hand from her. "uh, how are you? You aren't ill or anything?" he asked, Mara shook her head.
"Oh, no," Mara said quickly. "Dumbledore gave me some private lessons in Healing, Madam Pomfrey is teaching me along with another girl."
"Oh, well, that's good." Daniel smiled, he felt heat rise up the back of his neck as Mara narrowed her shadowed eyes at him.
"Daniel, what were you talking about before the animal attacked?" Mara asked, Daniel glanced away nervously. "I won't tell anyone else." he looked back at her, and felt certain he could trust her.
"...well.." Daniel hesitated. "we were talking about you."
A wave of uneasiness shot through her nerves.
"me? Why?"
Daniel looked around then quickly said.
"The matron's coming back, I should get back to Alex." he said evasively.
He frowned at the accusing glare he received "I'll see you later." he smiled, before hiding behind the curtain.
"Come along, Miss Morris." Mara hesitantly turned from the cubicle and followed the matron away, wondering why on earth those Aurors were talking about her, and finding it strange that an animal attacked the boy after the discussion.
She had a very bad feeling...
The noise level rose through the castle as the day wore on, Professor McGonagall had to call for calm in the Great Hall as someone started off fireworks; consequently having twenty points removed from a Ravenclaw student who also received a weeks detention.
Mara shook her head at the commotion, and pulled a plate of cheese and ham sandwiches towards her.
"Any going spare?" came a familiar voice, Mara looked around to see Daniel standing beside her.
"Oh, yes." Said Mara, she glanced down at her plate as Daniel sat beside her.
They remained silent for a moment, awkwardness setting in between them as Daniel picked at the crusts of a sandwich.
"Hows your friend?" Mara asked in concern.
"He's in shock and he's tired, but other than that he's fine."
"That's good to hear." Mara smiled, and took a sip out of her goblet to avoid eye contact.
"...you aren't, annoyed at all, are you?" Daniel asked anxiously, watching as Mara put her goblet back down.
"About you and that boy talking about me behind my back?" Mara asked, and a frown spread across Daniels' face. "I admit I am a little miffed, but I'm more concerned about that strange attack..do you have any theories?" she asked, Daniel glanced away at the exit.
He was saved from answering, as the hooting of an owl caught their attention, they both looked up to see an owl flying above their heads and soar down in front of them.
Mara took the letter out of it's beak, hoping this was the response she was waiting for, and paid some galleons into the birds pouch.
Daniel watched as she ripped open the envelope, and he wondered if this had something to do with that letter she sent back in Hogsmeade.
'Dear Miss Morris,
it is with a heavy heart that I announce the death of Mrs Melina Morris.
She was found deceased in her home on the 10th October 1996.
Your Aunt was a credit to our Academy, and we will be holding her funereal here in France where she will be buried near Beauxbaton's. You are very welcome to come and attend, and join us for the feast we will be holding in honour of Melina's memory.
Deepest Condolences,
Headmistress,
Madame. Olympe Maxime.'
Maras' eyes scanned the letter three more times, and she had to press her hands on her mouth as she gasped.
"What's wrong!" Daniel asked in worry, Mara shook her head and he snatched the letter from her.
His eyes scanned the letter as many times as Mara did, and she noticed his skin, strangely, drain of colour. She watched Daniel stand, climb off the bench and hurry up the aisle towards the high table, and returned with a harassed looking Professor McGonagall.
"Come along dear, quickly. We'll have some tea."
Daniel helped Mara up off the bench and picked up her bag, ignoring the suspicious glance from the transfiguration teacher; and led Mara away from the Great Hall with many eyes upon them...
Daniel waited outside the Transfiguration teachers office, his mind racing until the door opened.. He stopped pacing and looked to see McGonagall leaving the office with Mara, whose eyes were red and puffy.
"I'll take care of her." Daniel said before the teacher could speak, after hesitation she nodded and hurried off.
"Where is she going?" Daniel asked lightly, and glanced away as Mara wiped her nose with a fresh tissue.
"S-she's going to-to let Dumbledore know.." Mara sobbed, and Daniel gave her a nervous look, always feeling uncomfortable around crying girls.
"Uh, why don't we get some fresh air?" Daniel asked softly, Mara nodded and followed him outside into the damp, grey courtyard.
They sat down on a slightly wet bench that sat under the roof of a walkway, and the two looked out towards the showering rain.
"So...what, was your aunt like?" he asked, drawing a look of curiosity from Mara among the sadness of her pallid features.
"...I-I don't remember too well.." she sniffed. "I was taken away from her a-at eleven.." she immediately felt bad for all the ill thoughts she had against her aunt, having blamed her for being sent to live with the Malfoys'.
"B-but I remember she was really kind...she accepted everyone, she didn't care if a person was half breed or even non human..not like the Malfoys, who sneer at anyone different." she pressed her hands to her eyes, and Daniel looked down at the sodden ground beneath him, a guilty feeling rising inside him.
"Do you reckon..she could have been, murdered?" she asked quietly, removing her hands to look at Daniel, whose eyes remained on the ground. "I-I see it in the paper all the time.."
Finally Daniel pulled his eyes from his trainers and looked back at Mara, whose eyes were swollen from crying.
"..I...don't, think you should dwell on how she died.." said Daniel quietly. "when our loved ones pass, they leave us the good memories we had of them, and it's those memories you should focus on."
Daniel looked in surprise as he felt Maras' head press against his shoulder, after a moment of silence he sighed and pressed his own head against hers, and they sat there, watching the dead leaves swirl around in the falling rain...