Magic? || Years 5-7

Golden: Year 5

Just as Amisty was about to start heading down toward the cabins, the high-pitched voice of Pansy Parkinson called out to her.

"You know, River," She called, the taunt practically dripping from her words. "I was looking into the Azkaban breakout..."

Amisty picked up her pace, pointedly turning her back to Pansy.

"I had never heard of Everton before, probably because it had been destroyed," Pansy went on, "and imagine my surprise when I found out that someone named Echo River used to live there."

Amisty broke out into a run.

"I always knew you were a freak," Pansy cackled, her voice reaching her even with the wind in her ears, "but I never knew you were a monster. Like mother like daughter, I suppose."

Amisty skidded to a stop, her fists clenched, "My mother was not a monster, and neither am I."

"Then why don't you show everyone what you are and let them decide for themselves," Pansy countered.

"I don't need other peoples' approval of what I am," Amisty retorted. "I, unlike you, don't think blood status should affect my opinion of anyone."

"So you admit that there's something a bit off with your blood, then?" Pansy asked sweetly, her mouth twisting up in an unpleasant smile. "Do tell, is it Muggle blood or something else?"

Amisty took a deep breath, trying to contain herself, "That is none of your business."

"Too ashamed of your own parents to tell the truth, are you?" She continued tauntingly. "No wonder you spend so much time with Potter and Granger. Outcasts flock together, don't they?"

"Leave my friends out of this!" She seethed. "They have nothing to do with any of this."

"Simply stating the facts, no need to get so angry," Pansy smiled. "I know that's a bit of an issue, considering your genetics..."

Amisty cocked her head to the side, her blood roaring through her ears, "My genetics have nothing to do with my personality. That's not how DNA works, unfortunately, or you might have turned out to be a decent person. Not that I can say it's a guarantee, considering I've never met your parents, but I tend to refrain from making assumptions about people."

Pansy watched her with hawk-like eyes, her prefect badge gleaming on her chest.

"Your mother was the reason those twenty-four families died that day and you're still proud of her?"

"My mother fought for something she believed in."

"She got people killed."

"She wasn't the one who cast the curse."

"Are you too scared to admit that I'm right?"

Amisty didn't reply, her vision tinted red on the edges.

"I never would have guessed that you would be as much of a coward as your father," She sneered. "Aren't you supposed to be a Gryffindor?"

"My father is no coward!" Amisty snapped.

"He ran away, didn't he?" Pansy asked sweetly. "Ran away from the town with his daughter in tow to leave the woman he supposedly loved to be killed. Do you think he really did love her? Aren't Gryffindors supposed to protect their loved ones as much as possible?"

"My father risked his life to keep my mother safe from harm from the Death Eaters that wanted her dead," Amisty snarled, her voice cracking. "You have no right to judge his actions when he was simply trying to keep all of us safe. Echo fought back on her own accord, there isn't a day when my father doesn't regret going back for her. He is no coward, and he is far braver than you ever will be!"