A Wonder

“Good morning professor.” She said and he nodded. 

“Will you be going to the Yule ball?” She asked. 

“Unfortunately.” He said back. 

“That’s pretty much how I feel about it to.” She laughed. 

“And why is that? Isn’t it all you Gryffindors have been talking about for a month?” He asked. 

“Well I just— George Weasley is taking me and really only because I didn’t want to go with any boy and he was nice enough to offer to go as friends.” She explained. 

He hummed. 

They fell into a comfortable silence as she worked at her station and he graded parchments at his desk.

“Professor?” She asked quietly a while later.

He looked up at her only slightly annoyed at the interruption. 

“Has anyone ever…” then she stopped. The question didn’t matter, Luna had already gone home and she was going with George, but for whatever reason she wanted— she needed to know.

“Has anyone ever gone to the Yule ball… with— well like, a girl and a girl?”

He set down his quill and thought about the question before answering. 

“No. Though I don’t know if that is against the rules or if no one as ever tried.” Was his methodical response. 

She nodded. 

“We’re you hoping to attend with someone else?” He asked and she blushed, letting her hard hair fall in front of her face to hide behind it. 

“It doesn’t— she’s gone home.” She explained. He nodded in understanding. 

“Ms Lovegood.” 

Silence. 

“Does she return your feelings?” He asked. 

“I don’t.. I don’t know.” 

“Perhaps.” He started, “you should ask her.” 

“But what if she’s… not…” 

“Then you will live and never know.” He responded. 

She looked at him.

“Thank you… for being so… nice to me.” She said. 

“I’m not nice. I’m honest.” He said and went back to his work. 

She smiled at him, a knowing kind of smile that said she knew he was in fact being ‘nice’ even if he wanted to hide it behind honesty. 

Xx

She and Ginny got ready with Hermione in their dorm. The older girl was extremely nervous and they could tell as she paced the room, wearing down the wood slats with every step. 

“It’s alright Hermione. We’re all going to have a lovely time.” Ginny said. 

“Come on. Ryleigh you can do her hair while I get dressed and then I’ll do your hair after.” Ginny directed and Ryleigh nodded, she walked over to Hermione. 

“You look beautiful by the way.” Ryleigh said and Hermione blushed. 

“Thanks. So do you.” 

Ryleigh brushed through the girls hair gently and then worked to pin it back and then curled the hair to the side over her shoulder just slightly. 

When she was finished Hermione moved to the mirror to add just a little makeup and Ginny made her way to Ryleigh to do her hair. She parted it down the center and untangled the knots in the curls carefully without causing frizzing. 

“Where on earth do you get this hair?” Ginny asked, “your mum has the straightest, blondest hair ever!” She laughed. 

“You’ve seen those pictures of Sirius Ginny!” Ryleigh laughed. 

“His hair is just as wild as yours Ryleigh.” Hermione added seemingly composed for the moment at least. Ginny worked to smooth the friz and allow Ryleighs curls to hang down on either side of her in ling rings. 

When they were all finished they headed out. 

“I’ll be.. a minute.” Hermione said just before they reached the great hall.

“Want us to wait for you?” Ginny asked. 

“No, go on. Your dates will be waiting.” 

They smiled at her and made their way. 

Neville was waiting with a flower for Ginny and the girl blushed taking it and walking off with him. Ryleigh waited on the side of the room, leaning against a railing. 

George approached with a smirk.

“You look nice Walsh.” He said and she rolled her eyes. 

“So do you Weasley.”

He held out an elbow for her and she took it allowing him to lead her into the great hall. They waiting and watched while the four champions entered with their dates. Fleur, then Krum and Hermione, then Cho and Cedric and finally Harry with Parvarti. 

The eight of them started to dance. And for a minute they danced alone, until Dumbledore took McGonagalls hand and led her out to join them. Followed by a few more professors, then Neville and Ginny. 

“Wanna dance?” George asked and she made a face. “Come on, it’ll be fun.” He said and lead her out. 

They danced together and every time he spun her he made a face of death, mocking her less than pleased expression. She laughed each time he did it despite herself. 

When the music changed they kept dancing and she was having a genuinely good time. After a while though she excused herself to get some air. He followed after her just outside the crowd. 

“You alright?” He asked.

“Oh I’m fine, go back and dance, I’ll be right back.” She assured him and he nodded, pushing back into the crowd to join Fred.

She quietly made her way past Harry and Ron who were seated sulking off to the side and out the large doors. 

It was icy cold outside but her dress kept her warm enough as she stood against the pillars. 

There were noises coming from the parked carriages and she moved away from them awkwardly. 

She brushed some snow off a bench and took a seat, allowing herself to soak in the cool air. 

She heard the footsteps before she saw anyone. She reached for her wand before realizing she didn’t have it, she’d left it in her dorm when she couldn’t find a place to keep it on her gown. She cursed herself, looking around she still couldn’t see anyone. 

“W-who’s there?” She called out and heard snickering in response. 

“Not so tough without our magic are we Ryleigh?” Pucey’s voice sounded from the shadows. 

Her skin was covered in goosebumps and the hair in her neck was standing on end. 

“Come on Ryleigh, you wanna hang out?” Said another voice, maybe Flint. 

Three shapes emerged from the shadows and approached her. It was the two aforementioned boys and another Slytherin student. 

“Leave me alone Pucey.” She spat and stood from the bench, moving away from them. 

“Awe come on now, you’re hurting my feelings.”

*trigger warning, physical violence*

He stepped forward and she moved back but Flint was suddenly behind her, he pushed her forward. 

“Shove off!” She yelled at them. Pucey grabbed her arms and pulled her forward. 

“Stop!” She yelled again and from behind her Flint covered her mouth with a hand. 

She grunted and yanked away from them but they were stronger then her. Together they pulled her out of the light from the school and toward the outer edge of the covering. As soon as they were far enough away Flint let go of her mouth and Pucey pushed her into the snow, she tripped, twisting her ankle on the way down and grabbing it in pain.

“That’s enough guys.” The other Slytherin boy said as he watched Pucey climb over her and hold her arms up above her head. 

“Nah, if you wanna go then go.” Said flint. 

The boy looked upset but said nothing just ran off. Her face dropped at being left alone with them, soaked in the freezing snow she tried to scream but Flint flicked his want at her and said “silencio”, suddenly she couldn’t make a sound, she tried, opening her mouth to scream but nothing but horse air came out.

 As she laid in the snow she gave up trying to make a sound as they kicked at her, other than the involuntary grunts of pain or crunch of something inside her doing something it shouldn’t... She could hear the music from the ball. The rocking of carriages nearby and the grunts of the two boys in her ear. 

She could hear Igor Karkaroff talking but couldn’t make out what he was saying. Then she heard Snapes voice crystal clear, “ten points from hufflepuff and 10 from Ravenclaw stevens.” 

She tried to scream again. He was so close, just around the corner near the carriages but still silence. 

She heard the footsteps receding and she finally let herself cry.

*end trigger warning* 

Xx

Hours later Ginny finally said goodnight to Neville. The great hall was practically empty by now just a few professors left over. 

She said goodnight to him and headed back to the tower, expecting to find Ryleigh already in bed she was surprised to find the girls bed empty. She looked around the dorm then the common room but still couldn’t find her. She bit her lip and ran up to the boys dorm. Looking in each one she found her brothers all asleep and no sign of Ryleigh. She grabbed a cloak before heading out the portrait hole. The fat lady was asleep but woke when she pushed it open. 

“Have you seen Ryleigh, lady?” She asked and the lady shook her head no.

“She hasn’t been in yet tonight.” The portrait said. 

Ginny cursed, this was probably what it felt like all of their first year for Ryleigh when she was missing all the time. 

She jogged down the tower and back to the great hall. 

“You should be in your dorm Ms Weasley.” Snapes voice said from behind her. 

“I— I can’t find Ryleigh. She hasn’t come back.” Ginny said. 

Snape met her gaze and nodded, “come on then.” He said and led them out of the great hall toward the still parked carriages. 

“She’s not going to be— she isn’t—“ Ginny said, trying to explain that Ryleigh wasn’t going to be making out with someone in a carriage while also not trying out her best friend to their Professor. 

“We’re just looking Ms Weasley. I know well enough about Ms Walsh’s affinity for Ms Lovegood.” He said and Ginny looked shocked. 

They continued to search the area together growing increasingly worried. The carriages were all long empty by now and not a sound could be heard from any of the room they searched inside. 

It was Ginny who turned the final corner into the patch of shadowed snow and found her. 

She was curled on her side in the snow soaking wet, the snow in her hair had re frozen in hard chunks, her red gown was torn up the side and the skin beneath it was red from the cold. She was shivering and had tears covering her face but she was silent. 

“Ryleigh!?” Ginny shouted and dropped to her side. Her eyes were wide in terror as she tried to speak but nothing came out, reaching for Ginny desperately. 

She pulled her up and gathered her in her arms.

“Professor!!” Ginny yelled and Snape came running around the corner. 

He didn’t say anything, just looked her over before moving to kneel next to them. 

“She can’t talk.” Ginny said. 

“Sonorus.” Snape whispered and Ryleigh cried out, this time with sound. 

“Oh Merlin…” Ginny whispered, holding her closer. 

“Come on,” Snape said, taking Ryleigh from Ginny’s arms into his own. “We need to get her to the hospital wing.” And Ginny nodded, running ahead of them. 

Ryleigh whimpered softly when he lifted her with some difficulty. She let her head lull against him despite her best efforts to hold it up herself. The snow had soaked her dress and it spread onto his cloaks as well but he paid it no mind. 

He carried her in silence up to the hospital wing and set her on the bed just as Ginny rushed out with a sleepy looking Madam Pomfrey. 

“Oh dear Merlin… what happened my dear girl…” she asked. 

“Severus, would you excuse us. She’ll need some privacy.” 

He nodded and made to leave but Ryleigh grabbed his hand. 

“Thank you…” she whispered her voice scratchy and horse. He gave her sad smile before exiting and closing the large doors behind him. 

Ginny planted herself next to the bed. 

“I’m not leaving.” She said when pomfrey tried to have to exit as well. 

Xx

He went back to where they’d found her, the snow was compressed in the shape of her body as well as random spots in either side. There were small patches of pink where she’d bled no doubt and he felt a white rage clouding his vision. He waved his hand and a thin green cloud filled the air. A Slytherin student has used the silencing charm on her. He marched straight to the Slytherin dorms and walked. He woke them all and brought them to the common room. 

“Which of you…” he asked, but not finishing the question. 

“Which of you know the silencing charm?” He asked. The fifth year and older students raised their hands. 

“The rest of you may go.” He said and the few younger students went back to their dorms. 

“Now then…” he looked them up and down. “You may go.” He said to the girls and they looked upset before marching off. 

There were only about 10 students left in the group. Looking at them closely one in particular looked nervous, he wouldn’t meet the professors eyes. 

Snape snapped his fingers at the boy who looked at him finally. 

“Tell me who it was. Now.” He said and the boy swallowed.

“F-flint and Pucey sir…” he said. 

Snape looked at them, took each boy by the collar of their shirts and dragged them out of the common room. 

“Let go!” Flint grunted. 

“Shut it.” Snape said. 

They arrived at the entrance to Dumbledores office and he dragged them with him up the not so secret entrance.

Dumbledore was waiting when they arrived. 

“Severus. It is the middle of the night. What is the meaning of this?” He asked. 

“These boys are being expelled.” He hissed.

“What on earth for?” 

“For being the cause of Ryleigh Walsh’s hospital stay.” 

“Is she alright?” Dumbledore asked.

“No. She is not alright. These boys should be in Azkaban for attacking a 14 year old girl but I don’t have that authority. So they are hereby expelled.” He said and turned to leave before anyone said anything else. 

Xx

Madam Pomfrey had applied some sort of paste to the frostbitten areas if her skin, she’d taken off her dress and replaced it with warm pajamas. She’s sealed up the scrapes and cuts with butterfly stitches and set a broken rib and broken ankle. Then proceeded to wrap the ankle in bandages. 

“Ginny…” Ryleigh whispered.

“Yes? What do you need?” Ginny asked. 

“I don’t want everyone to know… please, just.. tell them I ended up going home?” 

Ginny nodded, “I’ll try.” 

Madam Pomfrey set a potion on the side table, “you should drink this as soon as you don’t feel nauseous, I’ll be right back.” She said. 

“Thanks for looking for me..” Ryleigh said. 

“Of course… how many times have you come looking for me?” She joked and Ryleigh laughed, then clutched her rib.

“Sorry..” Ginny said. 

“W..who was it Ryleigh?” Ginny asked. 

“Flint and Pucey.” She said back quietly. 

“I’m sorry I didn’t come looking sooner… I just figured you went up to bed…” 

“Ginny, you don’t need to apologize. You didn’t do anything wrong.” She said and took her hand. “You and Neville looked like you had a good time.” 

Ginny smiled, “we don’t need to—“

“I want to. Tell me about your night.”

Ginny nodded in understanding and went on to tell her about her time with Neville. 

When Ryleigh fell asleep close to 2 am Ginny asked pomfrey if she could sleep in the next bed over and the woman nodded. She crawled in and fell asleep almost as soon as she laid down. 

Xx

Ryleigh woke with a start about an hour later when she heard hushed voices bickering at the other end of the room.

“She’s just a girl Albus! She needs her mother…” she heard McGonagall hiss. 

“Minerva the girls mother is a muggle—“

“No - she’s a squib, she can see the castle just as much as Filch can.” Snape interrupted.  

“I’ve made my decision.” Dumbledore snapped and she heard his footsteps recede.  

“Respectfully Severus. Go find the girls mother.” McGonagall said and when Snape said nothing she assumed he’d left. She heard McGonagall walking over and squeezed her eyes shut. 

“I know you’re awake dear.” She said softly and Ryleigh opened her eyes. She rolled over with a wince to meet the woman’s gaze. 

“Are you feeling alright?” She asked as she took a seat next to the bed.

“Honestly, I’ve been better.” She said with a laugh. “Really though, I’m alright…”

“Would you be able to identify your attackers Ryleigh?” She asked and the girl nodded. 

“It was Marcus Flint and Adrian Pucey.” She said and McGonagall nodded. 

“Professor Snape has gone to fetch your mother, they should be to you when you wake up, get some rest dear.”