A few days passed since the argument. Nothing eventful happened, and Gemma was still trying to forget about Regulus, since he'd apparently decided to cut her out of his life completely. It was a bit difficult considering she knew she hadn't done anything wrong, so absolutely refused to go to him first. She'd been in major arguments with her friends before, but this time she was certain their relationship, or friendship, or whatever the hell they'd had was gone. 

She was moping, until Iz ran into the common room.

'Oh my god!' She said, throwing her hands up excitedly. 

'What!' Luke said, mimicking her hand movement.

'Its Elladora Hargreaves! She's like, half dead!' 

'What!' Gemma said in shock. 

'What happened?' Ted asked.

'Well, they were in class, and she tried to kill Avery! He used some spell in self- defence, and she was like, lying on the floor covered in blood, according to Snape.'

'She tried to kill him?' Luke said in disbelief, 'somehow I find that hard to believe.'

'Snape?' Ted said. 'You really believe that slimeball?'

'It's true,' Iz insisted. 'I've talked to loads of Slytherins and that's what they're all saying. Poor Avery... I hope he's okay... Oh my god I need to go apologise to him for the breakup-' 

Gemma stopped listening. Somehow, she agreed with Luke, and couldn't see the kind girl trying to murder anyone, not even Blythe Avery though it would be well within her rights. A thought occurred to her.

'You said she was bleeding,' Gemma said suddenly. 'Like, from cuts?'

'I think so,' Iz replied. 'But who cares? She attacked a Slytherin. She's like, a total traitor-'

'Gotta go,' Gemma said quickly. She ran out of the common room, up the stairs and into the hallway, where she ran into Snape. She took her wand and jabbed it under his throat; she couldn't even use it, but he didn't know that.

'Mulciber,' she seethed. 'Where is he?'

'D-Dumbledore's office,' Snape said, looking genuinely scared. 

'Thanks.' She put her wand back in her pocket and sprinted all the way to Dumbledore's office, nearly knocking Dorcas off her feet on the way.

She was catching her breath, when Mulciber and Avery left the office, looking painfully smug. She didn't waste a second.

She grabbed the front of Mulciber's robes and slammed him hard against the wall. He groaned in pain as his head hit the wall. 

'Go,' she snapped at Avery. Avery folded his arms adamantly.

'It's okay,' Mulciber said rather cockily. 'You can go.' Avery left, grumbling to himself.

Once his friend was out of sight, he raised an eyebrow at the blonde girl. 'If you want to snog that badly, you could just a-'

'The curse he used on Hargreaves,' she cut him off ,'it's the same one he used on you, isn't it?' 

'... Yes,' He said slowly.

'What's the counter-curse?'

'Now why would I tell you that?' He seemed genuinely confused.

'She could die!' Gemma couldn't believe she was having this conversation. 'Like dead dead Mulciber! Stop being a dick just because of some stupid thing that happened a gazillion years ago that wasn't even her fault!'

'Shut up,' he snapped. 'I won't give you the counter- curse, because I don't want to give you the counter- curse, because goodness knows the bitch deserves to die!'

'No, you do,' she snarled, but she knew this wasn't getting anywhere with this, so she let go of his robes. 

She left him there, so she wouldn't punch his stupid smug face in rage.

.•*•.•*•.•*•.•*•.•*•.•*•.

Nearly two weeks went by since Elladora was hurt, and she still hadn't woken up. Gemma was among many who sent her a present or card of some sort; but what was disgusting was that the teachers bought Avery's 'self- defence' story, and all he'd ended up with was a week of detention.

Regulus had become a whole new person. With both Elladora and Gemma gone, he succumbed to the endless provoking of Snape; where he had once been the quiet, preserved, he was now cruel and horrible, bullying others just to please his friends. Today was new though- there was a girl at the front of the group with him, twirling her hair and giggling. Gemma had to admit, she really was pretty, with her shiny platinum blonde hair with green highlights contrasting Gemma's own dirty blonde, dull curls.

'Ugh,' Iz said, noticing the two. 'Luciana Thornbury. She is such a whore.'

'Don't be mean,' Gemma said tiredly. Regulus looked in her direction, then immediately put his arm around the other girl as they sat down at the table.

Okay, Gemma thought. If that's how you're going to play it. 

'You give me the word, and I will slap the shit out of that bitch,' Iz suggested.

'No,' Luke said hastily. 'Don't slap anyone, please.'

'Yeah,' Gemma agreed. 'He is free to be with whoever he wants.' Especially with this new personality of his, she thought. 

'Oh by the way, Avery and I are together again,' Iz said casually. Ted's mouth dropped.

'What!' He blurted in outrage. 'Why? He sucks! And he tried to kill someone!'

'I've told you it was self- defence!' Iz insisted, but Gemma shook her head. 

'Avery? You're stooping low Iz,' she commented.

'You can't talk,' Iz snapped. 'You're literally still a virgin, so-'

'Really?' A new voice said from behind. They turned to see it was Mulciber. 'That's actually quite surprising.'

Gemma glared at Iz, who looked apologetic.

'What do you want?' Gemma said, glaring daggers at the boy. He looked down at his hands.

'Um, I want to talk to you,' he said. 

'Well, I don't want t talk to you,' she declared, turning away. 

'Don't be a brat,' he snapped. He grabbed her arm and yanked her away from the table. She stumbled a bit to keep up with him, and once they were out of the Great Hall, yanked her arm out of his grasp and punched his arm.

'What do you want!' She said indignantly. 

'I- I want to tell you the counter- curse, since you're too dumb to remember it.' She blinked at him for at least five seconds. He waved his fingers in her face. 'Helloooo?'

'Why?' She asked, still in shock. He shrugged.

'Maybe I'm looking for a ticket to heaven. Or at least, something to keep me out of hell.' He pulled out a familiar piece of paper with a familiar spell written on it. 

'No, but seriously,' she said. 'Why the change of heart?'

'I'm not doing it for her,' he spat. 'I- whatever, just take it and remember that I'm the one that's saving her life. Without that she isn't ever going to wake up.' He made to leave, but she stopped him.

'Thank you,' she said earnestly. 'This... maybe makes up for some of the things you've done.'

'If you want to reward me with a kiss, I won't say no,' he suggested, and surprisingly she laughed.

'In your dreams,' she said teasingly. He smirked, and left. She ran back into the Great Hall, grabbing Luke by the arm.

'What the-' he began, but she was already pulling him away.

'Where are you going?' Ted asked.

'No time!' She called. She dragged Luke in a sort of half- sprint all the way to the hospital wing, and thankfully he just obliged. 

'What was that about?' Regulus asked Mulciber casually as he sat back down.

'Nothing in particular,' he said smugly. Then, to Avery ', I definitely have a chance now,' he said smirking.

Regulus tried very hard not to care about the comment, but he was failing miserably.

When Gemma and Luke got to the Hospital Wing, they found Elladora, asleep, with a somewhat pained expression on her face. James Potter sat next to her, and Gemma yanked Luke behind the wall so they wouldn't be spotted.

'Please wake up,' Potter said gently. 'I can't protect you if you're asleep now, can I?'

'Something tells me she doesn't need protection,' came the voice of Madam Pomfrey. 'She's lost a lot of blood, had severe gashes all over her body, and was incredibly weak, it's a miracle she's keeping alive'.

She won't be for much longer if you guys don't go away, Gemma thought. Potter grumbled something inaudible. A few minutes later, Gemma peeked, and saw that the curtain around the bed was drawn. Great. He'd fallen asleep.

'Could you please tell me what is going on?' Luke hissed.

'Wait,' she hissed back. 

Potter slept for nearly an hour, and Gemma nearly died of boredom. She explained everything to Luke, and though he was hesitant at first, he'd agreed to attempt the spell, and was practising under his breath, while Gemma stood there and thought of how exhausting it was to be alive. 

Finally Potter left, and Gemma peeked to check the coast was clear. Madam Pomfrey had busied herself elsewhere, so they snuck up to the bed.

'Are you sure this is right?' Luke asked nervously. 'Mulciber could have given us the wrong spell.'

'It's right.'

'Definitely? Because we know he hates her so-'

'It's right,' she said, looking at him firmly. 

'Okay then.' He raised his wand, and looked at her again?'

'A thousand percent sure?'

'Luke!'

'Kidding.' He breathed in deeply. 

'Vulnera Sanenteur,' he whispered.

.•*•.•*•.•*•.•*•.•*•.•*•.

The pair returned later, the next morning. The setting full moon shone on a very stressed Madam Pomfrey doting around an empty bed. Gemma's questions were answered when four boys walked in past them, supporting a very sleepy girl.

'Excuse me,' Lupin said, looking very beaten up and tired, luckily not noticing the two Slytherins.

'She was sleepwalking,' Sirius announced. 

Gemma didn't hear the rest of the conversation, as she and Luke hugged each other excitedly. 

'We did it'!' She whispered excitedly.