Intent on not drawing attention to her talk with Professor McGonagall, Maribella was the first to rise the next morning. She got ready silently, throwing her robes over her shoulder and holding on tight to her books as she tiptoed out of the room, down the stairs to the common room. Only a few tables were occupied at that hour, which was just as well. It wouldn't do her any good to be seen and questioned. She scurried past Percy Weasley, who was doing some early-morning reading, and out she went on her way to the Transfiguration room. The huge castle and all its funny little trinkets were starting to become less oddly thrilling and more inconvenient, and it wasn't until after she got lost four times that she managed to reach the Transfiguration room.
"Take a seat, Ms. Piccinni," said McGonagall once Maribella entered. The room was big and bright, surrounded by high windows. It had four rows of three desks, with several bookshelves and animal cages framing the furniture. The Professor sat at the very end of the room, at the teacher's table. She was even more intimidating up close.
"Good morning, Professor," Maribella said, moving to sit in front of the teacher. She sat with her back upright and discreetly rubbed her robes, trying to get some dust off it. She got the feeling Professor McGonagall was someone she would want to impress.
"I imagine this conversation will be highly uncomfortable for you, but it has to be done," the older woman started. "You understand that this is a very rare situation, one that has only happened once before at Hogwarts, and a few precautions need to be taken."
As Professor McGonagall spoke, Maribella 's mind raced. Again she had heard of another werewolf. She had been too distracted the previous night to really ponder over it, but now…
"Professor Sinistra has charted the next few full moons for you. For a week preceding the full moon night you are to meet Madame Pomfrey, no later than six in the evening, to take your potion. You will be allowed to roam the Hogwarts grounds on full moon nights. However," McGonagall continued rigidly, and though distracted, Maribella forced herself to listen. "Should you misbehave and harm any of the creatures or students that inhabit Hogwarts, you will be relocated to somewhere less spacious." Her voice then softened considerably. "If you need any additional guidance, you are to come to me, Miss Piccinni."
"Thank you, Professor," Maribella said solemnly. If anything, the conversation with the teacher comforted her slightly.
"You may go, then. Your morning classes should be starting soon."
Maribella walked absent-minded, still immersed in the talk she had had. There were so many crucial things she had to remember; the smallest of details were a matter of life or death. Cursing herself for not jotting it all down somewhere, she vowed to do it as soon as possible. And of course, the other werewolf. Maribella couldn't help but be curious. Who was he, when had he come to Hogwarts, how had he coped? She made a mental note to look it up sometime. Maybe the student records, in the library, could be of help. They did, after all, keep track of the students who went to Hogwarts over the years. Head Boy, Quidditch Captain, and oh, what was that? Werewolf. Right, fat chance of-
SPLAT
Her books fell on the ground as she bumped into Hermione, who seemed to be just as distracted as she, reading a thick book as she walked.
"Oh, sorry Maribella ," Hermione said, bending down to pick up the books that had fallen on the ground, and handing them to Maribella . "Are you going to Potions now? I'll come with you. Less chance of getting lost, you know. I already had some difficulty finding the Great Hall for breakfast. Speaking of- why did you skip on breakfast?" the girl inquired, turning right back around and walking alongside Maribella .
"I er-" Maribella racked her brain, trying to come up with an excuse. "Slept in late." she finally decided to go with. Hermione, however, eyed her suspiciously, clearly not buying her story.
"You weren't in bed when I woke up," the girl pointed out.
Curses, Maribella thought, mentally kicking herself. How she had forgotten someone as annoying as Hermione was her roommate was beyond her.
"Lavender was obviously the last to wake, we spent the better part of the morning trying to get her out of bed. You'd know if you were there," Hermione continued. "You'd better tell me now because if I find out you were somewhere you weren't meant to be, I'll probably have to turn you in."
Maribella had to bite the inside of her cheek to keep herself from saying something very very rude to Hermione.
"I was with McGonagall," she told her. "Dealing with my own private affairs that-" Hermione had opened her mouth again, but Maribella spoke quickly and loudly over the girl. "-do not concern you."
And with that, Maribella quickened her pace, stopping only in front of the dungeons, where the Potions class would be taught. She opened the door to find Harry and Ron already sitting down with their cauldrons.
"Hi," she said curtly as she sat down, taking out a quill and some parchment.
"Hey. Are you alright?" asked Harry, immediately sensing her bad mood.
"Fine," Maribella replied, "just bumped into Hermione on my way here."
"Makes sense." Ron nodded as Hermione arrived, looked around, and finally decided to sit with the other Gryffindor girls. And then, the door slammed open and the class begun. Professor Snape, the hooked-nosed and sallow-skinned teacher, was dreadful. He clearly favored the Slytherin half of the class, continuously taking points and being down-right rude to the Gryffindors. He, for some reason, seemed to hate Harry the most.
"Harry Potter. Our new... celebrity," he nagged as he read Harry's name during roll call. The Slytherins sniggered, and Maribella , already irritated, felt her blood boil. It only worsened as the class went on. Snape, that damned man, started quizzing her friend on the hardest of questions, ones you would have needed some background on Potions to answer.
"Potter! What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?" the Professor inquired.
Powdered root of what to an infusion of what? The only one who seemed to have an idea of what was going on was Hermione, whose hand shot up instantly.
"I don't know, sir," said Harry in a small voice. Snape tut-tutted loudly, ignoring Hermione's hand.
"Fame clearly isn't everything," he said with a sneer. "Let's try again. Potter, where would you look if I told you to find me a bezoar?"
Hermione stretched her hand as high into the air as it would go without her leaving her seat, but Harry looked even more stumped. Maribella heard Malfoy laugh quietly with his cronies and decided to put her hand up as well. Not because she knew the answer, mind you, but because she thought that maybe Snape would stop picking on Harry if more people would raise their hands. She was wrong.
"Thought you wouldn't open a book before coming, eh, Potter?"
Maribella was fuming. How dare he treat one of his students in such a derogatory way, especially one that clearly had no knowledge of magic? How dare he openly mock, openly humiliate the poor boy like that? She glared fiercely at Snape, raising her hand as high up as she could, just like Hermione.
"What is the difference, Potter, between monkshood and wolfsbane?"
Ah, that she knew. The monkshood, also known as wolfsbane, or aconite, was a vital ingredient in the Wolfsbane Potion she so badly needed. She had to answer his question, then. She had to put him in his place.
"Nothing, sir," Maribella said, without being called. Snape's head whipped towards her, and his sneer turned into a full snarl. Maribella faltered, but kept going. "They are the same plant."
Snape's eyes briefly wandered towards the roll list, looking for her name so he could properly chastise her. His eyes flared with recognition as he realized who she was.
"Funny that you would know that," he jeered cruelly. "Five points from Gryffindor for disrespecting a teacher."
Maribella flinched, and she felt tears well up in her eyes from embarrassment. She looked down at her hands on her lap.
"Potter," Snape went on, emphasizing Harry's name. "When brewing a Wideye potion, which type of caldron would be the most viable to be utilized?"
Maribella didn't have to look to know Hermione's hand was up, stretching towards the dungeons' ceiling. It was Harry's answer that surprised her.
"I don't know," said Harry quietly. "I think Hermione does, though, why don't you try her?"
Maribella almost fell off her chair. Harry had spoken with a spite she had never heard before. She laughed with the rest of her classmates, and even Hermione looked satisfied. She high-fived Ron under the table, and when Harry grinned at her, she winked gratefully. Snape, however, was not pleased.
"Sit down," he snapped at Hermione. "For your information, Potter, asphodel and wormwood make a sleeping potion so powerful it is known as the Draught of Living Death. A bezoar is a stone taken from the stomach of a goat and it will save you from most poisons. You would need a copper caldron, simply because it is more efficient," he looked around at the class. "Well? Why aren't you all copying that down?"
As one last act of defiance, Maribella just glared up at Snape, not bothering to write anything down.
"And another point will be taken from Gryffindor for your cheek, Potter."
The class didn't get much better from then on. They sat in pairs, with Maribella shyly joining Hermione, and started mixing up a simple potion to cure boils. Halfway through the lesson, Neville Longbottom had somehow managed to melt Seamus's cauldron into a twisted blob, and their potion was seeping across the stone floor, burning holes in people's shoes. Within seconds, the whole class was standing on their stools while Neville, who had been drenched in the potion when the cauldron collapsed, moaned in pain as angry red boils sprang up all over his arms and legs.
"Idiot boy," Snape bellowed, clearing the mess with a flick of his wand. "Take him up to the hospital wing," he spat at Seamus. Then, turning to Harry and Ron, who sat closest to Neville's table:
"You—Potter—why didn't you tell him not to add the quills? Thought he'd make you look good if he got it wrong, did you? That's another point you've lost for Gryffindor."
Maribella 's mouth fell open at the unfairness of it all. Harry too looked like he was about to retort, but Ron stopped him before he could.
"What is his problem?" she angrily whispered to Hermione. The girl shrugged, bewildered as well.
An hour later, they climbed out of the dungeons, feeling worse than ever. Maribella walked alongside Harry and Ron, complaining loudly.
"I hate him," she ranted. "No. I despise him. We lost, what, fifteen points within only one lesson. And he- he kept picking on you!" She gestured wildly towards Harry, who looked exhausted. "He's a professor, how dare he- UGH."
"Don't worry about it," said Ron. "Snape's a git. He is always taking points off Fred and George."
Compared to Potions, the other classes weren't so bad. They stumbled in late to Transfiguration and got a fright from McGonagall transforming into, well, McGonagall right as they let out sighs of relief from not being so late.
"Maybe if I were to transfigure one of you into a pocket watch, you might be on time," she had said with an air of disapproval, but let them sit without taking any points or giving out detentions.
Herbology was taught by Professor Sprout and they learned to take care of different plants and fungi. History of Magic, by far the most tedious, was also the only one taught by a ghost, Professor Binns ("Bored himself to death," Maribella and Ron joked). Maribella was looking forward to Care of Magical Creatures but soon learned they would only be taking it in third year and was very disappointed. Defense Against the Dark Arts was another class enthusiastically waited for, but that too turned out to be a flunk; Professor Quirrell seemed to be too frightened of pretty much everything to teach. And he smelled of garlic.
One afternoon, Harry received a note from Hagrid, and the trio decided to all go meet the giant. He lived in a small wooden cabin at the edge of the Forbidden Forest. A crossbow and a pair of galoshes were outside the front door. When Harry knocked they heard a frantic scrabbling from inside and several booming barks. Then Hagrid's voice rang out, saying, "Back, Fang, back." Hagrid's big face appeared in the crack as he pulled the door open. He let them in, struggling to keep a hold on the collar of an enormous black boarhound. Ron and Harry looked wary, but Maribella 's years of experience said the big dog- Fang- was just another beast who needed to be loved. Her thoughts were further confirmed when Hagrid let go of the dog and he came bounding towards them, licking all over. She giggled happily, rubbing the dog's ears.
"These are Ron and Mari," Harry introduced.
"Make yerselves at home," said Hagrid, giving them both a big smile. They were treated to a relaxing afternoon filled with boiling tea and quite literally rock cakes. Hagrid was a great listener, Maribella found.
"-and he just kept on being so rude to Harry-," she vented.
"-it seemed like he really hated me-," Harry continued.
"-for no reason at all!" completed Ron.
"Rubbish!" said Hagrid. "Why should he?" but the trio couldn't help but notice Hagrid wouldn't meet their eyes as he asked.
"Yeh're a Weasley, ain' yeh?" Hagrid asked Ron, changing the subject. "How's yer brother Charlie?"
The two talked while Maribella listened in. She found out Ron had several brothers including Charlie, Percy, Fred and George and even a younger sister, Ginny. Maribella could barely handle having two siblings, she couldn't imagine having that many of them.
"Hagrid!" Harry said suddenly. "That Gringotts break-in happened on my birthday! It might've been happening while we were there!" he held up a copy of the Daily Prophet, showing a headline that read Gringotts Break-In Latest. Maribella fleetingly remembered overhearing about the break-in back at home. Hagrid was quick to send them back to the castle after that.
The September full moon was quickly approaching, and Maribella couldn't be less eager. To make matters worse, the full moon coincided with their first flying lesson, something Maribella had been looking forward to.
That fateful morning, she woke at seven o'clock as per usual, but felt so tired she simply turned over and fell back asleep. Her body already ached, and her limbs felt heavy and were weighing her down. Maribella slept throughout the morning, until noon, when Hermione woke her up.
"Thanks," Maribella muttered as Hermione helped her off the bed. She groaned and grimaced as she looked through her trunk to find a clean pair of neatly- folded socks.
"I thought you wouldn't want to miss lunch," Hermione explained. "But you don't look so good. Get dressed, I'll take you to the Hospital Wing."
Even in her weary state, Maribella made some effort to roll her eyes at Hermione's bossy attitude.
"Thanks," she said. "But no thanks. I'd rather just get to class."
"That would not be wi-" Hermione suddenly gasped, looking at Maribella 's shoulder blade. In the month they had shared a room, not once had she seen Maribella 's uncovered shoulders. The girl had always made sure of that, always wearing a robe or a long-sleeved shirt, and rushing to the toilet as soon as she woke up. She didn't want to expose the deep scarring left by the werewolf since her attack. But now, overcome by her exhaustion, Maribella was left standing only in her nightgown.
"What?" Maribella asked tiredly.
"We need to get that checked," Hermione fussed as she approached and carefully touched Maribella 's shoulder. The girl, finally realizing what had gotten her companion so perplexed, flinched, feeling very vulnerable and exposed. She covered herself with her hands, then with the bed curtains, looking quite silly as she did so, but at the moment she couldn't care less.
"I- sorry," Hermione choked.
Maribella opened her mouth to reply but found that she couldn't. Instead she mustered as much energy as she could and ran to the toilet, locking herself in there until she heard Hermione leave. She changed into her uniform quietly, her movements slow. She then went down to the Great Hall, where some of her classmates were having lunch. Not seeing Harry or Ron, she made her way to Seamus Finnigan and Dean Thomas.
"-turn this water into rum," Seamus was chanting and didn't notice her arrival. He flicked his wand towards his goblet, and it blew up in his face.
"Don't worry, mate," Dean consoled. "You'll get it eventually."
Maribella ate in silence, not wanting to attract any attention. At three thirty that afternoon, she hurried down the front steps onto the grounds for the first flying lesson. It was a clear, breezy day, and the grass rippled under her feet. Madame Hooch was already waiting outside on the grounds when she arrived, as were Harry and Ron.
"Mari!" Ron exclaimed when he saw her approaching. "Are you ok?" he asked, taking in her pale figure and the dark crescents beneath her eyes.
"Shouldn't you be resting?" Harry asked worriedly.
"'M' fine," Maribella said. The boys looked like they wanted to say something else, but then the class started.
"Stick out your right hand over your broom," called Madam Hooch at the front, "and say 'Up!'"
"UP!" everyone shouted.
"Up," Maribella echoed. Her broom stayed put on the ground. Harry's broom jumped into his hand at once, as did Malfoy's. Ron's came up to whack him right on the nose, before toppling back down. When Harry looked over to share a grin with Maribella , he found that she hadn't even noticed Ron's mishap.
Maribella herself felt dizzy and not one bit willing to try and get her broom up. Madam Hooch told everyone to mount their brooms, and as everyone preoccupied themselves with holding the broom just the right way, Maribella went off to the side and asked to be taken to the Hospital Wing. Madam Hooch took one look at her and agreed she was unfit to ride. She turned to the class.
"None of you move while I take this girl to the hospital wing! You leave those brooms where they are or you'll be out of Hogwarts before you can say 'Quidditch'. Come on, dear."
Maribella spent the next hour and a half laying on one of the beds in the Hospital Wing. Madam Pomfrey, the kind matron working there, fussed over her, offering chocolate and tea. At five-thirty the bell resonated throughout the grounds, indicating it was dinner time, and Maribella gained permission to go down to the Great Hall and get some food before coming back at six to prepare for the night.
The girl dragged her body through the corridors, having great difficulty going down the stairs without tumbling down. Maribella looked for Harry and Ron as she went into the Great Hall. Her stomach tightened when she noticed Ron was sitting alone. Harry was nowhere in sight. Had he gotten hurt during their lesson? No, Maribella would've known; she had spent the afternoon practically disabled in the Hospital Wing and would've definitely seen him come in. Had he gotten in trouble? Maybe. After seeing the boy talk back to Snape, Maribella was sure he was capable of anything.
"Where's Harry? What happened?" Maribella asked sitting down next to Ron.
"Malfoy," Ron said bitterly, stabbing at his steak and kidney pie. Even though Maribella 's neck hurt and cramped, she turned to glare at the Slytherin table.
"What did he do? Is Harry okay?" Maribella asked, turning back to Ron.
"Malfoy stole Neville's Remembrall, and Harry tried to get it back. Madam Hooch was still up in the Hospital Wing with you, so we weren't allowed to go up on our brooms, but Malfoy did anyways, and Harry followed. Malfoy threw the Remembrall and Harry managed to catch it, I think, but McGonagall saw him and he's been with her ever since."
"He's been expelled?" Maribella asked weakly.
"Not yet," Harry's voice answered, and Maribella looked up to find the boy sitting across from them.
"You're not expelled?" Ron asked excitedly. "I saw McGonagall's face, I thought for sure…"
"She actually took me to see Oliver Wood," Harry said, then leaned forward, dropping his voice to a whisper. "I'm going to be the new Gryffindor Seeker."
"You're joking."
Maribella could only give him a smile.
"You must be the youngest player in about-" Ron continued.
"-a century," completed Harry.
Note to self, Maribella thought, letting her head rest on her arms, boys turn into giggling messes when talking about Quidditch. And she smiled at her own joke.
Suddenly she heard:
"Having a last meal, Potter? When are you getting the train back to the Muggles?"
Malfoy's whiny voice made her feel like a hundred knives were piercing her brain.
"And," Maribella said, standing up quickly and ignoring the blood rush in her head. "That is my cue to leave."
"Scared-" Malfoy paused.
"Piccinni," one of his friends offered.
"Scared, Piccinni?" Malfoy smirked.
With great effort, she turned around and did her best to give him a convincing sneer.
"Not one bit-" she too paused, wanting to have the same effect as the blonde rat, by pretending she too had forgotten his name. Unfortunately for her, neither Ron nor Harry caught on. "-Malfoy. Just have better things to do." And with that, she turned around and limped away with as much dignity as she could.
A/N: This is one of my favorite chapters because we get to interact with some of our favorite characters! It's also Maribella's first full moon at Hogwarts. We'll see the repercussions next chapter.
Let me know what you think about the story, reviews make my day!