Legal Disclaimer: I own my stuff, but not the original source material. That belongs to whoever. Also, the opinions and interpretations I use here may not reflect the same in said whoever that owns the source material. Look, I'm just a poor college librarian. Suing me isn't going to get you anything but tears.

Warning: This work may be offensive to some readers. Additionally, there is onscreen use of a mind-controlling spell and attempted non-consensual potion use. Feel free to back out if need be. Also, feel free to check the FAQs on my FFN profile before leaving reviews about anything you dislike (including characterization or length).

Author's Note: [singing to self] A scrub is a guy who can't get no love from me.

Submitting Info:
Stacked with: Hogwarts 2.0 (T04); RAVEN (2024); MC4A (Fa-Yr7)
Individual Challenges: Student MC; Red Instead; Condiment Shelf; Willy Shook Here; Flexible; Major (Y); Delilah; Feather Head; Stacking Fool; Flashers; Single Location; Blood; Blush; Shield; Hogwarts MC [x3]; Magical MC (Y); Magical MC [x2]; Sandbox (Y); Cinematic; Reader; Dreamers [x2]; Elder Berries; Ethnic & Present; Neurodivergent; Rian-Russo Inversion; In a Flash; Bucket Listing (Y); Eating Cake (Y); Exchange; Outer Limit; Two Cakes (Y); Salt Wrench; Castle Time; Lunar Era; Gender Bender; Hold the Mayo; Rainbow Connection
Hogwarts House: Ravenclaw
Assignment: Term 04 - Assignment 06
Subject [Task (Prompt): Forestry [Task#3 (bad situation turning out alright in the end)]
Other Hogwarts Challenges: Library [Allegiant](Blood); Frenzy [GoT#5](Defiant); Center [95 - Pablo](Frantic); Pokemon [219 - Megcargo](cerise); Nov Stardew [Wizard]("No Scrubs" - TLC); Bargain [Laptop](Library)
RAVEN Challenges: A [86](Throwing); Traits [28](Frustrated); Colors [56](Mauve); Items [47](Journal/Diary); Settings [79](Scary)
Other MC4A Challenges: Chim [Missy](Protection; "Shadow" - Livingston); Hunt [Fa Set (Library)]; Fire [Shush]; Garden [Shears (Library)]; Hang [Phrase#01](n/a);
Representation(s): Desi & Fem Harry Potter; Draco Malfoy; Irma Pince; Attempted Non-Con
Primary & Secondary Bonus Challenges: Under the Bridge; Second Verse (Ladylike; Not a Lamp; Persistence Still; Sneeze Weasel; Unwanted Advice; For the Vine; Muck & Slime; Rock of Ages; Casper's House; Corvid Brain; Hot Apple); Chorus (Wabi Sabi; Bee Haven; Peddling Pots; Mouth of Babes; Tomorrow's Shade; Larger than Life; Abandoned Ship; Head of Perseus; In the Trench; Surprise!; Seven Gates; Forked Path; Sitting Hummingbird)
Tertiary & Generic Bonus Challenges: T3 (Terse; Thimble); SN (Rail; Intercept); O3 (Oust); War (Monomania; Obstruction; Sanctuary; Ennui); TY (Enfant); Mea (Ennui; Rampant; Athenaeum)
Word Count: 949 words

(Ø)
No Love
(Ø)

Harini had managed to claim a table in the far back corner of the library. It was the farthest table from the librarian's desk as possible and still be in the library proper. Being so far from Madam Pince's desk might have made it popular if it weren't also away from any windows or other light sources. For all that Hogwarts claimed to be one of the best schools for magic, an alarming amount of students didn't seem knowledgeable about everyday domestic spells like lights.

She had also managed to get away from not only Hermione and Ron but also her godbrother Neville. It meant that she was finally alone, something that she had not managed since the start of the year. Not that she minded the companionship all that much after having spent much of her childhood alone, but it did mean that she hadn't been able to keep up her normal research habit. Hermione was too controlling to research with (barely tolerable to study with). Ron hated reading anything that wasn't related to quidditch. And while Neville would have been fine for the reading portions, he would have also followed her around the stacks like one of Aunt Marge's prized bulldogs.

It would have been too much for her frazzled nerves to handle. She just needed time. She needed time to sort out her feelings. She needed time to figure things out. She just needed time. Her eyes welled up with tears, blurring the words on the page of the journal laying open in front of her. She focused on her breathing to force the tears back into the recesses of her mind.

It might be too late to save Sirius, but she was finally mastering the occlumency lesson that Snape had shouted at her.

"Excuse me?"

Harini startled. She hadn't even noticed someone had approached her table. She also normally had a sixth sense for when Malfoy was near. The Slytherin tended to cause Ron to become even more short-tempered than Uncle Vernon after his evening brandy. Then again, Ron wasn't here right now, because Harini had wanted to be alone.

"Malfoy," Harini greeted as neutrally as possible. He did not look like himself. His pale blond hair was disheveled as if he had been running his hands through it repeatedly. There were dark purple bags beneath his eyes. There was also sallow tint to his skin that made him look like cream that had gone off. She carefully closed the journal on mushrooms she had been reading. "You look like shit."

"Thanks, Potter," Malfoy said, heat flashing in his blue eyes like summer lightning. Spots of mauve blossomed on his pointy cheekbones. "You look smashing today as well."

"Is there something you want?" Harini asked, already tired of the conversation. Maybe she shouldn't have ditched her godbrother. Even his gentle presence seem to cause a lot of the boys in their year from becoming annoying. Of course, having Neville around might not have prevented Malfoy from glaring at her as he was now. "Unless you have a sudden and driving desire to become a toadstool, I suggest getting on with it already, Malfoy."

"The first Hogsmeade visit is this weekend," he announced as pompous as he usually was. Harini raised a single eyebrow in a silent demand for the blond to continue. "I will escort you. Meet me on the front steps."

Harini choked out a laugh. Malfoy's scowl deepened. Harini started laughing even harder. Malfoy slammed his hands down on the table and leaned over her books in an obvious attempt at intimidation.

"Just what are you laughing at, Potter?"

"You really think I will go anywhere with you?" Harini stood up. She might still be the smallest of the sixth-years, but she did not have to take being pushed around by anyone. The fire that had filled her all of last year returned in a crackling inferno. "I won't be meeting you this weekend or ever. I would rather kiss Neville's toad than be seen in public on your arm."

"Listen here, you stupid—"

Harini interrupted with a sharp clap of her hands right in the Slytherin's face. Malfoy reared back. Harini took a deep breath that she let out slowly before speaking.

"My answer is no, Malfoy," Harini said firmly. Out of habit, she pushed her glasses more solidly onto the bridge of her nose. "It is my final answer. There will never be a different answer."

"Why did you have to make this so much harder than necessary?" Malfoy asked. He drew his wand and cast in the same motion.

The veil of feeling that settled over her mind was unfortunately familiar. No matter how stubborn Malfoy had shown himself to be, he still had nothing on the mental fortitude of grown and fully-trained adults. Harini was able to break out of the curse right as her hand curled around a potion vial. The sharp angular shape of it cut into her tightening fist as an insidious whisper told her to drink the potion.

The blood dripping from her hand registered more than the pain sweeping away the false serenity.

Malfoy's blue eyes widened as he realized that Harini was staring back at him. He lifted his wand, prepared to attempt the Imperius again. Acting on instinct, Harini launched the cerise pink vial at his head. It struck him right between his eyes.

Madam Pince came around the corner of the bookshelves nearby right as Malfoy hit the ground unconscious and bleeding. She looked at the Slytherin and then back up at Harini. Her lips pursed and her nostrils flared in irritation. Harini raised her chin defiantly.

"He started it!"