"Perhaps you ought to Floo through to the infirmary," the professor said. Something roiled in Evanna's gut at that.

"Please, no, sir," she said. "Nothing is terribly wrong-surely you know some healing spells?"

He gave her a considering look. "Sit down before you pass out on my floor. I should not like to fill out that paperwork."

Evanna did as she was bid, tremors still sweeping her every few minutes. Professor Snape frowned and set to work, healing her wrist and ankle, handing her a tub of bruise salve to apply.

"Are you cold?"

"Huh?"

"You're trembling, Ms. Malfoy," he said slowly, as though speaking to a very slow child. "Are you cold?"

"N-"

Before she could get out her answer, he had conjured a blanket to drape itself around her shoulders and pressed a steaming cup of tea into her hands. Hot liquid sloshed on her fingers, but she didn't mind. It felt nice, being taken care of. She took a shaky sip of the tea as Professor Snape went around to the other side of his desk.

"Tell me, Ms. Malfoy," he said. "Were you duelling with another student?"

Evanna looked down into her cup. "I didn't have my wand on me," was all she said.

"That was not my question," he said sharply. "Was it another student who caused your injuries?"

Anger-or was it fear?-rose in her. "All due respect, sir, that is really none of your business."

His dark eyes flashed. "You are a student in my House. It is absolutely my business."

"What happens with my family is none of your business!" Evanna snapped back.

"So your brother put you in this state?" Professor Snape said. "Funny, never would have thought Draco to be able to as such in only his second year. Nevertheless, I shall have to inform your parents if he's performing dark curses on his sister-"

He was reaching for the Floo powder. Evanna jumped up, spilling her tea and throwing off the blanket to stop him.

"No! No, it wasn't-it wasn't Draco!" she said, standing on tiptoes to clutch at his robe sleeve.

I'll kill him.

"Please, sir, I was just training. It's a dangerous world, sir, and I have to be ready for it. I am to represent an ancient and noble house and we have enemies and I have to be able-"

"Training, is it?" Professor Snape sneered. "When you admitted yourself that your wand is in your dorm room?"

Evanna's heart thumped.

"What all did Lucius do to you?" he scowled.

"He-he-just dodged some spells-normally not-don't do anything, please!" she begged. The tremors had gotten worse and she had started crying again, all but collapsing against her professor. He put an arm around her and guided her back to the chair.

"Those tremors are caused by more than dodging spells," he said softly. Evanna shook her head.

"I-I've still been having headaches." Well, it wasn't a lie, was it?

"Foolish child," he murmured. "Can't you see I'm trying to help you?"

"I don't need help," she said stubbornly. "Except-have you heard from my mother?"

Professor Snape sighed heavily and rose up, going back to his desk.

"Your mother was supposed to come to the quidditch game today, but she owled me at the last moment to say she could not make it," he frowned heavily at the thought. "But, she gave me a spell to strengthen your bracelet if you are amenable."

Evanna nodded emphatically. "Yes, please," she said. "I do want to go to the quidditch game, you know."

"Yes, children your age typically do," he said in a long suffering voice that made Evanna have to suppress the urge to giggle. He took out his wand and began touching it to her bracelet.

"Léitheoir aigne… léitheoir aigne…. léitheoir aigne…" he murmured over and over. Her bracelet warmed and the noise that had been lingering in the back of her head faded. For the first time in a week, her head did not hurt in the least bit. She almost sagged in relief.

"Thank you, sir," she said. "Did my mother say anything else?"

"Only that she would see you over the winter holiday," Professor Snape said. "Now, how are you feeling? Are you still shaking? Any lingering pain?"

"No, sir," she said. "I'll see you at the Quidditch game, sir?"

"Yes, yes," he said dismissively. "Go on, then."

Evanna gave him a quick smile and flew out the door and up the stairs, excited to finally eat lunch in the Great Hall again after a week of avoiding the crowds of people. Not a single bit of noise wormed its way into her head. She sat down next to her dorm-mates.

"You're back, finally!" Elin said, scooting down the bench to make room.

"What's wrong with you?" Eva said bluntly. "You look like you've been bulldozed."

"Like I've been what?" Evanna asked blankly.

"Bulldo-never mind. But you're really pale-well, paler than usual."

"Shut up, Eva," Elin said. "You know she's been sick since-well you know!"

The girls were silent for a moment while Evanna fixed her plate and took a bite.

"How is your brother?" Elin asked. "First match against Gryffindor-and I hear Potter's no slouch. Youngest Seeker in a century."

A surge of anger went through Evanna. Her brother… her brother had caused what had happened that afternoon, opening his fat mouth to their father about things he simply didn't understand…

"I don't want to talk about my brother," she said darkly.

"Uh-oh," said Eva. "What's he done now?"

"He just keeps running his mouth to our father," Evanna said. "You know, I really didn't get out of the Manor much as a child. This is the first time I've really-well-really been around people my age."

"Never would have guessed it," Eva said dryly. Elin elbowed her. Evanna just laughed.

"C'mon," said Elin. "We need to get down to the Quidditch pitch if we've any chance of getting good seats."

The three girls walked down to the Quidditch Pitch together and took seats near the front of the stands. The two teams were in the air, warming up and leading cheers among the gathering students. Draco flew over to them, making sure to swerve out of the way just in time like the showoff he was. Evanna rolled her eyes.

"You here to wish your brother good luck on his first quidditch game?" he said with a cocky grin. "We're going to cream Potter."

"They're here to prevent me from hexing you off your broom," she said, gesturing to her friends. "I think I'd rather enjoy seeing Potter beat you, the mood I'm in."

Draco actually had the audacity to look hurt, but was unable to say anything due to the captain calling his teammates over. Eva and Elin leaned in to ask her something, but then someone else flew over.

"Malfoy! I've been trying to talk to you!"

Evanna looked up to see Harry Potter, his green eyes glinting in the sun and the wind tousling his already messy hair.

"Potter," she said coolly as Eva and Elin exchanged glances behind her back.

"Look, I know that I've been kind of rude-"

"Kind of?"

He gave her an awkward look, rubbing the back of his neck. "-but there's something going on this year, that bigger than that, and you seem to know about it too-"

The hairs on the back of Evanna's neck stood up. She turned to see her father glaring down his nose at her. What little color had returned to her face quickly left it as she turned back to Potter. He looked at her in concern.

"Are you alright, Malfoy? Only you look awfully pale and shaky-"

"Who says I want you trying to look after me?" she sneered, pitching her voice so that it would carry. "You're just an upstart little half-blood with a savior complex. I've better things to do with my time!"

A flash of hurt came across Harry's face. "Well, fine. See if I care, Malfoy."

Evanna marginally relaxed as he flew away, turning to look at her father's face. He had turned away to watch the game, a self-satisfied smirk on his face. She turned back to see that Madam Hooch had called the teams down to go over the rules of the match. Draco caught her eye and tried to wave, and she promptly turned away from him, catching Potter's eye. He gave her a nasty glare and she couldn't help but feel a pang of regret. In another world, he might have been her first friend. As it stood, it seemed they would forever be enemies.