Hey, so after an extended period of time away from the fanfiction website, I am officially back. This story has officially been finished on paper, so I will try to get as much of it up as possible before I have to go again. I should be able to get it all up. Anyway, on with the chapter.

I walked up from the quidditch pitch to the castle with my parents, James, Sirius, Remus, and Peter. James had an arm thrown around my shoulders, while Sirius, Remus, and Peter were throwing around my graduation het. My parents were having a whispered conversation; I think it had something to do with "shelby should never have broken up with Sirius," a topic they had shown no hesitation at expressing their displeasure over.

Out of nowhere, Regulus jumped in front of me and my brother, bringing us to an abrupt stop. Everyone else in our group turned to see what would hppen. Dad, James, and Sirius looked ready to attack; even Remus was fingering his wand. Mum had a calming hand on Dad's shoulder, and as usual Peter looked a bit confused. Regukus cleared his throat and said nervously, "Um, Shelby, can I have a word with you?"

I made a show of sighing and seeming reluctant. "Fine, if you must, but make it quick," I said impatiently.

Regulus grabbed my hand and dragged me the rest of the way to the castle. After hiding around a corner, Regulus shoved me against the wall and proceeded to snog me senseless. Pulling back after a few minutes, Regulus rested his forehead against mine and whispered, "I love you, Shelby. I'll do everything I can to make sure I see you again after today, but in case I don't get that chance, I want to make sure you know that I love you."

I smiled then kissed his lips softly. I muttered as I pulled away, "Of course I know that, and I love you too. Don't you ever forget that, Regulus.I will make sure that I see you again, no matter what."

"I wouldn't be so sure about that, Shelby." Regulus jumped away from me in surprise at the sound of my older brother's voice. I looked in shock at James and Sirius, who were standing only about five feet away. James comtinued, "I thought it was weird when you didn't hex him, but this is just wrong. Why would you snog him! Actually, why would you even let him within ten feet of you? He hurt you! He used you, and now you're letting him use you again! Where is your head, Shelby? Why the hell are you doing this?"

"Shut up!" I yelled at him, worried he might go off on a long monalogue like Dad does. "I lied, ok? He never used me. In fact, he never even tried to go past first base. the truth is that some of the Slytherins were threatening me for going to the dance with regulus, so we decided to sneak around. We faked all of that, and I'm sorry for lying to you, but if you guys didn't believe it, then no one else would have."

The two boys stared at me, either shocked or angry; I couldn't tell which. James said calmly after a few moments, "I just wish you'd told me."

Sirius exclaimed angrily, "What! You seriously believe that shit? He's probably got her under the Imperius Curse or something! He's probably forcing her to say that! I wouldn't put it past him; he's probably a Death Eater already."

"No!" I interjected. "No, he didn't! I am not under any curse, and I am not lying. I know you don't like him because he's a Slytherin, Sirius, but Regulus would never do anything like that to me. So either get over your damn prejudice and accept that I am telling you the truth, or shut up!"

The three boys were shocked into silence by my outburst, but I couldn't care less. This was ridiculous. James recovered first and said slowly, "Ok, let's alll just calm down. I believe you, Shelby. Why don't we just go home and forget this whole incident ever happened?"

Sirius rolled his eyes. "Yeah, sure, Prongs, but if you won't ask her, I will. Shelby, why the hell would you want to date a Death Eater?"

Regulus warned, "Sirius..."

I snapped, "No one ever said that Regulus was a Death Eater, but if you're going to be so insistent on that point, then yeah, fine, he is a Death Eater."

Regulus's eyes went wide with fear and surprise. "Shelby, what-"

I interrupted, "No, Regulus, it's fine. It's time we told them everything."

James asked suspiciously, "Everything about what?"

I paused, hating myself for what I was about to say. I lied, "The Sorting Hat wanted to put me in Slytherin, and now I know that I should have let it. I agree with Regulus about blood purity. That's why I'm going to become a Death Eater too."

James and Sirius stared at me in disbelief, and Regulus looked horrified. Suddenly, my boyfriend became adament. "WHAT! No! No, no, no, I won't let you do that! I won't let you ruin your life for my sake."

Sirius sneered in a very Slytherin-like manner that reflected his Black family up-bringing. "Why not, Regulus?" he said. "Seems like you'd want her to be a 'true' pureblood and a Death Eater, like you and your little friends."

He replied, "Myabe if it were the truth, but not when I know she doesn't really believe that stuff."

I said, Regulus, don't try to cover for me; you know that I believe in the cause. It was only a matter of time before they discovered the truth about me anyway so they might as well know now."

James argued, "I don't believe you. I believe that you love him and would do anything for him, but I don't believe that you believe all that shit. I know you too well to believe that."

I replied, surprisingly calm, "You know who I used to be. I have been enlightened over the past school year, and now I know the truth." Suddenly, an idea came to me. "You know what? I'm not going home with you guys. it's time I showed everyone who I really am. Come on, Regulus; let's go."

I grabbed his arm and tried to leave, but he wouldn't budge. I turned back to him,regarding him questioningly. Regulus sighed heavily. "I'm sorry, Shelby, but I can't just take you away from your family like this, especially when I know that you don't really believe like I do."

"Regulus, I know you're just trying to protect my relationship with my family, but honestly, you don't need to," I insisted.

Regulus put a hand up. "Shelby, stop! Just stop." He pulled his arm out of my hand. "This is hard for me too, but you have togo with them. It's not just what you believe;it's for your safety, because for now, you're saferwith them than you could possibly even hope of being with me." I started to protest. "Don't argue with me, Shelby," Regulus interrupted in a dark tone I had never heard him use before; it actually scared me a little, but it hurt more than anything else.

James gently took my hand and said, "Come on, Shelby." I gave Regulus a pleading look, but he just shook his head. I let James and Sirius lead me back to where everyone else was waiting. After saying good bye to Mum and Dad, we headed to the Hog's Head. On the way, James hugged me to his side, knowing that it broke my heart to walk away from Regulus, no matter what the reason.

I sat in an easy-chair in my room at the Hog's Head under a blanket, trying to stop crying, when someone knocked through the door. I doubted it was Sirius, because he had spent the last twenty minutes trying to convince me to let him in and given up, and I didn't know who it would be. For all I knew James had called Lilly in to try to talk to me.

Instead of Lilly, however, it was Remus's voice that floated through the door. "Shelby? Shelby, open the door," he said. I just sat there, unable to make up my mind if I would or not. "Come on, Foxy. I brought chocolate chip cookies." After a few moments of weighing the options, I finally waved my wand and unlocked the door. Remus came in, saw me, then, after closing the door behind him, sat down on the floor in front of me and placed the cookies on the table beside him. I grabbed one and started munching on it. Remus said, "Hey. How you feeling?"

I chuckled. "Drunk."

Remus smiled. "Great, but you know I meant. James told me about Regulus."

I smiled sadly. "Of course he did." I sighed, and Remus waited patiently. "I love him, Remus. I love him, but he didn't want me to be with him."

Remus nodded. "Shelby, I don't think it was that he didn't want you to be with him. I think he wants you with him very much, but he said no because he knows you're safer with us. He's doing this because he loves you, not because he doesn't. I'm sure when things get better he'll come back for you."

I nodded. "I hope you're right."

We sat in silence for a moment, then he asked, "Do want me to go get James?"

I shook my head. "No. He's mad at me for lying to him."

Remus laughed softly. "Shelby, he's not mad at you. It hurts him that you lied to him, but he's not angry."

"Really?"

He took my hand and smiled. "Really." He paused, then said, "I think you need to go to bed. Sleep off the firewhiskey, eh?"

I laughed. "Yeah, but I don't want to move."

Remus laughed, then shrugged. "Fine," he said. "I'll carry you then."

"Yay," I said sarcasticly as he swept me into his arms.

Still laughing, Remus carried me across the room and tucked me into bed before he said, "Good night."

"Night." Remus left, turning the light off and shutting the door as he left.

So, what do you guys think? Love it? Hate it? Leave a review and let me know what you think!