September 21st, 1889 — Hogwarts Library
Gretchen Lestrange

It was not in Frida's character to break the rules, and it was less in her character to lie when she broke them. Instead, she usually ensured she didn't technically break any rules and instead chose to suffer the guilt of lying about her intentions. She soothed her conscious by rationalizing that she was Lestrange, albeit a Hufflepuff, and just had to have a little cunning in her. Was she wrong?

After having agreed to meet Gretchen in the back corner of the library, Frida had gone back towards the front to fetch something—somethings, rather.

"I think I got all the titles. The librarian didn't question me," she explained. The Restricted Section was not nearly as spooky as some of the students believed it was, but there were spooky things that could be found there if one looked long enough.

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   Gretchen Lestrange

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Frankly, Gretchen had not expected Frida to join her in this particular endeavour. A Lestrange her sister might be but Frida seemed to have been a funnelling point for the universe to impart all the goodness their side of the family was going to get into one person, whilst the rest of them were quite happy without such restrictions being placed upon their consciences but were obliged to try their best – with varying success – to appear as good as Frida.

“Of course she didn’t,” Gretchen replied smugly. “Why do you think I sent you to fetch them?”

Greedily she snatched the first book from the top of the pile and smiled slowly as her eyes took in the title. The Transfiguration in this book was far too advanced for most students – which did beg the question of why they even bothered keeping it in the castle at all – but Gretchen was determined to succeed and she had chosen Frida rather than Meta to be her partner in crime.

Largely so there was someone of higher authority to blame if they were caught.

“You’re not having second thoughts are you?”

  

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Bee is tremendous, isn't she?

Frida had grown past her childhood naivety and insecurities, and had no doubt that Gretchen had taken her prefect status into consideration. Such a thing might have bothered Frida in the past, but now she considered it a fact of life. There was no denying her interest in Gretchen's endeavor, part of her hoping to see the results herself and part of her just wanting to be there to ensure her little sister didn't blow herself up. At least Gretchen had had the sense to come to her instead of Meta.

"I'm sure you had many reasons that will soon be revealed," she said, unbothered, with a quirk of her brow. Why Gretchen would even want to get into this sort of magic was beyond her, but if Seneca's interests were any indication of what might become of her sister, she had best stay close and do her best to keep her safe (and out of trouble).

"I've had many second thoughts, and yet I'm here. I refuse to be your test monkey, though," she explained. She'd made that mistake before and had no desire to make it again.

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Rolling her eyes at her ever-cautious sister Gretchen flicked open the first page, scanning the contents, her eyes lighting up when she spotted what she was looking for. Her family were distinguished in a number of ways but there was a very particular talent that only a few had – and Gretchen craved to possess the same. If she had to do it with Frida’s help then so be it.

“I doubt you’ll be a monkey,” Gretchen said dryly, her eyes never leaving the page. “Somehow I can’t see you turning into an animal famed for its penchant for mischief.”

  

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Bee is tremendous, isn't she?

The animagus transformation was one Frida had never anticipated making. Her whole life had been spent worrying about things that were actually important: etiquette training, her magical education, and preparing for married life. Never had she been concerned about being special in this context, but naturally, there was always someone close to her who was.

"At least tell me you've done your research. I've been told that years of reading and rituals are required. This could be very dangerous." Not to mention that her badge was at risk if something went wrong! If she had to be the odd Lestrange out, she at least needed some accomplishment or two to her name.

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“Calm down, I’m not going to make us try transforming straight away,” she drawled with amusement at Frida’s concerns. Gretchen had barely touched upon the research in fact, there wasn’t much to find outside of the restricted section at Hogwarts, but she had high hopes of the family library proving a resource. She would have to ask uncle Lucius’ permission first but if she could convince him she was serious then perhaps he would look kindly upon her request.

“We are more than capable and I think uncle Lucius would be impressed if we manage it before Kris. I mean,” Gretchen snorted out a ladylike laugh of derision. “I doubt he’ll ever be capable but nevertheless I think we should try to distinguish ourselves a little more in the family.”

  

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Bee is tremendous, isn't she?

Frida took a mental step back and released an audible breath. At least Gretchen had a sensible bone in her body, even if she made questionable choices now and then. She could not help fear—rather irrationally—that the librarian would immediately notice the books' absence, and that the days to come would be characterized by an overwhelming feeling of remorse. Frida was not a trouble-maker; the same could not be said for the people she surrounded herself with.

"All I'm saying is that I don't want all of Orestes Lestrange's children to end up with an out-of-place tail—or worse, a horn! We must be careful." And we must not tell Kris, the little voice in her head finished. She knew her brother would hate the thought of his sisters doing anything better than him. "Can we trust Uncle Lucius not to tell?"

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“Tell what?” Gretchen replied with a pointed look. “By the time we’ve learnt we’ll be ready to graduate and then we can register ourselves – no one needs to know we started learning now.”

And she had no intention of growing a tail or having a sister with one. They were going to master this with sense and poise – the sort that would make their father proud – and she was not going to be stopped by anyone’s doubts. Frida would stop being a nervous nellie sooner or later and then they would be able to combine their expertise nicely!

“I want us to be more than our names Frida. Do you recall that for months we were just ‘the Lestrange girls whose father died’? I won’t be defined by anybody else and nor do I want you to be.” Her lip twitched. “Unless you want to be ‘Minister-Lestrange’s-sister-who-didn’t-want-to-learn-a-new-skill-with-her’?”

Gretchen knew her sister well enough to know that the challenge would be more than enough to tempt her. She smiled to herself - winning was such a delight.

  

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Bee is tremendous, isn't she?