The open night air was a welcome relief from the confines of the castle. The moon bathed the roof in a cool silver. The shadows that latticed across the faces of the strategically placed statues made them seem so life-like that Chloe expected them to blink. She avoided looking into their eyes. Just in case. She strolled along the rooftop, relaxing her muscles and forcing her thoughts to heel. She cursed.

Natalie's movements were so fluid and natural that Chloe was conviced that the blonde had a Lightstep Spell on her slippers as she danced amidst the pumpkins, ghosts, and goblins. With each successive piece Screamy Wonder And The Amplified Marmosets played that evening, Chloe became more and more fascinated with the spinning girl. And then… that decisive moment at the refreshment table as their eyes met over the bowl of Pumpkin Punch, both realising at exactly the same moment that it had been spiked with Screwt Water. They laughed out loud together, clinked their glasses in a bravado toast, then drained their beverages in unison – bonded before they had even known each other's names.

Chloe sat down between two stone griffins at the edge of the battlements. She shot at a bat flying by with her wand. Not even caring whether she hit or missed, she pulled her knees up to her chest. As she made to smooth the folds of her robe, she bumped up against something in her pocket. With an irritated frown Chloe reached inside her pocket and was almost surprised to rediscover the small vial she had received from Matthew. The liquid inside shimmered like molten metal. Visible only now in the moonlight, Chloe was nearly hypnotised by the dancing hues of blue and green within the vial. She raised the vial to her lips. Her last coherent thought was of how much of the drug was an overdose.

When Chloe awoke, the sun was already peeking over the horizon and the shouting and laughter that heralded a new day could already be heard from within the castle. She was lying on her back with disarranged hair and parched lips. Her skin felt like it was crawling with insects, and no matter how she tried to brush and scratch them off, they remained, burrowing somewhere beneath her flesh. Slowly, recollections of the night filtered into her memory, but only a few flashes of colour and fewer images remained. She rubbed her forehead, trying to remember, but her only reward was a pounding in her skull.


Just finishing her breakfast, Leandra bit back a rather vulgar exclamation of surprise as Chloe sat down next to her.

"And a good morning to you, ma'am," Chloe scooped the remaining scrambled eggs on the last available piece of cold toast. Every now and then, a drop of water escaped her hair and joined the small wet spots that adorned the material over her shoulders. Leandra did her best to ignore the stares that reached her from a few seats down the table.

"Morning, Chloe," Leandra swirled the last sip of tea around in her cup. "Had a rough night?"

"Not at all!" Chloe swallowed a bite of toast with a grin that faded a little too soon. "I had a lovely evening. Just a bit long, that's all. Overslept, hardly had time to shower before coming down."

"Mhm." Leandra raised an eyebrow. "I had a nice evening, too." Chloe gave Leandra a questioning look as she pushed the last corner of toast into her mouth. "I'll tell you later," Leandra murmured with a blush.

Chloe gulped down a chalice of berry juice, then stretched with a wince. "Ugh…" She rubbed her forehead.

"Maybe you should go see Madame Pomfrey?"

Chloe made a face. "I wouldn't want to see her on my deathbed." She rubbed her hands over her arms and bit her lip.

"Can't blame you." Leandra got up as the Great Hall began to empty. "We should get go - Uff!"

"Watch where you're going, Maycomb," a boy hissed as he collided into Leandra. She turned around and saw Flanagan and his friends. "My unclean lineage might rub off on you." One of the boys, a big, dumpy redhead, made a rude gesture at Leandra as the group walked past sneering under their breaths.

"Beedle's balls, what was that all about?" Chloe's eyes seemed to have grown two sizes as they followed Flanagan and his cohorts out of the hall.

Leandra shook her head and sighed. "C'mon. I'll tell you on the way to class."


Diary -

I'm not sure how to express how I feel. It's strange. The first time that I can't think of the right words to say. Since my outburst last week, things have changed. Nobody really liked me before, but at least everyone ignored me. Now antagonism follows me wherever I go. I don't know what to do. I'm not who people think I am, but how can I show them? I don't have any base of communication, I don't have any proof… I don't know. But I can't help but think that nobody would hear me even if I screamed at them.

Chloe was amused when I told her what happened yesterday. I fail to see the humour in it, but then - that's Chloe. But she was acting a bit off today anyway... She was laughing too much and too loudly, and she kept looking around as if she was seeing ghosts. To be honest, I'm not even sure I want to know what she does when she's gone at night. It might be better for her if nobody knows. I, for one, have enough on my plate without having to worry about her.

I don't know what to do about him. I want to show him what's inside my head, I want his approval, his respect. But how can I talk to him? I can't just go up to him after class and say: Hey Remus, fancy a cuppa? If only I knew what to do to gain his respect… I'd do anything! I can't get his smile out of my head, his voice always seems to be in my ears, I've become careless in Potions since we talked… and Snape is growling at me more often now, too.

I walk past his office as often as I can, hoping that in just that moment he'll come out the door with that unique smile of his. If only it were so simple! Mind, even if it were possible, I could never muster the courage... and if I did - ye Gods, I don't even want to imagine it.


"Whad'you think he looks like?" Chloe mused as she and Leandra walked to Defence Against the Dark Arts. She winked at Rose Griffith and blew her a kiss as she passed in the opposite direction.

Leandra shot her a disapproving glare, which only enticed a giggle from her friend. "Haven't you seen his picture in the paper?" she asked with a shrug.

"Who hasn't? But that's a mugshot, and criminals are always made to look like criminals."

"That's because they are criminals."

"Oh, Lee," Chloe sighed and put her arm around Leandra's shoulders. "Have you never heard of the concept that evil is sexy?"

"Get stuffed, Chloe." Leandra chuckled. She was thankful to end the conversation as they entered the D.A.D.A. classroom.

Chloe let herself fall into her seat. "Well..?"

"Whaat...?"

"Sirius Black…!"

"Egh..." Leandra rolled her eyes as she put her writing and magicking utencils in order. "Like an ordinary wizard, I guess. Alright, alright! Well, to be honest, I reckon his most distinct feature would be... his eyes. If he did do all of those things… you know… and he did escape from Azkaban. He lives with the guilt of murder and torture. You can't live like that without losing your mind, the man's got to be a psychopath. And people like that have the tendency to stand out in a crowd. Because of their eyes. You look at them and you can practically see the bloodlust inside. And if what they say is true, his driving passion is to k -"

"That will be enough, ladies," Professor Lupin said as he stepped into view. She mumbled an apology and shrank back into her chair. Chloe straightened her shoulders and sat upright. Lupin rubbed his eyes before addressing the class. His voice sounded lethargic. "Now that we've mastered at least the theoretical basics of non-verbal incantations, we can move on to our next topic: advanced shielding techniques."

Chloe leaned in to Leandra. "Do you think he looks a bit off?"

Leandra nodded.

"Taking recent events into consideration, I believe every witch and wizard must be able to defend themselves should the situation call for it. After all," as he looked at his students, his gaze met Leandra's, "this class is called Defence Against the Dark Arts for a reason." Despite his kind smile, Leandra recognised disregarded exhaustion in her teacher's eyes.


"I hope whatever he has isn't contagious," Chloe muttered once they were in the hallway.

"I don't think he's sick," Leandra replied. The glance over her shoulder toward the classroom was not as inconspicuous to Chloe as she may have wanted.

"What makes you say that?"

"I don't know. He just seemed -" Leandra was cut short as Chloe threw her arm in front of her. "Ow! What the -"

Tristan and Natalie had just come round the corner, holding hands, wearing blissful smiles on their faces. Leandra's stomach sank and she picked at Chloe's sleeve. "Let's go."

Chloe began to shake and her breathing became shallow. This is it, she thought. If I ever have a chance to get her back, it's now.

"Lay off, Williams," Tristan growled as he put an arm around Natalie's waist and kept moving. Natalie averted her eyes and bit her lip.

"Natalie, wait -" Chloe shrugged off Leandra's hand. "Let me talk to you," As Natalie stopped and raised her eyes to Chloe's, Chloe felt the same almost painful longing as she had during their first meeting. "Pumpkin -" she had to catch herself as the pet name slipped between her lips. "Nat, We were made for each other! I don't know what you see in Tristan," - he bristled visibly - "but you'll never be his Pumpkin... life was perfect when we were together, didn't you feel it?" How can I reach you? She clasped her hands together as they started to shake. "With you life was worth living, I know you felt it too." She forced a smile in spite of the lump forming in her throat. "Do you remember what you promised when we climbed onto the roof that night?…" Chloe's throat closed. Please don't go, please don't leave me.

Though Tristan urged Natalie to keep going, she freed herself from his grasp and stepped forward. She took Chloe's shoulders. Chloe closed her eyes and rested her head on Natalie's hand. She wore a different perfume now than the one she had given her, but her skin was still perfectly cool and soft. Chloe longed for her fingertips to trail down her spine the way they used to. When Chloe opened her eyes, her vision was blurred. Natalie was so close, her breath so familiar - she would give anything to see her smiling up at her in the moonlight just one more time.

"Chloe," Natalie spoke in the same tone that had always made Chloe melt. Her knees began to feel weak. "You are the most wonderful, the most beautiful, the most amazing girl I've ever met." Chloe's stomach began to knot. Slowly, Natalie removed her hands from Chloe's shoulders. "But it was just a phase. Now it's time to grow up." Chloe stopped breathing. The world tilted. Natalie's apologetic expresssion was the last thing she saw before she lost control.

The next thing she remembered, Chloe was on her knees with shaking limbs, doubled over in pain. She was dimly aware of a small crowd beginning to form around them. Natalie held a hand to bloody nail marks on her cheek, and Tristan was standing between her and Chloe. Chloe tried to move, but found herself restrained by someone behind her.

"Snape's coming!" somebody hissed. Everybody scattered.

Leandra grabbed Chloe around the waist and dragged her down another hall. As soon as she deemed the situation safe, Leandra turned to her friend who was sagging against the wall, staring into emptiness. "What the fuck, Chloe!" Leandra struggled to keep her voice down. She tried to think of something to say, but all she could focus on was the rage at her friend's behaviour. Different scenarios of reverberations went through her mind - everything from detention to expulsion to an extended holiday in St Mungo's ward for the emotionally unstable. "Do you have any idea what you just got us into?" she hissed. Chloe gave no reply; indeed she showed no sign of even acknowledging Leandra's presence. Leandra paced the hallway in restless anger before her heart gave way to worry. Leandra crouched down, bringing her face to face with Chloe. "Hey. Are you okay?" They made eye contact. The immensity of hurt that showed unveiled in Chloe's eyes took Leandra by surprise. The answer she gave was a murmur no louder than a sigh:

"No."