"You did what!?" Gaia exclaimed, slamming down her hands on the Gryffindor table and standing up. Quite a few heads turned to her, a shade of red bleeding into her hair.

"Oh, they've done it now," a voice whispered from one of the other tables making her head whip towards the direction, the Ravenclaw table. Immediately, all of the Ravenclaws faced away from her and started chatting quickly.

It was just last year that Camelia Barracus accidentally spilled ink all over her 14-inch parchment essay in History of Magic. The poor girl hadn't meant it but Gaia was already in a bad mood before that so the result was catastrophic. Needless to say, the Ravenclaws knew better than to piss off the metamorphmagus and, quite frankly, they were frightened by how red her hair was at the moment.

The Weasley twins cringed from their places beside her and for the first time, to Harry's surprise, they weren't grinning. In fact, they looked quite worried and George even scooted a little away from the seething girl beside him.

"Harry Potter, what were you thinking! What you did was stupid, incredibly stupid! Honestly, what did you think was gonna happen? Were you just going to throw your wand at him and hopefully hit his eye?" the witch ranted, leaving Harry quite frightened of the witch.

"Gaia, calm down," Fred said, laying a hand on her arm and looking calm compared to what he and his brother looked like just a few seconds ago. George on the other hand, had actually stood up and went to Fred's other side in fear of the angry witch. Gaia's eyes snapped to Fred, who met her eyes with a strong gaze.

"How are you so calm about this? It was dangerous! It would've been fine if it were just the duel, but no! He just had-" Gaia quickly rambled but was shut up by Fred squeezing her arm.

"English Gaia. We don't speak Spanish," he reminded making the witch glare at him.

"He faced a three-headed dog, Fred!" she said exasperatedly.

"You're scaring the poor kid," Fred commented making her look back at Harry who was now keeping his head down.

Ron looked just as terrified as George while Hermione kept a straight face, making Gaia wonder if she was satisfied with how the older witch reacted. Gaia's expression softened as she looked at Harry and her hair slowly went back to its natural color.

"Oh Harry, I'm sorry," she whispered as she sat back down, "I didn't mean to frighten you and honestly, I don't know why I got so worked up. I just got worried and-"

"It's alright," Harry cut her off, "I know you're just worried. It's kind of nice that I have someone to worry about me for a change." the first year said with a small smile.

Gaia was speechless for a while before she smiled at him as well.

"Merlin, Gaia! You're terrifying when you're mad. I was half expecting you to breathe out fire while you were screaming!" George laughed nervously as he moved back to sit beside Gaia.

"Sorry Georgie," Gaia apologized as she hugged the tall ginger who simply laughed and hugged her back. When she let go, she faced the other twin who was looking at them amused.

"Thanks for calming me down, Freddie," Gaia said.

"Malia warned us that Jewel warned her about how you got mad last year," Fred explained making her hair turn violet as she remembered being so angry at Cam last year.

Then, a series of loud screeches caught their attention making a good majority of the Great Hall look up at the noise. A mass of owls flew around the hall, dropping letters and parcels here and there. A letter was dropped in front of Gaia as she recognized her father's owl: Anylis. The owl landed on her shoulder and let out a small hoot.

"She yours?" George asked as he rubbed a finger on her head. Anylis was a friendly owl and let George do so, letting out small noises of appreciation.

"It's my dad's," Gaia answered, giving the owl a treat which she accepted before flying off.

"Look at that," Fred pointed out making Gaia look up once again.

A long, thin package shaped like a broomstick was being carried by a group of 6 screech owls towards their direction. They dropped it directly in front of Harry while another owl dropped a letter on top of it.

"That's definitely a broom," Gaia commented as Harry opened up the letter. When he finished reading it, a wide smile covered his face while he handed it to Ron beside him.

"A Nimbus 2000! I've never even touched one!" Ron moaned enviously.

"What?" Gaia gasped in surprise as she took the note from Ron and read it as well, "Harry, that's amazing! And McGonagall gave it to you?"

The two first-years didn't answer. Instead, they stood up and dashed out of the Great Hall to go up to their dorms and open it in private just like Professor McGonagall told them to.

"Wow, a Nimbus 2000," Fred breathed out making George nod.

"I've only got a Cleansweep Seven," Gaia said. The twins snorted and gave her a look.

"Only? That's just about as good as a Nimbus 2000," George said.

"Still, it's no Nimbus," Gaia retorted.

"Yeah, but Harry's a seeker so he's bound to have a faster broom. You're a chaser," Fred pointed out making her hum.

"Good point" A beat of silence passed, "I'd still want a Nimbus, though."

✧✧✧

"Quirrell is, by far, the strangest DADA teacher I've ever had," Gaia said to Fred as they made our way to Ancient Runes.

"Let's have you get a go at running into vampires, see if you become strange," Fred joked making her slap his arm, "You never get tired of hitting me, do you?"

"Well maybe if you stopped teasing me," Gaia retorted as she stuck her tongue out at the taller Gryffindor.

"You'd miss it," Fred quipped as he ruffled her hair.

"Fred!" Gaia moved to fix her hair but noticed a familiar head of platinum blonde hair accompanied by two other Slytherin boys, "Is that Malfoy? With Aisha?" Gaia squinted to get a better look.

"Oh, that's bad. You know how Malfoys are," Fred said as Gaia pulled him towards the two.

"Honestly, I don't know why they let people like you come here at Hogwarts," Malfoy sneered as the two boys behind him laughed. To be honest, it was quite a strange sight to see: three short boys cornering a girl who's maybe half a foot taller than them and they're bullying her. The only problem was, Aisha would never fight back.

"Oi Malfoy!" Fred called out as they got closer. The three Slytherins stopped and turned around to face the pair of 3rd years.

"Run out of first years to bother, Malfoy?" Gaia asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Go away Eruditus. I don't associate with filthy half-breeds either," Malfoy spat out in a taunting manner, shocking her.

Fred, despite his confusion as to why the young Slytherin would call her that, moved to pounce on Malfoy. Gaia held him back, narrowing her eyes at Malfoy and scowling.

"Yeah, Malia slipped up one time. Do you turn into a harpy like your mother does?"

Gaia felt her hair turn a deep shade of red as she snarled at Malfoy. He actually took multiple steps back this time.

"You know, I really hoped you'd be better than your family like your cousin, but I guess I was wrong," Gaia sneered.

"Get lost, Malfoy," Fred said. Malfoy didn't waste anymore time as he ran away with his goons.

"Idiot," Gaia said quietly, her hair remaining a lighter shade of red.

"So, what was he on about?" Fred asked.

Ignoring his question, Gaia turned around to face Aisha, who was still looking down at the ground.

"You alright, Badger?" Gaia asked as she wrapped her arms around the Hufflepuff. Gaia felt her lean into her body and sigh quietly while she shook her head no.

"It's pathetic. Even an 11-year-old is bullying me," Aisha whispered as she wrapped her arms around Gaia as well.

"You've got to learn to stand up for yourself, Aisha. What would've you done if we didn't see you just now?" Fred spoke from behind Gaia. She felt Aisha's head look up towards Fred.

"Nothing," Aisha broke from Gaia's embrace but kept her head towards the ground, "Thanks for helping me out, but I've got to go."

Before either of the two could say anything else, Aisha was already speeding away from them. The pair left behind watched her turn the corner and disappear from their line of vision.

"So, mind telling me what Malfoy was talking about now?" Fred asked once again.

"Sorry, I just wanted to help Aisha first." Gaia grinned sheepishly, "I never told you or George, but mum's ¼ veela, so me and Lele have veela genes as well. That's why Malfoy called me a half-breed."

"A veela?" Fred asked, surprised, "Aren't veelas supposed to be really irresistible to men or something?"

"You calling me unattractive, Weasley?" Gaia said with a mock glare.

"That not what I-"

"I'm kidding," Gaia rolled her eyes with a grin, "My veela genes are a bit - inactive, right now. Mum said it'll get a lot stronger as I age."

"Is Lele like that too?" Fred asked as the two started walking.

"Hers are a lot more active even at this age," Gaia explained, "What? First you call me unattractive, now you want to make a move on my little sister?"

"I hate you sometimes, d'you know that?

✧✧✧

It was 7:00 at night when the Ravenclaw team finished up Quidditch practice. Gaia found herself walking on the stone path towards Hogwarts as the cool night air blew through her damp hair.

"Hey Gaia! Heading to the Great Hall?" Kaleb asked with Michael Elliot beside him, both boys also coming from the Quidditch Pitch.

"Yeah. You two as well?" Gaia asked as they fell into step beside her.

"We've been practicing for almost two hours. We're starving," Michael sighed jokingly.

"Poor baby," Gaia mocked, exaggeratedly pouting and patting Michael's hair - though it was hard to do so because of their height.

"Hey, who d'you think'll be our next captain after Prince?" Kaleb spoke up suddenly.

"What makes you ask that?" Gaia asked.

"Well, it's going to be her last year next year." Kaleb shrugged.

"Well, I think it'll be Gaia." Michael grinned.

"What? Why?"

"It makes sense, though," Kaleb hummed, "You'd be the one who's been on the team longest by that time."

"I got on the same year as Michael," Gaia retorted.

"But I don't think I'll be captain. Can you even count the amount of time I've been late to practice?" Michael said.

"I don't think anyone kept count anymore after the 5th time," Kaleb joked.

"What was your reason then?" Gaia pretended to wonder, "Was it - 'I fell asleep in the shower'?" Gaia mocked Michael's voice.

"Like you're any better, Ms. 'I slipped on the stairs and had to go to the hospital wing'." Michael barked out a laugh as he dodged Gaia's hand that went to slap him upside the head.

"I'll have you know, I actually DID slip on the stairs, thank you," Gaia huffed, crossing her arms.

Soon, the three had reached the Great Hall where some students were already finished eating. Gaia waved goodbye at her two housemates before making her way to the Gryffindor table.

"Thought you just weren't going for dinner tonight," Fred commented as she sat down in between the twins.

"Quidditch practice?" George asked as she rested her head on his shoulder with a relieved sigh.

"I love Quidditch and all, but it still is exhausting," Gaia mumbled, closing her eyes for a few seconds.

Gaia's breathing evened out more as she started drifting up, bolting awake when there was a loud screech sound that came from the bats in the hall.

"That's annoying," Gaia glared up as she sat up straight and stretched.

"You lot should've just done it like Wood's done it," Fred commented

"He's got Harry practicing at 7 after dinner," George said.

"Yeah but then we'd eat dinner before practice and be hungry after practice as well even though we've already eaten," Gaia explained as she leaned over the table to grab some chicken. Arianne Kensley, a 3rd Year Gryffindor, pushed the tray of chicken closer to her, which Gaia smiled gratefully at, "Thanks."

"You know, I think some of the Gryffindors forget that you're a Ravenclaw," Fred grinned.

"Yeah, seeing as you always sit here at Gryffindor," George continued.

"Should we be concerned that you seem to be deliberately avoiding eating at the Ravenclaw table?" the twins said in sync.

"If you two don't want me at your table, you could just say so," Gaia scoffed playfully.

Just then, the doors burst open and Professor Quirrell came running in. His turban was slightly lopsided, and he seemed panicked as he shouted, "Troll! In the dungeon! There's a troll in the dungeon!"

The Great Hall was quiet as he ran down the middle and stopped in front of Dumbledore's chair, trying to catch his breath.

"Thought you ought to know" he panted out before falling to the ground, unconscious.

There was a second of silence before suddenly the Great Hall exploded in uproar. Gaia winced at the loud noise and covered her ears as she looked around and saw that some students were actually crying. From the teacher's table, several purple firecrackers shot through the sky making the students quiet down and look towards Professor Dumbledore, who had cast the spell.

"Prefects, please escort your houses back to your common rooms," Dumbledore's voice boomed and immediately, the prefects were in action.

"Follow me! Stick together, first years!" Percy raised his voice as everyone on the Gryffindor table stood up. Gaia turned to head back to the Ravenclaw table but hands on her arms stopped her.

"Just come with us," Fred insisted.

"Ravenclaw's already leaving. You might run into the troll if you go alone," George reasoned as they pulled her along with the Gryffindors.

"No need to fear the troll if you follow my orders! Stay close behind me, now," Percy continued to say as they filed out of the Great Hall.

"Am I even allowed in the Gryffindor common room? Besides, what if they start looking for me there?" Gaia asked as their group climbed up the stairs.

"Everyone knows you sit at Gryffindor," George answered.

"Even Flitwick and McGonagall know that," Fred continued.

"Make way, first years coming through! Excuse me, I'm a prefect!" Percy's voice boomed from in front making Gaia snicker quietly.

"Percy's really loving being a prefect, isn't he?" she said, making the twins groan.

"You should've heard mum when we found out," Fred grumbled, though her was sporting a grin.

"She wouldn't shut up about it," George said, his eyes comically wide.

"She even said we should be next." Fred made a face of revolt.

"Can you believe that?" George laughed at the thought.

Gaia laughed at the idea of the twins becoming prefects. As they stopped in front of a painting of a lady, Fred's hands covered her ears tightly. In front of her, Gaia saw the painting of the lady swung open, which made Fred take off his hands.

"Can't have you knowing our password, can we?" George grinned at her as they entered the Gryffindor common room.

Gaia looked around in awe at the unfamiliar room. There were multiple comfy-looking armchairs around the room and there was a fireplace. There were wide windows that overlooked the Hogwarts ground, but nothing could beat the view from Ravenclaw tower, in Gaia's opinion. On the wall, there was a portrait of Godric Gryffindor.

"Better than your common room?" Fred teased.

"Eh. Could've been better," Gaia joked back as the three of them sat down on a long sofa in front of the fireplace, "I've got to admit, though. It's very cozy in here."

The three of them joked around for a while before Harry, Ron, and Hermione entered the common room.

"Where have you three been?" Gaia asked.

"With the troll," Harry answered simply.

Gaia didn't even have the chance to process what he said before he ran up the stairs to their dormitories, Ron and Hermione following close behind him. Gaia blinked once, twice, before facing the twins with a bewildered expression.

"Did he... Did he just say he... He was with the troll?" Gaia said slowly.

Just then, Professor McGonagall entered with Professor Flitwick behind her.

"Eruditus, there you are. We had a feeling you'd be here," McGonagall said as they approached the trio on the couch, "Professor Flitwick is here to take you back to your common room."

"Your housemates are very worried, especially Ms. Ernois," Flitwick said as Gaia stood up.

"Sorry, professor. I was sitting with Gryffindor as usual and these two suggested that it'd be better if I went with them since Ravenclaw had already left the hall," Gaia explained, motioning to the twins who were still sitting down.

"Which is fine. Come along," Flitwick said before turning to go back out of the painting.

"Bye Gaia!"

✧✧✧

Edited 09/06/2020