Welcome back my lovely Potterheads!
First, Clanking Cuipaga: Yes, I know the staircases were separate in the books. However, I'm mixing the books and the movies together, so the different elements of each part of canon is sprinkled in this fic. Don't worry, I still worked in the good old "sliding-staircase trick". On a personal note, I also never really understood the reasoning for girls being able to enter the boys' dorm, but not the other way around. Like, what's the point? They'll still be hanging out in a dorm together, trustworthy or otherwise. As for making a friend in Slytherin, that won't really happen until further down the road. But I like your suggestion! Thanks for the review!
This chapter will cover Halloween. We've got some Ron and Susanna funny moments, and I've peppered in examples of the "old Susanna". She won't be particularly nice in this chapter, but she's still unlearning her crueler reactions to other people. I swear I'll have the next chapter up in a few days, I'm really trying to be more focused on writing to distract from how crazy the world is right now.
I hope you guys are staying safe, and that you enjoy this update! As always, I only own my OC - the rest is JK Rowling's!
Since their midnight adventure, the boys and Susanna had been discussing little else but whatever Hagrid had taken from vault 713. It was either dangerous, valuable, or both - Susanna was sure it was both. Why else would Dumbledore feel the need to protect it with the giant three-headed dog residing in the forbidden corridor?
Neville and Hermione cared very little about what had transpired that night. Neville refused to even mention the third-floor, and would turn as pale as a ghost at the mere mention of a dog. As for Hermione, she completely refused to speak to either boy, only ever rolling her eyes if they misbehaved. Harry and Ron were more than happy with that particular development.
Susanna would've said the same, if it weren't for the fact Hermione Granger was doing the opposite with her. If Susanna attempted to leave the dorm in the middle of the night, Hermione would wake up and stop her. Whenever Susanna pulled a successful prank on an unsuspecting student, Hermione was there to tell her off. She was a second shadow Susanna had no hope of losing, no matter what she did.
"This is a bloody nightmare!" She griped at Harry and Ron, storming into the Great Hall for breakfast. "I can't stand her! Every time I try to have a bit of fun, she finds a way to stop me. And don't even get me started on how she acts in class."
"Fine, I won't." Harry sasses, but Ron shoves at him.
"No, go on." Ron urges Susanna, who takes a vicious bite out of a piece of toast, chewing and talking at the same time.
"If I laugh, she calls me immature. If I start doodling, she tells me I'm being lazy - it doesn't matter if I've finished taking notes!" Ron nods at her to continue. "And the showing-off is getting more irritating by the minute. I get it, she reads. I can read too, and I do, but you don't see me shoving how smart I am down other people's throats. She's the worst." Susanna stopped and took a swig from her goblet of pumpkin juice. "You know what? I'm going to do it. I'm going to prank her."
"Why haven't you already?" Harry asked, sliding some bacon onto his plate.
"Because I'm a good person." He hummed. "I have morals? Oh, whatever, the point is I'm done. She's going to wish she never messed with me. What?"
Harry was staring at her like she was a complete stranger, his eyes blown a little wide in surprise. Susanna didn't care for the look, and chose to focus on her scrambled eggs instead, ignoring her cousin and focusing on the anger bubbling in her stomach.
The trio was unusually silent, neither one knowing what to say. Susanna glared at Hermione when she saw the girl sitting and reading, her nose buried in a giant book. She couldn't help but wonder if she was actually reading it for pleasure, or if it was another tool to show off with.
Hermione looked up and over, meeting Susanna's gaze. Both girls refused to look away, their faces marred by deadly scowls.
"Oi, Susie-Q!" Susanna jumped and turned, smiling up at Fred, George, and Lee.
"Morning!"
"What's got you in a mood?" Fred asked, looking at Ron and Harry for answers.
"Oh, nothing. Just an annoying little pest who can't mind their own business!" Susanna spoke up, looking pointedly at Hermione Granger. The girl blushed furiously and stood up, removing herself and her massive book from the Great Hall.
"Someone's in a mood." George commented, and Susanna shoved at him.
"Yeah, you would be too. She's awful. Do you have any pranks for bossy girls who think they're better than you?" She complained, batting her eyelashes.
Lee laughed and ruffled her loose red hair. "Well, you have access to her books."
"You're plenty clever, Susie-Wusie. But if you do need some help, you can always switch out her wand for this one in class."
Susanna took the trick wand and raised an unimpressed eyebrow at Fred. "A trick wand? Really?"
"I was saving it for Miles Bletchley. Nasty little git." Fred muttered darkly over to the Slytherin table, and while his eyes met Miles's, Susanna's gaze focused on Draco. She looked away before he could notice, and laughed at Fred.
"So use it on him. I like Lee's book suggestion." Susanna gave the trick wand back, and the other redhead shrugged.
"Suit yourself. Oh, Ron, mum said you haven't been writing to her enough. She misses her Ickle Ronniekins." Fred, George, and Lee walked away laughing, ignoring Ron's scowling and cursing.
"They're the bloody worst." He grumbled into his porridge, then looked at Susanna's plate. "That's all you're having?"
"Here, eat your eggs." Harry shoveled some more eggs onto her plate, as well as a couple of broiled tomatoes. She sighed but bit into her breakfast, wondering if she should find a room to dance in. Should she jog? Do people even jog at Hogwarts?
Loud screeching filled the Great Hall, and she looked up as owls flapped in through the doors and windows, dropping parcels and letters down in front of students and faculty. She bit her lip and waited, wondering if it was arriving today. She briefly glanced over at Professor McGonagall, who sent her a fraction of a smile before Madam Sinistra captured her attention.
"Oi, wonder who that's for?" Ron asked, and Susanna looked to the left, smiling in awe at the sight of six large screech owls flying down towards the Gryffindor table. Their talons held one long parcel, and they dropped it down in front of Harry. The confused boy plucked the attached card off his package and read it, a smile forming on his lips. Ron peered at the writing over his shoulders, and Susanna nonchalantly drank the rest of her juice, pretending to read the note when it was passed to her.
"A Nimbus Two Thousand! I've never even touched one!" Ron groaned, blue eyes full of envy.
"How did Professor McGonagall pay for it, though? With school funds?" Harry asked, and Susanna shrugged.
"No idea. We should put this in your dorm. Under your bed. Hide it."
"You -" Before Harry could finish, Susanna cut him off.
"I know, yes, I'm right."
"Hang on. Susie, did you -"
But Susanna was too far away to answer Ron, and the boys scurried after her. Just as they'd all met in the entrance hall, Draco and his two bodyguards appeared, blocking them from walking up the stairs. Susanna groaned in irritation when Crabbe and Goyle snatched the parcel from Harry's hand, and Draco felt around it, his cold eyes blown wide.
"That's a broomstick!" Susanna groaned, thought it went unheard by the boys. "You'll be in for it this time, Potter. First years aren't allowed one!"
Susanna was eager to wipe the smug look of Draco's face, but Ron beat her to it. "It's not any old broomstick! It's a Nimbus Two Thousand! What did you say you've got at home, Malfoy, a Comet Two Sixty? Comets look flashy, but they're not in the same league as the Nimbus." Ron grinned over at Harry, and Susanna rolled her eyes as Draco puffed out his chest with the utmost self-importance.
"What would you know about it, Weasley, you couldn't afford half the handle. I suppose you and your brothers have to save up twig by twig, you're family's so -"
Susanna glowered and stood in front of Ron, barely a step away from Draco. He paused in confusion. "Go on. Finish the sentence." She jeered, her cheeks feeling hot. "There's a new jinx an older student taught me that I'm just itching to try out. It's right nasty, causes boils to explode all over your face. Though, judging from the red spot just there," Susanna pointed out a supposed blemish, "someone's beaten me to it."
"How dare you talk to me like that!" Draco growled, pale cheeks flushed and eyes crazed. "A stupid, ugly little mu-"
"Not arguing, I hope!"
All six students looked down at Professor Flitwick, who seemed to just appear next to Draco's elbow. He was smiling, completely oblivious to the situation.
Draco used their silence to his advantage. "Potter's been sent a broomstick, professor!" He spoke quickly, eagerly awaiting Harry's punishment. Susanna nearly pounced to strike him - in front of a teacher! Hermione would've lost it - but Harry managed to subtlety tug her back.
Professor Flitwick clapped his hands and beamed ecstatically up at Harry. "Yes, yes, that's right. Professor McGonagall told me all about the special circumstances, Mr. Potter. And what model is it?"
"A Nimbus Two Thousand, sir." Then Harry smirked, his eyes pointed dangerously at Draco. "And it's really thanks to Malfoy here that I've got it."
Susanna covered her mouth, laughing at the look of horror on Draco's face, and took great pleasure in ramming her arm against his, lightly shoving him out of her way in the hope that it would heal the sting of his words.
As soon as they were far enough away from the professor and three Slytherins, the trio of Gryffindors let their laughter escape, startling quite a few passing ghosts. Ron was outright chortling, and Susanna laughed through her fear of him falling down the stairs, he was so unbalanced.
"Oh, mate, that was brilliant!"
"Well, it's true!" Harry laughed, wiping under his eyes as they finally made it up the last marble step. "If he hadn't stolen Neville's Remembrall, I wouldn't be on the team -"
"So I suppose you think that's a reward for breaking rules?"
All three groaned at the familiar voice, looking up to see Hermione standing at the base of the Grand Staircase, arms crossed over her book and bag swinging on her shoulder. "I thought I'd scared you off. It was quiet enough without you butting in on something you have no clue about." Susanna shot at her, and Ron nodded in agreement.
"I thought you weren't talking to us?" Harry asked, though he didn't sound quiet as mean as his cousin.
"Yeah, you two. She's still bothering me." Susanna muttered under her breath, though it was far-from quiet.
Ron snorted. "Yeah, don't stop now. It's doing Harry and I so much good!"
Hermione stormed away with her nose in the air and Ron mimicked her, getting a loud laugh from Susanna. She, Harry, and Ron walked up the steps to Gryffindor Tower, their arms linked. Laughter rang around the Grand Staircase as Susanna proceeded to trip over air, the girl the first to giggle at her clumsiness.
With Harry off to his first private Quidditch session, Susanna and Ron sat at a desk in the common room, out of the way from the rest of the action. The red-haired boy was playing Wizard's Chess against himself, spinning the board around with each move. Susanna watched him occasionally, quill to her lips as she attempted to complete her Astrology work.
"I don't bloody understand this." She griped, setting down her quill and glaring at her near-blank star chart while pushing her practice parchment out of the way.
"I can't believe that of all the subjects we're forced to take, you don't get the easiest one."
"Hey, I don't comment on your confusion in Potions and History of Magic!"
"That's because normal people are confused by both!" Ron defended himself angrily. To observers, it looked as though a fight was about to break out. Instead, the two redheads burst into laughter, pointing at each other's freckled and flushed faces. "Here. I'll take a look." Ron reached over for her practice parchment.
"Are you sure you don't want me to do it?" Hermione asked, standing by their table. Susanna tilted her head.
"You know, I can't tell if she's asking because she's worried, or because she thinks you're incapable of helping me." Susanna threw at Ron, who glared up at the bushy-haired Muggle-born.
"I think it's 'cause she thinks I'm stupid."
"Probably." Susanna hummed and looked at the other girl, completely unimpressed. "No, I don't want you to do it. Ron's more than capable. Or was he not the one who pointed out Venus?"
"Anyone could find Venus, it's the brightest planet in the sky!" Hermione scoffed.
Susanna rounded her mouth into an O. "So then why didn't you point it out in class? Tired of always showing-off, or were you just too slow?" Hermione fumed and stormed away, and Susanna grinned over at a giggling Lavender and Pavarti. Padma sent her a disappointed frown and the redhead rolled her eyes, waving in Hermione's direction irritatedly.
"Here, you've got Orion's Belt mixed up with the Perseus constellation, see? And Andromeda is over here. This is Sirius." Ron pointed around the parchment and Susanna smiled at him.
"You're smarter than you act, Ron." Her best friend grinned and waved her off.
While he looked over the rest of her parchment - adding in changes on the practice sheet so Madam Sinistra would be none the wiser - Susanna read over what he'd written for Potions. They were still working on the Cure for Boils. Susanna had wanted to partner with Neville, but whenever Susanna attempted to work with him Professor Snape sent her on her way. She did her best to help him after class, but there was only so much she could do without making the potions for him. Instead she was stuck with Hermione, who often took over before Susanna could offer to do anything, shooting her glares if she wasn't helping fast enough.
"The porcupine quills aren't pickled, the Shrake spines are." Ron groaned at his two-foot essay. "But you were correct on the amount of quills to use. Oh, and here - the potion itself is blue, the smoke is pink." Susanna pointed to the changes with the tip of her quill, and Ron got back to work.
"Look at this, Georgie; Ickle Ronniekins and Susie-Wusie are hard at work! Aren't they precious?" Fred cooed and the younger Weasley groaned. Susanna snickered and rolled her eyes before looking up at the twins and Lee, waving at them as she leaned back in her chair.
"Well, we were before you showed up. Some of us have to make up for all the points you lose Gryffindor."
"Ouch. That hurts, Susie-Q." George covered his heart, and she laughed.
"Did it? Good. Now, what can us two dashing first years help you with?"
"I think you need glasses more than Harry does, Susie-Wusie." Fred gestured in disgust to Ron, whose face turned as red as his hair. "Calling our brother dashing must mean you're blind."
Susanna narrowed her eyes. "He's alright looking."
"Oi!"
"I'm not going to call you 'cute'. You're my best friend, that's just gross."
Ron glowered at her. "Yeah, well, you're not winning any prizes for your beauty, either!"
Susanna pouted. "But I'm good looking. Your brothers said so." And then she grinned. "I'm just kidding. You're an attractive bloke, Ron."
He blushed, but batted his eyelashes. "Oh, Susie, so are you."
"I'm an attractive bloke?" She raised an eyebrow, and Ron paused.
"I think Neville's calling me. Sorry, I have to go!" Ron grabbed what he could and bolted up the stairs, Susanna yelling behind him. She made it to his dorm just as he slammed the door.
"Come out, you coward!" Susanna roared. Before she could stop herself, she twisted the doorknob. The popping sound could only mean defeat. Emitting a curse her father would've been proud to hear, the floor beneath her smoothed out and descended, a blast of wind pushing her down and away from the boys' room. She passed her own dorm on the way down, screaming when the staircase transfigured into a slide as well. Down Susanna slid with her arms crossed, and her glower was enough to make the rest of the common room stay away for the rest of the evening. Even Harry was too afraid to ask, and judging from how pale Ron was he knew better than to try.
"If one more person tries to jump out from around the corner and scare me, I swear I'm going to unleash the most horrible jinx I know." Susanna growled, Ron and Harry hurrying after her.
"And what jinx would that be?" Harry asked teasingly. The smile fell when his cousin's green eyes blazed with anger.
"I don't know. But it will be awful."
Nearly two months had passed them by - to Susanna, it seemed to have been in a blink of an eye. The weekly routine seemed to blend the days together. The highlights had been the pranking, especially what she pulled on Hermione a month ago. On Hogsmeade weekend the twins and Lee had bought her an assortment of products from Zonko's Joke Shop - and yes, she paid them back. One such product was a Screaming Yo-Yo, and on one particular September evening Susanna hid herself under a table in the library, right next to where Hermione was studying. She rolled the Yo-Yo every few minutes until Madam Pince stormed over and demanded that the flustered bushy-haired girl leave the library.
In early October Susanna stole some books out of Hermione's bag, waiting for her to be distracted during breakfast. Without questioning the suspicious grin on Susanna's face, Lavender and the Patil twins kept Hermione's attention. Susanna hurried back to the dorm to tuck the books away in her closet. It was her first relaxing Tuesday at Hogwarts.
Of course, Susanna returned the books to Hermione's shelf that same evening when her fun was done. The first thing the Weasley twins and Lee had taught her was to know how long to play out the prank. Hermione apologized awkwardly to Susanna, Lavender, and the Patil twins the next morning, murmuring that she couldn't believe she didn't see the books right in front of her. As soon as she'd left the dorm for breakfast, the remaining four girls broke into laughter, the Patils and Lavender clapping as Susanna bowed proudly.
Later, she'd been riddled with guilt. She told herself Hermione had deserved to be messed with. She'd been asking for it since school started. Besides, it wasn't like Susanna was spreading rumors about her. They were just harmless little jokes.
In a surprising turn of events, she found herself missing ballet. Seriously. All those Thursday afternoons on a broomstick, and her mind still wandered to an activity she'd spent most of her life hating. Susanna did what she could - she'd practice routines in empty classrooms and stretch in her dorm. She did her best to eat as much as her mother would have allowed, but still worried over her appearance in the mirror, expecting to start resembling her father and brother.
Ballet was the only thing from the Muggle world that Susanna missed, though, especially when classes were involved. There was no comparing a subject like math to Charms class, and Potions was far more entertaining than any Muggle science lesson. Indeed, she'd done well in Professor Snape's course. She, Hermione, and Draco all seemed to be competing for approval. So far only the blonde had won - which was absolutely favoritism, considering Snape was Draco's godfather.
Draco was an insufferable git. Whoever she met on the train was clearly a figment of her imagination, because he was nothing like the blonde-haired boy who enjoyed tormenting anyone who wasn't in his house. Crabbe and Goyle were nearly as bad, but their stupidity outweighed their meanness. Pansy Parkinson, though?
She was worse than Draco. She did her very best to try and make a fool out of Susanna. Whether it was tripping her in the halls or swapping her Potions ingredients, she had it out for the redhead. Susanna wouldn't have been surprised if Parkinson had forgotten her name, judging from how often the girl called her "mudblood".
It was an easy enough nickname to understand. She was Muggle-born. She wasn't pure like her tormentors. She had dirty blood. Muddy blood. Mudblood. Maybe Parkinson thought Susanna had no idea what she was calling her. Maybe she didn't care either way.
If it weren't for magic and Muggles, Parkinson and her brother would probably get along.
"I'm just excited to make something float. A galleon says Seamus manages to blow something out." Ron bet, the cousins snorting in response.
"Easy money, Ronniekins." Susanna joked. "I'm not shaking on that."
"Fair enough. He did set the corner of his bed on fire last night." Ron hummed, and they turned towards the Charms classroom. Ron broke a little ahead but Susanna paused, holding back her cousin.
"What's wrong?" Harry asked, giving her a worried look.
"Nothing. I just… I'm checking on you, I guess." Breakfast had been a little overwhelming, for Harry most of all. Amidst sips of pumpkin juice and a plethora of sweet food many classmates had come by to talk at Harry. His parents were killed on Halloween, and everyone wanted to know just how he was feeling. No, actually, they just assumed how he was doing. It'd taken a glare and many threats from Susanna and Ron before the eager students scurried off.
Harry's shoulders relaxed. "I'm okay. Just wasn't prepared for… all that."
"I know." Susanna glanced over to where Ron was sitting. She snorted at the glare of frustration he was sending Hermione's way. The girl was turned towards Isobel MacDougal of Ravenclaw, talking rapidly. Ron gestured to her, and Harry snickered as soon as he noticed his best friend's expression.
"Come on. Before Ron gets himself in trouble."
"Well, don't add me to the equation. It'll only get worse." Susanna jested, and followed her cousin. Ron gave her a pleading look and she sat down between him and Hermione with a sigh. The bushy-haired girl sent her a brief dismissive glare, then continued her conversation. Ron cleared his throat and straightened, copying Hermione's expression. Susanna chortled, ignoring whatever look Hermione was sending her way for interrupting her conversation again.
As the last of the class trickled in Professor Flitwick levitated himself up onto the stack of books. "Happy Halloween! Now, as promised, today we will be focusing on the levitation charm! As practiced last class, you simply say 'Wingardium Leviosa'. And don't forget the wrist movement!" Professor Flitwick squeaked out. "Swish and flick, remember, swish and flick. And saying the words properly is very important - pronunciation is key, not just how enthusiastically you wave your wand! Never forget Wizard Baruffio, who said 's' instead of 'f' and found himself on the floor with a buffalo on his chest. Now, pair up. Good, good. And does each pair have a feather? Hmm, yes. You may begin!" Professor Flitwick observed the class from his perch, and Susanna and Ron got to work.
It's more difficult than she believed. It doesn't help that the room's too loud to hear herself think. She manages a slight float before their feather sets back down. "Maybe I'm not putting enough into the words." Susanna whispered to Ron, guessing.
He shrugged and glared at the feather as though it'd insulted him. "Maybe you're being too gentle? Here, let me try. Wingardium Leviosa!" He shouted, then dangerously flicked his wand up and down, practically a windmill. Susanna shot out her hand and stopped him, covering her face.
"Ron, careful, you'll take my eyes out!" She snapped playfully, shoving at him. "Again, with a little less arm-waving."
Ron blushed. "Right. Sorry." He cleared his throat, and prepared to swish and flick. "Wingardrium Leviosar!" He mispronounced.
"No, wait - Ron, it's Wingar-di-um -" Susanna started to put an emphasis on the word so he could correct himself when bushy hair slapped her in the face. She yelped and scooted back, rubbing at her left eye as Hermione leaned around her, glaring at Ron.
"You're saying it wrong!" She snapped. "It's Win-gar-di-um Levi-o-sa, not Wingar-dri-um Levio-sar! Make the 'gar' nice and long."
"Oi, don't talk to him like that!" Susanna growled back, still rubbing at her eye. "And would it kill you to mind your own business?"
Ron's face was as red as his hair, just as it'd been after they met Hermione on the train. "You do it, then, if you're so clever!" He snapped back at her.
Hermione raised an eyebrow, then cleared her throat. Rolling up the sleeves of her gown she pointed the tip of her vine wand at her feather. "Wingardium Leviosa!" She flicked her wand and the feather between the know-it-all and Isobel MacDougal began to float, rising four feet above their heads.
"Oh, well done!" Professor Flitwick clapped his hands. "Everyone see here, Miss Granger's done it!"
Susanna patted Ron on the arm, both redheads glaring at the smug Hermione. Susanna only wondered when the other Muggle-born would hold this moment over her head - next class, probably. Maybe for a week.
She and Ron had been in a very bad mood by the time class had ended. Not even Seamus blowing up his feather cracked a laugh from them. Susanna had shrugged off her cousin's hand as he attempted to steer her ahead of Hermione.
"What a bloody piece of work!" Susanna finally released in the crowded halls, Ron nodding beside her. Seamus laughed, his face covered in soot from the feather, and Dean shook his head with a small grin on his face. "She always has to be right, doesn't she? And we're all just idiots compared to her!" Susanna cleared her throat, giving Ron a sneer. "'It's Win-gar-di-um Levi-o-sa, not Wingar-dri-um Levio-sar!'" The boys laughed at her impression, and she ignored the look Harry was sending her from around Neville.
Ron snorted, smirking at the group. "She's a nightmare, honestly. No wonder she hasn't got any friends!" Susanna giggled, then stumbled as Neville bumped into her.
"Sorry, Susanna -" Neville righted himself, but she was too busy staring after a bushy head of hair.
Hermione had stormed past Harry, shoving into his shoulder which knocked Neville into Susanna. She wasn't so far ahead that the redhead couldn't see her shoulders shaking as the other Muggle-born stormed off.
"I think she heard you." Harry told the two redheads, and Ron awkwardly cleared his throat.
"So?" He looked away, uncomfortable. "She must've noticed no one can stand her."
Susanna hadn't said anything. Instead, she let the boys pass her, stopping in the middle of the crowded hall, mind blinking backwards.
"Oooh, if it isn't Nancy the Nerd. Mummy can't buy you a better outfit?" A younger Susanna teased, sneering as her mother would. "Oh, girls, look. She's carrying her diary!"
"No, it's not - please leave me alone." Nancy pleaded, stumbling back on the playground. She looked around for help, but who in their year would bother standing up against Susanna Dursley and her friends? No one.
"Girls." Susanna ordered, watching with terrifying glee as her bigger friends stalked forward, crowding Nancy. She walked forward, her friends stepping out of the way as she cheerfully plucked the pretty-pink diary from Nancy's weak grasp, the other girl crying. Susanna began to laugh, none of it kind. "Look, girls. We've got a crybaby. Poor Nancy the Nerd, all alone. Must be because you're so weird, right? Always reading. You think you're better than us, Nancy the Nerd, huh?" She shoved the girl's shoulder, sending her tumbling to the ground. Nancy stared up at her, face wet.
"Please don't." Nancy tried again, and Susanna opened her diary, beaming as her friends gathered behind her to read over her shoulder.
"Let's see how weird Nancy the Nerd really is." The redhead told her friends. The biggest, Martina, laughed.
"Then we can tell the rest, right?"
"Oh, this is going to be so much fun." Susanna snapped it shut and glared down at the sobbing freak. "And Nancy the Nerd won't do anything about it, will she? Hmm?" Nancy shook her head. "Because you know exactly what we do to tattletales. See you later, Nancy the Nerd." Susanna walked away, leading her friends from the sobbing freak. "Out of my way, Potter!" Susanna shoved her cousin out of the doorway and marched through, uncaring of his pained moan. She had a diary to read.
"-anna. Suze? Suze?"
Susanna gasped, green eyes meeting green. "Harry?"
"Susanna, what's -" Harry started, but Susanna shook her head.
"I thought I forgot the homework for Transfiguration. I didn't."
Harry gave her a look, seeing right through her lie. "Look, you can apologize -"
"For what? Telling the truth?" Susanna snorted and stepped around her cousin. "She deserved it."
"Listen to yourself, Suze! You're sounding like you used to!" Harry shouted, and she stopped in her tracks. "You're not that girl anymore, stop acting like her!" Harry caught up and glared at his cousin. "You're better than this, Susanna."
She faltered at his look, unused to the disappointment gleaming in his eyes. "We're going to be late." Is all she said, and continued on her way to Transfiguration.
Hermione hadn't been in their next class. Professor McGonagall passed by Susanna's desk and asked about the empty seat beside her. Susanna shrugged indifferently, picking at her nails as the woman walked away.
Hermione hadn't been at lunch. There was no incessant chattering, no random bits of information being spilled to the nearest Gryffindors.
Hermione didn't show up for the afternoon classes, either. Everyone was talking about it - her absence was not unnoticed by anyone. Guilt ate away at Susanna as she did her best to take notes on vampires. It weighed her down as she flew low to the ground, Flying lessons failing to distract her.
Ron looked just as guilty, the two silent as they walked back to the castle despite Neville, Dean, and Seamus attempting to pull them into a conversation. Harry was waiting for them in Gryffindor Tower, excused from Flying classes on account of him being on the Quidditch team.
"Finally! You five get lost or something? I'm starving!" Harry complained, dodging Dean's playfully shoving.
"Yeah, sorry mate. Just let me drop this off." Ron offered awkwardly, nodding to the steps.
"Me too." Susanna followed after him, disappearing into her dorm.
Lavender, Parvati, and Padma were giggling away in the bathroom, but Hermione was nowhere to be seen. The only sign that she'd ever been in the room was her bag laying haphazardly on her bed.
Susanna rubbed her face and dumped her bag on her own bed, laying down so Hades could leap up onto her stomach. He purred as she scratched behind his ears and under his chin, frowning in thought.
"Oi, Susie, you coming down soon!" Ron bellowed from down the stairs, Harry and the other boys joining in. Susanna sat up with a sigh and kissed Hades head.
As soon as she rejoined the boys, they headed out the portrait hole to the Great Hall. She could smell the feast from the seventh floor, a mix of pumpkin, sugar, and savory meats. As the boys talked her mind kept flashing through every cruel moment at school, every time she ever treated someone worse than she did Hermione.
"- poor Hermione. I wanted to help her, but she just yelled she wanted to be alone." Hannah Abbott passed the group of Gryffindors, talking to Susan Bones. "I hope she'll be okay -"
"-in the dungeons lavatory, right?" The two girls were too far away to hear everything, but their voices carried up. Susanna looked at Ron, both uncomfortable with the new information. Harry gave them a look but the other three boys seemed to have not been paying attention.
"Hey," Susanna spoke up, stepping over to the side of the moving staircase, "I left something in the dorm. Uh, I'll be down soon."
Ron gave an awkward laugh, still processing what the Hufflepuffs said. "You sure? I might eat all the food before you get there."
Susanna rolled her eyes. "Yes, I'm sure. Pig."
"Suit yourself." Ron shrugged and continued on his way, the other boys following after him. Only Harry remained, and he stared up at her with a proud little smile.
Susanna blushed and looked away, crossing her arms over her chest. "Oh, shut up." She huffed out.
"I didn't say a word. I'll save you a seat, when you're done. Or, um, if you and Hermione don't come, I'll sneak some food to the common room. Ron'll help."
She heard Harry walk away and rubbed under her eyes, wondering just how poorly this will go. Apologizing to Nancy was much harder, apologizing to Nancy was much harder, Susanna told herself, remembering her tour of "sorrys" after she had a change of heart - no one had forgiven her, not that she expected them to. Maybe this was salvageable, though. It wasn't too late, and while Susanna had been awful… Hermione made it easy to get frustrated.
Not that that's a good reason to be a git, she scolded herself before making her way to the bowels of the Castle.
The dungeons were as cold as usual, the walls damp and the air stale. Susanna rolled her shoulders back, stepping around a corner to hide from passing Slytherins. She rummaged through her robe pockets, wondering if she'd need to defend herself. Susanna groaned under her breath when she realized she'd left it in her bag. In her dorm. She was completely wandless. Hoping she wouldn't run into any trouble she continued her journey down the corridor, sneaking past the Potions classroom.
When Susanna reached the lavatory, her hand hovering hesitantly over the door knob. Even from the other side of the hick wood she could hear sobbing, and with a sad sigh she opened the door and walked through. The crying quieted, but the sniffles were still loud. "Go away!" Hermione shakily shouted.
"It's me. Susanna. Look, I just -"
"Haven't you done enough? Go away!" Hermione ordered.
Susanna nodded even though she couldn't be seen, and she walked closer to the other girl's stall. "I know I have. Give me a couple of minutes, and then I swear I'll leave. I promise. Okay? Just give me a few minutes to apologize." Susanna pleaded, counting her breaths as she waited for a response.
Finally, Hermione coughed. "Okay. Then you leave."
Susanna almost laughed with relief. "Thank you. I promise. Alright. First, you should know I was the one who got you kicked out of the library. And who hid your books. I'm sorry for that, really. Even though it was a little funny - wait, no, sorry. That's…" Susanna glared down at the floor. "Look, I'm not good at this sort of thing. Apologizing. I'm trying, though, because no matter how much you annoy me you didn't deserve what I've said and done to you. But you need to realize that how you've been talking to me and treating Ron… it's not okay."
Hermione sniffed. "I-I know." She mumbled.
"None of that justifies the way I've been treating you." Susanna added, rocking back and forth. "How I acted is not on you, alright? I hope you can understand I'm not blaming you for the prat I was." She sighed and ran a hand through her red hair. "I just wanted you to know that I'm sorry for all of it. The girl I've been… that's not who I want to be. But she's all I know sometimes. I'm trying not to be her anymore. You just made me so… angry." Susanna's heart broke more as Hermione cried, and she sighed against the door. "I don't expect you to forgive me. I just wanted you to know that I'll be better. I'll, uh, I'll make sure to have someone save you some food. But don't stay here too late. Peeves might find you. Or the Slytherins." She stepped away from the stall and walked towards the lavatory door, and was nearly out of it when a cracking voice called to her.
"Susanna?"
"Yes, Hermione?" She didn't turn around.
"Can you… would you mind staying? Please?"
"Sure." Susanna let the door close and came back to the stall. "Where do you want me?" The door opened and Hermione revealed herself. Her brown hair was bushier than ever, her face blemished with red marks and her brown eyes were swollen. Susanna expected a smack, maybe some harsh words. She deserved it.
Instead she received a hug. Hermione had thrown her arms around Susanna's neck. The red-haired girl had no idea what to do. She first settled for patting the other Muggle-born on the back, until she gave in and hugged back.
"I forgive you." Hermione finally said, and Susanna stared confusedly at the toilet across from her. "I was rude, too. I'm sorry."
Susanna shook her head. "Stop it. Nothing you ever said made me cry."
"Two evils don't cancel each other out."
"I was crueler."
"I belittled you."
Susanna laughed. "I can't believe we're competing over which one of us was worse!"
Hermione giggled wetly, both girls shaking in each other's arms.
Susanna smiled as she finished dabbing the wet paper towel under Hermione's eyes, her blemishes fading as she calmed. "There. Now it only looks like you've been punched. Twice."
Hermione rolled her puffy eyes. "You're hilarious."
"I know." Susanna's stomach growled and she sighed, patting her empty middle.
Hermione bit her lip. "If we leave now, I'm sure they'll still be serving dinner." She suggested, tone guilty.
Susanna waved her off. "No, it's okay. Harry and Ron are grabbing some food. I'll share with you!"
"Okay." Hermione smiled shyly. "Do you mind helping me with our Potions assignment? I'm having a hard time wording what I want to say."
"Of course, yeah. Let's just go to the common room. They boys will be able to give us food then, since they can't come into our room. I don't trust the other girls to deliver it." Susanna grumpily bit out, remembering the time Padma ate the cookie Ron had asked her to give the red-haired girl.
"Alright, I -" Hermione paused. "Did you hear that?"
"Hear what?" Susanna whispered, then stopped. Something was thumping outside. The floor seemed to vibrate with each thud. It sounded like an elephant was loose in the dungeons. "Get back. Come on!" Susanna tugged the other girl away from the door and towards the largest stall. They shrieked quietly when the door slammed open. The angry elephant was entering the lavatory, its shadow flooding the floor. The girls covered their noses with a grimace, their eyes watering as the smell managed to overtake their senses. The uninvited guest was breathing heavily, covering the girls' loudly beating hearts.
It was not, however, loud enough to hide Hermione's petrified scream when the stalls were ripped from their hinges and thrown across the room. The elephant was actually a troll. A twelve-foot-tall, club-wielding, bald-headed troll.
"Run!" Susanna screamed, the girls ducking under the swing of the door-sized club. The troll rolled and turned, dazed by their disappearance. His club knocked into what remained of the stalls, knocking the wood around. A piece flew right at Hermione's throat, and would have ended her if Susanna hadn't yanked her out of the way in time. They held onto each other and cowered into the wall, the troll lumbered towards them. Susanna felt around frantically for her wand. Which she'd left behind. Perfect.
"Hermione, Hermione your wand! Hermione!" Susanna tried, but the girl was as still as a statue, completely terrified. The red-haired girl reached over to search her new friend's robes -
When the lavatory door burst open, her cousin and best friend stumbled into the debris-covered room. Three pairs of eyes connected, two sets crazed and one completely panicked.
"Confuse it!" Harry roared at Ron, and Susanna watched as her cousin picked up a tap from the sink and threw it at the troll's head, the redhead boy throwing a chunk of wood after him.
"Oi, pea brain!" Ron shouted, another piece of wood hitting the toll in the center of his forehead. It
The troll stumbled and confusedly swung his club. The action woke Hermione from her petrified state, and she screamed as she tugged Susanna towards the sinks, both girls narrowly avoiding the troll's attack.
"My wand - I can't find it!" Hermione whispered, and Susanna looked around for it as the boys continued to distract the beast. The redhead groaned when she saw it. The vinewood wand was lying right next to their ripped-up stall, only a few monstrous steps away from the troll.
"Stay down!" She yelled at her friend, then dove and slid across the marble floor, scraping her legs as she rolled to a stop in front of the wand.
The movement caught the troll's attention, and he turned to roar down at her. Susanna scrambled back and raised Hermione's wand but it felt all wrong in her hand. Would a spell even work if she used it?
She didn't have a chance to answer her own question. Seconds later a jet-black streak leaped up and climbed onto the troll's shoulders, arms wrapped around its thick neck. Harry was on the troll's back, and he shoved his wand up its nose. The troll flailed and roared, bucking Harry like a frightened horse.
"Hold on, Harry!" Susanna shouted, rolling out of the way when the club swung towards her.
"Wingardium Leviosa!"
Ron stood in a cloud of debris, his red hair streaked with dust and splintered wood. Susanna watched in amazement as the club lifted itself out of the troll's grasp. It flew into the air as high as Hermione's feather, and Ron dropped it down onto the troll's head. Harry dropped to the floor and the beast staggered, until he fell face-first before Ron.
"Susanna!" Harry shouted, helping his cousin up. "You're bleeding!"
"I'm fine, I'm okay. Oh, Harry!" The girl threw her arms around his neck. They held onto each other tightly, both shaking and completely out of breath.
"Is it… dead?" Hermione asked, and the cousins parted to stare down at the troll.
"I don't think so." Harry muttered, and he and Susanna crept around the massive body to stand next to a still-dazed Ron. Susanna clapped her fellow redhead on the shoulder, and the sound was enough to get a rumbling snore from the troll. All four first years jumped at the sound, and Harry gulped. "Nope. He's just been knocked out." Susanna watched in disgust as her cousin pulled his wand from the troll's left nostril, a thick string of lumpy grey glue following it. "Ugh, troll boogies!" Harry moaned, and he did his best to wipe it off on his robe.
"I'm not sure any amount of soap will get that out." Susanna commented on his now-soiled robe, and Harry sighed sadly.
Something slammed behind them and the four first years turned. Professor McGonagall stood in the empty doorway, Professors Quirrell and Snape behind her. All three adults surveyed the destroyed lavatory in horror before their eyes landed on the Gryffindors and their unconscious troll. Professor McGonagall's face began to turn red, her mouth opening and closing as she attempted to find the words. Professor Quirrell took one look at the troll and whimpered, choosing instead to sit on an unharmed toilet and clutch his heart. Professor Snape rolled his eyes and bent over the troll instead, inspecting it. Susanna watched him curiously, wondering - not for the first time - if perhaps he was better suited for the Defense Against the Dark Arts position. He seemed dark enough for it.
"What on earth were you thinking!" Professor McGonagall was no longer speechless, her voice ringing through the destroyed lavatory with a frozen fury. "You're lucky you weren't killed! Why aren't you in your dormitory?"
Snape straightened, his black eyes piercing Harry and Susanna. His eyes flitted down to her scuffed up legs, then back to her eyes. It was all too easy to see his disapproval.
"Please, Professor McGonagall - they were looking for me." Hermione spoke up, and Susanna stared at her in confusion while her cousin and Ron blinked in surprise. Their expressions were matched by their Head of House.
"Miss Granger?"
"I went looking for the troll because I - I thought I could deal with it on my own - you know, because I've read about them." Susanna tried to shake her head to get her to stop talking, but Hermione powered on, lying to their professors. "If they hadn't found me, I'd be dead now. Susanna protected me from the troll's club, and slid across the floor to grab my wand before it could be destroyed. Harry stuck his own wand up its nose, and Ron knocked it out with its own club. They didn't have time to come and fetch anyone. It was about to finish me off when they arrived."
Susanna elbowed her cousin, hoping he'd begin to look more confident in the lie. Susanna had transformed her own confused expression into one of fearful relief, her hand in Hermione's.
Professor McGonagall appeared to be frozen, until her features thawed and her shoulders dropped. "Well, in that case… Miss Granger, you foolish girl!" Professor McGonagall scolded her prized student, Hermione looking down at the ground. "How could you think of tackling a mountain troll on you own?" The girl shrugged, hanging her head. Susanna's green eyes were blown wide as she assessed Hermione. "Miss Granger, five points will be taken from Gryffindor for this. I'm very disappointed in you. If you're not hurt at all, you'd better get off to Gryffindor Tower. Students are finishing the feast in their houses."
Hermione left quietly, her hand slipping from Susanna's as she left. The redhead caught Ron blinking dazedly after the bushy-haired girl and shook her head the slightest. He understood her gesture, schooling his features once more.
Professor McGonagall assessed them, her eyes on Susanna's bloodied legs. "Oh, dear, but those are quite the cuts."
"Oh, no. I've had worse, in dance class. Bruises the size of the troll's head. Ballet. Oh, and I fell from a tree in the park… one time…" Susanna uselessly rambled, Harry biting his lip to stop himself from laughing. His shoulders still shook, and Professor McGonagall watched them, completely unimpressed.
"Still, I'd like you to visit the hospital wing. Madam Pomfrey can heal your wounds." She cleared her throat. "Well, there's no doubt you three were lucky. Not many first years could have taken on a full-grown mountain troll and lived to tell the tale! You each win Gryffindor five points," the cousins and Ron smiled at each other, "for sheer dumb luck!" Their professor finished with a slight smile. "Professor Dumbledore will be informed of this. You may go. And Ms. Dursley, I shall know if you did not visit the hospital wing."
"Yes, Professor McGonagall." The three first years scurried out of the lavatory, bumping into Hermione. She stood in the center of the corridor with a slumped back, biting her lip worriedly.
"Are you three in any trouble?" The girl asked, and Harry shook his head.
"No. You didn't have to do that, you know. Lie?"
Hermione nodded. "I know." She blushed again. "Thanks."
"Anytime." Susanna grinned at her, then frowned. "Except let's all agree to never face another mountain troll again, yeah?"
"Merlin, yes!" Ron agreed passionately, throwing an arm over each of the cousins' shoulders. "I remembered the spell, by the way." He told Hermione. "Guess you're pretty helpful, even if you're a bossy know-it-all."
"Ron!" Susanna hissed, kicking at him but wincing at the pain.
"We need to get you to the hospital wing." Harry told her, and she waved him off.
"No, no, I can get there myself. Go enjoy the feast."
Hermione scowled. "No you won't. You'll pretend to go and then try and sneak into bed with bloodied legs!"
Susanna rolled her eyes, but it was a good-natured gesture. "Alright, yes. I know."
"Well, best escort you there ourselves." Ron grinned down at her. "What are friends for?" He looked over at Hermione, who smiled shyly in return.
"Great, because my knees are throbbing and I need some help." Susanna admitted, smiling cheekily.
Hermione looped their arms together. "I can't believe you slid on the floor." She said, though her tone was kind.
"I saw it once, in a film." Susanna defended herself, and Harry snorted.
"What the bloody hell is a film?" Ron asked, and his three companions laughed, explaining on their way to the hospital wing. Indeed, if it weren't for the blood on Susanna's legs and the debris in everyone's hair, none would be the wiser about their little adventure in the destroyed girls' lavatory.