Weeks went by and Verity and Cedric were official now. She spent more time with Cedric than she did on her school work and it was beginning to show. Apparently Severus had informed the entire family of her slipping grades (Verity thought he was jealous because she suddenly had better things to do than sit in his classroom and listen to him talk about his miserable life). Not that her family really cared about her grades, but she did receive an angry letter from her aunt.

Verity Gwyddon!

Severus has informed me that your marks are lower than usual and he believes this is because of a boy that you've been seeing. Tell me about this boy. You know if you don't that Draco will. I'm your aunt, you can trust me with these sort of things. Your mother never did understand men like I do. As i was saying, I do hope that this boy is a good choice. Hopefully you'll be able to break his heart gently when you marry Draco.

Wishing you well,

Aunt Narcissa

Verity did care for her Aunt Cissy. She was one kind spot in the family. Shw was proud and vain, but still had a touch of sympathy in her. Verity didn't want to lie to her aunt and she did want to gush about her Cedric, so she wrote back, being as vague yet descriptive as possible.

Dear Aunt Cissy,

It's so good to hear from you. Sev is correct. I've been e muscular. He's so smart and treats me like a lady. Not to mention, he's pure blooded. He's so charming, I know you'd approve. I don't plan on breaking his heart. I know mum says that I'm to marry Draco, But he's my cousin. And besides he won't even talk to me anymore because of our house differences. I wish you could talk some sense into him. I do miss his company terribly.

Please send my regards to mother. Let her know that nothing has changed with Potter. He continues to be a general nuisance, but nothing more.

Love,

Verity

P.S. Will you be coming to see Draco play Quidditch this year? I'd love to meet up with you if you do.

Verity walked up to the olwery to send her letter. When she got there she saw that she wasn't going to be alone. The twins were standing by the window laughing about something as they tied a letter to a school owl.

"Do you boys always have to be where I am?" She smiled, waking up to them to get her hugs.

"In our defense, we were here first." George teased as he sent his owl from the window.

"Who are you writing letters to? Never thought of you having anyone outside of school."

"Well Frederick, I do have a family. This is for my aunt. She found out I had a boyfriend."

"Oh. Right. Him. But really, you never talk about your family. They can't be too embarrassing can they?"

"Stop it. Not only do I not want to talk about them, I'm not allowed, so you can just leave me alone sir."

"Not allowed? What are they, death eaters or something?" George giggled, thinking he had made a joke.

The silence between the three was deafening. Verity stared at her feet rather than looking her friends in the eyes. She wanted to tell them so badly. She finally spoke, very softly and slowly.

"You boys love me right?"

She got two responses "Like a sister." And "More than you know." Both were the right answer, so she continued.

"You know that I love you, and would never do anything to hurt you?"

"Of course not. What are you getting at?"

"Alright then. If you promise to keep a secret, I've got a story for you."

She grabbed their hands and sat them on the window sill one on each side of her. After looking around to make sure they were alone, it was time for her story to come out.

"Sixteen years ago, I was born, not as a baby, but as a weapon. I was bred for power, for perfection. The moment I was born I as marked. George, when you asked if my parent's were death eaters, you have no idea."

She paused her story and slowly pulled up her left sleeve.

"What the hell, Ver? You've got to be kidding! This isn't funny." George went into a nervous rant and Fred sat there, open mouthed and staring. He looked like he was going to cry.

"It gets worse boys. As I said, I was a weapon, I was meant to carry on my father's genes, if anything was to happen. My mother is Bellatrix LeStrange and my father... is Voldemort." At that point George stood up and started to storm out of the owlery "Immobulus! I'm sorry George, but you need to hear the rest. I grew up in the dungeon of Malfoy Manor. I had no visitors except my cousin and betrothed Draco, and my best friend Severus, he taught me everything I needed to know, and he'd bring me books to read, that talked of the outside world. Other than that, I was surrounded by the dark arts. When I stopped showing interest is when they decided to send me here. Dumbledor had been sending owls for years. My mother, who although in Azkaban, still had power over me, decided that I could only be used as a spy. I was sent here to report on Harry Potter. If you've noticed, I've stayed as far away from him as possible. I've been feeding my family, the death eaters, false information the whole time i've been here. The sorting hat knows hat it's doing, and I am a Gryffindor. I swear to you that I want nothing to do with the ways of my family. I love the people here. You two especially. I will never do anything to put you in danger."

Her story was over and she unfroze George.

"Verity I'm sorry I tried to walk out on you. It's just- I don't know that I was ready to hear that. I always knew there was something different about you- I just never would have guessed that you were-"

"The spawn of evil? Yeah, I know, sorry. But a person can't choose their parents right?"

Fred was still looking at her. He lifted his hand and very gently ran it over her dark mark, as if in awe of its existence. She cringed from the pain that even the lightest touch caused.

"I'm sorry- I didn't mean to- I mean- I didn't know it would hurt."

"It's alright, you'd think I'd be used to it by now. So anyway. I have a letter to send."

Fred got up to follow George out the door.

"Oh, Verity? You know Neville Longbottom? NEVER let him know how your mum is alright?"

She tied her letter to Snivvellus her small black barn owl, and sent him off to Malfoy Manor.

It was a long, lonely walk back to the common room. She felt so bad for forcing her secret on her friends. But then again, maybe it would be easier to keep the secret now that she had somebody to share it with. She was looking forward to cozying up on the sofa with a good book but when she got there, as always, she wasn't alone.

"Fred? What are you doing still awake?"

"I couldn't sleep. I need to talk to you."

"Sure." Verity sat on the sofa next to him. "I didn't mean to scare you. I'm sorry."

"I'm not scared. At least, not of you. But I am scared for you. I don't know how long you can pull off this shenanigan, but when you slip up, I don't think you'll survive it. I promised to protect you, but I don't know if I can keep that promise. I'm gonna try, but you're going to be a handful."

"Wasn't I already? Look, it'll be alright. I'll figure it out- always do- besides, I'll probably be protecting you."

They talked until they fell asleep. They were woken up but the flash of Collin's camera.

"Collin, was that necessary?" verity grumbled half asleep.

"Well, no I guess not, but you guys just looked so content."

"Collin, how much did George pay you to take that picture?" Fred was much more alert in the morning than Verity was.

"4 Galleons..."

"Figures. Whatever, we should probably go to our dorms. Bound to be talk."

"What do you mean talk?"

"Both of us missing over night, found asleep together on the couch. Not to mention everybody knows that you're Diggory's girl. It just spells scandal." He winked at that last part, wanting nothing less than a good scandal.

"Oh crap! That reminds me! What time is it? I was supposed to meet Cedric for breakfast this morning. I'm going to be so late!" She was halfway to her dormitory before she finished her sentence.

She was a half hour late meeting Cedric. He looked mad hen she walked up to him, but before she could apologize he was kissing her. His soft lips on hers made her melt inside. She ran her fingers up his neck and into his beautiful hair. He pulled slightly away so they were nose to nose and said "you overslept." And then kissed her again.

"Why are you so good to me Ced?"

"Because I love you."

"You hardly know me."

"I know you like platypuses- platypi?- You're favourite colour is pink, you cry everytime somebody kills a bug, and you have a freckle behind your left ear."

"You're silly" He had no idea what he had gotten into, but she changed the subject. "So what are we going to do today?"

"I had hoped for an early romantic breakfast, but we'll have to settle for lunch now, and then some sledding."

"Sounds fantastic."

The snow was so cold and beautiful and it was perfect for sledding. Verity had never been allowed to go sledding so she was terribly excited. Not to mention that they would be sharing a sled so she'd get to hold onto him the whole day.

It was so fast going down the hill. She was surrounded by a white blurr and the wind was blistering cold on her nose and ears. She held onto Cedric's torso so tightly that her arms were tingling. But, before she knew it, it was over and they were walking back up the hill hand in hand.

"That wasn't so bad was it Verity?"

"I guess not. But what if we crash?"

"We're not going to crash. I've been doing this for years."

"Ok sure whatever."

They had going a few more times and Verity was starting to get used to it. After begging and pointing she got Cedric to let her steer. They had gotten about halfway down the hill when a rabbit ran out in front of them. Verity pulled back as hard as she could to avoid hitting it, and the sled tipped, leaving them rolling down the hill without it. Once Verity had slowed to a stop, she balled up some snow and chucked it at Cedric's head. Perfect hit.

"You said we wouldn't crash!"

"Well if you" Snowball hit "wouldn't have been such an erratic driver-"

"I couldn't hit the bunny!"

They broke out into a full on snowball fight and in about 10 minutes Verity was drenched and shivering. She wanted to go in, but wouldn't stop until Cedric surrendered. When he finally conceded, and said that she had won, he took her inside to the Hufflepuff common room to warm up.

Cedric lit the fire and conjured up some hot cocoa while Verity took the time to ponder what a gorgeously brilliant wizard he really was. Maybe the family would approve after all. He pulled the woollen blanked from the back of the sofa and snuggled the two of them underneath it.

"We've got to get you warmed up before you catch a cold." He pulled the blanket tighter around her shoulders.

"I'm tough, don't worry."

"you're not as tough as you think you are ya know."

"Sure I am. There's nothing I can't handle."

"Yeah sure, whatever you say. Are you sure you're alright. You're still shacking."

"I'll be fine, I promise."

They spent the rest of the evening cuddled on the couch. There was no better feeling in the world than being in Cedric's arms. It was warm and safe. She felt complete with him. She didn't have to think, she just was.

The school year was almost over. Nothing but exams and O.W.L.s left. Verity and Cedric studied together. She could use his genius to get some last minute information. She had been saving a letter from Aunt Cissy to read tonight when she would be alone, but it slipped out from between her books while she was with Cedric.

"What's this? A letter? I thought you didn't get any post."

"I do, just not from anybody good. Only my Aunt."

"Your Aunt? So you do have family! Let's hear it then, what's she got to say."

"I really don't think-"

"Oh come on!" He gave her the cutest puppy eyes. She could at least paraphrase it for him.

"Ok fine, but let me see it first." She gave in, skimming it before giving him any information.

Verity,

I'm writing with good news. Your uncle and I have found you a summer job at one of our friend's shops! When he found out your heritage he was more than pleased to take you on. I do hope that you have ended things with that boy. There will be no time or him over the summer, and I would hate for your uncle to find out that you've been seeing someone. I can only keep secrets for so long. Best of luck on your OWLs!

Love,

Aunt Cissy

"What'd she say?"

"She says she found me a summer job and wishes me luck on the OWLs."

"That's sweet. But that's not a whole letter's worth." He grabbed the letter out of her hands and read it for himself. "She wants you to break up with me? That' crazy! She can't say things like that. She doesn't rule your life."

"Actually, Cedric, she does. I'm sorry."

"You're kidding right? You're almost an adult, make your own decisions."

"It's not that easy. I wish I could explain." By this point she was crying. Cedric looked dumbfounded. "If my uncle Lucius knew about you he'd-"

"Lucius? As in Malfoy? You're one of them?"

"Not by choice! I"m just trying to protect you, because I love you."

"but I-"

"That's why we have to end it. Just for the summer, so we can survive to be together again."

She couldn't handle it anymore and walked out of the library, leaving Cedric. She couldn't look back, this was for the best.