Chapter 2 Surprises and the Unknown

She laughed as she admired the effect of her clothes in the mirror. Her dark green skirt brushed midpoint between her knees and thighs, and if she bent over…whoever was behind her got a lovely view. Her shirt was a size too small, and she couldn't do it up over her breasts. She had worn the shirt in her fifth year. Her green satin and lace bra played peek-a-boo over the low collar that she had pulled up to cover it.

She had no doubt that Frederick 'Ace' Zabini would like her outfit. She also had no doubt that Braedus would protest.

Her reflection whistled and cat called at her, making her blush, "Thanks," she said to it.

She cautiously opened her bedroom door, peeking out to see if Braedus was still in the common room. He was. She smiled as she exited, but cleared her face as soon as she could. Walking nonchalantly over to their large desk, she sat and finished up her essay before rolling it up and putting her books away.

She looked up to find Braedus staring, for once not being covert, at her cleavage. Pretending she hadn't noticed, she continued stowing her books, and got up from her seat. Carefully crouching down, she picked up the blank rolls of parchment that she had knocked to the floor in her haste to get away from him. She stood and stretched and turned to pop her back, knowing that as she lifted her arms to reach into the air, that her skirt had rode up her arse at least two inches.

She turned back to the desk and neatly stacked her books to one side.

Braedus, who had been staring at her assets the whole time, abruptly blurted, "You aren't wearing that, are you?"

"Yes, Braedus, I am. What do you care? You have made it more than clear that you have no desire to be anything more than friends with me. Remember? So my attire is none of your concern," she said sweetly, leaning over the desk and placing her hands on it, revealing more cleavage. She smiled sarcastically and shoved herself off of the desk and went out the portrait hole.

Braedus leaned back in his chair, "Git," he calmly said to himself, "Why did you kiss her? Better yet, why did you push her away?" He remembered how her kiss had affected him. He groaned as he remembered taking a very long cold swim in the prefect's bathroom.

She sighed as she headed down to the Slytherin Dungeon, passing Lily on the way.

"Damn, Sis, dressed to kill aren't you?" Lily teased her.

Despite the difference in age and houses they still got on quite well.

"I guess," Betony replied.

"Who're you dressed up for?" Lily asked her.

"Ace, we have a date."

"Nice," Lily said, approvingly, "He is quite the looker, isn't he?"

"I guess…"

"Still trying to get over Braedus, huh?" Lily asked knowingly. She was one of the few people who knew of Betony's unrequited love for the boy.

Betony nodded, "Wish me luck!" she hugged her sister close before turning back to her trek.

Upon arriving at the Slytherin dungeon, she whispered the password and walked through the archway. Ace was sitting on the couch with Draco Malfoy, Jr. Draco whistled his approval when she entered the room. Other Slytherin boys just stared.

"Betony, you look…amazing," Ace grinned. She smiled politely at him, feeling a slight blush creeping up her neck at the unabashed appraisal she was met with.

"You ready?" she asked Ace.

"Yes, I do believe so…" Ace said, grinning ear to ear as he rose from the couch and took her hand.

"Always the gentleman, aren't you, Ace?" Draco said, sporting the signature Malfoy smirk.

Betony glared at him. She knew he was just as big of a prat as his father was. She looked at him, "More than I can say for you, Draco. After all, one has to be taught manners to use them and as I highly doubt that either your father or grandfather have ever known what they were, it is no surprise that you are clueless, as well." She was, of course, referring to the fact that after Voldemort had been killed, Lucius had found himself fit to replace him. Lucius' reign of terror in no way rivaled that of the Dark Lord's, however, his cruelty was known to far surpass it. Lucius had not been gifted with the thirst for magical power that Voldemort had been famous for, instead choosing to use his abilities for more fleshly pursuits.

She paused, staring at him, remembering something that her father had said about the Senior Malfoy. There had been a raid on a muggle university for girls, and several young beauties had been kidnapped and others murdered viciously. Harry had said that the girls were undoubtedly locked in dungeons somewhere being tortured in ways beyond anything imaginable.

Draco stared at her openmouthed, his face quite red. "You will pay for that one, Betony. I assure you."

Betony rolled her eyes and led Ace from the common room.

"Thanks for agreeing to help me," Ace said as they found an alcove and pretended to be in a deeply involved snogging session.

"You are more than welcome," she whispered, "mmmm, ACE!"

He giggled against her neck, "Nice one, that. The guys would never let me live it down if they knew…" he trailed off.

"That you prefer boys?" she finished for him.

"Yes, that."

She lifted her leg and placed it on his hip, knowing that passersby would think much more than snogging was going on.

He laughed appreciatively, "You are quite a piece of work."

It was her turn to laugh, "Flattery will get you no where!"