Aileen sat in the principal's office, nervously clasping the edges of the chair. She wouldn't much mind being expelled. . .but she knew that it would disappoint her grandmother- and she did not want that, not after everything her grandmother had done for her. Apart from that, there WERE only two weeks of school left - those two short weeks didn't matter. . . much . . .

Yet, considering the number of times she had sat in that office this year already. . .her hopes of being able to stay were not very high.

The principal sat down at his desk, facing her. He was in his fifties, overweight, and was never seen without his thick, horn-rimmed glasses. He was rarely seen smiling, and when he did smile his eyes often remained untouched - blue, watery puddles of ice.

After what seemed like hours to Aileen, he finally spoke.

"Aileen O'Connor." he said it almost condescendingly, as if she was merely a piece of trash that he had found in his backyard.

Aileen merely looked back at him, not willing to give him the satisfaction of showing any reaction towards his tone of voice.

"This is around the twentieth time you are sitting here in my office this year. Not to mention the countless times during the previous years. I hope you know that things cannot go on like this forever." he started one of his speeches, treating her as if she was a little girl.

After a while, Aileen felt her attention wander. She examined everything in his office, trying to determine whether there were any changes from the last time she had been there barely a week ago. His office was boring - there were no pictures on the wall, only a few faded certificates. The walls were lined with bookcases containing volumes of boring muggle books. The view from the window showed nothing but a few grey apartment buildings, interspersed with bits of gloomy sky. The floor was scratched and worn from long use, and so was the wooden desk.

"Aileen!" he tried to recapture her attention, "did you hear what I said? Since this time you did not commit a major transgression, I am giving you one last chance."

That Bastard she thought to herself, he just doesn't want to have to deal with the paperwork that would come along with kicking me out. Oh well, I guess his laziness saved me one more time. . .so I shouldn't complain.

"Your teachers will of course be informed of this and asked to report any further transgressions to me. And, Aileen O'Connor, this truly is your last chance. The next time you are sitting here will be your last. . . and we don't want that to happen, do we. . .?" A malicious smile curled up the corners of his lips.

Aileen sat motionless, not wanting to move in case he suddenly changed his mind. She did not like the way he was looking at her. Nervously, she started squirming in her chair; anxious to get out of the principal's office.

"What are you still sitting there for? Get out. Now! To your class! Here is a pass. . .and remember - this is your last chance" he barked at Aileen.

Startled, she got up quickly and left the room in a hurry. Not wanting to test his patience any further, she made her way to her class without lingering.

Oh great! she thought to herself I know some teachers at this school who would LOVE to see me expelled. . .these last two weeks will be a living hell!

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After school, Aileen was just about to get her bike when she was headed off by two muggle girls.

"So. . .I heard our little 'too-good-for-you' princess got in a bit of trouble." the first remarked in a soft, dangerous voice.

The other merely stood a step behind, smiling maliciously.

Aileen knew the two girls. The first, a slim blonde who liked to flaunt her body in front of the muggle excuses for boys, was rarely seen without the second - a rather plump, brown haired girl, who was obviously hoping that some of the popularity of the first would rub off on her. Aileen also knew that the blonde could potentially be dangerous - if she felt anything was standing in her way, she would simply run it over.

"What's it to you, huh? Why don't you just leave me alone and go find someone else to annoy, pathetic Barbie-wannabe" Aileen retorted. Even to her own ears the 'Barbie-wannabe insult sounded pathetic, and she was ready to laugh though she tried not to show it.

"Look, you wanna mess with me you gotta get up earlier, hun." The blond girl's eyes were flashing dangerously now.

Aileen was momentarily surprised that her 'insult' had actually hit a weak spot - but then again that wasn't so unexpected considering Barbie-girl's appearance. . .

"What, you need to resort to calling girls 'hun' since the boys don't listen to you anymore? They probably saw you for the fake bitch you are - face it: nobody takes YOU seriously". The moment she said it Aileen realized she had made a mistake. You're so stupid she scolded herself mentally You know how proud that bitch is. . . she's not going to let you get away with this. . .NEVER!

"Excuse me?!?" the girl yelled "Hello!?! Just 'cause you're neva gonna be as popular as I am dusn't mean you have to diss me in fronta everyone! K?"

By now, half of her grade had gathered around the three girls and was watching with interest.

Aileen sighed exasperatedly. Why did muggles always think they were better than everyone else? "Look if I was looking for popularity I could easily be in your place right now!"

That sounds pathetic! a voice argued in her head.

"I don't need what you call 'friends' and I don't need a whole fan club following me wherever I go. And I'm not about to let any guy do whatever he wants to me - I'm not THAT desperate, and I hope I never will be."

That sounded more like it. . . that might actually hurt Aileen was thinking to herself, satisfied.

She was therefore caught off-guard as one of the blonde girl's hands hit her in the face. Aileen staggered back, hearing the blonde girl remark "Well, I guess you can't really expect a girl who has no parents to have manners. . .and she definitely won't learn them from that hag of a grandmother!"

When Aileen looked up the look in her eyes was one of pure venom. How dare that muggle! Aileen slammed her fist into the girl's face, and then rammed her knee into her stomach.

"Nobody. Hits. Me. . . Nobody. Messes. With. Me. . . And NOBODY talks about my parents or my grandmother like that!" with that she glared at each person in turn, spun around, grabbed her bike and left.

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