Has anyone watched the new Queen movie, Bohemian Rhapsody, yet? I saw it last Monday and I've been obsessed with Queen ever since aha (as you can probably tell by the chapter title).

Pomona was completely and utterly confused as she held a shaking and wild eyed Euphemia in her arms as tears poured out of her friend's eyes. "Who knows? What do they know? Mia, what's happened?" Pomona asked her frantically, knowing full well that she wasn't meant to be panicking when others were, you were meant to keep calm and put up a relaxed facade no matter how much you may be screaming on the inside.

But she couldn't help it, she'd come across one of her best friends unconscious in the library, caused from an obvious severe panic attack that had sent her to breaking point which had resulted in Mia having a blackout. Not only that, but Euphemia was now still visibly terrified and wouldn't tell her what was wrong....Pomona had a right to be confused and frightened for her friend.

"My family," Mia whispered hoarsely to Pomona, looking haunted by something and Pomona couldn't help but realise how deathly pale Euphemia was and on top of that, she was trembling uncontrollably which really unnerved Pomona. It must've been something really bad that had triggered such an episode like this to occur, Pomona didn't even really know the slightest thing about what Mia went through at home.

She knew that the Blacks were a dark wizarding family that had been on Grindelward's side in the war and that they had a tendency to be vicious, bitchy, cruel and controlling - from what she had seen of them around school. But Pomona also knew that Euphemia was nothing like her family and the Hufflepuff immediately became concerned for her friend.

"What about your family?" Pomona asked gently, setting a calming hand on Mia's shoulder and the girl turned to her with wide eyes, her breathing coming in raspy outtakes. "They know....they know that I'm friends with you all!" Euphemia said frantically to Pomona and the latter couldn't help but furrow her eyebrows in confusion. She was sure that Mia's family already knew that she was friends with herself and the others because of the times they had seen Euphemia with them all and she also knew that they weren't happy with it because of the times they had ganged up on her. So why was Mia acting like they had only just found out, like it had been a dark secret beforehand?

Pomona could remember the moment that Mia had informed the group that Eileen had snitched on her and had revealed her friendship with the gang and she had been visibly upset and angry at the time, which was understandable, but not as terrified and panicked that she was now.

Florean had immediately jumped up, threatening to thump Eileen and Minerva had looked enraged, her lips thinner than Pomona had ever seen them but Euphemia had not seemed that worried at the time. Now, however, she looked positively terrified and Pomona didn't know what to say or do.

"Didn't they already know?" Pomona questioned and Mia looked at her as if she was stupid, "Only Walburga - she wasn't going to do anything too bad," Euphemia scoffed and Pomona relaxed a little upon seeing that she had calmed down a bit now. "But now Druella knows..." she shivered and Pomona grimaced - Druella Rosier's ruthless reign was known throughout the school and everyone knew she did not take grudges or enmities lightheartedly, especially if it was her family that betrayed the traditions of the Noble House of Black.

"And what's going to stop her telling my parents? My parents want me to be perfect, they don't accept anyone who isn't pure blood, they hate muggles and anyone associated with them! They'll hate me, they'll disown me, they'll-" Mia broke off, not wanting to tell Pomona about what her parents did when she disobeyed their orders. In her mind, she could imagine the fury on her father's face as he tortured her and the cold, chilling disappointment that would lace her mother's insults.

Euphemia didn't say this to Pomona though, she didn't want her friends knowing about her dark childhood and the punishments that lay in store for her actions. If they found out, they would be horrified and might not want to be Mia's friend so that they didn't risk her health or safety and that was the last thing that Euphemia wanted to happen. Mia couldn't allow that to happen because some of her happiest times were with the gang - she felt content and relaxed and that was a feeling that she never got in her childhood or when she was forced to hang around with her family and their 'approved acquaintances.'

Her friends were what mattered most to her in the entirety of the world and Euphemia knew that if she lost that safety, that love that she had found in them she would be like a snail without it's shell. She had never had great connections or friends within her family's select circle and had always felt uncomfortable around them because they hadn't chosen to be friends but instead had been forced to hang out with each other.

Clover and Justin had been the only true friends she had actually had in her childhood and even their friendship was based off lies and Euphemia always felt like she had to be looking over her shoulder for a disapproving stare from her family whenever she was playing with them. It had been great hanging out with Clover and Justin and confirming her doubts that muggles were all evil and scum of the earth had been exhilarating to say the least.

And now she had again landed true friends in half bloods and blood traitors - it seemed to be a recurring theme with Euphemia that she always made friends with people that her parents would look down on. What did it matter anyway? Friends would be friends, right until the end no matter what blood status or family reputation they carried, if they were a true friend then they would stay thus and nothing Druella or Walburga did or said would change a thing about it.

"Mia?" Pomona urged her, leaning forward as the girl had trailed off and proceeded to look into the distance in a rather off-putting way which made Pomona concerned for her friend. "What were you going to say?" she asked gently and Euphemia brushed her off, standing up on shaky legs and quickly wiping her eyes where tears had begun to form once again.

Seeing as Mia didn't say anything in reply to Pomona's concerned questions and qualms, the Hufflepuff simply raised herself off the ground and stood beside Euphemia in support, wrapping her arm around Mia's shoulder. "Nobody's perfect, you know. Nobody has to be perfect - making mistakes..it's part of being human and if your parents are not letting you be who you want to be and forcing you to be perfect then...they aren't human, Mia," Pomona told her softly, concern shining out from her blue eyes as thy widened upon seeing Euphemia's shaky composure.

"It's not that..." Mia replied hoarsely, wincing at how unused and sore her voice sounded as it cracked in the eerie silence of the library. Pomona didn't speak, she looked at Euphemia quietly and let her friend carry on talking, she knew it was important that Mia was able to speak without any interruption in order for her get her story and point across.

"My parents, they....don't exactly approve of my choice in friends," Euphemia eventually said, albeit extremely slowly and carefully, as if she were picking her words selectively so as to not reveal anything just yet. Pomona raised an eyebrow but didn't contradict her as she knew there was truth underlining Mia's statement, just the way she expressed it made concern well up inside Pomona because something...something wasn't right here but she didn't know what it was.

A silence ensued then from both girls but it was in no way awkward - in fact, the silence was somehow comforting and spoke for itself, it was peaceful in a way where you could feel calm and know that no matter what was happening, the other was forever there for you. This was showed through the simple movement of Pomona reaching out her hand to grasp Euphemia's and the two girls sat there in the comfortable silence for a short while, holding onto each other for support.

Pomona could just tell that Mia needed that comfort at that point and several minutes passed before the former eventually straightened up from where they had both been half leaning, half standing near the wall. She was hinting that she thought that they should leave and Euphemia seemed to understand because she loosened her hand from Pomona's hold and looked down at her feet, her arms dangling uselessly at her sides. "It's fine..you can go. You probably have better things to do than stand here holding my hand, surely?" Mia mumbled, taking a sudden interest in her patent black school shoes.

Stopping in her tracks, Pomona's mouth dropped open in surprise at what Euphemia said. "I meant for you to come with me, stupid," Pomona sighed in exasperation, reaching forward to grab Mia's hand again, only for the girl to pull it away, dragging it into her chest and keeping it there. Pomona paused and waited for Euphemia to say something but she seemed to be content with just standing there, her hands clasped as she looked down, her long, dark hair covering her face.

It was only when the blonde girl stepped towards her friend did she see that Mia was in fact crying, though she tried to brush away her tears with a quick movement of her hand. Pomona didn't hesitate this time, she reached into her pocket and brought out a handkerchief, handing it silently to Euphemia, who took it gratefully.

There was another brief moment of silence that filled the library for a second, with the exception of Mia's occasional sniffles as she mopped up her face. That was until Pomona took Euphemia's hands in her own again, though this time she span the girl around so that the two friends were facing each other, with their hands clasped together.

Squeezing Mia's hands as a source of comfort for the crying girl, Pomona said softly, "Why would I leave without you? Why would I leave you like this - all alone and crying in a library, having recently suffered a severe panic attack?" she questioned and Euphemia's shoulders hunched as if in shame that she had ever thought her friend would do that. What came out of Mia's mouth next, though, took Pomona by so much by surprise that she actually dropped her friend's hands out of utter shock.

"I don't know...maybe because people like leaving me alone, people like leaving me to suffer, people never care about me....so much that I've become accustomed to it! Why should anyone care about me? I'm a disgrace to the family, I had one job but no, I had to go and mess it up! Typical me, always messing everything up and nothing anyone does can help me-" Euphemia broke off, her voice catching in her throat as she turned away from Pomona, her eyes shining with unshed tears and anger, anger at all the unfairness she had suffered throughout her life.

"Mia, you don't mess anything up. You're the best thing that's ever happened to me and to many others of the group! How could you think you're alone in all of this?" Pomona cried out, forgetting her calm demeanour as she simply tried to make Euphemia see sense. Mia opened her mouth to retort but Pomona shook her head firmly, placing a soft hand over Euphemia's mouth to prevent her from speaking.

"You see the way Florean laughs with you? Only you. He is only his true, witty, funny self when around you. Do you see how strong and sarcastic Minnie is? How would she be like that without your influence? The way I trust you, like I've trusted nobody else before; the way Eugenia looks to you like a little sister - you are so needed and wanted! Alastor respects you; Filius is your voice of reason and you are his; Lyall admires you in his shy little way and Charlus....Charlus he lo....he likes you very, very much." Pomona told Mia earnestly, advancing on her even more and she noted with relief that the Slytherin girl's breathing was average again and some of the panic and fear that she was not good enough had been erased slightly from her eyes.

"The sooner you realise how damn much you mean to so many people, the better. So what if your parents don't approve of your friend choices? So what if you're not perfect? You don't have to be under so much pressure to be the perfect little angel that does whatever Mummy and Daddy say! You are yourself and, at the end of the day that is enough. If people don't like that, screw them!" she cried passionately, her newly kindled fiery spirit emanating from her in heated waves, engulfing Euphemia and actually causing the girl to smile and retreat away from the wall, taking a few shaky steps toward Pomona.

The two girls embraced quickly, holding onto each other for comfort and reassurance that the other was there for them always. Mia buried her head in Pomona's shoulder and wrapped her arms around the blonde's waist, gripping her tighter than humanly possible so that Pomona actually felt rather winded but Euphemia soon pulled away, looking intently and deeply into Pomona's eyes. "Thank you," she uttered eventually, her tone trembling as she said it, the emotion in her grey - blue eyes speaking everything for her, gratitude and respect swimming in her pupils.

"That's what friends are for," Pomona said sincerely, "To pick you up off the ground when you're down because you will be found, always. You're not alone, Mia, and you never will be," and the two girls hugged even tighter, sinking to the floor in each other's arms.

~~~

The 'get together' that the group had planned in the tapestry room had in fact turned into quite a raucous, loud party even though there wasn't that many people there, compared to the parties in common rooms that took place. This one was different, however, because if you didn't have an exclusive invite then you weren't allowed in - not that anyone could actually get in if you didn't know the password anyway.

The secret room that the gang had discovered in their first year still served it's purpose and was still as secret as the students had intended it to be like. Photos of the group scattered the billboard on the wall that had once been empty and the contract that they had all signed was also pinned up there, all with Permanent Sticking Charms. As for the entrance, well - that was still concealed behind a curtain and if you didn't mutter the words 'toujours égal' before entering.

'Toujours ègal' meant 'always equal' because that was a true representation of the group, they didn't believe in prejudices against blood status and they didn't discriminate against muggles. Funnily for Mia, this group and their allocated place was an escape from her other life, her childhood had been centred around the slogan 'Toujours pur' which meant 'always pure' and her friendship with the gang was in fact a stark contrast.

Bottles of butterbeer littered the tapestry room as the group lounged about, music playing loudly from a wireless in the corner, one that Minnie had found and repaired swiftly so that they could have some music in their room. An array of food was displayed on the table in the middle of the room, which was surrounded by all the armchairs and sofas that the friends occupied. It wasn't much of a party but it was certainly as loud and definitely more fun than any party Euphemia had ever been to so she grinned as she entered with Pomona in tow.

"She's here!" Florean exclaimed in excitement and bounded over to Mia and Pomona immediately, jumping over a few armchairs and people to get to them. He hugged Pomona and then lifted Euphemia up in an embrace, swinging her around as she laughed heartily, her arms wrapped around his neck as he hoisted her up into the air. Eugenia raised her hand in the air in welcome as Alastor threw a few Butterbeer bottles at them, narrowly missing whacking Pomona on the head but only because she ducked.

Charlus was watching Mia and Florean hug with a slightly strange look on his face and Minerva walked over to him, slapping him on the arm playfully and sternly. "Stop staring and go and greet her, for Merlin's sake," she scolded him and he shrugged, placing his hands in his pockets and hunching his shoulders inwards. Charlus then walked away and Minnie sighed, placing her hand over her face in exasperation.

"They're so oblivious," someone said from behind her and Minerva span around to see Filius with an amused smirk on his face though he also mirrored her irritation at the two. "Aren't they just?!" Minnie agreed, chugging the rest of her bottle and throwing it onto the carpet, where Lyall kicked it aside as he danced about giddily. Some people.....

As for Euphemia, after hitting Florean repeatedly on his back to 'put her down!' he finally did so and lowered her onto the sofa, where she lay for a good five minutes to soak in her company before Lyall dragged her up by the hand to dance with her. Dancing with Lyall was actually more staggering about the carpet space in the middle whilst the rest of their friends laughed heartily at their antics but it did cheer Mia up considerably. She just had to hope none of her friends had seen the red, raw rings that were still around her eyes from when she had shed rivers worth of tears with Pomona.

Pomona herself was conversing with Filius and Alastor but her eyes did follow Euphemia in concern as she didn't really believe that the girl had made such a quick recovery from her earlier breakdown in the library. She remembered what Mia had said about always being under pressure to be perfect and not show weakness so she could help but think that Euphemia was hiding her emotions behind a smile.

Sighing, she zoned back into the conversation that Al and Fil were having about Alastor's family. Pomona could see Minerva stood over on the other side of the room and wished she could tell her - Minnie was Mia's best friend after all but she also didn't want to betray Euphemia's trust in her. It was a very difficult situation for the girl indeed. Both girls, really.

After about half an hour of chatting, laughing and dancing, Florean stood on the back of the sofa and called, "I, Florean Fortescue think we should play Spin the Bottle!" in rather a drunk fashion, even though all he had been drinking was Butterbeer. There was a pause as everyone pondered this decision before Florean toppled off the back of the sofa and crumpled to the floor as Charlus pushed him off, scrambling up hastily.

"Truth or Dare, anyone?" he offered, smirking down at Florean, and that was accepted more readily with a few cheers as Florean rubbed his head grumpily, shooting a glare in Charlus' direction. Alastor laughed, stretching out a hand to pull Florean up which Florean reached out for, only to pull Alastor down with him so that the two boys were tangled up on the floor.

Mia started giggling as Florean shoved Alastor off him with a slightly funny look on his face before he blinked a few times and scrambled up, leaving a chuckling Al on the floor. Pomona shook her head in exasperation as Filius sat down next to her, the two watching as Lyall helped Alastor back up to stand on his feet again.

"Mia, sit here!" Eugenia called from where she and Minerva were sat on the three seater sofa, patting the space in between them and Euphemia happily plonked herself down in the middle. The gaggle of boys (with the exception of Filius - he was already seated next to Pomona) assembled onto an array of armchairs and Lyall actually decided to sit cross legged on the floor to avoid the arguments that had already ensued over who got to sit on the armchair and who got to perch on the arm.

"Are you three old ladies done bickering yet?" Minerva called with a smirk and Mia also leaned forward to contribute, "Yeah, we haven't got all day to wait for you lot to figure out where to put your arses," she said and Eugenia high-fived her with a very feminine giggle.

"Oh, dear lord - there's two of them!" Alastor exclaimed in mock horror from where he was stretched on the armchair luxuriously (because of course he won the battle). Florean rolled his eyes and stuck his middle finger up at both of them as he struggled to make himself comfortable on the left side of Alastor whilst Charlus simply chuckled and sent Euphemia a look that clearly said 'good one.'

"Can we start?" Filius cleared his throat to get the attention of the others and they all snapped to action after that. "Okay, who's going first?" Pomona asked and got out a piece of scrap parchment to note down the order of who was going first, who was going after that person etc etc. "I will," Lyall offered and she nodded, writing down the name and soon the others contributed until she had established a complete list.

Lyall Lupin.
Minerva McGonnagal.
Mia Black.
Charlus Potter.
Eugenia Jenkins.
Alastor Moody.
Florean Fortescue.
Pomona Sprout.
Filius Flitwick.

"So...Lyall - truth or dare?" Pomona asked and Lyall chose truth which led Charlus to smirk wickedly and lean forward, an obvious idea on his mind. "Here's your truth - tell us the most embarrassing moment of your life. Details." Lyall flushed a little, but under the inquisitive looks of his friends, he soon dove into a long winded story of the time that he wet himself at nine years old in front of all his father's Ministry friends and ruined some old biddy's coat which Alastor and Florean found absolutely hilarious and howled with laughter for a good five minutes, making Lyall eventually join in at his own expense.

Minerva chose dare, obviously, and had to run around the room for five minutes in an imitation of a chicken, making all the noises and everything. She even went as far to lay an egg and then proceeded to waddle around with her imaginary egg, clucking and whacking people on the head with her egg. "What the hell, Minnie?" Eugenia giggled as Minerva the chicken hit her on the head with her egg (which was, in reality, her hands clutched together to make a fist). "I'm being a defensive chicken mamma!" Minnie clucked and spread her chicken wings to fly on top of the sofa where Pomona and Filius resided.

"Okay...who's go is it now?" Lyall chuckled as Florean wiped tears of amusement from his eyes. "Uh...Mia's," Charlus answered and the girl's head shot up at the sound of her name, confused until Alastor confirmed that it was her turn and realisation dawned on her face. "So, Mia, truth or dare?" Filius asked and Euphemia picked 'truth' as she wasn't sure she would have the guts to perform a dare, especially the sort of ones she knew her friends had in store.

"Let's go for a nice, easy one - tell us your favourite childhood memory," Eugenia chipped in and there were murmurs of agreement from everyone except for Mia herself and Pomona, the two of them exchanging wide eyed glances. Pomona knew there was something fishy about Euphemia's childhood by now, if anything she had said in the library was something to go by.

"C-can I have another one, possibly?" Mia stammered slightly, trying to seem nonchalant but something about her tone made Charlus narrow his eyes in slight curiosity, "How come? It's an easy one," he yawned and placed his hands behind his head as he said that. Everyone was nodding and Lyall even said, "Unless you have no happy memories from your childhood," with a laugh and everyone else seemed to share in the amusement - no one seemed to think that anyone in that room could've possibly had no good childhood memories.

Well Mia didn't really have any good ones unless you counted a good memory as a day where she wasn't tortured or abused verbally. And now, she was under the utmost pressure to spit out one which should've been an easy job but it really wasn't because she simply couldn't think of anything that would exceed the expectations of a good memory. Her good memories were probably in a completely different status to any of her friends.

Time to make something up...

So sorry about the delay for this chapter, I had a few malfunctions with saving the chapter and some of my writing was deleted so I had to rewrite it. Also, I've had a very busy week or so but hopefully updates should be more constant from now on. Hope you enjoyed the chapter!