"Understand that this school has zero tolerance for thievery and I have it within my power to expel you from the school for doing so." Headmistress McGonagall shot young Melody a disapproving look.
"Yes, mam" Melody looked down at the ground as she attempted an apology. "I'm sorry but Cassandra didn't even notice the money was gone and I haven't even bought any of my supplies yet." Melody's apology turned out more like an excuse instead.
"The school will be more than willing to lend you second hand books if you can't afford your own, Ms. Zucker" McGonagall's voice went from stern to sympathetic. "I'll have an upperclassmen take you to Ollivander's here in Hogsmeade for a wand this weekend." McGonagall stood up and looked out the large arched window in her office. "Help can always be found at Hogwarts for those who deserve it." She quickly spun back around making her green velvet robes twirl around her. "Prove that you deserve it, Ms. Zucker"
"I will" Melody nodded with a determined expression on her face. The headmistress nodded back. Just then Filch walked into her office holding two 2nd years up by their Hufflepuff robes.
"I found these boys sneaking out of the Gryffindor common room. They were in the girl's dormitory!" Mr. Filch pushed them forwards.
"Actually I was never in the girl's dormitory. Just Rory." Matthew pointed out the inaccuracy of Filch's statement.
"Really?!" Rory threw up his hands in frustration as his friend unintentionally excused himself and placed all the blame on Rory.
"Sneaking into the girl's dorm in the middle of the night? I didn't know you had it in you, Rory" Melody chuckled.
"Zucker, you're dismissed!" McGonagall shooed Melody out of her office.
"Sorry." Matthew stepped in to try and clarify. "What had happened was... Amy opened the door and pulled Rory inside the dormitory. She it was all her doing really."
"Someone at the Hufflepuff party spiked the Pumpkin juice with dizziness draft so she wasn't feeling well." Rory added "We were just trying to help her because she couldn't walk up the steps on her own."
"What was Pond doing in the Hufflepuff common room after hours?" McGonagall put her hands on her hips in frustration.
"She sneaks in every year for the party." Matthew's foot in mouth syndrome had Rory covering his face in his hands.
"You're telling me Ms. Pond has snuck in before?" McGonagall grew increasingly frustrated. "I'll be having a talk with her later." She took a breath "Alright, I did hear about the pumpkin juice incident earlier so I'll let you off with a warning since you were acting under good intentions. But you boys watch yourselves."
The boys thanked her and left the office. "Good going, Matthew. You got Amy in trouble." Rory whispered angrily outside the office doors.
"I didn't mean to. I'm sure she'll be fine." Matt tried to recover. "I'll figure something out. Promise" Matt put his arm around Rory's shoulder as they walked back to the Hufflepuff common room. "Please dont be mad at me. I need you alongside me"
Rory gave Matt an angry looking pout but didn't leave his side. He really did care for Matthew; as much as he insisted on constantly causing trouble.
The children were allowed to visit Hogsmeade on Saturday and the Ravenclaw girls gathered around Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. Martha found herself gravitating towards the display of Cupid Crystals. She picked up one of the pink heart shaped bottles and studied it thoroughly. She knew it was so illogical to be interested in it. She didn't even have a crush to give it to. Martha did sort of have a crush on the astronomy professor but spiking Mr. Tennant's drink with love potion would a seriously terrible idea. A grown man infatuated with a girl who's barely 13. Martha physically shivered at the thought.
"You're not actually thinking of buying that, are you?" Sally Sparrow came up behind Martha with her a jar of bruise remover. She was a little accident prone.
"I don't know. I was thinking about it. God knows why" Martha shrugged.
"I hear she doesn't need it." Clara came up and nudged Martha playfully.
"What are you playing at?" Martha gave her a look.
"I heard that kid Mickey saying he was interested in you." Clara pointed out the Hufflepuff laughing with his friends on the other side of the room.
"Isn't that Rose Tyler's boyfriend?" Martha recognized him.
"Nope." Clara winked. "Not anymore. I overheard him talking in potions class and he pointed you out as a potential maybe."
"Potential maybe?" Martha scoffed sarcastically. "That sounds promising." Just then Martha looked over at Mickey and noticed he'd been looking at her and quickly turned his gaze away when she'd looked up at him. Martha and Clara chuckled and squealed like usual 12 year old girls while Sally simply rolled her eyes. Martha took a deep breath. "Ok, I'm buying it. It doesn't mean I'm using it ... just buying it"
"You're wasting your money." Sally crossed her arms.
"You have a Gryffindor star quidditch player for a boyfriend, Sally. You don't need any help." Martha stuck her tongue out at her fellow Ravenclaw.
"I never used a love potion to get him and you certainly don't need one to get Mickey" Sally warned. "But I guess it's your choice."
Martha bought the bottle but she didn't use it. She just felt it sitting in a drawer for the rest of the semester. Sally had been right about not needing it. Mickey asked her out right before Christmas holiday and she said yes.
Back in the Hufflepuff common room Rory was packing for the trip home for Christmas and saw Matthew looking rather glum sitting on the edge of his bed. Rory stopped packing and sat down beside him. "I never asked; what are you doing for Christmas?" Rory figured starting a conversation might cheer him up.
"Nothing..." Matt shrugged. "I mean I'll be having dinner with everyone but... I dunno.."
"Who's everyone?" Rory asked. He realized he'd never really asked about Matt's family. Matthew never mentioned them.
"My nanny and my maid and my nurse" Matt shrugged.
"Is that your family?" Rory got the feeling it was all he had.
"Yeah, Vastra, Jenny and Strax. They're the only one's home now." Matt smiled a little. "They're an odd bunch but they look after me"