In the morning I had come to a conclusion about my dilemma about whether or not to hex the first Gryffindoor in sight as revenge for Lark: The Gryffindoors would be forgiven for now, but if they put one toe out of line… They weren't going to know what hit them. I prayed with all my might that the Gryffindoors would give me ample opportunity to hex them into oblivion. I needn't have prayed so hard.
Darn! I muttered as I swung my bag a little too hard. It hit the castle wall and I immediately heard the sound of glass braking inside. My friends are constantly trying to cure me of my annoying habit of swinging bags around and around and around. I can't help it. It's just one of those things I do without thinking. More than once I've hit an unsuspecting passerby with my bag in the head and gotten glares and fingers pointed in a not-so-nice sign at me, but those incidences didn't really count because they weren't exactly accidents I quickly pressed myself against the castle wall to avoid being crushed by the rush of students eager to eat dinner. I waited until the number of students died down to just a few, and then opened my bag. Inside my potion vials, perfume bottles, ink bottles and any other breakable items I had had in there had been smashed to bits. A steady trickle of liquid ran out of a hole in my bag.
"Reparo" I said instantly putting back together all my breakable items. I said another spell to clean up the liquid and then inspected my bag to make sure that none of my books had gotten ruined.
I had just finished checking my last book when I heard a large obnoxious male voice accompanied by the laughter of other male voices and the giggle of obnoxious giggling girls heading my way. It sounded like Joey, a Gryffindoor who I had dated in Fifth year, but then broke up with after huge argument between us. I know, I know, you're thinking "What! Win dated a Gryffindoor!". I admit it's unbelievable but I was young and foolish and Joey was –is- a handsome popular quidditch player. Never mind that he was a Gryffindoor. Ever since I broke up with him a year ago for being a jerk, he's been a little sore at me. A little might be an understatement.
"But what about when you dated Marvala?" a thin whiny girls voice asked.
"Bloodwin?" the voice paused "Underneath all those spells and potions she uses Bloodwin's really quite ugly. And she's got a personality to match. That's why I broke with her. She's such a slut. It was hard –I felt so sorry for her- but in the end… What was I supposed to do? Stay with an ugly troll like her forever?" there was laughter and I felt a huge rage boil up inside of me.
How dare he! He was the one who was just about in tears when I broke up with him! By the time I'm done with him, all that's going to be left of his pretty face is a gnarled, mushed up, mutated, bloody, thing that doesn't even faintly resemble a face!
"Bloodwin's mother is really pretty though." Joey continued "Unfortunately she's vainer than her two daughters, plus Malfoy combined." More laughter.
Those mudbloods were going to learn not to mess with Bloodwin Marvala Slytherin!
I stepped out into the middle of the corridor where everyone could see me as they rounded the corner. I put on a cheery grin while glaring daggers at him, the result was decidedly creepy
"Hello, Joey. Fancy meeting you here. But really, Joey, you shouldn't be spreading nasty lies, although I do know you were just making a joke! You're quite funny! After all I thought you'd never stop crying after I broke up with you! And I must say, you seemed to like my mother very much when you spent Christmas break at my mansion. You also seemed to like her quite well WHEN SHE GAVE YOU A FLYING FEFFARI!" I watched amused as Joey's face contorted with anger.
"That's not true! I can see why you'd lie to save you'r reputation, but really there isn't much of a good reputation left to protect, so..." He practically shouted, while at the same time looking nervously at his groupies for support. I'd never gotten how Joey had ended up in Gryffindor; he was one of the most cowardly guys I knew. I did feel a bit sorry for him, though. I knew how it'd hurt his reputation if everyone found out the "truths" he was spreading weren't actually true. I only felt enough pity for him to feel bad for his parents when they saw the remains of their son. I was preparing to launch a number of nasty spells at him when a voice saved me from what was surely suicide –for there was one of me and about ten of them-.
"Well, well, well. What do we have here?" Dylan's voice drawled out. I'd never been happier to see him, or the large group of Slytherins that he was with. At the back of the group I could see Lark, looking white. I couldn't tell from where I was if they'd been able to get rid of all the scars. Evidently Joey could see Lark too for he turned to his groupies and said.
"Who's up for getting revenge on the stuck up Slytherin bitch who wounded our brave Quidditch Captain right before a match?"
Joey sure knew how to get his House mates riled up. Gryffindors are all goody-goody, but as soon as you mention their quidditch team… they transform into raging lions. Pathetic lions, but lions all the same. I wasn't complaining, I was still upset about Lark and ready to kick some major Gryffindor butt.
The two groups rushed at each other, shouting curses and war cries at the same time. I threw a hex at Joey which missed but got his attention. He turned to me and muttered the bat-boogey hex under his breath. It hit me, but Calandra paused in between throwing hexes and said the counter-curse. I threw another spell at Joey, missed again, and then, in a fit of fury launched myself at him and punched him in the face. He staggered back clutching his face but I went at him again and hit him in the stomach. "That, is for every lie you've said about my friends, about me, and about my mother!" I whispered fiercely. Unfortunately at that moment, one of his friends came up behind me and got me in a head lock, squeezing my neck. I gasped, and then tried to elbow him in the stomach, when suddenly there was a huge 'BOOM'. Everyone went deadly still.
"What is the meaning of this?" McGonagall's voice cut sharply into the stillness. "And do not make the silly excuse that you're getting revenge for what happened to Miss Lark. I will not take it. I have heard that excuse three times today already." She looked around.
"Mister Wilto. Kindly release your hold on Miss Marvala's neck. Thank you." She performed a couple of counter-curses making sure no one was still under a hex and then said in the same sharp voice. "Everyone follow me. Bork, being the head of Slytherin House, shall be notified immediately. I trust he will give all of you a fiting punishment. As for the Gryffindors, you can all look forwards to a punishment from me." Someone in Gryffindor groaned. Even though McGonagall was the youngest Head of House yet, and new at being the Head of Gryffindor House, she had already gained a reputation for being strict. Not that Bork would let us out any easier. But Bork at least remembered being a Slytherin student, and remembered the hatred between the two Houses and why we sought fights with Gryffindors.
McGonagall continued. "I am very disappointed in all the Prefects who participated in this fight. In fact, I'm disappointed in all of you. I'm sure headmaster Dippit is too. Everybody line up and follow me."
We all lined up in two lines (Gryffindors in one and Slytherins in the other) and all the while glaring at each other, proceeded to walk towards the Great Hall led by McGonagall. When we reached the Great Hall, we were met by Bork. He looked at the Gryffindors, looked at the Slytherins, looked back at the Gryffindors and winked in our direction.
"I see that there's been some sort of a fight?" he asked. McGonagall glared at him, obviously annoyed that he sounded so chipper.
"Yes, there was. And it is your responsibility as a Head of Slytherin house to punish them as fit."
"Yes, yes. They'll be punished. But first, who won?"
"Brinston Bork! I will not allow you to encourage this sort of behavior!"
"Ah. I take it my House was winning." Professor Bork said knowingly.
"I refuse to take part in such pettiness." McGonagall sniffed loudly as the rest of us looked on in amusement.
"You're taking this way to seriously. Let me give you some advice from a person who's been Head for many years, to a person who's young and has only been Head for a couple of months: Fights like this happen all the time. No need to get riled up over a little brawl, surely you got in fights when you were a student? Hmm, maybe not." Professor Bork added as he saw the look on McGonagall's face.
"Anyway, survival of the fittest, I always say! Come, Sly Slytherins, let's go!" Professor Bork waved his hand at Professor McGonagall and proceeded to lead my House through the Great Hall –ignoring all the stares and whispers of the people eating dinner- towards the Slytherin common room.
Behind us we could hear McGonagall sputtering, "Survival of the fittest, indeed! Soon the only people left surviving will the Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs who do not indulge in such childish behavior! I will be talking to Dippit about you, Bork!" she shouted after us.
Back at the Slytherin common room, Bork turned to us and said. "You know that I discourage getting in fights, and it is my duty as a Head to punish you all. But Mister Malfoy, it is your duty as a Prefect to tell me if you won the brawl."
Dylan grinned. "Yep. Or at least, we were pretty close to winning, sir, before McGonagall showed up."
"Professor McGonagall. But good, good! Thirty points to Slytherin for telling me the answer!" Bork winked at us again. "I knew that your generation would make us old ones proud! Who started the fight?"
"Well, Win was about to launch into a one to ten battle, but then we showed up to help her, sir." Dylan gestured at the other Slytherins present (other than us, the common room was empty because everyone else was at dinner).
"Good, good! We may save ourselves first, but we Slytherins are loyal!" Bork chuckled. He was bald, slightly on the fat side, and had been Head of House for years and years. Bork cleared his throat. "I want you all to know, that while Athena McGonagall and I might not always agree on certain issues, I admire and respect her very much. And I'm sure she'd say the same about me. Now, I'll post up punishments when I decide them, but until then all those who need it had better go to the Hospital Wing."
Luckily, I didn't need to go to the Hospital Wing, but almost half of the Slytherins present did. Of my close friends, only Calandra and Dylan needed to go to the Hospital Wing, and I wasn't sure if Calandra was my friend anymore. Dylan flashed me a smirk before walking out of the common room, but Calandra only glared at me coldly before stalking out. I could tell she was upset that I had started a fight when she had told me, in more or less words- that Lark had deserved what happened to her. But what could I have done? Let Joey insult me and my family? As much as I disliked my family, I was proud of being a Slytherin, and it would have been shameful if I hadn't defended my lineage. Plus, no one told Bloodwin Marvala what to do! And if Calandra didn't approve of my getting into a fight, that was too bad for her. I knew though, that I would have to speak to her as soon as she got back from the Hospital Wing. She was one of my closest friends. Was.
"All of you who don't need to go to the Hospital Wing I suggest that you get dinner from the kitchens and then head up to bed." Bork called out before exiting the Common Room. I plopped down on one of the couches, and leaned my head back against a pillow. It had been a long day.
"Who's up for making a trip down to the kitchens with me? I'll take orders of whoever doesn't go, but you don't seriously expect me to carry back the orders of everyone alone, do you?" Dondo Blaise asked.
A couple people volunteered and I told Dondo what I wanted, and what I knew Calandra and Dylan would want.
A couple hours later I was warm, fed, and snuggled under the covers of my bed. On the bedside table beside me a piece of chocolate cake lay on a plate. I was saving it for Calandra as a kind of peace offering. Calandra and I both loved chocolate cake. I heard the door creak open and turned in my bed to see Calandra enter our dorm.
"Hey." I said sleepily.
"Hi."
"Dondo made a kitchen run since we all missed dinner"
"Thanks to you." Calandra muttered.
"and I saved you a piece of chocolate cake." I continued as if I hadn't heard. "Please don't be mad. You heard Joey, he was insulting me, he was insulting Lark, he was out for a fight. How could I not fight back?"
"You know that Joey wouldn't have picked a fight unprovoked." Calandra said bitterly.
"That's not true! What is up with you? Have you suddenly joined the Gryffindor Fan Club? And since when is getting in a fight with a Gryffindor a crime! You've gotten in fights with Gryffindors all the time with me!" I said indignantly stung that Calandra would take a lowly Gryffindor's side instead of mine.
"I was just thinking that…" Calandra hesitated.
"That?" I prompted
"That after we graduate from Hogwarts there won't be any Gryffindors or Slytherins, and we'll all have to learn to accept each other as people. Rather than focusing on our House."
"Calandra!" I exclaimed "First of all, we're not going to graduate from Hogwarts for a couple years. Second of all, the Sorting Hat sorts us into Houses that reflect upon our personality the most. So no matter if we're in Hogwarts or not, we'll always be Slytherins. Just as Joey will always be a Gryffindor. We will always have the values of a Slytherin, and Joey will always have the values of a Gryffindor. We're opposite people. We'll never get along. The saying "opposites attract" is wrong. People stick to their own kinds. Their own groups that make them feel at home. That's just the way it is."
Calandra shook her head sadly. "I just wish it didn't have to be that way."
"Is there something else that's bothering you?" I asked gently. I had the feeling that Calandra was keeping something from me. When Calandra still looked hesitant, I used my superb skill I have of getting information out of people. I am seriously good at it. As a result, I always know gossip days ahead of everyone else. "You know you can tell me anything." Unfortunately, it didn't work. Calandra, being my best friend, knew most of my tricks.
"Fine" I pouted. "If you're not going to tell me, I'm going to be forced to resort to cruder methods of getting information."
"What are you going to do? Torture me?"
"No. Even worse." I had been edging over to Calandra's trunk at the end of her bed. I suddenly lunged and threw open the lid. "I'm going to look in your diary." I quickly rummaged threw her trunk with one hand, with the other hand I fended off Calandra who was intent on stopping me. "Aha!" I yelled triumphant. I waved her diary just out of reach of her grabbing hands. "
Don't you dare!" Calandra made another desperate attempt on grabbing the diary away from me. "Watch me." I grabbed my wand and muttered a body binding curse. "Finally. Some peace and quiet. Now, to find out what you're hiding." I knew it was rotten of me, but I wanted revenge. I slowly opened Calandra's diary. I flipped threw a couple of pages, and finding nothing, flipped to the middle of her diary. There written in large loopy letter were the words "I love Potter" over and over again. Next to each of the words "Potter" was a heart with a cupid arrow threw its middle. All the words were done in red ink. In disbelief I flipped threw the next couple of pages. On all of them were the words "I love Potter". I was speechless. For the space of about three seconds.
"Oh my god!" I screeched. "You like Potter! I cannot believe it! You actually luuurrvvee Potter! Potter the Gryffindor Quiditch Captain! That's why you're so suddenly sympathetic with the Gryffindors! I cannot believe it!" by that time I was laughing so hard I could barley perform the counter curse to Calandra's body bind.
"Oh stop it!" Calandra said crossly as she picked herself up off the floor. She snatched the diary away fuming. "It's just a silly crush"
"Looks like more than just a "silly crush"." I said still laughing hard. "After all, you wrote his name in your diary about three thousand times! If that's not an act of undying love, I don't now what is."
"Well, you better not tell anyone!"
"Don't worry, I won't." I sobered a little. "It must be kind of embarrassing having a crush on Potter." I burst into another peal of laughter.
"Pinky promise?" Calandra asked me.
"Pinky promise." I hooked pinkies with Calandra. "I swear not to tell a soul that you like Potter." I unhooked our pinkies. "Okay? Are you satisfied? But why didn't you tell me earlier?"
"This is why. You're going to have a heart attack if you laugh any harder. Plus I thought you'd be mad." Calandra risked a look at me.
"I'm not mad. Just really really amused!" I giggled helplessly.
"Go to bed." Calandra grumbled.
note to readers:this story was not simply out of the blue, it ties in to Harry Potter. We got the idea for writing this before book six came out though, so now it doesn't really make that much sense but we really wanted to continue with it anyway because we like the plot.
TheLovelyLily: Thank you so muchfor reviewing!