holding out for a hero [open]

[kale]

x x

A small crowd had gathered in the first floor corridor. Classes had gotten out half an hour ago. Students had either retired to their dorms or gone to fill their empty, growling bellies with delicious food in the Great Hall. So, the crowd seemed a bit out of the ordinary even for Hogwarts. Unfortunately, this was not so unusual for Milan Pandora Lee. In fact, this was a typical occurrence for her. In the center of the circle was a small third Hufflepuff girl. She sat on her knees, tears streaming from her face, and broken glasses laying in front of her. Standing over her was immaculately dressed Milan. Her mahogany tresses swayed ever so slightly as her shoulders rolled back and in time with her small, petite laugh.

"Oops," she said innocently as her gaggle of followers…er… friends cackled in unison.

The crowd of students, most of whom were in the younger years, stood by in shocked, frozen stances. It was a known fact that getting involved in one of Milan's bullying sessions would almost always result in that person becoming the target. No one wanted to be a target because it was almost like social homicide. Milan straightened her school robes, pausing when her fingers traced over one button. One lone button that had come loose. Her eye twitched erratically and she struggled to keep her composure.

Picking on third years wasn't really Milan's expertise or the best fun she had. She was more into verbal harassment than actual physical violence. It was easier to get out of or scapegoat some one else if things remained physical. However, Milan's short temper had gotten in the way. You see, Milan really hates when her wardrobe gets mussed up and having broken a button… it was positively horrific! She had been minding her own business, stalking the halls with four or five of her classmates following lunch when this mousy little third year came careening into her.

Naturally, Milan sneered and told the young girl off. She was about to let it go when she noticed the button. The girl's glasses had snagged onto her precious button and ripped it from its home! How terrifying! Milan had attempted to keep her cool, but upon that discovery she really let it go. It only took a matter of seconds before the third year was bawling, looking through teary eyes for her friends. Her friends, of course, had scampered away the moment she ran into Milan and her cohort.

And so this was where they were at. The third year had stumbled back and fallen after Milan towered over her… Not literally as they were only a few inches on each other but her pure hatred for the little girl made it seem as if Milan was five hundred feet tall. The girl tripped over one of Milan's friend's foot and came crashing to the floor, her glasses falling off in the process. Milan, of course, made a move to "help" the poor girl and, oops, accidentally stepped all over her glasses. It was the price to pay as her glasses probably didn't cost as much as the thread used to sew Milan's button to her robe.

[Yoora Zhang]

Yoora had been in the kitchens, picking up a quick snack because she planned on studying through the night for an exam the next day. But as she headed around the corner back to the common room, a group of three third years rounded the corner as well. One of them stepped on her foot, but they all practically ran into the door so they could get to their safe spot. She looked at them quizzically as they almost ran her over and decided to go take a peek at what they were running from. She didn't particularly think it would be anything interesting, but wanted to put off the beginning of a long night for a second further.

She headed out of the dungeons to the sound of a loud and authoritative voice booming over a fourth girl. The voice was easy to follow and she quickly reached the corridor where the act of bullying was taking place. She didn't want to be in the middle of any fight with the Slytherin group that surely outnumbered her, but a little part of her told her she had to help the girl on the ground. Yoora thought for a second about how that could end up terribly for her, after all she was the kind of person who longed for more friends no matter how many she had. And befriending a third year wasn't exactly what she had in mind. Although the other group was more likely.

She turned the corner she had been watching from behind as the girl's glasses snapped. Her own voice was naturally quiet, so she raised it quiet a bit as she called out, "Hello Milan." The girl was a year younger than her, and known for being quite the bully. But Yoora wasn't scared of her, after all Yoora had once been a mean girl. And although she had decided a long time ago that it wasn't worth it, she still remembered what it was like.

She took a couple of steps toward the scene. Which didn't put her too close, but close enough that the scared girl could inch toward her on the floor as if the two were now a team. Yoora wanted to make sure they were not, after all she didn't want to be outcasted, she just wanted to do the right thing. She stepped away from the third year and picked up the girl's broken glasses, shoving them in her pocket. She would be able to fix them later. "Are you done here?"

[kale]

x x

Milan's back stiffened only slightly when she heard the quiet voice of Yoora behind her. Like the parting of the red sea, her gaggle of friends turned and moved one step back. Milan stood in the middle of the opening, her hand on one hip and hair tucked behind one ear. She looked at the seventh year up and down and smirked. Milan knew Yoora. Well, she knew of her. Many who were part of the wealthy circle knew the tragedy that was the Zhang family. She was a quarter Muggle, and, of course, Milan placed the blame of the family failure of that quarter. Inferiority really did mess up people's lives.

"Does it look like I'm done here, Zhang?" She asked quizzically, quirking a brown.

Her gaggle chuckled and moved back behind Milan in almost a robotic way. The third year sniffled and wiped her boogers onto the back of her hand. She looked up toward Yoora with a small nod, thanking Yoora for stepping in when she did. Milan merely tilted her head and snapped her fingers as two larger Slytherin girls bent down and picked the third year by the collar, hoisting her up to her feet.

"See, I was just standing here minding my own business when this…." she paused and motioned toward the third year, "Girl knocked into me and tore my robes and then tripped and fell. Now, being the kind, gentle person I am I just wanted to help her up and… whoops… my big old clumsy feet got in the way"

Her group shoved the third year toward Yoora and sniggered. The girl clawed toward Yoora as if hot lava were coming after her. Milan's gaze moved from the third year to Yoora. She stared at her in silence before parting her lips and smiling.

"I'm sure you understand what it's like to have something of such great value destroyed by carelessness," she said, almost in a friendly tone but it became darker with the following words. "Or at least you did before your half blooded mum ruined the family fortune."

The girls around her erupted into laughter and cackles, filling Milan up with that Slytherin ego.

[Yoora Zhang]

Yoora stood emotionless as Milan went through her speech. She looked at the girl's robe when it was indicated. And looked at the third year when she was pulled to her feet. She was standing with her arms crossed over her chest and her feet apart, like a superhero would but she didn't plan on doing anything nearly as heroic. She still valued her social life.

It was only when the girl mentioned her mother did any emotion cross her face. She was sure Milan would be pleased with the twitch of her mouth and the sadness that crossed her eyes. She hadn't seen her mom since she was twelve but the woman still shaped her life. Although most people would say she ruined Yoora's life, she would argue that it helped her become a better person. A little thing bubbled inside of her, Yoora quieted her temper quickly.

Calm and collected again the Hufflepuff smiled sweetly, "Well, I see you've set aside this special time to humiliate yourself in public." She wondered if this was it, her social suicide. "After all, we both know who is the smarter here." She was implying that she unlike everyone else at Hogwarts had skipped a grade level. Only because you couldn't skip grades at Hogwarts, but that wasn't the point. "Oh, and as for my mummy dear, at least she loves me." She chuckled to herself, knowing that she about to be bombarded with hell on earth, "When was the last time you even saw yours? Isn't she still hiding from you?" A fake pout crossed Yoora's face as she mimicked Milan.

Yoora knew that her mean streak had gotten out, and that the point of niceness had been blown a long time ago. But she didn't particularly care today, she was having fun. And this mean streak felt so good. Plus, the third year behind held up was looking at her like she was an angel sent from heaven.