Changing from within

Chapter Fourteen

Changing from Within

Chapter 14

Lost Wounds

Wiping away our tears, Steph and I decide to head downstairs to get some food, walking in companionable silence as we each leave the other to our own thoughts. We don't meet anyone until we hit the doors to the great hall, where Hannah, Megan, Katherine, Adam and Gregor are waiting on us. Without a word, Megan steps forward, embracing the two of us in a supportive embrace.

"We're sitting together for lunch," She informs Steph and I as she steps away, "at the Slytherin table," she looks pointedly at me with a smirk, "as you have been to all the other tables already." I grin at their acceptance and with a renewed confidence, we walk into the hall together, ignoring the stares as the group of us head straight to the Slytherin table, taking our places at the far end, next to Pansy, Millicent, Tracy and Daphne.

As expected, Daphne turns away from us with a shake of her head, clearly showing her disapproval. Pansy, sitting next to Draco, sniffs hotly, apparently not haven forgiven me over the spat with Draco on Saturday. Tracy turns bright red, her eyes flicking from me to the others.

"I know I asked you to introduce me," she starts, glaring at me, "but I didn't mean like this!" I laugh at the Slytherin tables, reaction to me bringing a Gryffindor, two Hufflepuff's and three Ravenclaw's into their midst.

"Don't worry," I tell her, shaking my head with a smile, "they're here for moral support."

"What moral support would you need?" Pansy cuts in, sneering nastily in my direction.

"Help in dealing with people like you." I answer instantaneously, smirking at her outraged shock.

"Louise," Adam reprimands me, I turn to see his smirk equalling my own, "don't be mean to the less fortunate." Pansy turns her back to us, turning instead to talk to a vaguely disgruntled Draco Malfoy. I did not realize Pansy's infatuation with Draco had started this early! I mean, come on! she's eleven years old, and he's an arrogant prick.

"Well?" Katherine starts, turning to me as I give Pansy an immature stink eye. "Are you going to introduce us?"

"I'm pretty sure I already have," I answer, turning away from the odd eleven-year-old to grin cheekily at Katherine.

"Well introduce us again." She orders, I roll my eyes but oblige, happy to be distracted.

"Okay," I gesture to Tracy sitting next to me, "This is Tracy. Tracy, this is Katherine, Megan, Hannah, Steph, Gregor and Adam."

"Yes, Louise," Gregor buts in, "We know, that is Daphne, Millicent, Pansy, Draco, Blaise and Zabini." Rolling my eyes, I sit back to watch my new and old friends interact. Only Tracy seems particularly happy to talk to any of them, with Daphne being her usual quiet self and Millicent deciding to talk briefly with Adam and Gregor before turning back to their meals quietly.

The rest of lunch is uneventful, minus some glares from other Slytherin's, we finish our meal in peace and head to our next classes; Charms and Transfiguration for the Slytherin's; Defense Against the Dark Arts and History of Magic for the Gryffindor's; Potions for Hufflepuff's and Ravenclaw's and then Charm's for the 'Puffs and Defence Against the Dark Arts for the Ravenclaw's.

Taking dinner together again, Steph brings up the question they had all no doubt been asking themselves – why was I in the Hospital wing? Noticing the first year Slytherin's interest switching to us after Steph's question, I quickly downplay, deciding to tell them the whole story later, when we do not have as many listening ears.