As much as Gaia enjoyed the feeling of winning her first quidditch match, she definitely did not enjoy the feeling of fatigue the day later because of staying up to celebrate.

"Maybe you should've slept a bit more? You look like you're about to drop any second," Jewel commented as she sat on her bed, her eyes trailing behind Gaia's slumped figure that walked around her own bed to get ready for the day.

Gaia only grunted in reply as she slung her bag across her shoulders and walked out of the dorm. She heard Jewel sigh behind her before footsteps followed after her.

"Seriously? What's the hurry?" Jewel asked, the two making their way down the long spiraling staircase that lead up to the Ravenclaw common room.

"Don't wanna be late for class," Gaia mumbled.

"Don't you have free period today?" Jewel asked.

Gaia stopped mid-step, tripping on the air slightly, before whipping around to face Jewel with her eyes wide. Did she really? She racked her brain for her schedule before groaning out loud.

"Why didn't you tell me back upstairs?" Gaia whined.

Jewel only laughed and continued walking, Gaia stumbling to follow.

"It was amusing to watch you." Jewel grinned.

"Well there's no way I'm going back up the stairs now," Gaia said as they finally reached the bottom of the stairs.

"Breakfast then?"

"I'm still full from celebrating last night. I'll probably go to the library," Gaia said.

"Suit yourself. I'm going to the Great Hall for breakfast. I'll see you at Charms!" Jewel said as she stalked off in the direction of the Great Hall.

Gaia watched Jewel walk away for a while before turning to head towards the library. Admittedly, she was still quite giddy from winning her first match ever. The celebration after the match was definitely something else, but it left her feeling extremely tired the next day.

From her peripheral vision, she saw a pair of feet fall into step next to her.

"Woah. You look like you don't know what sleep is," Malia commented when Gaia turned to look at her.

"Hey, Malia. Free period?" Gaia asked.

"Mhm. Figured the library wouldn't be a bad place to spend it. I assume you're heading there as well?" Malia said.

"Just to sleep, really."

Malia only laughed as they entered the library. Gaia plopped down on one of the chairs while Malia stalked off to a nearby bookshelf.

✧✧✧

The pair left the library about half an hour before the next period.

"So," Gaia trailed off, "You don't hate muggles?"

Much to Gaia's surprise, the first thing she noticed when she woke up was the copy of a novel by Jane Austen, a muggle author whose name Gaia frequently saw.

"What makes you say that?" Malia asked, though her tone was laced with an offended sound.

"The novel you brought from the library. It's a muggle one isn't it?" Gaia said.

"It is. Mum would have my head if she saw me even touching this," Malia huffed, "It's the typical blood supremacy, you know? They're not as bad as our extended family, but it's still rubbish."

"But you don't believe in blood supremacy?"

"If I did, d'you think I'd be standing next to you?" Malia retorted.

"I'm not muggle-born," Gaia said.

"Yeah but my parents would call you a half-breed," Malia said.

Hearing Malia say that surprised Gaia. She didn't recall telling her about her veela blood.

"How did you-"

"I've encountered enough veelas to know. You'd be surprised how many my other uncles bring over during parties," Malia scoffed.

"Somehow, I'm not surprised by that information," Gaia mumbled, adjusting her hold on the potions book in her arms.

"I'm thinking of taking Muggle Studies next year, mostly just to spite my parents," Malia said.

"No harm in doing so, but wouldn't you be disowned?" Gaia asked.

"Like I said, they're not as bad as our other family. Callie might, though," Malia answered.

"Callie?"

"Callista Lestrange. We're taking it together next year," Malia explained.

"Do all of your cousins resent your family's values?" Gaia said jokingly.

"The only reason Callie even likes muggles is because she had a crush on one when we were 8, I think," Malia snorted.

A comfortable silence fell over them as they navigated the relatively silent halls of the castle, the only sounds being their footsteps and the noise of the ongoing classes. Gaia was the one who broke the silence when a question bothered her mind.

"Hey, you know Felix Felicis?" Gaia asked out of the blue.

"The potion?" Malia raised an eyebrow questioningly, "What about it?"

"Well, I've been thinking-" Gaia started.

"That's a surprise," Malia said as she rolled her eyes. Gaia shoved her playfully before continuing.

"Anyway, don't you think it's a bit of an overpowered potion? Think about it, it could probably make someone fall in love with you," Gaia rambled.

"I have no idea where you get these ideas, but I have to disagree with you. Felix Felicis is luck. Amortentia would make someone fall in love with you." Malia shook her head.

"Yeah but what if you use Felix Felicis to make someone fall in love with you? You know, lucky with love?" Gaia countered.

"I don't think it works that way, though. Why not just use Amortentia, then if you were going for love," Malia answered, blowing a piece of her hair out of her face.

"Yeah but love forced by Amortentia is, well, forced."

"Well love, if obtained because of Felix Felicis, is also forced."

"No, you just got lucky enough to get love. It's not forced."

"Yeah, forced luck."

How stubborn, Gaia thought. It was refreshing to be able to talk to someone about potions like that since the twins had a particular dislike towards their teacher, that bled into the subject itself, while Jewel wasn't really too interested in the subject.

"Look, I'll just agree with you since you probably have a lot more reasons why you think Felix Felicis is what yo-" Malia was cut off by a boy crashing into her. Literally.

"Sorry 'bout that!" the boy grinned as he stood up and brushed himself off. A Gryffindor, Gaia observed. As he turned his gaze to Malia, his grin was wiped off his face. "Oh."

Malia glared at him as she stood up, "Oh? What do you mean, oh?" she sneered at him. The boy rolled his eyes as he crossed his arms.

"I regret saying sorry," he huffed.

"You crashed into me! You should be sorry," Malia sneered. The boy narrowed his eyes at her and stepped up to her face.

"Don't talk in Italian. I have no idea what you're saying" he said.

Gaia nearly burst out in laughter right then and there, but decided it was probably the most inappropriate reaction she could have.

"It's Spanish, idiot." Malia rolled her eyes.

"Please excuse Ryker. He doesn't like Slytherins."

Gaia jumped slightly at the voice. She hadn't noticed, but a girl in Hufflepuff robes had found her way beside her. Deciding to tune out the argument between the Gryffindor and the Slytherin, Gaia turned her attention towards the new girl.

"I can see that. You're his friend, I suppose?" Gaia asked. The girl nodded in reply.

"My name's Aisha Spreight. He isn't normally rude, promise" she smiled sheepishly.

"No, I get it. The whole house feud thing?" Gaia asked, shaking her head.

"Exactly. I've tried telling him that it's unfair that he won't give Slytherins a chance. They haven't given him any reason for him to hate them" Aisha said.

Gaia raised her eyebrows in surprise.

"Are you, perhaps, muggle-born?" Gaia asked and Aisha looked at her cautiously.

"Yeah? Is there a problem with that?" she answered.

Ah. Well that explains it.

"No but it really shows. A lot of bad things have happened in the Wizarding World because of Slytherins, so a lot of people have prejudice towards them," Gaia explained. Aisha's mouth formed into a silent 'o'.

"Right. You-know-who? Ryker told me, I guess I forgot. I still find it hard to adjust to this, honestly," she said.

"You'll be fine. I've been living like a witch my whole life but I still find somethings surreal." Gaia patted the Hufflepuff's shoulder.

The sound of a voice casting a spell reminded Gaia that her newly-found friend was still arguing with a Gryffindor.

"Stupefy!"

A jet of red hit the ground in front of Malia. All three girls looked at him in shock, though Malia's gaze quickly turned into anger.

"Did you just-" Malia started with a glare before taking out her own wand. Before she could cast a spell, a stern voice cut through the silence of the corridor.

"What do you two think you are doing?" the voice of Professor McGonagall called out as the students who gathered to watch, which Gaia failed notice, cleared a way for her to get to the two students pointing their wands at each other. Classes must have ended, she thought.

'Ryker' immediately hid his wand as Malia slowly lowered hers, still glaring at the Gryffindor.

"Well?" McGonagall looked around expectantly for answers before her eyes stopped on Gaia, expecting the Ravenclaw to at least be the one to tell her what happened.

Gaia cleared my throat before speaking, "They were having a small quarrel, Professor. I didn't hear much of it because I was talking to Aisha but next thing I know. Ryker shot a stupefy spell at Malia but it just hit the ground beside her. Malia was just about to retaliate," she explained.

Professor McGonagall looked at Ryker disapprovingly.

"From my own house. I'll have to take 25 points for Gryffindor. You shouldn't even know that spell, Mr. Holler. and 10 points from Slytherin for attempting to retaliate. Both of you will be serving one week's detention with me," the stern witched said as she eyed the two.

Malia's jaw dropped, "But Professor! I didn't even cast a spell!" she argued.

"But you were about to!" McGonagall snapped, "Expect that I'll be telling Professor Snape about this. Eruditus, Spreight. Take these two and keep them apart from now," the woman said before walking off.

Gaia approached Malia and grabbed her arm, keeping her grip fairly tight in case the Slytherin decided to lash out.

"C'mon Lia," Gaia mumbled as she pulled her away from the glaring contest they were having.

Malia only huffed before turning around and following Gaia to the direction of their Potions classroom. From behind them, Gaia could here Aisha pleading with her friend to just leave and let what happened go.

"Thanks a lot! That's what all you Slytherins are good at, huh? Causing trouble everywhere! All you lot are slimy gits!" Ryker shouted making Malia freeze up and turn to him slowly.

Gaia sighed internally and gripped Malia's arm.

"Malia, no. You've already got detention. It's not worth it," Gaia said.

She gritted her teeth but nodded. Gaia's gaze met Aisha's, a silent sorry being passed among the two of them as they dragged their respective friends away from the scene.

✧✧✧

"Stupid! Completely idiotic! I've never even seen him! You'd think that I was the one who murdered the Potters with how he reacted! It was completely unnecessary! Honestly! I wasn't even mad at him when he crashed into me! He should've just apologized but no he just HAD to start a fight!" Malia rambled as they made their way to the Great Hall for dinner.

"Lia, it's already dinner. That happened after breakfast. Let it go already" Gaia yawned as she rubbed the sleep from her eyes. Malia had been going on about what happened with Ryker ever since it happened and, to be frank, Gaia was getting sick of hearing it.

"Let it go!? I'm not holding onto it! He's just completely infuriating!" Malia all but shouted as they walked into the great hall.

Multiple students near the entrance turned to look at them, making Malia grumble more quietly as her face flushed slightly. Gaia sighed and stopped in front of Malia.

"Look, why don't you just head to your table, yeah? I'm sure Callie will be able to calm you down" Gaia said.

Malia nodded before stalking off to her table. Gaia shook her head and looked towards the Ravenclaw table, seeing Jewel sitting with a few other friends. Deciding she'd rather not be alone, she made her way towards the Gryffindor table and plopped in between a familiar set of twins. She slouched slightly and rested her head on Fred's shoulder with a sigh.

"Hello Gaia!" Fred grinned, putting an arm around her.

"What's wrong?" George asked before pointing to her hair.

Gaia glanced at the visible hair on her shoulder and noted that it was a dark grey shade. She mumbled a quite apology as brown seeped into her roots.

"I'm sure you've heard about what happened earlier today?" Gaia asked, sitting up strighter. Fred raised an eyebrow with an amused smile.

"You'll have to be more specific than that. You see, we've pulled quite a number of pranks today so we're not quite sure what you mean," he said.

"Malia and a Gryffindor got into a fight. A duel actually. Well, nearly one," Gaia explained, starting to pile some food on her plate.

"Malia Frias?" Fred asked.

"You mean the thing with Holler and Frias? Yeah, a lot of us are pretty miffed about it," George said bitterly, "Slytherin can't keep her hands to herself."

Gaia slapped his arm with a harsh glare.

"Hey! Malia's my friend!" Gaia defended, "And I'll have you know, your Gryffindor was the one who started it."

"Don't mind George. Just got a bit of history with Malia," Fred said.

Gaia wasn't sure whether George hadn't heard what his brother said, or only chose to ignore it.

"You? Our sweet little Gaia? Friends with a Slytherin?" George asked in bewilderment.

"Yes! She's not that bad, you know" Gaia rolled her eyes as she started eating.

"But she's a pureblood!" George exclaimed.

"And so are you two!" Gaia said, pointing her fork at the two.

"Yeah, but we're Gryffindor," George shrugged.

Gaia sighed in exasperation and turned to Fred for help. Fred raised his hands in mock surrender.

"Hey, I've been trying to convince him to be nice to her far longer than you," Fred said.

"You know what, let's just not talk about it. I've had enough house rivalry today."

✧✧✧

Edited 09/06/2020