Disclaimer: I do not own the Marauders, nor do I own any of the other wonderful things in J.K.'s fantastic world. I do however own Ixer and most of her friends. And I do have a quote in here taken from 'A Knights Tale' (it was too perfect)

Author's Note: My, oh my, aren't things getting interesting? Yeah, I thought so too. Anyways, obviously this is going to be picking up some more momentum soon…so you might want to stick around. Thanks for your support! Leave a review if you can, I'm open to any thoughts and suggestions on how to improve my work.

Chapter 4

The sharp, cool, January air whipped strongly through the crowded streets of Hogsmeade; bright shafts of sunlight shone down upon the many villagers and shoppers that were taking advantage of the good weather. Ixer pulled her cloak tighter around her to block out the chill of the wind, all the while keeping her eyes focused on her own feet as she weaved amongst the other students and townspeople to avoid the otherwise inevitable awkward stares that she so often received.

"Zonko's just got in a new shipment of biting mittens!" shouted a Hufflepuff.

"I won't go near those things, not since my older sister gave me a pair for my birthday," replied a Ravenclaw.

Ixer fought back a grim smile as she passed by the two. She had also had an unfortunate encounter with a particularly nasty, bright red, pair when she was about six years old. Her cousins had snorted into their food as she rubbed her sore wrists all through Christmas dinner. Although they hadn't found it nearly as funny the next morning when she replaced some of their candy suckers with acid pops.

The petite girl darted carefully through the crowd, wanting only to find somewhere quiet to wait out the time until she was to meet the other girls at the Three Broomsticks. Maria, Alice, Laurie and Ario had all insisted that they needed new robes and that "-a flower is only as good as it's petals." Quite frankly, Ixer found the whole thing silly, and had refused to set foot inside the shop with the others. Let them spend their gold. Last time the girls had been this way, they'd spent every coin they had and had then had to borrow ink and parchment from everyone towards the end of the term. She sped up her pace, her eyes watering from the sting of the wind.

You wish you could do that though, don't you, her subconscious nagged. You wish that you could be silly, that you could spend impulsively on things you don't really need. You wish that you could be normal.

"No I don't." she muttered under her breath. "No I really don't. I'd like to think that I won't ever have to mooch off my class mates."

Ixer felt her face grow hot, now I'm talking to myself. Wonderful. I'm sure this will help me convince my parents that I'm 'emotionally stable' and that I'm not going to break down like some basket case. She kicked at a pinecone and watched as it bounced and landed next to a quaint little bookshop. Slowing down she glanced through the broad glass windows that looked out onto the street. Ixer saw many handsome leather books adorned with titles like: Dragonology – The complete book of Dragons, Interpreting the Stars, Even More Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, and Muggles – Not just a Way of Life. Many witches and wizards waved up at her from the covers of their books, and on one a phoenix burst into flames and was reborn right before her eyes, only to mature and do it all over again.

"Might I interest you in this book here my dear?"

Ixer jumped at the voice, and found that it belonged to who was probably the owner of the shop. The woman was definitely elderly, but her dark green eyes held a sparkle that spoke of a young heart, she stood in the doorway to the shop with a book clutched in her pale hands.

"What book is that, Ma'am?" Ixer asked as she attempted to recover from the sudden flood of adrenaline.

"Why a book of the soul, child. This book here can show you wisdom. This book here can show you happiness. But if you've not the proper frame of mind it can also hold mystery, even anger."

"I'm not sure if a book could do all that for me." She said as she turned to continue on her way.

"Why not just take a look and see." Said the old woman, thrusting the book at her. "Just take a peak."

Sighing, Ixer took the book and looked at its cover. Bound in a soft, deep blue cloth, it felt so delicate…so fragile. She flipped it open and saw that each page held gorgeous paintings, or intricate sketches. Every now and then a few words were scrawled, forming thoughtful phrases or life lessons. The style was not that unlike her own notebook.

"Its very beautiful. But I still don't think it could show me all that."

The woman smiled as though she knew something Ixer did not. Taking a few steps closer to the teenager, she reached for the book and flipped it to the very back and held it up to show her. She was met by her own reflection, for in the back of the book was a mirror. Her own confusion and sudden understanding was staring back at her in her moment of wisdom. My hair is a mess, she thought.

And from such a simple thought she found herself laughing. The shop owner smiled widely, as though she understood. Ixer handed the book back to the woman and dug into her robes, still fighting an occasional giggle.

"How much for this book?"

Ixer made her way out towards the edges of town, a bit happier despite herself, and found a large rock resting in the middle of a clear field. Off in the distance she could see the Shrieking Shack looming ominously over its derelict fields. Sitting down she opened her purchase in her lap. It really was quite beautiful. After a while her thoughts began to wander and she occasionally found herself squinting out at the rickety, and supposedly haunted old house.

Rumors said that though it had only been built a few years ago, very violent spirits had quickly moved in and had then driven out the wizarding family that had once lived there. It was said that sometimes, in the village, when the night shrouds the town in its mystery, you can hear the howls and shrieks of the tormented souls that resided there.

Ixer felt a chill go down her spine. What must it feel like to be in agony even in death? To know that your suffering and pain will be your only companion for eternity…. No wonder they're so violent. Hell, I'd haunt the place. It'd give me something to do with my endless days.

Students often dared each other, to see who would go the closest to the Shack. Some swore they got so close they could actually hear the rattling of chains and the moans of the lonely ghosts. Sometimes the 7th years would try to convince one another to sneak out of the castle and come down to the Shack at night, although as of yet no one had been that stupid.

She brushed back a lock of hair that had fallen in her face; she closed her eyes and tilted her face towards the sun, the warm rays making her see red through her eyelids. These few moments of peace that she had were too few nowadays. As she got older and her relationships with her friends became more involved she found it harder and harder to get away. Especially at night…

She'd had to invent many a story, and she knew that her conscience would eventually catch up to her; until it did she saw no other way to live. This was the path of least resistance. Sure it cost her a bit of herself every time she had to lie, but the others were happily oblivious to what she was. They didn't know what she was in both respects. They didn't know what kind of monster she became every month, nor did they know the selfish liar that she was. Ixer felt it was worth the trade, her happiness for that of her friends.

There were days though…days when she thought about telling them all everything. She'd mulled over thousands of scenarios, each one more disastrous than the last and each one presenting her with the fact that no matter which path she chose she would more than likely lose some of her friends. Either by their fear of what she was or by them finding out that she was indeed a liar. There had been a few times when it had been particularly torturous to her.

Ario was trying to get some Ravenclaw guy to pay Ixer some attention at one point last year. In the process the girl had listed Ixer's good qualities: smart, beautiful, witty, and honest. Ario and several others were always praising Ixer on her honesty, on her unwavering loyalty.

And in once sense, Ixer thought it was true. Whether she was lying or not she was always there for her friends. Always. No matter what the situation. When Alice had been heartbroken over a guy Ixer had been there with her arms around her friend, letting the girl cry and listening to what happened. When Marie had desperately needed some robes for a formal ball held by one of her father's friends, Ixer had been there for her, not only helping her shop for some of the stuff she'd need, but helping her make a truly unique gown that no one else had ever seen rivaled in beauty. When Alice's dear friend Donald had been questioning his decision to become involved with a younger girl despite the fact that there were several of his own age that would die for the chance to be with him, Ixer had been there telling him that the whole world could be unhappy with his decision and it still wouldn't matter as long as it was something that brought him joy. If this girl lit up his world and made him laugh then that was all that mattered.

So even if there were lies, she was loyal. And she did care enough to try to help them with their problems as all friends would. There was just no way they could help her with her own, so why burden them with it?

Taking a deep breath, she glanced at her watch. She still had a little bit of time; returning her gaze to her book she figured…I can read a bit more before its time to meet the others.