POV: YURI

Breathe.

In and out.

Focus on your distractions.

You're safe.

Breathe.

Pay no mind to the outside world.

Breathe.

In and… in and o-

Someone was walking past me.

I felt my entire body clench up in anticipation, my heart beginning to pound violently. Whose footsteps was it? Merely Madam Pince on one of her many prowls for book-abusers? Or perhaps some student seeking to witness the freak-show for them self, wishing to point fingers, to mock, to ridicule…?

I did not know. I dared not look up from my book and find out. T- they might see my… my eyes…

B- breathe… In a- and o- out…

Breathing. The inhalation of oxygen. Such a simple human instinct. The very first thing we learned upon entering the world. And yet, more and more often these days, I found myself having the most tremendous difficulty accomplishing this simplest of feats properly, while in the company of others.

Ever since… the incident…

F- focus on your d- distractions…

I tried re-reading the section of my book, quickly realizing that even though I'd gone over it five times already, I still hadn't the slightest idea what the plot was about. This was in large due to the fact that every time I heard someone walk past me, I'd immediately forget everything I'd been reading for the past twenty minutes and have to start over again.

And despite it being one of the most deserted locations at Hogwarts, the public library was still, well, public.

I wished I could go back to the Literature Club, retreat to my refuge under the teacher's desk and use the tea kettle so kindly provided for my express comfort. But unfortunately, this was no longer an option for me as it would mean confronting them.

To my abject horror the footsteps weren't moving on. Rather, they seemed to stop right in front of me. Did this mean the unidentified person really had come with the sole purpose of staring at me, or were they just seeking a book found only in this section?

Whatever the case may be, there was no way I could start reading again before they left. I just had to wallow in my own anxiety until then, any control of the matter entirely out of my hands.

It- It wasn't like they could actually see anything. Not with my hood stuffed as far down my face as it was, and the rest of my hair concealed inside my robes. I'd taken every necessary precaution to ensure not a strand of purple would see the light of day since the incident had taken place.

But still, this flimsy safety net could easily be broken by the lightest of tugs from whomever may wish to torment me. None had done so thus far, but I'd overheard too many stories of the various bullies and their unprompted attacks at this school to take my safety for granted…

And regardless, any real concealment of the incident was nothing more than an illusion on my part. Everyone already knew about it. Everyone had already seen. After all, none of the teachers allowed students to have their hoods up during class. Professor Snape in particular was adamant at enforcing this rule.

I knew it couldn't go on like this. The situation wasn't sustainable, and it wasn't getting any better with time. I could only hope for the strength necessary to endure these last four months of term, then go home and try to convince my parents to home-school me so I never had to step a foot outside for the rest of my life again. Who knows, perhaps they'd actually listen to me this once…

Why aren't they moving on?! My paranoid thoughts circled back to the stranger who'd approached me, perhaps as a subconscious way to avoid thinking about the innumerable flaws in my plans for the future. I can't be THAT interesting to stalk!

"Hey."

A chill ran down my spine as I recognized the soft, but vaguely high-pitched voice. I couldn't find it within myself to look up, but I didn't have to. I knew exactly who it was now.

…right, of course it's her. I should have seen this coming.

"D'you mind if I sit here?" She asked.

I kept my eyes firmly locked upon my page, not taking in a single written word. Apparently taking my silence for consent, the girl took a seat in the chair across from me.

That was fine, though. What business did I have denying her a seat after all the recent suffering and humiliation I'd caused her? None. I had none whatsoever.

It only made sense that Natsuki would be next. I'd already been visited multiple times by Monika and Sayori throughout the week, trying to convince me to rejoin the Club or at the very least talk to them.

Both requests I'd rudely denied, finding it much easier to ignore all these attempts at "helping" me and instead wait for Madam Pince to kick them out of the library.

They must hate me now. I thought miserably, certain of my assessment. What kind of person treats their friends like that?

"I, uh… I wanted to talk to you about some things, Yuri."

While direct and to the point as always, Natsuki did well in hiding the anger in her voice. Indeed, if it hadn't been for the context, I might even have thought she didn't harbor any resentment towards me at all.

But she HAS to. The Incident affected her just as much as it did me, if not more so! She has to hate me more than anyone else!

"…look, I'm gonna go ahead and close your book, a'ight?" Natsuki sighed as gentle hands slowly inched their way into my frame of view. "I don't think you're really reading it, but I'd still like to have your full attention. Just… don't freak out, 'kay?"

I offered no resistance even as her hands reached the pages, pushing them together until the book was well and truly shut.

With my distraction snatched away, my only option left was to stare at the surface of the table, feigning interest in the patterns and shapes carved into the dark wood. Under no circumstances could I actually look up at the girl and risk catching a glimpse of her immense fury.

I'm such a coward.

"Okay, then." Natsuki gave another sigh. "I'll cut right to the chase here. It's almost been a whole week since Potions, and… I think it's time we address the pink and purple Erumpents in the room already."

I closed my eyes, suppressing a muted sigh while preparing myself for the onslaught.

Here we go.

"I know you probably just want to ignore it and pretend like nothing happened. To be perfectly honest, so do I. But… it's not getting any better with time, y'know?"

Her quiet matter-of-fact attitude only made everything worse.

I wish she'd just start yelling at me and get it over with.

"…say something, Yuri." She eventually commanded. "Please."

"I-" My voice was horrendously hoarse, and I had to briefly pause mid-sentence to recall how to even use it after days of complete silence. I hadn't really been planning on speaking at all throughout the rest of term but...

After so selfishly dragging her into this mess, she deserved at least some kind of apology, however useless it might be.

"…I'm s- so sorry, Natsuki. I don't- I don't know what else to say."

"Huh?" Came her retort. "Sorry? Sorry for what?

She most likely wanted me to spell out exactly what I'd done in excruciating detail to draw out the punishment as much as possible. I couldn't exactly blame her for that.

"If- if I hadn't messed up my potio-"

"What?!" Natsuki exclaimed, sounding genuinely surprised. "Wait, you think this is- no, no, no, don't be daft!"

Huh?

A wave of uncertainty washed over me, enough to temporarily override my other emotions and allowing me to finally look up to see a pair of pink eyes seemingly filled to the brim with confusion echoing my own.

I only managed to catch a brief glance however, before the awkwardness and shame compelled me to lower my gaze once more.

"W- what do you mean…?" I hazarded to ask.

"What do you mean?" She shot back at once. "Y'really think I'd be mad at you for something as silly as a bad potion?! C'mon Yuri, get real! How could you have possibly predicted these long term effects?"

I had to blink a few times just to make sure I wasn't having a fever dream. Nothing about this seemed the slightest bit realistic.

"B- but this whole thing is my f- faul-"

"No, fuck that!" Natsuki interrupted. "Listen, if anyone's to blame for this mess, it's Snape! That arsehole 100% knew what he was doing when he made us stay and clean up after class!"

"P- Professor Snape wasn't the one making me misinterpret the recipe like some s- simpleton." I muttered quietly. "That b- blunder lies solely on me."

"Good grief, why're you always so damn dramatic about everything?" She groaned in exasperation. "I could probably make the argument that his openly hostile teaching environment vastly increases the chances for screw-ups. It's like he's encouraging us to fuck up just so he can punish us better!"

I considered her for a moment.

"I- I'm afraid I can't bring myself to actually believe that…"

"Whatever, ya wanna hate yerself over this for the rest of your life, all the power to you." I heard her sigh. "But that doesn't matter right now. Look, you really need to come out of hiding already. Rejoin the Literature Club, take that damn hood off, and move on with your life."

I flinched as my anxiety doubled at her suggestion. She may as well have asked me to plunge my arm into a heated cauldron.

"I- I can't-"

"Yes, you can." Natsuki insisted. "Seriously Yuri, it's just hair. Sure, it looks tacky as hell now, but it's not gonna try and strangle you or anything!"

"I know that, b- but-" My voice was barely more than a whisper. "I don't like it w- when people l- look at me…"

Merlin, I sound like a five-year old.

"I get that. Really, I do." To my surprise, Natsuki's tone seemed genuinely sympathetic, not even the slightest bit condescending. "Y'think I want idiots staring at my bubblegum noggin'? Like Hell! But ya gotta understand, covering yerself with a hood or shawl or whatever ain't gonna take the attention away. I mean, we're indoors and it's freakin' March! You stick out like a sore thumb!"

I took a shaky breath as I fought back tears. Natsuki was absolutely right, of course. This day alone, I'd already caught a half dozen people trying to catch a peek under my hood.

"Look, it's kinda like getting a Howler." She went on. "The longer you wait, the more it's going to suck. And yeah, it will suck for a good while. Morons are gonna snicker in the Hallways, you'll probably get some stupid nicknames, those Weasley clowns are gonna be insufferable about it and everyone will stare. You'll be the laughingstock of Hogwarts, and there's absolutely nothing you can do about it. That's just how schools work."

Unable to contain myself further, I let out a choked sob.

Is this her attempt at consoling me, or is she actively trying to give me a panic attack?!

"Buuut-" I felt a comforting clap on my shoulder. "As terrible as all that sounds, it won't be forever. Remember the period where everyone made fun of Neville Longbottom's toad? Or the start of term when people would raise their hands every time Hermione Granger walked past? And I know you weren't here during Christmas break, but trust me, if you saw the reactions to those fucking sweaters the Weasleys got from their mama… well, let's just say they weren't taken very seriously the following week. But that's exactly my point. It only lasted a week, and then everyone forgot! Longbottom, Granger, the Weasleys- they became old jokes. People moved on to the next big thing. It's the cycle of life for any school drama, and it's exactly what'll happen to you, too. Ditch the hood, endure a week of humiliation, and then it'll be over. Your hair will become the new normal so long as you stop dragging it out and own this shit already!"

I sniffled, wishing I had a handkerchief on me as I felt the tears starting to pour down my face. While the logical side of my brain acknowledged and agreed with Natsuki's sentiment, there was still one big, glaring issue concerning it: Me.

I shook my head. It was no use. Even thinking about her proposal paralyzed my vocal chords.

"We both have the same friends here," Natsuki said firmly, but without anger. "So I'm guessing Sayori's talked to ya already. Am I right?"

I gave a weak nod.

She tried to, anyway.

"Good. Then you have to know Sayori doesn't do judging. And while I can't vouch for a Slytherin like Monika, Sayori seems to have her in pretty tight reins. So if our friends won't make fun of you, who fucking cares what any of the other losers have to say about it?!"

I didn't reply. I couldn't.

"Yuri…" Natsuki sighed. "Locking yourself away in a shell every time something difficult or embarrassing happens isn't healthy. I mean, what's your game plan here even? Quitting Hogwarts because of hair troubles?!"

I could feel my face heat up as Natsuki spelled out my predicament, confirming my intent more clearly than words ever could.

"…you're kidding." Natsuki said in dry disbelief. "Yuri, that's absurd! You can't just- just give up like that! Don't let Snape win!"

Easy for her to say! I've never had her confidence!

"H- he already won, Natsuki! Don't you see?!" I slammed my hand on the table, not even bothering to keep my voice down. If Madam Pince should come running and kick us out for disturbing the peace, then so be it. "If Professor Snape's goal really was to spread irreparable damage to your reputation, I'd say he's succeeded! He even managed to drag me down along with you! If you think there's any way to salvage this situation, then you must be deluded!"

There was a moment of silence which allowed me to catch some of my breath.

"I… understand you're upset." Natsuki's voice shook slightly, but was otherwise neutral. "So I'll allow you to speak to me like that, just this once."

I sighed again. Why couldn't everyone just leave me alone?!

"Why are you even here?" I was starting to become impatient with this back and forth. "What do you care if I leave Hogwarts or stay?"

"Are you serious right now?!" Natsuki exclaimed, sounding astonished I could even ask her that. "Well gee Yuri, aside from the small fact that you're my fucking friend, I- I need you here with me!"

What?

Of all the ways I'd foreseen this confrontation going, Natsuki's voice cracking most certainly hadn't been one of them. The strange phenomenon caught me so off guard that I didn't even realize I was raising my head until I found myself directly facing small, quivering lips and a pair of teary pink eyes.

But this wasn't even the most surprising thing. Despite her repeated insistence for me to "stop hiding" and "get on" with my life, she herself was wearing a heavy hood over her head.

"…Natsuki?" I asked hoarsely, shocked to my very core. I'd never seen her like this before, not even at the Peeves fight.

Natsuki took a deep, sniffling intake of air.

"Y- you don't think this is hard for me, too? Coming to terms with my hair being different from like 99% of the population with no way of reverting it back? I dunno about you, but I can't afford to dye it every month, Yuri!"

"I- I didn't-" I could only mutter uselessly as Natsuki briefly wiped a sleeve across her face and went on.

"D'you remember a week ago when I said it was easy to confront those losers when I was with someone just as ridiculous as me?" She went on. "I know I said it'll just be a week, and that I sound like a total bloody hypocrite, but- I don't think I can do it alone. If- if we both go through it together, I don't think it'd be so bad, though. Cuz we'll be able to support each other and like, be in the same boat, I guess."

"…I'm sorry, I just-" I hesitated.

She was making logical sense, I could acknowledge that. But even so, the proposition still didn't sound any less frightening.

"Please." A tear rolled down Natsuki's cheek. "I know it's selfish of me, but I don't want to hide any longer. And I don't really think you want to, either. I promise I'll have your back if anyone gives you shit, but… I just need to know you'll have mine as well."

I closed my eyes, taking a long, deep breath before replying.

"…you're doing the 'guilt tripping' thing on me right now, aren't you?"

"Abso-freakin'-lutely I am. Is it working?"

I felt the corner of my lip involuntarily twitch upwards.

"Seems like it is." I opened my eyes to see Natsuki smile back at me. "How do you propose we go about it?"

"On the count of three, I guess?" She shrugged.

I exhaled in mild amusement. Such a simple and straightforward course of action, and yet… it seemed right.

"V- very well." I concurred. "One…"

Natsuki raised her arm, closing her hand around the edge of her hood. I mirrored her movement.

"Two…"

Our eyes were firmly locked together, neither of us daring to even blink.

"Three."

We threw our hoods back as one in a synchronized, fluid motion, unleashing our hair to the public eye.

Despite the fact that I'd only lowered a flimsy piece of cloth from my head, it felt as though an immense burden had been lifted from my head, after wearing it for so long. It was rather peculiar to experience simultaneous relief and dread.

Slowly, Natsuki's eyes drifted upwards to stare at the top of my head, a notion I found I didn't really mind, strangely enough. I even took it as an invitation to stare back at her myself.

I silently noted that though she'd kept it under a hood for as long as I had, she'd still taken the effort to prop it up with her usual red ribbons and hairclip. She looked exactly the same as always, and yet so incomprehensibly different.

Neither of us spoke for a while, finding it enough to just silently look at the other and get accustomed to the sight. Then, finally-

"…Y'know, purple actually looks really good on you." Natsuki softly commented.

"…t- thank you." I muttered out a reply. "It's, uh, my favourite colour."

"Merlin's pants, then what the fuck's even the issue?!" She exclaimed in mock outrage. "I bloody hate pink!"

I let out an involuntary giggle.

"N- no, it really doesn't l- look that bad!" I reassured. "It's actually rather cu-"

"And you are not finishing that sentence if you know what's good for you!"

"Apologies, my mistake." I raised my hands in defense, though judging from the sly smirk on her face, it was clear she hadn't been that serious in her threat. "Thank you, Natsuki."

"Don't mention it." The pinkette shrugged. "Wanna read together?"

"…I'd be delighted."

POV: MONIKA

"Okay, Madam Pince is on her way back now!" A panting, exhausted voice said from my side. "Couldn't distract her any longer, did they sort things out?"

"Have a look for yourself." I smirked, gesturing for her to look through the bookshelf peephole I'd been using up until now. "Your plan worked perfectly, Sayori."

"I knew it!" Sayori smiled in triumphant relief as she bent down to the hole and inspected the two girls on the other side. "Didn't I say they were perfect for each other? Yuri needs someone to push her out of her comfort zone or she'll never ever leave it, and Natsuki needs someone to defend so she can put her mind off herself!"

"Indeed you did." I nodded, as always impressed with Sayori's hidden talent for reading people like a book. "Do you think we should join them?"

"Eh, I think it'd be best to leave them be for now." She shook her head and straightened up to look at me, still smiling. "But don't worry, I have a feeling Yuri'll be joining us again at our next meeting."

"That's wonderful." I smiled back.

"Sure is! Man, we're the best Presidents EVER!" Sayori grinned, raising a flat hand toward me.

"We?" I snickered, but returned the high-five. "All we did was give the circumstances a bit of a nudge. The results were all their doing."

"Whatever you say, humblebutt!" Sayori rolled her eyes. "Hey by the way, did they happen to mention how exactly they made that potion?"

"No." I replied at once, frowning at her.

"Oh, okay." She tried and failed to sound casual. "But… you'd tell me if they did, right?"

"Absolutely not!" I crossed my arms sternly, physically steeling myself against the large doe-like eyes she began making at me.

"Oh come on Moni, why not?!"

"I've told you already, I'm not letting you turn your hair blue!"

"But I waaant blue hair!"

"Maybe you really do." I shrugged. "I still think it's far more likely that you think permanently changing your own hair would cheer them up, somehow."

"I really, really do-"

"In any case-" I spoke over her protests. "-you're way too young to make that kind of decision. Try and imagine how you'd feel about it twenty years from now!"

"I have imagined it! I'd be thinking 'huh, sure wish Monika had let me have blue hair all those years ago!'" Came Sayori's stubborn retort.

"Tell you what, if you actually still think that, send me an owl and I'll show you then." I winked at her. "But not a second sooner."

"But- that's not fair! I might be too old to even have hair at that point!"

"Sorry Sayo, but that's non-negotiable!"

"We'd look so awesome if we all had crazy hair that matched our eyes!" Sayori pouted in disappointment. "Imagine if you got green hair, too!"

"I'd rather not." I shivered at the thought. "We'd look like a bloody cult."

"The coolest cult ever!"

"It's not happening, Sayori."

"Booo!"