TheBoondocksRox: Frankie powerful? Hmmm...maybe, maybe not. She is excelling in all her magic courses. Of course, who knows what a person can do when faced with the person they love being attacked. Bianca is pretty much done caring about what anyone thinks. If you liked that, I have an inkling of a feeling you might like what happens next.
freakin awesome: I am assuming that's your name (though I would love if it was actually just an overall response to my story.) 1 am is the perfect time to start reading a super long story...isn't it? Well, I'm glad you picked mine and even more glad you enjoyed it. Ah friends, it will be interesting to see how other people will continue to react to their relationship. Stay tuned for that. Thank you for your very kind words, and I will certainly keep updating. I hope you keep liking what I write.
Acester: I've been thinking about it, but like I said before, I'm not sure about the level of interest in a sequel. (I'm actually currently working on another lengthy FAB fic at the moment as well.)
Bianca bolted upright, the bed shaking with the momentum. Her heart thumped loudly in her chest. A fine sheen of sweat coated her face and neck, and her pajamas clung to her sticky skin. She tried to catch her breath, sobs and pants fighting to get past the lump already filling her throat. She wildly looked around with panicking eyes.
How could this happen? No! No, no, no! She had to help her. This couldn't be happening. Not this. The silent cry for Frankie died on her lips as the room slowly came into focus. The quiet snores and rustling bed sheets floated across the dark dormitory. Sniffles and murmurings of the sleeping Gryffindor fifth year girls wrapped around the four poster beds and mixed with the warm blankets cocooned around her body to prove that she was in fact in Gryffindor Tower.
She wasn't in Hogsmeade.
Releasing a shuddering breath, Bianca wiped at the trickle of cold sweat rolling down her face. She gulped in air and blinked at the tears dangling from her eyelashes. It was a dream. Only a dream.
Oh Merlin, it had been so horrible.
The images were fresh in her mind. She could still feel the cool spring breeze and the hot sun touching her face. The rambling stone buildings of the cozy village glistened until the dark cloud appeared in the otherwise blue sky. The Death Eaters showed up, casting spells with their sinister skull masks and black robes flickering in the darkening air. Bianca had run everywhere. Frankie had been at her side. She was right there. But, now Bianca couldn't see her. Where could she have gone? Why was she gone? They had to get out of there!
Bianca ran and ran. She sprinted down the street, pushing past people as she yelled for her girlfriend. She had to find her. She just had to. Everything had been so perfect. They were kissing. Frankie had that adorable little crooked smile on her face. She looked so beautiful outside with the gentle wind ruffling her hair. Now, she had disappeared.
Rounding a corner, it went into slow motion. The area was deserted. There was no one there, except for a body sprawled out on the ground. Without seeing the face, Bianca knew who it was deep in the pit of her stomach. The blonde hair was matted to the dirt streaked features. The hazel eyes that she could always look into and see what the girl was truly thinking were open and glassy. There was nothing there.
There was no movement. No sign of life.
Bianca crumbled beside the lone body. No! Not Frankie! Not her. Oh Merlin, no!
She cradled the limp form to her chest. She whispered, pleaded, with Frankie to say something. Anything.
Then, she woke up.
Her entire body still trembled as she relived the morbid nightmare. Frankie had been hurt in her dream. She had been…that word Bianca absolutely refused to use in the same sentence as her girl. That word Dumbledore implied when he told her about the Death Eaters and muggle-borns.
More and more tears tracked down her cheeks. She wiped at them, choking back the impending cries. It was only a dream. Just a dream. She repeated those sentences over and over in her head.
She had to see Frankie.
She had to make sure she was alright. She needed to hold her, touch her, feel her. Just gather her in her arms and never let go. Her feet swung off the bed and landed on the cold floor when it struck her. It was still early morning. The sun hadn't even risen yet. There would be professors and prefects roaming the halls, intent on catching anyone not where they were supposed to be.
So what.
She could get past them. She had to see Frankie, and it wasn't like she hadn't snuck around to see her before. The flash of wide lifeless eyes in her mind had her throwing the blankets off. She bit her lip as she shivered at the coldness of the castle air.
Another thought popped up. What if Frankie was still sleeping? She hadn't looked like she slept at all the day before. She looked so tired with dark patches under her eyes. If she was sleeping, even though Bianca wanted nothing more than to be with her, she should let her sleep. Frankie needed it.
But, she needed to see her. She had a feeling Frankie wouldn't mind the intrusion. She was the one following her around in between classes. After what actually occurred in Hogsmeade, could anyone blame Bianca or Frankie for wanting to not let the other one out of their sight? Having a nightmare about your girlfriend lying hurt in the street wasn't exactly something that could be shrugged off as if it were nothing.
However, even if she got past the roving detention givers, Bianca would have to somehow break into the Slytherin dormitories. She didn't know where the exact entrance was or the password. Not to mention, Frankie would be furious if she snuck in there. She could hear her voice scolding her for hiding out in the dungeons. Frankie more than once told her it wasn't safe for her down there. Heck, every Gryffindor knew not to hang out in the dungeons. If it was dangerous to be in the dungeons, just think about a Gryffindor in the Slytherin common room.
She wasn't scared. Not of what those Slytherins would or could do to her. She'd go through every single one of them if she had to.
Rubbing at her wet cheeks, Bianca inhaled deeply. This was stupid and dumb and incredibly ridiculous. She had a nightmare about her girlfriend getting hurt, and she couldn't even see her. Just because they were in two different houses!
Bianca slowly brought her legs back onto the bed and shifted under the blankets. She bit her trembling bottom lip and didn't let go. She shouldn't cry. It was only a dream. It had been so real, though. Frustrated, scared, and unable to do anything about it, Bianca threw her elbow back. It hit her pillow, forming an indent and not helping with the frustration like Bianca hoped it would.
It did remind her of what was beneath it, however.
Swallowing roughly past the lump of emotion in her throat, Bianca's hands dove under the pillow. The first smile, as small as it was, of the day tugged at her lips as she pulled out a pile of pictures. She blindly groped for her wand. When she felt her fingers connect with the wooden stick, she lifted it to the photos.
"Lumos." Bianca whispered.
A flash of light beamed out of the end of her wand and illuminated the photographs. She choked back a watery chuckle as a tiny Frankie peered up at her from a chair in the Room of Requirement. The miniature Slytherin rolled her eyes and shook her head, but a playful grin graced her face.
They were the pictures from her birthday. Merlin, that felt like ages ago.
Flipping to the next one, Bianca was met with the both of them. She remembered taking this one. She had surprised Frankie as the girl was walking back from the fireplace where she had been stoking the dwindling embers. She had swung her arms around the blonde and pulled her back into her body. Frankie had made some sarcastic remark but leaned against her. Bianca had tucked her head near Frankie's shoulder, stealing a kiss before she held out the camera and snapped a picture. The mini-Bianca was smiling at the camera before tilting her head to glance at Frankie. Little Frankie's eyes never peeked at the camera. They stayed on the brunette the whole time. Bianca chewed on her lips as she took in the adoring gaze directed at her.
Merlin, why was everything so messed up?
Bianca clutched onto the pictures and wand. This was how it was meant to be. Frankie and her happy and together. Not with these Death Eaters. Not with some ignorant pureblood elitists thinking that muggle-borns were inferior just because they were born to muggle parents. That made no sense. No sense at all. Look at Frankie! She was smart and really good at magic. She could make countless candles float above their heads and turn a bottle into vase.
She loved her.
Couldn't they catch a break?
She was scared. She'd never been more scared in her life. Not even when she was confronted with her own boggart in DADA was she this scared. But, she wasn't scared for herself. She was scared for Frankie.
Frankie, who her house despised just because of the house she was sorted into. Simone still wasn't talking to her, and more than one of her housemates walked by her without a word where there would normally be a polite greeting.
Bianca curled her knees up to her chest and rested her chin on the tops of them. Memories tickled her senses. The sound of the train whistle when she met Frankie for the very first time. Frankie hadn't known anything about the world she was entering. She muffled a chuckle as she recalled the way Frankie nearly bounced out of her seat when the chocolate frog jumped out of its box. They had been just two eleven year olds riding toward their futures. Closing her eyes for a second, she could still taste the hint of firewhiskey and butterbeer as she kissed Frankie behind the quill shop. They were two teenagers discovering something neither one ever imagined finding. She could feel the cold air sharply hit her face and the warm body pressed against her as they swooped through the clouds on Frankie's broom. Frankie shared with her something she truly loved to do. Voices and words entered the fray, mixing with the memories. Simone expounding on how horrible Frankie was. The Gryffindors and Slytherins snipping at each other in the hall. The insults Novak and his buddies hurled at Frankie in the dungeons.
All these people kept talking and talking about how horrible the other house was, how horrible the other person was. Because of them, Bianca was sitting there alone instead of folding herself up against Frankie.
Why?
Unable to stop her swirling mind, Bianca turned her attention back to the pictures in her hand. Looking at them brought the only sense of peace she could find in the silence. She stared at them until the sun rose and it was time to prepare for the day.
First thing she was going to do – find Frankie.
Frankie stood in the middle of the Potions classroom. Her hands were at her sides, still as a statue. Her eyes stayed firmly on the boy standing before her, but she used her peripherals to track the others behind him. Her face was blank, mouth in a straight thin line. Her eyes were glacial and gave nothing away.
"Where do you think you're going?" Novak sneered. He folded his arms over his puffed out chest.
Frankie stared at him.
Novak bristled at the silent stare, "Filthy mudblood."
Frankie didn't blink, "Move, Novak."
"Move?" Novak laughed and turned his head to look at all the students standing behind him, "Hear that? A nasty little mudblood is trying to tell me what to do." He looked back at Frankie, "You shouldn't even be at this school."
"Yet I am." Frankie noticed the others behind Novak shift on their feet.
"Not for long." Novak scoffed.
Frankie felt Gary step up beside her, but her eyes never left Novak, "Something you want to share, Novak?"
Novak's lips curled, "Soon enough I will."
"Not now? Too afraid to say it…or did they not let you in?"
The taunt was clear, and Novak heard it, "Shut your mouth." He looked at Gary, "Better put your pet on a leash and muzzle. She doesn't know how to talk to her superiors."
Gary blinked as Frankie replied, "Because I don't have any."
"Think you're smart, muggle-born?"
"Yes, I do." She took a step forward.
Novak slid up to her, blocking her from moving any further, "I told you to get out of here."
The mass of students behind Novak moved closer.
"Perhaps the one actually failing this course should leave. Take a lower course, maybe? There is an opening in first year." Frankie met his stare head on.
Murmurings floated amongst the watching students.
"Like a mudblood can do magic." Novak jeered. He pointed at the desk, Frankie's desk, that stood right behind him, "You don't sit here."
"What are you talking about, Novak?" Gary finally spoke up.
Novak smirked cruelly, "See, this is the Slytherin side of the classroom."
Frankie lazily raised an eyebrow, "How observant."
Novak's smirk hardened, "Only Slytherins sit over here. Not filthy muggle rejects. Don't want to dirty our house or blood with such…inferiority."
"And somehow the inferior wizard is standing before me." Frankie made to step around him.
Novak raised his hands and shoved, pushing Frankie back.
The tense air seemed to freeze.
Frankie stumbled back a step, but quickly regained her footing. Her jaw clenched tightly and her fingers ticked a fraction. "Touch me again and I'll break your hand." Frankie warned icily.
"Get out of here, filth." Novak answered. "Go sit over there." He pointed at the Gryffindor side, "That's where you want to go. They like having useless creatures."
"Novak," Gary stepped up.
Novak cut him off, "You want to join them too? Seems that way with the people you choose to associate with. Forget where you came from, Chancellor? What would your father think?"
Gary glared at him.
"A legion of followers to take on one muggle-born." Frankie's fingers curved slightly. "Shouldn't you have waited for a dark deserted dungeon corridor, or are you not smart enough to even properly plan that?"
The Slytherins siding with Novak began to mutter and sway threateningly.
"I'm protecting the pureness of my house. Something you would never understand."
"Or perhaps you're trying to show some sense of power and strength…something you can never attain on your own."
Novak stuck his chin out, "You better watch your back."
"The only time you'll have a chance of besting me."
Novak's face scorched red with fury.
Bianca anxiously entered the Potion's classroom, Babe, Dani, and Erin surrounding her. She'd waited all day for this. She could finally see Frankie. After her nightmare, all she had wanted to do since she woke up was find the other girl. She'd tried to catch her before breakfast and between classes, but Frankie was nowhere to be found. She'd more than once gotten caught in class silently contemplating where Frankie could be instead of listening to lecture. She hadn't been in their room, and there was no sign of her in the hallways. The only thing stopping Bianca from skipping class and hunting her down was the knowledge that they had Potions that day.
It still took a lot of energy to keep her feet from sprinting down to the dungeons.
Stepping across the threshold, Bianca was met with the backs of her fellow Gryffindors. It was a crowd. It looked like everyone in the class was standing there. The hair on the back of her neck stood up at the atmosphere. She couldn't see much, but the tension was palpable.
Something was wrong.
Her gaze immediately searched for Frankie.
"What's going on?" Erin asked one of the Gryffindors standing at the outer edge of the circle.
The boy turned to her, "Slytherin's trying to make Stone sit with us or something. They're not letting her go over to their side of the room." He added in a grouchy mumble, "Can't see a blasted thing."
Bianca's eyes widened as her satchel fell from her limp grasp with a thud. "They're what?"
Babe reached for her arm, but Bianca was already storming forward. Those snakes were doing what to Frankie? What was wrong with them? She pushed through the mass of people, her mind only focused on getting to Frankie.
As she shoved past the last line of Gryffindors, she encountered something she never thought she would see.
Frankie was standing there. Gary was at her side, silent. A few Slytherins hovered near the middle. She recognized Rich and one of the girls who sat with Frankie at dinner. Most of the Slytherin quidditch players shuffled near Frankie. They all were watching the scene play out, plotting the most optimum move to make.
But the rest stood on the other side. It was a sea of green and silver. She saw many of the students who went to the quidditch match. She even saw a couple of the quidditch team players. There were people who used to congratulate Frankie on her matches and sit with her at lunch or dinner. She saw the kid from the library when Frankie got kicked out. The one who had insulted her and deserved to get smacked. They all had stern looks on their faces.
And that boy Novak stood at the front of them.
"What's going on?" Bianca marched up to Frankie's side. She planted her feet right next to Frankie's, offering her a supportive look before glaring at Novak. She hated that boy.
All eyes turned to her.
Novak chuckled, "Look who it is. The Gryffindor has come to save her precious little mudblood. Come to finally take her to your side, have you?"
"Don't call her a mudblood, idiot." How dare he? No one talked to Frankie like that least of all that kid. She felt something brush her arm, and she peeked over to see Frankie subtly shoot her a warning glance. Bianca shook her head at the look. It was obvious Frankie wanted her to step back, but there was no way she was not supporting her. Instead, Bianca slanted her body so her shoulder angled in front of Frankie, offering protection from any possible attack.
"So sweet." His mouth formed into an evil smirk. "Standing up for the lower class. That's what got you in the infirmary, wasn't it?" Novak grimaced, "Blood traitor."
No one saw it coming.
Frankie had slipped around Bianca, and in a flash her wand pressed harshly into Novak's face. She stared at him coolly, not even so much as a twitch of movement revealing her thoughts or actions.
Novak swallowed and blinked rapidly at the wand. He tried to hide the quiver in his voice, "You hurt me it's the last thing you'll ever do, mudblood."
Bianca gaped at Frankie. Oh Merlin. The Slytherins behind Novak were all reaching for their wands. Bianca nudged her own wand in her pocket and grasped it. If she had to, she'd take the whole Slytherin side on. She sensed movement behind her, and noticed Gary's hand disappearing into his robes.
Bianca watched Frankie closely while still trying to keep an eye on the others. She could see the struggle underneath the veiled hazel. The second Novak mentioned the infirmary, there was a change. Only Bianca saw it, but it was there. Frankie was fighting to keep that mask on her emotions and her mind under control. Bianca's stomach clenched. Frankie had reacted for her. She was trying to protect her. Well, Bianca was definitely returning the favor because she was going to make sure nothing happened to her love.
The room held its breath.
Frankie tapped her wand against his head before withdrawing it, "It'll be the first thing I do."
Novak straightened his shoulders as Frankie carefully put away her wand. The heightened tension stilled the air for a minute; then wands flickered back into pockets and bodies relaxed slightly.
Novak took a breath and hollered for the whole room to hear, "See! The mudblood defends the blood traitor Gryffindor against a Slytherin and then acts like she's one of us?" His face morphed into pure disgust, "As if something like that could be one of us. Who knows what this vile thing has told those losers while pretending it could be trusted. A muggle-born doing it with a Gryffindor. The worse stain on the Slytherin house ever."
"She's more of a Slytherin and a wizard than you'll ever be." Bianca shot back. White hot anger coursed through her veins like molten lava. She was not going to let Frankie be treated like that. Her fingers itched to pull out her wand and turn him into a ferret.
The crowd buzzed anxiously.
Novak spun to face her, "What would a blood traitor like you know about real magic? Take your rat and keep it. We never wanted it. While you're at it, why don't you just become a muggle? You like them so much."
Bianca opened her mouth, but Frankie interrupted her, "Go after the Gryffindor when you can't take the Slytherin?"
"I can handle garbage like you easily." His attention left Bianca.
"Which you've so readily displayed." The tone was deceptively arrogant. Bianca could see the calculations taking place behind unyielding eyes and a cocky eyebrow. Calculations…like how Novak forgot Bianca was even there now. Everyone had turned their focus on Frankie. Oh, she'd learned to read Frankie's tricks. That didn't mean she was going to let Frankie take this on all by herself. No way. The quick glance Frankie threw at her told her she wasn't the only one reading stubborn minds.
Bianca only moved closer to Frankie. Frankie might not like it, but she could be more stubborn than her. The existence of their relationship proved that. So, if Frankie needed defending, Bianca was going to give it to her.
"WHAT…is going on here?"
Everyone turned to see Snape walk into the classroom, his robes swirling behind him. His inky black eyes roamed over the standoff. "Well?"
"Just trying to do a little house cleaning, Professor." Novak responded.
Snape's eyes snapped to him. Then, they slunk to Frankie, "I suggest you clean house in house." He frowned at the still standing students, "Sit down and turn to page eight hundred and seventy four."
It was mini chaos as the Gryffindors and Slytherins bounded to their desks. Novak sent Frankie one last sneer before going to his seat.
Bianca touched Frankie's elbow. She had never loved the toad that was Snape more than at that moment, but she needed to speak with Frankie. What was all that? Frankie shot her a quick glance before pulling away and going to her own seat. Gary sat beside her, not saying a word.
"Ms. Montgomery, sit down." Snape intoned.
Bianca was the only one left standing.
She watched Frankie for a few more seconds. It would only take a moment. She just needed to…there! Frankie looked at her. In the half second their eyes met, Bianca sent her the most loving supportive glance she could. She bundled up all she felt for Frankie and offered it in her brown orbs.
She also hid a quiet message that they needed to meet in between the devotion and adoration.
Frankie turned her head, but Bianca saw the barely there nod. Frankie got the message.
"Ms. Montgomery!"
Without a word, Bianca twirled around and went to her seat. Babe had picked up her forgotten satchel and placed it on the desk for her. As Bianca dropped into her chair, Erin and Dani turned around and Babe leaned into Bianca.
"What was that?" Dani asked as Snape magically wrote something on the blackboard, his back to them. "I can't believe you walked into that."
"I don't get it. Isn't she a pureblood?" Erin added.
"They don't let anyone else into Slytherin." Dani nodded.
"Is she ok?" Babe peeked around Bianca to see Frankie diligently setting up her inkwell and parchment. All Slytherin eyes seemed to be on the blonde. Some warily friendly, most not.
Bianca just shook her head and watched Frankie. Her chest hitched when slim fingers unthinkingly rubbed at the silver and gold tinged necklace hinting from beneath Frankie's shirt. She bit her lip as Frankie ran her thumb and forefinger over a small section of the jewelry. She didn't even know she was doing the same with her quill charm.