Reader POV

"I keep sensing something will become different between you and Tom," Abraxas said to me one lazy Sunday afternoon. "I don't know what exactly will cause it, but you two will be either closer together or at odds."

I placed my quill down and gave him a look. Weird as my cousin is, I knew he was usually right about these things. "Well I can't imagine what it is."

Before Abraxas could offer, the weird third-year in Gryffindor came running into the table, most likely trying to hide from someone.

"Rubeus Hagrid!" Both Abraxas and I crossed our arms as him bumping into the table caused our inc to spill on the essays we were so diligently writing for our classes.

He was far too tall for his age, most likely due to his mother being a giant. "Sorry!"

"If you're going to oaf around, at least do it in a bigger space!" I yelled him. "Hey, what is that in your arms?"

Hagrid's arms immediately wrapped around a strange silk-like bundle. "Nothin'!" Before we could confiscate it, he ran off with Preston Livingston following close.

"What a strange boy." I waved my wand and the damage done to our essays was done.

"You're telling me." Abraxas and I went back to our studies. "This is why I tend to stay away from the Gryffindors, too skittish for my liking."

"I couldn't agree more." My face lit up when Tom came walking in with Serena Greengrass and Adolfus Lestrange, two of our closest friends. "I just saw Preston chasing that filthy Rubeus Hagrid. Why Headmaster Dippet does not expel him for his antics is beyond me."

Adolfus slid into the seat next to me with a snicker. "Makes sense, Dippet himself is a fool. I heard he snuck werewolf cubs into the Gryffindor common room, caused my mate Billy Potter a major headache."

Though we were all trying to keep sane, the attacks kept getting worse. Almost every week there was another muggle-born found petrified. Madame Riley was trying to grow the mandrakes, but it would be at least a month before they were ready to brew the de-petrification juice to revive all the afflicted students.

I didn't fail to notice Tom staying closer to me, I rather enjoyed it. I just didn't like how he spent so much time with Serena and Adolfus, it made me very jealous. No longer was I trying to hide my feelings, I was rather coming to terms that I had started developing feelings for Tom.

I also took note of how Serena acted around Tom and how she started treating me differently, as if she was his girlfriend and I was the unwanted one. Thankfully, Tom made her apologize and there wasn't much more drama.

"Do you think they'll extend the break?" Adolfus asked. "I mean, I would hope so. Mum doesn't feel comfortable sending me here with the attacks going on."

"Don't worry," Tom said rather quickly. "I've noticed whatever's here is only attacking the filthy mud-bloods, not that they matter."

This was another issue; I was fine with the muggle-borns, given my best friend Myrtle Warren was born to non-magical parents. True she was sensitive, but she meant well. A friendship Tom nor Abraxas approved of. Skyrin didn't care so much, so long as she wasn't forced to talk to the overly sensitive girl.

I chose not to start another fight and went back to working on my essay. Once finished, the group journeyed to the great hall for a bite to eat before we were going out to Hogsmade later in the day. Tom and I kept brushing hands, much to my delight and Serena's dislike.

"Are you sure you don't like him?" Abraxas teased me from across the table. "You two can't stop touching each other, go get a room!"

I stuck my tongue at him but blushed at Tom who did the same. "Shut up, Abraxas. You're just jealous."

"Hey! I'm right here!" Skyrin glared at her boyfriend. "Seriously, you two need to go on a date or something. All this flirting is making my stomach twist."

Abraxas and Adolfus shared a look, but it was Adolfus who spoke up. "Say, what are we doing for (nickname)'s birthday? She's turning 16."

"It's a surprise," Tom said. "I'm planning it with Serena and Skyrin. I'll thank you to not bring it up again."

I'm right here, are they idiots? Once I was done, I made my way to the Ravenclaw wing of the castle in search for Myrtle. Though she was 2-3 years younger, I grew fond of her after tutoring her for transfigurations with Professor Dumbledore. The girl gave me a smile and let me into the Ravenclaw common room, the prefects giving me a nod of respect and going back to their duties.

"Any news with Tom?" Myrtle asked with enthusiasm. "I overheard he was planning something."

"Just a surprise party for me, though it seemed that I shouldn't have found out." I curled up on the couch.

Myrtle rolled her eyes. "Men are brainless. How you got sorted into Slytherin instead of Ravenclaw is something Dumbledore himself can't answer."

I noticed Myrtle hiding quickly when the common room door opened to reveal Olive Hornby. "Olive."

"(y/n)." She gave me a half-assed nod and snickered with her posse. Like most purebloods, she looked down on Myrtle and it certainly didn't help that she was in the same house. Even still, she at least respected me, and there were rumors she was part of the weird group Tom made that valued pureblood status despite him being a half-blood.

"What's she done to you now?" I asked Myrtle when she was finally gone.

Myrtle shivered. "Made fun of the acne and pigtails. Said I looked like a child."

I rolled my eyes. "She's just jealous you have friends and she has fake ones. Pay her no mind."

Myrtle looked as if she was about to say something else but refrained. "I guess, but (nickname), there's something going on with her and other snobby purebloods."

"Do you mean the group? I already know about them."

"No, shut up and listen." Myrtle looked down at the roaring fire. "The other muggle-borns and I are worried about our safety. We get harassed by his group. I know you like him, (nickname), but do you really want to date someone who wants us dead?"

"No, I don't. But Tom doesn't want you dead,"
I reassured her. "He talks to my brother Philip, a non-magical being. He just doesn't like how you guys think they're snobby."

Myrtle let out a sigh. "Do you understand how stupid you sound? You know I respect you a lot, but he doesn't-"

"Hey." I gave her a look. "If he or any of them bother you again, let me know. I don't want to argue about this, Myrtle. I like him a lot and I know he wouldn't go so far as to murder you or anyone here."

I could almost hear her calling me an idiot, but she did not. Instead, she patted my shoulder. "I will. Let's not argue, you're right."

Myrtle and I spent the rest of the afternoon talking and making fun of the stupid things boys do, even going as far as calling them with the phones mounted on the walls for pranks. I couldn't believe that the purebloods would want to kill the muggle-borns, I made a mental note to talk to Tom later that night.