13 Friends; Old and, New?

Resting bitch face holding, Snape merely drops his quill into the ink holder and straightens his parchment, "You know Babble, context is very important."

His snide remark only further fuels my fury, "Using Sectumsempra on a child? I knew you were low but that's a whole 'nother level!"

He snaps into focus at my words as he quickly stands up, " I know the effects of my own spell. You know as well as I do that using that dark spell on a child would give them everlasting pain. I may have done many things, but I have never used Sectumsempra on a child, and frankly, I'm insulted that you would think so!"

His voice teeters on the edge of hurt but doesn't quell the fire burning in my eyes, "I just came from the Hospital Wing after rushing Catlyn Ollivander there to SAVE her life. You remember her, don't you? The child we saved from the hands of You-Know-Who? Or are you the type that wouldn't care, because I honestly don't know anymore!"

"What are you talking about?"

At his question, my pacing around the room ceases as I turn to look directly at him.

"Oh give it up Sev! She has cuts all over like they're bloody freckles! There's only one dark spell that I know of that inflicts that much permanent damage. So I will ask you this one last time. HOW. F U C K I N G. DARE YOU?" As my rant continues, I slowly get closer and closer until every yell is punctuated by my finger jabbing into his chest.

Actual sweat starts to form on his forehead as he slaps my hand away. Slouching back into his chair, he folds his hands in a sign of defeat, "Can you sit down and let me explain?"

"I won't sit down but for the sake of our relationship," Taking a step back so I'm not leaning over his desk and speaking right into his face. I take a huge breath to try and cool down, "I'll let you talk."

"When I was working as a spy for the Order inside the death eaters, Lich asked me to show her how to do Sectumsempra. I couldn't get on You-Know-Who's bad side so I did what she asked. I never knew that she was going to use it on Catlyn."

"Did you even ask?" a cool fury flowed out of my mouth. His silence rings out clearly as my death glare only deepens.

"But I'm not that person anymore," he pleads, dodging the question.

"You are! Even now you're making excuses for yourself, trying to dodge responsibility! "

"Always on your high horse, looking at others from above! You always need to be the hero, don't you? If I didn't do as she said, or asked too many questions, then we might have never taken her down!" By this point both of us are up in the middle of the room, throwing responses back and forth like we're in a dual.

"So that's it? The ends justify the means?"

"They can!"

"That's always what it's been about for you! Even when we were in school. You know, maybe if you took a second to think about how you do things and not what will happen then maybe Lily would have picked you! Maybe she would have lived!"

"Maybe if you didn't have such a hero complex then you would still be married to Max! Maybe your child would be alive!" For a second, we sit in silence, neither one of us knowing what to say, both regretting our words.

"Did Dumbledore know?" I ask between my teeth, still not completely calm.

Silence answers for him. Dumbledore knew what he did yet didn't punish him?

"Did Garrick?" More silence responds back as Severus just sits there.

"No wonder Garrick left the Order! After all, how could he work with the man who helped torture his daughter?"

"I had no part in that child's torture."

"Sure," is the only response I can give as my rage burns out, giving way to disappointment, "There's a teacher's meeting tonight, I thought you should know."

Trying to retain my dignity, I leave without letting Severus respond. Tears edge my vision as I speed walk through the hallways, rushing to get to a place I can let it all out.

**Catlyn Ollivander**

It's dinner time around now, isn't it? I think, checking my pocket watch against the timetable I have memorized in my mind. A little bit ago, Clearwater came in and dropped off my stuff. That was nice of her, although the conversation was a bit awkward. I think she thought I'm terminally ill. But I can't blame her considering how I was acting.

Is it worth it? All of this prejudice and hate thrown my way? Would it be better if I quit and just helped Father out at his shop for the rest of my life? No, I can't make wands without magic so I would only be more of a burden to him than I already am.

Could I join the muggle world? Pretend to know nothing of magic? How can they live like that? To know nothing of this beautiful world and all the amazing things in it. Then again how could I live amongst them? At least in the magical world, if I attack someone they have a chance of defending themselves.

No matter which world I choose, it doesn't change the fact that I'm a monster. Could I live in a vampire community? I've heard that some exist in Transylvania. But would they accept me? I mean my birth Father was a royal so maybe they'd blame me for his death? Maybe it would be better if I just-

"Madam Pomfrey, Do you have anything I can help-" Cedric Diggory calls as he enters the Hospital wing, stopping mid-sentence as his eyes lock with mine.

"Hospital Wing on your first day? Are you trying to set a record or something?" with a chuckle, he walks over to me and sits on the bed next to me, "Too bad for you, I believe that honor has been given to… Connor McCreery was it? Who heard about the Giant Squid on the boats and decided, 'I can take it'."

'What are you doing here?' I write, sidestepping his comment.

"Oh, uh… I want to be a healer when I graduate so Madam Pomfrey lets me help out." Rubbing the back of his head, he smiles with ease until his eyes widen, "Don't my dad though, he still thinks I want to be a professional quidditch player."

At my blank stare, he starts to fidget, "I uh, want to say sorry about, you know, being a little cold to you."

Just a little, is my only thought as I glare at him, causing him to raise his arms in defense, "Ok a lot cold. I just didn't want Anne to hang around you. Not to say that you aren't a good person or anything, I made the mistake of judging you on your appearance…" His voice begins to fall off.

"Ok look. Merlin, I'm bad at this. Penelope made me realize how much of a jerk I've been. Anne can be so oblivious at times and I just wanted to protect her. It's just, I haven't figured out how to be a brother yet."

As his rambling calms down, I mentally kick myself. Of course, he didn't want me around his sister! How can I be annoyed at him for that? I really shouldn't be friends with her, I'll only cause her pain.

'It's fine,' I write to him as awkward silence follows.

"Hey, look on the bright side of being in the Hospital Wing, you get to listen to my amazing jokes!"

A chuckle escapes my mouth as his eyes light up, "And they said she couldn't smile."

Causing me to laugh, even more, I give him a big grin as I thank him for making me feel better.

"I guess the rumors were right," Diggory awkwardly says, earning only a look of confusion from me. What is he talking about? Are there rumors about me collapsing already?

"It's fine, I won't tell anyone. See ya," He waves goodbye as he moves further into the Wing. Scratching my head at the meaning of his words, my hand brushes against my cheek. I'm not wearing my mask! Scrambling around my bed, I look to find my mask beside me. Madam Pomfrey must have taken it off when she was giving me something.

Did Penelope find out? No, I never opened my mouth when I was with her so I think I'm safe. Am I? Looking at the direction Cedric went, another reason to leave Hogwarts walks away with a smile.