Disc.- If you've not been reading these disclaimer notes and are in fact, laboring under the illusion I own Harry Potter, allow me to shatter that and say that I do not own Harry Potter.
This Story…- A tiny bit of a time skip, since nothing too exciting happens. Just to the winter holidays for now though expect larger leaps a little bit later so we can get into the thick of things. I won't be having a whole lot of the family life written, not unless it directly affects things a bit more or I want to get something across since Pet is, naturally, so caught up in this new fantastic magical world. Also, some of Vi's temper is sparked and there's more time passed because honestly, they're eleven. However engaging their world might be, I imagine there are a lot of casual eleven year-old things they do in the meantime.
XXXXXXXXXX
"Pet," came the whisper. Pet rolled, mumbling. "Pet, wake up. We're going home today." And the blonde peeked open an eye. Her sister loomed over her with her pale green eyes. They were pale but the color was intense and more than once it'd been called creepy or strange. Pet thought it was pretty personally. But aside from that, Pet was normally the one awake before Vi, as the black-haired girl really wasn't a morning person. But she'd been antsy with the break coming up so she probably missed mum and dad. Pet could understand that too, since she missed them when she wasn't too distracted by work and their new friends and classes, whenever they popped into her head she'd ache a little. But homesickness was normal, everyone else here was like that too.
"What time is it?" Pet rasped.
"The others aren't awake yet," she tempted instead of answering, "We'll have the showers to ourselves for a little while. A nice long shower before we go back." And that was enough to get Pet up and going. They had to preserve heat at home in the winter, so their showers were usually short and to the point.
They didn't talk about it much but Pet knew their family was poor. Oh, their parents did the best by them but they didn't have much, even with both of them working at least two jobs most of the time. She sighed, shaking the thoughts away. It wasn't as bad as it could be at any rate.
xXx
Snape didn't want to go home but had apparently promised Lily so they could play together at the park at some point. This didn't much concern Pet, except that they had to sit with them. They'd have sat with Diane, Macy and Marlene but Lily had caught them with a bright smile and the three other Ravenclaws were quick to escape from Pet's scowl.
Traitors. Vi smiled at her in secret humor and she huffed, calming down a little bit but still. She hoped this wouldn't become a trend at any rate. The train ride home, or rather to the platform where parents would be waiting, was thankfully much simpler. Considering that Pet may have been woken much too early and dropped off not long after it began. Later she would wonder if Vi did that on purpose but for the moment she was just happy she didn't have to deal with Lily or Snape. At least until she was being shaken awake and she grunted, a small "Huh?" slurring out as she moved to automatically wipe the bit of drool from the corner of her mouth. It was a good sleep, the one she'd had.
"We're almost to the station, Pet." Vi answered her, one arm occupied with Cleo and the other reached towards her. Pet stared at her for a moment before her mental facilities booted up and she nodded, sitting straight and brushing down her robes. Across from them, evidently bored to sleep without Pet to talk to and considering Vi's recent turn back to near-silence, were that airhead and Snape, leaning against one another. She was sure mum would coo over the sight and her lips curled up in disgust for it. Vi followed her gaze and cocked her head to the side. "They've been like that for the last two hours."
"Of course they have," the blonde muttered under her breath, sitting up. "Shall we change before waking them?" she asked and Vi cocked her head, another small smile.
"And leave them scrambling when we get to the station?" her eyes sparked in amusement. Not quite vicious but still amused at their (admittedly minor) bullying. Not that it was really bullying, it wasn't like Pet or Vi were obliged to wake them and they could have just as easily set some sort of alarm or asked Vi to wake them. Vi would have, if asked. "Let's go then."
And they grabbed their smaller bags, filled with a muggle outfit for them to change into. They could have just worn them under their robe on the way home but the morning was hectic and Pet rather liked being in the nice and neat school uniform. That, and it had become habit to put it on. But she wouldn't admit that.
So into their normal muggle wear. Their jumpers were a little worn and too big for them, Vi's slipping off her shoulder to reveal the thin black turtleneck she wore under but she looked cute, Pet thought proudly. Thick leggings under their denim jeans kept their legs warm, even if they had spent a good chunk of time putting warming spells on them. She ruffled her sister's hair fondly. Her hair had always been quick to grow and was even now, at her chin already, even if it was a riot of curls. She typically wore a headband of Pet's, the current being a shiny plastic one in bright magenta. And to think it was sheared so short a scant few months ago. Vi smiled at the affectionate gesture in pleasure. She was much like her cat in that sense- enjoying cuddles and warm, lazy shows of affection. She was actually very cat-like, now that Pet had regular interaction with felines.
"They're still sleeping." Pet scoffed when they got back to their compartment.
"We still have a good hour. Do you think we should find the girls and tell them goodbye one more time?"
"Let's look for the trolley instead. They promised they'd write and we'd already had our hugs and goodbyes."
"I suppose." and just like that, they were out and away, hounding after sugary sweets and getting a veritable mountain of them. They had both decided to save at least three of everything for their parents to try. Besides, Vi had told her earlier that she would be able to owl-order more later. She was sure Magnus would enjoy the trips- he seemed to especially like the snow and cold weather.
Where she go the catalogs Pet had seen her with, she had no clue but she wasn't going to complain.
As soon as they were back in the compartment, they stuffed their candy-full travel bags, the ones that held their school uniforms and robes as well as the candy in their trunks. Pet slammed hers shut, keen eyes on the two opposite her and Vi. She felt a smug glee when they jumped and startled, Lily knocking her forehead on Snape's chin and making him bite his tongue hard. She snickered, turning away and making sure Magnus's empty cage was properly attached to her trunk. They had shrunk their nicer trunks, the ones Vi had taken, so as not to rouse suspicion and hid them in the secondhand ones they had gotten beforehand. Pet was a little disdainful of these beat up ones but no need to make their parents feel bad if they saw that Pet and Vi had nicer, more expensive trunks. They did their best by them, and loved them dearly. That's all Pet really needed from them.
Even if they did favor Lily.
xXx
She was squished in a tight hug, then switched over to her dad while their mum clamped strong arms around Vi. Lily and Snape were still in the process of getting their things together and in order when the other two Evans girls rushed from the train. Mrs. Snape was stood nearby, waiting anxiously and with her eyes occasionally darting to a few others and flinching. Pet eyed this calculatingly. A Pureblood marrying a muggle and living in squalor. She was certainly disowned from her line and no doubt, Pet thought critically, seen negatively for her choices. And it was no secret that her marriage wasn't a happy one. Vi had told her things about that family and just looking at Snape was enough to show it wasn't an ideal match between his parents. Of course, the bruises Pet deftly saw and the woman clearly tried to hide were also fairly damning. But, it wasn't as though the woman didn't give as good as she got. Screaming matches needed two after all, broken things not just from Snape's father but her as well. And she certainly wasn't mother of the year, spending half her time apparently fighting with Snape's father and snidely undermining him. In fact, Vi had told her before that Snape confided that his mother had put his father in the hospital before with how vicious she could physically be, without magic. His father put bruises on her but she sent him to the hospital.
Pet was at once pleased that this woman would retaliate but incredibly disdainful that she still remained with said man when very clearly, they were not good for one another. Vi had hushed her, asking her where the woman would go and what she would do, especially if she was, as they strongly suspected, disowned from her family. She had no muggle working skills that would let her get a job there and even if she was able to get a job in the magical world, it surely wouldn't be enough to find a place and raise Snape, even if he was at Hogwarts most of the year and on the Hogwarts tuition funds.
Pet wasn't sure, but had been adamant that she could have started, done something. She was a witch! Vi had shrugged but smiled and Pet knew that to a degree Vi agreed with her.
"My pretty girls!" dad sighed happily, grabbing them both and squeezing them until Vi let out a small squeak noise. He grinned, pleased with himself as he set them down. "How was it? Did you have fun?"
"Of course we did da'!" Pet huffed but couldn't resist the way the smile practically split her face in two. "And we got you candy! Magical candy." she added proudly.
"Magical candy?" their mum asked and Mrs. Snape made a noise.
"Ah…Things like chocolate frogs that jump around, licorice wands, ice mice, Bertie Bott beans, sugar quills…" she sighed nostalgically.
"Would you like some?" Vi asked politely. "We did bring quite a lot."
"Oh- well I…" she blinked, embarrassed but Vi was already pulling her bag free, opening it to reveal the large stash of candy. They had gone a little overboard but the trolley woman had chortled when they had said they needed to get their parents to try everything and had encouraged them. "That's quite a lot! But I'd hate to impose, and it is your candy."
"We've been eating candy all year, Mrs. Snape." Pet said with a charming smile and the woman gave a hesitant smile back. She looked like she didn't smile very often.
So it was to the hilarious scene of their parents eating and marveling over magical candy and Mrs. Snape hiding soft little laughs that their Gryffindor sister and her puppy arrived to, just as Pet was telling their fascinated father "And Vi has so many cards already, I think she's starting a collection. She keeps them neat and orderly and trades with some of our Housemates at any rate."
"Card collections I can get behind." he grinned, ruffling Vi's hair playfully. She butted up into it with another pleased smile.
"Mum! Dad!" Lily's voice made Pet grit her teeth a little, her smile becoming more forced as their parents eyes brightened and they took to Lily. Pet clenched her hands while they fawned over her and Vi was quick to step closer to her, offering her a sugared butterfly wing. Pet smiled a little more genuinely while Lily trapped their parents' attention away. Her eyes glanced around and she saw Mrs. Snape watching her and Vi closely and she quickly mustered up her usual smile, forcibly relaxing herself, turning to her sister a bit more to avoid the woman's piercing black stare.
Pet cursed herself for showing her weakness in such an open spot. But soon enough they were parting way for the moment, travelling to their cars.
xXx
They invited the Snapes over for dinner after the actual holiday. It was really a surprise that they did come, all three of them.
"My husband, Tobias." Mrs. Snape introduced with a strained smile. Their own parents smiled, trying to be as welcoming and friendly as possible. Pet could see more of Snape (the boy) from his father- his nose was hooked as well and his face the same structure if she really looked. Pet always had been good with facial recognition.
"Hello, Mr. Snape." their dad greeted cheerfully, holding out a hand for the stoic looking man to take. "Harry Evans! And my wife here, Marigold and our wonderful ladies. The oldest Petunia, middle Lily and the baby, Violet." he introduced his family proudly. The man's glances were dismissive at best, derisive at worst as he gave their dad's hand a solid shake. Pet silently questioned why they were invited over. Perhaps Snape and his mum if she were feeling particularly generous (she wasn't) but why did his dad have to come? "Come in, come in! No need to stay out in the cold."
And they were all cramming together to the small dining room. The table and chairs were, Pet remembered well, from their great-grandmum who'd died before they got to meet her. It was long and kept meticulously cleaned and polished and fit them and their guests comfortable enough.
"Hot pot and corned beef," their mum smiled as they took off heavy coats. Snape looked marginally more put together in his school sweater and trousers and his hair was pushed behind his ears. Young Snape, that was. His father wore plain dark clothes and so did his mother. "And of course, pudding for dessert."
xXx
Pet huffed the next day, taking care of their garden. To say dinner turned out to be incredibly awkward was a massive understatement. It had been very clear by the tense, hostile looks between Snape's parents that Mr. Snape did not like magic. Conversation was stilted because of it, since there was not much else that they could safely talk about in front of the children- or that their own mum and dad would talk about in front of children at any rate, who knew what Snape had to listen to when alone with them.
For a few moments, she felt something like pity for Snape. Then she remembered that he was Snape, Lily's follower and more recently, Vi's shadow at school during classes and those feelings were easily dashed.
"Should we name the Alraune?" her sister called in question and Pet glanced back at her. Their alraune had gotten much larger, and with all the charms and potions and who knows what else Vi had used, was thriving despite the frozen ground.
"What should we name it?" Pet called back, getting up to trot over and crouch before it. It wasn't that large yet but Vi said that she should be to their knees by the time the school year ended. They were slower than normal flowers growing- she'd said some can live as long as trees and some trees, Pet learned, can live for thousands of years. Honestly though Pet would feel a little bad about leaving it behind it that were the case with this one.
Vi had assured her and she had read that they weren't quite as cognizant as creatures or beings, but they were affectionate creatures that can get vaguely attached to their caretaker. In this case, it would probably be fonder of Vi of course but still. But, she thought with a wary eye on the thing clutching lovingly at her sister's fingers, she'd also read something else about Alraune. And Vi herself, if she thinks back on it, said something about it she was sure. Alraune, when large enough, could be vicious and even killers. Violent, ruthless like a child with an ant hill and a magnifying glass. Killing for either protection of territory, caretaker if fused with a more mobile magical plant, or more commonly sport. Vi had not told her what plant she had fused the Alraune with, eyes sparkling in the mischief of a juicy secret.
In the end, the two had managed to named it Fifi.
They spent the day there, practicing more spells and brewing more carefully and making sure any assigned work was done with the appropriate aplomb any Ravenclaw should have.
When they went home, they were greeted with warm smiles and biscuits.
xXx
The holiday felt like it dragged on pleasantly forever, but it seemed like barely any time passed when they woke on the day they were to go back. Pet sighed, sitting up and rubbing at her face tiredly. She turned her bleary eyes to her younger sister, asleep beside her. They had shared a bed since they had left their cots mum and dad were fond of telling them. Lily was a fussy sleeper, kicking and rolling in her sleep and had been given her own secondhand bed after knocking one of her sisters off the beds a few too many times. By comparison, Pet slept on her back and stayed in the serene position through her sleep and Violet tended to use the fetal position, coiled and curled in a small ball next to her. Cleo had managed, as she always did, to wriggle her way into the middle of the circle Vi made with her body, cocooning the cat in heat and flesh. Rolo was sprawled at Vi's back, pleased with the warmth she was emitting, dozing and giving disjointed purrs here and there. Part of her wondered if he did that for Snape then she made a face because she didn't like thinking about something that slept next to Snape sleeping next to her baby sister.
She slipped from the bed tiredly, almost stumbling in the dark dimness of the room to make her way to the loo for her usual morning rituals. Vi would be grumpily awake by the time she returned and would take her own turn. Then they would go downstairs where Vi would begin breakfast since she was up before mum or dad. She would wake up a bit more in the process so that by the time their parents came down she would be fully alert and functional. Well, even half asleep, Vi was deft and alert in a way. Like an animal would be, Pet thought, conscious of the world around but also half entrenched in sleep.
Twenty minutes later had both cats in the house meowing plaintively, begging for the food Vi was cooking. Pet sighed to herself, chin in hand. This was what she got for always giving them scraps- and she had edged Snape into doing the same when he had Rolo. They had a few hours before they would cram into the car to get to the station and Pet yawned once more. Regardless of how much of a morning person she was and how well she transitioned from asleep to awake, it was still pretty early, having set a small charm to wake her up earlier than normal given the schedule they'd have.
It was nice eating Vi's food again, even if there wasn't as much food as Hogwarts. If she had to say which was better, she would always say Vi's because there was something more to it, knowing and seeing her little sister prepare food for them. It always made Pet smile. The quiet lassitude of the morning was interrupted, though not unpleasantly, when first their dad slipped down the stairs with a hearty yawn as he made his way to the kitchen and smell of food.
xXx
"Love you," Vi said, ensconced in their parents' embrace and they held her all the tighter. Vi had always been quiet and words like that were precious. "We'll get you more candy." she promised. Lily was bouncing in place, one hand holding Snape's. His mum couldn't be there, so he had come with them instead and she hoped fervently that it wouldn't become a habit. Lily had been, of course, delighted.
With a few last hugs and misty eyes, they were being sent onto the familiar train and Pet felt a sort of soothing relief at going back, back into the magical world with all if it's fantastical mysteries and miracles. She grinned at Vi brightly. She could practically feel the antsy buzz of her littlest sister as she rushed to find a compartment to claim as their own, leaving Lily and Snape behind as quickly as was polite in front of their parents. She threw herself into the seat of the compartment they weaseled out with a sigh, opening Magnus's cage and slipping the window open as well. He hooted imperiously, nipping she liked to think fondly at her fingers before taking off, a huge dark presence as he shrieked, startling those lingering on the platform before making his way to Hogwarts and the owlery. Personally Pet had been disgusted by the dirty nasty barn-like owlery. They were magic! Surely there was a neater, better smelling option? Nevertheless, Magnus typically stayed in their dorm on a huge heavy brass perch when he wasn't hunting or securing the area fussily.
Their door slid open suddenly and a face peered in before it scrunched up a little. Pet narrowed her gaze.
"Oh, it's you." the boy scoffed before turning to his posse of friends. "Not this one, it has Evans's sisters in it."
Bristling, Pet made to stand but a movement by Violet beside her stayed her hand as Violet crossed her legs, scratching at Cleo's ears with a dismissive air.
"Lily's sisters?" he was pushed back as the boy wearing the spectacles looked in at them with all the fascination a child might have with a strange new bug. "Ravenclaws right?"
"Just like her little parasite." the first boy scoffed. Well, it's not like Pet thought any higher of Snape but she knew him much more than this sniveling prick and she narrowed her gaze, her wand slipping from the holster under the sleeve of her jumper but just hidden yet. "What are you wearing?" he asked suddenly and for a moment, she was confused at the sudden change in topic. "It's muggle clothes isn't it?"
"If you're just going to stand there, go away." Vi said with a surprisingly steely glint in her eyes and Pet cringed. It wasn't often those sorts of adult-like looks were directed at a person rather than something Pet couldn't see and from the corner of her eye, she saw the way Black seemed to flinch back as well at the look before he garnered a false sense of courage and balked at her sister's warning. He shoved himself into their compartment, throwing himself across from them and this time Pet stared at him, furious at the arrogance. His other friends followed after him curiously, cramming themselves in with them. But no way, absolutely no way was Pet going to let go of this compartment! She narrowed her eyes.
"Where are your trunks?"
"Our parents shrunk them." the one with the scar on his face answered quietly, looking at them both with curiously cautious eyes. Pet scowled at the reminder that they had grown up with magic before stifling it. She loved her parents and it wasn't like they had known they were magic before that day. Well, not for certain or anything. Besides, it wasn't as if she herself couldn't do magic whenever she wanted to at home, Vi had made sure of that. "Did you have a good holiday?" he asked with polite interest and Pet scowled, crossing her arms.
"Yes. We were have a reasonably good day as well, before your lot showed up. What do you want anyways, weren't you looking for something?"
"We were looking for a compartment," Black spoke up, "And we found one." the pleased and very clearly spiteful look on his face made Pet's eyes widen before narrowing her grip on her pretty and well maintained wand tightening.
"Why, you no good dirty toe-rag!" she barked. Toe-rag was something their mum very, very rarely called people but it was the sort of worst insult that didn't involve swearing in their household. But dammit, he deserved it! What a cocky, arrogant little tosser!
She fumed, thinking of all the nasty, terrible words she'd ever learned (mostly from Mrs. Wyvern; she could be crotchety with strangers or those people who came door to door trying to sell things when she was busy teaching them). On that note, she resolved to send the woman some of those sugared butterfly wings. A dainty woman like her would just love them. For now though she focused her attentions on haughty Black.
"Did you just…Did you just call me a toe-rag?" he boggled and she puffed herself up with a glare.
"Well it is what you are," she answered nastily. Potter laughed nervously, glancing between the two quickly before shooting pleading looks to the other two boys with them. For a moment, she wondered if they ditched Longbottom and she remembered the boy sitting in the corridor because they'd locked him out and it only fueled her ire.
"Pet," Vi murmured, setting a hand over the one Pet still had clutching her wand. She wouldn't be surprised if her dutiful wand was shooting angry sparks at this point.
"He's a berk," she hissed to her sister, entirely uncaring that he could hear her. No, vindictively pleased he could she decided after a moment of watching him glare at her for the insults.
"Well at least I'm not some bossy snot-nosed mudblo-" he began in a snarl but before he could finish that sentence his mouth was forcibly clamped shut. Pet became aware suddenly, of the way Vi was sitting and the wand in her own hand, practically crackling with energy. She didn't dare look at her sister, not when her face was apparently enough to have the boys cowering back.
"Don't. Ever. Say that word." her voice was different. She'd heard her speak like that once before, only once and at a distance at that. A wave of fear chilled her at the way it sounded like a promise, a threat and something that made Pet want to hide. Black had shoved himself as far back into the compartment's seating as possible, his wide eyes trained on Vi. It was tense and Pet felt like if she even breathed that focus, that intent would target her.
It wasn't often that Pet was afraid. But she had never been frightened of Violet before, no matter the strange things she knew, she said, despite the things she could do. There was a clamor outside and the door slid open, Lily's bright face peeping in with a grin. Just like that, it was like the spell (pardon) was broken and it was just them sitting there, all squished back in their own seats and silent. Vi's wand had been slipped back into her holster the moment she realized someone was going to open their door and her face was, when Pet dared a glance, neutral and calm and soft as it ever was. She wondered for a moment what that precious familiar face had turned into to frighten the boys in their compartment as badly. But maybe that was the heavy feel of something, something heavy and swirling, anticipatory and wild pressing down on them and crushing their lungs, it was-
"Tuney, Lettie!" Lily cheered before she seemed to notice the other Gryffindors. Her eyes narrowed but Pet couldn't help but feel like Lily looked especially immature right then, after they had been subjected to. "What are you all doing here?" she demanded, apparently not noticing what she walked in on. Snape, Pet recognized vaguely, seemed more suspicious of the scene, eyes darting around at them, flicking to Violet's calm, relaxed profile then to the tense set of the others.
"They were just leaving." Vi said softly, so softly. It was- Lupin, she thought the name was, the one with the werewolf rights family that tugged on one of the other boy's wrists and slowly, they left the compartment, heads down and looking drawn. Vi's eerily cool eyes watched them the entire time. Lily huffed, stomping in and flopping herself down, her trunk dragged in but for the moment, not going on the racks.
"He's such an annoying brat, Potter! I bet he came in here thinking he could take this compartment!" Lily ranted. Snape was had more self-preservation evidently and kept quiet, observing his fellow 'Claws.
"It was Black actually." Pet found herself saying coldly. Then, just like that, her anger was reignited and any fear or doubts she had about Vi flew away. "He was going to call me- he was actually going to call me a- a-" she sputtered and now she knew why Vi had stopped him so ruthlessly. Vi set a hand on top of Pet's clammy own and the blonde clutched it as an anchor for the flurry of emotion. Her eyes burned in fury and insult.
The trip was spent in seething silence and Vi's soothing disjointed hums.
xXx
"Pet."
"Yes Vi?"
"Let's explore." she whispered. Pet blinked, rubbing at her eyes before nodding and sitting up.
This began nightly explorations of the huge citadel, giggles and scurrying about and drinking pepper ups and other potions (they had to vary it or the consequences of extended use would eventually make them faint). It wasn't like they did it every night- busy school days consisted of studying, studying and practical theory in a classroom she, Vi, Diane Macy and Marlene had staked as their own. Since those were during free periods, they didn't have to worry about Snape finding it.
More interesting, as the year slowly began to head to a close, Vi had gotten House Elves (and what strange creatures they were!) to bring in some abandoned furniture from the castle into their room to make it more homely and comfortable. When questioned, Vi had shrugged and said that there wasn't any rules against it and this led to an explosion of curiosity and wondering what all they were indeed allowed to do in Hogwarts. She was mostly unbothered by Lily who was becoming too busy with her own friends and those horrid boys- especially that toe-rag- left them alone. Pet was content with it at least. Frog Choir was fun and they made more friends through it, even if Vi kind of shied away.
But speaking of Vi, she did something to nasty Charlotte Vaisey. Pet didn't know what, but it made the girl shut her fat mouth around them. If they weren't around, she reverted back, but not when she knew Vi was around.
xXx
Lounging with Vi and Cleo in their room and getting her somewhat short hair played with, Pet smiled.
"We could go to the Lake." Marlene suggested with a grin and Pet thought about it before shaking her head.
"Those Gryffindors are probably hogging it."
"Probably." Macy agreed with a huff. "Well what else can we do?"
"Practice again?"
"No, I want to do something easy. And lazy." Marlene whined, twisting around on the plush rug.
"You're an inspiration to us all, Dearborn." Diane laughed and Marlene grinned at the other girl. "Your sloth is truly amazing. How did you get into Ravenclaw?"
"The Hat slapped me here with you losers." she sighed and sniggered when she was lightly kicked in retribution by Macy.
"We could always do the Fiendishly Difficult Word Search." Diane told them, waving her copy of The Daily Prophet. Vi hadn't seemed to like the paper but it usually held some interesting things.
"I do love things that are fiendishly difficult."
Twenty minutes later had a huge dictionary out and the girls were around the table, muttering together to try and find the answers. Ravenclaw bonding at its finest.
xXx
Pet's foot was tapping and her eyes were narrowed but Snape didn't even seem to notice. Lately he'd been grabbing Vi as his partner in class when they had need of a partner and sitting next to her. It was really starting to grate.
Not that it hadn't before but still. It was only getting worse now. It was close to the end of the school year so why this was just happening now, she had no idea- Snape had made tentative friends with Wildsmith and Powell and at least familiar acquaintances with the MacDougals and Davies, since those boys were part of Pet and Vi's circle. Well, Pet wouldn't doubt it the boy did it to spite her she thought bitterly.
So now, at the end of Charms, she was waiting for Vi to come so they could leave together but Snape was waylaying her.
"Someone's in a foul mood." one of the Slytherin boys they shared this class with sniggered and she sent him a dark look, turning and stalking towards her sister and that annoying prat. As she got closer, she heard snippets of murmurs and they were slow to finish setting everything in their bags.
"Violet." she said as she stopped behind them and both looked back at her. Pet was struck with a sudden feeling of being an intruder but she stubbornly shook it off. "It's free period."
"Right. See you later." she nodded, turning to Snape and then slinging her bag on her shoulder. "Will we go to our usual?"
"Do you even need to ask?"
Once they were out of the throng of students, Pet turned to her sister.
"You've been spending a lot of time with Snape, Vi." she wished she didn't sound accusing to her own ears. Vi looked at her curiously. "In classes. He's always sitting beside you and you two talk all the time."
"It's only in classes Vi. And because if we partner, I can give him a better grade than Powell or Wildsmith." she answered amusedly, quirking a smile in her direction. The explanation didn't settle her, not really but she smiled. "Besides, even if he takes me for class, you know he'll never give up Lily in free time."
"I guess so." Pet sighed. "But I swear, if he's just substituting you for her…"
"He partners with her when we have class with Gryffindor, certainly not with me. Don't worry Pet." she continued to soothe and Pet nodded. Well, it wasn't like Vi couldn't take care of herself anyways. She sniffed dismissively. She didn't know what she was getting so worked up for anyways, it was just Snape. Useless, Lily's follower Snape. Still, she held hands with her sister towards the usual room and pointedly sat between her sister and Snape at mealtimes.
xXx
"We're already going home." Macy sighed. "I'm going to miss this bed. And that desk there. And this carpet and…"
"Oh quiet down Twiddle, it'll only be about three months and then we'll be back." Marlene rolled her eyes at the dramatics of the girl and Diane and Pet sniggered that it was Marlene chastising anyone for being dramatic. "And we'll actually have separate dorms from certain people…" she muttered under her breath. The girls shared a look at that. It was true, next year there would be two rooms, six girls to each instead of the one large room that they all shared.
"All the better for it." Pet sighed. "And I'm sure we'll be together."
"What if it goes alphabetically?"
"What? You've read the plaques from the other rooms, you should know by now it isn't!"
"But what if they change it this coming year?" Macy frowned, twirling a brown lock. Pet stared at her incredulously, hearing Vi and Diane's muffled giggles behind her.
"Why on earth would they do that?"
"To make us suffer, clearly." Veronica Brocklehurst threw in cheekily, giggling at the dark look Macy sent her.
"But they would!" she moaned. "They really would!"
"Stop being so self-important Twiddle!" Irene Rackharrow shouted from across the room, "You're giving me a headache!"
"Well I hope I don't have to room with her…" the Halfblood muttered.
"If you weren't such a crier about it she'd be fine." Marlene waved off flippantly. "Right, Rackharrow!?"
"Shut! It!" a pillow was sent whizzing and hit Marlene full in the face. Laughter spilled in the room and Marlene grinned cheerfully. She was something like Irene's second cousin or whatever and her antics to annoy the other girl often spelled a good show for anyone watching. Rackharrow wasn't bad though, Pet reflected. She played along, even if it was a tad grumpily. She never actually seemed angry though.
But Macy was right about missing Hogwarts in the meantime. She turned to Vi, playing with Cleo with one of her quills. But, she and Vi could busy themselves in the meantime for sure. So she got dressed properly, this time wearing one of her lighter dresses and just putting on a robe over it. Vi had on a pale yellow dress under hers, she knew and she was back in dance flats. There wasn't, as it turned out, a dance class in Hogwarts. It didn't stop Vi and Pet from practicing at least once a week stubbornly.
Mrs. Wyvern was pleased with that at least. She hadn't seen the woman, well they hadn't seen the woman since the previous summer so hopefully they would be seeing her soon.
"Think of it, when we come back next year, it will be on the carriages and we get to watch the nervous first years get sorted!"
And of course, there was always that to look forward to. Good lord, she realized, they were already at the end of their first year! Really, now it just felt like it had sped along without them. Pet breathed in, then out before grinning at Vi. She gave a crooked grin back and Pet was ready for the holiday- to spend their days practicing their magic freely, learning new things from their books and brewing. Pet had gotten better with it, even if it certainly wasn't her first choice.
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I…Feel like this dragged on a little? I just really want to jump into a higher year I think so this might seem a little disjointed because of it. Still, I hope it's enjoyable!