She count count the number of friends she had on one hand and still have room for a couple more, but she had never desired more. Sure, she spoke to classmates whenever she needed to do so, but it was never a necessity or a pleasant action that she longed to repeat. She would jokingly say that her friends had to put up with enough without her adding more people into the mix to deal with her crap, but it also worked the other way around too. Pushing her hair away from her face and glancing up at the ceiling for a moment, she thought on Emmelineâs words.
    âMacey just has a wayâ she murmured, shrugging her shoulder lightly. Macey and Marianne had a strained relationship, being so different, especially when it came to their personal lives and certain aspects of those lives that she would have liked to pretend her sister never partook in, but due to the rumors that flew around, she was unable to do so. âI donât think it has much to do with Marlene or myself, all three have us are extremely different people and I am sure there are more ways of simply standing out than you know⌠using her body, or whateverâ she said the last few words quickly, trying her best not to grimace.
    âYouâre responsible, clever, authoritative and youâre a good judge of character. All useful qualities to have when faced with students out of bed at ridiculous hours feeding you bullshit excusesâ she suggested. Emmeline was someone who, if she were younger and confronted with her on rounds, would make her feel the need to follow her every word and run straight back to bed without an argument. âThank goodness for magical contraception, blind luck and for the couples whom if they were to get pregnant, would be considered a medical miracleâ she smirked. Marianne was quiet, clever, observant and she wasnât stupid. She knew that around Hogwarts everyone was getting it on with anyone they could. Â
    âGreengrass? She used to be friends with my sister when they were youngerâŚâ she murmured, wondering whether they were still friends, but Macey rarely spoke about her social circle and Marianne had stopped caring enough to ask. âTheyâre good, girl knows what sheâs doing. I try and do mine and I end up painting the skin around my nail tooâ she shrugged, grimacing. She also didnât have the patience to try and get them perfect and nice looking. âPerhaps they are, but why feel the need to keep an eye on me. Do I look like the murder type⌠wait, donât answer thatâ she added quickly, realising that most of the time yes, she did. âOr theyâre hoping if theyâre friendly to everyone they themselves are less likely to get hurt?â
    âOoh Emmeline, you have a naughty streak donât you? Where have you been hiding?â she grinned, winking at her. âOkay, the stinging jinx sounds perfect. I am an ace at trip jinxes but this inflating thing⌠tempting, very temptingâ.
   Nodding her head, Emmeline had to conceded that Marianne had a point, her teeth catching her bottom lip between them. âPerhaps youâre right. I guess whatever has brought Macey to this point is all about what Macey wants out of her life. Well, at least what she thinks she wants at this point,â she said with a small smile, shrugging her shoulder as she glanced across at her friend. She didnât really understand Marianneâs sister all that well, though she didnât mind the girl. It just seemed like she was always purposely looking for trouble or attention, and if she didnât get it, she found a way to. It made her job harder as a prefect, but that was alright. Teens would be teens, after all.
   Pausing, she smiled as Marianne complimented her, even though she knew it was only because she was trying to show her that she was worthy of the position. Shaking her head, she laughed. âOh, Iâm all of that, am I? I would have never known, honestly. Sometimes I feel like people look at me and think Iâm trying too hard. I wouldnât blame them, if they did. Maybe I am. I just try my best to do what I think is right.â Grinning at the other girl, she huffed out an amused breath. âAre you sure you havenât castrated half of Hogwarts already?â She inquired jokingly. âBecause that is the only way I can believe that there hasnât been at least one accident already. Thereâs far too many students hooking up. Iâm amazed the faculty hasnât put some kind of spell on the castle to repel students from partaking in intercourse on school grounds. You know, for their own liability.â
   âReally?â Emmeline asked curiously, trying to picture Lucretia and Macey together as friends. She imagined it would be an interesting pair, that was for sure. Lucretia seemed as though she was open and kind enough to take Macey into her circle, but she wasnât sure what else might be going on there. âYes, Lucretia is incredible. Sheâs got a real talent for being able to do the perfect manicure, but thatâs not all shes good at. Sheâs so smart as well. I think more people need to recognize her, but sheâs in Slytherin and thereâs so many people in that house trying to be the best. I want to make her an honorary Ravenclaw where her skills will be recognized.â
   Laughing, Emmeline cleared her throat quickly, looking at Marianne apologetically. âYou do look angry a lot, but I donât think that implies youâre going to murder people. Maybe they see you alone and worry you might become a target if no one else is around you?â She suggested, trying to look for the positive spin on things. âWell, to be fair, I havenât used those jinxes on people for fun. Itâs mostly just from research, but it would be interesting to try them out. It never hurts to be prepared.â
