She Traitor

Pandora Rosier remembered the first day of her fifth year very clearly.  Already on the platform, the moment she caught sight of Sarah Potter, she had a strange feeling that this year would be different.  Sarah stood among her classmates, laughing at something James Potter had told her about Lily Evans, and a light seemed to shine around her, attracting everyone within range.  Pandora watched her as crowds of students flowed around her and couldn't tear her eyes away.  Perhaps it was the confidence with which she walked among her peers, or the way her eyes seemed to search for something unseen—something about Sarah was different than it seemed.

Pandora did not yet know what fascinated her so much about her.  Sarah was everything she wasn't - popular, bright, confident.  Gryffindor princess.  Pandora would never have thought that they could become close.  And yet, when their carriages drove off and they met on the way from Hogsmeade to Hogwarts, Sarah showed a completely different face.  She was not superficial as some claimed her to be.  Pandora sensed that beneath that dazzling facade was someone searching for something she desperately lacked.

As the weeks went by, Pandora began to see cracks that remained hidden to others.  When they sat together by the lake, in the library, or when she was in the Great Hall, surrounded by fellow Gryffindors, she laughed, she was friendly, but something about her smile was different.  It was no longer the bright light Pandora had seen on the platform—more his shadow.  She saw Sarah sitting quietly while her brother James loudly shared stories from letters from his parents.  How she avoids talking to the older Gryffindor girls and prefers to spend time with Alice and Frank.  Although her reputation remained intact, her presence grew quieter.

Pandora began to feel that Sarah was losing a piece of herself.  She would never say it out loud – Sarah didn't seem broken, she didn't whine, she didn't show that she was troubled.  It was a quiet sadness, barely perceptible, as if it was hidden in her slack energy, in the way she stared impassively at James and Sirius, who barely ever glanced at her.  Pandora knew that she only noticed because of her own ability to see things that others missed.

And she wasn't alone.  Sitting in the Great Hall once, she noticed Barty Crouch sitting across from her, staring across the hall at Sarah.  His gaze wasn't curious, as one might expect, but rather a strangely probing one, as if he saw in her exactly what Pandora did—someone who was slowly losing herself behind her own facade.  Pandora then realized that Barty knew.  And maybe that was why Sarah Potter was so fascinating to him.

Pandora had no idea why she thought something would change at the beginning of the year.  But it was on this day that she noticed something strange - when Sarah got up from the table, Barty followed her, only later did she hear about what had happened.

Barty intervenes in an argument between Sarah and Benji Fenwick that breaks out between the bookshelves.  Pandora could imagine what it must have been like—Sarah, usually calm, losing her temper, and Benji still not getting over their breakup.  But what surprised her was what followed.  From that moment on, Barty began looking for ways to rekindle Sarah's fiery nature, to bring her back to who she was before.

Pandora couldn't tell exactly what Barty was watching, but it was clear that Sarah Potter was no longer just a Gryffindor princess to him.  He saw something in her worth his interest—and she was beginning to be sure that his fascination had nothing to do with his usual admiration for her reputation.

He found a person who was in the same situation as him, they was neglected.

•••

The library was as quiet as a sealed temple of leadership, only the faint rustle of pages being turned and the occasional tap of a quill on parchment disturbing the peace.  The last rays of the sun streamed through the high Gothic windows, reflected off the dusty spines of the books, and cast a golden glow on the smooth wooden table where Pandora sat.  Head bowed over parchment, pen whizzing over paper.  Concentration was in the air—Pandora liked evenings in the library when few people stayed.

A short distance away sat Dorcas, engrossed in a thick book of defensive charms.  Contrary to Pandora's composure, she seemed motionless, but her gaze wandered from page to room every now and then, as if watching the unspoken movements around her.  She looked focused but alert, a combination that always made Sarah a little nervous.

Sarah appeared between the shelves.  It didn't take her long to find Pandora - she knew the girl had a few spots she liked.  Still, when her eyes finally rested on a familiar figure, she hesitated for a moment.

"Pandora!" Sarah squealed softly, stepping out from behind the shadows of the shelves and striding towards her.  Her voice sounded strong, but her eyes were closed.

Pandora looked up at her and smiled without stopping to write.  "Hi.  were you looking for me?  What's going on?'

Sarah waved her hand like it was nothing.  "I just wanted to find you.  I need a little switch.  What are you doing?” Her question sounded light, almost playful, but Pandora knew better.

"An essay," Pandora replied curtly.  It was clear from her look that Sarah had come for another reason.  "But that's not why you're here." She waved her head at Dorcas.  “She's sitting over there.  You should tell her something."

Sarah froze.  "Why?" she asked.  "There's no reason." But Pandora had already taken her arm and was pulling her toward the table, where Dorcas looked up from her book.

Dorcas looked first at Pandora and then at Sarah.  Her gaze was calm, maybe a little cold, but not hostile. "Hello," Dorcas spoke softly.  "You were looking for me too?"

Sarah hesitated for only a split second.  “No, Pandora just made me come here.  She obviously thinks I should tell you something."

Dorcas gave a small smirk and went back to flipping through the book.  "So what do you want to say?"

Sarah sighed and sat down across from her.  She knew it was going to be weird, but she decided to push through.  "Like... what are you studying?"

Dorcas fixed her gaze on her and pointed a finger at the book in front of her.  “Defensive spells.  Everyone should improve, don't you think?"

Sarah nodded and smiled weakly.  "Yeah, sure.  I managed the shield last time without embarrassing myself completely.  That's progress, isn't it?"

Dorcas narrowed her eyes, but her mouth formed what might have been a hint of a smile.  "Progress is progress."

Pandora watched them with quiet amusement.  Sarah was confident, but Dorcas had a way of keeping her in check.  Nevertheless, she saw that the two were gradually finding a common language.

“You know what,” Sarah continued after a moment, “thanks for the advice in class.  With that spell...it helped."

Dorcas watched her for a moment as if considering what to answer.  Finally she nodded.  "I'm glad it was of some use."

Meanwhile, Pandora got up, packed her things, and threw her bag over her shoulder.  "Well, I think you two can get by here.  Sarah, do you need anything else?"

After a moment, Sarah raised her head, looked at Pandora, and let out a theatrical sigh.  "Okay.  I have to go borrow a book about dark creatures.  Thanks for hinting that there's a werewolf in the castle, now I just have to check."

Pandora gave her an amused smile.  "What?  I never said that.  I was just pointing out that it could be a possibility.  And a little paranoia won't hurt you."

Sarah pushed herself away from the table, took one more look at Dorcas, and then turned to leave.  “Yeah, thanks, I've had enough of the paranoia.  But anyway... Good night, Dorcas."

Dorcas looked up, nodded, and for a second something unexpectedly gentle flashed in her eyes.  "Good night." maybe a hint of interest, maybe a willingness to let Sarah a step closer.

When Sarah disappeared between the shelves, Pandora smiled and glanced at Dorcas, who was already studying again. "She's really cool, isn't she?" Pandora asked quietly.

Dorcas did not take her eyes off the book.  "Maybe," she murmured, but it was clear that the thought resonated with her.

Things started moving, albeit slowly.  But sometimes it takes a small step to make big changes happen.

•••

Sarah sat in the farthest corner of the library where few dared to venture.  In front of her was a heavy book titled Werewolves: The Truth Behind the Legend, its frayed binding suggesting that countless hands had leafed through it before her.  She opened it with a sigh and the first glance fell on a detailed illustration of the transformation of a man into a wolf.

“So,” she muttered quietly to herself, “shall we look at some interesting little things that might help?” Her words were lost in thin air.

She glanced at the first chapter, titled: Marks of Lycanthropy, and began to read.  Among the most prominent signs of werewolves in their human form are unusual absences during full moons, frequent signs of exhaustion, significant paleness or scars, and also violent mood swings.

She leaned back more comfortably as her mind began to whirl.  She felt like she had finally found something that could completely absorb her and tear her away from the last few weeks.  It was time for her to stop thinking about her problems and start something else.  Her thoughts wandered to people she had seen but not spoken to much over the past few years.  After all, a werewolf could be anyone - someone who stayed more in the background, away from most of the students.

She remembered a boy from Ravenclaw who often disappeared from class for weeks at a time, but was so quiet and inconspicuous that almost no one noticed him, a perfect candidate in fact.  Or the Hufflepuff girl who once showed up with a bandaged hand and claimed to have injured herself while tending to magical creatures.  Then there was a young boy of her own year who was usually cheerful, but lately he seemed nervous, almost irritable.

Could it be any of these?  she pondered.

Her eyes slid to another passage in the book that detailed the physical traits of werewolves.  Pale skin, restless movements, sometimes even gentle shaking of the hands.  Avoiding physical contact, she read on.  She wondered how many students acted like this, but she never paid attention to it.

It was strange.  Instead of being bothered that her mind was working on something so vague, she felt a strange sense of relief.  Again, she had something that could keep her fully occupied.  Lately she'd felt empty, like her days were dragging on aimlessly, but now she felt like she'd found a new task, something that gave her meaning.

“Registered werewolves,” she muttered aloud as she skimmed the last paragraph of the chapter.  The thought hit her like a bolt of lightning.  The Ministry of Magic must have a werewolf registry.  They can't run around like that!

She closed the book as if a sudden excitement compelled her to act immediately.  What if it's not a student?  she thought.  What if it was someone from the staff, or even someone from the village?  Those could have been the questions.

She got up and headed to the librarian's desk to ask about any other books or documents that might give her more information.  However, her gaze drifted to one of the tables near the shelves where the girl who had already been there when she arrived was still sitting.

The girl had her head bent over the book, reading with such preoccupation that she did not even notice that someone was watching her.  Sarah paused for a moment.  Pandora has hinted several times that she should make more friends outside of Gryffindor.  Many people loved her in Gryffindor, but Sarah only considered a few of them friends.

Dorcas was one of those Pandora hinted at.

But in the end she shook her head and headed away.  However, as she neared the exit, she turned once more.  The girl didn't even move as if she was part of that silent space.

Maybe… maybe she should be following more than just books, she thought before disappearing out the door, her footsteps trailing down the halls of Hogwarts.