Ladies... Gents... I'm appalling. Suffice to say, despite being the lowest of the low, your continuing reviews and messages have galvanised me to give you an ending to this tale of woe and misery that is my ineptitude. This is just a little snippet of what's ahappening in Hogwarts whilst I wrap up a much bigger one on what's ahappening with Victoire. (kind of spoiler alert so sorry!)

BIG THANKS TO EVERYONE FOR YOUR LOVELY COMMENTS.

VICTOIRE

"Given recent events, Ms Weasley, I feel almost inclined to overlook the entire incident. That is, to allow you serve detention and say no more on the matter. However, the gravity of your actions cannot be overlooked. To leave the campus, after hours- and alone? What were you thinking? You know this means suspension?"

I sat demurely in my seat, keeping my eyes deliberately downcast. I still had a Headgirlship to protect. Being suspended could destroy my chances, yes; but if McGonagall held an ounce of pity in her heart for me, I was going to cling on to it with an iron grip.

"I'm sorry Professor. I guess I wasn't." Slowly I raised my eyes to meet hers, forcing out a weak, quiet voice. "I think on some level, I wanted suspension. I… I want to go home and be with my parents."

She eyed me severely over the frame of her glasses, lips pursed in consideration. Sighing almost inaudibly, she reached for some parchment and an extravagant looking scarlet quill. The etchings of the quill against the paper was the only noise in the office for several beats, until finally she placed it neatly down in front of her and extended the parchment to me.

"Maybe that would be for the best then. Collect your things Ms Weasley. A week's worth of belongings should do it."

I sighed in relief.

TEDDY

"It CAN'T be true! They suspended Victoire? When that mother-"

"DOM!" Rose's spoon plonked heavily back into her cereal, milk spraying a neighbouring third year's breakfast and getting a little on my toast. I frowned down at it.

Gross.

Subtly pushing it to the side of my plate, I pretended to be invested in Rose's speech about how a lady never uses foul language. They never use appropriate table manners either, eh Rose? Look at my toast. LOOK AT IT.

"Teddy, are you okay?" She looked sceptically at me and I fixed a grin.

"Sure, yeah. Just… missing Vic."

And slowly STARVING to death.

Dom squeezed in beside me, looking flabbergasted around at us. "Where is the indignation? Where is the outrage? How could they do this? On what grounds?"

"She left campus, afterhours and was drunk? Preeeeety solid grounds Dom, I hate to say it."

"Shut up Aelius. Why are you all just accepting this?"

"Look, Dom, it isn't exactly-"

Her face adopted a very Victoire-esque expression of fury; eyes narrowed, lips pursed, daring me to say something else.

"It isn't exactly what? Cus I'll tell you what it is! It's ridiculous." She smashed one small fist emphatically down on the polished table surface, scattering yet more of my breakfast. I suppressed a groan, reminding myself that Dom wasn't in the loop. To her, her behaviour was rational. She just needed explanations, and then I could eat in peace.

"Dom, Victoire wanted-"

My words died as Lys nudged me in the ribs, gesturing for me to shut up and nodding behind me. I turned reluctantly, wondering how many times my breakfast was going to be interrupted this morning. Bursnell simpered back at me; Beatrice and Nessa in tow. I stared coldly at the later, realising now why I hadn't seen much of her of late. She at least had the decency to look away.

"There, there little Weaselbee. Do you miss your sister? I'm thinking of starting a support club, or some kind of protest group- if you'd like to join? After all, I'm sure the school is filled with people who have noticed her absence, and care that she's gone." Her bland, sarcastic tone failed slightly towards the end, as she let out a stifled laugh, almost as if she couldn't help herself. The idea was just too funny.

Lys took a lazy spoon of her yoghurt, licking it clean and considering Bursnell curiously. "Yeah, sure seems like people are taking notice, huh? I mean you, for example, not only noticed she was gone, but came over here the second you heard. It's what- 8.30? So you've known for… say less than 15 minutes at most. You lasted 15 minutes before you had to come over here. I think you need a different kind of support group Clemence. But thanks for the offer."

Dom sniggered, and the corner of Lys's mouth twitched upward slightly as she helped herself to more yoghurt. Clemence's smile froze, but never dipped.

"I'm sorry if I've over stepped. I just thought it was important to come over right away and let you know that I hope it wasn't because of me, that poor Victoire was so reckless. I've spoken to the girls about being nicer to her, but they just, well they just don't like her. They think she's… What was it you said Nessa? Selfish and arrogant. And a bit of a slut."

There was a pause as everyone (including me) absorbed what she was doing. Dangling Nessa in front of us as a trump card. God she was such a bitch. How did she go through life never having been punched? Remember when I was indignant that Vic was blackmailing her? Simpler times.

Lys stopped licking her spoon and switched her attention to Nessa instead, her gaze cooling significantly.

"Yes, but I don't think Nessa knows any other words to describe people, what with the frequency I've seen her deal those exact ones out. Even to you Clemence, if you can believe. Which, we all know is untrue. So we can only conclude that Nessa's words aren't worth the air she breathes."

I watched Nessa's face for a reaction and was weirdly disappointed not to see one. What did they do, turn out robots in that house? She could pretend all she liked, but I knew she had to have preferred Vic to Clemence. Why was she doing this? How was she?

Bursnell smiled, satisfied her work was done and Nessa's bridges were burned. As she made to leave the Gryffindor table, Lys called her back.

"And Clemence, sweetie! I don't want you worrying about poor Vic while she's away. She's found something fulfilling to occupy her time."

"Oh yes?" Bursnell drawled back, already leaving.

"Yes. She's got a work experience thing, you know. In the Ministry. What department was it again, Teddy?" Lys drummed her fingers on the table in fake concentration.

Bursnell's back stilled.

"Department of Magical Games and Sports, I think it was." I replied in my best nonchalant voice, enjoying how rigid Bursnell's posture had become. Maybe I would take part in the scheming more often. I was seeing how it could be fun, now I was getting into the rhythm of it. And judging from Bursnell's reaction, I was clearly a natural. I mean, Lys was helping a bit, but still.

She half turned towards us, before awkwardly changing her mind and striding swiftly from the hall; Beatrice and Nessa lagging behind her.

I might have imagined it. But I swear I saw Nessa hesitate, and almost felt a little sorry for her. She'd picked the wrong side.

And regardless, she'd be miserable whoever won.