Loneliness settled like an old friend in Ravenna's life. With Dan and her not talking, she had no one. Ezra hated her, Ella was still scared, and Willem was too busy with his old classmates, who had all been convinced by Alois' speech.

She had been convinced, too. Why couldn't Dan trust her instincts?

Because he doesn't need to, a little voice in her head said. He might hate his parents, but they'll take him in if he doesn't have anywhere else to go. Even if it's only to save their own dignity. Unlike her dad, who'd prefer his daughter and her terrible magic as far away from him as possible.

From the back of the room, Ravenna watched her classmates chat. Ella stood on her tiptoes to try and get her wand back, which Ezra had jokingly taken from her. Ravenna didn't doubt he'd give it back soon enough; he was always teasing her. The younger girl always told him off for it, but they all knew she was having too much fun to take it seriously. They were like brother and sister. Like Ella had said, her classmates were a second family to her.

When Dan entered the classroom, he sat down in his spot next to her, but didn't say a word. Ravenna stared at her desk. She was too tired to deal with this now. The potion had taken its toll.

Her classmates fell silent as Professor Boot entered the room, a couple of books in her hands. "Good afternoon, level five," she said, dropping the books on her desk. "Today we will finalise Protego."

The class groaned loudly, Ravenna most of all.

Professor Boot raised her eyebrows. "This should be no surprise to you. You don't all have it under control yet, so we'll simply keep practising."

Don't all have it under control, yeah right, Ravenna thought, her heart clenching. Sure, the others were still struggling as well, but she and Dan were the only ones who hadn't been able to cast it yet. Ella did it perfectly now, and Ezra and Willem were getting better too. She'd have to hurry, or they'd move on to other charms before she'd mastered it.

Professor Boot reviewed the precise pronunciation and hand movements one more time, before sending them off to practise. She let them work alone at first, so Ravenna spent her time well. Along with Dan's constant muttering beside her, she cast the spell over and over and over. Yet only a vague spray of grey mist spluttered out.

On the other side of the room, Willem's shield became larger and more solid with every Protego he cast. Ravenna swallowed hard and forced her attention back on her own wand.

It must've been fifteen minutes into the lesson when Professor Boot decided to join her. She watched her practise a few times, before interrupting.

"You've got this, Miss Inkwood," she said, leaning towards her. "You're executing the wand movements and pronunciation perfectly. The only thing you're lacking is focus. Direct your magic into the wand. Let it flow."

"Let it flow?" she exclaimed. "Are you serious? You know I can't do that!"

"You can, Miss Inkwood. I know you've got it in you. We just need to get it out." Professor Boot raised her wand. "Trust me. I'm here if anything goes wrong. Trust yourself."

Let it flow? The thought alone sent shivers down her spine. She couldn't let her magic flow. Ever. She had to control it, or people would get hurt. Her friends would get hurt. Hadn't she proven that just last week?

She stared hesitantly at the tip of her teacher's wand. It wasn't safe. Even with Professor Boot getting ready to cast whatever protective charm she was thinking of, it wouldn't be safe. The risks were too great.

The voice of her best friend broke her out of her reverie. "P-Protego!" A weak silver circle fell out of his wand, only to evaporate a second later.

But it was a start. If Dan could do it, she would be the only one left behind.

Before she could change her mind, she aimed her wand away from her classmates, towards the empty back of the classroom, and cried, "Protego!"

Magic crackled through her, flowing like electricity through her arm and into the tip of her wand. It lit up, and a stream of silver jumped out. The misty substance swirled around, folded in on itself, and formed a tall silver shield, hardening like glass.

Gasps erupted all around her, but she squeezed her eyes shut. The magic... It had left the wand, and now it bounced around her.

Stop. She inhaled sharply. No more.

The silver shield dispersed and so did the magic. Ravenna panted with the effort of getting it back under control, but nobody else seemed to notice.

Professor Boot nodded appreciatively. "See? I knew you could do it."

Willem shot her a thumbs up, and Ella cheered on the other side of the classroom. "Good work, Ravenna!" she exclaimed, punching her fists into the air. "Your shield looked beautiful! How did you do that?"

Ravenna's heart lifted, as she looked up at her friend. She couldn't stop a grin from spreading across her face. "Thanks. It was... It was nothing. You've all done it before."

"Not like that," said Ella with twinkling eyes. "Merlin, you lit up the room there. That was really impressive, Ravenna."

She chuckled, feeling her cheeks warm up. That's really kind of her, she thought. She seems genuinely happy for me, despite what I've done to her. I really need to apologise...

"Well, then," said Professor Boot, clapping her hands together. "I think you've all earned a bit of a break after that. How about we end the lesson early, yes?"

The students didn't need to be told twice. They scrambled for their book bags, bid their teacher goodbye and hurried into the hallway before she could change her mind.

"Nice one!" said Ezra, grinning appreciatively. "You got us to dinner early — on roast beef day!"

As the boys ran ahead, Ravenna called out, "Ella, wait!"

Nerves fluttered about her stomach as she watched the girl's blonde ponytail sweep through the air when she turned. "What's up?"

"I, er..." Over Ella's shoulder she saw Ezra turn around as well. Always keeping an eye on her. She took a deep breath and cleared her throat. Okay. I can do this. "Listen, I just wanted to apologise... for... for the other day?"

Ella's lips curled into a wide smile, but she still kept her distance. "Thanks, Ravenna. That means a lot to me."

"That's not good enough!" Ravenna flinched when Ezra stomped towards them, his face twisted with anger. He immediately put himself between the girls again, as if to shield his younger friend from whatever Ravenna might do to her next. "First me and now her. You hurt her. You terrified her. She's had nightmares all week because of you!"

"Ezra!" Ella called indignantly, grabbing his arm. "Stop it. It might've scared me, but I know it was an accident."

"It was!" Ravenna blurted out. "I honestly didn't mean to hurt you. I just... lost control... But I've taken my potion now. I'll never let it happen again, I promise you."

"Only because Slughorn—" Ezra began, but Ella stopped him with a glare.

"That's good to hear," she said. "It'll take a bit of time, but I'll get over it. I'd really like us to be friends. All of us," she added, shooting Ezra a look. "After all, we're stuck with each other all year, right?"

Ravenna chuckled softly. "Yeah. You're right. I, er... I'd love to be friends. And... I'll be more careful."

Ella waved her words away, a big smile on her face. "Well, that settles that. Friends forgive each other. Now, come on. Roast beef!"

Her heart deflated with relief as she watched Ella's ponytail dance about happily. Ezra shrugged hesitantly, before his friend pulled him towards the dining hall by his arm, calling, "Let's go!" over her shoulder.

With a final shuddering breath, Ravenna followed her classmates to their places at the end of the dining table. She glanced at Dan, who was already having his dinner. Making up with Ella was a start, but Dan was the one she really wanted to make up with. But how was she supposed to do that?

The combination of the potion and having apologised to her classmate left Ravenna feeling drained. She couldn't focus on the conversation between Ella and the boys, so she picked up one of the newspapers that a fellow student had left behind. She flipped through pages upon pages of

LEGISLATION CHANGE FOR WEREWOLVES,

BABY KNEAZLES RESCUED FROM DRAGON, and

MINISTER MINCHUM FIRES HEAD OF AURORS.

Ravenna turned the page while taking a bite from her beef. Barely paying attention, she almost missed the headline on the fifth page.

DEATH EATER ATTACKS CONTINUE.

Shaking her head to get rid of the potion's grogginess, she leaned over the Daily Prophet.

Early this morning, Death Eaters infiltrated the half-muggle settlement of Dawnwich, in Wales. Her eyes widened. She skimmed through the article. Apparently, a group of Death Eaters had marched through the town attacking anyone that got in their way.

Startled, she looked around the hall. Dawnwich was often visited by Morgan le Fay students. Any of her fellow students could have been there. A dozen muggles are currently being treated in hospitals, she read. Aurors confirm their success in wiping the muggles' memories.

"Did you guys see this?" she asked, without looking up. "There's been an attack in Dawnwich!"

"In Dawnwich?" said Ella.

"Yeah. The Death Eaters." Ezra nodded. "Awful story. Two people died. A bunch of muggles were injured."

Ravenna skimmed further through the article. "Oh Merlin, you're right. A wizard and a muggle. They're not mentioning any names."

"Probably still confirming identity, or informing the families. It'll be in tomorrow's news." Dan shook his head. "Either way it's a tragedy. K-k-killing people, just because they're in the way."

"One of us could've been there," said Ravenna. "We go to Dawnwich all the time."

She turned the page to read the rest of the article. Her gaze fell on the accompanying photograph. It showed an image in the sky of a skull with a snake slithering out of its jaws. The Dark Mark, the caption explained; the image the Death Eaters used to claim responsibility for a fatality.

Ravenna's disgust at the Mark was overshadowed by a gnawing feeling. There was something about that Mark. She'd seen it before. But where?

As the snake on the photograph hissed at her, it hit her. She pulled the newspaper closer, peering at the image. There was no mistaking it.