It was Magnolia's first free Saturday in Hogwarts, and she had no idea what to do with it. Hogwarts was an enormous castle, after all, and she could spend an entire morning just walking around the grounds, and an entire afternoon just in the library. There was only two places out of limits, according to Headmaster Dumbledore; The Forbidden Forest and the third-floor corridor on the right hand side. She wouldn't be caught dead in the Forbidden Forest, with all the types of creatures that may lay barren there, thestrals and demiguise, pixies and centaurs (half-human, half-horse people of high intelligence, who read the stars and obeyed the prophecized). Harry had taken a fair interest in magical creatures, but not Magnolia. They terrified her.

What she didn't understand was why they couldn't enter the third-floor corridor on the right hand side. If it was inside the castle, how dangerous could it be?

But Headmaster Dumbledore forbade it to all those who 'did not wish a terrible death' (his words), and so Magnolia would not go near there either.

She was currently on the second floor, and in dire need of a restroom. She had left the Hufflepuff common room hours ago, searching for Hermione. The Gryffindor girl had extended a branch to her yesterday to peruse the library, and they were supposed to meet in the aforementioned bathroom. Harry and Ron had been excluded for Quidditch practice purposes (Ron would be watching Harry). But she'd gotten lost, and had bumped into Percy Weasley and two mean looking Slytherins already.

She saw her favorite prefect in the distance.

" Mas-Paz!" She called, breaking into a sprint towards the boy, black robes spreading out in the wind behind her. The black-haired, mischievous Hufflepuff turned around, and gave her a great, toothy, dimpled grin.

" Ah, one of my favorite first years," he said. "... Magnolia, right?" She wasn't sure if he was joking or not. She still remembered the whispers of her dormmates on the first day - 'The Girl Who Lived', living with them. The whispers of Hufflepuff students had halted , but apparently these same whispers were persuaded out of other people's mouths from one classroom to the next outside of it.

She and Harry opted not to talk about it, in a silent agreement after overhearing some Gryffindors talking only too loudly about their scars.

No one wanted to be known for a scar.

" Yes," she breathed, her hair certainly a wispy, frizzled mess. She could have used one of Aunt Petunia's hair clips right about then, but they'd been dusting in a box ever since she'd made it to Hogwarts." I'm looking for the bathroom on this floor, do you know where it is?"

" Oh, you don't want to go there," he grimaced. " That's Moaning Myrtle's toilet."

" Who's Myrtle?" Magnolia asked. " Why does she get a whole bathroom to herself?"

" She's a ghost," Mas-Paz said simply. " And, er, because she's a ghost."

" That doesn't make much sense," Magnolia frowned. " Sir Nicholas doesn't hoard a bathroom." Mas-Paz coughed.

" Well, Myrtle... has tantrums," he suggested. " Best if she keeps it to one bathroom, and not the Great Hall." Magnolia frowned.

" Seems lonely," she said.

" I suppose so. Well, I can take you there, but I did warn you," he said.

" I'm meeting Hermione Granger there," Magnolia explained. " I gotta go."

Mas-Paz smiled sadly. " Ah, yes. The Gryffindor. I hear she's brilliant, from Professor Sprout, but not quite as good as Neville Longbottom. A shame none of our first years have their academic dexterity when it comes to botany," he sighed. Magnolia followed him, not sure of what to say to that. " Don't mind me! Professor Sprout's class is my favorite."

" Oh, yes, Herbology is quite nice. Susan and Hannah like it," she said.

" Are you friends, then?" Mas-Paz asked jovially. " Not that it's any of my business!"

" Well, it is, seeing as you're a prefect," Magnolia said. She, if nothing else, had a positive relationship with her fellow dormmates. They seldom spoke, except at dinner, in which Magnolia was now forced to attend with the other Hufflepuffs. Mornings were awkward at best. Now that she thought about it, they may know they'd been overheard... Crap..." I guess we're... Sort of friends? I still prefer sitting with my brother and the Gryffindors, though," she confessed.

" You should try sitting with us Puffs! If you want," he added. Magnolia squinted at him, spotting a blush. " We may not be the most famous house... But we're good people. It's sad to watch you throw your potential House pride away over people you haven't gotten to know." There was a beat. " In my opinion. Of course, I think Inter-House unity is equally important. Don't tell Professor Sprout, but I'm a little jealous you have enough Gryffindor in you to sit at your brothers table as a first year. Most students with Inter-House friendships wait at least until third year to brave that trench."

" I guess..." Magnolia agreed half-heartedly.

" So how are your dorm mates treating you?" Mas-Paz asked, too familiarly for Magnolia's taste. She didn't find anything wrong with the girls, but overhearing them gossiping over her sleeping body, it was... odd. Ron had been so normal when they'd met.

But, she reminded herself, causing herself to blush, his mother had probably told him to behave... hadn't all the Weasley's been awfully casual, under their mothers watchful gaze?

Hermione, too, had been starstruck upon meeting them. Magnolia bit her lip. She supposed she was asking for too much of her fellow students, to not behave as young people will, upon meeting a household name...

She shuddered involuntarily. She detested being a household name, as did Harry. Neither of them even remembered what happened that night, ten years ago...

She was lucky to not have to think about it, though, because Mas-Paz had cleared his throat, and gestured towards a young girl in the distance, hair sopping wet, hanging around outside the bathroom.

" 'Ione!" She called, running towards the girl, who held up her hands in response.

" No hugs," she said. " A ghost just... Well..."

" Temper tantrum," Mas-Paz suggested. " That'd be Myrtle, alright. Oi, Myrtle! Leave these first years alone!"

There was a wailing behind the door and a loud splash. Hermione jumped.

" Um...!" Hermione stammered out.

" Well, bye," Magnolia said bluntly, adding quickly a " Thanks, Mas-Paz," to redeem her rudeness, before grabbing one of Hermione's hands and dragging her along.

" Bye now!" Came Mas-Paz's naturally cheerful voice.

" We've gotta get you dry," Magnolia said. " Do you want to - er..." She wasn't sure if people from other houses could go to one anothers dormitories. She didn't ask. Hermione, as always, had an answer, this time before the question even left her mind.

" Come with me to Gryffindor Tower!" She said excitedly. " It's close, I'll dry up there. You can wait in our common room - I've asked, if you know the password, there's no rules saying you can't." Magnolia breathed an air of relief.

" I-I'd love to," she stammered, beaming and blushing. She'd never had any girl friends before, and no friends quite as witty as Hermione. Perhaps even wittier than any Ravenclaws she shared classes with. She still resented Terry Boot for his quip in her first potions class. And for doing better than her in Flying Lessons.

They walked the surprisingly long way to Gryffindor Tower, up the moving staircase, discussing fervently their last charms class each.

" Ron was quite awful, but I'm glad Flitwick paired us together. I can help him," she said proudly. " He's a little too proud to ask for help. Luckily I have no problem giving it."

" Oh, Hermione," Magnolia sighed lovingly. " There's only so much you can do for someone who doesn't want your help."

" Just watch. He'll be grateful when he gets his scores back," said Hermione. The girl was tenacious, and clever to boot, a dangerous combination. Magnolia wondered what Hermione was like in muggle school.

" As long as you're not doing his homework." Hermione blushed.

" I would never! How would he learn?"

Soon, they were in front of a large portrait, with a singing fat lady portrayed in it, sipping wine, and, like all other paintings in Hogwarts, moving. Magnolia was reminded of how awesome magic was.

" Password?" The Fat Lady asked.

" Eruo Creatura," Hermione recited.

" Ah, you have a different password system from us," Magnolia said, crawling through the portrait into the common room. " We have to tap barrels - Wow!" She grinned at the red and gold covers of the armchairs, the tapestries on the wall, the bright sky bleaching the windows and the warm fireplace, forever alight. It wasn't unlike the Hufflepuff common room, except there were no plants, and the Weasley Twins were causing a ruckus with brightly colored, dancing fireworks.

" Oi, who let in the puff!" Exclaimed someone to a loud of varied degrees of laughter.

Hermione stood straight, taking no business from the boy who spoke.

" She's my guest," said Hermione. " You can tell Professor McGonagall it was Hermione who was making Hufflepuff friends, if you want."

The dark haired Gryffindor scoffed.

" I was only joking..."

Magnolia hadn't gotten that message, and apparently neither had Hermione, but they luckily had similar ways of dealing with shame: Walking on, and decidedly not blushing.

She was just glad Hermione never name-dropped her.

" Come to my dorm room and help me dry up, Maggie?" She asked when they were far enough from peering eyes, no doubt reckoning that Magnolia would not want to wait alone in the Common Room as the only 'Puff'. Magnolia nodded, blushing a little at the nickname she'd almost begun to accept, and followed her up the stairs.

There, she found two other girls, giggling amongst themselves not unlike how Hannah and Susan often did. Magnolia felt a pang of guilt, which quickly disappeared when the brown-skinned girl gasped,

" You're Harry Potter's sister!" Magnolia blushed, despite herself, feeling very much like Harry's second leg or something similar. " I'm Parvati Patil. It's so nice to meet you!"

" I'm Magnolia," Magnolia muttered, fidgeting in place. Hermione blushed on Parvati's behalf.

" I'm Lavender Brown," said the girl with the soft curls. " Hermione, should we leave?"

" No. I mean," Hermione cleared her throat. " There's no reason to leave. Maggie's just here to help me clean up. Is that alright?"

It was only then when Lavender and Parvati seemed to notice how dripping wet Hermione was, and everything forgotten, delved into sudden concern.

" Oh, Hermione, what happened!" Lavender exclaimed, standing up.

" I went into the wrong bathroom," said Hermione. " As it turns out, it belongs to Moaning Myrtle." She sighed. " I've never heard of a ghost named Myrtle before, but I suppose today I've learned from experience."

" Ah, my sister told me about her," Parvati said, frowning. " I should have said... She was in a state, just like you."

" We can help you dry up!"

Hermione took a step back. " Erm, well... Thank you." She looked at Magnolia anxiously, as though looking for her to take charge. Magnolia blushed uncharacteristically and stammered a little before Hermione took charge once more. " I suppose... The spell is Sharakus, and - " Hermione continued to explain the logistics of the spell until Magnolia, Lavender and Parvati each understood and took to drying Hermione's clothes. Hermione changed into clean robes from behind a screen, and the three girls took to drying off her previous robes and 'muggle clothes' carefully, as performing the incantation wrong could cause a spark and the smell of smoke would stain.

" Thank you girls so much," Hermione kept saying as she wrung water out of her thick hair, now wearing a white sweater and black work pants. " I thought it would take ages."

" We got you, girl," Lavender said, beaming.

" Mm-hmm," said Parvati.

Lavender suddenly looked at Magnolia. " How did you meet Hermione, anyway? Was it through Harry?"

Magnolia blushed once more and shook her head. " Hermione came into our compartment on the train of her own accord. I followed her to help find Neville's toad."

" If I had a toad, I'd never admit it," Lavender said. Magnolia frowned.

" That's strange. Draco Malfoy said something similar," she said. Lavender blushed furiously at being compared to the Slytherin.

" I only mean - Well, y-you get made fun of if you bring a toad to school," she stammered, while Parvati giggled furiously.

" She told you," the girl said, trying to suppress her fit of chuckles.

" We became friends right away," Magnolia turned the subject around, shrugging uselessly, quirking a small smile. Hermione beamed.

But it was only after drying everything, Hermione head to toe, and waving goodbye to the other Gryffindor girls who did not want to go to the library with them, that Hermione sprung into her usual matter-of-fact demeanor.

" I really am sorry, Maggie. I had no idea Seamus would call you out like that - He's the boy who yelled, you know, and he's usually so friendly, I mean really, these Inter-House relationships shouldn't be nearly as taboo as they are, you'd think after over 800 years of school they'd be alright with other Houses fraternizing, but - "

" Hermione," Magnolia said, " It's alright."

" Even our Professors are as proud of their houses as the students, isn't it odd?" Hermione asked, exasperatedly.

" A bit," Magnolia admit as they walked through the library entrance, and passed Madam Pince. " Apparently Professor Sprout is upset with her first years..."

They collected several books for study, Hermione one for each class and Magnolia for potions.

" But doesn't she know Hannah and Susan were whispering about you?" Hermione asked, whispering. " If I were you, I'd feel so awkward. Not that I'm any better - "

" Hermione, drop it," Magnolia insisted. She did not want to talk about her inability to confront her dorm mates. They were perfectly nice girls to her now - She just preferred to sit with the friends she already made.

Was that a bad thing? Magnolia was saved from answering this question by Hermione, thankfully, changing the subject. Two times in one day had to be a record.

" I thought I should talk to you," Hermione whispered over a book. " I don't want to tell Harry or Ron - you know they'll jump for a chance at adventure, they are such boys."

Magnolia sort of knew what she was talking about - Just that morning she saw Harry receive his broom - Magnolia thought he was quite brave for joining the sport after reading about so many famous Quidditch injuries in their handbook - and watched as he sassed Draco Malfoy into a blushing, angry mess back to his table, in front of a teacher no less (she desperately wondered what he'd said). Harry would do this to Dudley as well (though Dudley usually didn't understand why what Harry said made him so angry), and was always more eager to take long walks into the forest by their house than she was.

She could see him adventuring, that is to say. But she didn't know how Hermione could know.

She was hit with a panging want to be in their house, again. They must spend so much time together, having good fun...

She was getting distracted.

" Yeah?" Magnolia pressed.

" About... the thing," Hermione said. Magnolia blinked.

" The thing?" She asked. " Don't be so vague, what - "

Hermione interrupted her quickly, somehow getting even quieter " The thing that was in the vault from the Prophet."

" Oh. Oh. What about it?"

" I know it's in Hogwarts, I just know it is. And I think I know where," she added, brown eyes big and staring deep into Magnolia's.

" Where?"

" The third-floor corridor we're forbidden to go to," she said finally. " It has to be hidden there."

" Of course," said Magnolia, though the thought hadn't occurred to her. " I don't know why I haven't thought of it - You're brilliant, 'Ione!"

" Shh!" Came Madam Pince's piercing voice, causing both girls to jump in surprise.

Hermione's theory made perfect sense.

But why? Magnolia couldn't ask. Why was it valuable? Was it the great dangerous thing that they were warned upon meeting?

And if it was so dangerous, why keep it in a school?

Perhaps Dumbledore was mad after all...

" Don't tell your brother," Hermione said quickly. " Oh, please don't, it's just been driving me crazy to keep it secret."

Magnolia nodded.

" Shouldn't we tell a teacher they need to move it?" Magnolia whispered as Madam Pince walked by, glaring at them from her peripheral. " If students figure out where it is, won't they want to know?"

Hermione held her head in her hands so her whole face was covered, shaking her head.

" Come on, 'Ione, we've got to," Magnolia said.

" Oh I know," she said mournfully. " It's not that, it's..." Hermione bit her lip. " Oh, I hope they won't expel us!"