AN: Standard Disclaimer applies as per usual, but keep your hands off Raven or she'll get mad. Sorry I'm taking so long typing this up, had mucho stress and an uber lack of motivation. Plus I've been getting more down on paper for later on. Also apologies for typos. I tend to be posting at 4am GMT.
Also sorry for the delay, I've been resorting to the sort of thing my characters do :oS and I haven't been feeling up to typing something that is triggering for me. Doctors on Friday, eek.
Anyway… lets get on with it.
Raven didn't turn up at lunch, but walked into Transfiguration just as the bell rang, choosing a seat away from everyone else. McGonagall launched into a speech about the course before holding a revision lesson. The only people who could master every task first time were Hermione, Raven and Ernie McMillan, a Hufflepuff prefect. Ron and Harry scraped themselves out of extra homework, but most of the class were told to practice all work back to third year.
Ron moaned all the way back to the common room about how much work they had done on their first day back. The girls were spared from the full version by going straight to their dorm to get changed, but would have bet that Harry was still getting an earful. Hermione immediately sat on her bed and picked up a book, while Raven had her headphones on again and was dancing around the room singing loudly as she took her robes off. She pulled on a pair of skater jeans and a vest top, followed by her Vans and the jewellery which she had to take off for classes.
"Almost back to me again."
Hermione stirred, "What? Sorry wasn't paying attention."
"Nothing hon, just talking to myself. What you reading?"
Hermione looked up and caught sight of Raven's upper body properly for the first time. The five parallel cuts on her arm had scabbed over, but she had obviously made no attempt to heal them because they were still a vivid red. The whole of her upper arms seemed to be completely covered in silver and red scars. Hermione gasped loudly and found herself staring.
"What's up Hermione? Oh…"
Hermione blushed, "I'm sorry I shouldn't stare."
"Nah its no problem, you've probably never seen anyone with self inflicted scars before. I suffer from depression, shit happens." Raven shrugged and began brushing her hair out. Ten minutes later she had put her makeup on and declared herself back to normal, making her way down to the common room. Heads turned as she chose a seat by the fire and began to read a Muggle book about mathematics, completely oblivious to the stares. Hermione emerged about 15 minutes later wielding her arithmancy textbook and a roll of parchment. The first Gryffindor Quiddich training session was to be held this evening and excited chatter filled the common room, either about who people thought were going to make the team, or confused Muggle-born first years who didn't have the slightest idea about the game asking questions. To make things worse, the first years had had their first flying lesson earlier on in the day, and were thoroughly overexcited by the time Harry and Ron emerged with broomsticks slung over their shoulders. The resulting raise in volume meant that Raven and Hermione could no longer concentrate on their books. The established players and those who were hoping to join the team headed for the portrait hole and Raven stood and approached the new team captain, Ron Weasley,
"Can I come out and watch? I'd love to play but I'm not allowed."
Ron, imagining a life without Quiddich, gave in and Raven followed the robed players to the pitch, chatting to Harry about his Forebolt.
It was dark as they made their way back to the castle. Raven had persuaded Harry to let her chase the Golden Snitch on his Firebolt, and Harry found himself relieved that she couldn't play. Her flying was almost to international standard, albeit with a few signs of being rusty.
"God I was awful! I haven't flown in years. That bludger shouldn't have got within ten feet of me, let alone hit me in the face."
Harry offered her a tissue to mop up the blood from her cheek.
"That looks really bad, you should go see Madam Pomfrey."
Raven waved him away dismissively, "It'll be gone in a couple of hours. I'm hard." Sure enough, when she moved her hand from her cheek the wound had already stopped bleeding and bruising was beginning to appear. Professor McGonagall found them on a staircase, blocking their path to the tower.
"I saw you on Potter's broom Gabriella, I hope you weren't trying for the team."
"No Professor, just messing around. Got clocked by a bludger though! Impressive war wound or what?"
McGonagall tutted, "I trust you'll be mended by tomorrow morning. Potter, do make sure we end up with a good team though, we have a cup to keep. I must admit it looks good with our name on it." As the head of house carried on her way Harry raised an eyebrow at Raven.
"Thought you'd had it then."
Raven winked at him, "Well, you either got it or you ain't! At least tomorrow's Saturday. I can stay in bed all day."
Stay in bed she did. Hermione woke her up at lunchtime to many muffled protests from underneath the duvet, but half an hour later she appeared srpting bright purple cargo pants and a tight black top. Her hair was neatly plaited down her back, but with the pink bits left loose to partially obscure her face. Satisfied that Harry wouldn't be left alone, Ron and Hermione left for a walk around the grounds to get some alone time. Raven yawned and slumped onto the sofa next to Harry, scratching the back of her neck lazily.
"So what do you normally do at weekends?"
"Um, I dunno. Go see Hagrid, Quiddich, homework, mess about in the grounds. What do you want to do? We could play chess or something."
"Nah. You know I spent some time studying in the Muggle world, sciences and maths. Everyone was really shocked when I said I couldn't play chess. For some weird reason being top of the year should have automatically made me a chess genius. So I've decided to never learn. Ignorance is bliss. Too much energy to sit down anyway. Adrenaline junkie ya know."
"Well it looks like Slytherin have the Quiddich pitch today. Got any suggestions?" The pair watched people in green robes zooming around the golden hoops on the pitch.
"Hey, can you skateboard? I brought one, and my inlines. We could find some tarmac or something, kick back and have some fun. What
do you reckon?"
Harry thought back to the time Dudley had been given a skateboard after throwing a tantrum because he didn't have one. It had been top of the range, but once he had fallen off for the first time he abandoned it, giving Harry a chance to use it.
"Yeah, why not? Not tried in years and I'm really bad. Its safer than Quiddich anyway."
The pair spent the afternoon on an impeccably smooth stone courtyard, which was so perfect it could only have been crafted with magic. Ron and Hermione arrived at about 4pm and sat on a stone bench laughing at Harry's attempts to jump over his bag. The day had so far been enjoyable, even if there were a few bruises. It was almost time to go inside for dinner when Harry and Raven had a spectacular crash, leaving them entangled. They lay on the floor for a few moments, long enough for Hermione to rush over concerned.Raven stood, and after regaining her balance grabbed Harry's forearm to help him to his feet. Harry yelped in pain and clutched his arm close to his body.
"Harry! Are you alright? What have you done? Do you want to go to the hospital wing?" Raven stared puzzled for a second as Hermione fussed over Harry, before realisation hit her.
"Oh god, dude I'm sorry! I forgot you whacked your arm earlier. I'll fix it when we get back upstairs."
Harry's tense face melted into an expression of relieved gratitude, especially when Hermione accepted the story and strolled over to Ron. /What would they say if they found out that the famous 'Boy Who Lived' had cut his arms deliberately?\
AN: Sorry its such a short one, my fingers are hurting and its 3am. Promise I'll update sooner, and special thanks to AderynGoddess who's review gave me the kick up the arse I needed. And like I said, things haven't been too great at the moment, but I met Raab Himself!!!