Spring term had started a while ago, and it was almost Easter break. The professors were piling the work on, trying to get everything done…twice! The Quidditch Cup was no closer to being won than it had been at Christmas, and the pressure was on. Everybody was at every Quidditch game, even ones in which their house was not taking part in.

That day was cold, and there was a Slytherin/Ravenclaw match taking place after lessons. The two houses had been trash talking each other all day (okay, maybe it was mostly Slytherin), and tension swarmed between them.

Late in the day, I pulled my green scarf on. "Think we're going to win?" I asked Harvest, who was pulling her rain boots on.

"I hope so," Harvest said uncertainly. "Right now it's anyone's game."

I nodded. "We'll see."

We walked down to the quidditch field together, passing through the warm hallways. Surprisingly, a girl dressed in Ravenclaw robes sat in the hallway, reading a thick book. Her hair was pure white and her eyes startlingly blue. I had to blink to get used to her appearance.

"What's with her?" I asked Harvest.

"Dunno. What I want to know is why she isn't at the game. She's certainly Ravenclaw," Harvest continued, nodding at the blue crest embroidered on the girl's robes. Even from fairly far away, I could see the tiny eagle.

As we got closer, the girl looked up from her book and spotted us. She scrunched her nose, pushing her navy glasses further up on her nose.

"Why aren't you at the quidditch game?" Harvest asked the girl in a snide voice. I poked her. She ignored me. Just keep the stereotypes coming, people. I'm loving this whole mean Slytherin thing, I thought.

"I have this thing called homework," the girl said, sliding up the wall to stand. She was decidedly taller than Harvest, yet extruded a much smaller "look at me" vibe.

"There are other times to do it," Harvest said smarmily. "Your team's playing. You know, house spirit, rah rah rah?" Her voice grew louder.

"I have plenty of 'house spirit, rah rah rah,' thank you, it's just I don't want to fail my first year at Hogwarts," the girl said, clutching her book to her and readying herself as if for a crippling blow.

"Don't worry," said Harvest, in a condescending voice, "you'll be sure to get at most an Acceptable on your O.W.L.s if you try hard enough."

The girl turned red, which looked rather strange, contrasting with her white hair and pale skin. "Are you talking about yourself? Because I think you've got us mixed up, only you're sure to get a Poor at most."

Harvest stiffened. I pulled on her arm. You're going to regret this, I tried to mind-transmit to her. Apparently it didn't work, as she started shouting at the girl. "You need to shut up! Even if you are a Ravenclaw, that's no excuse to be a know-it-all! And you're ugly as a bugbear to boot! Your mother must be ashamed."

The girl opened her mouth to say something, and then stormed away, almost dropping her book. "Stupid," muttered Harvest. "Come on, Titiana, let's go watch the game. We're sure to win against those Ravenclaw sissies."

We won the game 10-9, but I still felt bad about standing by while Harvest bullied that girl. What would my dad think? I wanted to apologize, but would she really think I was sincere? Of course not! But I had to prove to myself that I wasn't a true Slytherin, not like I was realizing Harvest to be.

The next day was the beginning of Easter break, and I made it my mission to find the Ravenclaw girl and apologize. I followed the Ravenclaw girls around, and finally, near the end of the day, I spotted her on the top of the Astronomy tower, standing in the rain. I hurried up the stairs, making an effort to cover my head. I gave up as I reached the top of the tower and was immediately soaked.

"Um, hey."

"Hey," the girl said coldly, and I knew she knew that I was the girl who had stood by while she had been ridiculed.

"Look, I just wanted to say I'm sorry for the whole bystander thing, and could we just make up?" I fumbled through the sentence.

"You want me to forgive you?" She turned around and looked at me incredulously, short white hair plastered to her cheek. "I wouldn't, if only….Madame Bones always said…" her voice grew quieter. "I formally forgive you. You have been relieved of all charges," she announced, holding out her hand in peace. I shook it.

"Now that I've been formally forgiven, we should know each other's names. I'm Titiana." I said.

"I'm Astraea, but you can call me Eloise. Madame Bones says that Astraea is too difficult to pronounce. And it's true. Get it right, people!" Her face darkened.

"Astraea," I ventured.

"You got it right!" She brightened. "Perhaps we'll be friends after all, so long as your ghastly pet stays away from me." It took me a moment to realize that she was talking about Harvest. I didn't know whether to be angry or laugh.

Thanks to Zenith for Eloise/Astraea! I'm sorry that there haven't been any chapters in a while, I've been quite busy. I hope that everyone likes the story so far, but know that soon her first year will end and she'll be a big second year!

-docmuse.