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"ALBANY!" Carly gasped in surprise. Her face was flushed red and eyes watery, which only furthered the Slytherin's rage.

"What did you say?" one of the Beauxbatons girls growled, glaring daggers at Albany.

"I said fuck you, bitch," Albany translated through clenched teeth. "Leave her alone."

The boy she'd hit with the firework straightened and turned to face her, rubbing at the back of his head with a furious expression. "Stay out of zis!"

"Don't think so," George said lowly, and he and Fred emerged from their hiding spot to stand beside Albany.

"Yeah, that's our friend you're messing with," Fred warned.

"What? Zis freak?"

Albany drew her wand, seeing red. "Take it back," she hissed, seething.

The blond boy reached for his own wand, pointing it right back at her. "Make me."

Two soft pops echoed behind her, though despite whatever Arthur and Merlin had to say, Albany's mind was already set on what she was going to do.

"Albany, you can settle this calmly-" came Merlin's warning voice.

"Don't do what I would do," Arthur advised, "but if you do - hit them hard."

"Arthur!"

"STUPEFY!" Albany shouted, firing the first spell.

"PROTEGO!"

"FURNUNCULUS!" one of the girls retaliated, as the boy shot up a shield charm.

George was quick to deflect the jinx, jaw tense as Fred stepped forward with a disarming spell, "Expelliarmus!"

Spells shot back and forth across the hall, sparking and hissing as either party had yet to land a hit, shouting and grunting. That was, until a hex was sent flying Albany's way, and her shield charm failed to cast; she braced herself, as both the twins were occupied.

The hex didn't hit its mark. Instead, something had shattered at her feet, and when she opened her eyes, a solid wall of smoky black had shot up in front of her. The portable darkness marble had fallen from the pocket of her robes, she realised.

"Huh," Fred remarked, glancing sideways to her. "Well, that's not exactly what I was expecting, but at least it was instant-"

He got cut off as a jinx hit him straight in the face, doubling over with a shout of pain.

"Fred!" George yelled in a panic, throwing off another spell before hurrying to his brother's aid.

"Stop! Arrêtez!" Carly shouted, face pleading as she attempted to intercept the duelling.

"What is the meaning of this?!"

The fighting ceased almost immediately as Professor McGonagall came striding down the hall, Madam Pince clutching her arm with a screwed up expression of fury.

"Professor-" Albany started, panting, but shut up the second the woman's fiery glare turned her direction.

"Duelling in the corridors?! This behaviour is outrageous!" McGonagall chided, face contorted with anger as she stepped between the two groups. She turned her furious gaze on Albany and the twins. "As Hogwarts students - as a champion representing our school, Miss Bronwen - I expected far better of you all."

"Professor - Fred," George pointed out weakly. He had his arm around his brother's shoulders as Fred straightened up reluctantly; his face had swelled up intensely with red welts, though he was still attempting to smile innocently at his head of house.

"Alright - Irma, if you would accompany Mr Weasley to the Hospital Wing, please," McGonagall instructed, and though Madam Pince didn't look at all happy about the idea, she took Fred rather gingerly by the arm to guide him down the corridor; his eyes had been reduced to slits. "You two," McGonagall continued sharply, nodding to Albany and George, "come with me. As for the rest of you, I will be informing your headmistress of this incident, and she can decide what to do with you."

Carly shot the pair a forlorn look as Albany glanced apologetically to her.

"And I suppose this is another one of your wild gadgets?" The Gryffindor Head gestured to the smoky black wall that still stood where Albany had dropped a marble. Her voice was nearly trembling with fury. "Accio."

Yet the shards of marble did not fly into the woman's hand, and the wall did not budge.

"Finite incantatem," she tried, and then attempted another summoning spell, but the wall relented.

George and Albany exchanged glances.

After various other attempts, McGonagall turned on her heel, practically quivering with rage. "With me," she instructed the pair, voice frighteningly calm, and strode off at such a strong pace Albany had to jog to keep up.

"My disappointment in you two is paramount," the emerald-robed witch said as she brought them to her office with haste. "Duelling with our international guests - I never thought I'd have to deal with such a thing. You'll be fortunate if you're not serving detention for the rest of the year."

Albany and George kept their heads bowed as they followed the woman in the door of her office. She whirled around , robes billowing around her, and gestured to the two seats by her desk. They complied silently, and she sat down opposite them, summoning a quill and parchment to her hand.

"Who struck the first blow?" she asked, voice cold.

Albany bit her cheek. "I did, Professor."

McGonagall's grip on her quill was white-knuckled as she began to scratch out a report.

"And no students were injured-"

"Just Fred," George interrupted.

She pursed her lips. "As I was saying, with the exception of Mr Weasley."

"Please, Professor, they were bullying our friend," Albany pleaded, struggling to keep quiet much longer.

McGonagall's writing paused, and she straightened in her seat, stern gaze piercing as it fell upon Albany.

"Carly Dubois, she's a Beauxbatons student," Albany elaborated, swallowing nervously. "They were - well, I dunno what they were saying, but it was nasty, you could tell, and she was upset-"

"This is a serious accusation," McGonagall stated slowly, clasping her hands together as she acknowledged Albany with a cautious stare. "Are you absolutely sure these students were bullying Miss Dubois?"

Albany nodded firmly. "I don't speak French, but I know what they were saying was cruel. Professor, I wouldn't have engaged in a duel if I wasn't certain she was upset by them."

McGonagall considered this for a long moment, expression cold. "I will have to speak to Madame Maxime of this," she said, after a tense silence. "I am inclined to believe your claims, given your record."

Albany glanced to George, sighing in relief.

"However," McGonagall continued sternly, eyes darting between the pair, "there is no excuse for violent duels in the corridors, bullying or not. That will be fifty house points from you both, and," she glanced briefly to a calendar on her desk, "you can serve one night of detention with me tomorrow from six."

"Only one?!" George echoed in surprise, eyes like golfballs.

McGonagall's gaze flicked up to the shocked redhead. "Don't push your luck, Mr Weasley. As for your brother, I believe he has been dealt a fair enough punishment. Unfortunately, Miss Bronwen, I will have to inform your head of house of this, however, I will advise Professor Snape that no further discipline is necessary."

Albany nodded gratefully; given the fact that she had just actually fought someone in the halls, she knew she was getting away generously.

"I would advise you now return to Miss Dubois," McGonagall said, and unless Albany was seeing things, her expression had softened, just by a fraction. Her eyes twinkled under the shadow of her hat. "If your claims are genuine, Miss Bronwen, your friend may need to be comforted."

"Thank you, Professor," George said sincerely.

The woman nodded silently, though Albany swore there was a hint of a smile on her lips as she dismissed them with a wave.

George glanced to her worriedly as they stepped out of McGonagall's office. "Hey, you don't mind if I head to the Hospital Wing, do you?" he asked, almost reluctantly. "I'll catch up with you later, I know Carly's upset-"

"Hey," Albany interrupted him softly, and smiled up at the boy. "It's okay. Go check on Fred, I'll worry about our Frenchie."

George grinned appreciatively at her, visibly relaxing. "Thanks, Al. See you later."

"Bye," Albany responded, a little startled by the nickname.

Only Faith ever called me Al.

She shook her head to rid herself of the thought, and offered the redhead a small smile and a wave as he headed off in the opposite direction.

"More detention, I see," said a chiding voice, and she turned to see Arthur folding his arms at her.

"Says mister hit them hard," Albany shot back, raising an eyebrow as she began the walk back to the library.

"I'm kidding," he laughed, relaxing as he followed her. "Merlin will say otherwise, but they had it coming. Sometimes that's the only way to deal with bullies."

And then Merlin made his entrance, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Yeah, I would say otherwise," he sighed in agreement. "Of course you'd resort to violence as an answer, you... cabbagehead."

Arthur raised his eyebrows at the insult. "Like you never used magic on other people before."

Merlin made a face, turning back to Albany. "Well, as much as there were other methods of dealing with the situation - well done."

Albany stared at the pair incredulously. "Well done?" she echoed. "Are you two feeling well?"

Merlin shrugged with a sheepish smile. "It would be hypocritical of us to lecture you for standing up for a friend."

Albany grinned at them gratefully. "Gee, thanks." She meant it, though, however playfully she phrased her words; perhaps they really were becoming more understanding of her after returning from their long-term absence.

When she arrived back at the location of the duel, she was surprised to see the smoky wall still standing. Filch shot her a disgusted glare as she passed by, staring curiously; he had a sledgehammer in his hands, though there wasn't so much as a scratch on the magical barrier. Maybe the twins were onto something, even if it wasn't the gadget's original intention.

The Beauxbatons students she had fought had fortunately scattered, as she didn't particularly fancy running into any of them again. However, the books on the floor had been picked up, and Carly was also missing.

Unsure of where else to look for the spunky girl, Albany pushed open the door to the library quietly. Previous years, she had spent a good deal of time studying between the silent bookshelves. She was eternally grateful for her exemption from exams this year, as every desk was occupied with the end of term fast approaching.

Madam Pince had returned to prowl the library with haste, and glared accusingly at Albany upon spotting her, though said nothing. Albany bit her cheek as she passed her, searching between each row of bookshelves for the familiar bush of curls. And then she spotted her.

"Carly!" Albany whisper-shouted, wary of Pince's eyes on her back as she darted towards the girl, whose stack of books had shortened considerably as she put them back one-by-one.

"Albany!" Carly responded, caught by surprise. Her cheeks were still a touch pink, cheerful smile not quite meeting her eyes.

"You good?" Albany asked her softly, expression falling to one of gentle concern.

Carly swallowed hard, turning back to the bookshelf; she shuffled a few steps down before placing another book from her arms on the shelf. "Of course," she replied quietly, smile tight on her lips. "You did not have to fight them."

Albany's eyes narrowed. "What were they saying to you?"

Carly shook out her wrist vigorously as it retreated from the shelf. She dropped her head, before gently setting the rest of her books on the ground. "Nothing," she said, though didn't sound completely convincing. She glanced up, smiling still. "They.... We, er, do not get along well."

Albany bit her cheek. "How so? I can't see you having done anything wrong."

Carly leaned against the bookshelf, pulling at one of her curls with a tense hand. "They think I am weird," she whispered. "I am not very good at making friends."

"I disagree," Albany interjected, smiling. "You're my friend, after all, and I'm arguably one of the most difficult people to befriend ever."

Carly shook her head with a weak smile. "You say that, but it is not true," she murmured assuringly, and then frowned. "I was friends with... some of them. Keeping friends is what I find difficult."

Albany nodded in understanding, and refrained from interrupting again. Carly, upon glancing around to the occupied desks, slowly sank to sit on the floor, and Albany did the same.

Carly sighed, rubbing hard at her eyes before continuing. "I am sorry for forgetting our meeting," she said, and at last the smile fell from her face like a dropped stone. "I saw your librarian was very busy, and I said I will help - I was not thinking - désolée-"

"It's okay, it's okay," Albany reassured her quickly, and reached out to lay a hand on the girl's shoulder. "It's not your fault, you just got distracted."

Carly smiled sadly at her, though it slipped from her face just as fast. "I forget things a lot," she admitted quietly. "And my family is Muggle. Some of them do not like that."

"They're wrong," Albany said firmly. "Blood, house, whatever - none of that matters. None of it. Anyone who judges you for things you can't control is wrong."

Carly nodded wordlessly, gaze fixed on the carpeted flooring.

"Seriously," Albany said, and gave her shoulder a squeeze. "You're a good person."

Carly returned to pulling at her curls. It was nearly mesmerising to watch each curl lengthen and straighten, before bouncing right back to its original shape. "I talk too loud, or too quiet," she said. "They did not like that. They said my spells are funny."

"I think they're really cool," Albany assured her, though fell quiet again afterwards at the expression on her friend's face.

"I do not sleep well or eat well," Carly continued. "And in class, I can't — um, sit still. All these things — people, er...." She mumbled to herself in French for a moment, and then glanced up apologetically. "They mocked me. And when they saw my family, they mocked them too."

Albany wasn't sure whether the stirring in her heart was sorrow or fury. "I'm sorry they did that to you," she said quietly.

Carly suddenly shook her head with vigour, and when she turned back to Albany, her expression was bright again. "We should go see Fred, oui? They hurt him."

Albany was caught off guard by the rapid change in demeanour, but nodded, scrambling to her feet as Carly hopped up with newfound energy. "You okay?" she asked, concerned.

Carly beamed at her. "Of course," she replied cheerily. "You are still my friend?"

"Obviously," Albany responded, her grin almost reluctant. "I like hanging out with you."

"Then I am perfect," Carly assured her happily. "Let's go to the boys."