Autumn had arrived at Hogwarts, bringing with it a chill in the air. Leaves were changing from green to orange and gold. The air grew chilly in the evenings. Hagrid's usual pumpkins were the size of a small shed and could be seen easily behind his hut. The students had settled into a comfortable routine of daily classes. Many of the students had made some good friends by now. But things were still the same between the Slytherins and Gryffindors. No matter what, they just couldn't seem to get along. This bothered Maleficent. She couldn't see why the two Houses had such issues. She finally decided to find out why. That morning the Slytherins and the Gryffindors had Herbology together. Maleficent left early, hoping to talk to a group of Gryffindors who always arrived at Herbology early. She waited outside the greenhouse for them.
After a few minutes, the group of Gryffindors arrived. There were four in this close-knit groups: Sirius Black, James Potter, Peter Pettigrew, and Lily Evans. Everyone could tell that Lily and James harbored feelings for each other. It would only be a matter of time before they declared themselves as a couple. The group saw Maleficent outside of the greenhouse and went to stand by a tree, away from the entrance. They all stood in a huddle, talking quietly. Maleficent took a deep breath, approached them, and asked, "Gryffindors, may I speak to you about something?" The group turned and faced her. Lily seemed friendly and smiled at Maleficent. But the three boys didn't like this at all, especially Pettigrew. Pettigrew glared at her and said, "Look, we know you're a Slytherin. Don't start anything with us and no one will get hurt, okay?" He spat out the name of her House as though it were a foul tasting drink. Maleficent said, "I just wanted to find out the truth about some things, not start a fight."
Peter Pettigrew sensed that this was his chance. He stepped forward and said, "Whatever, Slytherin. Back off. Leave us alone, all right?" Maleficent advanced toward Pettigrew. She stood about a foot away from him and said, "Pettigrew, I came to ask a question, not to fight." He reached down and picked up a handful of dirt and flung it at her.
At that moment Severus and Lucius came around the greenhouse and saw Peter attacking her. But they didn't even have a chance to move. Maleficent brushed the dirt off of her robes, leapt forward, grabbed Pettigrew, and slammed him against the wall. She held him there while he stammered and sputtered, trying to call out for help. "I would advise you not to do that to me again, Pettigrew. Or...I think we will all call you 'Petticoat' now," she said. She tossed him to the ground, pulled out her wand, pointed it at him and said, "Riddikulus!" Peter's robes turned into a frilly pink petticoat. His eyes widened at he sat there in his pink clothing. "Never insult me again, Petticoat," she said. Potter and Sirius leapt forward but Severus and Lucius jumped in. Lucius pulled her back and Severus confronted Potter. "I'm warning you, Potter," Severus growled. Lily was pulling Peter off of the ground. "Come on, James. Let's go get him taken care of," she said. Potter and Severus glared at each other for a moment. Then, Potter and Sirius backed off. "Maleficent, you watch your back from now on. We're not finished yet," Potter added. The group headed back toward the castle.
Severus turned and approached Lucius and Maleficent. Maleficent was brushing the remaining dirt from her robes and Lucius was gathering up her books. As Severus neared them, Maleficent stood straight and looked at him. Their eyes locked for a moment. Then, Maleficent said, "First impressions aren't always good. Obviously mine didn't go to well with the Gryffindors." Severus asked, "Why were you talking to them in the first place?" Maleficent said, "I wanted to find out why Gryffindors and Slytherins do not get along. I think I have found the answer though." Severus nodded. In his mind, he said, "Don't go wandering around the Gryffindors trying to find out things anymore, Maleficent. If you get hurt or worse, who will help me with my Transfiguration homework?" A small smile turned the corners of his lips upward. Maleficent smiled back and mentally replied, "Thank you for standing up for me, Severus. I do appreciate it." Telepathically, Severus said, "Well, what are friends for?" Maleficent beamed. Severus had actually referred to her as his friend.
Lucius stood there, watching the two of them. He knew that they were talking to each other but, of course, had no idea what was being said. Maleficent suddenly remembered that Lucius was there as well. She turned to him and said, "Thanks for helping me, Lucius. It was appreciated." Lucius said, "Hey, no problem." Other students began to arrive, wondering where the four Gryffindors were. Maleficent, Severus, and Lucius all stifled laughs as they entered the greenhouse. As they took their place at one of the tables covered with plants, Severus leaned over and whispered to Maleficent, "The petticoat thing was pretty funny. I'll have to remember that for the next time he gets on my nerves." He smiled slightly and Maleficent giggled. From that moment on, Severus and Maleficent were close friends. Nothing could ever stand in the way of such a strong friendship.
After a few minutes, the group of Gryffindors arrived. There were four in this close-knit groups: Sirius Black, James Potter, Peter Pettigrew, and Lily Evans. Everyone could tell that Lily and James harbored feelings for each other. It would only be a matter of time before they declared themselves as a couple. The group saw Maleficent outside of the greenhouse and went to stand by a tree, away from the entrance. They all stood in a huddle, talking quietly. Maleficent took a deep breath, approached them, and asked, "Gryffindors, may I speak to you about something?" The group turned and faced her. Lily seemed friendly and smiled at Maleficent. But the three boys didn't like this at all, especially Pettigrew. Pettigrew glared at her and said, "Look, we know you're a Slytherin. Don't start anything with us and no one will get hurt, okay?" He spat out the name of her House as though it were a foul tasting drink. Maleficent said, "I just wanted to find out the truth about some things, not start a fight."
Peter Pettigrew sensed that this was his chance. He stepped forward and said, "Whatever, Slytherin. Back off. Leave us alone, all right?" Maleficent advanced toward Pettigrew. She stood about a foot away from him and said, "Pettigrew, I came to ask a question, not to fight." He reached down and picked up a handful of dirt and flung it at her.
At that moment Severus and Lucius came around the greenhouse and saw Peter attacking her. But they didn't even have a chance to move. Maleficent brushed the dirt off of her robes, leapt forward, grabbed Pettigrew, and slammed him against the wall. She held him there while he stammered and sputtered, trying to call out for help. "I would advise you not to do that to me again, Pettigrew. Or...I think we will all call you 'Petticoat' now," she said. She tossed him to the ground, pulled out her wand, pointed it at him and said, "Riddikulus!" Peter's robes turned into a frilly pink petticoat. His eyes widened at he sat there in his pink clothing. "Never insult me again, Petticoat," she said. Potter and Sirius leapt forward but Severus and Lucius jumped in. Lucius pulled her back and Severus confronted Potter. "I'm warning you, Potter," Severus growled. Lily was pulling Peter off of the ground. "Come on, James. Let's go get him taken care of," she said. Potter and Severus glared at each other for a moment. Then, Potter and Sirius backed off. "Maleficent, you watch your back from now on. We're not finished yet," Potter added. The group headed back toward the castle.
Severus turned and approached Lucius and Maleficent. Maleficent was brushing the remaining dirt from her robes and Lucius was gathering up her books. As Severus neared them, Maleficent stood straight and looked at him. Their eyes locked for a moment. Then, Maleficent said, "First impressions aren't always good. Obviously mine didn't go to well with the Gryffindors." Severus asked, "Why were you talking to them in the first place?" Maleficent said, "I wanted to find out why Gryffindors and Slytherins do not get along. I think I have found the answer though." Severus nodded. In his mind, he said, "Don't go wandering around the Gryffindors trying to find out things anymore, Maleficent. If you get hurt or worse, who will help me with my Transfiguration homework?" A small smile turned the corners of his lips upward. Maleficent smiled back and mentally replied, "Thank you for standing up for me, Severus. I do appreciate it." Telepathically, Severus said, "Well, what are friends for?" Maleficent beamed. Severus had actually referred to her as his friend.
Lucius stood there, watching the two of them. He knew that they were talking to each other but, of course, had no idea what was being said. Maleficent suddenly remembered that Lucius was there as well. She turned to him and said, "Thanks for helping me, Lucius. It was appreciated." Lucius said, "Hey, no problem." Other students began to arrive, wondering where the four Gryffindors were. Maleficent, Severus, and Lucius all stifled laughs as they entered the greenhouse. As they took their place at one of the tables covered with plants, Severus leaned over and whispered to Maleficent, "The petticoat thing was pretty funny. I'll have to remember that for the next time he gets on my nerves." He smiled slightly and Maleficent giggled. From that moment on, Severus and Maleficent were close friends. Nothing could ever stand in the way of such a strong friendship.