Disclaimer: I own nothing recognizable.
On to the tenth...
"Dear Merlin, what happened?" Cedrella asked, as she saw the look on Eileen's face.
"Nothing…I'll tell you about it later. Charms in five minutes."
She didn't want to bring it up right there. Her cheeks were still very red from the whole incident. Cedrella understood, and stood up. The girls were making their way to class when Eileen saw Tom and the boys going hurriedly to the third floor. She looked down, not wanting Malfoy or anyone else to embarrass her again. Suddenly, she felt a bang against her shoulder blade. Someone had slammed their elbow against her. She turned to see her offender, and met the eyes of one of the Black boys.
"Oh, sorry about that."
She supposed he did look sincere. They looked at each other for a while, but then he hurried to follow the others. She kept on walking with Cedrella. What was his name again? Cedrella was smiling.
"How do you like my cousin?"
"Cousin?"
"Yeah, very distant though. Alphard, he's Cygnus' and Walburga's brother. Have I never introduced you two?"
Eileen tried to remember.
"Not that I can think of…"
"Kay, he's nice though, but you'd never think so, judging by his family and the people he hangs with." She had on a bitter smile. Eileen noticed this; Cedrella had never really liked her family and their values. The two girls had been raised in the same kind of environment, but Cedrella had always been the black sheep of the Black family.
"But I guess you've been hanging around those guys now, right? No need for me to introduce you…"
She hadn't told Cedrella yet. Well, at least the whole thing. She didn't know how her friend would react.
"Why do you want to introduce us so badly?" She asked, nudging Cedrella with a smile. They had arrived at the classroom. Cedrella had on the look of someone who wasn't letting the whole truth on, and she was laughing.
"What, is it so awful that I think you'd make a nice couple?" Eileen laughed.
"Ceds, no offense, but you're just dying to match me with someone from your family. We just walked into each other, alright? Like anyone at Hogwarts does at least once a day. Give it a rest. I just got back from a broken engagement, ok?" Both girls laughed. Professor Flitwick walked in and started the class.
They were practicing some charm Cedrella already knew and helped her with.
"So, are you going to tell me what happened in the Hall?"
Eileen couldn't help but blush.
"Malfoy made a pass and me and at first I didn't get it, so I said something stupid. It'd be the same if I hadn't, but it made it worse. They were all laughing at me, and one of them even told Malfoy to share…"
Cedrella looked annoyed.
"Merlin, sometimes I really hate guys, you know? Especially Purebloods and the like."
Eileen raised an eyebrow.
"Weren't you the one that said "we're all equal" or something? Besides, we're Purebloods too."
"Yeah, I know, but…it's just the things people raise about this, you know? This whole elitist thing we created…and this kind of chauvinistic behavior!"
Eileen sighted, used to her friend's opinions.
"I don't agree that we're all the same, but I hate the way guys in our circles act too. Like we're meant to be their property."
"Exactly. They've always treated us like things because our families won't say a thing, as long as we're Purebloods seeing other Purebloods, and going on to marrying and giving them heirs."
"But we do need to keep the blood alive." Eileen said. Cedrella shrugged.
"That doesn't give them the right to act as if we're things."
Eileen mused.
"But anyway, why did Tom ask you to sit with them?"
Eileen knew she had to tell her friend, she would find out anyway.
"Well…it's kind of a long story…and I don't know how you're going to take it."
Cedrella looked up.
"Is it serious?"
"Kinda."
Her friend sighted.
"I'll tell you later, ok?"
Cedrella nodded. Professor Flitwick came over to their table and they showed him their progress. When he went to another table, they resumed talking.
"I'm glad that at least you're not keeping anything from me, even serious things." Cedrella said. Eileen looked at her pointedly.
"What?"
"Can the same be said for you?"
Cedrella blushed.
"Well, I had the same reason as you! I didn't know how you'd react!" she shrugged, and moved closer to Eileen, whispering.
"I'm seeing Weasley."
Eileen looked genuinely stunned.
"What? Sixth year Weasley?"
"The very same."
Class was over. They packed their things.
"At least he's Pureblood."
Cedrella looked annoyed.
"Don't tell me you listen to that blood-traitor thing too, Eileen."
"I do, and so should you."
"Why? Does it make him a lesser person?"
Eileen felt her friend getting distressed and knew not to press the subject.
"Forget it."
After classes and their Gobstones club reunion, the girls went back to their dormitories, Cedrella in front of Eileen so that if any of the boys were there, they wouldn't notice her. They went up to their dormitories, and sat on Eileen's bed.
"So, what was it that you wanted to tell me in Charms?"
Eileen thought.
"Alright. It's like this…Tom asked me for something in return for Confunding Dolohov. But I ended up agreeing to it willingly."
Cedrella looked alarmed.
"I knew it…that guy's not to be trusted. He charms everyone, makes everyone do anything for him, Eileen! I told you not to go to him…"
"Listen. He asked me to be one of his followers. A Death Eater. And I said yes."
Her friend was shocked.
"What?"
"He's not what everyone thinks he is. He's even more powerful than we think, and he wants to be the most powerful wizard in the world! Ceds, he's serious. He's very ambitious. And he…"
Cedrella urged her on, in spite of the expression on her face.
"He wants to put Purebloods where they should be. At the top. And he plans on putting Mudbloods and half-breeds at the bottom…"
She knew this would be the hardest thing for Cedrella to understand. Her friend got up from the bed, and paced around, her hands in her hair. She turned to Eileen, with a tired expression on her face.
"I was always afraid of something like this. Eileen…you know where I come from. What I've seen my family do."
Eileen got up as well and moved closer to her friend.
"Please don't be mad at me."
Cedrella smiled.
"I'm not. I know why you believe these things. And I know you will only fully understand what I've been telling you for years when you're faced with true horror. I'm talking about killing people, Eileen. That's the kind of thing they're expecting you to do. I've heard about Death Eaters from my cousins. And I presume you've already been bonded?"
Eileen pulled back her sleeve. Her friend shuddered.
"Right. When you realize how wrong everything is…it'll be too late. There's no walking out now. There's nothing anyone can do. But I still love you, I know your heart's in the right place, and I know you will regret this." Cedrella smiled bitterly.
"I'm going downstairs to finish some work. Good night." She said, leaving Eileen with a very bad feeling in the pit of her stomach, and in her heart.
Thanks for reading, opinions are very much appreciated!