October seventh fell on a Friday, and unlike the previous year, it was not just any normal day. She was woken up firstly by Milo, who had decided to pounce on her face, waking her up long before Emerald's alarm could deafen everyone. Confused on how the critter managed to climb up onto her bed, she opened her eyes only to find her three roommates surrounding her bed. The sight would have been enough to terrify her if it hadn't been for the small parcels they held out for her.

"Happy birthday!" Calista cheered, nearly shoving her gift into Oriane's arms.

"Let the girl wake up first," Charlotte teased as she made her home on the foot of the bed. Milo, who had grown quickly bored with Oriane's confusion, pounced over at the girl.

Oriane quickly sat up in bed with her back leaning against her mountain of pillows as she stared around at the gifts each of them held. Namely, the one Calista had just shoved into her lap moments before.

"You guys didn't have to," she groggily exclaimed.

"Oh, shut up and just open it already," Calista groaned. She quickly fell to her knees, as if the whole process of waiting was causing her physical pain, and she leaned her head onto the plush mattress.

With a playful sigh, Oriane opened each of the gifts one by one, starting with Calista's of course, who looked like she had hoarded a month's worth of Honeydukes candies. Everything from chocolate frogs to cauldron cakes to the familiar, cellophane wrapped raspberry suckers.

Emerald's was next, and though hers was much smaller than Calista's had been, it was certainly beautiful. It was a well crafted enamel pin of a goldfish popping out of the water. There were two, semi-sharp points of metals on the fish's underbelly, but despite the deformity it was perfect.

"Got it at Thorpe Park over the summer," Emerald smiled. "It originally had this cool dangling sign under it that said 'Flying Fish,' but my brother broke it off before I was able to get it to you."

Charlotte's was last, and Oriane had to say she had no idea what it was at first. It was some strange looking pair of binoculars, but they were shaped more rectangular than they should be, and were a bright orange. Oriane turned the object over in her hands a few times, attempting to find something to say about the gift.

"It's a… uh…" she stuttered.

"It's a reel viewer," Charlotte smiled.

"Reel viewer?" Oriane repeated.

Emerald held out her hands, silently asking for the gift, to which Oriane obliged. After turning it a certain direction, Emerald held the reel viewer up to Oriane's eyes, and the girl instantly gasped. In front of her was a large, open field that spread out wide right before it hit the ocean beyond it. Seagulls flew in the distance, well above the waves and a white clothed sailboat.

"It's a Muggle toy," Emerald explained. "Here, push down on this lever and it'll change what you see."

Following Emerald's instructions, Oriane pushed the lever and the view of the ocean was no longer there. It was instead replaced by a lush rainforest that had incredibly colorful birds perched in the trees. She pressed down again, and she found a vast dry desert with large, sandy structures towering over small, ant sized humans.

"This was made by Muggles?" Oriane asked in awe as she continued to flip through the photos.

Unbeknownst to Oriane, Calista held her hands out and made grabby motions at the toy. "I wanna see what all the fuss is about!"

Giggling, Oriane passed her gift on to Calista, and her jaw opened in awe the very moment she peered through it. "Wow… it's almost like a two way mirror…"

Charlotte couldn't help but chuckle as she turned to Emerald and said, "just wait until they learn about film."

Once the girls were finished looking at the wonders of Muggle inventions, they got ready for the day and made their way to breakfast. The enchanted ceiling of the Great Hall reflected that of an overcast and drizzly morning as the girls took their seats at the table.

"Big ol' fifteen, huh?" Calista mused while heavily eyeing a large stack of pancakes. "If you were two years older you could be entering the tournament."

Oriane couldn't help but scoff at the idea. "What, the Tri-Wizard Tournament? Even if I was of age, you'd never catch me stepping forward for something like that."

A huge grin crossed Calista's lips, the type of grin that only spelled trouble. "You seemed to convince Diggory to try for it."

Whenever Calista brought up Cedric Diggory, Oraine found that she would rather be anywhere else. It wasn't like she was trying to avoid the boy or anything, she still considered him a good friend, but Calista was being anything short of helpful when it came to her relentless teasing about them. The girl had been projecting her love for the boy on Oriane for so long it was as if she was attempting to live vicariously through her.

"That's different," Oriane sighed, attempting to turn her attention to her goblet full of apple juice, "Cedric would actually have a chance, unlike me."

"Is it because you saw his fighting skills first hand at the World Cup? I'm sure he swooped in to save you several times," Calista teased.

"I thought you and Cedric got separated when the fighting broke out?" Emerald asked.

Glaring at Calista, Oriane responded with, "yeah, we did."

"I can dream!" Calista defended.

Luckily, Oriane didn't have to carry on the painful conversation any longer as the girls were interrupted by the arrival of that days' mail. A handful of owls swooped into the Great Hall, carrying various letters and packages. Pale eyes scanned the area above her as Oriane awaited Esme's owl. Their letters had been rather awkward ever since the World Cup, as Oriane had a feeling that Esme wasn't exactly enthused that she stayed with the Weasley's after the disaster, but she knew Esme would never skip out on her birthday.

Just as she had expected, an owl gently dove down and dropped a small parcel into Oriane's outstretched hands. Her fingers made quick work at undoing the wrapping, and inside she found a very carefully packaged bouquet of flowers. But they weren't just any regular flowers. They were made of glass, with beautifully long stems and vibrant colors. There were two types of flowers; one was a bright yellow and orange with a mess of petals for the main body, and the other resembled that of a small daisy, but in pinks and purples along with whites.

The bouquet came in a large glass container, where it gently spun in a circle as it floated in the air. Even as she moved the container to set it on the table the flowers were perfectly unharmed.

"That's beautiful," Emerald said in awe.

Accompanying the glass bouquet was also a note with her name written on the front with Esme's handwriting:

My Dearest Ori,

This is the second year in a row in which I am not able to spend your birthday with you in person, and it's reminding me once again just how much of a capable young woman you're growing to be. I am eternally grateful that I can say that I've been with you every step of the way.

Your gift this year is something a bit more special. A new Muggle glassworker moved into Wimborne, and I decided to take a look around. He had these wonderful bouquets that consisted of flowers based off of birth months. October's birth flowers consist of marigolds and cosmos. The man informed me that marigolds were often associated with death and grief as they were once believed to be poisonous due to their strong fragrance. Yet now in places such as Mexico, they are supposed to represent bright sun rays powerful enough to guide loved ones into the afterlife, or to even resurrect them.

Cosmos were supposed to be the opposite, and often represented peace, or innocence. They've always symbolized harmony in a way, as it's similar in name to some Greek god, I believe. Many people in the Muggle world use it as a medicine, as it's supposed to be good to treat infections.

It was a rather great chat with the man. I wish you could have been there, but either way I thought this was the perfect gift for you. I've taken the liberty of enchanting it, just to give it that perfect allure, and I've also made sure to place an Unbreakable Charm on it, to ensure that it doesn't get damaged in travel.

I love you always. I hope you have an enjoyable year at school!

Esme

"Marigolds and cosmos," Oriane repeated, her attention turning back to the spinning glass wonder in front of her.

Every inch of it was beautiful and done without flaw, and she couldn't help but be mesmerized by the way the light of the enchanted candles above them refracted through the glass. It was as if she held a little garden in a jar, but with significantly less honking.

Since October seventh fell on a Friday, Oriane still found herself in classes just like any other day. Teachers were much more rigorous in their testing than they had been the previous year and by that point in the term each student was swimming in their work. According to Professor McGonagall, the Transfiguration Teacher, they were supposed to be preparing for their O.W.L's, despite the fact that it would be well over a year before they would take the actual exam.

A large pile of work was also the standard in Potions, though everyone knew Professor Snape was most likely doing it because he enjoyed tormenting his students to no extent. That, and it appeared that his beginning of the year blues hadn't worn off quite yet.

"This is supposed to be an anti-venom, O'Connor," Snape said through gritted teeth as he looked into Emerald's cauldron. "You would do nothing but poison someone further with a concoction as atrocious as this. Five points from Hufflepuff!"

Several huffs in frustration sounded throughout the room, though nobody was angry with Emerald at all. The girl had grown quite red in embarrassment as she waved her wand over the atrocious concoction to start again. Though, there was a very sneaky "why don't you test it out for us so we know for sure, Snape?" comment from Calista.

Despite the rather awkward plunder Oriane's first Defense Against the Dark Arts class was, she was glad to finally be released from the prison that was Snape's classroom. The girls traveled out of the dungeons, muttering about what an insolent jerk their teacher was as they traveled once more to Moody's class.

Yet when they arrived at the classroom, the girls were surprised to find that many of the desks had been pushed to the side of the room. Oriane had nearly expected a wardrobe to be sitting at the front of the room, as the previous year the class had made a spectacle out of fighting a boggart, but there was no such interesting thing to greet them that time. There was nothing but Professor Moody, with his wand in hand, staring out at the students that stood before him.

"The Imperius Curse. Dumbledore wants you to learn what it feels like," he announced once the last students arrived. "You need to learn what it feels like, and see if you can manage to escape its grasp should you ever find your mind in the wrong hands. One by one you'll each be taking turns attempting to fight it off."

Uneasy glances were shared around the room by the students, yet each of them looked too scared to even attempt to confront their professor about it. Even Oriane found herself beginning to sweat at the very thought of it. She looked to her roommates for guidance, yet even they seemed apprehensive.

Except for one.

"No way. Dumbledore couldn't have possibly ordered this," Calista spoke up with a scoff. "These curses are unforgivable and illegal for a reason. I don't know what you get out of manipulating students, but I'm not falling for it."

The words coming out of Calista's mouth was something Oriane hadn't expected. It was unlike her in a terrifying way. She was extremely articulated and furious.

"If you'd rather learn the hard way-" Professor Moody began.

"No matter what, it's the hard way!" Calista interjected with a shout. "Not that I'm one to agree with the Ministry, but they don't teach us about Unforgivables until our sixth year for a reason. No child could possibly handle anything like this, we're too young. Telling us that this is for our own good is a load of crap. Stop acting like we're on the front lines in some Auror fight at the age of fourteen. Put us through this now and you'll only make us more scared. Dumbledore is a fool for thinking this was a good idea, and if you're going to blindly do what you're told, then I guess you are too."

Without another word, Calista grabbed her bookbag and stormed out of the room. It was the most livid Oriane had ever seen the girl. Even in the previous year when Emerald wrongfully accused her of cheating in her classes, she held herself together. But that stone look on her face, and the way her voice trembled in anger was something she never thought she would have seen from her.

"Anyone else?" asked Moody as he blankly stared across the room.

No one dared to move a muscle. It was as if they were terrified of being put under the curse, yet even more so terrified of the strange man in front of them. So they all stayed, including Oriane who couldn't help but look back at the door Calista had stormed out of moments before.

"Let's begin."

One by one, Moody went through each student where he placed the curse on each of them. His goal was to get each student to hop up onto a desk almost as if they were some sort of toad. Many of the students reacted to his every whim. Jumping on the desk, spinning in a circle, flapping their arms like a bird. Though the class had easily laughed at the spider tap dancing in their previous class, no one was keen on laughing as they watched as their classmates were played with like dolls.

When it was Emerald's turn, she was no different from the others. She hopped up onto the desk just as easily as everyone else. No matter how many chances Moody gave her, either her will wasn't strong enough, or he was too strong. By the time she was done, she returned to Oriane's and Charlotte's side, face unbearably red.

"I should've left with Cali when I had the chance," she muttered.

"Hawthorne," Moody huffed, "you're next."

Oriane half expected the girl to tell him no, or just to sit out like she had done the previous year when they were facing boggarts, but she walked straight towards the man as if she didn't fear him at all. Oriane couldn't help but feel a sense of dread just looking at the scene. Just like with the others, he pointed his wand at her, and muttered "Imperio."

As soon as the curse hit her, she seemed to sway on her feet a little bit, almost as if she had started moving, but the next moment she was still. She blinked hard a few times before her amber eyes suddenly landed on Moody. In a way she almost appeared unimpressed.

To everyone's surprise, Moody grinned. Or, at least he made a face that could be described as one. Oriane found it difficult to believe the man could ever truly smile, but that seemed as close as he was going to get to it.

"You've cut all the strings. Nothing to pull," Moody said in praise. Then, he turned to the others with a slight scowl. "Look at that, you lot. Hawthorne fought it and beat it. Watch closely, look at her eyes, that's where you'll see it!"

Moody continued to make Charlotte the prime example for the remainder of the class period. Again and again the girl was put under the Imperius Curse with no effect. When asked how she was fighting it so well, the only answer she would give was that it was similar to ignoring a fly.

The very moment class ended was the first time Oriane felt like she could fully breathe for the first time in an hour. Yet that relief was short-lived the very moment that they stepped foot out of the classroom, as she was reminded of the events that preceded Calista storming out of the room.

"I've never seen Calista get angry like that before," Emerald whispered as the girls joined the flood of students in the corridors.

"Checking on her would probably be a good idea," Charlotte sighed as she rubbed at her throat.

"What about you?" Oriane asked, eyeing the girl. "Are you alright?"

For a moment, Charlotte didn't answer. There was this long silence where the girls walked down the hall, each wanting to say so much but the words just couldn't form. Each caught up in lives so unbearably complicated. The sonder was terrifying.

"I'm not the one you should be worried about."

Calista was found back in the dorms laying in the middle of the stone floor while Milo clawed at her loose hair. And while Milo seemed to be having the time of his life, Calista looked far from it. Empty eyes stared up at the ceiling as her feet violently waved back and forth in what one could only assume was anxiety. Yet she allowed the kitten to have his way with her hair, and by the time the girls returned, her hair was nothing short of a rat's nest.

"Cali?" Emerald asked as she cautiously approached the girls' side. She leaned down and picked up the little furrball that was attempting to make a bed in her hair.

"I'm sorry for running out," Calista said, voice cracking. "I should've taken you guys with me. That man's a maniac, a damn lunatic. Fred and George never said anything about him using Unforgivables on students…"

She quickly sat up to finally face her roommates. Her hair had been taken out of its usual ponytail, and Milo had done a terrible job at styling it. Stray strands threatened to obscure her vision, and there were many pieces that were nearly standing up on end. But judging by the wild look in her eyes, her appearance was the last thing she was worried about.

"You guys didn't let him use it on you, did you?" she asked, voice shaking.

"I think you should be more worried about yourself," Charlotte spoke up.

"I don't care about myself, I care about you guys!" Calista shouted, finally pushing herself to her feet. "Those curses are considered unforgivable for a reason. The fact that he would even consider using them on children is inexcusable! I don't give a damn if it's what Dumbledore wanted, that man is sick and- and-"

She began to choke on her words, and Oriane found herself flinching at the sight of it. It was painful seeing her in such a state.

"You don't have to explain yourself, Cali," Charlotte spoke up quietly.

For a long while the only sounds that filled the room was Calista's sniffling as she did her best to wipe the tears falling from her eyes. And Oriane panicked. She had never really seen anyone cry before besides Esme, and she wasn't exactly sure what to do. Her first instinct was to hug the girl, but it was as if her feet were frozen to the ground.

"I'm sorry. I need some time alone," Calista sniffed as she turned away from them.

Emerald nodded her head before throwing a look at the other two girls. "Of course."

And so Calista and Milo were left alone together back in the dorm, and the last thing Oriane saw before the door shut was Calista throwing herself onto her bed. The remaining roommates stood outside of the door for a short moment before Charlotte began to lead them down the stairs to the common room.

"I'm going to head to the lake. You guys are welcome to join me if you want," Charlotte spoke as they hit the bottom floor.

"What? Shouldn't we be doing something for Cali?" Emerald asked, offended.

"And smother her? She wants to be left alone, we need to give her space," Charlotte said with a sigh. "She'll talk to us when she wants to."

Emerald opened her mouth to protest but quickly cut it off with a sigh of her own. And it was the most hopeless feeling in the world, knowing that there was nothing she could do for her friend. Oriane couldn't help but think back to what Cedric had told her at the World Cup when they saw her parents. The near look of disgust on her mothers face, the way her father pushed her down the aisle…

"Ori!"

Before her worried thoughts were able to consume her, Oriane was brought back to the surface by Cedric's voice. He had just walked into the common room, and looked as if he had just come inside from an outside stroll as his nose was rather pink. Emerald and Charlotte glanced at the girl.

"We'll catch you during dinner, then," Charlotte concluded as she led Emerald away.

"Yeah, see you guys later," Oriane said awkwardly as her roommates pushed their way past Cedric, who was fast approaching.

"How… How's your day?" Cedric asked out of breath.

Oriane's eyes narrowed at his tone, slightly confused on how… unsure the boy seemed of himself.

"It's good," Oriane responded, just as awkwardly.

Cedric couldn't help but chuckle as he began to snake his hands into his pockets. "I, uh, didn't get the chance to tell you this earlier today, but I wanted to wish you a happy birthday. And, well I got you a gift."

With everything that had gone on throughout the day, Oriane had almost forgotten that it was her birthday. Really, she was more surprised that Cedric had remembered the exact date even. Yet there he stood in front of her, pulling a small square box out of his pocket.

"You didn't have to!" Oriane exclaimed as he held the box out for her to take.

"Well, I figured with the way celebrating your birthday went last year this would be a nice change. Besides, I told you I would make it up to you somehow," Cedric said, urging her to take the box.

Giving in, Oriane finally took the box out of his hands. It was small, hardly bigger than the palm of her hand, and extremely light. When she took the lid off of the box she was met with a beautiful, golden necklace. The chain was thin and dainty, and was holding a beautiful charm of a bee. It wasn't just some cartoon shaped bee, but an anatomically correct version of a bumble bee. It was as if someone had found a bee and coated it pristinely in gold, forever encasing its body in a beautiful tomb.

"Cedric!" Oriane gasped as he fingers traced over the charm. "Oh, it's beautiful…"

"I found it in Diagon Alley while going to buy school supplies and it reminded me of the time we were out in that field and a bee landed on your arm. The way you talked about it I… I figured it was something you'd like," Cedric explained with a smile.

"I love it," Oriane breathed.

Wasting no time she pulled the necklace out of the box before setting the box on a nearby chair. Reaching her hands behind her neck, she wrapped the necklace around her throat before fully linking the chain. After she pulled her hair out from under the necklace, she couldn't help but look down and admire it further. The chain itself was conveniently short, and the charm rested right between her collarbones. Not too short that it felt choking, but not too long that it was in the way.

"How does it look?" she asked, displaying the necklace for Cedric.

The boy could only smile.

"Perfect."

But really, he hadn't been looking at the necklace at all.