Hi all,

Exams are over now (thank god, that dragged on forever), and consequently you'll all be seeing more updates as I have a bit more free time after work. As always I love getting your feedback, please please shoot me a review, I always like to know what you guys think.

Also, I am currently looking for a Beta reader, please PM me if this interests you at all, I would greatly appreciate the help as I don't always catch every little mistake and it's always great to have someone to collab with.

Cheers,

Thea

REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW!


The large broom-shaped package arrived in front of Malfoy to no one's surprise at the Slytherin table the next morning, when his owl gracefully dropped it in the blond ponce's lap, who feigned shock, "What a surprise, my broom was cleaned earlier than expected." Malfoy tried to say casually, even though I could still hear a tinge of anger and embarrassment in his voice. Daphne nudged me at that, silently encouraging me to take the proffered olive branch. It's sometimes annoying how often she tries to play peacekeeper in our house.

I heaved a great sign into my porridge, without looking up and drawled back in a flat voice, "How positively miraculous Malfoy. You'll find that blasted dragon tied to the chandelier in your dorm room."

Malfoy paled slightly at my words and dropped his broom to walk quickly out of the hall, likely to stash the stuffed dragon before his roommates decided to start another round of laughter at his expense. I summoned his broomstick into my hand from his side of the table and shrunk it before placing it in my messenger bag before resuming my meal, my housemates looking slightly amused. "What would you do with a broom anyways, Potter? Everyone knows you're useless with one," Zabini drawled as he went to pick up the bowl of strawberries I'd been eating straight out of to my left.

I moved to bowl to my right side, just out of his reach as I munched on a strawberry and cast him an unimpressed look. "You mean a Slytherin can't see the value of keeping something that your opponent desires? How very… embarrassing for you."

Zabini didn't seem flustered at all at my comment, which would have been impressive had it been any other Slytherin, but Blaise had always been of the more unshakeable variety. Instead, he quirked his lips in a sly smile and shot back at me. "Of course I can see the value in that, it's more of a matter of what *you* could possibly want out of Malfoy. It's not like you're exactly hurting for money or prestige."

It was no secret at Hogwarts that the Potter family was well off and still a well-respected house, even though our numbers had all but dwindled entirely. Harry might be oblivious to the power of our family name, but as someone who grew up in the snake pit it's impossible not to understand which families held power in the wizarding world, and the Potters were no slouch. It was also true that Harry and I had a sizeable fortune split between us, sitting in Gringotts. That being said, I can never pass up an opportunity to have something over Malfoy. It would seem like such a lost opportunity.

I shot him a slightly perplexed look, "I would be a moron to pass on having one over on Malfoy. Who knows when he could be useful to me."

By all right, this should have shut Zabini up, but he only seemed to smile wider, "Or, maybe you just want an excuse to have him wrapped around your little finger…"

Daphne giggled next to me but I sat back confused, "Well yeah, that's what I just said Zabini. Are you going deaf?"

Tracey also chuckled at my comment. Had someone snuck a giggling tonic into the porridge today?

Daphne seemed to take pity, "Oh just leave her be Zabini, we all know the two of them are too dense and stubborn to take the hint anyway."

"What hint? What on earth are you all going on about?" I sniped, but Tracey quickly changed the subject to the upcoming quidditch match, and before I could badger answers out of her the first bell rang for us to go to class.

I narrowed my eyes at the bunch as I stood up from the table, "We'll talk about this later." It annoyed me how little they seemed to react. Zabini's stupid grin was still hijacking his face.


I had to take several secret shortcuts to make it to defense on time, out of necessity to avoid those incessant Weasley twins who were now relentlessly badgering me for information on how I entered the tournament, and I arrived several minutes late and slightly out of breath. By the time I got to the classroom the only seat available was next to Malfoy, curiously. He raised an eyebrow when I sat down next to him but didn't comment, even though Moody had yet to enter the room.

"How come you're sitting on your own? Don't one of your cronies usually sit with you or something?" I asked, a bit suspicious.

Malfoy looked perplexed as well if a bit annoyed. "Of course, but for some reason today the other Slytherins were adamant that they partner with each other."

I scoffed, "Obviously they're trying to punish us for something we did."

Malfoy scowled back, "Obviously something you did. Have you already blackmailed someone else today and pissed them off?"

I shrugged, and Moody banged open the door to the classroom and staggered in before I could comment.

"Today, we will be learning about the imperius curse," he barked. Then he had us all get in a line.

"The only way you'll be able to throw off dark wizards who cast the imperius on you is if you know how to throw it off, so best practice." The Slytherins didn't protest but looked uneasy, while the Hufflepuffs gasped in fear.

MacMillan cried out in outrage. "You can't do that! That's illegal!" Moody seemed to ignore him though and pushed everyone to get organized, clearly not interested in hearing any excuses. Personally, I didn't see much problem with this. It wasn't like he could make us do anything particularly dastardly, what with Dumbledore to answer to and a class full of students as witnesses. The worst he could do is make you look stupid.

The first up was Hannah Abbott, who danced around like a chicken for a few seconds before Moody canceled the curse and called the next student. Every student so far seemed to fall victim to the curse and do a range of stupid things as Moody tempted them to. By the time he got to me, I was ready to try my hand at throwing off the curse, eager after hearing from one of the Hufflepuffs that Harry had been able to throw it off in the Gryffindor and Ravenclaw defense class yesterday.

However Moody paused for a second when I stepped forward from the front of the line and frowned, "No, you won't be participating today Miss Potter. Madame Pomfrey still hasn't cleared you for practical spellwork yet in class after your illness."

Illness? What on earth was he going on about? I hadn't been to the hospital wing all semester. I was shocked into silence for a pause before I tilted my head at Moody, staring into his commanding gaze, "Oh, right sir," I muttered, shuffling to the back of the line, furious. I didn't bother to correct him, I didn't know what he was playing at but if I've learned anything from Snape over the years, openly calling him out probably would only piss him off and he wouldn't want to tell me the truth later. Fine, I can wait but I'm getting answers.

It seemed I wouldn't need to provide an excuse to stick around after class, as right after I slunk to the back of the room Moody called out, "And stay after class, Potter." Just what was the paranoid old coot up to?

Malfoy shot me a surprised and confused look from the front of the line, before warily stepping forward where Moody took special glee in making him hop like a bunny up on desk all over the classroom. If nothing else, Moody's vendetta against Malfoy was at least amusing.

Once the bell rang and the rest of the class filed out, I walked up to the front of the class, where Moody was pretending to read something at his desk until I coughed and he looked up. As if he didn't know I'd come looking for answers.

"Why on earth would you bench me from our lesson today Professor? You and I know that story about not being cleared wasn't true, I haven't been sick at all."

His magical eye whirled around to look at me as he stood and lumbered out from behind his desk. "Potter, your brother is at a distinct disadvantage in this tournament and needs all the help he can get."

I crossed my arms over my chest as I appraised him. "I fail to see what that has to do with me sitting out of Defense class."

Moody staggered over to a desk and sat down on the desktop across from me. "Potter you need to lay low and not draw attention to yourself so you can help Mr. Potter as much as you can."

What he was saying didn't make a whole lot of sense. Harry was by no means a slouch when it comes to defending himself and often has much better luck than I do when it comes to getting out of sticky situations. Why was Moody trying to get me to spend all my time supporting my brother when I was in exactly the same dangerous position? Wouldn't that make us both in an equal amount of danger? Also, how exactly am I going to help Harry? Sure, I tend to perform better in class than my brother and study outside of my classes on subjects beyond the curriculum, but if anything Harry and I are on the same footing. I perform better simply because I try, whereas Harry just coasts because it doesn't matter as much to him.

With all of these questions in mind, what made me suspicious above all was why Moody cared if I support my brother. Moody was probably acting on Dumbledore's orders to help Harry through the tournament as Harry is significantly younger than the other contenders, but why would Moody place responsibility in another fourteen year old to look after Harry? Surely there are other adults far more suited to the job, and it's not like I'll be able to spend much time during the tournament looking out for him, I would very much like to survive the tournament myself thank you very much.

"Why would that be my responsibility and what does that have to do with 'laying low?'" I was becoming less impressed with Moody by the minute. Tactically, his reasoning for singling me out wasn't sound and also wasted my time. Clearly he hadn't been a Slytherin while he was at Hogwarts.

Moody's one real eye narrowed at me, apparently not a fan of my impertinence. "There are dark, dark wizards after your brother, Potter. You don't want to win this tournament, or it'll be you they'll be going after. You've managed to fly under the Dark Lord's radar so far, but keep thwarting magic cups and stirring up trouble and it won't be just your brother on the chopping block." His eyes seemed to flash before he shook his head.

It was really hard to get a read on Moody, and it was a bit unnerving. "And my brother is on the chopping block right now, so you want me to make sure he doesn't get chopped."

Moody nodded once. "Your teachers know about your excellent magical abilities. Don't go showing off or it'll limit how much you can help your brother from the shadows. Now run along."

I scowled at his condescending tone and swept out of the classroom, with a lot to chew on. Something wasn't right, but I just couldn't put my finger on it. As soon as I walked out of the hall leading to the Defense classroom, someone grabbed my arm and pulled me aside.

"Let go! Jesus, what's wrong with you!"

"Shut it, Potter," Malfoy said, releasing my arm as he looked out into the hallway and saw it was deserted. "Why did Moody make you sit out?"

Great. Now Malfoy was nosing around, so not what I needed at the moment. "What on earth are you babbling about Malfoy? I was instructed to sit out by Madame Pomfrey, simple as that."

"Oh? And what were you sick with Potter?"

I gave him a fake 'shy' smile and pretended to blush, "Well, you know it's my time of the month and I was feeling-"

Malfoy seemed to shudder for a second before smirking, "Yeah, yeah, so what's the real story. You're just saying that because it'll make me uncomfortable. Nice try, you haven't been to the hospital wing at all in the last three weeks."

It was my turn to feel surprised and uncomfortable. Arching an eyebrow I crossed my arms, "And exactly how would you know that Malfoy?" Had the blond twerp been watching her?

Malfoy didn't seem embarrassed by this admission though, only looking unimpressed, "You cause problems everywhere you go, Potter, keeping tabs on you is a public service to our house."

I didn't buy it, the douche was probably following me around to try and getting something on me. I'd have to be better about using the cloak when I'm walking around the castle now.

"So why did Moody single you out? Why did he make you stay behind?" Malfoy had a weird, curious glint in his eye.

I grabbed my messenger bag and heaved it over my shoulder, making to leave. "None of your business weasel, let it go. I suggest you stick your big nose somewhere it belongs."

I almost expected Malfoy to follow me as I tried to walk away, but when I looked back he was just standing where I left him looking pensive, like he was trying to figure out a difficult math problem. It didn't really look like someone 'letting it go.'

Great, I guess I just acquired another person who was going to badger me and be a pain in the ass.