All For Her

"Let me go!"

Raven struggled against him as he carried her away from the fight. She hadn't gotten a good look at which one of the teachers had grabbed her, but she knew instantly at the scent that filled her nose. Though, she didn't relax. Not even if he was her godfather.

"What were you thinking?!" He exclaimed, anger in his tone. Raven continued to struggle, not caring about the man's words. She needed to get out of his hold so that she can go back and finish the job. He needed to hurt just like he had hurt Hermione. "Fighting Malfoy?! I thought the two of you were friends!"

"We stopped being friends the day he called me Rotten Rosier!" Raven argued as she smacked her hand against her Uncle's back. "I'll show him just how Rotten I can be!"

"Raven!" He placed her down, holding onto her shoulders tightly. The red haired girl was too lost in her adrenaline to feel it or the pain that surrounded her body. "Listen to yourself!"

"He made her cry!"

"What?" Uncle Severus paused.

"He.." Raven inhaled deeply, feeling her lungs ache at the action. She tried desperately to slip on her mask, but the pain was slowly making itself known to her. The blood that had began to leak down her lips. "He called her a mudblood and I just saw red."

Her Godfather remained quiet.

"No one is allowed to do that." Raven continued, her voice filled with venom, sounding so unlike her. "Not to her."

"To who?" He broke the silence before he shook his head, "Wait, thats not important right now."

"Raven, my dear," He squeezed her shoulder, bringing Raven's attention back to him. "Do you understand what you've done? You fought Malfoy. You physically laid your hands on another pureblood. Draco Malfoy, at that. Now, the headmaster has to get involved."

"I— I d—don't—"

"Did you see how serious his injuries were?" He continued, a sigh left his lips at his words before he pulled his hands back and pinched his nose. Raven couldn't help but think that he looked so disappointed. "I'm not upset, Raven. But Draco is my responsibility. He's living under my house, which means that I'm in charge of him and his actions. I cannot show favoritism."

"Y—Yes, sir." Raven clenched her jaw, feeling his burning gaze on her.

Uncle Severus's eyes softened at the sight before him. The way her sapphire eyes looked into his own with nothing but guilt—shame, just like hers did all those years ago. He couldn't stop himself if he tried. He reached out, gently caressing her forehead feeling the softness of her red hair.

Raven didn't utter a word, remaining tense by his actions. She had no idea what to do or how to feel. She was waiting for the pain that usually followed whenever someone would touch her hair, even if it were for a single moment.

But none ever came.

"You look just like her." Uncle Severus whispered, so hushed, so gentle in such a way that was unlike him. "All except the eyes."

Raven furrows her eyebrows. "L— Like who?"

"Your mother." Uncle Severus spoke as if he were reminiscing a long forgotten memory. Raven flinched at his response. Her eyes went wide as his words hit her dead on. No one had ever spoken of her parents, not even those closest to them. All Raven heard were whispers of their crimes, of the lives they've taken.

Nothing of their looks.

And yet, even though she felt a warmth in her heart at the words—a longing deep within her that desperately wished for some part of them, she couldn't help but be knocked back into reality.

"What have I done?" A whisper, a plea left her lips just like the bucket of ice that fell onto her head. Fear settled into her bones, "No. No. No. Oh god."

Uncle Severus pulled his hand away, getting brought back to reality by the sound of her cries. "Raven?"

Severus nearly cursed out loud at his mistake. He had been trying to bring the girl comfort, and now, she was holding back tears at his words. He had gotten lost in the memory of her mother and how eerily familiar the scene before him was. Her mother had once sported the same black eye and bruised lip on her face, just like Raven.

It was his mistake for being caught up in the memories of a time that no longer existed.

"I'm just like them, aren't I?" Raven gasped, a lack of air inside of her lungs. "I'm a monster. What have I done?"

"Ray—Ray!" Cedric bursted through the door—which Raven hadn't even realized that they were in a classroom. The red haired girl flinched at the noise, instinctively placing her mask onto her face as if nothing had happened, holding her breath to stop the pathetic gasps from escaping her lips. She glanced at Cedric, searching his face before her hands balled into a fist at the sight. He had blood trailing down his nose. "Thank goodness, you're okay!"

Cedric rushed over to her as he grabbed her face, gently in his hands before he examined the blows that Draco had left in his defense from her.. attack. Her Godfather sighed before he took a step back, his own sagging in exhaustion (relief that the boy managed to show up when he did). "The damage doesn't look too bad. He did get you good in the eye though. The damage might stay there for a few days even with the healing magic."

"And since when were you an expert?" Uncle Severus spoke up, his eyebrow lifted as he addressed his student even though he already knew the answer.

"Since I made the decision to study as medic witch after Hogwarts." Cedric stated.

Raven's eyes widened, "You finally decided?"

"Yup." Cedric smiled. "During the summer."

Cedric winced slightly at his movements and Raven reached out her blood hand towards his body nose. "Did I do that?"

"It's fine." He said. He gently held her hand in his own before he gave it a light squeeze. "I'm fine."

"I'm sorry." For the first time in a long time, Raven looked down. Her posture breaking for a moment before she forced it up again, fixing it on instinct.

Cedric ruffled her hair playfully, a sympathetic smile on his face. "I told you, it's fine."

She hurt him.

Looking exactly like her mother.

"That's the last time I try to stop you from fighting." Cedric teased. Raven felt the heat rushed to her ears, feeling the burning across her face. "Who knew you had a hard head?"

"Don't joke about this!" Raven smacked his hand away. "I hurt you just like my parents."

Cedric paused, his smile fading in an instant at the sound of Raven's petite voice—ashamed. Cedric had forgotten about who Raven's parents were for a moment. It slipped his mind that her parents were.. monsters. Humans born just to cause destruction to those around them.

He had let that fact slip away into the back of his mind because of how kind Raven was. How much he truly loved the little troll who followed him around aimlessly searching for a home. And now, she could barely look at him. Her jaw was clenched and her posture was as straight as ever.

And she looked so scared.

She had smacked his hand away.

Something she would never dare do to her Uncle or Aunt. She could taste the iron that made knew its place in her mouth, in her bones. The tremble in her fingertips. God, how could she be so stupid?

She smacked his hand away. Just like she smacked away her future. The future that was already set in stone and written in the journal of time. She was destined for evil, to follow in the steps of her parents even though everything in her wishes that she could be normal.

She smacked his hand away.

And Cedric looked so.. disappointed.

"And yet, you're apologizing." Uncle Severus stepped forward, making his presence known once more. Raven and Cedric turned to him, hearing the conviction in his voice. Though, Cedric had never heard the man speak this softly before. He didn't even think he was capable of doing so. "That's something your.. parents never did."

Raven couldn't help but notice the cringe that left his lips when he said parents, as if the word felt unfamiliar to his tongue.

"But.." Raven tried to argue.

Cedric placed his hand on her shoulder. "No, buts, Ray—Ray! Listen to your godfather, he knew them best after all."

Raven glanced over to the man, who eyes held no much more than grief inside of them. It was as if looking into the dark eyes of a different man. One that held too many secrets for him to bear, but he continued on as if he had no one to share them with. Raven felt her stomachache with pity for her uncle. He must have been close with them if they named him her godfather.

He must have knew them—truly knew them in ways that others could never understand. Why else would they have chosen him as her caretaker in case anything happened to them? Wasn't that what he was supposed to be? Someone who looked after Raven in their place.

"Right.. of course." Raven poured her gaze into his soul, and Severus looked away first as if her gaze was too much for him to bear, "I just don't want to be like them."

"You're not." Uncle Severus spoke—quiet and true. "You're nothing like them, my dear. And, like Mr. Diggory said, I knew them best after all."

Raven burned her gaze into the side of his face, wishing that he would glance at her instead of the desk in the corner—far away from her gaze. And as if fate knew her wants, he clenched his jaw before he turned and locked eyes with her sapphire ones.

A dark look clouded over his eyes for a moment at the contact, but it vanished as if it were never there. He stepped forward, kneeling down so that she had to look down at him instead of the opposite. She could feel the racing in her heart calm with the action before she flinched at the hand that grazed her bruised eye.

"I'll see to it that Malfoy is punished."

"But that will show favoritism." Raven couldn't stop the wince that left her lips at the gentle graze of his fingers. "Please, don't, Uncle."

Her Godfather sighed, "As you wish."

Cedric was watching the display as if it were his last time ever witnessing something so intimate. He had never seen his professor act this way with anyone. Not even towards his fellow teachers. It was as if this man—this version of himself was saved for Raven and whomever else he chose.

Cedric felt privileged to be able to see it.

"Now, my dear, you mustn't worry." Uncle Severus cleared his throat, taking his hand away once Raven winced once more. He stood up, standing tall and allowing his mask to piece itself back together onto his face. "I'll deal with Nicholas in the headmasters office. It won't be long before the Headmaster owls for his presence at the school."

Raven had forgotten.

Because of all the chaos she created that day, she would surely be punished. First, she spoke out of turn with Professor Lockhart. Then, she tried out and joined the Hufflepuff Quidditch team.

(If Uncle Nicholas was not upset by that, then Aunt Eleanor most definitely would be.)

And lastly, she laid her hands on another pureblood. A potential suitor, someone who was high amongst the purebloods—at least, in her Uncle's opinion, Draco Malfoy. Raven would definitely be getting punished for striking the boy in such an unladylike way. God, she could already feel the new scars that would be added to her collection.

A chill ran down her spine at the thought.

"Uncle Nicholas is coming?" Raven's voice sounded far away, even to her own ears. Uncle Severus immediately glanced at the flicker of lights in the corner of the room.

"Calm yourself, Raven." Uncle Severus whispered under his breathe for Raven ears only. The red haired girl tightened her grip, biting her tongue at the pain that traveled up her arm when she broke skin. He watched as the lights returned to normal, before a sigh left his lips, "I'm sorry, my dear, but it is out of my control. He has to. If it was something as simple as detention, I could deal with it myself. But you—"

"I know." Raven gritted, clenching her jaw. She quickly flashed her Uncle a fake smile, a perfect expression tied to the string of her bruised lips. It looked emotionless—lifeless, almost fearful just how Raven felt. "Don't worry, Uncle. I know I'm at fault. I'll do better in the future. Now, if you'll excuse me, I must be heading back to my common room. I need to get ready to greet the minister as soon as he arrives and these clothes won't satisfy him."

Cedric flinched at her words—at the slight insult to the clothes that he had let her borrow. The sweatshirt, the trousers, and the robe that was hanging over her shoulders had made Raven look more relaxed than he ever saw her before. And now, all Cedric could compare her to was a robot. A lifeless shell of the person she had been this morning.

"Raven—" Cedric reached out to her.

"Not now, Cedric."

Not Second Place. Not Scary Cat. Not Giant. Not Short Stack. Not even Ced.

Just Cedric.

When was the last time she had openly, publicly, called him Cedric as if the nicknames she had given him were too personal for her to bear? He knew that this red haired girl was Raven. And yet, he had doubts growing inside of his head.

Was this really the same girl who couldn't wait to show him what a fist bump was not even an hour ago?

"Alright." Uncle Severus agreed softly, as if he, himself, knew the version of Raven sitting in front of him. He walked over to Raven, placed a hand on her shoulder before he leaned down, whispering in her ear. "I understand that you are upset and anxious for Uncle Nicholases arrival, but you mustn't forget who has stuck by you. Cedric is merely worried for you. Do not speak to him in a way that you will regret in the future."

Raven remained still for a moment.

And Cedric anxiously awaited for her to turn around to face him like a lost puppy.

"Are you coming, Cedric?" Raven asked, not turning to face her friend. Cedric's face fell, his eyes dimmed ever so slightly, but he pushed forward. He tried to be considerate. Raven was probably upset with the circumstances. Cedric knew that if his father had to visit Hogwarts because of something he did, he would probably be nervous too.

"Yeah." Cedric nodded, a low and quiet tone so unlike his own. He walked after her, stopping shortly before he walked out of the classroom to face the Professor. "Thank you, sir. I'll make sure we stop by the infirmary. Have a nice day."

Severus remained still at his words, frozen as if he had been caught so off guard for someone to acknowledge his presence. Cedric sent the man a kind grin. His eyes showing nothing but the sincerity and gratitude of his words.

And Severus couldn't remember a time where he had such a powerful and genuine look bestowed upon him by someone who wasn't bound to his side by blood or fate or law. The Professor watched as the brown haired boy with gentle silver eyes leave the room, following after Raven as if he were the wind to her sail until he was gone.

All that was left was the memories of the room.

"You too, Mr. Diggory." Severus whispered, so quiet, so shocked.

When was the last time someone wished him a good day that wasn't one of his children?

A smiled slowly made's its way onto Severus's face, a genuine tug that had long forgotten its way home. When Severus first met the boy, he thought he was loud, and showboating. He assumed that his kind grin was an act. A show to get his friend's guards down. But after today, Severus realized that he was wrong.

Cedric Diggory is kind.

And Severus truly hoped that his life held nothing but happiness in his future because such a kind and gentle soul deserved a life without the burden of pain.

And Cedric Diggory deserved to live a long and boring life—filled with happiness and warmth.

✦✦✦✦✦✦

Panic.

That's all Raven could feel as she sat down in the infirmary—Panic. Uncle Nicholas was coming. He would either be here late tonight or early tomorrow. Raven couldn't shake the wave of fear that circled her stomach, making refuge their like old friend. She could barely acknowledge the way her fingers were trembling ever so slightly or the way her posture was tight, almost as if her back were too scared to lean back against the nails that she conjured in her mind.

And Cedric—God, her best friend was waiting patiently beside her as Madam Pomfrey worked. She was speaking to Raven, but she sounded so far to her ears. She knew she was nodding, looking as if she were listening..

But how could she?

Uncle Nicholas would arrive in a few hours. And he would rain hell on Raven for her actions.

She could taste the iron on her tongue. She didn't know if it was because of the bloody lip she had gained or how hard she was biting her inner lip to stop herself from shaking. She was fine. At the moment, she was fine. She needed to suck it up. To get out of this funk, and come back to the land of the living.

Uncle Nicholas won't be arriving for a few more hours.

(But he was coming.)

"So," Madam Pomfrey began. Raven could barely feel the sting on her face as she worked. The sight of that silver bracelet that liked to appear in her nightmares enhanced the guilt in her stomach. "I heard that the Minister of Magic will be gracing us with his presence soon. I wish it were under better circumstances, but at least, you'll see your father even if it's to discuss your punishment."

"He's not my father." Raven gritted. Her voice calm unlike her heart.

"My apologies." Madam Pomfrey smiled—her words not affecting her one bit. "I just assumed you would address him as such since he is the man who raised you."

Raven balled her hand in fist, fighting the urge to scream out at the woman. She had to maintain control. She couldn't afford to lose her focus, or her grip on her powers. It had happened too much today.

Raven twitched at the spike of pain that traveled up her arm. Her earlier wound was being dug into once more—a habit that brought her too much comfort to be considered healthy. Though, she couldn't afford to look down. She didn't want to bring attention to the blood that threatened to trail down her fist. She just looked ahead, directly at her. And yet, she couldn't quite see her.

"You're right." Raven smiled—like a puppet on strings, tugging up onto her lips, feeling more like home than her actual smile. "It's just my Uncle Nicholas is really strict about titles and names in our family. Even our closest cousins call him Master Flint. I'm lucky enough to be given a different privilege."

Cedric's burning gaze poured into the side of her head at her words, at her smile. Madam Pomfrey stiffened, halting her examine before she glanced into Raven's eyes. The red haired girl couldn't help but tighten her grip on her smile at the pitiful expression on her face.

The door bursted open, halting any and all thoughts that had begun to circulate their minds. Raven instinctively stiffened, trying to force her posture to be even straighter than it was. To anyone with eyes, it looked almost like a statue were in Raven's place.

"Mari!" A familiar voice exclaimed.

Raven relaxed ever so slightly at the sound, a exhale leaving her lips. "Katherine."

"What happened?!" The dark haired girl rushed over to Raven. She quickly grabbed onto her face, examining the wounds for herself. "Who did this?!"

"I'm fine." Raven smiled, relaxing under her cousin touch. The touch of someone who had never once hurt her like the man and woman who raised them. "I just got into a little scuffle with Malfoy. It's no big deal."

"No big deal?!" Madam Pomfrey exclaimed causing Raven and Katherine to flinch. She walked over to a closed curtain before she opened it, and the sight of who was behind it, forced the guilt down her throat and into her stomach. "Does this look like no big deal?"

Draco was lying down on his back. His face, bloody and bruised, just like the rest of his body. His nose was crooked, angled awkwardly. Her one black eyes was nothing against his matching two, swollen and bleeding. His cheeks were puffed, having taken most of the beating. A foot mark burned into his skin.

"Oh, Dray." Raven gasped. Her eyes filling with tears at what she had done.

She truly was a monster.

"Close it." Cedric gritted out.

Madam Pomfrey exclaimed, "Mr. Diggory!"

"Don't you think she feels guilty enough?" Cedric pointed at Raven, who had blood dripping down her face matching Malfoy. "Look at her! Don't dismiss her injuries just because his have him bedridden. She's hurt too! I have no idea how she is awake and walking around right now! And do not act as if Malfoy will not be allowed to return to his common room in a few hours once he awakes."

Raven felt her eyes glisten with tears at the words of her friend. She had dismissed him earlier out of fear, out of instinct. She's still struggling to fight it. Katherine is the only thing bringing her back to reality instead of the tortured thoughts in her brain.

"Please." Cedric pleaded. "Can you just help Raven? She's in pain."

Katherine stood up, placing her hand on Raven's shoulder. The red haired girl glanced up at her cousin and couldn't help compare her currently look to her Aunt. Her black piercing eyes were starring daggers into Madam Pomfrey.

"Madam Pomfrey, do not make him repeat himself." Katherine spat. Raven noticed how the rest of the room tensed at her tone. "I won't hesitate to grab the headmaster if you keep refusing to treat my baby cousin because of your own personal feelings towards her actions. Your job is to heal the students of Hogwarts, no matter what they did to earn them a bed in your office. Now, are you going to help, or are you going to continue to be useless?"

"Katherine!" Raven tugged her robe, "It's fine. Please stop being mean to Madam Pomfrey. She's just doing her job."

"Her job is to heal you." Katherine glared at Madam Pomfrey, and yet, her words were soft as she spoke to Raven. "But she still hesitating to help you. Don't you know why? Because it's you, Raven—"

"Of course I know that!" Raven exclaimed, causing them all to turn to her. The red haired girl, bruised and broken, and still clutching her cousins robes like her life depended on it. And perhaps it did, "My parents killed her four year old daughter in the war! Iris Pomfrey! I've seen the pictures, read the autopsy, and the terrible words my parents had to say of her murder! I've read every single article and memorized every single word, even Madam Pomfreys promise to get revenge for her daughter one day. I know it all!"

"But before you barged in, she was kindly going to heal me." Raven sighed, her voice sounding quiet as she spoke to her cousin. "So, please, step aside and let her work."

Katherine hesitated, "Raven.."

"Please." Raven pleaded.

Katherine remained still for a moment before she gently reached out and brushed away a piece of hair that had fallen in front of Raven's face. A hair that Raven hadn't noticed herself. Katherine carefully brushed her thumb against the black eye, her eyes soft as she took in Raven's pleading
sapphire ones.

"Alright, I'll leave you be." Katherine spoke softly to the girl before she stepped aside, walking to the door. Just before she passed by a frozen Madam Pomfrey, she turned to her. Her voice a mere whisper as she talked, "I deeply apologize for my previous words, Madam. I, thank you for being kind enough to treat my little sister. She is my world. I am just used to people who refused to treat her because of her.. parents. Please accept my apology. I swear that it will never happen again."

Raven tried to stretch out to hear her cousin, but it sounded muffled to her ears. She could barely hear the words the two woman exchanged amongst themselves. Though, Raven assumed it went good with the way Madam Pomfrey smiled at her and squeezed her shoulder.

It didn't take long for her cousin to leave the room, a sliver of a smile made its way onto her face.

"Raven Rosier, tch, tch," Madam Pomfrey shook her head as she walked over to Raven. The red haired girl tensed up, but did not face away from the woman. She had no right to deny her the eye contact she so desperately wished to see from her. It was the least she could do. Nerves be damned. "You truly have surprised me."

Raven furrows her eyebrows, "Pardon?"

Madam Pomfrey pulled her wand before she gently tapped Raven's nose, "Episkey."

Raven exhaled at the warmth that spread through her body at the familiar feeling of magic in her body. She knew that she could use the same spell if she wanted to, heal herself, but she knew better. How much energy did she have left? She honestly did not know. If she had to use to much of her energy to heal herself, she'd pass out. How could she explain that? Besides..

It felt nice to be taken care of. At least, every once in a while.

"Now, my magic can only go so far." Madam Pomfrey explained. "It seems like you had a lot of swelling, and a popped vein which explains why you haven't stopped bleeding from your cut. My Magic scabbed over the cut and took a lot of the swelling away, but you're still stuck with your black eye and bruised lip. A lot of my energy focused on your fists."

Raven glanced down at her blood stained fist. She winced at the sight. Thankfully, they weren't clutched anymore. But still, she knew that they had been bad from the dull ache she was feeling. Madam Pomfrey leaned down and reached her hand out to touch her palm. Raven flinched at the touch, not expecting it. The Madam sighed before she carefully examined the knuckles.

She carefully—with gloved hands—wiped away the blood that took refuge outside of her body. Raven followed her gaze, seeing that the blood was all the damage that was left. She didn't have scabbed up knuckles like she thought she would.

A winced left her lips at the pressure from Madam Pomfrey.

"Just like I thought." She said. "You're knuckles are little bruised and sore. You must have broken a finger. Don't worry, the injuries should be gone in a few days. Especially with these."

Madam Pomfrey held out a packet of Chocolate Frogs. "Don't worry, they're enchanted with a healing charm. It should speed up the process."

She handed the packet to Raven, who took them with care. She didn't want to disrespect the Madam. "Thank you, Madam."

"I don't understand, Madam Pomfrey." Cedric spoke up, causing Raven's eyes to widen. She had forgotten he was there for a moment. "Shouldn't your magic already heal Raven?"

Madam Pomfrey sighed, a grief filled smiled was returned to the boy. "Mr. Diggory, do you remember one of the first lessons they taught you about magic?"

"Magic is apart of you." Cedric replied, his words echoed inside of the quiet room. "It is unique to you and your body. Just another persons magic is unique to theirs."

"And it also listens to your heart." Madam Pomfrey explains in a quiet voice. "It listens to your wants, your inner voice. Magic is wild, just as much as it is yours."

"I don't understand." Cedric furrowed his eyebrows. Raven clenched her jaw, guilt pooling inside of her stomach.

"She's healing me because she has to. Because it's her job," Raven interrupted, not making eye contact with either of them. "But a part of her doesn't want to."

Cedric's eyes widened, "What?"

"Yes, indeed." Madam Pomfrey smiled, a sad pitiful smile as she glanced at Raven. "It is not easy to let go of grudges, Mr. Diggory. But I still must do my job."

"I'm sorry." Raven whispered, defeated. Even now, her parents are still ruining her. A healer can't do her job because of her inner feelings. Her magic won't let her.

Madam Pomfrey's smile dimmed ever so slightly, "I don't need your apologies."

"Madam Pomfrey—" Cedric gritted out.

"It's hard to separate magic and emotions." Madam Pomfrey interrupted before she pointed to the Chocolate frogs, "Which is why I gave Ms. Rosier some extra treats. They will help her heal where I have failed."

"Because despite what I feel, Mr. Diggory, my priority is to make sure that every student is healthy, and safe." Madam Pomfrey stood up before she began to walk over to Draco's curtain. Raven's eyes tracked the bracelet on her hand. The silver bracelet, one that Raven knew all too well from the photos. The bracelet that had been on Iris when she died.

Raven reached out, grabbing hold of the Madam's hand. Her blood stained hands seeped into Madam Pomfrey's peach ones, ruining her natural color just like Raven does with everything she touches. It was her curse after all. Madam Pomfrey glanced at Raven, wondering what the Rosier was doing. But Raven refused to meet her gaze, shame eating her up as she burned daggers into the floor.

"Ms. Rosier.."

"I am truly sorry for the loss of your daughter." Raven apologized, inhaling sharply before forcing her gaze up and into Madam Pomfrey's eyes. "I swear to you, Madam, that your daughter's memory will live on in me. I will never forget Iris's face. I will carry her on with me till my last breath and I will do everything in my power to atone for my parents sins. You have my word. Iris will not be forgotten."

Madam Pomfrey pulled her hand away from Raven, snatching it from her hold. "I don't need you to remember my daughter. She'll live on in me and not in the memory of a bloody Rosier."

Cedric watched the encounter with a heavy heart. He thought that they had gotten through the woman, but.. she couldn't be easily persuaded that Raven was different. Her daughter had died at the hands of the Rosier family, and Raven was the last of them. It was as if fate had spat in the woman's face at the sight of her.

Your daughter is dead, it said.

But the Rosier's daughter will live on.

Fate was truly cruel to its people. Someone as kind as Madam Pomfrey who was biased towards Raven healed her despite what her true intentions were. Because like she said, her job was to heal every single student without biased towards their actions. She couldn't judge. And yet, some part of her did when it came to Raven. Something only Raven saw.

Cedric glanced at the girl who was still sitting down on the bed with her posture as stiff as a board—and her eyes filled with the shame of hundreds. Pity ran through Cedric at the sight, he could never imagine how it must feel to be in Raven shoes. How must she deal with it all the time? She knew every single victim. She knew them by heart almost as easy as breathing.

(She said whispered each of their names every night before she sleeps so that they would never be forgotten.)

Raven understood why she didn't believe her. She was—is a Rosier after all. Raven wouldn't even believe herself if she were in her shoes. Why would she? She was the daughter of the killers that murdered her four year old daughter. It was if the universe spat in Madam Promfreys face constantly at that fact. It was if saying that her daughter didn't deserve to live—a kind a child who had so many years left in their life, over the daughter of killers.

Why did she deserve to live where others have fallen? Why was fate so cruel?

Raven didn't know.

All she knew was that she could never afford to forget any of their victims. Not even if she stopped breathing. She had to carry them with her till the end of time, outliving everyone around her if she must keep their memories alive. It was the least she could do.

"Ray—Ray.." Cedric's fingers grazed her back, and Raven reacted instantly. She smacked his hand away, a fearful look in her eyes.

"What are you doing?!" Raven exclaimed.

Cedric stammered, "I was just— I wanted— you were upset."

"I'm fine." Raven couldn't calm her racing heartbeat before she stood up. Madam Pomfrey's gaze burned into her at the action. Raven turned to face the woman, a perfect smile tugged onto her lips like a puppet with strings. And yet, her eyes gave her away—the shame inside of them nearly consuming her whole. "Thank you for your time, Madam Pomfrey. We will be taking our leave now."

Madam Pomfrey didn't spare her another glance as she worked with Draco. Raven sighed at the action, inhaling deeply to shake away the cold that seemed to follow her. She turned to Cedric, the boy's eyes only filling with guilt. Raven hesitated before she reached out to her friend, and holding his hand in her own.

(She ignored the way it stung. After all, she deserved it, didn't she?)

"Come on, Cedric." Raven dragged him away, resisting the urge to pull her hand away at the sting it left. She could feel her bruised knuckles rub against his fingers, forcing a trail of pain to spike up her arm.

Cedric followed without complaint, quiet as she guided him out the door. She gestured for him to go first, and he didn't hesitate to obey. He had upset her enough today. It was the least he could do to make her day easier. Raven hung back for a moment longer, wanting—needing to say more to Madam Pomfrey so that knew that Raven would never forget her daughter.

And to apologize from the bottom of her heart for the cruel actions of her parents.

"Please, don't make it a habit to come to the infirmary." Madam Pomfrey spoke, her quiet words echoed inside of the lonely room. And yet, Raven understood her message loud and clear. "You've been here twice already. I don't want to see you a third time."

Be more careful.

Raven nodded, "I understand. Take care, Madam."

Madam Pomfrey didn't reply, so Raven didn't push for any more of her time. She walked out of the infirmary and quietly shut the door behind her, not wanting to cause the woman any more of a burden. It had slipped her mind the first time she arrived at the infirmary, especially because Hermione had distracted her. She had left almost immediately after she woke up the second time. Madam Pomfrey didn't argue with her departure and Raven did not blame her.

But now, at least she knew.

Madam Pomfrey was truly kind. Just like her Uncle Nicholas. She was merciful, and honest. She didn't try and lie to Raven or Cedric. She told them the truth. She couldn't separate her feelings from her magic. She couldn't let go of her grudge and Raven understood. Cedric might not have, but Raven did.

She would always.

And she would never blame her parents victims for their anger. She deserved to be on the receiving end of it.

"You knew." Cedric said. His voice a mere whisper as they walked in the halls.

"I did." Raven replied.

Cedric furrows his eyebrows, "Why didn't you say anything?"

"What's there to say?" Raven questioned, her words not hitting Cedric where she would like as the boy still looked at her with his confused grey eyes. Raven sighed, "Cedric, do you realize how many family members of my parents victims go to Hogwarts? Have you ever actually thought about it?"

"More than 20." Cedric answered—guessed.

Raven wanted to laugh, "Nearly half, if not, more. So, many people know who I am and who my parents were. And my parents were merciless. They took the lives of family friends, aunts, uncles, cousins..."

Cedric was at a loss for words. "I.."

"So many people suffered because of them and I have to deal with the consequences. No matter where I go, there will always be someone affected by their actions. I can't escape them." Raven sent her friend a reassuring smile, feeling the strings dig themselves deep into the corner of her lips and forced the tug upwards to appear okay. To appear as if the weight of her family sins weren't crushing her day in and day out. "But don't worry, I've already made my peace with it a long time ago."

"I'm so sorry, Raven." Cedric sounded so defeated. He didn't realize how much she held on her shoulders. The weight of death—of all the lives her parents took, and she had to carry it as if it were nothing. No wonder she never had a moments rest.

"You're sorry?" Raven furrowed her eyebrows, not quite believing his words. "I should be the one apologizing."

"W— What?" Cedric stuttered.

"I shouldn't have spoken to you so harshly today, Cedric." Raven explained as they walked, her voice sounding guilty. "You're not a punching bag. You're my friend. My best friend."

"It's fine, Raven." Cedric reached out and ruffled her hair. And in this moment, Raven didn't care that it was making it messy. She'll just fix it later. All she cared for was the gentle smile that stretched onto Cedric's face. "You were having a rough day. I get it."

"But still.."

"Nope." Cedric halted Raven's words, reaching out and poking her cheek. "Everyone's entitled to a rough day. Even someone as perfect as you."

"Right.." Raven sighed. "Perfect."

She felt far from perfect.

✦✦✦✦✦✦

Laughter.

Laughter echoes throughout the Hufflepuff common room. Raven had just finished showering and getting dressed in preparation to see her Uncle Nicholas. She didn't want to be surprised by his presence and look unruly. She wouldn't know for sure if Aunt Eleanor would be with him or not. If she were, then it would be worse for Raven to look anything but perfect. But it was just him, he wouldn't care about her attire, just her punishment. And still, she couldn't help but try and look her nicest to avoid angering the man.

So, here she was, awaiting the man on the Hufflepuff Couch, surrounded by the rest of her team. Raven and Cedric were sitting side by side, his arm resting on her shoulders while the two of them talked amongst their new teammates. After try outs, Jessie had ordered them all to meet in the hufflepuff common room, wanting to celebrate her 3 new found teammates. Though, Raven and Cedric arrived fashionably late because of everything that occurred with Malfoy.

Raven had tried to hide her face as soon as she entered the common room, but her blood stained fist gave her away. Jessie had marched over and seen the black eye and bruised, and forced the two to confess what had occurred. Cedric ended up telling her, taking the weight off of Raven's shoulders. Raven had assumed that Jessie would be upset, and yet, she was anything but.

"You fought someone?" Jessie exclaimed. Her eyes went wide after Cedric finished recounting the tale. Though, Raven hid her gaze when he said that she had only fought to defend her own honor after being called Rotten Rosier far too many times. "A boy, no less? Jesus, little one, if I knew you would be the hot head out of the two of you, I would have invited you to join us a long time ago!"

Jessie had stuck out her fist, a smile on her face.

Raven hesitated for a moment before she collided her bruised knuckles with her own.

"For now, I'm happy." Jessie smiled, a carefree expression. "Everyone always underestimates us Hufflepuffs, but we can bite. And you reminded them of that today, so we'll celebrate. But tomorrow, depending on your punishment, we'll discuss the punishment you'll face team-wise."

"God, I hope it's not 40 snakes" A whispered was heard from the common room, "That was brutal."

"Yeah, Tony." Someone had spoken, accusingly. Though, Raven could hear the amusement in the voice.

"Let it go already!" Someone, a male, had groaned out. "It's not my fault I was defending my girls honor."

"What girl?" Someone else snickered.

"We did 50 snakes for a girl?" A dark skinned boy spoke up.

"Not just any girl," A dark brown haired boy leaned in closer, though, his words echoed inside of the room. "An imaginary girl."

"Malcolm!" A blonde haired boy exclaimed before the team broke out into laughter at the exchange as if it were a common occurrence for the two boys to fights.

Thankfully, Jessie had allowed Cedric and Raven to go upstairs and gather themselves. It looked as if the two of them had come back from war with how bloody their faces were. Raven hesitated for a moment once she sat down on the coach, not wanting to hang out in the common room because she knew that everyone would be in the open instead of in their rooms since it was still early.

She didn't want to be there when the rest of her house found out she had made the team. She didn't want to be there for the..  the quiet or the looks. All she wanted was to have the warmth in her chest to stay there for a little longer. To settle and spread and just.. make her feel as if she belonged. As if for a moment, the hufflepuff team wanted her.

That someone wanted her.

(Even if she didn't deserve it.)

(Malfoy's bloody face flashed inside of her mind.)

Cedric had his arm around her—not near any of her scars—holding her close as if he didn't want her to stray too far. Or perhaps to remind her of his presences. Though, it wasn't as if she could ever forget that he were near. Being around Cedric felt almost as calming as drawing.

Raven couldn't blame him for his close proximity, knowing that the boy will just grow even more protective since their early talk. She didn't want him to ever know about the weight on her shoulders, but he had to bear witness to her parent's sins first hand. And if she didn't explain it, he'd probably think she didn't care about the victims of her parents.

He would most definitely think she is a monster.

(He would never.)

"So, Rosier." Raven tensed at the mention of her name, feeling the reminder of the weight it held. Her dark skinned teammate held a smirk on his face as he leaned back against the coach. "How'd it feel beating Malfoy's ass?"

Raven felt the guilt pile in her stomach, "I don't know. Why don't you ask him? He's still in the infirmary."

"Damn, Rosier!" The dark skinned boy exclaimed, reaching out and slapping her arm as he laughed. "That's ice cold."

"Really?" Raven questioned, a mumble leaving her lips. "I wasn't trying to be."

She tensed at the feeling of fingers—of a thumb, caressing her shoulder. She glanced at Cedric and saw the boys reassuring smile. A weight lifted off of her shoulders at the look. She wasn't alone anymore. Cedric was here too, and he knew how she felt about the whole situation.

"No, but seriously," A blonde haired boy spoke up, "What even happened?"

"Yeah! Yeah!" A brown haired boy exclaimed before he shoved the blonde gently aside. "Tell us! It hasn't even been a few hours and you've already been in a fight after joining the team. I'm surprised Jessie didn't kick you out."

"Yeah." The blonde haired boy agreed. "I was shocked too. She had did that with Dillan last year."

"Oh, right!" The brown haired boy nodded, "Because Dillan fought Tyler. He was on the team for like a week, wasn't he?"

"Nah, it was like three days." The blonde said.

The brown haired boy furrows his eyebrows. "Are you sure? I'm pretty sure it was a week."

"No, get your facts straights." The blonde argued, crossing his arms over his chest. "It was 3 days."

As the two boys continued to argue, Raven heard the sound of someone clearing their throat beside her. She turned to the dark skinned boy and gave him her full attention. Cedric's gentle caress turned into tapping, as he listened to the twins talking. But Raven appreciated the company all the same.

"Jessie must like you if she kept you around." He explained. A look of interest sparked inside of his eyes. "You must be something special."

"You think so?" Raven couldn't believe it.

He nodded, "You heard the twins. She kicked out a guy who did the same thing you did after being on the team for only a week. You've been here, not even 24 hours, and she praised you."

"I am going to get punished tomorrow." Raven mumbled before she cleared her throat, speaking up. Nobody likes a mumble. "Jessie's going to decide my punishment tomorrow, isn't she?"

"Yeah, but still." He urged, as if he wanted her to believe that she was worthy in the eyes of their captain. Raven couldn't believe her ears. He paused for a second, the sound of the arguing twins forced its way into Raven's ears. He glanced at her before he leaned in, "Are you ready?"

Raven furrowed her eyebrows.

She glanced at Cedric for help, but all the boy did was shrug. She turned back to her teammate, whose name she hadn't yet learned. "Ready for what?"

"To kick some Gryffindor ass!" He laughed. The rest of the team followed along side him, sharing smiles amongst the crowd of players. Raven felt Cedric shuffle beside her as he too became confused.

"I'm sorry." Raven stammered out, clearing her throat. She felt her cheeks heat up at the attention on her, feeling herself tense up further as if her back were the toughest of boards. "But.. since when have Gryffindor been our enemies? I thought that we were rivals with Slytherin?"

"The snakes?" The blonde haired boy scoffed. "No. They might have some good players, but they always end up cheating. It's just in their blood."

Raven balled her hand into a fist. A sting unlike her usual one ran up her arm immediately at the action, but she didn't dare wince.

What does that say about her?

"Right." Raven sent the boy a half hearted smile that didn't reach her eyes. It was practiced, perfect just like her Aunt Eleanor wanted. "My mistake—"

A loud smack was heard.

"HAHAHA!" The blonde laughed as he slapped his knee. "Oh my goodness! You should have seen the look on your face, Rosier! It was priceless!"

"Not as priceless as Cedric's!" A dark brown haired boy beside him laughed. Raven could tell by the way the dark haired boy had his hand on the blonde boy that they were close. "He looked like he wanted to strangle you, Tony!"

"I—" Raven cut herself off as she glanced between the two of them, not understanding what was going on.

"Don't mind them." The dark skinned boy from earlier spoke up once more. "The twins are the only two who understand each other's humor."

"Their twins?" Raven questioned. Right, he had said that earlier. It had just simply slipped Raven's mind with the conversation they were having.

"Fraternal." The left one, or Tony, said.

The dark brown haired boy chipped in. "Obviously."

The dark skinned boy sighed as he shook his head before he glanced at them. "Do you have to say that every time? We all know that you're not identical like the Weasley twins."

"And yet, we get more girls." Tony hummed as he smirked smugly.

"Who's we?" The right one chuckled. "The only girls you talk to are Mom and Janice."

"And Jessie!" Tony exclaimed, pointing at the captain who was conversing with another group of hufflepuffs by the tables. She turned as soon as she heard her name.

Jessie called out. "What?"

"Nothing, Jess!" The dark skinned boy returned as the two brothers argued. "It's the twins!"

Jessie nodded, pursing her lips before she turned back to her conversation. Raven couldn't help but watch all of this unfold as she glanced around at her teammates and their different personalities. If it wasn't for Cedric being beside her, she probably would have lost her cool.

"Come..."

Raven tensed up at the sound. It was as if someone were whispering in her ear.

"Come.." Raven fought the urge to fidget at the sound, her eyes going wide. She was hoping that she had imagined it, but it was persistent. Perhaps if she ignored it. Maybe it would disappear?

"Come.. to me." It continued on, and Raven bit her tongue to stop herself from looking around. Maybe she was going crazy. There were only two people beside her. Cedric and the dark skinned boy, whose name Raven still hadn't asked about.

"Come to me. Come to me!" Raven turned around at the loudness of the voice as it echoed inside of ears. She cried out in pain at the shock that ran through her left hand, her ridged scar pulsing. Cedric looked at Raven in concern.

"Are you okay?" Cedric asked. But Raven payed him no mind. She was too busy searching the room for the voice.

She turned to Cedric, "Did you hear someone?"

"No." Cedric furrowed his eyebrows, "Are you feeling alright, Raven? Did Malfoy hit your head?"

"No, I'm fine." Raven shrugged him off. But she persisted, the voice burned into her mind. "Are you sure you didn't hear anything?"

"Yeah, I'm sure." Cedric nodded.

"Okay." The dark skinned boy trailed out, "You're starting to freak me out. I don't like ghost."

"We're in Hogwarts." Cedric deadpanned, while Raven tried to get ahold of her head.

"I avoid them, duh. I'm William." The dark skinned boy introduced himself before he pointed to the two boys who were still arguing with one another. "These are the Rickett twins."

The two boys turned back to the conversation when William cleared his throat. They glanced at William before watching as the boy signaled for the other two to introduce themselves by lifting his eyebrow.

"I'm Anthony." The blonde haired boy spoke up. His gentle brown eyes peering into Raven. "But my friends call me Tony."

Raven didn't need anymore context to understand what he was trying to say. Raven and Anthony weren't friends so that didn't give her permission to call him anything, but his name. It didn't take a genius to figure that out.

"And I'm Malcolm. " The dark brown haired twin sent Raven a teasing smirk as he side eyed his brother. "And unlike my brother, my friends just call me by my first name."

"Because it's so boring that none of your friends can come up with a nickname for it." Anthony huffed under his breath. Malcolm's eyebrow twitched ever so slightly before he turned back to his brother and glared.

"I have nicknames!"

"Boys!" William exclaimed hoping the two of them would quit fighting, but they just ignored him. The dark skinned boy sighed before sharing a glance with Raven and Cedric. "Welcome to the team."

"What position do you play?" Cedric asked, speaking up for the first time since they arrived. Usually he was much more upbeat than this but Raven knew why he was quieter. The events of today laid waste against his brain, and would probably haunt his dreams tonight. Or at the very least, his thoughts. Raven hated that she burdened him with this.

"He speaks!" Malcolm exclaimed as he pointed at Cedric with a grin. He turned to his brother with a smug look. "Told you he wasn't deaf."

"I never said that." Anthony argued.

"You didn't have to!" Malcolm pointed at the boys face. "It was all over your face."

"This fist is going to be in your face if you don't move your hand—"

"Hey! Dumb and dumber!" Jessie called out as she got between the two of them, ruffling their hair. "Settle down in front of our new teammates. We don't want to scare them off now."

Jessie looked up and sent Raven a reassuring smile. The red haired girl felt her cheeks heat up at the sight of it, so she looked away—making eye contact with a smug Cedric. Anthony smacked the girls hand away with a playful smile while Malcolm just laughed.

"Oh Please!" Anthony smacked his lips. "They should get used to it since we're teammates now."

"We're not even that bad." Malcolm imputed.

Jessie and Willam shared a glanced between the two of them with a knowing look while the twins remained utterly oblivious to their gaze. The two of them shared a smile before Jessie opened her mouth to argue back.

"Are you sure about that?" Cedric beat her to it.

Cedric turned red at his words. Everyone went silent for a moment as they looked at Cedric. The twins sat still, gaped in shock at Cedric's bluntness. William bursted out laughing after another moment, throwing his head back as he turned to Cedric.

"Oh! Oh man, dude!" William laughed. He reached out—passed Raven—placing a hand on Cedric's shoulder. "I like you."

Cedric sighed in relief, sharing a glance with Raven. "I hope so. I mean— because we're teammates now, ya know?"

"Don't mind him." Raven spoke up for the first time in a while, trying to ignore the way her heart was beating out of her chest and the way her hands were shaking. "He's a little nervous."

"I'm a little nervous?!" Cedric glared.

Raven waved him off. "Hush, Second Place. The grown ups are talking."

Cedric smiled at the return of the nickname. The doubts that had clouded his mind earlier left as if they were never their in the first place. Why had he doubted that the two of them never return back to normal? They were Cedric and Raven for a reason.

"I'm literally 2 years older than you!" Cedric exclaimed, a bright grin sketched onto his face.

"Age is just a number." Raven argued before her eyes widened at her mistake. "Wait—"

"Oh really?" Cedric smirked.

"Nope. I take it back."

"You can't do that!"

"I just did."

"Ray—"

"RAVEN!"

The red hair girl flinched so harshly that Cedric thought she had been burned. Her posture straightened instinctively as the smile that had grazed her lips as they argued—disappeared as if it was never there in the first place. She balled her hands on her lap, trying to calm her racing heart.

Could her Uncle be here?

No. Cedric had said that he would most likely arrive tomorrow morning instead of tonight, as he was the minster. So, why were they screaming?

She hadn't made a mistake, had she?

She can't recall. She obeyed everyone. She didn't speak unless spoken to. Though, Cedric didn't count—

Oh.

She spoke to Cedric without waiting for him to acknowledge her. And now, she was going to get punished for it. She gulped down the fear that began to bobble into her throat—forcing her face to remain emotionless as she felt the phantom pain of the ruler against her skin.

"Rosie!" Natasha shouted. Her best friend who had never hurt her. Not physically at least. She could hear the thumbing sound of footsteps as they raced down the stairs. "You're back!"

And if her mind was clear, she would have wondered where they must have been since they hadn't been in the room earlier when she arrived. Perhaps in the room of another Hufflepuff as they awaited her return? But it wasn't clear.

It was on high alert, anxiously waiting for a familiar sting of pain that usually followed after someone shouted her name.

"Rae!" Melanie exclaimed happily as she rushed over to Raven. The red haired girl stood up, feeling too uncomfortable—and disrespectful if she were to continue sitting. Her posture remained as perfect as ever as she acknowledged her friends.

"Hey, guys." Raven said softly, a tiny perfect smile graced her lips. She couldn't shake the fear that was still rattling inside of her bones a few moments ago.

"Oh my god. Your face.. What happened to you?"

It felt like an out of body experience.

One second, Raven knew she was beside Cedric. Could feel his gaze on her back. And the next, it was as if she were watching a picture. She could see what she was doing. But she couldn't hear it. Everything sounded muffled to her, even her own voice. Her friends shared smiles with her. Congratulated her on making the team, and for fighting Malfoy. Hugged her—that particular moment had Raven biting her lip and balling her hand into a fist so hard that she could taste and feel the blood leaking out of her ruined bruised skin. And yet, none of them noticed.

Instead, she was left there.

Feeling as if she were back home with her Uncle's black eyes piercing into her skull. She couldn't move, couldn't breathe, couldn't react to what was happening around her. And she had no idea why.

Her heart was beating out of her chest and despite it all, her Rosier mask did not leave her face for a moment. It stuck, like there were strings attached to her face—perfecting her smile while she screamed inside for someone to notice.

No one noticed.

Why isn't anyone noticing?

Help her. Please.

Someone please help her.

"Ma—" The voice sounded so far. Muffled against her ears as if someone had blocked the sound for her and her alone. Perhaps they had. Raven could barely feel the bruising touch against her shoulders as her whole body shook. "Raven!"

And then suddenly, the noise came back on.

"Mari!" His voice cried out, startling Raven out of her shock. She blinked a few times to gain her eye sight back and to force her fragile mind back into her head instead of the hands of a scared child who couldn't tell the difference when someone screams your name.

Raven squinted her eyes, "Christopher?"

She guessed, it was a little too dark to truly see his face. She could only see the outline of it. And yet, his eyes shinned brightly in the darkness. The sight before her was something so painfully familiar that she felt her nerves settle just by locking eyes with his relief filled black ones. Christopher had his hands on her shoulders, his grip bruisingly tight.

"Oh, thank goodness." He sighed in relief, the lingering feeling of his grip settled against Raven's shoulders.

"What happened?" Raven glanced around at the dark hallway that she had come back to moments ago. She knew exactly where she was without having to worry. After all, the entrance to their houses were in the basement. "How did I get down here to the Slytherin entrance?"

"You don't remember?" Christopher furrowed his eyebrows puzzled. She remained quiet as she focused on her breathing. "Raven?"

"I don't.." She hesitated before she forced the Rosier mask to slip back on. She couldn't afford for anyone to see—

"Don't do that."

Raven stopped, locking eyes with Christopher.

"Not to me." Christopher said softly. His eyes swimming with concern. "Now, please tell me what happened."

Raven gulped, avoiding eye contact with him. She couldn't bare to look into the eyes of her cousin and see a mirror looking back at her. He was one blink away from crying and Raven wouldn't be able to handle it if he cried now. Not when she wanted to.

"I can't." Raven stated. Christopher's eyes flashed with hurt for a moment. Raven felt her eyes widened at the sight before she quickly stammered out. "But it's not because I don't want to tell you. I just.. can't remember."

Christopher's gaze burned into her as she spoke, "One second, I was in my common room and the next, I'm out here."

"Mari," Christopher softened his voice. "What really happened?"

Raven looked down, "She screamed."

"Who screamed?" Christopher asked.

"Natasha." Raven's voice broke. Christopher felt his heart ache at the sight of his little sister about to break down. Raven crossed her arms over her chest, holding herself close. "And it sounded so much like.. Uncle."

She hated how Christopher could get the real reason out of her without so much as a question from his lips. He could see right through her. He could see everything she was pretending to be and knew of all the scars on her back as if they were his own.

And she hated that.

"Come on," Christopher grabbed her hand, tugging her with him. She fought the urge to wince at the bruises he grazed, but he pulled his hand back as if he burned her. "Crap, I'm sorry. I thought you went to the infirmary?"

He hesitated for a moment before he gently grabbed her hand, lifting it up closer to his face so that he could see. He caressed his thumb over the bruise, hearing the silent wince that Raven tried to keep hidden. "Why isn't it healing?"

"This is the best they could do." Raven shrugged as if it were no big deal, but he knew better. He knew how much she hated feeling pain, even if it were something as small as a bruise. It reminded her too much of the basement just like it did with him.

He looked up, locking eyes with Raven.

And suddenly, he understood.

"Oh." Left his lips.

Raven half heartedly smiled, "Yeah. It's fine. I'm fine. It's nothing I can't handle."

Christopher remained quiet for a moment before he pulled out his wand from his robe, still holding onto Raven's hand as if it were something delicate. He, carefully, brought the other hand and let it rest against his palm as well before he aimed his wand at the hands.

"Episkey." He spoke, unlike Madam Pomfrey's power, Christopher's showed hesitance. As if it were scared to hurt Raven instead of heal her. She glanced down at her knuckles, seeing the purple knuckles that matched the bruises on Malfoy's skin blended back into her skin tone as if nothing happened.

And even though, she had seen it a million times.

"Cool." Raven couldn't help but let out. It was always so much cooler when Christopher or Katherine did their magic. Their spells always felt so much warmer and safer than her own.

He softened his gaze as he took her hand in his own once more without the pain of the touch, a gentle smile on his lips—unlike his father. "Let me show you something."

Raven didn't know how long they had been walking, but she followed the boy blindly as he led her up the stairs and throughout the school. She felt as if he knew the school better than she did. Better than Cedric did. He moved as if he had lived here for years instead of just one. It was as if he memorized the entire school to seek a home in one of the classrooms or dorms or hallways around. And Raven knew she would soon follow, going as far as to memorize every single crack in the wall or turn in the hallways.

They walked, and walked, and walked till all Raven felt was a gentle breeze against her cheeks. She gasped at the sight before her. At the sight she hadn't seen before since coming to Hogwarts. The tower had been off limits to first years as they were just settling in and didn't need to goof off in the astronomy tower. Raven knew she should have been mad about it, and yet, she couldn't help but be glad that none of them could see this.

The stars were twinkling in the sky, burning as they shinned as far as the eye can see. The clouds drifted with the wind as they covered the sky's. The stars shinning through them as if they were itching for another moment to steal and to shout how they deserved to be see too. Raven could almost reach out and touched them if she tried.

Christopher squeezed her hand once more, forcing her back to the sight before them. She glanced at him—squinting a little at the darkness that still clouded over his face, before looking in front of him, at the railing out looking the field. She hesitated before Christopher rolled his eyes and dragged her over. Her breath hitched as they got closer. It was one thing to be on a broom, but it was another to rely on a balcony not to fall, especially an old one.

She felt her fingers graze against the brown metal. Christopher placed his hand on the back of her head, which caused Raven to look over at him. His finger was pointed at the night sky and Raven followed its direction. She looked up, a small gasp leaving her lips at the sky. She had never seen anything like it before. There were thousands of stars shinning brightly above, burning into the sky for the sheer purpose of being acknowledged. The cloud that went over the moon left the two of them in the dark, awaiting for the sweet light of the moon to grace them with its presence.

"Wow." Raven whispered.

Christopher glanced at Raven before following her gaze. "I found this during my first week at Hogwarts."

Raven turned to him, placing her full attention on her cousin. The one person who had never touched her back on accident or on purpose. He was always mindful of where his hands were with Raven, always mindful of her reactions whether she tensed or not.

"Someone had patted my back when they were laughing and I lost it." Christopher explained, his voice soft as he spoke to Raven. His eyes were drowning, suffocating under the weight of his own actions. And Raven knew that if he looked into her own, she would see her reflection looking back at her. "I don't even remember what happened. One second, we were laughing. And the next, he was on the floor bleeding."

Raven remained silent as she took in his words.

"How could I explain that?" Christopher glanced at Raven—his eyes not quite looking into her own. His words sounded too much like a plea to her ears. "The teachers already thought I was a problem. Uncle Sev talked them down from informing father, but.. I was still punished. I got a month's worth of detention and I was locked in my room for 2 weeks after supper."

"But it could have been worse. It could have been father who punished me." Christopher sent Raven a forced smile. One that would never reach his eyes when he talked about his father. The man who ruined them beyond repair. "A lot of my friends stopped talking to me. They thought I was an issue to be around. All except Theodore. He snuck me out one night during my lock down and he took me here."

Raven felt her eyes widen at that information. Theodore had been the one to help him? Raven didn't want to believe it. Not with Christopher and Theodore's history. The two boys were barely friends. But.. as she looked into her brother (she didn't feel as if she had any right to call him that, not when he already had a sister), her cousin's eyes, she saw nothing but the truth.

"That's why you two are close now." Raven mumbled under her breath, but Christopher heard her loud and clear. He sighed before he turned to her, placing a hand on her shoulder.

"He was there for me when no one else was." He stated before he lifted his hand and gently booped her nose. Raven scrunched up her nose in response. "But that doesn't mean he can be mean to you."

"Only you can?" Raven rolled her eyes.

Christopher playfully grabbed her nose and squeezed, "Of course! I am your big brother after all."

"You bloody jerk!" Raven smacked his hand away as the boy chuckled. "What if I had drowned?"

"Drowned?" Christopher sent the girl a teasing smile. "With what water?"

"It can happen!" Raven exclaimed.

"Whatever you say, Mari." Christopher rolled his eyes while Raven allowed the small—imperfect—smile to feel at home on her lips.

The two of them remained quiet for a few moments as they took in the sight before them. The stars shinned so brightly above, wanting to be acknowledged as well. The moon still hadn't graced them with its presence, the shadow left in its wake caused the two of them to appear dark, forcing them to squint in order to be seen by the other. Though, Raven hoped that once the moon finally graced them with its presence, lighting up the night sky and the two of them as if to say that they were worthy, it would be breathtakingly beautiful to see the view at night just as it was in the day. Raven couldn't help but be reminded of Granger. How her friend was slowly becoming a light to her darkness.

She had already invaded her sketch book, took root inside of her heart. Forced her way into Raven's brain as if she had always lived there, just awaited to come out. The moon was just the same. Day by day, the moon awaited its turn to reveal itself to the world. To light up during people's darkness nights and provide some comfort even if it didn't scare away the true horrors of the world fully, it was still there. Just like Hermione.

"Did you mean it?" Raven felt herself blurt out so soft, so quiet, that she herself could barely hear it. She was certain Christopher couldn't hear it. She hoped at least.

But her cousin was persistent. He had always made sure to listen for Raven, even at her most quietest. Which is how he knew what she was asking.

"You're my little sister, Raven." He said without hesitation, softness in his tone. Raven glanced over at him and locked eyes with the ones that always mirrored her own despite being a darker color. He sent the girl a teasing grin. "Even if you are a little annoying."

"Hey!" Raven exclaimed, "At least I don't snore!"

"I do not snore!" Christopher glared playfully, a smile on his lips that Raven (and Katherine) only ever had the privilege of being the cause. "You liar."

"Sure, whatever helps you sleep at night." Raven scoffed quietly. "Mr. Snores—A—Lot."

Christopher chuckled under his breathe as he looked content compared to his tense nature. Just like Raven. She knew she was acting different as well. It was always like that with the two of them. Raven and Christopher could act as children around the other because they knew—truly knew the hurt and agony that it takes with being a pure blood. The curse that each child had to go through as they grow up.

The whippings, the abuse, the words, the pain, the expectation on their backs. For Christopher, he was the first born son. Katherine might have been the eldest, but she wasn't the son. Christopher would be forced to take over the Flint name and lead their family into greatness. Katherine was forced to be an incubator. To carry on the next child of the flint family, and continue to pass their bloodline for generations to come. No one would see her as nothing else but that.

And Raven..

She was forced to do both. She was the last Rosier alive. It didn't matter that she was a girl or that she was merely 12. It didn't matter that she had nobody left to lead. She had to procreate, have children, and produce an heir.

She had to rebuild the Rosier household.

That's what she was made for. She didn't have a choice in the matter. None of them did.

"Mari.." Christopher broke the comfortable silence that grew between the two of them. A silence that Raven had only ever felt around him. Around someone who understood that sometimes she didn't feel like talking.

"Mhmm?" She hummed.

"I saw that you joined the Hufflepuff Quidditch Team." He stated. Raven felt her eyes widened at his words. Her heart stopped, a deep ache settled against her skin. "I was there when you fought Dray and I saw you coming back from the Quidditch field with Diggory."

"Oh.." She hesitated for a moment. She didn't want Christopher to think that she thought ill of him, but he was a man. He was raised with the same ideals like she was. And he saw her fight his friend over something so.. god, what was she thinking? "I'm sorry, Toph. I know it's not ladylike—"

"You best believe I'm not gonna go easy on you." Christopher teased, smirking as he looked down at her.

"What?" Raven furrows her eyebrows.

"And I'm gonna be at every game with Katherine." He continued, smirking as if he was trying to tease Raven with his words. "I don't care what father says anymore about ignoring you at Hogwarts. You're my little sister and Katherine and I are going to support you."

Raven paused at his words. 

She hesitated before she opened her mouth, "Uncle said that?"

"Yes, he did." Christopher admitted, a look of embarrassment crossed over his face as if he were feeling ashamed to be related to the man who raised them both. "But I don't care."

Raven quickly turned to him, locking eyes with his own. She had to stop him. She knew the consequences. They both did. Christopher could get whipped for his actions. He could get hurt for merely disobeying Uncle's orders. Raven couldn't let him go through with this. Even if it made her heart feel warm at the thought of him going to her games, of playing against him and having fun.

"Christopher—"

"No." He interrupted. "We both know that I understand the consequences better than anyone."

"Which is why you shouldn't—"

"But I would take a hundred whippings if it means that you are happy and safe." He smiled down at her, a gentle smile so unlike his father's own fake one. "Because you are my family, Raven."

"I.."

She couldn't say it.

Why was it so hard to say it?

"I know." Christopher gently reached out and caressed the top of her head. "Me too."

I love you, she wished to say.

I love you too, he wanted to say back.

But it was hard. It was always harder to say to anyone. The two of them grew up without those words being used around the house. Only exchanged between Uncle Nicholas and Aunt Eleanor. Even then, they would mumble it so quietly as if they were sacred words spoken between them. Words not worthy enough for their children or the runt they took in.

How could they say it? Raven didn't know. And neither did Christopher. Who could know? Were the words even worth it? Would they feel different if they said them? If they mattered that much to another person? Raven couldn't even say it to Christopher. To her older brother who tried to protect her for nearly all his life.

"Christopher.."

"Mhmm?" He hummed.

Raven tightened her grip on the bar, "Uncle's coming to Hogwarts."

"I know." He replied, and at the exact same time, the moon decided to make itself known—shining a light so bright against the two of them that Raven could finally see her brother's bruised skin. He had a matching black eyes spouting his right eye just like her, and blood stained nose. His knuckles looked like her, if not worse with the way they weren't scabbed over.

"Christopher.." Raven gasped, her eyes glistened in the moonlight. She reached out to him, carefully touching his black eye. "What happened?"

"Like I said, Raven. I would take a hundred whippings if it means that you are happy and safe." Christopher said as if that explained everything. Raven gave the boy a pleading look, which caused him to sigh. "Listen, Dray and I talked. He agreed to say that he attacked first and tried to harm you and I just jumped to your aid."

"Christopher, I can't let you do that!" Raven exclaimed, her voice broke as she tried to blink away the growing tears.

"It's already done." Christopher smiled, a kind and gentle crooked grin—so unlike the one his father usually sprouted, or tried to. "Uncle Severus agreed to lie as well."

"But I— I— I don't understand." Raven stuttered, her eyes wide. "Why are you doing this?"

"None of us want to see you get whipped." Christopher said softly, his words echoed inside of her ears. "At least, Draco and I don't. I don't know why Uncle Sevie agreed. Honestly, I just think he doesn't want you to get punished for defending yourself."

"I'm sorry for being such a burden." Raven hid her face. "I should have c— controlled myself better."

"Don't." Christopher said, placing a hand on her shoulder. He poked her nose. "Raven, if anything, I expected this to happen. They've been bullying you for over a year already. You were bound to break."

"That's not why I.."

"Blood." That voice. It was the same voice from early. The same, eerily sounding whisper. "I smell blood. Let me rip you."

"Raven?" Christopher called out to her, but the girl paid him no mind. It was as if she were in a trance. She needed to see where this voice led. She was too far to hear it clearer. She needed to get closer, so she quickly walked towards the entrance of the tower and opened the hatched. She went down the ladder, making her way as quick as she could.

She could barely hear Christopher call out to her as she rushed away. She needed to search. Everything in her wanted to search for this voiced. It felt too overpowering not to. She jumped off the rest of the way when she was only a few steps away from the floor and attached herself to the nearest wall. She could hear the voice, muffled, but still, loud in her ears.

"Let me kill you." It echoed down the hall. Raven ran after it, hearing herself getting closer and closer to the source of the sound as she followed the wall.

"Kill. Kill. Kill." It echoed, and suddenly, Raven knocked into someone.

"Rosier!" He shouted—Harry Potter, glared, and yet it didn't hold the usual daggers in his gaze before he stood up, his face vacant of his usual glasses. Raven moved to follow his motions but paused at the gentle glint on the ground. She looked, and sighed at the sight. Potter's glasses were on the floor. She reached out, carefully holding them in her hands, and examined them. Thankfully, they weren't broken this time. "Give me those!"

He snatched back his glasses and placed them on his face once more. They were slightly crooked, and Raven could see the small speck of dirty he had on them from the fall. Guilt spread through her, she reached out and grabbed his glasses from his face.

"Excuse me, Potter, but this is bugging me." She carefully cleaned his glasses using her rob.

"I don't—" He was speechless. No one ever really grabbed his glasses, except Hermione to clean them if she saw that they were dirty. "What—"

"Here you go." Raven returned his glasses to his face, carefully placing them onto his nose once more, fixing the crookedness. "Much better."

"Thank you.." Harry began, but as soon as his vision cleared, his eyes widened. "What happened?"

Raven pointed at her face, "Oh this? Malfoy and I got into a little scuffle. "

"Don't worry, you should see the other guy." Raven couldn't help but think Harry's gaze held nothing but worry inside of them as he observed her face. It was as if he too knew how badly a black eye ached.

"I'm not worried!" Harry exclaimed—his voice going higher pitched at his lie.

"Whatever you say, Potter." Raven moved to leave. She shouldn't be caught with him. She was probably hallucinating the voice anyways. It must be her lack of sleep.

"Wait—" Harry grabbed her right hand. He hesitated for a moment, "Did you hear it too?"

Raven stiffened before she turned back to the boy, "You heard it too? The voice?"

"I wouldn't be asking if I didn't hear it." Harry explained, a little sass in his voice. Raven tugged her hand away.

"No need for the sass, Potter." Raven rubbed her sore wrist. Christopher did all he could for her, but that didn't mean it wouldn't be sore. "I might just deny hearing the voice if anyone asks."

"You wouldn't dare." He glared.

She sighed, "You're right. I wouldn't. At least, not to you. Cedric, maybe."

"What about Hermione?" Harry questioned. Raven stiffened at his words. How did he know about.. No one was supposed to know. They weren't supposed to be friends. They can't be. It was just a challenge. A meaningless challenge.

Raven had to remain calm, "What about her?"

"I heard your friends now." Harry stated.

"We are not friends." Raven argued, defensively. The pit inside of her stomach growing with fear at the mention of the word friends. "I couldn't care less about her."

"About who?" A voice called out, a familiar soft spoken voice that belonged to the girl who forever lived in Raven's sketchbook. The red haired girl felt her cheeks heat up at the sight of the girl and her beautiful bushy hair, and the way it reached past her shoulder blades. Raven could almost imagine caressing her fingers through it. At least, in a way that didn't hurt, if that existed.

"About you, Granger." Raven answered before Harry could even open his mouth. "I couldn't care less about you."

"Whatever helps you sleep at night, Rosier." Hermione answered back, "We both know that you're a big softy in the inside."

"What—" Raven stammered, stepping forward into the light. "I am not a softy."

"Oh my god," Hermione exclaimed, a gasp leaving her lips at the sight of Raven's face.

"Bloody hell." Ron spoke up, making his presence known for the first time. Raven hadn't even realized that he was beside Hermione. The girl was the only thing she saw.

"I'm fine," Raven said instinctively. She turned to Potter meeting his gaze. "Now, about the voice.."

"Voice? What voice?" Hermione exclaimed.

Footsteps were heard leading to them, loud and hurried as they ran closer and closer to the four students second years. Raven moved before she even realized what she was doing. She stepped in front of Harry Potter and his friends—in front of Hermione with a protective hand blocking them, while the other held her wand.

She's been in Hogwarts long enough to know that anything involving Potter and his friends means troubles. They did fight a troll last year and stole the Slytherin cub right from under them.

The steps were getting closer and closer, sounding as if they were walking beside Raven's ears. But she held her ground. Potter reached for his wand as well, holding it in his surprisingly steady hands. Hands, like Raven, knew the true extent of fear and evil. And something as simple as footsteps were not something the two feared.

"Mari!" A voice shouted.

Raven sighed in relief, her wand falling to her side at the sound of his voice. "Toph, you scared me half to death."

"You ran off!" Christopher argued. He paused at the sight before him—or rather, the people behind Raven. He pointed at the trio, "What is this about?"

Raven stiffened, "Nothing. Let's go."

Raven walked over to her cousin, grabbing a hold of his hand to drag him away from the trio. She could feel their burning gaze on her back, but she continued on. She didn't want anyone to catch her talking to them as if they were friends when they most certainly weren't.

(Even if some part of her longed to be.)

"No." He tugged his hand away. "Are they bothering you?"

"If anyone is bothering us, it's you." Ron spoke up, crossing his arms over his chest as he looked down at Christopher. Raven watched with guilt stricken eyes as her cousin's face scrunched up at the sight of the red haired boy.

"What was that, Weasley?" Christopher took a step forward.

Raven ran in front of him, placing a hand on his chest to push him back. "Leave him be, Christopher. Let's just go."

"No, he insulted me." He didn't glance at Raven as he spat his words. The Rosier couldn't help but see her Uncle in his eyes. "No one insults me. He's a blood traitor. He should know his place."

"What do you know about places?" Hermione spoke up. "Don't you just throw money at everything? At least Ron works hard for everything he has. And what do you do? Call mommy and daddy?"

Christopher's glare turned into daggers. Raven could feel the way he tensed in her hold. "What did you say, mud—"

Raven shoved him back, "Enough!"

Raven's words echoed down the empty hallway. Christopher froze in her hold before he looked down at his cousin, her hand bundled up in his shirt. Hermione and the others watched as they spoke, hearing their whispers as if they were right beside them.

"Please, Toph." Raven pleaded—her heart ached for his true kind nature instead of the act he was displaying. "No one is around. Just stop."

"Raven—"

"Please." Raven begged. Her eyes glistened over with tears. "They won't tell. I swear it. It's okay, so can you please give me my brother back?"

Christopher sighed before he placed a hand on her shoulder, "Alright. Whatever you want."

"Thank you." Raven fixed her posture, forcing the mask that takes refuge on her face to appear once more as she turns to face the trio. "Now, we were talking about that voice?"

"What just happened?" Ronald leaned into Harry, a whisper leaving his lips.

Harry leaned too, "I have no idea."

"What's going on?" Christopher asked, his presences looking as if a predator behind its prey as he took safe refuge behind Raven. Hermione couldn't help but furrow her eyebrows at the boy, who seemed all too different in this single moment. He didn't hold his head up high like he did a few seconds ago, instead its tilted looking more ashamed than anything else. His eyes held a pool of.. pain inside them that almost felt too overwhelming for Hermione to bare. So, she turned away, not looking at the boy but instead at his cousin whose gentle sapphire eyes instantly found her own.  "You ran off when we were talking. Is it because of that.. voice?"

"Yes." Raven nodded, not having the heart to look away from Hermione.

Christopher furrows his eyebrows before he reached out and touched her forehead, "Are you sure you're alright, Mari? Did Malfoy hit you too hard?"

Hermione's eyes widened at the name.

"I'm fine, Toph!" Raven exclaimed before she pointed at Harry. "Besides, Potter heard the voice, too, so I'm not the only one that's crazy."

"I am not crazy!" Harry argued.

Ron winced, "Are you sure, mate? I— I mean, you're hearing a voice."

"And you're 12 and scared of bloody spiders!" Harry glared at Ron, which caused Raven to giggle under her breath—a perfect one despite the need to laugh."See even Rosier find it's funny!"

"Your scared of spiders?" Raven questioned.

"Harry!" Ron exclaimed, a flush to his tone as he avoided eye contact with the Rosier. "You promised you wouldn't say anything!"

"That was before you called me crazy." Harry huffed.

"Bloody Weasley's scared of spider!" Christopher snickered, a laugh leaving his lips. Raven didn't spare her cousin a glance.

"I wouldn't be talking, Toph." Raven stated under her breath, though, they could all hear her words loud and clear with the way the hallway echoed. "You're scared of them too."

"Raven!" Christopher exclaimed, his ears burning red at her words.

"Alright, enough!" Hermione hit Harry's shoulder. "Stop teasing him."

"Ow!" Harry cried out, holding his shoulder. He gestured to Ron, "Why do I get hit and he doesn't?!"

"Now, you were saying something about a voice?" Hermione brought the conversation back on track, changing the subject. Raven couldn't help the sour taste of green that filled up her stomach at the girls action. She had protected Ron, even from Harry's teasing.

Raven scoffed, fighting the urge to cross her arms over her chest as the discussion began. "I heard it in my common room. Then, a few moments ago with Christopher. That's why I ran down here. I was trying to follow it."

Hermione glanced over at her friend, "What about you, Harry?"

"I heard it first in Lockhart's office," Harry began to explain. "And then again just.."

"It's time."

Harry and Raven stiffened at the sound of the voice echoing inside of their ears. The Boy Who Lived glanced at Raven, locking eyes with her fear filled ones and found that they mirrored his own. And in this lighting, it was almost as if they were looking into the same eyes.

"Why did he stop talking?" Christopher whispered, his voice cracking at the fear inside of it. Raven could barely hear him, all she could hear was the whisper.

"It's moving." Harry stated.

Raven gulped, sharing one more glance with Harry before she turned to her cousin, "We think it's going to kill."

"Kill?!" Christopher and Ronald exclaimed.

Harry ran first, parting between his two friends as he ran down the hallway. Hermione and Ronald's quickly followed after him. Raven didn't waste a second to run along side Harry. The boy had one mission, and that was to stop whatever that voice was. Raven couldn't help the want to stay by his side and help him.

It was a pitiful dream. One that she knew would probably fizzle out before it even started. But she always wanted to be his friend. The boy who lived friends with the girl who parents killed his own. That would be the story of a lifetime, and yet she didn't care about any of that. She wanted to be friends with the boy who asked her about her book on that first day last year. A day that seemed so far away from her reach.

But fate was always cruel to Raven.

She knew that she would never be able to be friends with The Boy Who Lived. With.. Harry Potter, the clumsy boy who broke his glasses every few weeks. But oh, how she wanted to be.

"Harry, wait!" Hermione called out, her footsteps echoing in the silent hall as they ran after the two of them. "Not so fast!"

Raven glanced behind her, seeing Christopher and Ron running side by side merely a few inches away from Harry and Raven, while Hermione was lagging behind. And so, Raven acted. Only because she couldn't leave anyone behind in case they got attacked, not because she longed to be near the girl. No way.

She slowed down her pace and matched her's with Hermiones, remaining by the girls side. And despite how hard her heart was racing from the running, it never felt so calm. Hermione had that effect on her, perhaps because Raven was always inspired by her words. Maybe that affected traveled to her heart as well.

"You don't have to do this, Raven." Hermione gasped out—her words sounding huffy as her feet dug into the ground. "I'll catch up."

"Don't read too much into this, Granger." Raven argued. "My feet just got tired."

"Right," Hermione felt a smile tug up onto her lips at the way Raven's ears burned red. "Your feet.."

Another point for me, Hermione thought.

Raven didn't reply after that. She just kept a steady pace beside Hermione so that the muggle born wouldn't fall behind. She glanced ahead, observing how Christopher and Ron looked to be racing each other more than follow Harry. Raven fought the urge to roll her eyes, knowing how unladylike that action was.

The five of them continued on before Harry had suddenly stopped, causing Christopher and Ron stumbled before gripping onto to each other as to not fall. Raven tried to fight the smile that threatened to tug onto her lips at the face the two made, but she failed—forcing it to rest against her lips in such an unfamiliar way.

"You have a cute smile." Hermione whispered. Raven felt her ears burn.

"W— W— What?" Raven stuttered.

"And I'm going to add that to our points." Hermione smirked smugly as she looked up at Raven. The Rosier girl was left dumbfounded by her words.

"What?" Raven furrowed her eyebrows. "Why? That doesn't count."

"Say's who?" Hermione shrugged before she moved to follow after Harry and the boys as they walked down the hall. "I was the one who made the point system after all."

"You're biased!" Raven exclaimed.

Hermione gave her a look, "I'm the biased one between the two of us?"

"I.. uhh—" Raven stammered.

"Strange.." Harry's words broke the two out of their banter. Raven and Hermione quickly jogged over to the three boys, their eyes widened at the sight before them.

"I've never seen spiders act like that before." Christopher whispered, taking a step back into Ron at the sight of them.

"I don't like spiders." Ron grabbed onto Christopher's robs and for once, the pureblood didn't swat the boy away at the action. If anything, he almost looked grateful.

The spider's were crawling in a straight line, leading up to a crack in the window. They were following after one another, behaving almost domestic with the way they looked to be obeying orders of some sort. Raven couldn't believe the sight, and by the look on Hermione's face, she couldn't either.

A look of fear went over the muggleborn face. And Raven felt her hand move before she could stop it—brushing her knuckles against the brown haired girl soft ones. Hermione flinched at the touch before she turned to Raven, but the Rosier girl wasn't sparing her a glance, forcing her eyes to remain on the spiders to hide the slight rose tint of her cheeks.

Raven wasn't strong enough—nor brave enough to outright take Hermione's hand in her own. But the brown haired girl was. She hesitated for a moment before she interlaced their fingers, giving Raven a gentle squeeze.

"If you wanted to hold my hand," Hermione whispered, "You could have just said so."

"You're delusional, Granger." Raven scoffed.

"If I'm so delusional, why haven't you let go?" Hermione whispered. Raven remained quiet, not having any words to say in return. "Looks like I'm on a winning streak tonight. I already have four points, including the one just now. You need to start getting some points or else you going to lose."

"Malfoy and I fought earlier today so, it seems like I got a point now, don't I?" Raven stated, her eyes narrowing at Hermione. The brown haired girl tilted her head.

"Depends," She started. "Why did you fight?"

Raven stiffened for a moment before she looked away, "He was being annoying."

"Are you sure it was nothing else?" Hermione questioned; eyes burning into the side of her face. "You don't seem like the type to fight someone just because they're annoying."

"Well I am a Rosier, Sweet Cheeks." Raven argued, her voice speaking soft in comparison to the weight they held. "It runs in my blood."

"And yet, you're still holding my hand." Hermione smirked.

Raven glared, "I will take my hand back."

Hermione tightened her grip; not like Raven would ever let her go. It felt too much to say that their hands were made for each other. Raven's ridged fingers, contrasted Hermione's soft skin. They were the exact opposite of one another and yet, their hands fit almost perfectly. Besides the sweat that began to built up in Ravens.

"What's that?" Ron gasped as he looked down on the ground. Christopher followed his gaze before he looked up, a gasp leaving his lips.

"Look up, idiot!" Christopher, despite his hard words, spoke soft, fearful at the sight before him.

"The Chamber of Secrets has been opened. Enemies of the heir, beware!" Hermione read the writing on the wall, her hand still enclosed in Ravens. Despite her calm voice, Raven could feel the slight tremble in her fingertips giving away her true feelings about the sight. She squeezed her hand, trying to offer some sort of comfort. "It's written in.. blood."

"Great observation, Granger." Christopher spat.

Raven gave him a look, "Speaking of observations, fancy telling me why you and Ronald are still holding onto each other like a bunch of scary cats over a few little spiders."

At her words, the two boys sprang apart. Christopher wiped his hand over his robes as he cringed. Rons cheeks held that familiar red that seemed to appear onto Ravens more time than she would like this year.

"We shall never speak of this." Christopher breathed, his words flowing from deep within his heart—trying so desperately to hide the fear in his voice. Raven knew the true extent of that fear. If his father heard about his actions, he would surely be punished.

Just like Raven would be for holding hands with a muggle born.

(She still didn't pull away.)

"Never." Ron shivered.

"Oh no.." Harry gasped.

Hermione turned to the boy, watching as he walked away from the group and towards the blood written wall. "What is it, Harry?"

"It's Filches cat." Harry stated. Hermione's grip almost became bruising with how tight she was squeezing Ravens. A gasp left the group as the sight finally filled their eyes. The black cat was strung beside the words for everyone to see. The blood of the poor cat had been dripping down its body with each second that passed. "It's Mrs. Norris."

Whispers filled the halls.

And suddenly, they were not alone.

It didn't take long for the accusations to start.

"It was Rosier!"

"Rosier did it!"

"The Rosier scum has cursed us all!"

"Rotten Rosier killed Mrs. Norris!"

"Rosier!"

"Rosier!"

"Rosier!"

A hand squeezing hers brought her back to reality. Hermione was by her side, trying to bring her comfort as the words flew around the room. As more and more people began to shout for her expulsion, imprisonment, while Hermione stayed put. Raven glanced down at the girl and saw how she just sent her a crooked smile—her buck teeth showing for a glimpse as they scraped against her lips.

And Raven felt as if she could handle a thousand words if it meant that Hermione could smile at her like that again.

"What's going on here?" The Professor's voice echoed throughout the hallway, silencing the conversation. "Go on, make way, make way."

Harry shared a look with Raven, and it was as if the two knew exactly what was about to happen. A curse that would follow them for the rest of their years at Hogwarts, hanging over them as they tried to live in peace.

"Potter.." Mr. Filch groaned. "What are you.."

His eyes trailed up towards the back of Harry's head, catching the sight of his beloved cat hung up on display for everyone to see. His eyes widened at the sight, the air catching in his lungs. Raven couldn't stop the pity that flooded her at the growing tears in his eyes. "Mrs. Norris?"

He glanced back down at Harry, locking eyes with the boys fearful ones. And Raven knew what would happen next would not end well.

"You've murdered my cat." Mr. Filches trembled at his own words as he tried to fight back the tears that threatened to escape.

"No." Harry shook his head. "No."

"I'll kill ya." Mr. Filch stated calmly before he reached out and grabbed Harry's robs with his hand, tugging him forward. "I'LL KILL YA!"

She didn't know how the explain the protectiveness that overcame her in that moment, but all she knew was that she had to act. Raven dropped Hermione's hand—missing the warmth almost immediately, before she rushed over to the two, stepping between them. She tugged the man's hand away from Harry's robs before she pushed the boy back behind her.

"Professor," Raven tried to reason with him. "It wasn't Potter! He's telling the truth!"

His eyes darken for a moment before he lifts up his cane, "So, it was you then, Rosier! You murdered my cat!"

Raven braced herself for the impact as the cane came striking down. She couldn't hear the shouts of her friends as they witness the man's act, nor could she see the way her cousins rushed forward to stop him. She couldn't even feel how Harry tried to pull her away. All she knew was that he had to protect Potter. Even if it hurt.

"That's enough!" Her Godfather shouted.

Raven flinched at his tone, but lifted her head and saw the man standing between them and Mr. Filch. His hand held the cane in a bruising grip, while his eyes were blacked as coal at the sight of the man in front of him. He shoved the cane back, pushing the professor back as well before he turned to the crowd.

"Now, what's going on here?!" He demanded answers. Someone had pointed to the wall. "Oh dear lord..."

"You had no right, Severus!" Mr. Filch stood up and ran over to her Godfather, anger in his eyes.

"Argus!" The headmasters voice called out in warning. The crowd parted for the man as he lead his fellow teachers beside him. "Argus, I.."

His voice trailed off at the sight of the wall. His face turning as pale as a ghost. "Everyone.. will proceed to the dormitories immediately."

Everyone began to move, even Harry and Raven to obey the headmasters orders. But his voice called out to them again, "Everyone except.."

He pointed at the four of them. Raven, Harry, Hermione, and Ronald. "You four."

The headmaster glanced at Christopher, "And Mr. Flint, You're father is in my office awaiting your punishment. Go and wait with him. Ms. Rosier and I will be up there in a few moments."

It was as if an ice bucket splashed over the two purebloods at the mention of the minister—of the man of their nightmares. Both had forgotten of his enviable arrive with everything that occurred. What if he had arrived with the teachers and witness Raven and Hermione holding hands? He'd have smacked her right then and there for her actions. 

Oh no, this was bad. This was very bad indeed. Christopher will have to be alone with the man for a few moments. She could only imagine the terror he felt at that thought. She glanced over at her cousin and saw the look of utter despair on his face before it flashed over as if it weren't there.

"Of course, Headmaster." Christopher replied, meekly. He followed the crowd with their departure. "I'll be on my way."

"She's not dead, Argus." Dumbledore stated, his word not wavering in the slightest. "She has been petrified."

"Ah, thought so. So unlucky I wasn't there." Lockhart spoke up, causing Raven to ball her hand into a fist at his words. "I know exactly the counter—curse that could've spared her."

"Liar." Raven gritted under her breathe, starring daggers into Lockhart's head.

"But how she has been petrified, I cannot say." Dumbledore concluded.

Mr. Filch scoffed before gesturing to Raven and Harry. "Ask them. One of them has done it. I bet they conspired with each other and wrote on the message on the wall."

"It's not true, sir. I swear!" Harry exclaimed, pleading with the headmaster to hear him. Raven didn't even bother to try. She knew that no matter what she said, the man wouldn't listen to her. She would only be seen as the Rosier's daughter. Harry glanced over at Raven, but she avoided everyone's gaze. "I never touched Mrs. Norris, and I reckon.. Raven hasn't either."

Raven lifted up her head at the sound of her name being spilled out of Potter's lips. He was defending her? Why?

"Rubbish." Mr. Filch spat.

"If I might, headmaster?" Her Godfather spoke up, "Perhaps Potter and his friends were simply at the wrong place at the wrong time. I know for certain that Ms. Rosier was at the infirmary earlier today. She wasn't allowed at dinner either for her earlier fight with Mr. Malfoy."

Raven sighed, relief filling her at words of her Godfather. Even now, in front of his peers, he was trying to protect her. Her heart warmth at the action. It almost felt like something a father would do; should do.

"However," He continued, glancing between the Golden Trio as he made his way towards them. His foot's clacking against the floor with each step he took. "...the circumstances are suspicious. I, for one, don't recall seeing Potter at dinner."

"I'm afraid that's my doing, Severus." Lockhart spoke up. Raven clenched her jaw at the sound of his voice. "You see, Harry was helping me answer my fan mail. Now, last I heard, Ms. Rosier should have been in her common room with the rest of her quidditch team. Isn't it tradition for the team to celebrate after tryouts?"

"Like I said, she was in the infirmary." Her Godfather spat at the man—his teeth grinding against each other.

"For the entire day?" Lockhart questioned. He pointed behind him to the empty hall. "Malfoy was amongst the group of students and his injuries were far greater than hers, and yet, he was released a few hours ago. Are you sure you're not being biased right now with the relationship between the two of you?"

"Watch yourself!" Her Godfather snapped.

Professor McGonagall stepped forward, placing her hands on her Godfather's shoulders to halt him from getting any closer. "Calm yourself, Severus."

Raven didn't miss the way the Golden Trio glanced at each other at the word that left Lockhart's lips: relationship. She hadn't wanted anyone to know. At least, anyone she didn't tell. And yet, as she thought about it, her godfather had to have told the staff of their past. If only to seem as if he were not being biased towards her or showed blatant favoritism.

Raven knew that if she thought hard enough she could remember all those times fellow staff members saw them talking or eating breakfast with one another. He had to explain or else it would seem.. inappropriate.

"I had only meant to take a walk to clear my head." Raven explained. Despite the fact that she held her head high, her voice sounded petite, timid. "You can ask Potter! I bumped into him. We didn't do this. I didn't do this."

Raven didn't dare bring up Christopher. She hadn't wanted the boy to get into anymore trouble than he already was because of her. She just hoped that the others would follow her lead.

"How can we be certain?" Lockhart argued. He took a few steps towards Raven—ignoring her Uncle's burning gaze into his back. "This is how it started with your parents after all. The lies, and the secrecy, how do we know that your not following in their footsteps—"

"Do not disrespect my student, Lockhart." Madame Sprout spoke up before she placed herself between Raven and the man. "Hufflepuffs are known for their honesty. If she says that she was taking a walk, then she was. Do not twist her words around to fit your story."

"Fit my story?" Lockhart scoffed. Her crossed his arms over his chest, a charming smirk rising onto his face as if it were his last defense. "Open your eyes, Pomona. She's a Rosier, that should be reason enough to suspect her."

"Open my eyes?" Madame Sprout balled her hand into a fist. "Raven Rosier has done nothing but exceed my expectations since she arrived in my house. She is a kind and caring individual who does not hesitate to put others needs before her own like a true Hufflepuff. Don't you dare disrespect her because of your bruised ego."

"Professor, please, it's fine." Raven reached out before her hand dropped to her side. She nearly touched her head of houses rob. She surely would have been punished if she had. She glanced at Lockhart, eyes narrowing at the sight of the man before her.

"She's right." Hermione interrupted, forcing everyone's gaze onto her. "Ron and I went looking for Harry, Professor, after he failed to show up to dinner. That's when we saw him with Raven. We had just found them when Harry said.."

Raven and Hermione glanced over at Harry, locking their gaze on his face. Though, Raven wasn't surprised at the fact that the boy looked eyes with Hermione instead of hers. Raven would have done the same if it meant that she could gaze into the girls eyes without looking weird. Ya know, to memorize them so that they could be burned into her sketchbook? Ron glanced between the two of them, a scared and guilt ridden look in his eyes.

"Yes, Miss Granger?" Her Godfather urged.

And without breaking eye contact with Granger, Harry spoke, "When I said I wasn't hungry."

The two of them turned back to her Godfather, and Harry locked eyes with the man. "We were walking Raven back to her common room when we found Mrs. Norris."

"Innocent until proven guilty, Severus." Dumbledore stated as soon as Snape turned his gaze back to the man. Raven knew that it wouldn't be enough to satisfy her Godfathers suspicions.

"My cat has been petrified." Professor Filch spoke up, his voice trembling with rage. "I want to see some punishment!"

Raven flinched at the loudness of his tone, not being able to hide the fear that swam in her eyes. She tensed up, clenching her jaw to force her mask to stay on. She couldn't afford any more slip ups.

"We will be able to cure her, Argus." Dumbledore reassured the trembling man. "As I understand it, Madame Sprout has a very healthy growth of Mandrake. When matured, a potion will be made which will revive Mrs. Norris. And in the meantime, I strongly recommend caution.. to all."

Dumbledore looked at the children, "You're dismissed, students."

Raven, Hermione, Ronald, and Harry did not think twice before moving to leave. They didn't want to the minds of the teachers to change while they were still thinking of their interaction, especially because they had all lied.

"Young Rosier," Raven froze at Dumbledore's voice calling out to her. "Please go to my office. Your Uncle is awaiting your arrival."

It almost slipped her mind.

Uncle Nicholas is here.

"Yes, sir."

✦✦✦✦✦✦

After.

After everyone had gone, leaving Raven all alone as she walked towards her certain doom that took refuge in Dumbledore's office, she couldn't shake the fear that surround her. It manifested its home inside of her bones, under her skin as it buzzed awake and back to life like it had never been forgotten. But it had been.

Raven had forgotten how truly terrified it felt to be around her Uncle Nicholas. The man had evaded her thoughts, and she lived on in spite of what he wanted her to be. She tried out for the Hufflepuff team today and made it. She was friends with a muggle born. She was a Hufflepuff and for once, the name didn't bring shame onto her very soul.

It warmth her.

She had friends, and she was happy. She was getting there at least..

And now, it was all going to be ruined, wasn't it? Destroyed before she ever had a chance to enjoy it. It was her own fault. She knew that, but still.. couldn't she selfishly want it to last for a little bit longer? Or was that too much for the universe to bear.

Raven Rosier—the last living monster of her kind, asks the universe if she could live on in her happiness for a little while longer. She could imagine the wizarding world's response. How selfish she was being considering she was alive where her parents victims were not. How cruel and thoughtless she grew up to be. Shouldn't she already be happy? Is this what it felt like?

If so, Uncle Nicholas would snatch it away from her without a second glance. He did not care for her happiness, only if she embarrassed him or not. Either way, Raven knew she would face some sort of punishment today. Christopher might have softened the blow, but she was still getting punched. It was inevitable, after all.

She just hoped that it didn't add any more scars to her growing collection.

"Raven!" A distance voice called out to her as she neared Dumbledore's door. The red haired girl halted at the sound—the voice that captivated her ears ever since she was blessed to have heard it. She could already picture her bushy brown hair, "Wait!"

Despite everything in her screaming not to, she didn't think she could ever fight against the wants of Hermione Granger if she tried. She turned to face the girl, pulling her hand away from the door and awaiting the girls arrival. She had been planning on knocking since Dumbledore did not give her the password. She didn't blame him.

It didn't take long before the muggle born appeared before her, out of breath from running after Raven. The red haired girl felt her gaze soften at the sight of Hermione's tinted red cheeks. She truly looked so breathtaking.

Or in Hermione's previous words, cute.

No. Adorable, was more like it.

"What is it, Granger?" Raven sighed—trying not to give away the true extent of how her heart began to calm just at the sight of the girl.

"Are you.." Hermione gasped her air, breathing heavily as she tried to gain the oxygen back into her lungs. "Are you okay?"

"What?" Raven scoffed. "Yeah, I'm fine."

"Do you even realize how much you've been saying that today?" Hermione stated. Her eyes held nothing but concern in them. "I'm starting to think that you actually believe it."

"It's because I am fine—"

Hermione interrupted, "No. You're not. Honestly, I think you spent a long time pretending that you are."

Raven's eyes widened at her words.

"I— I— I don't—"

"I just wanted to tell you that you don't have to pretend around me." Hermione said. She brushed a hair behind her ear. "I— I umm.. I don't want us to be those kind of mates that pretend. Ya know?"

Raven felt her eyes track Hermione's gentle browns ones at her words, peering into them like Hermione had been doing to her for weeks. She wanted to see Hermione, see the girl that no one else saw inside. And so, she looked.

And all she saw was sincerity looking back.

With specks of concern.

Raven sighed, shifting the weight of her feet as she forced the eye contact to remain between the two of them. She felt her mouth open, hesitating as she tries to find the right words to say.

"No." Raven settled for. "I'm not okay. I'm sorry, that's all I can give you right now."

She didn't know how she could begin to describe how guilty she felt about what she had done to Malfoy. A guilt so deep, so big that she didn't know how to bear it alone. Christopher took some of the burden off of her shoulders, but it was still heavy. Raven was drowning in it.

How could she explain that?

"It's enough." Hermione reached out and carefully placed her hand on Raven's shoulder. For once, Raven didn't find herself wanting to shrug it off. "You don't have to tell me anything, Raven. I just don't want you to pretend or act or lie and say that you're okay."

"I'll keep that in mind." Raven smiled—a small genuine tug settled against her lips. The red haired girl felt herself getting lost in Hermione gaze as the two starred longer into each other's eyes.

"Raven.." Hermione breathe.

Raven hummed. "Mhmm."

"Are we having a starring contest?" Hermione asked, her eyebrows furrowed and yet, Raven just noticed that the girl hadn't blinked once.

"What's a starring contest?" Raven asked, looking more like a lost puppy than a monster. Hermione gapped at her words, eyes widened in disbelief.

"Haha! You're funny, Raven. I almost believed you for a second there—" Hermione shut her mouth at the sight before her. Raven was not laughing beside her and was merely looking at Hermione. The brown haired girl's eyes widened once again, disbelief filled her expression. "You don't know what a starring contest is?"

"No.." Raven trailed off before her gaze launched down to her hands. She perked up at the sight up them before she pulled out her fist, "But I do know what a fist bump is! I can teach it to you!"

Raven held out her fist. Hermione paused for a second at the brightness of her eyes before she mimicked the motion, and tapped their fist together. Raven watched her do the action with big eyes.

"I already know what a fist bump is, Raven." Hermione explained. A playful smirk tugged up and onto her lips. "I am known to be a know it all."

"Right." Raven tried not to act disappointed by the fact. "You are all knowing."

"Exactly." Hermione nodded, but she paused for a moment. "Raven, I have a question."

"And I have an answer." Raven replied. Hermione tilted her head at the girl. Raven felt her ears burn at her word. "Sorry, it's something Cedric would say whenever I had a question. Proceed."

"Why.." Hermione hesitated for a moment as if she wasn't sure if she should ask this question outright. "Why did you fight Malfoy?"

"I already told you." Raven furrowed her eyebrows. "He was being annoying."

"I don't believe that." Hermione inhaled deeply.

Raven glanced away from her, feeling her defensives come up. "I don't care what you believe. It's the truth."

"You're lying." Hermione burned her gaze into the side of Raven's face before she stepped in front of the girls view, "I think you fought Malfoy because he called me a mud—"

"Don't you dare say that word." Raven gritted her teeth, her eyes shutting. "Please, don't ever say that word."

"Another point for me." Hermione said. She tilted her head before she crossed her arms over her chest. "You're making this really easy, ya know that? I already have six points. Seven, if you include your words just now. How many do you have again?"

"Granger.." Raven did not know why she said her name—and yet, it sounded like a plea left her lips.

"I know." Hermione seemed to know what she meant. "I'll talk to him."

Raven's eyes shot opened, "What? No. No! It's fine, Granger. I don't need you to do that."

"Of course, I will." Hermione placed her hands on Raven's shoulders, "If we're gonna be friends, that means I have to stick up for you. How can I call myself a Gryffindor if I let you take the fall for this when all you were doing was defending me?"

Raven calm heart began to beat rapidly at Hermione's words, not being able to handle the way they filled her with warmth and froze over her body—filling it with fear.

"Hermione, don't—"

"Raven."

Raven instantly tensed up at the sound of his voice echoing into her ears. Her hold on Hermione's wrist tightened for a moment before she quickly pushed herself out of her touch and faced her Uncle. His coal black eyes burned into her own. Raven could see the rage that pooled inside of them at the sight of her. A rage that only a certain few can separate from his fake smiles.

"Who is this?" He asked—his minister voice coming out as he acknowledged the girl behind Raven. Though, by the twitch in his eyebrow, Raven knew that Uncle Nicholas knew exactly who she was.

He remembered.

Hermione stepped forward; "Hermione Granger, sir. I don't know if you recall but we already met before in Diagon Alley."

"Miss. Granger," He charmed, a voice so unlike his own and smile to match. "Of course. Of course. Forgive me, it must have slipped my mind. I must apologize for my poor choice of words during our first meeting. I was simply trying to joke amongst the new generation. Though, my children tell me that I'm far too old now and my jokes would come off as more offensive if not, rude. I apologize for that. Now, how are you, my dear?"

"I— Umm, thank you, Mr. Minister." Hermione stammered, being taken by surprise at his words. And yet, when she sent the man a smile, it didn't hold the same glow that it usually did. "I am doing fine."

"So, are you just dropping off my beloved Raven?" He questioned, placing a hand on Raven's shoulder before he forced her to turn around and face Hermione. "I'm sure she knows her way to Dumbledore's office, considering that shes been getting into a lot of trouble since she arrived at the school."

He slid his hand down her back, grazing her scars. Raven balled her hand into a fist at the action, feeling the pain of the memory as if it just occurred a few moments ago. Raven needs Hermione to look at her. To see the desperation in her eyes and realize that she would be doing more harm than good if she told Uncle Nicholas why she fought Draco.

Please look at me.

Look at me!

"No, sir. I wasn't here to drop her off." Hermione didn't spare Raven a glance as her eyes stayed locked on with her Uncle's as if she were trying to size him up. "I was coming to defend her case. You see, sir, Raven only got into a fight with Malfoy because he had cursed me out."

"I'm sorry?" Uncle Nicholas moved his hand back to her shoulder, giving it a hard squeeze. "Cursed you out?"

"He called me a mudblood." Hermione finished.

And Raven knew she was done for.

The grip Uncle Nicholas had on her shoulder couldn't make it more clear. It was bruising, painful but Raven stayed firm. She will do as she was taught. She will take it, act as if it didn't sting, or make her want to cry out in pain. She was fine.

She is fine.

"I will keep that in mind." Uncle Nicholas charmed the girl—a slithering smile forced its way onto his lips as his eyes grew a shadow over them.

"Thank you, sir." Hermione smiled—a blinding grin that showed her buck teeth. She sent it to her Uncle before warming up Raven's heart at the sight of it, and then she turned to leave, glancing back every few moments as she walked down the hall.

(Damn it. Raven forgave her.)

Hermione had no idea what she had just sentenced Raven to. The horror that Raven was destined to be punished with because of her mistake. She lost herself—lost where she was. Granger was starting to have that effect on her and that scared Raven beyond belief. And yet, Hermione had thought she had helped Raven. She thought that her words, her kind action, would allow Raven some ease of her burden.

But it had done the opposite.

Uncle Nicholas's hand trailed up to the back of her head. As soon as the muggle born was out of sight, he balled up a fist full of her hair and forced her gaze back to his. Raven cried out in pain at the action before she bit her lip, hoping that her uncle did not notice her slip up.

"What was she talking about?" He questioned. His voice deep and dark, just as his eyes. Raven gulped — tears building in her eyes at the sight of them.

"I— I— I—" Raven stammered. He gripped her hair tighter, pulling it as if she weighted nothing.

"Stop fucking stuttering and speak right!" He demanded. His tone held no room for arguments.  Raven exhaled shakingly, trying to gain her bearings. "Hurry up and spit it out!"

Raven whined as he tugged her hair again.

"It was my fault, Father!" Christopher's plead echoed inside of the deserted hallway. Raven's eyes widened at his words, at the lie that left his lips. Uncle glanced over at his son, his grip on Raven's hair still holding.

"Do not make excuse for her, son." He spoke, gritting his teeth before he turned back to Raven and used his other hand to grip her jaw. "A disgrace like her needs to be taught right from wrong. Don't let her drag you down with her. It's not worth it."

"Father, please." Chris begged. "Listen to me."

"No, I've heard enough." He pushed his son aside as he tightened his bruising grip onto Raven's jaw as if his intent was to break it with his own hand. Raven tried to push herself away from his hold, struggling against him. But his grip was relentless, strong.

"Master Flint!" A voice called out, one that Raven had put in the infirmary earlier that day. "Christopher is telling the truth! It's his fault that this is happening!"

Her Uncle released his harsh grip on Raven, causing the girl to crumbled to the floor. She gripped the back of her head, ignoring the sting that was left in its wake. He turned to the two boys, expectingly. "Is he now?"

Christopher glanced over at Draco as if to get the boy to continue his lie. The Malfoy paused for a moment before he cringed, almost looking apologetic. Raven burned her gaze into him, wondering what he was going to say.

"Well?" Uncle Nicholas urged. "I don't have all day, boys."

"I'm sorry, Christopher." Draco sighed before he turned to his Uncle — his gaze hardening. "Yes, it is true that Raven fought me because I called Granger a mudblood. But your son forced her to."

"What do you mean?" Uncle Nicholas furrowed his eyebrows as he glanced between the two boys — his gaze lingering on his son.

"He told her that he had a crush on Hermione and she was just trying to defend your son's heart." Draco finished, his voice full of hesitance. Raven nearly cringed at his words, not enjoying a world where her cousin could ever like Hermione. It just didn't look right to Raven. It was because he was supposed to marry a pureblood.

Uncle Nicholas glanced at his son, expecting the boy to deny it, but the teen remained silent. Raven looked away as the sound of a smack filled the air.

"Malfoy, take my niece and leave." Raven shivered at her Uncle's tone. "Christopher and I are going to have a little chat."

Raven knew what that was code for.

He was going to be beaten.

"Uncle, wait!" Raven cried out, stumbling weakly onto her feet. Her fingers were trembling. "Please, have mercy! It my fault for defending a mudblood!"

Raven fell before she felt the smack.

"You're right!" He seethed. His dark eyes peered over her. "It is your fault! You're lucky that I am forgiving! So, I'm not going to tell you again, stay away from those bloody mudbloods or so help me, I'll make your winter break absolute hell!"

Raven fought the urge to wipe the blood that began to trail that her nose.

"Do I make myself clear?"

The sight of Raven looking so imperfect would have been the talk for days if anyone had caught her in that position. Her hair was frizzled, messy and puffy. Her cheeks had tear stains on them. Her nose was bleeding, a trail leading down her chin and staining her uniform. Her posture was slouched, weak and pathetic just like her uncle made her to be.

"Yes, sir." Raven whispered — pathetically.

"Good." He reached out to her, grabbing a hold of her arm and harshly tugged her up and onto her feet. "Now, get up! Go back to the bloody badgers. I'll tell that annoying old man that we talked and discussed your punishment."

Draco took that as his cue and ran towards Raven and forced her away from their Uncles cruel hands. Raven couldn't look away from Christopher's fearful gaze. It wasn't fair. It wasn't fair. It wasn't fair.

The boy felt her gaze on him and sent her a shaky smile from over his fathers shoulder. Raven nearly ran over and grabbed him away from his father, but she knew better than that. She knew that if she did it, his punishment would be worse.

And so, she limped, one hand gripping onto Draco's arm, out of there and down the hallway not noticing the slight glistening against the wall. She didn't stop, even after Draco dropped her back off, till she was back in her dorm room with her back leaning against her bathroom door as silent tears went down her face.

And Harry Potter didn't move a muscle, a hand over his mouth to silence his own cries from what he had just witnessed under his invisible cloak. He didn't think Raven Rosier—the daughter of the people who killed his parents, would be the one he would relate the most to. Or Christopher Flint—one of his own bullies.

He had just been planing to follow Hermione and make sure that Raven didn't try anything funny. As much as he wanted to trust her, he still had his doubts. And yet..

Rosier and Flint were the ones who needed to be protected.

He couldn't hear most of their words, but his actions spoke louder than they ever will. He had hurt his niece like she was nothing. He had hurt his son like nothing. He didn't even care if someone were to walk in and see the display. That was dangerous. He was dangerous.

And Raven and Christopher..

Harry felt as if he were looking into a mirror at the sight of their bruised skin.