TheBoondocksRox: Yes, there are other muggle-borns at Hogwarts. However, Frankie is the only muggle-born in Slytherin. All the other Slytherins are purebloods. Hence why Bianca's friends assumed Frankie was a pureblood. There are no phones in the magical world. They have their own special ways of communication, such as the mail by owls thing. Gary's reasoning...hmm...you might be right...you might be wrong. Keep reading and you might find out. :)
Bianca felt like her head was about to explode.
"What is the main ingredient in a draught of peace potion?" she rubbed at her aching temples. Curled up against a cold stone wall outside the Great Hall, her Potions textbook was balanced on her bent knees. Paragraph after paragraph explaining how to make polyjuice potions and swelling solutions stared back at her, their tiny beady little black inkiness mocking her with their knowledge. Had they even learned these potions? She couldn't remember, and she didn't care. She had to know everything. The Potions OWL was in a few minutes and she couldn't remember anything. Her mind was a mass of emptiness.
"Weren't there two?" Erin asked from her spot next to Bianca.
Dani nodded as she paced back and forth in front of her friends, "Powdered moonstone and syrup of hellebore."
Babe leaned her head back against the stone, "My head hurts."
"All of our heads hurt. We've been taking these stupid exams all week." Erin shot her a look.
Bianca ignored them, quickly rereading the steps for making a forgetfulness potion. OWLs had finally descended upon the poor Hogwarts fifth years, and it was pure agony. All the studying and hours spent slaving over boring textbooks couldn't prepare them for the brutality of rapid-fire exams on every subject they took that year. Every class from Charms to Transfiguration to Defense Against the Dark Arts had a long written test, while some had that plus a practical. Bianca tried not to remember how Babe had mixed up the color changing charm with the shrinking charm during the Charms practical. The poor rat had shrunk to the size of a pea.
Merlin, she hoped she didn't do anything like that on the Potions OWL.
She had to do well on this. Potions was important in many different career fields. While Snape might not be proctoring his course's OWL, he decided what grades he would accept for future students after the fifth year. You had to get the highest passing grade – Outstanding – to be considered for his Potions class for sixth and seventh year.
That meant not getting much if anything wrong.
Merlin.
Her hand bolted into her satchel at her feet and quickly pulled out her notes. She rifled through the pieces of parchment, attempting to memorize her hand drawn diagram of a Chinese Chomping Cabbage and her scant bullet points on the lecture about befuddlement potions. How come she couldn't remember that lecture? Why did she have so little in notes?
She'd probably been too busy staring at Frankie with her dumb hypnotizing eyes and stupidly charming smirk.
With a groan, she threw the parchments to the floor and returned to her book. Her headache was growing by the second, and she felt like she was going cross eyed.
"Um, Bianca?" Babe raised her hand like she was in class.
"Hmmm?" what were scarab beetles used in?
"Are you ok?" Babe asked. "You don't look too good."
"She's right." Erin nodded. "You're really stressing over this exam. You did fine in all the other ones."
"I didn't almost fail those classes, either." why were they talking to her? She had to study!
"But you didn't fail." Babe pointed out.
Yeah, because her girlfriend was super smart and helped her with the assignments. Frankie, who didn't even care about OWLs, was probably out there acing her exams while Bianca was on the verge of a nervous breakdown.
"Relax, Bianca. You'll do fine." Dani stood before her.
Bianca shook her head, "I need to do well. Who knows what sort of crazy stuff they'll ask."
The three friends shared a look.
Babe put a hand on Bianca's shoulder, "Maybe we should take a walk. We've had to sit down way too much today."
"Yeah, let's stretch our legs." Erin grasped her other shoulder.
Against Bianca's protests, they helped her to her feet. The brunette clutched her textbook to her chest, defiantly needing to continue rereading the same chapters over and over again. "You guys go ahead. I need to get through this."
"Come with us." Babe pleaded. "I don't want to go by myself."
"You'll have Erin and Dani." she flipped the page.
"Bianca, you need to relax about this." Dani tried again.
"Relax?" Bianca glared at her, "I need to pass. I can't fail this OWL! Everyone knows I'm really bad at this class, and they're probably all in there talking about how the Montgomery girl is going to completely blank on all the questions. I can't tell Jack and my mom I failed the exam because I forgot everything." By now her breathing had picked up and she was growing a tad lightheaded. "This is Potions!"
The three friends stared at Bianca like she was a three headed troll.
Frustrated, Bianca snapped her book shut and threw it to the ground. She crossed her arms and gnashed her teeth, "I can't fail this OWL. I can't." She uncrossed her arms and flung them in the air, "I hate this class!"
"Joining the drama club?"
Bianca whirled around to see Frankie standing a few feet away from her. What was she doing there? She grit her teeth at the soft eyes and cute grin. "This is all your fault!" She pointed a finger at Frankie, "If you hadn't kept staring at me in class, I'd have taken better notes."
Frankie blinked.
Bianca knew she probably sounded absurd, but at that moment she really did not care, "Your annoyingly adorable crooked tie and that tiny smile you get when you look at me...why did you have to drop your wand?" She marched at the amused blonde. "If you'd just kept those hazel eyes of yours off me and on your book maybe I'd have paid attention in class." This was all Frankie's fault! So what if she had been the one to start many of their make-out sessions over the past few days. If Frankie hadn't agreed to visit her and been even more prone to seek her out during the day just to say hi and hold her hand, she'd have concentrated more.
Frankie's eyebrow ticked up.
Bianca poked her finger into Frankie's chest, "If you'd helped me study more instead of kissing me, I wouldn't be about to fail this exam!"
Frankie fought down her growing grin.
Bianca tapped her shoulder, "What was wrong with you? You know how bad I am at this class. Why did I study with you?" She gulped in air, "Now, I'm going to get every single question wrong, and I'll have to explain to my family why their daughter is so horrible at Potions, and that she can't do anything right, and..."
Her words abruptly cut off as Frankie grabbed her face and smashed their mouths together.
Bianca's mind went totally blank, any and all thoughts disappearing in an instant. Her eyes slammed shut, and she gave a tiny moan as pleasure sparked through her body. Her hands settled on Frankie's hips, pulling her closer. Tender thumbs traced soothingly over her cheeks, and warm lips moved slowly against her own, eliciting flashes of love with each smooth caress.
The tenseness that arched her shoulders and back dissipated, flowing out of her like a river. Her body was like puddy in the Slytherin's hands. She leaned into the smaller girl, the lengths of their bodies pressed together. Her fingers dug into the rough fabric of Frankie's black trousers, her thumbs hooking in the belt loops.
After what could have been days for all Bianca knew, Frankie broke away carefully. She brushed her nose against Bianca's, causing a small giggle to slip out of the Gryffindor.
"I love you." Frankie murmured so quietly Bianca barely caught it.
"Love you, too." Bianca brushed her lips against Frankie's again.
"You'll be fine." Frankie assured her. "We studied enough even your troll side knows this stuff."
They'd been talking about something?
Bianca opened her eyes. She glanced down as one of Frankie's hands slid from her face to wrap around her wrist. The same wrist the silver charm bracelet resided. She watched Frankie's fingers run over the piece of jewelry.
"Ok?" Frankie asked.
Bianca nodded, "Ok." She bent her wrist and touched her fingertips to the back of Frankie's hand.
"MISS STONE!"
Bianca's head turned to see Professor McGonagall storming toward them. The old witch's face was pinched in anger at the students' display.
Frankie didn't react at all.
"WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING!" McGonagall added, her black robes swishing fiercely behind her.
Frankie rubbed her thumb against the corner of Bianca's mouth, "Meet after?"
Bianca glanced back at her and nodded, "Yeah."
Frankie gave her one last quick kiss before stepping back. The second her feet stilled, McGonagall was on top of them, "Miss Stone, Miss Montgomery, these displays of affection are not allowed in the halls. This is a school."
Frankie casually looked at her, "Of course, Professor."
"This is highly inappropriate." continued the strict teacher.
"Professor," Bianca spoke up in her girlfriend's defense, "Frankie was just..."
"Sharing tips on breath freshening potions." Frankie smoothly cut in. "Minty."
McGonagall looked caught between being amused at the story or wanting to deduct the entirety of Slytherin's points.
Frankie winked subtly at Bianca, "Mint is better than cinnamon, is it not?"
Bianca pursed her lips to hold back the chuckle, "A lot better."
Frankie turned back to McGonagall, "Just preparing for the OWL."
"Very clever, Ms. Stone." McGonagall waved a hand, "My office. Ms. Montgomery, hundred points from Gryffindor and you have an OWL to take."
Frankie smirked. She brought Bianca's hand to her mouth and pressed a kiss to the back of it. Then, she dropped the appendage and began to walk down the hall, McGonagall at her side.
"Hand freshening potion?" McGonagall asked slyly.
"Love potion, actually."
Bianca watched them walk away, Frankie's unfazed confident gait standing out amongst the many students clustered in the hall. The many students who had just watched the Slytherin quidditch seeker plant a very big kiss on a Gryffindor. The area was already buzzing with gossip. The whole castle would know what happened in two minutes.
Erin and Dani stared open mouthed at their friend while Babe jumped happily in place clapping her hands, "You two are so cute together."
"Oh my gosh." Erin's eyes were as wide as the platters the Christmas cakes were served on.
Dani exhaled loudly, "Wow."
Various students ambled by the girls as they went toward the entrance for the room the Potions OWL was being proctored in. Many stared at Bianca curiously, whispering furiously between themselves as they watched her. Some tried to get near her to hear what she had to say. A few sent her disgusted glares while they stomped past.
Bianca didn't hear or see any of it. She brought a finger to her tingling lips, the quill charm bouncing against her chin. Merlin, she loved that girl.
Facing her friends, she squared her shoulders, "Let's go."
She walked toward the Great Hall where the test was being given. Her friends scurried after her, still shell-shocked at what they'd seen. Sure, the couple held hands, but they never saw them kiss before!
Suffice to say, Bianca confidently aced the Potions OWL.
Bianca walked through the darkened corridor, her eyes peeled for any sign of her wayward girlfriend. After finishing her OWL for the day, she'd bid her friends a fond farewell and took off to find Frankie. The last time she saw her the blonde was being taken to McGonagall's office for kissing her in the middle of the hall in front of all the fifth year Gryffindors and a bunch of other houses' students.
Bianca grinned to herself. She replayed the kiss over and over in her mind. After Frankie pressed their lips together and whispered "I love you," Bianca felt ok. She felt like she could conquer anything thrown at her. That Potions OWL was nothing.
She hoped Frankie didn't get detention, though. She rolled her eyes as she recalled what Frankie had said to the professor. Leave it to Frankie to be charming. She didn't even try to defend or protect herself. And love potion? Awww. So cute! Bianca felt like someone had put her heart on Frankie's old broomstick and let it soar high up to the clouds.
It was a good thing OWLs signaled the end of the year, because she couldn't wait to get her girl home and cuddle with her day and night. Home – Frankie was going to be visiting her over the summer. It was going to be great. Still, she couldn't believe Frankie had done that outside the Great Hall. Yes, they were open about their relationship, but they'd never kissed in front of other people. She felt a squeal of delight bubble up. Frankie kissed her!
Watching the shadows dance across the medieval walls as the burning torches lit the night blackened corridor, Bianca had a tiny skip in her step. If only she could find Frankie. She'd searched all over for the girl. Where could she be? They were supposed to meet up after the exam. Bianca wanted to take her in her arms and hug the adorableness out of her.
A voice.
Bianca slowed down. Narrowing her gaze in curiosity, she moved closer to the wall. A few yards ahead another hallway converged into the one she was in. It sounded like someone was just at the edge of the juncture, maybe a little ways down the other hallway. She perked her ears and carefully moved forward. She knew more defensive spells than any one single person should after having to take the Defense Against the Dark Arts test the day before, but it was still better to be a bit cautious. There were a few people out there who wouldn't hesitate in hexing her when there were no witnesses around. Like that dummy Novak. She almost wished she'd run into him. Slugs were nothing compared to what she wanted to do to that bully.
The voice grew louder.
Was that Gary Chancellor?
Holding her breath, Bianca reached the corner. She cautiously peeked around the curve. In the flickering light she spotted two people. She'd been right. One was Gary Chancellor. After seeing him so much with Frankie, she'd learned to recognize him in an instant. He was standing in the middle of the corridor, his arms crossed tensely. The person he was talking to was blocked by his rather tall form. Bianca bit her lip. Who was he talking to? She couldn't see his face, but by his stance he did not look extremely happy.
"You cannot keep doing this." the boy intoned.
Doing? Bianca pressed her body against the wall, listening intently. Who was doing what?
"I am doing my best to help you. As your friend, I am telling you to end this." he took a step to the side.
Bianca slapped a hand over her mouth to muffle the gasp. He was talking to Frankie! The Slytherin girl was standing there, her face stoic and her arms hanging at her sides.
"It's not smart. Walking around battling Novak and his friends, blustering with that Gryffindor, it looks very bad." Gary shook his head. "You need to play this right."
Bianca frowned. Blustering around with her? Was he talking about their kiss earlier?
Gary took a half-step closer to Frankie, "I know you want captain. You can get that. You cannot get that with what you're doing. If you want the future you planned, you have to stop this." He sighed, "Stone, we both know you're making yourself a target. If you want a chance, you need to keep your head down. Play the game. You know how this works. The rules haven't changed. The Slytherins are not going to accept someone like you as you've been lately."
Bianca snatched her tongue with her teeth before she blurted out something. What was he talking about? What did this have to do with Frankie making captain? She knew Frankie wanted that more than anything. It was Frankie's dream.
Frankie remained silent as Gary unfolded his arms, "You need to prove who your allegiance lies with. More than you know are questioning your loyalty to Slytherin."
"My loyalty has never changed." Frankie ground out.
Gary ran a hand through his thick hair, "A mudblood dating a Gryffindor? We both know what that looks like."
Frankie didn't say a word. Bianca could see her shoulders scrunch up. Frankie was rigid.
"Most of the team is behind you right now, except for those two reserves. That can change." Gary rested his palm on the back of his head, "If you want captain, it has to be like it was. You have to be like you were. That includes not being with the Gryffindor."
Bianca bit her tongue so hard she tasted blood. Gary wanted Frankie to break up with her.
"You have to prove your loyalty to Slytherin. You have to make people forget where you came from. They will never look past that if you are with that house." Gary let his hand fall to the back of his neck. "Quidditch captain candidacy is very delicate right now. What you want after...you need the house to get it." His hand fell to his side, "It's your future, Frankie. I know you're smart enough to realize what is at stake here. You cannot have it both ways."
Bianca couldn't believe what she was hearing. Frankie's future? They never talked about that at all besides Frankie telling her what she wanted to be – pro quidditch player then head of the department of magical games and sports within the ministry.
Also, the time Frankie told her she would never let anything get in the way of her making captain of the Slytherin team.
But, Frankie had changed her mind. She'd said so. Bianca wasn't an obstacle for her. Candy and charms. Well, Gary was making it sound like she was an obstacle. Oh, Merlin.
The area grew quiet as Frankie mulled over her response. Bianca held her breath. What was Frankie thinking? She couldn't see her eyes. Merlin, was it really this bad? She knew Frankie was bullied, but this was so much more than that. Could Frankie lose captain because of her? She never said anything. Bianca mentally berated herself. She should have asked. Why didn't she ask? Why didn't she think about this? Was this the reason why Frankie had been so hesitant to visit her over the summer? Because of how it would look to her house? But, Frankie had agreed. Besides, how could Frankie not make captain? She was the best player that team had. She thought about that silly game nonstop. She deserved that position. And her future? Just because she came from muggles and was dating someone from Gryffindor didn't mean she wouldn't be an excellent quidditch pro. Anyone would be stupid to not see how good Frankie was at the sport.
Frankie's voice was deceptively calm, "You're right."
Bianca leaned heavily into the wall. What?
Frankie stared blankly at Gary, "I do know."
Gary's shoulders sank as he released a relieved sigh, "It's for the best. The person you were before all this is the one who will be accepted - with time. There's a lot you'll need to do, especially with the rise of the Death Eaters and how you've been lately."
Frankie didn't blink, and the inflection in her voice was eerily firm, "I understand the position I'm in. I've known what to do to get back to where I was. Never doubt that."
Bianca bent further around the corner. What was Frankie saying?
Frankie paused a moment before continuing, "I won't give up Bianca."
Hearing that, Bianca felt her legs give out. She slid down to the floor. Oh Merlin, did Frankie really say that?
Gary blinked rapidly, "Frankie, the smart way..."
The blonde interrupted him, "I know what it would be. I know each and every move to be made to get captain and have those fools eating out of the palm of my hand. I would usually agree with you. Except this time."
Gary shook his head, "You are being an idiot."
"I understand the pressure on you to turn on me." Frankie spoke calmly. "I appreciate the warning you've given me."
"But you choose to ignore it?"
"Not ignore." Frankie corrected, "I listened and made a decision."
Gary waved a finger, "You can't do what you want without Slytherin."
Frankie's jaw twitched and her voice hardened, "I am better than every single student in our house. I can do more than all of them combined. Being muggle-born does not impede me."
The chip on her shoulder had flared up.
"It does when you need pureblood Slytherin contacts to get into the league and ministry."
Frankie took a breath, fighting down her instinct to lash out when her blood was brought up like that. "My loyalty has been and will always be to the House of Salazar. I will not give up Bianca, and I will not hide how I feel about her."
"You are willing to throw your future away for a Gryffindor?"
Bianca couldn't describe how she felt when Frankie answered. It was a good thing she was already on the ground, otherwise her knees would have buckled out from under her.
"She is my future."
Gary was shocked speechless. He paced around for a few minutes before finally facing Frankie, "This is the first time I've ever had to tell you this. I never thought I would have to. Think of yourself. You must use Slytherin to advance beyond mediocrity. That is how you can achieve your goals. Everything you have worked so hard for is in danger. You are being incredibly foolish right now."
Frankie's mouth flickered with her first sign of true emotion, "A fool in love."
Gary palmed his face and took a few deep breaths, "They'll be even harsher on you the longer this continues. Novak will not back down. With the rumors that will certainly rise, I am not sure how much my family will be willing to assist you after graduation. I don't know who will."
"I know."
Gary nodded in resignation, "Ok. Team meeting tomorrow. Captain announced last day of school." He shot her a look, "At least refrain from more public displays like earlier. Novak nearly had a conniption when he found out."
"Yet that reasoning does not give much deterrent." Frankie smirked.
Gary chuckled, "Rich wants a game of chess later. You in?"
Frankie shrugged, "Perhaps. Might be busy."
"Right. Just be careful." Gary offered her a friendly nod and took off in the opposite direction from Bianca.
Bianca slowly lifted herself to her feet, her eyes firmly on Frankie. The other girl didn't move. She stood there, her gaze on the floor beneath her feet. Bianca didn't know what to think or how to feel. She was elated beyond words that Frankie wanted to be with her. Frankie loved her. She knew Frankie loved her, but to hear what she said, it was astounding. But, there was the fact Frankie was risking captain. The one thing she had always spoken of, that she'd always wanted. Bianca remembered when Frankie met her in the trophy room for the first time. She'd shown the brunette the quidditch cup and talked about what she wanted to accomplish. Now, because of stupid pureblood elitists in Slytherin, she might not get it.
The first muggle-born Slytherin quidditch captain in Hogwarts history.
She didn't even know she was shuffling forward until Frankie glanced up at her. Bianca halted, her chest hitching at those hazels. She watched spellbound as her girl came out from within the bottomless swirling cornucopia of thought to focus on her. The eyes so full of deep-seated musing softened and sparkled as they recognized Bianca.
"Hey." Bianca greeted quietly.
"Spying?"
Bianca slid up to her, "Looking for you."
"You heard." it was said with certainty.
Bianca cupped her hand around Frankie's cheek, "I love you."
"Must have passed Potions." Frankie flashed a small crooked smile.
Bianca wrapped her in a hug, "You'll make captain. You're the best player in the whole school."
Frankie wordlessly returned the embrace.
Bianca brushed a kiss to her temple, "Is it true about me?"
"I love you." Frankie nuzzled the side of her neck, "You're what I want."
"I never knew it was this bad. I don't want you to have to give up things." she loved Frankie, and she wanted her to be happy. She was willing to go through a lot to be with Frankie, but Gary made it sound like Frankie was giving up everything to be with Bianca. No matter how much she wanted to be with her, Bianca couldn't ask her to do that. Was she asking for too much? She'd never thought about all this.
"You're what I want." Frankie reiterated. The tone left no room for doubt in the truthfulness of her words. She pulled back and rested her forehead against Bianca's, "I want us. Can you get that through your thick troll skull?"
Bianca chuckled gently, "Very clever, Ms. Stone."
Frankie smirked arrogantly, "Aren't I always?"
The laughter turned into a concerned grin, "Are you sure you're ok?"
"Coming from the girl who was seconds away from needing a calming draught potion?"
Bianca hooked a loose strand of hair behind Frankie's ear, "Thank you for helping me."
Frankie's mouth flickered, "No big deal."
It was a big deal. All of this was. "I love you."
"Love you, too." Frankie's words were as soft as a butterfly's wing.
Bianca teased the shell of Frankie's ear, "You were so cute earlier. Did McGonagall give you detention?"
Frankie rolled her eyes and shook her head.
"How could she? So adorable with the whole love potion comment. Yes, I heard that...cutie!" Bianca kissed her.
Frankie smiled into the kiss, "Whatever."
Bianca's hand found its way into Frankie's, "Go for a walk with me?"
"Behind a statue, perhaps." Frankie pulled her into another kiss.
Bianca liked that idea.