Hi everyone! I just wanted to say thank you for the amazing reviews, I'm really glad people seem to be liking the story thus far! Sorry this took a while to update but I had a lot of essays and finals for college and whatnot, but I'm on break now so hopefully I'll have more time to update!
And a lot of people have been asking about Lexi's powers and if I've forgotten them. I definitely haven't but there were other things Lexi was focusing on towards the end of the story, and if you'll recall the last time she really used them was in Dumbledore's office. Anyway, they'll be making a reappearance this chapter when Lexi finally decides to get help.
ALSO, I made more banners for this story, yay! Hah, I actually find that if I'm having writer's block or anything that if I make a banner it really helps. Anyway, there are some pretty interesting new ones, a few of them foreshadowing some major parts of the story later, so check them out and tell me what you think!
Thanks to the following reviewers!
LucyBlue, dancelikeyoujustdontcare, tonidepp16, spannieren, Lupin's Woman NO Touchy, Whisperwings, a small free kiss in the dark, Pixie555, Live2Sk8, justplaincrazy8, LunaPadma, xXxSour-LemonxXx, LilyJet, Heaven's Archer
Chapter 2: Challenges, Offers, Weapons
The next morning I woke up at my usual time. Peeking through my curtains, I saw that the other girls had either left already or hadn't woken up yet, which was lucky for me in that I wasn't looking forward to a confrontation. I quickly showered, threw on my uniform and robes and gathered my books before heading to the Common Room. There I found Draco waiting for me.
"Remember to watch your step today." Draco said grimly as we walked out of the Common Room.
"Did something happen?" I asked, he rolled his eyes in response.
"Just the usual shoulder checking. Never been on the receiving side of it though." He mused. I sighed and we entered the Great Hall. Once again nothing seemed amiss except for the fact that there were two seats available at the very end of the table, furthest from our peers.
Of course the Slytherins weren't stupid enough to do anything bolder right in the middle of the Great Hall, where Dumbledore or any of the professors could see, especially Snape. Snape may have turned a blind eye to us belittling the other Houses, but he expected complete respect towards our fellow Slytherins.
We always figured what he didn't know wouldn't hurt him. And Draco and I had never thought it would work against us.
"Whatever, we're fine for the time being. We just have to be one step ahead of them, and if Somers is leading the pack it shouldn't be that hard." I muttered as we sat down. I looked quickly down the table and saw Blaise sitting next to Pansy, deep in conversation with Theodore Nott.
"What do you think the chances of changing the allegiances of our peers are?"
Draco sighed, "They're never going to turn their backs on their families, Lexi. If this were as simple as a classroom popularity contest, we'd have nothing to worry about, especially against Somers." He paused, "It still doesn't make sense. The Somers are pureblooded and respectable, surely, but not as much as Blaise, or Nott, or even Pansy."
I nodded, "Blaise is understandable though. His family has remained decidedly neutral. The Dark Lord can't afford to have him in charge… Theo seems like the best choice, it's unsettling that he was passed over in favor of Damien." I narrowed my eyes, "There's something we're missing."
We didn't have much time to dwell on our current situation, since our first class, Potions, was set to start in 5 minutes.
Draco and I sat together as we usually did and Snape began to lecture us on the importance of our 7th year studies and NEWTs. I glanced around the classroom, momentarily making eye contact with Potter before looking away.
For the first class of the year, Snape certainly wasn't going easy on us. We were to make the Draught of Living Death with no help other than the instructions the book provided. Snape definitely considered experience the best teacher.
The class worked in relative silence, as the potion was a complex one and distractions wouldn't do. We had nearly finished when Daphne Greengrass walked by our cauldron without saying a word. I glanced up quickly but Draco took no notice.
That is, until our cauldron bottom melted out a few moments later.
I gaped at the disaster before me. Snape swooped down on Draco and I, not quite sure what to do. Never, in all of my time at Hogwarts, had any Slytherin's potion been so obviously ruined.
"Miss Conrad, Mr. Malfoy… it would appear that you did not complete the instructions correctly." Snape said silkily.
I nearly growled in frustration. We had been completing the instructions perfectly well until Daphne had tampered with out potion.
Draco glanced at me and answered for the both of us, "Sorry sir, it won't happen again. Must've been a slip of the hand."
"It admittedly is unusual for either of you to make such an error…" Snape trailed off, "As such, I won't fail you if you write me a two foot long essay detailing the making of this potion and where you believe you went wrong."
He was being as favorable to us as he could without getting in trouble. He couldn't just excuse us from the assignment, but any other student would've failed.
"Thank you, sir." I tried to smile but it came out as more of a grimace. As he walked away I turned a death glare on Daphne, who looked back at me smugly.
Draco and I looked at each other and I rolled my eyes. "Let's just clean up." He nodded and we swiftly vanished both the content of our potion and the now-ruined cauldron.
Class ended, but the morning continued in a similar fashion. In every lesson something went amiss, whether it be Draco's wand work or my bag splitting. By the time dinner came around I was tired of it.
"What are we going to do?" I asked Draco as we settled in the kitchens, having decided a private place to talk was needed.
"I don't know that we can do anything just yet. We need to wait, assess the situation, maybe talk to Blaise…" I cut him off.
"Draco, you can't expect me to just wait idly by while Daphne Greengrass, of all people, attempts to make my life hell. I won't stand for it."
"Lexi, you're being rash." Draco said sternly, "She's challenging you, trying to make you submit to her authority." He paused, "You used to do it all the time."
"Exactly! And the idea that she even thinks she comes close to me---" I stopped talking, frustrated.
Daphne Greengrass was, as much as I hated to admit it, very Slytherin in every aspect. She was quick-witted and clever, unlike Somers. Her family was well known for their wealth, looks, and Dark associations. Daphne was dangerous mix, with her long flowing blonde hair and pretty face masking her truly malicious nature.
It wasn't surprising to me that she had risen to Damien's side, and what made it even more frustrating was that unlike Damien, she was a force to be reckoned with. The Greengrasses were not a family to be trifled with. My mind quickly turned to the only possible smudge to their name--Daphne's younger sister Astoria. There was nothing really wrong with Astoria, she was a Slytherin after all; unlike her sister, however, she had short, mousey brown hair and hazel eyes. Astoria wasn't very outspoken, but due to her family name was treated with respect within her year, but never with the reverence that Draco and myself, and now Damien, Daphne and Theodore, received.
"We need to talk to Blaise." Draco decided.
I nodded, "From there we can decide the best course of action." Because no matter what Draco pretended, we would have to retaliate. The most dangerous thing we could do at this point would be to let our house gang up on us. No sign of weakness could be shown.
I walked swiftly through the Common Room, ignoring the whispers and glares I got from my housemates. However, one voice called out to me as I headed up to my dorm.
"Conrad!" Damien's voice reached my ears. I paused, but didn't turn around. "You might not want to go up there. Blaise and Pansy are…. Occupied." Even though I couldn't see him, I could almost hear the smirk that I knew would be on his face.
Pity he'd never be able to pull it off as well as Draco.
But still… Blaise and Pansy? I shook my head and headed up to the dorms anyway.
Pansy and I were overdue for a confrontation, anyway.
I opened the door and wasn't surprised to see Blaise and Pansy, fully clothed, her sitting on her bed and him laying on mine.
I scoffed and threw my bag onto my bed, barely registering Blaise's gasp as it hit him in the stomach.
"Hell, Lexi!"
"Nice to see you too." I said acidly, unsure of if any act needed to be kept up around Pansy.
She glanced at me, her expression unreadable. "I'm going to the bathroom. Afterwards, my boyfriend and I will go downstairs since we obviously can't have privacy." With that, she rose and headed to the bathroom, locking the door behind her.
Within a second, Blaise was in front of me, his hands gripping my arms. "Listen to me, Lexi."
"You're her boyfriend?" I interrupted.
"An act. She knows. She can't risk being seen, or even talking to you." Blaise explained quickly. "Lexi, listen. This-- everything, it's so much more than what we thought."
I look at his face. His normally clear eyes were clouded with worry. "What do you mean?"
"This is more than a half-baked attempt to annoy you and Draco. There's something more going on. No one knows how or why Damien's been put in charge. We all know something's up, but no one can say anything because for some reason he's got You-Know-Who backing him."
I shook my head, "I knew it. I knew it!" I paused, "But what's he promised the Dark Lord in order to get so much power?"
Blaise shrugged, "The only thing I've figured out is that in return for the prestige he has now, he had to agree to carry out a mission. Two missions, in fact. And if he doesn't complete them by Christmas, he'll be killed."
"What? What does he have to do?" Blaise shook his head.
"He's only dropped hints. He wants Hogwarts, that's one of them. Damien's supposed to figure out a way for them to get in." Blaise paused, "The other one he won't mention as much… it's got to do with you though. You and Draco."
"What? What's he got to do with us?" I asked, my voice eerily calm.
"I don't know. He's so vague about it---too vague. I'm not sure that he trusts me. But that's why I'm telling you to be careful, Lexi. Any plan concocted by the Dark Lord isn't one you want to be associated with. Stay on your toes. Tell Draco the same."
"I will. Thank you, Blaise. You be careful too." I put my arms around him. "I miss you."
He kissed me forehead before stepping abruptly away from me, "Miss you too. Now go sit, act like this never happened." I nodded and sat on my bed, pulling out my homework. Pansy came out of the bathroom soon after, a sneer on her face.
"Well, Blaise, since some people have no sense of consideration, I guess we'll have to find somewhere else to spend time together." She laced her fingers with him as they headed to the door, Blaise's facial expression completely indifferent.
"My apologies." I snarled. I could've sworn I saw her lips twitch before a scowl took it's place.
"Whatever, blood-traitor!" She said loudly as she opened the door, ensuring everyone in the Common Room had head.
I sighed as the door slammed behind them and laid back on my pillow.
In this house, appearances were everything.
It was about a week later and things had died down a little bit. Draco and I continued to be ignored by our housemates, but it seemed that only a few of them took it upon themselves to actually harass us.
For me, it was mostly Daphne making snide remarks or trying to sabotage my schoolwork. In return, I usually glared at her. No matter what anyone said, no girl in Slytherin could give a glare the way I could.
It was a Thursday night and I had just finished with my last lesson of the day. I was heading to the dungeons to drop my books off before heading to dinner when an arm reached out and grabbed me.
"What the bloody hell?!" I exclaimed as I was shoved unceremoniously into an empty classroom.
"Now, now, that language isn't very lady-like." Damien taunted from the doorway.
"What do you want, Somers?" I wasn't in the mood. Not only had Daphne tripped me on my way to Transfiguration, but I had woken up this morning only to find all of my toiletries scattered throughout the room. I'd have to start locking my things up.
"To talk." I raised an eyebrow and he held his hands up in surrender. "Honestly."
"Talk about what? Your petty schemes and lackluster attempts to get to us?" I scoffed, "There's not much to talk about there."
"Actually, Conrad, that is what I wanted to talk about." Damien paused, "It doesn't have to be like this, you know."
"You're determined to ostracize Draco and I. I'd have to say the balls in your court on that one." I rolled my eyes.
"Just come back, Lexi." Damien moved towards me, "Come back to where you belong and everything will be the way it was before."
"Before what? Before my mother threatened and hit me, or before Draco was attacked by his followers?" I snarled.
"Draco made his choice. You're making yours based off of his. Isn't that just as bad as those who follow the Dark Lord blindly?" Damien mocked.
"You mean those like you?" I laughed, "Hardly. Draco is my best friend. You don't have friends when you're in the Dark Lord's service. Only people who wait for the first sign of weakness and use it against you for their own gain."
"And you'd be one of the best Lexi. Don't try to deny it. You're everything a Slytherin could be and more. Smarter than me, and look how easy it was for me to control the rest of the house. You could be by my side, you know. I'd drop Daphne for you in a second."
I narrowed my eyes at him, "What are you playing at, Damien?"
"I'm trying to show you how wasted your talents would be anywhere else. You were made to be on our side."
"Why? Because I'm clever and ambitious? Slytherin isn't synonymous with Death Eater, Damien. Even your vocabulary should be good enough to figure that out. Besides, I think my talents would be better used somewhere that I have my own free will, thanks." I snapped.
"It won't be getting any better. I'm just trying to give you the choice. You'd still be welcomed back, you know. Even by your parents." Damien put his hand on my shoulder, "They're your family, Lexi. Don't tell me you don't miss them." He pushed me against the wall and leaned in closer to me.
"Stop!" I said immediately. What surprised me was when he actually did.
"Merlin." I'd forgotten about that. Unlike last time this had happened, I felt myself getting tired with each passing second. Something was wrong. I needed to get out of here and go to---I hated to say it---Dumbledore.
"G-Go." I said quietly and Damien suddenly reanimated. I took a shaky breath and acted as though nothing had happened. It wouldn't do for this to get back to anyone Damien may be talking to.
"With open arms? The Dark Lord isn't that forgiving, and neither are my parents. Don't pretend to understand the intricacies of my life, Somers." I spat and headed towards the door. "If that's all you had to say to me, then I think we're done here."
"Of course." Damien's voice turned cold, "But don't say I didn't try."
I turned and fixed him with my fiercest glare before storming out of the classroom.
They wanted me back. An interesting development.
But now, to see Dumbledore.
I explained the entire situation to Dumbledore, including what had happened last year as well as this year, and the research I had tried to do. He sat very still for a moment, before sighing.
"Although it was very astute to do research on your own, I do not believe you are a 'reality bender' as it were, simply because powerful though they may be, they cannot manipulate a living being, which you seem to be able to do."
"But, Professor, then what's wrong wi--" I stopped as he held up a hand, deep in thought.
"Your powers, as far as I can tell, are not something natural." He paused, "If I may ask to see them in action?"
I nodded and took the inkpot off of his desk before throwing it carelessly in the air, and stopping it.
"Hmmm, interesting." He stood quickly and went to his bookshelf, "It would seem… but, no, far too dangerous… unless…" He thumbed through the pages til he apparently found what he was looking for. He skimmed the page quickly before looking up, the normal twinkle gone from his eyes.
"It would appear, Miss Conrad, that you are a victim of a curse."
"A curse? What kind of curse would give me power like this? How can that be a bad thing?"
"A curse that's been placed on you, most likely soon after your birth. By your parents." Dumbledore sighed and sat down, "It's very old, very dark magic. Magic from a time where every gain was evened out by a loss. The curse itself is so very old it was thought to be lost, but apparently your parents found it."
"But--But why? Why would they curse me?"
"The curse itself gives the victim awesome power and control of their magic. So much so that they are able to do feats outside the realm of the normal witch of wizard, much like you are able to. This power, however, comes at a hefty price." Dumbledore glanced down, "With each use, a bit more of your life is drained away. Of course, small things like what you've done up til now will have no truly horrific repercussions, but I must stress the importance that if you were to use your power in a grand way, the price would be just as severe."
"It could kill me, then." I whispered. "I still don't see why…"
"Miss Conrad, during the first war it was not… uncommon… for supporters of Voldemort to offer up their children to his service." Dumbledore paused, "That can be the only reason I can think of why your parents would be willing to trade…" He drifted off.
"Trade my life for a little bit of power." I shook my head, "You can say it. They'd rather me help them win the war then care if I'm killing myself in the process."
"You would be quite an asset to the Dark Lord." I was barely listening.
"They cursed me. Their own daughter. All to make a weapon for their stupid Dark Lord." I said, more to myself than anyone. But Dumbledore heard.
"Yes. They never counted on you having a mind of your own." I locked eyes with him for a moment before standing.
"Thank you, Dumbledore. I'll be careful not to.. Endanger myself anymore." I went to leave but he called my name.
"Miss Conrad." He paused, "You must be very careful. Voldemort, if he knows of your power, will stop at nothing to get you to return to your parent's. And your parents would want the glory your help would bring them. Older witches than you have gotten caught in Voldemort's web." I nodded and left.
Inside, I was fuming. I felt a sharp sting of betrayal. No matter what fights I had gotten into with my parents as of late, I had always held the thought that they loved me as their daughter, no matter what. But now I was to believe that they were willing to sacrifice my happiness, my health---my life, dammit--- all for a little bit of power.
An asset. That's what Dumbledore had said. That's all I was to them. An asset. Damien's words from earlier buzzed around in my head.
They'd welcome me with open arms, he had said. I snorted. No wonder.
I scowled as I made my way down to the Common Room.
It was time for another chat with Damien Somers.
I marched into the Common Room. It was full of students, some doing their homework, others sitting around the fire, where Damien, Daphne, Theo, Blaise, and Pansy had congregated. Draco, I saw, was sitting in the corner, watching them inconspicuously.
I glanced around and saw all of the bystanders. All the better.
"Somers!" I all but growled. Heads snapped over to me, including Blaise who stared wide-eyed at me as I made my way over.
"Lexi." Damien stood up, smiling at me, "Have you reconsidered my offer? It still stands." He looked over his shoulder and laughed with Theo as I approached.
"Yeah, I've thought about it. If you want, I have a message you can deliver to my parents." I said, looking into his eyes. He smirked.
"Certainly. I'm sure they'd be happy to hear fro---"
The cracking sound my hand made when it connected with his face echoed throughout the room, and was oddly satisfying to my ears.
"Do you think I'm stupid? I was raised to be more than a mindless follower, Damien. I was raised better than you." I sneered, "Tell my parents they don't have to worry about renouncing me as their daughter, because I'm officially disowning them."
A collective gasp was heard throughout the room. Not since Sirius Black had anyone dared renounce their family's name.
"Conrad, you wouldn't dare!" Damien's voice shook.
"I would and I have. They should've known better than to assume one talk with a tosser like you would make me see the 'error' of my ways." I rolled my eyes.
"The Dark Lord--" Damien began viciously, but I cut him off.
"You tell your bloody Dark Lord that I won't be a pawn in his stupid little games. I won't let myself be used and I'd rather die than become one of his mindless drones." I hissed. Damien drew himself up to his full height and glared down at me.
"You're digging your own grave." He said icily.
I scoffed, "I'm not afraid of you."
"You'll be eating your words before Christmas, Conrad."
"Let's see you try, Somers." I turned on my heel and went up to my dormitory.
I was angry beyond all belief, but only one thing stuck out in my mind.
I'd never forgive my parents, and I would certainly never join their cause.
And if that meant battling it out with my fellow Slytherins, so be it.
Okayyy! Yay chapter two done! I hope you all enjoyed it!!! Anyway, please please review and let me know what you think!
