Chapter 7: Revelations

The Sunday following the Quidditch match was heaven for Khyana. All the Slytherins seemed to have forgotten that she and Sara were blood-traitors and that Kelria didn't really fit in with them, in light of the amazing win the previous day. The entire team was treated like royalty, as it was the first time in as many years that Slytherin had beat Gryffindor at Quidditch.

The rest of the school, however, were not as impressed with Slytherin's success. The Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs who had been cheering for Gryffindor were even colder toward the Slytherins than usual. And the Gryffindors were absolutely unbearable. Even Alice and Lily, who didn't usually care about Quidditch, wouldn't speak to Khyana, Kelria or Sara.

"You shouldn't have won," Lily said angrily. "You didn't play fairly."

Khyana bristled. "That's Quidditch, Lily. Deal or don't, whatever."

Khyana had stalked away from her, followed closely by Kelria and Sara, who didn't necessarily agree with either girl. Kelria had done what she'd had to to win the game. It wasn't necessarily fair or unfair, it simply was. It had happened, and even if she'd wanted to (which she didn't), she couldn't go back and change it.

The rest of the evening was soured for the three girls, although they but on a brave face for the rest of their House.


Everything went back to normal the next day. The Slytherins were still proud of their win, and the rest of the school was still furious, but the Gryffindor team seemed to have decided to put it behind them and move on. Of course, their loss would be brought back to light before the next game, but for now, they weren't going to dwell on it.

Lily and Alice were still cool toward their Slytherin friends, but seemed to be more forgiving in light of a new development.

"Potter kissed Lily last night," Alice said promptly upon entering the Transfiguration room.

"He what?!" Khyana exclaimed. "Idiot."

"Yeah," Alice agreed. "Lily's been fuming all night."

"I have not been fuming, Alice!" Lily said, uncharacteristically sharp.

"See what I mean?" Alice said.

Khyana and Kelria nodded.

Khyana was furious. What an idiot! Remus should keep a closer reign on his friends…

She didn't pay much attention that day to McGonagall's lesson. She was too busy thinking…


During her sixth period spare, Khyana was sitting in the library, working on her Potions essay, when a dark shadow fell over her paper. Sara was in Herbology, and Kelria was off with Alice working on some thing or another, so it was with some surprise that she glanced up over the top of her glasses, and somehow managed to keep her poker face.

"Black," she said, glancing at her textbook for her next sentence.

"Malfoy," he replied, then sat down beside her. She gave him a contemptuous look.

"Is there something I can help you with, Black?"

"Actually, yeah," he replied, pulling out his textbook. "I was wondering if you could give me some help with the charms essay."

At that point, she put her quill down on the table and looked up at him--he was a lot taller than her, even sitting down--and gave him her "Slytherin look of utter contempt".

"You want help with your charms essay." She repeated.

"Yes."

"Since when does Sirius Black do homework?"

He shrugged. "Since Remus has threatened to hex me if I don't do at least one essay this year."

"And you figure you'll get it over with as soon as possible, even though you know you could hex Remus into next week." She replied.

He grinned. "You know me well, Malfoy."

Khyana snorted. "No, you're just predictable, Black."

He produced a hurt look for her. "That hurts, Malfoy."

"I'm sure you'll get over it." She replied.

He grinned. "So, are you going to help me or not?"

"I'll consider it."

He gave her a blank look. "The essay is due tomorrow, Malfoy."

"I'm aware. You should have asked sooner." She replied, returning to her essay.

He did not go away, as she had hoped he would.

"You really don't like me, do you, Malfoy?" he asked.

"Nope," she replied, glancing back at her textbook.

"Why not?"

She slowly placed her quill on her paper and looked up at him, her contemptuous look still in place.

"Would you like the reasons in alphabetical order, or in order of importance?"

He gave her a lopsided grin. "Order of importance."

"You're arrogant, conceited and egotistical. I know, they all mean the same thing, but you're so much so that it needs saying three times." He grinned. "You're pig-headed, rude, immature, impatient, inconsiderate, lazy, snotty, annoying, controlling…need I go on?"

Sirius' grin had disappeared. "No. No, you don't need to go on, I think that's a sufficient list."

"Good. Then leave me alone, Black, before I decide to use you to practise my non-verbal spells."

He left the library hurriedly, not looking back, and Khyana felt a pang in her stomach. Perhaps she had been too hard on him?

"Stop it," she told herself quietly. "It's Black. It's all true, you didn't say anything you didn't mean. Stop feeling sorry for him."

After a time, Khyana took a break from her essay, and stretched back, releasing her tension. She noticed a brown-haired girl sitting on the other side of the library and grinned. Now was her chance; she might not get another one.

She moved quickly, collecting her things together into her book bag and making her way across the library to confront the girl.

"Miss Masters."

Laura Masters looked up, startled, and smiled when she saw Khyana.

"Miss Malfoy. Sit, please. To what do I owe this honour?"

Khyana grinned as well as she sat. This was one of the things she enjoyed about her friendship with Laura, this easy, simple, goofy formality.

"I just saw you sitting here, alone, and decided that, since I was also sitting alone, I might as well join you."

Laura laughed. "Good form, Khyana."

"So, how's life? We haven't really had a good talk in…wow, a long time!"

Laura nodded. "It's been, what? Five months?"

"At least," Khyana agreed.

"Well, nothing much is happening with me lately…what about you?"

Khyana shrugged. "Nothing really." She replied, although they both knew there was a lot happening to both of them.

"That was some amazing flying on Saturday," Laura said.

"Thanks," Khyana grinned.

"Khyana, I heard you and Sara ran away this summer. Is that true?"

Khyana nodded stiffly.

"Why?" Laura asked, putting down her quill and looking genuinely concerned.

Khyana shrugged and gave her the same answer she'd given Cam. "It was time."

Laura nodded. "I can understand that."

"Yeah…anyway. How are things going with you and Remus?" Khyana asked, making it sound light and teasing, as though that wasn't the sole reason she had come over.

Laura's face fell and she shrugged. "Not so good. It's just not the same anymore. There's something he's not telling me, I can feel it! And I… I just don't like him that way anymore. He's more of a friend. You know?"

Khyana nodded.

"I think I might break up with him soon."

Khyana choked. "Oh really?" she asked, trying to keep her voice light. Remus would be crushed.

"Yeah," Laura said sadly, looking at her hands, clasped in her lap. "It's just not working."

Khyana didn't know what to say, so she kept quiet.

"What about you and Cam?" Laura asked, looking up again.

Khyana shrugged, then chose her words carefully. Remus' guess was correct. Laura did like Cam. Khyana saw the way Laura's face lit up--if only for a nanosecond--when she mentioned his name.

"I don't know. I never get to see him anymore. I mean, sure, I still like him, but it's just not working out. I think he's ashamed to be seen with me, because I'm a Slytherin, so we don't really get to see each other. And I've always sensed that he didn't really like me, he just…I don't know. I don't even know why he's going out with me."

Laura looked sympathetic. "I know how you feel. I've had that happen to me before, too." She glanced up at the clock and made a strangled noise in her throat. "I have to go, Khyana, I have Quidditch practise in five minutes! See you!"

Laura grabbed her things, shoved them in her bag and hurried out of the library. Khyana sighed. Poor Remus. And poor her. What she had said to Laura was true. She should probably break up with Cam…and in her opinion, the sooner the better.