Wanting Something More

Chapter Twelve: Wanting Foundation

"You would never know she is the same person from last night if we we didn't see her in here last night." Ginny remarked as the girls all watched a fully relaxed Brittany snored softly on the floor.

"I don't think she has ever felt so at peace in all her life. I've always known how much Malfoy upsets her, or rather, how much she wants everyone to know that fact. I just never stopped to think it could be a deeper hidden fear that drives her." Scarlett replied in a hushed tone.

"To honestly think that Malfoy could openly act in such a way to her. She must have been taking the brunt of his torture." Hermione replied. "I always thought I was his favorite female punishing bag, but I was way off base."

Serena sighed softly and shook her head. "She's never been one to bother others if she can worm her way out. She's managed to survive off of her own wit and cunning so far. Sadly Malfoy out played her and she'd desperate to find some sort of foundation to stand on."

"I really am glad she came to us for help. The twins have always had a soft spot for them. I didn't understand until now why they constantly needed to push new product. The Puking Pastels, the idea originally came from Brittany and the twins brainstorming torture ideas. She wanted a way to both torture Malfoy and use it to escape from him as well. Fortunately they are an amazing selling point." Heather added with a soft smile.

Ginny smiled with her, "Yeah Fred and George really have been turning out some new products the last year. Working you to the bone."

"Oh hush you, it's not all like that and you know it." Heather blushed despite her words.

"I'm still reeling over how Harry Potter flew to her defense last night. I mean, he's the Boy Who Lived, and Malfoy's biggest rival, but to openly look at him and tell him basically 'you have to bloody go through me to get to her'; that truly was an honor and a privilege to see." Scarlett smirked, "And to see her blush over the attention, that was indeed a rare sight."

Serena giggled. "To true. She's been playing subtle matchmaker with me and Scarlett for years. We've always known she couldn't help herself. It's a nice feeling helping her escape Malfoy's grasp and find someone that can bring out that girly side of hers."

Ginny snorted a bit. "No matter how much a girl may like a guy, or be a damsel in distress, that in no way will make a Tomboy a permanent girly girl."

Heather nodded sagely and Hermione sighed. Scarlett and Serena started laughing imagining their friend running around in frilly dresses and acting prim and proper as her parents wanted. The laughter reached a certain peak and Brittany began to grumble and swat her arms in the air around herself. She rolled over at the increase in laughter and cracked one eye open at her friends, both old and new. She proceeded to sit up and run her fingers through the rat's nest that was her hair and whined.

"Whatever ungodly hour this is, how are every single one of you awake," she took note of their collective state of dress, "and dressed, and laughing, and even functioning? Did I happen to miss breakfast? Or have I awoken in a different reality where everyone I know is a morning person?"

Scarlett's lips twitched in to cocky grin as she chirped, on purpose, "No it is the same reality, but alas you are vastly outnumbered. Be wary your days of sleeping in are soon to be at an end."

The girls all giggled again, and Brittany just rolled her eyes and stumbled to her feet. "Alright well let's just get dressed and get down to breakfast. Hopefully being up this early means the Icicle So Far Up his Ass It Makes Him Shit Crushed Ice is still in bed with whatever whore he took to it."

Hermione seemed a little off put by the language and yet odd creativity. "You've spent a lot of time coming up with nicknames for him haven't you."

Brittany sobered up enough. "He's a lowlife who I heard called you a very horrible not nice thing once upon a time. I'm trying to find one that stings him back. Then again you have stung him back a few times already. It's nice to do the world any little justice I can." Brittany replied with a smile.

Serena and Scarlett were both looking anxiously at the door and it was noticed by a few of the girls. "Are you guys worried or something. We're safe in here." Ginny replied, unsure of their discomfort.

Heather laughed a little and explained, as Brittany was attempting to put on the clothes from the previous day that had been cleaned for her. "They are just anxious to see two certain handsome Ravenclaw males. On a day off like this it is pretty rare for the six of them not to be together."

"Six," Ginny asked, mentally counting, "who's the last person?"

Scarlett, not blushing from head to toe for once answered. "Seth joins us as well. We're a pretty tightly knit group considering most of the others in our house would rather torture us than spend time with us."

"Oh, well that makes sense then. He seems like a pretty nice guy." Ginny agreed.

"Yup, Seth's been a pretty great friend since the moment I met him. He and I bonded over our mutual hate of Malfoy. He is kind of quiet until you get to know him. He's used to people judging him as an outsider because of his family." Brittany replied after stepping on her skirt for the umpteenth time. "Darned skirt, why oh why did I ever decide to wear this thing?" She bemoaned.

Ginny laughed. "I took me a while to get used to wearing skirts all the time too. But mum insisted I get 'proper' skirts for school wear."

Brittany snorted. "Sounds like my mother. Except I was able to convince her it would help me keep my virtue for marriage so she eventually relented. So long as I promise to wear them once in a while."

Serena snicked. "Once a year is not once in a while."

"Depends on you're definition of while, which is a relatively subjective term, which was never specifically stated of whose term on the matter would be used." Brittany shot back triumphantly, having managed to finally finish dressing herself.

"And people wonder why you were placed in Slytherin. Like I said girl's got cunning in spades, just not much else." Heather teased.

"Hey, I resent that. I'm a nice person I've got that going for me too." Brittany huffed.

"If only you could relay that cunning to any other subject other than Potions and Defense Against the Dark Arts." Serena taunted.

"Oh go find your honey muffin and prance around the Great Hall you giant morning person who is good at classes and stuff." Brittany griped.

"Alright, well I think me and Serena will take you up on that. We'll see you guys in the Great Hall alright." Scarlett chuckled as Brittany threw a pillow at her and missed terribly.

Hermione, Ginny, Heather, and Brittany all smiled as the two left to go find their Ravenclaw friends. "I think you should at least run a brush through that hair of yours. It reminds me of mine back before I hit puberty."

Brittany groaned. "I never should have gone to bed with it still wet. Thank all that is good in this world for magic. This rat's haven would take me an hour to navigate."

The girls all made their way downstairs to the common room once Brittany was also presentable. Seeing as it was still very early in the morning, and it was a Sunday with no classes it was almost deserted. The boys were all in various stages of awake, from lethargy to bright eyed and bushy haired. The girls made their way downstairs, Brittany last dreading the evil Trial of How Awake You Are, also known as stairs. The boys all looked up at their entrance.

A round of mornings were exchanged and as Brittany yawned out to let her greeting out as well she failed her trial and fell without grace forwards down the stairs. Blaise and Harry were quick to jump up to help her, but fortunately she caught herself on the rail held herself up and slid onto her butt, halfway down the stairs.

Harry stiffened at the sight. He was partly concerned for her health, and partly in awe of the sight before him. Those shapely legs were sprawled out before him and in her fall he saw a bit more thigh than he had the previous day. He swallowed back his male urges and focused of the poor girl's well being. She was a mess this morning. Though from her nonchalance at the incident it may happen often.

Ron was the one who broke the silence by pointing out. "See she's not awake either. You gits forced me up because we have bonding or something we have to do, and the main reason isn't even awake enough to walk down the stairs. I want to go back to bed it's only seven thirty in the morning. It's too bloody early."

At hearing the pronouncement of the time Brittany turned very watery eyes to her brother. "Blaise, you woke me up before the crack of dawn? How could you? I agree with Ron. I'm going back to bed. Big meanie head, you don't even have coffee."

Ron's jaw opened slightly as he gaped at her. "See she's going back to bed."

Blaise tried to reason with them. "If we get breakfast now Malfoy won't be there. He knows she does not get up before at least ten o'clock in the morning if left to her own whims. Sadly I have no coffee to lure her to join us."

Seth snorted. "I told you, I told you all that making her wake up without coffee was going to send her right back up to bed. Which is why I said don't tell her what time it is."

Ron tried to hide his smirk. "Well now we should all go back to bed."

Brittany's cheers of 'Yay, bed time!' We're droned out by Hermione scolding her boyfriend about proper behavior. All the while Ginny and Seth were chatting with Seamus and Dean, who had been informed of the goings on in the dorms the night previous. Harry looked at the admittedly adorable mess the younger Zabini sister made and was a little disappointed she wanted to return to bed. He was quite the morning person considering his family. He thought about Dobby and he had an idea.

"How about this," He whispered to Brittany as the others chatted with each other. "I'll call my good friend Dobby and ask that he bring you a cup of coffee. If you promise to stay awake even though it's really early." He figured that with what happened she was more tired than she let on.

Blaise turned towards Harry and he smirked. Well damn Potter. You've known her about a week and already you're getting a hang of how to handle her particular brand of unique. Once again I knew I was right.

Brittany looked up at Harry and smiled shyly and her eyes filled with hope. "Really, you'd do that?"

Harry seemed confused as to why this would be such a big deal. Promising to protect her from Malfoy was harder than getting Dobby to do something. Getting Dobby to stop doing something might actually be harder than protecting her from Malfoy. "Yeah, it's not really that big of a deal you know. Besides we might as well start hanging out, we'll keep you safe, get you to wake up and then we can all get to know each other. Plus we'll be pissing of Malfoy. Maybe I can even help you study a bit. If that's okay?"

Brittany jumped up and hugged him with joy, before realizing her actions blushing and stammering out a thank you. "I would really like that. Has any one ever told you that's you're pretty bloody awesome Harry?"

Ron passed his two cents before Harry could reply bringing the pair back to the fact that they had an audience. "I've been saying that since day one."

Blaise wanted to throw a glare at Ron, but refrained when his girlfriend was the one who hit him over the head and scolded him. "Ronald Weasley it is not nice to eavesdrop."

The pair bickered a bit as Harry sighed. He called out to the air. "Dobby, I was wondering if you could do something for me?"

Sure enough a crack rent the air and suddenly Dobby was there before the group wide eyed and smiling. "Harry Potter, what can Dobby do for his friend? Dobby always wants to help the friend who helped him."

Harry smiled awkwardly, as it was still too early for Dobby's hero worship. "I was actually hoping you could bring me a cup of coffee." He pointed over to Brittany. "It's for my friend-"

"It's Miss Brittany. How are you Miss Brittany. Dobby hasn't seen you for so long now." Dobby gushed.

This garnered the curious looks of Hermione and Harry. Ron griped rubbing his sore head. "Now who's eavesdropping," a swat from Hermione, "Ouch, what did you bloody do that for?"

"You two know each other?" Harry asked mildly surprised.

Brittany seemed bewildered so Blaise answered for her. "When we were little, Brittany was about six. We stayed over at Malfoy Manor while our own house was under going renovations. Brittany was of course a girl and was not allowed to play quidditch, according to Mother so she found a friend in Dobby. As you know him I'm sure you know his very overzealous nature and thus she had to find a way to get him to play with her. After she found Draco yelling at him she demanded that he serve her for the whole week as punishment."

Hermione looked like she was about to spit nails at that statement so Blaise rushed onwards. "Not that it was anything like that. According to memory he was to bring her snacks and then share each one with her to protect her from bad wizards who could have tampered with the food trying to poison her. Since bad wizards were after her Dobby had to protect her the whole time since we were playing. He had to join her of course because otherwise she would be bored doing fun things like drawing and playing with toys all by herself. So naturally Dobby had to join in. In the end Dobby was the best playmate she'd ever had and told Lucius that very fact. And unbeknownst to her saved him from punishment by telling him she could not wait to come over again since she had so much fun. Though he was never allowed to do so again since the point of her earlier stays was I assume to help her become close with Malfoy. Never worked mind you, obviously." Blaise finished.

Dobby nodded. "I've never had so much fun serving anyone. beside you Harry Potter. I do know how she likes her coffee I'll be right back with a cup. Dobby better hurry so as not to be late for his work soon though."

Harry smiled. "Of course Dobby, thank you."

"Not at all Harry Potter Sir, not at all." Dobby replied with a snap of his fingers and a crack he was gone. Not a minute later he returned with a cup of coffee just like he had said and handed it to her. "Dobby is so glad to see you are spending time with Harry Potter, he is Dobby's very best friend."

Brittany smiled softly, remnants of happy moments, feelings from before flooding her. "Thank you Dobby, you are a very dear friend to me as well. I hope you have a good day working."

"Miss Brittany is too kind. Dobby is happy at Hogwarts serving his friends. Dobby must go now." And with that he snapped his fingers and was gone.

Hermione smiled. "You know, I really am surprised we never knew about you before. It's a shame we could have become friends so much sooner."

Brittany's eyes darkened a little as she sipped her coffee. "Yeah well that would have made Malfoy's bullying of you much worse. Though I am sorry about all the misadventures I missed out on."

Ron turned around to talk to Ginny only to notice the other sixth years had all gone on to breakfast. "Well great now it's eight o'clock and I still haven't eaten yet. Are we heading to the Great Hall or not?"

Hermione sighed and grabbed her boyfriend's hand. "Well come on then let's go before you start bellowing about that empty pit of a stomach."

Brittany smiled as she shipped her cup of coffee. "Thank you Harry. It was really nice seeing him again. I don't honestly remember him through actual memories, but the feelings associated with him from childhood. Those are real and very precious." She looked at her brother and missed Harry blush. "And thank you Blaise for explaining it. I'm sure if Dobby had it would have been noon before we would have had the chance to eat."

Harry nodded his head and smiled softly, about to speak, the sounds of waking from the other dorms stopped him. He changed his mind and offered her his arm. "We should eat too, if we want to avoid any pricks on our way. Still better be safe and stick next to me just in case."

Brittany turned a soft shade of pink and slowly took his arm. She'd been escorted before, as a joke or bit of dramatics on her part. This sort of interaction was pretty new to her. "Thank you Harry. As you are the expert in protecting yourself from danger I'll take your advice. Blaise you coming."

Blaise nodded and walked behind the pair. "Sure I'll take up the rear. It's safe to have someone watch your backs."

The walk to the Great hall was not all that monumental in events. Expect for what was going on in Harry's mind of course. So she knows Dobby even protected him from Draco. How long has he been tormenting her. I had the Dursley's neglect and cruelty to contend with, but she's more wary than she lets on. She's jumped three times at the sight of Slytherin Colors. Two first years running through the halls and a third year female. Of course the girl gawked and looked like she was going to say something then she bolted off. This girl isn't just some simple damsel in trouble, she's got layers. I can see why Malfoy would want her so bad. She's a good person, and he loves tormenting good people. Harry stiffened at one point when he remembered the way Malfoy forced himself on her after the Quidditch match. He had to stop himself from shaking with rage as her reaction to the hug she gave him played in her mind again. That almost sounded like pain mixed with fear. Did I hurt her when I squeezed her or did I scare her?

He really wanted to ask her, but with her brother there, would he be mad at him for causing her pain, accidental or not, or have another reason to fly off the handle to protect someone he loved? He was an older brother after all, Ron could be the same way with Ginny. The question was eating him up so he finally decided to ask. Hell with it. "Brittany, do you remember last night, when you, um," he stammered a bit remembering how fiercely she held him, "hugged me and I returned it you yelped. Did I hurt you, or did Malfoy just startle you or, um, what?"

Brittany seemed taken aback by this action. She had taken great strides this morning and last night to hide the bruise from the girls. "Heh, you remembered that."

Blaise stiffened and the three stopped in a corridor. "What." Blaise hissed, if this goes where I think this goes, and he marked my sister in any way, again. I'll-

"It's not that bad really. He um, when he was pulling me to him, and then when I struggled his grip from his arm really hurt my shoulder. It was my neck that took the brunt of it he dug in pretty hard." Brittany shrugged it off. "I've had worse bruises before from rough housing with the boys."

Harry and Blaise both stiffened. "Let me see it." Both growled out darkly.

Brittany was shocked at their tone and froze when Blaise lifted the hair on the back of her neck and felt a little cold inside when Harry moved away to inspect the damage as well. When Blaise brushed the bruise lightly with his thumb she flinched away and winced. Her hand moved to her neck and she placed it there apprehensively to protect it from further inspection. The damage had already been done.

"Tell me honestly, little one, how bad is your shoulder?" Blaise whispered out rage wrapped in brotherly concern.

Brittany hesitated and scrunched her face in shame. "It's not as bad it's just red, and a little sore. I promise it's really a lot better off than my neck. It's like I pulled it, and it might be because I struggled so much."

Harry was the one to respond. "Please do not blame your pain one bit on yourself. There is only one lowlife that is to blame for this. We are eating and then you me and your brother are going to speak with Snape about getting you a room. Either that or I'll get permission to place you somewhere safe."

Blaise was surprised at the hidden ferocity behind Harry's words. The man is truly a protector of those who can not protect themselves. "I agree. We won't talk about this to anyone else until afterwords. You are not to tell Scarlett either."

Brittany seemed to deflate at this prospect. "Alright. I understand."

Harry moved back to her side and offered her his arm once again. She took it, much more hesitantly than the first time. He frowned at this depressive state she seemed to be in. "I'm sorry if I added to your discomfort last night. Maybe after we talk with Snape we can see Madam Pomfrey before returning to the Gryffindor Common rooms."

Brittany nodded mutely. "That would be wise."

Harry looked to Blaise and silently asked if he'd go on ahead. Perhaps she'd be more comfortable without her brother stomping behind them. Blaise seemed to get the hint and agreed. Only because he knew his little sister was safe with the Golden Boy. "I'm going to inform the others that your feeling down because of the overload and shock wearing off. Take your time, and I love you little one." Blaise kissed his sister's forehead while mentally swearing in his head.

After Blaise had gone on ahead Harry stopped and turned towards Brittany. "I know this must be really hard for you, but I didn't really get a good look at the damage. I was wondering if we could talk alone first while I look at it. I've had my share of injuries and I can help you figure out if it's really bad or not. If you don't mind that is."

Brittany shook a little bit. "Only if you promise not to go starting any stupid fights."

Harry wanted to point out that in fact the fight would not be stupid. Seeing as Malfoy is a prat and deserved every bit of his own ass that Harry and Blaise and the others wanted to hand to him. He relented knowing how she reacted when her brother fought Malfoy earlier. "Only if you promise to try and cheer up soon. Seeing you all sad and mopey isn't helping the case against not poisoning Malfoy with everything. I'm starting to the Phoenix is right."

Brittany huffed a bit, rolled her eyes and nodded. "I never should have suggested you plot. Alright Harry, you have yourself a deal."

Harry lead her to a currently unused room and asked her to sit down in a chair. Brittany complied and made herself comfortable as she pulled aside the hair from her neck again. Harry leaned in close and inspected the damage for himself. The bruise was already a dark purple, with blue spreading out in ripples. The imprint on her skin was in the shape of Malfoy's hand and it was darkest at the fingertips. Harry pushed aside the rage and ran his fingers along the outside of the bruise.

"How badly does this hurt?" He whispered, careful not to startle her.

"It twinges a bit." She admitted. It tingle s a bit too but I'm not so sure that's the bruise. She thought to herself.

"I'm going to apply pressure just outside of the mark alright." Harry explained softly.

"If it helps, then go ahead. I trust you." Brittany admitted, surprising both herself and Harry.

She trusts me? Then again I did save her from Malfoy. Besides if we are going to try this a level of trust is needed. Harry thought to himself making sense of the oddity. "I'm sorry if it hurt, but if it's too bad please let me know."

Brittany gave a hum of acknowledgment and braced herself for the pain. When Harry pressed down slightly she squirmed at the pain that shot through her neck. It was not unbearable, but it was by no means pleasant. Harry kept applying pressure, until she finally cried out. He stopped immediately and pulled away. He took one last hard look at the image, burning it to memory and moved to grab a chair and sit in front of her so they could talk face to face.

"I'm really sorry, but it's not at bad as it looks. Which is good I guess." Harry apologized.

Brittany nodded her head in acceptance. "I understand. I am still going to have to see Madam Pomfrey though aren't I?"

"Yes, because sleeping on it could worsen the strain on your muscles in your neck which will make the pain worse." Harry sighed. "I really wish you hadn't egged him on by blowing me that kiss. That really set him off."

Brittany hung her head a bit and was flushed. "I wasn't doing it to anger him. He is obsessed with me and never noticed the Snitch. I did it as, well, um, a kind of congratulations. I may have been flirting with you a little bit." Brittany stammered and then began to rush. "I mean look at you, you are handsome, and funny, and witty, and a bit of a rule breaker with good reasons. You are also a white knight, saving everyone who asks you for help. You are a pretty awesome guy. I should have thought about it, but I was so happy to have helped you. Shoving Malfoy in his place was just a bonus."

Harry was shocked to say the least. His mouth hung open a little and his cheeks were just the slightest red for a moment. "So you weren't doing it to piss off Malfoy? You just wanted to let me know you might have fancied me a bit?"

Brittany looked, up and Harry could see the red still stained on her cheeks. "Yeah, well maybe not fancied you, fancied you. At least let you know I saw you were a good guy. I'm not entirely sure myself, it was kind of just, natural." The last came out with a kind of odd tone, as if she were trying to decide on the right way to word it and still didn't like it.

Harry was unsure if he should feel a bit of pride that she had flirted with him beforehand or ashamed that her flirting cost her so much. "I'm really sorry I flew off. If I had stay Malfoy would have just yelled from a safe distance."

Brittany shrugged at that. "No, I told you to return to the Pitch. Besides you heard the others, they were out for blood. You could not have known how Malfoy would react. No one really does."

Harry noticed the way she whispered the last part. "No, but you seem to know. How bad is it if he's ever alone with you?"

Brittany flinched at the question. She debated for a second whether or not to evade it. "I," she realized she would have to be honest if she wanted to get herself out of this mess, "I know because when he's alone with me I have to resort to either violence or if I'm lucky a handy Weasley product to protect myself. That is if I can't weasel my way around him. He's horrendous, relentless, and will only accept a no temporarily. That's why I'm rarely alone if he's around."

"I get that it's hard to talk about. I'm not going to press for details you wouldn't even share with you brother." Harry smiled softly and reached out his hand toward her. "I will not let that little bastard hurt you like he did yesterday again."

Brittany smiled and nodded. "Good to know." She reached out with her own hand and shook it. "So wanna hang out and help a sixth year not fail some of her classes buy tutoring her?"

Harry was feeling a little weird-ed out by her constant changing of the subject. He realized she was deflecting her problems to try and handle them as best she was able. "Sure, though if you truly want a good tutor Hermione is your best bet. She's the best at every subject."

"Yeah, but she's already full up with Ron, right? I am assuming that's a project all on its own. Besides it's a good way for us to get to know each other. We'll learn how the other learns, and then by proxy get to understand how each other thinks." She replied with a smirk.

Harry just shook his head. "Well then I'll try to help but I'm not making any promises."

"Of course, I could just be a horribly lost cause you know. If so I'll muddle my way through it all and figure it out. Either way your help will be appreciated."

"So is there anything you like to do for fun?" Harry asked, wondering if they had anything in common.

Brittany flushed a little, embarrassed to reveal these details. "I really am a huge book fanatic. Just because I have friends in all houses, doesn't mean I have a lot of them. I also really enjoy roughing it up with the guys, or playing the odd scrimmage of Quidditch, or really any activity with friends. I don't know, normalish things that people like doing."

Harry snorted a little bit. "You're kind of awkward around people huh."

"Oh shoot, you've figured out my secret. I'm really nice, but the reason I have friends is because I'm so entertaining with my outlandish style of awkwardness." Brittany joked.

Harry really laughed at that. "You know I'm pretty awkward myself. There's not a lot of stuff I do other than Quidditch and hanging out with my friends either. I'm still understanding all there is in the Wizarding World."

"Well then lets figure out things we have in common that we like to do together. That's what friends do we get into all sorts of misadventures and figure out what works what gets us in trouble and what just sucks."

"Alright then, lets get to breakfast before you're brother starts worrying." Harry decided.

As the pair went to stand up they realized neither had let of of the hand they were holding. Both blushed a little and let go stammering out apologizes, then laughing as they realized they were both doing the same things. Brittany smiled brightly as Harry held open the door and they walked out besides each other to the Great Hall. They had both come to an understanding. A foundation had been reached between the pair. They both knew they would make good friends, and help each other out best they could. It was the beginning of something to build upon. The pair shared the same secret smile as they walked into the Great Hall.