"Are you expecting mail today, Theo?" Blaise asked with a raised eyebrow as he noticed his friend's jumpiness at breakfast that morning.
Theo glared at him but nodded. His hands were covered in bites and red marks as he fidgeted them. It was easy to see how anxious Theo was but it was for good reason, Blaise thought.
Every time Theodore received mail from his father, his malicious owl delivered it and without fail, every time it would bite him. Daphne suggested going to Madam Pomfrey to heal his hands but she hadn't met Lord Nott.
Blaise had met him once at the Malfoy's Winter Ball they threw every year. Lord Nott was cold and cruel and Theodore said his father never let anyone heal Theo's injuries as it is unbecoming of an heir not to tolerate pain.
Personally, Blaise just thought he found some sick pleasure in torturing his son.
"Afraid of a bird, Nott? No wonder Lord Nott thinks you're a disappointment." One of the boys in their year, Runcorn scowled at Theo.
Daphne sent him an icy glare. "Perhaps we can make a request to Lord Nott for Malice to be your personal owl, Runcorn."
"Stay out of it, Greengrass." Runcorn snarled at her.
"Causing trouble at the table, Runcorn? Professor Snape won't be happy." Draco drawled as he walked up to sit at the table. He slid in, his eyes narrowed at the dark haired boy.
Runcorn scowled at him before leaving the table. The forms of Crabbe and Goyle quickly sat a ways further down the table, both of them flanking Draco.
"You shouldn't antagonize him so much, Draco. He's been looking for a way to turn on you since we were five." Daphne told him, her gaze leveled on him.
Draco met her eyes with a cold glare. "He thinks he's better than he is. Someone has to put him in his place."
Blaise rolled his eyes. "Just admit you enjoy taunting him, Draco."
Draco narrowed his eyes at him and threw him a rude gesture hidden from view from the other tables.
"Don't be immature, Draco," Daphne told him. "Your pathetic attempts to be nice to Heir Potter are embarrassment enough."
Blaise and Theodore snickered as Draco's cheeks turned pink. "That's none of your business, Greengrass!" Draco sneered.
Daphne rolled her eyes and turned back to her breakfast. She picked a piece on her fork and lowered it to the floor. Blaise spotted a black figure at her feet.
Draco scoffed in disgust. "Why you feed that miserable animal is a mystery. No wonder Lord Greengrass can't tolerate it."
Daphne's eyes turned ice cold as she met Draco's steel eyes head on. "May I remind you of Clause 431, Draco?"
Draco's mouth shut with a click as he turned back to his breakfast.
"That's what I thought."
"How is your task with the potters coming along, dear Drakey?" Blaise mocked with a smirk.
Draco glared at him. "Don't read my letters, Blaise. I could get you arrested for that."
Blaise grinned. "Then you would lose the pleasure of my company."
"Good Riddance." Draco snorted. Theodore rolled his eyes.
"Behave, Boys," Daphne said without looking at them.
A loud screech interrupted them and the four Slytherins looked up to see hundreds of owls flying to their recipients. Theodore cringed as he spotted a large, grey owl carrying a letter on its leg. As it lowered itself next to the table, its bright yellow eyes narrowed at Theodore.
It lifted its leg towards the boy who eyed the bird suspiciously. Theodore reached his hand towards the letter and quickly untied the letter but just as the bird's beak snapped at his hand, he quickly withdrew his hand faster than the bird could bite him.
"HA! Too quick for you!" Theodore grinned smugly.
Malice glared at him before quickly snapping towards his face. Theodore's hand went to protect his face but the bird took off towards the ceiling. He groaned as he rubbed a few beads of blood from the injury on his face.
"Bloody bird." He muttered angrily as Draco and Blaise sent him amused looks. Daphne looked at him sympathetically. "Perhaps you should kill it." She told him passively.
He looked at her crazy. "Kill it? It would kill me and then my Father would kill me only to resurrect me and kill me again!" He shouted.
"Bird problems again, Theo?" a new boy grinned as he slid into the seat next to Theodore. He was older than them with dark skin and a charming smile.
Theodore flushed as Draco and Blaise grinned. "Hayes." Draco acknowledged.
The boy named Hayes grinned at Draco before turning his attention to the red Theodore who was sinking into his chair. "N-no," Theodore muttered.
"Oh, really? What's that on your face then?" Hayes grinned as Theo immediately covered up his new mark.
"None of your business!" Theodore shouted as his blush faded and his dignity came back.
Hayes pretended to be wounded, laying his hand over his heart. "Is that any way to treat a friend?"
"We're not friends."
"Please, Theo. I've known you since you were in diapers." Hayes snorted.
Theodore glared at him. "You're only a year older, Hayes."
Hayes rolled his eyes. "How many times have I told you to call me Gabriel?"
Theodore stubbornly shook his head. "My father-"
Hayes snorted. "I don't give two shits about your father, Theodore," Hayes told him. "I care about you."
Theodore's face turned red as Hayes winked at him and grabbed a piece of bacon from Theodore's plate and popped it into his mouth.
He turned to Draco once he had swallowed. "I heard you needed an in with the Potter's, Draco."
Draco narrowed his eyes. "How did you come across this source of information?"
Blaise rolled his eyes. "You're not exactly discreet, Draco."
Hayes grinned at him. "Word gets around. I may know someone who can help you."
Draco raised his eyebrows at the older boy. Hayes took that to continue. "Killian Grey, heard of him?"
Blaise smirked. "Aren't they known for their dealings on the black market?"
Hayes nodded. "And information and blackmail. Killian's a third year; he's got info on everybody, the family business you know."
Draco frowned. "How does this help me?"
Hayes grinned. "Well, I heard he's got info on the first years. Takes usually two months of digging around, I hear. There was a rumor he had some info on the Potter's."
Draco narrowed his eyes at the grinning boy. "And what can I offer you?"
Hayes grinned. "I get you an in with him, you make sure I don't find Theo with any more injuries from malice."
Theodore immediately flushed bright red and begun sputtering but Draco already nodded in agreement.
Hayes grinned and stood up. "I'll tell you where to meet him." He rubbed the hair on Theodore's head before leaving, leaving the pureblood boy blushing heavily.
"Honestly, Theodore. You're redder than a Weasley." Daphne sent him a sly smirk.
Theodore groaned and immediately buried his head in his hands.
"You're not actually going to try to get mail from malice are you?" Blaise asked quizzically.
Draco rolled his eyes. "Of course not. He never said I had to get the mail, just to make sure Theodore doesn't. I'll just get Crabbe or Goyle to do it."
At once, the two boys turned to Crabbe and Goyle, whom both sat silently, nothing to indicate they even knew the conversation was going on.
Blaise snorted. "How Slytherin."
/
Killian Grey was a master of information. It was in his DNA his father used to say; so for practice, his father told him to keep informed of all the students at Hogwarts. He had dirt on everyone, the family business, he thought mockingly. His father had not been happy he had been sorted into Ravenclaw and not Slytherin but better than Gryffindor or Hufflepuff. He would have been skinned alive if he had to wear red or yellow.
He stalked into the library, cautiously analyzing the students reading. There were a few upper years and four first years.
In one of the desks was a bushy-haired muggleborn, Hermione Granger. First-year Gryffindor, muggleborn and top of her class according to the teachers. Except in charms, he remembered, as Flitwick couldn't stop raving about Amaryllis Potter and her use of the Lumos Solem charm in her first class. The muggleborn was reading a very old and heavy book about famous witches and wizards.
There were two other first years across the table. Hannah Abbott, Heiress of the House of Abbott, pureblood, first year Hufflepuff, very friendly. Megan Jones, first-year Hufflepuff, muggleborn, athletically inclined. According to some of her housemates, she talked to them about muggle sports she was into.
The fourth was the more elusive of the first years. Lily Moon, first year Hufflepuff, possible half-blood. It was tricky to even find out her blood status as she had no birth record. He couldn't find her parents either. His only lead was that she told her classmate, Sally Smith, that she was half-blood. He did know that she carried her purple messenger bag with her everywhere. He had several accounts say that the bag moved when they got near it.
Quickly making a decision, he headed towards the young redhead and quietly sat down at her table, giving a charming smile. She looked up from the book she was reading, a piece of muggle fiction, and gave him a polite smile.
"Hello, my name is Killian-" he started but was interrupted.
"Killian Grey. You like two poached eggs and sausage with a cup of black tea." She smiled. He blinked in surprise and immediately tensed up. "May I ask how you know this?"
Lily laughed. "Don't worry, I'm not a stalker though I've certainly heard reports that you are. The House-elves like to keep track of all the students and their favorite meals; they speak quite fondly about you as you personally order the same thing every day."
He raised his eyebrows skeptically. "You know how to get to the kitchens?"
Lily nodded. "I found it after classes on my second day. It really wasn't hidden that well. May I help you?"
Killian paused. "You're very open for being such a secretive person."
Lily giggled. "You think I'm secretive? Well, I suppose I must be to someone dealing in information like you."
Killian couldn't help the smirk lift on his face. "And what makes you think I deal in information?"
Lily grinned at him from across the table. "Gossip really does travel." She smiled at him before standing, adjusting her messenger bag and grabbing her book. "I really must be going. Pears don't laugh by themselves." She winked.
His eyes widened as she left. He smirked. She was more interesting than he thought. He noticed as she left, a blond pureblood heir entered the library. Draco Malfoy, First year Slytherin, Pureblood, Heir to the House of Malfoy. Gregory Goyle and Vincent Crabbe trailed him, both with stony looks on their faces. He didn't have much information on them but He was pretty sure there was nothing in their heads to analyze.
The blonde boy noticed the older boy and Killian leaned back in his chair, putting his legs on top of the table as the boy slid into the seat previously occupied by the mysterious redhead.
He preferred the Hufflepuff girl, he thought as he stared at the boy who was trying to intimidate him and failing miserably.
It would be a long time before this boy would be a suitable heir. He had too much to learn.
Killian smirked and only stared at the boy. Malfoy's foot began tapping as the silence persisted and the impatience showed on his face.
He snorted inwardly as the boy's face clearly showed his emotions. He definitely had a lot to learn. Malfoy cracked after a few minutes of the silence.
"Well, aren't you going to give me my information?" The boy said arrogantly.
Killian raised an eyebrow. "I never said I was going to give you information."
"Hayes said-" Malfoy angrily hissed at him but Killian interrupted him. "Hayes agreed to get you to talk and so far, it's not going so well."
Malfoy seemed to realize his mistake and his face went blank at once. "I apologize, Grey. I should have better read the situation."
Killian surveyed him and nodded once. "I can get you the information you want."
Malfoy scrutinized him. "And the cost?"
Killian smirked. "I have no need for money, Malfoy. Let's say you'll owe me a favor."
Malfoy stiffened. He obviously knew how pureblood favors worked but despite the boy's hesitation, he gave a nod of consent.
"A Favor." He repeated. Killian smirked. "Let's get to work then."
/
Mara opened her eyes with the oddest feeling inside her chest. She could feel her sheets on her skin and Breena's presence at the foot of her bed. She could hear snores coming from Lavender's bed across the room which meant that she had woken up early for once.
As she sat in bed, she noticed the sun was only beginning to start coming over the hills. Frowning, something felt odd in her chest, as if she forgot something.
She decided to get up and get dressed for the day. It was Thursday; they had Defense in the morning, Potions before lunch and charms in the afternoon. She ran through her options as she got dressed. It was October, it wasn't anyone's birthday, and it wasn't an anniversary.
She was halfway through struggling to brush her hair when she remembered the date of the day with a gasp, dropping the brush on the floor.
Solemnly, she picked it up to stare at herself in the mirror. Today was Halloween.
Suddenly disgusted with her reflection, she headed into the common room and noticed Hermione was stirring.
Hermione was brilliant but tended to get jealous over academics. For one thing, Mara hated sitting next to her in charms as Hermione constantly took it as a competition. Mara loved charms but she didn't want to upset her friend. When Mara had pretended to play dumb one day, Hermione had caught on straight away and wouldn't talk to her for two days.
It wasn't until Harry talked to her that Hermione even began to be around her again. Mara just wanted a friend but it was like Hermione had to compete with her with everything.
Her other dormmates weren't much help either. Lavender and Parvati had taken the shy Sophie Roper under their wing. They were constantly talking about magazines and clothes which Mara just couldn't pay attention to. Sophie didn't look like she enjoyed it either but was friends with them anyway. Mara suspected she just wanted them to like her.
Then there was Peyton bell, who was constantly missing from their dorm. She was asleep before lights out and was gone before they woke up. Even now, her bed was made as if no one had slept in it at all. The girl was amazingly beautiful and very talented; she was usually one of the first to perform spells or potions in every class though most people didn't notice. She just never interacted with anyone. It was like she wanted to be alone all the time.
Mara sighed before grabbing her journal and heading downstairs. The Journal had been very useful in communicating with her mother, especially when she had such a demanding job. Her mother would write whenever she could but her father had always been bad at writing.
Her mother told her that her father had gotten a howler from his parents more than once for forgetting to write them during his Hogwarts years. Mara wished she could have known them.
There were a lot of things she wished on Halloween. As she headed down to the common room, she noticed barely anyone was up.
It was really early but there were a few older years studying. She took a seat at one of the tables and brought out her astronomy homework to work on it as she waited for her friends.
/
Mara knew Harry was keeping an eye on her, she could feel it though she never caught him. Breakfast was super uncomfortable as she was sure her friends noticed harry's gaze and her silence. Mara was feeling irritated today and she was trying not to take it out on her friends but the silence was making her even more irritated.
It was a never-ending cycle. She poked at her food, not really paying attention when she noticed Harry giving her a pointed look. She looked up and turned around her in her seat when Harry gestured that way. Draco Malfoy and an Italian boy were standing there, both with polite looks on their face.
Her irritation increased but Mara kept her face blank. She raised an eyebrow. "Is there something you need, Malfoy?"
The Slytherin nodded. "I wanted to offer my condolences. I know it is the anniversary of your godmother's death. House Malfoy offers you its sympathy."
"House Zabini would like to offer the same." The Italian boy said with a solemn look.
Her irritation fled momentarily as she realized he knew who her godmother was. Mostly everyone simply forgot that today was her godmother's death instead of a day to celebrate. She understood why people celebrated but trying to force her to celebrate today was just rude in her opinion.
She nodded. "Thank you both. Your sympathies are appreciated."
The two boys nodded before leaving the table. Mara frowned. She had noticed Malfoy try to gain favor with Harry several times but that was the first time he was actually civil to her.
Her irritation came flooding back as she realized he just wanted them on his side. Angrily, she stabbed her breakfast with her fork and huffed.
Everyone always wanted something from her.
"Mara?" She looked at her twin's concerned expression and faked a smile. "I'm all right." She lied. He clearly knew she wasn't all right, he always knew, just as she knew when he wasn't feeling okay.
Mara heaved a sigh. "We have potions, don't we?"
Ron was still eating breakfast but she saw Hermione and Neville exchange a concerned look between them. Luckily, they didn't say anything. Mara didn't know how much longer she could hold out without snapping at someone.
Potions were going to be terrible.
She has proven right as immediately Snape started the class by putting the instructions on the board for the wiggenweld potion before splitting them into duos. Mara was paired with Hermione which only made her even more irritated as she knew Hermione liked to be in control of things. Then again, she wasn't exactly in the best mood to be in charge.
Things came to a head when Mara almost put six lionfish spines instead of five. Hermione hissed at her. "Pay attention, Mara. I don't want to fail."
Mara sent her an irritated glare but she couldn't really be mad at her, Mara really wasn't in the best place.
Still, they managed to get the potion finished perfectly. Snape went through his rounds and stopped at their potions. He sneered down at Mara, ignoring Hermione.
"5 points from Gryffindor for letting your partner do all the work."
Hermione's face fell while Mara narrowed her eyes. "You have no proof of that."
Snape sneered. "I'm the teacher. I don't need proof, you insolent little girl."
Mara felt her temper rising and she could feel worry coming from her bond to Breena. Harry sent her a warning look but it was too late.
"Maybe if you were a competent teacher, you wouldn't feel the need to pick on eleven-year-olds." She snapped.
Hermione's face turned pale.
"20 points from Gryffindor and Detention, Miss Potter." Snape snarled at her, vanishing their potion without warning. She glared up at him but didn't respond.
When he dismissed the class, Mara was the first to leave. She heard Hermione hurrying after her, no doubt she was going to lecture Mara about talking back to a teacher but Mara just didn't want to hear it.
A hand grabbed her elbow, slowing her to a halt and Mara inwardly sighed. Her eyes met Harry's green ones and he looked at her seriously but didn't say anything.
Her shoulders slumped as she felt tired all ready.
"Mara, how could you speak to a teacher like that?" Her irritation returned as she turned to see Hermione's angry face. Mara kept silent, hoping that Hermione would get the hint as her glare focused on the bushy haired girl.
"That was completely uncalled for! You're lucky he didn't take more than twenty points! And he vanished the potion I made!" Hermione ranted, her face turning red.
"I don't need your lecture, Hermione. I don't need you or your constant competition to be better than everyone else so leave me alone!" Mara snapped. Hermione took a step back from her vicious words, her eyes becoming misty.
Shame filled Mara as she realized what she had said. "I-I'm sorry." Mara stuttered before walked away, holding her sides.
This was a new low, even for her.
Harry watched as Mara hurried away. He turned to Hermione, who was holding back tears and biting her lip. Ron and Neville stood in silence and both looked as if they had no idea what was going on.
Harry sighed. "She's been in a bad mood all day. She didn't mean anything she said, I promise. Just give her time to cool down." He told the bushy haired girl.
Hermione didn't look convinced but nodded.
/
The red-haired potter sat in the corridor on the floor, her knees pulled to her chest as she tried to calm her thoughts. Her emotions were out of control, as they were every Halloween and when her emotions get out of control, so does her magic. Breena had tried to comfort her but Mara was scared she would snap at her too so she asked her to go hunt. Breena sent comfort through their bond which helped a little bit though she felt like she didn't deserve it.
Mara couldn't believe she said that to Hermione. She couldn't believe she said that to Snape! Oh god, she was lucky he didn't murder her right there.
Shame and guilt filled her stomach. She kept her eyes on the tops of her knees until she heard footsteps. She looked up and a brown haired girl filled her view.
The most allusive of her dorm mates stood in front of her.
Peyton didn't pay her any attention but lowered herself beside Mara, the stick of a lollipop sticking out of her mouth. Mara waited tensely for Peyton to say anything but she didn't.
Peyton stared straight ahead, her eyes focused on the wall in front of them.
Mara eventually started to relax until she heard rustling and tensed again. Peyton was digging for something out of her robes and outstretched her hand to Mara. Mara could see a brightly colored cherry flavored lollipop. She had no idea where Peyton had got it because it was a muggle candy and they aren't even sold at Hogsmeade.
Idly, she wondered if the Ravenclaw smuggler she heard about had gotten it for her.
Mara timidly took the lollipop, careful not to touch Peyton's skin directly. She slowly twirled it in her hands as she exchanged looks at Peyton in questioning. "Why the lollipop?"
"You looked like you could use one," Peyton told her softly, still not looking away from the wall. Mara gave her a brief smile at the kind gesture. She unwrapped the treat and popped it into her mouth. "Thank you." She told her through the lollipop.
She could've sworn she saw Peyton's mouth twitch upwards.
The two girls sat in silence, side by side in silence. Mara didn't really want to talk and Peyton seemed to realize this, not saying a word.
Slowly, Mara began to relax. She could feel the warmth from Peyton beside her and at the moment, that was all she needed.
The knot in her stomach began to lessen until it became bearable again.
She was still angry, she was still upset and she was still guilty at what she said to Hermione but it didn't seem like everything was lost anymore.
Mara closed her eyes, laying her cheek onto her knee, just enjoying the comforting silence.
Mara didn't know how long they sat next to each other, but eventually, she heard Peyton shifting and getting up.
Mara looked up as Peyton stopped in front of her, holding out her hand.
Mara looked up with a smile as she noticed Peyton had brown eyes. Giving a tender smile, she grabbed a hold of Peyton's hand and pulled herself to a stand.
The two girls stood awkwardly for a moment before Peyton looked away. "The first years' charm class should be getting out soon," Peyton said.
Mara's lips twitched into a smile. "Thank you."
Peyton didn't look at her but solemnly nodded before walking down the hallway, seemingly uncaring.
Mara knew differently. She could've sworn she saw Peyton smile.
Mara heaved a relieved sigh as she stretched, popping her bones in relief.
She needed to make some apologies.
/
Ron sat in a guilty silence in the great hall. After his comments about Hermione, she had brushed past them in tears and they hadn't seen her since. He shouldn't have said that she didn't have any friends when they were supposed to be her friends but he was just so annoyed. She thought she was so much better than them and then she embarrassed him in class.
Harry hadn't spoken to him, only given him a stony silence, Neville was rather quiet about it but he wasn't happy with him either and since Mara hadn't come back after her freak-out earlier, he was sitting alone.
"Can you believe her outburst at Snape?" He heard a few Gryffindor girls conversing and rolled his eyes at the girls and their gossip until he heard the other girl reply "Yeah, it was brave but really idiotic. I heard she got detention for a week."
One of the other girls spoke up, more soft-spoken. "She didn't. She only got one. She told me when I saw her after charms. I told her where to find Hermione."
Ron immediately perked up as he heard this. "Hey, what do you mean by that? Where's Hermione?"
The three girls all looked at him surprised. He recognized two of the girls as dorm mates with Mara and Hermione but the third, a girl with brown hair and glasses didn't look familiar.
The third girl blushed as he scrutinized her. "Um, well, Parvarti found Hermione crying in the girl's bathroom. She's been in there since charms got out."
Ron's stomach twisted up with guilt as he heard this. Only something like that could have made him feel worse.
He sighed and poked at his food. He was still hungry but he really didn't feel like he deserved it. As he took a bite of his food; he decided he could apologize when they came back to the common room.
There was a loud bang as the doors to the great hall burst open and Professor Quirrell came running in, a frantic look on his face.
"Troll!" He screamed. "Troll in the dungeon."
The entire hall went silent and Ron's face paled as it registered what he had said.
"Thought you ought to know," Quirrel said hurriedly before fainting on the floor.
Ron's eyes went wide as screams rang out through the hall. He saw Harry and Neville exchanging panicked looks but Ron's mind only went to one thing.
Hermione was crying in the girl's bathroom. Mara was looking for her. They were close to the dungeon. Troll in the dungeon.
Everything went into silence though he could still hear the chaos of the room as children hurried to escape. He saw his brother, Percy's red hair, commanding the first years to follow him to the common room but Ron quickly directed his gaze to Harry.
It took only a moment before his senses came back and he hurriedly got up and ran towards his friends. Angry with him or not, they had to listen to him.
When he got close enough, he grabbed onto Harry's robe and pulled him aside of the frantic students. Harry gave him a confused and alarmed look.
Ron lowered his voice, trying to keep calm. "Hermione's in the girl's bathroom. Mara went after her. They don't know about the troll!" He told him urgently.
Harry and Neville both paled.
/
Mara sighed as she entered another of the various hallways on this floor. After checking nearly a dozen bathrooms, she had yet to find Hermione.
Mara winced as her stomach growled loudly. Pitifully, she cast a frown at the direction of the Great Hall, wishing to get some food. Her friends came first, Mara thought reluctantly though she really just wanted to go get something to eat.
As she saw the last bathroom on this floor at the end of the hall, she hurried to reach it, hoping she could find Hermione in this one.
Mara sighed as she entered the bathroom, identical to all the others, but her eyes widened as she saw black shoes and white socks from underneath one of the stall doors.
Straining her ears, she could hear a soft sniffing. Mara nearly cheered at finding her friend but then guilt swarmed up into her chest. First Mara was mean to her and then Ron, Hermione had a really bad day.
Well, it's up to me to fix my friend, Mara thought, optimistically.
You really think she's still your friend, a dark voice inside her whispered. Insecurity and guilt stopped Mara in her tracks.
When she heard Hermione give another sniffle, she took a breath before heading to the door, her stomach filling with nerves. Hermione's breath had paused so she must've heard someone come in.
Raising her knuckles to the door, she gave a soft knock. "Hermione?" She asked, timidly. She wasn't sure if Hermione would even answer back or if she wanted her here at all.
The silence dragged on before Hermione let out another sniff before answering, "Mara?"
Hermione's voice was hoarse from crying and mara's felt her throat close from the welling guilt.
"Hermione, I…" She didn't know how to continue. "I'm really sorry about what I said."
"It's not like you're wrong." Hermione choked out.
Mara frowned. "but I was wrong. I really like being your friend, Hermione." Hermione made a choking sound from the other side of the door. "I think you're smart and you can be so much fun when you're not worried about homework or grades. You're wickedly brilliant, and I would love to be friends with you."
Mara sighed, as she realized she had to be honest. "But you're also very competitive." She admitted. Hermione went silent and mara continued. "It frustrates me because you're so amazing but you want to be the best at everything and you just can't. It's unrealistic. We all have things we're good at and things were bad at. Did you have any idea Ron was so amazing at chess?"
Mara smiled when she heard Hermione let out strangled laughter from behind the door. After losing to him ten times in a row, Hermione had finally given up on beating Ron at chess, much to his smug delight.
"Neville is awesome with plants, he has a beautiful greenhouse at his house! Harry is a natural on a broom, I mean, he was professional good when he was nine! I'm good at charms, I guess, but I promise I'm not as good as Professor Flitwick keeps saying. You have your own talents, Hermione," Mara told her, being as honest as she could.
"You can memorize anything you read! I think that is so cool!" Mara grinned.
Hermione laughed. "You think I'm cool?"
"Of Course!" Mara replied, immediately. "I think you're amazing, Hermione. I just wish you didn't feel like you have to compete with everyone to prove that."
There was a moment of silence until Mara heard the lock of the bathroom door unlock and the door slowly open.
Hermione's bushy hair was pulled into a ponytail, her eyes were red and she had tears tracks running down her face. Hermione gave her a watery smile, rubbing the tears off her face.
"I'm sorry, I've never had friends before. I just feel like If I'm not good enough, they'll send me home." Hermione admitted, shame crossing her face.
Mara looked at her surprised. "Hermione, that's ridiculous! They would never throw you out, there are students here who have troll blood in their veins! They would never send you home, especially someone as bright and brilliant as you!" Mara smiled.
Hermione smiled at her and Mara returned it, opening up her arms for a hug.
Hermione blushed but quickly hugged Mara, wrapped her arms around the smaller girl.
Mara felt the anxiety that's been building in her chest all day dissipate. She had friends to rely on now.
Mara frowned when she smelled something unusual. Looking up and letting go of Hermione, she turned to the door where the smell was coming from. Sniffing, she held her nose as the foul smell assaulted her senses.
Her eyes began to water from the smell.
"Ugh, what is that?" Hermione complained, holding her nose.
Mara stumbled when feeling a vibration through the floor. Something was coming. Mara barely had time to blink before the door was blown open. Mara covered her head from the debris as she heard Hermione give a loud shriek.
Looking up, she found out why. Mara came face to face with a huge creature over 12 feet tall. Its body was huge, covered in scars and was pale grey in color. It's huge stomach protruded and on top of its huge body was a small head. It stared down at them, it's mouth open and it's beady eyes searching.
A mountain troll, Mara thought, her eyes widening and panic flooding her veins. It carried a large wooden club in its hand, dragging on the floor beside it.
Mara backed into the wall, fear overloading her instincts. Remembering the training she went through with her Uncles and Father, she struggled to calm her thoughts.
If she didn't remain calm this thing was going to kill both her and-
Hermione!
Mara turned her head slowly as not to attract its attention to look at her friend. Hermione was frozen on the wall, her mouth open in a silent scream, her breath coming in heavy patches as she stared at the troll.
Slowly, Mara grabbed onto Hermione's hand, as the troll continued to look around the room stupidly, not realizing the two girls were there. Hermione was trembling badly and Mara slunk against the wall, trying not to throw up from her fear and the stench of the troll.
They had to move. If they could get to the sinks, they could run for the door.
"Hermione, run for the sinks when I say," Mara said, urgently. She didn't have a chance before the Troll turned its huge head towards them, it's beady eyes narrowing on them.
Mara gulped. "Now!" Mara gripped onto Hermione's hand, taking off but didn't get far before she was yanked back by Hermione's dead weight.
Hermione hadn't moved. She didn't even look like she was breathing, as tears streamed down her face, staring up at the troll in horror.
That was when Mara found out that Hermione was not good in dangerous situations.
"Hermione, we have to move!" Mara shouted, pulling on her arm to get her to move. The Troll was too close and with a deafening roar, it threw its club into the air.
Panic ran through her as the club was aimed straight at Hermione. In an act of bravery or stupidity or a combination of both, she launched herself at Hermione to get them out of the way of the crash.
There was a loud crash as the troll's club slammed onto the floor. Hermione was out of the way but Mara felt a white, hot blinding pain as a loud crack entered her ears.
Mara didn't realize she was screaming until she could see Hermione's horrified face holding her and feel the burning tears streaming down her face. run, she thought, helplessly at her friend.
She wasn't sure what had happened and let her pain filled gaze fall to the doorway.
Her eyes locked onto an emerald green. Panic filled his gaze and he was screaming something at her but she couldn't hear him anymore. I'm sorry, Harry, she thought before everything went black.
/
Harry stared in shock as he, Neville and Ron burst into the bathroom, the door having been blown wide open. He froze in place as he saw the troll raising its club at the two girls.
He could see his sister's reckless decision to save Hermione as she launched herself at Hermione, causing them both to crash to the ground as the club slammed itself.
There was a sickening crack in the air and Harry could feel tears in his eyes, unsure of what happened.
The dust hadn't even settled when he heard the screaming.
A loud high pitched familiar scream came from their direction. The dust began to settle and all Harry could see was Mara's hazel eyes, filled with pain and tears and blood pouring onto the granite stone.
The troll raised it's club up again, turning on the two girls once again.
Harry could feel something within him snap.
As if losing all control of himself, a white-hot fury burst from his right hand. He snarled loudly at the troll as the rage began to creep it's way up into his veins.
Harry's dark red wand was in his hand before he could even register he had taken it out. He felt rage and pain and anger and whoever hurt his sister, was going to die.
Harry snarled at the troll, slashing his wand in the air and a bright red spell crashed into the troll's skin. It simply bounced off but it had gotten the brutes attention away from the two girls. The troll turned to him, letting out a deafening roar at him, raising his club again.
Spells shot out of his wand, ones he didn't remember even knowing but they all bounced off. He could vaguely hear someone shouting his name but he had lost all reason. All he could see was his prey.
With an inhuman snarl, Harry impulsively shot a spell at the club, freezing it in the air. The troll looked up with a confused look and Harry snarled as he shot a red spell at the club. The club splintered into pieces, raining down on the troll. Harry got a grim satisfaction when the troll began to howl in pain, it's hand covering its eyes. Blood poured from the wounds and Harry could see woods shards sticking out between his hands.
Harry turned to the doorway, hearing a familiar voice telling him to stop. But Why? It hurt his family. It deserved to die in the most painful way possible.
Harry growled out, the magic contained within him beginning to bleed out into the area. More and more power began to consume him like flames tearing up from the inside. Harry prowled towards the troll like a predator to prey.
He paused when he sensed a powerful burst of magic coming from behind him. Instinctively, he rolled out of the way, landing on his knees as a large blue spell hit the troll dead on its chest.
The troll let out a wail, struggling to stay on its feet from the powerful spell before finally crashing into the floor. Harry looked at it only for a second before turning his gaze to the offender. He spotted a man with a white beard and he could count six offending magical beings.
Harry let out a snarl in warning, his power increasing inside of him and swirling into the air around him. Protect. Protect. Protect.
The man with the beard raised his hands in defense and Harry paused, catching sight of something behind him.
An image appeared on a reflective surface. A boy with black hair, untidy and shot out at all angles, a snarl on his face as he knelt on one leg but it was his eyes that startled him.
The boy's eyes glowed brightly and unnaturally green. He had seen the color before.
His friends' pale faces stared at him, both horrified and Harry turned around to see where he had left his sister. The energy began to fade, the burning in his veins vanishing, forcing itself back into his hand.
His hand began to burn as Harry felt the energy leave him, exhaustion taking over him. He managed to glimpse the pale and bloody face of his sister and the brown eyes of Hermione and could finally hear the panicking voice in his head.
It was a cry, soothing and fierce at once. Harry felt his eyes begin to close, the last thing he saw was a burst of white flames around him and a phoenix's cry.