Was it possible to be tired of school after only two weeks? Zoe silently asked herself as she sat in Potions beside some Gryffindor girl - she was pretty sure the girls name was Elizabeth or Ellie or something like that - Friday, a week after her humiliation on the Quidditch field.

Slughorn was explaining some potion, but she wasn't exactly paying much attention. So it shouldn't have come as much of a surprise when she accidentally blew her cauldron up and sent herself flying backwards into the set of tables behind her. What did come as a surprise was when she came awake, it was to a Slytherin carrying her, rather than someone she even remotely trusted.

She thrashed around until the boy dropped her. She scrambled backward, scooting across the ground, using her arms to drag herself backwards. She pressed herself against the wall, trying to bury herself in the column she had her back resting against.

"Why are you so scared?" He asked.

Zoe looked the kid up and down. "Call it caution. I'm not stupid."

The kid raised his hands up in surrender. "I'm not with the rest of them, the ones who think your just some Pureblood Princess."

Zoe looked him up and down. "You expect me to believe you?" She demanded.

"Are you saying Slytherin House is bad then?" He demanded.

"No, just the majority of the Slytherin population." She spat at him.

The boy held out a hand towards her. "I swear I'm not here to hurt you." He said softly. "I just need to get you to the hospital wing."

Zoe looked him up and down. "If you're lying to me, I will slit your throat and cut you into tiny pieces."

The boy smiled. "Agreed." He said, then lifted her to her feet and started for the Hospital Wing.

Zoe thanked the Slytherin boy and got herself checked over by the Nurse before she headed for History of Magic with Ravenclaw.

When she sat down, she was still so distracted that Ashley actually noticed, which was when she turned to her best friend and spilled all the details about what had just happened between her and the Slytherin.

"So your telling me that a snake helped you?" Ashley demanded.

Zoe shrugged. "Yeah, I suppose so."

"What do you think he wants?" She asked hesitantly.

Zoe shrugged once more. "I don't know." And with that, she turned back to listen. But all through that class and dinner, she couldn't seem to get the Slytherin out of her mind.

Zoe woke the next morning, the Slytherin boy from the day before still clearly etched in her thoughts. What had he wanted? Did he have an agenda or was he telling her the truth about just trying to help? She couldn't dwell on something she couldn't answer, so she would stop dwelling.

"Get up!" Dawn yelled from across the room. "First Quidditch game of the year today."

Zoe rolled her eyes. "You mean first loss of the year."

Dawn shrugged. "They have a half decent team, it's just not good enough to defeat Ravenclaw."

"Exactly." Zoe threw out.

Dawn rolled her eyes a bit.

"You vealize ve are against Zlytherin today?" Anya said softly from the other side of the room.

Zoe rolled her own eyes at this. "Won't matter, I still don't see a victory unless our Beaters keep an eye on our Seeker and our Keeper."

Dawn nodded reluctantly at this. "Yeah, Slytherin does have a tendency to try knocking out our major players."

"Exactly." Zoe finished before heading in to the bathroom to put her hair up.

"We'll meet you out there." Dawn yelled as she and Anya rushed out the door.

Zoe peeked her head out the door to make sure her sister was gone for real before rolling her eyes and returning to the bathroom to finish with her hair.

As she finished off with her bun, she couldn't help but think if she would just cut it off, she wouldn't have to worry about the bun anymore.

But no, she wouldn't do that, not yet anyways. She finished thinking about her hair and grabbed her cloak to head for the Quidditch pitch, unable to procrastinate any further.

The game lasted a bit longer than expected, but what surprised Zoe the most was Gryffindor's win. Not that it was an amazing win of course, actually it was a rather bad win.

"You coming down here to congratulate me?" Sirius asked as Zoe walked towards him and James.

Zoe smiled. "You know the only reason you won was luck."

Sirius shrugged. "Yupp, I know."

"And you're ok with that?" Zoe demanded.

Sirius laughed. "Actually, I am."

"Why?" Zoe demanded.

"Because, we won, and it wasn't just luck." James said, cutting in. "Our one good Beater protected our Seeker. Our horrible Beater protected our Keeper - yes, I was hoping he'd get so hurt he couldn't play any longer, unfortunately both our Beater and Keeper will be patched up in about five minutes. And I have to admit, our Chasers weren't that bad. Especially our Second Year Chaser." James finished with a flourish and a bow.

Dawn rolled her eyes as she heard the last of James statement as she walked up to the group from the commentator's box, Anya beside her.

"No, our Chaser wasn't to vad." Anya said, giving him a pat on the back. "Vut how'd you get avay vith the play vithout your lovely Captain stepping in? He didn't even seem to know vhat vas going on… vell at least during the part of the game he vas concious."

James shrugged. "Everyone on the team other than the other Beater, one of the Chaser's, the Seeker, and our Captain, seem to think I'm good at plays."

"That's only half your team following you." Dawn informed him.

James shrugged. "That's all I need to make sure we don't get totally demolished except by Ravenclaw. We don't have a chance against them."

"No you don't." Ashley informed him as she walked up to them.

"How would you know?" Sirius demanded.

Ashley laughed. "I'm one of the Ravenclaw Beaters." She informed him with a smirk.

"Why am I not surprised that you'd be a Beater." Dawn said with a laugh.

"Hey," Ashley said with a shrug. "I'm good at what I'm good at. Hitting things, whether people or at people, just happens to be one of those things."

Zoe smiled. "Let's go celebrate James and Sirius big day. I mean, it's not every day a Second Year goes behind a Seventh Year's back."

James lifted his hands grandly. "Hey, it's not my fault I'm serious about Quidditch."

Dawn, Anya, and Ashley laughed while Zoe just smiled.

"Let's go celebrate Marauder's." Dawn said finally, leading the group away.

The Sunday after the win against Slytherin, Zoe spent most of her day in the Library. So it was a shock when she finally stopped focusing on her homework and finally realized it was dark outside.

Zoe hurriedly gathered her things and headed out of the Library, a wave at Master Trunel as a thank you for not interrupting. He was such an awesome Librarian. She thought to herself as she walked towards Gryffindor Tower.

She was jerked out of her thoughts when someone yanked her forcefully out of them. The grip on her arm was bruising, and the shaking made her head jerk back and forth forcefully. "Well, if it's not our pretty Pureblood Princess, boys." The voice said.

Zoe jerked her arm away from the horrible boy. "Who are you?" She demanded. She'd seen him around, and knew that he was a third year, but she didn't know his name.

The boy scoffed. "How do you not know me?" The boy demanded, looking at his buddies as he asked it. "Everyone knows me."

Zoe snorted. "Well, I'm not everyone." She informed the stupid boy.

The boy's eyes narrowed. "Names Amycus Carrow." The boy snarled, his little piggy eyes squinting in anger.

Zoe snorted again. "Amycus…" She drawled slowly, letting the name slide threw her lips. "Crazy Alecto and Amycus Carrow. Yeah, I remember you now. Your that wizard who would rather hit someone than curse them - probably because you have so little magical talent." She answered, clearly telling him with her eyes, what she hadn't already with her words, that he meant nothing to her.

"Why you little -" The older boy snarled as he swung at her.

Zoe ducked the punch and slipped under the boy, but before she could get away, another boy had grabbed her robe and yanked her back. He threw her back at the wall and she felt the breath leave her as she connected with it. She turned back to the boys.

"Now you're going to see what happens when you insult your betters." The boy said with a laugh.

Zoe laughed coldly in return. "I'm Pureblood, your nothing." She informed him

"Oh, you may be the Pureblood Princess everyone wants, but your still a blood traitor who needs to learn her place." The boy informed her. It was then she realized she wouldn't have backup this time, she'd have to deal with it herself, and there were to many of them for her to get away unscathed.

Before she could think better, Zoe had her wand in hand and had fired several jinxes at the boys before someone shot Expelliarmus at her and her wand went flying, leaving her completely defenseless.

"Now." The boy said coldly, closing in.

Zoe backed up further, connection with the stone being the only thing that stopped her backward momentum. She narrowed her eyes as the boy reached for her. When he wrapped his meaty left hands around her right upper arm, she lashed out with a left hook Ashley had taught her, and felt the bones in his nose break. Before she could move to hit him lower, he'd already brought his right hand up and hit her with the back of it, the ring on his index finger laying her cheek open.

She whipped her head back around and spit the blood that was congealing in her mouth, straight at his face. This caused the hand on her arm to tighten as he lifted her up and shoved her against the wall so forcefully she knew her back would be bruised.

She went to head butt him, but he flew backwards and she slid to the ground in a boneless heap.

When she looked back up it wasn't to see a teacher, an older student, or the Marauder's, instead there stood the same Slytherin who'd helped her after she blew up her Potion's cauldron.

She finally looked at him - really looked at him - and noticed he was really quite handsome, for a Slytherin.

He was tall and dark skinned, with high cheekbones, and brown slanting eyes. He had a wealth of black hair, and he looked good in the green and silver of Slytherin.

"Wow, you've saved me again." Zoe said with a laugh that she instantly regretted as she felt the bruising of her ribs.

The boy arched a brow. "I see I have." He said with a chuckle. "Would you like me to take you to Madame Pomfrey?" He asked politely.

Zoe looked towards the boys, then up at him and shook her head. "I think this best stay between us." She said, then nodded firmly as though deciding.

He chuckled again. "A woman who wants to deal with her own problems, interesting." He said, then gave her a hand up and collected her things for her. "I will warn you though, he will be back for you, and I might not be there to save you next time."

Zoe looked into his eyes. "I know." She answered. "Since you've saved me twice now, do I get a name?" She asked.

He cocked his head a moment. "Not yet." He said cockily. "But maybe third times the charm for you." He said with a laugh as he turned away.

Zoe snorted. "I hope there is no third time." She said under her breath as she stiffly walked the rest of the way to Gryffindor Tower.

When she finally reached it, she gave the Fat Lady the password, but had to make up a story before the portrait would allow her entrance. Finally she got in, only to see the entire group of Marauder's and her sister, sitting in front of the fire.

She looked towards the Girls Dorm, and decided to make a run for it, pretending she couldn't hear the group as they called her name.

When she reached the dorm, all she could think about was sleep, so she closed her curtains, lay down, and just hoped she could think a lot better tomorrow then she seemed to be doing right then.

The next morning she woke up and peeked out of her curtains. Thankfully it looked like everyone was gone. She stood and headed for the bathroom, and ran smack into Lily Evan's - Miss. fix-it herself - walking out.

"What in the bloody hell happened?" Lily demanded as she saw the mess that was Zoe's face.

Zoe looked towards the dorm door and yanked Lily towards the bathroom. "You can't say anything." She snarled at the poor girl, ignoring the mirror.

"You have to go to a teacher." The girl argued.

Zoe felt her eyes turn cold. "I'm only going to warn you once, stay out of it. I don't want the Professor's or anyone else knowing about this."

Lily watched the girls eyes ice over and felt a small jolt of real fear at such a sight. This girl could be very dangerous. She thought to herself. But then she shook herself out of it and nodded. "But you have to hide those or everyone will know, even if I don't say anything."

Zoe snarled out a curse as Lily reminded her of that little snarl.

Lily sighed. "Lucky you I know how to hide it." She said as she raced to her bed then came back with a bag. "Cosmetics."

Zoe cocked an eyebrow, "Aren't you going to be late for class."

Lily shrugged. "It's ok this once." She said.

Zoe smiled, then winced, and sat without another word.

Lily carefully feathered the brush over the girl's cheek, trying to ignore the wince that sent a sympathetic pain threw her. Finally she'd covered the bruising on the girls face and shoulders, as well as her wrist, but she couldn't do anything for the rest. "You just have to make sure you don't take off the long sleeves around anyone, or they will know right away." She informed her.

Zoe nodded. "Thank you Lily." She said softly. "And I'm sorry I scared you, I just have to deal with this on my own." She whispered with a nod.

Lily nodded back. "I understand." She answered back. "Time for Breakfast." She said and headed downstairs, heart heavy at the thought of Zoe dealing with such things with no help.

For the next few months, everyone in Gryffindor knew that something was off. Many thought it must be the coming match against Hufflepuff, but only two people actually knew the true source.

Lily had come down the stairs in a daze the first time she'd seen Zoe's face so messed up, indecision strong in her heart. Zoe came down afterwards, flinching from everyone, even her own sister. This caused Dawn pain, and she lashed out at the boys. The boys were confused about the whole thing, so they did the only thing they knew how to do. James and Sirius picked more fights with Slytherin then normal, Peter watched, and Remus withdrew more than usual. Anya just tried to keep everything calm.

Finally, one Saturday morning - after Lily had helped Zoe not once, but seven more times, and that was just the ones she'd actually caught - she could hold everything in no longer, and instead of going down to breakfast, she marched up to her head of house. "I need to speak to Headmaster Dumbledore." She informed a very surprise Professor McGonagall.

"And why would a young lady such as yourself need to do something like that?" The professor asked.

Lily looked down. "I can't tell you." She informed the teacher. "But it's quite important and I really hope you'll help."

The Professor gave the child a studious look, then shrugged and walked out, motioning for the child to follow.

Finally the Professor and the child stood in front of a rather large Eagle statue. Lily looked up at Professor McGonagall, but before she could ask what they were doing, the Professor spoke. "Gumdrops." She said, and the eagle began turning. Lily looked at the Professor, but she only nodded, so Lily stepped onto the first step and slowly ascended to the Headmaster's office.

She stood timidly in front of the door, and when she finally gained the courage to knock, she heard a voice inside tell her to enter. She stepped forward and pressed the door open, finally seeing the inside of Headmaster Dumbledore's office.

"Well don't just stand there like a frozen doe," She heard a kind voice say, laughing at a joke that only he understood. "come in and tell me that which is troubling you so."

Lily couldn't hold back her small gasp, and she saw the Headmaster's eyes twinkly slightly in that way of his that said he knew things mere mortals couldn't possible hope to ever understand.

"Yes young lady?" he asked, patiently prodding her.

Lily gulped. "I have a problem."

The Headmaster smiled. "And a dire one if your face is anything to go by."

"Well," the poor girl whispered with a gulp. "I have a friend, and she returned one night with bruises, but she made me promise not to tell anyone about them, but then she keeps getting new ones, and so I don't know what to do and I don't know who to tell and it's all so confusing andineedhelp." She said, rushing the last part out on her last puff of air.

"Well, this is a problem." The Headmaster agreed. "But the school can't do anything about it unless she comes forward herself. And we can't force help on her."

Lily's face fell. "Then what should I do?" She demanded softly.

"Well," The Headmaster said with a quick look out the window. "The biggest thing you can do is make sure she's not alone, and be there when she finally does decide to talk."

Lily huffed a breath in and out, then nodded. "Thank you sir." She whispered.

"No problem young lady." He said, a twinkle in his eye. "Now, I believe there is a Gryffindor vs. Hufflepuff match about to begin." He finished, walking with her towards the door. "Wouldn't want to miss that."

Lily smiled. "No, we wouldn't." She answered, following the Headmaster out.

Zoe shook her head at the thought of all the nonsense from the small party they'd had in honor of James and Sirius almost win against Hufflepuff for the last match before Christmas.

They'd all snuck in the kitchen - Dawn, Anya, Ashley, Anthony, James, Sirius, Remus, Peter, and her - and the House Elves had already prepared a nice chocolate cake - probably thanks to Dawn since it'd become her new tradition to do so - and they'd all celebrated with cake and smuggled Butterbeers, though how the boys had managed that no one knew and they weren't telling. How the boys had found the Kitchen was a mystery to her as well, but it seemed like they'd started finding a lot of different things that no one else knew about.

The whole thing made her smile a bit. The thought of hanging with the Marauders, and Ashley, at the same time still made it feel a bit surreal, who'd have thought that Ashley Marie would be able to hang with the infamous Marauders, certainly not her. There was also her sneaking suspicion that Ashley and Remus would one day hook up, if they ever designated to notice each other.

Most thought they hated one another, which only made her want to smirk. Remus and Ashley fought continually, about everything, and they did it without even speaking to each other. She wasn't even sure if they had actually noticed each other for real, but something in them just drew the other without even the realization that it was happening.

There was also Dawn, she seemed to have bonded so thoroughly with the Marauders that she was almost one of them. All of the little adventures those boys had, she was almost positive they let Dawn, and now Anya, in on most of them.

She shook her head at the thought. She remembered clearly last year when she'd cornered James and Sirius over the little mishap with Slytherin that Dawn had been a part of.

Of course the fact that it went so wrong was the biggest reason she was so pissed. If the whole thing had worked, they never would have got caught and no one would have known Dawn was in on it.

Not that the little talk she'd had with them had help. She couldn't exactly get after the boys on a regular basis, especially since it was probably Dawn demanding to be let in on the whole thing. How could one yell at a bunch of boys for giving in to such a persuasive girl? She couldn't, it wouldn't be right.

Zoe rolled over in bed, trying to get comfortable and clear her head of all the thoughts. She fell asleep doing just that.