Chapter 1
“Pssh. Pssh.”
It was true that Chloe had been trying to get Aubrey’s attention for a few minutes now. It was also true that the blonde’s eyebrow was already twitching in irritation, as Chloe had predicted it would. And one more truth - the redhead knew her best friend would not be willing to risk that her constant whispering ended up reaching the professor’s ear.
“Chloe, what? We’re in class!” The blonde managed to whisper-shriek, and Chloe smirked at that.
“Well, if you hadn’t ignored that I’m trying to pass you a note, we wouldn’t have needed to talk at all,” the redhead muttered, putting the mentioned piece of paper in Aubrey’s now extended hand.
While she waited for her best friend to read and answer, Chloe looked up at the professor, putting on her most dedicated student face.
And it wasn’t like said face was a complete fake for her. She was a dedicated student, most of the time, but Study of Ancient Runes was just too much and too boring for her. She was in it basically because Aubrey had asked her to take the class so they could have some extra time together. Which kind of made her think that the blonde might like the content of her note, in case she wasn’t feeling particular strict today.
In a few minutes, when she got it back, a new handwriting, refined and inclined, followed hers in the piece of scroll:
Hey, Bree – two things.
One – can we please go on the Hogsmeade visit? I know you’re going to say we have to study for our O.WL.’s, but come on, they’re years away!!! And I reeeeeally miss the village, so pretty please?
Two – what are you planning on doing for Christmas? I think I’ll stay in Hogwarts, because my parents are reenacting their honeymoon or something. Totes adorbs. And my brother is taking a road trip with some of his college friends, so I figured you and I could stay and decorate, and try to teach Jessica and Ashley some of our Christmas songs (:
You’re the best and I love you xx
Chloe,
how could this not wait for the end of the class? You’d better pay attention, Study of Ancient Runesis a very important subject and you should focus on learning.
And don’t try to answer back and smart-ass me about how now I am writing a note in class – my Dad said that if I didn’t learn how to multitask, I’d have to leave our house and be dumb somewhere else. I was answering his calculus quiz while jumping rope.
Anyway, back to your topics. Like you said, I think we should take this 5th year seriously and take every free time we have to study. But since I’ll have to deny your Christmas invitation, then ok – I’ll go to Hogsmeade with you.
Sorry about Christmas. I’d love to sing and teach the girls with you (and study a bit, you know we should), but my father is taking me on a training camp. And you know why I’m not inviting you.
PS: DON’T send me any more notes. Pay attention!
When Chloe finished reading the piece of scroll, she had some mixed feelings. She was definitely glad about going to Hogsmeade with Aubrey. The redhead knew Cynthia-Rose and Stacie were probably going and she would have fun with them anyway, and it would definitely be special because it would be Emily’s first time in Hogsmeade with the school, but knowing Aubrey would be there made things even better. Not only did Chloe enjoy the blonde’s company, she also worried about her best friend.
Which was what brought a frown to her face while rereading the bit about Christmas. If Aubrey was going to one of those crazy training camps of her father, it could only mean that the blonde would be stressed beyond reason during her winter break. And that couldn’t be healthy. She would also probably come back with an even bigger studying drive and some new project her father would impose on her. All of that, added to being Gryffindor’s quidditch captain and a prefect, was enough to drive anyone insane, Chloe was sure.
After five years of friendship, the redhead knew Aubrey very well. She knew how, since a very young age, the girl put a lot of pressure on herself because she wanted to meet her father’s expectations. And that had only become an even more stressful task when Muggle-born Aubrey received a Hogwarts letter, as Chloe would learn very soon in their friendship.
Four years ago – their 1st year at Hogwarts
An excited eleven-year-old Chloe Beale had been looking for a place to sit on the very crowded Hogwarts Express. She remembered seeing mysterious dark blue eyes on an awkward-looking girl and feeling inclined to ask to share the carriage with her, but next to the very charming girl, sat another one – blonde, gorgeous and with a menacing look in her eyes. Chloe felt very uncomfortable upon crossing gazes with the second teenager, and decided it would be better to go somewhere else.
After walking for a bit, she found another carriage that looked pretty empty, Inside it, was only a blonde girl, looking very put together, already wearing her Hogwarts robes. Chloe decided, after only a few seconds, that she and the girl could become good friends.
“Hi! So, the express is kind of full, and I was wondering if I could stay here with you,” she said, smiling sweetly at the blonde.
“I don’t know you,” the other girl declared, looking at Chloe apprehensively.
“Oh, sorry. I’m Chloe Beale,” the redhead introduced herself, going in for a quick hug. When they separated, the blond girl looked a little stunned.
“Aubrey Posen. Nice to meet you. And I guess you can stay here.”
Chloe smiled, because she could sense she was already making progress in making Aubrey like her. Which was nice, because the redhead wanted to have a lot of friends in this new life of hers.
“I’m guessing you’re a first-year too, Aubrey.” Chloe took the seat in front of her companion, after locking her bag securely in the upper-head compartment.
“I am.” The redhead could see her new friend wanted to say more. She smiled patiently, and after a few seconds of looking nervous, Aubrey continued, “I was actually born a Muggle. I read that’s the term you use for people who were not born inside the magic world.”
“Oh, cool! I’m a Muggle too! I mean, I guess not anymore,” Chloe chuckled, and she could see Aubrey visibly relaxing at her admission.
“That’s kind of comforting. Aren’t you nervous, though? You look so happy, and I’m kind of panicking internally.”
Honestly, Chloe thought the girl was sort of panicking externally too, but figured saying so would seem rude. Instead, she chose to only reply, “I am a little nervous, but I think I’m just too happy to care. I mean, I’m thrilled to be here!”
“That’s nice. Is your family thrilled too?” And something in the blonde’s tone sounded a little off.
“Oh, yeah. I mean, they were very surprised, but so was I. We had no idea magic existed. But I was on cloud nine in a second, and they were happy when they saw that I was happy. They’ve been really supportive – they even came bring me and say goodbye today!”
“Wow. My father didn’t like this magic idea one bit,” Aubrey admitted, looking nervously at the floor.
“Why?” Chloe frowned, because she could not get her mind around how the news about their hidden talents could be anything but marvelous.
“He thinks it sounds like a tall tale. See, my father is a practical man, and he thinks I’ll be going back home poor, unqualified for a real job and completely lost in life.”
“Ugh, that sucks. But listen, I’m sure you’ll do great! You’ll learn amazing things and you’ll love Hogwarts. And I’m sure you can unite things and get the best of two worlds.”
“You really think so?”
“I know so.” Aubrey then gave Chloe her first real smile, and the redhead thought this more relaxed look was good on her. That very moment, the girl decided she would try her hardest to make Aubrey happier and more relaxed whenever she had the chance.
“Thanks, Chloe. So, which house you think you’re getting into?”
“I have no idea. I guess I’m just glad to be here, if I’m being honest.”
“You do know about the houses though, right?” Aubrey eyed her suspiciously.
“Duh,” Chloe rolled her eyes. “You’re not the only one who’s been reading up on Hogwarts, you know,” she nodded with her head in the direction of the copy of ‘Hogwarts – A History’ that was by the blonde’s side.
“Good to see you’re not a complete airhead,” Aubrey smirked at her. “Personally, I really hope I’m not a Slytherin. I don’t mind a little ambition, but I’ve read lots of bad things about those guys.”
“I think we shouldn’t really take those rumors as the absolute truth, Aubrey.”
“And I think you’re being naive, Chloe. Anyway, I hope we get to be in the same house.”
The redhead beamed at the admission. She had the impression Aubrey didn’t normally open up this easily to people, and knowing that she was getting the blonde to do so, and so quickly, made Chloe happy.
When the sorting came, they did not end in the same house. Chloe was selected as a friendly Hufflepuff, and Aubrey as a brave Gryffindor.
(The dark-blue-eyed girl from the train was put in Slytherin, so Chloe thought Aubrey would be a little opposed to her reaching out to the brunette. Which, of course, didn’t mean she wouldn’t do it anyway).
The moment the hat announced his choice for her new blond friend, Chloe cheered and applauded. Aubrey waved timidly at her, and the redhead could see she was already feeling insecure about their friendship. The girl worried way too much.
Indeed, the next morning, when Chloe reached out to her during breakfast, Aubrey looked pretty surprised.
“You thought we’d grow apart, didn’t you?” The redhead sighed, sitting next to the Gryffindor.
“Kind of,” she admitted with a small smile.
“Come on. You’re stuck with me now, silly. And haven’t you read about how Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors make the best of friends?” They smirked at each other, and Chloe’s statements would prove to be true with the passing of the years. The two girls became best friends, and they did hang out a lot together, in spite of being in different houses.
The ringing of the bell brought Chloe out of her reveries and back to the present. Quickly, she put her books and quill inside her bag and followed Aubrey outside.
“You sure you don’t want me to come to the camping with you?” The redhead asked, while the two of them walked together;
“No, no way. It’s better for everyone if I go alone. Besides, it will be your first Christmas at Hogwarts. Who knows, it might be a good experience. And you’ll probably have the chance to study a lot!”
“Oh, yeah, definitely.” Chloe was never very good at lying, so Aubrey sighed exhasparely at her.
“Chloe, come on, we have O.W.L.’s coming up!”
“Yeah, in about six months! Come on, you know I’ll study, but let me enjoy life, Bree!”
Aubrey shook her head at the redhead, but dropped the topic.
“I have Potions next. Want me to walk you over to your class?”
“Nah,” Chloe declined. “I need to go to the restroom first. And since you have to walk all the way over to the dungeons, and Mr. Griffin is pretty strict about punctuality, I think you’d better go.”
“Ok. I’ll see you later, Chloe.”
“See you, Bree.”
They hugged each other goodbye, and with a small wave, Chloe parted ways with her best friend. After turning a few corridors, the redhead reached the restroom. Upon entering it, however, she was greeted by an unexpected sight.
Near the sink, a short brunette was muttering under her breath. One of her hands was holding a wand in an awkward angle. The other one was swollen and obviously injured.
“What happened? Let me help you.” As Chloe reached forward, the other girl took a step back.
“No need to. I’m OK. Just fell wrongly on my wrist,” she said quickly, trying to hide the pain she was feeling.
“How did you fall?” Chloe frowned, a little agitated that the girl was obviously hurt and still hesitating to accept assistance.
“I was practicing quidditch and took a low fly. Don’t laugh.”
“I wouldn’t. But why were you practicing now? That’s a weird time for quidditch team practice.”
“Oh, it wasn’t team practice,” the brunette scoffed. “I only put up with those buttheads when I absolutely have to. I’m more of an individual sports girl.”
“That must be a hard life, with games and weekly practices,” Chloe smirked, trying to discreetly approach the girl again.
“You can’t even imagine my burden,” the dark-blue-eyed Slytherin answered with a smirk of her own.
Chloe felt sort of ridiculously excited by the small exchange they were having. This was the girl she had seen five years before on the Hogwarts Express. And despite all of the curiosity the redhead had always felt, approaching the Slytherin was much harder than she could have predicted. Usually, the girl would just slip away quickly, not having said much. And on other occasions, Slyherin’s prefect Kommissar would pop up by her side, and that was someone even Chloe wasn’t thrilled to spend time with.
When the redhead slowly reached out to hold the brunette’s arm and take a closer look at her wrist, she half expected the girl to jump. All she did, though, was draw a sharp intake of air.
“Why didn’t you ask someone to fix this for you?” Chloe asked, tenderly maneuvering the brunette’s arm to inspect the damage.
“I’m not a fan of asking for help, dude,” the girl replied, looking down.
“And why didn’t you go to the infirmary?”
“Not a fan of my family knowing I’m hurt. Definitely not a fan of them saying I’m a klutz who falls and gets hurt on her own.”
Chloe understood it. She knew the Slytherin’s father and step-mother were professors at Hogwarts (Sheila was her teacher, even), so it was easy to picture how any news related to the girl would easily reach their ear.
“And you’re left-handed, so fixing the wrist with your right hand is proving to be tricky,” she sighed sympathetically.
“How do you know I’m left-handed?” The girl gaped at her.
“Come on, Beca. We’re fifth-years. We’ve been in the same classes for five years now.”
“I sort of wasn’t sure if you even knew my name,” the brunette admitted, sheepishly smiling at the Hufflepuff.
“What? How would I not? You’re being ridiculous now.” But Chloe’s smile was warm, and she hoped Beca sensed that she wasn’t trying to offend her.
“That’s me. Ridiculous.” Beca shrugged, then winced when the motion sent a sharp burning sensation to her wrist.
“Ridiculously stubborn if you don’t let my fix that hand of yours,” Chloe retorted, looking sternly at Beca for the first time during their conversation. “Please, will you let me help you?” And now the redhead’s gaze was serious, hoping the other girl would get the gravity of the situation and put down her defenses for once.
After a few seconds of staring at each other, the brunette nodded weakly. Chloe then took her wand out of the robes and began quietly murmuring the spells. One of them fixed Beca’s injury, and the other one was meant to diminish her pain. After finishing the charms, she tenderly and softly ran her fingertips through Beca’s wrist.
“How does it feel now?” She looked eagerly at the Slytherin.
“Much, much better. Thank you.” Beca replied quietly, averting Chloe’s gaze again, and looking at where their hands were now touching.
When the redhead saw a blush spreading on the tips of Beca’s ears, she thought about teasing her. She knew, though, that it could be a wrong choice. The thing Chloe really, really didn’t want was pushing the brunette away after this overdue chance at connecting with her. Therefore, she chose to delicately drop the Slytherin’s hand.
“Good. Now all you have to do is pay me some butterbeer on the next Hogsmeade visit.” Chloe winked, and ok, she couldn’t completely resist the teasing.
The redhead gathered her stuff and made her way to the bathroom’s exit. Before leaving, though, she turned to look at Beca, who was still standing by the sink with the same dumbfounded expression, definitely blushing.
“What about you, Becs?”
“Uh?”
“Do you know my name?” Chloe gave her a small smile and felt a little nervous, because if she was being honest, she really, really hoped Beca did.
The Slytherin smirked a little before answering, “You’re Chloe Beale. Hufflepuff. Enjoys meddling with other people’s business.” The brunette indicated her wrist, still smirking.
“You call it meddling, I call it being a sweet, friendly, helpful person.” The redhead winked jokingly at Beca.
“Wow, Beale, you do love yourself.”
“Oh yeah, I’m pretty confident about my charming personality.” The Hufflepuff smiled largely. “I’ll see you around, Beca.”
And after getting a small wave from the brunette, Chloe finally exited the bathroom. She couldn’t help feeling a little giddy. The redhead was hopeful that she would, at last, have the chance to get closer to Beca Mitchell, and that hope made her smile even more than she normally did during the rest of the day.
When the bubbly redhead left, Beca rested her back against the sink, sighing. The situation that had transpired just then? A complete mistake. For years now, she had managed to keep people away. Keep Chloe away. The Slytherin remembered having actually run from moments in which she felt the redhead was going to ask her something.
It was better, really, if people kept their distance from her. Better for them, because she was an asshole. Better for her, because she could get her stuff done and avoid drama. Better for them, again, because her family was sort of dangerous. Better for her, again, because she didn’t want more people hurting and disappointing her.
The brunette scoffed a little, remembering how Chloe had asked if Beca knew her name. Of course she did. And the part where the redhead had joked about being nice and helpful? Well, it was really unnecessary. Beca still remembered the first moment she had very strongly wished her life could be different and she could get close to someone like Chloe. Someone kind, fair, who liked to help people. So yeah, she knew how Chloe Beale behaved.
Two years ago – their 3rd year at Hogwarts
Beca hated herself. She hated herself for staying half-hidden in the corner, just watching the scene that was unfolding in front of her eyes.
But Kommissar had made her. Both with psychological games and blackmail, and with the veela-blood thing. Yup, that was Kommissar for you. And things were messed up not only because the blonde used her looks to charm Beca, but also because she was the Sheila's daughter.
And even if she was mean, prejudiced and a bully, all Beca could say when Kommissar announced she was going to have a “talk” with freshman Emily Junk was “you look extremely gorgeous when you’re mean”. And yeah, she hated herself for it.
Emily Junk had, just a few hours before, been sorted into Hufflepuff. That was considered a shame by Kommissar and Sheila, who saw the badger house as one for losers and Muggle-borns. And being a Muggle-born, for them, was humiliating. So when Emily, Beca’s cousin, born into a traditional wizard family, was sorted into such a “dirty” house, Kommissar had something to say about it.
When Beca heard the veela descendent tormenting the freshman, she shut her eyes closed. It was horrible, all of it. Horrible because it was such a bad thing to do, and horrible because Emily was such a sweet girl. The brunette really liked her cousin, even though she hadn’t seen her much lately. Which was probably better for the youngest Junk. Beca had become a coward, controlled by her step-mother and foster sister’s constant threats.
She knew she couldn’t interfere. She knew Sheilla and Kommissar would make Emily pay if Beca dared go against them or do anything to harm the Mitchell’s reputation they had been “graciously saving after your father made the mistake of marrying a muggle.”
Even so, Beca was close to her breaking point. When Kommissar got a little too close to Emily to her liking, she motioned to step out of the shadows where she was hidden.
It wasn’t needed, though.
“Hey, what is going on here?”
Beca knew that voice. It belonged to the beautiful, gentle Hufflepuff who was always with the crazy, bossy Gryffindor.
“None of your business. Get out now, loser” Kommissar spat aggressively.
“I don’t think so. Emily is a Hufflepuff, so it would be good if I showed her the way to our dorms, wouldn’t it, Emily?”
The younger girl nodded weakly through her tears, and Beca thought she might be surprised that the redhead knew her name. Beca definitely was.
“And oh, Kommissar? Emily is my freshman, so she is under my care now. Just thought you should know.”
Beca didn’t think the usually bubbly redhead was capable of looking intimidating, but dude, had she been wrong.
“I’m not afraid of you, you dirty mud…” Kommissar quickly stopped talking though, when she saw a teacher coming their way. Probably deciding she didn’t want to be questioned, the tall girl turned at next the corner and walked away, telling the older Hufflepuff to watch out and stay out of her way.
Beca stayed, though. So she had the chance of see the blue-eyed girl waving to the teacher. When the master was gone too, the redhead put her hand on Emily’s shoulder.
“Hey, are you ok? Did she hurt you?”
The freshman didn’t answer, choosing instead to launch herself at the redhead and hug her tightly. The older Hufflepuff held the girl, running her fingers through Emily’s hair and whispering comforting things that Beca couldn’t understand.
“S-she said being a Hufflepuff is shameful,” Emily sniffed, looking at the redhead like a small child.
“Oh, sweetie, it’s not, I swear to you. I’m Chloe, and I’ll help you, ok? There’s also Cynthia-Rose, a super funny and caring girl. We also have Jesse, an absolute dork and sweetheart who is always trying to make muggle electronics work here so he can watch movies. The Hufflepuffs are known to be just and loyal, don’t you know? And I hope this doesn’t sound too narcissist, but I really love the badgers I know. They’re my awesome friends.” Chloe winked at the girl, who gave her a small smile in response, growing a little more confident. “See, that’s how you do it! A smile looks good on you, Emily. And I haven’t told you the best part yet: we’re located near the kitchens and we’re reaaally good friends with the elfs, so our parties are absolutely the best! We get to eat and drink lots of delicious stuff.”
The girl laughed, visibly feeling better. Chloe side-hugged her and started leading them to the Hufflepuff common-room.
“Chloe…” Emily called timidly.
“Yes, Em?”
“Will you be my friend?”
“Of course, sweetheart. I’m already your friend, and I got your back, ok?”
“Ok.” Emily beamed, and Beca could feel her own lips twitching up in a smile. So that was the way Chloe Beale was, huh?
The brunette thought she would like to have the chance to know her. But again, Beca knew she couldn’t. And well, was Chloe really all that kind? She probably was, Beca sensed it, but she had been disappointed by people before. People like her step-monster.
Lost in her memories, Beca barely noticed the path her feet knew to follow without a thought. In what seemed like only a few minutes, she was back in the Slytherin common-room. The girl went straight to the dorms, and jumped on her bed. With her arms crossed under her head, Beca stared at the ceiling and thought of how it would be nice to maybe have friends. Like, real friends. Friends like Chloe Beale.
The brunette sighed and closed her eyes, because that could never be, right?