Hey everyone, it's me! The next chapter in For There to be Light is slow going, and this has been sitting around on my laptop for a while, so I decided to post it, and hopefully get some feedback on it.

The poem is mine.

I own a few characters, but J.K owns the rest (dammit).

Enjoy!

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They amuse themselves with others pain

They seek to destroy

They enjoy the power

They enjoy the hurt and suffering that they can cause.

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They had always ruled the House where they were placed. It was decreed through their father's jobs, their money, influence and blood. Anyone who didn't conform to the system was ostracized, and became a social pariah.

They were all pariahs within the school anyway, but at least they had their Housemates; their fellow snakes. When you didn't have your housemates…

You

Were

Dead.

Their current Head of House didn't really approve of this situation, but it had become a tradition in the final years before he came to teach at the school. It was tradition. They wouldn't break it now.

They couldn't.

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She's new to this game

Blissfully unaware

The stares, the whispers

She doesn't know what she did wrong

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She'd been introduced to this world by a giant, bought a pet owl, a wand and a cauldron. She didn't know anything about her heritage, her parents (except for "you look like your mother"), blood purity, or how the school worked. It was merely an opportunity to do something with her life; to get away from her overbearing relatives and her stupid fat cousin.

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The whispers at school are getting to her, slowly but surely. The Girl-Who-Lived? Against what? No one in her new House will tell her, and none of the other students will even come near her, because of the colours on her uniform. There are some pitying glances, but no one, not even the teachers will tell her what happened.

And the staring.

At her hair, her eyes, her bloody scar.

It's rude, but then again, most people are rude in this new world.

They hold nothing on her uncle though.

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They sit in little groups

Deliberately excluding her

No one offers her a place

No one wants to come to their attention

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The first time her dorm mates, or even her year mates, refuse to sit next to her, she isn't surprised. They all know each other, and she's the annoying relative that gate-crashed the wedding; she knows all their names though, and a few of their habits. Hers will die hard.

The second time, when she sits down next to one of the girls in her dorm, Daphne Greengrass, the blonde slides away, moving closer to the dark-skinned Blaise Zabini (they don't really get on, so why…?).

It took a whole week to figure out that none of them wanted to sit next to her, so she took to sitting at the end of the table, a good two meters between her housemates and her. It was terribly lonely, and she had the horrifying though of 'what if I really am a freak?"

She didn't realize that she had already become a pariah within her own house.

Within the first week of school.

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She's a flaw in the system

She's a weed in the garden

Nobody knows her

Nobody dares to

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The upper years controlled the House.

Whatever they said, went.

When they said that someone was a loser, or didn't deserve to have friends, that person was domed. In the case of the Girl-Who-Lived, she was destined to be alone as soon as the Sorting Hat called out her new House. Shunned by the rest of the school for her new house, and spurned by her own House for not conforming, and not meeting expectations, she was truly alone.

And that was precisely what the seniors wanted.

Her, all alone and vulnerable, weak, and easy to break.

No one was allowed to talk to her, sit next to her, eat with her, or even walk near her.

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Ms. Potter was persona non grata.

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And it was going to stay that way.

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The body language screams

FREAK!

She keeps her head down

But she has come to their attention

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She tries not to speak out too much. United front and all that. In class, she doesn't draw too much attention to herself; Dudley liked to tell his father, who would then 'punish' her for showing up his son. She lets that know-it-all Granger take the spotlight, answering every single question by vomiting out the exact words from the textbooks.

On the way to different classes, older students, some from her own house, mutter to their friends, and some even shoot jinxes and hexes at her.

She has to thank them though. She's really improved her knowledge of counter-curses and healing spells.

It's the upper year Housemates that give her the creeps though. They're always watching, and muttering things. Sometimes, she sees them glaring at the other first years, and glaring at her for no apparent reason.

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If only she knew that things were about to get much worse.

Much, much worse.

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She hides in the toilets

But they will find her

She can hear their laughter

Echoing down the hall

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The bathroom is lovely, really. It's quiet, secluded, and no one else comes here. The ghost is really nice too; giving her someone to talk to when she gets bored, and sometimes helps her with her school work. It's not as though anyone else will, at any rate. And she knows better than to bother her teachers.

Despite what people think, the sinks are not out of order; they work fine. Myrtle just wants to be left alone sometimes. Unless it's her. Myrtle always has time for someone like her, and gives her ghostly hugs whenever she's crying at the unfairness of it all.

Of course, she's never been hugged before, so Myrtle's hugs are the best things that have ever happened to her.

It's nice to know that someone cares, but it's also very odd.

No one has ever really cared before.

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The best thing about Myrtle is that she can go from quiet and caring to raging and aggressive in a second. Her housemates don't come in the bathroom anymore.

They just wait outside.

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She hides in a tree

Crying softly

She can hear them on the field

Calling her name

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The Forbidden Forest isn't that scary in the daytime, and the trees were very easy to climb. It was a skill born after years of running from Dudley, so she was very good at it. The leaves were also very useful for wiping away tears, or for hiding behind when they get to close. Usually, they'll look for her down by the lake, or closer to the castle.

The Forbidden Forest is filled with dangerous creatures, like Unicorns and Thestrals, after all. Who would want to go in there?

At least the Unicorns were nice, and one even healed her sprained ankle after she twisted it on a tree branch, running away. Their manes were silky, and their flanks were soft. She knew that unicorn hairs were in potions, so she started to store the ones that got stuck on her clothing. It was expensive, at any rate.

Thestrals, on the other hand, were leathery, but equally soft, like old, worn down leather. They were quite ugly, but had a certain kind of nobleness to them, and an equal amount of sadness as well. They really were as misunderstood as the Gamekeeper, Hagrid, claimed them to be.

She could relate.

She could relate quite well.

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The pillow is soaked with tears

The taunts ring in her ears

Her parents don't know what's wrong

They can't see the hurt

The summer holidays don't come soon enough, and when they finally do, she's off the train and through to the other side of the platform before anyone can blink. There, she sees Aunt Petunia, all by herself, looking at her watch impatiently.

The sense of normalcy is what sends her over the edge, and she rushes forward. Petunia spots her, and opens her mouth to snap something at her, but is cut off as her niece barrels into her, her arms constricting slightly painfully around her thin waist.

Petunia is stunned for a moment, before her arms wrap around the small girl awkwardly. Never, in all the years that they'd had the girl, had she sought out physical comfort. It takes a moment to realize that her niece is sobbing into her shirt, trying to keep them hidden but failing. Petunia coughs, and pulls away from the girl.

"Grab your trunk, and come with me. We'll discuss this at home."

Her niece nods, and follows her silently. This is not how she remembered Lily; bouncing with excitement, and bursting with news, chattering on about one thing and another. Her niece is quiet, painfully thin and had red-rimmed eyes from crying. Her vibrant green eyes, which were always shinning, are now dull and muted.

This is not her niece.

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The tea is a nice gesture, and it calms her somewhat. It's also one of the few times she's been able to sit on the couch. She's also sitting next to her aunt, and a box of tissues rests between them. The tears don't stop coming, as she pours out her entire, awful and miserable first year.

Her aunt is shocked, she can tell. Clearly, her mother had a better time at this school than she was having. She talks about Myrtle often, and how nice she is, and how she always listens to her problems. When Petunia asks if maybe she wants Myrtle over sometime in the holidays, she looks at her aunt blankly, eyes swimming with tears.

"Myrtle is a ghost that died fifty years ago at school. She haunts the second floor bathroom."

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That's the scene that Dudley and Vernon come home to. Their niece, and resident punching bag, the freak that they never liked, sitting on the couch crying, being held by her aunt, and copious amount of used tissues lying on the coffee table.

She was still crying, and both the Dursley men saw the red cheeks, and the tear tracks. There were a few unshed tears in Petunia's eyes, but she merely mouthed 'we'll talk later' at Vernon. Dudley escaped to his room, while Vernon, in a strange act of pity, took the girl's trunk up the stairs into her room, and undid the locks.

The owl was sitting by the window, and Vernon hurried to let it in, least the neighbours see. The Owl hooted, and flew to perch on the headboard, tucking her head into her wing. Vernon had considered putting bars on the window to keep the freakish thing contained, but… seeing his niece like that tugged at his heart. If that freakish school was that bad, then the girl would need to come back to a safe environment. He resolved to have a chat to Dudley.

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Dudley didn't need the chat. He saw how his cousin looked before she went to this new school, and what that was like compared to now. From excited and happy, to sad and miserable. He himself had had an eye-opener at his school, where he realized that he didn't rule the roost as he did in primary. Some of the older students had warned him about picking on the younger years, and what the school stood for. Needless to say, he'd changed.

One of the older boys had seen his restless energy, and had introduced him to the boxing coach, telling him that he needed to find a better outlet for his energy that punching kids. As a result, he'd learned a bit of discipline, and a lot of life lessons from his coach. He'd also lost weight.

He'd seen one of the older boys rip into a third year for making a girl cry, and he'd thought of all the times that he'd picked on his cousin. He wasn't in the right, and he resolved to change that.

If his cousin was having a shit awful time at school, he would make sure that she would have a good time at home.

Maybe she'd get along with Piers' sister…

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Dudley didn't refuse the odd request of his cousin wanting his school books every summer. Petunia and Vernon didn't refuse their niece's request of helping her catch up on 'normal' schooling.

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Each day is a challenge

She doesn't want to go to school

She works in silence

Only answering when called upon

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Second year was worse than first, because she heard the new snakes being warned about staying away from her. All the other firsties were also warned about her, because they gave her a wide berth. Except the Lovegood girl, whom people called 'Loony'. The youngest Weasley (her older brother Ronald was a pig. She was glad to see that the girl was far more polite) was a bit odd as well, and seemed to avoid people as a whole.

She'd taken to eating early in the mornings, getting up well before any of her Housemates. She'd also gotten well adept at sneaking past the senior students if they were up early. Discovering the kitchens (courtesy of the Weasley twins, who had taken pity on her, and excluded her from pranks on her house) was the best thing that had ever happened. She could skip lunch, and just eat in the kitchens. The House Elves were a little nuts, if not nice and overly enthusiastic. Some of the older ones muttered about how skinny she was, and fed her more than she could eat.

She almost didn't want to attend classes some days, when the name-calling got a bit much, but she kept Aunt Petunia's words close to her heart.

"Don't let them know they hurt you."

In class, she doesn't bother to answer questions anymore, unless the teacher asks her to. She doesn't want to draw too much more attention to herself. But really, it was their own fault that they were incapable of reading the textbook clearly. Her Potion's book in particular looked slightly worn (it was second-hand, however).

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Luna joined her in the toilets often, to talk with Myrtle. She was a little odd, and spoke of creatures sometimes that sounded ridiculous and imaginary, but she didn't judge. They were an odd pair; the eagle and the snake. They kept it all under wraps though; no point of giving her Housemates another victim.

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The teachers are confused

Where did her bright smile go?

The vital energy that all children have?

They can't see the pain

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Minerva McGonagall had been looking forward to having James' and Lily's daughter in her class for years, hoping that she'd be a perfect mix of the two. And she was. James' raw talent and power and Lily's looks and brains, along with both their creative streaks. However, her personality was a bit repressed, and she didn't look to have many friends. Of course, Minerva was disappointed that Ms. Potter wasn't in her house, but who wasn't? Severus had looked a little stunned when it had happened, but had thankfully, otherwise ignored her.

Second year was a puzzle, as it became perfectly obvious that the poor girl didn't have any friends, and was ostracized by her own house, not to mention the other houses. She did notice the Lovegood girl did float around her sometimes, but they never really showed any other signs of affection. Minerva was upset, and sad for her two most favourite student's daughter.

"Oh Lily, James. If only you could see what she's going through."

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Pomona Sprout had liked Lily better than James. Lily, like her namesake, was a true flower, and had loved Herbology, especially when it related to potions. She was good at it too; Lily had told her that her parents made her work in the garden when she got home, as a chore with her sister.

Her daughter was just as good; gentle and careful with the plants, and listened attentively in class. She wasn't afraid to get her hands dirty (stuck-up Malfoy on the other hand…), and often stayed behind to help clean up.

Still, Pomona noticed that the girl was miserable, and that her Badgers avoided her as much as possible, muttering about snakes and evil. For such a lovely girl, she didn't seem to have many friends, and was often seen by the edges of the Forbidden Forest. She didn't mind helping Pomona with any special projects, and was nice to Mr. Longbottom when he came. Still, Pomona mourned for the girl, and how lonely she was.

"Lily, I wish you could see your daughter now; see how much she hurts."

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Filius Flitwick was overjoyed when Lily's daughter came to school. She was a natural at Charms, just like her mother, and had the grace and finesse that many of her classmates lacked. She had an instinctual feel for how much a twist of the wrist or a flick at the end would affect a spell, and she had the power and reflexes to respond quickly.

He especially liked the way she treated one of his eagles; young Ms. Lovegood. She never mocked her, and never tried to make her feel small, and protected her from her own Housemates, by explaining to Luna that they couldn't been seen publically, otherwise they were both dead. He was glad that Lily's daughter had at least one friend, and payed attention in class. She was the top student in her year in Charms, but he couldn't help but be a bit dejected for Ms. Potter.

"Oh Lily. If only you were still here."

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Aurora Sinistra had met James Potter twice; first as a delinquent trying to steal her bra in fifth year, the second as Head Boy addressing the prefects. Lily Evans was a year older than her, but had helped in Charms in exchange for help in Astronomy. She could safely say that she liked Lily better than James, although James was a good leader when he was Head Boy. A far cry from the menace that he was in his younger years. When their daughter showed up to school, Aurora felt as though she was a first year watching Lily Evans come in late with Severus and Lupin. Watching her be separated from any kind of friendship until second year made Aurora's heart desolate.

"If only you could see her now, Lils."

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Rolanda Hooch was expecting great things from Ms. Potter. Her father James was one of the best Chasers she had seen to go through Hogwarts in her time as Flight Instructor. He was a fantastic flyer, and he could have played for England if there hadn't been a war, a Dark Lord and that bloody prophecy. Her expectations were met during the first flying lesson, when Ms. Potter outshone them all (shame on you, Malfoy. I've seen apes with more grace). However, Rolanda knew that the girl would never play Seeker, or even make the reserves, with the current climate in Slytherin House. It made her forlorn about the loss of talent from the Quidditch games.

"James, how disappointed you would be for her."

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Cuthbert Binns didn't notice much, but he did notice the way that one of his students managed to stay awake, and take comprehensive notes on his lectures. Purposefully, he changed his lectures to target this one person; the History of the Goblin rebellions, sure, but also a few Dark Lords thrown in there, and how they were defeated. He seemed to recall another bright student that looked like her a few years ago. He also noticed how she always sat alone, and how others avoided her. No matter how many classes he taught, how many years he lectured, it seemed that there was always going to be an outsider in the school.

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Gilderoy Lockhart saw Ms. Potter as a way to further his own fame, and didn't really notice that she wasn't really paying attention to his books, instead reading a large tome on hexes, curses and counter-curses. She was the only one who didn't believe him about his exploits. In fact, the girl hadn't even bought his books. She didn't turn up to the Duelling Club, which was a huge blow to the publicity of the thing. Oh well. Now, did she have any famous or influential friends he could exploit?

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Quirinus Quirrell, in some of his more lucid moments, marvelled at the skill the young girl had while casting spells, and the in-depth understanding of some of the darker creatures. Unfortunately, Voldemort was more focused on how many friends she had, and the power that she put behind her spells.

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Severus Snape had mixed feelings for his best friend's child. She looked exactly like Lily, obviously had Potter's awful eyesight, but acted like himself. He knew what Slytherin was doing, and he was powerless to stop them. He had been fully prepared to hate Potter's offspring, but seeing her walk up the centre of the Great Hall, eyes alight with wonder, and it reminded him of her mother so much. It hurt. When he heard her crying in Myrtle's bathroom late at night after she'd been locked out of her dorm by Parkinson, or when he spotted some of his snakes hexing her in the hallway, it broke his heart, just a little bit more. Because sometimes, when he saw her shoved up against a wall with her books everywhere, or when she showed up to class with her uniform untidy and a split lip, he didn't see Lily Evan's daughter, nor the spawn of James Potter.

He saw himself.

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They meet her outside her classroom

Their mockery filling her thoughts

The names whirling around her head

A cyclone of torment and despair

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"Freak."

"Loser."

"Four-eyed bint."

"Moron."

"Bitch."

"Slag."

"Slut."

"Bimbo."

"Ugly."

"Whore."

"Pig."

"Cow."

"Troll."

"Orphan."

"Loner."

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Over and over again, until it rings in her ears, and fills her very thoughts.

"Worthless."

"Lazy."

"Slob."

"Know it all."

"Stupid."

"Good for nothing."

"Trash."

"You think that you're better than everyone else."

"What! No response? Don't walk away from me, half-breed scum!"

"Only your parents could love you."

"Your parents looked at you and committed suicide."

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Sometimes, she wanted it all to end. Maybe that was how Myrtle felt, every time those girls had mocked her for her glasses, and she got her wish.

Myrtle was holding her in the toilets, her ghostly arms making gooseflesh rise on her skin, but she didn't care. Both ghostly and salty tears dripped on the floor, and soft sobs echoed in the bathroom.

"Why are people so mean, Myrtle? Why are they so cruel?"

Myrtle shook her head, her ghostly glasses fogging up, and a memory of Olive Hornby and her friends floated through her mind.

"I don't know."

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She battles through every day

A struggle to hide her emotions

They are like jackals

Once they smell weakness, they go in for the kill

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The second floor's girls bathroom was once again flooded, except this time, it was deliberate; Myrtle didn't want anyone to disturb her girls while they were upset. This time, it was Luna who had gotten their first, after her dorm mates let in a few older girls, which then hid her clothes and her books. Of course, Luna got in trouble in Charms with her Head of House, because she didn't have any of her equipment. On top of that, three completed essays for Transfiguration, Potions and Astronomy went missing, so Luna had to do them again quickly, and get a lower mark. Her cauldron has exploded in Potions, her wand was stolen during Transfiguration, only to be returned at the end of the period. Draco Malfoy and his goons had hexed her on the way to Herbology, some older Gryffindors had nicked her bag and held it above her head out of reach, so she was late to History of Magic, and had had a total of 60 points taken off her today. So, she was in the girl's bathroom, the standard go-to place for them to meet, and crying against her only friend's shoulder.

Myrtle felt for them, she really did. But, she couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy; if only she'd had a friend like this at school. She may not have been haunting the toilet alone.

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She was immediately suspicious of the book lying inconspicuously on her bed. It was black leather, and well worn, with a few pages that had been dog-eared once, and then smoothed back out. After a few flicks, she could tell that the book didn't have any curses on it, so it should be safe to open. Hearing the footsteps of her dorm mates, she jumped onto her bed (the one by the window, furthest from the door) and closed the curtains, locking them in place with a quick charm. Hearing the voices of Parkinson, Bulstrode and Moon, she was glad that she'd shut her curtains.

Opening the book to the first page, she raised her eyebrows.

Property of the Half-Blood Prince.

The Art of Occlumency, by Aerona Prince.

She looked at the table of contents, before diving into the book eagerly, reading the first few chapters by midnight.

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Clearing your Mind

Hiding your Emotions

Barriers

Mindscapes

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Luna would be interested in this.

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Day after day

Month after month

Year after year

Will it ever end?

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Second year ended in the Hospital Wing, after fighting a Basilisk to save Ginny Weasley's life. To be fair, she shouldn't have interrupted the therapy session that they were having at the time. Mind you, she was possessed by the same person who had killed Myrtle, so…

It was quite amusing that she had managed to pull out Gryffindor's Sword, despite not being in Gryffindor. She and Luna were having a good laugh about it. Fawkes, Dumbledore's phoenix, had saved her life, by crying on her wounded arm. Then, good old Tom Riddle, aka Lord Flight from Death (loser, who uses French for anagrams?) died when she plunged a Basilisk fang into his bloody diary. On the plus side though, she and Luna gained a new friend on Ginny, who got picked on by her older brother Ron and his friends, and couldn't understand the fascination with make-up and clothes that her roommates had.

Over the summer, keeping in close contact with Luna and Ginny (her brothers wouldn't recognise the owl, except Fred and George, but they were alright), Dudley introduced her to Piers younger sister, Alexa. Whereas Piers was skinny, rat-faced and annoying, Alexa was tall, funny, and liked to run. A lot. Summer that year ended with her being a lot fitter, with more muscle and a lot more freckles, and someone to write to over the school term. Alexa liked Hedwig, and thought that mail by owl was pretty cool. Sirius Black escaping from an unescapable prison, which showed the efficiency of the wizarding world, shocked her, but she didn't understand the relevance. Aunt Marge came to visit, and for once in her life, she wasn't picked on, and her parents weren't slighted. It was a nice change.

Third year saw the entrance of new electives, and new books (they were always good). She had read the pamphlets carefully, and chosen Ancient Runes and Arithmancy. It was merely a bonus that these were the least taken electives. She met a quiet Ravenclaw, Su Li, who was her assigned partner in Ancient Runes, and a member of her own house, Blaise Zabini, who was neutral in many house politics and her partner for Arithmancy. They were nice, but they weren't Luna or Ginny. Then Sirius Black was spotted in Hogsmeade, and everyone was looking at her funny; some with pity, others with malice and even more with amusement at her obliviousness. Later, after a failed Hogsmeade visit (Dumbledore had blocked her admission slip), Neville told her the reason why it had happened, during their joint Herbology project (crossbreeding a Whomping Willow branch with wolfsbane, OWL level, extra credit).

Sirius Black was her Godfather, but he'd betrayed her parents.

She was quite pissed, until Neville pointed out that he was heard muttering "He's at Hogwarts", so he can't have been after her. She met a large black dog, who was quite funny, but seemed sad. Professor Lupin was sick every month, so it wasn't long until she figured out that he was a werewolf. He was nice though, and told her stories about her parents, and how much like her mother she was. She didn't know that he could smell the loneliness embedded in her scent, or how much the wolf howled in anger for the treatment that she got. He taught her the Patronus Charm, and to his delight, she had a corporeal form; a fox.

Sirius Black broke into the Gryffindor boy's dorm, and stole Ronald's pet rat, Scabbers. A week later, there was a newspaper article stating that Sirius Black was innocent, and that Peter Pettigrew had been hiding as a rat for thirteen years with the Weasley family.

The one downside to the year (apart from the usual bullying), was that when Professor Lupin brought out the Boggart at the end of the year, it turned into a basilisk for her, with the shade of Tom Riddle standing next to it. Needless to say, her entire class freaked out.

Especially when she failed to get rid of it, and it turned into the version of Voldemort that she'd seen in her dreams casting the Killing Curse.

She didn't get to meet Sirius Black, as he was in hospital recovering from Dementor exposure.

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Dudley was worried. His cousin was turning into a real beauty, and most of his friends were noticing. Hell, some of the guys at school noticed when she came with his dad to come and pick him up. All the running with Alexa had given her a great figure and nice legs, and the clothes she borrowed from Alexa (she'd grown out of her old ones) really showed it off. The idea came when he was at boxing one night (training all through summer, big competition four weeks after they got back).

'What if she's taught how to protect herself?'

He went to the coach, and asked if he was opposed to teaching a girl for the summer with them.

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Coach MacDuff was amused at his request, thinking back to the eleven year old troublemaker that Dursley had been when he first started, compared to the young teenager now asking his help for teaching his cousin self-defence. He was surprised when Dudley's cousin turned up; he could see why Dursley was concerned. She was going to be a heartbreaker in a few years. He was equally surprised when she attacked the punching bag with fury, hitting it as hard as she could, over and over again, as if it had personally offended her. Most of the boys noticed, and backed away, muttering. MacDuff decided to ask her about it.

"Woah, calm down. What did the punching bag do to you?"

She looked at him, green eyes blazing.

"They've picked on me since I was eleven. What's to say that they won't try and have their way with me this year?"

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Many of the boys vowed then and there to teach her all the dirty tricks they knew. Dudley was pleased. His plan had worked. Now, to see if the guys from the shooting team would teach her how to fire a gun…

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Fourth year brought the Tri-Wizard Tournament, and the delegations from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang. She really didn't understand all the hype about it anyway. Had none of them read about the reason it shut down? Idiots. Professor Lupin had stayed on to teach Duelling to the upper years, and got glowing reports. Sometimes, Sirius Black would come and help, and share his expertise as an ex-Auror during the war, but he got tired easily, and couldn't cast many spells.

Alastor 'Mad-eye' Moody, a retired Auror, was the DADA teacher, and started his first lesson with the Unforgivable Curses. She and Neville didn't go back to his class again, instead doing independent study. Professor Snape and Professor Lupin helped when they could.

When the other schools arrived, she was less than pleased at being dragged out into the freezing cold to watch a bunch of Frenchie's shiver in the glacial temperatures because they didn't have the brains to use warming charms, and the oversized boys on steroids from Durmstrang (there was one girl in there, and she looked as though a slight breeze would blow her over) march in twos up to the castle. Unfortunately, she had to sit next to the steroid freaks at the Slytherin table, and she could hear her year mates whispering to the representatives about how she was a freak, a nobody, and you really shouldn't sit near her, or talk to her. She's not that important anyway.

The slight girl sat next to her, making no move to start a conversation, but sitting near her nonetheless. It was a nice feeling. The food was interesting to, and a pleasant change from the normal fatty, heavy food that was served.

It was a week later that she learned that the slight girl's name was Ivet Krum, and she was the younger sister of the Bulgarian Quidditch star, Viktor Krum. When her reply was a blank look, Ivet stood up, and dragged one of the older boys down, pushing him into the seat opposite.

"Dis is my drugar, Viktor." She turned to her brother, and muttered something in Bulgarian. Viktor replied, looking surprised, before turning to her, holding out his hand.

"A pleasure." His English was good, but it had a thick accent. She smiled; a tiny quirk of her lips.

"The pleasure is mine." She replied, shaking his hand. Ivet grinned.

When the champions were announced, it was on Halloween. She had avoided everyone that day, and Professor Snape and Lupin were rumoured to be rather short-tempered all day as well.

As such, instead of being at the feast, she'd climbed to the top of the Astronomy Tower with Luna, and lit six candles, for her parents and both sets of grandparents. Luna lit two, for her mother and Myrtle. She knew that Professor Snape sat vigil on the balcony outside his quarters that looked over the lake, and that Professor Lupin's spot was somewhere on the seventh floor. Professor Sinistra was very kind on letting them sit up there, really. She would have joined them, but was curious to see who the champions were. Both girls were sharing some memories about their deceased loved ones (she only had a few stories from Professor Lupin to share), and the tears were flowing. She wasn't aware that her name had been drawn until Professor Sinistra had sprinted up the stairs, and asked, quite rushed, if she'd put her name in the Goblet of Fire. When the reply was the negative, Sinistra breathed a sigh of relief, and said that her name had come out, and that she was requested to participate.

When she entered the side door (after a long and nerve-wracking walk through the Great Hall, where everyone could see the tear tracks on her face), the first person she saw was Viktor, leaning against the fireplace. He spun, and immediately moved towards her, bringing her into a hug.

"I know dis isn't vat you vaunted, sestra."

She nodded, allowing herself this moment of weakness in front of others.

"All I wanted,' she began, voice muffled, 'was to honour my family tonight. Now I'm dragged into this freak show and I'm going to die."

Viktor mumbled something in Bulgarian, but didn't let her go.

"I vill help you, as much as I can."

"Blagodarya."

.

The first task was dragons. They were all insane, really. Thanks to a quick test of Parseltongue the night before, she got the egg no problem. A note to Cedric Diggory, the other champion, ensured that he didn't die to.

The Yule Ball was a nightmare. She had no one to go with, no sense of fashion, no dress (the wizarding dress robes were weird, and none of them suited her. They were also out of her price range), no idea how to dance, and didn't even understand the concept of make-up, or looking pretty. Cue one letter to Aunt Petunia for dress advice (there must have been some of her old ones lying around that she could modify), one to Alexa for make-up issues and a trip to Professor Sinistra on dancing. Viktor, as it turned out, had a friend who was single and very nice (Ilya Kiril, played Chaser for the school team, tall, dark and handsome), Petunia sent her old wedding dress (a cutting spell and an embroidery spell made it unrecognizable from a wedding dress) and Alexa sent her a make-up kit and a hairstyling magazine. Professor Sinistra dragged Lupin into the dance lessons (Snape was stuck teaching the rest of her House), citing that she couldn't really learn everything from a woman. Ilya was dragged into these lessons as well, and bore it with good grace. Because, he explained, it wouldn't do for both of them to have sore toes in the morning.

The Second Task was to dive down to the bottom of a freezing cold lake in winter to retrieve a hostage that was apparently 'someone they'd miss the most'. She would have picked Luna, Ginny, or even that nutty house elf, Dobby, that was quite endearing, not Ivet. When Viktor told her (his hostage was Luna; she'd introduced them and they'd gone to the Yule Ball together) that Ivet was missing, she panicked. It was only the knowledge that Neville's plan to use Gillyweed was top secret, and no one knew about it. That, and her lack of swimming expertise. Ivet was like ice, and it was lucky that she got to Madame Pomfrey quickly, otherwise she could have died. Viktor confessed that Ivet had always caught colds easily, and got very sick as a child.

The third and final task was a maze filled with dangerous creatures that would have loved to have a Potter-sized snack, but she was lucky that all that running with Alexa paid off. She made it to the Cup in record time, looking around for any traps or such, before she picked it up. The unfamiliar swooping sensation left her dizzy and nauseous, and her knees hit the hard ground with a thump. There was a flash of red light, then no more.

When she came to, she was tied to an angel statue, as if she was being crucified. There was a cauldron next to her, and an odd man was standing next to her. There was a large snake there also, and some sort of baby thing. The man looked as though he'd fought a blender and lost; his face was messed up, and he had half a nose.

"Bone of the father, unknowingly given, you will renew your son!' earth rose up from the grave next to her. All she could think of at that moment was one of the many zombie slasher movies that she watched with Dudley and Alexa.

'Please don't be a zombie.' She prayed. She was semi-relieved when it was just bones.

'Flesh of the servant, willingly sacrificed, you will revive your master,' she looked away as the man chopped off his own arm with a meat cleaver, blood spurting out in a gruesome fountain.

"Blood of the enemy, forcibly taken, you will resurrect your foe." She looked at him in horror, before she masked her expression. She glared at him when he approached her with the meat cleaver.

"Clean it first." She ordered. The man paused.

"What?"

"Clean the bloody meat cleaver first, or your blood will mix with mine, and it won't work. No!" she snarled at him, 'with a piece of cloth, not your wand, you moron. Magic doesn't get rid of everything, dunderhead. If you cut someone with an unclean knife, the risk of infection is at 90%. Do you want your master to come back deformed?"

The minion blinked, and then hurried to find a clean piece of cloth. She looked at the snake.

{Stupid, isn't he. His shirt would have done fine. You have my sympathy for working with such imbecilic people.}

There was an odd hissing sound, which she figured out was the snake laughing. The snake turned away from her, and she twisted her wrists, trying to free them. The man was now being chased by the snake, who was hissing.

{Use your shirt, you idiot! Are you even listening to what I'm saying?}

With a sharp tug, one wrist was free. Pulling her wand out of her pocket (a stupid place to put it, but she needed to get a wand sheath. Maybe a calf holder?), she cast.

"Accio cup!"

The snake and the man paused, and watched their captive disappear. The snake hissed menacingly at the man.

{This is your fault.}

.

She was greeted with polite clapping amongst Hogwarts and Beauxbatons, and cheers throughout Durmstrang, along with the audience. She ignored them, walking towards the platform with the judges and the rest of the champions. Viktor looked a tad beat up, Fleur was rather dishevelled, and Cedric was bleeding from multiple wounds. She dumped the cup on the table, and took the bag of gold, glaring at Bagman.

"You might want to check the Cup next time. Anyone could tamper with it." She stalked off, winking at Viktor who was trying not to laugh, and catching the Weasley twin's eyes, jerking her head towards the castle entrance. They nodded, and moved out of their seats, Ginny, Luna and Ivet following. They all crashed into her with a big hug, talking all at once. She ducked out of their embrace, and handed the bag to the twins.

"Go open your joke shop. Make people smile." Hugging Ginny, Luna and Ivet, she ducked off into Myrtle's bathroom, to tell the ghost everything that happened.

.

No one found her until the next day, crying from stress overload and relief that she'd lived.

.

.

It was strange, she mused, that she should start out with no friends, and then have so many people to write to that she had to buy another owl (Nicholas, the patron saint of children). Hedwig had been in a tiff, until she explained that she was too noticeable in England, and that she was much better at flying long distances. Ilya, Viktor and Ivet had wanted to write to her (Ilya had actually wanted her to come to Bulgaria for a summer, but she had to decline politely, on account of having just met. He didn't seem put off, just embarrassed), and Luna, Ginny and now Su Li wrote her letters. Su's were more school based, their Ancient Runes project planning for OWLS, while Ginny and Luna were complaining about their siblings or discussing some brand new creature that they were discovering. Alexa helped her with the new clothes that were 'in' (really, she just borrowed them anyway) and came up with some new ways to style her hair, and squealed over what she had done to her dress. Petunia seemed pretty impressed to, stating that 'The dress was so ugly it was a miracle that I wore it.' Ivet and Viktor kept her up-to-date on Viktor's games, and Ivet's Masteries (Dark Arts and Defence Against, Battle Magic), and Ilya talked about what he was planning to do (one year of school left, and Vicky isn't going to be there. Our team is doomed).

There was the whole thing with the Dementors near the end, but Professor Lupin and Sirius were able to chase them off.

.

Fifth Year brought the names back. She supposed that she should have expected it; Viktor and the others weren't around anymore to keep them away, and she'd never been seen with Luna of Ginny before. If anything, it was worse, because the younger years joined in. Especially in Slytherin. The new Defence teacher was an overweight pink toad with a throat problem, and made no secret of her dislike of her, Professor Lupin, and the 'sub-standard' (read- not brainwashing them for the Ministry) education. Defence was boring; all they did was copy notes from the book (Defensive Theory, William Slinkard. Useless tosser.), without any real discussion. Professor Snape was actually teaching the Slytherin's after classes had finished. Of course, she hadn't been invited.

The entrance of the High Inquisitor brought about massive changes within Slytherin, with the formation of the Inquisitorial Squad. Suddenly, Slytherin was split; half wanting to ignore Umbridge, and others wanting her anti-muggle-born laws to go through. Those that wanted things left alone rallied around Blaise Zabini, the Greengrass sisters and Theodore Nott, while the others sided with Malfoy, Parkinson, Crabbe and Goyle. She merely sat to the side, and watched with interest as sides were formed. She had thrown up a wandless and wordless shield around Zabini; he'd been fired at with a nasty hex, and she bloody well needed her Arithmancy partner this year. It was, after all, OWL year.

Su Li told her during Ancient Runes that Ravenclaw had divided as well, and Ginny was angry at Ronald for saying that all the 'bloody snakes probably sucked up to Umbitch in order to get the better grades in her classes.' Hufflepuff was still upset over Umbridge taking a dig at Cedric's failure in the Tournament.

For the first time in a whole year, Myrtle's bathroom was once again used, much to the ghost's pleasure. A few ventures down into the Chamber of Secrets led to the discovery of the not-rotting basilisk corpse (odd, wasn't it?), a few spell books in Parseltongue, and a Potions lab, connected with a duelling room. Spare time had just become a lot more fun. Ginny joined her most of the time, occasionally George and Fred would pop by, and Luna was there all the time. Umbridge tried to fire the Divination teacher, and Neville was getting a bit creeped out by all the weird looks he was getting from the Headmaster. Their crossbreed of the Whomping Willow and mandrake (where Neville was getting these cuttings, she had no idea) was going quite well, but it was sometimes hard to follow directions when wearing earmuffs. She got the occasional headache, but she just crossed it off as being back in a stressful environment. It was, mostly, an uneventful year, and that left her quite disappointed. In fact, the only thing of interest was the Daily Prophet articles, declaring her an unstable and insane teenager who couldn't respect her betters.

It was all rather amusing.

.

.

Summer was a bit like her first year, except instead of crying on her Aunt's shoulder, she was crying on Ilya's. It had been a pleasant surprise, to come home from the station, driven by Dudley (Vernon was in the car though, Dudley was aiming for his license in a few weeks), and see Ilya sitting on the couch, talking with Aunt Petunia over a cup of tea. It had been an even pleasanter surprise when Petunia had allowed them to go up to her room. Alone. Not that they would have done anything anyway, being busy crying and talking respectively. Ilya told her all about his Apprenticeship with a world renowned Rune Master, who also had a double Mastery in Arithmancy as well (double Masteries were dead rare; Professor Vector had one in Arithmancy and Spellcrafting. Triple Masteries were almost unheard of), and he seemed quite impressed with her OWLS projects for both subjects (arithmetic equations for Potion's ingredients, and how they react with each other. Professor Snape discreetly gave her O+ on her final marks for it. A comprehensive dictionary for beginners in Runes, holding all the known runes, plus a few symbols in Parseltongue that held power, and some Eastern Runes used in basic rituals. Professor Babbling was ecstatic). He especially liked the Runic dictionary she gave him as a late birthday present, with most of the darker symbols that both she and Su left out.

Ilya took her on a double date with Victor and Luna, to see the London Symphony Orchestra (muggle side. Apparently at Durmstrang, you are expected to blend in completely with the Muggle world), perform Vivaldi's The Four Seasons. She and Luna had loved it, never seeing anything like it before. Alexa had introduced her boyfriend- a boy form Dudley's boxing team called Raphael- and he and Ilya got along splendidly. Son though, Ilya had to leave, and she pretended not to hear Dudley's vomiting noises when they kissed goodbye, with promises of visiting when the war was over.

There had been attacks on various muggle places, and a few on Diagon Alley, along with the Minister's denial of Voldemort's return (she supposed that they had managed to complete the ritual after all. Bother.).

.

Sixth Year, and something was wrong. She could practically taste it in the air, and feel it thrumming through the very stones of Hogwarts itself. The first thing that started the whole feeling was when she was cornered by the four people she least expected; Daphne Greengrass, Theodore Nott, and the Carrow sisters. The interrogation went something like this.

"You turned sixteen this summer?"

"Yes."

"Did you go to Gringotts?"

"Only for school stuff. I had to write a letter to Professor Snape to ask if he knew where my key was; Hagrid had it last time."

The chorus of cursing and insults that followed were, surprisingly, not directed at her.

And so began the almost daily lessons of pureblood laws and mannerisms, her inheritance, account managing, politics, dress sense, and all the things she should have learned if her parents had still been alive. And if Sirius (now her uncle; he wasn't serious enough (those puns were terrible) to look after her), had raised her from the start. To the surprise of her new tutors, she turned out to be very Slytherin when it came to politics and laws, and had a natural grace, once all her bad habits were gone anyway. Her accounts were fine, and her accounting skills were decent enough, of not better than most, due to Dudley's old school books. One slightly cold letter towards Gringotts demanding why they didn't tell her about her inheritance when she showed up on her sixteenth birthday had them scrambling for apologies, her Head of House Ring, and for her old account managers head.

Draco Malfoy was acting odd; very secretive, and not boasting as much as usual. She suspected the Dark Mark had been branded into his skin, and that he had an impossible mission to complete, most likely kill Dumbledore or something equally stupid. Parkinson and Bulstrode seemed to be whispering more often, and shooting worried glances at Malfoy when he wasn't looking. Crabbe and Goyle were just as thick as ever.

One highlight of the year, was that she now had Duelling with Professor Lupin and his assistant, Sirius Black. Sirius was looking better, but had still yet be able to best Lupin in a duel, like they both said he'd been able to.

Professor Snape seemed particularly livid that year, when Umbridge returned, breaking the curse. This time though, she was directly interfering with the schooling system; Potions became an almost theory based subject (hence the reason for Snape's temper, and the reason why everyone tip-toed around him. Who knew that Potion brewing was a stress reliever for him?), while Duelling, Charms and Ancient Runes were permanently supervised (Professor Babbling having a criminal record for illegal rituals. You learnt something new every day).

The insults had increased from the upper years and most of the lower years, as the upper years realized that this would be the last time they would be able to insult her, and the younger years wanted to get in some practise before she became untouchable, since her own year mates were no longer picking on her.

Voldemort, the prick, was seen in the Ministry, and killed the Minister near the end of the year. Draco tried to kill Dumbledore and got captured. Snape, Lupin, Sinistra and Vector locked themselves in Snape's quarters in order to avoid Umbridge near the end of the year when she wanted them to do something at the Leaving Feast. It was rumoured that they were playing "Never have I ever…" in order to pass the time, before Flooing out of Snape's office to go home.

.

Summer sucked.

Petunia, Vernon and Dudley had to leave, because they "were in the line of fire, and Voldemort may target them to get to you,", Ilya was blocked from seeing her, Viktor was training for some game, Ivet was in hospital after a training incident with her Master, Luna and Ginny had also been kidnapped, and she was dragged to a hole-in-the-wall dump where Sirius used to live (now flatting with Lupin in London, 221C Baker Street or something), because it was the HQ for the Order of the Flaming Chicken (it was a bit mean, and Fawkes was a nice bird, but really?), and it was their sole job to protect her from Voldemort.

She could think of a billion different things to waste her time with.

She finally met Ginny's mother (she really didn't like hugs from people she didn't know), and unfortunately had to put up with The Pig (Ronald), caught up with the Devil Twins, met a few cool people like Ginny's older brothers William and Charles (Bill, please. You (insert wink) can call me anything you like), Aurors Tonks and Shacklebolt (Metamorphagus and an African Sage respectively), and retired Auror Moody (the real one this time). Snape was part of the Order as well, as a spy (he slipped her mail from her Slytherin tutors, and later her friends when her mail was blocked), as were Sirius and Lupin (tried to avoid the house as much as possible, bad memories, but always made time for her. Sirius gave her and Ginny alone access to the Black Library).

Know-it-all Granger was there too, and she was livid when she wasn't allowed access to the library. Sirius, as a prank, said that only those with Black blood could enter. Ronald turned into a canary when he tried. Granger rubbed it in that she was Head Girl, because "it was obvious that she had always had the higher grades", until Ginny told her where to shove her badge.

Bill, Charlie and the Twins had never been prouder.

.

.

When they finally leave

After years of silent tears

It is already too late

The damage is done

.

Seventh Year was a nightmare.

Voldemort had openly attacked the Wizarding World several times, and had almost completely taken over the Ministry. Muggleborns were being killed in their homes, and Sirius and Lupin were pressured into leaving Hogwarts (they declined, politely) by Umbridge, so that the "Ministry will ensure the best education possible in these dark and dangerous times". Neville had joined them in the Chamber of Secrets, and the Twins were focusing on developing their Defence line in their joke shop.

All too soon, people started to mutter about her.

Where does she go after classes?

How come she isn't doing more to help the others?

I bet she just let the muggleborns die, the evil snake.

Why doesn't she just face Voldemort and win already?

.

How wonderful the Wizarding World was, to throw someone barely of age to the Dark Lord for breakfast. Or maybe dessert. Professor Snape seemed particularly on edge, and constantly rubbed at his Mark as if it pained him (it probably did. Voldy was summoning his followers often). Umbridge had become the most hated teacher, with her preaching about Pureblood supremacy, and how purebloods needed to take their place in Wizarding society. When Snape was told that he no longer held the place, he rolled his eyes and docked points. Luna had been missing at the start of the year, but had showed up before Christmas, making a grand entrance at dinner, before collapsing from blood loss and exhaustion. She and Ginny took turns at watching over her in the hospital wing, although her shift was underneath an Invisibility Cloak that she got from her vault (after recalling the entire contents of her parents vaults. There were quite a lot of books that showed up, plus the Cloak, a bit of parchment that opened to "I solemnly swear I'm up to no good" and closed to "Mischief Managed").

Her pureblood lessons continued, but with even stricter security around- Theodore's dad was a Death Eater, and the Greengrass's and the Zabini's wished to remain purely neutral, as they had in the last war.

Dumbledore was doing absolutely stuff all to help, despite the whole "Defeater of Grindlewald, his secret lover, and the only reason Voldemort fears him; one single act".

.

She was starting to get really pissed off with the Wizarding world.

.

.

The insecurity is there

Hiding under the mask

Her confidence shattered

The need to stay hidden compelling

.

She deliberately not attending meals in the Great Hall anymore.

Luna joined her, after being released from the Hospital Wing, stating "No one really notices me anyway." Ginny and Neville would have joined them, but if all four of them were missing, then it would have started gossip.

Well, even more gossip that would circulate about her.

.

In class, she sat in the back, blending in with the shadows. She had asked Professor Lupin not to call on her in Duelling, and Professor Snape ignored her, as usual. In fact, he didn't even check on her potions, just let her hand them in at the end of the period. The biggest surprise, however, were the notes slipped to her by a few of the teachers, and some students, with one word written on them.

.

Support.

.

It made her feel better, knowing that some people supported, and had faith, in her to do the right thing.

But, were they placing their faith in the wrong person?

She was nobody; no one important in the school. How on earth was she supposed to defeat Voldemort?

.

.

The anger is there, also

Boiling deep beneath the surface

The need for justice

The desire for retribution

.

She wanted to.

Oh, how she wanted to yell and scream and hurt and curse people like there was no tomorrow.

The insults just got worse and worse. All throughout class, walking to and from classes, in the bathrooms (she had taken to using Myrtle's one for everything, now), in the common room (not that she sat in there that often) and even in the library, in the form of harsh whispers and hissed words.

Every morning she would meditate, psyching herself up for another day of school, and pushing the boiling anger down, and imagining it cooling, or shoving it behind a wall of water and ice in the deep recesses of her mind. Every evening she'd practise spells and curses until she was exhausted and she no longer felt like killing someone with those two little words. She may have been a ravenette, but she was a red-head at heart.

It wasn't a matter of 'if', it was a matter of 'when'. And something told her that it would be quite spectacular.

.

.

One day, the barrier will burst

A raging torrent of hurt and pain

The years of loneliness, sadness and suffering

That only a victim of bullying can know.

.

The morning Voldemort attacked, the sky was overcast, and the entire atmosphere was gloomy. There were plans that were carried out, such as the children from 5th year down were locked in their common rooms, the 5th years providing protection, and the Headmaster placing the castle rooms on lockdown. Professor Trelawney shed her disguise as a Seer, and proved to be quite lethal with her spells, as only an Unspeakable could be. Sirius Black (now completely recovered), Remus Lupin, and the cooler members of the Order, led many Death Eater on a merry chase throughout the castle, killing them off in small groups, while the older members still stunned their opponents. Tossers.

Professor Snape took down Voldy's snake with a custom cutting hex, before duelling Bellatrix Lestrange and Rookwood at the same time, while McGonagall, Sinistra and Vector battled werewolves. Babbling threw rune blocks at the giants (he had a great arm) which in turn either shrunk them down, or turned them to stone upon contact. The Aurors battled vampires, and students fought giant spiders or each other. Sprout and Neville brought out the crossbreeds from her OWL year, and they wreaked havoc on the borders of the school, preventing re-enforcements from entering. Luna and Ginny duelled Lucius and Draco Malfoy.

It was organized chaos.

.

And in the middle of it all stood Dumbledore, duelling at least five Death Eaters at once, back straight and wrist flicking faster that she could follow. Flitwick was showing everyone exactly why he was a Duelling Champion, taking on the Lestrange brothers and Dolohov. Her Slytherin friends were missing; Theodore running interference in the corridors with Blaise, and Daphne and the Carrow sisters on the Astronomy Tower, helping Babbling take down the giants.

.

Of course, the entire battle nearly stopped when she went head-to-head with Voldemort himself.

.

Nearly, meaning that Snape ended his duel with Lestrange and Rookwood in a messy and enthusiastic manner while they were distracted, and saw fit to use a few dark curses that were possibly fatal on Avery, Mulciber and Rodolphus Lestrange. Flitwick incapacitated the remaining Lestrange and Dolohov, the latter missing his legs, while the former dropped to the ground, cause unknown. Vector wrapped a werewolf in silver cord, while McGonagall decapitated a werewolf with what looked to be a Scottish Claymore. Sinistra was burning a few with iron control over Fiendfyre, eyes dark with anger.

.

.

The spells came thick and fast, both pushing themselves to their limits; Voldemort fuelled by the Dark madness, herself fuelled by a desire to live. Her body moved fluidly, as if she was a water nymph. She was dancing around spells, flipping over conjured items, and blocking his mental attacks at the same time. It was exhausting. She dimly heard shielding spells go up from behind her, protecting the students and her allies, as she dodged an Avada Kedavra, before she returned fire with her own spell chain (Sectumsempra, stupefy, confrigo, conjunctivitis, protego, langlock, reducto, Sectumsempra).

Stone and wood were transfigured, conjured, blocked, summoned and banished, and the amount of spell-fire tainted the air with a metallic and strangely burnt scent. Fire was extinguished, water was vaporized, air dispelled and earth disintegrated. Ice was melted, wood was splintered and metal was broken.

Voldemort was laughing through the smoke.

"You think you have the power to defeat me?! I AM LORD VOLDEMORT! I AM IMMORTAL! You're parents at least had the decency to plead for their miserable lives before I ended them. Perhaps when I'm finished with you, I'll start on your godfather and the mutt, then that little ghost that you're so fond of."

Her teeth ground against each other.

"You've done enough to Myrtle already, Tom Marvolo Riddle. Leave her out of this."

"YOU DARE USE THAT NAME, WORTHLESS SLUT!? You're pathetic, Potter. The only reason you've managed to survive this long is because of luck. A worthless waste of space that no one wanted, a disgrace to your House. Friendless, alone, unwanted, useless. No one ever wanted you, mewling child. You're a curse on your family name, and a blight on the Wizarding World. You should have been drowned at birth and spared everyone the horror of being near you."

.

She screamed.

.

A wave of magic poured over her, making her hair stand on end and her eyes glow.

.

'Freak!"

"You're parents looked at you and committed suicide."

"Four-eyed bint."

"Troll."

"Ugly."

"Pathetic."

"Worthless."

"Loser."

"Slut."

.

A steady stream of dark green magic collected in her hands, burning her wand to cinders, and expanded to cover her, before bursting outwards in a rushing torrent of anger, hurt, loneliness and pain.

.

"Professor Vector, what House were you in while you were at school."

"Hm? Oh, I didn't go to Hogwarts. I never received a letter."

"So, you're a squib?"

"No, Mr. Goldstein, I'm not a squib. I didn't receive my Hogwarts letter, because the Ministry didn't see fit to send me one. I and many other wizards and witches were just one of many to miss out. You are all very, very privileged to get you letter, so don't take it for granted. I ended up going to Durmstrang in my third year after attending a Muggle school for two years, when a scout saw my marks. Only the very brightest get into Hogwarts. Blood has nothing to do with it. It's all based on your own merits. And if your parents have already paid the tuition fee."

"I suppose that's why Potter got in; her parents already paid the fees. Otherwise, she'd be in a Muggle school with the rest of the filth."

"Detention, Smith! I assure you that Ms. Potter's marks are far higher than your own at the moment. Perhaps you should concentrate on working instead of insulting your classmates."

.

Voldemort screamed in agony as the magic encircled him, burning him and freezing him at the same time. His followers fell, clutching their Dark Marks and writhing in pain, while a few dropped to their knees, obviously fighting him.

.

"Why are people so mean, Myrtle? Why are they so cruel?"

"I don't know."

"They've picked on me since I was eleven. What's to say that they won't try and have their way with me this year?"

"How come you aren't doing more to help the others?"

"I bet you just let the muggleborns die, evil snake."

.

Voldemort was slowly disintegrating in front of her very eyes, and many of his followers were frothing at the mouth, as if they'd eaten a cyanide pill. There was a wind blowing, and there was hysterical laughter. It must have been coming from Luna or Ginny.

.

"Professor Snape?"

"Yes, Ms. Potter?"

"How do you know if things are going to get better?"

"You don't. You just have to hope that someday, you'll be free of everything."

"Do you hope that you'll be free of everything one day, sir?"

"Unfortunately, Ms. Potter, the day I'll be free will be the day that I'm eternally free, both bonds and body."

.

With a final, incoherent yell, she pushed. Voldemort exploded into fire, his screams abruptly dying and filling the air with the crackling of burning flesh, and the moans of the wounded and dying.

.

She dropped to her knees, tears streaking through the blood, dust and gore covering her face. A high-pitched keening sound made its way out of her throat, and echoed across the now silent battlefield as she stared at the remains of her wand, the remains of a phoenix feather fluttering slightly. She ran her fingers through the ashes, trying to feel any last sparks of magic. Her chest felt hollow, empty.

.

Cheers sounded, and the sound of fireworks filled the air as people celebrated the end of Voldemort. But she heard them from far away, eyes flicking between her wand and the charred remains of Voldemort. She lifted her head, and took in the scene of joy and sorrow. Luna and Ginny were standing to the side of the crowd, arms around each other, faces buried in each other's neck, hair hiding their faces. Daphne, Blaise and the Carrow twins were casting frantic spells over Theodore, trying to stabilize him, while Professor Snape was sitting against a stone wall that was miraculously still standing, shoulder to shoulder with another Death Eater with auburn hair, who had his head resting on his shoulder. Professor's Vector, McGonagall and Sinistra were moving werewolf and spider corpses towards the bridge. The Weasley twins were leaning over the body of an older brother, tear tracks down their faces (glasses, so it must have been Percy), while Remus was holding Tonks while she cried over the body of a dark-haired woman who had the same facial features as her, and Bill was kissing Fleur Delacour (she'd transferred to the British Gringotts over the summer) while Charlie sat next to a Hungarian Horntail, stroking its snout as it had its wing repaired. Neville was standing over the corpse of Bellatrix Lestrange, a sword in his hand, looking at her features with a hard and unforgiving face.

And all the people who had tormented her, mocked her, and beat her down, were standing in the middle of the courtyard, celebrating, cheering about the loss of a Dark Lord, and pushing aside her loss.

'Where is Sirius?'

As if her thoughts had summoned him, he was there, wrapping his arms around her and holding her tightly, as if to reassure himself that she was there, and in fact, alive. She breathed in the scent of canine mixed with blood and stone dust, and the salt from tears.

"You're alright now, pup. You're safe." He whispered, over and over again as she cried against his chest.

"My wand…" she started brokenly, but Sirius hushed her.

"I'm sure Ollivander will be more than happy to make you a new one. You know he likes a challenge."

She sniffled, and nodded her head, relishing that he was alive and that his hugs were so warm. It was then that the cold reality of who defeated Voldemort kicked the others in the face, and they turned towards her.

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It was chaos as they rushed towards her, patting her on the shoulders, and ripping her away from Sirius, and hoisting her on shoulders to parade her around, cheering and laughing and say how they "Always knew you could do it." She could see Sirius at the edge of the crowd, trying to reach her, and Professor Snape had stood up with his…friend (she didn't know what he was to the Potion's Master), and seemed to be muttering something to him, eyes fixed on her. Remus had reached a panicked Sirius, and was trying to calm him down.

Someone grabbed her from behind, their arms around her waist in a gesture of familiarity and she reacted accordingly, grabbing their hand and pulling them over her shoulder, before pinning them to the ground. She reached for her wand, only to be reminded that it was broken, and instead pulled a knife out of her boots, pressing it to the man's neck.

To her horror, it was Ronald, who was muttering something about 'rightfully mine' and 'marriage contract'. She stood up quickly, backing away through the gap that the crowd gave her.

"Leave me alone, you useless, pathetic sheep. I want nothing more to do with you."

"Ms. Potter…" Dumbledore began, moving towards her, only to be blocked by Sirius' wand.

"Stay the hell away from my goddaughter, Dumbledore. You've done enough."
"Sirius…" Dumbledore held his hands out towards them beseechingly, palm up. A scroll of parchment slapped into his palm, and eyes turned towards the Potion's Professor that put it there.

"My resignation, Headmaster. I will no longer play your sick games."

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"I think,' she began quietly,' that it's high time I went to visit Ilya in Bulgaria."

She spun on her heel, walking towards the bridge, noting absently that Voldemort's wand had also disintegrated, and feeling Sirius and Remus fall in behind her. Luna, Snape and his friend followed, Snape supporting Luna as she became dizzy from blood loss. Ginny followed almost immediately with her brothers, bar Ronald, and Sinistra, Vector and McGonagall followed, the scrolls sitting on the ground by Dumbledore's shocked figure. Neville and Blaise carried a stretcher with Theodore on it, while Daphne, her younger sister and the Carrow twins (Daphne carrying the sword Neville had) followed the exhausted Flitwick, levitating Su Li behind them.

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That was the power the Dark Lord knew not.

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Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.

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The end! (Maybe). The poem is MINE! HANDS OFF! No really, it was part of an assignment in yr 10, and I went through my old USB and found it. Inspiration comes from the strangest places.

As usual, read and review!

I may post a "what happened after", but…no promises. If you want one, tell me!

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Cheers,

Tori.