Bagsy was grateful for how Bontie took care of her after what had happened. She brought her tissues to blow her nose and wipe her eyes and made her the best hot chocolate she'd ever tasted. It had extra hazelnut cream and marshmallows and Bontie enchanted a cream bunny to hop around the foam. She'd even let Bagsy relax in her room while she did her work for the Ministry.

Bontie usually hated Bagsy being in her room. Bontie kept her space tidy, unlike everyone else in the Beetlehorn family, and she wanted to keep it that way, so she'd always insisted that no one else was allowed in her room under any circumstances. But Bontie had the most interesting things in her room, Bagsy found, and it was a good distraction while she tried to ignore what had been written on her forehead.

There were books on ancient myths and legends, ranging from creatures no one knew were real or fake, to spell casters who performed great feats like saving an entire country from a horde of vampires, or who created potions to cure diseases that looked set to bring the downfall of wizard kind. Strange ornaments were arranged neatly on white shelves. One was a series of metal circles that revolved smoothly around each other, another was an hourglass filled with water that swirled up and down with soft noises like a distant ocean.

Bontie had allowed Bill and Jill to be in her room as well, and the rats hadn't left Bagsy's side since. They seemed to know when Bagsy was upset and nibbled softly on her finger tips to show her support. Bontie held back shivers – she wasn't keen on rats.

By the time the sun was setting and Bontie had completed half of her Ministry work, the take-away they'd ordered from Dumplings and Dollops had arrived. Bontie insisted they sit cross legged on her floor instead of going to eat downstairs.

'Why?' Bagsy asked, nibbling absent-mindedly on ink toast, her favourite.

'It feels nicer,' Bontie explained around a mouthful of cacti spines. She'd ordered her cacti spines with noodles instead of the usual syrup and rice. It was a mass of string shaped food and Bagsy was astounded Bontie managed to keep the sauce on her plate and not on the floor.

Curling her toes into the soft carpet that was only found in Bontie's room, the rest of the house was tiled or had wooden floors, Bagsy found Bontie was right. There was something much nicer about sitting and eating on the floor in this room then downstairs, where the architecture was cold and spiritless.

Bagsy had finished her food, and Bontie was on her last few bites, when her older sister looked seriously at her.

'Why did that girl try to write squib on your forehead?'

Bagsy was silent, twiddling her thumbs.

'Bagsy,' Bontie pushed. 'You must tell me.'

'I think she's right, Bontie…' Bagsy murmured timidly. 'I can't cast spells. I… I don't think I have any magic in me.'

Her sister considered her for a moment, before taking and finishing a mouthful of her food. She chewed, swallowed, and then stood up, before holding her hand out to Bagsy, who took it and found herself pulled to her feet.

'Bagsy,' Bontie said, her eyes fierce. 'I want you to know that if you are a squib you are still my sister, and still a wonderful girl.'

Bagsy looked at the floor. 'You're just saying that.'

'If I was a squib would you love me less?' Bontie snapped harshly.

Bagsy let go of Bontie's hand, taken aback. 'No! Of course not.'

'Well, there you go.'

'But mum and dad-'

'I doubt they'd mind either, if they ever paid any attention,' Bontie hissed, with barely concealed bitterness. 'What matters is how you feel about yourself. You are wonderful. Squib or witch. But,' Bontie took her wand out of her robe. 'You aren't a squib, anyway.'

Bagsy frowned. 'How can you be so sure?'

'Pull out your wand, Bagsy,' Bontie said calmly. Bagsy did as she was told. 'Cast a spell.' Bagsy felt tired just hearing the instruction, let alone attempting it. Her shoulders sagged, and she looked down at her wand hopelessly. She didn't want to try and cast a spell – she'd only feel humiliated when it wouldn't work. 'Bagsy, do as I say. Any spell. The easiest one you can think of.'

'Lumos,' Bagsy tried, her voice hollow, giving her wand a half-hearted swipe through the air. Of course, nothing happened.

'Pass me your wand.' Bontie held her hand out. Bagsy passed it to her. Bontie tapped the wand with her own. 'Conatum incantato.' A faint silver glow spilled out of Bagsy's wand and swirled around Bontie's hand, casting a light on the both of them. Bagsy's eyes widened. 'A wand registers when someone tries to cast a spell but fails,' Bontie explained, handing the mist-surrounded wand back to Bagsy. 'The wand knows you tried to cast a spell, it just didn't work. A squib can't do that, Bagsy.'

Bagsy looked at the wand, her eyes wide, her heart racing. 'I'm not a squib,' she breathed.

Bontie nodded. 'That injury on your forehead is the result of a disgusting act a horrible girl did to you. She will be punished. I've sent a letter to the head professor – Primrose will be put in her place. If she troubles you again tell a teacher and be sure to write to me to let me know how you're doing.' Bagsy nodded, looking up at her sister with an awe she'd never felt before. 'I know mum and dad… I know we've all been busy, and you've been alone most of this summer, and that's not fair,' Bontie continued. 'If I could avoid the work I'm having to do I would, but the Ministry is still in a state, Bagsy, and there is so much I have to do – so much I can't even begin to explain to you – otherwise I'd be more involved.' There was a hint of unease in Bontie's voice, as if that wasn't the only reason she avoided being around. Bontie crouched down so she was level with Bagsy, she was so much taller than her. 'I'll come with you to the train station and see you off to Hogwarts,' Bontie said. 'I promise.' She placed her hand on her own chest.

'What are you doing?' Bagsy asked in confusion.

'You know your heart is in here?' Bontie asked, tapping the space between her ribcage. Bagsy nodded. 'I'm promising you, on my heart, that I will take you to Hogwarts station and wave you goodbye come the first of September.' It wasn't that big of a promise. It was just being taken to the station and sent off. Even so, Bagsy felt tears prick her eyes, though she wasn't sad. Her hands were trembling, but she wasn't scared.

Bagsy put her own hand on her own heart. 'I promise to you,' her voice was thick, 'that I will write and tell you how I'm doing.'

'And that you'll tell a teacher if Primrose tries anything else,' Bontie added.

Bagsy nodded. 'And that I'll tell a teacher if Primrose tries anything else.'

Bontie smiled gently and pulled Bagsy into a hug. It was less awkward than the hugs they usually shared, and Bagsy buried her face in Bontie's shoulder.

'Good,' Bontie said, stroking Bagsy's bushy hair. 'I saw the stuff mum got for your hair, Bagsy,' she murmured. 'Ignore her. You've got the nicest hair I've ever seen. Now is there anything you want to talk to me about? Anything that's been bothering you?'

Bagsy was surprised at this. Bontie had never shown much interest in her life, let alone asking her about it. Her mind went instantly to the blood eyed beast. Bagsy wanted to talk to Mezrielda about it in person, but maybe Bontie could offer some information, too? She looked at Bontie, wondering if she wanted to share what had happened with her.

'No, there's nothing else,' Bagsy lied.

Bontie kept her promise and went with Bagsy all the way to King Cross station, holding her hand and encouraging her to jump. When Bagsy did, Bontie held her in the air for a few moments, slowing her descent, and making Bagsy feel as though she were flying. In the week since the incident with Primrose, the scar on her forehead had faded completely, which only added to her feeling of contentment.

'Bye, Bontie,' Bagsy said happily as she pushed her laden trolley towards the barrier that was the hidden entrance to platform nine and three-quarters.

Bontie shook her head. 'Honestly, you have a brain live a sieve, Bagsy. I'm coming to the station – I'm going to wave you goodbye – I promised.'

'Oh yeah!' Bagsy exclaimed excitedly. She couldn't believe her sister had already come this far with her voluntarily, and yet was going to go even further. Usually, her family fought over who was stuck taking care of her. Bagsy's feet felt as light as feathers as she easily walked through the hidden entrance and the Hogwarts express came into vision in a brilliant display of red and black paint, with white smoke wafting above the locomotive.

A whistle announced the train's departure and Bontie gave Bagsy an awkward pat on the shoulder. 'Write to me,' she reminded her. Bagsy nodded, looking up at her with the widest, and happiest, eyes she'd ever had. 'And tell a teacher if that girl tries anything else, okay?'

Bagsy nodded again. Stepping onto the train with her trunk, rat travel cage and Eldritch's cage. She looked back at Bontie, who had deep, dark bags below her eyes, and was clearly exhausted.

'I know the Ministry has important work for you,' Bagsy said, 'but make sure you get enough sleep, Bontie.'

Bontie smiled thinly. 'Fat chance of that,' she said. 'But I appreciate the thought.'

The train was about to leave, so Bagsy waved goodbye to her sister and walked down the train, looking for a compartment.

Almost straight away a small hand grabbed her arm and gently tugged on her robe. Bagsy yelped in surprise, despite the gentleness of the action, before realising it was Neve. The tiny, dark skinned girl with a snub nose and large, round glasses had spoken to her a few brief times last year.

'The missing Hufflepuff,' Neve announced in a small voice to the other occupants of the compartment. She gestured self-consciously at Bagsy, keeping her head down as if guilty for nudging her to join them.

'Speak of the devil,' a boy said.

Bagsy noticed the faint signs of what had once been a mohawk in the boy's black hair. 'Itsuki, hi,' she greeted, just about remembering his name.

The train started to move, and Bagsy rushed to the window, as did the other Hufflepuffs sharing the compartment, to peer out. Bontie was standing, looking exhausted but happy, on the platform. Spotting Bagsy, Bontie waved and watched as she, and the Hogwarts express, crawled out of the platform and slowly gained speed.

Once the platform, and Bontie, were out of sight the other students sat down. Bagsy stood by the window, looking at the shrinking building silently. Her throat felt tight all of a sudden.

'Aren't you excited to be going back to Hogwarts?' Neve's timid voice came from behind her. Bagsy nodded, swallowed, and finally moved away from the window to sit down next to Neve. She was excited, she was just also sad. It was very confusing. 'Let me introduce you to everyone.' The small girl's voice was quiet, as if she'd really rather not.

'I'm Teresa Aviry!' boomed a very tall girl with very pale skin and an ocean of freckles. She held her hand out to Bagsy. 'We've met before, back when that Primrose snob was causing trouble at the quidditch match.' She had bright ginger hair in a high ponytail, with thin wisps of flaming locks curling around the sides of her face. Bagsy shook her hand and found her own trapped in a very firm shake. When Teresa let go, Bagsy rubbed her palm gently. It was a little red. Teresa, taking over the introductions from the timid Neve, gestured at Itsuki. 'This is Itsuki Elmore, mohawk boy. I'm sure you remember him.'

Itsuki winked at her. 'I'm getting that bad boy back the second we reach the Hufflepuff common room,' he boasted, gesturing at his hair. 'My parents can't stop me when I'm not at home!'

The boy sitting opposite Itsuki laughed. He had dark skin and bright blonde hair that contrasted it. 'Yeah, but they'll ground you again,' he pointed out.

Bagsy recognised the boy. She'd spoken to him a few times last year. If she remembered correctly, his name was Jon Krinkle. His elder brother, Ford, was captain of the Hufflepuff Quidditch team. 'You're Ford's younger brother, right?' Bagsy asked.

When Neve, Teresa and Itsuki fell incredibly quiet and averted their eyes, Bagsy realised she'd said something wrong, and remembered how much she sucked at social interactions.

Jon looked at her with a glare like death. 'Do you even know my name?' He asked angrily, as Bagsy shrunk into her seat.

'J-Johnathan, right?' Bagsy said hopefully.

He tusked, as if annoyed she'd answered correctly, before crossing his arms. 'Last year you said you didn't even remember what position my brother played in Quidditch. Last year you seemed like you couldn't care less about him. Now, though, all I am is Ford's younger brother.' He was practically baring his teeth.

Bagsy stammered. 'It's only, um, t-that I talked with Ford more last year. B-because I helped upgrade the school brooms. S-so I remembered him more than I remembered you. I'm really s-sorry, I was just-'

'For goodness sake, Jon,' Teresa cut in. 'Give the girl a break. She was just trying to say she knew who you were. You're way too sensitive.'

Jon uncrossed his arms and opened his mouth wide to protest. Itsuki shot him a look that said, 'she's right, you know' and Jon shut his mouth.

'Sorry,' Jon said at last, to Bagsy. 'I get a little worked up about my brother.'

Itsuki snorted. 'Understatement of the year.' Jon stuck his tongue out at him. 'Look, you're a second year now, and a shoe in for the team, so you'll get to show everyone how much better at quidditch you are than your brother.'

Jon nodded. 'Absolutely. I've been practising all summer.'

'As has your brother,' Teresa muttered out the side of her mouth.

As Jon launched into a rant about how much better he was than his brother, Bagsy tuned out of the conversation, wondering where Mezrielda was. Bagsy's trunks and other belongings were still strewn messily on the floor and she realised she half expected them to levitate into the shelf above her head, as Mezrielda used to make them.

'Excuse me,' Bagsy said, standing up. She was itching to finally speak face to face with Mezrielda, and not just about what had happened last year. She missed her friend. 'I need to go look for someone.'

'See,' Teresa interrupted Itsuki and Jon, who were butting heads over whether or not it was fair to compare two quidditch players of different ages. 'Missing Hufflepuff.'

'Very mysterious,' Neve added in a voice so quiet Bagsy almost missed it.

Cringing at the term, Bagsy ducked out of the compartment quickly, wanting a reprieve from the noisy space. She walked up and down the train, peeking into each compartment, looking for the head of sleek black hair that had become so familiar last year. She found the fuzzy train seats either empty or filled with students she didn't know, and held the railing tightly not just for balance as the train rocked from side to side, but to ground herself against the growing fear that Mezrielda wasn't there.

When Bagsy was approaching the end of the train, stepping around large, rectangular trunks as she progressed, she'd yet to see Mezrielda, and her heart was sinking to her stomach. She looked in the last compartment and found Primrose sitting with two other Hufflepuffs, but no Mezrielda. Bagsy backed away as quickly as she could, her mind rushing with reasons as to why Mezrielda wasn't on the train, whilst also hoping Primrose hadn't seen her.

'You!' Primrose's voice called angrily after her. The compartment door slid open and Primrose, followed closely by her two friends, burst into the corridor. 'I got in a lot of trouble because of you!'

Bagsy didn't wait to hear whatever Primrose was going to say next. Her fight or flight instinct kicked very much into flight, and she turned and ran down the train as fast as she could, dodging around the luggage that students hadn't managed to shove into their compartments.

'Hey! Look at me when I'm speaking to you!' Primrose yelled after her. Bagsy heard footsteps following behind and glanced over her shoulder. Primrose was running down the carriage after her, far more adept at leaping over and around the luggage than she was.

'No running on the train!' A third voice joined the clamour, and someone stepped out between Bagsy and Primrose, cutting the chase short. Bagsy stopped, drawing in heavy breaths, eyes fixed fearfully on the raging Primrose who glowered at her before her eyes slid up and, if it was possible, grew more enraged.

Emmeline, the person who'd stepped out of the compartment and cut the chase short, looked from one girl to the other. A prefect badge pinned to Emmeline's uniform gleamed as she did so. 'What's going on here?' Emmeline asked, narrowing her eyes suspiciously.

'Primrose was chasing me,' Bagsy answered truthfully, fighting the stammer that was begging to show itself in her voice.

Emmeline frowned at Primrose. 'Is that true?'

'Snitch!' Primrose hissed at Bagsy, who flinched before looking down at the floor. She'd never considered if she was a snitch. She'd never thought it was a bad thing.

'Both of you, back to your compartments, now. Not another peep out of either of you until we get to Hogwarts, understood?' Emmeline ordered.

Primrose stuck her tongue out at her. 'You don't control me, cowbird,' she spat, turning on her heel and walking away. Emmeline was shaking as she watched Primrose go but, despite being a prefect, didn't reprimand her.

'Sorry about that,' Bagsy said quietly, 'and thank you for your help.'

Emmeline shot a look at Bagsy that plainly said she better leave.

'Was that Bagsy?' Greenda's voice drifted out of the compartment Emmeline had come from. Confused why Greenda and Emmeline would willingly share a compartment Bagsy furrowed her brow. Glancing up, she saw the compartment was designated for prefects, and realised why.

'Shut up, Greenda,' Emmeline muttered as she re-entered and turned away from Bagsy, slamming the sliding door closed behind her.

Bagsy walked back to her own compartment, terrified at how angry Primrose was at her, and at the fact that Emmeline was a prefect. She kept glancing back down the train, in case either of them decided to come after her again.

'Woah. You okay, pal?' Itsuki asked as Bagsy stepped numbly back into the compartment. Her belongings her been put away for her.

'Thanks for dealing with my luggage,' she said in a subdued voice as she sat down shakily.

'You sound as quiet as Neve,' Teresa commented. 'What's up? Couldn't find who you were looking for?'

'The missing Hufflepuff is missing someone,' Neve observed.

'There's a missing Slytherin now, too,' Bagsy explained.

'Who?' Jon asked, leaning forward in interest.

'Mezrielda.'

'Glint?' Teresa checked. Bagsy nodded. 'What do you want with a Slytherin, anyway?'

'She's my friend,' Bagsy said firmly, to find a silence forming. She lamented, once more, the difficulties of talking to other people.

Itsuki shifted in his seat. 'She's a Slytherin,' he reminded her.

Bagsy shrugged, looking at their faces in concerned confusion. She'd made some kind of mistake in her words, but she had no idea what. 'So?'

'So…' Itsuki trailed off, as if it was obvious. Bagsy looked at him expectantly, wishing someone would just tell her what the issue was, instead of gawking like she'd just killed a baby goat. 'Slytherins aren't nice, Bagsy.'

Taking a second to let the odd statement wash over her, Bagsy considered her response carefully. 'Mezrielda is nice. In her own way.' She found her voice taking on a tone it had never done before. It was harsh and firm, clipped at the end in a way that brokered no further discussion. The others seemed to notice and left the topic there, returning to the tense silence. Bagsy really wished she were just sharing a compartment with Mezrielda, then she wouldn't feel like she were navigating a minefield.

When the trolley lady stopped at their compartment it was a welcome distraction, a whirlwind of orders sweeping the silence away, forgotten in the chaos.

'I'll have the jellified jaws, please! And two bags of Ghost Floss,' Itsuki chimed.

'I'll take the chocolate cat's tails and the sugar daisies,' Jon said, picking the goods off the trolley.

'I'm okay,' Teresa declined, pulling her own food out of a bag. Neve twiddled her thumbs and looked at her. 'Actually, some inky soda and chocolate frogs for the quiet one,' Teresa added to the trolley lady.

The lady looked pleasantly at Bagsy, unperturbed by all the requests, and the rustle of students fishing around their belongings for coins, fighting the jostling of the train as they did. 'And you, dear?'

'Just some pumpkin juice,' Bagsy said sadly, taking the carton and sipping slowly on the drink.

Once the trolley lady was gone the compartment was filled with the noise of crunching and chewing. Jon was pulling sugar coated petals off of his candy daisies, Itsuki's mouth was wobbling around from the jellified jaws he'd eaten and Teresa was laughing around a mouthful of ordinary crisps at the rest of them. Neve and Bagsy just sat quietly.

After their stomachs were full, the other students took out their own entertainment and ignored each other, only saying the occasional comment or question throughout the journey. It was a welcome break from the clamour.

Jon was turning his broom over in his hand and inspecting it, whilst Bagsy tried not to cringe when he poked at the wooden panel that hid the inside working with his wand. Any broom with such a panel was the kind that used a mixture of charms and magical objects to work. Poking the panel too hard over long periods of time could dislodge the inside mechanisms, breaking their sink with the charms, and ruining the broom. Bagsy didn't say this, of course, in case she seemed like a show off.

Itsuki had asked Teresa to fetch a bag of his from the overhead storage space, as he was too short to reach. Now, he was flipping through a hair magazine, ooohhing and aaahhing at the different styles. Teresa had her own book which she was so engrossed in that her head was completely hidden behind the massive thing. Magical Creatures – Practical Practise read the cover. Every now and then Teresa's head would be flung back from the book and she would tut to herself, saying how of course the gorgon didn't like being given a mirror, or how of course no self-respecting rock giant would let someone use sandpaper to shave his beard.

Neve, who was sitting next to Bagsy, had a long, thin strip of paper that she was slowly folding over and over. Bagsy watched in silence, tilting her head this way and that with each fold, trying to understand how Neve was making the paper crease in such odd ways without tearing it.

'Are you using magic?' Bagsy asked when her curiosity became more burdensome than the fear of speaking. She kept her voice low, though, comforted by the idea that only Neve would hear. Neve shook her head in response, and Bagsy found herself thoroughly impressed, entirely puzzled as to how she could create such intricate shapes from a flat piece of paper without any magic at all.

Not having much to do herself, Bagsy decided to let Bill and Jill out of their travel cage and cuddle them. Jill wasn't much for cuddles and scuttled up and down Bagsy's legs and arms, or ran around her feet, trying to put the boundless energy she always had into something, whilst Bill yawned and curled up in Bagsy's lap, falling straight to sleep, as if she hadn't already been sleeping in a travel cage for the best part of the day.

Not wanting her owl to feel left out, Bagsy sat Eldritch's cage next to her and opened it, reaching her hand inside and offering Eldritch some owl treats which he happily ate.

'He is so cute!' Teresa gasped as she spotted Eldritch. Her head had been thrown out of the book once more. Somehow, her red hair was soaked through and dripping, plastered against the sides of her face.

'Elephant men again?' Itsuki asked as Teresa wrapped her sopping hair in a jumper she said she was done wearing for the day, anyway.

Teresa grimaced. 'Worse. A water slide mimic.'

'What's a water slide?' Jon asked.

'What's a mimic?' Itsuki asked.

Teresa waved her hand dismissively as if that would answer their questions and crouched in front of Eldritch's cage. 'Look at him!' she squealed. 'Look at those big black eyes. He's adorable!' Eldritch puffed out his feathers, becoming even more round and fluffy than usual. If he didn't have a beak for a mouth, Bagsy would say he was smiling. 'Such lovely, amber feathers, too.' Teresa trailed off, holding her finger out to Eldritch who gave it a curious look. 'I love tawny owls,' she explained, sitting back down. 'Though, I've got a toad.' Teresa pointed to a glass container above her head. It had a lamp on one end and some water on the other that sloshed about with the train's movements. 'It's been enchanted to be extra sturdy. No one is breaking that thing.' She reached up one of her long arms and patted the container proudly. The toad inside hopped in surprise and let out a croak. 'Oh! Sorry, Slippy.' Teresa retracted her hand, folding her arms and puffing out her chest, looking as proud as Eldritch had only a few moments before. 'I have more pets that have been sent ahead to the school,' she added. 'I can show them to you once we get there.'

Neve chuckled, then shrunk down and covered her mouth apologetically as if she'd committed some horrible crime.

'What, Neve?' Teresa asked in bemusement.

'It's just… when we get to Hogwarts Bagsy will disappear. She's the missing Hufflepuff, remember?' Neve glanced at Bagsy shyly. 'Sorry, no offense meant.'

Bagsy was silent.

'I have a cat,' Neve offered, looking incredibly nervous. Bagsy smiled at Neve, hoping she wouldn't think she was upset with her, even if she did now feel rather awkward.

Jon piped up. 'If we're all sharing our pets with Bagsy, I've got a tortoise. He's really cool. Fastest tortoise alive, he is.'

'I've got an owl,' Itsuki added with a smile. Bagsy nodded, not sure what to say in response. There were a lot of people around her and it was a very unfamiliar feeling talking to all of them at once.

'R-rats,' she offered. 'O-owl,' she added, pointing at Bill, then Jill, then Eldritch. The other students nodded pleasantly at her and Bagsy internally sighed.

Once the others returned to their own forms of entertainment, Bagsy lost herself in her own animal companions, pretending she wasn't sharing a compartment with four other students. Instead, in her mind, there was just Mezrielda, sitting quietly while she looked out the window opposite her.

Bagsy needed to find out where she was.