"So who's Nicholas Flamel?" Neville was the first to ask as they walked back from Hagrid's hut. All four of them had been nothing but confused since Hagrid let the name slipped.
"I've heard the name somewhere before but I can't remember," Harry shook his head. Frustration boiled inside his chest as he bit his lip to keep from releasing a scream. They were no closer to answers than they were when this began.
"Okay, we know that there's a cerebus on the third floor-" Hermione, ever the rational listed out.
"Named fluffy," Ron added, gruffly.
"It's guarding something on orders of the headmaster-"
"Albus Dumbledore," Ron said.
"-and has something to do with Nicholas Flamel," Hermione finished.
"No clue," Ron stated.
Hermione frowned at him. "I'll need to check the library again for wizards Professor Dumbledore's worked with in the past."
Harry tuned out of their conversation staring grimly at the path in front of him. They still didn't know what was happening to him and now there was a cerebus on the third floor guarding an unknown object. He heaved a sigh. He didn't imagine his first year at Hogwarts to be this complicated. He probably should've as both He and Mara were danger magnets.
Underneath his robe, he could feel his illegal wand in its holster. He shifted, feeling the cool wood press into his arm. This was the entire reason he had gotten the wand in the first place. He had to stop Mara from getting hurt again.
He side eyed his friends. Ron and Hermione were arguing again as they shut down each other's ideas. Neville held his hands up in a passive move, trying to calm the two. Harry's lips quirked into a smile. They were a lot of work but they were worth it.
"HARRY!"
Harry nearly jumped as a loud yell burst through the air. A student, Gryffindor from the red of their robes was rushing down the steps towards them.
He frowned, the girl looked familiar as if he had seen her before but he couldn't place a name to her face. Though to be fair, he didn't really pay attention to most of the students in school.
All four of them had stopped, waiting for the girl who was rushing down the path. Several times she almost slipped but managed to keep upright as she ran. When she was only a few steps from them, he saw the girl slip on one of the steps.
It was a blur as the small shape of the girl went tumbling past him. It took several seconds before he could register what happened, two large groans coming from behind him. Turning around, the girl was on top of Ron, rubbing her head. Ron let out a groan he could barely make out "Gerroff me!"
The girl's face immediately turned bright red as she noticed the position the two were in and rushed off him to her feet. "I'm so sorry!" She said as she kept giving them nervous looks. "I wasn't looking where I was going! Oh no, I'm so sorry!"
The girl kept whispering her apologies, her face as scarlet as the scarf around her neck.
Harry gave her a weird look before reaching his hand out for Ron who grabbed him gratefully. He hauled the redhead to his feet before spotting a pair of glasses on the ground next to them. He paused a moment to pick them up and looked back at the girl who he just noticed was no longer wearing glasses.
The girl kept murmuring apologizes, her eyes filled with tears. Probably embarrassed, he thought.
The girl let out a gasp her eyes widening in horror as she stared at something. Alarmed, he followed her gaze to Ron's face. A bruise was forming on the top of his head but looking closer, there was a tiny cut above his eyebrow, not even bleeding.
"Oh no, this is all my fault! I'm so sorry!"
Harry was startled when the girl then bowed to them at her waist, her hair flying downwards to hide her face.
Not even a minute later, she quickly straightened reaching into her robes to grab something. He was even more astounded to see a small first aid kit.
"I am so sorry! Here!" The girl opened the first aid kit, pulling out a band-aid. Harry could only watch, gaping as the girl stepped closer to Ron's face, who looked just as startled as he was.
The girl quickly rubbed something over the cut, probably to clean it and Ron jumped from the sudden action.
The girl laid the band-aid over the cut and looked over at it. Harry's face brightened red as he saw the girl lean even closer to Ron's, the two only being apart by a few inches through the girl was staring heavily at the band-aid and not Ron, whose ears were now turning scarlet, his mouth opening and closing in disbelief.
"There, that seems better!" The girl smiled.
The stupor was broken when Hermione cleared her throat. Harry was startled to see her eyes narrowed at the girl, annoyance all of her face. The girl looked startled as she jumped. She seemed to suddenly realize her position and her face turned even redder than before. She jumped away from Ron, apologizes spilling on her lips.
"I'm so sorry, I wasn't even thinking, I didn't mean to get that close, I'm so sorry!"
Ron looked just as embarrassed as the girl was. He cleared his throat. "Uh, it's fine, I'm not- I'm not hurt, I…"
"No this is all my fault, I can't do anything right-" The girl bowed the waist again, her voice quiet but ringing with her apologies. Harry couldn't even make out what she was saying anymore as she seemed to be near tears.
Ron looked at Harry, his wide eyes screaming for help. Harry shrugged awkwardly, bewildered by this strange girl. He had no clue what to do.
"Why were you running?" Hermione cleared the awkward air by asking. Her lips were pursed as she stared at the girl, irritation clear in her gaze.
The girl quickly straightened and Harry frowned as he noticed there were tears in her eyes. She looked at Hermione as if just remembering where she was. Something lit up in her eyes.
"Oh!" She turned to look at Harry, her eyes widening. "I forgot! I was at the quidditch match with Mara and Professor McGonagall told me to-"
She stopped suddenly as she squinted at the item in Harry's hands. "Are those my glasses?" She asked.
Harry turned to look and yes, he was still holding her glasses. He awkwardly offered them to her. She gave him a grateful smile as she took them, putting them on her face but Harry cringed as he noticed one of the lenses were cracked.
"Uh, your lens-" He shuffled, attempting to apologize but the girl didn't even hear him as she took them off, pulling her wand out and tapped the glasses with them speaking loudly "Oculus Reparo."
She placed them back on her face and Harry was startled to realize they were back to perfect condition.
Even Hermione looked surprised by the girl's use of magic though it quickly turned to aggravation. The girl looked at them, giving an awkward laugh. "I'm so sorry about all this, I'm really clumsy." She pulled at the cloth of her robes as she gave them nervous glances.
"Why did Professor McGonagall send you?" Hermione's teeth were gritted as she glared openly at the girl. The girl ducked her head as she fumbled over her words.
"Oh, um, We were at the match and one of the bludgers… well, I think it was a bludger… but it obviously cursed or something… I've never seen it do something like that… uh, Professor McGonagall told me to go find you…and-"
The girl seemed to get even more anxious the longer she talked, avoiding their eyes as her hands pulled out loose threads in her robes.
Surprisingly it was Neville who stepped up. He put a hand on her shoulder, wincing as she jumped at the contact. She gave him a worried glance as he told her "Take a deep breath."
The girl opened her mouth and closed it several times before giving Neville a nod and closing her eyes, taking in a huge gulp of air before slowly letting it out. Oddly enough, he could see her tapping one finger against her palm in a soft rhythm.
Harry exchanged a glance with Ron who gestured to Hermione, who was glaring at the girl as if she had insulted her family.
The girl opened her eyes again giving Neville a grateful smile who stepped back with a nervous smile as well. She then turned straight to Harry, giving him a serious glance. "One of the bludgers lost control and attacked Mara. She's in the hospital wing."
Harry's stomach dropped.
"Six Hours, Miss Potter!" Madam Pomfrey raged.
Mara ducked her head as she listened to the normally calm and stern woman.
"It took you six hours after being released to end up back in here once again! What do you have to say for yourself?" Madam Pomfrey turned to Mara, her eyes lit with fury and retribution.
Though Mara knew deep down that she was only worried and concerned about her, Mara couldn't help the feeling of shame in her stomach, cold and heavy like a stone.
"I didn't intend to get hurt, Madam Pomfrey, I swear." Mara's own voice sounded like a mouse about to be eaten by a slithering snake and as Madam Pomfrey narrowed her eyes at her, Mara couldn't help but think the analogy wasn't far off.
Mara ducked her head to avoid Madam Pomfrey staring at her like daggers. She heard a sigh from Madam Pomfrey as Mara stared at the white bed she had grown accustomed to. She hated having to be back in here but it wasn't like she could control it. She didn't intend for the bludger to go after her. Though with her luck, she probably should've expected it.
"Never in all my years-" Mara pressed her lips together to keep from smiling. Madam Pomfrey fussed over her potions in the cabinet over, probably not realizing she was muttering under her breath. "just like her father, I swear-"
"Mara!"
Mara jumped as the doors to the hospital wing slammed open with a loud bang. The entire quidditch team stood there, their clothes dirty and muddy from their game.
Mara gave them a shy wave as Madam Pomfrey thrust a purple colored potion into her hands. "This'll stop the pain for a while." She said, her voice still gruff from her ranting.
Mara gave her a thankful smile and Madam Pomfrey huffed turning back to her work.
"How bad is it?"
"Are you feeling okay?"
"I swear we didn't do it on purpose-"
"I've never seen a blunger act like that."
"You were bloody brilliant-"
Mara blushed crimson as the team talked over to themselves as they stood on her bedside.
Fred and George both gave her worried glances.
"Let her breathe, men!" Oliver wood finally shouted at his team, his voice firm. Angelina Johnson, one of the chasers sent him a glare and he rolled his eyes adding "and women."
"What happened to the game? Did you guys win?" Mara grinned up at them.
Fred snorted. "Of course you would be more worried about winning than yourself."
George gave her an easygoing grin. "It's not like you're in the hospital wing. Again." He deadpanned.
Mara winced as she heard a huff from Madam Pomfrey. She gave them a sheepish grin, her fingers automatically picking her at nails nervously.
"Are you sure you're okay? Nothing's broken is it?" Katie Bell gave her a sweet smile, concern on her face.
Mara shook her head. "No, I just twisted my ankle when I fell. Madam Pomfrey said it should be okay so I don't have to stay overnight."
Four sighs of relief came from the team and Mara felt a smile come to her face at their concern.
"Thank you for worrying about me, really but did you win the game?" Her face turned serious as she turned to Oliver, knowing his reaction would gage it.
His face fell and Mara crumbled, turning to stare at them incredulously. "But you were winning! How could you lose?"
Fred and George gave her sheepish grins.
"Well, they gave us a new bludger but none of us could really concentrate," Fred told her, rubbing the back of his head.
Mara felt shame well up in her stomach uncomfortable. She hung her head. "I'm so sorry."
"Uh, it's not your fault-" Fred backtracked but Mara's eyes welled with tears. He gave one of the other girls on the team a look that screamed 'help me'.
Alicia Spinnet took pity on him. She laid a hand on Mara's shoulder, giving her a smile. "It's not your fault, Mara. We were worried about you and what happened to the bludger. We weren't sure if another one would malfunction either. Our seeker was still brand new to the game as well and the incident shook him up pretty bad."
"Did they find out what happened to the bludger?" Mara asked.
Angelina shook her head. "They would have to see the bludger to check that but the spell they used to save you basically erased it out of existence."
"I didn't recognize the girl who saved you. Was she a third year?" Katie asked, turning to Angelina with a frown.
Angelina shook her head. "No, I've never seen her in any of our classes either."
Mara gave them a confused look. "She's in my classes, she's the first year."
The two girls turned to stare at her in astonishment. Mara looked at them confused.
"Are you sure she was a first year, Mara?" Angelina demanded, disbelievingly.
Mara huffed. "I'm pretty sure I'd recognize my own classmate, not to mention my dorm mate."
Katie shook her head with a calming smile. "We didn't mean to say you're lying or anything, it's just the spell that girl used 'Evansce' is a variant of the vanishing spell."
Mara frowned at them. "So?"
Angelina frowned, crossing her arms over her chest. "We aren't taught the vanishing spell until at least fourth year, Mara."
Mara's mouth dropped as she looked between them. "What?" Mara felt embarrassment rise as her voice squeaked.
Katie smiled at her. "Evanesce is only a variant so it's easier to perform but it's still a very difficult spell. That's why we were wondering if she was a second or third year. It's still difficult to perform but not impossible. As a first year…" She exchanged a look with Angelina, who grimaced.
"It's not impossible but extremely impressive for a first year, especially with only three months of school. She has to be a pureblood or at least a half-blood. Some pureblood families start training their kids before they get here, " Angelina said.
Mara frowned. She had noticed Peyton did extremely well in their classes but the teachers never seemed to call attention to it.
"Did you contact your parents yet, Miss Potter?" Madam Pomfrey demanded, her arms crossed her chest.
Mara blushed, sinking into the bed in shame. "No, I don't have my journal right now. It's not that big of a deal, I mean, can't we just not tell them?"
Mara gulped at Madam Pomfrey's glare. Madam Pomfrey glared at her for a second longer before turning to the Gryffindor team in a huff.
"I need you all to leave now, you're disrupting my work. Miss Potter will be released as soon as we contact her parents." Madam Pomfrey said, giving each of them a stern look.
Mara giggled into her hand as Madam Pomfrey all but swept the quidditch team out of the room despite their protests.
"We'll see you later, Mara!" Alicia was the last one out before the door shut on them. Mara giggled at Madam Pomfrey's look of frustration.
It wasn't even two minutes after Madam Pomfrey walking away from that the door was thrown open once again. Mara thinned her lips to prevent her smile as Madam Pomfrey glared at the new offenders.
However, she blinked in surprise at the group of Gryffindors rushing to her bedside. Hermione's face was pale as she looked Mara over for injuries and Neville took the seat to her right, concern written across his face. Ron looked just as worried but it was Harry's face who had her heart stopping.
Harry looked at her in pure terror as he scanned her for injuries. "What happened?" He demanded, his eyes locking onto Mara's face. "Someone said you got hurt."
She opened her mouth to respond but nothing came out. Her eyes spotted a mousy brown haired Gryffindor in the back, who was now flushing red and she giggled.
Sophie was shifting from foot to foot as she stared at them guiltily. She looked like she wanted to say something but by now, Mara knew she wouldn't. Mara gave her a grateful smile before turning to her brother and friends.
"I'm fine, don't worry. I just sprained my ankle." Mara reassured them, a smile coming to her face at their concern. It felt nice to know they weren't completely ignoring her; though a pang of guilt followed that thought.
Mara frowned as Harry suddenly hissed, grabbing a hold of his right hand. Alarmed, she tried to see what is happening but Harry only turned away her from. Hermione stepped next to him for a moment as the two seemed to discuss something. Mara turned a bewildered glance to Ron and Neville who were both awkwardly standing there.
"So who won the game?" Ron asked, his eyes looking anywhere but her. Mara frowned, narrowing her eyes at the two fo them.
"Slytherin. What's wrong with Harry?" She tried to stare Neville in the eyes but he only ducked to avoid her gaze. Mara huffed in annoyance, crossing her arms.
"Uh, nothing," Neville answered.
Mara gave him a disbelieving stare.
"He doesn't feel good," Hermione interjected as she came back into the conversation, her eyes staring at the wall above her. Mara gritted her teeth to keep from protesting as she noticed Harry slip out of the wing, the door shutting behind him. She could feel Lily's words ring through her ear.
'Well, My theory is they're after the third-floor corridor.'
Mara heaved a sigh, letting their behavior go for now. She needed more information before confronting them.
"What happened with the bludger?" Hermione asked, her gaze softening as she changed the subject.
"Huh?" Mara said coming out of her thoughts.
"She said one of the bludgers attacked you," Hermione stated, her eyes pausing to narrow at Sophie, who let out a tiny squeak at the venom in Hermione's gaze. Mara frowned, looking between the two girls.
"Um, yeah but it wasn't Sophie's fault," Mara said, confusion and concern in her voice.
Hermione turned to her, her lips pursed but her gaze softer now. "You know her?"
Mara gaped at her as she noticed Sophie rear back as if struck, collapsing in on herself.
"What? Of course, I do, Hermione, she's our roommate!" Mara said incredulously.
Hermione's cheeks tinted pink as she lowered her gaze, shuffling awkwardly. "Oh,"
Mara knew her friends weren't very observant when it came to the other students but this was just ridiculous. Mara frowned, turning to Sophie only to see an empty space. Guilt and disappointment clouded her judgment.
She didn't even get to thank her.
"How did a blunger cause you to sprain your ankle?" Ron looked confused as he asked.
Mara cringed, coughing to hide her embarrassment. "It didn't, really. I fell when I was running away from it."
"Actually, she jumped from the stands."
Mara looked up in surprise to see Lily Moon, smiling and holding a black and white bundle of fur that Mara would recognize anywhere.
She could feel the concern and annoyance from here as Breena jumped out of Lily's arms and stalked over to her.
Breena glowered at her even as she laid down at the end of the bed. 'The moon child informed me of today's events.'
Mara sent her a sheepish grin. "At least it wasn't a hippogriff."
Her friends exchanged a confused glance.
She looked up as Lily approached them, a familiar notebook enclosed in her hands. She gave Mara a smile as she passed over the journal. The bright starry sky she had become accustomed to stared back at her.
Mara gave Lily a grin, "How did you get it?"
Lily smiled with a mischievous twinkle in her eye. "Well, Miss Breena received it from your dorm room when I went to get her."
Mara gave the cat an amused glance who simply flicked her tail. 'My judgment on the girl is renounced, she is pleasant company.'
Mara laughed, opening up her book. She snatched up the quill she had stuck in its pages and opened it to a new page.
"What did you mean she jumped off the stands by the way?" That was Ron. Mara sunk into the bed, pretending to ignore Lily as she told the story. Making sure the new page had her parent's symbols in the corner, indicating they were both receiving the message, she began to write. Ironically they were a doe and buck respectively.
'Mum, I have to inform you that I am in the hospital wing. Before you or dad panic, I am fine. I sprained my ankle. They want permission from you to release me.'
She waited a few moments as the Lily in the corner turned red, indicating she was writing.
'How did you sprain your ankle? Weren't you supposed to be released today?"
Mara grimaced when she noticed today was underlined.
'I was but I got released early so I could go to the quidditch game. We lost when one of the Bludgers lost control. It started attacking the stands and I fell when I was running away.'
She didn't want to mention that the blunger was after her or how much destruction it had actually caused.
'Tell Madam Pomfrey we're sending a letter now to get you released. Do you need us to come?"
Mara frowned. She knew her parents had already missed a week of work after the troll incident. She tried to tell them she was fine but they kept visiting every day until she practically forced them to go back to work. If she said she needed them, they would be here in a heartbeat but Mara didn't want to do that.
'No. Madam Pomfrey says I just need to rest it and I'll be fine.'
'Okay, but I will be having a conversation with Dumbledore about you being attacked twice in two weeks and you will be receiving a long lecture when I see you next.'
Mara grinned as she wrote back 'Love you too, mum,'
'I love you more and tell Harry to write once in a while,'
Mara grinned, 'I will'.
She shut the book, looking up at her friends with a grin.
"Well, the blunger dodged both of the Weasley twins and slammed into the staircase before Mara could get to it. That's when she jumped off the stairs and onto the ground. We didn't know if she was hurt or not. That's when Peyton Bell saved her by destroying the bludger."
Hermione looked frustrated as she turned to Lily. "Who's Peyton Bell?"
Mara sighed. She probably should've expected that after what happened with Sophie, especially since Peyton was in the dorm room even less than Sophie was but still…
Lily however frowned. "Do you not know any of your dorm mates besides Mara?"
Mara stiffened as looked between the two. She knew Lily hadn't meant anything by it, she was just asking a question but Hermione wouldn't take it that way.
Hermione's face turned red as she sputtered. "What is that supposed to mean?"
Ron and Neville both took a step back as they looked between them.
Lily looked at her in surprise but Mara bit her lips to stop her groan as Lily answered "I ran into Miss Roper on the way in and she informed me that you were not pleased with a stranger delivering the news of Mara. Since Miss Roper and Miss Bell are both your dormmates and you didn't know either of them, I can only infer that you don't associate with your dormmates."
Lily looked proud at her reasonings but Hermione only glared at her deeply. "And why don't you 'associate' with your own dorm mates?"
Mara reared back from the amount of venom in Hermione's voice. Lily frowned, shrinking back as well.
Lily turned to Mara awkwardly. "I'll be going now, Mara. I'll see you later."
Her eyes were lowered to the floor. Hermione didn't stop glaring until Lily was out of the wing.
Mara looked over at Hermione, concern, and anger flowing through her. She had never seen Hermione so angry before. She wanted to ask her what was wrong, why she was being so hostile to both Sophie and Lily but she also knew that their friendship was still rocky right now.
Even before the incident with the troll, they hadn't been no the best of terms. Mara sighed. As things were now, she had no clue how to start that conversation. She wasn't even sure she wanted to.
It wasn't until much later that her parent's letter arrived and by that point, her friends had already been kicked out.
Mara heaved a sigh in boredom as she stared at her foot. The pain had already subsided, there was only a dull ache now when she moved on it too hard. The wonder of magic, she thought.
Madam Pomfrey only took a brief look over the letter before her lips pursed and she waved Mara out of the wing. "You're free to go but I better not see you back in here for the rest of the year, do you hear me, Miss Potter?" Madam Pomfrey glared down at her as Mara headed towards the door.
"Yes, Madam Pomfrey,"
Mara nearly tripped over Breena, who circled between her legs with a smug feeling.
"Breena, stop," Mara scolded, crossing her arms over her chest. A mischievous feeling flooded in through their bond and just as Mara took another step towards the door, Breena brushed between her legs, causing Mara to lose her balance.
Mara winced, expecting to hit the ground but a solid hand landed on her arm. She managed to skid to a halt on her right foot as another arm came to rest on her back, helping stabilize her.
Mara blinked in surprise before turning bright scarlet. The golden brown eyes of Peyton stared down at her, closer than Mara had ever been before. There was a small smile on the girl's face.
Mara jumped back, her heart beating fast from either the fall or being that close to the other girl, she wasn't sure.
She knew her face was red and by the chuckle Peyton gave, the other girl could see it too.
Mara rubbed her wrists. She could still feel the heat from where the other girl had grabbed a hold of her wrist.
"Miss Bell, is there anything I can do for you?" Madam Pomfrey ignored Mara as she addressed the brown-haired girl.
Peyton shook her head. "No, Madam Pomfrey, I simply came to check on Miss Potter." Peyton flicked her eyes back over to Mara, who looked at her with shock. "I wanted to make sure you are all right."
Mara gaped at the taller girl for much longer than she wanted to before managing to snap out of her stupor.
She nodded, giving Peyton a smile. "Yeah, I'm fine. I just got released, actually." Mara gave her what she hoped was a friendly smile. She had been wanting to be friends with the girl since the beginning of the school year but the girl was as elusive as ever.
Peyton gave her a small smile before turning to Madam Pomfrey. The two seemed to have a conversation of sorts that Mara wasn't present too. Madam Pomfrey rolled her eyes with a huff.
"I'll be over here if you need me, girls." She walked away, grumbling under her breath but Mara only turned back to the girl in front of her.
Peyton gave her a small smile before a serious look came across her face
"Do you know why the bludger went after you?" Peyton asked with a frown, her eyebrows furrowed slightly.
Mara blinked in surprise. She frowned, shaking her head. "I thought the spells just went bad or something. My friend on the Gryffindor team said they couldn't get the ball back."
Peyton gave a small grimace. "Miss Potter-"
"Mara," Mara corrected her. She refused to be called by her last name.
Peyton looked at her in surprise for a moment before nodding her head to agree. "Mara." She tried it out. Peyton looked as if she had tasted something weird as she said the name but Mara couldn't care less, giving the girl a beaming smile.
Step one to becoming friends is done.
Peyton, however, leveled a serious look at her.
"Mara," she began. "The magic on Bludgers don't wear off or become corrupted. Even if they did, the spells are checked every two years to prevent accidents like this."
Peyton looked Mara right in the eyes causing a shiver to run down Mara's spine from the girl's next words.
"The only way for a bludger to act as it did was if the magic had been tampered with."
Mara's mouth ran dry. "Tampered with how?"
Peyton's lips folded into a grim line. "Someone would've had to been controlling the bludger, Mara."
Mara suddenly felt cold as she wrapped her arms around herself.
"Someone was trying to kill me?" Mara asked, feeling numb.
Mara was not a stranger to death threats, she had been receiving them since was little. It came with being the famous persona of the Girl-Who-Lived. That and the weekly howlers and the occasional cursed object sent through the mail. Luckily, they paid the goblins to sort through all their mail ever since the incident when someone sent her a dagger coated in Basilisk Venom.
She had only been six at the time and was lucky Professor Dumbledore was so quick to help out with his Phoenix. They never figured out who did it.
"I don't know. There's no doubt the bludger was after you though."
Mara's lip thinned into a hard line as she thought about the incident. They had sent a bludger to try to kill her. Yet she had gotten away with only a twisted ankle. A new heat rose through her chest.
Was that really the best they could do? She had someone find and pay for basilisk venom, coat a priceless artifact with it and sent it through the mail with intense anonymity charms so they couldn't be traced back and even add special charms so only Mara could open it. The whole process had to take a week just to mail it along with the thousands of galleons.
Yet this person had simply thought to confound the bludger during a quidditch match, at Hogwarts, with all the professors in view.
If they had been trying to kill her, it had been a very poor attempt.
She was almost offended.
She looked up, her lips curled into a definite frown and the horrid attempt on her life coating her mouth like something sour.
"If they want to kill me, they're going to have to try harder than that." Mara gave a very unladylike snort, crossing her arms around her chest.
Mara grinned with pride when Peyton gave her an incredulous look.
Mara had too many people looking out for her to die now.
She could feel her bond with Breena swelling with pride as well. Looking down at the tiger, she grinned. Breena looked at her, her chest fluffed up as she stared at Mara.
'I am happy you are my bonded.' Breena stated, her green eyes staring into Mara's.
Mara grinned, before turning to Peyton. She smiled at the girl who was now looking at Mara like she was a puzzle.
"Thanks for worrying about me, Peyton," She didn't even pause when the girl in question looked at her in shock, "but even if they were trying to kill me, it failed. The teachers will be on guard now because of it so the chances of them succeeding are poor. Especially if they keep using such weak methods."
Mara took a deep breath before saying the next part. "But maybe you could help me study. I've seen how good you are." Mara said, hopefully.
Peyton raised a single eyebrow at her, crossing her arms. Finally, a smirk wound it's way up her face. "You're a very interesting girl."
The girls' brown eyes were twinkling with humor. "If you survive this year, I'll help you with any spell you want."
Mara grinned, placing one hand behind her back and reaching out her right with an extended pinky. "Promise."
Peyton chuckled, linking her pinky with Mara's. "I promise."
Mara beamed at the girl, even as the girl turned to walk away. Even as Peyton simply nodded at Madam Pomfrey who waved to the girl. Even as the girl paused before leaving the room. Even as Peyton turned to give her a small smile before shutting the door behind her.
Mara smiled for the rest of the day.
"The nerve of them!" Mara huffed as she crashed into the seat at the table.
Lily's nose was in a book, her messenger bag hanging on the chair next to her. Lily's lips turned into a smile as Mara dropped her things onto the table, but she didn't look up from her book. Mara knew she was listening though.
"And what did they do this time?" Lily asked.
Mara rolled her eyes, leaning her head on her palm. "They're still avoiding me. We don't have classes today so I wanted to go outside, you know, like a normal person," Mara sent Lily a pointed glare who only chuckled in reply, still not looking up.
"So I suggested taking a walk around the great lake. I was so excited about it too because I hardly see them anymore. Then Harry's like 'I'm busy' and Hermione's freaking out because Harry ran away from me, again. Neville and Ron just awkwardly make excuses before running off to and Hermione just says she's going to the library. They didn't even finish breakfast!" Mara ranted.
Lily laughed, finally looking up with an amused smile. "Why haven't you confronted them yet?"
Mara pursed her lips, looking annoyed. "I still have no idea what they're doing. Harry can be an idiot but he's not stupid enough to take on a Cerebus without good reason. Even if there was a good reason, there's no way he could rope Hermione into it as well. She's too concerned with getting expelled."
Lily raised an eyebrow. "Expelled? Shouldn't she be more worried about dying?"
Mara sent her a smirk. "You obviously don't know Hermione."
Lily rolled her eyes, bookmarking her book and turning to fully to Mara with a curious look. "So then what do you think is going on?"
Mara huffed, running a hand through her hair. "At first I thought maybe they were just being weird about Halloween but it's been weeks! Weeks, Lily! There's no reason for this to still be going on, especially as I made it perfectly clear it was none of their faults!"
Finally, her eyes narrowed focused on something. "Harry's still acting weird though. Every time I try to confront him, he runs away from me. Whenever I bring it up to the others, they just make excuses and run away from me too!"
Mara huffed, letting her forehead collide with the table with a groan. "What do I do, Lily?" She grumbled, her voice muffled from the table.
Lily smiled. "Well, you can try talking to Granger alone. She's the most logical from what you tell me."
Mara looked up at her guilty. She still felt bad with how hostile Hermione had been towards the redhead. She had tried to talk to Hermione about it but the girl all but iced her out and refused to talk to her for two days until Mara apologized.
Lily didn't seem to really mind but Mara tried to keep the two girls apart as much as she could.
Lily sent her a sympathetic smile.
"It's not a problem, Mara. I'm just glad you're my friend," Lily said, her eyes twinkling.
Mara gave her a sincere smile before letting her arms go limp as she laid her head on the table. She looked over to the right, letting her breath out in a heavy sigh.
Honestly, this would all be so much simpler if her friends communicated. She had a feeling their silence was Harry's doing as it had always been one of his life mottos. He always thought the best way to protect others was by keeping secrets.
She closed her eyes, a flash of a forest filled her mind and a brief scream. Harry carrying her on his back all the way back home, telling her he was fine even though she could feel him limp every step of the way.
She sighed. The self-sacrificing prat didn't know how to rely on others if it hit him like a bludger. She snorted at the thought. Maybe they should send a bludger after Harry to knock some common sense into his head and not try to kill her. She discarded the thought, guilt overcoming her at wanting to cause her brother any kind of harm even if it was imaginary.
"Well, if it isn't Miss Mystery and the Girl-Who-Lived."
Mara was almost relieved when a smooth voice cut through her thoughts like a hot blade. She didn't recognize the voice but she was willing to take any distraction to get away from her spiraling thoughts.
A boy stood in front of them, Ravenclaw by the blue scarf around his neck. His mouth was curled into a smirk as his eyes flicked back and forth between Lily and herself.
Mara barely managed to lift her head before the older boy was slipping into the seat beside Lily, giving her a small smirk. Mara's eyebrows lifted when Lily simply gave him a smile in return.
Mara raised an eyebrow in interest at this development. Mara had never seen Lily talking to anyone outside of Mara and her perfect. Most tended to shy away from the odd girl, especially her own dorm mates. Mara supposed it more to do with the rumors about Lily harboring a deranged animal in her messenger bag.
Mara had heard everything from it giving one of her dorm mates rabies to sending one girl to St. Mungos for irreversible damage. Mara particularly enjoyed the one about the fifth years started about hearing snarls from her bag were omens of good luck for their OWLS, even if they hadn't started yet.
Mara was 98% sure these rumors were false. She had never actually seen inside the messenger bag so there was some doubt but certainly her familiar would have told her if her friend was carrying around a strange animal in her bag.
Nonetheless, Lily was speaking to this older boy, probably third or fourth year by the look of him as he was much taller than either of the first year girls. Mara shrugged off the weirdness for a second, taking a minute to appreciate that the strange but lovable Hufflepuff had friends outside of Mara.
"Miss Mystery? Is that what he calls you?" Mara asked her friend with an amused grin. Lily giggled but nodded in consent.
The boy sent Mara a flash of a smirk. "Well, she's the only one I can't find any dirty deets on. In fact, I still haven't been able to find your birth certificate." He shot an accusing look at her but Mara could see the amusement lined behind it.
That line would've been creepy to anyone but Lily.
Lily gave him an innocent smile. "Perhaps you need new methods of looking."
"Or perhaps you just don't exist at all."
"It would certainly be a miracle if you found the world's first corporeal ghost. Lots of ways to get rich on that." Lily retorted.
Mara raised an eyebrow at the level of sass coming from her normally sweet friend. The boy didn't seem to mind one bit, in fact, he smiled even wider.
"I didn't catch your name, " Mara interjected. While it was fun to watch their banter, she was curious about who this Ravenclaw is.
Lily, surprisingly answered, looking up with a brief smile. "His name is Killian Grey, Mara. According to the Hogwarts gossip, he knows everything about everyone."
Killian sent Mara a grin. "You could say it's the family business."
"You can't surely know everything about everyone," Mara complained, her lips folding into a frown.
Killian raised an eyebrow as if saying 'you dare to challenge me'. He smirked. "I know about the Potter Cake Incident of 1989."
Mara gave him a confident smile. "That was all over the prophet for months afterward. Everyone with a copy read it."
He grinned. "The Incident at Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor."
Mara stuck her nose up in the air. "That was not my fault. They should've known to put counter temperature charms on the ice cream."
Lily giggled. "I remember that. Florean's shut down for almost a month cleaning up and redoing all the spellwork. There was ice cream all up and down the alley for weeks!"
Killian narrowed his eyes at her before grinning. "The Fire Crab Infestation."
"Harry and I found a fire crab breeder who was selling fire crabs for a galleon a piece." Mara shrugged. "We thought it was a good investment so we bought them all and set them free."
"Where?" Lily giggled.
Mara grinned but Killian answered with a deadpanned "The Khanna Tree Farm."
"They burnt down nearly the entire forest." Mara shrugged. "What else you got?" She gave him a smug smile.
"Escape from St. Mungos." Killian sent her a triumphant smirk.
There was a beat of silence.
"I withdraw," Mara said, quietly leaning back.
Killian and Lily both laughed at the put out the expression on her face.
"That was supposed to be a sealed record!" Mara whined, her face flushing from embarrassment. Her head thumped against the table for what felt like the tenth time today. She was pretty sure she was going to have a bruise there.
"You'd be surprised what kind of information people will ask for. My family is the master at getting that information."
Mara suddenly stiffened as an idea popped into her head. She looked up, giving him a scrutinizing look. "You have information on everyone right?"
"Does the golden girl want to make a deal?" Killian raised a single eyebrow at her before smirking.
"How much?" Mara asked, already running through how many galleons she still has left. She still has to buy Christmas presents next month but a few galleons shouldn't make much of a dent.
Lily heaved a sigh, giving Mara a soft look but Killian's grin already turned feral as if he was ready to devour his prey.
Mara repressed a shiver, trying to figure out where the switch had happened.
"My family lives by the Law of Alchemy called Equivalent Exchange. In order to receive something, you must first give up something of equal value. I don't want your money, but I always do enjoy learning new things about friends." Killian grinned, leaning back in his chair as waiting for her decision but the expectant look on his face all but screamed he knew what she was going to choose.
Mara sighed. "I can tell you what I know about the Incident on Halloween."
Killian's grin smiled wider. "And what would you like in return?"
"I want information on what my friends and brother have been doing."
Killian grinned in a way that much resembled her Uncle Sirius during one of his prank wars. It almost made Mara regret what she had signed for.
Almost.