Notes: Honestly, I'm sorry for not updating this story. It's been over a month and life seems more hectic than ever. Don't worry I am writing the next chapter as we speak. I still haven't and will not abandon this story.

The world of Harry Potter and its characters belong to JKR. I do not support JKR. Trans women are women. Trans men are men. Trans people are people.

CW: Body image issues.

Chapter 15: Bonding Over Fighting

Ron took off Harry's Invisibility Cloak, putting it inside his school bag. He took out the cigarettes Sirius had gifted him and pulled out one single cigarette. He had never really lit one, he had only caught Bill and Charlie a number of times lighting them up behind Dad's shed, thinking they wouldn't be able to be caught by anyone. Little did they know, Ron was watching. Just as he took out his wand, and put the cigarette on his mouth he heard steps climbing up to where he was.

He hid the cigarette in his pocket and put his hands behind his back, just to see Daphne Greengrass looking behind her. Her gaze suddenly met his and it seemed as if time had stopped. With his left arm inside a sling Ron could do little to defend himself if Greengrass were to attack him, even so he slowly reached for his wand.

"What are you doing here, Weasley?" Greengrass asked accusingly.

"I could ask you the same thing, Greengrass," Ron responded. She opened her mouth seemingly ready to answer his question, when they heard another set of footsteps climbing up the stairs. Cedric Diggory seemed to have joined them, and he looked just as surprised as Ron and Daphne felt.

"What are you two doing here?" Cedric asked, eyebrow arched, an expression of confusion on his handsome features. "Out for a snog, aye?" He said, eyebrows wiggling at them, a subtle wink Ron almost didn't catch.

"What?!" Ron and Daphne both exclaimed. "No!" Ron exclaimed at the same time that Daphne said, "Disgusting!"

And then another set of footsteps, these ones more light and somehow graceful, came from behind Cedric. Luna Lovegood had joined the trio of Tournament Champions. She wore her dreamy expression like always and had a small, but happy smile on her lips.

"Oh," she said a few moments after assessing who was in the room. "Hello Ron, Cedric."

"Luna?" Ron said questioningly. "What are you doing here?"

"Oh well, I saw Daphne Greengrass and Cedric enter the Astronomy Tower. I just wanted to see what they were doing, I didn't know you were up here too. Is this a party?"

"What?" Greengrass almost barked. "Of course it's not a party. It's just a stupid coincidence."

"Oh yeah? Then why are you out here?" Ron asked accusingly.

"That's none of your business, Weasley," Greengrass stepped up menacingly towards Ron. "But for your information, I was just out for a walk. I needed a break from all the bloody noises inside my common room."

"Oh I'm sorry, I didn't know blood supremacy was hard to hear," Ron said in a purely sarcastic tone.

"We're not all blood supremacists!"

"Oh my bad," in an obviously fake apologising tone. "Elitists, then."

"Alright that's enough!" Cedric exclaimed, putting himself between the two of them, he was reminded of two wild hippogriffs ready for battle. "Clearly the both of you don't like each other, but I just can't allow you to try and rip the other's head off. So as long as I'm here, you'll listen to the Head Boy, is that clear?"

Ron and Daphne both looked at Cedric, each with an equal amount of annoyance expressed on their faces. However, both of them complied, Ron backing down, his good hand going back to his side instead of his wand, and Daphne crossing her arms, looking into the sky.

"Good," said Cedric. "Now can you tell me what each of you was doing here?"

"You firs–" Daphne started just to be interrupted.

"Nope, we're not doing this. I asked first, so what were each of you doing here?" Daphne looked disgruntled, she groaned while rolling her eyes.

"I was hiding," she said. All eyes were on her, confusion expressed on them, although Luna's expressed more of a curiosity. "I… I saw you and that Hufflepuff girl… Snogging."

Ron's eyebrows immediately shot up, Cedric's cheeks went pink and Luna's expression… didn't change. In fact, the blonde girl looked incredibly amused.

"Out for a snog, aye?" Ron told Cedric while smirking. The Head Boy punched Ron on the shoulder playfully.

"Shut up," Cedric grunted.

"I used a Distracting Charm and slipped into the Astronomy Tower," Daphne finished. Her face went redder and redder by the second. Ron and Luna nodded in understanding, Cedric, however, looked intrigued.

"Wait," he said. "You used a Distracting Charm?" At Daphne's nod, he let out a sigh of relief. "Oh thank you, Merlin! I thought I was still not over Cho."

"What?" asked Ron.

"Nothing," he dismissed with a wave of his hand. "What about you, Weasley?"

This time it was Ron's turn to be put on the spot. He swallowed and looked around nervously. He cleared his throat and looked away from Cedric.

"Just… You know… Fresh air and such," Cedric's eyes narrowed, and he took out his wand.

"Accio alcohol," and nothing happened. Before Ron could actually defend himself against Cedric's charm, the older boy had already waved his wand. "Accio tobacco," and the Grey Wizard Cigarettes flew out of Ron's pocket. The cigarettes landed on Cedric's hand.

"Oi!" Ron exclaimed.

"Really, Weasley?" Cedric asked, his tone not that of anger, but disappointment. It reminded Ron of talking to his father, and in Daphne's case, both her parents. "Cigarettes? Aren't you a prefect?"

"Yes, I know," Ron almost admitted in a defeated tone. "I just… I was curious."

Cedric looked at the pack on his palm. He had never tried one himself, his dorm mates who had been a bit more rebellious than him hid their own inside their trunks. He had even seen the Weasley twins smoke one or two after quidditch matches. He had always been the good boy of Hufflepuff, former Champion of the Triwizard Tournament and of the Hogwarts Tournament now, Head Boy and always honest.

He looked at Ron, and took two out of the pack. He gave the red-head in front of him one, Ron looked understandably surprised.

"Look, we'll smoke one, alright?" Ron nodded a bit dumbly, and put the cigarette inside his mouth. Cedric also put one in his mouth and took out his wand.

"Wait a second," said Daphne Greengrass from behind him.

'Bollocks,' he had forgotten she was there, along with Luna as well.

"Do you really expect us not to say anything about this, Diggory?" She asked, her arms crossed in front of her chest. Luna didn't seem that weirded out by it, she in fact was looking at the fireflies that brightened the dark shadows of the Forbidden Forest.

Ron and Cedric looked at each other, their expressions mirrored. And then, Ron took out two cigarettes from inside the pack that Cedric still held in his hand and gave them to both Luna and Daphne. The Slytherin girl looked surprised, while Luna looked at the cigarette as if it were an unknown mysterious object. Albeit dejectedly, Daphne took it, as well as Luna who kept looking at it, smelling it every ten seconds with a sort of shy glare at the cylinder.

The four champions each had a cigarette in their mouths, they took out their wand and almost at the same time they uttered the same spell.

"Incendio," lightning up the cigarette. The four of them in synch inhaled the smoke, kept it in their mouths for perhaps ten to fifteen seconds, inhaled it… And started violently coughing. It would've been comical if Cedric wasn't one of them.

"Bli –cough, cough, cough– Blimey!" Ron coughed, covering his mouth and hitting his chest with his right fist.

"That's horrible," choked Daphne Greengrass. Holding out the cigarette away from her.

"Does this drive away Nargles?" Luna asked out loud. For the first time in his life, Cedric saw the dreamy expression on Luna's face gone, now replaced with a grimace on her face.

"Why do people do this to themselves?" Cedric heard himself ask.

The four of them calmed down, looked at each other and threw the cigarettes down on the ground, stomping on them almost as soon as they hit the stone floor. Cedric then gave back the pack back to Ron. Who put them down on the ground and used the Reductor Curse to turn it into ash. A very ironic end to something that would eventually turn into… Cedric was just now realising why his Pendragon joke relating to his pet dragon was not funny.

He was just a bit obvious sometimes.

"Well that was horrible," said Daphne.

"Yes," Luna said, her dreamy expression back on her face. "Thoroughly unpleasant."

"Not as bad as Snape's potion fumes at the start of the year though," said Ron and everyone groaned at that. "It makes you smell the dungeons from the seventh floor."

"That's nothing compared to Stinksap," Cedric pointed out. "Hard to get off and smells like dragon dung."

"Are you familiar with dragon dung, Cedric?" asked Ron.

"Not as much as your brother."

"Can we stop talking about dragon dung?!" Daphne exclaimed.

"Ohh yes! How about hippogriff dung!" Luna shrieked. "I heard it is incredibly helpful for farming magical plants!"

"Not hippogriff dung either!"

"Goblin then?" asked Ron.

"No," Daphne let out along with a laugh which she promptly covered with her mouth.

"Was that a laugh?" asked Cedric.

"No."

"I think that was a laugh, Cedric," said Ron.

"No, it wasn't."

"I'm sorry to say this Daphne, but the sound you made is commonly known as a laugh," said Luna.

"Oh shut up! All of you!"

"Wow, Greengrass," said Ron. "Wouldn't have taken you for a jokester."

"And you shouldn't, Weasley," said Daphne.

The four of them leaned against the railing, none of them really sure of what to talk about. It was like talking to relatives you didn't normally talk to unless it was at a party. It was Luna who broke the silence.

"What will you do with the djinni's wish if you win?" she asked. The other three champions looked at each other and then back at Luna.

"Don't know," said Cedric. "I haven't really thought about it." That was a lie. If Cedric won he knew what his wish would be, for what happened in the graveyard to not affect him as much as it did. To be able to sleep the rest of his life without nightmares involving what happened with Voldemort. Every time his mind wandered to the graveyard a feeling of helplessness and weakness overcame him.

"Me neither," said Daphne Greengrass. Ron shrugged, not even answering the question.

"I'd like to see my mother," said Luna. "Maybe talk to her."

"Is she out of the country or something?" asked Ron.

"Oh no, she died," said Luna. The three stared at her, there was no mistaking what she had said, for some reason a sort of pitying feeling seemed to settle among them, Ron even looking a bit ashamed for some reason.

"Luna," Cedric said carefully. "I don't think… I'm not entirely sure that a djinni could grant that wish."

"Oh I know," said Luna. "I've researched the subject ever since I was chosen as Lady Ravenclaw's Champion, it's just that I would like to somehow speak to my mother again."

"My wish was money," piped up Ron after a long moment of silence. He looked down at his feet. "I think you all know my family's reputation. 'Red hair, freckles and more children than they can afford.' I guessed I just wanted my family to have some money. I could buy some robes that actually reached my ankles at least by the end of the year."

Cedric noticed how embarrassed Ron looked. It was common knowledge that the Weasleys weren't the richest family, but Cedric knew that what they lacked in money they made up for in some of the best people Cedric had met. Charlie and the twins had been some of the funniest and friendliest students that Cedric had met when he first arrived at Hogwarts. Even Percy had been kind enough to help with some of the homework he hadn't understood.

From behind Ron, Daphne nodded and had a look as if to say 'Well he's not wrong' which Cedric discreetly reprimanded her for.

"I would wish…" he said, gulping and scratching the back of his neck. "I would wish that the things that happened last year wouldn't affect me so much." Cedric looked around the tower, looking at the night sky while trying to avoid their looks.

"That's fine," said Ron. "Who would actually want to remember any of what happened last year?" Luna suddenly raised her hand and the other stared at her in confusion.

"Well the Great Hall during the Yule Ball looked quite lovely," she said. "I would've loved to go."

The three nodded and Ron, Cedric and Luna began to stare at Daphne who felt their unyielding gazes. They were obviously expecting her own answer.

"Fine," she said, relenting. "If that will shut you up… I guess… Not having to deal with my parents' expectations anymore would be nice."

Ron furrowed his eyebrows and was about to speak when Cedric looked at him and shook his head. No one had inquired about their wish except for Luna's, and no one was about to start.

"I guess I'll head off now," she said after a moment. "I have a party to attend."

"Me too," said Cedric thinking of a certain chaser.

And with that Cedric and Daphne left, Ron and Luna leaving only moments later as if to avoid the awkwardness that was all of them leaving together.

The next Saturday Harry woke up, ready for another DA meeting and this one would come with a surprise for the DA. Ron, Cedric and Luna would be joining them. It had been a while since any of them had actually shown up to one, what with all that Champion training, and both Prefect and Head Boy duties as well as O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s for Ron and Cedric respectively.

The day after the Demonstration Match the founders had announced that Champion Training would be cancelled for a whole week, as a result of Ron's injury. Not only that, but the Tournament would take place two weeks before the end of the year, pushing it back two weeks. That's when Harry took the chance to invite all of them to the DA.

As they all met in the Room of Requirement the excitement could be seen in most of their faces. The only ones that didn't seem excited for the three Champions' return were Marietta Edgecombe and Zacharias Smith.

"Alright, we're going to start with some duelling and then we'll go on to what I promised you last week," Ron looked confusedly at Harry, as some of the faces in the DA seemed to brighten up. He winked at his best who remained confused.

"Alright, partner up," he said. Most of them mingled, some choosing new partners and others going for new ones. Cedric ended up with Fred, while Luna ended up with Lavender. It was then that Harry noticed that Ron had ended up partnerless, Hermione offered up, but Harry simply took him aside and told him he was going to be his partner.

"We'll start with some Disarming Charms," he brandished his wand and aimed at Ron. "Expelliarmus," he casted. Ron, who was still in a sling and would be taking it off at the end of the day, dodged the charm so it would hit his hand and not his body. Ron's wand flew from his palm and landed on Harry's hand. "Like that. Go ahead now Ron," Ron did the same, Harry's wand flying to his own hand after casting Expelliarmus.

"But be free to experiment with spells," he continued. "As long as you don't actually hurt the other person."

All inside the Room of Requirement people were casting spells at one another. And yet Harry could feel their eyes constantly shifting to him and Ron. The two best friends were in front of each other, ready with their wands, when suddenly Ron stood upright and walked towards Harry at a normal pace.

Harry curled his eyebrow and lowered his guard, which is when Ron aimed his wand and casted a spell.

"Accio glasses," and from his face flew his round glasses. The room was now blurry and Harry could only see the tall silhouette of his best friend.

"Expelliarmus," Harry casted. What he assumed was Ron's frame moved out of the way, and a bright light blinded Harry completely.

"Lumos," Harry covered his eyes with his arm on instinct, giving Ron the perfect chance to successfully land a charm on his chest.

"Stupefy," he was flung backwards, landing on his bum. "Expelliarmus," and his wand flew out of his hand, landing somewhere in the ground. Harry heard the sound of steps getting closer, he was handed both his glasses and wand back, he put the former's back on. Ron had his hand outstretched towards him, Harry gladfully took it and stood back up.

As he took a look around the room he could see several of the DA members standing frozen, their attention completely focused on Ron and Harry.

"Good job, mate," said Harry. "But you caught me off guard, it won't happen again."

"Sure it won't," Ron retorted, a smirk playing on his lips.

After a couple of minutes where everyone continued their own exercises, some trying out some of Ron, Cedric and Luna's moves from the match, they finally got on to what Harry promised them to teach the last session.

The Patronus Charm.

Students were waving their wands, their mouths spilling out the words, but having no meaning behind them. Among the few who had managed it were Cho, and Hermione.

"Expecto Patronum," came from Luna, and a silvery mist came from the end of her wand. A shapeless blob running circles around her.

"Good Luna," said Harry. "Try focusing a little bit more."

"I wonder if my memory is strong enough," she said. "It doesn't seem strong enough to give me a shape."

"Remember that it has to be your happiest memory, Luna," he said. "The one that knows will bring you the most happiness."

Harry gave her a smile before going back to teaching the rest of the D.A. Luna looked thoughtful for a second, her face an enigma to anyone, but herself. She closed her eyes, envisioning something that brought a soft smile to the young girl's face. She opened them, determination mixed with a clear melancholy in her grey eyes. She waved her wand and cast the spell.

"Expecto Patronum!"

From Luna's wand a bouncing ball of light began to hop around the room, seemingly hopping on the sky as it jumped freely. It had long ears, it looked incredibly white, even for a Patronus charm. A silver hare had just come out of Luna's wand.

"Great Luna!" Harry praised. "Truly excellent."

Applauses could be heard along the Room of Requirement. Cedric and Ron were looking at Luna. She was at the receiving end of praises from people of Ravenclaw, boasting about their Champion. A bit of embarrassment settled on the two of them, but it was Cedric who surprised everyone.

"Luna," he called walking towards. "How exactly did you do that?"

There was a long moment of tense silence where nobody spoke, that was until Luna began to talk to Cedric a bit more quietly than normal. Ron, then looking at them, walked towards Luna as well.

"Can you tell me too?" Ron asked

"Sure."

By the end of the class the rest of the DA had a hard time looking away from the three Champions, Cedric could somewhat conjure something with wings and Ron ball of light had shaggy fur.

Hermione walked back to her dorms, it had been a long day and she hadn't even studied properly. Ron had let her study for only about an hour or so before he practically dragged her to the Great Hall where he wouldn't let her go until she ate something. For the last week Ron had gone back to Harry and her, hanging out with the two far more, like he used to before everything that had happened.

Although she showed her displeasure towards him, she couldn't help the feeling of butterflies that rose in her stomach every time his eyes would bore into hers, trying to silently tell her that neither of them was going anywhere until she had properly taken care of herself. It was so sweet how much he cared about her, and her well-being.

As she walked down the hall she took a detour to the girl's bathroom. Walking inside she heard several voices talking, all of them giggling and laughing under their breath. Curious, she was wary of not being heard. Leaning against the wall, Hermione strained her ears to hear what was happening.

"Alright, I'll admit Harry is not that bad-looking," said a voice Hermione couldn't really place on any face. "But compared to Diggory the boy looks like a twig with Professor Trelawney's glasses."

Hermione felt enraged on behalf of her best friend, but also had to suppress a very small laugh at the description, it reminded her nothing of Harry.

"Ohh yes," said Parvati Patil's voice, that one she did recognize. "With that hair, and that face, and those muscles, and that height, and–"

"Yes," said Marietta Edgecombe's voice. "We get it, but what about the twins? Sure they're a bit annoying, but they aren't half bad-looking."

"Is 'not bad-looking' suddenly a new compliment or something?" Angelina Johnson asked. "Honestly, it's just a way of calling someone plain. And I assure you Fred and George are not plain whatsoever."

"You're just saying that because you went to the Yule Ball with Fred Weasley last year."

"No," she denied. "Believe it or not, we didn't do anything other than dance. He's way too immature to keep his mouth shut for more time than necessary for a snog."

"What about George then?" asked the unknown voice once more. There was a silence that followed the question, and the girls suddenly began to laugh. "No way! George Weasley?! But he's shorter than you!"

"And?! He's funny, kind, handsome ," Angelina said slowly to make sure the message stuck that neither Fred or George were bad-looking. "And has a good body," Angelina said in protest.

"Well," said Lavender Brown's voice slowly. "I guess I can kind of see it from a certain point of view."

"Who do you fancy, Lav?" Parvati asked.

Hermione had had enough, it was apparent that their conversation had nothing to do with her. Talking about boys wasn't really her area of expertise, and even less so when that area only ever included Ron and on some level Viktor. As she made sure to walk away slowly Lavender's answer made her stop by the doorway.

"Ron," she said.

'What? Since when does Lavender like Ron?' Hermione asked in her head. 'They have barely even spoken in the five years they've known each other.'

"Really?" Angelina asked. After a few moments she spoke again. "Alright, don't look at me like that, Ron is a sweet bloke, and I do have to admit that he is becoming quite the looker, especially considering he's copying his brother Bill's style nowadays with that long hair. It's just… I would have never thought that you would fancy him"

"What's that supposed to mean?" Lavender asked indignantly.

"Ron doesn't really look like the kind of bloke you'd like," said Marietta.

"What?!"

"What both of them mean," Parvati said hurriedly. "Is that… You have very reasonable standards, Lav. And one of them is… looks. Not to say you're superficial." She added.

"And considering that he's Gryffindor's Champion now," said the voice Hermione didn't recognize. "His looks may have become secondary."

"Is that what you all think?!"

'Yes!' Hermione's brain screamed. There was silence, but no one either confirmed or denied.

"Unbelievable," Lavender snorted. "Sure, I enjoy looking at boys and some of Witch Weekly's more… private photos, but I'll have you know that I've had my eye on him since third year."

"Really?" Almost all of them asked.

'Really?'

"Yes, really. Back in third year when my pet rabbit Binky died, Ron was really sweet. He told me he knew what I felt since Hermione's cat had killed his pet rat. Hermione and Ron had always been best friends, but… He didn't hesitate to defend me, and… comfort me. And his robes last year… Sure they were bad, but he looked quite dashing in my opinion."

There were aws from all the girls, and Hermione resisted the urge to go inside and hex her blonde dorm mate.

"Well get in line, then," said Angelina. "I see a lot of talking from some of the girls whenever he walks by."

Hermione felt the sudden urge to give detention and deduct points from any girl that she could encounter in the halls of Hogwarts.

"I suppose he isn't that bad," said Marietta. "Just as long as Granger doesn't find out."

Hermione's eyes widened at the mention of her name.

"Oh yes," said Angelina. "I mean I like Hermione, but if she finds out that you like Ron, then I hope for Merlin's sake you don't end up with all your har gone."

"It's so obvious she likes him," said the girl whose voice she couldn't place. "I mean, did you see the way she looked when Ron and Harry saved that Delacour girl last year during the Second Task?"

"Well," said Lavender, as if she didn't mind. "Better to deal with Hermione than Cho right, Tamsin?"

There were gasps, but Hermione was no longer interested. She walked as silently as possible out of the bathroom and began to walk back to the Common Room.

She wasn't that obvious. Right? If she had been so obvious, then why hadn't Ron said anything? Surely, he of all people would be aware of her attraction towards him. Yes, she hadn't been obvious at all, she was just being paranoid, and the girls had caught on… Unless… Unless Ron does know… Ron does know that Hermione fancied him, and he, being the sweet friend she knows he is, simply hadn't mentioned it to avoid hurting her feelings.

That was something she could see him doing. Perhaps, he did know and she was just making a fool of herself by falling into this false fantasy of the two of them becoming more than just friends. Those kisses that she had given him, they hadn't been mentioned ever since they happened.

Without realising she had arrived at the Common Room and right there sitting on the couch was the source of her distress.

His blonde eyelashes were being hit by the sunlight that entered through the window, his right hand was writing on a parchment paper, his hair almost reaching down to his shoulders, his forearms, although still covered in those weird wrappings looking strong even with his slight lankiness.

Could she compete with Lavender? Could she truly manage to make Ron hers? With her sad and disastrous excuse of a hair, and her wide hips, and her lack of curves.

Ron looked up from his paper. At that moment he sent her one of his lopsided grins that always managed to make butterflies appear inside her tummy, but now she couldn't feel more inadequate. She made her way upstairs, ignoring Ron's question and simply telling him that she felt tired and was going to take a nap.

As she rested on her bed, she looked at a picture of her with the Weasleys that had been taken last summer when it had only been Ron and her. No Harry. Just the two. It was a good thing that Ron had taken a different version of this photo, because it couldn't be more clear that the girl with buck teeth, bushy brown hair, and the least flattering figure was in love with the red headed beauty that held her close. As close as she always wanted to be to him.

Percy sat inside his office. His fingers rubbing his eyes behind his glasses. He was tired. After a long fight with Audrey she had gone home, and he… Well he had screwed up.

"How come your little brother, who you practically stay with all the day inside this massive castle, doesn't know I'm your girlfriend?" Audrey asked him, anger clear in her tone.

"Listen it's just that," Percy tried explaining. "I've hadn't got the time to inform my family about my love life."

"Well, is there anything else you've hid from me?"

Percy stayed silent for far too long, even he knew that he should've said at least anything, but his stupid brain hadn't come up with any words.

"Is there?!" Audrey asked him, even more angry this time.

"No," he said. "I mean sure there are things that I've skipped about my life, but we've only known each other for three months Audrey! Do you expect me to tell you every little secret in my life!"

"No! I expect that my boyfriend would be smart enough to know that honesty is one of the most important parts in a relationship!"

"Why is this such a big deal for you?" Percy had asked, more calmly than he felt. "We never talk about my family–"

"And that's just it, Percy," she cut him off. "We never evermention your family! In fact we barely talk at all"

"Why is that so bad? Trust the last thing you want to do is meet my family."

"Is that really it, Percy? Or is me meeting them the last thing you want?"

"No, it isn't," he saif through gritted teeth. "And what is this about us barely talking? We talk all the time."

"Yes," she said sarcastically. "About paperwork, and the work reports and the new things the Minister is telling you to do–"

"And your friends, your family, your job, what youdid that day!"

"Exactly," she exasperatedly. " Myfriends, myfamily, myjob, MY JOB!I've done everything to make you a part of my life, when will you start doing the same with me?!"

"For fuck's sake! Why are you being so barmy all of a sudden?!" Percy bellowed out loud. His patience having run out, he just screamed the first thing that popped into his head. Never in his life had he ever cursed his brain.

The two stared at one another, Audrey sucked in a gasp as she stared at Percy in disbelief. He could've apologised, kneeled on the floor and begged for her forgiveness like the filth he felt like. Instead, he watched as she took his things from his office, and threw the spare key to his flat he had given her two weeks ago.

Stupid pompous Percy had screwed up, yet again.

Daphne was walking with Astoria to the dungeons, she had Potions with Snape and thanks to her free hour she could help her sister with any thing she might've been missing. Even though professor Snape showed clear favouritism towards Slytherin, it meant nothing if the right effort was not put in.

As she talked with Astoria about her upcoming exams, the younger sister walked right into someone else. Astoria fell down, her books following. Daphne looked up and saw Theodore Nott standing in front of the two.

"Oh, my bad," he said, kneeling. "Didn't see you there."

"Oi, watch it," Daphne barked.

"It's alright, Daph," said Astoria. "Thanks, you didn't have to."

"Oh no," Theo said. "It was my fault. Potions?" He asked, looking at Astoria's cauldron. "Bit of advice: don't use too much heat on potions with Fire seeds, it makes a very dangerous mess."

"I'll make sure not to," she said.

"Can I walk you to class?"

Astoria looked at Daphne for a moment and hummed, before agreeing, a blush settling on her cheeks as she was led by him. Daphne simply stood there watching the two go, and suddenly felt like someone had punched her stomach.

Astoria had never blown her off like that. It was always the two of them against the world. Whenever Astoria needed some help she was there to aid her. It was natural of course for her sister to want to spend time with her friends, but never had she expected to feel so… betrayed.

Astoria was her sister. Not Theodore Nott's. Daphne always had her sister's well-being in mind, but who knew what sort of things Nott had planned for her. How dare he come in between Daphne and her sister. Who did he think he was? Nothing, that's what he was. She could still see him, talking to Astoria as they were about to turn a corner, Daphne's wand seemed to have risen on its own as a curse was on the tip of her tongue.

Her eyes had gone red, and they seemed to have lost what little shine they used to have. Just as she was about to send Nott to the infirmary. "MS. GREENGRASS!"

Daphne's hand went behind her back, as she turned and saw her Master. His brow furrowed as he stared in confusion at his apprentice.

"What do you think you were doing, Ms. Greengrass?" Slytherin asked.

"Just practising a few spells, Lord Slytherin."

Slytherin's eyebrow arched as he stared at the back of Nott.

"On your fellow housemates?" Slytherin asked, concerned.

"On a nearby plague," she muttered under her breath. Slytherin, thankfully, failed to hear that.

"You are dismissed to the Great Hall, Ms. Greengrass."

"But sir–"

"You. Are. Dismissed."

For the first time, Daphne had done something she had never dared to do to an authority figure. She glared at the founder of Slytherin, his face showed surprise and she headed to her private room.

As she opened the Lone Lady's statue, Tom spoke to her.

'He suspects,' and Daphne stopped on her feet.

"What?"

'He suspects that someone is helping you. That I am helping.'

"What?! But how?!"

'I do not know. But I could feel his suspicion. He knows that something is not right.'

"What are we going to do? If he finds out that I've been relying on your help."

'Not relying. Everything you've done, to this point and further has been on your own. Only a few times have I truly helped you. After all, you truly are an exceptional witch.'

Daphne was sure she blushed, she shook her head and thanked Tom.

'Do you trust me, Daphne?'

"Yes, Tom."

'Good. I have a plan so listen to me carefully.'

Slytherin walked towards the Headmaster's office. He had summoned a meeting between him, the other founders, and the staff. As he entered the lounge, he saw them all seated around the table, their conversations being cut short thanks to his arrival.

"I've summoned you all here for a reason," he said.

"Straight to the point I see," said Godric to Helga, not so discreetly as he probably thought. She snickered behind her hand, shoving his shoulder playfully as Rowena rolled her eyes. Ignoring what had been said, Salazar got to the point.

"I have suspicion to believe that one of our students, Daphne Greengrass is being affected or perhaps even possessed by a dark magical object."

Godric's carefree expression immediately disappeared as the tension in the Headmaster's office increased.

"Are you sure about this, Lord Slytherin?" Dumbledore asked, and he nodded.

"What makes you say that Salazar?" Rowena asked.

"Moments ago, my apprentice seemed to have considered practising a curse on a fellow Slytherin, after I dismissed her to the Great Hall she proceeded to glare at me," there was silence after that, Gryffindor seemed more confused than everyone.

"Is that it?" asked the ginger wizard. "I mean, don't get me wrong Salazar. That is reprimandable behaviour, but it just seems to me like an ordinary teenage witch going through," and he coughed as he covered his mouth as his cheeks went a colour red. "Puberty."

The witches in the room all paid a side-glance to Gryffindor, who decided that his lap was far more interesting than the conversation at hand.

"Is the fact her eyes glowed red also necessary to mention," Slytherin said, growling in anger at Godric's interruption. That brought the attention of everyone in the room back to Salazar. "For now I wish for you to pay close attention to Ms. Greengrass if you so please." Everyone nodded at his request. As each professor stood up and walked out of Dumbledore's office, Salazar stopped Snape before he left.

"I expect you to pay attention to her more than anyone, Severus," he whispered in his ear.

"Yes, Lord Slytherin."