Squeaks, Moony and Padfoot

Chapter 6

After her lesson with Lupin, Evie began to notice two Slytherin boys had been making comments about her boggart. At first, she just ignored the whispers and giggles that she would get as she walked to her classes. Soon the whispers turned into heckles.

The weeks following that lesson were horrendous, not that she would tell Remus that. She knows what he is like, he'd blame himself. It was her own fault for having such a ridiculous fear. In her whole life she had never known of a witch or wizard to fall of their broom and die. Fall off and have minor injuries yes, but never die.

Every time she would meet with Remus, Usually, a Sunday evening, they would discuss how their weeks had been. Remus was thoroughly enjoying his job; you could see the sparkle in his eyes as he spoke about it. The wolfsbane potion that Dumbledore was giving to Remus must have been powerful. He wasn't ending a cycle as exhausted as he usually would. In fact, he was looking and feeling energised, which was more than could be said for Evie.

She would tell Remus about some of the things she had been learning that week but would always leave out what the Slytherins had been saying to her. Evie looked paler than usual, and her eyes had lost a little of their sparkle.

Addie and Hallie had been supportive but there wasn't much they could do. Hallie often told them to shove off and Addie would do the same.

*****

"Go pester someone else you cretin," Addie had said.

"Blood traitor!" One of the boys shouted back.

"Just leave it guys, they will get bored and drop it eventually," Evie said.

*****

Evie would always try to put on her best show for Remus, not wanting him to worry.

"I've had a great week, really productive," she would say. "Finished the assignment McGonagall set, early. So, I've spent a lot of time in the library, reading up on other subjects like charms," Evie stated.

"That's Excellent darling! Now you better head off to your dorm, it's getting late," Remus said as he hugged Evie goodnight.

It wasn't a lie. She had been productive, and she was reading about charms because she had already finished McGonagall's assignment.

What she failed to mention was she had been researching some harmless hexes. The constant berating from Mika Skylar was taking its toll and she could see how it was affecting her. She didn't like it. Evie had decided weeks ago that she would take a stand against Mika. She had tried everything from ignoring him to biting back when he taunted her. The spell was her last resort. Only to be used if absolutely necessary.

As she walked through the halls, she spotted Draco. She wasn't really in a talking mood tonight. After Dinner with Remus, her ability to pretend everything was fine was at its limit. So, she simply smiled and continued to walk.

"Hey, Evie wait," Draco called.

Evie sighed but stopped.

Draco walked over to her, eyeing her closely. "What's wrong? You never just continue walking past me when I'm alone. You know it is our only chance to talk – What's going on?" he questioned.

Evie took a deep breath, "Nothing Draco, I'm just tired," She went to move but Draco stopped her. She could feel his concern.

"You look it, and you're pale. Are you unwell?" he said softly.

"I'm fine Draco, just leave me," she shouted.

"Woah woah woah, what's got into you?" he said surprised by her outburst.

Evie couldn't help it, she was getting overwhelmed. Being heckled everyday by Mika was draining her. Especially trying to keep up the Façade that she was fine.

"I'm sure you've heard all about it in your common room Draco. I'm the freak who is afraid of flying. According to Mika, I shouldn't be worried about falling of my broom anyway as my arse is big enough to cushion the blow," Evie went to continue but Draco interrupted.

"I heard about your boggart and some people were giggling about it in the common room, but I didn't know he was saying all those horrible things to you," he said quietly.

"When you heard what they were saying in the common room, did you say anything to them?" She asked softly. She already knew the answer. Draco had to keep his reputation. Being friends with Evie could destroy that, especially if they knew everything he had done for her last year.

He shook his head.

Evie sighed, "Don't worry about it Draco, it will stop soon. Nothing I can't handle. It's been going on for months now, what's a few more weeks?" she fake laughed.

Draco looked at Evie puzzled, like he knew what her alternative method would be.

"I'm going to bed Draco, I'll see you around," she said as she continued to walk towards the Hufflepuff common room.

*****

A few weeks had past and Mika's taunts had become more vile by the day. He had now 'upped his game', one day he threw a broomstick at her and said "Do us all a favour, fly up to the astronomy tower, then let go."

She threw it back at him and told him to shove it up his arse, if he could fit another stick up there. Her fight mode had kicked in and she had had enough.

The next day he approached Evie while on her way to potions class. "You are disgusting Potter, are all your family as repugnant as you are?" he laughed. "Of course, your grandmother is a filthy muggle, isn't she?" he jibed.

"What did you say?" Evie shouted, squaring her shoulders up to this boy, who was at least 6 inches taller than she was.

"You heard me, filthy half-blood!" He repeated.

Evie saw red, she shoved Mika as hard as she could and drew out her wand. He stumbled backwards and before he could say anything else, Evie cast her spell, "Non Loqueris donec hex elevetur." With that, Mika's mouth was bound together, and his voice silenced.

Hallie and Addie who had just come round the corner as Evie hexed Mika started to laugh. As did all the other children surrounding them.

Professor Snape appeared from his classroom. Once he saw what had happened, he was furious. He immediately took 50 points from Hufflepuff, gave Evie detention, and sent her off to Dumbledore's office.

Evie didn't much care, Mika got what he deserved.