She Traitor

Sarah pulled on her stockings and put on her shoes. She still had to go to the closet for her bag, where she had already packed most of her things from yesterday. Last night was a huge party that James and Sirius had started planning right after arriving at Gryffindor tower and they had managed to make it happen.

Fortunately, Sarah was still sane as she left before midnight and got ready for the first day of school. "Has anyone seen my skirt?" Alice called, looking through the pile of clothes by her closet. Everything was scattered on the floor and she was trying to rummage through it. Sarah turned to her and looked around the room.

She found the skirt, it was lying on a chair, "It's on the chair, Alice," she said calmly, and the girl jumped up from the pile of clothes. Excited to finally find her skirt she quickly put it on and as she ran out of the room she said something like ,"Thanks Potter!" Sarah sighed and turned back to her bag.

All the other girls were already out of the room so Sarah was closing the door and leaving as the last one. She had to pull out the schedule, as she had not yet memorized it, and went to the magic formula classroom.

She knew Pandora would be waiting for her. When they went yesterday to the great hall together, she told her what all the classes they were going to together. Magic formulas and Herbalism. Sarah always sat in class with Edgar Bones, so now she decided to change that.

When she entered the classroom, the Gryffindors weren't there yet, so she didn't catch any judging looks when she sat down next to Pandora.

She actually got one look.

That back bench from one boy who came to her vaguely aware. In fact, she was pretty sure it was Barty Crouch. Again, she knew him because he was often in the presence of Slytherins.

She had already met him up close when she argued with Thomas Nott on New Year's. They ran into each other at the Hufflepuff party and to make matters worse, the Slytherins from her year, Regulus Black, Evan and Bianca Zabini were also there. She would prefer to tie that girl to the tracks and let a train run over her. That was how she hated her. Sarah definitely hated her more than any other Slytherin.

Well as for Barty he was with the slytherins and after she tried to leave the party she got into a fight with them again. The boy was quite clever in his arguments, but she was better.

Pandora got Sarah's attention by tugging on her sleeve. "I guess you've already met Barty too," she said with a mysterious smile, her ethereal presence clearing Sarah up a bit.

"I wouldn't say we met, we had a fight." Sarah corrected her and wrinkled her nose. "I don't think we can remember each other well."

"You can't even remember my brother well and yet you're hanging out with me." Pandora said with a smile and Sarah turned to face her. "That's different, but I see your point."

The gryffindor students arrived just before the professor arrived. Girls looked at Sarah very strangely as Pandora Rosier was very well known to be quite crazy. No one dared to befriend her more, but since it was Sarah Potter who was sitting with her, no one could really say anything. Who would dare go against the Gryffindor princess

•••

Ready to dive into her studies, Sarah headed to her usual desk in the corner, where she used to have quiet and plenty of light. Benji appeared in the library without warning, his tall figure casting a shadow over the desk Sarah sat at. "We need to talk," he began with a sharp look that made her feel a mixture of anger and pity.

"Here and now?" Sarah snapped without looking up from her book. She knew this conversation would turn sour when the old wound she was trying to heal was reopened.

"Yes, now. I'm tired of you avoiding me. I still don't understand why you did that." Benji's voice bordered on a whisper and a shout. A few students raised their heads, watching the situation curiously.

"Why did I do that?" Sarah stood up abruptly, almost knocking over her chair. Her eyes were full of defiance. "Because you couldn't deal with me winning. It wasn't about us, it was about your pride, Benji!"

Benji blushed. "It wasn't just about that. You're always in control, Sarah. I just wanted... I wanted to be more important to you, not just a shadow of your glory."

"This is absurd!" Sarah threw up her hands. "You were never a shadow. But your repeated hints, jealousy and mistrust have tired me."

"Stop it, Sarah. Everyone knows your fame is only earned because of your name." Benji sneered and took a step closer. That was the last straw.

"My magical abilities do not matter what blood status I am or what family I come from." she retorted, tears of pride and pain welling up in her eyes. She turned sharply and headed for the library door when a soft but familiar laugh sounded behind her.

"Wish granted, Fenwick. You seem to have missed your chance to shine not just at Quidditch, but in this conversation as well," Barty Crouch, a Ravenclaw student with a sharp wit and a dark look in his eyes, chimed in. He approached with exaggerated drama, his lips twisted into a mocking smile.

Sarah stopped and looked back. She saw Barty standing next to the bookcase, hands folded across his chest, his expression full of confidence. He was known for his arrogance and sharp humor, yet she felt that this time she was his scientist.

Benji looked like he was searching for words, but Barty cut him off before he could say anything. "Better take a break, Fenwick. One could say that your jealousy has always hindered your ability to have a healthy relationship.'

Sarah blinked in surprise. Barty, though he had a reputation as an oddball, was bright and surprisingly loyal to the people he liked. And at that time, Sarah didn't know that Barty really liked her. He was impressed by her wild nature.

Benji turned on his heel and walked out of the library without looking back. Sarah felt a mixture of sadness and relief, as if a burden that had weighed on her for so long had finally been lifted.

"Well, that was brilliantly dramatic," Barty commented as he eyed Sarah thoughtfully. "Maybe he'll leave you alone now."

"I don't need to save Crouch." Sarah left sharply. Only then did she realize that she had just run over the person who had helped her. Barty looked at her and smiled surprisingly.

"You have fire Potter. I like you."

•••

Pandora looked thoughtfully at the sky, as she often did, and said, "It's strange, isn't it?  How we must learn to understand other people." Her voice was dreamy, calm, as if she were talking to herself rather than Sarah.

But Sarah didn't let herself get carried away. She had learned that Pandora had a special ability to surprise, the number of times she walked towards her quietly and the witch still discovered her presence. Instead, she smiled and replied,

“Now I don't know exactly who you mean.” Her tone was slightly amused, but not disrespectful. "I don't understand a lot of people at the moment." She added a little bitterly.

It was true. Lately, she had been troubled by conflicts with Lily and Mary from Gryffindor, which, while not dramatic, were still difficult.  But she was even more worried about Barty Crouch from Ravenclaw.  Unlike the girls, he was completely unpredictable. Lily acted measured but intelligent, and Mary mostly ignored her. Sarah could live with that. But Barty? He was something else entirely. In his presence, she felt like she was losing control - perhaps of him, perhaps of herself.

Sarah felt like she was lost, or rather losing her patience.

Pandora laughed. Her laughter sounded like bells in the wind, light and melodious.  "You have more patience than your brother," she said as if she knew what Sarah was thinking, then added with a slight hint of appreciation.  "I think that's already a big success."

Sarah noticed that Pandora was staring intently towards the forest. She turned in that direction but saw nothing out of the ordinary. Only thick trees whose branches swayed slightly in the wind.  Still, she had the feeling that Pandora was seeing something - something that was hidden from her eyes and she already had an idea what it could be.

"Thestral," Pandora breathed in a small voice, as if afraid to disturb the presence of the creature she was speaking of. "You can't see them, can you?" she asked.

"No, I can't, but I suppose you do."

Pandora smiled softly. "Yes, I see them.  I've seen more deaths than necessary,” she said in a calm voice, but her words had a weight that made Sarah hold her breath, feeling like she shouldn't have heard that second sentence.

They were both from purebred families, but that was about the only thing they had in common. Sarah came from a family that the other purebloods considered blood traitors. The Potters were known for supporting muggleborns. However, Pandora came from the Rosier family, which held to the old traditions and was true to the pure blood code. If Sarah remembered correctly, the Rosiers had roots in France.

Pandora looked towards the forest again.  "They're scary," she said.  "Thestral is a winged horse breed with a bony body, a face with reptilian features, and wide leathery wings that resemble a bat." Her voice was suddenly matter-of-fact, as if she was reading from a book.  "But they frighten only those who cannot discover their beauty."

Sarah smiled.  "It's strange just imagining them," she remarked.  The picture Pandora painted of her was strange and a little unsettling, but also fascinating. The only people who can see thestrals are people who have seen death and understood it.

"They are different from the others." Pandora said, her eyes brightening slightly. "I am also different and you can understand me."

The words hit Sarah deeper than she would have expected.  She considered how to respond and finally took a step closer. Pandora was right. Although she was so different from everyone she knew, Sarah understood her. Not completely, but enough to make her feel connected.

"I guess you're right," she finally said, their eyes meeting for a moment.

•••

The stone corridors of Hogwarts were silent as Dorcas Meadowes walked towards the Slytherin common room.  She was looking for Pandora, her Ravenclaw friend, who was often lost in her own world.

She stopped in front of the entrance to the Slytherin common room and her gaze fell on Barty Crouch who was standing in the doorway, obviously uninvited but with a brashness that always got him into Slytherin reliably.

"What are you doing here?" Dorcas asked, her voice more curious than upset. "They don't let the Ravenclaw eagles out of the tower, or were you sent here to spy?"

Barty leaned against the wall and smiled sheepishly. "Just taking a break from my genius self. Besides, with so many friends here, who wouldn't let me in?" He said and then thought. "I wonder if I'll be invited in officially one day. For now, I'm just a long-suffering guest."

"Guest?  What do you need access to Slytherin for?” Dorcas folded her arms over her chest.

"Perhaps for the best gossip that my presence undoubtedly offers," Barty replied lightly. "But I'm here today for an interesting experience."

"Pandora's here?" Dorcas asked curiously.

"No, she isn't. They say she's out.  I was talking to Sybila before the end of class, she saw her going to the woods.,” Barty shrugged.  "How else, right?"

Dorcas sighed and turned to leave, but before she could move, Regulus Black emerged from the dark corridor.  His step was confident, his every gesture filled with elegance and calm, his cold gaze alternated between Dorcas and Barty.

"What do we have here?" he asked dryly as he approached.  “Dorcas Meadowes is having fun with a Ravenclaw exhibitionist. Sounds like the start of a very bad joke." Barty blinked at him and raised his hands in mock defense.

"Me an exhibitionist? Look at you, Black.  That 'I'm too perfect to bother' pose is your version of the show." Regulus raised an eyebrow, his gaze cold but the corner of his mouth twitched slightly.

"I don't understand why you keep creeping into our common room, Crouch.  You're like the Ravenclaw equivalent of the troll under the bridge."
Dorcas laughed, even as she tried to cover her laughter with her hands.Regulus could have considered a good roommate, but it would be a mistake to think they are close friends.

"Black, this one was good.  But leave him alone, we need a little variety now and then, don't we?"

Barty smirked. "Variety?  You see, Meadowes, finally someone will appreciate my presence.  But now that we're here, I should tell you what happened in the library today."

Regulus slung his bag over his shoulder and leaned against the wall across from Barty.  There was a mixture of amusement and slight disinterest in his eyes.

"If it involves you, the library, and other awkward attempts at social interaction, please spare us." Barty looked offended at the sight.

“That was cruel, Black.  But no, this time I just watched, most of the time. It was between Potter and that Fenwick. They started arguing, right in the middle of the library. A wonderful spectacle."

"Potter?" Dorcas repeated, suddenly intrigued.  "Sarah Potter?"

"Exactly," Barty replied enthusiastically.  “She was sitting in the library, thinking she was going to be quiet about her studies, when poor Fenwick rushed in.  He started taking things out on her – Quidditch, some old breakup feuds, who knows what.  But Potter?  She didn't even look at him and batted him away like he was just a nasty elf."

"Typical Potter, I've always preferred her to the others," Dorcas offered, though she had an amused smile on her face.  "And you?"

"Well, of course I intervened to make it even more interesting."

Dorcas laughed.

"Of course you couldn't let it go."
Regulus spoke softly, his tone as cold and precise as a knife. “And what have you done, Crouch? Let me guess. Did you add a few of your 'clever' remarks to make yourself feel more important?"

Barty put his hand over his heart as if smitten."You underestimate me, Black.  I merely reminded Fenwick that his pathetic attempts at jealous outings make him even more ridiculous.'

Dorcas stared at Barty, her eyes thoughtful. "What about Potter?  Did she let you get away with it?"

Barty shrugged, his smile casual, but his eyes had a strange twinkle. "Potter? She was upset, of course. But you know what? I like it. She's a cool. I think she has something of a Slytherin under her 'Gryffindor' attitude."

Regulus, who had been standing motionless and expressionless the entire time, finally spoke again. "That sounds exactly like her. Don't forget, Crouch, Potter is still a Gryffindor. They must always have the last word."

"Which they're doing great," Barty agreed. “But seriously, Black, don't say you weren't at least a little interested in her. After all, you've known her for years. What do you think of her?" Regulus smiled, the smile barely noticeable, almost a hint.

His response, however, was carefully controlled, without a single flicker of emotion. "I think Potter has enough confidence to handle anyone who challenges her.  That's... practical.  Nothing more, nothing less."

Dorcas eyed him as if debating whether to believe him because it's unusual for Regulus Black to give someone a compliment. But Regulus' eyes were calm, revealing nothing that might betray him. Meanwhile, Barty smiled again and patted him on the shoulder.
“Black, sometimes I enjoy how you try to influence things. But I have read you.  You're also fascinated by that Potter."

Regulus didn't answer, just watched him silently with a hint of a smirk. After a moment he turned on his heel, his movement graceful and confident.
"Some of us have better things to do than take Potter apart," he said, bringing his throat to the common room.  Without another glance, he walked down the hall and inside.

Dorcas watched him leave, then turned back to Barty's wide smile.
"Interesting.  Seriously interesting.”

"Like what?" Barty asked innocently.

"Nothing," Dorcas replied with an amused smile.  “It's just that Pandora should know what's going on here." They both laughed.