A/N I am no longer updating every week because of personal issues which I don't want to go into right now. Still, I'll write when I have the time.

I stare at my potion professor's large form as he enthusiastically explains something about molecules in potions before moving into cauldrons, gold and brass and copper...

I really, really hate potions.

I lick the end of my sugar quill and start to write, Silver-among best to use... Phases of the moon are...

He says something about silver and the moon. I try to remember, but he's moved on and now I've missed some stuff. That's when my ink spills all over me and my notes.

Tears prick at the edge of my eyes. Angry tears.

I hear a quiet laugh.

Nox.

"What's up with that?" He whispers, nodding at my ink-stained robes. "New fashion statement?"

"Its the latest trend." I give him a sweet, sweet smile, wiping my tears away before throwing my leftover ink on him. "Try the style!"

"Silver!" A voice thunders overhead, and I look up to see the professor glaring down at me. 

The tears come back, but just a little. "Sorry," I say meekly.

"I'm giving you a warning. A point from Ravenclaw, and if you continue to act up it'll be a detention."

"Sorry," I repeat. I just know that Nox is laughing. I swear, I'm going to KILL him at lunch. He started it! What about a point from Gryffindor?!

//

I finish a letter to Sasha and Eli, my old friends, even though I won't be able to send it, before rushing to the grand hall for lunch.

Julia and Karla wave me over, but I'm blocked by...

"You," I hiss towards Nox. A smug group of Gryffindor kids lean against their table and watch. Nox smiles that stupid grin of his, and I notice a little dimple. I flip him the bird, and the dimple disappears. Good.

He brushes back his messy hair and stared at me with disturbingly intense eyes. "Me," he replies simply, softly- but dangerously.

His friends inch closer, like sharks to blood. "I heard what happened in potions," one of them snickers. "I thought ravenclaws were smart."

I give them a sad, sad look. The corners of their mouths inch up- before flattening as I start to laugh. "In that case, did you hear about what happened to Nox in potions? Or did he leave that out?"

One of them glances at Nox with raised eyebrows. I know him, he's in one of my classes, too. "Alex," I say, cool as ice. "I must say, I thought you had more sense. I guess all Gryffindors are the same." Alex rolls his eyes a little. "Come on, Silver."

"Birds of a feather," I reply, touching my blue string bracelet out of habit.

Nox steps a little closer. "I saw you signed up for the DA ravenclaw team," he says smoothly.

I eye him. The DA games has been around Hogwarts since... oh, when Voldemort was killed. I still get shivers thinking about his name, and I know it's worse for people actually raised here. His name used to be whispered between me and Sasha when we were little, used as a sort of way to feel rebelious. A curse word when we were ten. "What's it to you?" These games are a big deal. Not only do you learn a lot, but there are the Games... House vs House. It's almost as big of a deal as quidditch.

His jaw locks. "I'm in it too, V. You'd best drop out now. It'd spare you the embarrassment."

"V?" I crinkle my nose. "And believe me, I'd beat you in a fight any day."

He looks mad now. Like I said, DA is a big deal. "We'll see," he snaps. 

"Oh yes we will." I blow him a kiss and waltz away.

"Watch your back," Alex calls out.

"Watch your mouth," I grit out, not turning around.

Still, I finger my wand. 

//

Julia munches on a carrot- and smacks my arm. "Took you long enough," she mumbles, covering her mouth.

"What's up with Nox?" Karla asks.

"He's upset I joined DA. He knows I'll kick his-"

"You joined DA?" Julia asks, impressed. "That's cool, but I know that kids get hurt. You can pull anything off as an accident there, and I'm worried of what Nox might do to you. He seemed like he was being pretty..."

Her voice trails off. "Silver? You listening?"

"Pull anything off as an accident, you say?" I muse dreamily. I picture decapitating Nox. It was an accident, professor! A severing spell gone wrong! My mind was swarmed with possibilities.

"Silver," Karla snaps. "Julia's right."

I frown, suddenly annoyed. "So you think I should quit because of some entitled Gryffindor? Because he might hurt me?" I lower my voice. "I know this might come as a suprise, but I can hurt him too. Just because I'm not... outwardly dangerous looking, or- or-" I struggle for words.

Karla lifts her head. "You're misunderstanding us. We're saying that as your friends, we're warning you to be on your guard against him. We're saying, if he so much as lifts his wand against you, I'm going to do much worse." 

Her eyes are like steel, and I'm touched. I swallow hard and smile. "We're going to do much worse," I correct.