Hermione wheeled her cart full of her things towards the table where Harry and Ron were playing chess...or so it appeared. Hermione's eyes widened in alarm when she got a better look at the chessboard. The chess pieces used igurines that were actually alive.

"Knight to E-5," Harry instructed one of his pieces.

Ron stared at the board for a minute to decide on his next move. "Queen to E-5." His Queen piece moved to the designated square and clunked Harry's knight off the board.

"That's totally barbaric!" Hermione nearly shouted.

Ron remained totally at ease, more than used to Hermione's attitude by now. "That's wizard's chess. I see you've packed."

Hermione leaned on her cart. "See you haven't."

"Change of plans. My parents decided to go to Romania to visit my brother, Charlie. He's studying dragons there!"

Hermione could care less about dragons and Ron's brother at the moment. "Good. You can help Harry, then. He's going to go the library for information on Nicholas Flamel."

Ron groaned. "We've looked a hundred times!"

Hermione smirked. "Not in the restricted section."

Ron gaped. He could not have heard right. "Harry, did you just hear what she said?" but Harry did not answer. He glanced at his friend expectantly but found Harry staring at the Great Hall entrance. Following that gaze, Ron then saw Romina and Arden talking.

"You should just apologize already," Hermione said after seeing what Harry was looking at. Both boys gave her incredulous stares. "What?"

"Are you mad, woman?" Ron nearly fell forwards from his wild gestures he was making. "Romina Oswell is the daughter of the Death Eaters who...you know…" he nodded his head to the still-silent Harry, "...did away with...you know…"

Hermione remained unbothered. "You said it, Ron, Romina is just their daughter. She didn't get to decide who her parents were nor what they did. Hardly think she should be blamed for their actions."

"But she's in Slytherin!" Ron said as if that was enough explanation to prove Romina was bad news. "That's the house You-Know-Who was in!"

"Oh, Ron," Hermione rolled her eyes. "Harry has known Romina for years, do you really think he should forget all about that over a House?" She specifically looked at Harry when she made the question. "You know that, Harry. I don't know Romina like you do - no one in this school does - so I think you should believe in your best friend more than what anyone else has to say. Do you honestly think Romina would have wanted what her parents did?"

Harry knew the answer right off the bat but couldn't will himself to answer there and then. He sighed and got off the table. "Restricted section, then? That's where you think we could find something on Nicholas Flamel?"

Hermione was disappointed Harry was pushing his problem away but nodded anyways. Maybe somewhere along him searching for the man, Harry would think about his best friend and realize the injustice he was committing.

~0~

Romina didn't think she'd ever be that excited to see her home again. Her dream had always been to attend Hogwarts and finally gain control of her witch powers. Now that dream had been tarnished by a couple of gossip she thought she'd been prepared for.

Her aunt set a cup of hot chocolate for Romina in hopes of lifting the girl's mood. It'd been days since Romina had been home and she'd yet to make even a peep of what she used to.

"Romina, please eat something," Sage slid a plate of eggs and bacon towards Romina.

Romina leaned back on her chair and boredly stared at her plate. "I'm sorry, auntie. I'm not trying to diss your food but I just am not hungry."

"You've said that every day for the past week," Sage moved beside Romina and set a hand on her niece's shoulder. "Not eating won't solve your problems."

"If that were the solution," Romina mumbled. She took another look at her food and reached for the fork.

"We knew that this would not be easy," Sage took a seat beside Romina. "Unfortunately our name is known for infamous reasons, and it's for those reasons that we hid you away in this world—" she gave a languid wave of the room, "—for as long as we could."

Romina was ardently munching on some bacon when she said, "Maybe you shouldn't have done that."

Sage almost winced from the words but Romina was too far gone in her thoughts to notice. "Yes, maybe you're right. We...shouldn't have done that."

Romina put down her half-eaten bacon strip and sighed. "I just don't know how to make everyone see me for me and not...an Oswell."

"Dearie, I don't think that's possible. You are who you are and—"

"Auntie, it's easy for you to say!" Romina snapped without intention. "You and Uncle Lyonel live here where no one knows you. I have to go back to a school where everyone thinks I'm evil. Some of them are actually scared of me. I'm only eleven! What exactly am I supposed to do to them!?" Not waiting for an answer, Romina pushed her chair away and ran for her room.

Sage sighed and looked at the barely touched plate left behind. While it was expected for all this to happen, it didn't make things easier.

~0~

When Christmas time came, Romina didn't have the usual cheerfulness to celebrate much. She hadn't even awakened early to open her presents like she always did. When noontime came Arden was already knocking on the door, dressed in a big red Christmas sweater with antlers over her head.

"Merry Christmas!" she greeted Lyonel with a blue-wrapped present box. "These are from my parents, and I have Romina's right here," she gestured to the orange wrapped present in her other hand

"Merry Christmas, Arden," Lyonel chuckled and helped the girl inside. "And thank you so much." Arden was smiling widely all the way through. "Romina hasn't come down yet but Sage already went to wake her."

"She hasn't woken up?" Arden's eyes widened. "But she's always up super early! I know cos she used to throw pebbles at my bedroom window - I mean I just know."

Lyonel set down the present Arden brought for them and sighed. "She's still upset over what happened before break."

"Oh…" Arden bit the inside of her cheek. "I see."

"You're at school with her… is it bad?" Lyonel discreetly glanced at the staircase in case Romina showed up.

"Well…" Arden swayed her head thoughtfully, "It's not everyone everyone like Romina dramatically thinks. I mean, no one in Slytherin cares. They love her!"

"Yes, I imagine they would…"

"It's good that your House likes you. Take it from a muggleborn who got put into the famous pureblood-only-House," Arden pretended to shiver. "It's not easy. But the other Houses, not everyone does it I swear. There are some who are just plain rude. But I think with time, as they see who Romina is, they'll learn to like her."

Lyonel wished that to be true with all his heart. He didn't want to imagine Romina being miserable for the next six years of her school life.

"I'm up, auntie, I promise," they heard Romina arguing upstairs.

"Only because I woke you," came Sage's retort. "But I will not have you sleep the day away when it's Christmas."

Lyonel and Arden soon saw Sage pulling a clearly-groggy Romina (still in her pajamas) down the last flight of steps. Sage lit up when she saw Arden. She thought some good social connections would be good for Romina.

"Merry Christmas!" Arden didn't fail to greet cheerfully.

"Merry Christmas," Sage responded equally cheery.

Romina gave her own Christmas greeting in a quiet mumble.

"Arden, would you like some hot chocolate?" Sage asked but she was already making her way towards the kitchen.

"Oh, with marshmallows?" Arden beamed at the idea.

"Of course," Sage took Lyonel with her.

"Merry Christmas, Romina!" Arden presented her present.

"Thank you, Ard," Romina was polite enough to take the present back to the Christmas tree. She hadn't done any shopping but she was already well aware there was a present for Arden and her family courtesy of Romina's aunt and uncle. It had always been like this.

The two girls took a seat beside the tree and Romina dug through the presents to find Arden's and the rest of her family. It was then that Romina realized she had presents from other people as well.

"Hermione Granger sent you something?" Arden wasn't the least bit surprised.

Romina nodded and began tearing the present open. "I feel bad cos I didn't get her one too." She raised a decorative, cloth, that tied into a hair band.

"Aw, that's pretty," Arden said, and Romina agreed. She looked at the rest of the presents and saw familiar names. "Daphne gave you something too. Is that one from Angel?"

"Mhm." Romina reached for the present that Angel had sent her. It was a beautiful little set of charmed pins.

Arden gasped at them. They were superhero themed. "Look, there's Supergirl, Batwoman—is that Harley Quinn? How did he even know about them?"

Romina chuckled with a shrug. "I guess he really listens to me when I talk. He's sweet."

"Yeah, I can see," Arden said, still partially surprised with the thoughtful gift.

Romina continued with the pile of gifts. Fred and George Weasley had sent her something as well. "I'm surprised with those two," Romina admitted as she opened the twins' present. She found a nice truffle box sitting inside. "Thought since Ron is pretty much on the same page as the rest of the school...they would do the same."

Arden smiled. "Not everyone thinks the same. You have to see that a lot of people still—is that from Pansy!?" she gasped when she caught sight of the name written over a small blue present. "That cow got me nothing!"

And for the first time in a long time, Romina had actually laughed.

Arden picked up Pansy's present and shook it. "I can't believe her! I was nice enough to send her something!" She gave up and handed the present over to Romina. "Though now I'm thinking she probably threw it away without even opening it."

"She's got a whole different perspective on things…" Romina tried being kind and not flatout saying she believed Pansy had never even received the present on account of her parents' interference.

"You mean she only tolerates me because we're forced to make contact with each other at school," Arden huffed. "But fine. Next year she's getting diddly-squat from me."

Romina chuckled and put away Pansy's present, thinking it best if she opened it when Arden wasn't around. Arden got over her momentary anger and pulled Romina up to her feet. There were Christmas dinners to get ready for and to have some good ole fashion fun.

Dressed in a long, black Christmas sweater full of snowflakes and a snowman matched with red tights underneath - along with the cloth headband Hermione gifted her - Romina thanked her grandparents for their permission to go outside and meet with the rest of the neighborhood kids. Arden's younger siblings - Lilah and Fabian - were already out in the front yard playing with some of their new Christmas toys. From the kitchen window, Romina could see that Arden's older brother, Andrew, had also arrived for the holidays.

"And he's not stingy or whatever?" Romina curiously asked over Arden's relationship with Andrew considering he was now known to be a Squib. Arden was the only one of her family so far to have powers. Lilah and Fabian were a couple years younger than Arden and had yet to show powers as well.

"Nah, he calls me a weirdo but just to tease me," Arden waved the subject off like nothing. "He's happy at his job anyways."

"Yeah, being a math teacher must be oh-so-fun," Romina rolled her eyes.

"Romina! Arden!" a small ginger girl called from across the street. The girl grinned and hurriedly crossed the street. She had a pink jumping rope in her hand that swung with each step she took. "You guys are back! I can't believe it!"

Arden threw her arms around the ginger and squealed. "Victoria! Merry Christmas!"

Romina stood behind with a nice smile across her face. Victoria had been one of their lifelong neighborhood friends and Romina suddenly realized how much she missed Victoria along with the rest of their muggle friends.

"How's that fancy school you're going to?" Victoria asked once she pulled away. She immediately went to hug Romina next. "Hayley and I wanted to visit but your parents—" she glanced at Arden, "—and your aunt and uncle—" she said for Romina's sake, "—said visits from non-family members weren't allowed."

"They really aren't," Romina managed to say casually, but even Victoria knew Romina well enough so that she understood something was off.

"A-are you okay?" Victoria didn't fail to ask in the next second. Romina looked away, putting an awkward hand on her arm. Victoria then glanced at Arden, expecting for some sort of explanation. "Arden?"

Arden checked with Romina before she would answer. Romina had sighed but not given any indication that she was against telling Victoria something.

"The school is full of preppy kids…" Arden tried explaining it as if it were just another fancy academy for muggles. "...and the kids happened to pick on Romina...a lot."

"Ooh…" Victoria put a hand over her mouth, her eyes quickly flickering to Romina. "Mina, I'm sorry."

"Yeah, thanks," Romina replied just as quietly.

"No more pouty Romina!" Arden clapped her hands, startling both Romina and Victoria. "It's Christmas and we should have some fun!"

"I brought it to play double-dutch," Victoria waved her pink jump rope for the girls.

"Yes!" Arden nodded and Romina found herself pulled into a razzling game of jump rope.

As the afternoon passed by, they were joined by the other neighborhood kids, including Nadine. Romina had forgotten how fun it was to play such a simple game as jump rope. It was so normal, and definitely had no danger of a hex flying their way. Things got more interesting when someone decided to have a race with roller skates. Arden and Nadine had their own pairs but they were nice enough to let Romina borrow Arden's second pair to race. They raced from end of the street to the next and Romina found herself coming in third. She discovered she loved roller skating!

"Hermione's going to shriek if she knows her headband was on the ground!" Arden laughed while she and Romina took their roller skates. Romina had been struggling and thus her headband had become loose and fell to the sidewalk.

"We're not going to tell her so shush," Romina grunted but finally took off her left roller skate.

"Girls?" Sage called from Arden's front door. "Christmas dinner is set!"

"The crackers are mine!" Lilah nearly fell on the grass due to her hasty run towards the door.

Arden and Romina burst into laughter as they followed a minute later. For the rest of that night, Romina never once thought about Hogwarts and its gossipy students, and much less Harry.

~ 0 ~

Romina walked right behind Arden down the Hogwarts Express. They had boarded together and while Romina received some heartfelt advice from Lyonel and Sage, she still could not stop feeling nervous. There were some students already giving her some looks - of which a couple were dirty looks - and others were whispering things about her no doubt.

"Where are we going to sit?" Romina asked after they had made it almost all the way down the train.

"I have a bone to pick with Pansy for that Christmas present she owes me," Arden huffed, still upset, apparently, over the rudeness she dealt with over the break.

"Still?" Romina actually forgot her troubles for a moment in favor of this.

"I'll give her a good scare - it's so easy with that coward!"

Romina said nothing more and allowed Arden to just take her wherever she wanted to sit at. Arden arrived at the last bigger compartment where most of the Slytherins were. They didn't tend to socialize with many others.

"Move!" Arden didn't hesitate to shove Pansy down the booth.

"Ow!" Pansy clapped a hand over her 'injured' arm and began to rub it. "What the heck was that for?"

"For being a rude prick, that's what!"

Pansy gaped. "Don't you ever talk to me you mud—"

"I'd watch your words, Parkinson," Romina warned as she took a seat across them, right next to Daphne.

"What was she about to say?" Arden quickly looked at Romina for an answer.

Romina cleared her throat and warned Pansy with a deadly look to keep quiet. "Muggleborn, what else?" she said instead. Pansy glared right back but heeded the deadly warning her way. Romina knew well enough to know what Pansy had been about to call Arden and Romina was simply not having it.

"Arden," Daphne finally spoke up. She was digging through her purse until she pulled out a packet of playing cards that she set on the table. "I got a Christmas present for you but I didn't know if you'd like it. Sorry."

Arden's eyes lit up at the sight of the deck cards. "Oh my God, yes! Do you know my Mum never lets me have one because it's 'bad influence'." She snagged the deck of cards and began opening them up.

"I would have sent them earlier but I wasn't sure if owls were permitted where you live," Daphne sheepishly smiled.

"I live right next door to Romina, Daph," Arden playfully rolled her eyes. "They're allowed."

"But she comes from a wizard family. Rules are different."

"Fair enough, but thank you so much!" Arden happily began shuffling the cards over the table.

"Those look boring," Pansy shot the cards, a look of distaste. "They don't even move."

"Anyone want to play?" Arden ignored her and looked at the other two girls.

"I will!" Romina happily agreed.

"I-I don't know how to play…" Daphne admitted, but of course it was obvious to both Romina and Arden.

"We'll teach you," Romina put a hand on Daphne's arm.

"I won't play!" Pansy huffed and crossed her arms, seeming adamant in her choice.

Arden laughed. "Is that a promise, Parkinson?"

Romina took Arden's cards and began shuffling them herself while Arden got into another bickering round with Pansy. It seemed like they were trying to make up for the weeks of break.

"What are those?" Draco had stopped by their table with Angel.

Romina smirked and started passing the cards to Arden, Daphne and then herself. "They're muggle playing cards, Draco, can't you see?"

The blonde in question raised an eyebrow. "They're muggle cards? Now that looks like the fascinating ending of a dreadful Christmas."

"Oh, shut up," Arden had taken a break from arguing with Pansy to now go on against him. "Just say 'nice to see you all' and go," she made a motion with her hands.

"You really should be kinder," Angel shook his head at Draco. He smiled upon meeting Romina's gaze. "Hey, did you get my gift?"

Romina nodded. "Yeah! I loved them. I can't believe you actually remembered about all the heroes and villains I talked about. I must have droned on for a good hour about them."

"You did," Pansy muttered as she went through her cards.

"How did you even find enchanted muggle superhero and villain pins?"

"You sent her that?" Draco looked Angel over incredulously until something struck. For a split moment, he smirked knowingly and rolled his eyes.

"It wasn't that hard, trust me," Angel said to Romina despite it actually being very hard to find.

"Well thank you." Romina smiled to herself and split the remaining cards in two. "You guys sure you don't want to play?"

"Yeah, hard pass, Oswell," Draco said and finally just walked away, pulling Angel with him before the boy had time to say the exact opposite.

"And here I thought the Christmas spirit would soon get into that blonde head of his," Arden said, plucking out a card from her deck that she needed.

"That'll be the day," Romina said with a chuckle.

~ 0 ~

Romina wasn't surprised that Harry flatout ignored her at school. Any time they were in close proximity, Romina had a little bit of hope that this would be the moment he would let her talk to him and explain things...but it wasn't. He would turn his head away and turn in the opposite direction. The same went for Ron Weasley. Apparently, they were a two-fer now.

It was one morning that Romina entangled herself with the Weasleys, just not the way she expected. She was on her way to Charms, her head in a book trying to cram for an upcoming quiz, when she was suddenly hitched up from either side and actually lifted off the ground. "What — hey!" The Weasley twins had interlocked an arm with both of hers and successfully carried her. "I have a class to get to!"

"We just would like to talk with you for a second," went Fred first. He and George set Romina back on her feet a minute later. "About our brothers."

"On behalf of Ron and Percy, we'd like to apologize to you," George said in the utmost serious tone possible. Romina didn't think that was actually possible coming from them.

Raising her eyebrows, Romina just stared at them for a good minute or so in silence. "I...I don't get it…"

"We know it's not easy right now for you but we want you to know that we don't buy into any of that stuff that's been spread about you," Fred continued using the same seriousness George had. It was actually so surprising.

"Yeah, and we know how our brother Percy can be..."

"Stuck up," Fred offered.

"Uptight," then added George.

"And we think Ron is just too young to understand," Fred nodded as if only making this realization right there.

Romina couldn't help laugh. "Yes because you two being two years older certainly makes you adults."

"Exactly," both twins adjusted the collars of their shirts.

"Thank you boys," Romina honestly said, rather touched with their gesture. After the days she was having, this counted a lot. "Now I really do have to get to class…"

"Of course, madam," Fred said right before he and George bowed and stepped aside.

Romina rolled her eyes but nonetheless started to leave. She was actually going to be late.

"Oh and I'd avoid the courtyard at all costs!" George called.

"Got it!" Romina laughed. She had made it mandatory for them to inform her of where their next pranks would be to make sure she was not the target anymore.

As it turned out, professor Flitwick had been running a bit late for his own class and thus allowed Romina the perfect chance to just slip into her seat. Of course the next minute she had Hermione shooing off her Ravenclaw partner in order to sit beside Romina.

"You're avoiding me," the bushy-haired girl accused with a mildly hurt tone.

Romina opened up her book and avoided Hermione's look for as long as she could. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Hermione narrowed her eyes, of course not buying it. "I'm not an idiot—"

"I don't think anyone could think that about you."

"You've been avoiding me, Harry, Ron, and even Fred and George! You've just pushed yourself further into your Slytherin house!"

"Hermione, they are my technical family in this school."

Hermione had not desisted in her cold stare. It was surprisingly strong. "You've switched seats with Arden so you can sit beside Pansy and not me! Honestly, you'd take Parkinson over me?"

"Okay that wasn't one my most brilliant ideas," Romina sighed. "Pansy sucks at potions. I'd rather have taken Draco, honestly."

"Don't say that!" Hermione almost hissed, startling Romina. "You've also switched seats in DADA and Transfiguration!"

"Wow, we share a lot of classes, huh?" Romina only just now started to realize. It certainly did not amuse Hermione.

"I get that you are upset with Harry but why does that have to expand to me too!? I thought we were friends - you were my first friend in this school and now you don't even want to talk to me."

Romina rubbed her forehead, of course agreeing with Hermione's accusations. She hadn't intended on avoiding Hermione but it was difficult to catch the girl without Harry or Ron at her side. It just became easier to not be around Hermione at all. It wasn't fair, but it was easier. Harry wouldn't even look at her at the moment and when he did it was often with these mixed signals...like he wanted to talk to her but at the same time he wanted to shout at her again.

"I'm sorry Hermione, I didn't mean to hurt you," Romina began on her honest apology. Hermione deserved one after all. "It's hard, okay? I'm sure you're tired of hearing that but there's no other way to put it. It's hard having to deal with all this and unfortunately you're in the crossfire."

"I want to help, Romina," Hermione assured. "But I can't do that if you shut me out."

"No offence Hermione but there's not much you can do. Damage is done and it's well done. Last class some Hufflepuff asked me what curse I was creating for the girl who accidentally dropped her book on my foot."

Hermione made a face. "Ouch."

"Yeah. And the book thing hurt too."

Hermione sighed and sadly looked at her friend. "Let me be your friend again. Just cos you and Harry have problems doesn't mean I agree with Harry."

Romina smiled and nodded her head. "Okay."

Hermione beamed and started digging through her bag. "You'll want to know that we finally know who Nicholas Flamel is."

"That famous guy?" Romina asked distractedly. She was watching a Gryffindor boy putting something in another boy's seat. "I thought you stopped looking."

"No, you're just behind on the news," Hermione said distractedly until she pulled out her parchment and quill set. "It was actually because of Neville Longbottom that we figured it out. Flamel was on some trading card."

"A trading card?" Romina snorted. "Of all the places."

"Focus," Hermione tutted, "Nicolas Flamel is the only known maker of the Philosopher's Stone!"

"A...stone?" Romina winced in advanced for her lack of attention.

Hermione rolled her eyes at Romina's clear disappointment. "I scolded Harry and Ron for not reading enough and now you too!?"

"I don't read about stones," Romina shrugged. "So what does that thing do, then?"

Hermione sighed but went ahead and explained the uses of the Philosopher's stone. "The Philosopher's Stone is a legendary substance with astonishing powers. It will turn any metal into pure gold and produces the Elixir of Life, which will make the drinker immortal."

"No, hold on," Romina's interest had now been piqued, "Did you say Elixir of Life? As in...immortal? That exists!?"

Hermione nodded her head. "Yup! And the only stone in existence is owned by Nicholas Flamel. He used to be Dumbledore's alchemy partner so now we're willing to bet that the stone is what Fluffy's guarding on the third floor."

"Wow you actually figured it out," Romina gave a small clap that made Hermione laugh. "You're good at this. But, um, now what?"

There, Hermione could not answer because neither she, nor Harry and Ron had come up with a decent plan. Romina offered to think about it herself for a while and would get back to Hermione if she had anything later.

~ 0 ~

The library was Romina's place to hopefully come up with a decent plan that would get them to answer the mighty question: who was trying to steal the Philosopher's stone? Romina was aware that the three Gryffindors in the loop still thought, with all their hearts, that Snape was the culprit. Romina, on the other hand, thought that was still ridiculous as ever. There was something else they weren't factoring IN and she needed to find that out before something stupid happened.

It was just a little hard to think when the students at the same table wouldn't shut the hell up.

"Pansy I swear to God if you don't shut up I will actually create that curse I allegedly created," Romina gently slammed a hand on her book and looked up to meet Pansy's offended look.

"How come it's always me?" huffed the girl in question.

"Because it always is," Arden came by to take a seat two chairs away from Pansy.

Romina rubbed her temples because there were still a couple of students who didn't get the message of a library's purpose. "Draco, shut up!" she was now staring at the boy much like she had with Pansy. "God, the only one who listens around here is Angel! And Blaise!"

Because right beside her, Angel was working quietly.

Blaise, however, looked up from his work with a stoic expression on his face. "Don't get it confused, Oswell. I just don't like most of you at this table." Beside him, Theodore Nott snorted, soon making Draco do the same.

"Anyways, pipe down, Oswell," Draco said a moment later, "We're trying something." He pointed over to Neville sitting a few chairs from them.

Romina followed his gaze and frowned when she saw Neville starting to get up from the table. "Don't you dare," she hissed but no one heeded her warning.

At her tone, Angel looked up to see what was about to happen. Like Romina, he figured it out pretty quick. He sighed. "Malfoy, seriously?"

"I learned this one yesterday," Draco said proudly. He pointed his wand directly at Neville's legs and spoke, "Locomotor Mortis."

It appeared he was actually good considering Neville immediately fell over after trying to walk. The spell had bound Neville's legs together just as he was stepping out of the library. Everyone except Romina, Angel, and Arden had burst into laughter.

"Told you I was good at it!" Draco still rubbed in his vast knowledge.

"You're an idiot," Romina spat and got up from her chair. She gathered her things fast and rushed after Neville. She had a good idea the boy was about to bunny-hop all the way to his common room without telling a soul of what happened to him. She didn't dare call Neville's name out loud for fear of what others might do knowing his helpless situation - that and she was sure Neville feared her due to her newly gained status. "Neville!" she finally caught up to the boy just near the staircases that led up to the Gryffindor common room no doubt. Seeing her put Neville in a state of trembles. He immediately tried hopping away in the opposite direction but Romina easily ran around and blocked his way. "It's okay, Neville! I just want to help!" she brandished her wand from her bag.

Neville whimpered at the sight and tried hopping away again.

Romina sighed and once again caught up with him. "I know it looks bad - a Slytherin with a wand in hand - but I promise I just want to help. I know the countercurse. Just give me the chance, Neville. Plus," she pointed at him suddenly, "If I had wanted to do something bad, I would have done it already, don't you think?"

As scared as Neville was he had to concede on that point. When he became still, Romina took that as an indication to perform the countercurse.

"There," Romina motioned, she was putting away her wand and smiled when she saw Neville's legs finally separated. "Oh, and you dropped these," she had collected Neville's fallen supplies on her way after him.

"Th-thank you…" Neville took back his things without ever taking his eyes off Romina.

"And, I know it probably sounds weird, and stuff, but...I think you should inform professor McGonagall about what Draco did to you."

Neville looked incredulous.

"I know, I know. I shouldn't be telling you this but Draco deserves it. A good detention oughta make him rethink this. Or...if we want to have some fun…" Romina smirked, "...you could stand up to him and hit him with a curse of your own."

Neville's eyes widened to the impossible. Apparently the idea wasn't as fun as Romina thought.

"Or I could do it for you if you'd like," she added innocently.

"Y-you would do that to someone of your own House?" Neville finally gave a decent answer that just happened to be a question.

Romina laughed. "If they deserve it, then hell yeah. Between you and me I'm debating between Pansy Parkinson and Theodore Nott. They're both kind of annoying."

Neville cracked a smile. "Nott is pretty mean…"

Romina knew that Neville was once again warming up to her. Maybe it wasn't all lost then. "I'll take that into consideration. I have to go now but please remember what I said about telling McGonagall. You shouldn't be ashamed to stand up to someone, Neville."

"Maybe I'm not as brave as the Sorting Hat thought I was to put me in Gryffindor," Neville said sadly, although Romina wasn't sure if he was saying it to himself.

"Between you and me I don't think the Sorting Hat gets it wrong," Romina admitted, looking down at her green tie around her neck. "We all end up where we belong. And you definitely belong in Gryffindor. You're just a late bloomer."

And Romina truly loved seeing that her words took meaning to Neville. He began to smile and promptly thanked her.

"I have to go, but say hi to Trevor for me," Romina wiggled her fingers and beamed when Neville gave her a wave as well.

After that small moment with Neville, Romina seemed to start getting better with herself. She thought that if she could make someone as frail as Neville Longbottom see she wasn't evil, then everyone else could come to the same conclusion. All she had to do was simply show that she was better than her parents - than her entire family. Little things to big things, that was it.

A/N:

P.S As always, I have a tumblr account dedicated to my fanfic works! It's a place where anyone can comment about a story or even just talk to me! I often drop aesthetic work belonging to my stories too! Feel free to check it out, my URL is "saiilorstars"