Hidden Under Darkness

Chapter 3

**Fairlight's POV**

"Why do you do that?" Velvet asks me.

"Do what?" I ask, smoothing my hair down.

"Cover your face like that," she says.

"You know why."

"I'm sure the scar isn't that bad anymore."

I lift my hair back and she cringes.

"That's why," I say, "I hate people cringing at the sight of me."

"People do that anyway," Ana points out, "everyone is terrified of you."

"I like it that way. Means I don't have to talk to them."

"I think having friends would be good for you."

"I don't need friends."

Ana and Velvet exchange a look.

"What?" I ask, turning away from the mirror.

"We...Well, we've decided we..." Ana glances at Velvet.

"We want to be friends with the boys," Velvet says.

"I don't think friendship is on their mind," I reply.

"Well, that's sort of okay with us," Vel says.

"Fine," I huff, "but I'm out."

I grab my bag and stalk out of the dormitory. I walk down the stairs into the common room. George is sitting at the table in front of the fire, drawing.

"George."

He looks up, surprised.

"Good mor-"

"Tell your brother and Lee that if they hurt either of my sisters, they'll answer directly to me," I snarl, "got that?"

"Yes, captain," he smirks. I give him a death look and walk out.

I have breakfast quickly and collect my timetable from McGonagall. Transfiguration first.

When the bell rings for class, Velvet and Ana are nowhere to be seen. I take my usual seat at the back of the class and pull out my book.

"Open your books to page-"

The door flies open and Fred, Ana, Velvet and Lee stumble in, giggling. George walks in behind them, looking unamused. McGonagall glares at them.

"Sorry professor," Fred says. George wordlessly sits down next to me. I ignore him completely. I'm fuming about my sisters' behaviour.

After class I pull Ana and Velvet aside.

"See, I told you they're trouble," I hiss, "if you're going to hang around them, don't let them influence you so much."

I walk off to potions. Just ahead of me, George is walking by himself. I slow down until he's out of sight.

When I reach the dungeons, Fred, Lee, George, Velvet and Ana are sitting around a table, talking and laughing. Well, George is sitting looking left out. When he sees me come in he throws me a pleading look. I ignore him and take a seat at an empty table.

Snape sweeps in and a hush descends over the room.

"You are commencing your NEWT years," he says quietly, "the next two years we will be exploring extremely complex potions. If you do not wish to fail miserably, I suggest you pay careful attention."

Ana and Velvet are watching him carefully, looking serious. Good.

Snape sets us our work and I get straight into it.

Half an hour later I'm stirring my light green potion and feeling rather satisfied, until I hear Ana squeal. I look over and see bright red potion oozing from her cauldron. Fred is doubled over laughing, but Snape is looking less than impressed. He vanishes the potion angrily.

"Twenty points from Gryffindor," he snarls. I glare at them. Velvet and Anastasia are good at potions. They'd usually have found this potion easy to brew.

"That was so funny," Ana giggles as they walk to lunch. I'm walking a few feet behind them, silently fuming.

"I thought we nailed it," Lee jokes. I roll my eyes and stalk past them.

"Fair! How'd you go?" Velvet calls. I stop and turn around, my eyes blazing.

"Don't. Speak. To. Me," I hiss, "you two are an embarrassment."

"Oh, touchy," Fred smirks. I turn on my heel and walk off. It's lunch time, but I don't feel like eating, so I walk down to the lake. I pull my shoes and socks off and wade into the cool water. I brush my hair off my face completely and tilt my face to the sun, closing my eyes and enjoying the feeling of not having half my face smothered by hair. I can feel little fish playing around my toes and hold extra still so I don't scare them, despite the fact that they're tickling me.

"Fairlight?"

I jump and spin around, automatically hiding half my face. George is leaning against a tree, watching me.

"What do you want?" I snap, making sure my hair is over my face.

"I'm sick of that lot," he replies, jerking his head towards the castle, "they're being pretty inconsiderate."

"Well, duh."

"I had a thought," George says, hesitantly, "I think... if you're up for it... We should give them a taste of their own medicine."

"Explain," I say, observing him carefully.

"I think that we should do to them exactly what they're doing to us," he says.

"What, act all lovey-dovey and ignore them?" I scoff. He nods seriously.

"Exactly," he says, "show them how irritating it is. I know you miss your sisters and I miss my brother and my best friend. Don't get me wrong, I think you girls are great, but sometimes..."

"You just need guy time, I get it," I tell him. I think it over carefully. If it's just showing them what it's like I don't have to trust him, just put up with him. And, as long as Velvet, Ana, Lee or Fred aren't around, I don't even have to be nice to him.

"Alright," I agree, "but this is only until they get the message."

George grins at me.

"This will be fun."