D/C: If you recognize it. I don't own it. Kapeesh?

Chapter 10
Michelle

Ethan, Pete, Andrea, Sarah and I walked into the Great Hall. Sure, I felt a little bad about the way I had treated Chelsea earlier, but I couldn't be all nice to a Hufflepuff. I'd be the joke of the school. But that was another story. This story was the feast.

Professor McGonagall stood up as Professor Dumbledore's portrait was taken away. "And on the 15th of September there will be a start of term dance. Hopefully everyone shows up and there will be no problems. Now you may officially begin to eat."

I was sitting in between Ethan and Pete, while sitting across from Sarah and Andrea. We were talking about the dance, when Pete spoke up, "I don't know if I can go…" He said.

Sarah looked at him, "But Pete! You have to go."

"You do realize it'll be a full moon right?"

Andrea looked at Pete with wide eyes, "Wow… Yeah, wait… Isn't Snape making your potion?"

Pete shrugged, "He should be…"

Ethan stuffed his face, swallowed and got his say in, "If Snape makes your potion, won't you be fine?"

I spoke up, "He wouldn't be a werewolf. But he'd be a wolf. Who'd be okay with that?"

Pete smirked, "I'd be cute and cuddly."

I gagged, "You sound like a Hufflepuff. But I want to see you show up as a wolf. I'll give you 3 galleons if you do."

Ethan smiled as well, "I'll give you 10 sickles!"

Pete smiled. "You are on!"

Andrea shook her head, "You all are so strange."

"And damn proud of it!" I replied, "Strange never hurt anyone."

We all laughed, even Andrea and Sarah, which was a bit of a miracle.

Professor Snape walked over to us and looked at Pete, "Your potion will be ready by the time the moon is full." He said to him and then walked away. Snape was the only professor who knew about Pete being a werewolf, not even McGonagall knew.

I smirked, "So Pete. You might be getting 3 galleons and 10 sickles after this dance."

"I get pocket cash, and get to freak out midgets." Pete said, smiling, "That's amazing."

Sarah shook her head, "Do you think they'll find out it's you?"

"Maybe." Pete said, smiling, "Maybe not."

Ethan spoke up, "Shell and I will stick by you the whole time." He looked at me, "So, will you be my date to the dance?"

A genuine smile appeared on my face, "Anytime, and anywhere."

Ethan smiled, "Alright. That rocks."

We were dismissed at the end of the feast and we walked towards the dungeons. But as we exited we ran into Chello and her friends. Pete spoke first, "Oh it's the little Hufflepuff that couldn't."

I looked at Pete. "You are a dumbass."

Ethan spoke next, "Move it losers."

Sarah sneered, "Hufflepuff, mobs of mudbloods and the ones that aren't Mudbloods are blood traitors."

I was speechless. I hated being like this to Chello, but if they handled it all, I wouldn't have to say anything.

"Come on you guys. Let's go away from the Mudbloods and traitors." Andrea said, storming away, followed by Sarah and Pete. Ethan and I brought up the rear, I couldn't bring myself to say anything.

Ethan knew something was wrong, so he stopped, holding me back while he waited for the others to get ahead, "You okay?"

"Fine.. Just. I can understand myself being a bitch at times. But I just… couldn't do it just then. Felt weird."

"Oh." Ethan replied, "Come on, let's get to the Common Room."

I smiled, "Sure. Race you."

"You're on."

I was off, he followed me. Pete, Andrea, and Sarah were already in the Common Room by the time I got there. And Ethan was there a few seconds after me. "Gosh, how'd you win?"

"Skills." I said, turning to the portrait of Salazar Slytherin, "Serpent." I said, allowing the portrait to open so that we could go into the common room. We split and went to our separate dormitories.

I sat on my bed in between Andrea's and Sarah's.

Sarah looked at me and smirked, "What took you and Ethan so long?"

"Nothing that concerns you."

"They were doing some things!" Sarah said, laughing.

"No. We were not." I said, shaking my head, "Ethan is like my brother. I couldn't think of him as anything more."

Andrea smirked, "So that's why you're going to the dance with him?"

"We're going as friends."

Andrea and Sarah both smirked, "Yeah. Okay Shell." Andrea said.

"Whatever you say." Sarah laughed and closed her curtains, Andrea and I took the hint and closed our curtains as well.