𝐉𝐀𝐒𝐎𝐍𝐄𝐓𝐓𝐄 𝐉𝐔𝐋𝐘 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟐, jasonette

vi. 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐣𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐞

Marinette liked to think of herself as a very positive person, who got along with everyone in Hogwarts, despite their differences in houses. Of course, there were some prejudiced arses who judged her on her blood status — muggleborn — but generally, Marinette steered clear of them.

Having just finished writing her potion's essay — couldn't Snape give them a break for once? — Marinette was heading back to the Hufflepuff common room, her arms laden with heavy textbooks on the potions in the OWLs syllabus this year.

Sighing at the fact that fifth year was going to be tonight every night, Marinette didn't notice the seventh-years until they were crowding around her, whispering and snickering.

"Oi!" One of the boys yelled, "Aren't you the muggleborn fifth year?"

Marinette stopped walking — not that she could anyway — and exhaled through her nose slowly. On one hand, she could simply deny it and walk away. But, Marinette had never been one to avoid a confrontation especially on the prejudice against her blood status.

"Yes," Marinette said calmly, eyes sharp and icy as she took in stock of the 'men' around her. "Can I help you?"

One of the more unappealing boys stepped up to her, his foul breath attacking Marinette's nose with fervour.

"I bet you can," he sneered, looking down at her. "By leaving Hogwarts, that is. We don't need your filthy blood polluting our pure blood."

Marinette grit her teeth as her blood boiled, trying to remember who he was.

Realising they were all waiting for a pathetic, sniveling answer from herself, Marinette shot him an icy glare. "You're hardly one to talk. After all, the only reason your blood is pure is because it's the result of varying levels of incest."

Smirking as she felt the tension in the seventh-year build, Marinette added, "Probably explains why your face looks like a flat potato."

Letting out a roar of anger, the boy snarled at her, swinging his fist her way.

Raising her eyebrows at him, Marinette ducked slightly, wondering if she was an adrenaline junkie. It would explain why she didn't immediately shy away from these situations as most did.

The boy's — his name Marinette did not care to know, she could easily pick him out — fist missed her head by a good few inches.

Feeling the others around her beginning to move, Marinette clutched her wand, hidden in her robes, ready to start shooting as soon as things became unfair.

Sure enough, the other two boys advanced on her, wands out and ready.

One of them began to yell out, "Petrificus Tota—"

Well. Marinette couldn't let that happen, could she?

Immediately, her wand pointing at him, Marinette whispered, "Silencio."

Voice gone, Marinette smirked as she saw him clutch his throat and panic at the sudden loss of his voice. He didn't seem very bright.

But she became too arrogant, forgetting about the other seventh-year behind her.

A fist bludgeoned itself into Marinette's cheek, sending her body flying a few paces backwards. Marinette had the sense to cover her head from the stone floor as she fell, otherwise she'd probably be suffering from a severe concusssion.

The impact of landing on the floor was jarring, and left Marinette disoriented for a few moments, long enough for the three boys to advance on her, predatory grins pasted across their faces.

Marinette swore under her breath at her stupidity — why did she think she could do this again? — and looked for a way out. Spying the heavy textbooks, she had dropped earlier on the sides, Marinette scrambled to get up, ignoring the ache in her body as she heaved a textbook up and threw it at the boy she had silenced.

It hit his head with a resounding thud! but Marinette couldn't bring herself to feel bad about it. He deserved it.

Assuming he was unconscious, Marinette dug her hand into her pocked, looking for her wand. That was, until she realised it was on the other side of the seventh-years, essentially out of reach and leaving Marinette defenseless.

Dear god, she was so screwed.

Marinette stumbled again as her vision tunneled threateningly, and realised she had to act quick. Either she could let herself become a victim of these bullies or she could take a chance.

Trying to stay conscious, Marinette readied herself to run between the two boys, gritting her teeth against the pain.

The one who had accosted her in the beginning was coming closer — too close for Marinette's liking. He was saying something she couldn't hear over the pounding of her heart, but she did notice him laugh.

"Incarcerous," a distinctly male voice said from behind him, and within seconds, the boy was silenced, rolling on the ground furiously making muffled noises.

Marinette's mouth dropped open, watching as yet another boy walked in (a sixth-year maybe?) but this time, on her side. She watched soundlessly as the boy snarled at the last standing bully, who, she noticed, left in quite a hurry after talking to the newcomer.

Marinette didn't realise she was staring at him until he walked in front of her, looking down at her with concern in his eyes. "Are you alright?" he asked, cringing slightly as he took her into consideration.

Wordlessly, Marinette nodded, her gaze finally tearing away from the handomse boy in front of her to her wand, lying innocently on the floor.

"My wand," she croaked, her throat sore and voice hoarse for some reason.

Offering her a kind smile, the boy walked to it languidly, picking it up and inspecting it for damages.

In the mean time, Marinette had the sense to gather her things, picking up her satchel and textbooks, ignoring the blackening edges of her vision and static running through her ears.

"Here," said the boy, his voice sounding funnily tinny. "Do you want some help?"

Marinette nodded again, but as she did so, a red drop of something fell onto the floor below them.

The last thing she saw the boy's worried face as the blackness overcame her vision, until she knew no more.

When she woke up later, Marinette would realise that the boy who helped her? Well, he was part of the famous — or infamous, really — Wayne family.

Jason Todd.