Potions, Dungeons, and Firewhiskey Part 9
Title: Potions, Dungeons, and Firewhiskey
Fandoms: All My Children/Harry Potter
Pairing: Frankie/Bianca
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: Um...do you really think I could possibly own any of this?
Spoilers: Nothing really for either All My Children or Harry Potter. Just know the generalities of the Harry Potter World and that Bianca's kinda gay.
Summary: Two Houses Both Alike in Dignity...
Bianca sat curled near the fireplace, the heat from the roaring flames splashing over her face and warming her insides. The common room was busy, as usual. Various Gryffindors lazed about, some reading, others chatting. In the background she could hear an intense game of wizard chess being played. A group of nearby first years were discussing the upcoming holidays. Being November, Christmas was coming fast. If she stopped to think about it, she could almost taste the sweet pies and savory roasts that accompanied her family’s Christmas dinners.
Mouth watering at the imagined delectables, Bianca focused her gaze on the parchment paper before her. She dipped the end of her quill in the ink bottle and continued her letter. She’d received another letter from Jack and her mother that morning during breakfast. Opal had nearly knocked over her glass of juice when she landed at her arm. Glancing back at the paper near the ink bottle, she rescanned the contents of their correspondence. Her stepfather was doing well and was fitting in nicely in his new position at the ministry. Her mother had spent the day at Diagon Alley recently with her brother, Bianca’s uncle. Reading that, Bianca couldn’t help but roll her eyes and smile. If there was one thing to know about her mother, it was that she loved shopping. Diagon Alley was her favorite place in all of London, if not the entire world. It was heaven for her to be able to visit so many shops in one area, and Gringotts Bank was there as well. So, if she ran out of money, she could go and make a withdrawal from their account and continue on with her day. Bianca imagined her gleaming eyed shopaholic parent racing around from shop to shop, purchasing the latest fashions and experimenting with new looks. Knowing her uncle, they’d also stopped at a quidditch shop, probably Quality Quidditch Supplies. Both her uncle and stepfather - who was also her uncle - loved the sport. They’d talk for hours about their favorite teams and how the leagues were playing.
Bianca could imagine Frankie sitting down with them, conversing about that team she wanted to join after school. Her stepfather and uncle never mentioned the Montrose Magpies, but she had a feeling Frankie could hold her own debating against their teams of choice. Reaching the end of the letter, as always, her mother asked how she was doing in class and if anything exciting happened. For some reason, she had an inkling her mother was hoping for a batch of gossip she could latch onto. Unfortunately, the only gossip Bianca had about her life she couldn’t tell.
A frown covered Bianca’s face as she began to write her reply to the question. No, nothing new to talk about. She was doing well, except for potions but they didn’t need to know about that yet, and she was having fun with her friends. She was looking forward to coming home over break. With each stroke of the feather quill, the frown grew deeper. Each word, while true, wasn’t the whole story. She was doing more than well, she was doing fantastic. In all actuality, she was feeling happier than she could ever remember being.
Pausing, Bianca bit her lip. What if she told them? What if she wrote to her mother that she was seeing someone? She was dating a beautiful girl who made her heart skip a beat whenever they kissed. She thought about this girl day and night. Jack and she could bond over quidditch. Frankie could tell him stories about her matches, and maybe they’d like to see her play once. She could write about how they’d known each other since their first day at King’s Cross Station, but it took them till now to really understand what was between them and act on it. She’d, of course, leave out a few details about how they finally confessed their feelings to each other. Telling her parents that she’d gotten drunk underage and made-out with Frankie wasn’t the most ideal strategy, but she could write that they’d gotten reacquainted on a trip to Hogsmeade.
Bianca chewed harshly on her bottom lip as her thoughts kept going. Then, she could write that Frankie was a Slytherin. She belonged to the house everyone in her family warned her about before going to Hogwarts. She was said to be a dirty quidditch player, and she was known to play pranks and mock other students that weren’t part of her house. How none of her friends knew, because they all despised Frankie. That sometimes it was hard to reconcile the person she met up with at night and the girl she saw during the day. There were similarities, certainly. Frankie didn’t up and change into a saint or anything. But, she wasn’t as cruel or on edge.
Bianca sighed and set down her quill. She looked up, eyes roaming as she spotted each of her friends. Simone was in a corner of the room, kissing her boyfriend. Erin and Babe were huddled together on the other side of the room, finishing an assignment for Herbology. A faint grin formed. Frankie hated Herbology. The grin dropped as she turned back to her letter. She couldn’t tell her stepfather and mother that. She couldn’t tell them anything about Frankie because she promised to keep their relationship a secret.
Would they object? Would they write back that she should never see Frankie again? Or, would they accept it? Tell her it was ok, to do what felt right to her. If Frankie made her happy, then she should go with it. Her fingers itched badly to take the quill and write it. Tell them. Even if they had doubts at the beginning, she knew they’d come around once they met Frankie. They’d see that she wasn’t as terrible as the hallway rumor mill made her out to be.
All she wanted to do was tell her family about her first girlfriend, and she couldn’t. Life sucked.
****
Settling into her seat in potions the next day, Bianca quickly peeked over at the Slytherin side. The quidditch team was huddled around Frankie’s table, many of the other Slytherins joining them. She could hear their excited exchanges about the upcoming Gryffindor - Ravenclaw quidditch match. She could make out a few snide remarks about both teams’ players, and a couple Slytherins peered over at the Gryffindor side with mocking eyes.
Bianca set her satchel on the table and proceeded to take out her parchment and writing utensils. Pretending to reach deep into the bag for something, she leaned forward, gaze darting between two girls to see Frankie in her seat, wand twirling in her hand as she said something to Gary. The boy nodded his head in agreement to her comment and tilted his head to listen as Rich, who stood near his elbow, spoke up. Bianca smiled at the fluttering in her stomach. She hadn’t seen Frankie all day or the night before. After almost getting caught again, this time by an overeager Filch that left them stranded in a bathroom for two hours, they both agreed to take a break for a day to let the heat cool down. Not being able to see Frankie had been torturous. She didn’t know how much she grew to love seeing the blonde till she was in bed tossing and turning all night because they hadn’t met.
Her mind stopped and the fluttering in her belly exploded as Frankie glanced her way. Their eyes met, and Frankie’s hazel orbs softened, though she kept the indifferent smirk on her face. The wand in her hand stopped twirling, her entire being seeming to freeze for a moment. It took everything inside Bianca not to stand up and walk over to her. Well, everything and Babe tapping her shoulder.
“What are you looking at?” Babe asked curiously, trying to peek around Bianca.
Whipping her head around, Bianca’s eyes widened, “Nothing.”
“I’m looking at a bunch of jerks.” Simone cut in, nodded toward the Slytherins. “They’re probably trying to come up with another joke to hurt someone.” It was safe to say she was still bitter about being turned yellow.
Bianca shrugged her shoulders and went back to her bag, “Probably.”
Simone shook her head, “They should all be kicked out with the way they treat people. I don’t get them at all.”
“No one does. That’s why they’re Slytherins.” Erin added.
Bianca had to bite her tongue.
All conversation stopped when the door to the back room opened and Snape marched out. His long face frowned at the students, “Sit down.”
The Slytherins quickly scrambled to their seats. Everyone turned to face forward, quills at the ready to take notes. Snape looked them all over with a tinge of contempt before beginning his lecture. Bianca diligently wrote down everything he said, attempting valiantly to pay attention. It wasn’t her fault her eyes continued to turn to the side. Frankie was right there, looking adorably sexy with her crooked tie and wind swept hair. She always tied it back, both for ease and comfort, but a few tendrils tended to get loose. Frankie must spend a lot of time outside - Bianca rolled her eyes at herself, quidditch was an outside sport and Frankie took a bunch of outdoor classes - because those tendrils were whipped about. Running her eyes over the blonde, Bianca wondered how someone could be adorable and sexy at the same time.
Concentrating on watching Frankie and not showing that she was watching Frankie, Bianca didn’t notice the lecture ended until Babe stood up and shot her a confused look. Quickly following suit, Bianca hastily stood up, nearly knocking her chair over, and smiled. Babe narrowed her eyes for a second, but then shrugged it off and smiled back. They both went over to the supply closet and procured the items they needed for the potion they would have to prepare. Snape instructed them to make The Draught of Peace. According to the few notes Bianca scribbled down absently as she peeked at Frankie, the purpose of the potion was to calm the person taking it. With Babe, she collected all the ingredients, and they walked back to their cauldrons.
Following their notes, both girls went about brewing the concoction. Bianca wished she had a vat of this already. She knew she was doing rather poorly in this class, and Snape was walking around like an evil ghoul with his beady eyes and perpetually scolding stare. Not to mention that if she didn’t keep her mind in check, it went immediately to Frankie. So, Bianca took extra care with each step. She read the step twice before performing it. She checked and rechecked her ingredients to make sure she got the right stuff. As the class continued and the potion began to come together, something wasn’t right. Bianca looked between her potion and Babe’s. While hers was a calm bluish tinged liquid, Babe’s was orange and bubbling profusely.
“What, dare I ask, is this?” Snape’s cold voice spoke up behind them.
Both girls spun around to see him glaring at Babe’s potion.
“The Draught of Peace.” Babe mumbled. She added a hopeful smile.
Snape stared at her. “Ms. Carey, that is a disaster. Redo it, and I want an essay on where you went wrong. Perhaps that will not be too difficult for you. Twenty points from Gryffindor should help motivate you.” with that he stalked away.
“An essay?” Babe murmured to herself sadly.
“Test your potion on your partner.” Snape ordered the class.
Bianca frowned. That was a little harsh. Redoing it would take longer than the class period, and having to write another essay was only an added burden. Gasps and snickers turned her attention away from Babe, though, and Bianca looked over to the Slytherin side. The other students had begun to try the potions, and while many were looking relaxed, there was one who wasn’t. Rich stared at his partner in horror as boils popped up all over the other boy’s face. He bounced around in panic, yelping in pain. Snape rushed over to the boy and firmly ordered him to stop mucking about. He sternly told Rich to take him to the infirmary.
That was it.
“Why don’t they have to write an essay?” or get a snide remark or lose points.
Babe morosely set her new batch of ingredients down, “I don’t know.”
Bianca raised her hand. “Professor.”
Snape looked at her, “Ms. Montgomery.”
“Why didn’t they have to do anything?”
Snape glared at her while all the Gryffindors stopped what they were doing.
“Ms. Montgomery, I believe you should concentrate on your own potion and not others.”
Bianca waved her hand, “You took twenty points from us, and Babe didn’t do anything close to causing boils. Don’t they need motivation to do better?” She was angry. Babe was her friend, and Snape was treating them unfairly. She was tired of it.
“Fifty points from Gryffindor. Montgomery, you’d do well to be careful. Based on your performance in this class, Ms. Carey might be next to go to the infirmary.”
Chuckles and laughter bubbled up from the Slytherin side.
Bianca’s cheek heated up and she opened her mouth to retort when a whoosh sounded. All eyes landed on Rich’s empty table. The small fire underneath the cauldron flamed up, engulfing the metal in flames. Snape went over, intent on dousing out the abrupt eruption. As her gaze followed the professor, all thought of arguing left Bianca’s mind. Her eyes tripped over Frankie and widened. Poking out from her sleeve, Bianca could make out the tip of her wand. Frankie’s lips were moving.
She did it.
When Snape got to the fire and shot out a stream of water from his wand to put it out, the bell sounded to end class. Babe, Simone, and Erin gathered their things to leave as did the rest of the class. Bianca watched Frankie slip her wand back up her sleeve and put away her equipment. When she turned to walk out, their eyes met. Bianca felt herself begin to calm, like she had taken the potion.
Then, the Slytherin was gone, a group forming around her as she strode away.
***
Bianca put the finishing touches on her essay. Rubbing at her tired eyes, she looked over the rolls of parchment. While she enjoyed transfiguration, McGonagall had assigned a very long essay for the next class. Bianca’s stomach growled, and she rubbed her belly comfortingly. She’d skipped dinner to finish the essay. She was meeting Frankie that evening, and she wouldn’t have had time otherwise to write it. So, when faced with the choice of a full stomach or Frankie, it really was no contest. What was one skipped meal? If she could stay up all night to write an essay, missing dinner was nothing.
Standing up, she stretched her hands high above her head. Her muscles groaned at the movement. The other students who’d congregated in the common room after their meal and never left barely shot her a look. She quickly gathered her things and shoved them back in her satchel. She walked up to the fifth year girl’s dormitory and silently threw her bag on her bed. Twisting her torso back and forth to stretch again, a tiny yawn escaped. It was getting late, most of the beds filled with sleeping bodies. Also, writing was exhausting, but the thought of her girlfriend quickly perked her up. Checking the clock, Bianca noted it was time to go. As quietly as she could, she snuck down the stairs and out the portrait hole that served as the entrance to the Gryffindor area. With practiced ease, she crept down darkened passageways and creaky staircases, reminding herself which steps to skip over lest she be heard.
Arriving at the astronomy tower, Bianca climbed up the steep spiral staircase. Bypassing the rooms, she continued on till she reached a large door with a heavy iron handle. Pulling with all her might, she opened the door and stepped out. The night was cold, and she snuggled deeper into her robes as the night air danced around her. She walked around the observation area used during class, her eyes unwittingly rising to stare at the thousands of glowing stars in the black sky. She could make out various constellations, tracing each one with her gaze. She didn’t flinch as the door squeaked open, shutting soundly a second later. She felt the warm body approach, stopping just behind her.
“The stars are so pretty out here. It’s like you can see all of them.” Bianca spoke.
Frankie hummed in agreement.
Bianca finally looked away from the sky. She smiled as she saw Frankie, freshly scrubbed and gentle eyes. Bianca could still feel the heat from the shower the seeker took after practice. She was out of the standard uniform, opting for blue jeans and a scruffy black coat. Stepping up to her, Bianca grinned playfully, “Hello.”
“Hey.” Frankie murmured as their lips met in a greeting kiss.
Bianca squirmed as something jabbed into her stomach, “What is that?”
Frankie stepped back and reached into her coat. Bianca gasped with delight as a couple wrapped sandwiches and bottle of juice appeared. Frankie held them out, “Here.”
“Frankie,” Bianca eagerly took them. “Thank you. How?”
Frankie shrugged and ducked her head, “You weren’t at dinner. Thought you might get hungry.”
Bianca melted. “You are so sweet.”
“Whatever.” Frankie rolled her eyes. “Just don’t want you passing out on me or anything. You like to make a scene. Well, Gryffindors do like to be the center of attention.”
Bianca unwrapped the first sandwich, “I don’t like being the center of attention.”
“Could have fooled me.”
Bianca bit into it. The combination of roast beef, cheddar, and mustard tickled her taste buds, “You’re referring to potions, aren’t you?”
Frankie twisted off the cap of the juice bottle, “Choose your battles. Snape will beat you every time.”
Bianca swallowed, “Someone has to stand up to him. He can’t treat us like that. He punished Babe when her potion didn’t do anything like the Slytherin’s, and they didn’t get anything.”
Frankie’s eyebrow ticked up, “Boils on the face isn’t anything?”
Bianca shot her a look, “You know what I mean.”
Frankie handed her the bottle, “Just think about what I said.”
Bianca took a sip, “Well, if I get kicked out of class you won’t be able to stare at me.”
“Me?”
Bianca grinned, “I saw you looking at me, Frankie.”
“Because you kept looking at me.”
“Or is it because you can’t take your eyes off of me?” Bianca teased. She wiggled her eyebrows playfully.
“Whatever.” Frankie shook her head.
“You like that word a lot.”
Frankie opened her mouth, but quickly shut it.
“You were going to say it again, weren’t you?” Bianca chuckled.
Frankie could only give her a look.
Polishing off the first sandwich, Bianca took another hearty gulp of juice, “How did you get the food?”
“I have my ways.” Frankie ambled toward the edge of the tower. “Why did you skip dinner?”
“Essay.”
“Really?” Frankie peered over the side, “You skipped a meal for schoolwork? You are mental.”
“It was either that or skip you.” Bianca wiped the crumbs from her mouth.
“You could skip the schoolwork.”
“Like you?” Bianca walked up behind her. “I’ve heard about your marks, Frankie.” Anyone could learn anything in the hallways between classes. The word was that Frankie Stone barely passed and didn’t care.
“So?”
“So, not all of us plan on being professional quidditch players. We actually need to pass the OWLs and NEWTs.” she wrapped her arms around Frankie’s waist.
“I’ll pass them.”
Bianca pressed a kiss to her shoulder, “Have you begun studying for them?”
Frankie unconsciously leaned back into her, “They’re not for months. Besides, they’re just tests.”
“Tests that determine our future.”
“Not mine.” Frankie turned in her arms. “Besides, it’s only class.” She smirked roguishly.
Bianca pulled her tighter against her, “Tell that to my parents when I flunk potions this year.”
“While I’m sure that would make them adore me, I’ll pass.” Frankie ran her hands down Bianca’s arms. “Are you still doing badly?”
“Didn’t you hear Snape in class today? He pretty much told the whole class I’m failing.”
“I could help.” Frankie casually replied.
Bianca snorted, “Help? Sure.” The girl who didn’t care about class would tutor her.
Frankie frowned, “You don’t think I can?”
Feeling Frankie bristle, Bianca answered, “Frankie,”
Frankie cut her off, breaking free from her hold, “You don’t think I can help you?” She stepped back with a sneer, “I can do magic, Bianca. I can make a potion.”
“I know that.” where was this coming from?
“You know, I can do everything you can."
“Whoa,” Bianca held up her hands in a placating manner.
“I might not have grown up like you, but I’m still a witch. I can do this.” Frankie grit her teeth and lowered her voice, “I am just as powerful, no matter where I came from or what my blood is.”
“Stop right there.” Bianca waved her hands. “I never said that. I don’t think about you like that.”
“Whatever.” Frankie moved to leave.
“Don’t.” Bianca grasped her hand. She tugged until Frankie was at her side, “I have never said anything like that about you. I don’t think you’re any different than me, Frankie. Yes, you don’t seem to care all that much right now about our courses, and I’m not sure you get that high of marks, but I don’t think you’re less powerful or can’t do anything.” Frankie didn’t look at her, so Bianca continued, “I don’t care about your blood or where you came from. Truthfully, I never even think about it.”
“We should go.”
“No, we should talk about this.” Bianca stared at her. “You were really defensive right now. You always are. It’s like you have…”
“What?” she challenged.
“…something to prove.” Bianca finished.
“Projecting there, Gryffindor?”
Thinking back, Bianca wondered what it was about. Then, it hit her. “Your blood. You mentioned your blood.”
Frankie’s eyes flashed with concealed alarm.
“You’re muggle-born.” She remembered those Slytherins boys attacking Frankie, insulting her heritage.
“So?”
A muggle-born in Slytherin. It was making sense. “It must be difficult being in a house where they worship blood purity.”
“Back off. You know nothing about my house.” Frankie spoke.
“Everyone knows about Slytherin.” Out of all the houses, Slytherin placed the highest regard on blood purity. It was almost unheard of for someone not of pure wizard blood to be sorted into it. As the story goes, when the four founders of Hogwarts, for which each house was named, met to talk about entrance qualifications, Salazar Slytherin only wanted to allow pure blooded witches and wizards in.
Changing tactics for a second, Bianca softened her voice, “You know, I remember the first time I learned about the whole blood thing. I was young, maybe nine, and out shopping with my family. There were two wizards talking, and they mentioned mudblood.” It was tiny, almost imperceptible, but Frankie tensed, “I asked my stepfather what that was, and he told me it was a bad word. Some wizards who are born to wizard only families look down upon those not born to pure-bloods. They think those who come from muggle backgrounds are not as good. They think of it as dirty blood. But, it’s not true. There’s nothing wrong or different about someone like that.”
“Great,” Frankie exhaled loudly, “we should go before someone finds us. Don’t want to ruin your sterling record.”
“No one will look up here.” Bianca reached for her other hand. “Slytherin is known for supporting blood purity.”
“Look at the brave pious Gryffindor trying to help the poor muggle-born against the evil Slytherins.” Frankie scowled.
“I’m not doing anything.” Bianca tangled their fingers together. “I care about you, and I know there are a lot of people in your house who glorify being of pure-blood. And, I’m a little worried you might be treated badly by them.” The way Frankie reacted was only increasing that worry.
“I’m fine.”
“Frankie,” Bianca searched her eyes, “I’ve seen them. I’ve seen those boys insult you. Are they all like that? Did something happen earlier?”
“For crying out loud.” Frankie muttered.
“You’re not fooling me, Frankie. You got defensive about what you can or can’t do based on your blood. This bothers you. Is it because of what they’ve said to you? In Gryffindor, no one would treat you that way.”
“The great and wonderful Gryffindor who we all must strive to be like.” Frankie rolled her eyes. “You’re not as amazing as everyone thinks you are.”
“Frankie,”
“There is nothing wrong with my house. I was sorted there for a reason, Bianca.”
Bianca bit her lip and stared at her with pleading orbs, “I need to know.”
Frankie sighed, “I like my house. It’s my house, my housemates, my life.”
“Is that why you hide that you’re muggle-born?”
Frankie’s jaw clenched, “I don’t hide anything.”
“Frankie, my friends think you’re pureblood. I’m pretty sure a lot of other people do too.” Bianca could see Frankie’s gaze beginning to blaze, but she kept going. They needed to talk about this, and she wasn’t stopping now. Just like she wouldn’t stop when Frankie denied their connection. “Do they make you do that? You don’t have to be afraid of who you are.”
“Your friends and all those other useless Gryffindors are as smart as toadstools.” Frankie ground out. “My friends don’t make me do anything.”
“What about the rest of your house? I know you have friends on the team.”
“I have more than them.” Frankie wet her lips. “You need to back off from Slytherin. You don’t need to be the big hero and save me. I belong there. I’m one of them.”
Was she? Bianca released Frankie’s hands and cupped her face, “How can you be so loyal to them?”
“How are you loyal to Gryffindor? It’s my house.” She pushed up so their faces were inches apart, “Slytherin is my home.”
Just like Gryffindor was hers.
Frankie gazed down at her lips. Puffs of white floated out with each breath. Slowly, she brought their lips together in a simple kiss. Bianca returned the touch, pressing their mouths more firmly together. Her eyes slipped closed, and she could still see the bursting stars in the night sky.
“I just want you happy.” Bianca murmured, meaning it with all her heart. The thought of Frankie not happy made her insides knot up.
“I am.” Frankie brought their lips back together.
They stood there kissing under the moon and stars until their bodies shivered from more than just the emotions coursing through them.
Fandoms: All My Children/Harry Potter
Pairing: Frankie/Bianca
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: Um...do you really think I could possibly own any of this?
Spoilers: Nothing really for either All My Children or Harry Potter. Just know the generalities of the Harry Potter World and that Bianca's kinda gay.
Summary: Two Houses Both Alike in Dignity...
Bianca sat curled near the fireplace, the heat from the roaring flames splashing over her face and warming her insides. The common room was busy, as usual. Various Gryffindors lazed about, some reading, others chatting. In the background she could hear an intense game of wizard chess being played. A group of nearby first years were discussing the upcoming holidays. Being November, Christmas was coming fast. If she stopped to think about it, she could almost taste the sweet pies and savory roasts that accompanied her family’s Christmas dinners.
Mouth watering at the imagined delectables, Bianca focused her gaze on the parchment paper before her. She dipped the end of her quill in the ink bottle and continued her letter. She’d received another letter from Jack and her mother that morning during breakfast. Opal had nearly knocked over her glass of juice when she landed at her arm. Glancing back at the paper near the ink bottle, she rescanned the contents of their correspondence. Her stepfather was doing well and was fitting in nicely in his new position at the ministry. Her mother had spent the day at Diagon Alley recently with her brother, Bianca’s uncle. Reading that, Bianca couldn’t help but roll her eyes and smile. If there was one thing to know about her mother, it was that she loved shopping. Diagon Alley was her favorite place in all of London, if not the entire world. It was heaven for her to be able to visit so many shops in one area, and Gringotts Bank was there as well. So, if she ran out of money, she could go and make a withdrawal from their account and continue on with her day. Bianca imagined her gleaming eyed shopaholic parent racing around from shop to shop, purchasing the latest fashions and experimenting with new looks. Knowing her uncle, they’d also stopped at a quidditch shop, probably Quality Quidditch Supplies. Both her uncle and stepfather - who was also her uncle - loved the sport. They’d talk for hours about their favorite teams and how the leagues were playing.
Bianca could imagine Frankie sitting down with them, conversing about that team she wanted to join after school. Her stepfather and uncle never mentioned the Montrose Magpies, but she had a feeling Frankie could hold her own debating against their teams of choice. Reaching the end of the letter, as always, her mother asked how she was doing in class and if anything exciting happened. For some reason, she had an inkling her mother was hoping for a batch of gossip she could latch onto. Unfortunately, the only gossip Bianca had about her life she couldn’t tell.
A frown covered Bianca’s face as she began to write her reply to the question. No, nothing new to talk about. She was doing well, except for potions but they didn’t need to know about that yet, and she was having fun with her friends. She was looking forward to coming home over break. With each stroke of the feather quill, the frown grew deeper. Each word, while true, wasn’t the whole story. She was doing more than well, she was doing fantastic. In all actuality, she was feeling happier than she could ever remember being.
Pausing, Bianca bit her lip. What if she told them? What if she wrote to her mother that she was seeing someone? She was dating a beautiful girl who made her heart skip a beat whenever they kissed. She thought about this girl day and night. Jack and she could bond over quidditch. Frankie could tell him stories about her matches, and maybe they’d like to see her play once. She could write about how they’d known each other since their first day at King’s Cross Station, but it took them till now to really understand what was between them and act on it. She’d, of course, leave out a few details about how they finally confessed their feelings to each other. Telling her parents that she’d gotten drunk underage and made-out with Frankie wasn’t the most ideal strategy, but she could write that they’d gotten reacquainted on a trip to Hogsmeade.
Bianca chewed harshly on her bottom lip as her thoughts kept going. Then, she could write that Frankie was a Slytherin. She belonged to the house everyone in her family warned her about before going to Hogwarts. She was said to be a dirty quidditch player, and she was known to play pranks and mock other students that weren’t part of her house. How none of her friends knew, because they all despised Frankie. That sometimes it was hard to reconcile the person she met up with at night and the girl she saw during the day. There were similarities, certainly. Frankie didn’t up and change into a saint or anything. But, she wasn’t as cruel or on edge.
Bianca sighed and set down her quill. She looked up, eyes roaming as she spotted each of her friends. Simone was in a corner of the room, kissing her boyfriend. Erin and Babe were huddled together on the other side of the room, finishing an assignment for Herbology. A faint grin formed. Frankie hated Herbology. The grin dropped as she turned back to her letter. She couldn’t tell her stepfather and mother that. She couldn’t tell them anything about Frankie because she promised to keep their relationship a secret.
Would they object? Would they write back that she should never see Frankie again? Or, would they accept it? Tell her it was ok, to do what felt right to her. If Frankie made her happy, then she should go with it. Her fingers itched badly to take the quill and write it. Tell them. Even if they had doubts at the beginning, she knew they’d come around once they met Frankie. They’d see that she wasn’t as terrible as the hallway rumor mill made her out to be.
All she wanted to do was tell her family about her first girlfriend, and she couldn’t. Life sucked.
****
Settling into her seat in potions the next day, Bianca quickly peeked over at the Slytherin side. The quidditch team was huddled around Frankie’s table, many of the other Slytherins joining them. She could hear their excited exchanges about the upcoming Gryffindor - Ravenclaw quidditch match. She could make out a few snide remarks about both teams’ players, and a couple Slytherins peered over at the Gryffindor side with mocking eyes.
Bianca set her satchel on the table and proceeded to take out her parchment and writing utensils. Pretending to reach deep into the bag for something, she leaned forward, gaze darting between two girls to see Frankie in her seat, wand twirling in her hand as she said something to Gary. The boy nodded his head in agreement to her comment and tilted his head to listen as Rich, who stood near his elbow, spoke up. Bianca smiled at the fluttering in her stomach. She hadn’t seen Frankie all day or the night before. After almost getting caught again, this time by an overeager Filch that left them stranded in a bathroom for two hours, they both agreed to take a break for a day to let the heat cool down. Not being able to see Frankie had been torturous. She didn’t know how much she grew to love seeing the blonde till she was in bed tossing and turning all night because they hadn’t met.
Her mind stopped and the fluttering in her belly exploded as Frankie glanced her way. Their eyes met, and Frankie’s hazel orbs softened, though she kept the indifferent smirk on her face. The wand in her hand stopped twirling, her entire being seeming to freeze for a moment. It took everything inside Bianca not to stand up and walk over to her. Well, everything and Babe tapping her shoulder.
“What are you looking at?” Babe asked curiously, trying to peek around Bianca.
Whipping her head around, Bianca’s eyes widened, “Nothing.”
“I’m looking at a bunch of jerks.” Simone cut in, nodded toward the Slytherins. “They’re probably trying to come up with another joke to hurt someone.” It was safe to say she was still bitter about being turned yellow.
Bianca shrugged her shoulders and went back to her bag, “Probably.”
Simone shook her head, “They should all be kicked out with the way they treat people. I don’t get them at all.”
“No one does. That’s why they’re Slytherins.” Erin added.
Bianca had to bite her tongue.
All conversation stopped when the door to the back room opened and Snape marched out. His long face frowned at the students, “Sit down.”
The Slytherins quickly scrambled to their seats. Everyone turned to face forward, quills at the ready to take notes. Snape looked them all over with a tinge of contempt before beginning his lecture. Bianca diligently wrote down everything he said, attempting valiantly to pay attention. It wasn’t her fault her eyes continued to turn to the side. Frankie was right there, looking adorably sexy with her crooked tie and wind swept hair. She always tied it back, both for ease and comfort, but a few tendrils tended to get loose. Frankie must spend a lot of time outside - Bianca rolled her eyes at herself, quidditch was an outside sport and Frankie took a bunch of outdoor classes - because those tendrils were whipped about. Running her eyes over the blonde, Bianca wondered how someone could be adorable and sexy at the same time.
Concentrating on watching Frankie and not showing that she was watching Frankie, Bianca didn’t notice the lecture ended until Babe stood up and shot her a confused look. Quickly following suit, Bianca hastily stood up, nearly knocking her chair over, and smiled. Babe narrowed her eyes for a second, but then shrugged it off and smiled back. They both went over to the supply closet and procured the items they needed for the potion they would have to prepare. Snape instructed them to make The Draught of Peace. According to the few notes Bianca scribbled down absently as she peeked at Frankie, the purpose of the potion was to calm the person taking it. With Babe, she collected all the ingredients, and they walked back to their cauldrons.
Following their notes, both girls went about brewing the concoction. Bianca wished she had a vat of this already. She knew she was doing rather poorly in this class, and Snape was walking around like an evil ghoul with his beady eyes and perpetually scolding stare. Not to mention that if she didn’t keep her mind in check, it went immediately to Frankie. So, Bianca took extra care with each step. She read the step twice before performing it. She checked and rechecked her ingredients to make sure she got the right stuff. As the class continued and the potion began to come together, something wasn’t right. Bianca looked between her potion and Babe’s. While hers was a calm bluish tinged liquid, Babe’s was orange and bubbling profusely.
“What, dare I ask, is this?” Snape’s cold voice spoke up behind them.
Both girls spun around to see him glaring at Babe’s potion.
“The Draught of Peace.” Babe mumbled. She added a hopeful smile.
Snape stared at her. “Ms. Carey, that is a disaster. Redo it, and I want an essay on where you went wrong. Perhaps that will not be too difficult for you. Twenty points from Gryffindor should help motivate you.” with that he stalked away.
“An essay?” Babe murmured to herself sadly.
“Test your potion on your partner.” Snape ordered the class.
Bianca frowned. That was a little harsh. Redoing it would take longer than the class period, and having to write another essay was only an added burden. Gasps and snickers turned her attention away from Babe, though, and Bianca looked over to the Slytherin side. The other students had begun to try the potions, and while many were looking relaxed, there was one who wasn’t. Rich stared at his partner in horror as boils popped up all over the other boy’s face. He bounced around in panic, yelping in pain. Snape rushed over to the boy and firmly ordered him to stop mucking about. He sternly told Rich to take him to the infirmary.
That was it.
“Why don’t they have to write an essay?” or get a snide remark or lose points.
Babe morosely set her new batch of ingredients down, “I don’t know.”
Bianca raised her hand. “Professor.”
Snape looked at her, “Ms. Montgomery.”
“Why didn’t they have to do anything?”
Snape glared at her while all the Gryffindors stopped what they were doing.
“Ms. Montgomery, I believe you should concentrate on your own potion and not others.”
Bianca waved her hand, “You took twenty points from us, and Babe didn’t do anything close to causing boils. Don’t they need motivation to do better?” She was angry. Babe was her friend, and Snape was treating them unfairly. She was tired of it.
“Fifty points from Gryffindor. Montgomery, you’d do well to be careful. Based on your performance in this class, Ms. Carey might be next to go to the infirmary.”
Chuckles and laughter bubbled up from the Slytherin side.
Bianca’s cheek heated up and she opened her mouth to retort when a whoosh sounded. All eyes landed on Rich’s empty table. The small fire underneath the cauldron flamed up, engulfing the metal in flames. Snape went over, intent on dousing out the abrupt eruption. As her gaze followed the professor, all thought of arguing left Bianca’s mind. Her eyes tripped over Frankie and widened. Poking out from her sleeve, Bianca could make out the tip of her wand. Frankie’s lips were moving.
She did it.
When Snape got to the fire and shot out a stream of water from his wand to put it out, the bell sounded to end class. Babe, Simone, and Erin gathered their things to leave as did the rest of the class. Bianca watched Frankie slip her wand back up her sleeve and put away her equipment. When she turned to walk out, their eyes met. Bianca felt herself begin to calm, like she had taken the potion.
Then, the Slytherin was gone, a group forming around her as she strode away.
***
Bianca put the finishing touches on her essay. Rubbing at her tired eyes, she looked over the rolls of parchment. While she enjoyed transfiguration, McGonagall had assigned a very long essay for the next class. Bianca’s stomach growled, and she rubbed her belly comfortingly. She’d skipped dinner to finish the essay. She was meeting Frankie that evening, and she wouldn’t have had time otherwise to write it. So, when faced with the choice of a full stomach or Frankie, it really was no contest. What was one skipped meal? If she could stay up all night to write an essay, missing dinner was nothing.
Standing up, she stretched her hands high above her head. Her muscles groaned at the movement. The other students who’d congregated in the common room after their meal and never left barely shot her a look. She quickly gathered her things and shoved them back in her satchel. She walked up to the fifth year girl’s dormitory and silently threw her bag on her bed. Twisting her torso back and forth to stretch again, a tiny yawn escaped. It was getting late, most of the beds filled with sleeping bodies. Also, writing was exhausting, but the thought of her girlfriend quickly perked her up. Checking the clock, Bianca noted it was time to go. As quietly as she could, she snuck down the stairs and out the portrait hole that served as the entrance to the Gryffindor area. With practiced ease, she crept down darkened passageways and creaky staircases, reminding herself which steps to skip over lest she be heard.
Arriving at the astronomy tower, Bianca climbed up the steep spiral staircase. Bypassing the rooms, she continued on till she reached a large door with a heavy iron handle. Pulling with all her might, she opened the door and stepped out. The night was cold, and she snuggled deeper into her robes as the night air danced around her. She walked around the observation area used during class, her eyes unwittingly rising to stare at the thousands of glowing stars in the black sky. She could make out various constellations, tracing each one with her gaze. She didn’t flinch as the door squeaked open, shutting soundly a second later. She felt the warm body approach, stopping just behind her.
“The stars are so pretty out here. It’s like you can see all of them.” Bianca spoke.
Frankie hummed in agreement.
Bianca finally looked away from the sky. She smiled as she saw Frankie, freshly scrubbed and gentle eyes. Bianca could still feel the heat from the shower the seeker took after practice. She was out of the standard uniform, opting for blue jeans and a scruffy black coat. Stepping up to her, Bianca grinned playfully, “Hello.”
“Hey.” Frankie murmured as their lips met in a greeting kiss.
Bianca squirmed as something jabbed into her stomach, “What is that?”
Frankie stepped back and reached into her coat. Bianca gasped with delight as a couple wrapped sandwiches and bottle of juice appeared. Frankie held them out, “Here.”
“Frankie,” Bianca eagerly took them. “Thank you. How?”
Frankie shrugged and ducked her head, “You weren’t at dinner. Thought you might get hungry.”
Bianca melted. “You are so sweet.”
“Whatever.” Frankie rolled her eyes. “Just don’t want you passing out on me or anything. You like to make a scene. Well, Gryffindors do like to be the center of attention.”
Bianca unwrapped the first sandwich, “I don’t like being the center of attention.”
“Could have fooled me.”
Bianca bit into it. The combination of roast beef, cheddar, and mustard tickled her taste buds, “You’re referring to potions, aren’t you?”
Frankie twisted off the cap of the juice bottle, “Choose your battles. Snape will beat you every time.”
Bianca swallowed, “Someone has to stand up to him. He can’t treat us like that. He punished Babe when her potion didn’t do anything like the Slytherin’s, and they didn’t get anything.”
Frankie’s eyebrow ticked up, “Boils on the face isn’t anything?”
Bianca shot her a look, “You know what I mean.”
Frankie handed her the bottle, “Just think about what I said.”
Bianca took a sip, “Well, if I get kicked out of class you won’t be able to stare at me.”
“Me?”
Bianca grinned, “I saw you looking at me, Frankie.”
“Because you kept looking at me.”
“Or is it because you can’t take your eyes off of me?” Bianca teased. She wiggled her eyebrows playfully.
“Whatever.” Frankie shook her head.
“You like that word a lot.”
Frankie opened her mouth, but quickly shut it.
“You were going to say it again, weren’t you?” Bianca chuckled.
Frankie could only give her a look.
Polishing off the first sandwich, Bianca took another hearty gulp of juice, “How did you get the food?”
“I have my ways.” Frankie ambled toward the edge of the tower. “Why did you skip dinner?”
“Essay.”
“Really?” Frankie peered over the side, “You skipped a meal for schoolwork? You are mental.”
“It was either that or skip you.” Bianca wiped the crumbs from her mouth.
“You could skip the schoolwork.”
“Like you?” Bianca walked up behind her. “I’ve heard about your marks, Frankie.” Anyone could learn anything in the hallways between classes. The word was that Frankie Stone barely passed and didn’t care.
“So?”
“So, not all of us plan on being professional quidditch players. We actually need to pass the OWLs and NEWTs.” she wrapped her arms around Frankie’s waist.
“I’ll pass them.”
Bianca pressed a kiss to her shoulder, “Have you begun studying for them?”
Frankie unconsciously leaned back into her, “They’re not for months. Besides, they’re just tests.”
“Tests that determine our future.”
“Not mine.” Frankie turned in her arms. “Besides, it’s only class.” She smirked roguishly.
Bianca pulled her tighter against her, “Tell that to my parents when I flunk potions this year.”
“While I’m sure that would make them adore me, I’ll pass.” Frankie ran her hands down Bianca’s arms. “Are you still doing badly?”
“Didn’t you hear Snape in class today? He pretty much told the whole class I’m failing.”
“I could help.” Frankie casually replied.
Bianca snorted, “Help? Sure.” The girl who didn’t care about class would tutor her.
Frankie frowned, “You don’t think I can?”
Feeling Frankie bristle, Bianca answered, “Frankie,”
Frankie cut her off, breaking free from her hold, “You don’t think I can help you?” She stepped back with a sneer, “I can do magic, Bianca. I can make a potion.”
“I know that.” where was this coming from?
“You know, I can do everything you can."
“Whoa,” Bianca held up her hands in a placating manner.
“I might not have grown up like you, but I’m still a witch. I can do this.” Frankie grit her teeth and lowered her voice, “I am just as powerful, no matter where I came from or what my blood is.”
“Stop right there.” Bianca waved her hands. “I never said that. I don’t think about you like that.”
“Whatever.” Frankie moved to leave.
“Don’t.” Bianca grasped her hand. She tugged until Frankie was at her side, “I have never said anything like that about you. I don’t think you’re any different than me, Frankie. Yes, you don’t seem to care all that much right now about our courses, and I’m not sure you get that high of marks, but I don’t think you’re less powerful or can’t do anything.” Frankie didn’t look at her, so Bianca continued, “I don’t care about your blood or where you came from. Truthfully, I never even think about it.”
“We should go.”
“No, we should talk about this.” Bianca stared at her. “You were really defensive right now. You always are. It’s like you have…”
“What?” she challenged.
“…something to prove.” Bianca finished.
“Projecting there, Gryffindor?”
Thinking back, Bianca wondered what it was about. Then, it hit her. “Your blood. You mentioned your blood.”
Frankie’s eyes flashed with concealed alarm.
“You’re muggle-born.” She remembered those Slytherins boys attacking Frankie, insulting her heritage.
“So?”
A muggle-born in Slytherin. It was making sense. “It must be difficult being in a house where they worship blood purity.”
“Back off. You know nothing about my house.” Frankie spoke.
“Everyone knows about Slytherin.” Out of all the houses, Slytherin placed the highest regard on blood purity. It was almost unheard of for someone not of pure wizard blood to be sorted into it. As the story goes, when the four founders of Hogwarts, for which each house was named, met to talk about entrance qualifications, Salazar Slytherin only wanted to allow pure blooded witches and wizards in.
Changing tactics for a second, Bianca softened her voice, “You know, I remember the first time I learned about the whole blood thing. I was young, maybe nine, and out shopping with my family. There were two wizards talking, and they mentioned mudblood.” It was tiny, almost imperceptible, but Frankie tensed, “I asked my stepfather what that was, and he told me it was a bad word. Some wizards who are born to wizard only families look down upon those not born to pure-bloods. They think those who come from muggle backgrounds are not as good. They think of it as dirty blood. But, it’s not true. There’s nothing wrong or different about someone like that.”
“Great,” Frankie exhaled loudly, “we should go before someone finds us. Don’t want to ruin your sterling record.”
“No one will look up here.” Bianca reached for her other hand. “Slytherin is known for supporting blood purity.”
“Look at the brave pious Gryffindor trying to help the poor muggle-born against the evil Slytherins.” Frankie scowled.
“I’m not doing anything.” Bianca tangled their fingers together. “I care about you, and I know there are a lot of people in your house who glorify being of pure-blood. And, I’m a little worried you might be treated badly by them.” The way Frankie reacted was only increasing that worry.
“I’m fine.”
“Frankie,” Bianca searched her eyes, “I’ve seen them. I’ve seen those boys insult you. Are they all like that? Did something happen earlier?”
“For crying out loud.” Frankie muttered.
“You’re not fooling me, Frankie. You got defensive about what you can or can’t do based on your blood. This bothers you. Is it because of what they’ve said to you? In Gryffindor, no one would treat you that way.”
“The great and wonderful Gryffindor who we all must strive to be like.” Frankie rolled her eyes. “You’re not as amazing as everyone thinks you are.”
“Frankie,”
“There is nothing wrong with my house. I was sorted there for a reason, Bianca.”
Bianca bit her lip and stared at her with pleading orbs, “I need to know.”
Frankie sighed, “I like my house. It’s my house, my housemates, my life.”
“Is that why you hide that you’re muggle-born?”
Frankie’s jaw clenched, “I don’t hide anything.”
“Frankie, my friends think you’re pureblood. I’m pretty sure a lot of other people do too.” Bianca could see Frankie’s gaze beginning to blaze, but she kept going. They needed to talk about this, and she wasn’t stopping now. Just like she wouldn’t stop when Frankie denied their connection. “Do they make you do that? You don’t have to be afraid of who you are.”
“Your friends and all those other useless Gryffindors are as smart as toadstools.” Frankie ground out. “My friends don’t make me do anything.”
“What about the rest of your house? I know you have friends on the team.”
“I have more than them.” Frankie wet her lips. “You need to back off from Slytherin. You don’t need to be the big hero and save me. I belong there. I’m one of them.”
Was she? Bianca released Frankie’s hands and cupped her face, “How can you be so loyal to them?”
“How are you loyal to Gryffindor? It’s my house.” She pushed up so their faces were inches apart, “Slytherin is my home.”
Just like Gryffindor was hers.
Frankie gazed down at her lips. Puffs of white floated out with each breath. Slowly, she brought their lips together in a simple kiss. Bianca returned the touch, pressing their mouths more firmly together. Her eyes slipped closed, and she could still see the bursting stars in the night sky.
“I just want you happy.” Bianca murmured, meaning it with all her heart. The thought of Frankie not happy made her insides knot up.
“I am.” Frankie brought their lips back together.
They stood there kissing under the moon and stars until their bodies shivered from more than just the emotions coursing through them.