AUTHOR'S NOTES: Santa has come early! Also, FFN has, for some ungodly reason, turned off everyone's notifications for stories that they are following. You have to go into your settings and turn them back on manually, otherwise, you won't be alerted as soon as a story updates. Check all the stories ya'll are following, they might have had updates that you missed! Also, if FFN hasn't done this, and I was misinformed, please don't eat my ass, FFN! I'm just a boy!
Enjoy!
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harry Potter, and I do not intend to make any money off of this. Harry Potter is the intellectual property of J. K. Rowling , and I take no credit of it whatsoever.
I was also inspired by Demon Eyes Laharl's: THE RED KNIGHT! and also from Random-Fruitcake04's: CHOICES! I hope you check them out as well because they are genuinely very good stories.
There's also a couple more Ron fics out that are on point! They're called 'There and Back Again' by Chuchi Otaku, and 'Cooking Like a Bachelor' by Avatar Vader. Please, go check 'em out! You won't regret it, spread the Ron love, people!
P.S: Starway Man is a chad! (I'm never removing this)
Fate
Chapter 149 – The Outcast and The Exiled
Hermione Granger's POV
Sunday 4th April, 1994 (The Burrow – Evening)
"All you had to do was stop the Quaffle from going through, Neville…" Ginny groaned, ripping off her dirty boots and tossing them aside. "It's really not that hard…"
"And I already told you…" Neville sighed out, looking defeated and embarrassed. "I don't play Quidditch… I'm rather shocked that I was even able to keep my broom in the air…"
"You weren't that bad, Nev," Harry tried, giving his best mate an encouraging pat on the back. "The twins just have more practice. We'll win next time."
"There'll be a next time?" Neville sounded horrified. "Oh, brilliant…"
"Harry caught the snitch, not Charlie," Ginny chided further, sounding awfully bitter about losing. "If you'd just stopped a handful of goals, we'd have won today. You wouldn't need to worry about next time, then, would you?" She's being mean about it, now. I should say something.
"It was his first time playing, Ginny," Hermione finally looked up from her Arithmancy textbook, feeling the urge to defend Neville's lack of Keeper skills. "Give him a break, will you? I'm sure that Neville tried his best for you." He tries his best for everyone, especially his friends, so knock it off, already.
"That was his best?" Fred asked from across the room, while George sniggered like a child. "Oh, Neville… I don't know whether to make fun of you, or, feel sorry for you."
"I'm happy with making fun of him," George smirked, and Fred quickly gave a nod.
"Yeah, making fun sounds more… Well, fun!" Fred laughed, and his twin promptly joined him. Ugh… They're all being awful to Neville over something as stupid as Quidditch. I know I'm in their house, but I don't think I can tolerate this behaviour any longer-…
"Don't listen to them, mate," Harry advised, still trying to lift Neville's sinking mood. "I thought you were good, especially for your first time."
"And it's just a game, Neville," Hermione said firmly, before frowning at the twins. "A stupid game, I should add."
The twins gasped, while Ginny scoffed and rolled her eyes.
"You take that back, Hermione Granger," Fred feigned hurt, while George tutted and shook his head in a disappointed manner. "Quidditch is sacred in this house! Sacred, I say-!"
"What's going on in here?" Bill walked into the living room, looking tidier than when he had left for his bedroom.
"The twins and Ginny are being nasty to Neville," Hermione answered immediately, sitting up straighter as she addressed the eye-catching wizard.
"Tattletale," Fred huffed, while George and Ginny stared at her dully. I don't care. You're being mean to him, and I don't like it.
"Is this about the game we played?" Bill asked gently, shooting the twins a knowing look. "No one likes sore-winners, you two. Neville did good for his first time, and as his friends, you should help him improve his game rather than mock him." Exactly! Thank you! Hermione smiled subtly at the tall wizard, he was handsome and smart. I can't believe the twins are related to him. What went wrong with them, I wonder. "Now, where are Charlie and Kirsten? Are they still out there? It's getting cold-"
"They're taking a shower," Ginny cut in, before pulling a disgusted face. "Together…"
Hermione blushed a little at the imagery that popped into her head, but said nothing. They're probably having-… Ew! I shouldn't even think about that! It's so inappropriate!
"If mum catches them…" Bill sighed out, before taking a seat next to Ginny. "Never mind… Neville, chin up, mate! You did good today, and with a bit of practice, you'll be on the Gryffindor team without breaking a sweat. Don't let them put you down, yeah? The twins just want a reaction, and it's best not to give them one."
"Me? On the Gryffindor team?" Neville blinked, sounding surprised at the idea. "Not sure I want that, but… Thanks, Bill… And I'm sorry we lost because-"
"Don't worry about it," Bill chuckled, scratching Ginny's head and chuckling some more when she slapped his hand away like an angry cat. "Mum wanted me to ask you lot about what you want for dinner tonight. So, any suggestions?" Dinner? Here? Aren't we supposed to head to Hogwarts soon? What about the welcoming feast?
"Pies!" Fred and George announced together, and Ginny quickly nodded her agreement.
"Pies would be nice, actually," Bill mused, before looking to Hermione. "What about you, Hermione? Do you like pies? Mum makes the best, I promise."
"I love pies," Hermione lied before she could even think, and both Harry and Neville gave her surprised looks. "What? I do…"
"And you two?" Bill asked the boys, smiling charmingly.
"Harry and I don't mind, we're not picky eaters," Neville shrugged, while Harry's gaze lingered on Hermione. Why's he staring at me?! I'm allowed to change my mind about pies, all right?! Sure, they're messy and bad for your health, but I can still like them!
"Should we ask Ron?" Ginny spoke up, looking a lot less wilful now. "He's still outside, you know? Training with that dummy of his." He's been at that all day… I've been waiting for a chance to talk to him, but he's relentless. Doesn't he get tired?
"He is?" Bill asked, concern flashing across his face. "He's going to burn himself out, again. I'll go and ask him, maybe even convince him to give it a rest for today."
"I can go," Hermione offered, seeing an opportunity to start a conversation with Ron.
Harry, Neville, and Ginny stared at her as if she were mental, while Bill seemed more curious than anything else. "You sure, Hermione? He's not really in the best of moods-"
"I'm just going to ask him about the pies," Hermione lied again, there was something she really needed him to know.
Bill raised an eyebrow, and then, he smiled in a manner that made Hermione's stomach turn into a knot. "Sure, Hermione. Go ahead." Why's he looking at me like he knows a secret about me? I just want to talk to Ron, nothing more.
Quickly closing her book, Hermione got out of her seat and headed for the kitchen, where she found Mrs. Weasley toiling away while her husband entertained her with a story about his work with 'Muggle Artefacts'. Leaving them to it, she silently exited from the front door and made her way out into the yard. It was impossible to miss Ron and his training dummy, both of them going at each other as if they were out for blood, and she had to admit that she was already second-guessing her decision to approach him. Ginny said that something terrible happened to him in the States… That someone he wanted to help ended up dying… God, I can't even begin to imagine what that must've felt like-…
"Stop!" Ron suddenly ordered, and the P-12 stopped moving mid-cast.
Ron then turned in her direction, his face red and sweaty as he panted for breath. He looked to be in a right state, like a wild dog that had desperately fought with another for a life-saving meal. His white training clothes were marred with mud, sweat, and specks of his blood. His usually styled hair was all over the place, weighed down by a mixture of sweat and dirt, and there was a small gash on the right side of his forehead that looked freshly-inflicted. Maybe I should've just stayed inside…
"Well?" Ron asked, staring at her. "Is there something I can help you with, Hermione?" C'mon, you fool, you're a Gryffindor, aren't you? Just talk. What's the worst that will happen?
"Um… Can I talk to you, please?" Hermione managed, giving a sorry excuse for a smile. "I promise, I won't take up too much of your time…"
Ron remained silent and motionless for a few seconds, before suddenly firing a Non-Verbal Reductor Curse at the P-12 and blowing its head clean off. Hermione gasped out of instinct, looking horrified for the lifeless dummy. What was that for?! It was deactivated… Harmless…
"What is it?" Ron walked over, sheathing his wand. "Stop looking at it. It's made of wood, not flesh. It's not alive." Well, certainly not after you blew its bloody head off! "Hermione?"
She shook her head clear, looking back to Ron. "…Your forehead… Um… It's got a…" she trailed off, pulling out her own wand. "May I?"
"Sure," Ron bowed his head, and she Healed his cut with a simple, Non-Verbal Episkey. "Non-Verbal, eh? You've been practising." I have, yes. "I barely felt a thing just then. Solid work." Wait… Was he testing me? Well, if he was, I just passed!
Hermione felt her shoulders relax a little, and she smiled more fully. "Not as much as you, clearly. You've been out here all day, Ron. Don't you feel tired?"
"I do," Ron admitted, wiping the sweat off his brow as he took a step back. "But is that a reason to stop?"
"Generally, yes," Hermione replied, still unable to figure out how Ron's mind worked, but admiring his efforts nonetheless. "Your mother was wondering what we'd like for dinner tonight. Everyone agreed on pies, but Ginny suggested that we ask you as well."
"Pies are fine," Ron said, abruptly turning to leave.
"Wait!" Hermione stopped him, mustering up the courage to ask him about his mental health. "Um… Last time we talked, just you and I, after Professor Snape's Potions Club… You said something that's been stuck with me…"
"That I didn't want to be me?" Ron asked, and Hermione gave a short nod. "I remember. What of it?"
"The thing is… I don't fully understand why you would feel that way," Hermione started slowly, trying to give voice to how she felt. "You're smart, a powerful wizard, famous, and considering the Quibbler's success, you'll be quite wealthy too… I just think that you have a lot going for you, and that you shouldn't spend so much time worrying about things that are out of your control. Instead, you should take pride in what you've accomplished, and one day, will accomplish. There's a lot of people who would give anything to be in your shoes, that's all I'm saying… Of course, they wouldn't want to be sick, like you are, but the other stuff…" she trailed off, realizing that she was rambling. "I… I just think you should focus more on the good, and less on the bad… Do you understand what I'm saying? Or, am I just making a fool of myself?" I really don't know, honestly… I just want you to stop being so sad every time I see you, that's all.
Ron just continued staring at her, his expression blank and his eyes not giving away a single thought. Well? Aren't you going to say something? "There's a lot of people who would give anything to be in my shoes, eh? People like you?"
Hermione tensed a little, not liking the fact that he could see her jealousy so easily. "…I won't lie and pretend like I don't want to be successful and make an impact on the Wizarding World like you… Who wouldn't want that? I'm just trying to say that not everything in your life is terrible, Ron, and that you should focus more on the positives… I'm not trying to step out of line with you, I'm just worried about my friend." With that said, she took a step back and prepared to leave, before suddenly remembering that she still hadn't thanked him yet. "Oh, and thank you for getting me the pass to practise Magic from the Ministry. It really means a lot to me, and it's already helped me so much. I know we don't talk as much as we used to, but I'm still one of the many people who are better off for having met you. I just need you know that, Ron. I need you to know that I'm still your friend, and if there's anything you need, big or small, you can always come to me."
Ron said nothing in response, only narrowing his eyes as if he were looking at an idiot. His gaze was cold, cruel even, and it made Hermione shrink in her spot. She'd finally mustered up the courage to approach him, to tell him that she wanted to be there for him, and this was his response? Did-…? Did I do it wrong? Why are you looking at me like that…?
Still silent, Ron turned around and walked back over to the P-12, waving his hand and Wandlessly repairing the destroyed dummy. "You're in the way. Go back inside." I see…
Her heart sunk to her stomach, and she felt her eyes sting from the embarrassment. "Sorry… I just-"
"I don't need your shoulder to cry on," Ron all but snarled, not even bothering to look at her. "You want to help me? Use that pass I got you to prepare yourself as best you can. Become a powerful and successful witch. Beyond that, leave me to my work." His work? What work?
"Right…" Hermione muttered under her breath, turning around and walking back to the Burrow with teary eyes. What a jerk… What an absolute arse! I was just trying to be-… What did I do wrong…?
Draco Malfoy's POV
Sunday 4th April, 1994 (Greengrass Manor – Late Evening)
"Is this everything?" Snape addressed the Greengrass sisters, eyeing their numerous trunks with a dismissive air about him. "Perhaps, you'd like to bring your beds as well?"
"Only if you're willing to do the heavy lifting, Sir," Astoria smirked, and Draco clenched his jaw in order to stop himself from showing any signs of amusement.
"Tori, mind your manners," Daphne chided, before giving the frowning Snape an appeasing look. "I'm sorry about her, Sir. She doesn't know when to keep her tongue in check."
Astoria stuck her tongue out at Daphne, and then she shot Draco a wink. The pale boy cocked an eyebrow at her, wondering how the two sisters could be so different despite growing up under the same roof. She's used to getting away with everything, I imagine, just like I was. She doesn't know any better, which will catch up with her when she least expects it. When she runs her mouth to someone a lot less patient than Godfather.
"Where are your mother and father, girl?" Snape asked Daphne, ignoring Astoria now. "I expected them to greet me, seeing as I'm playing chauffer to their daughters."
"Father has been preoccupied with his work lately, and he left for an important meeting early in the morning," Daphne answered, her tone respectful and her posture immaculate.
"And your mother?"
"She is having dinner with Lady Longbottom and Lady Prewett. We said our goodbyes shortly before you arrived, Sir, and she asked me to send you her gratitude and regards."
"Hm," Snape grunted, turning on his heel and billowing towards the fireplace. "I will open the floo to my office for you three. You can get settled before the other dunderheads flood the castle." This man is a teacher…
"Are you, by any chance, escorting all children belonging to Order members, Sir?" Daphne asked, while Snape prepared the floo. "Including the Weasleys?" For Merlin's sake, Greengrass, can't you just leave Weasley alone?
"Regrettably…" Snape growled to himself. "What of it?"
"Could you speak to Ron about returning with you? If it's not too much trouble?" Daphne asked, and Draco rolled his eyes. "He respects you, Sir-"
"I have tried," Snape stopped her, shooting an icy look back. "He does not care to listen, and so, I will not care to waste my breath. He will return to Hogwarts when he believes himself ready, and not a moment before." Daphne said nothing in response, merely giving the Potions Master an understanding nod. "Go on, the floo is open. The password is 'Silver Cobra'."
Draco grabbed his trunk and led the way through the floo, eager to put some distance between himself and the Greengrass sisters. As such, he was the first to reach the entrance of the Slytherin common room, whispering the password despite the dungeons being entirely empty of other students. Upon making his way past the entrance, he came across a handful of older students lazing about, those who had remained behind during the Easter Break, all of them eyeing him with equal measures of surprise and distaste. Yes, it's me. Do you have a problem with that, you twats? He ignored the stares, marching straight for his shared room with a blank expression. His lack of popularity didn't bother him as much as it used to, as he had learned from Weasley that those who worried over the opinions of others spent more time kissing arses than they did achieving their own goals.
And Draco Malfoy had goals.
He had aspirations beyond Hogwarts and its many dunderheads, namely protecting his mother from both the Order and the Death-Eaters. His father, wherever he was, would need to fend for himself, but it was his mother, who was being held prisoner, that was at the forefront of Draco's mind. She needed him, her only son, to look out for her, and Draco was not going to fail in protecting her as he had failed in everything else. I had hoped that I could convince Godfather to let me see her, but he shut me down completely. His grudge against her is not unwarranted, he's lost so much of himself because of my mother and father's actions, but to deprive me of seeing my own mother just to hurt her… It's not right. I didn't wrong him in any way, but I'm still being punished regardless. I'm out of options, now, save for going straight to Weasley himself, but I'd rather not add more onto his plate… He is different these days, unpredictable and stone-hearted, and I don't want to set him off. He'll knock my head off, and I quite need my head where it is.
Draco changed into his school robes as he planned on how to break into Grimmauld Place, wondering if there was anyone who could help him slip past the many Order members who came and went whenever they pleased. They don't keep a schedule, so I'll just have to guess a time that's safest… Probably past midnight… And even if I find myself in that accursed house with no Order members about, how am I supposed to get up to her room without alerting Kreacher? That old bastard isn't as inept as he looks, and he no doubt keeps a track of every person that enters his home. My chances of getting caught are absolute-…
A knock at the door broke him out of his thoughts, and after pocketing his wand, Draco carefully opened the door just enough to peek outside. "Greengrass?" What the hell does the 'Ice Queen' want with me?
"May I come in?" Greengrass asked, her younger sister nowhere to be seen. "I want to speak to you. Alone."
Draco fought the urge to shut the door in her face, and after a few moments of silent deliberation, he opened the door fully and stepped back. "What is it? What could you possibly want to discuss with me?" Greengrass walked past him and looked about aloofly, her eyes lingering on Weasley's former bed. "Well?"
"I want to discuss you," Greengrass finally answered, turning to face him. "Ron's not coming back any time soon-"
"And let me guess…" Draco scoffed; he should've known this would happen. "You want me gone, right? Fine. I don't care-"
"I don't want you gone, Malfoy," Greengrass interjected icily, giving him a bored look. "Don't be so dramatic, all right? I want to make sure that you know you don't have to leave just because Ron's no longer around." Really?
Draco narrowed his eyes, wondering what she was up to. "You want me to stay? Why? We're not exactly close, not even friendly-"
"Because you called me a Blood-Traitor's slag, Malfoy… You spat on my honour, and you meant it," Greengrass reminded him, and he cringed internally. "And before that, you acted superior to me at every opportunity. I have plenty of reasons not to be close with you, but I still don't want you gone." I wasn't the best person around, sure… But you acted plenty superior yourself from what I can remember. Still, calling you… that… It was an unworthy thing to do.
"Why? Why would you want to help me?"
"Because Ron brought you in, and clearly, it's important to him that you stick around," Greengrass replied, eyeing him up and down. "Now, I don't really see whatever he sees in you, but if he says that you're one of us, then I'll make sure that remains the case even in his absence. If it's important to him, then it's important to me."
"Ah, so you're doing it all for Weasley, is that it?" Draco scoffed again, rolling his eyes this time. "Spare me, Greengrass, I don't want to become the reason why Weasley pats you on the head-"
"Can you stop being so prideful and rude? Just for one minute?" Greengrass asked, her tone becoming even colder than before. "I'm not his pet, you emotionally-stunted twit. I'm worried about him, and I don't want there to be another problem pushing him over the edge. I know how Blaise and Theo feel about you, they both want nothing more than to see you gone for good. Same with Pansy. Without Ron and Tracey here, you don't have anyone in your corner, and if I don't say something, those three will push you out by the end of the month. Look me in the eyes and tell me that that's what you want. Go on."
Draco looked towards Weasley's empty bed, drawing in a sharp breath. "…No… I don't want that…"
"And without Ron here, I imagine your problems will start haunting us soon enough," Greengrass continued, taking a step forward. "Flint, Crabbe and Goyle, every person you've rubbed the wrong way… They'll find a chance to get even with you, which means that we'll have to deal with them. Oh, and make no mistake, I still think dropping you is the smartest course of action, but for Ron's sake, I'm willing to help you regardless of how I feel." How benevolent of you! Should I start sculpting a statue of you as recompense for your generosity?
"Or, you're willing to help me because you know how he'll react to me being cast out," Draco countered, he knew that Weasley would be outraged. He'll string you all up and beat you bloody with his belt.
"He'd be angry, yes," Greengrass gave a nod. "I've accounted for that too, of course, and I won't insult your intelligence by pretending otherwise. As I already said, I don't want him having more problems to stress about. I don't want to see him angry, and I certainly don't want to see him upset. So, I'll speak with Theo, Blaise, and Pansy when they get here, and I'll convince them to treat you fairly-… Well, to treat you like you're not the arse who lorded over us just because his father had the Minister's ear. I'll ask them to look past your constant rudeness and lack of basic respect, and moving forward, even look out for you as they would for me and each other."
"And what do I owe you in return for your 'help'?" Draco asked, remembering that nothing was ever free. Not in this House. Not with the Heiress of Lord Greengrass.
"You're going to help us convince Ron to help Millie," Greengrass put her cards on the table, her unfeeling gaze difficult to match. "If she's not here tonight, then we'll know exactly why she's been so silent over the last two weeks…"
"Her parents kept her under lock and key, and then they shipped her off to Durmstrang to be re-educated," Draco provided, and Greengrass gave a curt nod. "What makes you think that Weasley will listen to me? If he's not listening to you lot-"
"It's different with us," Greengrass stopped him. "We're friends with Millie, and we've all been together since first year. You, on the other hand, haven't been around nearly as long, and you have a sordid history of treating Millie as if she were garbage." Again, he cringed internally, but said nothing. "If you go to him, if you ask him to put aside his anger with her, then he's more likely to listen to reason. He respects your opinion, Malfoy, I've seen it with my own eyes." He does? "If you want to keep being a part of this group, you're going to have to carry your share from now on. We help each other, always. We look out for each other, and if you want the rest of us to watch your back, you're going to have to watch ours. That's fair, isn't it?"
"…I suppose…" Draco all but whispered, not eager to tell Weasley what to do. Looks like I'll be getting my head knocked off, after all. "Not bad, Greengrass… You get to stay in Weasley's good books by not pestering him, and you get to help Bulstrode climb out of the hole she's dug for herself… Here's my question, though… What if he doesn't listen to me? What if he tells me to sod off, instead?"
"If you're worried that I'll change my mind about you staying just because Ron didn't listen to you, then don't be," Greengrass promised, heading for the door. "I just want you to try your best, nothing more. I know all too well how pigheaded Ron can be, and I won't fault you for that. I'll talk to Pansy about you tonight, and I'll talk to the boys tomorrow whenever I'm alone with them. You have my word."
"Wait…" Draco called, stopping her at the door. "Last time we saw Weasley… He was less than kind to you. As a matter of fact, he was a downright arsehole to everyone save for Tracey…"
"And?" Greengrass asked, turning around with an icy expression.
"Are you just a glutton for pain?" Draco asked, curious about why Greengrass was so loyal to Weasley. "I know you two have a history, but if someone talked down to me like that, I wouldn't be so eager to carry out their wishes."
"He's hurting," Greengrass replied simply, and Draco cocked an eyebrow. "I can tell, you know? Just by his voice, I can tell, and it's not just because we have 'history', Malfoy. He's my best friend, and I know how his mind works. Or rather, I know as much as anyone can… Millie really hurt him, and I certainly didn't help matters by doubting his actions and fighting with him whenever I saw the chance. I said some terrible things to him in anger, things I can't take back, but what I can do is make up for my mistakes by helping you. I want Ron to know that I'll watch his back, no matter what happens between us, just as I know he would do for me." Wow… That's… quite something… "And, recently, I've come to learn that we don't always know what our parents are capable of… We don't know their past like they know ours, and that's all Ron was trying to show Millie… He knew better, and he tried to show her the truth, but she chose to remain blindfolded. That was her choice, and it was the wrong one."
"You'd have chosen differently in her shoes?" Draco asked. "Is that what you're saying?"
"I did choose differently," Greengrass answered, leaving without elaborating any further. She chose differently? What's that supposed to mean? What did Lord and Lady Greengrass do?
Draco walked over and closed the door, before making his way to his bed and plopping down on it. He had to admit it to himself, he was surprised by Greengrass' offer, and even more surprised by the fact that she was willing to go to such lengths for her friends. Ice Queen, my arse… Still, I shouldn't expect her talk with Zabini, Nott, and Parkinson to go well. Expecting things is how you open yourself up to be disappointed, as Weasley would say. I get the feeling that if I want them to back off, I'm going to have to do it myself. I have to prove my worth to them, and helping Bulstrode might just do the trick.
Draco let out a long sigh, dreading what he had to do next. I just hope that, when I approach him, he won't be on that blasted potion. If he is, then nothing I say, or, do will make him change his mind.
Pansy Parkinson's POV
Sunday 4th April, 1994 (Hogwarts – Welcome Back Feast)
"She's really not here…" Pansy muttered to herself, a pit forming in her stomach. "Damn it all…"
Millie hadn't been on the Hogwarts Express, and there was no sign of her in the Great Hall despite the Welcome Back Feast being in full swing. The boys had been right, after all, which meant that another one of her closest friends was gone. Tracey, then Ron, and now, Millie… It's like we're being picked off one by one…
"I'll owl Ron tomorrow," Theo said, offering Pansy a sorry smile. "Let him know what's happened-"
"What difference will that make?" Pansy asked, still stinging from Ron's words. "You heard him, didn't you? He's not going to lift a finger to help her, and he thinks that we're incapable of doing anything about this without him. What's the point of owling him? He's not even going to care…"
"He just needs time to get his head sorted, Pansy," Blaise sighed out, he'd been saying the same thing over and over again ever since their run in with the redhead. "He always comes through, doesn't he? Just give him a break, the man's clearly going through something we have no idea about." Why are you always defending him?! He all but declared that we're useless!
"He thinks we can't take on Robert and Anne Bulstrode," Pansy reminded them, frowning deeply.
"And he's right," Blaise argued, his voice rising a little. "They've been around a lot longer than us; they've been playing this game since before we were even born! Get over yourself, all right-?"
"Easy, Blaise," Theo tried, looking between him and Pansy. "What's wrong with you? You don't need to bite her head off-"
"No, she's been harping on and on about this for days, now," Blaise put his foot down, giving Pansy a firm look. "Just because you got your inheritance doesn't mean that you're suddenly shrewder and more dangerous than before. You're acting overly bold, Pansy, and that's bound to backfire on you-"
"Or, maybe, I'm just tired of being underestimated all the time!" Pansy shot back loudly, earning herself annoyed looks from the surrounding Slytherins. "You, Theo, Ron! Even Malfoy-"
"I'm not a part of this," Malfoy interjected, before abruptly returning to his dinner. You're not a part of anything! Why are you still here?! It's only a matter of time before Flint comes sniffing for you, again! If Ron can't be bothered to be here, then we shouldn't have to keep working on his projects for him! And that's all you are; a pity project!
Pansy glared at the platinum-blonde, feeling sick to her stomach at the thought of him taking Millie's place. "Why is he still sitting with us? Why are we acting like we have to tolerate him, now?" Malfoy looked up at that, just as all eyes turned to him. "Ron isn't here to lecture us about 'doing the right thing', anymore, and we'd best be rid of him before-"
"Malfoy isn't going anywhere," Daphne stopped her, much to everyone's surprise. "He stays, Pansy. You're not angry with him, you're angry with Lord and Lady Bulstrode, and I won't let you take that anger out on the rest of us." …What? You're defending him?! Why?!
The boys looked between Daphne and Malfoy, while Pansy seethed at the idea of putting up with Malfoy despite Ron's absence. "Ron only keeps him around because he feels sorry for him, we all know it! Why are you defending him all of a sudden?!"
"Because we only accepted you back for the same reason," Daphne reminded her, her tone curt and cold. "You think if Ron said no to you joining us, we'd have gone out of our way to change his mind? He made the right call then, and I believe he's making the right call with Malfoy now." Daphne then looked to Theo and Blaise, her gaze piercing. "Do you two want to send him away as well? Because if so, then I'll remind you that Ron felt sorry for you too, which is why he accepted you back after you both ran off in first year." What is happening here?! What's gotten into her?! She hates Malfoy! We all do! "Like it or not, but Malfoy has become a part of this group, and Ron's not the only one who wants him to stay. I do too, and so does Tracey, and if Millie were here, she would as well." Daphne then looked to Malfoy. "And speaking of Millie… Malfoy pitched me an idea to help her that I think might just work. Go on, tell them. They'll want to hear it too." What idea?
Malfoy stared back at Daphne for a few moments, and then, he drew in a sharp breath. "I'll speak to Weasley about helping Bulstrode get away from her parents. That's my idea." Your idea? I don't buy that for a second!
"Why would you, of all people, want to do that?" Pansy asked, narrowing her eyes. "You don't even like her-"
"You don't know anything about me past your misconceptions," Malfoy sneered, meeting her gaze. "As Greengrass just said, I'm a part of this group, which means that I have to carry my own weight… Same as you, same as anyone else. Weasley is making a mistake that he'll regret one day, and I don't want to see that come to pass."
"And you care about Ron since when?" Theo questioned, looking between Daphne and Malfoy. "You two weren't on the Hogwarts Express… Why?"
"All children of Order members were escorted to Hogwarts by Professor Snape," Daphne explained. "It's not safe out there for us, that's all I was told by my mother."
"And he approached you about this plan?" Blaise asked, simply staring at Malfoy with a blank expression. I bet this is all her plan, and Malfoy's just playing along with it. No way he comes up with something like this on his own.
"I was just as surprised as you are now," Daphne assured them, her voice and expression giving away nothing. "I don't see the harm in letting him try. Do any of you?"
"He's more likely to listen to me than he is to you lot, so I figured I'd give it a go," Malfoy said matter-of-factly, which, once again, infuriated Pansy.
"And why would he listen to you over us?" Pansy asked accusingly. "Since when are you so chummy with Ron?"
"It's not about being chummy," Malfoy said as if it were obvious, shooting her a bored look. "He expects you all to hound him about this, but me? No… He doesn't expect me to care about what happens to Bulstrode, so when I go to him and ask him to reconsider his stance, he'll definitely listen."
"He'll see through your charade-" Blaise started.
"It's not a charade," Malfoy cut in, going silent for a few seconds. "…You lot are never going to forgive me for how I was, and it's not because I'm beyond forgiveness… It's because it makes you feel better about yourselves, about who you used to be."
"What? Are you serious with this tripe?" Theo ridiculed, chuckling in disbelief.
"You talked about Muggles as if they were the plague, Nott, and you meant every hateful thing you said more than I ever could," Malfoy reminded him sharply, and Theo lost his mirth immediately. "Zabini spent more time acting superior to everyone around him than he did actually getting to know them. Greengrass was a spoilt brat who threw a fit anytime she didn't get what she wanted, and if anyone ever dared challenge her, she only had to bring up her Lord Father to shut them up. And you…" Malfoy looked to Pansy, his eyes cold and judgemental. "You kissed my arse at every single opportunity without fail, even when I was bullying your precious 'Millie'. As a matter of fact, you even threw out insults that were far worse than any I could conjure up, and you did it happily. You did it just to see her squirm."
Pansy couldn't help but avert her gaze upon hearing that, regretfully remembering all the times she herself had brought Millie to tears when they were children. I wish I knew better back then… I was so horrible to her-…
"You're all hypocrites," Malfoy continued, eyeing each of them critically. "You act like you're better than me because you abandoned me for Weasley, as if that absolves you of who you used to be. Weasley is the inherently good person, not you. His influence is what made you all change for the better, and you know it… All those lectures he gives, all those speeches… You all listened to them, and they helped you change into who you are today. Well, guess what? He spends more time lecturing me than he does actually talking to me, and you think I just ignore him? No… I listen, because unlike you all, I have no choice but to listen. No one fucking talks to me unless they want to mock me and belittle me, he's the only one in this damn group who gives me the time of day without treating me like shit!" Malfoy then drew in another sharp breath; he was turning blue in the face from his rant. "I can change too; you don't have a monopoly on that. I can also try to be better, to myself and to those around me. Is that really so hard for you pricks to stomach? Huh?" Malfoy then returned to his dinner, glowering. "Just let me eat in peace, all right? Bunch of self-righteous hypocrites… I said I'll talk to Weasley, and I will. I don't need you to believe me, and I definitely don't need you to doubt my intentions."
Pansy looked to the other boys as Malfoy returned to finishing off his potatoes, they both looked surprised and subdued by his tongue-lashing, and she honestly couldn't blame them. She felt as though she'd just had her arse torn open, and she was worried that if she said even a single word, if she even made a peep, Malfoy would go for her jugular next. And so, as subtly as she could, Pansy turned her head towards Daphne, wondering how the Greengrass Heiress had reacted to being put on blast like that. What the…?
Daphne was smirking to herself, quietly enjoying her dinner as if nothing had happened. What is going on here…? What's she playing at? Is Malfoy going to Ron her plan? Or, is it really his own? I honestly can't tell, anymore…
Millicent Bulstrode's POV
Sunday 4th April, 1994 (The Flying Dutchman – Night)
The ship suddenly shook, causing Misty to spring up in Millie's lap and hiss loudly.
"It's okay, Misty," Millie whispered, taking a hold of the terrified feline before she could run off. "…We'll be there soon, okay? There's nothing to be scared of. It'll be just like Hogwarts, I promise." Who am I kidding? It's the opposite of Hogwarts from what I've heard… I still can't believe this is happening to me… How could dad do this to me? And all because I dared to question his crimes? As if I'm the one who needs to be punished? Why didn't I just listen to Ron? I'm so stupid-…
"What's her name?" a timid voice whispered from behind Millie, spooking her.
"Um… Her name is Misty," Millie replied, before drawing in a deep breath and turning her head. "And I'm Bulstrode. Millicent Bulstrode."
A black-haired witch, one close to her own age, was awkwardly smiling at Millie and her cat from behind the couch. She had a pale, round, freckled face, with a small nose and a pointy chin. She was also quite short, and despite her heavy, blood-red robes, Millie could tell that she was underweight.
"You're new, aren't you?" the witch asked, something gleaming behind her chocolate eyes. "I've never seen you before."
"Yes, I'm new…" Millie replied, unable to muster up any excitement. "I've transferred from Hogwarts…" Against my will.
"Hogwarts?!" the witch's eyes widened, her awkward smile becoming more genuine. "Really?! That's so cool!"
Millie felt some tension leave her shoulders, and she managed a weak smile in return. "You've heard of Hogwarts?"
"Of course," the witch snorted, before moving around the couch and planting herself beside Millie without invitation. "I've read all about it! The Houses! The Great Hall! The amazing feasts! It's all in 'Hogwarts: A History'! It's my favourite book!" That's your favourite book? "I never thought I'd meet someone from there, though! Oh, this is the best! Do you mind if I ask you lots of questions about the castle?! Things only a student would know?!" She has an accent I can't quite place, and I ought to find out more about her before I trust her enough to talk more about myself. That'd be the smart thing to do.
"Only if you tell me your name, first," Millie chuckled nervously, overwhelmed by the other girl's unexpected excitement.
"Oh, darn…" the witch blinked repeatedly, as if she had finally realized that she was acting peculiar. "I'm Ruta Gorski, and I'm a Half-Blood." Did she just give me her Blood-Status without me even asking for it? Where is she from? "What about you? Are you Half-Blood as well?" I wish… If I was, then maybe my parents wouldn't be who they are.
"No, I'm a Pure-Blood…" Millie answered hesitantly, and Ruta's expression fell immediately. What? What did I say?
"I um… I'm sorry for my outburst just before…" Ruta stood up, giving Millie a pathetic smile. "I'll go… Sorry, again-"
"Why are you sorry?" Millie cut in, baffled by the strange interaction. "You didn't do anything wrong." Aside from being really weird.
"I didn't?" Ruta asked slowly, and Millie just stared at her in utter bewilderment. Which planet are you from? "It's just that… Um… We're not supposed to approach Pure-Bloods like that… It's disrespectful…" Are you serious? "I shouldn't have-"
"It's all right," Millie stopped her, putting on a welcoming smile as best she could. "It didn't bother me at all. I mean, you were very… excited… but you weren't 'disrespectful'. Not even close."
"Really?" Ruta looked quite taken aback, and after a few seconds, she slowly sat back down. "Where are you from? Country, I mean…"
"Magical Britain," Millie replied, holding Misty close to her chest. "You?"
"Magical Poland," Ruta responded timidly, her former excitement completely gone. "…Are things done differently at Hogwarts…?"
"What things?" Millie asked in response, stroking Misty comfortingly.
"Well, at Durmstrang…" Ruta started, looking around the comfortable lounge before leaning in close. "Half-Bloods and Pure-Blood don't usually socialize… Not unless the Pure-Bloods allow it, of course…"
Millie nearly rolled her eyes, the mere idea of attending a school that promoted superiority complexes vexed her greatly. "There are some students at Hogwarts who would love for that to be the case, but thankfully, it's not. Most students don't even care about each other's Blood-Status, and the ones that do are the ones no one wants to be friends with."
"Really?" Ruta muttered, looking shocked and, if Millie was right, somewhat envious. "That sounds… I mean… Really?"
"Yes, really," Millie assured her, smiling a little. "So, don't worry about being 'disrespectful' with me, please. I don't buy into that tripe. Just be yourself, that's all I can ask."
Ruta smiled weakly at that, giving Millie and Misty a nod. "Do you… Do you want to be friends? I can um… show you around the castle… Take you to your classes…" Why do I get the feeling that she doesn't have many friends? Regardless, it would be nice to have someone who can show me to my classes, at the very least. "If you don't want to, that's also fine-"
"No, I'd like to be friends," Millie agreed, feeling a little more at ease at the thought of someone watching her back. "What about you, Misty?" The black cat continued to purr, blinking its green eyes lazily. "That's a yes from her too."
"Friends, then," Ruta smiled more fully, looking twice as relieved as Millie for some reason. "Which year are you in? Fourth year? Fifth year?"
"No, third year," Millie replied, deflating a little. "You're in fourth year, then?"
"No, I'm third year as well," Ruta beamed, much to Millie's relief. "I just assumed you were older than me because you're much more mature than the other girls in our year." I am?
"How so?" Millie asked, curious.
"Well, I probably shouldn't say…" Ruta all but whispered, looking around them as if she were worried about being overheard. "You'll see for yourself, trust me. If you go around telling people that you don't care about Blood-Status, like you did with me, you're bound to run into Alice and her cronies." Alice? "I shouldn't talk bad about them behind their backs, but I really don't like them… They're…" she trailed off, going quiet for a few seconds. She's scared of them; I can see it all over her face. "Um… You should probably change into your school robes. We're almost there, and you don't want to start the march to the fortress in what you're wearing now. If you don't freeze on the way, Headmaster Karkaroff will have you punished for wearing casuals on school grounds."
"It's against the rules to wear casuals outside of class?" Millie asked, taken aback. So, I'm always supposed to be in uniform? That's ridiculous…
"Mhm," Ruta nodded. "You can only wear casuals in the dorms, but never outside. Oh, and no make-up, jewellery, or, anything else that isn't approved by Professor Kemppainen." Professor Kempa-what? What sort of name is that? "He's the Dark Arts Professor, but more importantly, he's the Head of the Disciplinary Committee. You don't want to upset them, okay? They're very harsh, and once they catch you breaking the rules, they never stop watching you." Right, that's good to know. Durmstrang is sounding worse and worse by the minute.
"I'll go change, then," Millie decided, she'd been putting off adorning her new uniform. "Can you hold Misty for me, please? I'll be right back, I promise."
"Of course," Ruta smiled at the cat, extending her arms. "Come here, Misty!"
"Careful with her, she can be slow to adjust to new people," Millie warned, delicately passing over Misty, who meowed cantankerously due to being moved without permission.
Ruta took the black cat into her arms, and much to Millie's shock, Misty relaxed almost immediately, purring loudly and making herself comfortable on Ruta's lap without raising a fuss.
"Oh, you're the cutest," Ruta cooed, before giving Millie a wide smile. "She's precious!"
"You're really good with her," Millie smiled back, sounding more relieved than she'd intended. If Misty likes her, then I know I can trust her. "Where are the change rooms?"
"The bathrooms are at the back of the lounge," Ruta pointed, and then she returned to gushing over Misty.
Millie stood up and reached under the couch, pulling out her trunk and unlocking it in order to fetch her blood-red school robes. What else did I need? Oh, that's right! She piled the fur hat, the fur cloak, and the leather boats atop the school robes, after which she closed her trunk and slid it under the couch once more. I'm really going to miss my Slytherin robes… Red isn't my colour.
Thirty Minutes Later
The ship shook again, and just like before, Misty shot up and hissed. However, this time around, the ship continued to shake, until very suddenly, Millie felt her stomach drop to her knees. We're moving up! The ship must be emerging from the water! With Misty still in her arms, Millie rushed to the nearest window, looking outside just in time for the ship push itself out of the water. Woah! As brilliant as the Hogwarts Express is, this is so cool! Wait a minute… There's sunlight… Why is there sunlight? Isn't it night-time? I've been on this ship for hours and hours!
"We're in the Shimmering Lake, now," Ruta said from behind her. "You've come to Durmstrang at a really good time, actually. Soon, the Midnight Sun will be at its peak, and we'll have never-ending sunshine for months!" Hold on… What did she just say? Sunshine for months? The Midnight Sun?
"What's the Midnight Sun?" Millie asked, turning around and staring dumbly at her new friend.
"Oh, of course!" Ruta giggled, slapping her own forehead. "You're from Hogwarts, so how would you know about the Midnight Sun? Basically, we have perpetual sunshine for several months! From April to August, to be exact! Once the Midnight Sun leaves, though, we have an endless night between October and February… I don't like the endless night very much… Dark things wake up during the endless night, and we're not allowed outside the grounds without an escort… Not even on brooms." Dark things? That doesn't sound very appealing, and truth be told, months of sunshine doesn't either. Where the fuck are we, exactly?
"…That's so weird," Millie muttered in disbelief, looking out of the window again. "So, the sun just never sets here?" That's unbelievable…
"Of course, it does, silly," Ruta giggled again, was she enjoying this? "Just not like it does everywhere else. In a couple of weeks, there'll be a festival at Durmstrang to celebrate the Midnight Sun's return, and I promise, it's the best! There'll be dancing, cakes, and we can wear whatever we want! As long as it's appropriate, of course…" She says 'of course' a lot. Wait, why am I focusing on that?! This place has never-ending days! What the fuck?! The others would never believe me if I told them about this-… Actually, will I ever be able to tell them? "What's wrong? You've gone quiet."
"…I'm just… really surprised, that's all…" Millie lied, staring out of the window. "The lake's pretty… The water looks like it has all sorts of jewels underneath it…" I'm going to miss running around the Black Lake with the others. I'm really going to miss it. Pansy, Daphne, Tracey, Blaise, Ron, even Theo and Malfoy… I'm never going to see them again, am I?
"Are you okay, Millicent?" Ruta asked softly, and Millie shook her head clear. Ron wouldn't mope about, and neither will I. I've got to be strong. Stronger than ever.
"Is there any place where I can go running in the mornings?" Millie asked, and Ruta cocked an eyebrow.
"What?"
"I like to run in the mornings," Millie turned around, hugging Misty close. "Is there anywhere I can go?"
"The grounds are very large, so yeah… You can go wherever you like," Ruta replied hesitantly, looking puzzled. "Can I ask why you like running in the mornings?"
"It's a habit," Millie shrugged, putting on a smile for her own sake. "The stronger the body, the stronger the Magic. I used to be really… fat… when I was younger. I've slimmed down quite a bit, now, but it's still not enough. I want to be fit, and running is the best way I know how."
"Wow… You're so weird…" Ruta smiled a little, and Millie blinked. "Not in a bad way, of course! I've just never met someone like you! That's what I'm trying to say! Sorry if I was rude-"
"It's all right," Millie smiled more fully, looking back out of the window once more. "You're not being rude. I get it. Most girls our age aren't into running and fitness. It's just that-… Well, someone important to me would be very unhappy with me if I ever stopped pushing myself to my limits, and I refuse to disappoint him ever again." I really hope I see him, again. If I ever get the chance, I'll properly apologize for being so naïve and foolish. I'll listen to him, always, and I'll never go behind his back. Not for anyone.
One Hour Later
Millie marched alongside Ruta and the rest of the student body, pushing through the biting snow whilst enduring the cold winds, all of them struggling in a tight formation along a winding path that refused to end. If she didn't know any better, this was some sort of sick test that Durmstrang students had to endure every time they arrived at and departed from the castle. The younger students were starting to lag behind, but whenever one of them stopped to catch their breath, a black-robed prefect would appear and shove them back in formation. I've got half a mind to Hex them… Bunch of arseholes, pushing the little ones around like that. What's wrong with them?! This is torture!
"Sorry…" Ruta suddenly stumbled into Millie's side, shivering despite her heavy robes and fur cloak.
"You can lean on me, if you need," Millie offered, her previous training serving her well.
"No, I can't…" Ruta managed, forcing herself to straighten up and remain in formation. "We'll both get in trouble… And we're almost there… I can do this-"
"Gorski!" someone barked from behind them, and both girls quickly looked back without stopping.
A blonde boy, of similar age and height as Millie, was frowning at them, though unlike Millie and Ruta, he wore the black robes of a prefect and was wielding a golden staff decorated with roaring lion heads on both ends. Who's he? Is he just a really short fifth year?
"I catch you falling on the new girl, again, and I'll drag you all the way to the castle by your oily hair," the boy warned in perfect English, before turning his attention to another third year. "Otis! Walk straight! Left, right, left, right! Keep up with the others! You've done this before, haven't you?!"
"Who's that?" Millie whispered as she looked back ahead. "A fifth year?"
"No…" Ruta panted, the pain in her short legs showing clearly on her face. "That's Leon Rask, and he's in our year… He's a prefect… We have to do as he says, or, there'll be consequences…" A prefect? In third year?
"Does each year have its own prefect?" Millie asked, hoping to distract Ruta from the gruelling journey.
"No… Usually, only fifth years and onwards have prefects, but Rask is different," Ruta grunted, nearly stumbling again. "…He's famous in Germany… Duels professionally… The Headmaster himself made him a prefect… He's the absolute worst… Even worse than Alice and her-" she stopped, obviously too scared to badmouth the girls who picked on her. "…We're almost there…" Merlin, she needs a break, or, she's going to faint. This is cruel! The poor first-years… Who would send their children to this place?!
Her mind quickly brought up images of her own parents, the very same parents she once called her best friends in the world, and Millie felt her lips twist into a resentful sneer. I hope they're happy with themselves, because I'm never going to forgive them for this! No matter what they do, or, say, I'll remember this!
After several more minutes of marching uphill, sighs of relief began emanating from up ahead, and when the third years finally made it over the snowy slope, Millie, at long last, saw Durmstrang Institution for herself. It was not as grand as Hogwarts, nor was it as creative in design. There were no great towers, there were no sloping lawns filled with flowerbeds and vegetable-patches, and there wasn't a single tree in sight, only more snow. The grey, four-story, square castle was nestled between three stark mountains, with only one path cutting straight through the extensive, icy grounds and towards its large, closed doors.
In Millie's honest opinion, this 'fortress' looked more like a prison built to contain the worst criminals imaginable, instead of a school built to educate children. Almost there… Just a bit more to go, and then, we'll finally be warm again.
Gritting her teeth, Millie subtly nudged Ruta to keep up before pressing on ahead, her gaze firmly fixed on her new home. Marching straight downhill was a lot easier than the winding path they had taken to get here, and Millie's legs thanked her for it, especially when the entire student body came to a sudden halt just short of the iron doors. Now, what? Why aren't the doors open?
Millie looked around out of curiosity, and she saw every prefect, including Rask, free the curved horns hanging from their leather belts before bringing said horns to their lips. Together, they all blew and created a deafening sound that made Millie wince, their united call echoing throughout the grounds. The iron gates stirred, as if being woken from a Magical slumber, before opening inwards and revealing the oddly lit Entrance Hall of Durmstrang. White light? What sort of fire gives off white light-?
"Forward march!" the prefects ordered, and the student body obeyed without hesitation.
The Entrance Hall was not even close to being as warm as Millie had hoped, but it was still better than being outside, and despite her ill feelings over attending Durmstrang, she couldn't help but soak in every detail. There were no massive hourglasses filled with dazzling jewels, no knightly armours polished to perfection, and no stylish braziers to provide light and warmth. Instead, there were silver, heatless flames burning mid-air in each of the four corners, bathing the Entrance Hall in an eerie, white light. The Entrance Hall of Durmstrang was larger than that of Hogwarts, and yet, it felt smaller due to its emptiness. The walls, however, were covered with living portraits, many of whom Millie suspected to be Durmstrang's finest, each of them eyeing the students with a range of differing emotions. Creepy… I don't feel welcome at all. As a matter of fact, I feel unwanted here.
Keeping up with the others, Millie found herself moving through a tight, dimly lit corridor, feeling increasingly more uneasy the deeper she delved, until suddenly, the corridor opened up into a large hall. Once again, she took the time to study her surroundings, spotting more silver flames burning up above and bathing the stony hall with white light, and underneath them, four long tables handcrafted from mahogany to host the weary students. In addition, the Main Hall, unlike the bare Entrance Hall, was brimming with all manner of decorations, ranging from blood-red drapes to taxidermized bears and wolves to foreign armours made of colourful furs and toned leathers, and at the centre of it all was a monstrous, obsidian hearth hosting a roaring, crimson bonfire, its heat intense enough to warm her bones even from a great distance.
Millie shivered, grateful that she was finally out of the cold. This is much better… Not as big nor as beautiful as Hogwarts, but at least, it's warm.
"Are we going to sit down?" Millie whispered to Ruta, who quickly shushed her.
"Don't speak until the Headmaster gives us permission," Ruta whispered back, sounding terribly ominous. Okay, then…
The seventh years moved first, as they were at the head of the student body, taking their seats directly in front of the Professors' table, with the boys occupying the tables to the left and the girls occupying the tables to the right. Then, it was the sixth years, followed promptly by the fifth years, until eventually, it was the third years' turn. Millie sat down between Ruta and a girl with mousy-brown hair, though her eyes were already fixed on the Professors' table. Let's see…
Starting from her right, Millie began to familiarize herself with her new teachers. Most of them appeared just as eccentric as the Professors of Hogwarts, but there was one wizard who immediately caught her eye. He sat on the far end of the Professors' table, his skin bone-white and his black hair hanging wildly past his shoulders, staring into the crimson bonfire at the centre of the room with his unnatural eyes, which looked like a pair of gleaming emeralds sitting on a bed of pure darkness. The 'whites' of his eyes are pitch-black… I've never seen anything like them-… His left eye suddenly darted towards her, as if it were acting on its own accord, and Millie felt her breath hitch. What the fuck?! His right eye soon followed, and then, his head slowly turned in her direction, the two of them locking eyes. The unnerving movement of his head, as if he were a reanimated corpse, alongside his terrifying eyes, the likes of which she'd never seen before, were enough to freeze her blood in her veins, and Millie could do little but school her features whilst her heart climbed into her throat. Whoever this man is, I'm staying as far away from him as possible… Merlin's Beard, he's just staring at me…
Millie eventually managed to break her eyes away from the strange man, staring at the empty plate in front of her as she swallowed thickly. I'd rather get into a staring contest with Professor Snape than that man… I have to ask Ruta about him, about which class he teaches and what his story is. And his eyes… Gods, what kind of Magic would give you such disturbing eyes?
The sound of a spoon clinking against a wine glass broke the silence, though Millie couldn't bring herself to look towards the Professors' table again, because she could still feel the strange man's eyes watching her.
"Welcome back, all of you!" a man's raucous voice rang throughout the stone hall, it was filled with a smarmy cheeriness that caught Millie off-guard. "Once again, you have made us proud by conquering The Path, and now, we reward you with a feast well-deserved!" The man addressing them clapped his hands, and much like Hogwarts, foods of all sorts appeared on the tables. "Revel, brave ones! Fill your bellies, regain your strength, and most importantly, let the Undying Fire cleanse you of the cold!"
The students began digging into the food as soon as the Headmaster finished his short address, loud chatter and joyous laughter promptly filling the hall. Millie, comforted by the reminder of the Welcome Back Feasts, finally found the courage to look back to the Professors' table, and much to her relief, the strange man was once again watching the crimson bonfire, no food on his plate and no drink in his wineglass. He's not going to eat? And why's he staring at the fire so intently? Peeling her eyes away, Millie then looked to the man who had given the speech. He was pale and thin, dressed in sleek, silver furs, with a yellow-toothed smile that never reached his cold, unmoving, blue eyes. His goatee, which didn't quite cover his weak chin, ended with a small curl, giving him the appearance of a shady conman from Knockturn Alley rather than that of a Headmaster of one the eleven prestigious Wizarding Schools.
"You're not hungry?" Ruta suddenly asked, pulling Millie's attention. "You should eat, Millicent, or, you'll catch a cold."
"Ruta… Who is that man?" Millie asked instead, whispering. "The one on the far end? The one with the strange eyes?"
"Oh…" Ruta went a little pale in the face, keeping her eyes on the hearty stew she was all but inhaling beforehand. "That's Professor Leevi Kemppainen…" Kemppainen?
"The Dark Arts Professor? And the one who runs the Disciplinary Committee?" Millie asked for clarification, and Ruta gave a weak nod. "What's wrong with his eyes?"
"Don't ask that," Ruta warned, looking to Millie with a pleading look. "There's a lot of rumours, of course, but no one knows the truth, even if they say they do. It's best not to talk about him, okay? He's…" she trailed off, before leaning closer in order to whisper. "He's a Dark Wizard, and even the other Professors stay clear of him. Even Headmaster Karkaroff. He's not natural…"
"Not natural?" Millie whispered back, growing wide-eyed. "What do you mean?"
"I've never seen him eat, for one, because all he does is stare at the Undying Fire," Ruta started, shuddering. "And the way he moves about the castle… Emerging from the shadows without warning… I don't know… Everything about him is just wrong…"
"If everyone is so scared of him, then why is he still working here?" Millie had to ask. "Why doesn't the Headmaster fire him?"
"He was here before Headmaster Karkaroff's time," Ruta answered. "And… Well, he never leaves the castle's walls, not even during the Holidays, and if some students are to be believed, he's been here for over twenty years." He's been cooped up in here for over twenty years?! No way… No one could stay in one place for that long! They'd go insane!
"That's… definitely not natural…" Millie muttered under her breath, feeling even more hesitant about her first Dark Arts class. "When do we have the Dark Arts?"
"On what day?" Ruta asked, and Millie gave a nod. "Saturday mornings, and then, we keep going after lunch." Saturday?
"There are classes on a Saturday?" Millie blinked.
"Oh, you don't know, do you?" Ruta clicked her tongue, smacking her own forehead once again. "At Durmstrang, we have classes from Monday to Saturday. We only get Sundays off, but if there's a lot of homework, then not even that." That's mental! "It's not so bad, you get used to it." I don't want to get used to that…
"Sure…" Millie muttered, sorely missing Hogwarts once again. "I guess, I should eat up… Regain my strength, and all that…"
"That's probably for the best," Ruta said apologetically.
Looking to what was in front of her, Millie spotted a variety of foreign dishes spread out across the third year section. There were hearty stews, boiled crabs, various kinds of sausages, odd-looking meatballs, whole roasted birds and fish, pork cutlets, and platters full of roasted vegetables. She wasn't a picky eater by any means, but only a handful of foods looked appealing to her. Avoiding anything she hadn't tried before, Millie made herself a plate of pork cutlets, sausages, a strong serving of vegetables.
"Do you want some hot chocolate?" Ruta offered, and Millie gratefully accepted. "Is it true that Hogwarts' Great Hall ceiling is Enchanted to look like the outside sky? And that it's lit up by thousands of never-melting candles?"
"Um… Yes, that's true," Millie replied, feeling a pit form in her stomach despite Ruta's enamoured expression. "The plates, goblets, and cutlery are all made of solid gold, and there's so many students, each of them wearing their House's colours… Green, red, blue, yellow… The first time you see it, you just know you never want to leave…" You know it's home, and always will be.
"Then, why did you?" Ruta asked slowly. "You don't have to answer that, actually… I'm sorry, I'm being rude again-"
"My parents sent me here," Millie all but whispered, the pit in her stomach growing. "…I went against their wishes, and this is my punishment…"
Ruta just stared at her in response, utterly taken aback by her words. "That's… I'm really sorry, Millicent… I didn't know… Do you want me to stop asking about Hogwarts? Because if you do, then I will-"
"It's okay…" Millie shook her head clear, putting on another strong smile for her own sake. "I'm happy to talk about it with you. It'd be nice to keep those memories alive, you know? I never want to forget Hogwarts, not for anything." Especially not for my parents. They can send me away from my home, my friends, but it won't work. I'll never forget, no matter how hard they try.
Rodolphus Lestrange's POV
Sunday 4th April, 1994 (Dolohov Estate – Near Midnight)
"Once again, we apologize for intruding at such a late hour, my Lady," Rodolphus said cordially, entirely ignoring the feast the Dolohov Elves had cooked up at such short notice. "However, given our circumstances, we cannot risk stepping into the light… Yet."
"I understand, old friend," the Head of the Dolohov Family responded, her cool demeanour giving away nothing about her feelings of seeing Bellatrix Lestrange on her dining table. "And, please, call me Mila. All my friends do."
"Is that what we are?" Rodolphus smiled, his eyes digging into hers. "It has been a long time since last we spoke, and I've always found people to be… fickle."
"You mean lacking in conviction," Mila said coolly, and Rodolphus merely gave a nod. "Have I not been hospitable to you and your Lady wife, Rodolphus? You come to my door in the dead of night, shrouded in dark cloaks, and what do I do? I wake up my Elves to feed you, to treat you as if you were my own flesh and blood." She then looked to Bella, who was stuffing her mouth with whatever delicacy she could grab. "Join your wife, old friend. Enjoy the comforts you were so wrongfully denied for over a decade. We can discuss business tomorrow." Spare me the games you all love to play, I've no patience for them.
"We will discuss it, now," Rodolphus told her plainly, ignoring his wife's lack of decorum. "I did not come here for your hospitality, my dear… I came here for your allegiance."
"And what if my answer is no?" Mila asked, studying his expression most carefully.
"Then, I will kill you," Rodolphus told the truth, not wavering for even a heartbeat. "I will kill your Elves. I will kill your hounds. I will kill everyone who calls you friend, and I will start with those you most cherish, I promise."
Mila leaned back in her chair, and despite hiding it well, she was shaken by the conviction behind his words. "I see… Then, your Master has my allegiance, just as he did during the Great War." I haven't even mentioned him, but I suppose, I didn't have to. She's an intelligent woman, and I won't insult her by hiding the truth.
"He will be most pleased by your decision-"
"I do have one condition, however," she cut in, looking between Rodolphus and Bella. "Tell me of my brother. I read that he too escaped that evil place, and yet, he is not here with you. Why?"
"They shattered him into little pieces," Bella sang, shooting Mila a cruel smirk. "Poor Doly… All bent and broken! All spent and-!"
"Bellatrix," Rodolphus interjected firmly, shooting her a warning look. "Eat your supper."
"If that is what my husband commands," Bella returned to gorging herself on honeyed lamb, sniggering like a mischievous child.
"Is this true?" Mila looked to Rodolphus, her expression hardening. Bella broke through her armour with just a few words… So, that's her weakness, then. Her big brother, the very same who rejected his birthright, and her, just so he could keep sating his curiosities. "My brother is no more?"
"The Aurors kept him in a wretched place, far more wretched than my own," Rodolphus explained. "You see, they could not risk your brother even speaking to any of the guards, because the Aurors feared that he would put them under some Dark Spell with nothing more than his voice alone. As a result of his mistreatment, he was in worse shape than any of us. He was too weak to travel, too weak not to be constantly looked after. We could not afford to bring him with us."
"Where is he, now?" Mila asked coldly. "Did you leave my brother behind, Rodolphus Lestrange?"
"He is my brother also," Rodolphus reminded her, offended that she'd even suggest such a thing. "Your bond with him was forged through blood, yes, but mine was forged through war. I would no sooner abandon him than I would Rabastan. He is safe, Mila, and one day soon, he will visit you himself. You have my word on that."
"My husband is many things, but he is not a liar," Bella added, munching on juicy ribs. "This is excellent, this! Your Elves certainly know what they're about!"
Mila did not respond to Bella's compliment, as she was too busy studying Rodolphus' face. He stared back in silence, knowing all too well that she would believe him, because every word he had just spoken was nothing short of true. I will repay those who locked us away like animals a thousand-fold. Those who hurt my family… I will kill them all.
"I look forward to embracing him, again," Mila suddenly said, her lips twitching upwards. "Please, enjoy your meal. I will have my finest room prepared for you. You deserve nothing less for your sacrifices in the name of our people, valiant ones, and it is my honour to have you sleep under my roof."
"There is more I would discuss with you," Rodolphus wasn't finished yet.
"And you will," she promised, rising from her seat and wrapping her silk robes around herself more tightly, as if showcasing her slender figure. "But for now, we have discussed enough, I think. You have me, Rodolphus. Enjoy your dinner."
With that, she left the dining room, leaving Rodolphus and Bella with a table full of delectable dishes and fine meats. The Dark Lord will be pleased by this. That's one major Family down, four more to go. With her on our side, we'll have an easier time convincing the others to join-…
"She wants you," Bella suddenly hummed, bringing him out of his thoughts. "I saw it in her eyes." Is that so? She must be quite starved for excitement, then.
"I only have eyes for you, love," Rodolphus assured her, staring at the food before him with no interest whatsoever.
"You can have her," Bella giggled, before adorning a coy smile. "But only if you invite me as well. Do you remember the fun we used to have when we were young? Oh, how I miss those times!" If we had spent less time indulging ourselves, all of us, we'd have won the war. We were foolish, drunk on power, and undisciplined… We made ourselves weak, and we lost everything.
"We're not young, anymore," Rodolphus whispered, feeling empty inside. "Eat, love. Don't let me keep you."
Bella studied her husband's distant expression, promptly losing her mirth and adorning a rare look of concern, instead. "Rodolphus, what's wrong? Speak to me, dearest. You know it hurts me to see you upset." No, it doesn't. You wouldn't be you if it did.
"Everything is wrong…" he answered bitterly, his hands clenching into fists. "And it's up to us to fix it. There can be no distractions, Bella, not this time. We can't lose, again. We can't end up in-" he stopped, feeling a cold shiver run through him as he thought of his damp, dark cell. "…We can't lose…"
"And we won't," she promised, smiling fondly. "We will retake what's rightfully ours, and we will bring those who have stolen it down on their knees. Dumbledore, Crouch, Mad-Eye, Harry Potter, the Order, every Mud-Blood and Blood-Traitor… We will kill them all, and then, together with our Lord, we will build a Pure World. A better world. The world we were promised as children. But I can't do it without you, so please, eat. Don't starve yourself, not when so many are depending on you."
Rodolphus nodded, feeling somewhat more at ease, and then, he began piling food onto his plate. She is right. I will need my strength, if not for myself, then for my people. I will not fail them a second time, and more importantly, I will not fail him.
Millicent Bulstrode's POV
Monday 5th April, 1994 (Durmstrang Institute – Morning)
"After our classes end, I'll show you around the fortress," Ruta promised as they exited the Main Hall, it was time to attend their first class of the term. "It's not as big as Hogwarts, of course, but there's a lot to see. It's full of secret rooms and passages, you'll love it!" We'll see about that…
Millie shot the excited girl a smile, though she didn't share Ruta's enthusiasm whatsoever. They had discussed Hogwarts at great length last night, and the more stories she had shared, the more homesick she had felt. I don't think I fully realized how much I was going to miss Hogwarts and my friends, not even when I boarded the Flying Dutchman instead of the Hogwarts Express. It just didn't set in until last night… What am I going to do? I don't want to be here. I want to go home. I want to be with my friends. Merlin, they must be so worried because of me, especially Pansy and Daphne-…
"What's wrong?" Ruta suddenly asked, breaking Millie out of her thoughts. "You're been really quiet all morning, Millicent."
"Sorry about that," Millie pushed her worries to the back of her mind, clutching her books more tightly. "I'm just a bit anxious about starting classes at a new school… I don't know what you lot are covering, nor do I know anything about my new Professors… It's all a bit much, that's all."
"That makes sense," Ruta gave Millie an understanding smile, easing her nerves a little. "But if you have any questions, why don't you can just ask me? I'd be happy to tell you whatever you want to know." Is there a way for me to run away from this place and get back to Hogwarts?
"Who's our Charms Professor?" Millie asked, ignoring her own thoughts. "We are going to Charms, aren't we?"
"We are, and it's Professor Bojana Vulchanova," Ruta answered, smirking as if the name meant something special. "Vulchanova? As in, the witch who founded Durmstrang? The one who discovered the Undying Fire and built a fortress around it?" Millie shook her head; she had no idea what Ruta was on about. "Professor Vulchanova is the only descendant of Durmstrang's first Headmistress, Nerida Vulchanova! Her entire family, since the very beginning, have been teachers at Durmstrang! They're kind of legendary, so I'm a little surprised you haven't heard of them…"
"What's Professor Vulchanova like?" Millie asked, ascending the large staircase that led up to the second floor.
"She's… tough," Ruta replied thoughtfully. "I don't know… She's the quiet kind, you know? She doesn't mingle with the students, and beyond classes, we don't really see her. I like her, though. She's not afraid of punishing the Pure-Blood students, unlike some other Professors here. If they talk in her class, she smacks them just like she would smack the Half-Bloods." She smacks them?
"She hits her students?" Millie was appalled by the idea, and when Ruta simply shrugged, Millie was left dumbfounded.
"Most of the Professors do," Ruta explained, much to Millie's horror. "But only if you break the rules, or, disrupt their classes. If you behave, like I do, then there's nothing to worry about." Ruta then snorted, recalling a memory. "Back in first year, Alice brought up her rich family to Professor Färber because he gave her detention, and he smacked her so hard that she fell over! It was perfect!" Merlin's Beard… What kind of school is this? Professors hitting students? That would never happen at Hogwarts! Headmaster Dumbledore would be livid if it did!
The two girls moved through the second floor in silence, passing by students from all seven years until they reached an iron door at the far end of the hallway. Many of their year-mates were already waiting outside, broken up into their respective groups and eagerly chatting away. Millie couldn't help but notice that Ruta wasn't a part of any group, and since Durmstrang didn't have Houses like Hogwarts, the small witch appeared to be entirely friendless. Is that why she approached me on the Flying Dutchman when no one else did? She offered to become my friend rather quickly, as if she wanted to get to me before someone else did.
Millie subtly studied her fellow year-mates, there were around twenty of them in total, but the two that stood out the most were Leon Rask and Alice Waldvogel. Rask was surrounded by a small group consisting of only boys, all of them wearing blood-red robes save for him, as he was wearing a prefect's black robes. He was speaking rather loudly, while the others boys around him just listened with fixed smiles on their faces, and Millie got the feeling that this was a common occurrence. As for Alice, she was surrounded by a larger group consisting of boys and girls alike, all of them whispering to each other and laughing without care. She was incredibly pretty, Millie couldn't help but notice, with long, jet-black hair and a slim figure most girls their age would kill for. However, it was her violet eyes that caught Millie's attention the most, because just from looking at them, Millie could tell that they were Magical in origin. They're so shiny… Like polished gemstones-…
"Don't stare," Ruta warned in a whisper, and Millie promptly averted her gaze. Sorry, couldn't help it… "I saw her looking at you during breakfast… You don't want to get on her bad side, trust me… She's a horrible person…"
"Is she the reason why you don't have any friends?" Millie asked bluntly, and when Ruta shrunk even more in size, she felt a strong pang of guilt. "Sorry, I didn't mean-… It's just something I've noticed, that's all… You haven't spoken to anyone but me, not even when we were in the girls' common room before bedtime." Ruta said nothing in response, merely staring at the ground in front of her. "Sorry, I won't bring it up, again-"
"I don't know what I did, but she's always coming after me…" Ruta muttered, shuffling in her spot. "Ever since first year, she's been picking on me, and because of that, no one in our year talks to me… They just join in, call me mean names and push me around… The boys, the girls… Everyone…" Really? That's dreadful! "I didn't want to tell you, but when I saw you on the ship-"
"It's all right," Millie stopped her. "Everyone deserves to have friends, Ruta, and I'm happy you came over."
"You are?" Ruta asked, looking up in surprise, as if she had been expecting Millie to abandon her all along.
"I was alone and scared, but now, I'm not," Millie smiled genuinely, nudging Ruta. "And that's thanks to you."
Ruta smiled a little, but then, her expression fell completely. "What if they start picking on you too?" I'd like to see them try.
"I know how to handle bullies," Millie assured her. "Don't worry about me, and from now on, if they ever come after you, you need to tell me. We'll stay together, but there are bound to be times when we're alone, and that's when they'll come looking for you."
"Okay…" Ruta muttered under her breath, studying Millie. "Does Hogwarts have a lot of bullies? You sound like you're speaking from experience."
"It has its fair share," Millie shrugged. "But I wasn't one of their victims. I… I did grow up around bullies, though… So, I know a little about how they think, which is why I know that the only way to stop them is to stand up for yourself."
"…I can't do that…" Ruta said anxiously. "…I've tried, but they only get meaner when I do…"
"You didn't have me watching your back before," Millie told her in response. "I'll be right there with-"
The iron door swung open suddenly, and Professor Vulchanova stepped through. She was a middle-aged witch, with dark hair and olive skin, and she was adorned in black furs from neck-to-toe. Her black eyes studied the third years, who had all fallen silent the moment she had opened the door, and when they landed on Millie, they lingered.
"Inside," she ordered; her voice softer than Millie had imagined.
One by one, the students followed her into the large classroom, taking their seats without a word. Millie followed Ruta to the front of the class, but just as she was about to sit down, Professor Vulchanova turned to face her.
"Not you," she said, looking between Ruta and Millie. "You will follow me to my office. Come."
Ruta and Millie exchanged looks, and then, she did as she was told, following the older witch to another iron door in the far corner of the room. Once they were inside the overly-clean office, which was devoid of anything save for a large desk stacked with parchments, Professor Vulchanova brandished her wand and Non-Verbally Conjured a smaller desk.
"Sit," she ordered, before waving the wand at her desk and Summoning several papers onto the smaller desk.
Millie sat down and looked to the Professor for further instructions, feeling strangely uneasy in her presence. "May I ask what this is about, Professor?"
"You are being tested," Vulchanova told her, vanishing her Charms books with another wave of the wand. "You have until morning classes end. Do not skip any questions, answer as best you can, and write clearly. If you cheat, I will know, and you will be punished accordingly."
With that, Vulchanova left the classroom, closing the door behind her. I'm being tested? Why? It's not like I haven't been to a Magical School before… Whatever. Let's just have a look and see what's on here. Millie sifted through the papers, quickly noticing that the test was broken up into different sections labelled by the subject in question. Charms, Astronomy, Herbology, History of Wizarding Kind, Potions, Transfiguration, Arithmancy-… Hold on, I've never done Arithmancy before! I don't know anything about it! And Study of Muggles?! I didn't study that either! Oh, Study of Runes, thank Merlin… Wait… What the hell is Magical Monsters? Shouldn't it be called 'Care of Magical Creatures', instead? She flipped to the last section, and her eyes widened when she read 'The Dark Arts' written in bold letters. That's the biggest section… There's four pages just about it… I don't know anything about the Dark Arts, save for the Curses Ron taught me. Merlin's Beard, I'm going to fail this thing, aren't I?!
Monday 5th April, 1994 (Durmstrang Institute – Before Lunch)
Millie stood before Professor Vulchanova as the older witch went through her answers, feeling a hot blush on her face due to the embarrassment that came from flunking a test. She'd done well on most of the sections, but when it had come to Arithmancy, Study of Muggles, Magical Monsters, and the Dark Arts, Millie had found herself at a complete loss. I definitely failed four entire sections… She's going to bite my head off, isn't she?
"You have very neat handwriting, Miss. Bulstrode," Vulchanova finally looked up, and Millie blinked. "I'm impressed."
"Oh… Thank you, Professor-"
"But you are as dull as dirt." There it is… "I told you not to skip any questions, and yet, you did just that. Why? Was I not clear enough when I gave you the instructions? Do you have too much earwax, perhaps?"
"I'm sorry…" Millie shifted in her spot, averting her gaze. "I… I haven't studied some of the subjects on that test before…"
"Do they not teach Arithmancy, Magical Monsters, Study of Muggles, and Defence Against the Dark Arts at Hogwarts?" Vulchanova asked, raising an eyebrow. "Speak, girl, and look at me while we converse. I don't tolerate such rude behaviour from my students."
"They do…" Millie looked up, drawing in a deep breath. "But Arithmancy, Care of Magical Creatures, Study of Runes, and Muggle Studies are all electives, and I only took Care of Magical Creatures and Study of Runes. As for Defence Against the Dark Arts… Well, we learn how to counter Dark Magic, not how to cast it…"
Vulchanova leaned back in her chair, studying Millie from head-to-toe. "You took this 'Care of Magical Creatures', you say? Then, why did you skip so many questions in that particular section?"
"Well, the questions were…" Millie started but promptly stopped, as she had no idea on how to address the problem.
"Were what?" Fucking insane, all right! They were downright barmy!
"One of the questions asked me to detail a Centaur's weak spots…" Millie managed, shooting a quick look at her reviewed test. "And another asked me for the easiest method of eliminating Goblins…" Goblins and Centaurs aren't even Magical 'monsters', they're both sentient beings. "We learned how to take care of Magical Creatures, Professor, how to nurture them and keep them safe. We didn't study ways of killing them…"
"Ah, now, I see," Vulchanova whispered to herself, before picking up the test papers and sifting through them again. "Here, in Durmstrang, all of these subjects are mandatory, Miss. Bulstrode, and you will be expected to perform well in all of them. Failure to do so will lead to punishment from the Professors who run them. Do you understand?"
"…I understand…" Millie wanted nothing more than to return to Hogwarts, now.
"I will assign you all the work that's been covered in Arithmancy, Magical Monsters, Study of Muggles, and the Dark Arts this year," Vulchanova continued indifferently. "You will catch-up in your own time, and you will do so before the exam period begins. The library is on the third floor, Miss. Gorski knows the way. That will be all. You are dismissed."
"Um… How did I do on the rest of test?" Millie had to ask, just to save herself some pride.
"Exceptionally well," Vulchanova answered plainly, and Millie felt some of her confidence return. "I can safely say that you're ahead of many of your peers, as some questions on this test have not been covered by us just yet. Hogwarts may have its shortcomings, but from your answers, it's clear that they take their education very seriously. You may go, now. I believe you have Transfiguration after lunch, and Professor Celeste will be pleased to have you in her class. She has an eye for talent, same as myself." Talent? Me?!
Millie smiled, which seemed to annoy Professor Vulchanova, so she quickly schooled her features. "Thank you, Professor. I look forward to your classes."
Vulchanova said nothing, merely giving her a nod as she began heading for the door. Millie wasted no time in leaving the office, and the classroom, behind, entering the hallway and finding Ruta waiting for her outside.
"There you are!" Ruta let out a sigh of relief, looking between her and the closed door behind her. "Why did Professor Vulchanova take you into her office? You're not in any trouble, are you?"
"No, she gave me a test to work through," Millie explained, both girls heading towards the large staircase. "And it didn't go over too well, if I'm being honest… There's a lot of work I need to catch-up on-"
"I can help!" Ruta volunteered, surprising Millie a little with her enthusiasm. "I'm not all that smart, but I've got notes if you want them! Oh, and I can show you where the library is! It's on the third floor, and it's one of my favourite spots in the fortress! No one ever bothers you there!" Bothers, or, bullies?
"Thanks, Ruta, I appreciate that," Millie smiled, deciding to watch her new friend's back more keenly.
They made their way up to the girls' common room, which was located on the fourth floor, but unlike Hogwarts, this common room was not hidden behind a secret password. Instead, the way inside somewhat resembled the entrance to Ron's Sanctuary, for it only presented itself to girls. Her new common room was also slightly larger than her previous one, fitted with luxurious furnishing, an awfully large, crystal chandelier, blood-red drapes baring Durmstrang's coat of arms, its own personal library, and two distinct fireplaces on either sides of the room. Millie was certain that the entire space was Magically enlarged, just like the Hogwarts common rooms, because the dorms could only be accessed by a long, winding staircase which went up seven floors, each floor dedicated to a year-level.
"We should take our Transfiguration books with us," Ruta said, opening the door and leading the way inside their dorm. "That way, we don't have to come up a second time-"
"Ruta, you're here!" a girl said gleefully, her voice sharp and full of mirth. "Ve vere vondering ven you vould show your ugly face!" What the…?
Millie made her way inside, and much to her surprise, there was a group of smirking girls lounging around Ruta's bed. They had Ruta's trunk wide-open, with most of her clothing scattered about the room, and at the centre of it all was Alice Waldvogel, who was holding a small bra up to her side and smiling like the cat that ate the canary.
"W-what are you… doing…?" Ruta stuttered, her eyes going wide as dinner plates when she saw the bra. "That's mine! Give it back, Alice!"
Ruta rushed forward, trying to snatch the bra out of Waldvogel's hand, but the taller girl moved it above Ruta's reach. All the girls, save for Millie, burst into laughter as Ruta desperately tried to retake what was hers, sounding like a pack of hyenas as they threw Ruta's clothes at her and made cruel remarks about her body.
"You are as flat as a boy," Waldvogel jeered, using her free hand to push Ruta onto her bum. "Vy do you need bras? Trying to impress the boys, are you? No one vould ever vant a tiny thing like you."
Ruta shot up at that, her eyes brimming with tears and her face flush from embarrassment, brandishing her wand and aiming it at Waldvogel's face. The girls laughed even harder at that, while Waldvogel smirked arrogantly. This is getting out of hand! This Alice girl is a proper bitch!
"Are you going to Curse me?" Waldvogel challenged, and Ruta's wand hand began to tremble as she wiped at her eyes. "Go on, tiny girl! Do it! Ven my father hears of it, you vill be expelled vithin a day!"
Having seen enough, Millie quietly walked over to Waldvogel, grabbing the girl's arm roughly and twisting it without mercy. Waldvogel let out a pained screech, while the other girls went wide-eyed from surprise. With relative ease, Millie snatched the bra out of Waldvogel's grasp, before shoving the bully onto her side. Waldvogel, however, quickly shot up to her feet, reaching for her wand as she cussed in German, but Millie had already brandished hers, aiming it just under the other girl's chin.
"I'd say it's a pleasure to meet you, but I'd be lying," Millie sneered, pressing her wand into the other girl's slender neck. "I'm Millicent, by the way, and if I ever catch you picking on Ruta again, I'll teach you a lesson you won't ever forget."
"You bitch-" Waldvogel fumed, but froze completely when Millie dug the wand in.
"Don't try me," Millie warned, shooting a quick glance at the other girls, who had all lost their mirth and were glaring at her. "I don't care about who your father is, and I certainly have no reason to fear him. I'm giving you this one warning, all right? Just this one… After this, I'll do some damage that no one will be able to fix. We share the same room, you and I, so I can get to you at any time. When you're in the shower. When you're asleep. When you're taking a shit. Whenever you least expect me, I'll be there. Remember that the next time you think of coming after Ruta." With that, Millie tucked her wand away, her heart beating in her throat. "This is the part where you say you're sorry and sod off." Merlin, how does Ron do this so easily?! I feel like I can't breathe!
Waldvogel shook with fury, shooting a hateful look towards Ruta, before suddenly reaching for her wand again. Millie lunged forward, punching the German witch in her sternum as hard as she could, and Waldvogel crumpled on the spot, wheezing for air. The other girls gasped in horror, quickly rushing to their friend's trembling form, a handful of them even threatening to go to the Headmaster.
"Go to him, then!" Millie barked, silencing them. "Go on! Tell him what you were all doing before I clocked your friend!"
"You… You vill… pay for this… insult…" Waldvogel threatened with tears in her violet eyes, her friends helping her up as she gripped at her stomach. "You vill regret touching me… My father… is a poverful man…" And mine is a fucking Death-Eater! We'll see who regrets what, bitch!
"Then, go write to him," Millie stepped out of the way, forcing her hands to not tremble from the adrenaline rush. "Go on! Fuck off! Or, I'll hit you again, and this time, I'll aim for your face!"
Waldvogel and her friends quickly rushed out of the room, all of them throwing out threats and foreign slurs. Once they were gone, Millie drew in a deep breath, feeling her knees shake from the confrontation. What did I just get myself into…? I shouldn't have punched her, that was going too far-…
"You hit her…" Ruta mumbled, and Millie quickly banished her thoughts and walked over to the stunned girl.
"Are you all right?" Millie asked, looking her over.
"You hit her…" Ruta repeated, and then, her face twisted as she let out a sorry sob. "…No one's ever stood up for me like that…"
Millie didn't know what to say, but she did know that Ruta's clothes and undergarments had no business lying about the room. "Come on, sit down for a bit, please. I'll clean everything up."
Millie guided the smaller witch onto her bed, giving her shoulder a squeeze before going around the room and grabbing all the clothing she could find. Once everything was gathered up, she began packing it back into the trunk, but stopped when Ruta joined her. The short witch was still shaking and sniffling, and Millie couldn't help but wonder how hard her life had been before the two had met. I'm going to keep looking out for her. Those girls… They were absolutely atrocious! Singling her out and making her life miserable! They shouldn't be allowed entry into the same common room as her, let alone share a room with her!
"…Thank you, Millicent…" Ruta sniffled, rubbing her eyes clear as she packed her clothes away. "A-Alice is… She's so… I hate her so much…"
"I understand," Millie said softly, putting her arm around Ruta's scrawny shoulders. "And like I said before, you have me watching your back, now. I'll look out for you if you look out for me. Deal?"
"…Deal…" Ruta sniffled, smiling weakly. "…I still can't believe you hit her…"
"Yeah… Sorry about that-"
"No, it was amazing," Ruta said quickly. "I just… I never thought another girl would do that to Alice… I've always wanted to, but she's stronger than me…"
"Good thing I'm here, then," Millie joked, before helping Ruta stand up. "Don't cry, all right? Don't give her that satisfaction. And from now on, I want you to stick by my side. People like Alice… They don't learn their lessons easily. They keep finding reasons to come back, so believe me, this isn't over."
"Okay," Ruta wiped at her eyes, again. "What do we do?"
"We go down, and we have lunch-" Millie started, but stopped when the door slammed open.
She quickly pulled Ruta behind her, going stiff when she saw an older girl in black robes step into the room. A prefect… Fuck…
"Both of you…" the girl snarled, frowning deeply. "Come with me right now! The Headmaster wants a word with you!"
Thirty Minutes Later
"Your very first day here, and you attack a fellow Pure-Blood?" Headmaster Karkaroff questioned, an amused smile on his thin face. "And not just any Pure-Blood, but a member of the esteemed Waldvogel Family?"
Millie shifted in her spot, shooting a quick glance towards Alice, who was still holding onto her stomach in a bid to garner more sympathy. She had run straight to the Headmaster's gaudy office, claiming that she had been attacked over a minor joke between Ruta and herself, and from the looks of it, she had a done an excellent job of painting herself as the victim of an unprovoked crime.
"Well, Miss. Bulstrode?" Professor Vulchanova demanded from behind the Headmaster's gold and ivory throne, her expression entirely indifferent. "Do you have anything to say for yourself beyond what you've already told us?"
"No," Millie stood her ground.
"And you, Miss. Gorski?" Professor Vulchanova looked to the smaller witch, who shrunk immediately.
"A-Alice is a liar, Professor…" Ruta managed, her voice barely coming out. "She was… She had my…" she trailed off, clearly too embarrassed to go on.
"Yes, she was going through your undergarments," Headmaster Karkaroff chuckled, making Millie's skin crawl. I don't like this man… There's something just gross about him. I can feel it. "However, she claims that this never happened, so you can understand my position, can't you? I don't know who is telling the truth, and therefore, I must side with the assaulted party." Bollocks! You just want to side with Waldvogel to kiss her father's arse! I know how this goes!
"You can check our memories," Millie suggested, keeping a straight face.
"Your memories?" Headmaster Karkaroff raised an eyebrow, while Professor Vulchanova smirked a little. "Such an invasion of privacy is not necessary-"
"Check only mine, then," Millie cut in, shooting Waldvogel a slight frown. "You don't have to 'invade her privacy' to know the truth. This just happened, so I couldn't possibly have altered my memories so quickly. I don't even know how Memory Charms work, as a matter of fact, because I'm only in third year-"
"Enough!" Headmaster Karkaroff suddenly barked, making the girls flinch. "You will mind your tongue in my office, girl! Or, I will have your mouth sealed shut for an entire week! Perhaps, that will be enough to teach you some manners? If it is not, then you will find that my imagination has very few limits…" He then put on another smile, and just like before, it never reached his cold eyes. "Alice, tell me the truth, now. What really happened in that dorm?" Why are you asking her?! Ask Ruta! They've been bullying her for years!
"As I already said, Headmaster, this barbarian girl hit me…" Waldvogel squeaked, clutching more tightly onto her stomach. Oh, please… "Ve vere only fooling around, teasing her a little, but Gorski tried to Curse me-"
"She's lying," Millie interrupted, frowning deeply. "This is ridiculous! You can find out the truth with ease, but you're not-!"
"Again, you speak out of turn," Headmaster Karkaroff sneered, his long fingers digging into the arms of his throne. "I believe, I'm beginning to see what truly transpired here… Poor Alice was viciously attacked because she made a jest that set you off, yes? You're clearly unable to master your emotions, either because you're just as barbaric as Alice claims, or, because it's simply that time of the month for you…" Millie gaped, and even Professor Vulchanova frowned to herself. "Whatever the reason, you will find that this is not Hogwarts… We pride ourselves on our discipline, our rules, and our kinship to one another. And you, young Bulstrode, have shown a regard for none on your very first day, and that will not be tolerated. You will serve detention with Professor Vulchanova after classes for the remainder of the week, am I understood?" You ugly creep… "And as for Miss. Gorski, she will clean the restrooms along with the servants." Fuck you!
Millie seethed in her spot, looking at both the Headmaster and Professor Vulchanova with open disdain. Next time, I'm aiming for her face! I don't care how many detentions they give me! They can't expel me, and I already know it! Dad must've made sure of that, so I might as well take advantage of it! Ron was right about this too! Half-measures against bullies never work! I should never hold back on them! I mean, the day he burned Flint's hand, that ugly troll never dared cross him again, right?!
"What of Miss. Waldvogel, Headmaster?" Professor Vulchanova asked, making the witch in question go wide-eyed. "She has herself admitted to starting this entire fiasco. What of her punishment?"
"I believe she's been punished enough already," Karkaroff said dismissively, keeping his eyes fixed on Millie. "You are all dismissed."
Monday 5th April, 1994 (Durmstrang Institute – After Classes)
"Wait for me here until my detention ends, all right?" Millie instructed Ruta, who hadn't spoken a word since her unjust sentencing. "Ruta? Are you listening to me?"
"…Why…?" Ruta finally broke her silence, staring at the ground.
"Because we need to stick together," Millie replied. "If those girls catch you alone, they're going to-"
"Why did you have to hit her?" Ruta looked up, her eyes blood-shot and brimming with tears. "Now, I have to clean the toilets! All because of you!" …What?
"…Ruta… I'm on your side-" Millie tried, visibly taken aback.
"No, you hit her, even after I told you that this school-!" she abruptly stopped, letting out a meek cry and covering her face. "…I hate it here… I hate this place so much!"
Ruta then turned on her heel and ran off, sobbing loudly into her hands. Ruta… Damn, I need to go after her! Just as Millie began to move forward, the iron door behind her swung open, stopping her before she could even start.
"Good, you're punctual, at least," came Vulchanova's uncaring voice, and Millie turned around with a dark frown. You… It must feel nice being that creep's lapdog, huh? "Come in-"
"Ruta just ran off crying," Millie told the Charms Professor. "I have to go find her-"
"No, you will come with me and serve your detention," Vulchanova ordered, shooting a quick glance down the hallway. "Miss. Gorski will still be within these walls by the time we finish. You can go find her after you are done here, on your own time."
"Didn't you just hear me?" Millie couldn't help but sound exasperated. "She's upset, and she's run off to Merlin-knows-where! What if something bad happens to her?!"
"Lower your voice," the older witch warned, her soft voice unchanging. "Miss. Gorski will be fine, and I will hear no more on this. Come."
The fur-covered witch walked back into her classroom, leaving Millie to mutter curses under her breath. I'll go looking for her as soon as I'm rid of this horrible woman, then… Merlin's Beard, this school is being run by the worst sorts of people! Hogwarts had its issues, sure, but at least, the Professors cared about us!
Glowering, Millie followed Vulchanova inside the classroom and into her office. The desk she had sat the test on was waiting for her already, and just like Vulchanova's own desk, it was stacked with parchments. Ugh… I have to help mark papers? Well, at least, it's not as bad cleaning the restrooms… Poor Ruta… Taking a seat, Millie eyed the parchments with a look of uncompromising contempt, ignoring Vulchanova despite knowing that the older witch was staring at her.
"I have taken the liberty of compiling all the coursework covered so far in third year much sooner than I promised," Vulchanova started, earning a passing glance from Millie. "You can get started at your leisure." Wait… This isn't her work that she's pawning off to me?
Millie paid closer attention to the parchments, picking from the top of the stack closest to her and feeling somewhat shocked to find out that Vulchanova was telling the truth. Undetectable Poisons… This must be what they covered in Potions at the start of the year! We covered this too! Professor Snape assigned us that really nasty essay on them, I remember!
"This hardly seems like detention," Millie pointed out, still feeling rebellious despite the pleasant surprise. "You're letting me study in your office? Instead of, I don't know, making me scrub your floors?"
"Do you want to scrub my floors?" Vulchanova asked, already deep into her work. "If so, you are welcome to it. Just don't make any noise. I have work to do."
Millie frowned deeply, looking back to the parchment in her hands. "She was lying, just so you know… Waldvogel, I mean. I didn't hit her because she made some offhanded comments-"
"I know," Vulchanova stopped her, still working. "Everyone in that room knew that you and Miss. Gorski were telling the truth, but there is no use in arguing over this any longer. Start studying." I beg to differ!
"If you knew, then why didn't you say anything?" Millie asked defiantly, and Vulchanova looked up with an ice-cold expression. "They were bullying Ruta, and now, she's the one who has to clean the toilets? How is that fair?"
"It is not," Vulchanova leaned back in her chair, her eyes locking with Millie's. "Miss. Gorski is a well-behaved student, if a bit dim, but a well-behaved student nonetheless. Headmaster Karkaroff knows this, he knows a lot more than he lets on, and yet, he still chose to punish her. It wasn't a fair ruling. There, is that what you wanted to hear? Are you satisfied, now?" Not even remotely!
Millie frowned at the older witch, putting the parchment down. "I want Ruta to not have to clean the toilets…"
"And what about yourself?"
"I don't care," Millie answered immediately, and Vulchanova cocked an eyebrow. "I hit someone, so I can understand why I have to serve detention, but Ruta? She didn't do anything wrong whatsoever! Those girls embarrassed her, threatened her, and Waldvogel even shoved her to the ground! All you had to do was check my memories-"
"I don't have to do anything, Miss. Bulstrode," Vulchanova cut in icily, her voice barely more than a whisper. "Even if I had checked your memories, you would still be here, and Miss. Gorski would still have to clean those toilets. Miss. Waldvogel's mother and father both serve on Durmstrang's Board in their spare time, and they've put more gold into Karkaroff's pockets than you can fathom. No matter what I did, the outcome would've been the same, save for the fact that you and I would have made an enemy of the Headmaster of this school."
"And I suppose, you care more about that than you do about your 'well-behaved' students," Millie accused bitterly, thinking of her old Charms Professor and how kind he was to his students. It's no wonder that Pure-Blood students abuse the Half-Blood ones with no fear of punishment, especially when the Headmaster himself wants to kiss their arses.
"Start studying," Vulchanova returned to her work, as if entirely unfazed by Millie's words. What an absolute Hag… I really hope she gets hers one day, and that I'm around to see it.
Monday 5th April, 1994 (Durmstrang Institute – Near Midnight)
Millie sat alone in the girls' common room, looking towards the entrance every five minutes in the hopes of seeing Ruta return from her detention. It was getting rather late, and as such, Millie was beginning to fear the worst. What if she's being beaten? She did say that the Professors here have no qualms about attacking their students… Oh, Merlin, what if she's stuck with Kemppainen? He looks like the sort who would enjoy hurting children…
Misty meowed irritably from her lap, and Millie realized that she was stroking the sleepy cat a little too roughly. "…Sorry, Misty… I'm just worried about Ruta, I'll be more careful…" The cat purred, turning her head towards the fireplace and blinking lazily. "So… How was your day? How do you like the castle? It's not too cold for you, is it?"
Misty yawned in response, before sticking her rough tongue out and licking her nose. Millie smiled a little, wishing that she'd been born as a cat herself. It would be quite liberating, I think. I could go wherever I want, sneak into all the hidden places of the world, and I wouldn't have to deal with people like Waldvogel, or, Karkaroff, or, even my parents-…
The sound of soft footsteps broke her out of her thoughts, and she looked to see Ruta entering the common room. Millie quickly shot up, hugging Misty to her chest as she walked over.
"Ruta, you're back," she couldn't hide her relief, even as the shorter witch hid her gaze. "I thought about what you said, and I'm really sorry… I'm the reason why you're being punished-"
"No…" Ruta cut in, looking up with a sorry expression of her own. She's been crying since our fight, hasn't she? Merlin, she looks as pale as a ghost. "…I shouldn't have spoken to you like that… I was wrong to blame you… You were only defending me, while I was just…" she trailed off, shame creeping into her expression. "…I'm such a loser… That's why everyone picks on me… It's my fault…"
Millie felt her gut tighten at that, mostly because Ruta sounded as though she genuinely believed herself. "No, Ruta… You're definitely wrong about that."
"Am I?" Ruta sniffled, looking as though she were about to break into tears again. "I'm not pretty, I'm not smart, I'm shorter than most second years, and I can't even fight for myself… I just spent the last four hours scrubbing toilets and urinals by hand… And A-Alice… That horrible, lying… She's upstairs, warm and asleep…"
"Come here," Millie said, heading back to the sofa and taking a seat. "Sit down with me, please. The fire will warm you up-"
"I'm tired…" Ruta remained where she was, wiping at her eyes with pruned fingers. "I just want to go to bed, okay?"
"We'll go right after, I promise," Millie remained determined to talk some sense into the other witch. "Just five minutes, I promise. That's all I'm asking." What am I going to say? I can't let her think that her being bullied is her fault, that's just not true.
Ruta shifted in her spot, and then, very timidly, she walked over, dragging her feet the entire way. The moment she sat down, however, her tiny body sank into the sofa, and she let out a tired moan. She must be exhausted, the poor thing. And her hands… They really made her clean everything without Magic.
"Waldvogel's 'friends'…" Millie started, trying to remember the names of Waldvogel's groupies. "Mia, Amara, Hanna, Sonya… Um… Okay, I can't remember their names, but that's because they're all the same. They're not Waldvogel's friends, Ruta, they're just as scared of her as you are. They're more like her hostages-"
"That's not true-"
"Just listen, okay?" Millie stopped her, turning to fully face her. "I've seen this before, all right? They all follow her around because they don't want to end up on her bad side. That's why they all target you, it's not because you've done something wrong, or, that you're lacking as a person. I know we've only known each other for a couple of days, but in that time, you've managed to comfort me and make me laugh and educate me… You've done what any good friend does, and I promise you, none of those girls would ever do that for Waldvogel. They only follow her lead because they don't want to be in your position, and that's not friendship. Waldvogel is a bad person, you were right about that, but she also comes from a rich and powerful family, and that means that no one wants to cross her. It's easier for them to follow her every whim, even if they don't like her, because she would make their lives hell if they didn't. That's not on you, it's on Waldvogel. She's the problem, not you."
"…But why me…?" Ruta asked weakly, staring down at her lap. "I've never done anything to her. My very first day here, I dropped my books because they were too heavy, and Alice started laughing at me… Everyone just joined in, and they haven't stopped since." That's awful… It makes me want to go up to our room and slap that bitch into a coma!
"That's what people like Waldvogel do," Millie sighed out, before drawing in a deep breath. "You remember what I told you on the boat? About me being fat?" Ruta gave a short nod, looking to Millie to go on. "I used to eat a lot, probably a lot more than I should've, but I wasn't hurting anyone, and there was this boy I knew… He was like Waldvogel, and one day, he started making fun of me for it. His father was very powerful, you see, had the Minister in his pocket and everything, and so, this boy was the unspoken leader of our group… All of us just did whatever he wanted all the time, so when he started making fun of me, the other children joined in on it. I became the butt of every joke, every snide comment… It was awful, and I hated it so much… No matter what came out of my mouth, someone would twist it and make a mockery out of me." Pansy was the worst by far… I can't even remember how many times she sent me crying to my parents…
"What did you do?" Ruta asked, a look of disbelief on her face.
"Nothing…" Millie admitted, feeling somewhat pathetic as a result. "At first, I pretended like it didn't hurt me, but it did… I then tried to be clever, to give as bad as I got, but I've never been witty, so that failed too. Eventually, I just… I decided that I deserved it, that I did overeat and that I was slow in the head, and that my shortcomings gave everyone around me the right to treat me poorly."
"But you're not like that…" Ruta muttered, and Millie smiled to herself, thinking of the redhaired boy who had showed her exactly that.
"No, I'm not," Millie nodded. "But I only came to realize that because of someone else. When I started Hogwarts, I met the strangest boy any of us had ever come across. He was a Blood-Traitor who got sorted into Slytherin, and not only that, but he was the smartest boy in our class, something I didn't even think was possible at the time. A damn prodigy! Even the Sorting Hat couldn't get enough of him! His Sorting was the longest Hatstall in recent memory, actually! The boys and girls I grew up with, we all gravitated towards him, not only because we saw his potential, but also because we wanted to get away from the boy I was telling you about. We didn't want to be around someone who treated us poorly, and guess what?"
"What?"
"I finally felt like I had friends for once in my life," Millie beamed, thinking of all of them. "He changed my life forever… He made me believe in myself after I had given up entirely. Whenever I struggled at something, he'd be right there in a heartbeat. He was always pushing me to my limit, challenging me to be better. I even started running because of him, and found that I loved it! And the boys and girls who always made fun of me? They became my closest friends in the world, and not just the group I followed around because I didn't want to be alone. The meanest girl I knew is now my best friend, believe it or not!"
"What about the boy who picked on you?" Ruta asked, enamoured. "What happened to him? I hope he got what he deserved!"
"He did, but the last time I saw him, he was… trying to be better too, but in his own weird way," Millie answered, and Ruta's eyes went wide. "People change, Ruta, it's only natural. The reason why I'm telling you all of this is exactly that… You can change too. And one day, the people around Waldvogel will see her for what she is, and they will leave her. It might not be tomorrow, or, even a year from now, but it'll happen eventually. You, on the other hand, will make many more friends, and like me, you'll love every second of it."
Ruta sniffled and nodded, finally smiling properly. "You really think so?"
"I really do," Millie promised.
"You'd still be my first, though," Ruta said quickly, no doubt already fantasizing about the day things would get better. "My first friend, I mean."
"I'm honoured," Millie couldn't help but laugh, feeling extremely relieved by the fact that she had turned Ruta's mood around. I guess, Ron's tricks rubbed off on me. I miss him… He did so much for me, and I just threw it all away-…
"Can I give you a hug?" Ruta asked shyly, fidgeting with her hands.
"Sure," Millie agreed with a wide smile, and Ruta all but lunged at her, spooking Misty so badly that the black cat shot out of Millie's lap in a fit of violent hissing.
"Sorry!" Ruta recoiled, before freezing in her spot. "No! Misty! Come back! Millicent, I'm so sorry!"
Millie just laughed again, wondering when she'd see her cat again. "Don't worry about her, she'll be back whenever it suits her. She used to run away from Slytherin all the time. Pansy, my best friend, calls her a 'free spirit', and I'm inclined to believe her."
"Won't she get cold?" Ruta asked worriedly.
"If she does, she'll come back sooner than usual," Millie shrugged, and then she stood up and offered Ruta her hand. "I know I said five minutes, but it's been a bit more than that-"
"That's okay," Ruta took her hand, pulling herself up. "…Thanks… Everything you said… It means a lot to me…"
"No more blaming yourself, okay?" Millie said, giving her a meaningful look. "If you do, then Waldvogel wins, and we can't let that happen." It wouldn't make for a good story if the bully won, as Pansy would say.
"What are we going to do about her?" Ruta asked, looking less sure of herself already. "You hit her for me, Millicent, and she's not going to forget it." That was foolish, I have to admit. I've made things worse for Ruta, but I still believe in what Ron taught me. If we show her that we're willing to back down, she'll only come at us harder.
"For now, we go about our business as usual," Millie started, trying to come up with a clever plan to put an end to Ruta's suffering. "Waldvogel will be careful not to get into trouble so quickly after today, she can't risk the Headmaster being forced to punish her. So, we have a few days, at the very least, to come up with a plan."
"A few days?" Ruta blinked, and then, she went wide-eyed. "No, we don't…"
"What? Why?"
"We have Martial Training on Thursday, after lunch!" Ruta groaned, smacking her forehead. "Oh, how could I forget…?"
"Martial Training?" Millie asked, she already liked the sound of whatever that was.
"The first years, the second years, and the third years get together and train in Duelling techniques," Ruta explained, visibly dreading it. "The fourth and fifth years have their own period, same with the sixth and seventh years… Millicent, it's headed by Professor Kemppainen, and he allows students to challenge each other! Actually, he endorses it, and those who refuse a challenge end up on his bad side! Alice often challenges me… She knows I'm scared of him, so she gets to Jinx me and Hex me with a Professor's permission…" And I thought Waldvogel could sink no lower. What a-… What a cunt! Oh, I shouldn't use that word… It feels so wrong… But still! What a cunt! "What are we going to do?!"
"I'm going to challenge her, then, before she can challenge you," Millie decided, smirking to herself. Finally, a lucky break!
"You can't…" Ruta looked taken aback. "She'll hurt you…"
"No, I'm the one who's going to hurt her," Millie promised. "How about tomorrow, I tell you about the time I bested the Boy-Who-Lived in a Duel?"
Ruta blinked, taking a step back in awe. "You've beaten Harry Potter? The Harry Potter? Is… Is that even possible?" He was good, I'll give him his dues, but Ron taught me to be better.
"Well, I learned from the best, so yes, it's possible," Millie grinned, eagerly awaiting Thursday already.
"Are you talking about the boy who changed your life?" Ruta asked slowly, and Millie gave a nod. "Who is he? You make him sound like he's the most amazing person alive…"
"Have you heard of Ronald Weasley?" Millie asked in a whisper, and Ruta's eyes lit up brighter than the fireplaces.
"YOU KNOW RONALD WEASLEY?!"
"SHHH!"
Draco Malfoy's POV
Tuesday 6th April, 1994 (Madam Pomfrey's Office – After Classes)
"And I just started going off on them!" Draco paced back and forth, he still had goosebumps. "I told them exactly how I felt about them and their self-righteousness! I couldn't stop! I just kept going, and going, and going-!"
"And you're still going," Pomfrey chuckled, stopping Draco and making him blush a little. "How did they take it, Draco? It must've been hard for them to listen, just like it was hard for you to say what was on your mind." They took it well, somehow…
"Well, it's too soon to say," Draco said, walking back to the couch and sitting down. "I thought they'd be mad at me… That they'd definitely send me away… But so far, they're just acting like it didn't happen."
"They're ignoring you?"
"No, no… Actually, this morning, Nott asked if I wanted pumpkin juice when he was pouring himself some," Draco answered, though he was too ashamed to admit how much that tiny gestured had meant to him. "So… They're not ignoring me; they're just acting like I didn't go off on them."
"Maybe, they heard you and accepted that you weren't entirely wrong to feel so frustrated with them?" Pomfrey suggested.
"Maybe… But if they did, shouldn't they apologize to me?" Draco asked.
"Have you properly apologized to them for all your actions?" Pomfrey asked in response. No… "Sometimes, when people are wrong, they don't apologize. They just try to do better in the future, and that's enough. If you seek an apology from them, you may end up undermining your own efforts for a small-lived sense of gratification." She's right. I want to be a part of the group, and if this is what it takes, then this is what I should do. I should try to be the bigger person for a change, that'll only help me convince them further that I can change too. "Let's circle back to Daphne for a moment. Why do you think she came to you, Draco? Why did she suddenly change her mind about you staying with the group? You never expanded on your conversation with her."
"With her, it's always about Weasley," Draco shrugged, and Pomfrey waited for him to go on. "All right… I didn't want to tell you this, but since I know you can keep secrets… She asked me for a favour." I still can't believe she came to me of all people. She must be really worried about him… Can't say I blame her, though-…
"What favour? Go on, I'm listening."
"I'm sure you've noticed that Bulstrode is no longer with us," Draco started, and Pomfrey gave a short nod. "Well, she's been sent to Durmstrang by her parents, we think. They must've fought, and she must've said something stupid, and now, she's gone…"
"You sound disappointed."
"No, I don't," Draco quickly denied, scoffing. "Bulstrode and I… We have a history…"
"You want to prove to your friends that you've changed, Draco, so it stands to reason that you want to prove this to her too," Pomfrey said, and Draco shifted in his spot. Can't hide anything from this witch… "Especially, if you share a history."
"Okay, fine…" Draco rolled his eyes. "Fine… I'm… a little worried… about her…" he finished in a whisper, and Pomfrey chuckled again. "Hey, you're not supposed to do that! I'm sharing my feelings here!"
"I know, I'm just very proud of you, that's all," Pomfrey said, making him blush again.
"…You're not supposed to say that either…" Draco muttered to himself, before drawing in a sharp breath. "I've heard stories about Durmstrang, that's all. Stories from my mother and father, when they were arguing about where to send me. It doesn't sound like anything like Hogwarts, not even a little. I'm not sure Bulstrode is cut out for such a ruthless school, and… And I know how hard it is to lose my friends overnight… To be suddenly on my own…" Pomfrey nodded in understanding, smiling at him still. "This is nothing to smile about, she's in serious trouble."
"I've seen her Duel," Pomfrey said simply. "She's a strong girl, and she can take care of herself. And I'm not smiling about her being sent away, because that's truly terrible news. I'm smiling because you've come a long way since you first came into my office. You're finally willing to make yourself vulnerable, even if it's only in small amounts and only when you're in here with me. It's good progress, Draco, and you should be proud as well."
"Well, it's been a long year…" Draco whispered, remembering what an arse he was to her at the start of their sessions. Weasley had to pretty much drag me here… I'm glad he did, I just wish I didn't resist so much along the way. "…Thank you… For always helping me sort out my thoughts, and all that… It's made things easier…"
"You're most welcome," Pomfrey chuckled once again, making him frown a little. "Sorry, won't happen again. Now, tell me about this favour." Fuck…
"Greengrass wants me to talk to Weasley," Draco replied hesitantly. "About Bulstrode, that is. When…" Should I really be telling her this? Weasley will throttle me-…
"When what?"
"Fuck it…" Draco sighed out, sinking into the couch. "When we realized that Bulstrode was most likely being sent to Durmstrang, Weasley was with us… And he couldn't have cared less even if he had tried his damned hardest…"
"Really?" Pomfrey asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I know, it's not like him at all," Draco continued. "Actually, I still can't believe what I saw and heard. He's always going on about loyalty, preaching about doing the right thing, but unlike most people, Weasley is legit… He does what he preaches, just look at me. But this time…" Draco swallowed thickly, remembering Weasley's empty eyes. "Something is wrong with him, Madam Pomfrey. He's cracked… He's downright fucking scary…" Pomfrey leaned forward, her brow furrowed. "He was on the Calming Draught, again, but it was more than that. He scared Tracey, he scared everyone, and I think he enjoyed doing it. And the way he spoke about us and Bulstrode… He was so bitter…"
"Did his words hurt you, Draco?"
"…Yes… A little…" Draco admitted, looking down at his lap. "I felt small, we all did… He laughed at the idea of us coming through for Bulstrode without him, and these were his exact words… 'She's going to learn what happens to people who don't listen to me'… How fucked up is that?"
"What else did he say?" Pomfrey asked, looking more angry than concerned.
"A bunch of things," Draco honestly didn't want to recall the conversation, if you could even call it that. "He said 'Let her reap what she's sown'… 'She can't have her cake and eat it too'… Oh, and 'Let her get slapped around in the real world for a bit, it'll do her good'…"
"He really said these things?" Pomfrey asked, leaning back in her chair with a deep frown.
"You don't believe me?"
"No, it's not that…" Pomfrey clicked her tongue. "I don't want to, if I'm being perfectly honest." You and me both, then. "Damn it, Ronald…"
Draco shifted in his spot, an idea creeping into his mind. "Could you maybe talk to him? Find out what's wrong?"
"I can't help him if he doesn't want my help, Draco," Pomfrey shook her head. "You know how this works by now, don't you? You have to be willing to listen just as much as you have to be willing to share, and I don't believe Ronald is in the sharing mood these days. Or, listening, for that matter."
"But something is obviously wrong!" Draco urged, unable to hide his worries about the redhead. "He wasn't this bad before he went to the States! Something happened to him there! Something terrible! Don't you care?!"
"I do, which is why I won't make matters worse by cornering him," Pomfrey said firmly, giving Draco a warning look. "And neither will you."
"What?"
"This favour Daphne has asked of you…" Pomfrey began. "You will not go through with it. Instead, you will return to Daphne, and you will tell her that I wish to see her myself."
"I can't do that!" Draco couldn't believe this. "I can't tell her that I shared this with you! She'll change her mind about me staying!"
"No, she will not," Pomfrey assured him, but he wasn't sure if he ought to believe her. "From what I've seen of her, she cares for people more than anyone gives her credit for. It takes a great deal of patience and understanding to deal with people such as Ronald, people who are unwell in both body and mind. Tell me, did she say that you staying depended on your success?"
"Well, no… The opposite, actually," Draco answered hesitantly. "She said that she just wanted me to try my best with him."
"Then, she will understand why you should not do this," Pomfrey promised. "I am not trying to hinder you, Draco, I am trying to protect you. Ronald… Well, I can't share anything from our sessions, but when Ronald is this upset, it's not wise to corner him with requests. Promise me that you will do as I say." Fucking hell… Should've kept my stupid mouth shut-… A sudden knock at the door disturbed their session, and Pomfrey slowly rose out of her chair. "Promise me, Draco."
"…I promise…" Draco sighed out, worried about how Greengrass was going to react to this turn of events. I fucked myself over… Again…
Pomfrey gave a nod, and then, she walked to the door and opened it. "Molly? What are you doing here?"
"Poppy, you have to do something about him!" the Weasley Matriarch rushed into the office, looking hysterical. "Something is wrong with my boy! He doesn't sleep, he doesn't eat, he doesn't talk, he doesn't even look at me-!" she stopped when she noticed Draco on the couch, going wide-eyed. "Draco…? What are you doing here, dear? You're not hurt, are you?"
"Um… No, Mrs. Weasley…" Draco slowly rose up, exchanging a quick glance with the equally surprised Madam Pomfrey. "What's happened with Weas-? What's happened with Ron?"
Molly Weasley's lips quivered at the mention of his name, and she let out sorry sob. "Something's really wrong with him, and I don't know what to do… He… He's been fighting that dummy of his day in and day out, never taking a break… Ch-Charlie went out to talk to him, to order him to stop it, but they got into an argument, instead…" Mrs. Weasley stopped, going pale in the face.
"What happened, Molly?" Pomfrey asked, but Draco already knew the answer.
"He grabbed Charlie by the throat, lifted the poor boy into the air like he didn't weigh a thing…" Mrs. Weasley managed, and both Draco and Madam Pomfrey went wide-eyed.
"He lifted Charlie?" Madam Pomfrey muttered in disbelief. "Charlie? The one who tames Dragons for a living?" Fuck me, Weasley and his goddamn inhumane strength…
"With one hand…" Mrs. Weasley sniffled, rubbing at her eyes before rushing to Madam Pomfrey and taking her by the hands. "Please, Poppy… Help me… He nearly strangled his own brother; Charlie's entire neck is bruised… I don't know what to do about him, anymore…"
"Are you going to do something about this?" Draco urged once again, looking desperate now. "Before he fucking kills someone?!"
Madam Pomfrey drew in a deep breath, and then, she adorned a dead-serious expression. "Draco, go talk to Daphne like I told you. Molly, you're taking me to your house right now." Fucking finally!
Author's Notes: Enjoy following two seperate schools, suckas! Oh, wait... I have to write this shit... FUCK!