Mallory entered the Great Hall and walked over to the Gryffindor table. She saw Haley sitting in the middle and she looked like she was crying. Fred and George were on either side of her, patting her back soothingly. When Mallory passed she heard what Haley was saying.
"I...I was ju...just trying to...be a good sister," she sobbed. Everyone around her looked sympathetic.
"It's ok Haley, your sister's just jealous of you," George told her, glancing up at Mallory when she passed and giving her a how-can-you-live-with-yourself kind of look.
"Are you sure your sister is ok Mallory," Hermione asked, a look of sympathy in her eye.
"Ugh, she is fine! She's just faking it! She does this all the time," Mallory said, sitting in a seat as far away from her sister as possible.
"I dont know. You did hit her pretty hard," Harry said, sitting across from her.
"Yea, and she must of been joking when she made that comment about you paying us to be your friend," Ron stated, sitting down next to Harry. Mallory slammed her hands down on the table. The Hall got quiet and they all turned to see what the commotion was.
"Fine! Take her side! Everyone does! She's a witch and I hate her! She hasn't done anything nice for me in my entire life," Mallory screamed. She turned in her seat to see everyone giving her a puzzled look. "What are you all staring at," she yelled, turning back and putting her head in her hands. The Great Hall resumed their chatter.
"Wow! Even your family members can't stand you!" Mallory turned again and looked up into Malfoy's smirking face.
"I thought I told you to leave me alone? Or do I need to spell it out for you," Mallory replied, looking fed up.
"You know Mallory, that look on your face makes you look even uglier than usual," Malfoy laughed.
"Hey! Don't talk about my sister like that!" Haley had gotten up from where she sat and walked over. Mallory looked up at her in amazment.
"Haley, I can handle this," she told her.
"Aw, Mallory! Getting your big sister to fight your battles for you," Malfoy said, grinning even wider.
"Look you little maggot," Haley pushed him back just as Mallory had done on the train. "My sister doesn't need anyone to fight her battles! And at least she doesn't need two apes without brains for bodyguards! She can fend for herself!" Malfoy's grin vanished. He gave an evil look to Mallory before going back to the Slytherin table. There was an awkward silence that followed.
"Uh...thanks," Mallory said. "But you know, I could have handled him on my own."
"I know. I just thought I might do something nice for once," Haley smiled and walked out of the Great Hall, Fred and George running to catch up with her.
Over the next few days Haley avoided Mallory completely. Not that Mallory minded this. It was as if Haley had never come. The next Monday Mallory had her favorite class, Potions with Snape. It seemed like every other minute he was leaning over her and criticizing her.
"Just ignore him," Hermione whispered to her. Mallory nodded and stirred her potion, gripping her spoon harder than she had intended. Snape walked over to her.
Under his breath and so no one but her could hear him, he muttered, "Worthless." Mallory had had enough. She smashed her hand on the table, getting the attention of the whole class. Snape whipped around and stared straight into her eyes.
"I don't know what the hell your problem is, but you need to get your greasy-haired, big-nosed, pale-faced self out of my face," she yelled angrily.
"Oh wouldn't that just make your father proud," Snape retorted. Mallory stared at him, not believing what she had heard.
"You don't know anything about my father," she shouted and stormed to the door.
As she turned the handle she heard Snape yell, "You wouldn't believe the things I know about your father." She stood there, frozen to her spot. She looked around to face the class, all staring at her. Malfoy was looking directly at her, a mixture of happiness and confusion on his face. Mallory turned back around and walked out of the classroom, her mind reeling.