The first few weeks of school passed by without incident, excluding Alle's complaints and the twins' smirks. Avery was perfectly content to stick to her routine. That included waking up, bathing, dressing, eating, then learning. After class she would then proceed to the library to study a bit before Alle had to tutor George, when she would head back to her common room to finish her work. Cedric would then show up to escort her to dinner to round off the day. However, one particular day- a Thursday perhaps?- her routine would be shaken up.

She woke up regularly, just like any other day, except for the fact that she was up late. After glancing at the time, Avery hurried to the showers and quickly scrubbed herself before dressing in a rush. She grabbed her books and ran out, heading to the Great Hall to shovel some food into her stomach before class. She skidded to a halt between the Gryffindor and Hufflepuff houses, tying her hair up into her signature ponytail with a bright red ribbon, and snatched a piece of toast from Cedric's plate.

"I was eating that," he told her through a yawn.

"Yeah, I saw that. However, I only have a minute to eat this. You had ten more minutes."

"Not my fault you slept in," he grumbled under his breath, resulting in a light smack to the head. "Hey! We agreed no abuse so early in the morning!"

"That only counted for the summer. New year, new rules!" she called over her shoulder as she ran to her first class: Potions. Despite her love for the subject, the class was borderline unbearable.

The problem wasn't with Snape per se but actually with the students. Not that she had anything against Ravenclaws, but Avery really couldn't deal with a class half-full of them so early in the day. They would all fight to answer the question first, and Avery's partner, who was a particularly smart arse, was convinced the young Hufflepuff had no clue how to brew a potion, when in reality she could probably do a better job than him. If only Cedric weren't a third year, then she could at least have someone to exchange looks with to make the class tolerable.

Also, unlike Alle, she didn't exactly enjoy Snape's company. Sure, the man didn't hate her, and she didn't hate him, but they didn't like each other. To say they were indifferent would be downplaying their relationship. Snape understood the girl was decently gifted in the subject, but she just didn't try enough to excel, quite unlike her cousin. Therefore, he was forced to acknowledge her presence in a way that wasn't complimentary but also not derogatory.

Her partner, Harold, was especially snooty that morning. He wouldn't allow Avery to do anything without immediately checking to ensure everything was perfect. Finally the usually quiet girl snapped.

"Harold, I am doing it correctly! Stop breathing down my neck and do your own work!"

The class fell silent and stared at the small brunette. Her olive eyes flashed dangerously as she fought for control over her temper. Professor Snape cleared his throat and fixed Avery with a stern look.

"Miss Lemaire, having troubles are we?" he asked in his monotone drawl.

"No, sir. Just a misunderstanding." She fixed Harold with a glare as she replied. If they got detention, it would be his fault. He was too controlling, and that would result in repercussions.

The potions master just nodded and turned back to his desk. Avery nudged Harold's arm away from the cauldron and dropped a few minced wormroot into the boiling liquid. The Ravenclaw nodded in approval, and the Hufflepuff felt the need to kick something.

The end of class couldn't have arrived any faster for Avery. When it did, she fled from the room as quick as her legs could carry. Her cheeks tinted a light pink as a few Ravenclaw students from the room whispered. At least she didn't have the class with Slytherin. They were the worst to her. Especially that arse Dexter, who was a few years her senior but still enjoyed to taunt her relentlessly. He hated her and Alle. He was a pureblood of the Lestrange bloodline, while Alle was a muggle-born and Avery a half-blood. This, of course, made them perfect targets, along with the fact neither of them would risk detention to make him stop. The whole situation was known amongst quite a few of the students, as it was strange to hear of a Slytherin focusing on a house other than Gryffindor. The two houses were always at odds with one another, while the other two mostly stayed away from that rivalry. Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs were indifferent, meaning they really were of no interest to the Gryffindors and Slytherins. However, Dexter Lestrange almost exclusively taunted the two cousins.

Thankfully, as she had thought many times since her first year, he was not in her year, meaning he wasn't in any of her classes. She wouldn't be able to handle that. There were many a night she would cry herself to sleep because of that boy. Alle could deal with it easily enough, as she didn't care what he thought of her, but Avery had trouble shaking insults from anyone. His, however, hurt the worst. He knew exactly what to say to break her.

"Avery, I expect you to mince those roots better," Harold told her as he passed by. "They seemed a bit uneven today."

The rest of the day hardly got any better. Cedric tried in vain to get her to smile during lunch hour. The girl just seemed determined to frown the entire day.

"Come on, a little one for me?"

"No. This day is horrible, and I don't want to smile. I doubt that would make me feel any better," she grumbled into her goblet.

"Well what's so bad about today?"

"Harold is a perfectionist, Flitwick was incredibly vague, McGonagall assigned a five page essay, and I have Herbology with Gryffindor next," she replied angrily.

"You like Herbology."

"Not with them! It is so hard to concentrate with them! Ravenclaws are quiet so they can learn, and Slytherins are quiet because they don't care. Gryffindors are rowdy and loud for no apparent reason." She casted a glare over her shoulder at the chaotic table. "I am not looking forward to it."

"At least you don't have a class with the Weasley twins. I have my next class with them," Cedric offered helpfully.

"What class?"

"Potions."

Avery winced and gave him a pitying smile. The Gryffindors absolutely hated Professor Snape. They complicated every class and made learning difficult, especially those ginger devils.

"Good luck," she told him at the edge of the Great Hall.

He nodded and they set off in opposite directions, him to the dungeons and her to the greenhouses. Avery caught up with a group of girls from both houses, chatting and laughing with them easily. Although they were a pain to learn with, the Gryffindors were the easiest to get along with if you were a Hufflepuff.

"Avery," Professor Sprouts called when she entered the greenhouse.

"Yes?"

"I need to speak with you after class for a moment."

The girl nodded and scurried to her station, taking her spot across from Gryffindors. The class was silent, apart from the chattering of the second years- as the two houses were the most talkative- and Avery stopped worrying about her after class meeting. Sprouts lectured the class, allowing them to talk quietly amongst themselves. Avery attempted to listen diligently to the lecture about mandrakes. Although it wasn't her favorite, Herbology was one of her best classes. One tended to pick it up in the Hufflepuff house. Sprouts was their head, and various plants- some even able to aid those in need quickly- were strewn about the common room and dormitories. So while she wasn't paying as much attention as she really should, she could still do well in the class.

"And that is why mandrake juice can cure someone who has been petrified," the professor finished her lecture proudly.

Avery nodded, finishing her smeared notes before stuffing the parchment into the textbook. She slid off the stool and started following her friends out the door before Professor Sprouts called her back.

"Avery, I need to speak with you," she reminded the girl.

She nodded and approached her professor warily. Had she done something wrong? Was she about to get detention or something?

"Yes, Professor?"

"I'm afraid I have a little problem. Well, one of my older students has a problem." Avery's face contorted into an expression of confusion. How did this concern her? "See, I have assigned two essays already, ones that should take half an hour at most, yet he has not turned them in. This wouldn't worry me, except for the fact that his brother turned them in. If he can manage to turn them in on time, why can't his brother?" At seeing Sprouts' expectant look, Avery shrugged. "He just doesn't see the need of doing work," the older woman answered. "I need you to do him and myself a favor. I would like for you to tutor Mr. Fred Weasley, just until he is able to turn in his assignments without you breathing down his neck."

Avery stiffened, only her head moving back and forth. No. Nope. Not going to happen. She hadn't talked to the other twin in a while, but she assumed he was exactly like George. She couldn't tutor him. She wouldn't become his Alle.

"I'm sorry, but I can't do that. See, I have quite the busy schedule, what with Quidditch tryouts coming up- did you know I was trying out? Yes, it's quite exciting…"

"Avery," Sprouts interrupted her quickly, "I wouldn't be asking if it wasn't dire. You're the only student I know of who is capable of pulling this off."

At hearing those words, Avery felt herself being swayed. She could never say "no" to Professor Sprouts. The woman was too kind to disappoint in any way. So the poor second year found herself agreeing to the situation.

Sitting alone at a table in a corner of the library was a certain brunette Hufflepuff, cheeks tinted a dangerous shade of red and breaths huffing out her nose angrily. He was late. Fred Weasley had the gall to be late to their first tutoring session. Not just a few minutes either. He was almost a full hour late! This is ridiculous, she thought. Why am I even here? He's beyond hope. Why Professor thought I could convince Weasley to turn in his assignments escapes me.

"Ah, still here, eh, Lemaire?"

Avery whirled around and glared at the ginger fiercely. No, she would not let him off easily. He had wasted an hour of her life, an hour she would never get back. Fred stopped and stared at her for a few moments. For such a small girl, she seemed to hold a whole arsenal of anger and hatred towards him. Had he done something wrong?

"Something wrong?"

"Oh, nothing really," she spat sarcastically. "Just the fact that you're almost a whole hour late!"

"Ah, almost." He tapped her nose and slid into the chair across from her. "Not a full hour late then."

"What does that matter?" she asked incredulously. "You're still late! For our very first session! You have officially managed to not only waste my precious time, but absolutely piss me off!"

"Sh!" Madame Pince hissed from a row over.

Avery huffed once more before slamming the third-year Herbology textbook on the table. He blinked as she furiously flipped through the pages, muttering under her breath in what he assumed to be French. To be perfectly honest, she was scaring him a little. From what he had heard from others in Gryffindor, Avery was a sweet and quiet girl. The person in front of him was still quiet, but the fire in her olive eyes spoke volumes. She was definitely not the same girl he used to play with.

"Alright, I'm sorry," he sighed.

"Let's just get this over with. What do you have to do tonight?"

The two worked halfway civilly. Avery still hated him, and Fred still hated work. However they pushed those feelings aside- apart from an argument… or three- to finish "quickly." Finally Fred managed to get his essay done.

"How did it take three hours to write one essay?" Avery asked as they packed up.

"I'm out of practice!" he defended himself.

"Well start practicing, because I don't want to continue this until you manage to graduate miraculously."

He shot her a dirty look, but she was already walking away. Fred frowned and started trudging to his common room.

Avery sighed as she entered the library three weeks later. Six sessions. She had spent six afternoons with Fred Weasley. They had stopped arguing constantly, but it was clear they didn't like each other. Madame Pince would sometimes caught them glaring across the table for a few minutes. However that was all about to change.

On one particular day, Dexter Lestrange happened to come across his favorite Hufflepuff seated at a table reading some Muggle book about… psychology? He didn't know what it was, but it was probably useless. It was a Muggle concept, of course it was useless.

"Well if it isn't my little half-breed," he cooed as he slid into the chair beside her. "What's this? Basics of Psychology? Tut-tut. I thought we were making progress." Avery scooted to the edge of her seat to get away from him. "Why would you waste your time on Muggle shite?" She shrugged helplessly. "Your mother must be forcing you, yes? No? Disappointing to say the least, Little Avery. I had hopes you could escape from your puny life." He smirked at her controlled anger. "What is it like, being raised by a useless Muggle and a foolish blood-traitor? Have you realised you're not truly a witch?"

"Oi!" The two looked up at Fred, who was seething with hatred. "Don't speak to her that way!"

"What's it to you, Weasley?" Dexter asked boredly.

"I'm sick of you disrespecting everyone. No one deserves to be treated that way."

"So? It's fun! Half-Bloods might as well be mudbloods… or even worse. Their parents betraying their own kind to reproduce with a Muggle."

The fourth year Slytherin cried out as Fred's fist found its mark on his sneering face. Avery jerked back and stared in awe at the bruising area. She then grasped Fred's sleeve and fled the scene with him in tow. The ginger followed willingly enough.

"Go up to your common room," she ordered him suddenly.

"What? Why?"

"Just do it, Fred! I'll take care of Dexter. You don't need to add assault to your list of detentions." He stared down at her before nodding and running off.

Avery looked over her shoulder back at the library and sighed. This won't be fun.

Fred took satisfaction every time he saw Dexter's black eye. He had done that, and the Slytherin was too scared to rat him out The ginger had boasted to just about everyone in his house. It had been almost a month, Dexter's bruise finally beginning to disappear, and Avery had not been to any of their sessions. He had seen her in the halls, but after classes she seemed to just vanish. Finally he couldn't take it anymore.

"Wait here," he ordered George after he caught sight of Cedric Diggory. "Cedric!" He took off after the certain Hufflepuff boy in his Potions class. "Cedric, I need to ask you a question."

"She's been in detention," Cedric said immediately.

"What? Avery has been in detention? For a whole month? What'd she do?"

"Attack a fellow student."

Fred's jaw dropped in absolute shock. Avery Lemaire had attacked someone? There was no way that could ever happen.

"Who?"

"Dexter Lestrange," Cedric replied meaningfully.

Fred froze as he processed the information. When Avery told him to run, she was planning to take the fall for him. Why?

"She says thank you. Dexter hasn't bothered since. This is the longest he's gone." Cedric then paused. "Thank you."

When Snape finally released her from detention, Avery was extremely surprised to see Fred Weasley waiting for her. He smiled- that means no smirking- at her as she shut the door.

"Hey," he greeted.

"Hi."

"You took the fall for me."

"Ever so perceptive."

"Why'd you do it?"

Avery lifted a shoulder into a shrug. "You stood up for me and didn't back down. It was quite brave. Maybe I wanted to be brave for once and help you."

"Well, thanks anyway."

She nodded and continued to walk with him. Fred debated a bit in his head for a while.

"Look, I'm getting tired of hating you. Can we just call it quits and get along?"

Avery contemplated for a few moments. Finally she said, "Fine… but I still don't like your brother."

He grinned at her. He had the feeling this was the start of a beautiful friendship."