Harry didn't know how to break the news to his parents. To his Uncles. To anyone, really. It was unfathomable.

He'd lost his sister.

In only a few minutes as he entered the platform, his sister had disappeared.

His Mom was going to kill him, strangle him with his shoelaces and then bring him back to life with her potions just so she could kill him again.

Merlin knows what happened to her, if she was kidnaped, again, or had wandered off and just missed the train, or if she had done something so incredibly stupid that she's lying dead in a ditch somewhere.

Harry was almost in tears at this point.

"I'm sure they're fine," Hermione's voice waved, patting his back soothingly as he slammed his head onto the Great Hall table as soon as they were seated.

The sorting had already begun and there was still no sign of his sister or friends. People had already begun to notice, already asking him where his sister was.

He could only tell them the bathroom for so long before they figured it out. Hermione and Lily had informed the prefects, and the teachers, but there was no luck. Harry had even written to his Mum and Dad but they were still off on their jobs.

He wished he had Aura with him but she didn't like big crowds and they couldn't have familiars at the sorting.

Most damningly of all, however, was the stern gaze he felt on him from Dumbledore. He hadn't taken his eyes off him and the missing seat next to him since they'd walked in. Not even during his yearly speech.

An old man in mango-colored robes shooting glares at you while he talked about "unity and responsibility" was not the optimal way to start this year.

Harry only scowled harder as Dumbledore announced their new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. Gilderoy Lockhart was grinning brightly in his aquamarine robes. Harry was lucky his insufferable speech was cut off by McGonagall who didn't seem impressed.

Harry scoffed at Hermione's love-struck look, clapping harder than anyone after his speech. The sorting started nervously, the line of first-years looking young and innocent. That would soon change, Harry thought with a snort.

House Divisions were real.

There were only a few names that Harry recognized throughout the sorting.

"Grey, Thana," was the first. He only remembered it because Mara told him about Killian Grey and his empire of secrets.

The girl had long hair, a smoky gray color as she was quickly sorted into "Slytherin!"

He stopped paying attention after that until Hermione was smacking him on the arm, gesturing.

"Lovegood, Luna," was the girl they had met on the train, the odd one who read magazines upside down. She looked just as odd now, her wand stuck in her hair like a pencil, her eyes looking everywhere but the sorting hat.

That serene look was still on her face.

It was a huge surprise to hear her sorted into "Ravenclaw!" but then again, she seemed creative enough.

The sorting was almost over before "Weasley, Ginevra" was called. He only smirked as her face reddened at her full name, much like Mara had the year before.

"Another Weasley," One of the older Gryffindors muttered.

"How many can they possibly have left?"

The whispers were distracting but not nearly as much as the sight of Filch sneaking up the back wall where the Slytherins were.

"What is he doing?" Harry gestured to the man.

"Is that Filch?" Seamus leaned over to see.

More and more students were taking notice as he slunk up to the Professor's table, first leaning down to whisper into Snape's ear and then Dumbledore's.

They watched wide-eyed as Snape stood from his seat, robes billowing dramatically like always as he stormed off, Filch following.

"What was that about?" Harry asked with a frown.

Dumbledore was no longer looking over at them though, he simply had on a pleased look as the sorting ended and the feast began.

Harry didn't have to wait long for his answers though as the Hogwarts Rumor mill was better than ever thought.

Seamus gasped as one of the third-years whispered in his ear and he turned to the second-year group with huge eyes and a massive grin.

"Somebody crashed a car into the Whomping Willow!" Seamus whispered to them, excitement pouring out of him.

Harry dropped the fork in the treacle tart.

"How'd they get a car into the whomping willow?" Parvati asked.

"How'd they even get a car here?" Lavender gossiped with a giggle.

"Someone said it was a flying car!" Dean told them with a massive grin.

Harry paled, thoughts flying through his brain a mile a minute.

"Shit," He cursed.

"Harry!" Hermione scolded him but looked too worried to be angry.

"The Weasleys have a flying car."

Hermione's face fell.

"Oh, no."


"So the train wasn't good enough for the famous Potter and her faithful sidekicks. Wanted to arrive with a bang, did we?"

Snape glowered over Mara as she sat on one of the beds in the hospital wing. Miss Pomfrey had promptly shrieked when Snape had marched them inside with her Uncle Remus trailing behind.

She'd treated Nevile's head wound first as her Uncle Moony had gone off. Thoroughly scolded, Mara hadn't been prepared for Snape's fury afterward.

She sunk lower, hunching over as Madam Pomfrey treated her broken fingers. Luckily, there was no pain due to Madam Pomfrey's skill but setting her fingers to reheal them wasn't an easy task.

Mara looked to her Uncle Moony, eyes shiny with unshed tears but he was merciless. He stared at her, angrier than she'd ever seen him. Biting her bottom lip, she resisted the urge to bite at her fingernails.

"You were seen!" Snape hissed, throwing the daily prophet onto the bedside table. The headline was bolded, screaming "FLYING FORD ANGLIA MYSTIFIES MUGGLES.

"Two Muggles in London, convinced they saw an old car flying over the Post Office tower….at noon in Norfolk, Mrs. Hetty Bayliss while hanging out her washing…Mr. Angus Fleet, of Peebles, reported to police…Do I need to continue?"

Mara shook her head silently, both Ron and Neville silent beside her as well, looking thoroughly chastised.

"And you," Snape whirled on Ron, who flinched, looking like a monster had snuck out from under his bed, "I believe your father works in the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts office? Dear, dear…his son."

Mara sucked in a breath through her teeth. She hadn't thought about it. Mr. Weasley said it was highly illegal to charm the car to fly, but fine only if it wasn't intended to be flown. They'd broken that rule. Mr. Weasley could get fired, or even worse, arrested for this.

And it would be all their fault.

Mara snuck a glance at Ron, whose eyes had gone wide, coming to the same conclusion as her.

But Snape was far from done.

"I noticed, in my search of the park, that considerable damage seems to have been done to a very valuable Whomping Willow," Snape commented, beady eyes back on her form.

In the corner of her eye, Uncle Moony stiffened, and Mara felt even worse. She knew exactly now what tree they had landed in. Shame filled her chest like she'd swallowed a brick.

"That tree did more damage to us than we-" Ron blurted out, making things worse.

"Silence!" snapped Snape. "Most unfortunate you are not in my house and the decision to expel you does not rest with me. I shall go and fetch the people who do have that happy power. You will wait here."

And then he turned on his heel and he was gone.

Mara felt like screaming, like running out of the room and hiding under her bed for a week but that would make her a coward. Any time, she could've stopped Ron, could've refused to take the reckless path but she hadn't.

She was just as responsible for this mess as Ron or Neville was.

"Mew," the little kitten in Neville's arms batted at the newspaper on the bedside table, flipping the page.

Breena, who hadn't spoken to her since leaving the car, let out a growl, staring harshly at the kitten. Elliana didn't seem to mind, though, even as Neville scooped her up into his arms, head wrapped in bandages for the time remaining. Head wounds were tricky to heal after all.

"Honestly," her Uncle Moony sighed, rubbing his forehead, "What on earth were you thinking?"

"I'm sorry, Uncle Moony," Mara hung her head in defeat, as Madam Pomfrey harrumphed, finally finished with her hand. Mara instinctively curled her fingers, rubbing them. It didn't hurt anymore. Madam Pomfrey simply started on Ron, a nasty-looking cut above his eye bleeding.

"Are you going to tell my Gran?" Neville spoke for the first time since Snape had shown up to drag them into the castle.

Remus looked over at the pale-faced boy, more sympathetic. After all, Mara had always been the one to drag him along on her adventures, hadn't she?

This was all her fault. She was such a terrible friend.

"That's not up to me," Uncle Moony shook his head, looking exhausted, "But more than likely. What you three did was incredibly dangerous. This is serious, you won't be given a slap on the wrist this time. You messed up."

It felt like every word was a punch to her gut, knocking the breath out of her. Despite not having eaten all day, she wasn't hungry. She felt sick like she might hurl all her guts onto the floor.

"My dad. Is my dad going to be arrested? He never flew it, I swear!" Ron looked up, eyes shiny.

"I don't know," Uncle Moony sighed.

Silence fell over them for the next ten minutes until the door opened and Snape returned, and sure enough, Professor McGonagall accompanied him. Mara had seen her angry on several occasions. Most notably last year when they'd been caught out of bed after hours (lucky she hadn't caught their true purpose which was smuggling a baby dragon out of the castle).

Mara swallowed uncomfortably at how thin her lips had gone. She raised her wand the moment she entered but she merely pointed it at the empty fireplace, where flames suddenly erupted.

"Explain," She turned to them, her glasses glinting ominously. Arms crossed, hat pointed and towering over them, Mara wished for a second she had been sorted into Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw.

Professor Flitwick, the head of Ravenclaw, was half-goblin and was barely the height of Mara herself so there was no way for him to be as intimidating. Professor Sprout was a hefty woman with a cheerful face and Mara couldn't even imagine the kind woman being angry.

Unfortunately for Mara, she was a Gryffindor and her head of house was the tall and intimidating Professor in front of her.

Ron swallowed, exchanging a pale look with Mara and Neville, and nodded. Before Mara could open her mouth, Ron had already launched into the story, starting with the barrier closing and refusing to let them go through.

"-so we had no choice, Professor, we couldn't get on the train."

"Why didn't you send us a letter by owl?" Professor McGonagall said coldly, then turned to Mara, "I believe you have an owl."

Mara swallowed, opening her mouth to reply, "Harry and I sent Hedwig to Hogwarts the day before yesterday. We didn't want her to get cooped up on the train."

"A likely story," Snape snapped.

But Professor McGonagall only raised an eyebrow. "I believe your parents mentioned a magical journal last year? To communicate with them?"

"I left it in my luggage, which Harry took," Mara admitted.

"So why didn't you wait at the platform? Surely, you didn't think nobody had noticed the platform closing off?"

"We thought-'' Neville piped up for the first time, voice shaking under her wrath. "If we couldn't get through, then nobody could get back, Professor."

"Mr. Lupin?" Professor McGonagall turned to him with a raised eyebrow, "How did you manage to get wrapped up in all of this?"

"I had come to see my goddaughter off, Professor" Uncle Moony said calmly, "I left before the gate shut but Harry sent me a message, worried about them. By the time I turned back, the gate had been restored. I knew they'd done something."

Ron flinched.

"How did you figure that?" She asked, looking unsurprised.

"She is her father's daughter, after all, Professor," the gleam in Uncle Moony's eyes told Mara everything she needed to know.

Professor McGonagall nodded, lips thinner than before though Mara wasn't sure how it was possible.

"As helpless as your situation may have seemed at the time, did none of you truly think to just wait where you were? Aurors had already been informed by the time you left and were on their way to fix it. Had you waited a mere five minutes before recklessly flying an illegal magically enchanted car, untested through the midst of London, you would've been here before the train."

"We- we didn't think-" Mara protested.

"That," said Professor McGonagall," is obvious."

Mara shrunk under her scrutinizing gaze, feeling like a bug under a microscope. Any moment now the sun would pass through the lens and set her on fire.

There was a knock on the door and Snape, looking smugger than Mara had ever seen, opened it. There stood the headmaster, Professor Dumbledore.

He looked unusually grave, frowning and lacking his signature twinkle in his eyes. He stared down his crooked nose at them and Mara wished for a moment, that she'd gotten crushed by the whomping willow.

"Please explain why you did this."

That was all he said. But it hit more than any punch to the gut. It would've been easier if he had shouted, ranted like Uncle Moony, or berated them like Snape, even McGonagall's calm anger would've been better than the disappointment in his voice.

Mara didn't look up from her knees as they recounted the story once more, this time leaving out whose flying car it was. Mara knew it was too late, though. She'd never fool anybody in the room. They hadn't managed to find a flying car parked outside the station but at least they tried.

Once they finished, the adults-only continued to stare at them in silence.

"We'll go and get our stuff," said Ron, hopelessly, like the world had ended around him.

"What are you talking about, Weasley?" barked Professor McGonagall.

"You're expelling us, aren't you?" Neville said fearfully, lip wobbling. He had a stranglehold on his kitten, the poor thing struggling in his arms to get away but to no avail.

"Not today, Mr. Weasley," said Dumbledore.

All three of them looked up, shocked by his words.

He gave them a serious look, still. "But I must impress upon you the seriousness of what you have done. I will be writing to your families tonight. I must also warn you that if you do anything like this again, I will have no choice but to expel you."

Dumbledore turned to Professor McGonagall, who stared down at them. Snape looked as though Christmas had been canceled. He cleared his throat and said, "Professor Dumbledore, these children had flouted the Decree for the Restriction of Underage Wizardry, caused serious damage to an old and valuable tree- surely acts of this nature-"

Mara wished he'd stop throwing them shovels to dig their hole.

Professor Dumbledore did not seem to agree, luckily. "It will be for Professor McGonagall to decide their punishment, Severus," said Dumbledore calmly. "They are in her house and therefore her responsibility."

He turned to McGonagal, "I must go back to the feast, Minerva, I've got to give out a few notices. Come, Severus, there's a delicious-looking tart I want to sample-"

As Professor Dumbledore left, looking much more like his jolly self, Snape sent them a pure look of venom. Mara flinched, at the look, but luckily, Uncle Moony stepped in his path, blocking Snape's glare.

She could only see his robes and feet as he swept out of the hospital wing, leaving them alone with Professor McGonagall and Madam Pomfrey.

"You three are lucky there was nothing worse than this," Madam Pomfrey grumbled, putting away her supplies with a wave of her wand, "We could've had three bodies on our hands. I'll be needing to tend to the tree tomorrow morning, as well."

"Professor, I wanted to watch my sister being sorted-" Ron said hastily, looking anxiously up at her.

"The sorting ceremony is over," Professor McGonagall cut in, "your sister is also in Gryffindor."

Ron sighed in relief, the tension leaving his shoulders. "Oh, good."

"And speaking of Gryffindor-" started their Head of House sharply but Mara's brain worked fast.

"Professor, When we took the car, the term hadn't started yet- so Gryffindor shouldn't have points taken from it- should it?" She finished lamely, fingers digging into the bedsheets. She didn't want a repeat of last year. The entirety of Gryffindor had turned on them after they had lost Gryffindor 200 points in one night.

She didn't want to find out what losing points before the term even started would cause them to do.

Luckily, Professor McGonagall was easier to sway than she looked. Despite her piercing look, Mara could swear she almost smiled. Her mouth looked less thin and the tiniest almost indescribable hint of a curl at the corner was enough anyway.

Uncle Moony sent her a sly look, one she recognized. She had somehow reminded him of her Dad again.

"I will not take any points from Gryffindor," Professor McGonagall said, "But the three of you will serve ten weeks of detention, and community service with Hagrid."

It was better than being expelled in all honesty. Mara breathed a sigh of relief, finally relaxing since this had begun.

Professor McGonagall raised her wand again and pointed it at the bedside table. A large plate of sandwiches, three silver goblets, and a jug of iced pumpkin juice appeared with a pop.

"You will eat here and then go straight to your dormitory," She said, "I must also return to the feast. Would you please ensure they get there, Mr. Lupin? I believe you should remember the way."

"Of course, Professor," Uncle Moony smiled.

When the door closed behind her, Ron let out a long, low whistle.

"I thought we were goners," He said, taking one of the sandwiches.

"Don't get any ideas. You three are still very much in trouble," Uncle Moony shot them each a stern glance. "You're lucky it ended with this. I won't scold you any more, seeing as your parents should get that honor."

Mara paused in the bite of her sandwich, paling at the thought. She could only imagine how furious her mother would be. She hoped her Dad could calm her before she got a hold of her.

"I need better friends," Neville said glumly, taking a large bite of his sandwich.

"Oi!"

"Hey!"

Two pillows hit Neville dead on, knocking his sandwich out of his hand and onto the floor.

"My sandwich," Neville cried at the fallen food.

"How rude," Mara huffed, though she couldn't bring herself to disagree with him. Ron and she had indeed spearheaded this campaign and Neville only got dragged along by association. Maybe if he did have better friends, this wouldn't have happened.

Maybe if he had normal friends.

Mara traced the lightning bolt shape of the scar on her forehead. She'd nearly gotten the both of them killed last year. This year wasn't looking any better, to be honest.

"But why couldn't we get through the barrier?" Ron asked, turning to Uncle Moony for answers. "Did I malfunction or something?"

Mara flinched.

Uncle Moony's dark eyes turned to her as he answered, "As far as I know, they didn't find out. Something didn't want you three getting through."

And Mara knew exactly who that was.

Dobby's warning flashed through her mind.

'There is a plot!' His high squeaky voice rang. 'A plot to make most terrible things happen!'

Despite his warnings, she had come anyway.

And now she'd dragged her friends into it.

Once they'd eaten as many sandwiched as their stomachs could fit, Uncle Moony escorted them to the Gryffindor Tower. It was odd seeing the castle halls so empty. The feast was over and everyone was probably in their common rooms, which left only the muttering portraits and creaking suits of armor. They climbed the changing stone stairs, Uncle Moony having no trouble remembering the path.

He had been a Gryffindor too, after all, some years ago.

The portrait of Fat Lady who guarded the secret entrance to the Gryffindor tower screamed upon seeing him.

"Surely it is not!" She screeched, all three of the kids covering their poor ears, "A mister Remus Lupin returned to our glorious halls!"

"It's nice to see you again, Elizabeth," Remus smiled kindly, a hand on his chest as he gave a mini bow. "A good evening to you."

'Elizabeth?' Ron mouthed to them, disturbed. Mara and Neville shrugged. They didn't know the Fat Lady even had a name.

"What an evening, indeed!" The Fat Lady waved her fan, "For you to have graced my presence."

"I have brought you three lost little lambs, My dear lady," He said courteously, "I hope you have it in your heart to allow them passage."

"Oh, of course, Remus," The Fat Lady simply purred in delight, preening under his attention, "Anything for you."

"I thank you, my dear lady. You are as beautiful as ever."

Mara stared disturbed at the scene as the notoriously picky and angry Fat Lady giggled like a schoolgirl and swung it open.

Remus turned to them with a smug look.

"Bleach my eyes, please," Mara said bluntly.

Ron and Neville simply stared with dumbstruck looks.

"How do you think your dad and Sirius stayed out of trouble so often?" Remus crossed his arms in victory. "It certainly wasn't their charming looks."

"Teach me," Ron breathed.

"But…But…she still calls me a Ninnyhammer," Neville stammered.

Mara reached out to pat him on the shoulder sympathetically.

"Off you go," Uncle Moony gestured to the open corridor. They could hear mutterings and movement from inside, muffled as it traveled along the narrow passageway.

"I thought she liked me," Neville hung his head, entering first.

"You're a hero," Ron was starstruck as he passed by as well.

Just as Mara took a step forward, her uncle's hand shot out to hold her in place. He stared down at her with serious eyes.

"I don't know why but you haven't been completely honest with us." He said.

Mara gulped, her anxiety flaring like a ball of rubber bands coming undone at the same time.

"Please be careful," Her Uncle Moony leaned down, wrapping her into a warm hug. Mara bit her lip to stop tears coming from her eyes. It had been a long day. "We're here for you. Always, Mara. Don't forget that."

She nodded, eyes shining with unshed tears as Her Uncle Moony stepped back and she entered the common room. The portrait shut, and the last thing she saw was her Uncle's worried and kind eyes.

But as Mara turned around, and she fell into the common room, a sudden storm of applause broke through the silence.

Neville, Ron, and her stood at the entrance, shocked as what seemed the entirety of Gryffindor House stood around them, packed inside the circular common room, standing on the tables and armchairs.

Fred and George reached them first, grabbing them into the mass of students as they cheered and applauded.

"Brilliant!" yelled Lee Jordan from where he stood on one of the dangerously lopsided tables. "Inspired! What an entrance! Flying a car right into the whomping willow, people'll be talking about that one for years-"

His announcer voice for the Quidditch team was on full display, booming around them as upper years that Mara didn't know clapped them on the back like she'd run a twenty-mile marathon.

"Why couldn't we've come, eh?" Fred grinned and raised his brother onto his shoulders. Even only being two years apart, Fred was much taller than Ron, who was grinning at the attention, ears colored red in embarrassment.

Mara could sight of Percy the prefect in the corner and he was one of the few who did not look happy. Mara gulped, undoubtedly sure he would lecture them. Before she could alert Neville or Ron, however, George had grabbed her by the legs and swung her onto his shoulders.

"We saw Snape's face as he found out! Rushed out like a fire crab at his heels!" George laughed.

"You three are legends!" Neville was hoisted onto someone else's shoulders beside her as what seemed the entirety of the upperclassmen continued to congratulate them, each sharing their amazement at their accomplishments.

Ron soaked it up like a sponge, his embarrassment wearing off easily as they cheered. She could only spot his head getting bigger and bigger the louder they applauded.

Neville, on the other hand, shrunk, cheeks pink but with a smile on his face as people he didn't know continued to high-five him.

Though the two of them had found some kind of enjoyment in this, Mara's heart only continued to race.

It beat like it was trying to escape her chest like it had grown legs and would shoot straight to the moon if there wasn't her ribcage stopping it.

The noise was drowned in her ears, a soundless mess that dissipated more and more. Senses overloaded, body overwhelmed with exhaustion, she stuck on her easiest smile, body slipping into old habits.

She wasn't Mara, anymore.

She was the Girl-Who-Lived, who could take the stares watching her, all waiting for a single mistake, a slip-up. The one who could smile under the spotlight, whose eyes didn't burn from the bulbs. She wasn't a girl, she was plastic. A little Doll, carried away by the sea of people who celebrated her every breath like an achievement because wasn't it?

The play continued, and she played her part beautifully. She smiled, not once faltering, not once slipping as they asked question after question. She let Ron and Neville answer, for nobody in the room truly wanted her truth.

They would answer their questions with whatever they thought was right. She was dragged from person to person, eyes hungry and glittering for gossip.

Finally, the Prefects got things under control. People were forced to stream up to the beds, to let the twelve-year-olds breathe as they headed to bed with groans.

It wasn't until a familiar hand landed on her shoulder that she woke up from her sleepwalking. Emerald Green eyes met her hazel ones head-on.

Harry was angry, with an accusing glare in his eyes and a scowl on his face. Mara, however, was tired. She laid her forehead on his shoulder, relief overcoming her as she relaxed at his familiarness.

"I'm back," She whispered into his shoulder.

For a moment, she thought he would push her away, would reject her in his anger. But then, softly, slowly, his arms slid around her back and he breathed out.

"Welcome back," He muttered.


Mara sighed in the quiet of her dorm room, sitting in the window seat. They had a good view this year, overlooking the lake. It was still and quiet enough that she could relax and go over the day's events.

Mara was exhausted enough to collapse into her bed and sleep for a week but her eyes just wouldn't close. She shared her dormitory with six other girls and none of them were too happy with her at the moment.

Hermione had stormed to her bed, stewing in silence even as Mara attempted to talk to her. The silent treatment was always Hermione's go-to when she didn't approve of their actions. Mara still tried, attempting to explain but Hermione had climbed into her bed and with a swish of her wand, the curtains fell around her bed and cut them off.

Lavender Brown and Parvarti Patil were friendly at first, wanting all the details of the adventure but no matter how many times Mara told it, the two resident gossips weren't satisfied. Finally, they went to bed, grumbling about how boring she was.

They seemed to think there were things she wasn't saying, which was true, of course. She hadn't told anybody about why the platform had been blocked, playing dumb on the matter when she knew very well who it was.

Sophie Roper, the quietest of the girls in their year, had simply told her she was stupid and then promptly went to bed. Her quiet disappointment was hard to swallow.

Fay Dunbar, who hadn't said two sentences to Mara at all last year had rambled on and on about how cool she was and how Fay wanted to try it and had pestered her for the details on how she got a flying car. It was sitting out in the parking lot- wasn't a good enough answer for her. Eventually, she too got huffy and went to bed, still grumbling about Mara being selfish.

The only roommate who Mara hadn't seen was the mysterious Peyton Bell, who Mara had learned early on last year had a habit of sneaking out of the dorm until the early morning hours. She often skipped a lot of classes too, but always managed to get high grades.

'You are not nocturnal.'

A smile slipped onto her exhausted face as she stared out over the view of the lake, watching the moonlight glittering on its surface like a mirror.

Breena jumped into her lap, shifting on her legs to get comfortable before curling into a ball like she did so many times before. Automatically, Mara's hands wound themselves into her fur, brushing through the softness in what was a comfort to both of them right now.

"I'm not tired," Mara said, feeling the cold from the window seeping into her skin.

'Liar.'

Mara smiled. "I'm not ready to sleep. Is that better?"

'For now.'

Her familiar's tail swung back and forth rhythmically, her purring relaxing Mara even more.

Nothing could disturb her peace right now. But the door creaked open just as Mara's eyes began to flutter closed, not quite asleep but relaxed enough to drift away.

Mara shot awake, turning her eyes to the doorway, and pointed her wand at the intruder.

Peyton Bell stood there in the darkness of the dormitory, not far from the door, head tilted curiously at the wand pointed at her.

"Oh," Mara said, tiredly, "Sorry. I didn't know it was you."

"Why aren't you asleep?" Peyton asked, with a raised eyebrow.

"Not tired."

Mara was betrayed by her own body as she yawned into her hand.

Peyton snorted, shaking her head as she silently glided across the floor to her bed. Peyton sat down, unlacing and pulling off her combat boots without a single noise.

"What do you do?" Mara asked, curiously. "When you go out?"

Peyton paused, sending a pondering look to where Mara and Breena were curled up at the window seat.

"Maybe I'll tell you one day," Peyton said honestly.

"Okay," Mara yawned.

"You better go to bed before you drop," Peyton smirked, amused, pulling off her black robes to reveal a tank top and shorts underneath. Mara stared blatantly as the girl folded up her clothing and put it into her trunk.

Mara couldn't help but notice that Peyton was well-fit. Unlike Mara, who was a ghostly pale with freckles all over, Peyton was sun-kissed, with a gorgeous tan that fit with the muscles on her legs and arms.

The girl was very strong.

"Get a good look?" Peyton sent her a smirk.

Maybe on a normal day, Mara would've blushed or made excuses but now, she was too tired. Her brain didn't have any room left for shame.

"Yes," Mara nodded, shamelessly.

Breena dug her claws into Mara's lap.

"Hey!" Mara stared at her familiar with a frown.

'Shameless girl.' She lectured with a huff, jumping down.

"At least your cat knows," Peyton grinned, crouching as she stuck out her hand towards the black and white feline.

"Breena doesn't like anyone," Mara tried to warn her but was shocked when Breena walked right up to Peyton, rubbing against her hand like they were old friends.

"What was that?" The smirk on Peyton's face was both aggravating and incredibly pleasing for some reason.

"Who's shameless now?" Mara said, crossing her arms as the cat now rolled onto her back, purring loudly.

Peyton laughed, getting to her feet and something warm lit up in Mara's chest. Must be from Breena, she thought.

"I heard about your little adventure by the way," Peyton said, tucking her wand onto the bedside table and readying her bed.

Mara groaned, head thumping against the wall.

"I'm impressed, actually," Peyton grinned, "That you didn't kill yourself. But then again, that seems to be the specialty for your and that brother of yours."

"To be fair, It was Ron's idea," Mara pointed out, "I just went along with it."

"Sure, sure," Peyton waved her hand, climbing into her sheets and pulling the red and gold blanket up.

"You'll still teach me some spells this year, right?" Mara sent her a lazy grin, hoping the girl would keep her word.

"I did promise, after all," Peyton smirked, "Now go to bed. It's a long day tomorrow."

And then Peyton's curtains fell around her, cutting off Mara's view of her.

Mara sighed, looking out at the window once more.

Last year had a mess of epic proportions. She and her friends had gotten injured and maimed, sick and kidnapped, bullied and hurt, and even almost died on several occasions.

With Dobby and his warning still in her mind, Mara wondered just what this year was going to hold.

Whatever it was, it wouldn't be good.