Chapter 9 ~ Argumental Debates.

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Maxine had to meet her female classmates the next morning, and actually found it easier than she had thought it would be. Though showered in questions, the two girls who actually talked to her after they'd been introduced seemed more tactful on the subject - unfortunately this was not the case with the third girl.

Most of the enquiries that came from the first two, Fauna and Rose, were light hearted, things like;

''What's it like being home schooled?''

''Do you live full-time with the Potters?''

And then of course came more questions about what Harry Potter was like, and was Ginny Potter nice at home because she looked nice when she was playing at the quidditch world cup, and all that. Maxine had felt herself relaxing, and had opened up a bit, but then the third girl, Ava, who had been regarding her snootily throughout the previous conversation, decided she would cut to the chase.

''Why aren't you in Slytherin?''

Maxine turned around, heart burning with anger that she had to force down. A display of her hot temper would only fuel this provoking girl.

''Why should I be in Slytherin? I could ask the same question to you.''

Ava smirked at this reaction. ''You're a Lestrange, that's enough reason for you to go into Slytherin.''

Maxine raised her eyebrows, becoming calmer. It was ludicrous to brand you with your family name and say you should be this or you should be that, and it wasn't a very strong reason for Ava to use. Maxine smiled.

''Believe me, you're more Slytherin than I'll ever be.''

Ava's eyes glittered with anger at this, and Fauna and Rose were watching uneasily. Maxine picked up her hairbrush and began to attend to her hair, continuing; ''Besides, I'm not really a Lestrange. My Mother was Bellatrix Lestrange's daughter, but I kept the name because nobody knows who my father is.''

Ava looked irritated at this display of information, there seemed nothing to jeer at now. Dumping her pyjamas on the bed, the girl tossed her blonde hair, thrust her nose in the air and stomped out of the room. Maxine watched her critically as she did this. The girl reminded her of someone, someone in a muggle film...ah yes, Regina George from ''Mean Girls.'' Maxine laughed to herself. She'd hit the nail on the head there.

Fauna came over with a concerned look on her face. ''You know, it's kind of an unwritten rule that you don't mess with Ava Bredowan.''

Maxine raised her eyebrows. Had she unwittingly entered the scene of a muggle high school?

''Why? What can she do?''

Fauna sighed. ''Well, she has very good ways of ruining your social life.''

Maxine grinned. ''I don't think she's a threat then, as I won't have a social life in the first place.''

Rose entered the conversation. ''What makes you think that?''

Maxine laughed. ''Well, for one I'm the granddaughter of Bellatrix Lestrange, which kind of puts people off, and also, I don't really want a social life. I like to be a lone wolf.''

Fauna looked at her slyly. ''Ah, but what about guys?''

''I'm sorry to say that you don't have a great bunch here.'' Maxine replied, smiling broadly. ''Anyway, most boys aren't attracted to me, probably because of the same reasons I won't have a social life.'' She laughed. ''Besides, I don't have any experience in that area.''

Rose raised her eyebrows. ''Well, we'll just have to teach you then.'' She slipped on a boot. ''But you are right, the guys in our year aren't a great bunch.''

''Unless you want to have a go with the golden boy.'' Fauna added, smiling stupidly.

''Who's he?'' Maxine asked with a grin.

''He's Ava's twin, Avery.'' Rose told her. ''And obviously Fauna is joking because now that you've pissed off his sister nothing is ever going to happen. Besides, he's got a girlfriend.''

Maxine laughed. ''If he's anything like his sister I pity the girl he's dating.''

Rose nodded. ''Yeah, he's a total moron. The only reason people let the Golden Twins strut about is because their Dad's really rich and they are both hot.''

''Also they have this club, ''The Golden Club'', for star students of all houses. You kind of get invited in, and if you are, you get the full attention of the school.'' Fauna added.

Maxine raised her eyebrows. ''Sounds like hell.'' She put the lid on her eyeliner and surveyed herself in the mirror. Yes, everything was fine. Turning round, she headed for the door, Rose also going that way.

''Ok, you lead.'' Maxine let the girl pass her before following her down the corridor. ''I've really got to get a map of this place.''

***

Maxine was in a surprisingly good mood upon entering the Great Hall. She seemed to have made two friends, though Fauna and Rose were kind of a pair together, they had welcomed her warmly, and were just some nice people to talk to. There was friendly chatter on the way there, and she told them what she knew about her past, when they asked politely to know more. But, to be honest, she didn't know much about her past either.

Yes, Maxine was happy and cheerful as she entered the hall, but it didn't take long for the smile to be wiped off her face. Once again James Potter was wearing that stupid smirk, but this time standing before her rather than seated at the Gryffindoor table, arms folded and his two friends plus some other guys Maxine didn't know.

''Hello James.'' She said warily. ''Having a good morning?''

''Why aren't you in Slytherin?'' He asked pointedly, as if it was a crime for her not to be in that house.

''Funnily enough, James, I am not anything like my Grandmother, which you should know after living with me for fourteen years.'' Maxine replied tensely. Ok, maybe she should have expected this, especially when James' stupid friends were around, but she hadn't been prepared for this level of hostility from her foster brother.

''Oh, I think that's why you should be in Slytherin, after fourteen years of hell from you.'' James replied.

''Really? Because I distinctly remember it being the other way round after you aquired these idiots.'' Maxine gestured to his circle of friends, who were watching James smugly until they heard this. 

''And what about your friends? They don't look that bright.'' James presented her with a dreadful comeback seeing as Fauna and Rose were Ravenclaws.

Maxine laughed and looked behind at Rose and Fauna, who were looking uncomfortable yet indignant. ''You guys can go, if you like.'' She smiled at them, and with a nervous grin back from each one, they made their way over to the Ravenclaw table.

 James watched them go with a smirk. ''You never were good at making friends.''

''Unlike you, James, I do not need the back up of several thugs when involved in a debate.'' Maxine retorted strongly. ''Anyway, I feel like a spot of breakfast, so - goodbye!'' She said farewell with a high level of sarcasm, beginning to walk towards the Ravenclaw table, but James wasn't finished.

''You know I've become even more famous thanks to you.'' He called tauntingly. ''Everyone wants to know about you, and it seems I'm the only one who knows the truth!''

Maxine turned on her heel with a smile. ''Well done you James, for giving me another shitty comeback. You've just completed the achievement ''Biggest Twat in History''.'' Maxine pulled out her wand. ''Congratulations!'' With a wave of her wand and a small incantation, she cast the creating charm, an advanced spell she'd perfected that summer. A gold star badge like the image she was holding in her head appeared on the front of James' robes, reading; 

MR. JAMES POTTER HAS BEEN AWARDED THE BADGE

-BIGGEST TWAT IN HISTORY-

James looked at it in anger before glaring at Maxine. But before he could open his mouth to speak, she was incanting and with another wand motion, the badge glueing itself to his front. 

''Well, that should do it.'' Maxine put her wand back in her pocket. ''Cheerio, James.''

''What the hell have you done to it?'' He cried, trying to tug it off and failing.

''Oh, just a little permanent sticking charm. Anyway, I'll say goodbye again; Tarah!'' And a triumphant Maxine strode away from the group of boys, and as she sat down at the Ravenclaw table, earned a cheer from her classmates; excluding the golden twins and the dark boy from the night before. 

''Wow girl, that was a seriously cool bit of spell work.'' A boy with dark ginger hair lent over to high-five. ''How come you know those charms?''

Maxine looked slightly shy at the sudden attention, but replied; ''One of the joys of home education, you needn't follow the syllabus.'' 

The boy grinned at her before she was awarded several more high-fives from other Ravenclaws. Clearly you were rated on your talent in Ravenclaw, and she felt she had now truly been accepted into the house, her blood lines forgotten. Maybe there was hope in fitting in after all.

She glanced at James, who was still tugging at  the badge and looked at be swearing, seated at the Gryffindoor table. Maxine smiled. Her foster brother had just unwittingly helped her to fit in.