AN: Reviews are better than toffee pennies!

Chapter Forty-Two
Of Mudbloods and the Human Owl Service, Otherwise Known As Best Friends

For each of the eight people this story concerns, the Valentine's Day weekend of February 2018 meant a different thing.

For James Potter it meant a trip with his beautiful girlfriend (all he had to bring was some flowers). Of course, even he wasn't reckless enough to sneak into Hogsmeade when all the third-years and above would be there so he contented himself with a walk around the lake and a thorough snog by it afterwards.

For Sam Andrews it was the first date she'd ever been on with her quite-possibly-maybe-girlfriend (they hadn't really defined it yet). Neither of them were the romantic gesture sort and both had a positive hatred of flowers (Sam was allergic and Lee thought they were useless) so instead they spent the day dropping soft fruit onto unsuspecting couples' heads from their position on the seventh floor. Not that there were many couples about seeing as everyone had 'buggered off to Hogsmeade' (as Lee put it), so most of their time was spent talking (but mostly snogging).

For Lien Irby it was a normal Saturday; she was sure she'd appreciate it more if she had a boyfriend or in a few years when she got to go to Hogsmeade but at that moment Lien was quite content to just go on a quick jog around the castle like every morning. The marks still hadn't faded from her arm so she'd taken to wearing long-sleeves everywhere. Lien wondered if maybe it was a fluke; no-one seemed to be in any danger to her. She'd asked Scorpius to keep an eye on Cara and she saw Lydjah and Jayna enough herself.

For Molly Weasley it was another year of general distaste as girls and boys alike fell over each other in an attempt to impress whoever it was they liked. Molly never had much time for romance; she could appreciate the idea of it but had never found the desire to experience it herself. Not because she was scared of romantic interactions, she'd just never seen what was so fascinating about being in love with another person, and didn't like it very much when people seemed to consider friendships less important.

For Albus Potter it was a day doing homework and catching up with Rose in the library; they hadn't talked properly in a while and it was nice to hear her laugh again. He'd forgotten about the date until Rose had mentioned it; apparently she'd been about to be asked on a date by one of the Gryffindor boys in their year on Wednesday but he'd been stopped when one of the torches tipped suddenly and the open flame had caught his hair. She thought it was very strange that the torch fell at that particular moment, but didn't have any evidence of it being anything more than a coincidence.

For Scorpius Malfoy it was a morning of finally writing to his Dad about the letter he'd given him and then an afternoon of playing Exploding Snap with Sawyer (something he excelled at and was determined to beat Jayna in at the next opportunity) before he finally remembered the huge pile of homework he had for Monday which he immediately cracked on with (not before he looked up more subtle spells than tipping torches though).

For Lydjah Dawson this particular Valentine's day weekend was filled with a peculiar kind of horror, a mystery and a raging anger.

For Jayna Blackwood, well, her day started awfully and didn't get any better from there. She'd been having a dream about a basement, it was familiar but at the same time she couldn't remember it, and she was sure her Grandfather had been in it but by the time she was pulled abruptly out of her slumber they were the only two things she could remember about it.

The reason for her sudden rush to consciousness had started her screaming. One moment she'd been asleep and the next she was covered head to foot in a warm, thick, reddy-brown liquid. It choked her as she opened her mouth, causing her to begin coughing desperately, smearing it even further into her bedsheets. When she'd tasted the metallic tang mixed in with the thick mud her screams had only gotten louder. Loud enough, in fact, to awake even Lydjah from her sleep and set off the other people in her dorm to begin screaming with her.

She was crying, the tears making the smallest of dents in the horrible liquid that wouldn't come off. It stained her skin as clawed at it, succeeding only in trapping it under her nails. She looked into the mirror which was a mistake; her hair was matted and dripping with the horrible substance, her face unrecognisable as her red rimmed eyes blended into the mess around them. The words on the mirror were the real problem though; in block capitals (the best way to conceal the handwriting) a message was written for anyone who wanted it.

'MURDERER' glared back at her, right over the reflection of her forehead. The flash of Riley's camera had sent Lydjah into a murderous rage but she was still drunk with sleep and the sneering gossip queen had managed to escape the dormitory with Paige and her camera still intact. Lee had left early to fly around the pitch before her meeting with Sam so that left Lydjah with Jayna. After finally managing to calm her friend's hysterics she'd helped her into the shower and cleaned off the bed as best she could before stripping the sheets and putting them into the wardrobe that the house-elves collected them from.

It had taken the best part of the morning to clean the mud and blood off Jayna; it still wasn't out of her hair (they'd used up all of Riley's special shampoo trying) and by the time they were done Lydjah was ready to kill. The feeling only intensified when she left Jayna for a moment and went into the Common-Room only to find a blown up version of the picture Riley had taken earlier. She'd managed to capture the angle just right so the mirror and the words had been caught as well as the monstrous sight that had been Jayna.

Lydjah hated to admit it but the way the photo was staged made Jayna look like a murderer in a horror film; if you looked closely you could see the terror in her eyes but of course no-one was looking closely. When Jayna descended the stairs a few minutes later it was to complete silence. The other Ravenclaws (excluding Lydjah) were glaring at her with varying degrees of fear and dislike. It was almost enough to make her run back into her room when she saw Patrick being part of the group but the she knew she'd most likely trip if she tried to do anything quickly so instead she walked to the exit, not waiting to see if Lydjah was following her.

When Lien had gotten back from her jog it was to see Molly staring grimly at a picture in front of her. Lien flinched visibly as she saw it and understood the implications.

"That's horrible-" Lien began in a shocked gasp.

"Yeah she is, isn't she?" Lien stared at her best friend in surprise; surely she didn't suddenly hate Jayna? "Think about it Lien; she's the daughter of Pureblood maniacs. Everyone knows she's chummy with her Muggleborn hating sister again, who knows who else she's friends with!"

"You hated James' annoyance over Al's sorting and he's actually a Slytherin!" Lien retaliated.

"That's completely different; Al is a Potter he's nothing like them-"

"Well what about Scorpius?" Molly's glare grew even brighter.

"If Uncle Harry says their family is ok I'm taking his word for it. He's never said anything about the Blackwoods being good."

"That's because he doesn't know them; which in my mind is a good thing seeing as he deals with criminals!" Molly wasn't listening to her. "Dark wizards or witches don't buy people Christmas presents Mol!" She tried again but Molly was too furious, seemingly with herself, for not realising Jayna's 'true nature' earlier. "Molly I'm the Muggleborn here and Jayna's never done anything to me-"

"Lien you told me how her smile dropped when she found out you were a Muggleborn-"

"Because her entire family had just been killed by Muggles!"

"Right." Molly said disbelievingly. Lien frowned in confusion.

"What do you mean-" Molly changed the subject quickly, backtracking.

"How do you know that?" Lien blushed, effectively distracted.

"I, er, may have sneaked a glance at her file when I was interviewed by your Uncle." Molly gave her an appraising look but was quickly building up steam again for her Jayna-hating campaign.

"She comes from a long family of hatred-"

"So did that prisoner of Azkaban escapee right? Something Black? Didn't he turn out alright?"

"You can't just compare one person to another and make judgements on them because of it!" Lien blinked a few times as Molly stared her down in a fury, apparently not realising the complete hypocrisy of her statement. Molly took her silence as giving up and stormed out of the common room, heading for breakfast.

Lien went after her once she'd got changed from her running clothes. She didn't know what to do. On the one hand, she had no idea what the Wizarding War was like. She had no idea if the mere mention of Jayna's last name should be accompanied with a shudder. She didn't even know Jayna well enough to form a good argument on her behalf. On the other, she highly doubted the girl who'd grinned so widely at concert tickets could actually be torturing Muggleborns in her spare time. She also thought she'd been in Hogwarts long enough to assess the blood-purity prejudices in her generation and while they were most probably still there most people's views were under the surface. Not that she thought this was a good thing, but at least they weren't actively discriminating against people.

As for Jayna specifically, well yes Jayna had treated her very coldly on that first day on the train but Lien honestly believed that it was just discomfort from losing her family. And yes she'd made peace with her sister, but Lien knew their views were a source of conflict between the two, and also that if all of her family had died leaving only herself and her sister she wouldn't care if her sister turned out to be that Unnamed-Dark-Riddle-Snake-Man; she'd still stick to her like glue.

When Lien reached the Great Hall she once again cursed her small legs for not getting her there faster and also for bothering to change out of her running gear. In front of her was a very silent student-body who were watching with interest the huge one-sided shouting-match taking place in the centre of the room, between the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff tables. The few teachers who were still sat down (it was quite late in the morning by now and most of them had gone out for the weekend anyway) seemed to be watching with as much horrified fascination as the students. Molly stood yelling, for once towering over Jayna, her face brighter than her hair if possible. Dominque grabbed her wrist to calm her down but Molly shook her off impatiently.

"Why won't you look at me?!" She screamed, shaking Jayna's shoulder. Jayna looked awful. She was turned away from Molly, a spoon halfway into her cereal. Her shoulders were slumped over, so different from her usual Pureblood posture, and her hair, usually so sharp and glossy was matted and slightly red. She turned now, so she was half-facing Molly but looking mostly towards the entrance doors where Lien was crossing towards them.

"Weasley, I'm really sorry that the acts that my family are rumoured to have committed before they all BURNT to DEATH in a house fire made you feel the need to come and shout at one of their only remaining relatives but I'm afraid they can't hear you." Molly's eyes narrowed to slits.

"You're just like them-"

"And proud of it!" Jayna screamed back, standing up herself. Molly took an involuntary step back. "Let me tell you something about growing up as a Pureblood. My life wasn't made up of attending social gatherings while Voldemort sympathisers grumbled amongst themselves about their cocktails ok? I had a normal enough childhood. I'm trilingual. Did anyone bother to ask about that? My parents and the rest of my family taught me as much as they could teach a little girl. They were Purists but mostly they didn't support Voldemort's actions. They weren't baddies with masks and dark cloaks. They were proud and intelligent and kind and funny and wonderful. And that's just my parents. I love being compared to them.

"When someone says I'm like my family I'm proud. If I could someday possess half the intelligence of my mother and a quarter of the kindness of my father you would not be able find a better person. No, that does not mean I agree with the views that DIED with them. I'm sure every single one of you in this room," her eyes swept over the masses, "has some different views from your family. Why does just having the surname 'Blackwood' automatically mean I'm not allowed to have separate views, same as you? Oh you can go on about how so-and-so discriminates against Muggleborns; well guess what; you're discriminating right back."

Jayna didn't wait to see her audience's reaction (it was varied), she was already dashing out the door, not bothering to hide her tear-stained cheeks.

Lydjah sent a look full of pure rage to Molly. "Merlin… Was there a way you could have been more hurtful?" She turned to face the hall. "Oh, and if I ever find out who played that delightful trick on Jayna this morning I will quite happily curse your limbs off." She followed Jayna's exit, snagging a piece of toast on her way past.

Lien hesitantly tapped Molly on the shoulder. The frozen Hufflepuff looked wildly round at her friend, trying to keep up the act for a little longer, before she collapsed onto Lien's shoulder.

James and April thought the Great Hall was rather quiet at lunchtime, even for a Hogsmeade day. He'd grabbed them some brunch from the kitchens for their trip, but was now feeling rather peckish again, and more than a little cold from the cool February air.

They sat down across from Sam and Lee, who were two of only ten people already in the Hall.

"It's really quiet isn't it?" Sam stated the obvious without a greeting, as was her custom.

"Yeah. Did something happen this morning?"

"Dunno. We weren't at breakfast." Lee explained. James' owl flew in and dropped off a letter with an agitated huff; clearly it was upset about not being able to deliver the letter on time. James rolled his eyes as he took the letter and when he saw the handwriting he practically ripped it open, skimming over the words feverishly.

"What is it?" Sam asked.

"Dad says Auntie Audrey's coming in to check the pitch is still perfect in that room." James said slowly, making slow nods and waggling his eyebrows. Sam gave him a look; she'd got what he meant when he said that first 'pitch.'

"Your Auror Auntie is coming in to check the music rooms are ok?" April asked confusedly. James nodded like it was a normal assignment for Aurors.

"So, Sam, buddy of mine, I was wondering seeing as you'll undoubtedly be going back to Ravenclaw tower with your date if you could tell Blackwood and Dawson to save me the tri-"

"'Buddy of mine'? Just to get me to pass on a message to Blackwood because you're too scared to?"

"No-one said anything about being scared Sam." Sam rolled her eyes.

"I'll tell Blackwood for you chicken boy but I'd better have a mighty good snack waiting for me when I get back to Gryffindor tower." James attempted the salute that Sam had tried to teach him and failed miserably.

"I wouldn't want to talk to Blackwood right now." April said conversationally.

"What, why?" The other three asked.

"Haven't you seen the posters around the school? She's not having the greatest of days."

"What happened?"

"Seriously James? We walked past like three." James managed to keep the heat off his cheeks (his reason for not seeing them was because he had unashamedly been staring at his girlfriend's ass), just.

"Yep seriously."

"Someone poured a load of mud and blood over her this morning and then one of your cousins, one of the smaller ginger ones," Like that narrows it down. Sam thought, "had this massive shouting match with her and she ran off crying so I assume her day's pretty bad."

"How did you-" James spluttered, "I've been with you all day-" April just tapped the side of her nose and winked. None of the other people at the table got the gesture unfortunately, and politely looked away as she 'scratched her nose'.

By teatime the pictures had been removed by the teachers. Riley and Paige both had detention with Filch to the end of the month because of them (they'd actually signed the pictures; and they were supposed to be Ravenclaws). Of course, this didn't stop everyone from talking about it and no-one was surprised when neither Jayna nor Lydjah turned up to eat (except James who couldn't see why they wouldn't; eating was too important, until Sam pointed out that they might know where the kitchens are, which James disregarded as impossible).

Sam and Lee left a little earlier to go and talk to the two of them before Riley and Paige got back. Sam had to admit that she got a little distracted by Lee along the way though (it wasn't her fault that James had proposed the question of 'how many girls can we snog between the two of us in as many places as possible before we leave school?') but thankfully Riley and Paige had detention straight after dinner.

Lee said the answer to get in to the Ravenclaw common room before Sam had even finished processing the question but they were greeted by an unpleasant sight in the form of Oscar Ivers, a fourth-year Ravenclaw.

"Oi faggots are you gonna get it on in there?" He asked, jerking his hand towards the second-years dormitory. Sam started in a rage but Lee grabbed her hand and cocked her head to the side at him.

"Sorry, can you repeat that?"

"I said; are you faggots going to fuck in there?" Lee shook her head looking pityingly at him.

"Yeah that's what I thought you said. Hang on mate." He looked at her bewildered as she rummaged through her bag, stepping closer to see what she was getting. "Ah, found it!" She dug it out with one hand.

The other Ravenclaws were looking on in interest, edging closer to the three of them. To their great surprise an almighty smack sounded, making everyone in the room jump, and Oscar crumpled to the floor, unconscious, one of his teeth flying across the room to hit Patrick Patil in the eye. Lee stood there smiling, swinging her Beater's bat casually with one hand.

Sam looked at her, absurdly attracted, when Lydjah interrupted their moment. "What was that noi- Oh hey Sam, Lee- Wait; why is Ivers on the flo- Oh please say one of you two knocked him out?" Sam stepped away from Lee and gestured to her, doing jazz hands. Lee rolled her eyes, swinging the bat over her shoulder and nodding her head towards her dorm.

"I need to thank Blackwood for that Undetectable Extension Charm she put on my bag. She in there?" At the mention of Jayna the common-room had gone very quiet again. Lee calmly stepped over Oscar's prone form (Sam just stepped on him muttering a sarcastic 'sorry' as her foot went into his stomach) and walked into the dormitory, shutting the door behind her possibly-maybe-girlfriend.

Jayna was sat on Lydjah's bed (hers didn't have new sheets yet), looking tired but no longer hysterical. Mostly she looked drained. She'd had another go at washing her hair which now looked marginally better and though she put on a wide smile when she saw Sam and Lee it didn't get anywhere close to her eyes.

"How was your date?" She asked politely. Sam and Lee immediately knew she didn't want to talk about her day so they didn't ask.

"Pretty great actually." They said together, clambering onto Lee's bed. They smiled at each other and Lydjah and Jayna both simultaneously rolled their eyes.

"James wanted me to tell you that his Dad sent him a reply and that his Auntie Audrey's coming to check it out." At this Jayna deflated even more.

"Why couldn't he tell me himself?"

"Couldn't be bothered." Sam said, shrugging, not noticing Lydjah's glare until it was a little too late. "What I mean by that is-" Lee cut her off, recognising she was just going to dig herself into a hole.

"You done the DADA homework?" Jayna nodded.

"Yeah. Think I did a little too much but ah well."

"How much did you do?"

"Seven sides of parchment." Everyone else in the room gaped at her.

"She only asked for one and a half! How did you manage to do seven sides of parchment on the subject of the defensive properties of different woods?"

"I find wand-lore interesting and this sort of tied in." Jayna said, shrugging. Sam pulled out her wand from her trouser pocket and studied it.

"What can you tell me about my wand then?"

"What is it?"

"Phoenix feather, reasonably supple, twelve and a half inches, Cedar."

"Well you've got a pretty big personality for your height from your wand length and you're reasonably susceptible to change. Your wand core means you've got the biggest range of magic, though it probably won't show for a while. Obviously it's also the rarest. Your whole wand is very unusual actually. The wood…" She hummed for a moment, looking uncannily like the late Ollivander himself before grinning. "Oh yes I remember; Cedar wands go to people who are very loyal and very dangerous if the people they are fond of are hurt, which comes at a shock for people who've challenged them without thinking. Guess that applies to you quite a bit; idiots who think you're less capable than James just because you're a female often end up in the Hospital wing, no?" Sam grinned proudly.

"Really? Cool." She stared at her wand with new interest. "All Ollivander said to me in the shop was that it was a very individual wand."