Yes, I know it's short, but I've been having a few hard days. I just got back to school, except since I'm early my apartment is dead silent except for the clock, and I'm doing quite the amount of work cleaning other apartments for my job. By the time I get home, I'm exhausted and can't think straight, much less write. But I had a few extra hours since we got off work early today. Doesn't really help the depression setting in from a lonely apartment, but hey, one problem at a time I suppose.


"It's like she's a squib, Albus!" Flitwick worried. "She couldn't even get a spark out of her wand!"

"Yes, Albus. Ms. Potter looked to soak up information like a sponge, but when tested, she wouldn't answer." Quirrell replied, though he tripped over almost every other word.

"Ms. Potter was likely being insolent, like she was in my class!" Snape sneered angrily.

"No, unfortunately I think it's far more than that." Poppy said, heaving a large sigh. "I asked her to come in after classes to make sure she was doing alright and give her the potions she would need to get where a child her age should be. When she came in, she thought she was going to be punished for letting her 'freakishness' out earlier this morning."

The air in the room suddenly became very heavy, and none of the professors knew what to say. Except Severus.

"Who did you place her with?" Was the quiet, yet rage-filled demand.

"I left her with the last of her family-" Dumbledore didn't get to finish before both Severus and Minerva were shouting.

"Petunia hates anything to do with magic! She would have killed her own son had he had magic! What were you thinking, you avaricious, old fool?" Snape bellowed.

"You gobermouth! 'He'll be safe' you said! 'They're his only living family' you said! Well none of that matters, does it, you old goat!" It showed just how angry Minerva was when her accent was slipping between her words.

"I believe I have broken the record of how many different insults can be receive in one day!" Albus said merrily, trying to lighten the mood. When no one seemed inclined to join him, he let out a regretful sigh. "I know I made a wrong choice, and made it only worse by never checking up on her. But our world was in chaos at the time, and I believed I was doing right by her, only to now realize my horrendous mistake. I am doing everything I can to get her a safer home, one where she will be loved and protected well, but the Ministry cannot know before it is finalized."

"We will do everything we can to help Ms. Potter, but only if it is truly for her good." Pomona Sprout stated.

"Well, who, Albus? Or do you expect us to blindly believe you have all your corners covered?" Minerva demanded.

"Maxine, what is powdered root of asphodel?" I asked while reading over my notes from class, though there weren't very many, as I remembered every word that had been said all day.

"That is an excellent question, Harriet!" Maxine said softly, smiling kindly. I felt the nervous energy beyond the sphere dissipate, though it hadn't affected me too much. I hugged Hufflepuff closer, feeling the soft fur against my face as I felt proud for asking a question. "Why don't we look it up in your textbook? It's for potions, isn't it?"

I pulled out Magical Drafts and Potions from the stack of books I had beside me, and placed it in front of me as Maxine scooted closer. She moved slowly slowly, which I felt embarrassed and grateful for. Most of the House had been slower around me, and when they weren't I felt embarrassed for jumping in fright.

"Alright," She muttered, flipping through the pages. "Right here! Go ahead and read it." She pointed to a section on the page that had a pretty flower next to it.

Its powdered root is a potions ingredient. From the lily family, this plant has long, slender leaves. Its name comes from the Greek asphodelos…

"Yes, but what is it?" I asked again.

"A potions ingredient. Depending on what potion your making is depending on what it is." Maxine explained.

"What is wormwood?" I ventured.

Maxine seemed startled at the question, and I would have felt fear had Hufflepuff not been around. My new teddy bear seemed to be able to protect me from most instant negative emotions. If it were not an instant emotion, like my accident in the Hospital Wing this morning, then Hufflepuff wouldn't be able to protect me.

"You wouldn't find wormwood in a first-year textbook. Where did you hear about it?"

"Professor Snape asked me this morning what you would get it you added powered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood. He also asked where I would look to find a bezoar, and the difference between monkshood and wolfsbane. But I already know the last one, because they're the same thing. I like gardening, it's one of my favorite chores, so I know a lot about plants!"

Maxine cleared her throat, and I saw a flash of anger, but it was gone the next second, so I wasn't sure if I had actually seen it. "Those are forth year questions at the earliest. I'll chat with Professor Sprout and see that Professor Snape starts asking age appropriate questions in class. Can't expect them all to be as smart as you!"

Smart? I wasn't smart. I was stupid. But if Maxine said I was smart, was she right? Or the Dursley's? For some reason, I didn't feel there was much importance on the topic when the Dursley's were mentioned, so I moved on with an unnoticeable shrug. I moved on to my Charms notes, and would have felt disappointed at my lack of results in class had I not been cuddling Hufflepuff. But I didn't let my freakishness out, that was a good thing. I don't know how everyone else made their feathers float, but they weren't freaks, so they didn't have freakishness. Now I just had to learn what it was, and keep my freakishness in while doing what every normal child did.