"I can't believe you Nev! Why won't you go with me?!".
Neville cursed his overly large feet for not having been blessed with speed as he ducked amongst the swarm of students, his ears now matching the bright red of his face. He winced at his name being called out again, almost trampling over the little first years at the entrance to the hall, hurrying over to his seat amongst his housemates, burying his face into his hands. Maybe if he couldn't see, no one could see him.
With a huff, Kiara stomped up to the Gryffindor table, scowling at Neville as she nodded a hello at Seamus and Ron sat next to him, who were laughing at his antics. "Wanker!" She hissed at Neville's hands, rolling her eyes as he winced, turning his head away from her.
A tug on her jumper from Harry as he made room for her to sit amongst them with a wide grin, looking between her and Neville with a knowing look in his eyes. "Easy there Hunter" he choked out through his laughter as Kiara turned her glare on him, scoffing and leaning away from him to greet Hermione, careful not to disturb her frazzled twin. Hermione had pretty much almost snapped her wand in two and carved Theo's eyeballs out earlier in the library. Kiara couldn't confidently say her beloved relative wouldn't sacrifice her to the Giant Squid in order to ensure she had total peace and quiet to study for the OWLS.
"Honestly Mione! Don't be such a Swot, it's a Saturday! It's Quidditch practice soon, come with us and watch". Kiara winced as Ron bellowed over, a half-chewed sandwich on full display in his wide open mouth. Hermione gave him a frosty once over, the tip of her cheekbones slightly pink before a flash of familiar disappointment was hastily covered up in her eyes.
"She hates Quidditch, remember Ron? Hogsmeade would be nice and cosy right now though! Right Hermione?" Hermione smiled at Kiara, a fondness in her grin at her sister. Ever the one to try and get it through Ronald's thick head. She shook her head, tight brown curls singing around her head. " I have 5 papers to research before the next Transfiguration class, it's nowhere near enough to prepare me!".
Harry leaned over, tugging gently on Kiara's straight hair. It was the same bright chocolatey colour but mercifully she had been blessed with pin straight hair that wasn't practically sentient and extremely prone to violence and frizz. "What did you need Neville for?".
Kiara sighed, turning to him and batting his hand away playfully. "Theo has a date! It's with Mary, Neville's partner from Herbology remember? The one with the purple in her hair? Anyway, he begged me to come with them so it's not too awkward. So I thought Neville would be a good person to ask! At least if there's any awkward pauses, they could talk about the plants we've been working on". She glared at Neville, reaching over to grab a peanut from a nearby bowl, throwing it at his head with a playful pout. "But Neville is the worst kind of friend".
"Oh come on Kiara! How could I go with you?" Neville whined, shaking his head bashfully. Kiara rolled her eyes "Shut up Nev, we had so much fun at Zonkos last time, sitting down for a few beers wouldn't kill you".
Seamus chuckled, leaning over to Kiara with a leer in his eyes, roving over her form. "Blimey Kiara, if you're this desperate for a date to Hogsmeade, the boys should be lining up in the tower for a chance!" his thick Irish burr was met with a peanut thrown at his face. He dodged, laughing as Ron scoffed in disgust. "No offense Kiara, but no Gryffindor is gonna go on a date with a bloody Slytherin! Get one of your snakey death eaters to go with you, I'm sure one of them would say yes. You're not so bad when you stop speaking like Hagrid!"
"Fuck off Ron!". Kiara really couldn't hide how much of a dickhead she thought the ginger boy was at times. God's, Hermione must have had an aneurysm the day before she met him. It didn't make any sense otherwise!
Harry hastily moved the peanut bowl out of her reach, before she could throw the large porcelain dish at his head. "I don't think I'll ever stop worrying about you caving someone's skull in with a plate, Kiara. Don't think you could aim for Umbridge next time?" His voice dropped towards the end, sharing a wide conspiratorial grin with her.
Giggling, she nudged Harry with a wink, "for the Chosen One? Anything!" batting her lashes at him, shoving two fingers up at Ron as he gagged at the sight of the two grinning at each other. She sighed, sharing a look with Hermione. "Maybe Goldstein? He's not too bad to talk to. And I think he'd be alright with Theo being there too". She groaned, unable to help the frustration she felt at times when trying to mix her two worlds together.
Maybe if she talked to-no. But, maybe for Theo, they could be civil. No, not a chance in hell actually. Plus, it would be less asking and more of a fight she didn't want to have right now. Plus if she saw that fucking smirk on his fa- Enough Kiara!.
He was too busy wanking over Umbridge for his dad's approval anyway. Prick. A flash of ice cold grey and a bolt of a deep purple silk swaying in the moonlight flashed into her mind and sent a shiver down her back. Stop it!.
Kiara groaned, dropping her head briefly on to Harry's shoulder before popping up to look at him, the green in her wide eyes sparkling as she smiled innocently at him. "Absolutely not" he stuttered out, the tips of his ears reddening as he ignored her pouting and wide eyes, shaking his head and holding his hands up in surrender. "I'm one more detention away from missing out the next match Kiara! You know what Professor Snape said".
"Theo likes you!" She protested, grabbing one his hands, pleading with him. "Plus we'll be out in Hogsmeade, the bloody greasy bat doesn't go out in daylight". Harry grinned, shaking his head and pulling his hand off. "Wherever Theo goes, there's bound to be some trouble following him, especially when you throw yourself into the ring so enthusiastically. I keep telling you to channel it into Quidditch insteading of goading his gang of snakes whenever they catch sight of you" he laughed, poking her forehead.
"As if Flint would ever even let me try out" She grumbled quietly, a moment of seriousness breaking up the levity within the gathered group. Kiara shook herself out of it, pasting a smile on her face and shrugging at Harry. "It's okay Potter, I'll find someone before the afternoon, but im definitely sending an anonymous letter to our great pink Overlord. I'll have you committed for sedition by Monday dont you worry!".
Ron shook his head, distrust and annoyance filling his expression " I can't believe you actually think he's your friend Kiara! With the group he hangs around? When have they ever not treated you like shit? You can't be that desperate!". He yelped as Hermione leaned past Neville, reproaching him with a sharp hit to the back of his neck. "Ow, Mione!".
Kiara frowned at Ron, a familiar aching insecurity buzzing in her gut. What the fuck would he even know about it anyway? Safe and sound in Gryffindor Tower, surrounded by his pure-blood family and Harry and Hermione? Easily making friends with the other houses, not having to fight their suspicions of the back-stabbing serpents as well as proving that she wasnt inferior? That she was just as strong and smart as the rest of them? How many snapped wands and mud-caked clothes and books had it taken before they'd finally learnt that she'd perfected hexes they couldn't even pronounce? It wasn't Theo's fault. With a father like that, it was a wonder that the boy could even feel the happiness and light that seemed to shine out of him daily. They had adopted each other into their little circle all the way back in first year. Blaise had swiftly followed once he'd realised they shared an insatiable sweet tooth.
Even when Theo had his group of childhood friends berating him constantly and shunning him for befriending the resident Mudblood, he hadn't flinched.
Even Hermione had her house to protect her from anyone who would target her. And Kiara had known that her sisters happiness at finally being able to include herself into a social group meant that she couldn't be so attached to her twin. Even when she wanted to ensure that Kiara wasn't always alone. There was always a Gryffindor ready to pull Hermione away, reminding her what a blow to her reputation having a Slytherin for a sister was. They hadn't counted on Hermione becoming as fierce in her protection of Kiara as she had. Nor for the rest of the golden trio befriending the once extremely shy child.
Kiara pulled herself out of her thoughts. They weren't 13 years old anymore. The magic swirling in her blood was worth anything.
"You wouldn't last a day in that dungeon Ron, never mind the fact that you're a pure-blood so they'd have no choice but to treat you right" She mumbled, shaking off the sadness that settled across her body, flashing her teeth at him with a roll of her eyes.
Neville let out a long-suffering sigh, shaking his head in a very practiced manner. He could no longer count how many times the girl in front of him would drag him into a scenario he knew would result in some shite. "What time do you want to go? You're paying", smiling at how she immediately brightened, sending him a blinding grin and blowing him a kiss.