Well, here is yet another chapter! It was already half done so I thought I'd finish it and update before I get into my exam study…er…yay…Anyway, hope you guys like it! I think it's one of the better ones.

Disclaimer: I own Amanda…or at least her personality…besides that…the rest is JK Rowling's…She is such a genius! Ugh, no fair.

Some Things Are Worth Dying For

Chapter Seven: Harry's Attacker and My Mother

"What on earth have you been eating Amanda? The entire food supply at Hogwarts!" My mother shrieked the instant she saw me.

I tried to act nonchalant; "I have no idea what you are referring to, Mother."

"No idea?" She spluttered, "NO IDEA? Have you seen yourself?"

"You're making a scene." I said irritably.

It was a Quidditch match day, Gryffindor versus Ravenclaw, and my mother had decided to come out to my school. One might think it was odd that she would do so, considering that she hadn't come to my school in the six and a half years I had been attending, yet I knew I should have expected it. My mother hadn't put nearly as much pressure on me about being a Deatheater as she could have.

But when she saw me in my bloated state, she was temporarily put off her mission.

After three weeks of drinking weight loss potions and being on an even stricter diet than I was before, I was now only two sizes bigger than normal. Unfortunately, my weight gain was still extremely obvious.

"I'm making a scene?" She wondered, regaining her composure, "If anyone is looking over at us Amanda, it is because you look like an elephant."

"I suppose I haven't been watching my diet." I lied.

"Yes, I can see that. Is there not some sort of charm or spell that can…reduce you dramatically," My mother shook her head, "I'm almost ashamed to call you my daughter."

Oh! Oh, that was rich. She was ashamed of me? One of these days I am really going to let her know a thing or two.

"Are you listening to me Amanda!" She frowned and clicked her fingers in front of my face, "Pay attention!"

"Yes, Mother."

"Stand up straight! Stop slouching. You're short enough as it is!"

"Yes, Mother."

"Hold your head up. You're better than those around you, remember! Let them know it!"

"Yes, Mother."

"Is that…is that sarcasm you're using with me?" She demanded.

"No," I said quickly, "No, of course not. I would never be so disrespectful, Mother."

"Oh yes," She scoffed, "Of course. You do you're hardest to show respect don't you."

I avoided her gaze; "I try."

"Try?" My mother's lips thinned, "I don't think you've ever tried at anything in your life Amanda. You're dismissal of the ritual before Christmas is still fresh in my mind, as is the continuous news I receive about your nightly disappearances."

"Mother," I sighed, "I explained about my reason for being unavailable for the ritual…hang on, what do you mean you get news about me?"

She gave me a severe look, before smiling stiffly as she glanced over my shoulder.

"Severus! What a joy to see you."

I frowned at her as Professor Snape approached looking grim.

"Amora, lovely to see you." He bowed slightly. I gagged.

"I hope my daughter hasn't been giving you any trouble this year." My mother said.

Snape shook his head, "No of course not. She is a model student."

"Really." Said my mother in disbelief.

I started to tap my foot impatiently. I needed to get out onto the field and find a seat in the Quidditch stands. The game was starting in a few minutes.

My mother stepped on my foot with the heel of her shoe, causing me to wince in pain. Why can't she just tell me to stop something if it is annoying? She always prefers to resort to inflicting pain.

"Mother," I said sweetly, "I think it would be best if we got our seats now. Otherwise, we might be forced to situate ourselves in abominable conditions."

"Oh, all right then." She snapped irritably.

"May I escort you to your seat?" Snape wondered. My mother nodded politely and linked her arm through his. Ugh, talk about disgusting.

Taking advantage of the moment, I took several steps backwards from them and fled down a nearby hallway. Even though I knew I'd be shouted at for sneaking off, I just had to get away from my mother! She was impossible, unbearable, awful!

I crept around the corner of the Gryffindor changing rooms and made myself comfortable amongst the grass, just as the commentator began introducing the players. Watching Quidditch from the wet ground would be better than spending time with my only living relative any day.

I leant my head against the changing room wall behind me, yawned and closed my eyes. Tiredness was overtaking me of late. Harry-sitting was such a full time job. The bespectacled boy liked to wander around the school at all hours of the night.

Even with my eyes closed, I noticed a person standing in front of me, a shadowed figure blocking out the sunlight.

"Well, well, well," Said a cheerful voice, "Don't you look nice, healthy and round."

I sighed and opened my eyes, "George Weasley."

"The one and only." He grinned down at me and I couldn't help smiling back. He looked like he'd had his head shaved and there were several Magi-aids on his face.

"So, you got the Bobotuber pus I sent in the mail then?" I wondered, gazing at the scabs peeking out from under the Magi-aids.

"Ah, yes. I thought it was you that had sent me that," George shook his head, "Positively evil you are. Sending something as horrible as that to an unsuspecting person."

"Unsuspecting?" I smirked, "Did you really think that you'd make me blow up like a balloon and not have the favour returned?"

"Spose not," He sat down across from me casually, "What are you doing down here anyway? I didn't think Slytherin's such as yourself aquainted themselves with the likes of dirt."

"Ah, well that's because Gryffindor's such as yourself are unable to comprehend something as complex as a Slytherin like myself." I said slyly before frowning. Had that even made sense to him?

"I think I'm more than capable."

"I doubt it."

"Try me then." George urged with a lingering smile.

I paused for a moment.

"All right then," I pointed up at the Slytherin stands, "Sitting up there right now is my mother."

"And?" He raised an eyebrow.

"And," I said sourly, "That's the reason I'd rather sit down here. My mother is horrible. She's everything the Bane name stands for and she hates me because I'm not."

He didn't understand, I could tell by the look on his scabby face, but he gave me a comforting smile anyway.

"There, there. I wouldn't worry. She's horrible; you're going to grow up to be horrible. It's a cycle. You'll learn to accept that in time."

"Why are you speculating I'm going to grow up to be horrible?" I wondered icily.

"Well you are a Slytherin," George said lightly, "You're either going to grow up to become horrible, a snob, a Deatheater, or a intricate combination of the three."

"You don't know that!" I spat.

He raised his hands in the air defensively, "Hey! I'm just joking around. Are you ever not high strung?"

"There are things that should not be joked about," I sniffed, "Things that one does not bring up in civilised conversation."

"Like you and I could ever have a civilised conversation." George chuckled.

"Must you always try and make everything a laughing matter?"

"Yes."

I rolled my eyes and picked at a blade of grass.

"So…er, I was wondering if I could ask you something." George said suddenly. He sounded slightly nervous.

"Okay." I raised an eyebrow.

"Okay," He frowned, "This has been nagging at me because I've seen a fair bit of you and…"

"Yes?" I said curiously.

"Well, what's your name? I mean, I know your last name is Bane, but I don't know your first name. When I wrote to Harry to give you that jinxed ring I had to say for him to give it too 'that Slytherin girl you think is following you'. And that just didn't seem right."

I restrained the urge to hit him. He didn't know my name? He'd hexed me, I'd hexed him, we'd talked several times and he'd nearly let me kiss him! But he didn't know my name! Taking a deep breath, I tried to smile. I didn't want him to dislike me any more than he already did.

"It's Amanda. My name is Amanda Bane."

"Right," George said hastily, "I've been wanting to ask you something else too."

Oh, what now? He wants to know if I'm a girl or a boy?

I nodded and he continued.

"I think we should go out sometime. What d'you reckon?"

My eyes widened slightly. It was unexpected and I couldn't believe he'd said it at first. I had thought, in between the hostile hexes, that he hated me. I had thrown all of my George Weasley fantasies out of the window.

"Well?" He said, waiting for my answer.

I didn't even need to think about what my reply would be as all of the fantasies came soaring back.

"I suppose. What do you have in mind?" I said coolly.

"A candlelit dinner, followed by an intellectual discussion on poetry and a walk along the beach." He replied, putting on a dreamy tone.

I snorted.

"Or," He said eagerly, "A cheap dinner in my shop followed by some intense snogging."

"If you aren't going to make a serious suggestion-" I began.

"All right, all right," He sighed, "Dinner in my shop…potentially followed by snogging."

"I guess that's the best I'm going to get out of you?"

"Pretty much." He shrugged.

"Then fine." I said sourly, although I was trying my hardest to contain my glee. A date with George Weasley. Oh, I had waited for it for so long!

"Do you mind if I change it around a bit though, put the snogging before dinner…I don't know about you but I don't like to eat then kiss." George said good-naturedly.

I laughed uncharacteristically.

"Snogging on a first date? That's highly unladylike," I smiled slowly, "What would you think of me if I complied?"

"I'd tell you, but you'd probably be offended." He laughed.

"That doesn't sound good," I murmured, "What would you think of me if I let you kiss me now?"

"I'd say less talking, more-"

He was cut off as I swung my arms around his neck and placed my lips on his. There was no motive behind the kiss this time, hexing him was the last thing on my mind. He began returning the kiss instantly and I found it was the best feeling I had ever experienced before. It wasn't my first kiss, I'd gone out with Marcus Flint from Slytherin for nearly a year, so I wasn't new to everything. Although the kiss I shared with George certainly was new. With Marcus it hadn't been passionate or heated or enjoyable. With George it was and I didn't ever want to stop.

After five minutes of kissing I started to realise that I possibly felt more for George Weasley than physical attraction. It was like something stirring inside of me, a feeling in the pit of my stomach that made me jubilant and scared at the same time.

I wasn't able to muse on it further however as George was suddenly ripped away from me.

"YOU FILTHY MUGGLE-LOVER! GET OFF MY DAUGHTER!"

I cringed as my mother yanked me to my feet, her face an unnatural shade of red. Her calm, cool facade from before had disappeared and instead she looked simply furious.

"Don't you come near my daughter again, you scum!" She said to George scathingly, a murderous glint in her eye. Her vice like grip on me was already causing my arm to throb in pain but I remained silent as I helplessly watched the scene before me unfold.

"Hey!" George snapped, "I am not scum-"

"You're a Weasley if I'm not mistaken." My mother spat.

"Yes, I-"

"Then scum you are! Lower than scum! And you're to stay away from my daughter!"

She pushed me in front of her, "And you! How dare you further dishonour the family name! I thought you could sink no lower! You're an ungrateful child! A hateful, spiteful waste of space! Just you wait until-"

"Don't talk to her like that!" George interrupted. I felt the uncertain lurch in the pit of my stomach again.

My mother raised her wand, "How DARE you! I'll talk to her how I please!"

"Mother," I said franticly, "Mother, please."

"What!" She demanded, "Do you have something to say? Are you going to tell me you associate with the likes of Weasley's and that what I witnessed before was something you were doing of your own free will?"

This is where I realised that I hadn't been sorted into the wrong house nearly seven years ago. If I was brave and loyal like Gryffindor I would have stood up to my mother and sided with George. If I were clever and noble like Ravenclaw I would have thought of a way to solve to fight without hurting anyone. If I were kind and caring like Hufflepuff I would have done what was right. But I wasn't. I was cowardly and selfish like Slytherin.

"I…I don't know what happened, Mother!" I said quickly, "I was just on my way to meet you and then…I don't know. I'm sorry."

She eyed me closely, and I was relieved to see she was calming down.

"So you are telling me you are not willingly associated with this boy?"

"That's exactly it, Mother. You know I wouldn't! I would never…Mother, please." I sounded desperate and was avoiding George's eye with great determination.

"I guess I have no choice but to believe you," She said sternly, turning to George, "I mean what I said boy! You stay away from my daughter or I'll kill you!"

"Fine!" He said angrily, "That's fine with me!"

He stormed away, muttering to himself, and I wanted nothing more than to cry. Which was unusual for me, I normally cared about myself.

But I didn't have time to worry about how much George would hate me as my mother turned towards me. Her hand shot out like a snake and slapped me swiftly across my right cheek with such force that I staggered back.

"Never again," She breathed, "Never embarrass me like that again!"

I lowered my head and nodded meekly. The right side of my face had immediately gone numb and I could feel something moist running down my chin from the corner of my lip.

"Now go and clean yourself up and then join me in the stands," My mother commanded, "Gryffindor is currently winning by fifty points but I have a feeling that they might soon fall short of a victory."

Something in her tone caused me to look up at her face, but her expression gave nothing away. Mutely I walked around her towards the entrance to the Gryffindor changing rooms. I refused to remove my gaze from my feet and as a result ran heavily into a darkly clad figure.

"So your mother found you then?" Professor Snape demanded.

"Yes, yes, nevermind that!" My mother said briskly from behind me, "What is the score now? Has anyone been hurt?"

"Not as yet, Amora." Snape said with a frown. He too had noticed my mother's strangeness.

"Well I had better get up there," I heard her begin to walk away and then stop, "Amanda! HURRY UP!"

I jumped and began to head into the changing rooms, when Snape grabbed my arm and pulled me back.

"Professor! Sir, my mother said that I have to be quick! She-"

"Is already gone." He said briskly, steadying me in front of him. I looked up at him and realised my mistake instantly when his gaze lingered on the cheek my mother had slapped.

Slowly he raised his wand.

"Professor?" I said anxiously. Having a wand pointed at your face, even by someone you trust, does not make you feel comfortable.

"I too bore the brunt of having a parent like your mother, one that was not to be provoked," He said softly, flicking his wand, "Runo Reparo."

I winced for a moment as I felt my skin heal itself.

"You have a little blood on your chin," Snape's voice became stern once more and he turned away, "I expect you up in the stands shortly."

I watched him leave, his dark cloak billowing out behind him and smiled. It was nice to be cared for, even if it was Professor Snape doing the caring.

But my smile faded from my face as his words clicked into place. You have a little blood on your chin

Horrified I gingerly put my fingers on my face and pulled them away. They were dabbed slightly with red stuff. Blood. My blood.

"Oh, would you look at that." I said weakly. My knees buckled and I found I had to sit down. I couldn't handle blood. I couldn't handle it at all. It made my eyes water and I usually ended up fainting.

Boo and I used to joke when I was younger that I'd be the only Hemophobic Deatheater in history. Although, when I began to realise how serious me being a Deatheater was, it became less funny.

"I think I'm going to be sick…" I muttered, trailing off as a series of shouts came from the pitch. There was screaming and yelling. What were they saying? Hairy…no, Harry. Oh Merlin! HARRY!

Remembering all too well my duty I struggled to get to my feet. My legs wobbled and I leant against the changing rooms' wall for support as I frantically searched the pitch for The-Boy-Who-Had-Gotten-Himself-Into-Trouble-Yet-Again.

And then, just briefly, I saw movement out of the corner of my eye. Distracted, I glanced around and frowned at a cloaked figure in the distance. I couldn't make out who they were but I knew all too well what they were doing. With arms outstretched towards the sky, they were performing a hex. I directed my gaze straight up but couldn't see anything; clouds were obscuring everything above the pitch from view.

"Oh bloody hell," I snapped, stepping forward and pointing my wand at the clouds, "Dissiminate!"

The clouds parted and I spotted Harry, who had been hidden from sight just as the crystal, blue sky had. He was clinging to the end of his Firebolt as it tried to shake him off violently.

Annoyed I pointed my wand at the cloaked figure on the ground, "IMPEDIMENTA!"

The cloaked figure soared through the air and landed on the ground in a heap. I looked back up at Harry, who was already struggling to get back on his broom. I knew he'd be fine and began to make my way over to the person who had been attacking him.

I'd only taken two steps when I noticed that the cloaked attacker was no longer on the ground. I didn't understand it. My spell had knocked them right off their feet, and it had been powerful. Who could possibly be strong enough to still stand after it?

Not a human, I told myself.

"Okay, I think I should go and sit with my mother now." I whispered, taking a few steps back. I turned and hurried over to the Slytherin stands.

"What took you so long?" My mother demanded when I reached her.

I didn't answer straight away and she continued on.

"I'm leaving Hogwarts after this."

"What?" I was taken aback. She hadn't even given me the Deatheater pep talk yet!

"You say pardon," She snarled, "Not 'what'!"

"Sorry Mother, pardon?"

"I'm returning home, I'm needed elsewhere at this present time."

"Oh, that's a pity." I said, hiding the smirk that had momentarily surfaced on my face.

"Was that a smile I just saw?" My mother said icily.

"No," I replied, "My lip twitched."

"I see."

"It was nice to see you, Mother," I forced myself to say, "It's a pity you are leaving so soon. You only just arrived."

"Oh I'll be back," My mother's dark eyes seemed to bore into me, "And when I come back, we are having a very serious discussion."

She returned her focus to the Quidditch game and I sighed, seeing her again was not something to look forward to and the thought of it made me utterly miserable.

That was until Harry caught the Snitch and Gryffindor won.

My mother was outraged. She thought it was abominable and spent the rest of the afternoon ranting about what a disgrace it was that the 'ridiculous Muggle-loving' house had once more won a game.

I watched her work herself up over nothing and my lip couldn't help but do a bit more twitching.

!!!

A/N: Well, I think that George and Amanda go well together…except for the whole he hates her now thing…I'll see what happens there…

It's the weekend, so I'm taking a little break and decided to finish this chapter and post it because you guys were just so…kind…with your reviews!

And, I feel like replying to them!

aideen1: About George's reaction to being bald, I made him get over it pretty quickly, because I see him as a really easy going guy who doesn't dwell on things…And that Bobotuber Pus…it did explode in his face and burn him…I'm afraid that's the best I could see Amanda coming up with, she's not that much of a prankster! Plus she has a HUGE crush on him! Lol!

Hold Me Up: Ugh, tell me about it. I hate the Mary Sue's in stories. I just hope Amanda is portrayed as someone far from perfect!

Sekhmet04: Thanks for the reviews. Yeah, Ron and Hermione are really the only couple I see getting together in the books, I am such a shipper for them! I don't really know what I'm going to have Draco be in this story…but definitely not Amanda's admirer. She's too old for him!

MysticMoon6: I'm glad you like Amanda. It's cool she has your name! And thanks for the idea, I could make Ron like Luna a little…complicate things…if you'd like!

elvencherry07: Oh, thanks for that! I hope you keep reading!

TigerLily713: Thanks for reviewing! I'm glad you like it!

PippinsMyHobbit: Lol, you can have George by all means! Except in this story…It's great you like it!

Lea: Thanks, I hope you do keep reading because I have some ideas that will make it more interesting…I hope…

Purplereader: Oh dear god no! I wouldn't leave them like that for life…well, you'd know that if you read the chapter because Amanda's already getting back to normal…oh, I suppose George is a bit worse for wear. But he'll get better too! Lol. And good on you for shipping Ron and Hermione! YAY!

Livan: Wow! You find bits funny? I don't really mean to do that…I mean to make things lighter…Oh well, I'm glad I made you laugh!

AkumA9: I hope you liked how Professor Snape was in this…he wasn't too much of a sissy guy out of character was he?

Dark Angels: Well, she got him back, then she lost him again…now she has to get him back…It's great you like their interaction! I hope this chapter didn't put you off it…

Sorry if I missed anyone! I kind of went overboard with the replying to reviewers there huh…whoops!

Oh, and I can't remember who asked…or said something, but Amanda is 18, not 17. She had her birthday just before Christmas, I think I put in a few chapters back.

Until next time! CHEERS!

Oh, and of course, REVIEW! :)