"the fire in her eyes reminded others not to play with her"

*

Professor Dumbledore planned to spend the evening of November 3rd reading a new book he'd bought and eating lemon drops, his favorite Muggle delicacy. After settling comfortably into his chair, he summoned the book, the sweets, and a blanket he'd knitted two years ago he began to sink into the book.

After seven chapters, a loud rap on the door startled the old man out of his reverie. He snapped the book shut and vanished the blanket before unlocking the door with magic. Professor McGonagall was the first to enter, her emerald dressing gown indicating that she'd been called out of bed to take care of a problem. Four students followed closely behind her stern gaze, four soaking wet students who looked worse for the wear.

Severus Snape stood as tall as he could, but it seemed that he was limping and could stand up completely straight. A few scratches cut through his thin, sallow face.

Bellatrix Black had matching black eyes and an ugly expression on her face. She sneered at the headmaster momentarily before her sharp gaze returned to the girl next to her.

Eva Taylor's lip had been split and half of her ponytail had fallen out. Contempt practically dripped from her green eyes, contempt especially for Bellatrix.

James Potter wore cracked glasses and seemed the least injured out of the group, but a bruise grazed his left cheekbone.

All four students glared at each other menacingly. Professor McGonagall placed four wands on the desk before addressing Professor Dumbledore.

"Headmaster, I hate to disturb you at this late hour-"

"Not a problem at all, Minerva. I was merely reading. Would you care to explain what is going on?"

"Yes." She stood in front of them and grimaced. "A Hufflepuff prefect banged on my door tonight as I was getting ready for bed. She told me a major fight had broken out on the Quidditch pitch. I naturally hastened to see what was going on. When I got there, I found the four of them not only engaged in magical combat, but also mixed up in Muggle fist dueling. It took magic to separate them, and no one will tell me how the fight began."

Dumbledore examined the four students over his half-moon spectacles. "Thank you very much, Minerva. I would appreciate it if you would escort Miss Black and Mr. Snape to your office to question them. If you have any problems, feel free to report them to Professor Slughorn for detentions. I will take care of these two and send them back to their dormitories promptly."

"Yes, Albus. Good night." She beckoned the Slytherins back down the spiral stairs and to her office.

Once they had left, Dumbledore summoned two comfortable-looking purple chairs in front of his desk. Gesturing to them, he said, "Have a seat."

Eva couldn't tell whether he was angry. His voice remained level, as did his expression. She sat stiffly while James lounged in the chair. "Professor, can I start by saying something?" He asked.

"Certainly, Mr. Potter."

"I don't regret it." He cockily jerked an eyebrow, daring anyone to respond to his comment.

Dumbledore nodded, a twinkle in his old blue eyes. "All right. I will withhold my judgment on that statement until I receive the full explanation. I must say, Miss Taylor, I'm surprised to see you mixed up in a brawl like this."

The blonde blushed deeply, scarlet creeping up her pale cheeks. She pulled her hands into the arms of a too-large leather jacket and forced herself to stay calm. "If I'm being honest, sir, I'm the one who started it."

"Oh? Do tell, then."

Eva shrugged, then winced at the movement. "Well, it happened after Quidditch practice..."

Finally, Mitchell had called the end of practice. After three hours in the rain (why did they always practice in the rain?), all she wanted to do was go change and head to Sirius' birthday party. She glanced around the changing room, hoping to see the dog, but he wasn't there, so she just pulled on a pair of jeans, a red sweater, and Sirius' leather jacket. She kept meaning to return it, but it always slipped her mind. A small part of her liked wearing it, like snuggling into it and inhaling his comforting scent.

"Blondie, you ready to go? We're gonna be late if we don't pick up the pace." James held the door for her before they tromped up the hill to the castle. Two figures approached, figures they recognized as Severus and Bellatrix.

Eva's hand automatically went to her wand, her fingers lightly skimming it, just in case. Rain poured down upon them as James took a protective step in front of her, remembering the promise he'd made to both himself and Sirius.

"Oh, look who it is!" Bellatrix jeered, her thin lips curling into a sickening smirk. The rain frizzed her already voluminous hair, making her look like a demented poodle.

"Snivellus, your wig might fall off in this storm," James said, quirking an eyebrow. "Or is it supposed to look wet all the time?"

Severus' black eyes flashed. "You're lucky I don't hex you right now, you arrogant jerk."

"You wouldn't," James dared. "Coward."

"Fool."

The two boys started for each other, and it took all of the force in Eva's five foot seven inches to restrain him.

"Eva, let go," he whispered harshly, attempting to shrug out of her grasp.

"No. You're going to do something stupid, and it's Sirius' birthday. Let's just leave them be and go to the party. Okay?"

For a moment, it looked as if he might stop, but then Bellatrix snickered and said, "A birthday party for my dirty excuse of a cousin? Are you celebrating how he's managed to survive another year of his parents' hate, or the fact that he's going to spend another year prancing around with Mudbloods like you?"

Eva let go of James, but he had no time to react before her fist collided with Bellatrix's left eye. The Black cousin stumbled backward in shock and in pain, giving Eva the opportunity to award her a matching set of black eyes.

Mayhem broke out. James versus Snape, Bellatrix versus Eva. Spells flew through the pouring rain, and blood spilled onto the wet grass. Eva didn't even remember getting her lip split open, but it was definitely Bellatrix, because once it happened, Eva spat blood back at the girl's face, so beyond caring.

She was sick and tired of people thinking they could push her around because of her blood status. All she wanted to do was stand up for herself. Prove she was better than any of them.

"Excuse me!" Professor McGonagall screamed. She took in the scene: James holding Snape by the collar, ready to punch; and Bellatrix and Eva with wands pointed at each other. "I am ashamed of all of you! Never, and I say never, have I witnessed something like this before at Hogwarts. Inside, to the headmaster's office. Now!"

Dumbledore leaned forward in his seat, his long fingers tapping on the desk. "So, Miss Taylor, am I correct in saying that you punched Miss Black?"

"Yes." Something close to pride was in her voice. She'd given Bellatrix Black two black eyes. Black, the color of her eyes and her soul. Fitting.

"And she split your lip?"

Eva nodded and wiped a trail of blood from her chin. James tossed her a handkerchief carelessly.

"And Mr. Potter, dare I ask why Mr. Snape was limping?"

James grinned darkly. "I kicked him." He didn't specify where he kicked Snape, but his expression told the headmaster more than words could.

"Would you like me to fix your glasses?" Dumbledore asked kindly. James handed them over. With a wave of his wand, the lenses repaired themselves.

"Thank you, sir," he said gratefully as he slid them back on. "That's much better."

"Good. Now, both of you understand that what you did was wrong, correct?"

"Yes," Eva said at the exact moment James said, "No." She elbowed him, hard, and he groaned. "Fine, yes. I should not have hexed or kicked Snivellus." Another elbow, harder this time. "Severus. I should not have hexed or kicked Severus."

A faint smile crossed Professor Dumbledore's bearded face. "Very good. That will be all."

"You- you aren't going to give us detention?" Eva asked in disbelief. She tried to smooth her wet, disheveled curls, but her attempts only made it frizzier and she gave up.

"Not tonight, Miss Taylor. Not tonight." She and James exchanged confused glances. "You were defending yourself and your friends against insults and prejudice. I don't blame you for anything that happened and will let you off with a warning, though I do ask that it doesn't happen again. I cannot continue to turn a blind eye if behavior like this repeats."

"Thank you, Professor," the two chorused, itching to leave. They knew that they were drastically late for the party.

"I believe that the two of you have a celebration to attend," he said. Neither James nor Eva questioned how the old man knew it: they just smiled and nodded. "I'd ice that lip of yours, Miss Taylor. Look after each other. These are dark times." He hesitated, and Eva wondered if he would say anything more, but he didn't.

"Well, thank you very much, sir," James said. He offered a high five to Dumbledore, who enthusiastically slapped his hand. Eva turned a laugh into a cough. "We'll be going now."

They began to leave when he called out, "Miss Taylor! Might I have a moment with you?"

"I'll wait for you outside," James whispered in her ear. She nodded and walked back to the desk. Dumbledore strode around and stood next to her.

"How are your classes this year?"

"Um, fine, sir. I think Professor Slughorn might be slightly disappointed in my potion-making skills. That's kind of normal, though."

"Ah. Well, I'm sure something else about you impressed him, considering you attend his dinner parties. Professor McGonagall has told me you are very accomplished in Transfiguration, particularly the Patronus charm. Very impressive magic, I must say, especially for your age."

"Thank you, Professor." She blushed at his praise and looked up into the old wizard's piercing blue eyes. "What was it you wanted to ask me about?"

He gestured for her to sit in her purple chair. Instead of taking the seat across the desk, he sat next to her in the seat James had occupied moments before.

"You're very spirited, my dear," he said quietly. "And you are Muggle Born. I notice that this gets you into problems."

She shrugged, keeping her gaze to the ground. "I'm sick and tired of discrimination. I just stand up for myself. Trouble tends to follow people who won't back down. And I won't."

"I see." He admired the spirit of the young witch before him immensely, the brightness of her unbreakable smile. "And what is it that you want to do after Hogwarts?"

She considered this. Naturally, she would remain in the wizarding world, but what she would do was more difficult. "I'm not quite sure yet, sir. I considered working at the Ministry to help draft legislation. We're fighting the wrong war, sir. Werewolves, Muggle Borns, Seers, Muggles, house elves... the list of discrimination goes on and on. I guess I'm just saying I want to make things better."

Dumbledore smiled at the girl's passion for making the world a better place. After hearing that, he knew what he wanted to ask her. Not then, she was still too young, but eventually.

"I've had talks with Professor McGonagall. She believes you have a natural aptitude for teaching, or as you call it, helping others."

Her thin eyebrows shot up. "Teaching? You mean here?" The more she thought about it, the more she liked the idea.

"Yes. If I were to hire you, I would give you a year or two to gain experience in the real world before returning to teach. You might have a choice of subject, too. Obviously, the Transfiguration post will still be occupied, but the Astronomy position will open in a few years, and if history repeats itself as it usually does, the Defense Against the Dark Arts job may be available, too."

A smile spread across her face. "You'd really hire me?"

"I would."

Her grin widened like she'd seen the prettiest field of flowers. "Thank you, Professor. I love it here, honestly. Part of me doesn't want to leave."

"I'm glad. You still have two years of youth left, Miss Taylor. Enjoy them." He winked. "Now, I believe Mr. Potter is waiting downstairs impatiently for you. Don't keep him waiting."

"Good night, Professor." She practically skipped down the stairs and didn't trip once, which only improved her spirits.

"Blimey," James said the second she set foot in the hallway. "Can you believe that? No detention!"

"I really can't," Eva said, trying to ignore the pain in her lip. "I thought for sure we'd be punished."

"Who knew you'd be so good in a fistfight?" James grinned and threw an arm around her.

"I know how to take care of myself!"

"You definitely do, Blondie. Now, we've got a party to arrive fashionably late to. What did Dumbledore want, anyway?"

"He offered me a job," she said giddily. "After Hogwarts."

"No way! That's amazing!" He picked her up and hugged her, spun her around. "You'd be so good at that!"

"Easy, easy! I definitely have a few bruises on my side."

He set her down instantly, an apologetic expression on his face. "Oops, my bad. Sorry."

"No harm done." She winked. "We need to get to that party."

This wasn't necessary, however: the party literally ran to them. First, they saw five pairs of feet on the floor, and then the Invisibility cloak fell to the ground.

"Where were you guys?"

"You're bleeding!"

"What did Dumbledore want?"

"What did you do this time?"

"What happened to your face?"

"EVERYBODY, SHUT UP!" Lily yelled, throwing her hands between everyone. She turned to James and Eva, who had been bombarded with people and questions. "Where were you two?"

"Dumbledore's office," James answered. He leaned on the wall, figuring they'd be there for a while.

"Why?" Marlene gasped.

"We may or may not have gotten into a fistfight with some Slytherins," James explained. "Sorry we missed the party, mate. Evans, does the bruise make me more attractive?"

"Oh, definitely," Lily said, nodding vigorously. "It covers up some of your stupid face."

Sirius walked up to Eva and put a gentle hand on her face. "You look terrible."

She smirked. "Bellatrix looks worse. Two beautiful black eyes, Sirius."

"Bellatrix?" He asked. The blonde held up two leather sleeves with no hands innocently. How is she so adorable? He thought before shaking it from his head. The fact that she'd just beaten up Bellatrix made her even more attractive, something he didn't think could happen.

"Happy birthday, Sirius." The two held grinning gazes a second longer than usual.

"You punching my cousin is the best gift you could have possibly given me."

"Really?" She fished a small white envelope out of the pocket of her robes and handed it to him. "Prepare to be wrong."

"YOU GOT US TICKETS TO SEE ABBA?!?"

"In July!" She laughed as he enveloped her in a hug, this time ignoring the pain in her side. It didn't matter. "It's their final tour. I got the tickets months ago."

"Thank you so much," he repeated, letting go of her.

"Best birthday ever?" She asked him.

He laughed at her hopeful expression, like a puppy with its wide eyes and perked up ears. "Yeah."

"Best year ever?"

Despite all of the pain and jealousy, he saw the truth, and he nodded. "Yeah."

She nudged him playfully and grabbed his hand. "Told you so."

Sirius didn't stop smiling for the rest of the night.