Chapter 2

A small wave of relief spread over Felicity as she leaned against the bars of the restricted section. She had just spent nearly the whole of dinner avoiding furtive glances from Sirius and Remus, as though they were silently pleading their case. Honestly, she was getting a little annoyed with the two of them. Did they really think she was so helpless that she couldn't handle her own cousin?

The growling from her stomach served as a reminder of how little she had eaten, but she was too preoccupied to dwell on it. Her mind was racing: What did Lucius want; and more importantly what was of such importance that he had to blackmail her to ensure she came? How had he found out about Remus; was Sirius right about Wormtail? He always seemed a little odd; giving her a sort of unnerved feeling.

She stared at the stone floor and listened to the echo of hurried footsteps drawing near. "What do you want Lucius," she asked loudly. "It must be something important if you were willing to tarnish your precious reputation by speaking to me publicly today." She looked up with a start. She was not looking into the face of Lucius Malfoy, but rather that of Severus Snape.

"Hello Felicity. I hope you haven't been waiting too long," he said with a smile that seemed more like a leer.

"Severus- I- where's Lucius," Felicity stuttered in disbelief.

"He made this arrangement at my request. I hope that doesn't bother you too much. Doubtless that you prefer my company to his," he said leaning against a bookshelf. "Even if he is your cousin."

"Well, my end of the arrangement was to meet Lucius-not you- so I think I'll be leaving, thanks."

"I think not Felicity," said a familiar drawling voice. Lucius stepped out from behind a bookcase with a look on his face similar to Snape's. Felicity glared at him with pursed lips. "Of course you are free to leave if you wish. I'm sure the rest of the school would care a great to know about Lupin's little secret."

"No," Felicity forced through clenched teeth. "Just get on with whatever this is about."

"Of course, we wouldn't want to keep you in suspense," Lucius said coolly. "I'm sure you're aware of the upcoming masquerade ball?"

Felicity raised an eyebrow, "Yes. What about it?"

"You will be glad to know that I have aquried an escort for you," he said dryly.

"Oh, really," Felicity scoffed. "Well I know you might find this hard to believe Lucius, but I am perfectly capable of attracting someone all by myself."

Lucius' smirk grew even wider, "Oh I have no doubt that one of your revolting cohorts has probably already asked you. But that's of very little concern to myself or Severus."

"No actually. No one has asked me," she lied. She was not about to give Lucius any more ammunition to vex her further this evening.

"Even better," Snape chimed in.

"How pitiful," Lucius offered. "More's the chance you'll be happy about my little arrangement then."

Horrified understanding hit Felicity as she looked between the two Slytherins. "Wait! No-you're not seriously suggesting that I—with him?"

"Yes, he is," Snape said with a hint of pleasure in his voice. "You will be attending the ball with me."

"No, I'm not," Felicity refused vehemently. "You're mental! I may not hate you like James and Sirius do, but that doesn't mean I want to waltz all night with you either."

"I'm afraid you don't have much of a choice, dear cousin." Lucius stepped forward, grabbing her arm tightly above the elbow. "You know what will happen if you refuse."

"Why…why would you do this, Lucius," she implored. "What's so important about a ridiculous ball that you would threaten someone's—existence?"

"Existence, is that what you call it? He's a monster," his grip on her arm tightened. "Besides, I seem to have missed the part where we said you get to ask questions. My motives are none of your concern."

"Let's just say that I did Lucius a favor in kind," Snape suggested. "He has chosen to repay that kindness with a show of his own. After all, you are still a pureblood so there's no shame in being seen with you at my side."

A look of realization passed over her face. "That's why you've been making such great marks in Potions all term. He has been doing your homework, hasn't he?" Felicity stared into the cold eyes only a foot away from her own, "I wouldn't doubt if you made him drink polyjuice potion and take your O.W.L. for you too! But then again, you had no way of assuring that I would agree to your little bargain with Snape. What did you do, threaten to have Crabbe and Goyle beat up Pettigrew until you got some kind of useful information out of him?"

"Have I not made it clear that my affairs don't concern you," Lucius spat. "It amazes me that a girl of your ancestry could even bare to keep the company that you do."

"You're one to talk," she retorted. "Of course, I should have expected something like this from you. Just like a Malfoy, using people and blackmailing them to get ahead, because you think you're too good to be required to do anything for yourself. Perhaps my ideals were never the same as yours, Lucius. You see people as pawns in your repulsive little games. I don't have to buy my friends or terrorize them into submission. I'd rather be a so called blood-traitor than admit I share one drop with someone like you."

"Regardless, that is a fact that you will never escape." He glared down at her, raising his voice to be heard by anyone in earshot. "But if you're going to be this much trouble then I will just go on about my way. I'm sure everyone would love to know we have a WER—"

"Stop," she yelled, throwing an elbow into his side. "I'll go."

Lucius winced and spoke quietly once more, "Very well. You will be in the entrance hall at 7 o'clock on the night of the ball. You will stay with Severus the entire evening. Otherwise you will see just how manipulative I can be."

Without another word, Felicity jerked her arm free, turned on her heel, and stormed from the library.

"Do you think she will show up," Severus asked as the report of her footsteps died.

Lucius' lips curled into a smirk, "I'm sure of it."