Hogwarts buzzed around as the Quidditch match between Gryffindor and Slytherin was among them. The tension and pressure between both Houses was thick, with other students trying to avoid all of it until they were in the stands, watching the showdown.

Oliver came into the Great Hall that morning with a letter from his parents in hand. He just opened it before leaving for breakfast. He kept a blank expression on his face as he sat down with his friends at the Gryffindor table (though, he wasn't sure why it mattered, because everyone sat wherever on the weekends).

When he sat down, his friends immediately noticed something was off about him. "What's wrong, Ollie?" Violet asked.

He held up his letter. "What do you think?"

Andrew took his letter and showed it to him. "They said no like mine did, I'm assuming?"

Oliver nodded. "They want me to be home this year. No idea why. They didn't say."

"No hints something is going on?" Eliza questioned.

"Nothing," Oliver answered. He then began to wonder if something was going on, something his parents wouldn't say over a letter.

"Yeah, my parents want me to spend more time with them and my siblings," Andrew stated. "Sarah will be devastated."

Oliver and Andrew sulked together as Ron Weasley came dragging in the Great Hall, where he sat down not too far from them. He had on a helmet and his Quidditch uniform on, swallowing hard.

"He looks nervous for today," Violet whispered.

"So how was it, then?" Ron asked Harry and Hermione in an annoyed voice.

Hermione looked up from her newspaper to answer. "How was what?"

"Your dinner party, that's what," he retorted.

"Pretty boring, actually," the girl replied. "Though, I think Harry enjoyed dessert." She eyed Harry, who looked down at his food.

"Oh, yeah, Slughorn is having a Christmas party," Jacob spoke up, which he was so quiet Oliver forgot he was even there. "We're meant to bring someone." He turned and looked at Violet. "Would you like to go with me, Vi?"

Violet raised her eyebrows. "Yeah, I'd love to."

Oliver eyed his friends, thinking about his previous conversation with Violet about the two of them.

Ron scoffed, shaking his head. "I expect you'll be asking McLaggen, eh, Hermione? He's in the Slug Club, after all."

Hermione looked up at him, her expression turning upset. "Actually, I was going to ask you."

The ginger didn't respond to this. Oliver did his best to not engage or get involved in this battle.

Lavender Brown came behind Ron, looking cheerful as ever. Good luck today, Ron. I know you'll be brilliant." With that, she bounced away, with everyone watching her.

Ron's face grew worried. "I'm resigning. After today's match, McLaggen can have my spot."

"Have it your way, then," Harry said, shrugging his shoulders, handing him a cup with juice in it.

"Wow, very smooth, Harry," Eliza commented, nudging Andrew, winking his way.

Andrew caught Eliza's signal and joined in. "Yeah, don't act like we didn't see you."

"See what?" Hermione questioned, curious.

"The tonic or whatever he just put in his cup," Eliza stated.

"Tonic? Wha--" Hermione began to say. That was when Harry put a vial in his pocket. "Liquid Luck."

"You mean, the Liquid Luck Harry won in Slughorn's class on the first day?" Eliza asked.

"Well, where else would we have gotten it from?" Andrew retorted. "We saw Slughorn hand him the bloody vial."

Ron was reluctant as he picked up the cup in front of him. "I mean..."

"Don't drink it, Ron!" Hermione hissed. When he drank from his cup, she spun her head towards Harry. "You could be expelled for that."

"I don't know what you're talking about," he responded with a blank face. "No one saw anything."

Hermione rolled her eyes and looked at Oliver and his friends. "You guys did see that, right?"

"See what?" Andrew and Eliza replied at the same time, smirking.

Once Ron drank the juice, he nodded as a small smile came upon his face. "Come on, Harry. We've got a game to win." With that, he took Harry's hand from across the table and pulled him up, leaving the Great Hall together.

"Well, that was interesting," Jacob muttered. "Let's just hope it'll help Ron with today's match."

"Which we should be heading to," Andrew announced, standing up.

"I think I'll be missing this one, guys," Oliver told them.

"What? Why?" Eliza asked.

"I mean, Andy isn't even playing," Oliver pointed out. "Besides, I've got some homework I need to do."

Andrew sighed. "Well, that's true. I guess we'll see you later, then." With that, he walked away, then Eliza bid Oliver goodbye before catching up with him.

Violet was next, giving Oliver a small smile. "We'll see you after the match." She strolled off, her ponytail bouncing with each step.

Jacob got his coat ready as he stood up, sighing. "Listen, since we're alone now, I want to let you know that I think I found more information about what happened to Fiona."

"You have?" Oliver felt his heart tug at the mention of his sister. Him and Jacob had been doing some digging for a while, trying to fit the pieces together about Fiona's death. At the time Oliver asked Jacob a year ago, he only trusted him with the help, rather than the other three, who had told Oliver to move on from the past before he could bring up any theories. However, this was always about closure for Oliver's sake and possibly for his parents as well.

"Well, I did some research, so it's not a definite answer, but I think it's a possibility this time." Jacob opened his mouth to say more when his attention went somewhere else.

Oliver turned around and saw Mary walking in the Great Hall, her face grinning when she saw Blaise Zabini. She sat down beside him, where he was pleased with this. "Are they a thing now?" Oliver questioned.

"I don't know, but they wouldn't stop staring at each other during the dinner party," Jacob explained, then turned his head back towards Oliver. "Watch out for her. I think our suspicions about her are right." He dug in his pocket and handed Oliver a crumpled up piece of parchment. "Anyway, just look up these books in the library at these specific pages. Hopefully, they'll be able to explain my theory about your sister more clearly."

Oliver nodded and took the parchment. "Thanks, mate."

"No problem. Let me know what you think of it." With that, Jacob walked away from his friend and out of the Great Hall.

The Ravenclaw boy took one more glance at Mary before heading out as well, eager to see what information Jacob discovered.

*******

As the corridors were filled with a silence all around, only the slight wind hitting the walls, Mary was certain she could get used to it.

She had her school things, heading for the library where she could get some peace and quiet while everyone was at the Quidditch match. To her, it was the perfect time to get some studying done, especially since her friends were not around.

When she arrived at the library, Mary was not at all surprised to see only a few students and so many empty tables. She scanned around, looking for a decent table. Then, she spotted a familiar face in the back with his books sprawled out in front of him. Mary went for his table, holding her head up a bit higher as she approached him.

"Hi, Oliver," she greeted.

The boy looked up and placed his quill down. "Hi, Mary."

"Is it okay if I join you?" she asked.

Oliver nodded, motioning her to take the chair across from him. "Yeah, sure."

Mary pulled the chair out and sat down, getting her things to set down. "Thanks. It's nice seeing someone else I know that's not at the match today."

Oliver let out a small chuckle. "Yeah, I agree. I'm surprised you're not out there cheering for Slytherin House," he admitted.

"Well, I wasn't interested in Quodpot back at Ilvermorny, so I didn't think Quidditch would be any more fun to watch," Mary replied. "Besides, they've got enough of their own supporting them."

"That is true," the boy said. "I'd be out there if Andrew was playing, though."

"Was he good?"

"Yeah, he was a decent Beater. Jake's a Keeper for Hufflepuff, and he's good, too. Maybe he'll go play for the professionals one day." Oliver paused, then went on. "It's a shame Katie Bell isn't playing today. She's one of the best Chasers for Gryffindor, according to Andrew."

Mary just about froze in her place at the mention of her name. "Yeah, it must suck." She got her things and went straight to work, wanting to avoid the conversation from going even further. Then, unable to concentrate, wondered if the Scamander boy said anything to him about the dinner party. Her mind began to think of what he could have mentioned to him about her.

As she kept working, she could feel a pair of eyes stare her down. She didn't need to look up to know that.

"Mary?" Oliver spoke up.

Mary looked up and sighed. "Yeah?"

"Are you okay?"

She nodded. "I'm fine. Why?"

"I mean, you just seem a little off. Is it school work? Stress? I can help, if you want..."

"No, it's..." Mary didn't want to say anything, but she couldn't bite her tongue about the subject, even though it would most likely get her into trouble. She placed her quill down, setting her arms on the table. "I don't know what your friend William...or Jacob...whatever you call him, told you about me, but honestly, it's annoying that all everyone does is talk about me."

Oliver was at a loss for words as Mary watched him attempt to come up with a response. "Well...I mean--"

"He has said something about me, hasn't he?" she cut him off, raising her eyebrows.

The boy exhaled loudly in defeat. "He might've mentioned something..."

She scoffed, shaking her head. "Of course he did."

Oliver rubbed his forehead and realized what he let slip. "Look, Mary, he didn't say much, but--"

"But nothing. He doesn't know me. You don't know me, either. None of you do."

"I never said that I did," he pointed out. "Listen, I'm sorry that I even said anything. But to be honest, you don't really know any of us, either."

Mary could feel her blood boil. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"I mean, I'm sure you listened to what Malfoy and his friends have said about us," he retorted.

"No, I didn't, actually," she stated. "I knew Draco and his friends were in the wrong that day on the train, messing with you guys." She paused before she lost her cool, then continued on. "To be honest, I wanted to believe you guys were decent people. Then, with Andrew and Eliza gossiping in Potions and the duel, now Slughorn's dinner party..." Mary trailed off, shaking her head. "I just can't believe you and I have been on good terms for a while, even though we hardly know each other, and now you're going to side with your friend."

"Oh, just like you side with Malfoy and Zabini?" Oliver snapped.

Mary was now furious, so she grabbed her things and shot up from her seat. "You know, they're not as bad as you all make them out to be. Not sure how many times I have to say this, but I think the Slytherins would appreciate it if you and your friends stop talking about us and mind your own business." With that, Mary spun around and stormed away from Oliver, heading out of the library.

Mary was tired of the whispering around her. Then again, she was contemplating whether or not at this point, she should just give them something to whisper about.

~~~~~~~

A/N: Wow, here we go with the drama.

I know I keep taking forever with updates for this story, but I've been stuck on it. I do know what to write for these next few chapters, hopefully, so we'll see.

Anyway, dedicated to my girl arty_writes who has been listening to me going on about this new chapter. Sorry if it's terrible lol but I hope you like it!

Song above is One Thing Leads To Another by The Fixx.

Comment, vote, more to come!

-A