A/N: Since I have nothing to say, I'll put a disclaimer here. I do not own any of these characters, (but Juliette), I just tinker with them. They are all property of Jo Rowling, and whoever else bought the rights.

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Juliette stepped into Hogwarts for the first time in what seemed like ages, breathing in the familiar air, sighing with overwhelming joy. But there was still so much rage bottled up inside her from break, but she just didn't want to think about it. The last thing she was going to let her father do was interfere with her here, her new sanctuary. She pulled her trunk, which was barely full, back into Gryffindor, up the stairs, and threw it onto her bunk.

No one else was in the room. Probably outside, she assumed. After all, why wouldn't they be. It was a gorgeous day. Not too cold, but the fresh snow from the night before was glittering in the sun. The slightly frozen over lake was shining intensely, making all the light in the castle look dim and gray. It was not a day to stay inside, especially because it was the last day before classes pick up again. But that was exactly why she wanted to stay inside. Because that was where everyone else wasn't. A part of her really wanted to head down to the dungeons to tell Professor Snape she was back, but she was just too tired, too depressed, too enraged. For now, all she was going to do was sleep until supper.

Her eyes closed quickly, and not soon after she lost all consciousness, and entered a world of her own, free from the heavy brick of anger that was stressing on her brain. She slept for a good three hours before she heard noisy voices around her. It had felt like a lot shorter slumber than it really had been, and Juliette was completely frustrated when she woke to a room full of girls.

What the...... hell, she panted, as she looked around at about twelve loudmouthed girls, some of them obviously not from her year at all.

Who's she, said one of the girls Juliette didn't recognize.

This is Juliette, a girl said that Juliette knew as Maggie. Julie, this is my sister Rosalind, and some of her friends. They're in fifth year.Don't call me Julie. And can't you guys go down to the common room! I don't even think fifth years are allowed in our room, are they? I'm trying to sleep!How can you sleep on the last day of break, scoffed a girl named Ariel. That's just.... so weird.Yeah, well, welcome to my world. Now get out!Hey, this is their room too, Rosalind said defensively.

Yes, but it isn't yours now, is it?Why can't you go? a girl called Helen asked. There are more of us than there are of you. How about you take your little pillow, and a book and go. She threw her a pillow from her bed, and the book from her nightstand, and pushed her out the door.

she muttered as she stepped out. All of

Having been kicked out of her room, her first instinct was to go to the common room, but now that it was starting to get chillier outside, everyone was beginning to move inside to get a good place in front of the fire. Her second instinct was to go to Snape's chamber to visit, but she was just to tired to visit, and she knew he'd have lots of questions, and she really didn't have the strength to answer them. She might as well wait until she can answer all of them. Professor McGonagall was her next thought. She would understand, and she was a quiet person for the most part. But she wasn't sure if she'd be in her office or her chambers. If she wasn't in her office, she didn't really want to disturb her in her room, so she checked the office first.

She approached the door, and knocked first gently, then a little harder when there was no reply. By the third knock, the door creaked open, and Professor McGonagall was looking down at her, puzzled.

Well, hello there Morris. Welcome back, is there something I can help you with?I uh.... was just wondering if you were willing to let me read in your office. It's too loud back at Gryffindor.Of course, come in, she said, smiling sympathetically.

I was trying to sleep, she said, walking over to a chair on the opposite side of the room. But I suppose there was no hope of that, with the girls in there.

Professor McGonagall nodded, looking a little distressed at the comment. Are the girls.....No, no don't get me wrong, they're lovely girls, she said, with some difficulty. They were lovely, but just not to her. They're nice, but it's just that.... we don't really see eye to eye. They are.... well, more like..... and less like......They're more like Gryffindors are normally like, and you think you're more like the Slytherin girls.

Juliette was silent.

That's right, isn't it? Professor McGonagall said, smiling.

Yeah. Yeah, it's right. I just don't feel like I'm like them. They're true to each other, loyal, brave, funny. I'm.... well, I don't know what I am.You're a bright girl who seeks more solitude than others do. There's nothing wrong with that.

Oh, but if she only knew the real me, she thought to herself.

Well, that may be partly me. But.... they have reason to not like me. I love the attention I get when I'm right. I love to mess with people. I'm sarcastic more than need be, and not really in a considerate way. I like to watch people fail, professor. I like to be on top, all the time. I've been pushed to the side too often at home, professor, I need to be noticed here! I have to be perfect. But I'm just......You're just yourself, she finished. Juliette, you know not everyone's perfect. You act so angelic, you appear flawless at times, but all the teachers know you're not. And about you loving to mess with people, loving other people's agony, being sarcastic to put them down, well.... that's just like Professor Snape, if you hadn't noticed. I remember earlier you said you felt some sort of attraction to him, and that's probably why. We tend to love the ones who understand us, because it makes us feel like we have a shoulder to lean on. And I may not know all the details about your life at home, but I do know that no matter what your father may do to you, and who your mother is, and what they say to you, that's no reason for you to feel neglected. You always have people who care about you at Hogwarts, Ms. Morris.

She immediately thought of Professor Snape, and wanted to smile, but her mind wouldn't let her.

I know.... I know I have people who care about me here, professor. But, that doesn't make up the love you're supposed to get from your family. I don't know my mom's family. My dad's family is all dead, and if there is someone who is still alive, wherever they may be, I don't want to meet them if they're anything like my father. I'm sorry, but any love..... almost any love I get here can't possibly make up for the love I'm supposed to get at home. It really makes you feel worthless, professor.

My father doesn't even care, no matter how may times he protests that he loves me. Nothing could possibly make up for forgetting that I was coming home. That's right, he forgot that I was coming home for Christmas. I sat at the station for five whole hours, and when he didn't show up, I called him. He didn't pick up, so I walked, in the blizzard for six miles to my dad's house, out to the very outskirts of London. The house was so much more run down than I had expected, or at least since I had last seen it. I went in, the door was unlocked, and I cried inside that I was home, and he threw an empty beer bottle at me! I ducked, but all the shattered glass went all over me. He said I was a robber and told me to get out before he called the police. I told him I was his daughter. Remember me? Juliette?' It took me the rest of the day to convince him he really knew me. He was drunk the whole time. For the rest of the time I was there, he called me Bellatrix. He left me alone almost all day, every day, and all night, even on Christmas eve. He didn't even come home for Christmas day. When I finally had to leave, he was actually home, and I asked him if he'd drive me. He said yes, but his car was completely topless, and I was halfway expecting for the bumper to be dragging behind us. We almost got into an accident, and he had to swear at everyone, even some innocent person on the street. He threw up the second we got out of the car, and I made sure to get onto the train as fast as possible. I said goodbye, but he was too busy making out with this lady in some tight skirt.... In public! I was so embarrassed, I hope I never see the little whore again! She was so angry just talking about it, she didn't care about saying whore' in front of a Professor. She realized she hadn't looked at Professor McGonagall once the whole time she was talking, so she looked up slowly.

Professor McGonagall actually had tears in her eyes. Silent tears were streaming down her face, her eyes turned down.

she whispered softly. I'm sorry. No one deserves that. No one, especially not you. I'll talk to Albus about where you can go after you graduate. At least until you get your own home. But.... I'm really sorry. I really, really am. You deserve so much more, I can't even begin to tell you.....

But her sentence was cut off by a quiet hiccup from her crying.

Thank you, Professor. It's okay... I guess I've learned to deal with it, but.... I've never hated my father more than I hate him now. I hate him, Professor, I just wish he would die! Then I wouldn't have to deal with him. I hope I never have to deal with anyone like him. That's all I want right now, never to see him as long as I live.

Professor McGonagall nodded. I know how you must feel right now. But I know you don't hate him.Yes, I do, she said fiercely. I hate him. She sighed, and felt herself calming down. It feels so good to say that. Literally, I've never hated someone with more passion.....I know he must seem so terrible right now, but do be careful what you say. Keep that in mind. Now, I believe it's almost time for supper. she said, looking up at the big black clock on the wall in her office. It is, isn't it. Well, thank you professor. I don't even remember how we got onto this topic, but I'm glad I got that out.I'll see you at supper, Morris.