Notes: I have decided to ruin a perfectly good story by rewriting a good portion of it! Hooray! Okay, so this story takes place right after chapter fourteen of the original story.
Warning: Cursing, violence and some tragic events
Summary: and so the lion fell in love with the snake, version two
Disclaimer: I don't own anything, unfortunately.
Reminder: Please review!!!

Innocently overlooks the truth
Shouldn't a light go on?
Doesn't he know that I've had him
Memorized for so long?
He sees everything black and white
-I'd Lie, Taylor Swift

My hand slid from under my chin and my head hit the desk. I was trying in vain to concentrate on the book in front of me. I had History of Magic homework to do, but my mind was elsewhere. I was trying to decide if I should go find Fred and try to explain now or if waiting was the best idea.

I had spent the first half of the day scared that I would run into Fred, or George, or Hermione, Ron, Harry. But I still wanted to explain. I wished one of them would demand an explanation and then give me the chance to explain. I needed to explain what had happened, to somebody, anybody. But mostly Fred; he deserved the truth the most.

Not being about to think of anything else, I headed towards the Transfiguration classroom. Class wasn't due to end for another ten minutes. I paced in front of the door, trying to think of something to say to him that would make him believe me, or something that would make him curious and give me a chance to explain myself.

I stopped pacing when the door opened and the seventh years started filing out, obviously glad class was over. I stood on my tiptoes, looking for either one of the twins.

I caught a glimpse of red hair. "Fred!" I called.

He turned around. George stopped and looked, then walked away. That hurt, but also might make talking to him easier.

"What?"

I was startled by his hard tone. "Let me explain." I said, taking a step forward.

"Explain what?" He asked. "You went to Umbridge and told her about the DA. There's no need to explain anything."

He started to walk away. "That's not what happened!" I called after him. He turned back to me.

"Then how did it happen?"

I licked my lips. "I was the last one to the meeting last night and I had some food, then after the meeting, Umbridge asked me to stay, then she started asking me questions and I just started answering them and couldn't stop!" I needed him to believe me more than anything. "She must have slipped me…truth serum or something."

From the look on his face, he doubted me. "I'm sure that's exactly what happened."

I took a sharp intake of breath, feeling crushed, hurt. "Why don't you believe me?" I asked my voice cracking.

Fred didn't respond for a moment. "I have to get to class." And he left.

I stood there, staring after him. I couldn't believe it. I don't know what I was expecting, but it wasn't him walking away. He usually gave me a chance to explain myself. Maybe I had run out of chances. Maybe after joining the Inquisitorial Squad, me squealing just seemed like I was only with him to find out information.

I went through the rest of the day in a heavy stupor. I beat myself up the entire day. Somehow I twisted the situation and made myself the bad guy, even though I tried to tell myself that in all honesty, Umbridge was the bad guy.

In the middle of some story Jason was telling, I just stood up and left dinner. Mostly because I wasn't hungry and I didn't like the glares I was getting from the other tables; from people who were once my friends. But if they were really my friends, they should have let me explain myself.

I was so lost in thought that I walked right into somebody. The book they were reading fell to the floor next to me.

"Polly?"

It was Hermione.

"Hi." I said. We just looked at each other for a moment. "What, aren't you going to tell me off too?" I asked bitterly.

"Why did you tell Umbridge?" She asked, picking her book up and holding it to her chest.

"I didn't mean too. You remember how I joined the Inquisitorial Squad?" She nodded. I just decided to tell her what I told Fred. "I had some food and after everybody left, Umbridge asked me to stay. Then she began asking me questions and I started answering her and couldn't stop."

"She slipped you something." At first I thought it was a question, and then I realized it was a statement.

"You believe me?" I asked, stunned.

She nodded. Relief flooded through me. Someone believed me. Someone believed me! "There was a spell on the parchment everybody had to sign." She started flipping through the book she was holding.

"If somebody told on us," she continued, "the spell was supposed to make this happen-" she turned to book to me.

I glanced at it. It was a man with the word SNEAK written in zits across his face.

I reached up automatically to my face. I couldn't feel anything there that wasn't there the last time I looked in the mirror.

Hermione saw me touching my face. "There's also a footnote."

"What does it say?" I asked.

She turned the book back to her. "The effects of this spell will be void if the speaker of the secret is forced to reveal the secret in question against their will."

She looked up at me. "You didn't tell Umbridge because you wanted to, did you?"

I shook my head quickly. "No, I didn't. I swear!"

Hermione gave me a look. "I already said I believed you."

I raised and lowered my eyebrows quickly. "You're the only one…" I paused. "You have to help me convince Fred. Please." I begged.

"Fred?" She repeated.

I nodded. "I tried to talk to him earlier, but he wouldn't hear it. Please." I added again.

Hermione thought for a moment. "Fine. Meet me in the library tomorrow during breakfast and I'll try to help."

Happiness swelled inside me. If I had known her any better, I would have hugged her. But I settled for a smile and a thank you before she walked away.

All he could say was he still didn't believe me, I thought back in the Slytherin common room. And I would be back to where I was now. I just didn't want to be here anymore.