LILY WATCHED JAMES from afar with a disgusted look etched on her face as they sat in Herbology. Professor Sprout had instructed everyone to quiet down, but James and Peter were whispering lyrics to a song, going back and forth every time it was anywhere near quiet. Sirius would add in the background beats, hitting the table quite loudly. Every so often, he would point to Remus. The wolf would only tap his hand once when pointed to in a bored manner. This action had Marlene and Bonnie giggling terribly. Lily and Professor Sprout were not amused.
The Gryffindors shared this lesson with Hufflepuffs. Jules Abbott glared at the boys every time they would interrupt Sprout, being Prefect and all. She would glare and Remus the most, hating that he, as a Prefect, was also partaking in the stupidity. By the end of the song, James and Peter were given a standing ovation while Professor Sprout shouted, "Ten points from Gryffindor!" Jules grinned as if she won the lottery, and Lily had made the same face.
"Now, that your show is done, Mr. Pettigrew, Mr. Potter, may I continue with my lesson?" Professor Sprout yelled out, her plump face turning redder when James gave her a shit-eating grin.
"Of course, Professor!" Peter said with his own small smirk causing Marlene to snort at his seemingly innocent face.
With another huff, Professor Sprout began her lesson.
"Dittany is the plant we're dealing with today. We are moving on from the revision of Mandrakes, so do pay attention. Dittany is always a giant portion of your O.W.L. exam," she started. Bonnie grinned, remembering the long essay on Dittany they would have to write. "Now, Dittany, or as some call it, the Burning Bush, is a non-sentient plant. It is a dark green color... Yes, Mr. Black, it's the plant sitting right in front of you. Amazing, isn't it?" Sirius only shrugged as he tapped it. A bit of smoke hissed out causing him to yelp. "Aha! Yes, Dittany can sometimes release a flammable vapour. Be careful, students!"
Bonnie watched as the plant moved a bit on its own in fascination. She knew Dittany well as it was the main ingredient in her cream she had made for Remus before. Knowing she would have to steal a plant, she made an indention in the pot that sat in front of her. This plant would do well. Professor Sprout continued, "Can someone name the three usages for Dittany? Miss Evans?"
Lily flushed a bit before nodding. "Dittany can be used for wand cores, healing magic, and potion brewing. The most common is the plant's healing abilities."
Professor Sprout grinned. "Wonderful! Take those ten points back!" Jules frowned at Lily. "Okay, make sure you're writing this down, Mr. Potter. Miss Fortescue, you as well! I see no quills moving! Come on, students. The plant can be consumed raw, but most create a small liquid from it. Here is an example of Essence of Dittany, a brownish liquid that holds a very powerful healing power. A few drops of this on a bleeding wound will have it looking days old in the healing process. No, Miss Macdonald, we will not try it on ourselves now." Mary frowned and lowered her hand.
"Wonderful, wonderful. The plant grows on a mountain called Dicte in Crete, and it is very rare. The plants you see in front of you were very hard to come about, so do not touch it. I do not aspire to have to give you detention for ruining such a rare plant. Now, there is a certain wound Dittany cannot completely heal, does anyone know?" Jules's hand shot up. "Yes, Miss Abbott?"
"A werewolf bite, Professor. Mixed with silver, Dittany can heal the scarring. Lycanthropy, however, cannot be prevented," she said happily, accepting her ten points to Hufflepuff.
No one but the Marauders and Bonnie noticed how tense Remus suddenly grew. Professor Sprout went into the way to care for the plant if they ever came across one, but Bonnie could only stare at Remus with worried eyes. He had ducked his head, gripping the back of his neck tight enough to make his knuckles white. Bonnie hated how much he hated himself. Before Bonnie could look away, Peter's eyes caught hers. He knew she knew about Remus's condition. There was no doubt as recognition went through his eyes, but Bonnie could only turn away quickly and focus on the lesson.
Severus, Lily, and Bonnie were studying in the library that afternoon as December was drawing to a close. With the holidays coming up, they would have exams to close out the term. McGonagall made it known their exam would only be a practical of a few spells of her choosing. This made Lily begin to freak out, but Severus tried his best to calm her down. Bonnie's mind was staring at the wolfsbane potion in front of her. It had been so long since she had made it, and she knew she'd have to do it secretly. Taking out her notebook that held the Horcrux information, she made a new page for the potion.
Writing down everything she needed, she then began writing the recipe. Severus and Lily were too engrossed in their own studying that they didn't notice her scribbling quickly. She hadn't thought of what she'd say if they caught her and asked, but she knew the potion was too complex. Looking around, she didn't see Madam Pince anywhere, so she quickly tore out the recipe from the book.
"What the hell are you doing?" Lily hissed when she saw her fold the paper and tuck it into her notebook before shutting the book too quickly. "You can't do that, Bon!"
Severus gave her a look of caution. Lily was in her anxious, worried about exams mental state. Bonnie only smiled and said, "Too much to write. Don't worry, no one will miss it."
Lily huffed and tried to ignore Bonnie.
Shrugging, Bonnie went to her essay for Transfigurations. It was only a few minutes before Lily groaned out and called Bonnie's name for help for her Charms homework since Bonnie was somehow a genius at it all of a sudden. Bonnie grinned and continued to help her while doing her own essay.
"Slughorn told me he invited you to the Slug Club, Bon. The dinner party is tomorrow. He also hosts a Christmas Party. It's coming up as well," Lily said nonchalantly. "You are coming, aren't you? Oh, Bonnie, don't make me go alone."
Bonnie chuckled with Severus at the desperation in her voice. Placing a hand on hers, she smiled. "I'll be there. I wonder why he's taken a sudden interest in me."
"Has any of your family been in it?" Severus asked curiously. Bonnie froze. She hadn't really thought of her family since going back in time. They were all alive as well, and a part of her loathed it.
Bonnie shook her head with a deadpanned look. "Mum went to Beauxbatons, and my dad went to Ilvermorny in America. My br-brother went to Beauxbatons when they lived nearer to France. I've never had family here."
"Why're you here then?" Severus said.
"We lived nearer here because Dad works at the Ministry. Why the questions, Sev?" Bonnie said with a frown. She hated talking about her family. He rose his hands in surrender and went back to his studies when he noticed her getting tense.
The next morning, Bonnie regretted even thinking about her family. Alice was talking to Bonnie about a date Frank had planned for them over the Christmas holidays, and she finally believed he would ask her out officially. Being Purebloods, it would be a whole shabang when he did because it meant they wanted to marry. Bonnie hated this notion, but Alice seemed fine with it because her parents allowed her to choose who she wanted, and Frank chose her right back.
It was right after Fabian and Gideon had kissed the girl's cheek in hello that a letter arrived with her owl, Penguin. The letter held the Miller family crest sealed on it, and Bonnie's heart dropped to her stomach. Marlene noticed her face, and she immediately asked what was wrong. Bonnie had never acted that way when she received a letter from her parents, but she didn't know what Bonnie had already gone through. Bonnie wanted nothing more than to throw the letter in the fire.
"Bon?"
Bonnie jumped when Lily placed a hand on her shoulder. She gave the girls a seemingly confident smile as she decided to open the letter as if nothing was wrong.
Bonnie Miller was part of the Miller Pureblood family. Her mother was a proud woman that was part of the France Purebloods, last name being Trión. Her father was from the Purebloods of America. Both familes were incredibly wealthy and prideful about their blood. Her brother, Christopher, was betrothed to a woman of the Greengrass family, and her parents were trying to find a suitable man for her during this time. She wanted nothing to do with their choices.
Opening the letter, she frowned at the handwriting.
Bonnie Theodosia Trión Miller,
Your father and I are disappointed by your lack of writing, for you know how we want biweekly letters of your grades and actions. You'll see what happens to those who disobey, Bonnie, when you come home for the holidays.
I've heard from the Malfoy family that you have been associating with Mudbloods and those inferior to yourself. I raised you better than this. The Malfoys are hosting a Christmas ball, and you will be attending.
Your father and I are very disappointed in you. Your brother would never act this way.
Theodosia Crystal Trión Miller
Bonnie crumbled up the letter with hatred burning in her veins. She stood up without giving the girls anything other than 'see you in class' before leaving, stuffing the letter into her bag. When going back in time, she hadn't even considered having to go back to the Miller Manor in Mooncrest Heights. Running a hand through her hair in frustration, she thought about the week left before the holidays. She had a week before having to see their faces again.
Bonnie went through the day with anger lingering in her veins. She just couldn't believe she had let those people walk all over her before. She had let her mother threaten their lives as if she could do anything. Bonnie wanted to scream. This was bringing back terrible memories of pushing Sirius away. Pushing Lily away. Remus. James. Peter. Marlene. Mary. Bonnie wanted to scream so loud, but she sat in History of Magic without any means of escape.
Mary noticed her friend feeling distressed all day, so she nudged Sirius's foot that was sitting on the back on her chair as he lounged back. He gave her a look of annoyance before asking what the hell did she want. Grinning at his annoyance, she asked for two cigarettes and a lighter. Knowing Binns wouldn't acknowledge if they left, she grabbed Bonnie's hand and told her to pack up.
"Why?" Bonnie asked.
Mary only grinned and thanked Sirius who was still staring at them questionably. After lighting both of them, she gave Sirius his lighter back and ran out of the class with Bonnie. The pair giggled as Binns said in his most monotonous voice, "No. Stop. Anyway, in 1932..."
Mary laughed loudly when they made it to the courtyard. She gave Bonnie the cigarette on the way, and the witch took a large drag seemingly allowing the tension to roll off her shoulders. Was it a healthy habit? No. Was it stupid? Probably. Did Bonnie care? No, not really at the moment.
"You know, growing up with my adoptive parents and not knowing they weren't biological was difficult, but I don't think I could've grown up with Orion or Melissa as my parents," she said with a laugh. "What I'm saying is, if you needed somewhere to lie low, my parents would be happy to have you. I saw the way you glanced at that letter. It's the same way Sirius glances at his, and I know Orion is a hardarse."
Bonnie felt immediate love for her friend right then.