Alice's monday could be described in one word. Hectic. She woke up at four that morning, heading into the common room, sitting in a large, comfy chair, reading her book. She always did this. It was before anyone was awake, and the common room was silent. There was no Three Owl Standard booming from one of the rooms, and there was no chatting. Pure silence. This morning, Ignatius the cat had followed Alice into the common room, and climbed into the large chair with her. She was reading Pride & Prejudice,  a smile on her face.

She read until six, in which she woke up her roommate, Annette, and went to take a shower. She got dressed, glancing at her watch. She was running late! It was already 7:30, and this messed up her morning routine. Usually, she would have already been done with breakfast! So, she rushed down to the great hall, shoving a banana in her mouth, and was in the library for 7:37. At that point, she roamed the shelves for seven minutes, adding books to her reading list, until, at 7:45, she dashed to the Charms classroom, ten minutes early.

Alice sat through Defense Against the Dark Arts, then through Transfiguration. It was the transition between Transfiguration to her break that was going to be an issue. She was glancing at her watch that now read 11:03, as she walked into someone with great power. "Oh, oh, sorry," She said, before looking up. Her eyes grew to the size of baseballs.

Alex was never in a good mood on Mondays. She hated Mondays. Actually, she hated most days, but Mondays were somehow more insufferable than the rest of them. It was probably something to do with the returned impediment on her free time known as lessons, and while she liked the Arithmancy, she was beginning to regret taking Ancient Runes. Oh, and next she had Charms with the Pirate. At least there was lunch to look forward to.

And there was the sleep deprivation that seemed to be a feature of sixth year, the ridiculous work load, and Gracie was the only fun thing about duelling club.

She rushed up the staircase, only to bump into someone trying to come down it. "Hey, watch where you're- oh. You," she said, her voice communicating her loathing. Ever since she'd met Alice on the train, she'd hated her. It was somewhat irrational, but she was pathetic, and she irritated Alex a lot.

"You really are insufferable. Can't you even walk properly?"

Alice stared up at Alex, her towering over her. It was like there was a cloud of fear was around her when around Alex, and she shrunk a little. Her hands began to shake from nervousness, but she thought back to what Mark had said to do, to stand her ground. The way she had said, "You" just yelled for itself communicating the annoyance or hatred.


"You really are insufferable. Can't you even walk properly?"

Alice shrunk lower. "Well, I, uh, I, uh, I wasn't paying attention. I didn't mean to bump into you." She waited a minute before continuing. "Am I right to assume that you really don't like me all that much?" She said, in a scared, little voice.

Alex looked down at Alice, pausing before answering. "No, Alice, you aren't. I don't dislike you, I hate you." What was so difficult to accept about that? "They're different things, and I have never once implied that my feelings towards you are as insubstantial as dislike." It fitted with Alice's hopeless personality that she wouldn't be able to accept that anyone would possibly ever feel anything but loving affection for her.

Alex would have felt jealous, but it was pathetic and she'd rather have an accurate understanding of people than be so… useless. Deluding yourself in such an obvious manner was degrading and would only result in looking like a fool, because you were one. Alex had a slightly disproportionate desire to get rid of Alice's smile whenever she saw it, and she could acknowledge that. It didn't mean that she was going to stop, though.

"Did Daddy tell you that everyone would love you? That so long as you were a good little girl, everyone would like you? Because if he did, he was lying." And now that she'd said that, Alex really did need to go to Charms, despite Kesali's creepiness and fondness for irritating lesson formats.

"If it isn't too difficult, can you get out of my way? Unlike yours, my time has worth."

"No, Alice, you aren't. I don't dislike you, I hate you."

Alice was taken back. Never did she hear that. Mostly, she was ignored at worst, but now she was hated. She took both a mental and physical step back. "N-no." She muttered quietly to herself, tears beginning to cloud her vision. They're different things, and I have never once implied that my feelings towards you are as insubstantial as dislike." Alice stood there, as Alex explained the difference. Alice knew the difference, but after being told that she was hated, she really did have the esteem to stand up.

I'm not even worth dislike to her! Not even dislike! Alice, you are hated. H-A-T-E-D. Alice thought in her head. Her head was never helpful in situations not unlike the present one.

Did Daddy tell you that everyone would love you? That so long as you were a good little girl, everyone would like you? Because if he did, he was lying."

Actually, her father did tell her that, though not with those exact words. He had said that as long as Alice was herself and that she was as nice as possible that people would have no issue with her. That seemed not to be the case. Alex calling Alice's father a liar cut through her like a knife. No one in her family was dishonest. And if they were, they'd own up to it immediately and apologize. "He-he's not a liar." She muttered quietly, though the end had trailed off. Alice's eyes were now fully engulfed in tears, just waiting to begin to spurt.

"If it isn't too difficult, can you get out of my way? Unlike yours, my time has worth."

This sent Alice over the edge. She ran out of the way of Alex, crying, feeling as though she really was worth nothing. She ran to the hall behind them, sliding her back down it, sitting right against it, sobbing into her knees. You are worthless. A worthless little girl. She thought to herself.

Alex didn't bother to contradict Alice. Of course her Father lied to her. Parents were famous for lying to children, it wasn't something she needed to prove. Alice's overwhelming belief in her family was frustrating, although it was the easiest way to upset her. Not that upsetting her was difficult, as she'd just run off sobbing with minimal provocation. She hadn't even tried to prevent Alex seeing her crying, although since she had burst into tears the first time Alex had met her, it wasn't anything new.

Watching Alice run away, Alex was slightly irritated by the lack of a retort. Her overwhelmingly pathetic behaviour really grated on Alex's nerves. She would at least be able to respect Alice if she had a backbone, or indeed some kind of redeeming aspect to her personality. However, it was hardly a large concern, and she had charms next- which she would be late for if she didn't hurry. Adjusting her satchel's strap, Alex ran to charms.

Ayla swerved past a pair of giggling third years, her designer boots clicking on the marble floor as she hurried along to head off to Defence. She was already late but it wasn't like she cared too much, she wasn't exactly good at defence nor was she in too much of a hurry to get chewed out by Professor Storm for being late. As she dodged another pair of third years she almost tripped over someone sitting up against the wall. She reclaimed her balance before she fell and looked down at the culprit. She was ready to yell at the daft idiot for being in the way when she noticed it was a small girl, first year by the looks of her, in Hufflepuff colours no less, who was crying.

Ayla stopped and stared at the girl, for a moment remembering a horrible moment of her own first year. The scene had played out almost exactly like this one exact from what she could remember Fauna had actually tripped and fell over her legs. She had been crying because a bunch of stupid boys from Slytherin had made fun of her braces and the way she talked, as if no one from the UK had ever heard a Canadian accent before. Just like now Fauna hadn't been angry she had simply bent down and talked to her.

Ayla knelt in front of the girl and tried to determine who she was but her face was hidden and Ayla had never been very good at paying attention to the sorting ceremony, "Hey, you alright in there?"

Alice sat there for a few minutes, before she heard a soft and kind voice speaking.

"Hey, you alright in there?"

Alice looked up, her eyes red and puffy. She sniffled a little, before nodding. "I'm sorry if I'm in your way. It's just-" Alice stopped to sob once more before continuing. "I just keep getting picked on, that's all." She sobbed once more. Alice seemed almost pathetic, and she realized this.  "I know it's all my fault, you don't have to tell me twice. I, I just-" A single tear raced down her cheek. "I just need a hug!" She said, louder than she expected.

Alice then went back to sobbing into her knees. Her face was red. Her eyes were red. Everything about her was red except for her uniform that proudly showed her Hufflepuff-ness.

Ayla slid her book bag off her shoulder and leaned it up against the wall before swinging around and sitting next to the younger girl, her own back against the wall. She wrapped her arm around Alice's shoulders and pulled the smaller girl into her side, giving her a squeeze. She couldn't help but feel sorry for her. The little thing was getting picked on and she was crazy enough to belief it was her own fault. Like anything that horrible could be her fault. As wonderful as Hogwarts was with the magic and secret world stuff when it boiled down to it, Hogwarts was still just a High School. There were still bullies and still victims and it made Ayla sick.

"Shhh, it's okay hunny." She ran her fingers through the younger girls hair, the way he own mother had when she was younger, "It's not your fault by the way. I don't who told you that but getting picked on would never be your fault." She looked down at the girl no longer worrying what Storm would do to her if she showed up late for class.

"When I first came to Hogwarts, I got picked on all the time." She gave the girl a winning smile as if to say, 'I know right?' "I'm not muggle born but I was raised muggle and there's still some purebloods who look down on that. Anyway, they constantly teased me for my braces." Ayla gave her another smile, this time purposely showing off the metal contraptions that were still on her teeth. They could have easily been fixed using magic but since she was living muggle her mother wanted them to do everything the muggle way, including cosmetic dentistry, "On top of that, I'm foreign." Even now, four years later Ayla found it weird to think of herself as foreign but being a lone Canadian (safe for her brother and sister) in a school filled with mostly Irish, Scottish and English students she was bound to stand out, "I got teased constantly and it sucks, I know it does, but thinking it's your fault is only letting them win. They're the jerks not you. I'd love to say, just don't let it bother you but I know how much it hurts so I won't. But what can help, is letting your friends in and having them help you through it."

Alice sat there, surprised when Ayla slid down the wall to sit next to her. She gave her a hug, the one thing Alice really needed right now. The small Hufflepuff really just wanted to be at home right now. Running in the woods with Lexi, having dinner with her family. Not here. At this stupid school for magic people. The girl sitting with her was a nice girl. There was something about her hug that was just so homey. She raked her fingers through her hair, and Alice slid her knees down. Her sobs began to quiet.

"It's not your fault by the way. I don't who told you that but getting picked on would never be your fault."

It still felt like her fault. It still hung with her, the same thought over and over again. Growing up, there was a group of bullies that lived in her town. They picked out their prey, and made their lives living hell. On one particular day, Alice was trying to walk home from the library quietly, just minding her business. She had a book clutched tightly to her chest, her eyes forward. That was when they encircled her. They taunted her calling her Airhead Alice. She ignored them and kept walking, until one of them stuck out their leg. She fell face first into a puddle as the gang continued laughing. She stood up and turned around. "Why did you trip me?" she asked. They replied, "It's not our fault you tripped." She started running, but they chased her, chanting, Airhead Alice, Airhead Alice. Mark had come out to save the day. She ran to him, hiding behind him. "Why do you keep picking on her?" He asked angrily. "It's her fault! She's so weird she deserves being picked on!" One kid yelled back. That's when they dispersed and Alice and Mark went inside.

It was a terrible memory that she constantly recalled. "When I first came to Hogwarts, I got picked on all the time." Alice looked up, listening. Ayla smiled before continuing. "I'm not muggle born but I was raised muggle and there's still some purebloods who look down on that. Anyway, they constantly teased me for my braces." Alice tried to see inside her mouth, curious to whether she still had them. Then, Ayla smiled brightly once again, and Alice looked at her teeth. Muggle contraptions always amazed Alice.

"On top of that, I'm foreign." Alice gave a sideways look. Her? She wondered. "I got teased constantly and it sucks, I know it does, but thinking it's your fault is only letting them win. They're the jerks not you. I'd love to say, just don't let it bother you but I know how much it hurts so I won't. But what can help, is letting your friends in and having them help you through it."

Alice nodded. "That's actually refreshing advice. I mean. With my mom, it was always, 'don't let it get to you' and 'they're just insecure' but the thing is, that it actually does get to me. It does. But I like the idea of letting my friends know." Alice looked at her feet briefly. "I'm Alice by the way."

Ayla nodded, "My mom's the same way, so I stopped talking to her about it. I don't have any big sisters of my own but I've got this cousin, Lexus, she's like a big sister and I talk to her a lot about things like this. She would always say stuff like, Life sucks but you can make it better. Without her, or my friends I think the past few years would have been a lot harder."

She smiled, "Nice to meet you Alice, I'm Ayla."

"You make any friends so far? I know some of the older years can be a bit harsh. Especially the Slytherins." Although things weren't exactly the way she'd like them Ayla was thankful for the fact that her tormentor hadn't returned to Hogwarts. It was kind of lame that he was now this big famous Quidditch player but at least life at Hogwarts was easier without him.

"The trick is not to let them see it bothers you then cry it all out with your best mates back in your dorm room."

"My mom's the same way, so I stopped talking to her about it. I don't have any big sisters of my own but I've got this cousin, Lexus, she's like a big sister and I talk to her a lot about things like this. She would always say stuff like, Life sucks but you can make it better. Without her, or my friends I think the past few years would have been a lot harder."

Alice nodded thoughtfully. "Yeah, I mean, me and mom are pretty tight. she's wrong about somethings though. Which can be expected. She is only human." She laughed. "I have an older sister and and older brother. I turn to them a lot, but when your here, it's hard to turn to them."

"I've made a few friends here. And back at home, there were a few wizarding families that came here. So, I have preexisting friends." She smiled. Maybe her situation wasn't so bad after all. "I have a best friend, Lexi, and I mean, I don't talk to her a lot about this. She's like the kind of person to get involved. And I don't want her hurt as well."

"I try holding the tears until my room, but sometimes its really hard. Sometimes people just get to me really deeply, and it bothers me. And that's when I just kind of sit down and sob. Because I feel I have no other choice."

Ayla nodded, "I'm the oldest of three but I can't imagine being at school without my brother and sister. That must be really hard. Then again if your brother is anything like mine maybe it's not so bad." She gave her a playful grin wondering if Erik had made enough of a name for himself that the younger years would know about him already, she was sure all of the older years knew him by now but then last years firsties had been such a wild bunch it seemed the entire school knew them all by name.

"Yeah werewolves can be like that." She gave Alice a gentle smile to let the girl know she had absolutely nothing against werewolves, "My cousin Lexus is a were and when she's passionate about something or feels like she needs to protect someone, it's like a mama wolf protecting her cubs." Ayla had only been at the first SAWS meeting for a short while before leaving but she had been there long enough to discover the identity of the first year werewolf.

Ayla sighed and hugged the girl again, "I know what you mean. Last year there was this Slytherin who was just aboslutely horrible to me. I tried not to let him get to me but there had been a few classes I had to try and hide my tears in. He sucked, majorly. He hated me for no reason, all because of a few stupid rumours and the fact that I liked his little brother. I'm so glad he doesn't go here anymore." Ayla's face scrunched up a bit when she thought of Blake. It had been so long since she had even talked to him. She doubted they'd ever be friends again at this rate. Which was horrible but at least it let her keep her promise to not care about boys this year.

Alice nodded thoughtfully. "We send a lot of letters to each other. Well. Mark and I do. Jane, she doesn't send many letters. She sends some, but not as many as Mark." She smiled. "I like getting letters." She liked Ayla. She was nice and listened well. And sometimes, she just needed someone to listen. And Ayla did that. amazingly.

"My cousin Lexus is a were and when she's passionate about something or feels like she needs to protect someone, it's like a mama wolf protecting her cubs."

"Yes! Exactly! She always acts like I'm the little one! She's really protective as well." Alice responded. It was nice to speak to someone who understood some parts of her big web of problems. Ayla told her about how she was picked on last year, and Alice nodded. She could relate to being picked on, not so much to the rumor part of it. "It's nice to know I can come to you." Alice added with a smile.

Ayla's smile broadened and she gave the girl a sideways squeeze, "Anytime!" She took hold of her bag and got to her feet offering a hand to Alice, "No matter what, you can come to me all right? Even if it's three in the morning and all you wanna do is pig out on gummi bears and gripe about how stupid people are, you can come to me."

She swung her own book bag over her shoulder and glanced at her watch, "Now I don't know where you're supposed to be right now but I think Professor Storm will hex me if I don't show up to class eventually." She glanced down the hallway thinking about how horrible it would be to interrupt one of his lessons, "Then again maybe I can fake an injury or something, I'm sure Madame Nagde would cover for me."

She gave Alice a mischievous smile not unlike the one that seemed to be a permanent fixture on her little brother's face, "You going to be okay? Or should we both go see if Madame Nagde will let us play hookie?"