Willow tossed and turned in her bed, mumbling to herself.
Grace, no!
Avada Kedavra!
Willow gasped as she woke up, sweat trailing down her neck. Her chest seemed to be constricted between two brick walls that were slowly torturing her by closing in. Willow's stomach churned, her face white as if she was about to be sick.
"What are you doing?" a voice whispered.
Lavender Brown's shining eyes peered at Willow's terrified ones.
"Nothing, just a bad dream," Willow smoothly lied. "Go back to sleep, Lavender."
Lavender yawned, settling back into a comfortable position before softly snoring. Willow glanced at the watch on her nightstand. It read 5:30am. She sighed, knowing her body wouldn't let her return to sleep, and rose from her bed, heading into the bathroom.
Willow found a matchbox, lit a candle, and inhaled deeply as the warm scent of cinnamon filled her nose. She splashed water all over her face, calming herself down. A little color spread into her cheeks after a few minutes. Willow gazed into the mirror, her reflection staring back with dead eyes and defeated posture.
You can't give up, Willow thought. Don't give in. Remember what happened last time?
Willow shuddered, recoiling at the memories. That would never happen again. Never.
The sun wasn't even beginning to rise when Willow silently made her way down the stairs and into the common room. She placed herself in the wide frame of the window, folding her knees into her chest, staring blankly outside. Willow desperately wished that her mind would stop with this nonsense.
It will, eventually, a voice echoed in her mind.
Willow's eyes flew wide. I thought you only came when I'm feeling extreme emotions.
She almost jumped when the voice replied, You are. But this time, I'm going to talk to you instead of help you transform.
Thank you, Willow thought gratefully. I had no idea I could actually talk to you.
You could always do this. Your mind simply wasn't thinking about replying before.
May I ask you a question?
Of course.
Who are you, exactly?
I cannot tell you, but I may give you a clue: they're never far away.
Another riddle.
You may figure it out another time.
Willow shifted her position, watching the winged horses play in the treetops. What did you want to talk about?
Your father was right to inform you of the danger of your secret getting out. Keep it well hidden, for not everyone will take it as well as your friends.
Willow actually stood up, adrenaline racing through her veins. How do you know that?
My dear, the voice almost chuckled, I can see everything that goes through your mind.
That's not creepy at all.
It's merely for the sake of protecting you, Willow. You're rather important to the wizarding world.
Willow sat herself down, her mind racing. Anything else you wanted to tell me?
Yes. You can transform without extreme emotions. It will take practice.
Really?
Really. There is much more to your power than you know, Willow. Transforming into other creatures is only the beginning. Soon, you will be able to see me.
You can reveal yourself to me?
Not yet, but soon. It will require a lot of guidance and practice that you do not have time for yet.
I can't wait! If I accidentally shape-shift in front of my classmates, I'm done for...
That's why I'm here- to make sure that doesn't happen. You need to concentrate when your emotions swell. You need to feel your emotions in a different way in order to block them or turn them away.
Will you help me with that?
Gladly. Whenever you need me, I'm here.
Willow smiled. Thank you.
Remember Willow: even though you may not see me, it does not mean I'm not there. I'm always here to help guide you through this troubling time.
The voice was gone. Willow was alone again, gazing longingly out the window.
The past few days had flashed by. Classes were moving along quickly, homework was increasing, and friendships were deepening. Hermione still managed to get on Harry and Ron's nerves, but Willow couldn't understand why. She thought it was possibly that she was in the same league of smartness as Hermione and the boys were miles behind. Willow was one of the few among the whole class of first years that managed to keep up with Hermione in every subject. She was a racehorse, that girl, winning points right and left, becoming every teacher's favorite student except Snape's, of course. Willow finally had someone to compete with (Muggle school had been full of students that were rather dull and unmotivated).
She stayed this way, her mind flicking from one subject to the next, for nearly an hour. Willow decided she had best wake up her friends at 7:30 when she noticed a poster on the wall near the fireplace.
"Dear God, we're dead!" Willow thought out loud.
The poster announced that the Gryffindors would begin flying lessons the next day- but with the Slytherins. Willow groaned, imagining Harry and Malfoy going at it several feet above the ground.
"They're going to kill each other!"
Willow shook her head as she climbed the stairs, knowing exactly how everyone would react.
"Guys, wake up!" Willow commanded, opening the shutters and blinds. "It's 7:30."
"I don' wanna," Parvati groaned.
"Do you want to know something that will wake you up?"
"Not really," Fay Dunbar yawned.
"Too bad, because you'll want to know. We have flying lessons on Thursday with Slytherin."
Everyone sat bolt upright. "No way!"
"This cannot be happening!"
"My hair's never going to be the same!"
"I told you it would wake you up," Willow said. "Now get your lazy butts up."
Hermione promptly made her bed, then went into the restroom. A ginger girl began rummaging through her dresser until she found a brush and began fixing her hair.
"Fay, what do you think, braids of pigtails today?" she asked her friend.
"Mia, you always look great no matter what you do with your hair," Fay replied.
"Braids it is then!"
Willow tidied up her bed, fed Achelous some scraps from last night's dinner, and gathered her books for class that day. She had way too much extra time and sat on her bed to study her wand.
"It's ridiculous! I can't believe Muggles play that stupid game!"
"They don't exactly have broomsticks that can fly, being Muggles!"
"Still, what's the fun of only one ball?"
"To work it around the field and put it in the goal!"
Willow jumped up from her bed and peered into the common room, where Dean Thomas and Ron were arguing.
"There's no fun in that!"
"How can you say that? You've never played soccer!"
"Oy, Ron!" Willow called. "Do you need a further explanation why soccer is the best sport?"
"Yes, I do!"
"Soccer is an articulate game that requires excessive physical stamina and extreme mental toughness. You must balance strength, agility, endurance, and ability. The only protective equipment is shinguards, and people hit heads all the time but keep playing with severe head injuries. Many people spend their whole life training just to get on the national team. Does Quidditch do that to a person?"
"Yes, it does!"
"But you don't have to run or exert yourself nearly as much when a broomstick is doing all the sprinting for you. Do you think you could run and sprint repeatedly for two forty-five minute halves?"
"No."
"Also, most of the game is knowing where everyone is at all times, creating combination plays, and hitting a ball perfectly with your feet at a split second's notice. Do you think any Quidditch player could do that?"
"No."
"My point exactly. Carry on!"
Willow whirled around while the boys stood there in shock. Dean began laughing while Ron stormed out of the room. She hadn't noticed Harry, Fred, and George standing there watching the whole exchange.
"You absolutely demolished him, Willow!" Harry cried.
"Poor Ronniekins never knew what hit him!"
"I doubt he'll ever argue with you again."
"That's the goal of all challenges," Willow said. "Win the first time, and they will never mess with you again."
"Ron's going to be pissed with you the rest of the week, you know," Harry said.
"Oh, I'm well aware," Willow chortled. "It's going to be fun, messing with him until he lightens up."
"Come on, we need to get breakfast before Ron eats all the food," Fred joked.
Fifteen minutes later, the Gryffindor table was alight with furious first years and some rather entertained older students.
"I can't believed they'd pair us up like that!" Hermione fumed as she tore into a bowl of porridge. "It's absolutely horrid! They're dirty cheats, all of them! The moment the professor turns their head, the Slytherins will knock us off our broomsticks!"
"I can't wait to see Draco fail," Harry said darkly. "He's been bragging about how good he is with a broom for the past week."
"Him and everyone else," Neville added. "It seems like everyone has ridden a broom before except me."
"That makes two of us," Willow sighed.
"Make that three," Harry chimed in.
"You know, it's really not that bad," Ron assured. "I'm bloody awful at most things that require coordination, but riding a broom doesn't seem to be one of them."
"I somehow find a way to goof up everything, though," Neville lamented. "I couldn't even brew the simplest potion in the book without getting sent to the hospital wing!"
"Cheer up, Neville," Hermione said. "You were probably just nervous."
"With Snape around, how could anyone not be?" Ron grumbled.
"Still, I can't help but feel that I'm going to make something bad happen again..."
A flock of owls flew in the windows, abruptly ending the conversation. Neville was stunned when a package was dropped on his lap.
"What did you get, Neville?" Willow excitedly asked.
"One moment..." Neville tore open the papers to reveal a small glass orb.
"I know what that is!" Ron exclaimed.
"Go on, tell us, then!" Hermione urged, curious about everything the wizarding world had to offer.
Neville went on to explain that it was a Remembrall. Willow was secretly happy that his grandmother had sent it to him, as she was awfully tired of reminding him to double check if he had everything before class. Neville's face fell when it turned red in the middle of his sentence, indicating that he'd already forgotten something.
"What's this, a cheap gift from your granny?" Draco drawled, swiping the ball from Neville's hands.
"Hey!" Neville shouted, snatching at the orb in an effort to get it back.
Harry and Ron were on their feet in seconds, but thankfully McGonagall noticed the trouble and was upon them in seconds. Willow didn't even pay attention to their exchange as she glared daggers at Malfoy. When he gave it back to Neville and glided out of the room, she pursued him.
"Willow, where are you going?" Harry asked.
"To take care of something real quick," Willow hissed.
Draco stopped outside the doors to the Great Hall, noticing Willow marching towards him.
"Enjoy the show, traitor?" he teased.
Willow simply drew back her fist and cracked Draco on the cheekbone with all the strength she possessed. She didn't even feel the throbbing in her hand as she backed up, giving him space to rise to his feet. Willow was too angry. She had been keeping all of her anger hidden, all of her pent-up outrage nearly making her explode. Now, she had been able to take it out on the person that was causing it.
"What the hell, Willow?" Draco said, rubbing his cheek.
"There's my opinion on your 'show'," Willow snarled. "Get your worthless butt out of my sight."
Draco turned and hastily walked away, his goons hurrying to keep up. Willow made sure they had gone completely before returning to the Gryffindor table.
"Willow, what did you do?" Hermione exclaimed, seeing her knuckles.
"I took care of things that a teacher couldn't," Willow replied, hiding her hand. Ron forced it on the table anyway. He bounced up and down in excitement, their argument forgotten.
"You gave him a nice punch, didn't you?" he said, everyone gawking at the purple spreading across her fingers.
"God, Willow, how hard did you hit him?" Fred asked.
"Do you really want to know, Freddy?" George chuckled.
"I hit him hard enough to let him know what he did was wrong," Willow said. "That git needs to realize that though I tolerate him, I don't tolerate his stupid shows, especially when he picks on Neville. Hopefully he got the message by now."
"Willow, you should really go to the hospital wing," Hermione fretted. "You could have broken something."
"The only thing I've broken is Draco's pride."
It sure did feel like she had broken something, though. Willow gritted her teeth to take her mind off the pain. Several different shades of purple, black, and blue spread across her once orange-tan hands.
"Willow! Your hand!" Neville gasped.
Her attention focused in her hand now, she noticed the colors suddenly begin to recede. The pain lessened exponentially until she was left with a single purple bruise. Everyone stared at her.
"Um, Willow?" Harry said. "I think your hand just healed itself."
"Not fully, but I think so too," Willow corrected.
"That's...unnatural," Hermione choked out.
"Have you always been able to heal super fast?" Ron asked.
Now that she thought about it, she had inexplicably healed much faster than other children in Muggle school. Willow had never given thought to the idea that this was abnormal.
"Maybe; I haven't exactly paid much attention to that before."
"At least we know who to call for when we need a potentially painful job done."
"Fred!"
"It's fine," Willow giggled.
"I can't wait to put Draco in his place at flying lessons today," Harry said.
"Didn't Willow already do that?"
"No, she just left a mark on his perfect face for me to aggravate him with."
"Please, tease him all you want, but don't kill him. That would ruin the fun."
"Ron!"
"I'm kidding, I'm kidding."
"Just please don't get in trouble. We can't lose any more points for Gryffindor," Hermione reminded.
"Don't worry. We won't get caught," Willow promised.
"I give up!"
Willow raced down the steps and out to the grounds, Hermione and the boys trailing behind her. She breathed in the sweet scent of oak leaves and long, lush grass. The wind was about perfect. In the distance, the Forbidden Forest stood strangely light and inviting at this time in the afternoon. Willow nearly jumped for joy at the sight of twenty broomsticks lined up waiting for her.
"I'm so excited to fly, I could care less that Slytherin is here!" she exclaimed.
"Willow, slow down!" Ron cried.
"Sorry, I can't help it!" Willow puffed. "Being outside does things to me. I get excitable really fast, then I start talking fast, then I start spouting off random facts about anything we're walking by-"
"Students!" Madam Hooch bellowed. "Is everyone here?"
"Yes, ma'am!"
Madam Hooch ushered the group to the brooms, and they all began chorusing, "Up! Up!" Willow smirked as she saw Draco fail to summon his broom while hers instantly fitted itself to her grip. Harry was the only other one that the broom cooperated with right away.
"Hiding your face, pretty boy?" Willow whispered to Draco.
"Shut up," he barked, still making a discreet effort to hide the splotch of dark colors on his cheekbone. Willow couldn't help the grin that spread across her face. She then noticed Neville, who was on her immediate right, having trouble with his broom. Willow tapped him on the shoulder.
"You have to be confident, Neville," she explained. "I know that you'll be a great flyer. Being afraid of it only makes things harder."
"O- okay," Neville stuttered, his eyes betraying his fear. He took a calming breath before commanding, "UP!"
The broomstick was in his hand before he could blink. Neville did a mini celebration.
"Thanks, Willow!"
The last person from Slytherin managed to get their broomstick to obey them. Madam Hooch told them that on three, they would all push off the ground then come straight back down. Neville gaped and his happiness vanished.
"Willow, I'm not ready yet!" he breathed.
"Take pride in yourself, Neville! You'll do fine!"
Neville nodded, but his body remained trembling in fear. Madam Hooch began counting down.
"I'll be left behind!" Neville fretted, tensing his leg muscles.
"Neville, no!" Willow hissed.
Her warning did no good. Neville prematurely rocketed into the sky.
"Neville! Come back!" Willow cried, several students screaming.
She saw it coming before everyone else did. Neville began tilting off his broom twenty feet above the ground, face ghostly pale with fear. Willow shot in his direction.
"Neville! Steady yourself!" she screamed as she sprinted.
It was too late. Neville dipped forward and tumbled from the sky. Willow was nearly there, only feet away, but it was too late. Neville hit the ground with a nasty crack!
"Neville! Are you hurt?" Willow shouted, kneeling beside him as Madam Hooch appeared beside her.
Neville was sobbing, holding his wrist in pain. Willow stroked his cheek in an effort to calm him down. Madam Hooch tutted, declaring a broken wrist. She threatened everyone with immediate expulsion if they flew without her and whisked Neville away to the hospital wing. Willow stared after him, hoping that he would be okay. Sighing, she returned to the group of first years.
"Great. Now he'll never want to fly."
"At least that wasn't horrible," Hermione said optimistically. "He only fell."
"He lost his broom, too," Willow noticed, ignoring Hermione. Neville's broom was floating towards the Forbidden Forest.
"I better go get th-"
"Harry, don't you dare!" Hermione warned, surprising Willow.
"What?"
"Not you! Brainless wants to get expelled and lose points for Gryffindor in the process."
Willow now noticed Draco floating in the air, Neville's Remembrall in his hands. Her blood boiled with anger. Why did he have to be like this? Didn't he understand that nobody liked him because of these shows he put on?
"How dare he! What is his problem?" Willow seethed.
She watched as Harry began flying after Draco, cheering as he caught up with the practiced Slytherin. The turn in events made her forget all about her anger towards Draco, instead making her root for Harry, hoping that he would embarrass the git.
"He's a natural!" Willow noted to Ron, who was whooping with excitement.
Draco and Harry were arguing mid-air now. Willow glanced at the castle instinctively, hoping there were no teachers watching. Naturally, McGonagall was standing at her window.
"Harry's dead," Willow whispered to Hermione.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean McGonagall is watching this from her window. That woman can smell trouble from a kilometer away."
Ron and Hermione glanced at the window just as Draco threw the Remembrall.
"Go, Harry!" Willow cheered as several students screamed.
Harry dove after that orb like his life depended on it. He raced increasingly closer to the ground, ten feet, five feet, until he grabbed the Remembrall in his hand only inches from the ground. Harry pulled up at the last second and tumbled to a halt, the Remembrall safe in his hands.
"Yes, yes!" Willow yelled, the other Gryffindors following her lead. Harry stood up, smiling from ear to ear.
Willow barely blinked and there was McGonagall. She snatched up Harry, dragged him into the castle, and was gone. Everyone stood in a shocked silence.
"What are you all staring at? Back to your brooms!" Madam Hooch thundered, snapping everyone out of their daze.
When everyone was in place again, they restarted the lesson, kicked off, and were free to fly wherever they wanted as long as it was within the Hogwarts grounds. Willow found that she was rather good at flying, and immediately zoomed off as fast as she could.
She made a game of dodging the castle's towers, circling around them in a corkscrew until she was flying straight up into the air. Then, Willow flew from one end to the other, unable to fathom the sheer size of Hogwarts. She twisted, turned, looped, went straight up and down, then flew upside down for a bit. Willow was feeling quite brave when Draco found her midair.
"Still sore over Harry Potter showing you up?" Willow teased.
"No. That oaf has detention now, and quite possibly could be on the next train home."
Willow gasped. "You got him expelled!"
"How did you just now figure that-"
"You lying, lazy, selfish, incompetent, no good prick!" Willow shrilled as she darted towards Malfoy. He dodged her easily, but wasn't expecting her to make such a sharp one-eighty and was nearly knocked off his broom.
"Hey! What are you doing?" Draco said in a pitched voice.
"I should knock you off your broom for your actions," Willow spat. "After everything you've done to Neville, and now Harry, I can't believe I'm still giving you a chance."
Draco eyed her warily. "What chance?"
Willow snorted. "If you can't figure that out, maybe I really shouldn't."
"Shouldn't what?"
Willow raced off, leaving a clueless Draco trailing behind her. She found the lake and dove until she was hovering just above the surface.
"Willow, seriously!" Draco puffed, still following her. "What do you mean?"
"Good thing they didn't put you in Ravenclaw," Willow said.
"Willow, I'm serious," Draco said. "What. Do. You. Mean?"
"Look in the water, Draco," Willow murmured. "Maybe that will tell you."
Draco furrowed his brow in confusion before looking in the water. Willow gracefully stood up and began pacing on her broom, bouncing off the ends and pretending she was back in Muggle school's first grade, when she was in gymnastics. Draco snorted and returned his attention to Willow.
"There's nothing there. Tell me, or I'll push you in the la- What are you doing?"
Willow stopped momentarily. "Ignoring the world."
"I will push you into the lake."
"You wouldn't."
"You wanna bet?"
"No, I don't like gambling, thank you."
Draco raised his eyebrows. "Are you trying to toy with me?"
"Why would I bother with someone as dull as you?"
Draco glared at Willow. "What is wrong with you today?"
"Why are you so rude every day?"
"I am not rude every day!"
"Tell that to everyone except your own house."
"They all hate us!"
Willow held Draco's gaze. "Yes, they do. Do you know why? Most of Slytherin has made the first impression that they treat everyone like dirt. I know that there's good Slytherins, despite what everyone else is telling me. It sucks when the only one I know is reinforcing the stereotype."
Draco's mouth dropped open for a second, but he quickly regained his composure. "I hate it when you do that."
"Do what?"
"Read people so easily! Figure things out so quickly! Think differently! Where did you learn to do that?"
Willow stared at him in shock for a second. "I didn't realize I was doing it differently than anyone else until you pointed it out."
"Normal people don't give Slytherins second chances, Willow."
"I suppose you're right."
Willow dropped her gaze to the water. It was a dark shade of gray, almost black, and Willow couldn't see more than a foot deep before the light ceased altogether. She could sense that there were creatures moving down there, and some of high intelligence.
Wait, how do I know that?
"You're just trying to make me forget what you said earlier, aren't you?" Draco suddenly said, tearing Willow from her thoughts.
"No, I'm really not, I sw-"
"Save it, Willow."
Willow paused for a moment. "That reminds me. I need to save Neville a worry or two and retrieve his broomstick."
"Why would you help that clumsy piece of-"
"Malfoy, I swear to God, if you badmouth Neville one more time, I'm going to drag you to the bottom of this lake and drown you. Clear?"
Draco silently nodded, recoiling from Willow in slight fear of her being serious. Willow flew off in the direction that she last saw Neville's broom.
"You know we're not supposed to go here during the lesson, right?" Draco reminded Willow, catching up to her.
"I am aware that that rule is in place, but since it's a dumb rule in the context of these circumstances, I'm ignoring it," Willow said.
"Okay then..."
The two stayed low, almost brushing the treetops as the searched for the broomstick. Thankfully, Madam Hooch was busy helping other first years learn to be brave on their broomsticks. Willow spotted something poking out from a gap in the trees below.
"There!" she pointed, circling down to the forest floor, Draco close behind.
They found the broomstick lodged in a bush. Willow went to remove it, but was confronted by a strange sound. It was a weird clicking and snorting that didn't spring any creature into her mind.
"Did you hear that?" Willow asked.
"Hear what?"
It came again. "That!"
"I didn't hear anything!"
"You must be deaf."
Willow began walking in the direction of the sound.
"Well, don't walk towards it!" Malfoy squeaked. "What it it's dangerous?"
"Then I'll deal with the consequences."
Willow pulled a low branch to the side and gasped.
"Draco, look! I've found something!"
Draco hurried over. "What?"
"Look!"
Draco squinted his eyes, but shook his head. "You're crazy, Willow."
"How can you not see them?"
Willow goggled at the horse-like creatures before her. She knew that these were the cute winged horses that played in the treetops every morning. They were all dark-colored and had magnificent wings that seemed equally feather and leather, their tails a silky white. But they disturbingly looked to Willow as if they had been risen from the dead, their bodies not resembling a normal horse's short-haired coat. Their eyes, however, offset this, as they were all warm variations of brown.
"Willow, you're creeping me out," Draco said. "There's nothing there."
"I wonder..." Willow trailed off as a thought occurred to her. "Have you- have you witnessed anything tragic?"
"No. Have you?"
"Yes."
"What was it?"
"Why should I tell you?" Willow raised an inquiring eyebrow.
Draco sighed. "Fine, stay as close-mouthed as a dumb oyster. What does a tragedy have anything to do with you seeing things?"
"I think that you can only see these horse-things if you've witnessed something awful," Willow proposed.
"That sounds awfully unlucky."
Willow glanced one last time at the creatures before wrenching herself away. She found a vine and tied Neville's broomstick to hers.
"You're never going to be able to tow that," Draco warned. "You're liable to crash, and I wouldn't help you if you did."
"So wonderful to know that you have my back," Willow sarcastically commented, rolling her eyes. "And who said anything about towing the broomstick?"
Willow stood up on her broomstick, then put Neville's above her head, sort of hanging in the space between them. Draco started laughing.
"You are so going to fail," he chortled.
"If only that were true," Willow mused.
Willow slowly rose above the treetops, Draco drifting along behind her, until they were across the border of the Forbidden Forest. Draco seemed mildly impressed.
"Your first venture in breaking the rules and you didn't get killed or receive a detention. What a pity."
"Speak for yourself, Malfoy."
Willow glided to the ground, where a few students were already getting off their broomsticks, having enough of flying for one day. A few gasps were heard as Willow floated to the ground.
"Willow! What on Earth do you think you're doing?" Hermione cried.
"Hush, Hermione! Madam Hooch will hear you from the other side of the school!" Ron scolded.
Indeed, their professor was on the opposite side of Hogwarts, lucky for Willow. She put Neville's broom below hers, stepped onto it, repeated that with hers, and kept stepping down until she reached the ground.
"That was pretty cool," Ron admitted.
"How did you do that, Willow?"
"You're such a good flier!"
"You should play Quidditch next year!"
"That's my goal," Willow shyly admitted, her cheeks warming from the attention of fellow classmates.
"What were you doing with Malfoy?" Ron asked, a disgusted expression on his face as his eyes followed the blond boy.
"It's none of your business," Willow said smartly. "When does class end?"
A half hour later, she was sitting in the common room, chatting merrily with Fred and George. Everyone else was holed up in their dorms, probably studying like they should have been, but since when had the twins been known to do that, and Willow either? They relaxed on the cushioned couches, their voices not matching their appearances as they talked in awe about Harry's flying lesson.
"I can't believe Harry did that on his first time out!" Fred exclaimed.
"Yes, you remember ours, don't you, Freddy?"
"How could I forget? We drove each other into a tree first thing! I still have the scar!"
"Do you think Harry will get expelled?" Willow quietly asked. "I think that would be awfully unfair, considering that he was chasing down Malfoy for breaking the rules in the first place, and since his performance was so amazing..."
"I can't say for sure, but he'll at least have detention for the next week."
"Or month."
"Or year."
"That doesn't sound promising," Willow grumbled.
"He'll be alright, Willow."
"Don't worry about Harry."
"McGonagall would never punish someone of her own house too badly."
Willow wasn't so sure. She stared out the window, her mind thrown into disarray from the insanity of the whole day.
"How were you at flying, Willow?" George said.
"Not bad, actually," Willow admitted. "I thought I'd fall of my broom like poor Neville, but I actually managed to balance myself on it enough to do a few crazy maneuvers around the towers. It was pretty fun to see Malfoy's face when I showed him up."
"Did you throw him in the lake?"
"Knock him off his broom?"
"It was tempting, but I didn't, unfortunately. Instead I almost knocked him off his broom and scared him half to death."
"Good enough for me," George shrugged.
"He also decided to tag along when we went into the Forbidden Forest to get Neville's broom."
"Draco Malfoy followed you and didn't try to get you in trouble? That's new," Fred remarked.
"I think he's too afraid of me to turn me in. The bruise I gave him this morning was quite prominent, and he wouldn't stop trying to hide it. He doesn't want a matching blemish on his other cheek, does he?"
"I would think not."
"Hopefully all this fancy flying will help you in Quidditch training," George said. "You'll need it."
"It's quite a contact sport, Quidditch."
"But we won't let any bludgers hit you."
"At least, only one or two."
"You better not!" Willow said, playfully punching George in the shoulder.
"If you dodge them, you won't get hit!"
"I can't really help it if I get chased by two bludgers at once," Willow countered. "And you can't spend the entire game protecting me when you should be knocking the Slytherin players off their brooms."
"Don't worry, at least one will be hit at the other team at all times. There's one of us for each bludger, you know."
"It's the best when you manage to knock a Slytherin off their broom."
"Bloody cheaters, they are."
"Their beaters are always trying to knock you off your broom with their beating clubs instead of bludgers..."
"Are there any fouls in this game?" Willow said in a pitched voice.
"Yes, but the Slytherins always manage to get away with it. The moment Madam Hooch turns her head, they try to send us flying into the stands. They're awful about targeting our girl players."
"I guess I'll have to learn their ways of cheating, then, and throw it back at them," Willow assumed. "Except for targeting the female players. That's bloody ridiculous. No wonder all three of the girl players are chasers- I bet they have to be quick to dodge the Slytherins."
"Please literally throw something at them. That usually does the trick."
"Are you two seriously advising Willow on cheating again?" Hermione interrupted.
"No," all three Gryffindors said at once. Hermione raised her eyebrows.
"If you three lose any points for Gryffindor, I swear..."
"Pipe down, Hermione," George said. "We never get caught, remember?"
"You two and your crazy antics!" Hermione exasperatedly cried as she walked away.
"What is it with her and being a know-it-all lately?" Fred asked.
"No idea. She's probably still adjusting to wizarding life," Willow suggested.
"God, someone please help her adjust faster."
Willow laughed. "I wish I could, but she has to do that on her own."
The twins went off to do their homework after some time mumbling about Hermione in all her glory. Willow elected to stay by the window, staring out at the bright blue sky where she had spent the last hour. She could hardly believe all that had happened in the past two weeks. Her life had done a complete one-eighty, turning from a boring, Muggle life to an exciting, dangerous magical one. Willow had never even dreamed of flying before, let alone being a natural at it. Now she was performing better than most of the students in her class. She had even taunted a pureblood several times and gotten away with it! What an amazing adventure her life was now.
Before, I was contemplating whether I would amount to anything. Now, I can bear to sit still because of everything that happens in a day.
Willow glanced down at her arms and stomach.
I shouldn't sit still, though. I'm getting out of shape!
Willow resolved to do some workouts in the morning from then on out. Her break from sports and exercise was over. Although it would be exhausting in addition to all the walking and flying she did in a day, Willow knew it would be worth it when she played summer soccer.
Just because your need for adventure is now being satisfied daily doesn't mean you can let everything else fall to pieces! Willow scolded herself. Don't you remember telling yourself how miserable the out-of-shape girls on the field looked?
Willow was thinking about maybe even going for a run before dinner when Harry suddenly crawled through the tunnel and appeared in the common room entrance. She shot to her feet and sprinted into him.
"Harry, thank God!" Willow exclaimed, engulfing the messy-haired boy in an enormous hug.
"Blimey, Willow, did you think I was dead?" Harry chuckled.
"Sorry, I was worried you'd been expelled!"
"You and me both."
"What happened, then, after McGonagall dragged you off?"
Harry's eyes sparkled in elation. "You're never going to believe this, but McGonagall was so impressed that she gave me the seeker's position on Gryffindor's quidditch team."
Willow's jaw slammed to the ground. "She did what?"
"I nearly laughed and told her off for lying to me, but she was serious!"
Willow couldn't control the ecstatic grin that spread across her face. "Harry, this is amazing! I'll bet there's never even been a first year on a quidditch team before!"
"Wood told me there hasn't, not in a century." Harry's ever-present modesty was causing him to shuffle awkwardly under all the attention from his friend, his cheeks burning red. Willow grabbed Harry's hands.
"Harry, quit being so modest and celebrate! You have a good reason to be proud of yourself!"
"I know, it's just hard when I didn't really work for it," Harry explained. "It was simply natural ability, probably from my dad, and the biggest bit of luck I've ever had in my life."
"Well, I think you deserve this. You didn't catch that Remembrall because you were showing off- unlike Malfoy. You caught it because you were defending your friends. I would have done the same thing if I had seen Draco the instant he picked it up." Willow feigned punching Harry in the arm. "You beat me to it!"
"I hope I don't turn out to be a disappointment to the team," Harry said, his face falling in concern. "I've never even watched quidditch before. How am I to learn the rules in time for the first practice?"
"You just will. You're a fast learner when you pay attention, you know."
"Hey, was that aimed at my work for Transfiguration?"
Willow smirked. "Maybe."
"You are so intolerable sometimes."
"So I've been told."
Harry brightened up. "You always figure out how to cheer people up, don't you?"
"I guess I'm perceptive."
"Now look who's being ultra modest."
Willow shook her head. "We're both at fault."
"Willow! Can you help me with our Transfiguration homework?" Mia called from the top of the stairs.
"Yes! One moment!" Willow shouted back. She glanced at Harry. "Duty calls."
"Thank you, Willow."
"I'll be cheering you on at every match!"
"I look forward to it!"
Willow found all five other girls in the bedroom. Hermione was on her bed, buried in one of the textbooks.
"The smart one won't give us any hints, so can you figure out what this means?" Fay asked.
"Sure, what is it?"
The girls spent the rest of the time until dinner collaborating on the tricky assignment (which Willow had completed nearly as fast as Hermione the day before). They were awed with how much Willow had already picked up from the textbook, enamored so much with her abilities that they asked if Willow could tutor them every day. She replied with a noncommittal "Maybe," before heading into the common room to find Fred and George before dinner.
"Lee, it's probably one we've already found!" George insisted.
"No, I promise you it's not! Come meet me after dinner!" Lee called over his shoulder as he escaped through the tunnel.
"Found a secret passage, has he?" Willow asked as she hit the bottom step.
"Thinks he has," Fred corrected. "We already found all the tunnels in the school."
"Do you want to come with us, Willow?" George invited. "We'll probably end up in the kitchens anyway."
"Sure!" Willow replied, jumping off the stairs and following the twins through the castle. "Oh, I almost forgot to tell you!" she exclaimed as they passed a rather large portrait. "Harry's flying lessons went so wrongly today that he got the seeker position."
Fred and George nearly jumped into each other. "He what?"
"Neville fell of his broom, so Malfoy stole his Remembrall after Madam Hooch took Neville to the hospital wing. Harry chased after him, and Malfoy threw it. You wouldn't have believed the fifty-foot dive he made to catch it! I thought my eyes had tricked me, but it was all true. Professor McGonagall saw the whole thing and took him to Wood right away. He's joining your practices soon."
"Blimey!" George whistled. "That's amazing!"
"We won't have to cancel the Quidditch season after all!"
"You guys almost forfeited?" Willow squeaked, shocked.
"Yes. It seems Gryffindor has been lacking a good Seeker since Harry's dad has left Hogwarts."
"Wait, Harry's father was a quidditch player?"
"One of the best around, from what I've heard. He probably could have gone farther if he wanted to."
"It runs in the family, then."
"Quidditch is funny like that."
Their conversation was halted as they reached the Great Hall. Willow watched as the twins immediately scampered off to find Harry and congratulate him.
"Get out of my way, you great oaf!" a familiar voice snarled from across the room.
Willow glanced in Malfoy's direction as he glared at a kid that he just knocked over. A tall, dark-haired boy wearing a yellow badger's crest on his robes trembled at Draco's feet. Malfoy proceeded to kick him.
"I- I'm sorry," the boy stuttered.
"Crabbe, Goyle, deal with him," Malfoy spat.
"Draco, stop it!" Willow yelled as she sprinted in his direction.
Crabbe and Goyle had wound up for a hefty punch by this time. Just before they swung, Willow darted in front of the boy. She unexpectedly took two punches to the shoulder and cheekbone. Willow didn't even feel the pain, instead shoving the two chubby giants backwards.
"Pick on someone your own size!" she angrily snapped.
The boys, remembering how Willow had hit Draco twice already, took a few paces back. Draco himself turned beet red, furious.
"What is going on here?" McGonagall demanded.
Everyone's blood ran cold. Her piercing eyes landed on Willow, who refused to cower in fear, even though her brain was screaming at her to do so.
"Nothing, Professor," Draco lied smoothly, forcing his expression to return to calm indifference. "Simply apologizing for running into a Hufflepuff boy."
Professor McGonagall narrowed her eyes at Draco. "If I catch you next time, Mr. Malfoy, it will be detention and points from Slytherin for you. All three of you. Have a good evening."
Draco's jaw dropped as McGonagall seemingly floated away, back to the front table where several teachers had already gathered for the meal. Willow couldn't hide her snickering as his face paled slightly.
"What are you laughing at, traitor?" he growled.
"Nothing," Willow said sarcastically. Draco caught on, and Willow thought steam would explode from his head any minute.
"Crabbe, Goyle! Let's go," Malfoy barked. He glared at Willow. "I'll see you later."
Willow watched as Draco stormed out of the Great Hall. Though she wanted to, Willow didn't puzzle herself over his parting remarks, remembering the trembling boy beside her.
"Are you okay?" she asked, happy to see the color returning to his cheeks.
"Y-yeah," he boy said. He glanced up with conflicted eyes at Willow. "Are you going to hurt me?"
Willow laughed. "No, of course not! I only hurt people that hurt others. Can you stand?"
"I think so."
Willow helped the boy to his feet. She noticed that he was a good four inches taller than her, his frame rather small and underweight. His freckles stood out on his pale face. The feature she really noticed about him, however, were his eyes. They were a deep green that reminded Willow of the Forbidden Forest. A mixture of emotions stared in the face, clear as day.
"What is your name?" asked the boy.
"Willow. What is yours?"
"Oliver- Oliver Rivers."
Willow smiled. "That's one of my favorite names."
"Really?"
"Really."
The corner's of the boy's mouth twitched upward in a shy smile. "Thank you for helping me."
"I'd be glad to help any time, Oliver."
Oliver gave a small wave before he returned to the Hufflepuff table, joining a small group of first years. Fred and George finally left Harry and found Willow.
"Let's go find Lee, then!" Fred said.
The twins and Willow fled the chaos of the Great Hall, making their way to the corridor above the hall's entrance, where they found Lee standing in front of a statue.
"Lee, we told you-" George began.
"It's a way out!" Lee interrupted. "Right behind this statue, see. If you move it-"
"Lee, like we said, we've already found this one ages ago," Fred cut in. Lee slumped his shoulders.
"Fine, you were right. Let's go find some food."
The group traveled down a few floors to the kitchens. Now below the Great Hall, the twins and Lee lead Willow along a torch-lit path. They ended up at the first decoration Willow had seen on that floor: a portrait with a pear in it.
"Um...Where are the kitchens?" Willow asked, confused.
"Just watch," Lee said.
George stepped up the the painting and began tickling it. To Willow's great surprise, it began laughing, moving, then transforming into a doorknob. Fred twisted it and pushed forward, the now visible door swinging forward.
"That was unexpected," Willow commented.
She found herself in a very large room that was at least ten times the size of a normal kitchen. It had so many stoves lined up against the wall that Willow figured they could cook for the entire city of London. House elves ran around, washing plates that magically appeared beside the washbasin, drying them, putting them away, and cleaning up the area in general. Willow marveled at how content they all seemed.
"They sure don't come off as servants, do they?" Willow whispered to herself.
"Come this way, Willow," Fred beckoned, walking into the back part of the kitchens.
Willow followed and was again surprised with another large room, although this one was different. Every dry food you could imagine was stored here on shelves that stacked up to three times Willow's height. Many stools stood against the wall for house elves' use when necessary. Willow's nose tingled with the combination of so many delectable scents.
"Eat whatever you find, Willow," George said. "The house elves don't mind."
Willow gladly found some strawberries and began munching on them, not very hungry for some odd reason. She put the scraps in her pouch for Achelous's dinner.
"Not hungry, Willow?" Lee mumbled through a mouth full of potato.
"No, not tonight."
"Malfoy getting you down again?" George guessed.
"Yes, actually, not too long ago," Willow sighed.
"Don't tell me- he insulted you about being a blood traitor and you couldn't have a go with McGonagall watching you?"
"Not this time."
"Who gave you that bruise on your cheek, then?" Fred observed.
Willow fumbled for words for a second. "I- I have a bruise on my cheek?"
"Yes..."
Willow smacked her forehead. "Right. I almost forgot. Goyle hit me."
Fred nearly choked on his food. "Goyle hit you?"
"You always say important things so nonchalantly, Willow," Lee chortled.
"Well, I didn't feel any pain at the time, and it's just beginning to hurt now," Willow admitted.
"Why would Goyle hit you?"
"Oh, it was an accident. Malfoy knocked over a Hufflepuff boy and ordered those two brainless buffoons to take care of him. I jumped in front of him before they could and they got me instead." Willow rotated her shoulder. "Good Lord does Crabbe hit hard."
"Willow, how much trouble can you get in before Halloween?"
"You're one to talk," Lee said.
"That was rhetorical."
"Look, it doesn't matter," Willow said. "I'm fine. Draco was successfully foiled and threatened by Professor McGonagall. All in all, it's a good day."
"That is pretty good..."
"It will be even better after our next prank."
"It's always better after one of your pranks," Lee exaggerated.
"I can't wait to hear about it!" Willow said.
"Oh, you won't be hearing about it, you'll have a front row seat to watch," Fred informed, winking at her.
"You better make it good!"
"When do we not deliver?"
The group of pranksters finished up their dinnertime snacking and headed up to the common room just as everyone else was leaving the Great Hall. Willow caught up with Harry and Ron, who were furiously whispering with each other.
"What are you guys talking about?" she asked.
The boys jumped and turned to Willow, hastily putting on jolly faces and pretending to chuckle.
"Oh, nothing," Ron said.
"You two are bloody awful liars." Willow rolled her eyes. "What are you planning?"
"It's none of your business," Ron quickly snipped.
"It's between us and Malfoy. Don't worry about it, Willow," Harry said.
"Now I am worried about it."
Both boys turned their eyes to the Heavens in defeat. "Fine," Harry relented. "You can follow us tonight. We're leaving the common room half-past eleven. Don't tell anyone else, and don't ask any questions."
"Maybe you can warn us if Filch comes along," Ron proposed.
"Why would- ?"
"Willow, please, just don't tell anyone," Harry pleaded. "I've already broken one school rule today. Getting away with another doesn't sound like great odds. I have to do this."
Willow sighed. "Fine. I'll be behind you every step of the way."
Her ears twitched when she heard the faintest of footsteps in the hallway outside her dorm. Glancing at her watch, Willow saw that it was nearly half past eleven. She decided that Lavender, Fay, and Mia's snoring chorus was enough to drown out any noise she made. Willow quietly tiptoed across the room and noiselessly evaded the attention of any sleeping girl.
Once she was at the bottom of the stairs, Willow nearly rammed into the boys.
"Bloody hell, Willow!" Ron hissed. "You're going to kill us before Malfoy even has the chance!"
"Shh! I hear something!" Harry warned.
In the last few embers that glowed in the fireplace, Willow could not make out any shapes except the shadows of the furniture strewn across the room. She had a sneaking suspicion that someone was watching them.
"Whatever happens, Willow, keep a good deal of distance behind us," Harry ordered. "This is our fault, not yours."
"Harry, she's the one that wants to foll-"
"Ron, be quiet."
Willow smirked to herself as the two boys made their way to the portrait hole. It was wiped off her face the moment a lamp suddenly flickered to life. She quickly dove behind an armchair before anyone could see her.
Willow heard voices arguing, eventually realizing that this was Hermione attempting to stop the boys from losing points for Gryffindor. She decided not to think about who was right in this situation and simply follow them, acting as damage control. Willow didn't get up until the lamp went out. She raced to the painting of the Fat Lady and clambered through the tunnel, not wanting to be left behind.
Willow tried to steady her heartbeat as began following the three's voices. She only stopped once when she heard them discussing with Neville, then resumed her pursuit. Willow flitted from moonbeam to moonbeam through the corridors. She stole across the castle, using her dark clothing to blend into the shadows. Willow never came within a hundred meters of the four first years and avoided confrontation with any professors or ghosts. Eventually, they wound up in the trophy room. Willow paused outside of the armory, taking up a watch position.
It wasn't long before her sensitive ears caught the sound of footsteps. Willow was on her toes in milliseconds, ready to divert.
Here is your chance, that voice echoed in her head again. Become an even bigger distraction! Transform!
Willow closed her eyes, relaxing her mind, attempting to clear it for a few seconds. All she needed to think about was what it felt like to be that animal, the emotions associated with it...
Good, very good, the voice praised. Now, focus...concentrate...
Willow elected to remember happiness and joy, companionship and loyalty. In her heart, she somehow knew it was perfectly right for the situation. She inhaled one long breath.
Now!
Willow imagined she was balling up all her power then catapulting it throughout her body. Her limbs burned, her veins pulsed much harder and faster, and she shrank. There was two legs, then four, then paws, and at last, curly black hair.
I did it! Willow exclaimed.
Good! Now run!
Willow's new tail uncontrollably wagged as she bowed her front half, barking sharply. Mrs. Norris, who was snaking around the corner, yowled and scurried off to find Filch. He was there in a few heartbeats, glaring at Willow.
"Go on, get out of here!" he ordered.
Willow, getting an idea, padded up to him and put a paw on his foot. Filch growled and yanked it away.
"I said git!" he said.
Willow's yapping was muffled as she sprinted away, Filch's shoe in her mouth. Filch finally noticed and ran after her.
"You filthy dog!" he shouted. "Give me that back!"
Willow's small little legs were surprisingly strong. She zipped around corners, bounced down long hallways, all the while giving soft barks of excitement. Filch was furious by the time she stopped in front of the library.
"Drop it!" he seethed.
Willow wagged her little tail. Mrs. Norris meowed in annoyance.
"I said drop it!" Filch reiterated.
Willow simply spat out the slipper. Filch snatched it up, holding his candle close to Willow.
"Go on, get out of here, mangy mutt," he grumbled.
Willow waited until he was a good thirty seconds gone until she followed him again. She transformed into human form somewhere along the way, not noticing as she was too intent upon her quarry. Filch was heading in the direction of the trophy room again.
Why? Willow wondered.
She was back in the place she started. Filch was following Mrs. Norris as she sniffed each suit of armor. Willow was utterly appalled, wondering if someone tipped him off. She would soon get her answer.
Clang! Bang!
Willow's heart stopped. One of the boys, probably either Ron or Neville, had run into the armour of the knights! Filch had found them!
She heard Harry yell, then the pounding of footsteps. They burst through the doors and galloped around the corner. Willow choked down a gasp and ducked behind the door, out of sight. She held her breath as Filch appeared moments later. He was after the group, though, and didn't see her. She breathed a sigh of relief and allowed herself to relax as he disappeared.
Willow's heart suddenly sank. She should have warned the group. Fred had shown her a secret passageway to the trophy room from the library less than two weeks before!
How stupid can I be? Willow wondered. What kind of friend am I if I can't even warn my friends?
"You stupid Gryffindor!" a voice hissed behind her.
Willow whipped around, startled from her thoughts, to find herself facing a very angry Draco, his face contorted in rage.
"You told them Filch was coming, didn't you?" Malfoy growled.
"No, and you're one to be talking! You tricked Harry and tipped off Filch!"
"He should have been expelled today!"
"So should you!"
Draco seethed in anger. "Potter should never be allowed on the Quidditch team! He's a first year! They're not allowed to play!"
"You're just jealous because Harry is better than you on a broom his first time out when you've been practicing for ages!"
"Of course I am! Why would I not be?"
"You could be happy for him!"
"I'm the only reason he's on the Quidditch team right now!" Draco exploded. "He should be thanking me!"
"Thanking you?" Willow scoffed. "He has absolutely nothing to thank you for. All he's ever done is tolerate you while you're horrible to him. You tried to get him expelled today!"
"Potter was showing off! That's the only reason he came after me in the first place!"
"He had no idea if he was even good at flying! Harry only flew after you because you were wronging his friend, Neville, yet again!"
Draco glared at Willow. "Why are you so defensive of your friends? They'd dump you the first sight of trouble, you know."
"What would you know about friends? All you have are two thugs that don't have the brains to do anything but serve you! One of them hit me today because you told him to hurt poor Oliver, and he was too submissive to think for himself when I got in the way!"
"That was totally your fault!"
"My fault?" Willow said, appalled. "Somehow it's my fault that I was defending a kid you were ganging up on?"
"You got that mark on your face because you didn't let me do what I had to do! He was an annoying half-blood in my way! That stupid boy is from a house full of dirty-blooded, good-for-nothing witches and wizards!"
"You think Hufflepuff is that kind of house? Take another glance around yours, Malfoy."
"Slytherin is full of superior witches and wizards from pure families that deserve everything Hogwarts is giving to them."
Willow stared at Draco, fed up with his elitist views on lineage. How could someone so young already have such bigoted opinions about something he'd never even had the chance to make his mind up about? It puzzled her how his parents could let him get this way, let alone make him this way.
"Sometimes I wonder how you got to be this way, Draco."
"What?"
"How you got to be a sad, lonely, friendless boy."
Draco turned his head so that he couldn't meet Willow's eyes. "Is that what you were talking about earlier?"
"When?"
"During flying lessons."
Willow sighed. "Yes."
"What were you going to s- ?"
"Listen, Draco," Willow interrupted. "I don't care that you're a Slytherin. I don't care that you're a Malfoy. I don't even care that you've tried to treat me like dirt several times. I just want to give you a chance to be my friend."
Draco took a step back in shock, his anger fading. "What?"
"Everyone sees Slytherins like you as nasty, cruel, uncompassionate people. I see it differently. What I see is a bunch of Slytherins becoming the norm because they're afraid to be anything else. You've been brainwashed to think like a pureblood elitist, and I really hate it, because I know you're better than that. I see the bad in you, but I also see the good that's been trapped behind a wall of uncertainty. You have a good heart, Draco. I wish you would see that too."
Draco's mouth opened in shock. He was at a loss for words.
"I want to be your friend, Draco. But that can't happen if you won't let me."
Willow slowly began walking away, leaving a stunned Draco behind to contemplate her words.