Scarlet's Point of View

Dedicated to TheWildPhoenixFlower for the first vote for Flourish and Blotts and being an all together great, supportive friend.

I sat down in my old seat and began looking around the room for Tonks and Alice. I looked around and spotted Draco, and shot a glare at him. But I still couldn't see them anywhere, and I was getting sort of worried. When I was here, they were always punctual. Not. Never mind, I shouldn't be worried. They were only a few seconds late. Soon enough, they walked into the room, accompanied by another girl. She had long blonde locks falling down her back, and she wore blue and black robes. Alice and Tonks had quite obviously known this girl a while, because they were talking like old friends. Not that I cared. The blondie walked over to the Ravenclaw table and Tonks and Alice sat happily down at our usual spot at the table. I scooted nearer to them, and Alice must have felt the bench shift, because she looked over at me. Her eyes widened.

"Oh my gods. Scarlet?" I just blinked at Alice. I was shocked at how much she'd changed. Her long, wavy blonde hair with streaks of gold had been cut to shoulder length and the tips had been dyed red for Gryffindor. She looked less innocent now, and more of a prankster. I hugged her. At that moment, Tonks turned to look at me. She poked me in the face repeatedly to make sure I was there.

"Stop!" I laughed. It was good to be back. The thing was, I could hardly recognize either of them. Tonks had also changed her look and now her hair was straight and fashioned into a style that was longer in the front than the back. I also noted that her hair was straight and blonde, instead of the wavy, mousey brown of four years ago. Finally, after poking me (and tickling me, I might add) until I had fallen onto the floor, attracting odd looks from the girl with bushy brown hair and large front teeth next to me, did Tonks say anything.

"Your hair is longer." Indeed it was. I had neglected to get a haircut after my coma, so my hair, instead of being waist-length like it was when I fell, fell past my butt in long waves. I suddenly noticed how scruffy and childish I looked next to these girls. They looked very popular by now, seeing that many of the students (including some from other House tables) were watching my friends closely.

I listened to them talk about things they never would have talked about when I was here, such as boys. That was the main topic of conversation now, instead of the next prank we would play.

"So, who's the blonde?" I asked, trying to break the tension.

"Oh, that's Daphne Greengrass. She's like, really cool. She used to live in Paris, but she transferred here from the French school, Beauxbatons, the year after you left. She, like, thought we looked cool so she decided to hang out with us, and we've been besties ever since!" Alice squealed. She was definitely not the shy one anymore. Before Alice continued talking, I said, "I didn't leave. I was pushed off the seventh story staircase by Marie."

"Uh huh. Sure honey." I was offended. They knew I wouldn't lie to them, didn't they? Changing the subject, I said, "What house is Harry in?"

"Harry Potter? Gryffindor of course!" Tonks squealed.

"He made it as Seeker onto the Gryffindor Quidditch team. In first year!" Alice squeaked. She'd really changed. I glumly picked at my food for the rest of the meal. I felt like I had been rejected by the only people who would always be on my side. My Animagus buddies! Finally, dinner was over and I started back to my dorm. With Alice and Tonks. Ugh. It felt like they were trying to push me away! I felt a hand on my shoulder and an all-too-familiar voice said, as I whipped around, "I'm sorry I pushed you off the stairs and you lost your memories." Marie looked truly sorry, and to console her, I said, "I didn't lose any memories. Thanks for apologizing, it made me feel a lot better. My day's been going badly. Meet me on the Astronomy Tower at midnight?" Marie looked nervous.

"What's wrong?" I asked her.

"It's just that ever since you fell, I've been under the threat of expulsion. If I do anything big... well, I'm out." I instantly felt horrible for Marie. She turned in the direction of the Slytherin dorms.

"Wait! Marie, I can teach you how to do a Disillusionment Charm!" Marie turned around, her eyes excited. It looked like she really had changed since first year.

"First, imagine yourself invisible, right down to how you would feel. Then tap your wand on your head," I explained. Marie was pale and staring at something over my right shoulder. I turned around to see Tonks and Alice. They had their wands pointed at Marie. They both said calmly, "Mittere Vespertiliones." Marie fell backwards as large black bats flew out of her nose. I glared at my old friends.

"Marie, are you okay?"

"Yeah," she grinned, "My sinuses are cleared." I leaned forward to help her up, but Tonks grabbed my arm.

"You can't just go making friends with the enemy!" Alice said.

"It's not her fault I fell!"

"Maybe not, but what about the time she tried to kill me?" Tonks snapped. I was stumped.

"Well, she's changed?" I said uncertainly, not noticing that I was floating towards our dorm until too late.

"Marie! It's worked when you can't see your feet! Meet me there!" I yelled. I didn't know if she heard me, but I hoped she'd practice.

At midnight I tapped my head with my wand, shivering as chills trickled down my spine. I pulled back my covers and snuck out of bed, wincing as a floorboard creaked loudly. Tonks sat up and groaned, "Classes already? 'S too early." I didn't make a sound as I continued down the stairs to the common room where I could Apparate to the Astronomy Tower safely. Well, without being caught. I Apparated to the Tower and changed back.

"Marie? Are you there?" No one responded. The door creaked open and I heard a voice saying, "How do I reverse this thing? It's not working!" I heard a loud tapping as Marie knocked herself on the head with her wand.

"Stop!" I shrieked. "You'll get a concussion! Or worse, break your wand!"

"You need to sort out your priorities, lady! Just teach me how! I can't see my feet! I can't see my feet..."

"Shut up, goofball! Just imagine yourself in the mirror and tap your head."

"Oh." Suddenly Marie stood in front of me, grinning like a lunatic in her green and silver striped nightgown. I sat on the edge of the tower, my feet hanging off the edge.

"I need to practice this for when the Dark Lord comes back. Don't worry about me, I promise I won't die," I said, and I jumped. I screamed. I guess the one thing I hadn't remembered is how fast you fall. I screamed. The ground grew closer but I couldn't work up the concentration to transform. There were small feathers growing slowly on my arms and the rest of my body. It wasn't enough.

I finally finished the transformation and flew up, back to Marie. I became a human again.

"You're an Animagus? That's so cool!" Marie exclaimed. Then she added shyly, "Can you help me with the transformation? I couldn't get the potion right and I can't manage the Patronus Charm."

"Oh, that's easy. Just imagine your happiest memory and say 'Expecto Patronum'. Simple as pie. And I still have the potion." Just then, a familiar voice from behind me said, "Not anymore you don't."

"Tonks! Alice! What are you doing here?"

"Saving you from Cogwit," Tonks said.

"We used the last of the potion on Astoria," Alice added. I was shocked and betrayed.

"You will be an Animagus if it's the last thing I do, Marie." She smiled weakly.

 "Cogwit is using you, Ash," Alice said.

"For what? What could she possibly use me for?" Tears were streaming down my cheeks. How could they do this? I had thought we were friends! I was only gone for four years and look what happened. How dare she call me Ash? I voiced that last thought and Tonks said, "Because we're friends!"

"No. We are not friends and we never will be, Nymphadora Tonks." In that moment I realized it was true. Astoria Greengrass changed them when they thought I was dead, and they would never be the same.

I changed, still crying. Tonks and Alice each conjured a vial and rushed to get my tears. Ungrateful fifth-years. Marie sat near the door, blending into the background. My temper flared and flames shot out in all directions, drying my tears. My old friends jumped back, giving me room to teleport to Marie. I grabbed her with my sharp talons and brought her to her Common Room, then flew to mine.

I conjured a blanket and slept on a red, overstuffed couch.

A thump woke me from my dream. I sat up, bleary-eyed, and rubbed my smarting head. Why was I sleeping on the couch? And why did my head hurt? The events of last night came back to me and I buried my head in my hands. 

"What's wrong?" I heard a voice say next to me. I looked up to see a girl with bushy brown hair looking down at me. She continued, "I'm Hermione Granger, by the way. Who are you? I haven't seen you here before."

"I'm Scarlet," I said. I wanted to find out if this girl was the one who turned Draco's hair pink. But I didn't want her to pry into my personal life with the Malfoys.

"What year are you in?"

"Oh, I'm in my second year."

"Do you know Harry Potter?"

"Yeah," she said, looking flustered, "He's in this House. But, what year are you in?"

"Um," I counted on my fingers.

"I guess I'm in sixth year?" I cursed myself for letting it come out as a question.

"Where were you for your first to fifth year?" Darn it, darn it, darn it.

"Er, St. Mungo's. After my first year. I don't like talking about it."

"Oh."

"So, er, when'd you get your Acceptance Letter?"

"Well, I figured out I was a Witch when I was seven, when I was selling Girl Scout cookies. I walked to this huge manor, and Draco Malfoy answered the door. He told me to go away, but this red haired girl... I can't quite remember her name... said she wanted cookies. Then I imagined him with pink hair, because he looked so stern but with pink hair—" Hermione giggled. "And then it turned pink! Then the red-haired girl said that I was a Witch, but a frizzy haired lady came out and... I can't remember any more."

"That red-haired girl— I know her name," I said, looking Hermione squarely in the eye,

"It was Scarlet Lily Pott—er, Snape."

"You?"

"Yep," I replied, popping the 'p', "Well, I better be getting to breakfast, I'm starved! Bye Hermione!" I walked out the portrait hole, and continued on to the staircase. I planned to catch Marie as she left the Common Room.

I reached the staircase and looked down it. I started to shake, remembering the last time I used stairs.

My arms pinwheeled as I tried to catch my balance. I couldn't, for some strange reason. Marie grinned at me, not knowing what she had done. finally, the last shred of my balance gave out, and I fell off of the seventh-story staircase, unable to focus on anything but my impending doom. I couldn't transform, I couldn't do anything. My head hit the ground with a sickening crack. The last thing I saw was the very small face of Marie Cogwit staring down at me in horror and I felt a single water droplet hit my face.

I sat down at the top of the stairs, shaking horribly. I couldn't risk falling down again. I felt incredibly foolish, being scared of a staircase for goodness sake. But I couldn't control it.

I felt a hand on my shoulder, and a voice said, "Hey. Are you okay?"

I looked up to see a curtain of long blonde hair. Daphne Greengrass.

"No," I said miserably, not even caring that this was Daphne, the girl who stole my friends.

"What's wrong?"

"Stupid stairs," I mumbled, highly embarrassed.

"What's wrong with them?"

"...pushed off them in First Year... out cold four years..." I muttered.

"Oh! You're Tonks and Alice's friend!" Daphne exclaimed.

"Was," I muttered, yet again.

"Oh," was all Daphne said. She didn't pry me in the least. I appreciated that.

"Well, how are you going to get down to breakfast?"

"No idea, you're the Ravenclaw." Daphne's eyes twinkled when I said this.

"How about I hold your arm while you walk and so if you fall, you won't because I'll be there to catch you?" I smiled at Daphne.

"Thanks." In our odd fashion, we clambered down the stairs to breakfast.

A/N Okay, I lied. I didn't update in five minutes. I'm sorry. Please forgive me. I don't know when the next update will be, but please bear with me and my incredibly slow writing.