With the Yule celebration over and the new year begun, the students returned. The castle was again alive with laughter and excitement from children ready to learn. Percilla quickly walked down the hall, her ancestor's diary gripped tightly in her hand. She needed to speak with Marcus and Harry. Percilla had found the secret that could have saved her family from shame. Rounding the corner, Percilla stopped to give a grim expression to a fourth-year Hufflepuff boy who thought it would be a good idea to use the stairwell as a slide. It felt good to have the children back in the castle even though they were a pain.

"Percilla!" A voice called. Percilla recognized Peony Parkinson as she was walking toward her.

"Peony!" Percilla smiled as she created her friend, "how was Yule?"

"It was great. Our parents took us to France, and it was beautiful. You'll have to visit over the summer, and I'll have mother take us."

It was a lovely thought, Percilla concluded, but it was more pretty words. Percilla would not be able to afford a summer holiday in France. Especially not on her tutoring money. Hats, gloves, and hair combs were one thing. She could transfigure something pretty, but she could not make money fall into thin air.

"That would be lovely," Percilla said, a little tight but a shy smile to offset her uneasiness. "Oh, hello, Penelope."

Penelope Clearwater was one of Percilla's first friends at Hogwarts. They had met on the train first year. Percilla was left in a compartment to herself after her older brothers Bill and Charlie ran off with their friends. Percilla didn't care if she was alone. She had a book, and Bill Billgiven her a Knutt for a piece of candy when the trolly arrived. That was when a bubbly blonde stood up, asking if she could sit.

Penelope was a muggleborn, although Percilla didn't mind. She had talked excitedly to Percilla about how proud she was to be a witch. Percilla had tried to inform Penelope about the magical world and all there was to hold. But the blonde was not interested in all that and had assured Percilla she knew what there was to know. Percilla left it at that, not wanting to cause conflict but also not to lose her first new friend.

Penelope had a look that Percilla knew all too well. Trying to move the attention away from herself, she looked toward Peony.

"Peony, have you met Penelope Clearwater? She's in Ravenclaw our year."

Peony smiled and nodded her head once, "I have. It's a pleasure seeing you, Miss. Clearwater."

Percilla smiled, thinking that maybe both her friends could get along. However, one look at Penelope's face told Percilla that would not happen.

"Yeah, back at cha," Penelope said nonchalantly as if the conversation was a bore.

Percilla wanted the floor to swallow her up. The way that Penny spoke caused Percilla's face to heat up as she became embarrassed.

"I am going to go ahead to dinner, Percilla. I will see you there," Peony said in her normal voice, eyes never leaving the distrustful blonde.

"Of course," Percilla quickly said, hoping that Peony was not insulted as the idea of her Slytherin and Ravenclaw friends being close was crashing down around her. "Penelope, what?"

"Oh, don't do that, Percilla." Penelope snapped, flipping her long blonde hair over her shoulder. Percilla never could talk her into braiding it. "I guess what they say about Slytherin's true. Percilla, how could you let this happen?" Penelope's voice tinged with reproach, and Percilla felt the sting of it.

"What do you mean by that?" Percilla asked her friend, confused and hurt. "I thought you would be happy for me?"

"I am happy for you if this is what you want, but you are making a deal with the devil," Penelope said flippantly. "I mean guys like that."

"What do you even mean guys like that?" Percilla cried out, ignoring the attention their spat was gaining.

"Guys like Marcus Flint do not want girls like you, Percilla. The snooty rich kids are not looking for."

"Someone poor like me?" Percilla grounded out her teeth tight as she felt the anger rise. She knew she was projecting it was a constant fear that Percilla housed.

"You were single for a reason." The response was flat and monotoned.

"I cannot believe you just said that. Marcus began courting me. I didn't seek him out or beg him. He likes me. Why are you trying to diminish that?"

"I am just calling it how I see it, Percilla."

"Are you trying to say he's lying?" Percilla snapped. She wanted to scream or cry, maybe both.

"No, I think it's all great. But I've heard about this stuff," Penelope said sarcastically as she made a face, "those Pureblood boy's who care nothing about a girl but her body just to see how far you'd go." Her words were trained and deliberate. "Besides, this whole 'bonding' thing is so stupid."

"That's ridiculous. Marcus would never," Percilla seethed, "no it is not! It's beautiful and full of love."

"I just think that if you believe this will go anywhere, you're delusional. I've seen you strutting around here. Do you think he and his friends don't know who you are just because he buys you some fancy dresses and jewelry?" Penelope said friends like it was a dirty word she was forced to speak.

"And what am I?" Percilla wiped at the frustrated tears that fell down her face.

"A desperate girl who hoped onto the first boy that showed her any attention. You wouldn't even listen to me when I told you that you could probably get a date if you just took your hair down. I mean, come on, Perci, why do you want to be a part of that."

"I like my hair like this. It is tradition." Percilla had argued with Penelope about the need and significance of a witch putting her hair up. The muggleborn did not understand and sometimes even got mad at Percilla for doing it.

"Oh yeah, like Penelope Padgett, Peony Parkinson, or Verena Rosier?" The disrespect that seeped out of Penelope's words was dishearting, but it made Percilla madder. "Oh please, they are not your friends," Penelope rolled her eyes like it was laughable. "It's heartbreaking that you don't see that they are no good for you."

"You're wrong," Percilla said calmly as her eyes hardened. Who was this girl to talk to her like this? Percilla was embarrassed and upset, but above all else, she was pissed. "What are you jealous? Am I having too much fun for you? Not quite quiet enough for you anymore? Not quite willing to sit around and let you criticize my whole life and beliefs in favor of your precious muggle world and the man in the sky?"

"Jealous?!" Penelope snapped louder than she had been the entire fight. "Jealous of what? That you will get used up by some stupid guy who failed last year? And if you get married, you'll end up barefoot and pregnant, not allowed to make a peep. He's a real class act."

"Oh, please. Did you not tell me that your brother got a girl pregnant at fifteen with no plans to marry her 'cause your mum called her a trollop? That's a class act." Percilla knew she was hitting below the belt but didn't care. She was so close to shouting she could feel her magic simmer under her skin.

Percilla knew in her heart that Penelope was lashing out in envy. Penelope never liked when Percilla got too much attention. Although the Ravenclaw never had to worry about it much then. Percilla always seemed to be in the background while Penelope soaked up the attention as the extroverted, popular girl. As long as Percilla was that poor lonely girl, Penelope Clearwater could act like her best friend. Percilla was afraid of losing the only friend she had ever made. She had sucked it up and ignored that fact. Now it was smacking her in the face. Or tried.

Penelope Clearwater was in front of her one minute, mad and ready to lash out physically to the next, being thrown across the hall.

_________________________________________________

The great hall was loud. As always, kids were talking excitedly about where they had been and what they had gotten for Yule. Marcus was sitting with his usual group of friends. He had been discussing the need for extra practice as the next Quidditch game was soon. Peony had just sat down, smiling at the group before turning to Marcus.

"Percilla's on her way. Clearwater stopped to talk to her. Nasty girl, but she is Percilla's friend, so I'll be nice."

Marcus smirked but thanked his friend nonetheless. He also did not like Penelope Clearwater. The bird was rude and self-centered without any shame in her body as she hung off muggle-borns like a harlot. However, she was Percilla's friend and had been since her first year. Marcus was not going to force Percilla to end any friendship she had, regardless of how horrid it was. Marcus planned to sit and listen to Percilla talk about her worries and fears for her friends, and if the friendship was to end, Marcus would be there to hold her while she wept. It was a win in Marcus' book. He got to be there.

"Heir Flint! Heir Flint!" an out-of-breath voice called out. Marcus turned to look at the second year. Heir Goyel comes running down the table. Raising an eyebrow, Marcus watched as the second year tried to regain his breath as his words began and stopped.

"Miss Weasley. Yelling. Hallway."

Marcus was on high alert as his face darkened, "what?" He didn't have time to wait for the second year as he stood up.

"Miss Clearwater was yelling at Miss Weasley in the second-floor hall next to the stairs." It had come out easier that time, but it didn't matter to Marcus.

Marcus began walking towards the door on a mission. He didn't even have to look to know that Adrian and Graham had followed him. What did surprise him was that he could also feel two more magical energy coming alongside. The Weasley twins had stepped in when the eavesdropped mention of their older sister's name was said.

His heart stopped momentarily when he felt his heir ring go off. Someone had tried to touch Percilla without her consent. If Marcus ran up the stairs two at a time, no one mentioned it as he made his way to the second floor. A body lay huddled beside the wall as portraits flooded each other's frames to get a good look.

Marcus was close to running to the body when he heard a sob of his name. Turning around, he saw a wide-eyed Percilla standing there, her hand over her mouth as she stared at him.

"I don't. I don't know." Her words were cut off by sobs as her eyes flicked to her drooped friend. Marcus came over and wrapped Percilla in his arms. Her body was trembling, but after a quick once over, he could tell that no harm had come over her.

What did not help was that all the professors came rushing up the stairs at that time. Marcus stood in front of Percilla, shielding his betrothed from any harm. It gave him pride that Graham and Adrian fell in the toe following the Weasley twins, who formed a circle around the girl.

"Oh, my," Professor McGonagall said before turning to the group, "What is the meaning of this?" Her voice was shrill and loud. Percilla's hands came up to grab the back of Marcus' shirt, holding onto him for support. "Miss Weasley?"

"She came at me," Percilla said, confused as her eyes flicked up to meet the Professor. "She got upset, and we got into a fight, and she tried to hurt me, and I don't know she landed over there."

"Miss Weasley, you can not mean," Dumbledore began, his grandfatherly voice trying to come across as caring.

"She does mean," Marcus snapped, cutting off the Headmaster. "If Miss Clearwater tried to touch Percilla without her consent, the protection charms in her jewelry would react."

"Can anyone confirm that that is what happened?"

Marcus felt the rage build as he listened to the old coot ask such ridiculous questions. Marcus' father told him when he came to his first year to never look Dumbledore in the eye and never trust what comes out of his mouth.

"I can," A male voice spoke out. All heads swirled around to see Darco Malfoy standing on the side, looking bored.

"Well, Mister Malfoy?" Professor McGonagall asked, her tolerance running low.

"Heir Malfoy," Draco corrected before returning to his bored look, "Heir Crabbe, Goyle, and I was going to dinner when we heard some yelling. Turns out Clearwater over there is jealous of Miss Weasley and want's her to take her braid down to get a different boy. Weasley said no, and Clearwater went to smack her."

Marcus gave the younger Slytherin a glance before turning back to the Headmaster, "physical assault is grounds for a blood feud. And since Clearwater is a muggle-born, she would be stripped of her magic with enough house's declaring."

"And House Flint has several allies," Adrian said, shrugging his shoulders like it was a regular statement.

"There is no need for that, I'm sure," The Headmaster said quickly as he looked towards Professor McGonagall for assistance.

"Would there be anything Miss Clearwater can do?"

"An official apology to my betrothed and a two-week suspension," Marcus stated, crossing his arms as he stared down the Headmaster.

"That is a bit excessive, don't you think? This was just a misunderstanding." the Headmaster began, but it didn't get very far.

"A miss understanding?" Professor Snape asked, his words carrying through the hall. "Headmaster, if I may, Miss Weasley has every right to feel protected in this school, as do other students. To have another student physically assault her and get nothing as a punishment. What does that say to the children or the parents?"

"Mr. and Mrs. Weasley would under-,"

"The Flint's would not," Severus countered, cutting the Headmaster off, "and if the ring on her hand is any indicator Miss Weasley is to be a Flint by her 17 name day."

"I have to agree with Severus, Headmaster," Professor Flitwick said as he came towards the group, "I clearly thought better of Miss Clearwater than to do this, but actions deserve consequences."

Marcus could still feel Percilla's hand on his back. He needed to get her away from this mess. "While punishment is being made, I will take my betrothed to dinner as she has not eaten. If a statement needs to be provided, you can call us tomorrow afternoon, Professor?"

Marcus led Percilla away from the teachers and down the steps. He wanted out of earshot of the professors before he asked Percilla any questions. Marcus could feel that the four behind him were following along protectively before making it safely away.

"Are you okay?" Marcus asked, not liking how pale Percilla was. The freckles that decorated her face were almost not there.

"Yeah," Percilla said softly, her body still shaking as she stared up at Marcus. "I don't understand. We had always been best friends. I just. I don't get it."

Everyone shared a look. It was a knowledge that while Percilla thought they were friends, Penelope Clearwater was clearly using the redhead.

"You were never friends Perc," Fred stated with not an ounce of humor in his voice. "She had always been mean to you,"

"But she was your only friend." George ended, "Sorry. We wanted to tell you, but mum said you would have no friends."

Percilla bit her lip; she knew her brothers were trying to do what they thought was best. But the truth that came out hurt all the same.

"It's okay," Percilla whispered. "I'm just glad to be in the know."

It was painful, but Percilla wasn't going to show the hurt on her face. It was embarrassing. Biting her lip, she looked down, remembering the book she had clutched in her hand. "I was uh, I wanted to talk to you about what I found," Percilla said, looking up at Marcus, unable to get her thoughts together.

"Later," Marcus said softly as he lowered the book, "you need to eat."

Taking Percilla's hand and wrapping it around his forearm, he led her toward the grand hall entrance. The hall quieted as the group entered by walking in an arrow towards the Slytherin table, not caring for house protocols. Percilla was surprised when the twins sat beside her and not back at the Gryffindor table.

"We'll talk everything over tomorrow, but for now, eat something," Marcus told her as he began putting some of her favorites on the plate.

Percilla blushed a bit, but she nodded quietly. Maybe it was better to wait. She can get her head back together and be able to talk usually.

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