Before I start this chapter, I want to state that I do not necessarily agree/disagree with all opinions expressed within and I personally have nothing against Ravenclaw House, Muggleborns, Death Eater's children or dementors.
As the trio of outcasts approached exited the dungeons, Phobia's palms began to sweat. People walked out of their way to avoid them, which was usual for Phobia, but she worried how the two younger students would react when they were started to be treated like social pariahs by all four Hogwarts Houses.
"Um, guys?" Phobia's voice was rather soft, in order to prevent the onlookers from overhearing. "You might not want to be seen in public with someone like myself."
"Why not?" Jonathan exclaimed in protest, drawing knowing looks from their audience. Why should he care about social standing? He was a known maverick and the sight of him conforming to social expectations would likely cause more eyebrows than if he associated himself with who he pleased.
Aria shot him a withering glare in an attempt to get him to lower his voice. She had picked up on the indicators last night that both Phobia and Jonathan were unpopular in their own houses like herself, but she had been unprepared for a school-wide hate-fest about who she chose to be friends with. The wizarding world, Aria decided, was rather strange.
"It's too late." The Slytherin informed them. "People have already seen that we have become acquaintances, if we suddenly ignore each other the teasing will get even worse."
Phobia stared at the longer girl in horror. "That's supposed to make me feel better?"
Aria rolled her eyes and continued speaking. "However, if we stick together, we will earn their respect, albeit grudgingly in some cases I'd expect."
"A badger, a lion and a snake?" Jonathan snorted. "Slytherin and Gryffindor hate each other, their would be no love lost for the two of us."
The older girl sighed. "Yes, but hanging around with me will make you even more unpopular."
Aria raised a perfectly shaped eyebrow delicately. "I suggest you inform us why, because neither of us were very popular in first place."
Jonathan tried to look indignant, yet failed miserably. They had now reached the doors to the Great Hall, but lingered still, none of them wanting to go to their separate house tables. "What can I say?" Shrugged the Gryffindor. "I have Death Eater parents in a house full of people whose families died at their hands."
Phobia nodded formally, understanding how difficult that must be for him. The muggleborn looked confused at how they could hold a grudge against someone who hadn't even been a part of the war. Didn't they realise that in wronging their children, they were causing another generation of hate?
"I've only met you last night, Jonny, but I know you're nothing like that. If your own housemates cannot see that, then they are even dumber than their reputation in Slytherin suggests." They all laughed at that one and passers-by gave them some weird looks. Aria fought back a final giggle. "And that was said by a muggleborn, so they don't have half as much reason to hate you as I do."
"A muggleborn in Slytherin?" Phobia asked. "Haven't heard that one in a while; most people don't like to advertise that fact."
Jonathan snorted. "Slytherin doesn't like to advertise it at all." He'd heard stories from his parents about how muggleborns went under the house protection from the rest of the school and that their housemates (regardless of their position on blood purity) would gloss over that fact and provide the united front that was expected of them. He eyed his new friend cautiously. To be going against house tradition took a lot of guts and he had a newfound respect for the Slytherin girl.
"Well, it can't be as outrageous as Phobia." Aria told them. "Most of the other houses couldn't care less about me, but everyone else seems to want to avoid her like the plague. No offence." She briefly wondered if being a tactless Gryffindor was contagious.
Phobia swallowed. "People don't really want to get to know a part-dementor child." She waited for the looks of disgust and fear to cross their faces, but none came.
"That is so cool!" Jonathan exclaimed and Phobia cringed as his voice carried across the Entrance Hall and everyone looked up in their direction. "Do you get any special powers?"
Their other friend looked on in bewilderment at this exchange and her face contorted into an expression of confusion. "I have no idea what a dementor is, but from everyone par Jonny's reaction, I'm guessing its even worse than being muggleborn or having Death Eater parents."
"Right, so most people assume dementors are really dark creatures-" Jonathan began.
"Dementors are really dark creatures." Phobia interrupted.
Jonathan had the nerve to roll his eyes. "But only because they show everyone their worst memories and suck out people's souls and stuff."
Phobia stared at him. "I don't understand how you don't consider giving everyone you meet nightmares isn't dark."
The Gryffindor shrugged. "You don't know half the stuff my parents have stashed around the house. They inherited a lot of dark objects from other Death Eaters who died in the war."
"You haven't given either of us nightmares, though." Aria's eyes narrowed as she processed the incoming information. She was busy calculating whether having a friend who was part-dementor had any long-term advantages, as she knew there would be few in the short-term, thanks to wizarding prejudice. By not giving Slytherin House a united front, she was exposing herself to a lot of enemies and Aria hoped that her new friends would offer at least some meagre protection.
The second year fidgeted. "I try not to use my powers around other people, but sometimes when I have bad dreams I can't help it."
"So you do get awesome powers!" Jonathan yelped in triumph. The girls ignored him.
"Whenever I use my powers, they witness their most terrifying moments and I... I see them too." Phobia's voice was now even softer, barely audible.
Jonathan's grin slipped for a second. "That's not so awesome." He admitted.
"That's why you suffer from nightmares, isn't it?" Aria asked, already knowing the answer, but saying it anyway. It needed to be said.
All three of them fell into a silence. None of them knew what to say after what they had leaned about each other. Unfortunately, one of the school bullies knew precisely what to say.
"Freaks!" Sneered a Ravenclaw fifth year, as him and his friends barged passed on their way to the Great Hall. The younger students were jostled and thrown about, as the fifth years slammed into them.
"They'll pay for that." Growled Jonathan. Aria placed her hand over his, preventing him from reaching for his wand.
"Yes, they will pay, Jonny, but not right now." She turned to Phobia. "Do they often do that?"
Phobia, who had tripped and stumbled, brushed the dirt from her already scuffed knees. "Often. Some people just take the Hufflepuff-Ravenclaw rivalry to a whole new level." She neglected to tell them that it was mostly her they targeted, because they knew they could get away with it.
Jonathan grinned, as his notorious troublemaker smile returned. "How about we teach them a lesson?"