i get by with a little help from my friends -ian-

[anna kimberly holmes]

When Anna first entered Hogwarts she didn't know telling other students, from different houses, her story on how she never knew she was magic. That neither of her parents were magic and somehow she was gifted and was now here at Hogwarts. She learned that those in the Slytherin house would make fun of her, for her positive outlook, for not fighting back and worse of all for being a muggleborn. She loved being a muggleborn because she got the best of both worlds. She loves the muggle life but also loved Hogwarts because of everything she learned. She was still unsure of what she wanted to do when she left Hogwarts because she always thought about jobs in the muggle world. Anna barely knew what type of jobs there were in the wizarding world.

Another day, another problem. Anna didn't think of them as actual problems, just something she has come to live with. A certain group of girls, mostly Slytherin, seemed to pick on her every day. It was mostly for just being a muggleborn but what they said really did hurt her feelings. Anna was always nice to them, saying hi when they came her way and asking how there day was. But today one of them must have been having a bad day because she knocked the books out her hands right away, while her friends laughed. Anna knelt down to pick them up and was immediately pushed back. The girls just laughed harder at her. Anna asked them to stop politely but then she was made fun of for being polite and not sticking up for herself. Next came the name calling and more hurtful comments but those soon ended once a professor came walking down the hallways. The girls scattered and so did Anna once she picked up her books; she didn't want to deal with the professors questions and suggestions. Right now she needed her best friend.

Anna knew where Ian would be, the library, but she didn't want to disturb him because she knew he was probably studying for something important. She liked that about him, that he really did care for his grades and he knew a bunch of fun facts. While getting to the library floor she tried thinking of how this conversation would play out because it happened often. Each time the bullying practically brought her to tears she always found comfort in Ian. He didn't think she was dumb or didn't belong here because she was a muggleborn; he liked her for who she was. Once getting to the library floor, she tried to make it look like she hadn't been crying or that she was at least okay. Anna poked her head into the library and didn't see Ian anywhere. She sighed, left and walked further down the hallway before she entered the Trophy Room. It was always the place she went too when she was sad because who looked at these old trophy anyways? No one. So it was the perfect place for her to sulk and wait for Ian to hopefully come around.

[IAN ROSS GALLOWAY]

Maybe it was the time spent kept after class by the professor or perhaps it was because it was a class with Slytherins, but Ian couldn't not be happier to get out of Charms. Charms was one of his favorite subjects, after History of Magic, of course, but it was horrible that it had to be with the snakes. They pulled a prank on one of Ian's housemates and the professor kept them after class. But that was all done now and Ian just wanted to spend the rest of his day relaxing, and at the library.

Ian was always at the library; he practically lived there. He had a great need to know and learn more. It was no surprise as to why he would spend his time in the one place that had books about everything on anything. On his way to the library, dawning his glasses as he read a book, Ian came across a group of Slytherin girls giggling and chattering. He briefly caught bits of their gossip before they noticed him.

"Reckon she'll cry herself to sleep?" One laughed, poking her friend. "I'm sure she already does!" The second replied with a overly please smirk as she looked to the third girl. "Don't blame the thing! I'm surprised she hasn't gone and killed herself yet! Hufflepuff! Nothing worse than that!" They all joined in a grand fit of horrible laughter before they stopped and noticed Ian walking. There was something odd about the way they looked at him. It wasn't a look of disgust or hatred, but it wasn't a look one would give a friend while passing by. It was odd indeed... but that wasn't important to Ian. As the girls turned the corner, Ian closed his book and headed off in a sort of run.

He wasn't exactly sure if he'd find her there. He wasn't even sure if she was the girl those Slytherins were talking about, but he had to make sure. And somewhere in his gut, he knew. Ian pushed open the door to the Trophy Room and found her. He heaved a sigh although he was only half relieved to find Anna there. The Trophy Room wasn't a good place for Ian to find her. More times than none, Anna went there to cry.

"Anna..." Ian sighed again. Pulling off his glasses and putting them in his pocket, he made his way to her. Ian hated to find her in that room because she didn't deserve to be sad all the time. Anna was perhaps the kindest person Ian had ever met in his life, that was partly why he liked being her friend, she was always so bubbly. She just wanted to make friends and too many people used her trusting ways against her. It was such a shame because she really didn't deserve any of the bullying she got. "Are you ok?"




words: 478

[anna kimberly holmes]

Anna had a way with people that most didn't. She trusted everyone almost instantly and gave many second chances. She believed that people made mistakes and shouldn't be judged purely on their actions. They could just be having a bad day or be under peer pressure. That was what she told herself each time someone decided to make fun of her in some way but as the years passed by it was getting harder and harder for her to forgive them. Anna also believed in karma so she knew one day they would get theirs. She might not give it to them but someone would avenge her for their bullying even if they didn't know it. Anna didn't think about revenge often but deep down she knew she couldn't keep letting them walk all over her. She wasn't weak like they all thought; she was actually very skilled at charms.

The trophy room Anna discovered when she was a first year student. At a time when she was wandering the castle to learn everything about it. When she first wandered in she was surprised at all the history that was in this room; all the Prefects and Heads Boys and Girls, Quidditch awards and whatever else Hogwarts thought was worthy enough to be put in here. Yet it seemed that not many students came in here unless for a detention to clean it. So Anna found solace in here when she needed to think and for once get away from everyone, since Anna absolutely adored being around people. Not many people knew she came in here since she didn't have that many close friends. Sure she had a ton of good friends but no one knew her as well as Ian did. Believe her, she tried having others close to her but some students found her happiness and bubbly attitude a turn off. Like how could someone be that happy? Anna was always a happy child but it seemed to come out more once she found out she was a witch. And since she was a witch, why should she ever be sad? She was absolutely grateful to be one and some students seemed to take it for granted.

Anna had no idea how he did it. Ian always seemed to find her or know that something was wrong. She could just have the best luck and her best friend was always there or Ian had the worst luck, finding her when she was crying. Once he announced his presence, Anna sniffled and wiped away the tears with the back of her hand. She didn't want her friend to think she was weak too. "I'm...I'm fine." She said stammering trying to force a smile on her lips. It wasn't hard with Ian here now but she could still hear those hurtful words the Slytherin girls were saying to her. Most of the time she just brushed them off her shoulder but it was getting harder and harder each passing day. "Why don't they like me, Ian? Or why do they bother me when I'm nothing but kind to them?" She asked looking up at him, hoping he had some smart answer to give her. He was the smart one out of the two of them, he had the answers to everything.

[IAN ROSS GALLOWAY]

He hated to see her so upset. The very sight of her sadden face stirred something up inside of him that he just couldn't explain, but he knew he hated it. Anna was too happy to cry, too friendly to be hurt, too innocent to be broken and too curious to be shut out. It was a horrible shame that other didn't get to know her because she was the nicest person anyone could ever hope to meet and Ian was grateful to have such a friend. It was their loss, but it was also a loss for Anna because she would still keep trying to befriend them when she really shouldn't. Perhaps she should just stick to people of her House or at least anyone who wasn't a Slytherin.

As she wiped her tears on the back of her hand, Ian took a deep breath. Ian had seen his sister, Christina, cry before, many times and he found that he hated seeing girls cry. It wasn't something bearable. "You're not fine, Anna. Don't lie to me." Ian shook his head a little as he put his book down on one of the trophy cases and turned to her. "Come here." He called, already standing next to her, before he pulled her into a comforting hug. He rubbed her back soothingly to help calm her down. This wasn't his first time doing this; Anna got teased and bullied far too often. Ian didn't understand why. Well... he did, but it was idiotic as to why. People took advantage of her kindness. "They're just horrible people." He shook his head again.

Ian pulled away from her and gave her arms a small rub, looking her in the eyes. "You're going to cry yourself dry, you know?" He grinned at her, trying to cheer her up a little before he went to sit down against one for the trophy cases.



words: 318

(blah)

[anna kimberly holmes]

On a normal day, Anna would be joking around with Ian, making silly faces and just having a grand ole time. She didn't like being sad and having Ian always there to cheer her up. Yeah, he was her best friend but she knew he would rather see her happy. One day, maybe the day she started to stand up for herself, Anna would be happy all the time. Being mean back to her bullies might take some getting used to but she was sure she could do it. Or she had to find some really mean friends or some big tough guy (sorry Ian) to protect her. Ian was more brains than her was muscle and Anna had no problem with that. Sure if he tried protecting her the bullies might stop and think for a moment; think about how to make fun of Ian that is.

Anna shook her head when he told her not to lie. What was she supposed to say? No one ever wanted to hear the absolute truth and Ian must be so sick of hearing about all her problems. He knew she was upset anyways so why did she have to voice it. "Sorry," she mumbled as he pulled her into a hug, apologizing for lying. She hugged him back never wanting to let him go. With Ian she knew she was safe and that he was always there for her. Ian rubbing her back and holding her it felt like nothing could ever go wrong. This was just too perfect and she wanted to stay like this forever. "But why are they horrible to me? Why can't they just get on with their lives without teasing me?" Anna knew they were impossible questions and that some people were just mean. But couldn't they be mean to the other mean people in the world? "At least I have the nicest guy in the world as my best friend." Anna said smiling up at him, trying to be positive again. It was much easier with Ian around.

"I don't think that's possible but I don't want to find out." Anna said giving him another squeeze before he let her go. She felt better already and that was all because of Ian. "You are honestly the best, Ian." Anna said smiling and giving him a kiss on the cheek. She didn't mean anything by it, she was just thankful he was around to cheer her up. Anna took a seat next to him and rested her head on his shoulder. "Do you think if I actually did something back, they would take me seriosuly?" Anna asked getting back on the topic of her bullies. She hated calling them bullies because she felt like she was back in elementary school.

[IAN ROSS GALLOWAY]

"They have nothing better to do with their lives." Ian sighed, rubbing her back a bit again. "They feel insecure about themselves and resort to hurting innocent people like you just so they can feel like they're better than someone." This was something that had really bothered Ian for years. He too was bullied from time to time but not as horribly as Anna. Ian got bullied by a few guys but he suspected that most of it had stopped because he had hit a good groth spurt before the rest of them and it was intimidating to them, even though he wasn't an intimidating guys at the slightest. But Anna got it really tough from the girls, especially the Slytherins and it was terrible that she took their words to heart because nothing they ever said was remotely true. Ian looked at Anna dead in the eyes. "But where they are wrong it that they are no better than you or I. They are low people who secretly wish they had half as much as you do, Anna. Don't let them bring you down. The would just be winning. And when things get though, you know I'm here for you, ya?"

Ian gulped when Anna placed a kiss on his cheek. Anna was his best friend and this wasn't something he had expected from her. But it was just the cheek, that didn't mean anything, right? Just her way of thanking him. That's all it was. Ian hadn't thought of Anna in any other sense than a friend, but definately not a sister. Ian did find her very pretty, she truly was and it evaded him why no guys seemed to see this and her great personality. He himself didn't let himself think about Anna as more than that because it was something appropriate to think about one's friend, right? "Thanks," He said to her comment after a moment.

Ian wrapped his arm around her shoulder when she rested her head on his, giving her arm an other gentle rub. "I'm not sure, Anna. Maybe if you were just going to stand up for yourself. But you shouldn't sink to their level to get back at them, or any worse than them."


(horrible parts! Ew)

[anna kimberly holmes]

Anna was trying not to think about the bullies. From now on they would be a thing of her past, hopefully. One day she would find the courage to tell them to back-off or maybe just throw a harmless curse their way. Like ones the first year students learn so she wouldn't be as bad as them. A case of boils or the jelly-leg curses wouldn't be all that bad. Yet the problem was finding the courage to do so. It wasn't in her to harm other people, she would rather help them. So maybe a job in the healing industry was in her future, if she ever got her grades high enough. "If they feel so insecure shouldn't they not want to bully me? Just in case I'm better at jinxing them. Like I am good at charms, you know." Anna said smiling up at him, joking of course. Well not about charms, she was pretty good at that subject. She could perform all that in class just never to defend herself. When Ian caught her eyes, she starred back at him as he spoke. She wanted to believe he was telling the truth, more than anything in the world. But maybe there might be truth to purebloods being superior and all that. She wasn't raised knowing a single thing about magic and here she was learning everything at once. However she was still a witch and could be just as good as anyone else. "I know, Ian. You're always there for me and I just love that about you."

The kiss on the cheek, Anna hardly meant anything by it but it was the first time ever she let some of her feelings show for him. Even though Ian just thought it was a thank you. Since they met way back in first year, Anna had always had a crush on him. You know, one of those school-yard crushes but instead of them becoming something romantic they became best friends. And Anna would definitely want him as her best friend then nothing at all. But since she didn't see him blush or give a smile, she just assumed that he had just always thought of her as a friend. Nothing more, nothing less.

"So what you recommend I do? You know I can't swear and I can barely tell anyone anything mean. After five years I think they would just laugh at me at any attempt to get the upper hand in the situation." Anna said drawing random patterns on Ian's pant leg with her finger. "So instead of going back in time and not telling everyone I was a muggle born my first year and standing up for myself. I don't think there is anything I can do to get them to stop."

[IAN ROSS GALLOWAY]

Ian couldn't help but chuckle a little at Anna's comment, his teeth slightly showing in the gap of his grin. Yes, for someone who had spent the greater part of her life in the Muggle World, Anna knew her Charms well. "I would have to show you a few jinxes if you plan on using any on them." He joked. As egotistical as it sounded, Ian knew he was better at Charms than Anna but that was only because he spent his time reading every book he could get his hands on. Most of which were about hexes and charms. But whether or not Anna actually knew enough to fight those Slytherin girls, or any other bully, Ian didn't know. Slytherins could surprise you; they sometimes knew a lot of Dark Arts and horrible spells. "They feel superior when they hurt you which only just hides their insecurities for a little while. That and they feel accepted among their friends whom, more often than not, pressure them into doing it." Bullied bullies, really, is all they were. Ian pitied them to some point but not much. They did bully his best friend, after all. 

"Hm." Ian hummed, agreeing with her a bit, as he looked at her hand tracing patterns on his leg. It was odd yet not uncomfortable. It tickled a bit but it didn't bother him. He found himself almost captivated by her patterns for a moment and all the strange feelings in brought on. "I'm always here for you, like I said, but all I can tell you..." Ian looked over at her, away from her hand on his leg, and waited to catch her eyes. "Is to just be proud. Not matter what they say, you still have your family, you are still of Muggle heritage and you are still a Hufflepuff. Nobody can change that, know can they?" He ended with a bit of a crooked grin. 

[anna kimberly holmes]

"Oh and since when did you become a pro at charms and hexes? I can't remember the last time you were bullied." Anna said giving him a small smile but it was the truth. He hasn't been bullied since like his second or third year. Once Ian hit puberty no one made fun of him no matter how nerdy he acted. Sure he wasn't the biggest guy in school but no guys would go out of there way to harm him. Plus bullies were afraid of nerds or respected them at some level. They were afraid because most nerds knew more magic and if the bullies weren't doing well in class, they needed a tutor. Anna never had a tutor and that was because she was okay in all of her classes. She didn't want to excel really because she was okay with being average. Ian of course was the smart one and probably tutored a few students already. Anna would get tutored from him but would definitely not learn anything. She would change the subject or convince Ian that they should do something else instead of studying.

"Everyone has insecurities. I do. You do. We don't bully people." Anna said not liking the 'excuse' for why bullies bullied. Yeah she knew about peer pressure and all that but she didn't care. They hurt her on multiple occasions and she was suppose to find sympathy? It was true she would never do nothing back to them, even if she said she would hex them. She couldn't help but smile when Ian gave her a little pep talk. It was cute and showed he truly cared. Not that Anna needed a pep talk to show he cared but it still made her smile. "I love being a muggle born. Everyone knows that. But maybe if less people knew I was a muggle born it would be better. Plus it hasn't been that safe for muggle lately. " Anna wasn't scared about what was going on with Muggles being killed yet but she knew soon muggle borne would be getting even more hate. No one in her family had any magic experience at least Ian was a half blood.

"but thank you. That did make me feel a lot better. "Anna said still drawing the pattern on his leg. It was calming for her and she just wanted to be close to her best friend. She had an odd feeling in her stomach but didn't know what it was from. Each time she looked up at Ian, she felt her cheeks blush and immediately hide her face in his shoulder. She was usually not this anxious around him but something was different today.

[IAN ROSS GALLOWAY]

Ian gave a small chuckle. "Hey, I've always been a wiz at Charms, heck, it's all I read about." He added, pointing at the book he had placed on one of the trophy cases that read on the side of it: Olde and Forgotten Bewitchments and Charmes. "I know a good one that glues their lips shut, if you want it." He then turned back to her and his ligh grin faded a little bit even though Anna was smiling. It was true, he hadn't relly gotten much greif from bullies in a long time since his growth sprut. "It doesn't really seem fair that I don't but you do." He said solemnly, looking done at the ground between his knees. "I mean, you're the nicest person I know, Anna. You really don't deserve that." Ian would gladly take it for her, if her could, but obviously that wasn't a possibility.

"I don't know, Anna. They're all just a big bunch of... of... dumb hippogriffs with gnomes for noses?" He laughed. He really didn't know what to tell her sometimes; Anna just kept asking questions he could not answer without sounding like a bully supporter. "No, we don't buly people because we're good people, Anna." Ian actually became a little more serious as he spoke. "They're horrible, horrible people." He just shrugged and gave her arm a little squeeze. Ian grinned a little as Anna spoke, altough some of the things she said did disappoint him some. "Don't worry. We'll learn a bunch of hexes and they won't stand a chance." It was true, there had been a few whispers going around the school of such things. ian was happy that he was "halblood" but he couldn't help but worry for others, like Anna, who had Muggle parents.

Ian looked up from her hand, still drawing patterns on his leg, and smiled at her brightly. "Good, I'm glad."

[anna kimberly holmes]

The feeling in Anna's stomach wasn't going away. She didn't know the words to describe it and she had never felt like this before with Ian or anyone else. The more Ian talked, the more the feeling went through her body. It was going from her toes all the way up to her head. Even made her feel a bit light headed. She was excited and nervous but for what? Her heart was beating fast, which made her breathe faster and that seemed to make her mind go fuzzy. Like she wasn't the one thinking and something was taking over her body. Her best friend was still talking and the words were going in one ear and out the other. He was still talking about bullying or whatever she was asking questions about. Of course he was giving her great advice and even wanting to teach her a hex or two.

The thing that brought her attention back was when he made fun of the bullies. A laugh escaped her lips and she remained giggling for a little bit. He was her best friend but could they ever be more? Anna never admitted to having a crush on him no its not like Ian ever tried anything. But what if she did try something and then their friendship crashed and burned? Ian kept on talking while she thought about what would it be like to be in a relationship with him. Could they survive it? What if they broke up and Anna lost her best friend? She didn't think she would handle that. they had to at least try, right? But what if he didn't like her?

Anna waited until he looked at her again. In her head this would go over without a hitch. He would admit he liked her and they would be happy together. Except when he looked at her, all the confidence disappeared but she already committed herself. Anna kissed him, this time on the lips! It was quick and before she knew it, she had pulled away, wide eyed. Where in the world did that come from? "I'm sorry....I should have never." Anna said her words jumbled together as she got up and moved away from Ian. "Just forget it. " Anna said backing away towards the door. "Like it never happened." She added before she went out the door and ran to the Hufflepuff common room.

[IAN ROSS GALLOWAY]

At least Anna was laughing now instead of questioning him further. He really didn't know what else he could have said on the subject. It wasn't an easy thing to justify, bullying. It was just mean and really juvenile but how could you try and explain exactly why people did it and then there be no further questioning on the subject? You really couldn't. Thank goodness, again, that she hadn't asked him again.

Ian smiled down at Anna and then, something unexpected happened. It happened really fast and so briefly... One moment she was smiling back at him, the next, he felt her lips pressing against his. Before he could even register what had happened, Anna was already getting up, out of his arm and was rushing a bunch of apologies by him. As she pushed open the door to leave, Ian seemed to come to his senses and started to stumble to his feet. "Anna!" He called after her as he started off after her. He groaned in frustration, remembering that he had left his book on the trophy case. But when he turned back to follow her after he grabbed the book, he couldn't hope to find her. She was well ahead of him and probably gone somewhere he could not get to her. He swore under his breath and ran a hand through his hair. What had just happened? Well, she kissed him, obviously. But why? Why him? Ian had not expected that at all. He had never really thought of Anna as more than a friend, it didn't seem appropriate.

His thoughts and his heart were racing. He needed to talk to someone about this. Obviously he couldn't talk to Anna... Olivia. She was probably the best person to talk to. Ian headed up the stairs, hoping to send Olivia a letter to meet him as soon as possible.