Authors' Note: Hey guys! Sorry for not updating sooner but I (Marie) didn't feel that motivated to write this one. Not that this one isn't fantastic (which it is), it just took a while to get motivated. You know what does motivate me… Reviews! I really appreciate all the reviews I do get and for that this chapter is dedicated to all those who take less than a minute to give feedback. Hope you love this chapter, lots of drama and even a little bit of a darker- wait we've said too much. Thanks to MissPurple SmileyFace for the story sugestion can't wait to read your next chapter in Hidden. Hope you enjoy. Review please.

Disclaimer: I don't own HP.

Chapter 26

If Truth Be Told

When our lips touched it felt like the lightning had actually struck, and immense electricity was pulsing through our bodies. I could feel a huge smile spread across his lips. We broke apart for some air.

"What the hell took you so long?" I asked him but at once he kissed me again, and I didn't care what the answer would be. I felt his arms hold me tighter against him. His bare arms felt warm against bare shoulders. One of his hands clenched into a fist and I could feel his arm beginning to vibrate, as if he was ignore a great pain. His lips began to move more feverishly. I again broke us apart worried for what was happening.

"Draco, what's wrong?" I asked concerned. I reached out a hand and placed it on his arm as a calming gesture. He didn't say anything or even look at me. The minute I placed my fingers on his arm he reacted as if I had burned him. I caught a glimpse of something black on his arm. He hid it against his side, still clenched in a fist. Determined to find out what I did to him I forcefully pried his arm away from side. Once I had won his arm he relaxed. A flash of lightning showed me what really the problem was. A skull and a snake tattoo. Instinctively I dropped his arm and took a few steps back.

"You're one of them?" I accused him but my voice was barely a whisper. He stared at the muddy ground, unable to meet my eyes.

"Are you going to kill me, or are you going to lure me into a trap?" My head began to spin with all the possible thoughts of what could happen to me. All of them ended up with a flash of green light and the feeling of Ralph die in my arms over and over again. I began to feel light headed; I nearly lost my footing on the slippery ground. The rain drops felt like shards of ice cutting into my skin. I rubbed my arms trying to get the shivering to stop.

Draco looked away, towards the lake. Not even trying to stop what I was accusing him of. The only explanation is that it is all true. With his back turned I headed towards the castle, he didn't even try and stop me.

"Draco, why?" My voice was shaking.

"It's not like I had a choice." He growled. So that's how it's going to be? I could feel something rise up in me; it felt almost like a fire burning in my veins.

"I see it oh so clearly now, like father like son." I hissed piercingly as I past him. After that I ran up to the castle, no longer finding any comfort in the rain. I don't know how well the raindrops could hide the tears that dripped off of my chin. I'm glad that I'm alone; it's so much harder to be upset if you don't want anyone else to see you like this, putting on a brave face.

Wet footprints could be found all the way up to the second floor, along with wet handprints on the door to the hospital wing. Luckily, Madam Pomfrey was still asleep so that this night wouldn't get any worse. I pulled the curtains around me, creating a shield against the rest of this unfair world. I stripped out of my wet clothes, through them on a chair and quickly changed into a pair of pyjama's that had been at the foot of my bed. I rung out the last drops of water out of my hair, mopped it up with my already wet clothes and chucked them under my bed. I didn't even bother trying to comb out the new tangles in my hair. I crawled into the sheets bringing my knees against my chest trying to find any warmth. There was nothing but dryness to be found, but the exhaustion finally found me and brought me a dreamless sleep.

My head was still spinning when I woke up the day. There was a clear sky outside, not a trace of the rain clouds from before but the sun held no warmth. Madam Pomfrey handed me more potions, probably questioning my new symptoms but I simply gazed out the window. Nothing felt real anymore. The potions were all tasteless, as was the food but I hardly ate any of it. After I was alone with my thoughts once again I took to starring out the window. Only a few more hours left until I was allowed to leave. It's a good thing that I had absolutely no intentions of doing anything today or else this would be a waste of perfectly good time.

The late afternoon sun shone directly in my eyes, but moving felt like a waste of energy. I hugged my knees and stared out at the picturesque grounds for god knows how long, fiddling with the ring around my finger. I stopped and admired it. It was sterling silver with a snake engraved on it. Wait a second; I've never owned a ring like this before. Realising where I had seen it before I chucked it underneath my bed hearing it tinker on the stone floor. It belonged nicely under there with everything else including the memories from last night. How he had managed to get his ring on my finger without me know I don't want to know or even think about it. How could he do this to me? The cult he belonged to obviously were the bad guys because I don't see any reason why killing someone was anything but.

My thoughts were cut short when Madam Pomfrey handed a pile of clothes for me to change into, in other words telling me that I was free to go. So absorbed in thought I hadn't even realised that it was nearing dark, past supper time at least. I quickly changed into the clothes, not forgetting the still soaking ones that were on the floor. Before the medi-witch could change her mind, I slipped quietly out the door. In my soft-soled shoes, I walked quietly through the halls. My feet carried me somewhere without telling them. If Blaise knows what good for him, he would stay well clear from me for a little while longer.

I came to a halt outside a large gargoyle, Dumbledore's office. I remembered the reason I had first thought of coming here, my dream. I whispered the password to the gargoyle and hitched a ride on the revolving stairs. I hope Dumbledore is here tonight, that way I wouldn't have to take a second trip. Once I came to the heavy wooden door, I took a deep breath and knocked quietly on the door. I don't really enjoy having to remember these nightmares, but there must be a reason why Dumbledore wants to know about what I see. As soon as my knuckles rapped on the door, it squeaked wide open as if inviting me in. Almost all the lights were on, so I hopefully guessed that the headmaster wasn't sleeping. That or else I'll pray that he is still his smiling self when he's woken up this late at night.

"Professor Dumbledore?" I asked cautiously as I took a step into the room. I asked a few more times but still no one stirred. Many of the past headmasters lay asleep in their frames; most of them didn't even wake up when I entered the room. I clasped my hands tightly to the bundle of clothes, which I was still carrying from the hospital wing, an extra protection for everything else from my curious hands. Maybe if I wait here long enough Dumbledore will return. I began pacing his office, making sure not to go anywhere but in plain sight of the desk. To one side of the room, a dim light caught my eye. I walked over to it. It looked like a large shallow bowl filled with silvery liquid. A black swirl began to form, growing bigger as it rose to the surface. I peered in closer to see what was rising. The black swirl came right out of the basin which caused me to stagger backwards to avoid getting hit. I backed up into a cabinet, hearing glass tinkering inside. I dropped the objects in my arms to steady the cabinet; I didn't hear anything break or shatter so that problem avoided.

"I have been hoping for this piece of evidence for a very long time." I recognised the voice, it was Dumbledore's. I turned around to find Dumbledore sitting at his desk talking to someone sitting across from him. He had yet to notice me. "It confirms the theory on which I have been working, it tells me that I am right, and also how very far there is still to go…" I picked up my clothes but the ring fell out onto the hard ground tinkering loudly as it did. For some reason it echoed louder than it should have. I quickly picked it up putting it in the back pocket my jeans. Both Dumbledore and the person-Harry, turned around to see who had intruded. I smiled at them feeling a little awkward to be caught listening to their conversation.

"Sorry to bother you Professor. I can see you are busy now and that I really shouldn't have came in, but I swear that I didn't break anything." I was going to say touch but that would've been a lie. Dumbledore held up a hand and stopped me from rambling on and from taking another step towards the door.

"Harry and I can finish later. It seems what you came in for was important enough for you to wait until I came back." He said. I looked from him to Harry. Dumbledore nodded apprehensively, basically telling me that it was ok for me to talk about my 'problems' in front of him. Maybe someday I'll get to talk about my dreams without an extra member in the audience. Didn't Dumbledore say that Harry had some kind of connection like mine; maybe, he'll be able to understand more than anyone. Realising that I had been standing quite some time just thinking, I shook myself out of it, sat down in the vacant chair and started to explain my newest dream.

"It happened last night or day, I can't really remember the time because of what Pansy… Anyway, he went and talked to my mom again." I smiled to myself remembering the way my mom had dealt with him. She was absolutely brilliant, and if I haven't said it before she is the coolest person I have ever known. "He said that he cast a spell on her but he thought that it didn't work. He said that he did some kind of connection charm on her, or something like that. Apparently she was already pregnant when he cast the spell so it would've transferred to Ralph and me. Of course my mom left me out of it but she did say that Ralph would've made him more powerful." Dumbledore remained quiet the entire time, resting his chin on his folded hands. Harry looked as if he was trying to figure something out. He was probably trying to figure out who I was talking about; because I didn't use names and because I didn't know them. There was a knowing look exchanged between Dumbledore and Harry. I had to bite my tongue to resist the urge to yell 'I don't care that I'll die if I find out, just please tell me!'

"Thank you for sharing Tatiana." Of course he wasn't going to share any of his thoughts with me. And there's now another to add to the list of people who know more about me than I do. If Harry doesn't know yet it; and by the sounds of it, it won't be that hard to put the pieces together. I hope the disappointed pout on my face is not showing outwardly. "I'll have you know that Miss Parkinson has been suspended from the school for her actions." That's a relief at least. By the sound of his voice he was politely asking me to leave. I had already wasted enough of their time.

"Goodnight Professor, Harry." I gave them both one last smile and left. As soon as I had turned my back to them they continued their conversation as if I had not interrupted.

""Well Harry," said Dumbledore, "I am sure you understood the significance of what we just heard." The heavy wooden door closed behind me, muting the rest of the Headmaster's words.

I stealthily made my way back to the Slytherin common room. I only had to dodge a few times into empty classrooms to avoid getting caught. I didn't even notice what time it was when I crawled into bed. If I passed people on my way to my room, I didn't see them. My eyes seemed to be glued open because they refused to close and bring me the rest in needed. I stared up at the canopy over my bed, waiting for my eyes to at least droop. Nothing happened. Why can't I sleep? Oh right, I had just recently kissed the guy, who for obvious reasons will not be mentioned, who I had been dreaming about for a while now. I should have known with my luck that it would end up this way. Him probably helping plot my murder wasn't the way that I would have guessed, but I should have known better. I tried my best to shake any thoughts retaining to a single individual but they kept floating back. How gorgeous did he look completely soaked by the rain? His hair matted to his forehead and his white shirt completely see-through showing off his… No stop. Tatiana you are supposed to be trying to forget him. But he is such a good kisser. Don't forget that he is going to get you killed, even if you can still feel the tingle on your lips.

How pathetic am I? Talking and arguing with myself over some guy. I hope he can't sleep either. If I can't get him out of my mind, I should make sure that he can never forget my face and that it will taunt him of what he could have had. Finally coming up with a plan to mess with Draco's head put my mind at ease for some reason. I rolled over, pulling the sheets close and closed my eyes for a sleep that was way overdue.

I stood in the entrance to the Great Hall. The Slytherin table looked more menacing and less inviting than usual. Blaise caught my eye but I quickly walked in a different direction. I strolled between the tables; finally I spotted the people I was looking for.

"Would you mind if I join you today." I received surprised looks from Harry, Ron and Hermione. "I really don't want to sit at the Slytherin table because I'm sure that it'll be a nightmare. Probably most of them heard what happened to Pansy and I'm still not the most popular person there."

"Isn't that breaking some kind of rule?" Ron asked, looking over his shoulder at the Slytherin table as if they would attack for accusing the Gryffindors of kidnapping their own.

"And since when do we ever follow the rules?" Harry pointed out to Ron then gave me an inviting smile. Hermione moved over to give me a spot to sit. Step one complete: purposely mess with him by being friends with his enemy. I purposely sat with my back to my house table, this way it would be harder for me to be distracted by all the stares. The stares from the Gryffindors didn't scare me as much as the ones that were drilling into uncomfortably into my spine.

"How long have you been having these dreams?" Harry asked unexpectedly. We had been silent for most of the meal, and for some reason it tasted better than the food two tables over.

"Ever since I started coming to school I think." I wasn't really sure if they had started earlier or not but I didn't feel like remembering because of what happened. "Do you still have dreams or how did you get rid of them?" I want more than anything to stop having these dreams. They make me feel like I will forever be trapped inside a cold and dark place, with no hope for warmth or escape.

"Well Harry is supposed to be using the occlumency that Snape taught him." Hermione answered instead of Harry. Apparently, Harry hasn't completely mastered occlumency yet. If his dreams made him feel sick to his stomach and hollowed out like mine do then I would try my hardest to get rid of them. Harry rolled his eyes at Hermione, annoyed with her teacher like tone. After that, I became more of an observer to their little group. I ate my food quietly because I didn't feel like joining in their pleasant conversation. Ron did look at me frequently, as if I would spontaneously combust. Bursting up into flames felt similar to how I felt earlier. Now I just felt dry, like I could crumble into dust and be scattered by the wind.

At the end of breakfast, we parted ways until later on in the day when we would meet again, for my studying with Hermione. I quickly ran out the Hall before Blaise had the chance to catch up. I didn't really want him talk my ears off about something I didn't want to listen too. He had a habit of retelling stories in his perspective even though he wasn't there himself.

I came to the safety of my private classroom, just as the bell rang. Snape glided in and took a seat in the usual teacher chair, simply staring at me. Well if Blaise wanted to follow me in here fine, but I don't think he'll get quite the welcome from Snape. I sat down and started arranging my books in a book fort to block out his starring eyes. The trick was making it look as if I wasn't hiding. Patting myself on the back for a very convincing study method, I went to work. I took me half an hour to become totally not able to focus. The four hours of sleep I had last night decided that I should take this moment to catch up with me. It was difficult to keep my eyes open; my gaze went fuzzy as it tried to focus on individual words. I closed my eyes to re-orientate myself. Apparently, it was a bit longer than a moment because I was startled awake by someone shaking me. I immediately woke up to Snape casting a shadow over me. I turned to him with one of my sweetest smiles.

"Thank you Professor for waking me" I thanked him kindly. He looked a little startled that I had thanked him instead of the usual grumpy response that he probably got from other students. "With these dreams that I keep having and teenage drama it's hard to get some real sleep. You probably don't want to hear about the problems of a heartbroken teenage girl." I turned back to my books after flashing him a watery-eyed smile. I didn't even have to fake the tears, they came on their own because of the truth of my own words. Heartbroken. I felt a tear roll off my cheek and splattered to the parchment. No more tears stained the pages on the table, but eyelashes felt wet against my cheeks every time I blinked. Snape didn't bother me for the rest of the hour. It was either because he didn't know how to deal with a girl crying or he would ruin his reputation if he showed his softer side. The rest of the day went about the same, no one bother me; even though there was hardly any sign of my distress after I tried picturing Snape comforting me like a close girl-friend. Let me just say that it was very hard to keep a straight face until he left. I'm wondering if Snape started a chain telephone because the other professors seemed to look at me with sympathy. I just hope they don't start to think of me as a wimpy girl who cries for weeks after getting dumped. Or in my case dumping.

Luckily, the bell rang and it stopped me from going back into the vicious circle I had created. I shoved the books I would need into my bag and ran out the door. I took the long way to Gryffindor tower. Blaise probably would be waiting for me so he could ambush me. I kept my head tilted towards the grass. I knew I would be able to see reminders from this path so I focused on the ground. Once I was back on solid stone floors I raced up the tower.

I managed to elude Blaise before he had the chance to speak with me. I know that I'm avoiding the inevitable but I just want to put it off for as long as I can. I told the password to the Fat Lady and the portrait swung open. It was a bit earlier than our usual studying times and it's a good thing too that I had arranged for us to meet earlier or else I could be waiting in their common room alone being stared at until she arrived. I saw her and Harry sitting in their usual spots, in the far back corner of the room.

"Where's Ron today?" I asked they casually as I sat down. Harry smirked, as did Hermione, apparently Ron wasn't a touchy anymore.

"Ron is avoiding Lavender because they just broke up." Harry answered.

I took out my books and laid them out on the table. Harry was once again studying only the stack of parchment in front of him. I don't remember the last time I actually saw him do any type of homework. Completely unfocused on my own work I watched as tiny little dots ran across the page.

"Please tell me what that is because I can't take not knowing anymore." I pointed to it right under Harry's gaze.

"If you don't start focusing Tatiana you will fall behind." I could tell that Hermione was giving me a look but I didn't pay attention to her. Technically I already am behind so I don't think wasting a few more minutes is going to make it worse.

"It's very hard to focus if you see dancing dots on a page in your peripherals and have absolutely no idea what it is." I tried to keep my voice near a whisper volume again but my curiosity was killing me from the inside.

"Well this is a map of Hogwarts." Harry started looking from me to the map wondering if he should go on or at least tell me without all the significant details. I gave him a hopeful look, knowing that it would help me persuade him easier. He gave in and angled it so that I could see.

"It basically shows where everyone is in the castle and the magic in it locate the person even if they are moving." I looked at the map and saw tiny little footprints walking up and down various marked halls. I began flipping through some of the pages, seeing different parts of the castle.

"This sounds like it would come in very handy." I said in awe.

"You have no idea." I could hear the smile on Harry's words. "Here let me show you where we are." Harry took over the complicated flipping process. He finally found what he was looking for and he flattened out the page. "This is us here." He pointed. He moved his finger and I scanned the mapped out Gryffindor common room. I found Hermione and Harry's names but it took me a second to realise that my name was different.

"Why does it say Riddle when my last name is Nadira?" I asked confused pointing out my name to Harry. He looked at my name horrified. For some reason I know that he figured it out, whatever it is.

"The map never lies about who a person really is." Harry said but he was still starring at my name.

"What is your father's name?" Hermione asked suddenly interested.

"I think his name is Tom. But I've never met him." I confessed quietly.

"You don't know who he is?" Harry asked.

"No." I saw both Hermione and Harry relax. "Dumbledore said that it would be safer for me if I don't know. And now I really am going to be the last one to know." I really needed a way to stop thinking about my dreams. It feels like they are trying to penetrate my mind, even to let someone in. I don't know how much longer I can be kept in the dark.

We didn't do much studying after that. I tried to but I kept seeing Harry and Hermione watching me from the corners of their eyes. It made it really hard to keep focused on my work. I left soon after, not able to work with the concerned gazes constantly on me. I walked down the stairs annoyed that yet another person had solved the answer of my life. Suddenly I saw a flash of brown fly over my head. I ducked just in time, avoiding the claws completely. Wait a second. I turned around to see a large brown owl flying through the air, directly towards me. I started running down the stairs, trying everything to get away from the owl. I accidently ran into someone while I ducked under the owl as it passed over head.

"Decided that you would stay away from me anymore?" I recognised that voice. I looked up to see Blaise smiling down at me. He took his wand and waved it, the owl instantly vanished.

"You made an owl chase after me?" Blaise might not be so please with himself once I'm done with him.

"It was the only way I could think of that would get you to come running back to me." I doubt that was the only way. The only way that would include a show for his own personal enjoyment, sounded more accurate. I walked past him, continuing my way down the stairs. He had to run slightly to keep up with me.

"Tell me what wrong Tat?" Blaise sounded like he was actually concerned.

"Like you don't already know." I fumed.

"No I don't know what happened. You start ignoring me and Draco can't look at anything but the ground." He took my arm and spun me around, stopping me from going anywhere until I said something.

"You want to know what happened?" I could feel the tears starting to build up in my eyes. "That stupid idiot kissed me, that's what happened."

"What? Finally!" Blaise obviously didn't catch my sour mood because there was a huge smile on his face. "Do you know how long I've been waiting for this to happen?" Blaise finally saw the look on my face, which from his reaction probably was a little terrifying. Smartly, he shut up.

"He kissed me then I found out that he is going to kill me! I found out that he is working for my father!" Great now I figured out another part of the puzzle, we'll I knew the whole time but I didn't put the pieces together.

"You found out about that?"

"You knew the whole time?" Blaise gave me and innocent smile, regretting right now that he had just said that. How could he have led me on like this? If he really was my friend why did he let me get close to Draco? I quickly rolled up the sleeves of his shirt checking to see his forearms. He held them up as if surrendering, but there was nothing on his skin.

"Judging by the tears, I'm going to go ahead and guess that you are no longer together." Isn't that just a little obvious? "Usually, Draco isn't the noble type."

"What do you mean?"

"Letting you push him away was on purpose. He must really care about you to protect you like that." How is he protecting me? As if Blaise had read my mind he continued. "If you don't want to be with him and are separated from him then it makes it easier for him to keep you away from harm."

I slumped against the wall and slide all the way to the floor. Everything finally made sense and the guilt was crashing down on me.

"I was so horrible to him and all he did was stand there and take it." I cringed when I remembered the words I had said. I took out my entire wrath on him, I felt like I had become the evil that Draco had warned me about all that time ago at his house. He was right, it wasn't pretty. I feel… ugly.

"So you didn't just break his heart." I felt my heart twist in pain on hearing it from Blaise, "It's like you ripped it out and took it with you."

"You're so not helping." I buried my face in my knees which drawn up to my chest. I held them tight to my chest because I needed to keep pressure so I could stop the feeling of being bled out. Blaise sat beside me and put an arm around me. "What should I do?"

"So now you want my help?" I elbowed him in the side; I wasn't in the mood for his joking around. I hear him sigh and then he squeezed my shoulder. "The right thing to do would be keep away from him like he wanted. Avoid him like you would be if you didn't figure this all out."

"When did you have to become all wise? Can't you just say: go forgive him then hide in corners when they come looking for you." I laid my head down on Blaise's shoulder, letting the last tears to fall of my face. No more needed to be shed, if this is what he wanted then I would do my best to follow shaking hands I pulled the ribbon out of my hair. I pulled out the ring from my robe pocket and strung it on the ribbon. I tied it with a bow and let the ring hang close to my heart.

Authors' Note: Please put all of your pitchforks and torches away, I didn't mean it I swear. Well maybe we did. We're sorry that we had to break them up the moment they finally got together, but really it equals to more drama! If you don't know Harry and Hermione now are pretty certain that she is Voldemort's daughter, but because she doesn't know she's not really that much of a threat (For now that is… stop giving things away Marie!). *Just so you this is around chapter 23 in the actual book. Tatiana interrupted Harry and Dumbledore right after they saw Slughorn's memory about Horcruxes. (Sorry that the times don't really match up). Anyways, happy reading and review please.

Love, C&M

This is one last insider because we forgot to include it in the last time. We heard that some people were still confused about a particular scene.

Tatiana dancing with Voldemort at the Christmas party:

-I know that Voldemort doesn't seem like the dancing type but there is a reason for it. He was trying to figure out who she is and where he had seen her before. (She looks very much like Chantelle). By dancing with her it made it look as if he was just a guest, to keep up a façade.

Hope that's everything we need to explain, that didn't make sense. More questions? Send it in with your review.

**********Extremely Important**********

If you don't know the sixth year is coming close to finishing. We don't know if we should do a second story for the seventh year or should we continue on the same one?