Always Follow. Never Lead. (Harry Potter movies)

They Know...

Bini sat in the Hufflepuff table in the great hall, trying but failing to block out the noise from the students so early in the morning. She mostly sat alone with her cat on her lap, who had jumped onto the table and began munching on a plate Bini had prepared for him. Some of the Hufflepuffs gave her looks but she ignored them as she sat near the empty end of the table, trying to focus on one sound that wasn't as annoying as-

She jolted in alarm as three Hufflepuff, who she recognized from third-year yesterday from their loud chatter upstairs surrounded her and quickly sat down with big grins on their face. Their smiles flattered when Tiger-eye started to hiss at them but Bini grabbed her cat and placed him on her lap in case of anything despite the protests of her cat.

"Can I help you?" She asked quietly with a dreaded feeling that the conversation was going to be the start of her downfall.

"I heard you out past curfew! That Snape caught you! You have guts! What is your name?" The third-year Hufflepuff boy asked. Bini resisted the urge to force another bit of food down her throat and then start choking just to get out of the conversation.

"Bini Filters." She snapped and wondered if there was a spell for blocking out noise. The Hufflepuff and his two friends, a girl, and another guy gave each other looks that Bini couldn't interpret but she decided it didn't matter and looked back down at her food.

"You don't seem to realize how much of a big deal it is to sneak out after curfew as a first-year student, on the first day, and then get caught by Snape and come back to tell the tale."

He was implying that she was freely giving him that information. Since when? She didn't remember telling anyone anything. So how did he and the two other lackeys figure out what happened?

"How do you...um...Know?" She asked slowly. Trying to not sound hostile.

"Patchman heard Snape talking to our head of the house, Professor Sprout about...Hm...forty minutes ago? He seemed pretty irritated. Sprout didn't look too happy either."

Well, what did he expect exactly? Bini screwed up badly. Maybe she can...

Bini made the mistake of looking towards the staff table. Snape and Sprout were sitting next to each other and occasionally glared at each other before either returning to their meals or Sprout look over to her table with an expression that made Bini worry more than she should have.

"No one has ever done that before!" The girl to her left exclaimed as if it was really impressive. "First years are usually whimps! Well, except maybe Harry Potter. But he didn't pull that last night!"

"Show some respect, Sarah!" The boy beside her hissed. "The kid's parents are dead."

OK, now she really wanted to choke and then pass out. Maybe, if she was lucky, never wake up again? That was way too dark. Don't go there. She was brought out of her thoughts when the first boy rudely nudged her back to reality.

"Hey? You okay, Bini?"

"Huh? Yeah, I-I am alright." Bini replied with a weak smile and moved her hand to stroke Tiger-eye. "I was just thinking. Um...What is detention like anyway?"

"Oh...Right. You don't know. Alright..." The girl, Sarah, shifted her position on the bench to be a bit more comfortable before explaining. "Detention is usually held in a classroom where you sit there and look guilty until you manage to be released. On rare occasions, rare mind you, you might be tasked with helping out one of the groundskeepers like Hagrid or helping Snape with his potions. That last one would be hell for you, shrimp."

"I am not a shrimp." Bini barked. "I..."

Her response died on her tongue as she watched Professor Sprout walk in her direction with a look of determination. They locked eyes and Bini gulped. Barely noticing the students around her giggle and then slither away like snakes. Maybe they would have been better in Slytherin.

"Filters." Professor Sprout chirped in a tone that made Bini cringe internally. "May I see you in the greenhouse after breakfast?"

"O-Of course, Professor." Bini said. She briefly looked to the paper beside her that laid out her current schedule for Monday...For today. She had two free periods until charms at 10:50 am. "I...I will be there."

She nodded and quickly left the great hall while Bini wanted to sink into a black hole and never come out again. Bini cringed again at the sound of repressed giggles coming from all directions. Did everyone know what she did?

---

Bini stood in the greenhouse near the edge of Hogwarts. She was happy to be able to see the outside world for once but when she turned to her head of house who was carefully tending to some plants, she had a sinking feeling that everything was not going to be alright. She held Tiger-eye in her arms when Professor Sprout turned to face her with a small smile.

"Why don't you tell me what happened last night, Bini?"

Bini gave her a slow blink of disbelief.

"Y-You want to hear what I think happened?"

Sprout nodded again and continued to tend to her plants.

"Um...Well...My cat..." Bini briefly looked down to Tiger-eye in her arms. "-was hungry and wanted to go outside and the comfort of an animal is important so I got him some food and went to the courtyard to let him eat and that is when Professor S-Snape found me."

"Seems straightforward enough," Sprout muttered. "I will reduce your detention by two weeks. But I would like to make it clear that sneaking out past curfew is not allowed, young lady. I am sure the head boy or girl could have gotten something for you."

Bini looked towards the ground to hide her blush of embarrassment.

"I-I am really sorry, Professor Sprout. I just...I won't do it again." Bini insisted as she adjusted the cat in her arms. Sprout petted Tiger-eye, who purred in response with happiness. The older Professor smiled and pulled back to look at the young student who looked a bit terrified.

"You will be with me after dinner today and for the next two weeks helping me out. Is that alright?"

Is that alright? Bini was facing detention and Sprout was asking if not working with Snape was alright? If not having to deal with Filtch was alright? If dealing with a really nice Professor who she was positive was going to lash out at her an hour ago, was alright?

"Yes!" Bini pounced but quickly cleared her throat and took a serious stance to not seem too excited. "Yes. I am fine with that."

"Good. Now hurry along now. I am sure you have better things to do until your next class."

Bini nodded and hurried out of the room. She couldn't help but think that the Professor was wrong. She really didn't have anything better to do. She walked the halls of Hogwarts in silence with Tiger-eye as people ran past her or Professors barked orders in classrooms.

She barely managed to not collide with Ron Weasly and Harry Potter as they scrambled past her, yelling apologies before telling each other they were screwed. Bini shrugged and continued on. Unsure of what to do with herself now that she had free time.

---

"The Hogwarts Hoot."

Bini stared at the school newspaper in her hand with mild interest. She grabbed it as she left the great hall from dinner and was walking through the courtyard as the sky was in twilight. The front page had a picture of Harry Potter, the new seeker for the Gryffindor team earlier that day. The article went on and on about how great he was. At least they were bad-mouthing Malfoy...

Which, in hindsight, might be a bad move.

She had left Tiger-eye in her room and took in a breath of fresh air at finally being alone for the first time all day. She looked back down at the Newspaper and flipped through the rest of the pages.

"Geez, they are all about Potter..."

She understood that it was the second day, so material on important events or rumors wouldn't be too interesting but she could go without seeing a Harry Potter story every single page like it was the main headline. She folded up the newspaper and shoved it into one of the inside pockets of her robe before she marched closer and closer to her final destination. Trying to avoid everyone at all costs.

---End of Chapter Three---