Author Note: Here's the next chapter! I hope you like it. Ashley's brother sees her mark! What will she do? Read and find out!

"He's unbelievable," I murmured and took out the Christmas present I got from Draco. I turned it and sighed. I might as well open it. I unwrapped the paper and inside was a little black box. Inside the box was a charm bracelet. There was a snake, an ice cream, a dress, Big Ben, a sun, a heart and a flower. I studied it and smiled. A small letter lied in the green paper and I opened it.

"Merry Christmas, Ashley!" it said and I continued reading. "I just want you to know this: there's a reason I chose to give you a charm bracelet. It's my way of describing you. The ice cream is there because you're so sweet and I know you love ice cream. The sun is there because you're hot as hell. I chose Big Ben because you come from London and the dress because you often wear one. The flower is because you're beautiful. I guess you can guess the snake, but I'll say it anyway: it's because Slytherin is your House. It's hard for me to admit this, and it's why I don't have the guts to say it to you. The heart is because you took mine, Ashley. I've fallen for you…hard. I want you to know that." I felt tears down my cheek and I began to sob. "Love, Draco Malfoy." It ended and I curled the letter and threw it to the end of my bed. I dried the tears that were streaming down. This boy just kept hurting me.

"That idiot!" I said and closed my eyes. He actually told me he has fallen for me. Why did he decide to sleep with Pansy? "Why?" I asked and looked closer at the heart. It was engraved with my name. I sobbed and more tears found their way down my cheeks. Nothing of this made any sense to me and everything was so difficult. I opened the bracelet and took it around my left arm.

"Ashley? Ashley?" Lucas knocked on my door. I dried my tears and jumped up to open it. "You're home," he said and threw his arms around me. I took my arms around his neck and started crying… again. I had actually missed my family and the letter from Draco just sent me over the edge. "I thought you were dead," Lucas said and tightened his grip around me. We let go of each other and smiled.

"When is dinner?" I asked and Lucas laughed. "What?" I asked and he just shook his head.

*

I had been home for two days now and was longing to go back to Hogwarts. I missed Blaise, and I hated to admit it, but I missed Draco (idiotic moron). I spent most of my time with my family, since it was my last time with them. When they find out I was the one to kill Dumbledore they will understand I have switched sides in the war.

"Want to go watch a movie?" Chris asked while he was seated on the couch opposite of me. We were all relaxing in the living room. Lucas lied beside the huge beast of a man with a book in his hands.

"No, I think I'll pass," I murmured and kept playing with my bracelet. They had all wondered where I'd gotten it from and I just answered that it was a Christmas present from a friend at Hogwarts. The thought of sitting in a dark room surrounded by Muggles was little to not pleasing at all.

"Why not?" Chris looked at me with a raised brow. Mom came into the room with a cup tea and a book. Dad was at work like usual and I could see it in my mom's eyes it was hurting her. You could think she was used to it by now, but she was still hurting.

"I just don't feel like it."

"What about going to a party?" Chris exclaimed and grinned widely. Mom didn't look up from her book, but she coughed loudly and I rolled my eyes.

"I'm old enough, Mom," I said and she looked at me over her tea cup.

"I still don't think it's a good idea."

"I don't either, which is why I'm not coming," I stated and Chris sighed.

"What do you want to do then?"

"I don't know… nothing?"

"Boring!" he said and hit Lucas in the calf lightly. He looked up from his book and looked at his big brother.

"What?"

"Want to go to a party?" Lucas just shook his head and returned to his Muggle book. Martin came into the room grinning and light in his eyes. "What happened to you? You finally got laid?" Chris said with a laugh and I barely managed to contain myself. Mom chose to ignore her son's comment and so did Martin.

"I got a date!"

"Who is it?" I asked and smiled at my twin.

"Susan Adams," was the answer. My jaw dropped slightly and I raised an eyebrow.

"Susan Adams? Are you serious?" Martin nodded his head and I shook mine. "She's like the most stuck up student on Hogwarts! Beside the Mud-" I covered it with a cough and got some odd stares. "Granger," I corrected and looked down.

"She's nice, gorgeous, funny, charming-"

"I think someone is in love" Chris sang mockingly and stood up. He took his arm around his little brother's shoulder and led him out of the living room. "I'll explain the birds and the bees to you, bro!"

"Chris!"

"Lucas, come on! We need to chat with the little boy." Lucas sighed and lied down the book he was reading so he could follow them. I was going to miss them, I really was. Mom looked up from her book and gave me a loving smile.

"Ready for school?" I took a deep breath and nodded my head. I was ready to start my new life, to start over.

"Good!" she said and gasped "I just remembered you have one more Christmas present!" She took out her wand. "Accio Ashley's present!" she waved her wand and a small package came flying. "Here you go, sweetheart." She handed the box and I opened it eagerly.

"Oh!" I gasped surprised and looked down at the beautiful earrings. They were silver roses with a tiny diamante in the middle. They looked very old. "They're beautiful!" I exclaimed happily.

"It has been in my family for a long time, they bring good luck and success," my mom told me and I grinned.

"Thank you!" I said and stood up to hug her. "I'll take good care of them"

"I know you will," she said and smiled at me warmly, returning the hug.

*

"Aren't you warm?" Martin looked at me oddly and raised an eyebrow. "It's boiling in here."

"its okay," I said and ignored the voice inside of me screaming I was at heating point. The stove was on full because it was so cold outside. Because of my Mark I had to wear a sweater. It wasn't thick or anything, but it was still warm. "Excuse me," I said and stood up to walk out of the room. Hopefully it was cooler in my room. I ran in and threw my sweater off and sighed happily when I stood in my camisole.

"Hey, Ash." I turned and in the doorframe stood Martin. He furrowed his brow confused and looked at me. "What's that?" He asked and looked at my arm. He didn't see the entire thing, but he saw ink. "Did you get a tattoo?" He grinned and closed the door behind him. Bad choice, Martin.

"No!" I snapped and hid my left arm.

"Oh, come on! You know you can tell me anything," he said and I shook my head. My hand was firmly planted around my wand just in case.

"Martin! Stay away!" I threatened, but he didn't listen to my warning. He walked toward me with a pleased smile on his face. I lifted my wand towards him, but he didn't take me serious and kept walking. "Martin!" I warned, my teeth gritting. "Impedimenta!" I said and waved my wand. This caused him to trip and ended up on the floor.

"What did you do that for?" he asked angrily and lifted himself up again. "I just wanted to see your tattoo! Let me have a look!" He jumped towards me before I had the chance to do anything. We both ended up on the floor rolling around. He was laughing all the way. I was worried sick and fought all I could. Martin was stronger than me and threw my wand away.

"MARTIN!" I shrieked and did all I could to get him away from my left arm.

"Come on" he said and his breath caught in his throat when he managed to look at my Mark closely. "Ash…" he gasped and kicked himself away from me.

"Martin…" I begged, but he just shook his head furiously.

"Stay away from me, Ashley!" he screamed and stood up on his feet. This couldn't come out! 'Where's my wand!?' I screamed in my head and looked around. It was in the far corner and I crawled towards it. "Help! CHRIS! LUCAS!" Martin screamed and ran towards the door. I got to my wand just in time to close the door before he ran out and sound proofed the room.

"I can't let you tell everyone, Martin!" I yelled back and came towards him with a furrowed brow.

"Ashley, please! Let us help you," he begged and tears came down his cheeks. He was so hurt and I could practically feel his pain. "Please."

"I don't need any help, Martin," I murmured coldly and looked at him with sympathy. "You should've listen to me warning you about not looking at my arm," I said and shook my head. "Too bad"

"You can't hurt me…" he stated, but it sounded like a question. No, I couldn't, but he didn't need to know that, right?

"Of course I can!" I said and smirked. I took my wand up in front of me and sighed.

"Why did you do this?"

"I chose a side! This is the side I belong to." He gasped and looked at me with wide eyes.

"You killed Marcus, didn't you!?" he asked and I sighed. I wasn't going to be the bad guy in movies telling their victim everything and then they get caught. Stupid!

"Maybe." I smirked and took my wand close to his chest. "I'm sorry, Martin. Obliviate ten minutes," I murmured and Martin shot backwards to the wall. That was the memory charm Lucius had taught me before I left. He didn't want anything to go wrong.

The last ten minutes of Martin's memory would be gone forever. I hid my wand and looked at my brother expectantly.

"What happened?"

"You managed to hit your head when you tripped, don't you remember?" He shook his head and I gave him a hug. "I guess you just forgot then" I smirked and chuckled a little.

*

"Do you have everything, sweetie?" my mom asked for the hundredth time that day. We were at station 9 ¾. I was going back to school and my mom decided to follow me. My brothers had all gotten back to school the previous day and today it was my turn.

"Yes, I'm all set." I grinned and gave my mom a hug. "I'm going to be all right, mom. Don't worry!"

"I can't help it," she said and smiled. "It feels like it's the last time I see you" My eyes widened at her and she kissed my forehead. "But of course it's not."

"I love you, Mom. Remember that. Please."

"I will if you remember I love you too." I nodded and took my thoughts with me to the train. I put my trunks inside and found an empty compartment. All the others were outside saying goodbye to their loved ones.

I looked down at my bracelet and smiled. Draco had done pretty much everything to make me forgive him. Why couldn't I just do it? It was too hard. He had hurt me too much. If it hadn't happened right after Marcus I might've been able to forgive him, but not now.

I looked out the window and spotted Potter and his minions jumping aboard. Blaise was talking to Kevin about something and seemed pretty eager; probably Quidditch. After them came the morons named Draco and Pansy. He was doing everything he could not to punch her in the face and she smiled happily. How stupid is it possible to be?

"Ash!" Blaise exclaimed and gave me a big hug. He sat down beside me and took an arm around my waist. It wasn't visible to anyone, but I giggle at him anyway.

"I missed you!" I said and grinned. He wet his lips with his tongue and I felt the sudden urge to kiss him. Not because I had anything other than friendly feeling towards him, but because he was so damn cute! Draco came into the compartment with pug face behind him. He looked at me with a begging gaze, but I looked away and out the window instead.

"Be a little nice to him, Ashley," Blaise whispered, but I shook my head.

"Ashley, I-" Draco started, but I stood up quickly and excused myself saying I needed to go to the toilet. No one bought it, but I didn't care. "Ashley!" I didn't turn to the sound of his voice. I just walked down the hall. "Ashley!" Draco yelled again and grabbed my arm and turned me around.

"What!?" I snapped and narrowed my eyes. "What do you want?" he held my arms tight and took me closer to his chest. I was at the verge of tears. It was too painful to look at him.

"Can't you forgive me?" he whispered, but I shook my head. "You're wearing my bracelet…did you read the letter?"

"Yes," I whispered and looked into his deep grey eyes.

"And it's still not enough for you to forgive me?"

"No," I whispered and tried to break free from him. "Let me go, Malfoy!" I practically sneered and tried to push him away. He bent his head down to mind and our lips met. His soft lips moved with mine and I sighed. It felt so right, so good and my heart fluttered happily. The butterflies in my stomach flied freely and I sighed into his mouth. 'No!' I yelled at myself and managed to push him away. "No!" I said with tears down my cheeks. "Draco, please!" I begged and he let go of my hands. I took off and ran away from him sobbing.

*

I found an empty compartment after that and sat down with some snack and enjoyed the rest of the trip in silence. We were witches and wizards, but we had to take a train… it makes no sense!

I jumped off the train and looked at the chaos around me: stressed out people everywhere. I walked to get to the thestrals to get up to the school. I was so hungry! I sat up in the carriage and waited for someone to join me so I could get away from here.

"… Hermione, he's one of them now" I looked down and saw Potter and his friends join me. Bad luck much!? "I saw-" he got hit in the side by the Mudblood and looked at me.

"Hello," Granger said and sat opposite of me, I just nodded my head.

"Typical with our luck! We have to sit in the carriage with a Slytherin." I turned and glared at him with my teeth clenched.

"Ron, stop it!" Granger said and slapped him on the back of his head. Potter followed the two and sat down beside me. Beside him again sat the little sister of the red head family. They shared quite a few looks and I rolled my eyes. They spoke eagerly the whole way up to the castle. When we stopped they walked off and so did I.

"Crap!" I cursed and shivered.

"Hey, Ash!" Blaise was waiting by the door for me with a huge grin.

"Blaise!" I sighed with relief and smiled. He took his arm around my shoulder and led me inside to the Great Hall. "I'm so hungry," I complained and Blaise chuckled. We sat down, Blaise beside Draco and I beside Kevin.

"I hope your holiday break was enjoyable and relaxing. Now it's time for a new trimester with hard work. Enjoy!" Dumbledore said in his typical manner and the food was served. Thank God! I grabbed some chicken breasts and some rice.

"Yum!" I commented and kept chewing. Blaise chuckled beside me and I rolled my eyes at him. "How was the rest of your holiday?"

"Fine," he shrugged and took a piece of his sausage. "We had a party last night and it was great fun. You should've been there though"

"I wanted to, trust me," I said and he asked me how my holiday was. "I spent some last quality time with the family and stuff so it was okay I guess. Oh and-" I bent my head closer to his and whispered the rest. "Martin saw my Mark" Blaise's eyes widened and I grinned. "But I made him forget it with oblivate."

"Good girl," he commented and ruffled my hair before we continued eating.

Did you like it? Let me know, please! :)