September 14th 2004
Dear Diary,

One would have assumed that by the age of 13, having been at the school for two complete years, that the students would be under the strict knowledge that you did not use magic against other students. And if you did, especially considering Hyacinth herself could remember the few times she had resulted to magical warfare within the school halls, that you would not do it in a classroom right in front of your professor. That they would recognise that classrooms were a safe space, especially the ones set up by some of the younger members of staff. But just like her twin brother seemed to do constantly, these students left Hyacinth thinking twice and mildly surprised. 

The lesson of which she found herself questioning why she was even teaching, was her second to last for the day. She had spent most of the day teaching the younger years, feeling the joy she got when she was able to see them making improvements no matter how small. And when it came to her second to last lesson of the year she was faced with the third year students from Ravenclaw and Gryffindor. The class which had over the last week or so lessons had been running, seemed to be rather well behaved, cheeky but behaved. Nobody wanting to disappoint one of the more relaxed teachers, or so she had overheard. 

However, she would find herself twenty minutes into the forty-five minute lesson, breaking up a fight between two students from the same house. This was not completely unusual that they would fight between themselves, however considering it was the middle of lesson and the two students hailed from the Ravenclaw house it confused her. Ravenclaw students were known to be more academically inclined, often challenging themselves to learn spells of which were usually not taught to their year group. Often paying more attention in class to ensure they understood the subject as best as they possibly could. And this would be another case of the stereotype as two third year students fired spells at one another which were not even taught within the school walls.

 Though as the familiar words of the bee sting jinx were shouted Hyacinth stepped in to take the spell. Aware of what it would do to her, and hoped that it didn't make her look completely grotesque. The second the spell hit and Hyacinth realised just where it had hit she became grateful for the large cloak she had chosen to wear that morning, feeling as though she was developing a slight head cold.

"Class dismissed, I want each and every one of you to bring me an essay on the dangers of firing spells on your peers. Research to include the battle." With a wave of her hand she dismissed her class and shuffled down the corridor to where she knew Neville would be located. The man, to her luck was currently on a free period and might be able to help her with the counter-curse.

She pounded on the wooden door of his bedroom hoping that he would be inside, and to her luck that was where he was, taking advantage of having four back to back free periods to nap. He was groggy behind the other side of the door, rubbing at his eyes as he took in a rather frantic looking Hyacinth.

"Di, what are you doing here? Don't you have a class?" Hyacinth did not listen rather pushing past him and into the room, the look of urgency only increasing as she felt the effects of the jinx finally stop.

"Bloody third years, arguing over a stupid girl throwing hexes around my classroom." Hyacinth mumbled as Neville looked his friend once over, not noticing anything at first. He did not need to question whether she would step in for a spell hitting a student knowing it had been a frequent thing whilst she was a student herself and she had broken up many fights over the year they had worked in the school. "Please tell me you know the counter jinx to the bee sting jinx?" Hyacinth hoped, she knew that charms hadn't been Neville's strongest subject it was why he taught Herbology and she taught charms. But in the after affect of the actual spell, her brain had gone foggy and could not recall how to counteract the jinx.

"Where were you hit?" Neville asked still not seeing any changes. That was until Hyacinth removed her cloak and he let out a loud laugh at her predicament.

"Don't laugh, what if I'm stuck with one bigger than the other forever?" Hyacinth whined as both friends drew a blank at the counter. But they both laughed irregardless.

"You're going to have to find Malfoy."

"I can't have him seeing me with wonky tits Neville. I can't even look at him properly following that altercation in the Hospital wing." Hyacinth expressed aware she could have been overreacting. But ever since she had stood up for Draco against the students she found herself more torn than she thought possible. She had spent that night lying awake questioning her own beliefs her own opinions and mostly her own actions. She had stepped up for the man she had worked with, knowing full well the history, having lived through it. Seen the actions first hand of what he had done, even if it had included a moment when he had tried to change sides during the battle of Hogwarts. She could clearly hear him stating those slurs whilst they were younger. 

And she had spent a long period of time wondering whether he had truly changed enough, whether he still believed the things that he had claimed during their teen years. Did he still believe in blood purity and some of the ideology of the death eaters? Hyacinth would have hoped the answer was no considering he was now working as a healer, that they were supposed to not show any prejudice. But the longer she thought about it the more she spiralled down the dark hole. 

The dark hole of wondering maybe the image she had painted in her mind of him all those years ago, way before she really knew much more about him, was not real. Perhaps she was focusing too much on what she thought he was like before the war, before she knew of what he had done, the comments he had made. Maybe she was starting to come to terms with either the idea she had to get to know him for who he was now, if he ever let her in that was, or she had to realise the 'love' she felt for him was some teenaged fantasy. Where she had created a character, not a real person. 

And that was the main reason, she avoided heading to the Hospital wing until her classes were properly over. She had resumed teaching the final lesson, large jumper now over the shirt she was wearing just in case. It would be closer to 8pm that night that she finally gave up waiting out the jinx to see if it would go away. And as she tried to ignore the two parts of her brain which were at war with one another she came across the man which was making her head hurt. 

Draco Malfoy was very attractive, he always had been. Hyacinth knew she would be lying to herself if she tried to deny it. Deny that she found a lot of physical attraction, and perhaps when she was younger it was the basis of the one sided feelings she held for him. And as he looked up at her, his gaze heavy she would be lying if that didn't immediately make her heart skip a beat as her body relayed to her that there was a heavy sense of longing she had for many years. 

"Sorry to bother you, considering how busy you are." Hyacinth spoke looking around at the empty bay her sarcasm heavy spoken in a way the Potters seemed to have perfected over the years. 

"Potter, how lovely for you to grace me with your presence." Draco's words were just as sarcastic if not more than Hyacinth's own. 

"I was wondering if you knew the counter jinx to the bee sting?" Hyacinth gave nothing more away, not wanting to admit anything nor show unless she absolutely needed to. 

"How long ago?" Draco's words at first confused Hyacinth but she quickly worked out what he meant. 

"Couple of hours? Four maybe five." Hyacinth looked at the clock as she performed the quick mathematic equation. 

"Still no sign of decreasing? We treat it like a normal bee sting. Antihistamine and with some time it should hopefully go down." Draco spoke and she only nodded in response. Annoying but she would have to take it. 

"Okay brilliant."

"You sounded so like your brother right then." Draco mumbled as he went into the room where Hyacinth assumed medications were stocked. And upon his return she took the tablet held out in her direction along with the cup of water. She spoke nothing on his earlier statement, choosing to ignore the comparison before she got caught up that perhaps it would be another occasion where people only really saw her as the female version of her brother without all the excitement. For she had never been 'the chosen one' and she never would amount to half of what her brother was. 

"Thanks for this Draco." Hyacinth spoke aware of the time and the slight awkward atmosphere that was descending upon them. 

"No problem Potter, don't make it a habit."

"Call me Diana please, we're colleagues now not school rivals." Were her final words as Hyacinth left, in the direction of her bed hoping to sleep off the remaining effects of the jinx. 

"We never were rivals." She would not hear his words that were only spoke as the door gently drew to a close behind her.

Until the next time
Yours,

Diana Potter.