The word of Harry's interview in the Quibbler trailed around the school faster than the rumour that Susan Bones had snogged Blaise Zabini. ( whether that was true or not ) Everyone knew about the events that taken place in the Graveyard, Cedric Diggory ( whom had gotten his crutches taken off the week prior ) had approached Harry just after Umbridge trotted away with a copy of the Quibbler in her hand which she stole from Harry. The ebony haired boy had apologized almost admittedly to the older boy who simply clapped him on the shoulder and told him the word needed to get out.

Winnie almost missed the look of pure relief that flashed over Harry's face as she climbed up from the table.

Despite Umbridge signing a new degree that banned the Quibbler from all, everyone had read the interview. Winnie read it several times in fact, mostly to pie off Umbridge who seemed to go as red as a buffoon anytime she saw the title. It was only after the third time she had been caught from the pudgy women when Hermione had yelled at her to disguise the cover with a different text book, everyone else seemed to do the same, so reading the Quibbler seemed to become a secret upon the hallways of the school.

Granted, all Professors didn't seem to mind the interview, Winnie had noticed several times of professors giving the Gryffindors more points for small actions or Harry receiving secret treatment beyond the eyes of other students.

The only true downside of the Quibbler interview was the outing of certain pureblood families for their Death Eater parents. Her father had been absent from the Graveyard, which was a sure sign that would surely come back to hit the Bulstrodes at one point or another, but it was one person in particular she had grown worried for. It wasn't until after she had seen Theo huddled in a library corner with both Malfoy and his goons that she realized that his dad had been outed. That left many students passing by him with an air of caution, while before nobody paid attention to the brunet boy and his smirking lips, now, everyone seemed to be afraid that he would snap like Malfoy seemed to be doing.

They had spoken only during Herbology classes, where she had called his baking quite horrendous, decking to ignore the fact that he had called them friends. Really, after waking up the day after her birthday with a dry mouth and a slight booming headache, she had decided she was giving herself far too much to stress out about. With O.W.Ls just right around the corner, she figured sticking her nose into her school notes was probably the best solution for her to do, despite the fact that thinking of Theo as a friend still reminded her of that evening in his dorm.

He seemed particularly unaffected for the most part, but the memory of his clouded eyes left her feeling dull and bland. The more she focused on his disarray of emotions, the less she focused on her own, which was becoming an increasingly big problem considering copper tainted her mouth again that morning. She felt her body grow weak and unstable as the day worn on, making her stomach ache and burn as her hands trembled slightly.

Her feet clicked against the concrete hallways, a leather bag loaded down with books as she made her way down towards the library. She had homework on discussing the placements of Jupiter and Uranus, and needed a book on the stars and space in order to complete it. Just as her foot hovered over the steps to head upstairs, a scream filtered through the castle like a bunch of screaming bats. Winnie's shoulders jumped, her hair that was placed into wide, fluffy beach waves due to the shower she had quickly had that morning flew behind her shoulders in a wave. Students haltered around her, all eyes wide and staring towards the entrance to the courtyard. Quickly, her feet moved towards it, hand wrapped around the leather strap and eyes wide as she pushed through the crowd of people. Finally, she stumbled to one of the pillars.

In the middle of the courtyard stood Professor Trelawney with fat tears rolling down her cheeks and looking utterly insane. Her blonde frizzy hair was sticking up every which way, her glasses were lopsided on top of her face, making one eye look more magnified than the other, her shawls and scarfs were hanging off her shoulders. Two large trunks sat at her feet, one seemed to be tipped upside down as the woman looked rather small and frail as she weeped.Even from where Winnie stood, she felt the harsh rage of anguish and terrified nerves coming from the Professor. Making Winnie sway slightly on her feet as she blinked furiously, reaching out to steady herself against a pillar.

Frustrated,and slightly disorientaed she angled her neck upwards as she stood on the tip of her toes to try and see, it was only then when she got a wrift of cinnamon and spice. Her feet fell flat on the floor as she inclined her head up towards the person she stumbled into, seeing Theo turning his own head to look at her. A flash of dull green twinkled in his eyes as his eyebrows narrowed, scratching over her face before he stepped aside, only for his hand to come out and land against the small of her back, lightly directing her to stand in front of him.

"What's going on?" She questioned,voice slightly harsh as she cleared her throat. She blinked, feeling her fingers tremble as she leaned her shoulder against the stone, feeling Theo rest against her back, his hand burning a hole in the back of her robes, and yet her mind idly focused on that instead of the burning in her body from the brutal emotions stabbing her, It was then when she saw the familiar pink blouse and pencil skirt that belonged to her least favourite person in the world. Umbridge.

"Umbridge is kicking Trewelany out," Theo explained quietly as Winnie eyed the scene closely. Umbridge stood with her arms across her chest, a small tiny smile twisted around her face as she looked down through her nose at Trewelany, dark ebony kitty heels laced onto her feet. Winnie frowned, listening to the Divination teacher cry out in despair while the pink women stood looking far too overly pleased. The blonde flinched, feeling her own eyes prickle with dismay as she blinked faster, willing them away as her nose wrinkled.

"Merlin, I wish someone would kick her out," the girl grumbled, sighing as she chewed on her bottom lip, Theo's fingers squeezing the back of her elbow, causing her to twist her neck to the side to look up at him. His green eyes washed over her face, before his fingers floated downwards to the twitching of her fingers. Winnie opened her mouth to tell him not to touch her just in case her magic flared, only for his hand to wrap securely over her fingers, holding them tightly to slow the twitching. He looked at her once, face blank before he returned his attention to the scene in front of them.

Feeling her face flush, she turned on her side slightly, back now resting against the stone before she returned to listening to Trewelany cry over Hogwarts being her home, Winnie couldn't help but feel the strongest urge to stupefy Umbridge who looked far too pleased to listen to the women sob like a baby. Hurried footsteps ran through the courtyard just as the blonde saw Professor McGonagall break through a group across the yard and hurry herself quickly towards Trewelany, her emerald green robes wrapping around the weeping woman's shoulders.

"There, there Sybill ...calm down ... blow your nose on this .. it's not as bad as you think ... now you are not going to have to leave Hogwarts," McGonagall reasureed, handing the women a white tissue, Winnie shifted, feeling slightly awkward watching the scene. Instead, her eyes trailed around the group of students around the courtyard, spotting Cordelia standing near the grounds with Harry. The two made eye contact, Cordelia tilting her lips into a small smile as Winnie lifted her head into a sign of greeting before she heard Umbridge again..

"Oh, really Professor McGonagall?" Umbridge questioned hotily, her voice shrill and sounding like nails against a chalkboard. The women took a few steps forward, her eyes narrowing and staring at the Professor McGonagall who seemed perfectly unaffected by her. "And your authority for that statement is..."

"That would be mine," Winnie swirled her head around watching as Professor Dumbledore strolled out of the entrance doors, his light grey robes bellowing around his ankles. Many students gasped, considering Dumbledore had become sort of an absence around the hallways of the school. He rarely appeared during meal times and when he did, he acknowledged anybody besides other Professors. Everyone was silent as they watched him approach the scene, white beard trailing down to his chest as his half moon glasses twinkled in the daylight.

"Yours Professor Dumbledore?" Umbridge asked with a tiny, shrill laugh floating around the outside air. Winnie felt her teeth grind against her mouth, annoyed with the women more than she already was ( she had a Defence class earlier that morning. ) Umbridge completed the process of continuing to inquire about more degrees, going as far as pulling out a sheet of paper that was assigned by the Ministry that allowed her to give probation to any teacher in the school. Dumbledore simply stood smiling, unaffected by the woman's words.

"You are quite right, of course, Professor Umbridge. As High Inquisitor you have every right to dismiss my teachers. You do not, however, have the authority to send them away from the castle. I am afraid, " he went on, bowing slightly as he looked at a still sobbing Professor Trewelany. "That the power to do that still resides with the Headmaster, and it is my wish that Professor Trewelany continue to live here."

"No - no, Ill g-go Dumbledore. I sh-shall leave Hogwarts and s-seek my fortune elsewhere-" Professor Trewelany sobbed in between hiccups of sobs and shrill laughter. Winnie shifted against the side of the stone, hearing Theo sigh from behind her as she chewed on the inside of her cheek.

"No," Dumbledore replied sharply. "It is my wish that you remain Sybill." He directed, leaving no room for further discussion as he turned to Professor McGonagall. "Might I ask you to escort Sybill back upstairs, Professor McGonagall?"

"Of course," Winnie watched as her head of house instantly guided the weeping women up with gentle movements, her voice hushed and far too low for Winnie to hear what she was saying to the ex Divination teacher. Still, Winnie felt a rush of admiration for the scrawny, bun haired witch. Professor McGonagall was always a frightening woman to her, but ever since their meeting with tea in her office, the blonde had a new vision for her. Winnies lips faltered to a frown as she watched Professor Sprout hurry forward and help aid Trewelany back into the castle, leaving them all alone to watch as Professor Umbridge stood as prim and straight as if she had a stick up her arse - Winnie suspected that she did.

The blonde couldn't help but selfishly feel grateful the moment the air cleared, for Trewelany's emotions disappears the moment the doors closed behind her.

"And what," Professor Umbridge started with her face twisted up into a sour grimace, "are you to do with her once I appointed a new Divination teacher who needs her lodgings?" The blonde grimaced, suddenly thanking the gods for deciding to drop Divination at the beginning of the year. She would hate to be stuck in a class with some pompous prat from the Ministry. She already had to deal with one.

"Oh that won't be a problem," Dumbledore spoke pleasantly, a smile still whisking across his white bearded face. "You see, I have already found us a new Divination teacher, and he will prefer lodgings on the ground floor." Winnie stiffened from her relaxed position, watching as Umbridge's face blinked in surprise from Dumbledore's words.

"You found-" Umbridge paused with her eyes wide as saucers and her voice swirling around the courtyard in a high pitch tone. "You've found? Might I remind you, Dumbledore, that under Educational Decree Number Twenty-Two-" Dumbledore had quickly cut her off once more, his tone still as pleasant as a morning sunrise, but Winnie was no longer paying any attention to the conversation. For instead, she had felt Theo stiffen behind her, his arm brushing against her back, she inclined her neck towards him, watching him as he craned his neck upwards, his feet pushing themselves up off the ground.

"What is it?" She questioned as her eyebrows nipped down her face, body leaning up higher, cursing Godric for giving her such a tiny height compared to the giant of a man beside her. Really, she believed he was much too tall, there was no need to be so tall.

"I thought I saw a-" he voice cut off just the sound of hooves clicking against concrete swirled around everyone. Hushed whispers and gasps sang around everyone as Winnie snapped her head to the side of the court yard where Harry and Cordelia stood. She watched silently as the crowd separated, some people tripping over their feet in a haste to get free. Through the mist that curled in as the night grew upon them, came a body ... no legs of a horse.

"Oh gods, is that..." she trailed off now, her hand reaching up to grasp Theos arm unknowingly, fingers squeezing into the clean fabric of his robes as her eyes grew ten times their usual size. There, floating through the mist was a face. White blond hair and dazzling blue eyes that twinkle and could be seen even from where she stood. The head and torso of a man joined to the palomino body of a horse. A Centaur.

"This is Firenze," Dumbledore spoke happily, gesturing to the centaur named Firenze who stood unbothered by everyone's watching eyes. "I think you'll find him suitable," by flickering her eyes over to Umbridge, who was staring at Firenze with wide eyes and a gaping mouth, and despite herself, a bubble of laughter left Winnies mouth. Her hand came out to clamp itself around her mouth as she chuckled.

"It must be Yule, because this is better than any gift," Theo jokes, as he leaned down and whispered across her ear. His breath fawning across her neck and cheek as she smiled, looking up at him in pure agreement. This was absolutely better than anything, at least, perhaps not as better as the sea green that foamed from Theos eyes as he watched her laugh.

But Winnie Buldstrode pretended not to notice, of course. But she did, and she was starting to believe that she would notice everything about him from now on.

Perhaps she was beginning to burn just as furiously as him.

༺♥༻

           Silver mist sprouted from her wand like waterfalls, sparkling around her in fallen stars as she contratrated hard on the feeling that burst through her entire body during her birthday. The Three Broomsticks, burned cookies with far too much salt, Cordelia and the exploding record player, and Theo. Theo with his soft green eyes and his smile that lit a match to the sun. Her eyelashes fluttered open, she could hear Seamus Figgian in the background say something about seeing a foot, while her eyes were rounded in on the simplest sliver of a feather floating through her silvery mist.

It had vanished just as fast as it appeared, but it still didn't stop the smile that faltered across her face. She was getting somewhere, she had seen a feather which was the closest she had ever gotten to seeing her patronus. Buzzing with magic that swirled through her fingertips, she glanced around the DA room. Spotting Hermione's smile as her tiny otter trotted around her, Cordelia was next to Winnie on her left. Her eyes closed, Winnie suspected she was in the middle of memory when the door to the room opened. Startled, Winnies hand tightened around her wand, waiting to see someone stroll into the room, but the door simply shut with nothing but air in front of it. Perplexed, she shifted closer to her cousin who was now aware and alert.

"What was that about?" Winnie questioned stiffly, as the blonde reached up to tighten the blue ribbon she had kept from Theo, around her hair. Cordelia shrugged, her eyes narrowed as she looked around, before she blew softly from between her lips and looked over at her. Just as she opened her mouth, the sound of something being thrown against the floor shivered around the room, causing the two girls to shoot their gazes over towards it. Spotting Harry, who looked widely terrified, staring bug eyed at a thrashing house elf. From their spots, Winnie could hear the muttered word of Umbridge and Coming in the same sentence. Causing her eyes to widen and look over at Cordelia in horror, knowing her cousin couldnt be caught, she tugged on her wrist.

"Umbridge is coming so that means her pissy sqaud is sortly behind, and you," she spoke quietly, her words stringing together as Harry bellowed at all of them to get out. The blonde dodged an elbow that was being swung at her face due to everyone leaving in a hurry. "Are a part of that squad, so you need to leave now. Pretend you were coming here if you get caught," her arms shoving Cordelia in front of her as the brunette snatched her wrist out of the blonde's hand.

"What about you? And Harry, and everyone else? I can't just leave-" Cordelia started to argue, causing the blonde to roll her eyes, as she shoved Cordelia towards the door one again. Nearly elbowing someone on the way.

"Oh be reasonable Cordelia, go!" Winnie directed, giving her a light shove before Winnie glanced around the room. Spotting Harry standing with the Marauders map drawn out in his hands. Rushing over, she snaked past groups of hurried students, huffing as someone stamped down on her foot. "What a bunch of animals." The girl grumbled, before she reached Harry, her hand coming out to lay against his wrist causing him to jump. Green eyes wide as emerald jewels, before he narrowed them directly at her.

"What are you doing here?" He snapped, glancing down at the map once more before looking around the room to spot it mostly empty. Winnie huffed, rolling her eyes as she retracted her hand from his wrist.

"I made sure Cordelia's gone, just in case you were wondering. Which I'm sure you were," her eyes narrowed slightly as Harry's eyes flashed for a moment, his shoulders relaxing for a sliver of a second at her words. If it was any other situation, Winnie would have probably teased him for the fact, but now, all she was worried about, was disappearing long before Umbridge found her. "Nice talkin Harry, but I gotta run so," she grinned, saluting before turning on her heel and quickly running out of the room the same exact time as a Hufflepuff in the year below her did.

Her feet skidded against the floor as she turned a corner, continuing to run towards the girls washrooms, if she was caught there she could simply pretend she was simply using the loo. Her arms moved through the air, willinging her feet to go quicker, just as her feet neared the entrance, her body ran smack dab into another. Causing her to swing back and land directly in her behind, her back slapping against the concrete. Her chest collapsed as the wind escaped her lungs, feeling as if her lungs were empty toothpaste tubes that may never be filled again. Her eyes squeezed shut the same time fingers twisted against her wrist hauling her up.

Blinking through the burning pain that burned holes in her chest, she gasped for air, twisting her mouth as her free hand clasped against the fabric resting upon her chest.

"And where exactly are you heading in such a rush, Winifred?" The shrill, infuriating tone that licked around her ears was easier to spot than anything else. That and the use of her full name was a dead giveaway to who possessed the hold on her wrist. Unable to speak through the sucking of air through her gritted teeth, she instead clamped her foot down harshly against Millie's foot. "Ow! You fucking prat," Millie cursed as she dug her claw like nails deeper into her wrist, the pain in her chest was slolwy subsudding, giving her the time to elbow her sister in her gut causing Millie to gasp and suck in her a breath. Her sisters anger penetrated her aching chest, turning her tongue bitter and heavy like lead as hatred burned her insides.

"Disappointed in you Millicent," Winnie wheezed, ignoring the stinging in her chest as she heaved in a breath, snagging her wrist back from her sister's grasp. "Just like you to fall in line under the rules of a heartless toad, " The blonde sneered as Millie glanced up at her with a scowl painted across her round face.

"I'd be careful if I were you, Winifred, wouldn't want to repeat Yule break all over again would you? Perhaps you won't make it out this time," the girl sing-songed before slipping her wand in her hand, raising it to meet Winnies face. Due to many DA lessons, Winnie moved quicker. The wood of her wand slipped into her palm, raising it she quickly muttered expelliarmus, Milliecent's wand swinging in her own hand.

"Too slow," Winnie smirked as she twirled Millie's wand in between her fingers, her sister looking vicious as she scowled at her. Quickly, she swiped her foot forward, Winnie's whose chest was still aching pitifully and her eyes hazy from the brutal attack against her emotions, missed the action, causing her legs to give out under her and for her body to slam back against the ground. A gaps left her mouth as she squeezed her eyes shut, feeling them sting with fresh tears as Millie pressed her knee into the girl's chest, pushing down painfully as the brunette struggled for breath.

"No dear sister, I believe you are too slow," the blonde seethed, pressing further as Winnie blinked away fresh tears, a scowl plastering across her features as she felt magic swirl in her gut. Her vision flickered in and out, splitting with spots of black as she ached painfully, inside and out. Feeling her fingers wrap around her sister's wand, she reacted before even thinking. Winnie's hand lifted up and pressed into her sister's chest, vision swimming just as a scream pierced her ears. A new emotion bubbling in her body, this time it made her heart sink with agony as she blinked furiously. Feeling the weight lift off her chest, the brunette sucked in a breath, coughing brutally as she scrambled back on her knees as her hair lay in fallen strands against her face.

Winnie blinked, feeling rather like she was coming up out of a haze then finally catching her breath. Her hands empty and mouth tasting like copper gallons. Her left hand reached up, finding hot liquid on her lips and chin, eyebrows pinching downwards as she lifted the pads of her fingers in front of her face. Only to see bright, crimson staring up at her, her chest blossoming with panic as she swallowed, swiping her hands at her face only for her eyes to land on the body slumped on the floor next to her feet.

Winnie hands fell to her blood covered mouth, covering it as she stared wide eyed at her sister, who was passed out on the floor next to her. Two, burned handprints smoking from a burning hole in her robes, the blonde shook her head, sucking in deep breaths as she crawled towards her sister.

She couldn't have, she wouldn't have.

Her sister's skin lay pale under the warm lights of the castle lamps, the handprints burned down to the last layer of her sister's clothing, making the material of her oxford shirt smoke and appear a light brown rather than white. Swallowing thickly, Winnie blinked away fresh tears, her fingers shaking as she reached up to touch her sister's face, only to pause halfway and stare at her hands.

Her hands did this, her hands burned her sister, made her as pale as the snow that kissed the ground. Her fingers shook and held stains of red, curling her fingers into a fist, she pressed them into her chest as tears began to coat her cheeks. All anger or irrational thoughts fizzled away from her bones, leaving sadness and emptiness in its wake.

There was one time where Winnie loved her sister, and perhaps she never stopped. But it has changed now, the person she knew as her sister had died a long time ago. Now all that was left in her wake was a stranger with her face and voice, a stranger with blurred memories and affection.

And yet, the thought of severely hurting her, frightened the girl enough into tears and a pain so deep it burned her heart, creating a thick lump in her throat that would not be swallowed no matter how harshly she tried. She sat, knees on the floor and hands pressed to her chest as her lips lay open slightly. Tears floating down her cheeks, with strands of light hair sticking to her skin, mixed with the blood she coughed up and the tears. She wept silently, staring at her sister with dead eyes.

She did this, she did this.