Hello again, I'm sorry for my delay with chapters. I know I'm stringing this out a bit, but I just love the story. All mistakes are mine, though I'm trying to take longer to go over it and refine it now, hence the delay. Please review, I'd love to hear from you :)


"Dany, I'm leaving!" said Sansa, raising her voice so her words weren't snatched away by the cold wind.

"What? Why?" replied Dany, looking at her curiously. Dany had been cheering for Jon, Arya and the rest of the team as they played against the Hufflepuff team. The overcast sky threatening rain and the wind made for less than favourable playing conditions. Sansa drew her arms around herself, trying to lock in heat as she cast her glance towards the pair standing at the very front of the stands, several rows in front. It was close enough to see them talking to each other, Margaery smiling away. Sansa couldn't see Joffrey's face, but she hoped his broken nose was still hurting him. Dany followed her gaze. "Sansa! Just forget about it, it could be nothing-" she started, and then her words died in her throat as they saw Margaery press her lips gently, quickly against Joffrey's cheek before she pushed her way through the thronging crowd. Joffrey turned, his smile wide, watching her leave. Sansa felt her heart jump in her chest. She felt Dany's reassuring hand on her arm, but it made no difference. Sansa's fists clenched in fury. However, Joffrey's smile was wiped from his face as Cersei Lannister pushed into the space next to him and began to berate him harshly, from her body language. Sansa watched, intrigued, as Cersei slapped him over the head, the sixth year towering over Joffrey. The blonde hair must run in their family, as the cousins looked remarkably similar. Her eyes glinting with fury, Cersei then proceeded to shove her way after Margaery, who had disappeared.

"What was that about?" asked Dany, shouting over the noise.

"I'm not sure," replied Sansa. Turning back to the game, she tried to concentrate on it, restraining herself from cursing Joffrey, who remained where he was, but his face looked like thunder. Sansa, from her time with Joffrey, knew that Cersei was very protective of her young cousin, and seemed to dislike Sansa, but tolerated her. It might just be her overthinking, but Sansa wondered if there was something going on. Something dodgy.

"Tyrell!" Margaery turned at the voice as she walked up the hill. She saw Cersei Lannister, long blonde hair tied back as the wind whipped her ponytail over her shoulder. Margaery looked down at her, arms crossed defiantly.

"Can I help you?" replied Margaery to the older girl.

"Don't play dumb, you know what's going on! I know what you've been doing!" said Cersei, taking a few steps closer.

"I have no idea what you mean," said Margaery coolly, not backing down from the death stare Cersei had her locked in.

"Don't think that your 'research' was so secret." Margaery's jaw stiffened. The Lannister knew.

"What?" she said innocently, but there was a growl hidden somewhere.

"I know you know."

"I assure you, I don't know what you're talking about-" she said innocently, turning and walking away.

"Listen to me, Tyrell!" shouted Cersei, grabbing Margaery's arm and spinning her around. Though Margaery was further up the hill, Cersei was still taller than her, looming over her. "You will say nothing about the truth of Joffrey's parents, or I swear I will make you pay!" Cersei was a little surprised when Margaery's sweet face changed to a smug grin.

"And what're you going to do? I can tell at any time, and ruin Joffrey completely," she warned, pulling her arm free of Cersei's iron grip.

"Don't toy with me," cautioned Cersei.

"But it's so easy," Margaery smiled. "If you do anything to me, then everyone will know that Joffrey isn't a true Baratheon, and you're pathetic family will be shamed and poor," she said simply, as if commenting on the weather.

"We'll see about that," grinned Cersei. Little did Margaery know that Cersei had uncovered her little plan ages ago, and had time to prepare. "Be careful what your next few moves are," she called after Margaery, who had returned to walking up the path. Margaery didn't reply, just continued walking. Cersei knew Margaery would have to wait until the appropriate time before she could unveil her secret for maximum effect, so she had a little time to deal with her. And Cersei would was sure the Tyrell would enjoy what Cersei had in mind.

The Gryffindor pair sat at the table for dinner, before they would go up for the after party. All the Gryffindors were cheering about their victory over Hufflepuff, team chants and calls flying across the Hall as the Hufflepuffs ignored it, some of them looking embarrassed or miserable. Or both. Margaery and Cersei glared at each other across the tables. Sansa was watching the Tyrell's back, torn between feeling angry or upset. Dany tried to distract her but her attempts failed. Sansa put on a good act for her sister and brother, who were further up the long table with the rest of the team and the Quidditch enthusiasts, discussing the game. Sansa ate slowly, chewing mechanically, like she was on autopilot. When Margaery got to her feet as some of the students began to leave, the Hufflepuffs slouching away as the Gryffindors jeered them, Sansa watched through narrowed eyes as the girl brushed past Joffrey, placing a kiss on his cheek as she passed, her eyes meeting Cersei's. To the sixth year, this all but amounted to a challenge. Margaery, smirking at Cersei's glower in her direction, did not see Sansa slam her fork down on the table and ignore Dany's pleas for her to leave it and sit back down. Sansa hurried determinedly down the table, striding to the door. She caught up with the Ravenclaw at the doors. Before Margaery could set foot over the doorway, Sansa had grabbed her wrist and spun her around.

"What-?" she started, expecting Joffrey or Cersei, her eyes blazing. When she saw it was Sansa though, she face softened, and slowly a look of terror formed in her eyes as she took in Sansa's cold but enraged face. Margaery had never seen someone look that detached and furious at the same time. "Sansa-" she began, attempting a sweet smile.

"No, don't 'Sansa' me," Sansa replied coldly. Her grip on Margaery's wrist was beginning to hurt. "What the hell was that last night?" she demanded, her voice rising. Though oblivious to the pair, they had caught the attention of those closest to them sitting at the tables.

"Oh," said Margaery, realisation striking her. She was vaguely aware of Sansa watching her, not that she could help that. She must have seen. "Sansa, I'm so sorry-"

"Why have you been avoiding me?" she asked, meeting the orbs of blue that looked similar to her own.

"Sansa, please," begged Margaery. If Sansa wasn't shaking with fury, she would have noted the absurdity of Margaery Tyrell begging. "I'll explain everything-" Sansa let go, leaving a red mark on Margaery's arm as she stepped back, laughing humourlessly.

"You know what? Never mind," she said. "I hope you and Joffrey are happy." Her tone was icy, her voice unintentionally rising in volume.

"No, Sansa-" Margaery pleaded. She had seen how hurt Sansa was under all of her emotional barriers. Sansa turned, not wanting to break down in front of her. And the whole school. Neither of them seemed to realise that everyone, even the teachers had gone quiet and were watching them. Sansa turned and strode through the doors of the Hall, disappearing from the audience's view.

"SANSA!" yelled Margaery from the door. She watched Sansa's retreating figure for a moment, before turning back to the Hall. She was met by a wall of silence. Every single head in the room was looking at her. She froze, looking at all the judging faces, before turning on her heel and fleeing the room with as much grace as she could muster. The silence continued, until hurried footsteps sounded form the Gryffindor table. Everyone followed the sound to see Daenerys Targaryen all but sprinting out of the Hall after them. Once she had left, two more sets of feet were heard and everyone watched Arya and Jon Stark followed in Dany's wake. Everyone was quiet again after that, waiting for something else to happen, but it didn't, and low mumblings slowly turned into renewed chatter as they finished their meal.

"Sansa!" yelled Dany, panting as she ran into the common room. The few Gryffindors who had finished their meal early to start the party all stopped and stared at her. Dany sighed, frustrated, and proceeded to barge past them and climbed up to the dorm room. Throwing the door wide, ignoring the loud slam that followed, Dany saw Sansa sitting on her bed, staring out of the window. She wasn't crying. She didn't even look angry. She just looked… empty.

"Are you alright?" she asked. Sansa looked at her, her eyes glinting in the weak moonlight.

"Fine," she replied flatly. "I'm thirsty. Could you get me a drink?" she asked.

"Sure," said Dany, quirking an eyebrow, but left. Sansa heard her footsteps fade as she descended the stairs. Sansa sighed as she pulled her pillow closer to her, hugging it to her chest. She just wanted to go back in time and change it. If Margaery hadn't helped them in the library, then none of this would've happened. Sansa would have preferred to be banned from the library than feel like this. Dany returned, carrying two bottles of Butterbeer. Sansa took hers and downed it. Dany stared at her as she gulped it down.

"Thank you," Sansa said monotonously.

"No problem," replied Dany, sipping her own, wondering what to do next. "Hey, do you need time alone, because I don't mind-" she started, her voice soft.

"I'm fine, really," she assured Dany. She smiled sadly, huffing a small laugh as she thought. "I'm sorry, I'm not a brilliant conversationalist right now."

"Are you ever?" replied Dany, and was glad when Sansa laughed, a warmer sound this time as the girl looked at the pillow she had curled herself around.

"Do you mind if I sleep for a bit?" asked Sansa quietly.

"I'll be back in a while, okay?" Dany replied, squeezing Sansa's shoulder. Sansa nodded and Dany left, closing the door as she went. She reached the foot of the stairs and was immediately hounded by Jon and Arya.

"Is she alright?"

"What's wrong with her?" they asked simultaneously.

"She's just tired," replied Dany. Arya tried to sneak past, but Dany leaned across the doorframe. "She really needs time alone right now," she explained, hoping it didn't sound rude.

"What's wrong with her?" asked Jon. Dany noticed other people had appeared in the common room and were listening intently across the room.

"She and Margaery just had a disagreement, that's all," said Dany, hoping that would be enough for now. Arya and Jon followed Dany's narrowed gaze and saw people were listening. They understood.

"But she's okay?" asked Arya.

"Yes, she'll be fine in a bit."

Margaery dived into a classroom on the fourth floor. She didn't know whose; she just knew it was the only open one she had encountered in the corridor. Slamming the door shut, she rested her back against it, letting loose a long groan before throwing herself onto one of the benches and holding her head in her hands. She couldn't believe she could have been so stupid. She had thought about catching up with Sansa, but she didn't expect Sansa would want to talk to her. So she had darted up the stairs and found the first unlocked classroom she could. She needed to be alone. Maybe she should stay alone. Less people would get hurt, and she herself wouldn't feel terrible for hurting the ones she cared about. There was a reason she had avoided having close friendships.