The dueling club

Riddle continued to be a ghost, he was absent from my mind and from records that we could find. Which was a good thing because it kept me occupied. I needed the distraction. Draco and Pansy were apparently a thing now. It was horrible the way she clung to him. I could tell he hated it. I knew him well enough to see past the mask. Well, it was his choice. I missed his friendship though. I would have to respect his wishes. It was dangerous enough to involve the twins and Hermione.

Nothing interesting happened until a notice went up on the board. There was a dueling club being started. I was excited to learn to duel. I just hoped it wasn't Lockhart teaching it or we wouldn't learn anything. I talked to Hermione and the twins over dinner about it.

"I think we should go." I said.

"It couldn't hurt." Hermione agreed.

"Definitely will be a useful skill to have." Fred said.

"Sounds like fun." George said.

"We will meet in the entrance hall then." I said.

It fed my anger that this was one of the many things Aria would be missing because of Riddle. It made me even more determined to win this fight.

We met in the entrance hall and headed down to the great hall where the club was meeting.

All the house and staff tables were gone. In the center of the room was a stage. It was big wooden and circular. It was perfect for dueling.

"I wonder who will be teaching?" George asked.

"I don't know… maybe Flitwick?" Hermione said.

"Why would it be him?" Fred asked.

"Because…. He was the dueling chamion of his age." She said as if it was common knowledge.

"Really? I never knew." I said shocked.

The twins shrugged. "Who cares." George said.

"Yea as long as its not…." Fred trailed off as a voice said.

"Hello! Welcome! Gather round. Can everyone see me? Can you all hear me?" Lockhart said showing off his teeth as he climbed on the stage.

The twins and I groaned. "Well this is going to be a huge waste of my time." I muttered. The twins nodded and Hermione glared.

"Were going to start today with a little demonstration. Professor Snape has sportingly agreed to assist me." He said smiling.

This time I smiled too. I sniggered a little fighting back full blown laughter. I couldn't wait to see my father put Lockhart in his place. The twins were grinning wickedly. We all high fived and happily waited for the show to begin. My father stepped onto the stage his sneering scowl in place.

"Alright now first you face your opponent and bow." My father and Lockhart sharply bowed. Then rigidly raised up and held their wand straight up.

"Then hold your wand in the accepted combat position." He said.

"On three we will begin. One, two, three!" He said. Before he could even lower his wand, my father cried.

"Expelliarmus!" Lockhart's wand went flying and so did he. He hit the wall with a thud.

I burst into laughter and so did the twins. "Do you think he is all right?" Hermione asked anxiously.

"Who cares!" I shrugged earning another glare.

Lockhart got up tidying himself up. "Very good to show them that Professor Snape. Now where is my wand?" He asked and it was handed to him "Ah, thank you. Now as I was saying. It was good to show them that but it was obvious about what you were about to do. It would have only been too easy to stop you." He rambled. My father's face showed his fury. Lockhart was still smiling. The idiot didn't notice. If my father ever looked at me like that I would be running the opposite direction.

Lockhart paused for a moment and gulped a little. Ah, little bunny rabbit finally noticed the fox. "Anyway I think we should pair up and practice. Professor Snape and I will be coming around and putting you with partners." He said as he made his way into the crowd.

My father reached us first. "Miss Potter how about you and Miss. Parkinson." He said.

"Draco and Mr. Weasly." He said pointing to Ron.

"Mr. Weasly and Mr. Flint." He said pointing to Fred.

"Mr. Weasly and Mr. Zabini." He said pointing to George.

"Miss Granger and Miss Bulstrode." He said.

I sneered at Parkinson. She sneered back. "Jealous that Draco had finally seen who is the better witch?" She taunted I glowered at her.

Think you are the better witch? Ha! He finds you to be the most obnoxious person on the planet! I hissed in parceltongue. She started at me frightened for a moment before her haughty attitude was back.

I narrowed my eyes at her. "Tantalegra!" I said. She started dancing uncontrollably.

She growled and cast a tickling charm on me. Between laughter I cast Expelliarmus. My father scowled as he released the spells.

"Your instructions were to disarm only." He said sternly.

"I did disarm her after she cast the tickling curse." I smirked.

He rolled his eyes and continued. Very few had successfully disarmed each other. Draco had disarmed Weasly. Weasly was red faced and furious. Fred and George bested their partners. Hermione had disarmed Millicent and was currently in a choke hold. I shot a stinging hex a Millicent and she released Hermione. Seamus Finnegan had singed Neville's hair and was apologizing.

Lockhart took the stage again. "Okay now I would like a pair to come up here and demonstrate the spell. Miss Potter and how about Mr. Weasly?" I climbed the stage with Ron. I went to the end by my father.

"Remember only disarm him." He said.

I nodded. "Ready?" Lockhart asked and I nodded.

"Scared Potter?" Ron sneered.

I laughed. "You wish."

"On the count of three. One, two, three!" Lockhart said.

"Expelliarmus!" I said.

"Serpentsocrcia!" He cried. A large black cobra came out of his wand.

He was disarmed after he cast the spell. I looked at the snake in horror. It was slithering towards Justin Finfletchy a Hufflepuff second year. It was hissing angrily and was about to strike.

No, leave him alone. The snake looked at me docilly. There was gasp from everyone.

Hermione climbed on the stage. Come here I will send you home. More gasp as she spoke.

Justin screamed angrily. "What are you two playing at!?" He took off before we could reply.

Hermione vanished the snake glaring at Ron. "RONALD WEASLY HOW DARE YOU! YOU COULD HAVE HURT SOMEONE!" Hermione said sternly.

Ron ignored her. "How are you a parcel mouth? You're a Gryffindor? Blimy I thought you were nice." He said taking off. The twins pulled us off the stage and into an empty classroom.

"Why didn't you tell us you were a Parcelmouth Phoenix?" George demanded.

"It is not something I like discussing because no one else in my family can do it." I said.

"Why didn't you tell us Mione?" Fred asked.

"I didn't know until Jamie clicked in her head the voice only we can hear must be a snake. She spoke to me in Parceltongue and I replied in Parceltongue without even realizing I was speaking another language." Hermione explained.

"Wicked!" The twins replied.

"Do you think your secretly a pureblood?" Fred asked.

"Why does me being a Parcelmouth make me a pureblood! No! I wasn't adopted as far as I know." She said biting her lip. She was worried about what she might discover.

"Mione, no matter where you come from you will always be my friend. Blood doesn't make you who you are. Your Hermione smart, kind, caring Gryffindor. You are my best friend and nothing will change that."

Hermione teared up. "Thank you." She said hugging me.

"We don't care where you come from either Mione. You may not be a part of the Marauders officially but you are family none the less." Fred said and George nodded.

Hermione hugged me one last time and I ran my hand down her hair grabbing a strand.

Oh, no! Not you not now!

Yes me….. we are going to find out the truth about your little mudblood friend.

Don't call her that!

I won't if she turns out not to be. I waved off the twins saying I was going for a walk. With the hair firmly in hand I made my way down to the potions lab.

I brewed the potion. When it was done I added Hermione's hair. I took a drop and placed it on a piece of parchment.

I gasped at the results in my hand. I folded the results in my pocket and headed back to the common room. I had no clue what to do with this information. Hermione or should I say Arabella would be devastated.

I was forced to spend the next few days researching genealogies in search for Hermione's mother. Apparently Riddle at this age hadn't known her. When I found her name, I realized why. She was over twenty years younger than him. He was pleased that she was a pureblood. This made Hermione a pureblood. It also tied her to a very ancient pureblood family.

Every time I tried to tell Hermione what I had discovered Riddle stopped me. He said he would reveal the truth to her when he was ready. I was worried about his plans. He was keeping me on a tight leash.

Again, it was the calm before the storm I just wanted this to be over.

The next day Hermione pulled me into a classroom. "Jamie, I found something out!" She said excited and panicked.

"What?" I asked.

"I know who was charged the first time. I know who can tell us about Riddle." She said.

"Who?" I asked.

"Hagrid!" She said.

"Hagrid?" I questioned.

"Yes they went to school together. I wrote in the diary to see what he would say. He showed me his capture of Hagrid." She said excitedly.

"That bastard got Hagrid expelled for his crimes!" I said angrily.

She nodded. "I found out something else too, last time the chamber was opened a girl died."

"Do you know who?" I asked.

"No, I think your fighting him is the only reason it hasn't happened this time." She said.

"We should talk to Hagrid." Hermione suggested.

"That will be a lovely conversation. Hello Hagrid tell us do you know how to kill the man that got you expelled? He is trying to kill me now." I said sarcastically.

"No, we just have to ask him about how he got expelled." Hermione said.

"I don't know how that will help." I said.

"Because the more we know the better." She said with an air of one plus one equals two.

The next week classes kept us from being able to visit Hagrid. We weren't too busy to notice the stares and whispers however. After the exciting first dueling club meeting people were looking at Hermione and I differently. There were rumors that we were secretly twins. There were rumors about who our parents were. Some claimed we were cousins. The one consistent parts to the rumors were that Hermione and I were the heiresses of Slytherin. People skirted us in the halls like we were a plague.

The twins having fun with this went out of their way to get in front of us and say things like.

"Make way seriously evil witch coming through!"

"Can't you see the dark princess is in a hurry! She is meeting her twin and their fanged servant in the chamber of secrets."

It made me laugh. That's one thing about the twins that I loved. No matter how dark the situation was they could make you laugh.

Ginny was having the hardest time of anyone though. She glared at anyone who said anything about me or Hermione. She seemed depressed about everything. According to the twins she was a great cat lover. She was upset about Mrs. Norris and Aria. They were going about cheering her up the wrong way though. They would cover themselves in hair or boils and jump out at her. She often would scream and run away sobbing.

Percy finally made them stop by threatening to send an owl to Mrs. Weasly telling her Ginny was having nightmares. I tried to comfort Ginny as much as I could. I hated that her first year was filled with fear.

I fell into a restless sleep. I awoke in a sweaty panic and clutching my chest. I had a dream Riddle forced me to murder my father, Hermione and the twins. I was locked in Azkaban.

I finally calmed myself on to panic again when I saw the diary on my nightstand.

How did you get back here? I wrote angrily.

You thought you could get rid of me? Ha! Arabella is too smart for her own good. I don't want her writing in my diary. I know she says she won't do it again, but I have to make sure.

Her name is Hermione.

No its Arabella and don't you forget it. The world will know her identity soon enough.

Like hell! I wrote back angrily.

Write a letter to Narcissa Malfoy telling her about her niece and include some of Hermione's hair and blood.

Like a stiff robot I got up and pulled out a piece of parchment and ink. I was fighting it all the way. He quickly regained control and I realized that having the diary back made it easier for him to control me.

Dear Narcissa Malfoy,

I have come to the realization that your niece is alive. She is here at Hogwarts hidden under a false name. Hermione Granger is Arabella. I have included blood and hair samples to make this easier to prove. Please inform your sister of this news. Also, do not release this information to anyone including your husband until I say so. I hope to be meeting you soon.

A concerned citizen.

I charmed the handwriting so that it wouldn't look like my own. I was exhausted and couldn't fight him. I was getting weaker and weaker. Strong emotions helped but even that had ceased working.

The next morning I pulled Hermione into an empty classroom. "Jamie! What is going on…?" She asked.

I smirked. "Hello…" I said in a voice that was mine but the tone was all wrong. It was icy and devoid emotion.

"Riddle! Let her go!" She demanded pulling her wand.

"Stupefy!" I cried first and she went stiff.

I cut a lock of her hair then magically grew it back. I transfigured a quill into a dagger and cut her hand. I took the blood into an empty potion vile. I tucked those things into my robe. I placed a memory charm on her and a compulsion charm. She would go to class and not remember a thing. I bid my time until classes were over. I then went to my dorm room and attached the hair and blood to the letter.

I sent the letter with a non-distinct school owl. As the owl flew away so did my hope. I was completely under Riddles control. No one could save me now. Not Hermione or the twins. I just hoped that Riddle would spare them.

Hermione and the twins met me in the library as usual. I could barely stay awake. Hermione eyed me concerned. "Jamie are you okay?"

"No Mione I am not okay. He is sucking the life out of me and making sure that when he finally kills me I will rot in hell with him." I said bitterly and angrily.

"Jamie! Don't say such a thing. We just have to talk to Hagrid." She said.

"Yeah and I will be sent to Azkaban." I said.

"Phoenix you are a marauder and marauders don't just give up." George said.

"Yeah we are a family and family sticks together. We will find a way to free you." Fred said.

I smiled weakly and pretended for a second I believed them. I left shortly after. I came to in my bed once again pale and sweaty. I couldn't remember going to sleep or reaching the dorm.

Not again! I panicked. I didn't know what was worse knowing what I had done or not knowing. I sobbed into my pillow. Why was I so weak and stupid. Why couldn't I fight this off. I didn't want to hurt people. I didn't want to be a tool of someone so vile and evil. I didn't want to be a tool at all.

Don't worry girl soon you will be nothing but a memory.

I didn't bother responding. I couldn't sleep so I pulled on my stepfather's cloak and went for a walk. I tripped over something. I promptly backed away until I hit a wall and started to sob.

What I saw was Justin Flenfletchly face frozen in shock on the ground. Nearly Headless Nick was a smoky grey and whispy. His head was hanging off his neck. Justin had been fearing being attack. He was one of the strongest voices against me and Hermione.

Suddenly the last person I wanted to see came around the corner. Peeves cackling happily said. "Who is crying? What is you crying for?" Then while hanging his stiffened and screamed.

"ATTACK! ATTACK! DOUBLE ATTACK! NO MORTAL OR GHOST IS SAFE." I took off as quietly as I could. Last thing I needed was to be caught there. I made it back to my dorm room curled up into a ball on my bed and tried to calm myself. In the early hours of the morning I passed out from exhaustion.

I had a nightmare that Justin was dead and I was sent to Azkaban. My father turned on me in disgust saying I was no daughter of his. My body was trembling when I woke up. I forced myself to get dressed and go to breakfast. I nibbled on my food. The twins were eyeing me and so was Hermione so they had heard then. I couldn't face them so I pretended that I was oblivious.