𝑫𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝑺𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓, 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐄𝐫𝐚

Chapter 6

"You absolute idiot!" Victoria yelled at Marco. "You got us detention right before Christmas break!"

"It wasn't entirely my fault, okay! I didn't realize Avery was there!" Marco raised both his arms in defense.

"But why did you even throw it in the first place?"

"Because his comments were infuriating..." Marco leaned against the door frame outside Slughorn's classroom, his arms crossed. A few minutes into the lesson, he had thrown his book at Avery's head. Avery had been disparaging muggles, and as a half-blood with a Muggle mother, it understandably infuriated Marco. Victoria intervened by "accidentally" tossing her potions book at Avery's eye when he turned around to scold Marco.

"It was reckless, Marco," Victoria shook her head, focusing back on him. "You could have caused serious harm."

Marco sheepishly smiled at his much shorter friend, who was now clinging to his arm for support.

"If I fall asleep, you'll have to carry me back to the common room," Victoria yawned, but then Emerson rushed out of the room, breathing heavily.

"Hello, lovely birds," Emerson greeted, her hand over her heart. "I have detention too! Apparently flipping my brother off in class is considered 'inappropriate behavior,' as if."

Emerson beamed at her two friends, one already dozing off while the other lifted her in a bridal carry.

"And here you are claiming you don't like her..." Emerson laughed as she walked beside Marco. Marco didn't want to argue with Emerson, but he was about to reply until he noticed her light blue hair. When Marco noticed Emerson's light blue hair, he couldn't help but pause mid-sentence. Her vibrant hair was a stark departure from her usual appearance, and he couldn't help but be captivated by the sight.

"Emerson, your hair..." Marco trailed off, his eyes widening in surprise.

Emerson beamed, twirling a lock of her blue hair around her finger. "It's blue?" she asked, her excitement evident in her voice.

"It's... different," Marco replied, his words careful as he tried to process the unexpected change.

Victoria stirred in his arms, blinking sleepily as she glanced at Emerson. "Your hair is blue," she observed, her voice thick with sleep.

Emerson nodded enthusiastically. "I know, it's cool huh?" she exclaimed, her smile widening at their reactions.

Marco couldn't help but feel a surge of admiration for Emerson's boldness. He was unaware of her metamorphmagus blue seemed to embody her rebellious spirit, a defiance against the constraints of conformity and expectation.

"It suits you," Marco said finally, his smile genuine as he admired Emerson's confidence.

"Thanks!" Emerson replied, her eyes sparkling with delight. "I forgot I could do that." 

As they entered the detention room, they were instructed to take a seat and keep quiet. Victoria woke up briefly but soon placed her book upright and took another nap.

Emerson turned to Marco, noticing his puzzled expression. "Oh, Merlin's beard..." Emerson muttered, changing her hair color back to its original dark black.

"Are you a metamorphmagus?" Marco asked, intrigued.

"Nooo my hair just changed because it felt cheeky today...of course I am!"

"Why didn't you ever say anything?"

Emerson shrugged her shoulder turning towards the front of the room, "My mother never liked it, so I did my best to keep it the same color," Emerson said trying to sound completely unbothered. "What are we supposed to do?"