*Andrea's PoV*

I was devastated. I had just lost everything-my home, my family, everything. Sure, there was this unknown aunt that I could live with, but I didn't know her. And even though I didn't mind stepping out of my comfort zone, I didn't want to do it now. Not like this.

I had always despised Rob and Kambria. Thought they were too overbearing, too overprotective, and even idiotic. I went out of my way to be rude to them. But now that they were gone, I felt like I needed them more than ever.

After Dumbledore told me the bad news, I hid in the bathroom so no one could see me cry. I hated crying. It made me feel weak. And vulnerable. And how the bloody fucking hell was salt water pouring out of your eyes supposed to help anyone?!

Hey, Connor.

It was Dunphy. I glared at her-an obvious synonym for going away.

When she didn't get the hint, I added, "I'm not in the mood, Dunphy."

I know you're not, she answered, her voice surprisingly gentle. This was short-lived, though, because her gentleness vanished a moment later when she said, Hey! You could come live with me. I'm sure you'd fit right in. You know, because we're twins.

I wiped my eyes on my sleeve, stood up, and walked over to the sink. "I'm guessing this is what happens when you try to be optimistic," I said coldly.

I was only trying to- Dunphy began, but I cut her off.

"Oh, stuff it," I told her, planning to tune her out if she continued to speak. I spent the next few minutes washing my hands and face and was about to leave when I suddenly heard the sink next to me shatter.

I jerked my head around to see what had happened and saw Dunphy on her knees surrounded by blood. It seemed that she had been cut by the shards of glass scattered everywhere. I was about to help the girl up, but she got by herself, apparently not bothered by the cuts on her legs, and leered at me.

"Er...Dunphy?" I asked uncertainly, wondering why she would give me a sadistic look like that when she had been attempting to comfort me not five minutes ago. H*ll, that expression didn't even look right on her face.

The deaf girl didn't respond and signed something I couldn't interpret. The next thing I knew, a fiery serpent was in my face.

What the fuck?!

I ducked to avoid her attack, lunged at her, and roughly shoved her to the ground, hoping to give myself time to hide and figure out a plan. I had never seen her like this. Sure, she was annoying, but she didn't seem like the type to attack people randomly.

"This girl's bloody bipolar," I muttered as I hid in the nearest stall, slammed the toilet seat down, and sat down, tucking my feet up. I heard Dunphy groan as she got to her feet, which was weird because I didn't think I shoved her that hard and from what I knew, the girl wasn't fazed by much.

I sucked in a breath as footsteps echoed through the bathroom. Through the crack in the stall door, I could see her coming closer, examining each stall with a careful and calculated look. I gasped as my wand flew out of my pocket, under the door, and into Dunphy's hand. An uncharacteristically cruel grin formed on her lips. I screamed as she blasted the door open.

There you are, blood traitor, she wrote, her letters fiery and red instead of their usual blue. Thank you for the wand. I really needed that.

I shrank back, wondering what the hell had possessed her to do all of this.

"How did you manage to try to f*cking comfort me and then completely lose it in the span of five bloody minutes?! Huh?!" I shrieked,

The Ravenclaw shook her head at me and let out a cold laugh before setting the stall walls on flames quickly spread. I tried to get away from them, but just ended up backing into the fire and burned my back and arms in the process. My heart skipped a beat when I realized my robes were on fire.

Why the fuck didn't they teach us the water spell?! Stupid teachers!

Through all the pain, I saw her move her wand in a zigzag motion and then saw a green light beginning to emerge from the tip of the weapon. I didn't know what spell she was using, but I knew it couldn't be good.

"What the hell, Mats?!"

Suddenly she was tackled to the floor by someone or something. I immediately recognized them by the mane of curly hair.

It was Black.

"Connor, are you okay-?!" His eyes widened when he saw my flaming robes. "Well, shit."

"Just peachy," I said sarcastically. The boy jumped into action, ripping off my robes, throwing them to the side, and offering me an arm for support.

"What the bloody hell happened?" Black questioned.

"Why don't you ask your wonderful best friend?!" I growled angrily.

"Mats wouldn't-" he began, looking around for her, but she was nowhere in sight.

"Well, she did!" I retorted. "And she called me a blood traitor! You should reevaluate your friend choices, Black!'

He opened his mouth to say something but hesitated and paused for a few moments. "Well-well, let's just get you to the hospital wing."

Even though he annoyed me greatly, I grudgingly accepted the offer, because how else was I going to get help?

The walk to the hospital wing was extremely awkward. Mostly to due to the fact that we weren't friends and there wasn't much to say. Eventually, though, Black got tired of the silence and decided to voice his opinion.

"If there's one thing I know," he told me, "Mats wouldn't call you a blood traitor. Dunno why she did that."

"Don't apologize for your friend!" I said hotly. "If she wants to apologize, she can do it herself! Not that I'm gonna accept it easily," I added in a low whisper.

"I'm not apologizing for her!" Black replied, starting to sound slightly angry himself. "I'm just stating the facts! I mean, cmon, she went off at Bellatrix for calling Evans the m-word. Why would she call you a blood traitor?!"

"Because…I dunno...because she's crazy!"

"So are you," he pointed out.

"Yes, but I don't attack people randomly!" I argued.

"I think you'll find that she'd say the exact same thing," he insisted. "Mats may act like a right foul git sometimes-"

"Sometimes?"

My fellow Gryffindor rolled his eyes. "Anyway, she's not all bad."

I looked at him sideways.

"You do realize that I don't give a rat's ass about your opinion, don't you? There's not a lot of shit I'll admit to knowing, but I do know that that b*tch set me on fire. If you wanna defend her, then fine," I told him, voice eerily calm. The two of us stopped at the double mahogany doors of the hospital wing. "But, if you do," I smirked, fisting the door handle, "watch what you eat for breakfast tomorrow." Reveling in the confusion on his face, I flung the door open and stepped into the Hospital Wing.

I had a feeling that the tiled floor, white washed ceiling, the itch of uncomfortable blankets on top of uncomfortable beds, and the cold pain of burn medicine would become very familiar to me throughout my first-or perhaps all-Hogwarts' year.

Madame Pomfrey was shocked when she saw the extent of my injuries.

"Who did this to you?" she asked.

"Dunphy," I grumbled. The nurse furrowed her eyebrows, seeming puzzled.

"All right. I'll let Professor McGonagall and Flitwick know."

"Thank you."

What?!

The Ravenclaw stared at me as though she hadn't comprehended what I had just said. McGonagall had gathered both of us in her office to sort things out.

"What do you mean, what?" I demanded. "You know what you did!"

I didn't attack you, Dunphy said stubbornly. I don't remember at least.

Now it was my turn to stare. "You don't remember?!"

Nope. All I remember is the sink exploding, she told me. Everything is blank after that. Next thing I knew, I was lying in an empty classroom and I had cuts everywhere. Then an older student helped me to the hospital wing.

I clenched my fists; I didn't understand how she could just lie to my face. I had seen the whole thing and I was pretty d*mn sure it wasn't a hallucination. My burns were proof of that.

"Bitch, stop lying," I growled, pulling up my sleeves. "I saw the whole thing. You see these burns? You did this!"

I-

"And you have my wand!" I went on. "You took that too!"

No, I didn't! I don't remember that!

I lunged at her, determined to get my wand. McGonagall put a hand on my shoulders, halting me.

"Miss Connor!" she cried. "Control yourself!"

"She took my wand!" I insisted, pulling the girl forward by the robes and digging around in her pockets. I eventually found my wand and pulled it out, my expression smug. Dunphy's eyes were as wide as saucers.

I swear I didn't know that was in- -the Ravenclaw began.

"Right," I said skeptically. "Sure."

I mean it!

"Liar, liar, you set me on fire and you took my wand!" I sang. Dunphy rolled her eyes at me and turned to McGonagall.

Can't you use Truth Serum or something? she asked. I'm really telling the truth.

"There are heavy laws surrounding Veritaserum, and right now the evidence is showing that Miss Connor is telling the truth," the Transfiguration teacher replied. "I'm going to have to inform your mother about this."

Dunphy groaned. Oh, god, please don't tell Holly.

I leered. "Scared of being punished?"

It's not even the attack thing, she told me. There's enough proof for that. It's being accused of lying when I didn't. I DID black out and I don't remember the incident. I don't attack people randomly, trust me.

"You're either a really good actor or completely mental, Dunphy," I said flatly, wondering how long it had taken her to come up with this stupid story. "People don't just black out randomly and then attack someone without knowing it."

Then mind explaining how it happened? she asked, mocking me with her facial expression.

"I just gave you two answers," I answered, my tone similar to a kindergarten teacher exaggerating every word in order to make things more interesting for the five-year-old. "It didn't happen at all and this is all some fucked up act-"

It wasn't a-

"-or it did happen and you're mental." My voice turned sickly sweet. "Satisfied?"