The next day, Fauna and Myra got up early because they were both too excited to get much sleep.

"I still think I was dreaming last night." Myra said, as she got dressed. "Marcus was so romantic."

"Yeah, I know," said Fauna, looking sincerely surprised. "Who would've though that thickheaded moron could be romantic."

"That's nice." Myra laughed, as both of them hurriedly finished getting ready, eager to go down to the great hall. When they got there, they were among the first to get their plates.

"Ah, there you are girls." Draco said, coming up to them as they were half finished with their breakfast. He was being followed as usual by Crabbe and Goyle.

"Yeah," Myra said, looking around. "Here we are."

"Marcus is still waiting for you in the common room. He didn't think you would leave for breakfast without him." Draco said, looking superior.

"I'll be right back." Myra jumped up, practically choking on her food.

"I've got to go get my books anyway." Draco sat down beside Fauna, straddling the bench so he was facing her. Crabbe and Goyle went off to get their plates.

"It's not really true." Draco laughed, as he watched Myra leave. "I just wanted to get you alone."

"That was so mean!" Fauna laughed, punching him playfully in the arm. "But…" she leaned closer to him. "I think there might be better places to get me alone" she smiled sweetly. Draco's eyes got wide.

"So, er, what's your schedule like?" he choked, as he stole a piece of bacon off her plate.

"Well, today is potions and transfiguration. Then after lunch I have care of magical creatures."

"But I have care of magical creatures after lunch" he said, double checking his schedule.

"Oh yeah" said Fauna, looking back at her schedule. "Myra and I have to retake that class because we didn't pass it last year."

"Because Kettleburn lost his arm?" Draco asked.

"Yeah, and we needed that final exam for our grades and it had to be cancelled. So, I guess we have care of magical creatures together." Fauna grinned at Draco.

"That's the only thing that will make this class bearable. I swear, having to be taught by a gamekeeper. Dumbledore must be off his rocker, making that a teacher." Draco's eyes drifted to the staff table, where Hagrid was sitting.

"We may have Defense Against the Dark Arts together too." Fauna said, following Draco's eyes. She saw Professor Snape looking directly at her. Er, no, wait; he was looking right behind her. Fauna turned and saw Myra and Marcus walking towards them.

"Waiting for me, was he?" Myra punched Draco in the arm. Marcus just laughed and sat down beside Myra.

"Ow!" said Draco, rubbing his arm. "That's the second time I've been hit there this morning."

"Teach you for being a bratty git, then, won't it." Myra smirked and poured herself some pumpkin juice.

"Draco!" It was Pansy Parkinson running up to them. "Draco, are you ready for charms class?"

"Yeah." Draco sounded less-than enthused. "Oh, wait!" he suddenly sounded happy. "There's Potter."

Draco pointed to the door where Harry Potter had just walked in with Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley. "Look, I'm Harry Potter!" Draco said, and pretended to faint. Everyone at the Slytherin table within earshot was laughing.

Harry looked over at their table. He noticed Myra and Fauna for the first time, and had a confused look on his face. Myra, too busy laughing at Draco, didn't notice the small but obvious smile Harry gave them, which cracked Fauna up.

Oh what the hell, she smiled back at him, then quickly realized what she was doing and gave him a dirty look. Draco, who apparently noticed this, muttered hatefully under his breath.

"Saint Potter."

"I don't see what the fuss about him is, really" said Myra, sounding arrogant. "I hear he isn't that great at most subjects."

"Draco," Pansy said, scooting next to him. "Will you carry my book bag to charms for me?"

"Are you out of your mind?" Draco said, turning to face her. "I don't even carry my own book bag to class."

Professor Snape walked up between the tables and as he passed, he stopped in front of them.

"Potions this morning, isn't it?" he said to the three of them.

"Yes, Professor." Myra said quickly and smiled. Snape seemed caught off guard.

"See that you aren't late" he said after a slight pause and strode away.

"Yes, of course sir" Myra called after him.

'Please tell me she's not looking at Snape with that smile on her face,' Fauna stared at Myra. The only time she's ever seen Myra smile like that was when she talked about Marcus. 'This can't be,' Fauna sighed.

"WHAT IN THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU!!!" Marcus's voice interrupted Fauna's thoughts. She looked at Myra.

"What is he yelling at and where is he? I thought he was with you." Fauna asked Myra.

"He just left me a second ago, something about getting a drink."

"IF I EVER SEE YOU ANYWHERE NEAR ME AGAIN...YOU KNOW WHAT, I SWEAR TO GOD, I'M GOING TO-"

"Marcus!!!!" Fauna spotted him by the doors to the great hall. He was screaming at some first year Slytherin. The girls ran after him, and just as he was about to lunge at the terrified girl, Fauna grabbed the back of his robes.

"What happened?" Myra asked soothingly, guiding him back to their table, snapping at all the people staring that there was nothing to see. Fauna went over to the little girl.

"What happened?" the little girl was now crying.

"I don't know." she sobbed. "I was just standing here and apparently, I stepped on his robes as he walked by."

"Don't worry about him, he overreacts to everything." Fauna put her arm around the girl.

The sight of Marcus screaming his ass off was hysterical, but she felt bad for this poor little girl, who was in Slytherin too, after all.

"He's...he's going to hurt me?" she looked at Fauna questioningly.

"No, of course not." Fauna quickly reassured her, although she wasn't too sure herself. Marcus could care less whether he hurt a first year, seventh year, Slytherin, or Gryffindor.

"WHY ARE YOU STILL HERE" Marcus came barging through the crowd of people, Myra rushed over to Fauna.

"I couldn't control him, he won't listen to a word I'm saying." she gave Fauna an anxious look.

"I got it." Fauna ran towards Marcus and the girl, hoping Marcus wasn't going to hurt her for stopping him. She pushed Goyle aside to see Marcus grabbing the girl's hair, people around them yelling a million different things. This is ridiculous, Fauna sighed.

"This is the first and last time I'm telling you this, Marcus," she yelled over the crowd.

"STOP" she yanked his arm, and dragged him away as the little girl rushed out of the hall. "Can I ask what in god's name is wrong with you?" Fauna hissed at him.

"It's just-" Marcus started, but Myra ran over and grabbed both of them.

"We're going to be late for potions" she said hastily, praying that Marcus would calm down by the time they got to Snape's classroom. The three of them walked out of the great hall, aware of all the people staring at them.

As they walked, Fauna kept a tight hold on Marcus's sleeve, just in case, while Myra was wrapped up in her own thoughts.

'I wonder what happened, Why did he go so crazy?' She sighed. 'Fauna's the one that likes the aggressive guys, so how did I end up with him?' She started to laugh, but quickly stopped and grabbed Fauna's arm.



"Look!" she gasped, and pointed a few feet ahead of them.

"What, what's wrong?" Fauna looked around confused.

"It's Isabella!" she whispered, making sure Marcus couldn't hear.

"Oh shit, don't let him-"

Too late. Marcus saw the girl, who unfortunately was walking towards them, unaware that Marcus was there. He broke free from Fauna and walked over to Isabella, surprisingly calm.

Fauna and Myra looked at each other, not even wanting to see what would happen. Then they heard Marcus taunting her.

"See what it's like when someone steps on your robes." He was walking over the bottom of her robes, so that is was impossible for her to walk.

Then all of a sudden, Myra noticed the look in his eyes.

"Fauna" she whispered. "Look at him, he's really going to hurt her."

"Well, let's go!" Fauna grabbed her and they ran to Marcus, still unsure about what to do.

"I've got an idea." Myra said, and went to Marcus. "Let me handle this." she whispered to him, and he looked confused.

'Oh, I know what she's doing,' Fauna realized and hurried over and grabbed Marcus.

"Just come over here and let her take care of it." she winked at Marcus, tightly holding his arm.

As Myra rounded on Isabella, Fauna was trying to tell Marcus not to get so crazy.

"Don't waste your time with a useless first year. Especially her."

"But I hate her." Marcus growled.

"Apparently, Myra does too" Fauna laughed as she heard her screaming.

"And if you so much as breathe heavy around us, don't think that I won't charm all your hair to fall out of your head!" Myra said with her wand an inch away from Isabella's nose. Marcus was standing a few feet away, doubled over laughing.

Just then an all too familiar voice was approaching.

"What is all this? Out of the way." It was Snape, moving students out of the way to get to where they were.

"Busted." Marcus said, and then stepped back into the crowd.

Myra and Fauna both put their wands away, but they didn't have time to disappear like Marcus had.

Snape was standing before them.

"Ms. Avery? Ms. Graves? Explain the meaning of this." he said, as Myra and Fauna searched for the right words. Snape waited but then he caught sight of Isabella crying in the corner. "Perhaps Ms Lagarto should explain." His eyes grew colder.

"They...they were, trying to curse me." Isabella said and pointed to Myra. "She said she was going to make my hair fall out."

"I see," he said and rounded on Myra and Fauna. "Detention...the both of you."

"But, but." Fauna began, going to explain how they were really trying to save the girl from Marcus.

"Silence." he said, as the rest of the students began to disappear, as though afraid to get into trouble as well. "I believe I told you girls not to be late for

class." He pointed past himself towards his classroom.

"Sorry, Professor." They said quietly as they walked past him.

Myra walked into class with her head down, first day back and she already had a detention with Snape. See if she tried to save Marcus from himself again. Myra slammed her books down and plopped into her seat, between Marcus and Fauna.

"Cheer up, Myra" Marcus whispered to her. "I'll make it up to you."

"And what about me?" Fauna said, giving Marcus an evil look.

"I don't remember asking you to join in." Marcus snapped back.

"Stop it, you two, I don't feel like getting another detention." Myra said pulling out her potions book.

"Yeah Fauna," Marcus said doing a sarcastic impression of Myra. "Stop it."

"Oh Marcus, you ARE asking for it." Fauna said shaking her head.

"Class has started Ms. Avery, I will ask that you keep your comments relevant to the lesson." said Snape coldly as he walked down the line of desks.

Oliver Wood and the rest of the Gryffindors had to stifle laughs, that Snape was actually getting on to the Slytherins for once.

"Today's lesson will be on element impediment potions." Snape said, as he began writing ingredients on the blackboard. "These are used to allow the drinker to walk through fire without being burned, walk through water without getting wet, and walk through violent wind without being blown over. This particular potion is for blister prevention." He turned and faced the class. "And do pay attention. We will be testing the potion at the end of class." His eyes glinted cruelly at the Gryffindors, who immediately began taking notes.

Myra swallowed hard. With her luck today, she would be exactly who Snape chose to set fire to.

The class separated into pairs, Myra and Fauna working together, chopping up red ant bodies. They were both working diligently, but neither were very worried, as they were both gifted at potion making.

"Ah," Snape said, as he strode around the classroom. "The potion should be various shades of green, Mr. Dale. See that you add more moss to that."

"Yes, sir" said Nathan Dale, a seventh year Gryffindor.

Snape reached Myra and Fauna's cauldron. He leaned over the cauldron and ladled up some of the runny potion, examining it closely. The girls exchanged worried looks.

"Everyone, do look here." Snape announced to the class. "This is a perfect example of the fire Impediment Potion." He ladled more of the mixture up and let it drop back into the cauldron. "Ten points to Slytherin, Ms. Graves." .

"Thank you sir." Myra blushed slightly

Fauna's mouth dropped, and she looked at Myra.

"Is he insane?" she hissed. "Or am I just invisible?" Myra giggled as Snape continued praising her.

"Excellent job Ms. Graves." He leaned over and smiled at Myra.

"Am I losing it or did he just smile at you?" Fauna whispered once he was out of earshot. Myra shrugged and kept stirring.

"You should be done adding in your ingredients by now." Snape said as he reached his desk. "Stand back and allow your potions to simmer."

Every one in the class did as the professor instructed and took a step back, watching their cauldrons bubble dismally.

"Myra, may I see you up here please?" Snape said, not looking up from his desk, where he was writing on a piece of parchment.

"Yes, Professor." Myra said and walked to the front of the room. She could feel Fauna's eyes on her, and she could tell what she was thinking.

"Your detention will be on Tuesday of next week, as will Ms Avery's." he said lowly so that no Gryffindors would hear.

"Yes, Professor." Myra repeated. "I expect you both here at exactly 6 p.m." Snape said.

Myra nodded and began to go back to her seat.

"Oh, and Ms. Graves," She turned and looked back at him. "The next time you feel an urge to pick on a first year, make it a Gryffindor."

"Er, yes, Professor." Myra said, wondering if he meant it or was being sarcastic. Myra walked back to her and Fauna's table to find Fauna with the weirdest look on her face. It was a cross between terror and trying not to laugh.

"What is wrong with him?" she hissed, glancing at Snape.

"Er, what do you mean?" Myra asked her.

"I heard pretty much everything he said to you. And more importantly, the way he was looking at you." said Fauna, in a tone as if she were talking to a three year old.

"He was just telling me when we have detention." Myra argued back.

"Don't be stupid, Myra, you know what he -"

"Fauna" Oliver Wood interrupted their conversation as he walked over to their table.

"What do you want, Wood?" Myra snarled at him.

"Was I talking to you, Myra?" he replied hastily and turned back to Fauna. As he was asking her to borrow their knives and cutting boards, Myra was mimicking behind his back, with a sour expression, 'Was I talking to you, Myra?' It was making Fauna turn red trying not to laugh in Oliver's face. Unfortunately, he heard Myra and turned around to give her a dirty look.

"Look at me like that one more time and my wand's going to disappear up your arse." Myra shot at him.

Oliver was about to lunge at her, but Fauna grabbed him and pulled him up to her.

"Er, I guess not." he sputtered, unable to take his eyes off of hers.

'Wow, she's so beautiful,' he thought to himself. 'I've never seen eyes as blue as hers'.

"Oliver?" Fauna practically shouted, bringing him out of his thoughts. "Were you even listening to anything I was saying?"

"Sorry" he apologized, shaking his head. "Hey, um, what are you doing after lunch?" he asked her.

"Nothing with you, that's for sure." Myra blurted, fuming that her friend was actually wasting time on this useless...she didn't even know what to call him.

"Myra, if you weren't such a pretentious bitch, you would realize that I wasn't talking to you." Oliver said over his shoulder.

"What?" Myra said, trying to act innocent. "I didn't mean anything bad. I was just stating that we have Care of Magical Creatures after lunch."

"Your potions should be done simmering by now." Snape said and strode down the rows, looking into cauldrons. "Stand by your cauldrons."

The students all shuffled back to their places as Snape went by checking each one and wrote notes into his book.

"This should be good." Fauna whispered to Myra. "I can't wait to see some Gryffindors get burned."

Myra gave her a worried smile back, because Snape was coming straight at them.

"Ah, Ms Avery," he said as he approached them. "Ms Graves."

His eyes went down to their names on the list he was holding. He began to check their potion, making marks in his book. He ladled some into two glasses and handed them to Myra and Fauna, who immediately began to look ill.

"Everyone gather around," he said as he walked around behind Myra. "Myra and Fauna here were kind enough to volunteer to test their potion for us.

"We did?" Fauna asked, still looking at the potion.

"Yes." He answered swiftly. "This morning in the hallway. Now drink up."

The girls looked at their glasses, then raised them up to their mouths. The smell was like wet, dirty grass, and it tasted about the same.

"Go on," Professor Snape said hurriedly. "Potions aren't supposed to taste good." Myra and Fauna had downed about a mouthful each before they started to feel like their fingers and toes were made of ice.

"Explain to the class how you feel." Snape said.

"I feel…" Myra searched for the words.

"Bloody freezing." Fauna finished for her causing the class to snigger.

"Charming." Snape murmured and then cast a spell on to the floor with his wand.

Flames of all colors and sizes sprang up from the cold dungeon floor, causing the students to gape. Snape motioned for the girls to walk through the flames.

"What about our clothes?"

"Your clothes will be fine, Ms. Avery." Snape said.

"Are you sure this is going to work?" Myra asked, looking up at him with her big green eyes.

"I assure you," he said, bending his head down to hers, and slightly whispering. "I would not let you do this unless I was entirely sure your potion would work."

Myra swallowed hard, balled up her fists, and stepped into the flames. She was surprised at how warm and wonderful it felt.

"May I ask what you're waiting for?" Snape rounded on Fauna, who was just standing there watching Myra surrounded by the flames.

"Oh, um, sure." she replied nervously, and Myra grabbed her arms and yanked her in. She didn't feel a thing. "This is so cool!" she exclaimed to Myra.

"I know, right." Myra twirled in the flames, her eyes wide open.

Fauna turned around and noticed Snape staring at Myra with this weird twisted grin on his face. He noticed Fauna looking at him and turned back to the students.

"One thing I forgot to tell you." Snape began, as the class watched them in awe. "The effect will last another hour or so."



Fauna looked at Myra and rolled her eyes.

"That's lovely." she murmured sarcastically. "So I can go stand in a fire place for an hour, how wonderful."

Snape made the fire disappear and gave Fauna a dirty look as he ordered the class to begin cleaning up.

"Fauna?" said a Gryffindor in their class, who Fauna didn't know, as he came up to her.

"Can I help you with something?" she asked him.

"Er, yeah." he said, handing her a folded piece of parchment. "It's from him." he nodded at Oliver.

"What's this?" Myra snatched the paper from Fauna's hand and read it, Fauna looking over her shoulder.

Fauna,

you did a bloody amazing job with the fire today. I was wondering if you could do me a little favor. My common room is going to be empty before lunch. If you could, meet me there and maybe we could study for potions. It will be empty so there's no need to worry about interruptions. I really need your help.

Thanks,

Oliver

Myra started laughing and tossed the note into the trash.

"He's lost it." she giggled, but stopped when she noticed Fauna taking the note out of the trash .

"Oh, come on," Myra said, confusedly. "Don't tell me you're actually thinking of going."

"Well, he just needs some help." Fauna shrugged. "It won't take long."

"I know what he needs help with and so do you." Myra laughed.

"Ms. Graves," Professor Snape called from his desk, as the bell rang for class to be over. "May I see you again, please."

"Yes, Professor." Myra answered dully, and hurried to his desk.

Fauna looked over at Wood, who was packing his books. He looked up at the same moment and gave her a sad puppy dog -expression, which would have sent Myra in a rage, but made Fauna's heart melt.

"Please?" he mouthed across the room to her. Fauna was helpless.

She mouthed back, "I'll be there."

Wood's expression changed to a satisfied grin and he followed his friends out of the dungeon.

Myra came striding back, but Fauna didn't notice.

"Earth to Fauna." Myra called, grabbing her book bag.

"Oh?" She came to and looked at her friend. They left for the door.

"What'd Snape want?" she asked as they stepped into the crowded hall.

"Oh, just to, er, congratulate me on our potion." Myra said, sounding as though she was making it up.

"A likely story." Fauna said, raising an eyebrow at her.

"Just like Wood needing help with potions?" she shot back.

Fauna dropped the subject and they walked the rest of the way to Transfiguration in silence.

---

"I can barely contain my excitement." Fauna said sarcastically, as they neared the classroom. "Transfiguration with the Gryffindors."

"You should be right at home," Myra jabbed. "Maybe you'll get some more invites to their common room."

"Oh, lay off." Fauna's tone got defensive, although she thought it was pretty funny. "I told you before, Oliver and me, just like brother and sister, nothing more."

"Yeah, whatever." Myra said as she laid her books down. "Let's see if you're still saying that after your study date."

"Look at you two." said a voice. Myra and Fauna turned around to see Fred and George Weasley sitting behind them, wearing identical evil smiles.

"Hello, Fred, George." Fauna said cheerfully, and turned back around in her chair.

"You two, sitting behind us again this year?" Myra went on, sounding mournful. "Please no more spit wads or exploding dung bombs this year."

"No, none of that this year." Fred said, looking earnestly at George, who was grinning from ear to ear.

"Maybe," said George, more to Fauna. "If you promise to study Transfiguration with us this year."

"Fauna would love to study with you, George." Myra smiled. "Even better if it's in your empty common room."

George looked at Fauna, who could feel her face turning red.

"What Myra means is that," she began quickly, kicking her under the table. "We could study with you or be picked on? Those are our choices?"

"Yes, indeed." Fred drawled, nodding at them.

"Well, okay, then." Fauna smiled at George. "Just let us know when you need us." She turned back around.

"What is it with people wanting to study with us this year?" Myra mumbled.

"Attention class!" Professor McGonagall entered the room. "Today will be a very important lesson, so do pay careful attention." she said as she walked over to her desk.

"Oh lovely." Myra muttered sarcastically. But halfway into the lesson, they still hadn't seen what was so important. Professor McGonagall stood in front of the classroom, rambling on about who knows what while she ordered them to take notes.

Just then, Fauna felt something on the back of her neck. She turned around and saw George waving a piece of parchment at her.

"Huh?" Fauna whispered, giving him a confused look.

"Just take it before she sees." he threw the parchment at her and it sailed past Myra, landing at her feet.

"What is this?" Myra bent down to pick it up. "Oh, lovely." she smiled sweetly at Fauna as she opened it. "Another invitation."

Fauna's mouth dropped. "You've got to be joking." she tore the parchment out of Myra's hand.

Fauna and Myra,

can we ask you to do us the biggest favor? You know where the top astronomy tower is, right? Prepare for the time of your lives and meet us there at midnight. We have a little something in store for you.

Please.

Fred and George

"Well, at least they're more direct then Oliver." Myra laughed.

"I still can't believe this." Fauna said as she re-read the note. "Please don't tell me they want-"

"...a night full of heavy snogging and Merlin knows what else?" Myra finished her sentence. "Yes, Fau, that's exactly what they want." Myra turned around and looked into the expectant faces of the twins, both grinning and winking.

"Give me that note." she said, grabbing it from Fauna. She took her quill and jotted down 'We'll be there.' and passed it back to the twins who hurriedly opened it.

"We will?" Fauna quietly asked Myra, very surprised.

"Yes, well I'm going," Myra replied, matter-of-factly. "It will be good practice for me, so I'll know what not to do with Marcus."

"You're going to practice sex?" Fauna burst out laughing, much louder then she had intended. "Me going to shag Oliver is a problem, but it's okay if we shag Fred and George tonight?"

"So, I guess *brother and sister* was just sooo last period?" Myra smirked.

"Er, no, um, I didn't mean it?"

"Ms. Avery…" Professor McGonagall was standing right beside her.

"Professor, er…" Fauna stumbled, wondering how much she had heard.

"Is it too much to ask that the four of you keep your nightly plans to yourselves?" she asked, looking stern faced at the girls, then turning to face Fred and George, who were trying to make themselves disappear under their desk. "The rest of us would like to prepare for O.W.L.s. Ten points from both Slytherin and Gryffindor."

Myra and Fauna tried their best to keep quiet for the rest of the lesson, as a lot of Slytherins were looking at them hatefully for losing points.

"I want a full report on the Three Transformation Principles of magic by next class." Professor McGonagall ordered as she dismissed the class.