the next morning Ron woke up and saw that he for the first time was the first one up. "well this is a first" he said. He went wide eyed at the sight of his boyfriend. he had a large black eye and a cut lip. "bloody hell" he said. he saw Riguel beginning to wake up so he  ran quickly back over to his bed. "oh hey Ron" Rigel said stretching. "where did you get that black eye and why are your arms covered in bruises" Ron asked. "like i said last night i hurt my self on the train" Riguel said. "did you get hit by it" Ron said. "no now look i need to get ready and brushing my hair takes forever" Rigfuel said taking out a hair brush. Ron knew Riguel would knew lying as to how Riguel got his injuries but didn't want to force him to tell him what happened so he had to wait and hopefully soon Riguel would tell him.

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Rigel had hoped today would be good but unfortunately after breakfast it all went downhill in the Great Hall. The four long house tables were laden with tureens of porridge, plates of kippers,mountains of toast, and dishes of eggs and bacon, beneath the enchanted ceiling (today, a dull,cloudy gray). Riguel,Harry and Ron sat down at the Gryffindor table next to Hermione, who had her copy of Voyages with Vampires propped open against a milk jug. There was a slight stiffness in the way she said "Morning," their was a certain stiffness that raised questions to Riguel. "did i miss something" he asked. "NO" Ron and Harry said quickly that told Riguel he definitively missed something. Neville Longbottom, on the other hand, greeted them cheerfully. Neville was a round-faced and accident-prone boy."Mail's due any minute — I think Gran's sending a few things I forgot."

Riguel had started eating when sure enough, there was a rushing sound overhead and a hundred or so owls streamed in, circling the hall and dropping letters and packages into the chattering crowd. A big, lumpy package bounced off Neville's head and, a second later, something large and gray fell into Hermione's jug, spraying them all with milk and feathers."Errol!" said Ron, pulling the bedraggled owl out by the feet. Errol slumped, Unconscious, onto the table, his legs in the air and a damp red envelope in his beak. Riguel let out a small giggle

"Oh, no " Ron gasped."It's all right, he's still alive," said Hermione, prodding Errol gently with the tip of her finger."It's not that it's that."Ron was pointing at the red envelope. "what did you do" Riguel asked. "Nothing" Ron said."What's the matter?" said Harry."She's she's sent me a Howler," said Ron faintly."You'd better open it, Ron," said Neville in a timid whisper. "It'll be worse if you don't. My gran sent me one once, and I ignored it and"  he gulped "it was horrible."Harry looked from their petrified faces to the red envelope."What's a Howler?" he said. "its a magical envelope that shouts at you from your parents the longer you ignore it the louder it is when you open it" Riguel said.

Ron's whole attention was fixed on the letter, which had begun to smoke at the corners."Open it," Neville urged. "It'll all be over in a few minutes "Ron stretched out a shaking hand, eased the envelope from Errol's beak, and slit it open. Neville stuffed his fingers in his ears. A split second later, Riguel thought he would go deaf with how loud it is.

"— STEALING THE CAR, I WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN SURPRISED IF THEY'D EXPELLED YOU, YOU WAIT TILL I GET HOLD OF YOU, I DON'T SUPPOSE YOU STOPPED TO THINK WHAT YOUR FATHER AND I WENT THROUGH WHEN WE SAW IT WAS GONE "Mrs. Weasleys yells, a hundred times louder than usual, made the plates and spoons rattle on the table, and echoed deafeningly off the stone walls. People throughout the hall were swiveling around to see who had received the Howler, and Ron sank so low in his chair that only his crimson forehead could be seen."LETTER FROM DUMBLEDORE LAST NIGHT, I THOUGHT YOUR FATHER WOULD DIE OF SHAME, WE DIDN'T BRING YOU UP TO BEHAVE LIKE THIS, YOU AND HARRY COULD BOTH HAVE DIED " Riguel had no idea why Ron got a howler but he knew it had to be good. .

"— ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTED — YOUR FATHER'S FACING AN INQUIRY AT WORK, IT'S ENTIRELY YOUR FAULT AND IF YOU PUT ANOTHER TOE OUT OF LINE WE'LL BRING YOU STRAIGHT BACK HOME."A ringing silence fell. The red envelope, which had dropped from Ron's hand, burst into flames and curled into ashes. Harry and Ron sat stunned, as though a tidal wave had just passed over them.A few people laughed. "Hey quite it or i hit you" Riguel said in defense of his secret boyfriend the laughs soon stopped. gradually, a babble of talk broke out again .Hermione closed Voyages with Vampires and looked down at the top of Ron's head."Well, I don't know what you expected, Ron, but you —""Don't tell me I deserved it," snapped Ron. "What did you do exactly" Riguel asked. "he took his fathers flying car and flew all the way here" Hermione said. Riguel went wide eyed. and slapped the back of Rons head. "ow what was that for" Ron asked.

"for begin an idiot and risking your life meaning i would never see you again" Riguel said. he went wide eyed at realizing at what eh said. "what did you say" Harry asked. "NOTHING" Riguel said quickly. "i i was joking" Riguel said. "riiiiight" Harry said unconvinced. Riguel had  just finished has breakfast when Professor McGonagall was moving along the Gryffindor table, handing out course schedules. Riguel took his and saw that they had double Herbology with the Hufflepuffs first. Riguel,Harry, Ron, and Hermione left the castle together, crossed the vegetable patch, and made for the greenhouses, where the magical plants were kept. At least the Howler had done one good thing: Hermione seemed to think Ron and  Harry had been punished had now been punished enough and was being perfectly friendly again.

As they neared the greenhouses they saw the rest of the class standing outside, waiting forProfessor Sprout. Harry, Ron, and Hermione had only just joined them when she came striding intoview across the lawn, accompanied by Gilderoy Lockhart. Professor Sprout's arms were full of bandages. Riguel spotted the Whomping Willow in the distance,several of its branches now in slings"Let em guess you two damaged the Whomping Willow" Riguel asked. Harry and Ron reluctantly nodded. Riguel then slapped both of their heads.

"Oh, hello there!" Lockhart called, beaming around at the assembled students. "Just been showing Professor Sprout the right way to doctor a Whomping Willow! But I don't want you running away with the idea that I'm better at Herbology than she is! I just happen to have met several of these exotic plants on my travels...". "yeah and my mother and father are not convicted death eaters  Riguel thought.

"Greenhouse three today, chaps!" said Professor Sprout, who was looking distinctly disgruntled,not at all her usual cheerful self.There was a murmur of interest. They had only ever worked in greenhouse one before  greenhouse three housed far more interesting and dangerous plants. Professor Sprout took a large key from her belt and unlocked the door. Riguel caught a whiff of damp earth and fertilizer mingling with the heavy perfume of some giant, umbrella-sized flowers dangling from the ceiling. he Ron and Hermione went in with the rest of the class Harry was about to when Lockhart's hand shot out."Harry! I've been wanting a word — you don't mind if he's a couple of minutes late, do you,Professor Sprout?"Judging by Professor Sprout's scowl, she did mind, but Lockhart said, "That's the ticket," and closed the greenhouse door in her face.

"who else here is thinking of jinxing him. he raised his hand along with the boys and Professor sprout raised hers a little. The girls didn't they just glared at the boys. "anyway students get ready she said to the students. when they had gotten ready Professor Sprout had been laying out ear muffs on the bench. Riguel had saw that Harry had come back. "We'll be re potting Mandrakes today. Now, who can tell me the properties of the Mandrake?" Hermione raised her hand to no ones surprise. "Mandrake, or Mandragora, is a powerful restorative," said Hermione, sounding as usual as though she had swallowed the textbook. "It is used to return people who have been transfigured or cursed to their original state.""Excellent. Ten points to Gryffindor," said Professor Sprout. "The Mandrake forms an essential part of most antidotes. It is also, however, dangerous. Who can tell me why?" Riguel raised his hand. "The cry of the Mandrake is fatal to anyone who hears it," he said.."Precisely. Take another ten points," said Professor Sprout.

"Now, the Mandrakes we have here are still very young." She pointed to a row of deep trays as she spoke, and everyone shuffled forward for a better look.A hundred or so tufty little plants, purplish green in color, were growing there in rows. Riguel looked a bit grossed out at the sight of them. "Everyone take a pair of earmuffs," said Professor Sprout.There was a scramble as everyone tried to seize a pair that wasn't pink and fluffy. Riguel was more than happy to have a pink pair.

"When I tell you to put them on, make sure your ears are completely covered," said Professor Sprout. "When it is safe to remove them, I will give you the thumbs-up. Right — earmuffs on." Riguel snapped the ear muffs over his head and then used his hands to help cover his ears. They shut out sound completely. Professor Sprout put the pink, fluffy pair over her own ears, rolled up the sleeves of her robes, grasped one of the tufty plants firmly, and pulled hard.

Instead of roots, a small, muddy, and extremely ugly baby popped out of the earth. The leaves were growing right out of his head. He had pale green, mottled skin, and was clearly bawling at the top of his lungs.Professor Sprout took a large plant pot from under the table and plunged the Mandrake into it,burying him in dark, damp compost until only the tufted leaves were visible. Professor Sprout dusted off her hands, gave them all the thumbs-up, and removed her own earmuffs."As our Mandrakes are only seedlings, their cries won't kill yet," she said calmly as though she'd just done nothing more exciting than water a begonia. "However, they will knock you out for several hours, and as I'm sure none of you want to miss your first day back, make sure your earmuffs are securely in place while you work.

I will attract your attention when it is time to pack up."Five to a tray there is a large supply of pots here — compost in the sacks over there and be careful of the Venemous Tentacula, it's teething."She gave a sharp slap to a spiky, dark red plant as she spoke, making it draw in the long feelers that had been inching sneakily over her shoulder.Harry, Ron, and Hermione were joined at their tray by a curly-haired Hufflepuff boy Harry knew by sight but had never spoken to."Justin Finch-Fletchley," he said brightly, shaking Harry by the hand. "Know who you are, of course, the famous Harry Potter...And you're Hermione Granger always top in everything"(Hermione beamed as she had her hand shaken too) "— and Riguel Lestrange best dresser, charms prodigy and son of Bellatrix and Rodolphus Lestrange" Riguel shook his hand and looked away from the last bit.

and Ron Weasley. Wasn't that your flying car?" Ron didn't smile. The Howler was obviously still on his mind."That Lockhart's something, isn't he?" said Justin happily as they began filling their plant pots with dragon dung compost. "Awfully brave chap. Have you read his books? I'd have died of fear if Id been cornered in a telephone booth by a werewolf, but he stayed cool and — zap — just fantastic."My name was down for Eton, you know. I can't tell you how glad I am I came here instead. Of course, Mother was slightly disappointed, but since I made her read Lockhart's books I think she's begun to see how useful it'll be to have a fully trained wizard in the family..."After that they didn't have much chance to talk.

Their earmuffs were back on and they needed to concentrate on the Mandrakes. Professor Sprout had made it look extremely easy, but it wasn't. The Mandrakes didn't like coming out of the earth, but didn't seem to want to go back into it either. They squirmed, kicked, flailed their sharp little fists, and gnashed their teeth; Harry spent ten whole minutes trying to squash a particularly fat one into a pot. By the end of the class, Harry, like everyone else, was sweaty, aching, and covered in earth.

Everyone traipsed back to the castle for a quick wash and then the Gryffindors hurried off to Transfiguration. Professor McGonagall's classes were always hard work, but today was especially difficult. Riguel was sitting next to Ron who was having problems with his wand. apparently he broke it when he and Harry took the car to Hogwarts. He had patched up his wand with some borrowed Spellotape, but it seemed to be damaged beyond repair. It kept crackling and sparking at odd moments, and every time Ron tried to transfigure his beetle it engulfed him in thick gray smoke that smelled of rotten eggs.After Riguel had turned his beetle into a button he did the same to Ron's when Professor McGonagalls back was turned.

when Riguel heard the lunch bell he quickly left the classroom hungry. "hey cousin said a voice" a voice said drawing Riguels attention. "WHAT" he shouted. "ooo you look rough" Draco said. "well you would look this way if you had been beaten so bad by a 7th year" Riguel said crossing his arms. "look im sorry but what could i have done to help" Draco asked. "STOP HIM"  Riguel shouted."and then we would both would have been beaten" Draco said. "you know Draco every time i think your nice you do something like this to mess it up just stay away from me ok" Riguel said before marching off.

Riguel was almost at the great hall when he was stopped by  a hand. he turned and saw Marcus flint. "hey blood traitor" Marcus said. "dont call me that" Riguel said. "its what you are your a disgrace to the Lestrange name" Marcus said. "and i think its time you learnt to respect your superiors" he said smirking. he grabbed Riguels arm and pulled him into a deserted hallway. "let go of me" Riguel said. "now Lestrange its time you learnt a lesson come on boys" Marcus called. as soon as he said that a group of boys came Riguel knew everyone of them they were the Slytherin Qudditch team. "boys we are going to teach this filthy disgusting blood traitor what we do to his kind" Marcus said cracking his knuckles. they all giggled and cracked their knuckles as well. Riguel gulped their was no way he could take on all of these boys. one punched him in the gut. Riguel fell on his knees and began to gasp for air.

"aww is whittle Lestrange hurt" Marcus said in a baby tone of voice. someone took out a quill and a dark red ink. two boys pinned him to the ground. "this is gonna hurt" one said. he tried to struggle out of the grip but couldn't. the boy dipped the quill in the ink and began to write on Riguels forehead the quill was painful it felt like it was sharpened before it felt like someone was sticking a needle on his head. "AAAAAAAAAAAA" Riguel screamed. one of the boys quickly covered his mouth and muffled his screams. when they were done they smirked at the boy on the floor and admired their work.

"see ya Lestrange hope you enjoy your new mark" Marcus said before leaving. Riguel carefully got up holding on to the wall for balance. he slowly walked into the corridor and saw a huge crowd leaving the great hall meaning lunch was over. Riguel blended into the crowd. he was almost to his next class  but decided he couldn't bare to go to his next class until he saw what they had wrote on him. he speed walked to the bathroom covering his head and ran in to it. he ran over to a mirror and covered his mouth and felt tears begin to leave his eyes. the words BLOOD TRAITOR were written in red ink on his head. he began to run the tap and try to wipe the words off his fore head but they wouldn't wipe off. he fell to his knees and began to cry.

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Ron was in DADA looking around the classroom wondering were Riguel was. "whats the matter Ron" Harry asked. "have you seen Riguel" Ron asked. "not since before lunch why" Harry asked. "its not like him to miss class hes almost as bad as Hermione when it comes to punctuality" Ron said. "You think something happened to him" Ron asked worrying doing another survey of the room.

"Ron I'm sure he's fine this is Riguel we're talking about he's probably the bravest and strongest wizard in our year" Harry said. "Yeah Harry your probably right" Ron said with a nervous smile hoping that his boyfriend was alright.

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When Riguel finally left the bathroom. After a while He ran into professor Snape who then took him to the infirmary wing and called Professor McGonagall who was now waiting while Madam Pomfrey was trying (and failing) to wipe off the words BLOOD TRAITOR from his head. "It's no use Minerva it won't come off" she said to her." Mr Lestrange what happened" Professor McGonagall asked. "Nothing it was a joke" Riguel said. "Who ever did this wrote a slur on your head this clearly had malice intentions" she said. "Who did this" she asked. "I can't if I tell they might go after my friends I refuse to tell" he said crossing his arms.

The old witch sighed. Riguel went and left the hospital wing. As Riguel walked the hallway people stopped and looked at him. Some sent looks of sympathy others sadness and some giggled. When Riguel saw Harry Ron and Hermione he covered his forehead with his curls. "Hey guys" he said to them. "Where were you you weren't in Lockhart's class" Ron asked. "Not that you missed anything important" Harry said. "I was bout with something and I lost track of time" he said.

"Harry and Ron seemed to believe it but Hermione didn't. "Busy with what" Hermione asked. "A charms essay I was assigned last year for summer homework I had to hand it in and I also had to hand in a potions essay I got assigned for summer homework and then I went and took a nap" Riguel said. Hermione looked satisfied with the answer but still looked like she knew he was hiding something. "Anyway let's go" Riguel said leading the group. "He's hiding something" Hermione said. "Like what" Harry asked. "I don't know" Hermione said. "He could be telling the truth maybe he really did do all those things" Ron said. "You are so gullible some times Ronald Wealsey" Hermione said before marching off.

"Is something going on between you and Riguel Ron" Harry asked. Ron went wide eyed in worry. "What no don't be ridiculous I I just want to believe my f-friend" Ron stuttered before leaving as well leaving Harry with more questions than answers