Amisty slowed her pace as she neared the healing wing, taking a deep breath to steady her nerves.
When she pushed open the door, the healer was already there, as if she was waiting for her to arrive.
"Hi! Professor McGonagall sent me here, she said you could do something about my hearing?" She asked hesitantly, wringing her hands as she smiled in a friendly manner to the kind looking witch in front of her.
"Yes, she told me you'd be stopping by. It's wonderful to finally meet you, my dear," She replied, patting the foot of the bed she was standing next to.
Amisty made her way over, sliding up onto the edge like a bird ready to take flight. She looked around, taking in the sight of all the medicines and potions that lined the walls of the room.
When she looked back, Madame Pomfrey was walking back to her with a small needle in hand.
Tensing slightly, she eyed it warily, something very quickly caught by the healer.
"I'm just going to be taking some of your blood. It'll help me see what you need exactly," She explained, pressing the needle into the crook of the girls elbow as she spoke.
Amisty clenched her teeth together, the pain wasn't unbearable but it definitely stung.
Madame Pomfrey smiled at her, removing the needle and walking over to a microscope. She watched in interest as the witch positioned the lenses so she could see the cells properly.
"I thought so, you're just like your mother," She spoke in the direction of the scope, but Amisty picked it up loud and clear.
"What do you mean?" She asked, confused as to what that meant.
"It's not my business to explain your past, but if I were you I would do some research on wolves in the library," The healer replied, her crystal blue-eyes telling her that there was clearly something more to the story.
She wiped off the glass under the microscope and threw the rag in the trash before grabbing a shimmering silver potion off the shelf and handing it to Amisty.
"This is called Moonlight, I want you to take it everyday in the morning if you want to fix your hearing problem. Even though it won't hurt you if you forget, keep in mind that your ears will be a lot more sensitive to noise," She explained. "If you run out tell Professor Snape or myself and we'll get you some more."
"Thank you so much," Amisty replied, wrapping her fingers around the neck of the bottle tightly as she got to her feet, ready to leave.
"Amisty," Madame Pomfrey stopped her in her tracks, "Do me a favor and keep your emotions in check from now on?"
"Of course," She smiled, giving a little wave as she exited the healing wing. She tucked the bottle into her robes as she walked through the halls, her eyes darting around to see if anyone had caught her.
As much as she knew it was good for her, she didn't want people to know that she was taking something. It just didn't seem like a good thing to go public.
She rushed through the halls, reaching the Gryffindor tower within minutes and entering after speaking the password. Her eyes scoured the room for her friends, finding them sitting back in the corner. Harry waved for her to come over, and she complied after grabbing a plate and sliding the sparse amount of food that had been left.
"How was your visit?" Ron asked as she settled down, looking his friend up and down with curious eyes.
"Can you all promise me you won't tell anyone about this?" She asked, meeting all their gazes evenly.
They all nodded seriously, so she pulled out the potion from her robes. "I have to take this every day in the morning from now on."
Hermione reached out to examine it, before turning to look at Amisty for approval. The raven-haired girl nodded, and she took it into her hands. Her brown eyes flicked around as she looked at the liquid sloshing inside.
"I've never seen or heard of anything like this," She commented, handing it back to Amisty.
"Are you sick?" Ron asked, concern darkening his gaze.
"I'm perfectly fine, promise. I just have to take it to help with my hearing. No more screaming in the bathrooms anymore," She joked, her grin growing as her friends laughed.
"Well, I'm glad to see you're okay," Harry smiled, eyes bright.
-=+=-
November had arrived, and with it came cold and frost lined windows. The hallways were freezing, with the dungeons being worst of all. Potions was more miserable than ever, the cold seeming to seep into her bones as she stood there listening to Snape's drawl.
That wasn't what her concerned her, however. Instead it was the stories Harry had told her during their evening meetings.
"No way! His leg was all scratched up?" She asked, emerald-eyes wide with shock and terror.
"Yes! He was furious. I bet you he wants my head now," Harry replied, clearly enjoying telling the story.
"Be careful, Harry. You're going to get into major trouble if you don't watch yourself," Amisty sighed, dropping her chin onto her hand.
"You can't talk, Miss I'm Going To Murder Draco Malfoy," He retorted, raising an eyebrow at her teasingly.
"Shut up!" She laughed, shoving his shoulder. "He would deserve it anyway."
"Say that again, I think everyone would I agree with you," Harry continued, recovering from her jostle to mess up her hair.
"Hey! I just brushed this!" She wailed, slapping his hands away.
"It's as messy as ever. If anything I fixed it," He shot back, crossing his arms across his chest to look at her.
"I'm going to bed before you ruin my masterpiece," She exclaimed, stomping, quietly mind you, to the girls dormitory.
"Good night, Amisty!" Harry called softly, waving as his laughter broke up his voice slightly.
"Night!" She rolled her eyes as she waved from the stop of the staircase.
-=+=-
The sun shone through the dormitory windows, so bright it even made it through the thick velvet curtains that surrounded the beds.
Amisty rolled around in her bed, not wanting to get up from her slumber.
"Amisty! Get up! Today's the Quidditch game!" Hermione's voice, as well as a pair of arms shaking her, jolted her awake.
Her eyes slowly opened, and she rubbed them so she could see properly. Hermione had slid the curtains to the side so the sun was a spotlight on her and was the culprit of the shaking.
She handed her the potion bottle, which Amisty took with gratitude. Uncorking the top, she tipped her head back and swallowed a mouthful.
A wave of relief washed over her as the taste was far from bitter. Instead it was fresh and piney tasting, like the smell of a forest after a thunderstorm. Hermione watched her with anxious eyes, still perched at the edge of her bed.
"Well, move so I can get ready!" She laughed, making a shooing motion at her as she threw off the covers.
She slipped on her robes in a flash, ran a comb through her hair, and was down the stairs within moments, a blinding smile on her face.
"You ready?" She asked as Harry came down from the boys dormitory, nudging him with her elbow.
"As ready as I'll ever be I guess," He shrugged, a sense of nervousness radiating off him.
"You've got this! Show those Slytherin's what they're up against!" Ron butted in, slapping him on the back.
Amisty nodded her head enthusiastically, as well as Hermione.
"Let's go down to the Great Hall, I'm starving," Hermione urged, grabbing Amisty and dragging her to the exit, Harry, and Ron following close behind.
The Great Hall was roaring with chatter, red and green clashing.
Taking their normal seats, Amisty dug in. Popping a slice of apple into her mouth, she glanced at Harry, worried to see his plate left untouched.
"You've got to eat some breakfast," She poked him, sliding a slice of bacon onto his plate.
"I don't want anything," He protested, handing it back to her.
"Just a bit of toast," Hermione argued, her eyes dark.
"I'm not hungry," He argued, shaking his head. Amisty and Hermione shared a glance, and they let him be.
"Harry, you need your strength. Seekers are always the ones who get clobbered by the other team," Seamus added, in quite an unhelpful way.
Amisty caught Ron's head fall into his hand at his poor choice of words.
"Thanks, Seamus," Harry replied dully.
Amisty patted his back comfortingly, sneaking a piece of scrambled eggs onto his plate discreetly.
-=+=-
Amisty followed after Ron and Hermione as they marched up to the top row of the stands. A smile broke out on her face as she caught sight of a sheet decorated with the words Potter for President and a Gryffindor lion underneath.
Hermione glanced at her, and quickly the two cast two different decorative charms on the banner. Amisty's made the lion roar (soundlessly) and Hermione's made the paint flash all the colors of the rainbow.
Picking her seat in between Hermione and Dean, she gazed across the stadium. She was the first to spot the teams enter, and she whooped and hollered as she saw the twins and Harry enter.
One glance at the Slytherin team sent a shiver down her spine. They all had matching, malicious grins on their faces.
Amisty shoved her worries to the side, instead focusing on making Harry feel supported. The teams mounted their brooms, and with the blast of Madam Hooch's whistle they launched into the air.
"And the Quaffle is taken immediately by Angelina Johnson of Gryffindor -- what an excellent Chaser that girl is, and rather attractive, too -- " There was Lee Jordan.
"JORDAN!" And there was Professor McGonagall.
"Sorry, Professor,"
Amisty laughed behind her hand along with Ron.
Her eyes were still drawn to the game, the sound of the commentary overhead explaining what was going on.
"And she's really belting along up there, a neat pass to Alicia Spinnet, a good find of Oliver Wood's, last years only a reserve -- back to Johnson and -- no, the Slytherins have taken the Quaffle, Slytherin Captain Marcus Flint gains the Quaffle and off he goes -- Flint flying like an eagle up there -- he's going to sc- no, stopped by an excellent move by Gryffindor Keeper Wood and the Gryffindors take the Quaffle -- that's Chaser Katie Bell of Gryffindor there, nice dive around Flint, off up the field and -- OUCH -- that must have hurt, hit in the back of the head by a Bludger -- Quaffle taken by the Slytherins -- that's Adrian Pucey speeding off toward the goalposts, but he's blocked by a second Bludger -- sent his way by Fred or George Weasley, can't tell which -- nice play by the Gryffindor Beater, anyway, and Johnson goes -- she's really flying -- dodges a speeding Bludger -- the goalposts are ahead -- come on, now, Angelina -- Keeper Bletchley dives -- misses -- GRYFFINDORS SCORE!"
Amisty leaped to her feet, cheering her heart out. The potion was working, not a single noise was overwhelming.
"Budge up there, move along," A familiar voice butted in.
"Hagrid!" Amisty shouted, a smile lighting up her face even more than it had been glowing already.
Ron and Hermione squeezed together, leaving Hagrid sitting between Amisty and Hermione.
"Bin watchin' from me hut, but it isn't the same as bein' in the crowd. No sign of the Snitch yet, eh?" He tugged on his binoculars.
"Nope. Harry hasn't had much to do yet," Ron replied, not letting his gaze stray from the game.
"Keep outta trouble, though, that's somethin'," Hagrid peered upwards through his binoculars.
Amisty followed the line of sight, almost missing the tiny scarlet spot that was Harry.
"Slytherin in possession -- Chaser Pucey ducks two Bludgers, two Weasleys, and Chaser Bell, and speeds toward the -- wait a moment -- was that the Snitch?" Lee's commentary sent a brief period of quiet through the crowd, before it transformed into a loud roar.
Amisty watched with wide eyes as Harry shot toward the ground, millimeters apart from the Slytherin Seeker. He was in an arm's reach when Flint crashed into him, on purpose.
"FOUL! THAT'S NOT FAIR!" Amisty screeched, leaping to her feet with the rest of the Gryffindors.
Her eyes were almost closed with the harshness of the glare she sent to Flint, even if he couldn't see it she hoped he felt it.
"Send him off, ref! Red card!" Dean shouted, stomping loudly.
"What are you talking about, Dean?" Ron asked, puzzled.
"Red card! In soccer you get shown the red card and you're out of the game!" Dean replied, the fury clear in his voice.
"But this isn't soccer, Dean," Ron replied, a hint of a smile on his face.
"They oughta change the rules. Flint coulda knocked Harry outta the air." Hagrid argued, towering over the students.
"So -- after that obvious and disgusting bit of cheating --"
"Jordan!"
"I mean, after that open and revolting foul --"
"Jordan, I'm warning you --"
"Alright, alright. Flint nearly kills the Gryffindor Seeker which could happen to anyone, I'm sure, so a penalty to Gryffindor, taken by Spinnet, who puts it away, no trouble, and we continue to play, Gryffindor still in possession,"
Amisty struggled to keep a straight face at Lee's commentary, until her laughter died in her throat as she spotted Harry's broom lurch.
"Um... Hagrid," She tugged on her friend's jacket, only to be unheard as the Slytherin came close to scoring.
"Slytherin in possession -- Flint with the Quaffle --passess Spinnet -- passes Bell -- hit hard in the face by a Bludger, hope it broke his nose -- only joking, Professor -- Slytherin's score -- oh no..." Lee continued, his voice trailing off as a series of shouts and hollers sounded from the Slytherin side of the stadium.
"HAGRID!" Amisty shouted, pulling harshly on his jacket and pointing up at Harry, panicked.
Her friend put his binoculars to his eyes, a confused and concerned look washing across his face,"Dunno what Harry thinks he's doing. If I didn' know better, I'd say he'd lost control of his broom... but he can't have..."
"He's going to fall!" Amisty screeched, only being held in her seat by Hermione and Ron.
She watched in horror as his broom jolted once more and sent him flying off, only to be holding on with one hand. She didn't even need to see his face to know that it wasn't a fake.
There was something wrong with his broom.