Chapter Ten

The rest of the day was fairly normal for the state my life had been in. I had no further conversation with either Malfoy or Tara though he did continue to sit beside me for the rest of Herbology, much to my disdain. At lunch I sat alone as I did again at dinner, and ignored any whispers or outright comments that had anything to do with the three of us.

It was during my after-dinner prefect duties that another wrinkle in my life occurred. As I was monitoring the area outside the great hall I heard a great commotion outside one of the lavatories. Taking my wand from my pocket and striding toward the group in the way I had quickly learned would cut right through a crowd, I got to the source of the excitement.

"You stupid muggle! You cursed him!" one girl screamed above the others.

In a ball on the floor was a shape, hands blistered and swollen (clearly cursed) held out in front of her in defense. She (for the sobbing made it clear that she was a girl, though her face was hidden under her hood) was sobbing, voice coming out strange. It was hard to determine what she was saying as I forced my way through the gaggle of angry females, holding their wands out and spewing magic at random intervals at their victim.

"No, I didn't! Please I would never. I love him!" I finally made out.

"There is no fighting in the halls!" I said.

I forced my way through the last girls, placing myself firmly between their prey and the jeering perpetrators. I glared at them, wand out, daring them to find out what would happen if they attacked a prefect even though in truth, the outcome of a battle of what would have been at least six on one would not have been good - as the other girl had found out first hand.

I examined their robes as the girls backed up. They couldn't flee, however, as the spectators had them boxed in.

"Twenty points from Gryffindor for fighting in the halls and not being so full of valor in attacking one girl in a mob. Forty points from Ravenclaw for clearly forgetting to use their brains. Sixty points from Hufflepuff for thinking the definition of loyal was joining up to form a gang and attacking a fellow student. Twenty five points from Slytherin for being a severe disappointment," I said, subtracting twenty points for each student, excluding my own house (to which I took an extra five).

"What? That's not fair! I'm in your house," the dirty blonde Slytherin protested.

"Yes, had you been in another house I would not have said 'severe disappointment' would I?" I drawled.

It was then Professor McGonagall cleared the crowd. "What's going on here?"

"She attacked that girl!" the Slytherin said.

"Two points for lying, three points for trying to frame another student," I said simply, raising my chin and daring her to speak another word. The girl shut her mouth and I looked to the Gryffindor head of house as I put away my wand. "These six here were attacking a fellow student, Professor."

"Thank you Miss Harrison. Will you please see this young lady to the infirmary?" McGonagall said and I nodded in acknowledgment. She then gave the group her most severe look and said, "Follow me, now."

The Professor left, not even having to look back to assure that the six followed her through the dispersing crowd. I turned back to the girl on the floor and looked down at the girl who's head tilted up to stare at her rescuer. The hood fell back slightly and I saw that underneath a mess of brown hair and pimpled face was a girl I recognized, if only vaguely through the curses.

I breathed out and said gently, "Tara?"

"Leave me alone!" she wailed, the sound difficult to make out through her swollen lips.

"Why did they do this to you?" I asked, leaning down.

I think she tried to glare at me, though it was hard to tell in her condition.

"Why do you care?"

"Because...because you didn't deserve this. Even if you can be a bit of a pain," I said, trying to keep my voice light and finding it difficult.

"You told everyone that I tricked him and they attacked me!" Tara finally wailed, tears falling from her eyes once more.

"I didn't tell anyone what happened, Tara. And I don't think you meant to trick him. I swear, I didn't. I don't even like Malfoy. I never did. People lied about me, just like people lied to you about what that potion did. Look, you don't have to believe me," I said (wondering why I was wasting my time explaining), "but we really should get you to Madam Pompfrey."

I reached out a hand. After a moment, one of her swollen hands reached out and took it, and she hissed in pain as she lifted herself up. I put put my arm under hers and we made our way to the infirmary.

Madam Pompfrey set to work immediately on the poor Hufflepuff but due to the number of curses she took (though all minor) it was likely she would be in the hospital wing over night. I nodded and she left to send word to Tara's head of house.

"Raven?" Tara asked. I had thought she was asleep.

"Yes, Tara?"

"I'm sorry I didn't believe you. I knew you wouldn't do that to me. Am I...am I really that annoying to you? Do you really only put up with me?" she asked, her voice so pathetic I felt even worse for her.

I sighed. "I was angry when I said that. In all honesty, you do have an ability to grate on my nerves. But that doesn't mean I was right to say those things. I know you're a good person."

Tara sniffled. "I'm sorry I attacked you."

I laughed. "That was a pretty spectacular dive though. If it weren't for Potter I would be the one in here right now."

Tara laughed and then winced from the pain. "I don't mean to be annoying."

"I know, Tara," I said.

"I just want people to like me."

"Tara...you try too hard," I said

I did not know what else to say. I wasn't used to this 'comforting another human being' thing. It was not my area of expertise.

"Sometimes I really hate my life," she said, and began crying.

I shut my eyes, not wanting to be here but knowing it would be immoral of me to leave her like this. Like or not, I really was the only friend she had. And it seemed as of late, she may be the only person who wanted anything to do with me too.

"It will get better in time," I said, looking at her again.

"No it won't!" she wailed.

I looked away and sighed, wishing there was someone better at dealing with people here right now. Anyone else would be better suited. Except perhaps, Draco.

"You just have to make it through, Tara," I said.

"How?"

I thought for a moment. The latest potion I had been studying came to mind and I smiled, finally on familiar ground. Potions I could brew, potions to fix things, to ease the way. Talking? No. Dealing with crying teenagers? No. But maybe I could use what I was good at to help, even if it was only a small thing.

"I could make you a potion. It won't change anything in the real life, or you, but...it will allow you to escape into your fantasies while you sleep," I said. "I know it isn't much."

"That sounds wonderful!" Tara said, excitedly. "Much better than my plan!"

"Your...plan?" I asked, confused.

"Never mind. When can I have it?" she asked.

I tried to shake off the uneasy feeling. The last plan Tara had come up with had not been her own and had ended with me getting beaten, an awkward conversation involving several of our professors, and Malfoy using me as a human shield. Not to mention the nasty mental image that Draco had thought he'd been kissing me.

No wonder he sat next to me. Must be odd to think he's been getting to know me when in reality that isn't the case.

I shook my head, pushing the errant thought of the arrogant blonde from my mind.

"Give me three days," I said, rising. "It will work better if you drink it on the full moon. I will give it to you then."

"Thank you so much, Raven! I'm so sorry for those mean things I said about you to everyone."

I opened my mouth to say something, but thought better of it and took in a deep breath.

"Good night, Tara."