Special thanks to Whatkooloser for your kinds words and encouragement last week! This one is for you. :)

I hope you all enjoy! I have not personally experienced what Charlotte is dealing with, if anyone was curious.

So I said that a few days ago and I have to retract that statement somewhat. For irony's sake I decided to leave it up. You think thing like that wouldn't happen when you're a grown ass adult but people never change.

Time seems to speed up as things calm down. Tom hasn't come after me since my first class, though my paranoia hasn't died down. Grandma was worried when I told her about Tom's attack, but since nothing has happened again she and I have been able to have relaxing correspondence again. Dumbledore seems keen on pretending I don't exist after my detention and surprisingly so has Draco. Since then we have taken our first round of exams, and grades should be posted today. I'm confident I did well, considering I haven't had any distractions as of late.

Lisa, Mandy, and I make our way to Transfiguration, the three of us excited to see our exam scores.

"I'm sure you did great, Lisa," I try to soothe her frayed nerves. She's been hysterical about this grade since we took the test.

"I know I failed! I just know it!" She whines for the upteenth time.

"Your practical was flawless, and I know you knew everything for the written."

"I bet you got the highest score of all of us," Mandy agrees.

We walk into class and sit down. The Ravenclaws are abuzz with excitement and nervousness about our scores while the Gryffindors mostly just look nauseated. It was not an easy test.

"Good afternoon, class. I'm sure you're all anxious to know how you did on your exams. I'll be passing around your scores now, and I am happy to answer any questions you may have before we begin our lecture for the day." Professor McGonagall walks around and hands our tests back. Lisa gets hers first and I watch as her tense shoulders finally relax. Mandy shoots her a thumbs up when she finally receives her own. When I am finally handed my exam, Professor McGonagall stops for a moment and smiles at me. "Congratulations Charlotte, you received the only one hundred percent."

Lisa and Mandy both stop their silent cheering to look over at me with surprise. We hadn't ended up studying together much, so they didn't know how well I knew the information. At first I had been a little bummed that we weren't spending that time together, but I realized how nice it was to not have to overstudy. After all, it isn't like I'm learning much of this information for the first time. The practical is the hardest part for me, but since I don't have to spend very much time on the paper aspect, it doesn't take me nearly as long to prepare for an exam as it would for any other first year.

Class flew by as we went on to our next section, and I almost forgot how well I did on the test until Lisa and Mandy appeared by my side at the end of lecture.

"How did you do that?" Lisa almost looked angry.

"Do what?" I asked as I packed up my things.

"Get a one hundred!" Mandy explained.

"I studied?" The three of us made our way out towards dinner.

"You're really good at it, apparently! What's your secret?" Mandy leaned in, as if I really was about to tell a secret.

"What are you talking about? I studied with you guys too. I didn't do anything special."

"Then why did you get the highest grade?"

"I don't know! I probably just got lucky." Man they are really grilling me on this! I didn't think getting a good grade would bring me so much attention. I guess I shouldn't be that surprised though, we are a bunch of Ravenclaws.

As we sit down with the other first years, more people join our conversation.

"Congrats on the hundred!"

"I can't believe someone got a perfect score on the first exam."

"I've heard McGonagall is the hardest professor in testing. How did you do it?"

"I thought that was Snape?" I counter, my head mildly spinning at all of the attention.

"Will you study with us?" I hear that question at least three separate times, and I realize I've made a mistake. It wasn't necessarily my fault that my grade got broadcasted to the class, but I should have known better than to get perfect grades. I can't risk someone suspecting me of cheating- that would be too hard to explain away other than with natural born brilliance- but being forced to study all the time with large groups of students is gonna be boring as hell since I already know the information.

"I don't really do well studying with others…" I admit, rubbing the back of my head sheepishly. The happy group around me seems to grow cold after I say this. I even notice some rolled eyes.

"Yeah, sure you don't…"

"Holding back on us, Campbell?"

"Way to share the wealth."

Even Lisa and Mandy don't look pleased.

"So what, we help you study your way to a perfect score and you won't help us out?" Lisa crosses her arms.

"What are you talking about?"

"Why won't you help us get good grades too?" I don't think I've ever seen Mandy look so peeved.

"But we did study together! And I wasn't very helpful! I don't know how to help people study!"

"Yeah, we noticed," Lisa deadpans. I would laugh, but I don't think she's joking.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to leave you guys behind."

"So you'll help us study?" Everyone is staring at me and I suddenly feel trapped despite the openness of the Great Hall.

"Sure."

….

Things only get worse as the week goes on and we receive the rest of our exam scores.

"Another perfect score?" Lisa grabs my paper out of my hand before I can even see it. I sigh as I try to snatch it back from her, but the damage has already been done- she knows my grade. I can't believe I got an one hundred on every single exam so far. I thought for sure I would screw up a couple of questions, so I hadn't even thought about purposely marking some wrong. Apparently I had retained the information better than I thought.

Since they found out about my perfect grade, Lisa and Mandy had become more curious about what my other exam scores would be, and by the end of the week they had moved themselves to sit next to me in every class. Now with the two of them by my side, I'm forced to try to pay attention in my classes, otherwise they'll wonder how I'm doing so well. This is getting aggravating.

"Can I see your notes?" Lisa whispers in Herbology. I give her a sharp look. Wasn't she the one who always said I wasn't allowed to see her notes? "Please? Just for a second." Before this week I had never taken a single note, seeing as the professors had yet to say something I felt I couldn't remember. Now with my friends breathing down my throat, I even have to take b.s. notes.

"Ugh, fine," I groan, handing my notes over to her. I hope they're up to par.

"Thanks."

"Can I see them after?" Mandy hasn't been taking any notes all class.

"No!"

"Aww come on, I take terrible notes. Yours are so much better! Why should I have to write my notes twice when I'm just gonna copy your notes later anyway?" I roll my eyes in annoyance. Why does it feel like I'm doing everything all of a sudden?

"Whatever."

"Well you don't have to be rude about it," she huffs.

…..

Unsurprisingly I did not do well in Potions. I did alright on the written portion (though not perfectly), but my practical was abysmal. Sally hasn't been my partner since our first class (she apologized) and my partner has frequently been whoever shows up to class last. Ever since that became the norm, most of the class comes as soon as they've finished lunch, much to Snape's chagrin. Fortunately for everyone else, our exam required us to work alone. I managed not to blow anything up, so Snape gave me a Dreadful. Clearly I'm not going to grow up to be a potions master.

I had expected Lisa and Mandy to want to sit with me in this class too, but they didn't switch seats. I couldn't ask them about it during class, so I caught up with them afterwards.

"What gives?" I pant as I slow back down to a walk.

"What?"

"You didn't sit with me this class."

"Oh, well, we didn't want to upset Professor Snape," Mandy explains lamely. She looks sort of guilty for some reason.

"You didn't seem to mind in all our other classes."

"Yeah, but those classes didn't have Professor Snape in them," Lisa argues quickly.

"I suppose."

"So we're studying together again tonight, right?" Mandy changes the subject.

"Of course," I agree. Ever since my first perfect score Mandy and Lisa have been spending every evening with me. I've been asked by most of the other first years to study with them too, and I have spent most of my free time hanging out with everyone. I even wrote Grandma to tell her how well I've been making friends! I should have known that being the "smartest" would be the easiest way to make friends in Ravenclaw house. While I liked having free time to myself before, it's been a wonderful surprise to spend time with the other first years, who I was pretty awkward around before.

I'm not an idiot though. I do know that everyone's interested in hanging out with me because I'm the smartest, as far as they know. But that doesn't mean we aren't friends, right?

That being said, I plan on lowering my grades for the next set of exams. Just a couple of points lower, not enough to make anyone question how I suddenly got stupid, but enough so that I'm no longer the top of the class. I don't think it'd be a good idea to get perfect scores forever.

….

"So I heard you're smarter than you look." Draco catches me alone in the hall one evening after class. I continue walking towards the Great Hall, but I can't bring myself to completely ignore the little brat. He walks alongside me as we talk.

"...thank...you?"

"You're welcome." I roll my eyes at his childishness. Maybe I should just ignore him.

"What do you want, Draco?"

"I could tell you were upset after meeting me for the first time, especially since you were so full of social faux pas, so I thought I would come tell you that I forgive you."

"Forgive me?!" I turn on the younger boy, clearly surprising him as I force him to a halt with my glare. "You cannot be serious!" He only takes a moment to compose himself once again and continue.

"I was even going to invite you to our study group. It's usually Slytherins only, but maybe I shouldn't since you can't even apologize properly."

"You-you want me to apologize? For what?!" I'm seething at this point. I've got such an urge to punch the little prat across the jaw, I'm surprised Hermione didn't do it sooner.

"You really think you did nothing wrong?" He crosses his arms petulantly.

"No! You were the one trying to make fun of me!"

"You were the one who was speaking to me without respect."

"You're not a king, Malfoy, you're a rich prat!" Draco seems surprised that I call him by his last name. "I'm not going to go study with you, and I don't know why you think I would!" Without another word I stomp away; Draco doesn't bother to call after me.

I continue to head to dinner, my mind racing with angry thoughts. How dare he try to make me apologize! No wonder Harry hates him so much! Gryffindors love to feel righteously angry, and that's all I'm feeling right now. What the hell was his problem anyway? Why did he invite me to study with him? Slytherins are always trying to get something out of a relationship, so why was he trying to talk to me?

My steps slow as I think harder about the situation. Draco said he forgave me, meaning he had wanted me to apologize. I don't think he is stupid enough to think I would ever apologize when we both know I didn't do anything, right? Or did he really think I did something wrong? I'm clearly not getting anywhere trying to figure that part out.

Why did he want to study with me? It's not like we're friends or anything. I replay the conversation in my mind, hoping to find a clue.

"...I heard you're smarter than you look."

Suddenly it all clicks. He heard that I got perfect scores...if he wanted something from me, he would probably want my grades...so he only talked to me because he wanted me to agree to study with him! That's why he forgave me! Because it was the only way to fix the fact that he had made fun of me the last time we spoke. He couldn't apologize for what he did, so he thought he could make me feel like I did something wrong instead. Geez, Slytherins are impossible. It should not take me this long to figure out a conversation.

I've made it to the Great Hall and am about to sit down with my friends when a realization stops me cold. Draco asked me to study with him, despite the fact that we're clearly not friends, because I had gotten good grades. He didn't give a shit about me- he just wanted to use me. I look at Lisa and Mandy. They're not just using me, right? We're friends! They care about me. Right? I march over to our table, determined not to let these negative thoughts slow me down.

"Hey guys!" I call, sitting across from the pair. They take a second to notice, as they're focused on their own quiet conversation.

"Oh, hey, Charlotte," Mandy answers after a minute or two. I start scooping some Sheppard's pie onto my plate. "Studying tonight?"

"Sure!"

Mandy and Lisa go back to their whispered conversation, and I'm left wondering whether what I thought earlier is true. Since I was late to dinner, as usual, Lisa and Mandy finish eating long before me.

"We'll see you in the library?" Lisa asks as the pair stand up.

"Oh, ok. If you don't want to stay here…" Why can't I just be straightforward in what I want to say? I'm a grown adult, after all!

"We just want to get ahead on the homework. I'm sure you can catch up when you get there."

"Yeah, I guess." Without another word, the pair head out. Were they always this cold to me? No, I'm clearly just being dramatic. To prove myself wrong, I turn to another first year beside me who has been in many of my study groups. "Hey Eduardo, want to hang out tomorrow?"

"To study?" he asks hopefully.

"I was thinking of taking a break tomorrow."

"Oh, well I'm sort of behind on Transfiguration homework. Maybe I'll have time if you help me with that first?" I stare at him for a moment as the truth cuts me like a furious Buckbeak- they're all using me.

No, no, no! I'm being childish! Ravenclaws put our studies first. We're all just being typical of our house! I don't know why this is surprising me. Besides, I know how to prove whether or not I have real friends or not. Everything will be clear when I'm not the top student anymore.

…

Another round of tests come and go, and Halloween is upon us. I'm a little bummed I'm going to miss out on the holiday feast- it looked amazing in the movie- but I would rather not be evacuated back to my dorm halfway through it. I don't give a rat's ass about the troll since it's only importance is in bringing the golden trio together. There's no reason in me being around for that event in any way. Instead, I'm going to use my future knowledge to get myself something nice from the kitchens and curl up in my bed before everyone comes charging in telling me about a troll in the dungeons.

But before all that, it's time for class.

Lisa, Mandy, and I are headed to Herbology, going through the same thing we did the last time we had an exam.

"I'm sure you got the best grade in the class," I say, trying to sound like I give a shit. I'm starting to get tired of her constant complaining.

"But you did better than me last time!" Lisa whines.

"But we studied together every day this time," I remind her.

We walk in and sit down together, as usual. A few minutes later Professor Sprout is passing out our grades. I don't even get a chance to look at my own before Mandy has snatched it out of my hand.

"Oh," she sounds surprised. "It looks like you're losing your touch."

"Yes!" Lisa cheers a bit too loudly as she gets her own grade. Mandy hands her mine to compare, still not letting me see it. "Oh wow, Charlotte, what happened to you?" She tries to sound concerned and totally fails at it.

"Let me see!" I swipe my own test back. A 96. Perfect; not too high. Lisa then shows me her own grade, a 98. "Congrats!" I also struggle to sound like I care.

"Thanks!" Fortunately she doesn't seem to notice my insincerity. I haven't been able to get it out of my head that my friends might not actually be my friends. I know I shouldn't be so childish about it, but I've struggled to enjoy their company for the last few weeks with that thought in the back of my mind.

Class begins in earnest after all of the tests are handed back, and I start taking my useless notes, as usual. After I finish a page I hand it over to Mandy so she can copy it, but she hands it back quickly with a small note added to it.

I've got Lisa's, thanks!

I look at the note with confusion. She's never asked Lisa for her notes...but Lisa had never gotten a higher grade than me before. I glare at the words hatefully for a moment before sighing. At least now I don't have to take notes anymore. Now it's time to see if I really have any friends.

…

One by one I get lower grades on my tests, and one by one my "friends" that I had been studying with pull away. I hadn't exactly been very helpful with their studying, I really don't know how to teach, and now that my grades have dropped, they have no reason to keep me around.

"We're not going to be studying today."

"Well you're so busy with your other study groups, you don't have to worry about us."

"Our group is already pretty big."

Each study group gives me a different bullshit excuse on why they don't want to see me anymore, and I know I've been had. My last study group is Lisa and Mandy, but I want to have faith in them!

"There you two are!" I find the pair in the library after lunch...studying...without me. "So what are we studying for?" I start to put my bag down, but Lisa's words stop me.

"No, we're not really studying," Lisa closes the textbook in front of her. "We were just looking something up."

"Oh…ok. Studying tonight?"

"We thought we would take a break for Halloween!" Mandy chirps excitedly. Almost too excitedly.

"Doing anything fun tonight?"

"Nah, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't have the night off." I have the distinct feeling that I'm being lied to.

"I guess I'll see you guys later then," I pick my bag back up and leave them to their "not studying". As I'm walking down the hall, I see Draco and his usual pack headed my way. Unfortunately it would be too awkward at this point to turn around, since they've spotted me as well, so I'll just have to walk past and hope they're busy with something else. As I'm about to pass the group, Draco starts speaking much too loudly, clearly wanting me to overhear since I'm the only other person in the hall besides his groupies.

"I can't wait for the Halloween party tonight. It's a good thing we only invited the cool Ravenclaws." Pansy laughs obnoxiously at his statement and looks back at me; embarrassingly I've stopped to look back at them as well.

"Wouldn't it suck to be all alone tonight?" she adds. They continue walking, leaving me with the reality that I've known all along but just didn't want to face- I don't have any friends.

After a few minutes of standing there and stewing over my emotions, I storm down the hall back towards the library. Despite everything, I want to hear it straight from the source. I can't believe I've been hoodwinked by a bunch of eleven year olds. I guess I deserve this for being so gullible.

"Is it true?" I stop in front of Lisa and Mandy and wait impatiently for their response.

"Is what true?" Mandy answers uncertainly, clearly taken aback by the anger I'm exuding.

"You're ditching me to go to the Slytherin party?" An awkward silence stretches between us. "I just wanted to make sure before I made any snap decisions about not speaking to you anymore." I begin to turn away.

"Wait!" Lisa gets up, self-righteous anger coloring her features. "You're that mad over a stupid party?"

"It's not just about the party, Lisa! You guys only cared about me because I got higher grades than you!"

"That's ridiculous!" Our voices are both rising, causing Madam Pince to appear out of the woodwork like a wraith.

"Quiet in the library!" she hisses. The three of us apologize to her meekly before turning back to one another.

"Were you, or were you not, planning on kicking me out of your study group?" I whisper angrily.

"We-we wouldn't do that," Mandy tries to lie. It's not convincing enough.

"Sure. Enjoy your party." I turn around and leave the library, and officially leave my fake friends behind. All I wanted was to live a happy, carefree life as a witch, and even when things are peaceful I manage to screw that up.

I try my hardest to push back the tears that are threatening to spill down my face as I head back to my dorm. At least now I don't have to make up any excuses to anyone about why I wasn't at dinner. Now I know no one will care enough to ask.

Making my way down a corner, I accidentally shoulder check someone. I murmur an apology, but don't bother looking back.

"Charlotte?" I hear a familiar voice call for me uncertainly. I reluctantly turn around to see Harry looking worried.

"Not now, Harry." I brush him off briskly and keep walking.

I find my dorm room blissfully empty, allowing me to finally use some of my wandless magic for once. I immediately magic myself into some pajamas and use a warming spell on them and my blankets to make everything cosier. Then I close the curtains around my four poster bed with a wave of my hand and cast a silencing charm around it. Now if only I hadn't been wasting my time the past month pretending to study with those first year morons, I could have actually learned a few things for myself; for example, I'd love to learn an alarm spell so I don't have to worry about being pranked or bothered while I'm sleeping. It's better not to use it today anyway, I suppose. Even if no one is friends with me, they're still going to want to tell me about the troll later.

I let out a loud, miserable sigh. Part of me wants to study that alarm spell anyway, but I know I'm too angry and upset to actually focus properly. I'm so sick of being the mature, responsible one and getting nothing out of it! I would much rather be in the Room of Requirement right now, but I don't want to be mysteriously absent when the troll is loose. Assuming that anyone knows that I'm gone.

"Ugh!" I throw myself back onto my bed. Maybe I'm just not meant to have friends right now. I'm much too old for the kids around me anyway. Fred and George are nice, but I doubt they really consider themselves my friends. It's not like they actually care about me.

I feel too angry with myself to cry. How did I not see this coming? Looking back on the last two months, it seems so obvious now that no one around me was actually interested in befriending me. No one ever really cared to talk to me about anything but school stuff. At first I thought it was just a Ravenclaw thing, but obviously they just didn't care to become friends with me. I'm not exactly the most lovable person anyway. I put my hands over my face and whine loudly. It's nice to at least have the space to be angry about this. I idly wonder where the other students go to let out their frustrations with each other.

The more I think about it, the more I know I'm better off by myself. I can make all the friends I want when Tom is dead, but before that, I need to focus on keeping myself alive. I shouldn't have any of the ridiculous sort of adventures that Harry found (will find?) himself in, but as I've already experienced once this year, that doesn't mean I'm going to be adversity free. Focusing on people other than myself will only lead to trouble down the road- better to fend for myself and not have to worry about anyone else. I know I wanted to have fun, but that's not what school is for anyway, right?

I toss and turn around my bed, my agitation not letting me lie still. Sleeping seems silly since I'll be woken up. My stomach growls loudly, interrupting that train of thought. Why sleep when I could eat! Maybe I don't have to take a trip all the way to the kitchens. I had wanted to before, but now I'm comfortable in pajamas and am not in the mood to speak to risk having to speak to anyone.

Do I remember a house elf's name? I know I can't call for Dobby- he doesn't work here yet- so I have to think of someone else. I pull open the curtains around my bed and step outside of the silencing barrier I have placed around it.

"Tippy?" I call uncertainly. There's a loud pop and a house elf is standing before me. I've seen a few in person, not just in the movies, but it's still an interesting experience to speak to one.

"Miss Charlotte called for me?" Tippy asks nervously when I don't immediately give her an order.

"You know my name?"

"Of course, Miss Charlotte wearses the pink underwear-"

"Oh ok, Tippy! That's enough please!" I wave my hands frantically in embarrassment and Tippy immediately stops talking.

Her eyes go wider than I thought possible as she asks, "Have I upsets Miss Charlotte? Should I-?"

"No no, Tippy!" I interrupt her again, unsure if she has the same self-mutilating tendencies as Dobby. I may have remembered her name, but that's about all. "Everything is fine. I actually wanted to ask a favor."

"No favors needed for you misses! Yous a good girl and Tippy is always happy to help. Tippy is a Hogwarts elf- always helping Hogwarts studentses."

"Thank you, Tippy." Despite knowing that is would be her reaction, I'm still taken aback by her earnestness. The house elf seems just as surprised by my thanks.

"Tippy wants to help." She says uncertainly.

"Can you possibly bring me something to eat? I'm not going down to dinner tonight."

"Is Miss Charlotte alright? Need to go to healer?" Tippy reaches for my hand and I immediately yank it back.

"No, Tippy! I...I'm just a little sad right now, that's all." I figure there's no reason to lie to her.

"Sad?"

"Yes. I want to be alone for a while, but I'm also hungry."

"Tippy can help!" With an adorable salute, Tippy disappears with another pop. In the meantime I conjure myself a chair and small table to eat at. I always thought it was weird that there were none in the dorm rooms, but now I realize that conjuring one is a very simple option for most students.

A few minutes later, Tippy and another elf I don't recognize pop back into the room with plates and cups in their hands. It immediately smells wonderful and my mouth waters instantly.

"Hot chocolate always good for sad studentses," Tippy says matter-of-factly as she sets a steaming mug down in front of me. She also has a glass of pumpkin juice. The other house elf sets down two heaping plates, one filled with banquet foods and the other with desserts. With a low bow, he disappears. "Is everything alright now, Miss Charlotte?"

"Yes," I smile honestly for the first time all day, "everything is going to be alright."