AN: Alright so we get to school. Fun… not. At least Neville's there with her and Ginny and Luna. I tried to add some funny parts because I know it's getting darker. So we'll see the Carrows and Snape. And poor Paige. It'll make sense soon. Alright well that's all I have for now! So sit back, relax, and enjoy!
Disclaimer: I only own Paige.
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Paige sighed as she stood on the platform. Neville was saying goodbye to his Grans and then they were getting on the train. A smile crossed her face as she saw a mass of red hair. The Weasleys.
"Ginny! Mrs. Weasley!" Paige ran towards them and was soon pulled into Molly's arms. "You're ok" she said, the tears already starting to fall.
"Yes yes. Everyone is alright dearie. Just a bit of a fright that's all. I see you found Neville. Good good." Arthur smiled at Paige and hugged her as she pulled away from Molly. "Come along now, let's get you two girls on the train. Oh Luna, dear!" Paige turned to see Luna and Neville standing behind her.
"Hello, Mrs. Weasley. I see we will be accompanied by Ginny" Luna greeted. Neville blanched.
"Harry Potter's sister, Harry's girlfriend, and Harry's best friend's little sister. No pressure at keeping them all safe Neville!" he muttered. Molly and Arthur smiled at him.
"Don't worry, dear. You'll do fine. Harry, Remus, and I trust you with the girls" Molly encouraged. She gave each of the children another hug before ushering them onto the train. The four found a seat quickly and was joined by Seamus, Dean, and Lavender as the train left the station. Paige could see tears in Ginny's eyes. She leaned forward and patted Ginny's hand comfortingly.
"We'll be fine" she said softly. Ginny gave her a small smile.
"You're the one they're after and you're comforting me. Something's wrong there." Paige winked and pointed to her head.
"My brain. It's never been right since Sirius dropped me. Thank goodness Remus could do wandless, wordless magic to stop me before I could hit anything!" The whole compartment laughed. It was something they could see Sirius and Remus doing.
"Well, this is it" Dean said. Seamus nodded.
"Last year and our Headmaster is Snape. Could anything be worse?" Paige ignored him, instead staring out the window as it slowed down. It lurched to a stop and Paige held her breath as Death Eaters entered the train. One smirked at her and crooked his finger for her to come to him.
"Little Potter. Paige isn't it?" Paige stiffened as he stared at her. "Pity the Dark Lord promised Snape he could have you. So much potential in you. And a Slytherin no less. Where's your brother, baby Potter?" Paige really hated that name.
"No clue. Obviously not here" she said. The Death Eater smacked her, Paige's head connecting with the door of another compartment. Neville stood up.
"He's not here, you fools." The Death Eater glared, but left. Paige watched them leave the train before making her way back to Neville's side, a bit of blood coming from a small cut on her forehead. "Are you alright?"
"Bloody monsters" Paige muttered. "I'd make some comment about now not being a good time to develop a smart mouth, but you know I don't want to be hypocritical or anything." Neville wrapped an arm around her shoulders as they sat back and discussed the upcoming year. They grew quiet as Malfoy stood in the compartment door. "What do you want? I'm not in the mood. You're family," she pointed to her forehead, "left me with a headache."
"Are you ok?" he asked. Paige stood up and yanked him down to an empty compartment. "Well are you?"
"What do you know?" she asked. Draco shrugged.
"I don't want to do this, my mum and dad don't want to. Snape told me. Everything. I… I want to help you." Paige frowned.
"What's the catch?"
"I'd be playing a spy like Snape. When other Death Eaters, or their children, are around I must treat you like normal. Like nothing's changed. When we're alone, I'll help you when I can." Paige raised her eyebrows as her arms crossed over her chest.
"Do you plan on being alone around me often? I do have a boyfriend…" Draco scoffed.
"Don't be daft. I meant not in their presence. You do it so well with Snape."
"Yes, but I trust him. You," she shook her head, "not so much." She sighed. "Listen, I don't think I'm making it out of this war alive. I have too many people gunning for my head and as long as you don't stab me in the back, I'll give this a shot. No trust what so ever in this…" Paige searched for the right word.
"Friendship?" Draco added. Paige snorted.
"Friendship? Never thought I'd associate that word with you, but friendship it is." She shook his hand. "Draco?" she called out as he started to leave. He turned to her. "Don't screw me over because I will come back and either kill you or haunt your arse." Draco shot her a smirk before leaving. Paige dropped into the seat and let her head fall back. What had she gotten herself into?
Standing up, she made her way back to her friends. Her family for the next year.
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Paige stepped off the train and was immediately surrounded by Death Eaters. Joy of her life. This was going to be the new routine for months. She couldn't wait for the year to be over and she had just gotten there.
"Snape wishes to see you and claim you as his" one of them sneered at her. Paige frowned. What the hell was Snape playing at? The only woman of the group grabbed her arm and hauled her forward.
"Hey! No! Let go of me!" Paige yelled. She looked behind her and saw her friends looking at her in worry. The woman grasped her arm harder and yanked.
"A Slytherin friends with Gryffindors and Ravenclaws? What a shame of your house" she said. Paige turned and glared at her.
"Been told that before and I'll tell you once more, I don't care" Paige snarled. The woman stopped Paige and pulled her off to the side, the others surrounding her.
"Baby Potter better learn her place or she won't survive." She trailed her wand over Paige's throat. "Silencio!" Paige tried to talk, but she couldn't make the words form in her throat. "Crucio!" Paige's knees buckled as the curse hit her, but she still couldn't make a noise. "Grab her and let's get her to Snape. Quick." Paige breathed heavily as two of the other Death Eaters grabbed either side of her and dragged her to the Headmaster's office. They threw her to the ground in front of Snape. "We have fulfilled your wishes, Headmaster. She's got a smart mouth, that one. Can't imagine why you won't share. We could break her easily."
"Enough!" Snape roared. "The Dark Lord has left her to me. Leave us at once!" The woman kicked Paige in the ribs before following the others out. Paige watched Snape wave his wand and lock and silence the room. "Finite!" Paige groaned.
"You've got some right bastards there" she said as she sat up. Snape bent over and helped her up and into a chair.
"Yes, well we will have to suffer with them." Paige stared at him.
"They're teachers?" she hissed. Snape nodded once as he sat across from her.
"Alecto and Amycus Carrow. Alecto is your new Muggle studies professor and Amycus is your new Defense teacher."
"No. Bloody. Way. Severus, they'll kill me before the term is over!" Paige said. Snape shook his head.
"No, everyone knows that I have claimed you as mine…"
"Which we will get back to in a minute."
"…and they'll only touch you if they want to incur my wrath as well as The Dark Lords." Paige frowned.
"Why can't you say Vol…" Snape's hand clamped over her mouth.
"Because if you say it, it will summon him and I don't know about you, but I'd like to keep you breathing!" he hissed, pulling away his hand.
"Oh." Snape smirked. "Well, let's go back to you claiming me. I don't like it." Severus almost snorted. Who couldn't see that one coming?
"I'm sorry but you don't really have a choice Paige. It's going to keep you breathing to get back to Harry and Remus." Paige huffed and sat back in her seat. He wasn't playing fair. "It's simple really. All you have to do is come and spend an hour or two a day in here." Paige frowned.
"Why?" Snape shifted.
"They have to think I'm torturing you to get information. And of course, other things." Paige blanched.
"Hell no!" she almost screamed.
"Paige, be realistic! I'd never do that. To you or anyone else. Can you spare me an hour?" Paige sighed.
"If you do me a favor" she said. Snape sat forward. "Make Luna a Gryffindor. No one else has to know, I'll let her know and you just use your magic to change her colors."
"And what of yourself?" he asked. Paige sighed.
"I was put into Slytherin for a reason. Time for my ambition and determination to come out to play." She stood. "Can I go or should you hit me or something?" Snape grimaced as he stood.
"If you don't mind." Paige shrugged.
"I just ask you don't use the cruciatus curse. I hate the bloody thing!" she said. Paige closed her eyes and steeled herself as Snape walked around the desk. Her head swung to the side as he slapped her, softly. "Damn, you hit like a girl."
"Now you sound like your father. I don't enjoy hurting you Paige. Now go and tell Ms. Lovegood of the change. And try Paige, to not upset the Carrows. They'll use any excuse against you" he said. Paige nodded and moved towards the door. "And Paige?" she turned to look at him. "You've always made Slytherin proud." With that the spells were gone and Paige left, heading down the corridor.
"Paige!" Paige turned to see Neville, Ginny, and Luna rushing towards her. She smiled and hugged Neville close to her. They were ok.
"Luna, Snape is making you a Gryffindor, play along and stay with Neville and Ginny. Don't wander off on your own, alright? See if you can convince the others to keep this quiet."
"What about you?" Ginny asked. Paige shrugged.
"I'm a Slytherin through and through. Besides, it's harder for me to switch because everyone's watching me. I'll be alright."
"Ms. Potter!" Paige turned and saw Professors McGonagall, Flitwick, Sprout, and Slughorn. As much as she hated the last one, he was a friendly face in the sea of enemies. "What are you doing here?"
"I still have the tracking charm on me. I couldn't go with Harry and I couldn't stay with Remus and Tonks putting them in danger. I had no choice."
"But you're putting yourself in more danger here." Paige shook her head.
"No, I'm doing what I can in protecting this school."
"Well, well, well what do we have here? Slytherin, why are you conversing with those people?" Amycus asked as he came around a corner and spotted them. Paige stepped forward, away from everyone else.
"I have a name you know. It's Paige and I prefer being called that." Before Paige could blink, she was thrown against the wall. A groan escaped her, but she just stood and shook it off.
"Still haven't learned your place, baby Potter?" Paige grit her teeth. The next person to call her baby Potter was going to die. Painfully. "That's alright, Snape's not here all the time. I have time to break you yet."
"Not unless you want to incur both my wrath and the Dark Lords', Amycus. I do believe this is the second time you have touched her, without my permission" Snape said as he flew into the room. Paige didn't think she'd ever been happier to see him. "This is a reminder to you, and your sister since she does seem to enjoy my property as well, touch her again and the Dark Lord will be down a servant. Do I make myself clear?" Amycus glared before nodding and heading back in the direction he came from.
"I hate you" Paige muttered. Snape nodded.
"I know." He was gone only moments later.
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AN: Yeah, won't this year be great kids? *pauses* Yeah not really. But you know at least Neville and Snape will make things easier on Paige. We'll see. So thanks for reading now please review! No flames!