So this chapter was written reallllly early, it was probably one of the first chapters written and it was written mostly by RM so you may notice some style/voice differences.

Safety in Numbers

June 27th, 1995
Sixth Year
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Maggie was a good girl. She never talked back to her professors, never cheated on a test and never brought attention to herself After all, as a first year Hufflepuff, attracting attention was a death sentence. So far, she had managed to stay off of the radar of all the bullies in Hogwarts. Unfortunately for Maggie, all that was going to change.

Right.

Now.

Clatter.

"Filthy Mudblood! How dare you touch me! Do you know who I am!?" The 7th year Ravenclaw, Ian Salvia, yelled, gesturing angrily to his bag and its contents spilled across the floor.

Maggie, having heard horror stories about Salvia, started to stutter out apologies. She'd been on her way back from the feast, head on cloud nine. Her first year at school and they'd won the house cup! She hadn't been looking where she was going.

Salvia was having none of it, screaming, "ANSWER ME, BITCH!" and moving to strike the girl across the face. Before he could swing his arm, however, an icy voice froze the air.

"You hit her with that hand, Salvia and I swear to Circe I will Rip. It. Off." Maggie had never heard a sweeter sound in her life. She turned her head to see the two champions of Hufflepuffs, Jo and Leilani. Jo was staring at Salvia with a look so cold Maggie could feel the chill from where she stood, but Leilani was smiling encouragingly at her.

"Come over here, Maggie." Leilani said, holding out her hand. Maggie didn't need to be told twice, she raced over. Salvia stepped forward with a snarl, as if to stop her.

Jo took a step forward as well, uncrossing her arms to let them hang by her sides in a subtle threat. "I am not in the mood for your bullshit, Salvia!"

Jo, Maggie had heard, had a propensity for ending duels with a fist to the face. Salvia must have known this as well, as he saw the threat for what it was and stopped.

Salvia realized he couldn't win and gave Maggie, who was half hidden behind a protective Leilani, a hard look.

"Your guard dogs won't always be there to save you," he spat.

Maggie flinched, but Jo just gave a malicious grin as Leili said, "Don't bet on it, Salvia."

He glared at Jo one more time before gathering his belongings and leaving.

Jo didn't move for a moment and Maggie wondered what would happen now, when suddenly Jo gave a big sigh. She stuck her hands in her pockets and shook her head, muttering, "Good riddance," as she turned to Maggie.

"Next time, Maggie, don't travel the halls alone. Safety in numbers, yeah?" Leili said, smiling at the 12 year old. Maggie nodded and Jo picked up the girl's bag from where it had fallen. She hadn't even noticed she'd lost it. Jo started down the hall and Leilani followed, pulling Maggie with her.

"Um, where are we…?" Maggie started to ask.

"Going? To the common room, that is where you were headed, right?" Jo glanced back over her shoulder at Maggie. "You didn't think we'd let you walk alone after that, did you?" she said, a smile appearing on lips that not 5 minutes ago had threatened to rip Salvia's hand off.

Maggie shook her head mutely; suddenly glad for the two Hufflepuff protectors who roamed the halls. She gave a brief thought to what being a Hufflepuff would be like without them. Maggie shuddered and shook the notion away. It's best not to entertain such morbid thoughts.

As Jo and Leilani walked Maggie back to her dorm she heard Jo murmur, venom dripping off every word, "Can I kill it?"

"…Maybe later," Leili whispered back.