The Loyal and Just

Chapter Thirteen

Christmas came and went just like any ordinary day. The Tonks were cool but all I really wanted was to be at Hogwarts. It wasn't that I hated being home, but that Hogwarts was the one place I could be by myself, the one place I can have space to think.

I didn't really get any great gifts that stood out this year, I just got the usual books and candy.

The Tonks left the day after Christmas and I spent the rest of the holidays avoiding my family. I wrote a lot, using quills and parchment instead of a computer. Writing provided a way to escape and to divulge into another world. A world no one knows about but me.

Finally, the Holidays came to an end and I was back on the train with Kitty.

"Hey Aran, are you okay?" Kitty asks

"Of course I am," I assure her

"No, you're not," Kitty argues, "you've been withdrawn ever since we left Hogwarts. What's going on?"

"It's nothing," I say

We spend the rest of the ride in silence.

~✯~

I was unpacking that night when Daphne approached me.

"Heya," she said sort of menacing, "how were the holidays?"

"I wish I had stayed here instead," I told her

"Really, that bad?" Daphne asked.

"No, it was just my family." I say, "I felt like they were disappointed in me."

"For what?!" Daphne exclaims.

"The fireworks."

Daphne rolled her eyes.

"Oh my god, that again?"

"Well, how did your parents act?" I argue.

"I didn't tell." Daphne says, "you don't get in trouble for something they don't know about."

"But what about your little sister, Astoria?" I ask, "you have a little sister too. You didn't even tell her?"

"Nope." Daphne, "cause not all sisters care about each other as much as you and Kitty do. I mean I still care about Astoria, but it's not like I keep tabs on her like you do for Kitty. And besides! It's not healthy having an obsession with your little sister. You have to let her go a bit. "

Just then Tracy came in.

"Hey what's up?" She says worriedly.

"Nothing. Me and Daphne were just talking."

"That's bull. You and Daphne only ever scheme or argue. I don't think you're even capable of having a normal conversation when I'm not around. So what's going on?"

"I was just telling Aran that she needs to stop being so obsessive about her sister," Daphne explains

"I'm not obsessive about Kitty! I'm just sticking my neck out for her." I argue

"You know what happens when you stick your neck out for someone? You lose your head." Daphne says

"See that's exactly what I'm talking about. We literally just got back and you're pissing each other off." Tracey says, "Come on, let's go get something from the great hall."

There was nothing in the great hall save the large hourglasses that held our house points. Slytherin and Gryffindor were neck to neck.

We turned back and returned to the common rooms. Finally, when we outside the entrance I said "there's nothing wrong with looking out for someone else."

Daphne turned to me and said "Sweetheart you're in Slytherin. This isn't your mummy and daddy's house. If you don't play the part, I'll personally be there to chop your head off."

~✯~

Classes started the next day and I was approached by Professor Lupin soon after the first week.

"Harry and I decided to have Patronus lessons next Thursday." Lupin said, "You don't have to come if you don't want to."

"No, I'll come." I smiled and headed for Ancient Runes.

Daphnes words were still haunting my head. I knew my mum was probably right and I shouldn't be friends with Daphne, but after what she said I was scared. Scared because of what she would do to me if I did decide to not be friends and scared because I know how it ends. I predicted it on our first day of divination.

"Hey Aran!" Hermione said running across the hall.

What the hell?

Hermione reached me panting and said, "Hey, could I sit next to you in runes today?"

"Yeah, why?" I asked

"I'll explain later."

Hermione almost seemed overjoyed to see me. Maybe something was going on with her, Harry and Ron.

We were sitting in charms in my usual spot near the back. I had enchanted my quill to take notes for me and Hermione copied my enchantment. Then she pulled out another quill and started writing on another piece of parchment.

We're friends, right? She wrote

Of course, I scribbled back, what's going on? Passing notes in class doesn't seem like Hermione-like behavior.

Ron and Harry are angry at me right now and I've been feeling very alone. Hermione wrote

Well, why are they angry at you? I asked

Harry got a Firebolt for Christmas from a mysterious sender and I gave it to McGonagall because I thought it was from Sirius Black. So McGonagall confiscated it. Hermione wrote.

I thought to myself.

Well, as awesome as a firebolt is, that sucks. I write, if you ever want to talk, I'm free (usually)

Thanks, Aran, that means a lot. Hermione writes

I lean in and mutter "we should probably pay attention now"

The rest of runes went by and nothing happened. I can tell Hermione felt better just by what I said.

I think back to my own situation. I know there'll be a big fallout when I finally suck it up and approach Daphne, at least I have one friend I can trust to be there for me.