Hello, welcome to my story, this is about second chances and learning from your mistakes. It's going to be very AU to the books from book 4 onwards. This story will tackle various triggering themes as sexual assault and abuse non-explicitly and gaslighting.
I hope you all enjoy!
It was impossible for Effy to fathom how she had found herself in this situation. For the past four years if anyone had asked her about her feelings for Draco Malfoy, she would have honestly replied she hated the pompous prejudice prick. But now standing in the Entrance to the Great Hall watching her fourth Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor fling a said Draco Malfoy, transformed into a pure white ferret, around the stone room, she found herself doing something that was most likely going to get her expelled. Maybe it was the animal lover in her, maybe it was the fact she knew what it was like to suffer pain, maybe she was just an idiot but whatever the reason, Effy Potter drew her wand, pointed it at the Professor and yelled; "Expelliarmous."
Moody's wand soared out of his hand and Effy caught it in her free hand. Ferret Malfoy dropped to the floor and scurried to cower in the corner. The silence was deafening as Moody rounded on Effy, pure fury etched on his face. Being the bold Gryffindor she was, Euphemia Grace Potter locked her hazel eyes with Moody's and held her ground.
"Effy what did you do?" Her best friend Hermione whimpered next to her.
Moody took a threatening step forward, his wooden leg clunked on the stone floor, the only sound magnified in the silence, his hand outstretched for Effy, to hit her or snatch the wand Effy didn't know. But before Moody could reach her Professor McGonagall came rushing down the stairs along with a Ravenclaw prefect. "What is going on here? Miss Potter why do you have Professor Moody's wand?"
Effy kept her eyes locked on Moody who had stopped in his tracks. "Professor Moody transfigured Draco Malfoy into a ferret and proceeded to bounce him around the Entrance Hall like a basketball so I disarmed him to prevent further harm." She replied in a very calm, clipped voice.
Clearly Professor McGonagall had not expected such a response and gaped at the fourteen-year-old before rounding on Professor Moody. "Is this true?"
"Yeah, that about sums it up." Moody growled. "Boy tried to curse Mr Potter while his back was turned so, I decided to teach him a lesson."
"And where is Mr Malfoy now?" Professor McGonagall asked.
Ferret Malfoy scuttled out of the corner and collapsed at the transfiguration Professor's feet. With a wave of her wand Draco Malfoy reappeared, his usually perfectly styled hair a mess and his left shoulder looking a little out of place.
Professor McGonagall looked around at everyone and pressed her lips together. "Right. Show is over. All of you get to dinner. Miss Potter, Mr Malfoy. My office. Professor Moody would you kindly join us." She looked between them all. "Miss Potter please return Professor Moody's wand."
Effy looked down at the other wand still clutched in her hand before flipping it and holding the handle out to Moody, who quickly snatched it back. Finally, Effy turned to look at her friends and twin. Hermione looked terrified, Harry looked shocked and Ron looked disgusted. The only thing she could do was shrug at them and then followed McGonagall, Malfoy and Moody up the stairs.
Once inside her office, Malfoy clutching his arm, his shoulder clearly dislocated from his socket, Moody silently seething and Effy preparing herself for her fate, McGonagall rounded on the three of them. "Well, I don't really know where to start!" She exclaimed. "Professor Moody, we never use Transfiguration as a punishment! I am sure Professor Dumbledore told you that?"
"He might have mentioned it." Moody mumbled.
"Yes, well you'd best remember it. We give detentions, take house points, your actions were completely unwarranted." McGonagall rounded on Malfoy. "As for you Mr Malfoy, we do not allow spellcasting in the corridors, as a fourth year you should be well aware of this and attempting to curse another student, no matter the circumstances, is unacceptable. Ten points from Slytherin." McGonagall rounded on Effy. "Miss Potter, explain yourself."
Effy pressed her lips together before opening her mouth to respond but was cut off by Professor Moody of all people.
"Miss Potter did the one thing an honourable person would do. I acted on Auror instinct and my methods were not correct. All Miss Potter was attempting to do was stop any more harm." Moody said. "I do not think she should be punished for doing the right thing."
McGonagall nodded. "I completely agree, Professor Moody."
"It was impressive, no one has been able to disarm me in quite a long time." Moody eyed Effy with what appeared to be respect.
Effy squared her shoulders. "I don't like bullies, sir. Whatever shape they take." She eyed him distastefully. "If I'm not being expelled Professor McGonagall may I go?"
McGonagall seemingly lost for words and wanting this whole mess done with nodded. "Yes, but only to take Mr Malfoy to the Hospital Wing."
Effy finally looked at Malfoy properly and he did look very grey and in pain. Good, a small part of her thought, tosspot had been asking to be taken down a peg or two. But the humanitarian in her also felt a stab of pity for him. She nodded her head. "Of course, Professor." She turned and opened the door to McGonagall's office and waited for Malfoy to limp over before stepping out the door and closing it behind her. "Come on." She grabbed his good arm and started pulling him towards the Hospital Wing.
"Why'd you do it?"
Effy shrugged. "It was the right thing to do."
Malfoy scoffed. "Bloody Gryffindor."
"Oh, would you rather I'd let Moody continue to bounce your ferret butt around the stone Entrance Hall? Not that you didn't deserve it you ass." Effy snarled.
"So why not let him?" Malfoy shot back.
"Don't worry it was a lapse in judgement. I won't make the same mistake twice." Effy snapped, pushing open the door to the Hospital Wing. "Madam Pomfrey, Malfoy has dislocated his shoulder and probably has some major bruising, hopefully some internal bleeding. Don't feel better too soon." She sneered the last bit at Malfoy turning to leave.
"Thank you."
Effy stopped her hand on the door. "What?" She turned back to look at him being ushered to sit on a bed by Madam Pomfrey.
"I'm not saying it again." Malfoy told her.
Effy took a deep breath. "You're welcome."
"Miss Potter before you go, I'm going to have to reset Mr Malfoy's shoulder and could use an extra pair of hands." Madam Pomfrey stated.
Gritting her teeth in frustration Effy nodded. "Happy to help." She walked back into the room and stood at Malfoy's bedside waiting for instruction.
Madam Pomfrey nodded. "Place one hand on his back and the other on his chest, hold him steady. Mr Malfoy I'm not going to lie this is going to hurt like hell, you may wish to bite onto this." She held out a wad of cloth.
Effy who had dislocated her shoulder once herself, Dudley had twisted her arm behind her back so hard it had popped out of the socket, the Dursleys told the story she had fallen off her bike, knew this to be true. Reluctantly she placed her hands as instructed and used all of her strength to keep Malfoy still.
"On three." Madam Pomfrey said. "One, two…" She pushed the arm back into his socket.
Malfoy screamed into the wad of cloth and bucked against Effy's hands. Effy planted her feet and pressed her hands firmly against him to hold him in place. Then for a split-second swirling mercury eyes met amber ones and something a spark seemed to pass between them and then much like his shoulder everything snapped back into reality and Effy jumped back as if burned and rubbed the back of her neck. "Right, well er… I'm going to go."
And without another word Effy hurried out of the hospital wing and down to dinner.
Effy arrived at the Great Hall and walked over to the Gryffindor table, taking a seat next to Hermione putting her head in her hands. "Aaaaaa." She groaned into her hands.
"You're not expelled then?" Hermione asked.
Effy huffed and pushed her hair out of her eyes and shook her head. "Nope. It's being chalked up as a noble effort to prevent an uncalled-for act of violence."
Ron scoffed.
Effy looked over at Ron. "I am in no way condoning what Malfoy did Ron but that whole thing was completely wrong. His shoulder was dislocated."
"Shame it wasn't his jaw." Ron stabbed a sausage with his fork.
Effy sighed and looked over at her twin hoping that Harry might understand where she was coming from, but Harry was pointedly staring at his plate. "Fine. As I'm clearly enemy number one right now I'll go." She made to stand.
"Stay." Harry sighed. "I know you would have done the same thing if it was anyone else. I just wish you hadn't done it for Malfoy." He added.
"Believe me, so do I." She sat back down and shook her head.
Hermione, now knowing that Effy was not leaving school, began to eat at breakneck speed again.
"You're not going to library again?" Harry asked.
"Got to." Hermione said through a mouthful of casserole. "Loads to do."
Effy knowing her best friend was up to something and that there was no stopping her started serving herself some food. She glanced over at Ron who was still looking very sour. "If it makes you feel any better, having your shoulder reset really hurts."
Ron glanced over at her. "A little. Sorry Effy, I know you're all about doing the right thing, but did you have to ruin the best moment of my life?" He asked her.
Effy shrugged. "Best moment of your life so far. I promise not to ruin the next one."
"I'm going to hold you to that." Ron waved his fork at her.
"Deal. Now pass me those sausages I'm starving." Effy motioned to the plate of sausages just out of reach.
Ron grinned and handed over the sausages.
"Well must dash." Hermione stood up. "Glad you're not being expelled Eff." She gave her friend a quick hug and hurried off.
Not long after Fred took her seat. "Moody. How cool is he?"
"Beyond cool." George said taking the seat opposite Fred.
"Mmmm." Effy made a disapproving noise at the back of her throat and focused on cutting up her sausages.
"Super cool." Lee Jordan added, slipping into the seat beside George. "We had him this afternoon." He explained.
"What was it like?" Harry asked eagerly.
The three boys exchanged meaningful looks.
"Never had a lesson like it." Fred shook his head, taking the plate of sausages and pulling it towards him and began loading some onto his plate.
Lee nodded his head. "He knows, man."
"Knows what?" Ron asked leaning forward in curiosity.
George grinned. "Knows what it's like to be out there doing it." He said impressively before stealing the plate of sausages.
"Doing what?" Harry asked looking between the three.
Effy kept her focus on her plate. She didn't care how impressive or world wise Moody was, she had a deep dislike for the man. Something about him just wasn't right.
"Fighting the Dark Arts."
"He's seen it all."
"'Mazing."
Effy couldn't help it and let out a small huff.
Fred glanced at her. "What's up with you?"
"I just think Professor Moody might need to remember he's a teacher now, not an Auror." Effy replied with a shrug.
Ron meanwhile had dived into his bag for his schedule and was scanning it. "We don't have him until Thursday!" He groaned in disappointment.
Effy pushed her plate away. "Can't wait. I'm going to go to the library." She swung her bag over her shoulder and left the Great Hall. She found Hermione hunched over a stack of books and flopped into the chair next to her. "What are you doing?" Effy asked wanting to distract from the thoughts swirling around in her head at that moment.
Hermione sat up. "I'm working on forming a group to help promote the welfare of house elves." She explained showing her the piece of paper.
Effy nodded. "Right." She said slowly. "Hermione, I know your intentions are noble but…"
"You know I've been researching it and elf enslavement goes back centuries and no one has ever done anything about it." Hermione cut her off.
"Hermione." Effy sighed. "I agree with you that what happened to Winky was wrong. House elves should be treated with kindness and respect. But most, most, house elves will see it as an insult if you try to give them wages and holidays and all that other stuff. I agree that there need to be rules put into place for the welfare and benefit of house elves and for those rules to be enforced but you've got to think properly about what the people you are trying to help want and need." She explained. "Take the house elves at Hogwarts, do you think Dumbledore would mistreat them?"
"No." Hermione shook her head. "But they can't be happy, can they?"
Effy shrugged. "I don't know. You'd have to ask them."
"So, you agree with me?" Hermione asked.
Effy pressed her lips together. "In some ways yes, I do." She took out her own books and the journal she had been keeping.
Hermione looked at the journal but didn't say anything. As long as she'd known Effy, she had always kept a journal, but she had never shared the contents with anyone, going as far as to magically seal it. Hermione looked back down at her work. "So, do you want to address the elephant in the room?"
"What?" Effy looked up.
"You? Defending Malfoy?" Hermione cocked an eyebrow. "I thought hell would freeze over before that would happen." She shrugged.
"Malfoy is a complete cockwomble and I hate his guts but that doesn't mean I'm going to stand by and let a teacher, a person in a position of power, abuse that power and mistreat another human being in such a demeaning and unnecessary way." Effy looked back down at her journal.
Hermione nodded. "You're a better person than most Effy."
Effy sighed. "Maybe. Or I'm just an idiot."
And that's chapter one. I hope you enjoyed it, stayed tuned for the next chapter.