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The next morning, Bianca woke up in George's bed with Juniper beside her. It felt like second nature at this point. Bianca was hungover once again. Her head was pounding and she felt slightly nauseous. She stretched her legs slightly before looking at the room. She thought of how Juniper told her about people watching and she decided to try it.

She looked over to Lee's bed, but his head was covered with his quilt. She did watch the light rise and fall of the sleeping lump though. Her eyes then went over to Fred's bed which was directly in front of her. There was Fred's sleeping body. He had a small smile on his peaceful face. It was similar to George's, but it didn't make Bianca's stomach feel all funny. She smiled thinking about George and directed her focus to him. He wasn't in bed beside Fred though. There was a mane of wild blonde hair sticking up behind Fred. Oh no.

If Juniper was in Fred's bed, that meant the person sleeping next to her was George. She tried to think back to last night. Of course, the memories were stuck in her head. His mesmerizing eyes, his white teeth shining in a smile, his lips... Oh god, what was Bianca going to do?

She felt George stirring beside her and held her breath in anticipation. Bianca was not ready to have this conversation yet. She didn't even know what she'd say to him. It was obvious to her now that she liked George, but there was no way they could be together. Bianca couldn't do that to him.

George's hand makes its way to Bianca's arm. His fingertips were cold against her warm skin and caused goosebumps. There was a tightening in her stomach due to his touch.

"Bianca?" he whispers tiredly close to her ear. She shivers. God damn it, George Weasley, why'd he make her feel like this?

She turns around slowly, trying not to make too much noise and wake the others. There was a tired grin on George's face. "Good morning," Bianca whispered nervously.

"So about last night," he begins trailing off a bit.

Bianca's heart began racing. This couldn't happen, there was no way. Bianca was a hurricane and she could not just tear her way through George's life. This boy was too sweet, and Bianca would leave him in ruins.

"I was plastered," she says trying to make her voice sound as teasing as she can. "I barely remember any of it."

She watches as his face falls. George doesn't attempt to mask the hurt he is feeling. There was no smile on his beautifully freckled face, just pain. His eyes were boring into hers, trying to work through what she just told him. His lips parted slightly and he lets out a sad sigh.

"Yeah, I was just going to tell you what a dork you were," he says recovering quickly and grinning. He sits up quickly, climbing out of bed. "I need a shower." He grabs clothes from his trunk and hurries off to the bathroom. Bianca throws her head back feeling horrible. She knew this was best for both of them, but she still felt horrible.

The others woke up right before George got out of the shower. Bianca couldn't help but think this was purposeful. They decided to get breakfast like they usually did. Bianca didn't have much of an appetite. She couldn't tell if it was because of the hangover or George. No one else seemed to be feeling great either. Everyone was quiet as they picked at their food. Lee seemed to be the only one with his normal appetite as he shoveled eggs into his mouth.

"You lot are quiet today," Ron says from a little way down the table. "Rough night?"

"You don't know the half of it," George mutters shaking his head.

"Oi what's wrong with you?" Ron asks raising a brow at his brother's bad mood.

"Wouldn't you love to know?" Fred smirks coming to his brother's defense.

"He's hungover, and he had to deal with Bianca all night," Juniper laughs, quirking up slightly. "He had to play babysitter and share a bed with her." Juni wrinkles her nose in a teasing way.

The table filled with a silence that was unusual for the group, even when they were hungover. After breakfast, the girls went back to their dormitory. Bianca got in the shower quickly, she wasn't ready to talk to Juniper about everything yet. Bianca relaxed slightly under the warm water. All her problems seemed to disappear temporarily with the steam. When she got out of the shower, she went straight into bed and fell asleep again.

***

Before Bianca knows it, her days spent in the blissful bubble that was Christmas break are over. Well, it wasn't exactly blissful since she and George rarely spoke. They talked to each other in the group just so their friends wouldn't ask questions. The two were never alone together, so didn't have to worry about carrying on a conversation then. It hurt Bianca to think that she and George's relationship was facing this kind of strain. She kept reminding herself it was for the better though, and they would bounce back to how it was before. They both just needed some time.

The first day back to classes was easy enough, Bianca never struggled with school. Sometimes she did get overwhelmed with homework but never because she didn't understand. Oftentimes, life just got in the way. The day flew by and after dinner, Bianca had to go to her first detention. She wasn't nervous about detentions, she'd had her fair share with the twins and Juniper. The thought of being stuck with Moody and Cassie all night was what got to her. These two were probably the two people she disliked most in the world and now she was stuck with them for two months.

"If she tries anything just tackle her again," Juniper suggests as she chews on the end of her quill.

"Then she's just going to get more detention?" Cedric says but it comes out more like a question. His eyebrows knitted together and he seemed to be truly perplexed by Juniper. Bianca had to admit, they were a weird combination.

"I'm not going to fight anyone," Bianca sighs setting her book down. "At least not while I'm sober."

"That a girl," Juniper smirks and nods her head approvingly. "I raised you right."

"I don't think I'll ever understand you, Graves," Cedric sighs with a shake of his head. "When does your detention start anyway?"

Bianca looks up at the clock in the Hufflepuff common room. "Fifteen minutes, I should probably head out now."

"Well, good luck," Cedric smirks while Juniper just smiles at Bianca, her blue eyes practically glowing with mischief.

Bianca thanks Cedric before packing up her things. She was just about to walk through the door to leave when Juniper calls out to her, "Hey Bianca!" Bianca turns to look at her best friend. Juniper's face was serious now. "If she tries anything, give her hell."

Bianca smiles at this before disappearing through the door. If there was one thing Juniper was good at, it was encouraging her friends. Bianca felt slightly better about the situation as she made her way through the castle. The ignorant bliss didn't last long. When Bianca got to Moody's office, she saw him and Cassie sitting there talking. She felt angry that they seemed to be chummy, she felt betrayed because like it or not, Cassie was still her sister and Moody was a freak. Most of all though, she felt scared. Those two were both powerful and Bianca didn't enjoy feeling like they were on a team.

"Ah Miss Lestrange, I'm glad you finally joined us," Moody smiles. His face was so covered in scars and his eye was swiveling around its socket, the sight was frightening. Suddenly, Bianca was glass Moody was so, well, moody. She didn't think she'd like the idea of him constantly smiling like that.

Bianca just sat down quietly at the one seat left. It was right next to Cassie and directly across from Moody. Cassie gave her a sideways glance then rolled her eyes before turning back to Moody. "I still don't get why we have to have detention together," she huffs, crossing her arms in front of her chest.

Bianca wills herself to stay calm. She clenches her fists and feels her fingernails digging into her palms. As the tension in her fists grows, her anger lessens.

"I know neither of you is particularly fond of this arrangement," Moody says. His glass eye was looking at the table, most likely seeing through it at Bianca's clenched fists. "But I thought it'd be the fittest."

Neither of the girls said anything so Moody nodded before continuing. "Well, two months is a long time. I figured you two could use this time to bond. I think you'll find it that you two have more in common than you may think."

"Not likely," Cassie snorts giving Bianca another sideways glance. You don't know the half of it, Bianca thought.

"Well, for your first detention I want you two to go through this book and circle all the As," Moody grins pulling out an old Defense Against the Dark Arts book. It was at least two inches thick and barely holding on at the seams.

"You're kidding," Bianca says, her first words since entering the office.

"Oh, so she speaks," Cassie says with a devilish grin.

"Alright girls, play nice. I'll be back in an hour or so to see how you're coming along," Moody says before getting up and hobbling towards the door. "Oh and no using magic."

The door slams behind him and Bianca sighs. She grabs the book, dust flying in the air as she does. She flips open to the first page and finds an A in the title. She circles it with her quill.

"So do you want to take turns or what?" Bianca asks feeling Cassie watching her.

"I have no intention of helping," Cassie chuckles coldly. Bianca clenches her fists again to calm herself down. Cassie was so infuriating, it took Bianca every ounce of willpower not to tackle her again.

"Of course, you don't," Bianca sighs. "Look I'm not thrilled about being here either, but I'm not going to be stuck doing all the work for the next two months."

"Do you think some half-ass motivational speech is gonna make me like you?"

"For fuck's sake you don't have to like me! Just do your part of the work!" Bianca practically shouts. She could feel her body growing hot with rage. These past few days had been hard enough, she didn't want to deal with this right now. If she couldn't calm herself down she knew she would do something she regretted. She decided to do the grounding technique Angela taught her.

"What are you doing you freak?" Cassie interrupts Bianca's thoughts. Bianca had been looking around the room for things she could see.

Bianca decided it was no use trying to argue with Cassie. She grabbed the book and quill and got back to work. The rest of their time in detention went similar to that. Cassie would make snarky comments to try to get a rise out of Bianca and Bianca would ignore her.

By the time Moody came back, Bianca was barely a quarter through the book. "Doing all the work are we Lestrange?" Moody asks peering behind her shoulder.

"Unfortunately," Bianca mutters. She wasn't going to lie for Cassie.

"The whole point," Moody grumbles angrily. He slams the book shut, "Was for you two to
work together. If you guys can't follow directions, you'll be in detention for a lot longer. I'll see you guys tomorrow, same time, same place."

Bianca sighs defeatedly before getting up and hurrying out of the room. She can feel Cassie close behind her. This makes Bianca walk even faster.

"What was that back there?" Cassie shouts once they're out of earshot from Moody.

"What was what?" Bianca spits venomously. She was tired of Cassie trying to boss her around.

"You threw me under the bus," Cassie yells pointing her hands back towards the office.

"Maybe next time try helping?" Bianca snaps back. "Sorry if I'm not jumping to rescue the psycho bitch that thinks she's God's gift to the world!"

Cassie's face flickers with hurt for a second before she masks it with anger. "Whatever, at least I'm not part of one of the darkest family's in wizard history."

"That's funny coming from you," Bianca chuckles humorously before turning and stalking down the hall. Bianca caught the glimmer of curiosity in Cassie's face though. That was satisfaction enough for her. She didn't think about the potential consequences this could have. Bianca now had a one-up on Cassie and that was all that mattered.