Disclaimer: From the wizarding world of Harry Potter, I would like to thank JK Rowling for unknowing letting me used her characters and the wizarding world in which she imagined. I own nothing of her characters, but from my petty fanfiction, I do own Mia and a few minor characters I have created. The character Lindsay is not of my creation but my friend who I played countless hours of Role play with. Enjoy the Story!

CHAPTER 10 (edited)

I sat in the girl's bathroom reading the potion over and over. Potions was about the only class where I struggled. It's not that I found the class hard, but I just didn't have the patience for potions. I always ended up rushing it.

"I wonder if Draco's good at Potions," I mumbled, "I shouldn't bother him with this, but then again, he would like to know."
With a sigh, I stood up and made my way to the exit.

"You look like her, you know; your mother." Someone said behind me.

Everything in me froze. What should I do? Someone knows my mother?

I turned around slowly and saw no one.

"Who's there?" I said slowly, as I took a step. Suddenly someone popped in front of me, and that someone was transparent. A ghost with dark lanky hair and thick glasses. She was wearing a school uniform. She smiled and laughed before floating away.

"What do you know?" I gritted my teeth.

"You got her temper too." She said, "Do you have her-"

I cut her off by shouting, "I am nothing like her!" before running out of the girls bathroom. I stopped in the hallway, catching my breath.

"Mia?" I heard. I turned around and saw Harry walking towards me. I placed a fake smile on my lips.

"Oh Hi, Harry! How are things?" I asked my breath still uneven from the run.

"Not bad." He said, stopping a few feet away.

"Good, good," I said taking slow breaths. "Hermione said there was a meeting at Hogsmeade, but seeing how my mum never signed the permission slip-" I began rambling or at least that's what It feel like I was doing.

"Mia, no worries. You can join." Harry said. I looked at him and smiled. We began walking down the passage.

"Thank you. When is the next meeting?" I asked.

"We'll let you know. I actually meant to ask, where did you find the information?" Harry asked.

"Well to tell you the truth I don't actually remember. I was trying to catch up with everything that has happened here and before I knew it, five books were in front of me and I had that notebook. I was so happy, I had to show you the notebook. I don't remember being that happy about something." I said. Harry stopped and I took a few more steps before stopping myself.

"Harry?" I asked and turned to him.

"Nothing, I have to go. Take care." He said and left. Did I say something wrong? As though something is on the floor, I kick it before walking off. Soon I found myself by the Great Hall. Students were walking in with their friends. Something smelled magnificent and my stomach agreed with a loud grumble. I saw a familiar blonde girl walking in with another Slytherin.

"Ready for lunch!" Lindsay said and waved to me. I smiled and jogged up to her.

"Yep!" I said and started to walk in with her, but Dumbledore stopped us.

"Lindsay my dear, can I have a word with you?" Dumbledore asked and then turned to me, "Mia."

"I will go in," I said, catching the hint.

"No, Mia can stay. If you have to say something to me, you can say it in front of her as well." Lindsay said.

"Very well. You might need her for the information you are about to hear. We might have found your mother." Dumbledore stated. I looked at Lindsay and all the happiness dropped from her face. For the first time, emptiness filled her eyes and a frown flickered on her lips. I glanced down at her hand, and saw that it was in a fist; her knuckles were white.

"She died when I was younger. In front of my eyes, if I might add." Lindsay said, in disbelief.

"That's what we all thought, but she contacted your grandparents. You have permission to leave the school if you wish to be there." Dumbledore replied. Abruptly, Lindsay fell to her knees and began sobbing. I didn't know what to do. I knew I should comfort her, but I couldn't. I froze and I don't know why.

"My mum is alive," she moaned. I looked down at her.

"Lindsay," I mumbled before kneeling down. Right away, she pulled me in by the waist and cried on my shoulder.

/ \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \

Lindsay had been gone for a week and I hadn't heard a word from her. Draco and I still studied in the spot under the tree like the three of us used to do. It's quiet without Lindsay. She was the only reason Draco kept a conversation with me in the first place. I glanced at Draco and a shy smile crept onto my lips. I was startled to see Draco here the first day Lindsay was gone. I assumed he would be with his friends or something; not hanging out with a Hufflepuff.

"Have you heard anything from Lindsay?" I questioned.

"No. Remember she has no clue who I am." Draco snapped.

"That will change though. Once she's back, we will give her the potion," I said, rolling my eyes and began to arrange all my books in my bag.

"Wait? Potion?" Draco said and snapped his glance at me. He glared at me.

"Didn't I mention that? I found a potion that will help." I replied.

"Stupid! No, you didn't, Stupid Hufflepuff." Draco shouted. I stopped what I was doing and glared at him.

"I will just throw away the potion then," I said snippily and stood up.
Just as Draco was about to say something, Hermione called my name. I turned around to see Hermione running to me and I noticed that she had a scared expression on her face.

"Mia come quickly!" Hermione said removing me from my spot.

"Hermione what's wrong?" I said as she dragged me towards the courtyard, where I noticed numerous students gathering. Many students were muttering things like how can she do this or how ridiculous the rules were. That's when I saw it, Professor Trelawney and a chest along with another suitcase nearby. Flinch was carrying another one out.

"What's going on?" I mumbled. Professor Trelawney took a seat on the chest as though her legs gave out. Students moved out of the way from the entrance to Hogwarts as a woman in pink walked out.

"Umbridge." I stormed quietly. I scanned the group of students. No one made a move. Trelawney finally rose and walked towards Umbridge, but knocked into her suitcase. She walked around it, attempting to keep the suitcase to stay up before shuffling forward.

"Sixteen years I've lived and taught here." She sobbed, "Hogwarts is my home. You can't do this."

"Actually, I can." Umbridge answered holding up a folded paper. I stepped forward, but Hermione's hand found my shoulder; holding me back. I didn't look at her. I just watched what was going on. Trelawney began to cry and McGonagall ran up, gently pushing students by. McGonagall wrapped her arms around Trelawney to calm her.

"Something you'd like to say?" Umbridge asked.

"Oh, there are several things I would like to say." McGonagall said shrilly before comforting Trelawney again. The Hogwarts door opened and everyone shifted their gaze to the door.
Dumbledore walked past and said, "Professor McGonagall, might I ask you to escort Sybil back inside?"

"Sybil, dear. this way." McGonagall said guiding her back in.

"Dumbledore, may I remind you that under the terms of Educational Decree Number 23, as enacted by the minister..." Umbridge started, but Dumbledore soon interrupted her.

"You have the right to dismiss my teachers. You do not, however, have the authority to banish them from the grounds." Dumbledore stated, "That power remains with the Headmaster."

"For now," Umbridge said.

"Don't you all have studying to do?" Dumbledore said before heading back inside. I pulled myself from Hermione's grasp and ran up to where Trelawney suitcase sat. I had taken a hold of one of the suitcases when suddenly Umbridge spotted me.

"You haven't been in class for about a month now, dear. There will be consequence. Now leave her bags and follow me." Umbridge said and turned to face the doors. I let go of Trelawney suitcase and followed Umbridge. She took me to her office. Meows filled the entire room. The stone wall was pink along with everything else in the room.

"Sit, please." she said as she moved to the other side of her desk. I sat down in front of a desk.

"How's your mum been lately? If I remember correctly, she's an ex-death-eater." Umbridge said. My hand shifted to a fist.

"She's alive," I said, "I don't know what you mean though. In America, we never learned about Death-Eaters or Voldemort."

I saw her cringe when I said his name.

"Lindsay is your friend if I am not mistaken," Umbridge said, "She's an extraordinary girl isn't she. Been through so much as such a young age."

"She doesn't talk about her past," I said.

"Never asked her about her parent. She's a half-blood. Both parents are wizards though her father is a half-blood. It's rumored that her father is very powerful too."

"Why are you telling me this?" I asked.

"Ready for the punishment?" She smiled.

/ \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \

I sat in the bathroom looking at the potion. I covered my left hand with my right and felt the marks on the back of my hand. The punishment is not that bad compared to Clara's and yet I feel like crying.

"I thought I would find you here," Draco said. I looked up and glared at him. I still haven't forgiven him about this morning but seeing him does make me happy.

"The Potion should be done by the time she gets back. Then everything can go back to the way it used to be." I said and leaned against the wall.

"Thank you," Draco muttered. My eyes opened wide as I sat there in shock.

"Wait what?" I said wishing he would say it again.

"You heard me Hufflepuff! I am not repeating myself." Draco said and crossed his arm. I made a mean face. All the anger I had for him was gone in a flash.

"Here." He said and tossed something green. Catching it, I saw that it was a green apple.

"I didn't see you at Dinner and I figured seeing how you are doing this.." He trailed off the sentence and took a seat next to me.

"That's new. I never received anything before." I laughed.

"Your mum never gave you a birthday present?" Draco questioned. My smile faded as I rolled the apple to one hand and then turned it back to my other hand.

"Not since my father left. Makes me wonder if it was always my dad getting me things before that." I said before letting out a yawn.

"I am tired! If it's after dinner, it must be getting late." I said trying to change the subject, "Since I am doing you a favor, can you do one for me, more than just the apple too. Wake me up when the potion turns blue. About two hours."

"Sure." I hear him utter before I drift off to sleep.

/ \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \

I heard two girls giggle for a second time.

"Aren't they two 5th years?" One girl laughed. I moved slightly and felt that I was leaning against someone.

"I know he's a Slytherin. Do you think they are dating?" Another one whispered.

"I don't know. She's a Hufflepuff though it's rumored that the sorting hat placed her in the wrong house. She's always hanging around Slytherins." Another girl whispered. They began to laugh again. I opened my eyes and saw three girls looking over at me from across the bathroom. I blinked and sat up.

"She's awake!" One said before they all stood up and raced out of the bathroom. I didn't recognize who they were but from their height I figured they were either 1st or 2nd years. I looked over at who I was leaning on and I noticed Draco sleeping. I smiled slightly before I felt a tug on my lower waist. His arm was around me.

"EEP!" I squeaked and jumped away. Draco's eyes darted open.

"What happened?" Draco asked.

"I saw a mouse." I lied. He nodded before he ran his fingers through his hair. I wondered if he noticed that I was laying on him and his arm was around me. Then I realized that it made me thrilled about what happened. A smile played on my lips as I stared at him. Something about him this time made his remarkably handsome.

"Is the potion done?" He asked and looked at me. "Is something amusing?"

I spun around as my cheeks began to burn. The potion sat in front of me and it was a nice blue color.

"It's done, and nothing was amusing. Just wondering how your reputation is going to hold up." I said scooping the potion into a bottle.

"What do you mean?" He said. I capped the bottle and turned back to him.

"Well, you fell asleep as well; we both sort of got comfortable. Three girls decided to watch. They know I am a Hufflepuff and you are a very well-known Slytherin, rumors might fly." I said and handed him the potion. He stared at me in confusion.

"What do you mean comfortable?" He questioned.

"Your arm was around me and I used your chest as a pillow." I said as though it was no big deal.

"Well it doesn't mean anything." He said, as his cheeks went a little pink. He stood up and pointed at me, "If this goes around, my father will hear about it."
He left with the potion in his hand. I let out a sigh and gathered my potion supplies.

"You two looked so comfortable a minute ago. Did the two of you break up?" The ghost popped her head from the stall.

"No, he's dating my friend. Do you know the girls that were in here before we woke up?" I questioned.

"Sorry, I was letting you two have your privacy so I didn't look. Are you sure you two aren't dating?" She said.

"I'm positive," I said and placing the potions back on the floor. Now I felt confused and irritated at the same time.