Mksfroogle is back! This is now chapter 12! I honestly didn't think that I would get this far lol

And it is all thanks to all of you who read my story! I owe you guys; you deserve nothing but great chapters from now on!

The story from now on will only get better, I promise so stay tuned! Please Review and vote on my poll on my profile page!

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One month has gone by at Hogwarts and things have just seemed to get even more nerve racking for Marie than she had ever thought possible. It is November 19th and she and Draco were going to a Slugclub party that they were invited to the next night.

Except this time they had to bring dates.

Draco had already asked Pansy to go with him so she knew she couldn't ask Draco. Blaise was available but Marie didn't really feel too comfortable with someone that has a sexual escapade reputation. He was attractive and all with black hair and Italian facial features but he just wasn't really Marie's type.

So much had happened in a few weeks that Marie's life was just starting to feel normal once more.

Slytherin won the Quidditch match against Ravenclaw, of course. That went over quite smoothly except for the fact that Cho Chang practically drove her off of her broom trying to get to the snitch as well.

Well let's just say poor little Co Chang took a tumble off of her broom stick instead.

With the help of a little push.

Voldemort had announced that there would be a Yule ball on Christmas Eve as well. This got Marie nervous because now Mclaggen wouldn't stay away from her in class and out. Of course the Slytherins helped her out and had her escape while Draco would send some of his favorite curses at Cormack. But he just didn't seem to get the idea that Marie was not interested in him! He just kept coming!

Marie was just frustrated with it all!

Mclaggen was so stupid as to even hit on her in Defense against the Dark arts/Dark arts class in front of Voldemort! Of course now Voldemort does not allow interruptions so every time Mclaggen interrupted quietly to try to court Marie, Voldemort would have him be the guinea pig and demonstrate curses and spells on him. Marie had a feeling that Voldemort just didn't like Mclaggen as much as she didn't.

After dinner now, Marie would take a walk around the castle before curfew. After all, it was her right as a student that she could if she wanted to. However, she always had a weird feeling of being watched. It unnerved her, of course, but she never stopped her nightly walks. She was a little bit frightened that it would be Mclaggen watching her though. She wouldn't be afraid to admit that he scares her. The way he always looks at her and talks to her just strikes a fear inside of her you wouldn't have thought possible in the ex-Gryffindor.

Now Marie was in a little bit of a dilemma. She didn't know who to ask out to the Slugclub party!

She walked by a familiar hall and stopped. Something was very familiar about this hallway, she knew it very well.

It was the hallway to get into the room of requirement.

She stood in front of the wall for a few seconds, letting memories flood her mind of last year's illegal club she led.

Dumbledore's army.

A tear left her eye as she was sadly reminded of Professor Dumbledore. What would he say now to her if he was still alive? Then suddenly a noise behind her caught her attention. She whirled around, expecting to see either Voldemort or Mclaggen. Preferably Voldemort.

But it was neither.

Standing before her in Gryffindor robes, shifting his weight slightly in anxiety, was Neville Longbottom.

Marie let out a breathe she didn't know she had been holding. But then she backed away, remembering that he was no longer able to be trusted. That Neville Longbottom was among the other Gryffindors that had tormented her so harshly. Neither said anything to the other, so Marie decided to break the silence.

"W-What do you want?" Marie said shakily.

Once more, Neville shifted and looked away, almost like he was embarrassed.

"I believe you."

That was all he said before he walked away, but Marie wasn't going to let that one sentence slide by without an explanation.

"Wait, Neville!"

He stopped but didn't turn around.

"What?" he asked, "I said what I had to say, now I'm leaving, alright?"

"Not without an explanation you're not."

Marie bravely walked up closer to Neville, hoping this all wouldn't be a hoax or another prank on her. He turned around to face her with a slight blush of pink on his cheeks in the dim light of the halls.

"Fine. You want an explanation? I believed you from the start, Marie. That you did what you did to save everyone from a horrible death. However, everyone else didn't. I didn't want to get bullied again by my own friends and I know that sounds horrible because that's what's happening to you! The truth is, I wanted to tell you just to get it off my chest. I'm sorry Marie."

He shook his head in disbelief, as if hardly believing his own words at that moment, "Actually, I didn't just tell you to get it off my chest. I know I cannot be forgiven by you for not sticking up for you when you needed it. Luna feels the same way, you know. You should know she would never hate anyone. We took the coward's way, and I'm sorry you had to suffer for it. I'll just go now."

He started to walk away when Marie grabbed his shoulder to stop him. She looked in his eyes for some truth. Neville's eyes teared up with it. He truly was genuinely sorry. Marie couldn't help but to hug him tightly, making the shy sixth year Gryffindor stumble in shock.

"I forgive you Neville."

A few seconds drifted by when they parted a ways.

"Thank you for forgiving me and all, but could we, uh, just keep this a secret? I-"

"Don't worry Neville. I don't want you to get hurt by their stupidity."

Marie stopped though, and her Slytherin side gleamed a bit, "Actually, I think you owe me something for all those years sticking up for you, Neville."

Neville's eyes widened a little in fear, hoping she wouldn't make him do anything embarrassing.

"I want you to go to the Slugclub party with me so I'll have a date."

"But then-"

"But then," she interrupted, " You can tell the Gryffindors that you were planning on dumping me to break my heart again, I can tell the Slytherins to lay off you and Luna, and I'll ask Voldemort if he can help you in DADA/Dark arts class. Deal?"

Neville stood there in shock, "Wow, Marie," he started, "That really is a generous offer and all but I really don't think I would want The Dark Lord's help at anything. And what would Luna think about me taking you to the Slugclub party as a date?"

"Oh it's okay! Just tell her about our deal. And Voldemort really is a nice guy. Why don't you think there hasn't been any killings anymore? Since the war has ended and he has what he wants, everybody can live in peace now!"

Neville nodded his head in silence.

"Besides, I'll be there with you for private tutoring if you're scared of him"

Neville smirked at her but that smirk changed into a happy smile, "Alright, Marie. It's a deal. And I truly am sorry about everything. I don't know why everybody doesn't agree with you. Ron and Hermione felt betrayed of your friendship since that deal but I know you made the right decision."

"Thank you Neville"

He nodded his head once more, "So are Malfoy and those other Slytherins all really not that bad then?"

"I guess if you don't piss them off and they don't have a reason to hate you, then no. They really aren't that bad. They're all really nice, actually."

Neville wrinkled his eyebrows together as if he didn't quite believe her but then sighed.

"Well I had better be off, Marie," he laughed, "Everyone thinks I went to the Room of Requirement to practice my spells again."

"Alright, Neville, I'll see you tomorrow night then?"

"Yeah, I'll see you. I'll have to go and get a tux then, tomorrow."

Marie laughed, "I'll be wearing green. Is that okay?"

"Perfect"

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The next day, Marie, Draco and Pansy went to Hogsmeade together to get their new robes/dresses for the Slugclub party that night. Draco of course got very fancy and expensive black and dark green robes that he just looked amazing in. Pansy and Marie however took a little longer to decide. Pansy kept running around Gladrag's wizardwear to find the 'perfect dress'. Marie, meanwhile, was having a little trouble to find anything that she looked good in.

"Marie what's wrong?"

Draco caught her looking completely lost and decided maybe he should help even though he didn't know anything about dresses. Marie looked up at him while looking at the strapless dresses.

"Uh, well. I don't know what to wear. What do you think?"

Draco looked completely surprised now but tried to look calm, "Who are you trying to look good for?"

He just meant it as a joke. He knew she didn't have any interests in any of the Slytherins and no one else in school. Or so he thought.

"It's a surprise."

'Uh-oh' Draco thought, 'I didn't think she was interested in anyone. Someone asked her out? It must've been Blaise. Poor thing, she probably doesn't realize she had other options. I would have taken her if Pansy hadn't kept harping to me about it to go with her'.

"Right well Marie, I hope you actually know what you're doing. It better not be Mclaggen"

Marie pulled a face of utter disgust, "Ew! Gross! Of course it isn't Mclaggen! That's disgusting!"

"Thank Merlin. I was only joking anyway, Marie. Now let's find you a dress. Oh well here's one! How about this one?"

He pulled out a pink dress that came all the way up to the mid-thighs.

"No. Hell no."

He chuckled and pulled out another, not really knowing what he was pulling out.

"Oh Draco that's perfect!"

"What is it?"

Marie rolled her eyes at him, "Look at it!"

He looked at the dress and he was amazed. It was a dark green strapless dress that came up to the knees.

"I'll go try it on! Why don't you go help your date find a dress too? It looks like she some help as well"

Marie ran off to try the dress on but when she came out, she found a little scene going on in the store.

"Why do you want to talk to Marie, Longbottom? I'm sure she doesn't want to talk to you, you Gryffindor scum!"

"Watch your mouth, Malfoy! I have some business with her about a deal we made alright?"

"A deal? What deal?"

Marie jumped out into the open, letting everyone know she was there, "A deal about helping him in class!"

Neville looked a little odd at her but didn't say anything. Draco just looked at her as if she were insane.

"What?"

Neville said he would help me in herbology if I helped him in the dark arts class. You know Gryffindors and how frightened they are of Voldemort."

"Oh. Right."

Draco still didn't look sure about what she was saying but didn't question her.

"If you're sure, Marie."

"I am"

Draco nodded his head and went back over to Pansy, who was picking out a bright orange dress.

Neville came up to Marie looking a little nervous and a bright blush once again covering his cheeks.

"So uh, you look good. I like that dress, actually."

"Really? Did you get your tux?"

"Ah, yes I did. While Malfoy was interrogating me. Real nice guy, Malfoy is right?"

Marie giggled softly, "Once you get to know him, he's a good guy. I'm sure you two would have gotten along if he hadn't been so stuck up for five years straight."

Neville let himself go and let out a laugh that alerted the Slytherins. Neville shut down again and looked at Marie with a slight smile across his face, "I hope we both don't have any problems tonight Marie. Mclaggen seems to have quite the crush on you. He's outside the store right now. I caught him rehearsing another line of how to 'court' you. Watch out for him. I think he's gone a little bonkers. And I told Ron and Hermione I was taking you. Just thought you might want to know that Hermione was taking Ron and Ginny was going to take Dean Thomas. You might want to stick with the Slytherins tonight when I ditch you, alright?"

"Wow. Thanks Neville. I really appreciate what you're doing I hope you know that?"

He nodded, "Thank you for forgiving me. I better go now before Malfoy kills me with that glare of his. I'll see you tonight. I'll come to the dungeons at about 7:00pm since it starts at 7:30 okay?"

"Alright, thanks. And thanks about that warning about Mclaggen Neville!"

"No problem!"

He left the store quickly, dodging Draco in case he wanted to pick a fight again.

Draco came over to Marie with confusion on his features, "So what was that all about? You know you can tell me anything right Marie?"

"Of course Draco. It isn't anything harmful. It'll be okay. Trust me."

They left the store a half an hour later. Marie chose the dress Draco picked out for her while Pansy chose a very short black strapless dress.

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Finally it was almost 7:00pm and Marie got her dress on and wore black eyeliner, green and gray eye shadow and blood red lipstick. She curled her hair slightly but left her hair all the way down. She also wore black heels and dark green nail polish.

Draco and Pansy decided to wait for her to go with her and her date since they didn't know who it was. Finally it was 7:00pm and they went out of the common room to see that Neville Longbottom was waiting for her. Sure enough, Draco's face reddened in anger at seeing the Gryffindor leaning on a dungeon wall in a traditional black and white tux with black shoes, his hair tussled up. In truth, he looked very handsome to Marie. Marie smiled at him and he smiled back but stopped when he saw Draco coming with her and Pansy. Neville took Marie's arm like a gentleman and gently led her as Draco and Pansy followed.

Soon they made it to the party entrance in complete silence. Neither male made a move to speak to their date for different reasons. Draco wanted to listen to hear if Neville would say anything to Marie while Neville didn't want to say anything in fear of angering Draco. The doors opened and they stopped in awe at what they saw. It seems that it wasn't just the Slugclub that had been invited. There were many people from the Ministry that Marie recognized and tightened her hold on Neville in anger. She really didn't like Ministry workers.

Then she felt Neville whisper in her ear.

"Don't worry. You only have to stay at least an hour here then we can all leave. I'll probably leave sooner."

Marie smiled at him but then she caught the eyes of Ron and Hermione smirking at her like they knew something she didn't. Marie couldn't help but to smirk back with the thought that she knew something that they didn't.

They walked around together, Neville a little nervous to be around so many Slytherins at once. They met up with Blaise and his date, Rose Zeller, a Hufflepuff.

"Poor little Hufflepuff doesn't know what she's getting herself into."

Marie jumped slightly when she heard Draco's voice right behind her.

Neville glanced at Marie with an understanding in both of their eyes.

"Well that's my queue! I think I'll go get us some punch."

Marie and Neville both knew he wasn't going to do that.

"Marie, what do you think you are doing inviting Longbottom to come with you? You know those Gryffindors are nothing but bad news! He'll break your heart!"

"That's the point."

"What?"

Draco was immensely confused now.

"Neville and I made a deal that if he came to the party with me, me and Voldemort would help him in DADA/Dark arts class. Besides, he believes me. So does Luna."

"But-"

"Don't interrupt me Draco! Now I know I made you upset because I didn't tell you but I knew how you would react. I trust Neville. He came to me last night and poured his heart out to me that he was sorry. That's why we came up with this deal. He's supposed to ditch me so he doesn't make Ron and Hermione suspect that he believes me. He doesn't want to get bullied anymore."

"Sounds like the coward's way out."

"Neville's the bravest person I know."

Draco didn't get to make a comeback as Slughorn came up behind them.

"Oh hello, Miss Potter. Mister Malfoy. I just ran into your father. He was just telling me how he won the approval for every ministry worker to have a test performed on them to ensure their loyalty to the minister."

"Oh really? I didn't know my father was here. Why are there so many Ministry folk here anyway, Professor?"

"Oh you didn't know?" Slughorn's eyes widened comically in surprise, "This party is for all of my members of my Slugclub. New and old. Everyone here has been in my little club."

"Oh, well that's interesting . . . . . Is that a vampire?"

Marie saw a man she thought was sucking on a blood pop form Honeydukes.

"Ah yes, that would be Eldred Worple. He is the author of Blood Brothers: My life against the Vampires. He takes his job very seriously. Let's see who else is here I can point you youngsters to.

Ah! There's Derk Cresswell, now the head of the Goblin Liaison Office. There's Barnabas Cuffe, the editor of the Daily Prophet. Ambrosius Flume. Now I know who youngsters would love her. She is the owner of Honeydukes. Ciceron Harkiss, Mr. Nott, Gwenog Jones. He is now the captain of the Holyhead Harpies! Oh and there's Democles, the inventor of the Wolfsbanes potion. And then there's Tiberius, Mr. Mclaggen's Uncle."

Slughorn looked a little lost then, "Ah but I think there's someone missing."

Just then a certain scent caught Marie that just smelled wonderful. It smelled of ink, cinnamon and cologne. It seemed a familiar scent and she wanted to smell more of it until she noticed it was from a person behind her.

"That missing person would just so happen to be me, Horace. What, would you forget your best student?"

"Oh of course not Tom!"

'Tom?'

Marie turned around to see Lord Voldemort had been behind her. The man that had smelt so good was Lord Voldemort!

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Another Cliffhanger! Hahahahahah I'm evil! But seriously, what do you guys think of this? Please Review so I'll know what you think. Remember! For my other story, 'A Different Alternative to War', the poll ends November 12th! So vote, vote vote on what song Snape should have Remus Lupin sing!

And don't worry, more characters will appear in this story that you may be missing. What do you guys think of me making Neville the good Gryffindor? Or is he a good guy? Who knows? What will Voldemort think of Marie's little deal with him? Will Voldemort agree to tutor Neville? What will Mclaggen do as he is there at the party as well? Will Ron and Hermione do anything? Find out in the next chapter!