With one swift movement of her wand, I feel the air leave my body. Stunned, I am stopped, immobilized on my spot. The stunning spell sends me backwards. My already aching body, drops against the Hufflepuff benches. When the shock is over, I stand from the ground. I wince, drawing my own wand.

I stop in my way. Never would I have thought that we would point our wands at one another. I lower my hand.

"You've changed."

"I guess we have."

"No," I shake my head. "You changed. Using your magic to hurt one of your friends."

"I guess we aren't friends anymore then."

No." I shake my head. "I guess we're not."

Despite my spirit having been killed, I walk from the Great Hall, my chin high. It's silent, deadly mute. I ignore the stares, the hushed whispers. Defeated, I exit. My heart is heavy in my chest. Breathing seems impossible. Footsteps run after me, calling out my name.

"Vienna." My steps are heavy, void of lust. Dominique reaches out to pull my hand in hers. On the other side, I feel Lucy do the same. Our fingers entwine.

Like the Great Hall was, we stay silent. Thoughts run amok in my head. It is a whirlwind of emotions, clashing against the walls of my skull.

"I can't believe it." My voice is soft, yet harsh as a scoff follows my words. "I don't know if I should cry or go back there and beat some sense into that bitch."

Both girls' heads turn to me. "Melissa." I shout. "For Melissa. The bitch that made our - her life hell! And she sticks up for the bitch."

I unwind my hands to wrap my arms around myself. "I-" my mouth closes again. "The sad part is, I'm not surprised to see her turning her back on us."

Slowly, Dom loops her hand around my elbow. "Calm down, Vee."

"Calm down?" I turn to her. "Dominique! Why do I even try! I know she's is your cousin - hell she was my sister, and she throws all of that away for what?"

"We understand," Lucy pulls us to a stop. "That she would raise her wand against one of us." She says appalled.

"Something is going on between the two." Dom shakes her head, lifting her brows.

"But even if she is suddenly into girls-" I look at my remaining friends. "It would not give her a reason to be a bitch. Why the hell did she not say something?"

"It's Melissa, we are talking about." Dom sighs. "That is what Roxanne might have afraid of telling us."

My tongue runs along the underside of my teeth. I bite down on my lip. "I just don't know what to think of this situation. We lost a friend - a sister."

I try to resist, but the thought of losing one of the persons that are closest to me, manages to wake the neurons in my brain. Tears, slow but thick, roll down my cheeks. Dominique pulls me into her arms, heavy heartedly assuring me that we would get over this. Lucy's arms wrap around me from behind. Her head drops on my shoulder. We stop in the middle of the corridor, embracing one another as tears erupt from us.

It's been days with us not talking to Roxanne. She favours to avoid the three of us. Apart from breakfast, lunch and dinner, we only manage to catch her in classes. Despite the rules, Roxanne decided to move from the Gryffindor common room to sleep in the Slytherin dungeons. So Dom and Lucy have told me.

"She didn't come back today?" We sit in the library, finishing the last remains of our homework.

Dominique and Lucy shake their heads. I sigh, leaning back. "I'm over it." Dominique throws her quill onto the wooden table. "If she wants to be a bitch then so be it. I could care less about her being our friend or not."

"We never had a fight that lasted for a week." I stare into empty air.

"Fuck it." Lucy flips over onto the next page of her transfiguration book. "She'll be sorry eventually. What she did in the Great Hall is unforgivable. She used her magic to hurt you."

We all sigh. The silence in the library is deafening, suffocating as each of us work for our classes. "It's just not the same. And I can't believe that this is how it is going to end. We finish in two months! And the way I imagined graduation, was all of us together. Not separated." I whisper.

"Who knows." Lucy tilts her head. "Maybe some things will change in those two months."

"Too much changed already. And not for the better."

"Can we not talk about this Vee?" Dom's harsh tone makes us stop. "Roxanne obviously doesn't have a problem with ignoring and avoiding us. We should just follow her lead and get used to her not sticking around."

"Dom-"

"She's right Lucy." I grimace. "I'm not going to waste my time on wishing that things should be different, when she's clearly not up for it."

"But-"

"Just drop it Lucy." At Dom's tone, the blonde sinks into her chair.

Gathering her stuff, the blonde veela sighs and drops her head onto her books. "I can't concentrate."

"Same." I put my books away and lean against the back of the chair, after.

"This week has been hell. I don't even know what we are preparing for." Dominique lifts her head.

"I wouldn't say that." Lucy begins. "The standards have been skyrocketing! Getting Os will be harder than it has been before."

"Potions is going to be a pain in the ass. I am not looking forward to spending two hours in Penicole's classroom, her in there as well to overlook my brewing."

Dominique sits up, leaning back and places her arms behind her head. "And that is why I took Herbology. Longbottom is a sucker when it comes to being strict."

I shake my head in doubt. "I don't think that you should take this easy. He may be a good person but when it comes to grading and plants-" I don't need to finish my point to convey what I wanted to say.

"Either way." She smiles. "He's a family friend. I'm sure he will pull something."

"Whatever." I place my bag on the table and stand from my seat. "Why don't we go somewhere else? I'm growing sick of this library and Livauxlium has been giving us nasty eyes - still is."

"But where? The kitchens?" Dom suggests.

I shrug. "I don't know. Just somewhere. Everyone's watching and I just want to be away from all of this. Maybe I should just head up to my bed and sleep."

The girls grimace, biting on the insides of their lips.

"Sure." Lucy nods. "I think sleep would do you good. We'll see each other at dinner, right?"

I nod, throwing my robes on. With a small wave, I turn to leave the library. I exit the doors. Immediately, I feel a weight being lifted off my shoulders. Slowly, I make my way back to the Ravenclaw common room. But I am stopped as someone calls my name. I hesitate but continue on my way.

"Enna." His fingers wrap around my wrist. Slowly, he turns me around. I watch the boy smile, catching his breath after running to catch me. "Didn't you hear me?" His boyish smile never falters.

"I- James-" the words are gibberish in my mouth. Not knowing what to say, I look back behind me and to James again. "I think I-"

"Jamie?" Sasha steps up to wrap her bony fingers around James' arms. "What are you doing babe? We're going to be late."

I see him watch the petite beauty from the corner of his eyes. Slowly, shrugging her fingers away, he looks back to me. Sasha follows his movements. "Just a sec. There is actually something I wanted to ask Enna." He smiles again.

"Come on Jamie," she pulls on him. "We are late and Enna," I notice the vile tone her voice takes on. "Looks like shit. I am sure she was about to go to her bed and sleep. Isn't that so, Enna?"

You have changed. The old Vienna would have gone and screamed her head off. She would have pulled her wand out and scream every hex that she knows. Dominique's words echo in my ear. I didn't want to then. But now I can see that falling in love with the wrong people really has made me softer. Made me realize that acting without thinking was what I have been doing before. It may sound silly, but I was immature. I still am, nevertheless I did become more mature.

"Right." I smile. But that doesn't mean I cannot have my immature moments. I look the busty bitch up and down. "Sash, that's what your friends call you right?"

I don't leave her room to answer. Turning to James, I shake my head. "Your bitch of a girlfriend is right. Enna," my eyes widen while I exaggerate my expressions. "Is tired as fuck and won't deal with this shit. So why don't you take your bitch by the leash and fuck off? I'm not in the mood to look at any of you. If you would excuse me." I pry my wrist from his grip and begin to walk down the hallway to my room. I notice James' shout but this time I do not turn around. Profanities leave his lips, making me smile.

Changes may be good, but staying immature and yelling at Potter sure is fun.

Instead of walking towards the grand stair case, I find myself walking outside the castle. I wrap my robes tighter around me, keeping the cold from nipping at my skin. The snow has melted, leaving but large puddles on the ground. Rain that has showered the castle, made the ground wet.

I walk passed Hagrid's hut, passed the different Hogwartians and away from the castle. For once, I feel strong again, invincible and indestructible. Against my better judgement, I enter the woods. I relax, despite the fact that I had almost found death within these very trees. For once since the school year has begun, I don't feel watched - feel like I can drop the facade and be who I really am.

Without any specific aim, I wander in the trees. The fresh air feels nice in my lungs. I breathe in. And out. Stepping on twigs, and hearing them break, I turn and roam the woods. Coming to a clearing, I sit on one of the big boulders. I look around me. It's quiet, much like it has been for over a few weeks now.

Nature's orchestra is playing its best music, lulling me to calm down. Noticing that I have reached the Thestrals' clearing, I stand from my seat and stand in front of the stone. They are gathering around you.

Awkwardly, I balance from one foot onto the other. I wave. "Hello." I stutter unsure. "I can't see you but you can see me."

Stupidly, I wait for someone to answer back. "My friends can see you. Because they have seen death. I never did see death. It the main reason why some people are able to look at you. It's a great price to pay." I shuffle on my feet again. "They eh, they say that you liked my presence. That you gathered around me and were calm."

Again, no body answers. I sit back on the rock and sigh. "So many things happened." I somehow find it comforting to speak my mind - to let everything out. "It all is just too much. I don't even know why, but I somehow can't talk to my friends about it. Roxanne abandoned us." Tears threaten to fall again. I don't stop them. "Is that normal? To have one of your best friends turn your back on you just because they met someone new - she's not even new to us. Melissa made our lives hell. She picked on us. Called us names and what not. I know that we shouldn't judge each other. But Zabini did do some pretty fucked up shit. I thought about getting to know her better. There were times when I thought that maybe we just need to sit down and talk it out. But then she does something and I just - why would I? Everything is fucked up in my life. My parents are getting divorced. My siblings are afraid and search for strength; strength that I fear I don't possess. How am I supposed to be strong for someone, if I'm weak myself? Who is going to be strong for me?" I sigh, looking on the ground again. The Thestrals footsteps imprint the ground. I gasp in shock. But instead of freaking out, I stay put. I continue. "And then there is James." I close my eyes to see the smile from before. The shining eyes and the way his hands felt.

"I don't know if you remember him. But he was here, the last time we came to visit. I didn't like him for most of my school years. He was annoying, loud and he always had to be in the centre of attention. Who would have thought that I would fall for him." I look at the hoof prints. "But do I want to be with him? I don't know. And with how things are going I fear that there won't be an us. He is with Sasha. Maybe it's better this way. He could be just as much trouble as the other boys, I went for."

The Thestrals and I stay quiet. Because of the harsh wind, I wrap my jacket tighter around me. I wipe at the fallen tears and sniff. "Is this how it's always going to be like? Won't I be able to find love? Someone that will be strong for me?"

Running my hands over my cool face, I shake my head. "This is ridiculous." I stand from my position to walk back to the castle. I am almost out of the clearing when I hear it. Soft, high pitched wails and hooves running after me. Slowly, I turn around. I stop in my tracks. Black, pure black is what they look like. Thestrals seem to be a combination of bats and horses. Their wings are wide, spread with skin that looks like leather. Their eyes, white as the snow, seem to pierce my soul. I gasp, stepping forward.

My hands are deeply tucked into the pockets of my jackets. After having overcome the shock of seeing the Thestrals and staying to examine their beauty, I decided to leave the woods.

The castle is warmer than the forest. Despite the foul mood I had only hours ago, I smile. Dominique and Lucy, as promised, are waiting in the Great Hall to meet me for dinner.

"Hey you." I sing cheerfully, sitting down. We wait for the food to appear.

The girls smile, enjoying my better mood. "Someone is in a happy mood. We take it, sleep did you good?" Dominique questions.

I shake my head, laughing. "I didn't go to the common room. I went into the woods." I whisper at the end.

"You did what." The both scream. I hush them, pressing my finger against my lips.

"Be quiet, will you. I know we aren't allowed to enter them without one of the professors." I look to the head table. "But something was pulling me towards it. And I am so glad I went." I pull the small vial from my robes. Giving it a small shake, I smile.

Dom takes the tears from my eyes. "How? I thought you weren't able to see them?"

"I don't know what happened." I look at the two of them. "But I was about to leave when they just appeared. They are beautiful. Unlike anything that I have seen before. It is a shame to pay such a price."

The girls look at one another. Silently exchanging looks, they seem to lead a secret conversation. The food appears in front. Cheerfully I dig in, forgetting my sorrows.

Tuesday comes quicker than we all wish for. Finishing DADA, the girls and I get ready to leave the class.

"I'll see you later?" I fling my bag onto my back. Upon seeing them nod, I turn and walk from the door.

Seeing the one boy, I was looking for, I call out. "Weasley!" He and his sister turn around. Potter and his friends do so as well. I ignore the ones I do not wish to speak to. I smile at Freddie, running ahead of him.

"What are you waiting for?" I walk backward. "Penicole is going to have your head, if you're late."

He smirks. "I don't even know what her problem is. We won't be able to finish the potion anyways."

I smile, my hands vanishing in my robes. I pull out the vial, smiling big. "I wouldn't be too sure about that." I shake it and turn to run from. With a laugh I call out again. "Come on Weasley! Race me."

I hear his chuckle and his feet stomping against the ground. Freddie manages to run ahead. He turn around slightly, giving me a teasing wink. "What's wrong, Nightingale? Already giving up?"

I pick up speed, smiling. "You wish."

A/N

I know it's been long and this is short but I wanted to post something. I hope you all like it. I don't know when I'll upload the next chapter. I start uni next week and I'll have to get accustomed to everything. Plus, I am so nervous about it. One part of me is like, what am I going to do. My nerves are on edge. But the other, more confident part is like, fuck it all, do your shit and don't care about anything. We'll see how things will go.

HINT #9 …and a muggle girl.