Chapter 21: Aurora Kapranos
"Godammit!" I muttered, "This'll never do…"
"What is it Kapranos?" Narcissa Black glanced over at me from her side of the room.
Looking at Narcissa suspiciously, I turned around, "Why would you care, Narcissa?"
Giving me a look, the younger Black sister sighed, "Relax Kapranos, I'm not out to get you. I'm not my sister you know."
Gritting my teeth, I sat down on my bed, "You're still one of them."
"Why?" she looked at me mockingly, "Because I'm shagging your cousin? Because I'm Bellatrix's sister?"
Glaring at her, I sighed, "Fine. Come take a look."
Coming over, she looked at the back of my tuxedo jacket, "What's all this?"
"Blood," I replied flatly, "It's blood. I was going to wear it to the Yule Ball next weekend, but if I don't get this blood out, then I'll have to send out for a different one."
Taken aback, Narcissa finally spluttered, "You're wearing a tux to the Ball?"
I raised an eyebrow, "Of course I am. What else would I wear?"
She rolled her eyes, "Well a gown, of course! You are a woman you know."
Losing my patience, I shook my head despairingly, "Look, can you help or not?"
Shaking her head, Narcissa frowned, "No…but I think I know who can. Talk to Lily Evans. She has a solution that should take it right out."
"Oh great. I'll never convince her to give me anything," I muttered.
Rolling her eyes, Narcissa handed me a small bottle, "Here. Use some of mine, but only three drops. Drop them directly onto the stain and then wait a few minutes. The stain will disappear completely, but don't use it until an hour before the Ball."
Nodding warily, I took the bottle and thanked her. As she walked away, I called after her, "Hey Narcissa?" When she looked back, I continued, "How did you know about Malfoy being my cousin? It's a carefully kept secret."
Looking back at me, she simply replied, "Lucius told me about it….besides, you have the same eyes."
Chapter 22: Remus Lupin
"So, Moony," Sirius looked at me from his perch on the mantle in the Gryffindor commons room, "Do you have a date for the Yule Ball yet?"
I glanced up from my book, "No Sirius, you know that."
It was less than a week until the Yule Ball, but so far, only James and Sirius had dates. James was going with Lily Evans and Sirius was going with some girl from another school who was coming up for the weekend. As usual, Peter and I were going to go it alone again.
Looking up from his seat, James shot me a look, "Are you going to ask that Slytherin girl to the Ball?"
At this, there was an awkward silence as all eyes in the room turned to me. Looking around, I shrugged, "Oh, I don't know. I don't think she was planning on going anyway…"
Shaking his head, Sirius gave me a look, "Come on Moony. You know you want to, so just ask the girl! You'll never know until you ask mate."
Startled by this sudden uncharacteristic encouragement, I looked at Sirius suspiciously, but the look he gave me was surprisingly sincere. "Fine," I finally said defeatedly, "I'll ask her. I don't expect success, but I'll ask."
"That's the ticket Moony," James smiled, "Now to find where she is so you can ask her." Unfolding the map, he pointed to a small green dot on the map, "There she is. The library."
Nodding to me, Sirius gestured toward the door, "Go get her."
A few minutes later, as I walked casually into the library, I spotted Aurora sitting at a table reading from a large book. Pausing to write something onto a piece of paper, she looked up, and seeing me watching her, gestured me over. As I stood in front of her, she glanced up, "What are you looking at Lupin? Sit down." When I did, she put her quill down and looked at me levelly, "Well Moony? What is it?"
"Er…" I bit my lip, "Could you not call me that?"
"Oh?" she raised an eyebrow, "Then what would you have me call you?"
"Remus," I blurted out, "Call me Remus."
Running her tongue over her teeth as if tasting the word, she tried it out, "Remus…all right. Well then, what do you need Remus?"
Taking a deep breath, I looked her in the eye, "Aurora, will you go to the Yule Ball with me? I mean, assuming you're going."
Smiling faintly, she exhaled slowly before making her reply, "I'm sorry Remus, I'd love to go with you, but I've already got an escort."
I looked down at the table, "Oh. Moody, eh?"
Looking at me warily, she replied, "Yes…" Getting up, she stood up and picked up her papers. Pausing, she leaned down next to me, "I tell you what Remus, Alastor has a small problem with his left leg and can't dance the whole time, so save the last dance for me?"
Blinking, I nodded. This wasn't a brilliant success, but dammit, this was better than I had expected. Laughing at my expression, she flashed me a crooked smile and walked out of the library.
Chapter 23: Severus Snape
Sitting across from Kapranos, I glanced up from my notebook, "Feeling better Kapranos?"
Looking up at me, Kapranos' face registered a sort of veiled surprise, "What?"
Not looking up again, I replied, "You passed out briefly on Tuesday and did not come back to class for the rest of the week. I was inquiring as to your condition."
Narrowing her eyes warily, she nodded, "I'm doing quite well, thank you Severus. It was my own fault. I forgot that the wolfsbane plant has a rather bad effect on me."
"I would be careful about that if I were you. Keep it up, and people will think you are a werewolf or something." After studying her reaction, I added, "How about I handle the wolfsbane from now on Kapranos?"
Nodding, she picked up her quill and went back to her notes. As if struck by a sudden thought, she added, "Snape, you didn't notice anything odd when I passed out, did you?"
"Nothing at all," I lied, "Nothing at all."
Chapter 24: Sirius Black
As Lupin walked back into the commons room, I rose to greet him, "Hullo Moony! So what's up? Do you have a date?"
He eyed me nervously, "Well, not exactly…"
"What?" I was furious, "That bitch snubbed you? Damn pureblood afraid to be seen with half-bloods?"
"No, no, no," he grabbed my arm, "It wasn't like that at all Sirius."
I paused, "What do you mean?"
"I mean she already had someone to go with."
James nodded, "Moody? Figures as much. I always figured there was something between those two."
"But," Lupin cut in again, "She did promise me the last dance."
Frozen, I turned and looked at my friend, "The last dance? She's giving you the last dance?"
"Yes," Lupin looked alarmed, "Why? Is that bad?"
Putting my arm around his shoulders, I smiled, "My friend, we have to find you a better suit."
Chapter 25: Lucius Malfoy
Through half-lidded eyes, I watched Narcissa Black pace back and forth across the floor. "Narcissa, what are you doing?"
"Oh shut up Lucius," she snapped, "Can't you see I'm thinking?"
"Temper, temper," I murmured, "And to think that by the spring you and I might be engaged…"
Stopping her pacing, she turned and looked at me accusingly, "She's your cousin Lucius."
I raised an eyebrow, "What of it?"
At this, she narrowed her eyes, "What of it? She's got Malfoy blood—your blood, pumping through her veins! She's your aunt's only daughter and I won't have it."
Moving to stand next to her, I snaked a hand to the clasp of her robes. "Oh yes you will have it, Narcissa Black." As I undid the clasp, I could feel her heart beating frantically in her chest like an animal caught in a trap. Moving even closer to her, I added, "Do you know why that is, Narcissa Black?" As she broke out in a cold sweat, I breathed the answer in her ear, "It's because you can't help yourself, Narcissa Black. It's because you are mine."
