Chapter Three- Jamie

I'm on my way to Herbology the next morning, books clutched against my chest. I have a bandage wrapped around my forehead from the previous evening's Dementor incident, but I'm alright. Hobbling around like an invalid isn't the worst thing I've ever done.

Lyanna has Potions, so I'm alone on my way to class. She was worried about me, can you believe her? "You don't know that Malfoy like I do. I don't want you to get hurt," she kept saying. I kept telling her that I'd be fine, but she didn't believe me. The halls are full of students, but I feel kind of lonely as I wave to hundreds of people that I've never met before.

I feel a push from behind and hit the floor, hard. I catch myself, but my chin smacks the ground, jarring me and giving me what I know is going to be a not-so-pretty bruise tomorrow. I look up in time to see someone's foot swinging out to hit me in the side. I scoot backwards.

The foot belongs to none other than my new enemy, Draco Malfoy. I sit up, tucking my now-scraggly hair behind one ear.

"What do you want?"

He smirks, looking at me with an expression of nasty mirth. "Nothing. It's funny to see you fall."

I smile sarcastically and pick up my scattered books. "You're going to be laughing at a memory then, because I have to get to class."

I'm about to go when Malfoy grabs the strap of my book bag. "Who says you get to walk away? I'm not done with you."

"I'm done with you, though." I grab my books out of my bag, slip out of its strap, and then start to walk off.

Next thing I know, he's slammed me up against the wall. He's about two centimeters from my face, and I can feel his anger surrounding him like an ominous cloud. "Fight me again and I'll hex you," Malfoy hisses through gritted teeth.

"Why do you hate me so much?" The honest question pops out of my mouth before I can stop it. I blush and silently curse myself. I'll have to ask Lyanna for lessons in keeping my mouth shut.

"Glad you asked. I hate you because you're a blood traitor. You humiliated me when you slapped me, and you made it worse by turning into the girl that everyone's sympathizing with because you stood up to those Dementors." He gets closer to me, and I wince. "One day, I'm going to break you, shatter you like glass."

In a rare moment of defiance, I look him boldly right in the eye. "I think you'll find," I say carefully in a low voice, "that I'm a lot harder to break than you'd think. You may think of me as average, but I am strong. I am resilient." A clock chimes the hour. "And...I'm also late for class. Can we continue this later?"

I duck out from underneath his arm and run off to Herbology before he can stop me again.

***************

Later, at lunch, it's a nice day out, so everyone is eating outside. I find first Hannah, with a crew of fellow study-happy Ravenclaw friends, and then Lyanna, with no one. She's always been a bit shy. We perch under a tree and recap our mornings.

"I accidentally lit some of my hair on fire in Potions," Lyanna complained, picking at her sandwich. "It's okay, now, anyway."

Hannah laughs. "I earned twelve points for Ravenclaw in my Herbology lesson! I answered a bunch of questions right."

The other two look at me, taking in for the first time the bruises on my arms and the hole in the knee of my socks. Lyanna looks downright furious. "Who did this to you? Let me know, so I can hurt them for you."

I know the right response, the quiet, non trouble-seeking response. I should tell her that it was Malfoy. I should go through the halls with my head down, not drawing attention to myself. When I look into Lyanna's eyes, I can see Malfoy narrow his eyes at me, waiting to hear what I have to say. I raise my head, the purple bruise blossoming on my chin in full view.
"I tripped over my own feet and landed on the floor. Beginner's mistake," I quip, then stare down at my sandwich in terror. I'm a terrible liar, and everyone can tell when I'm trying to cover something up.

Lyanna cracks her knuckles. "It was Malfoy, wasn't it?" I nod, barely visibly. "I should tell a teacher. He can't go kicking poor, innocent little Hufflepuffs around. I'm going to find Professor McGonagall!" She starts to stand up, and I grab her arm.

"Don't, Lya. I'm still alright. You can go to a teacher if it gets bad, but I'm fine, really. Just a little purpler than usual." I laugh self-deprecatingly and pick up a chip.

Hannah pushes her hair behind one ear. "If she doesn't want to, you shouldn't, Lyanna. Jamie doesn't want to draw attention to herself, and frankly, I can't blame her. Just let it be for now." She squeezes my hand, and I smile at her.

The truth is, I've seen things like this happen before. If someone tells a teacher about the problem, then he'll just hate me even more, and go out of his way more often to make me look foolish. I don't like having bruises and ripped tights, but I'll be okay. I'm going to be strong, but not proud. I won't hide if I see Malfoy in the halls, but I won't try talking to him, or anything of the sort.

"Miss Pevensie, may I speak with you please?" I look up to see Professor Lupin, the man who came to check on me in the Hospital Wing last night. He has a concerned expression on his face. I scramble to my feet and follow him automatically, trying to figure out why I could possibly be in trouble. I haven't bullied anyone, we haven't had any tests yet so I can't be accused of cheating, I haven't stolen anyone's things or even lost anything. The only explanation? He saw my bruises and my torn tights and assumed I had gotten into a fight with someone. A silly guess, I don't argue with people on an average day.

We enter his office. It's sparsely furnished, and full of cool and freaky animals. I sit down in the chair across from him and twiddle my thumbs nervously. My heart is pounding, and I have a stress headache. I can't get in trouble!

Professor Lupin leans over the desk. "Miss Pevensie, do you know why you're here?"

I shake my head and stare down at my hands. "No, Professor. Am I in trouble?"

He laughs softly. "No, my dear, to the contrary. I wanted to ask you if you needed any help with...What I mean to say is..." He shakes his head. "Have you ever produced a corporeal Paronus before?"

I sigh, relieved. "No, Professor. Only ever silver fog. If I try too hard, well- you saw what happened to me on the train. I give myself a headache and sometimes I black out."

Professor Lupin places a hand on my shoulder. "Would you like to learn to produce a- a real one?"

My face lights up. "Oh, yes! That would be great." If he can teach me to produce a real one, I can protect myself if I ever need to. Dementors are patrolling the school grounds, and if anything ever happens...It would be nice to know. "Would you be able to, really and truly?"

He chuckles. "Would I have offered if I couldn't? Meet me here on Saturday, while the other students are out at Hogsmeade, and we can get started."