❝ old bullies ❞

The Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom is uncharacteristically dark on the bright November day. With the windows drawn shut, the only source of light is several candles and an unseen spotlight that points to the large chalkboard that now takes up the back wall, which is still blank and gives no clues as to what today's lesson will be. Carina nearly has to squint just to see Angelina, who's seated directly next to her.

Fred and George are at the desks behind them and they're taking full advantage of the dim setting, launching paper wads at Lee and Alicia, who sit in front of Carina and Angelina, and snickering when they turn around to accuse the wrong duo.

The classroom door slams shut and the students turn around eagerly, only to be met with the unwanted sight of Professor Snape. Disappointed groans echo throughout the room until he silences the noise with a steely glare. He strides to the front of the room and silently conjures a graphic image of a werewolf transformation to cover the previously empty chalkboard, looking at each teenager individually as if to dare them to speak out against his chosen topic.

"Turn to page 394," he says simply, waiting impatiently for the students to comply.

Carina's stomach drops as they make eye contact and it becomes painfully obvious to her that he knows. She grips her quill so hard she's worried it will snap as she grows sick just wondering how the vile man plans to ruin Remus's chance to change the fear and stigma that surrounds the humans that involuntarily turn into animals.

"Werewolves?" Angelina asks, double-checking to ensure she has the right page. "Professor Lupin said we wouldn't be discussing them until next week."

"Professor Lupin is too ill to teach at the moment, so the curriculum is changing," Snape retorts. "Now, which of you can tell me how we distinguish between the werewolf and the true wolf?"

No hands go up, not even from the Ravenclaws. A couple of students that have a vague idea of the answer seem to be debating with themselves as to whether they should answer the man while he's in such a foul mood.

"No one?" He sneers, though there is a part of him that's pleased werewolves haven't been discussed in the slightest. "Clearly the teaching in this class is far less competent than I thought."

Carina's throws her hand up forcefully, not willing to sit back and bite her tongue any longer. Every head swivels in her direction and, even in the dark, they can see the anger practically radiating from her.

Snape considers ignoring her and continuing with the class, but decides against it when she starts to clear her throat to be certain he'll notice her.

"Yes, Potter?"

"I don't think we should be learning this from someone who is prejudiced against wizards and witches that have no control over a condition they didn't ask for," she snaps, causing Angelina to shoot her a warning look to stop before she goes too far. "Werewolves are people, first and foremost, and don't deserve to be taught about as though they're only animals with no rights."

"What are you implying?"

"That we should wait for Professor Lupin to feel better before we discuss such sensitive topics," Carina reasons, a fire in her eyes that her uncle will be proud of when he inevitably hears of this incident. "Or maybe one of the professors that haven't been denied this position should be teaching until he can return."

"Ten points from Gryffindor," Snape snaps. "And you can join Weasley in detention tonight."

"What did I do?" Both Fred and George join the debate, genuinely confused as to how they've earned the punishment when this is perhaps the quietest they've ever been in a class.

"The younger Weasley," Snape clarifies, not even attempting to hide his annoyance.

This still leaves everyone with the question as to whether it's Ron or Ginny that landed themselves a detention, but no one dares to ask for fear of having to join them.

The rest of the class goes by uneventfully, with Snape strolling up and down the rows of desks as the students silently read the chapter on werewolves.

When the bell rings to dismiss them, nobody wastes a second in escaping the depressing atmosphere.

"You will each write an essay, to be handed in to me, on the ways you recognize and kill werewolves," Snape assigns the homework as they pack up, earning a disgusted scoff from Carina. "I want two rolls of parchment on the subject, and I want them by Monday morning."

⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆

"Would you be willing to do your best friend a favor, love?" George leans across the table in front of Carina in the Gryffindor common room, the most believable pout he can muster adorning his features as he gazes at her pleadingly.

"What does Lee want?" She responds, not even glancing up from her nails as she continues to paint them a sparkling gold.

"Rude, but I'll let it slide because I so desperately need your help," he says, not letting her disinterest deter him. "Oliver has got us practicing constantly to prepare for the game on Saturday and this is the only free time I've got for the next few days. There's no way I'll be able to finish my homework - unless you want to become my favorite person on this planet and let me see your werewolf essay."

"No."

"You're the be- wait, what?" George's face falls and he studies her expressions closely to see if she's serious. "Are you mad at me?"

"No," Carina responds again, adding a smile to reassure him. "I just can't let you copy my essay because I didn't do it."

"You mean you haven't started on it yet?"

"I mean I don't plan on doing it at all," she corrects him.

George finally sits down, moving around to claim the seat next to her. He gently places a hand over her hand that's holding the nail polish brush, forcing her to pause and look up at him. He's once again alarmingly close to her face and Carina momentarily forgets how to breathe as he looks at her with concern and worrry in his hazel eyes.

"You haven't been yourself since that class," he points out, having noticed the changes in her usual happy demeanor. "What's going on?"

Carina considers lying and telling the caring boy she's okay, but something about the way he looks at her makes her feel safe enough to share every secret in the world with him without fear of judgement. An overwhelming amount of emotions take over the girl and she merely leans over to rest her head on his shoulder instead of saying anything.

George freezes, not having expected the action. With one hand still holding one of hers, he uses the other to pull her into an oddly angled hug.

"I just don't think we should be learning about werewolves from the human version of a dementor," she eventually says, technically telling the truth while avoiding directly telling Remus's secret. "It's a teaching opportunity he purposefully took away from Unc- er, Professor Lupin - because he's a slimy git."

Watching Remus struggle to uphold a career of his own over the years due to the prejudice he faces when employers discover his condition has made Carina want to be a strong advocator for the injustices he and thousands more face. Seeing her uncle beaten down after each full moon is hard, but somehow the days he comes home to announce he's lost yet another job are even worse. She knows it's  not her place to worry over the adults that care for her, but it's impossible not to.

Though she's only in her fifth year, small actions such as calling out Snape are baby steps in the right direction. Just the thought of the grown man blatantly wanting to expose Remus's secret is enough to make her want to cry.

George, on the other hand, isn't entirely sure as to why Carina is so defensive over the topic. However, what he does understand is that it's obviously made her quite upset and he'll do anything to get a smile back on her face.

"Would it make you feel better if I let you paint my nails?"

"Absolutely."