Notes:

These past couple of chapters have been pretty short- sorry. The next one's a bit longer, as you'll see when I get round to uploading it.

I think I know now where the story is headed. I did some writing on it today, but I really ought to focus on my work. (As always.)

As I say every single time, reviews are the stuff of dreams. (Before I started publishing on this site, I never understood why some authors are / were so desperate for reviews. Suffice to say, I know now.)

Feel free to tell me where you think the story is / should be going. I'm curious. :)

Chapter 9

Sunday 7th September, The Headmaster's Office

'Have you found out anything pertaining to death eater activity within the school?'

'No.'

'How about gaining the confidence of the students we discussed?'

'I'm getting there.'

'Very good. Please do inform me if you discover any relevant information.'

'I will endeavour to do so.'

Friday 12th September, Seventh Year Girl's Dormitories

'I think we'll break it off after... twelve dates? Give him time to get attached, you know?'

This was insane.

'Ok.'

'Right. Pansy and I are spending the weekend at my parent's estate,' continued Daphne, clearly pleased at this fact. She then went on to give me a vicious look.

'Don't fuck it up, Nagornichna.'

With those parting words, uttered in a tone of utter derision, she swished out of the dormitory in a cloud of expensive silk (a dress just like the one that Pansy had bought a couple of weeks ago) and perfume to join Pansy where she waited with her luggage.

As soon as we were left alone, Tracey turned to give me an anxious look, chewing her lower lip again with nervous fervour.

'Um... Sophia...'

I turned, wondering what she had to say that was making her quite so nervous. I'd noticed over the past couple of weeks that she barely spoke around our other room mates.

Daphne seemed to loath her, and treated her like dirt whenever Pansy wasn't there. Pansy, for her part, seemed largely indifferent to the girl, but obviously valued her company enough to include her in the Society.

I'd puzzled over what it was that made Tracey a valuable member; though she was very sweet, she seemed to be cripplingly shy around most people and ill-disposed towards the kind of scheming that went on.

'Yes?'

'Blaise really is very nice. He always helps me with my potions homework. Daphne's still upset about what happened, but I really don't think that he meant to hurt her.'

She looked at me with clear concern and I once again regretted my involvement in the nefarious scheme.

'I mean,' she continued, 'I know that Pansy wants this, and she's in charge, but-'

She sighed, seeming to be choosing her next words carefully.

'Do you think that there's any way you could try... not to hurt him too much?'

Her wide eyes were full of guilt and worry, and I felt sorely the kind of damage this scheme might do.

Not only was I deliberately looking to cause someone emotional pain, I was sure to be ruining whatever had begun between me and Draco.

For all my recognising that we were an impossible couple, I didn't want to destroy whatever this was before it even started.

From what I'd heard, though, those two were practically inseparable. Not only had I turned him down, I'd done it in order to break his best friend's heart.

This was a fucking mess.

I couldn't see any way out of it.