Thalia Patil

The Friend That Wasn't

"Oh, hello, Thalia. Haven't gotten to meet you. So- I'm Sestiva, sorry I got off to a rough start," 'Ginny' smiled weakly and dashed off.

"HEY! Sestiva! Cut it out during practices, we've barely started rehearsals. Nigel can still kick you off." I yelled.

Sestiva didn't turn. And just headed to class. And I had Potions. I liked Potions, it was my best class, even at Hogwarts. Even with the Weasley family curse.

I was running late but I was Head Singer so the teacher let it go because I had had specail duties I had needed to do directly after lunch. (Some first years got lost on the way to Herbology. They didn't know it was outside.)

"Thalia, thank Merlin. I was quite sure there was another person in this class. We had an odd number," Professor Lilia. "We were going over the polyjuice potion and how this is going to be taught but if you are caught smuggling any out or making it on your own you will be automatically expelled. You are paired with Sestiva Leffin."

"Of course," I muttered and went to sit by her, "I'm good at potions, you light the cauldron, I'll get the ingredients."

Sestiva looked like she wanted to say something about that but she seemed to think better of it. This was probably smart because if Nigel wanted to kick her off, I would be the only one that could say anything about it that would matter.

When I returned with all of the ingredients she had NOT lit the cauldron.

"Headmaster confiscated my wand," she grunted.

"And let me guess, you haven't brewed a potion in a few years." I snapped and my worst fears were confermed when she didn't reply.

"Professor, shouldn't Sestiva be working on an easy potion? I can work on this alone." I said.

"Oh, yes. She should. Slipped my mind I daresay! If anyone could brew it alone it would be you. Go ahead try."

From behind me I heard a faint whisper but it was there. "Hermione."

My head snapped around and being in the back of the class there were few behind me. But only one had a smug look on her face like she'd been wanting to say that for such a long time and just got it.

I couldn't believe that anyone at the school would dare call me Hermione, so many of them knew my history, more from the Prophet. Then I had to clear everything up, so they knew. Yeah, I may not like some of them much and some didn't like me but they wouldn't dare. Payton and I didn't get along but he wouldn't dare.

I never believed she would do that.

The entire class stared at us and fell absolutely silent. Even Professor Lilia was waiting to see what happened next.

"You are a traitorous git." I snarled.

"Hermione brewed that in her second year. Alone."

"Want a detention?"

"You can't, Hermione, I'm not a singer." she sneered.

"And Payton and Sestiva aren't directors but Nigel gave them detentions. And you have two from me."

"And two from me," Nigel said.

"I'm your friend!"

"You were. You aren't anymore. You expect to still be my friend after calling me Hermione. You  are a GIT, Noelle."