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"Well don't you look cozy."
Althea sprung up in fear but quickly relaxed when she realised it was Kazz standing next to her. She realised it was late and that she had fallen into a light sleep while studying for her Potions exam, as much as she liked Slughorn as a teacher she was convinced he had a few screws loose.
"How late is it?" Althea yawned.
Kazz smiled before sitting down on a chair next to her, "Late. You missed dinner. Alice and Lily came to find me when I had finished my detention because they were worried the twats might do something to you so I came looking for you but you seem fine to me."
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to worry any of you. I just wanted some quiet to do some revising. I'm fine, I just didn't realise how tired I was." Althea explained as she rubbed her eyes. Kazz helped gather her things, knowing she was absolutely knackered and couldn't really move much.
He helped her get out of the chair, "Do you want to stay with me tonight?" Althea nodded as she leaned against him. She didn't really have much energy so she was grateful for him helping gather her things and support her weight as they walked to the dorm. Kazz made small talk and talked about his day as Althea did her best to listen. Soon enough they were in his dorm, changed into pyjamas and cuddling on the couch, and soon enough they were both asleep.
The following morning Althea had woken up pretty early. She felt rather refreshed after a good nights sleep and she knew it was all thanks to Kazz, being with him always made her feel safe. She pressed a kiss to his head before gathering her things and making her way to her dorm room. However, as she was walking down the stairs, she was confronted by the she-devil.
"Stay away from Sirius, bitch."
Althea rolled her eyes, "I don't talk to him, look at him or have any classes with him. I want absolutely nothing to do with him." She didn't really feel like she needed to explain herself but she just wanted it over and done with, especially since her anxiety was spiking.
Marlene glared at her, "He's mine."
"I don't care." Althea replied.
Marlene growled, "I'll make you regret it." Before Althea could reply Marlene charged at her, throwing her weight against her, resulting in Althea losing her footing and thus falling down the stairs. She tried to protect her face and head but she hit the last stair with her head pretty hard causing her to blackout.
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Althea groaned as she finally came to. She tried to sit up on the bed but found it rather hard and tried to hold her head but realised both her hands were being held.
"Take it easy, you took a pretty hard hit." Jace spoke in a whisper. She looked around the room, realising she was on a hospital bed and her friends surrounding her.
"What happened?" She couldn't really remember much. Small glimpses but she wasn't sure what to say or if anyone knew what really happened.
"You fell down the stairs." Jace explained before pressing a kiss to her hand.
Althea shook her head, "No, I was pushed." Everyone gasped in shook as they looked at her. Why the hell would someone push her down the stairs? What actually happened? What lead up to that moment? Why would someone have a grudge against her? Why did someone hate her so much they'd push her down the stairs?
Before anyone could question her, Professor McGonagall and Headmaster Dumbledore walked over to them and they seized their conversation. Madam Pomfrey ushered them all away so that they could question Althea and figure out what's going on.
"Miss Rivers, can you tell us what happened?" And so she did. She proceeded to tell them about how Marlene cornered her on the stairwell, threatened her and then started yelling at her before throwing her down the stairs while she just stood over her.
Dumbledore frowned, "Are you sure that's what happened?" McGonagall glared at him. She could not believe the man had the audacity to question her credibility when she had never done anything that would make her seem untrustworthy. She was a child, why the hell would she lie about something so traumatic?
"You can always give me Veritaserum, I have nothing to lose. I know what happened, I remember what happened and I have no problem saying it." Althea firmly spoke. She was a little disappointed that Dumbledore would doubt her, especially after everything he knew she'd gone through.
McGonagall moved to stand closer to the girl, "We can discuss that later. Your parents are on their way. Poppy says that you have a concussion and a few bruises but you'll be fine as long as you get some rest. When you feel better we'll talk more about this, in the mean time I'll make sure Miss McKinnon is sent home awaiting the outcome." The Professor didn't let Dumbledore give an input as she pretty much dragged him away.
"How do you feel?" Kazz asked, moving to her bed side and taking her hand.
Althea moved down on the bed to rest her head, "Sore. Tired." She moved over so Kazz could sit on the bed with her, snuggling close to him.
"Did you mean what you said earlier, about someone pushing you?" Lily asked.
Althea sighed, "Yeah, it was Marlene."
"What?"
"Why would she do something like that?"
"Has she lost her mind?"
"I was going back to my dorm room this morning and she stopped me as I was walking down the stairs. She started spewing all this nonsense about me being too close to Sirius, that he was hers and I needed to leave him alone. Next thing I know, she's screaming at me and I'm falling down the stairs." Althea explained as she snuggled closer to Kazz.
"That girl has officially gone too far." Jace growled. Lily tried to calm him down but it wasn't really working. He was fuming to find out that someone had the audacity to hurt his little sister.
