IX

October, 1991

After the first month of classes, Yvonne slowly starts to understand Hogwarts.

The first thing she learns is all the common routes around the castle.

She knows which stairs to take on Mondays and which doors won't open on Fridays.

There's a door on the sixth floor that opens to the East Wing, except it only works on Wednesdays—which means, on those days, Yvonne happily enjoys the early pick when it comes to breakfast.

She also memorises the general pattern of the Grand Staircase and can reasonably guess which direction a staircase will turn before she steps onto it.

The hardest bits to navigate are when the stairs decide to turn into a slide or when she needs to say something special while using a staircase, like the one on the fourth floor that requires a 'pardon me' before she can step on.

It is all very confusing at first, but Yvonne takes on the challenge with excitement. It's almost like Hogwarts Castle is alive and willingly changing itself throughout the day.

The thought of that makes her extra friendly and polite whenever an easy journey is granted to her. Some students give her passing glances whenever she says 'thank you' randomly, but she couldn't care less.

Speaking of, the second thing that Yvonne learns is that other children aren't particularly friendly.

At least, the children in Ravenclaw aren't.

Ravenclaws are always trying to out-answer other students in class and earn all their House Points by knowing the most things. Whenever Ravenclaws sit together in the library, it's usually silent and serious, except for the sound of their quills scurrying across parchment.

Yvonne also notices that the other Houses seem to laugh and muck around the castle more, but Ravenclaws are…single-minded. It's all classwork and homework for her housemates and, even though Yvonne also enjoys her homework too, she's not all work and no play.

She's been so excited since she got her Hogwarts letter to be around kids her age that the disappointment feels like a nasty stomach bug.

Furthermore, the other girls in Ravenclaw don't seem to think much of her.

Though no one is mean, Yvonne realises that no one really tries to approach her either. Instead, they always get together in tiny little groups that seem to form wordlessly and then they spend all day together. They study together, eat together, hang out in the common room together, and even walk through the halls together!

From first years to seventh years, Ravenclaw students simply gravitate into their cliques.

In her year, it's Padma and Sue, usually joined by Pavarti and another Gryffindor girl; Lisa, Mandy, and Isobel are always in their trio; Amanda, Anthony, and Kevin spend their days in the Courtyard; and finally, Michael and Terry, who have commandeered a spot in between the stacks of the library.

Yvonne is very much the odd Ravenclaw out.

She doesn't really care at first, to be honest. She's too busy exploring the depths of the Hogwarts library and trying to convince Madam Pince to let her check out more than two books. Plus, her classes are so exciting and she loves using magic!

That promise she made to her mother of 'making friends' is completely forgotten in the face of her eagerness to learn all she can.

However, by the third week of classes, Yvonne finally starts to mind that no one in Ravenclaw really talks to her.

From then on, she ponders endlessly on how everyone has made friends so fast. She worries that approaching them now will make her seem awkward. Or desperate.

Has she missed her chance? Will it be weird if she tries to get to know the other girls this late? Is three weeks really considered late?

Yvonne isn't really sure how to fix the problem.

It makes her all the more timid too, especially once it's clear that she's by herself when it comes to seats in the classroom. In all her classes, she ends up sitting next to someone from a different House, while the rest of the Ravenclaws easily pair up.

It's not until the final week of September that Yvonne finally gets a chance to bridge the distance.

The day is cloudy and the cool Friday afternoon offers her a respite after Double Transfiguration.

When she enters the crowded common room, she sees Padma and Sue sitting at one of the tables with their books in front of figures they're studying up after the lesson—Yvonne herself has just come from the library after re-writing her notes from today's class.

But, maybe she can ignore that fact to take this easy opportunity.

Because really—what better way to bond with her housemates than studying together?

Taking a deep breath, Yvonne steadily approaches the table they are at and softly clears her throat.

Both girls turn to her immediately.

"Would it be alright if I sat here?" she questions.

She hopes that comes out as confident as she's pretending to be.

It's in moments like these that she really wishes she were more comfortable approaching people and saying what's on her mind. Maybe then she wouldn't have to straegetize through social interactions.

Her only saving grace right now is probably the fact that her fingers can't fidget since she's gripping her shoulder bag like a lifeline.

Maybe they won't care that her eyes keep straying away from their own.

The two girls are silent for a moment until Padma hesitantly replies. "Sure, did you need the table?"

Yvonne shakes her head and licks her lips, realising she's going to have to be more upfront.

"N-no. I was hoping I could—uhm—sit here with you both. And study?" she responds.

"Oh," Padma hums, looking at Sue with pointed eyes.

Sue's dark eyes budge for a moment before she makes a slight face back at Padma. Padma responds with one of her own and Yvonne watches the whole exchange with quick eyes going back and forth.

The moment stretches with no answer being given and Yvonne's heart sinks to the bottom of the Great Lake.

She rushes her next words out, hoping to avoid their rejection. "Sorry," she laughs out uncomfortably. "I was having a bit of trouble with the size contraction formula and I thought…well, nevermind—uhm—don't mind me, I'll just ask Professor McGonagall after class." Yvonne pulls on her smile again, not wanting the other girls to feel bad.

"No!" Sue shouts immediately, turning to Yvonne. "Sorry—I mean, yes! Yes, please, sit down."

Padma is silently smirking at Sue now while the other girl is awkwardly smiling at Yvonne.

"Are—Are you sure?" asks Yvonne, mind already escaping back to the solitude and comfort of her corner in the library.

Panda turns to her then, dark eyes gleaming. "I'm having problems with the colour alteration formula myself." she offers with a smirk pointed at her.

Sue quickly adds in. "I'm all sorted with the size formula if you want to explain how you got your match to turn into a needle so fast. Substance conversion still confuses me even though Padma's explained it hundreds of times."

"Yeah," Padma adds in. "Maybe you can get her to understand better than I can."

Carefully smiling, Yvonne slides into one of the free seats at the table and starts to unpack her books.

Smiling back at her, the two girls slowly engage Yvonne in conversation about Transfiguration class.

They help each other understand concepts that aren't so clear and the talk soon descends into the many formulas of Transfiguration and what they mean. They even try to rank each one in order of importance and end up giggling at the ridiculousness of it all.

They are just reaching number nine on the list when Lisa, Mandy, and Isobel step into the common room.

Padma and Sue are still chattering, but Yvonne meets Lisa's cool gaze and immediately quiets.

If she's being honest with herself, there's a reason that Yvonne chose to approach Padma and Sue over the other three girls.

Excluding the fact that Sue was the first of them to talk to her after she was sorted, there's something about Lisa that really intimidates Yvonne. Her almond dark skin glows in the candlelight and her penny-colored waves are usually plaited back and trailing down her back, showing off her delicate features.

Yet, despite her pretty, olive eyes, Lisa rarely pays anyone any attention. Calm and quiet, it's hard for Yvonne to figure out what Lisa is thinking whenever the other girl is around her.

Even though she's quiet around them, Lisa only interacts with Mandy and Isobel.

Except, after making eye contact with Yvonne, Lisa pulls Mandy and Isobel's attention to their table and the three girls are upon them with friendly smiles in a heartbeat.

Now, Lisa is standing right in front of her.

Yvonne gulps.

"What are you all laughing about?" Mandy asks, her ivory cheeks rosy like ripening peaches.

Padma shrugs lightly and tucks a strand of spilled ink hair behind her ear. "We were just going over today's lesson in Transfiguration." she replies simply, sharing a secret smile with Sue.

Mandy nods her head. "Understandable. Double Transfiguration can be particularly brutal for some people."

While Isobel watches on, Lisa smiles softly and wordlessly takes one of the empty seats at the table. She pulls out an essay she's obviously been working on and she sets up her quill and ink.

A glance shows Yvonne that Lisa is working on a paper on Charms theory.

Mandy and Isobel share a glance before Mandy shrugs and pulls up a free chair from an empty table. "Mind if we join you? We were heading upstairs to finish our homework but it seems daft to waste the day away in our rooms."

Eventually, they all go back to the original conversation—this time talking about more of their classes with Mandy and Isobel griping mostly about Potions.

Though Yvonne feels hesitant about joining in now. Her fingers are tapping together in her lap despite how amiable everyone is being. The mood at the table is very light but, for some reason, Yvonne's nerves are simmering.

Soon, the nature of the conversation shifts.

Padma and Sue are talking about a Slytherin boy in their year whose mom has apparently been married eight times. Isobel and Mandy are sharing a rumour they've heard about a girl who has two older brothers with two, different last names.

And still, Lisa is silently working on her essay.

Right next to her.

Though it's clear the other girls don't notice anything out of sorts, Yvonne's body feels hot and the uncomfortable sensation makes her want to leave. She feels nervous like she's about to take a test, but it's also not the same 'nervous' that she's familiar with.

The sensation feels more like a fluttering in her stomach and a heat on her cheeks that won't diminish.

She wonders if she's coming down with a case of hay fever.

"—bout you, Shacklebolt?" someone asks.

Yvonne startles and shifts her gaze to Isobel, who's looking at her with a raised eyebrow.

"I'm sorry?" Yvonne asks.

"She asked if you've heard anything about our classmates?" Mandy questions in return, arms folded on the table.

Yvonne's eyebrows furrow. "Heard anything like what?"

"Like—Harry Potter, for example." Padma cuts in before lowering her voice and leaning in. "Parvati told me that she heard from Lavender, who was told by Finnigan, that Potter lives with his Muggle Aunt and Uncle and, apparently, he's been kept in a cupboard under the stairs since he was a baby!"

The chattering girls all gasp accordingly.

Yvonne is horrified at the information, so much so that her attention shifts. "In a cupboard?" she repeats, unknowingly leaning into the conversation.

She wouldn't have guessed that Harry was being raised by Muggles. He was The Boy Who Lived! Shouldn't he be living with witches and wizards?

Sue's pretty face is scrunched up in disbelief. "Surely, Finnigan was taking the mickey?"

"No!" Padma shakes her head and frowns. "I also thought so but Parvati and Lavender heard Potter talking about it with Weasley yesterday. According to him, he's not used to eating so much for breakfast every day. You don't think his family was starving him, do you?"

Mandy looks as if she's about to be sick. "Merlin! What a beastly thing to do. Is that what it's like when both of your parents are Muggles, Isobel? Do Muggles have a hard time getting food?"

Isobel, who once looked sympathetic, now looks miffed and her olive skin turns an angry red just like her hair. "What? No! That's a horrid thing to do, even in the Muggle World!"

"Potter's Aunt and Uncle must not like him very much to put him up in a cupboard." Sue shakes her head with sympathetic eyes.

"You'd think they'd be a little more chuffed to house The Boy Who Lived!" Mandy adds in.

Yvonne frowns and sighs sadly. "Poor Potter. Do you—I mean, does he have to go back at the end of the term?" She wonders if there's not something a Professor could do if they knew.

They all get silent, lips downturned at the thought.

Yvonne feels awful for Harry.

From what she's seen of him in class, he's really nice and the only professor who has a problem with him is Professor Snape—which, really, is more like a seal of approval for his character given how their Potions Professor acts. Plus, Yvonne's heard the story about him getting Neville's Remembrall back from Draco Malfoy.

He's quite noble, The Boy Who Lived.

"Can I ask you a question?" Lisa suddenly requests, light green eyes on Yvonne.

"Oh," Yvonne coughs in surprise and has to swallow before continuing. "S-sure, go ahead. Is it something about your essay?"

The nervousness that had been forgotten in the midst of their chin-wagging is back with a vengeance. It feels as if her cheeks are on fire and she can't quite meet Lisa's eyes.

Lisa shakes her head and smiles. "No, it's about you." Lisa responds simply.

Yvonne glances at the other girls and sees them watching the interaction. Harry Potter and their other classmates are forgotten for the moment.

She threads her fingers together and tries to smile back at Lisa even though she can only manage a short glance before her eyes dart away. "Oh—sure, of course. What is your question about?"

Lisa hesitates for a moment before speaking. "Is it true your mother's family has a curse?" she inquires, voice soft.

She says it quietly, but, to Yvonne, it's as if she's shouted it into the common room. Everything stills for Yvonne. It feels like a bucket of sea water has been dumped over her head.

Her stomach is slowly being buried beneath the Great Lake.

"I'm—Sorry?" Yvonne squeaks out. Her thoughts screech to an abrupt stop as she remembers the last time she's heard about her mother's 'curse'.

How does Lisa know? Where did she hear it from?

Lisa's eyes feel like hot brands as they sear into her face. "Your mother is a Moreau, right? She only has sisters, right?"

Yvonne is silent as her fingers twist like vines in her lap.

She can still remember her mother's sad, accepting smile as Madam Shacklebolt berated her for having more girls after Tammy and Maggy's birth.

That night had been stormy in their house when her father found out what was said. It was the first time she had seen her father go spare—he had yelled and swore until he was out of breath. And then he cried. Cold, silent tears for his mother's disrespect and displeasure towards his family. He spent the night professing his love for all of them and hugging her mother until she had finally started crying too.

That was the last time she had seen her grandmother. That was also the last night she spent in the Shacklebolt Manor.

They had all moved to Starcliff Harbour not long after that.

"Yvonne's family has a curse?" Isobel questions, looking around at the rest of them. She's Muggleborn and clearly confused, but Yvonne, for once, doesn't want to offer her help. "Is it normal for Magical families to have curses?"

"Uhm—" Mandy drawls, her voice shuttered with awkwardness. "No, not unless…well…" she winces.

"Unless what?" Isobel urges, looking annoyed since it's clear she's missing out on something.

Padma and Sue have both gone noticeably quiet. Padma's brows are furrowed and Sue is awkwardly looking away.

Lisa is looking around at everyone else with drawn brows and pursed lips.

Mandy rolls her eyes and leans over to whisper to Isobel.

After a moment, her eyes widen with shock and fly to Yvonne. Isobel's voice is shrill as she exclaims. "Are you serious?!"

Like an explosion of molten, the chill leaves Yvonne as anger takes over.

What did Mandy say? Yvonne would bet a hundred galleons that it is all lies. And how dare Lisa! Why would she ask her about something so personal in front of everyone? Like they're discussing books over tea!

Her family isn't cursed and there's nothing wrong with only having sisters.

She can still feel the burn of her grandmother's glare.

Yvonne clenches her shaking hands in her lap and turns a bitter glare up towards all the girls.

It suddenly feels like she's back in Madam Malkin's shop, listening to Parkinson and her friend cackle over her fall. Why is everyone so mean? Why can't everyone just mind their own business?

Right as she goes to open her mouth to say something—an excuse, a beratement, anything—the fight leaves her all at once.

Poor Potter.

Her mouth snaps shut.

Was she not just doing the same thing with them?

Indulging in other people's lives as if they are local plays and twittering like a couple of birds?

Poor Potter, she hears her comment from earlier repeat in her head again and her whole body is suddenly alight with shame.

"Yvonne?" Sue softly coaxes.

When Yvonne looks up to meet her eyes, she can see the worry plain and clear.

She looks at Padma, who looks baffled by the turn of events. Mandy and Isobel are eyeing her carefully, like she's turned into something to mull over.

Yvonne wonders if they all will be telling everyone else about her family's curse like they did with Harry Potter's home life.

Lisa's head is tilted, watching Yvonne carefully with her light eyes.

Yvonne thinks they're still so pretty even though they now remind her of frozen jade.

Her throat feels too thick all of sudden and she knows that there are tears making their way up.

Without a word, Yvonne gathers her things and leaves.

She doesn't make a dramatic exit; she neither runs from the room nor goes with tears trailing behind. She simply just picks herself up, steps through the heavy door back into the corridor, and doesn't stop walking.


A/N: Hello! It's been a bit of a hectic week. I got a new job that's going to start soon so my insomnia has been acting up. Less sleep equals less creative juices. Anyway, I'll be slowly going back and editing some chapters because I was on mobile one day and realised how dense some of the paragraphs are. This chapter is much more spread how so tell me what you think about the new format :)

Enjoy!