November passed quicker than the speed of the other two months put together. It was a month full of questions, oral and physical exams, quizzes and all that to prepare the students for the upcoming exams at the end of the year.
Nothing of note happened, other than the fact that the rivalry between Somerset and Adelaide was still there and it was known by everyone, even the professors.
Potter, Sirius, Pettigrew and Remus had officially became a group. They were very troublesome, especially the latter two. Sometimes, Adelaide never understood why Remus had become their friend as he was least interested in getting into detention and trouble. Pettigrew, was another story. He was weirdly in awe of Sirius and Potter, as if he worshipped the ground they walked upon. He tried to copy whatever they were doing, mot really caring about what was right or wrong, such as pranking students or throwing hexes at them. Also, it seemed that now, they had learned how to cast hexes and spells around, something that Adelaide hated. They also started becoming more crueler to Severus. Though, Severus was fighting back. Until now, they hadn't really tried hexing him, but it was only a matter of time until they did.
Mulciber was also becoming a menace too. He was slowly rallying Slytherins around for random bullying or something like that. He was also interested in befriending William, something that worried Adelaide as she was nervous about what kind of influence he would have on her friend.
Adelaide was continuing her private trainings with Dumbledore, rapidly moving with controlling fire. Now, she could shoot fire with both her hands and legs. Her fire was as destructive as Fiendfyre, but she could easily take control of it. She was excited to start her ice powers, though the headmaster thought it was too soon. Usually these training were taught by the previous true heir, and in natural course of action her mother would have taught her that, but since she wasn't physically well, it was impossible.
Now it was December, a month that was passing slowly. Everyone was excited for Christmas holidays.
"Hopefully, in three weeks, we can have some rest. I miss my family, even my brother. I can't wait to see them." Sarah said hope dancing in her eyes.
"Yeah, i am excited to see my family in a few weeks time, too." Replied Adelaide smiling at that. She had sent countless of letters to her parents and her siblings, but she had missed them terribly while at Hogwarts. She wanted to see of Helena was really faring well as her parents have told her.
They were in charms class, learning the unlocking charm. Adelaide had managed that in one try, same as Somerset, both of them had sent each other death glares after that.
"Now, miss Collins, quit day-dreaming. Show me your unlocking charm." Professor Flitwick squeaked.
"Oh, sorry. Yes well," Sarah cleared her throat, "Alohomora!" Nothing happened.
"Move your hand more, don't hold your wand that stiff." Professor Flitwick told her. " Try again."
Sarah tried again and she managed to cast the spell, successfully.
"Bravo, five points to Ravenclaw."
"Phew, now where were we? Ah, the Christmas holidays." Sarah continued talking about her family traditions on and on. When the class finished, they were heading to their last class for the day, potions, when they heard shouts coming from behind them. They turned around seeing Severus and Potter, who was with his friends , taunting each other.
Not again.
"What's your problem, Snivellus. Can't you take a joke?" Potter asked Severus.
"I can take one, if it's not about mocking me."
"Oh really? You Slytherins, all have dry humour." Sirius said in a mocking tone.
"You want a joke, here is one." Severus said his eyes shining maliciously as he drew his wand at them and shouted: " Flipendo!" Suddenly Potter fell back hitting the wall.
"Hey, you think that's funny? Flipendo!" Sirius said, his smirk now gone. Severus flew and hit the wall behind him. "Now you can feel it too." He helped Potter up.
"My, what has happened? 60 points from Gryffindor and 30 from Slytherin. No, students must attack each other." Professor Flitwick appeared out of nowhere, reprimanding them. "You three will go and see your own head of house after classes, today and they will tell you what to do. I am most disappointed of you."
Sirius and potter didn't seem to be too sad but Severus was brooding. They will kill each other one day. Adelaide thought bitterly to herself.
"You took all of the house points that i managed to gather today!" Somerset said in an annoyed voice.
"Really mate, that's the first thing you say to me, after being attacked? Shame on you." Potter joked.
"Well, you provoked him." He sighed, "so, are you alright?"
"Yes, i am. Thank you for asking, Stephan." Potter said sassily.
"Let's go check on Severus, shall we?" Adelaide told Alice and Sarah.
They went to the dungeons. The Slytherins had potions with them too.
"You go and ask him. After Lily, he is more comfortable with you." Alice told her.
"Fine." Even though Adelaide knew in reality that the reason Alice wanted her to talk to Severus was because she didn't want to be seen beside him. The person who casted the jinx first.
Adelaide went to Severus's side. "Are you alright?"
"Yeah."
"You sure?"
"Yes! Now go. I want to be alone right now."
Adelaide sighed and went away, she sat beside Alice and Sarah. She glanced back to check on Severus, but the sight that she saw worried her. Mulciber was talking with him in a slow voice, while William was patting his shoulders. Severus had a small smile on his face too. My god, i hope Mulciber is not corrupting him, though i think they are in the same dorm, but i hope he is not befriending him.
They exited the class and were walking to their common room when Victoria approached her, "Hi Heidi, how are you? Can you come with me please? I have something to show you."
"Sure let's go."
They walked to the direction of the Gryffindor common room.
Victoria muttered: "G Major" the fat lady portrait opened, showing a red and gold common room behind. "Come on. I don't have time."
"Wait for me here, i have it in my room, I'll be back."
"Ok."
Adelaide waited there looking at the common room around her. It was mostly of red and gold. The fireplace had a big fire raging in it. The common room unlike Ravenclaw's, that was elegant, was rather cozy and warm. It didn't have any book shelves and was not circular either.
She was returned back to reality, when she heard someone clear their throat: "What are you doing here?"
Can i for once not be interrupted by this idiot?!
She glanced back, seeing Somerset in his own clothes standing behind her, a book in his hand about astronomy, glaring at her.
"It's none of your business."
"Well, it is going to be my business, when i consider you an intruder."
"My sister, Victoria, if you have ever noticed, is in Gryffindor. She is going to show me something. I am no intruder, you idiot." She sneered at him.
He rolled his eyes. She couldn't help but say:
"Keep rolling your eyes, maybe you'll find a brain back there."
He was shocked by her words and opened his mouth, closed it, opened it again but no words were heard. He glared at her again, turned around and angrily walked in direction of his dorm.
Adelaide couldn't help but keep smirking, as she saw him leaving her alone. Being a sister of Victoria most certainly had its benefits. One of them was learning witty one-liners that would make anyone shut-up.
"What happened? You look a bit..." Victoria emerged from her dormitory.
"Nothing, just saw Somerset. He is.."
"A nice little boy, that one. One of the bright Gryffindors beside your friends Lily and Dorcas. I like him." Victoria replied, making Adelaide's jaw drop. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
"He is such a know-it all brat. He is such an arrogant, proud little nuisance."
"Oh, he irritates you? Weird. I thought you were quite similar."
"What? I am nothing like him." Adelaide shouted.
"Shish, ok drama queen. So much for having high opinions of someone. For once."
"So what is it?"
"Oh, yeah. I was thinking perhaps you could help with this potion? I cannot for the life of me write something about it that makes sense."
"You, a fourth year, ask me, a first year, to do your homework? For you?"
"Well you always learn everything, much earlier, i wanted to ask Lizzie first, but she was most busy so i thought against it. A small explanation would suffice. I can do the rest of it alone."
"Ok, fine."
Adelaide, explained her the potion in the common room, while Victoria wrote down the key parts of it. After 30 minutes, she finished explaining and went to her own common room.
...........................
A few days later, Adelaide found Lily frowning as if she was irritated by something.
"Lily? What's wrong?"
"Nothing, really. I am just worried for Severus."
"How come?
"Well, he fought with those idiots."
"Yeah, i know, i was there."
"No, I didn't mean the one you saw. They fought again. With hexes and jinxes."
"What? Weren't they given detention?"
"Yes but it seems it hardly goes in their head."
"You've got to be kidding." Adelaide closed her eyes. It is just the beginning. I was right about them wanting to kill each other. For the first time she wished she wasn't right about something.
"Have you talked to him? About not really caring about them?"
"Yes, but he says that he wasn't the person who started it."
"It doesn't really matter who started it or who finished it. What matters is that they don't get hurt or get into trouble. If they really manage to hurt the other, they might get expelled or something."
"Well, don't you think I've already told him? Perhaps he needs another person to speak to him as well."
"Oh, I've tried Lily, and he pushed me away, which was understandable, but guess who he turned to? Mulciber."
"Mulciber? Well, I don't really know him..."
"Oh, i'm sure in a couple of weeks you'll get to know him very well. He is a horrible bully. A Slytherin who believes in wizarding-supremacy and all of those sick ideas."
"But many Slytherins do and they really haven't cause any problems yet. And your friend Avery, was it? Alice said he is quite into those stuff as well."
"That's true, but i am working on him, he is not horrible and at least has some self-respect to not sink so low as to physically hurt students. I am giving him a chance. He is actually a sweet kind boy and won't hurt a fly." Adelaide quickly defended him. "But Mulciber, is another story. Nearly two months ago, we saw him bullying a muggle born, for being a muggle born! He threatened him with wand. In a few weeks, if not that, in a year he will learn horrible jinxes or dark magic that he can use against defenceless students."
"So the most volatile and radical version of wizarding-supremacy."
"Yeah. Not a good role model for Severus."
"But I don't understand, Severus's father is a muggle, that makes him a half-blood, does he know that?"
"Yeah. Mulciber has it against «blood-traitors» and muggle borns. I bet he is a half blood himself, many pretend that they are pure bloods. Seriously, look around, rarely anyone is a pure blood nowadays, they need to improvise. They already have two common enemies so here we are."
"Ok, I didn't know that he is befriending these kind of people, I'll tell him to be careful. But please, Dela, have his back as well. He needs to have another friend too."
"Of course, i thought we made that clear since the day we met in train." Adelaide said that with a smile.
"Thank you." Lily waved at her and left.
Adelaide continued her pace to her common room. But she saw the Grey lady, the eldest daughter of Rowena Ravenclaw, also named Helena.
"Hello, Helena. How are you doing?"
"Hello, Adelaide, I haven't seen you in a while." She said a strained smile on her face.
Helena Ravenclaw was killed by the man who had an unrequited love for her, the bloody baron, after angering him, by refusing to return home with him. He killed himself too, afterwards. Helena had an older sister called Marianne, who was the true heir. She was awfully jealous of Marianne, since she was smarter and cleverer than her, wrongly thinking that their mother favoured Marianne over her, which was far from the truth. Though, Rowena had a much easier relationship with her older daughter, she loved them equally. Nevertheless, Helena stole their mother's diadem in order to become smarter than her sister and besting her hated mother, running away from home. The diadem was forever lost. Her mother died heartbroken after the loss of her youngest. Marianne never healed from the tragedy, as she loved Helena very much and always had her back, nevertheless the Ravenclaw family line continued through her and Adelaide was one of Marianne's descendants. Helena, regretted her actions and harsh words especially the ones against Marianne, but she never got to apologise to her, so she always had a lost regretful look in her eyes.
Adelaide hoped that such things would never happen to her, as she couldn't imagine living in a world where her siblings were gone or hated her.
"Well, I will be going now, it was nice seeing you, Adelaide." The grey lady soon disappeared, living lots of words unsaid.
Adelaide reached the door, the bird gave her another riddle:
"I corrupt the pure and taint the good,
Leading astray as I silently stood.
A whisper in the ear, a wicked guide,
With every step, virtue I hide.
What am i?"
"Bad influence." Adelaide replied.
"Reasonable answer." The door opened.
She went inside her dorm, as she went inside she greeted her roommates: "Hi gi- Ahh!"
A pillow was sent her way, heating her in the face.
"My, you should have seen your face,Dela! You were having a heart attack." Alice said barely containing her laughter. Sarah's giggles being heard in the room.
"Oh, really now? You want a pillow fight?"
Adelaide said pulling up the pillow from the ground,
"A pillow fight you shall get."
She launched her pillow hitting Alice in the head. They started fighting with pillows for what seemed like a long time, before laughing in their exhaustion, bidding each goodnight afterwards.