Chapter 29 ~ Baited.

---

A week later, Ava and Avery's plan was set into gear.

It was a normal morning inn the dormitory, the 8th of November rising clear but cold, condensation dripping off the large windows in steady streams as the four Ravenclaws rose. As usual a friendly conversation was exchanged between Maxine, Rose and Fauna, but Ava was ignored entirely as she dressed herself in a fashionable set of robes. Ava kept watching, hoping someone would ask about the scene in Zonko's. 

In the end, however, Ava had to bring up the subject herself as she carefully applied her make up in the mirror.

"I suppose you're all wondering what exactly happened between myself, my twin, and darling Theon." She drawled, cutting across Fauna, who promptly glared at Ava as the girl turned round from facing the mirror.

"Not particularly, no." Said Maxine with a bored expression before turning back to Rose, who was watching Ava closely. "Now, as I was saying-"

"You see, the bastard owes us quite a bit of money." Ava went on, receiving slight looks of surprise and more glares. "We just couldn't put up with him anymore."

"I think you'll find it's the other way round, Ava. No one can put up with you." Maxine retorted, feeling herself baited by the girls high-handed manner and aloof expression.

Ava smiled at Maxine in an infuriating manner. "He was so naïve, Lestrange. A little like you. And you know I can't deal with ignorant individuals."

"Are you ever happy, Ava, without bullying someone? Is it the only way you feel joy?" Maxine question, shaking her head sadly.

"Seriously? Is that all you can come up with? Why, I am surprised you are a Ravenclaw. Possibly the only house suitable for you would be Hufflepuff, like Fauna's darling boyfriend here." Ava said in mock surprise.

"If you dare-" Fauna had advanced, but Rose cut across.

"Guys, we need to stop. This always gets out of hand." 

"You need not get involved, my dear Whore. You are right, this can get out of hand, and I very much wish it not be so. You see, I will win, and I'd rather nothing gets damaged beforehand." Ava said smoothly. "Particularly Miss Lestrange here."

At this Maxine gave a derisive laugh. "You really think you can beat me? You're not fooling anyone, Ava."

"Especially not me. Ava shut up, Maxine, calm down. Why does this always have to happen?" Rose was once again called in for peacemaker and held up her hands as Ava faced Maxine.

Maxine shut up. She knew it was bitchy and stupid, and she didn't want to create another duel date, or trouble for Stefan. Despite his new mood, when the entire Golden Gang descended on a small group, there was no chance of victory.

But Ava was bullet proof today. Her act was convincing and her temper was not going to rise. "Defending a little victim, then? You always were for defending lunatics."

"How many times must we tell you that Stefan is not a lunatic?" Fauna finally entered the conversation, seeing Maxine's face begin to grow red with anger. "For a Ravenclaw you're tremendously thick."

"My dear, perhaps I did not use a term of phrase that will make you understand." Ava said, still smiling. "Perhaps I should say that Maxine has a thing for, well, pussies."

There was a dead silence as Maxine, Fauna and Rose regarded Ava with utter loathing. However, she simply raised her eyebrows with another slight smile and started to brush out her long blonde hair, humming an infuriatingly annoying tune.

"I've had enough of you, Ava." Maxine was speaking again. The whole thing was escalating out of control but she made no attempt to stop it. "Get out."

Ava turned round to face Maxine's pointed wand with an innocent expression. "Awww, don't you want to admit to the truth? Go and cuddle your pussies, Lestrange - although Theon won't thank you for it."

"You always want to pick on innocent people, don't you! You can't get along without it! Well, thank you Ava, but I won't be running after Theon, whoever he is, I'll be running after you - and when I reach you - you're gonna pay."

"Go ahead." Ava walked to the door, turning back. "I assure you, I am a fast runner. And so's Theon. I'm sure he'll run a mile when he sees you coming." She tilted her head and put on a sad expression. "You see, normal people don't want help from a bitch like you. And normal people know not to mess with the Golden Twins."

There was a dead silence as Ava exited the room and a slight pause as they all registered what had happened. Maxine was burning inside. She usually claimed insults didn't get to her, but Ava had gone further than she ever had before. Maxine was seething as Rose sighed and began to talk.

''Max she meant it but it means nothing. Don't go loosing your temper again.'' Rose warned as she watched her friend warily. ''I won't help matters.''

''I know, I know.'' Maxine sat down on the bed with a thump, slipping her wand back in her pocket. ''I just wish I could do something.''

''So does half the school, but you know the system.'' Rose said sadly. ''She's perfect for getting people's backs up and she knows it. She wants any sort of attention and no one dares to give her the other type.''

''I wish I could give it to her.'' Maxine said under her breath, still staring at the door.

''Max, put those things she said in the past and ignore them. They aren't true and you know it.'' Fauna said solemnly. 

Maxine nodded, reaching a hand up to push back her hair. Fauna and Rose were right, Ava had only said them to get her into a temper. They weren't tru.

But were they? That niggling voice in the back of Maxine's head was whispering again, and as she thought of her close relationship with Stefan, she wondered whether Ava was right. Stefan wasn't a 'puss' of course, but she was far to close to him - always answered for him. Was it wrong? She had no idea. And Theon, well, Maxine was always sticking up for people who bore the brunt of Ava's attacks. In truth she had never met the guy - he was a Slytherin and their paths had never entirely crossed. She seen him that day, though, when the golden twins had attacked her. A tall, handsome boy with oriental features. Sneering. Pointing a wand at her from the back ground. But had he been sneering for Ava and Avery just to keep up appearances? Was he really a typical member of the golden gang? Maxine shook her head and began to move again, zoning out of her mind, picking up Rose and Fauna's conversation again.

''I swear she's never been this bad before.'' Rose shook her head in disbelief. ''Seriously...''

'I know..perhaps it's because of what happened with Theon that she's acting like that.'' Replied Fauna with a furrowed brow.

''No.'' Maxine entered the conversation bitterly. She couldn't seem to stop herself. ''That bitch would never feel remorse. She's just usual self.''

Rose and Fauna exchanged glances.

''Look, Max, we've said-''

''I know it isn't true, Rose, I'm just getting sick of her.'' Maxine cut in. ''I mean - she has no right picking on Theon either. A normal person would just leave it if they'd fallen out with a friend badly - or make it up - but not Ava. Oh no, she'll drag him through every kind of shit she can.''

Fauna raised her eyebrows. ''I understood you to start with, but now I'm totally confused. Maxie, you've never met Theon - why are you sticking up for him now?''

Maxine withdrew from pulling her bed covers straight. ''To be honest, I have no idea why.'' She laughed bitterly.

Rose stood up and went over to her friend. ''Well I do, Maxie. You're a good person and you support justice. Even though you've never met him, you want it to be fair.''

''Maybe...'' Maxine began

''Rose's right, Max. You're a very good person, even with your temper and your blindness-''

''My what?'' Maxine interrupted Fauna, bemused but smiling at the heartwarming compliments.

''-even with you temper and weakness for bakewell tarts.'' Fauna continued, producing a laugh from Maxine. ''The thing is, I'm not sure Theon is the right person to defend.''

Maxine's smile faded slightly. ''I know.'' She admitted. ''It just sort of - happened. For all I know he could of been one of my attackers during the dreadful duel of friendship.'' Maxine used their name for the fight where Stefan had saved her and the others understood, nodding.

''Yeah, Max, best to steer clear of him.'' Rose advised, the atmostphere more calm as the girls cooled down.

''Will do.'' Maxine assured them.

Unfortunately, a seer could have told her otherwise.