Chapter 27: Mudblood
Willa waited a couple of days before she went in search of Leighton, she wanted to question what he was doing sneaking around that first morning.
She entered the library, having a feeling he was in here somewhere but she quickly spotted Braelynn Weitts sitting at a table with a small circle of her followers.
Willa walked over and took a seat at the table, ignoring the looks the seventh years were giving her while she stared directly at Braelynn.
"You have nerves Black," Braelynn commented.
Willa rested her elbow on the table and placed her chin in her hand. "Why is that? I'm not one of your precious snakes, I don't follow the same rules." She pointed out but Braelynn didn't say anything at first or make a move.
"You are still a Black and a part of the Sacred Twenty-Eight."
"And you are a Weitts, last I checked they weren't on that list. So for many reasons I do not have to listen to you." Willa spoke sternly and Braelynn leant back in her seat.
"That must be the Gryffindor bravery that you all pride yourselves on. Why are you here Black?" Braelynn questioned as she waved a hand and it only took seconds for her followers to stand and walk away from the table leaving the two girls alone.
"Just curious as to how a non-Sacred Family member managed to gain control of the house is all," Willa questioned.
"You know of the families, tell me how many of them are actually in my year, or above."
"Flint is in your year, is he not?" Willa pointed out.
"Very true but his family lacks many things from what I hear. He is also the Quidditch Captain."
"Some can do both," Willa argued.
She knew for a fact that at one stage while Amycus was at Hogwarts he was both Quidditch Captain and ruled the house of Slytherin. The same with Regulus.
Willa sat back in her chair and looked across the table at Braelynn, she knew what would happen to confront the Queen like this but she wasn't a Slytherin and she had to keep reminding herself of this and Braelynn couldn't do anything to her.
"Touché," Braelynn spoke with a smirk. "Tell me, why is it the daughter of the infamous Octavia Carrow and Sirius Black friends with Leighton Carrow, why does she spend time with the families when her own parents were outcasts before the war?"
"Never heard of siblings reconciling their differences?" was all Willa said in response, she didn't see the point in airing her family secrets, especially if there was a risk of ruining everything for Leighton.
Braelynn tilted her head at Willa. "I assume you came looking for Leighton and not me?"
"That is true but I was curious about how you gained ruling like I first stated, you graduate this year and the crown is up for grabs," Willa spoke.
Braelynn leant forward on the table and Willa automatically followed suit, leaning closer to the Slytherin Queen.
"Yes I am graduating and I do wish you had been sorted into Slytherin because come June when I graduate, you would have been my candidate," Braelynn spoke but Willa kept her face calm and it was then she noticed Leighton appear from behind one of the stacks.
She leant back and stood up, looking down at Braelynn. "As you can see I am not in Slytherin, but I do have family in Slytherin," Willa spoke before she turned and left, heading towards where she spotted Leighton take a seat at a table where Cassius and Saxon were sitting.
"Boys," Willa greeted with a grin while she took a seat at the table and they all looked up at her before focusing back on their books. "Ah the joys of Fifth year," she teased.
"What do you want Willa?" Leighton questioned but Willa looked at Cassius and Saxon.
"I would like a word with my cousin," she spoke but they didn't move. "Privately."
Willa watched as they looked over at Leighton before they got up and moved to a separate table, allowing her to have a private conversation with her cousin. She looked over at him.
"Why the private conversation cousin?" he questioned.
"I saw you, that first morning heading to the kitchens," Willa spoke and his eyes narrowed.
"What do you want?"
"Why her? Why not anyone of the other girls in your own house, why do you have to start picking mine off?" Willa snapped.
"What makes you think something is going on between us? I surely do know the ramifications of dating someone from Gryffindor." Leighton responded harshly.
"Of all people, Emerson!" Willa pounded her hands on the table.
"Don't," Leighton snarled at her.
"You're telling me not to do anything, this is Emerson. The girl we both grew up with, the girl who is practically our sister." Willa pointed out.
"No, she was your sister. I never saw her that way, I've tried for years but haven't succeeded."
It was with that comment that her anger disappeared and she looked at her cousin, studying him properly.
"You really care for her?" she questioned softly and he nodded.
"I don't know how she feels, I haven't even asked and am unsure as to if boys are even on her mind right now. She's in Gryffindor, our two houses are rivals, Willa."
Willa nodded and looked away from Leighton and across the library, watching all the people around her and was surprised that none of the other students were even looking her way since she did get rather loud, especially with her pounding her fists on the table.
"Willa?" Leighton questioned softly and she looked back at him. "Don't say anything to Em, let me take care of this situation on my own, please Willa."
Willa let out a sigh before she stood up and went to leave.
"Willa, promise me," Leighton spoke sternly.
She looked over her shoulder at Leighton. "You know I don't make promises without knowing all the facts, I also don't lie. But I doubt Emerson will ask what I know." Willa reassured him before she continued out of the library.
.oOo.
Willa sat there on the floor in the Gryffindor team room, leaning back against Fred and George's legs while she was half dozing and half paying attention to what Wood was saying.
He had woken the whole team at the crack of dawn, saying that they were starting practice early this year with the hope to get ahead of the other teams.
Willa was annoyed, no team ever started Quidditch practice this early, it was still the first week at Hogwarts!
One of the twins nudged her in the back of her head and she opened her eyes to see that Wood was going on about new tactics, she now knew why one of the twins woke her up. As long as she at least was half paying attention and watching what was going on then she could explain it all to them again later on when they were fully awake and had breakfast.
She heard snores behind her and couldn't help but shake her head while hiding her smirk, Fred was the only twin that snored, how Wood didn't notice what was happening she had no idea.
There were three boards worth of diagrams that Wood was explaining to them and she knew looking that only she and Harry were attempting to stay awake, guess no one told the now second year about her memory.
She waited until Wood finished speaking of the last board before she sent her elbows back into the twins' legs and effectively waking them.
"Why couldn't you have told us all this yesterday, you know when we were awake?" George questioned and Willa instantly knew the look that appeared on Wood's face, he wasn't pleased.
Wood began this speech about how they should have won the previous year but circumstances prevented them from doing so.
Willa looked over at Harry, he was shifting in his seat. A frown appeared on her face as she didn't understand what was going on and why Harry was acting like that.
Wood finally let them out and Willa climbed onto her broom and soared into the air, Angelina and Alicia quickly falling in line beside her and the three of them began their warm-up drills, dodging and weaving between each other as well as the goal posts.
It was when Willa was straightening out from a loop that she noticed what was happening down on the ground. She was unsure as to how it was possible for both the Gryffindor and Slytherin team to be allowed on the Pitch.
"Come on, let's check it out," Angelina spoke, having noticed it as well and the three girls landed on the ground and walked over to the rest of their team.
They had arrived just in time for Marcus Flint, the Slytherin Captain to state that there was enough room on the Pitch for them.
Willa knew she was safe from Slytherin because of her name and Leighton's position within the house but the rest of the team weren't so lucky. In fact, Fred and George were regularly known for setting up pranks for the Slytherin students, Willa stayed away from those ones just to keep her name neutral despite her own feelings towards some of the students.
When she caught them bullying other students she always stood her ground and told them off but she didn't effectively seek them out like some of the older students do.
Willa walked over to where Leighton was standing off to the side, both of them had the same beliefs when it came to the two houses, they stayed out of house politics. Leighton did what he could within the common room but he left Gryffindor students alone.
It was when Willa was closer she noticed the brand new sleek broom in his hands. "Where did you get that?" she hissed at him.
"Malfoy bought his spot on the team, Flint couldn't say no to brand new brooms," Leighton responded.
Willa looked over at the team and quickly noticed who was missing, Terrance Higgs. He was their Seeker previously and now that he was gone and Malfoy was standing with the team she assumed he took the sixth year's spot.
"Flint kicked Higgs off the team?" Willa questioned and Leighton merely nodded.
"Filthy Mudblood."
Willa's head snapped around at that comment and looked over at the group, everyone acted at once and by Flint jumping in to protect Malfoy, it was obvious who said that comment.
Willa went to move but a strong pair of arms wrapped around her to prevent her.
"Don't, it's not worth it," Leighton spoke behind her but she thrashed against him hoping to break free.
She couldn't believe that Malfoy was that low to call Hermione a Mudblood of all things, she had heard that the Muggleborn was the top student for that year level, beating out all the Pureblood students in Slytherin that had the proper tutoring and lessons as they grew up.
Willa was seething at the use of the word but a large bang and bright light through the pitch froze everyone's actions for a moment.
Ron was sent flying backward and when he tried to say if he was alright or not he began throwing up slugs.
The Slytherin team were bent over, howling with laughter at what happened but it just added more fuel to Willa's anger.
When Harry, Ron, and Hermione left the pitch Willa finally managed to break free of Leighton's grasp and she stormed over to where Malfoy was standing.
"Willa don't," the twins warned her but she ignored them and stood directly in front of Malfoy.
"You're disgusting," she snarled at him, stepping closer to him leaving barely an inch between them.
Willa knew if this was anyone else they would back down, despite her house placement her name still meant something among them but Malfoy, his name was just as powerful.
"What's your problem, Black?" Malfoy questioned.
"Many problems, but currently it's you. You buy your way in when the rest of them all showed they were the best. What's going to happen next year when Flint is no longer Captain?" she threatened Malfoy knowing that the players that were most likely to gain the Captain's badge next year didn't care for name titles like Flint did.
Leighton, Adrian Pucey, and Miles Bletchley were in line for it and none of them really cared for names. They were all purebloods and their families had a high standing in society but didn't rely heavily on the Sacred Twenty-Eight.
"Are you threatening me, Black?" Malfoy responded.
"Just watch your back Malfoy," Willa responded harshly as an arm was once again wrapped around her waist and pulled her away from the Slytherin Quidditch team.
"You need to calm down now," Leighton's voice came but Willa was still vibrating with tension.
Leighton shoved Willa into the edge of the forest, knowing Willa would know what would come near them if any creatures did and he leant against the tree while he looked at where Willa was standing attempting to calm down.
It didn't take long for Fred and George to appear either side of him. "How did the others react?" Leighton questioned them.
"The girls know about Willa's issues now."
"Wood disappeared when Willa began threatening Malfoy."
Leighton nodded at the twins, the three of them carefully watched Willa and noticed that a tree stump in front of her had now exploded.
"Is Ron going to be alright?" Leighton questioned.
"Should be, if Harry and Hermione are smart enough they'll take him to Pomfrey."
"I don't understand how the spell backfired on him anyway."
Leighton tuned out the twins conversation on how a spell could backfire while thinking how that particular spell could be useful instead he focused back on his cousin.
When he noticed her shoulders slouch he knew that the anger was gone. "Willa?" he questioned, gaining the twins attention.
"I'm alright," she spoke, turning and facing them all giving them a small smile. "I think between Wood making us get up at the crack of dawn, me not getting my run and meditation in and then Malfoy's comments it all boiled up."
"We know," Leighton, Fred, and George all spoke at once and Willa took a deep breath.
"Since I'm assuming practice is over I might go for a run before breakfast," Willa spoke as she walked towards the three of them, stopping when she was closer to them and she looked at her cousin. "Thank you."
Leighton placed a hand on her shoulder, giving her a squeeze. "Anytime cousin."
Willa once again smiled before she continued along to the pitch, wanting to see if the Slytherin team was still there or if they had given up on practice but before she even got to the entrance she noticed the green figures flying in the sky.
She surely hoped that Leighton taking care of her wouldn't affect the position he had among them.
Instead, she headed towards the Black Lake, her backup place for a run and began an easy pace hoping to clear her mind.
.oOo.
Willa was sitting in the corner of the Gryffindor common room, after losing her temper this morning she just wanted to be left alone while she was allowed to calm down properly. Her friends understood, now knowing the truth and since Willa told the girls Fred and George took it upon themselves to explain what the deal was to Lee and the ones on the Quidditch team filled the rest in on what happened.
Emerson quickly came and checked on her, after making sure Willa was okay and just wanted her space she left her alone.
Willa could see her friends still sitting in the common room, carefully keeping an eye on her but they weren't bothering her and she was grateful.
She ran a hand up and down her face before focusing back on the Potions book in front of her. Snape had assigned them an essay on Girding Potion, she was unsure about something. In the past they had been warned about mixing Dragonfly Thoraxes in their potions as they can be quite a volatile ingredient but yet here they are just throwing it in this potion, especially mixing it with Doxy Eggs.
She was confused as to why this Potion was an exception or was it one of the other ingredients that countered the reaction?
"Can I ask you something?" Harry's voice startled her.
Willa looked up from her book and eyed the younger boy. "Now's not a great time Harry."
"You said I could always come to you, about anything I have questions about." He stated and she let out a groan, placing her quill down.
"Yes Harry that is true, but you don't understand."
"Yes I don't understand a lot about this world but I am learning. I have one question."
"One question?" Willa questioned, attempting to keep the anger out of her voice. She just wanted to finish this essay before heading down for dinner and having an early night.
"Yes, one." He replied. Willa took a deep breath before nodding, she did tell him that he could come to her at any stage when he had questions and she would help him to the best of her ability.
"I've heard the other students talk about your family, how they can be just as bad as Malfoy's when you look far enough. Why do some like Malfoy use that term and not you?" Harry questioned.
Willa didn't really want to get into this particular topic, not today, not after what happened this morning.
"Because that is a foul term and only low vermin like Malfoy use something so demeaning," Willa spoke standing up and collecting her things, placing them in her bag. She looked back at Harry once more, "and that is saying something since Malfoy and I are related, so yes I suppose my family is just as bad as Malfoy's because we share common blood."
Willa left, leaving Harry sitting there in shock at what she just claimed.
"You alright Harry?" Emerson spoke and Harry turned to look at him and he slowly nodded. "She didn't yell at you, did she? She's been in a right mood since this morning." Emerson explained.
"No, she didn't yell. I was just asking about what happened this morning. I didn't realise she was related to Malfoy."
"You'd be surprised who Willa is related too, I believe I remember being told that if she goes back far enough the Black side of her family has a connection with both the Weasley and Potter family," Emerson spoke as she sat down beside Harry.
"Why did she get so defensive about talking about Malfoy and that term used this morning?" Harry questioned and Emerson looked over at where Fred and George were sitting.
She knew the answer to that, she knew that Malfoy's mother was the only one that could pull Sirius from Azkaban until Willa turned seventeen and fix everything wrong with the Black family.
"She's defensive about that part of the family is all Harry, don't worry about it and Willa definitely isn't angry with you at all. As I said, she's just been in a right mood after having to get up early for practice and then Malfoy calling Granger what he did, probably a few other things." Emerson reassured Harry before she stood up and went in search of Willa to make sure she was definitely alright.
Emerson didn't catch up with Willa until the Great Hall, she noticed the older witch standing in front of the doors before she turned and headed down the same corridor that led towards the kitchens. Emerson didn't even question it before she continued along and followed her.
Emerson entered the kitchen, walking over and taking a seat at the table across from Willa staying silent until she was acknowledged.
"I do hope Harry isn't mad at me," Willa spoke.
"Funny, he is thinking the same thing," Emerson responded and Willa looked up to face her.
"Why would he think that?"
"Because you were short and dismissive with him, he was worried he asked the wrong question. You can be cruel when you're in a mood." Emerson explained and Willa didn't say anything, just rested her head on the table.
Emerson reached over and placed a hand on top of where Willa's was sitting but she quickly pulled it away.
"Don't be like this with me Willa, you've been snappy with everyone because you didn't get enough sleep and weren't able to get your run in before everything happened."
Willa sat up and looked over at Emerson but it was also at that moment that the elves had finally brought some plates filled with food over for the two girls.
Neither of them said anything as they began their dinner.
Willa was mulling over the words that Emerson had said. She knew it was true, she was still slightly on edge after what happened today and she did truly hope that a proper night's sleep followed by a run and some yoga in the morning would remove any issues in the morning because she truly wanted to, she wanted to go back to feeling normal and not have any traces of her magic boiling underneath the surface.
The two girls continued to sit in silence, even as the elves gave them a small number of different kinds of desserts.
It was also as the elves were gifting the two girls with the dessert that someone had entered the kitchen. They weren't worried as the kitchen wasn't a banned location within the Castle, in fact, it was like a rite of passage to find the location of the kitchens during a student's seven years.
"I was wondering where you two were," Octavia's voice caused both girls to turn and look at her and she instantly knew why by the slight scowl on her daughter's face.
"I'm just going to take my dessert and leave, Snow you are welcome to help yourself but I'm sure the elves will be more than happy to bring you your own," Emerson spoke, giving her godmother a smile before she left the kitchen leaving the mother and daughter alone.
"What happened today baby?" Octavia questioned as she walked over and took a seat at the table and helped herself to a slice of cake.
"Wood woke us up at the crack of dawn so with my lack of sleep and not getting in my run and yoga I was irritable. Our practice was crashed by the Slytherin team, things were said, words were thrown between the two teams and it ended with Malfoy calling Hermione a Mudblood. I lost it." Willa explained, refusing to look up at her mother while she picked at her cookies.
"I see the apple doesn't fall far from the tree," Octavia spoke and Willa looked up at her strangely.
"What does an apple have to do with anything I just said? That is completely bizarre."
"It's a saying baby, it basically means that that Malfoy is very much like his father."
"That's a rather strange saying, why not say he is like his father?" Willa questioned.
"Doesn't matter, Lucius was against Muggleborns as well when he was at Hogwarts but he was always very charming and persuasive, I believe it is why he was able to stay hidden in regards to his views," Octavia explained.
Willa's brow furrowed before she lowered her gaze once more and looked down at her plate, she didn't see the point in what her mother was telling her. She already knew that some of the families that Amycus associated with had somewhat darker views compared to her and her mother.
"Why are you so angry at what Malfoy said, surely it isn't a surprise that he dislikes Muggleborns?" Octavia questioned.
"It all just added up I suppose. Harry came to me before I came down here and asked why I do not use the term Mudblood considering parts of our family can be just as dark as Malfoy's. I explained that I do not have an issue with Muggleborns and also mentioned that I am related to Malfoy." Willa spoke, breaking the cookie into crumbs. "I hate that someone I am related to is treating people like that, it looks bad on me because everyone will assume I am like my family. Some people already assume I am like them."
"Baby," Octavia spoke softly, waiting until Willa looked up at her. "You are not like them. No matter how many times Malfoy says that degrading word or bullies Muggleborns remember that you are nothing like him. One of your closest friends is a Muggleborn, or are you forgetting about Veronica? You are helping her adjust to our world because you care for her, not because of it being something you have to do. There is a reason why the hat ultimately placed you in Gryffindor over Slytherin."
"How did you know the hat was trying to decide between Slytherin and Gryffindor?" Willa questioned defensively, she hated people finding out she was almost placed in Slytherin.
"Because I am your mother, I know you and know that you have some Slytherin traits," Octavia responded and Willa nodded.
"I just need a good night's sleep, I should be okay tomorrow."
"Okay, well if you need to you are more than welcome to hide out in my suite," Octavia spoke and Willa nodded, not saying anything else as she reached over and grabbed a cupcake sitting on one of the plates.
.oOo.
Willa walked back into the Gryffindor common room leaving a trail of water behind her, she had been caught out in the rain and instantly began cursing herself for not bringing her wand with her. Almost a year and she didn't need it on her while she went for a run and figured it would be fine safely locked in her trunk.
She rung out her hair knowing some upper level will dry out the spot or the elves will but she quickly noticed Ginny sitting over in the corner.
"Ginny?" Willa called out the younger witch's name. She hadn't seen much of the first year since she was sorted and just assumed that she was off making friends.
Ginny looked up and faced her, "oh, hi Willa."
Willa walked over and took a seat across from her. "Are you alright? You're looking a little pale." Willa spoke.
Ginny slammed her book shut, "I'm fine." She snapped before climbing off the chair and storming up the stairs.
Willa sat there for a moment completely confused as to what happened with Ginny, unsure as to what she said wrong. She stood up after a minute and headed up to her own dorm wanting a hot shower before breakfast.
Willa entered the Great Hall and took a seat in the empty spot next to Fred, she looked up and down the table in search of Ginny and quickly noticed she was missing.
She looked back at Fred, "have you spoken to Ginny much since the term began?" she questioned quietly to not be overheard by the others, unsure as to how Ginny would react to all of the fourth year students worrying about her.
"Not really, I haven't really seen much of her," Fred responded with a shrug.
"I ran into her this morning, I asked if she was alright because she was looking a little pale but she snapped at me before storming off," Willa explained and Fred turned to look at her.
"Look don't worry about it, she might have been offended by the pale comment. She'll come around Willa." Fred reassured her and Willa nodded.
Willa reached over and began loading breakfast onto her plate, she was worried about Ginny. She didn't know if it was because the young witch looked pale, snapped at her or just general concern because she saw Ginny as family.
"Don't worry so much," Fred spoke softly. "Gin is tough, she grew up with us all."
Willa didn't say anything else, Fred was right. Ginny had the same upbringing they all did despite the older brothers refusing to let her join them in Quidditch even though Willa played.
.oOo.
A/N: Thank you to everyone who continues to read, set alerts and review my story it means a lot to me but reviews mean even more as they let me know what you enjoy.
Thank you EmilinLove for being my Beta.
Thank you to bookdragonslayer, Raven that flies at night and YumiKnowsBest for reviewing, it means a lot to me.
