Disclaimer:All recognizable characters/places are owned by J.K. Rowling and her publishers, and I do not claim ownership over them or their world. No copyright infringement is intended; this piece leads to no financial gain and it is written for the purpose of personal enjoyment and skill development. OC's and plot do belong to me.


Chapter 28 - Tested

"That was bloody murder," Adrian exclaimed as we left the Transfiguration exam. It was Wednesday, and we were only one day away from freedom. Unfortunately, that meant we still had to do our herbology exams tomorrow. "Did you get the question on how to transform a zebra into table? What is the point of that, I'm more likely to need a table than I am a zebra!"

I nodded, massaging my temple. N.E.W.T.s had been going on for almost two weeks; which mean, I hadn't slept or had a proper snog-session with Oliver in two weeks.

"I bet you did great, Lisa!" I turned around to see Darlene trotting over towards us. Her hair, usually impeccably straightened, was pulled into a tight French braid, and odd dark circles were sketched out beneath her eyes. I gave her a feeble smile. Ever since our little bonding over Willow's hormones and red currant rum, Darlene had been making every attempt to spend time together. It meant revising together during meals, her sitting with Oliver and me in the afternoons and even talking nonsense before going to bed. Willow had looked at us oddly the first night it happened, and I had hissed that it was her fault the moment Darlene left the room to go shower.

"You've always been good in transfiguration. Remember in first year when you managed to change your mouse into that cute snuffbox? McGonagall gave you extra points for it too." I nodded slowly, a saccharine smile plastered on my face. Beside me, Adrian was already walking faster. He had been very vocal about his distrust for Darlene's new found friendship, but I couldn't find it me to sack her. Things were going so well, it was hard to think they might just change.
I wasn't being silly, was I?


The night after the last exam (herbology, a pure disaster) was the dubiously called Misnomer Midsummer Ball, better known as N.E.W.T. de-stressor. This year it fell on a Thursday, which we all thought was a sad joke. It also wasn't too great that the ball was held a few hours after the last exam, with the younger years being forced into an early dinner while we ladies scampered to erase all marks of stress.

I had charmed the dress I wore for the Yule Ball to go from royal blue to a light pink; since I no longer had access to my father's bank account I had little gold for frivolities such as new dresses. Besides, Oliver had confided in me that he absolutely adored that dress and with a different pair of heels it would work like a charm.
I smiled at myself as I arranged my hair into a braided updo. Darlene was brushing her golden locks while chattering about how excited she was about tonight – her fiancé couldn't make it, so she'd been partnered off with a Hufflepuff. Only seventh years and their dates were allowed into this ball.

Willow, on the other hand, didn't look too happy about this whole thing. She kept cursing that her hair didn't look good enough, and that her robes were augmenting the growing budge in her belly. Thankfully, Flint knew how and when to behave like a gentleman. He was waiting for her at the bottom of the stairs with a bouquet of yellow roses. "You look beautiful," he said giving her a peck on the cheek. Darlene squeezed my arm until no more blood could flow through it.

"I look fat," Willow retorted, crossing her arms to cover her belly. Flint muttered something in her ear that we couldn't hear and she went red. I managed to squeeze past Darlene and held on to Adrian's arm, guiding him out of the room. Darlene called out my name, but I walked faster.

"Merlin, what's gotten into her?" I asked once we were safely out of the common room. Adrian shrugged.

"Maybe she's upset she's going with Higgs?"

I narrowed my eyes. "She said she was going with a Hufflepuff."

Adrian looked at me oddly. "Interesting," he replied, looking straight ahead as we climbed up the stairs towards the Entrance Hall. "I could have sworn Higgs said they were going to this together…" there was no time to pursue the conversation because Oliver had spotted us and was walking towards us, holding out a rose. Adrian wriggled his arm to untangle my hand from him and offered it to the Gryffindor. "There you go, all yours. Treat her well," he bid us goodbye military style and sauntered off.

"Merlin, he makes it look like he's giving me away at my wedding," I muttered, taking longer than usual to notice how red Oliver's cheeks had gotten. "He doesn't have a date, where'd you reckon he went off to?"

Oliver shrugged. "The younger kids are just leaving the Great Hall so it's going to be a bit longer before we can go in," I nodded, squeezing his hand and going on my tiptoes to kiss him.

"Ehem," I parted from Oliver, looking over my shoulder. Weasley the third and Penelope were standing there, looking perfectly awkward. "Yes, Weasley?"

"I wanted to apologize for my behaviour in the library the other day," he said; I exchanged a look with Oliver who shrugged. "When we were studying, and I walked away with no valid excuse?" Weasley's face was alternating between getting redder and losing all its blood. I saw Penelope pinch his arm.

"Whatever Weasley," I replied, hoping to give the bloke a break and get him off of our shoes. He shot his girlfriend a look, but she shook her head.

"Our relationship hasn't been the best in the past and I-"

"Whatever Weasley," he shot Penelope another look, this one highlighting his exasperation.

"Perhaps you want to sit with us at dinner?" he asked at last through gritted teeth. Beside me Oliver was doing a poor job of not laughing out loud.

"Sure, whatever," I replied, craning my neck to search my surroundings. The place was filled with formal-dressed seventh years, and a few younger kids who were marching back towards their houses. It was hard, but I managed to spot Darlene's blond head coming up from the dungeons. And on her arm, was Terrence. Cold shivers run down my spine.

"Why are you so interested on who Higgs came with?" Oliver asked, nudging me in the arm. I snapped my head back and smiled at him apologetically.

"I'm not, I was just… Darlene told me she was coming with someone else, I was surprised, that's all," I said, quickly sealing the lie with a kiss. The doors to the Great Hall opened wide and we were ushered in. Weasley was talking nonstop to Penelope and Oliver, which gave me time to run through my options through my mind. Had Darlene lied because she didn't want me to get angry about her bringing Terrence? Or maybe her date had flunked and she'd asked him out of desperation?

The four house tables had been replaced by a dozen smaller tables, each with twelve chairs. Students began packing into them, forming their little cliques. Flint and Willow were sharing a table with Darlene and Terrence. She waved at me and then at the seat next to us when she saw me looking, but I pointed at Oliver and the table we were seating in, which was full of Gryffindors. At the last second, Adrian managed to grab an extra chair and squeezed himself between me and another girl whose name I didn't know.

"I told you she brought Terrence," he muttered under his breath as Dumbledore stood up to give a speech.

"And another year has ended – and with it your exams and you time at Hogwarts is coming to a close-"

"Yes well, do you want a bleeding party in your honour?" I hissed, grabbing a napkin and placing it over my lap. Oliver pinched my arm but I ignored him. "The question is why." Adrian shrugged.

"But let us not trouble ourselves with such thoughts when there is food and dance to be had!"

The sound of clapping startled us. We looked around us as people were calling out what food they wanted to eat from a menu placed on top of the dishes. I ordered the chicken and ignored the conversation, thinking carefully with each bite. At long last, the dinner portion of the evening was done with and all the tables had disappeared, leaving ample space for dancing.

"Would you like to?" Oliver asked, extending his hand. I took it, trying to smile a bit as he lead me towards the middle of the dance floor. Adrian waved at me before he disappeared somewhere in the crowd, and I frowned. I couldn't explain it, but not having Adrian within visible distance was distressing.

Oliver placed both hands on my waist as we began to turn. I buried my head on top of his shoulder so he wouldn't see the worried expression I was sure was etched in my face. He didn't bother to chat, for which I was grateful. It was much more enjoyable to dance like this, enjoying the music and the feel of his body next to mine.

I couldn't see Darlene anywhere, nor any of the other Slytherin's for that matter. It distressed me but, when the music changed to a faster tune, I decided to put the matter on the back of my head and just enjoy myself. Things with Oliver were going great, and it would be silly to let something as insignificant as Terrence's date ruin my night.

We danced for a good couple of songs; Oliver was surprisingly good dancer, moving expertly through the different moves and twirling me without making me dizzy. I had all but forgotten my worries as the night wore on.

"Do you fancy a drink?" he asked, trying hard to be heard over the music and the roar of the crowd. I nodded, realising I was thirsty. "Wait here," he said, giving me his infamous grin which managed to make me grin like an idiot. I moved to the side, so I wouldn't be trampled over some of the more exuberant couples, to catch my breath. Two of Oliver's classmates, Aimee Brie and Rose Oldham were talking nearby. I waved at them when someone tapped my shoulder.

"You are Montieth, right?" it was a rather short, a bit plump girl with light brown hair that I didn't recognized. I nodded. "I was just in the girl's loo, and your friend, the pregnant one? She wasn't feeling too well, and the blond asked me to call you over."

"Oh, well then, thanks," I replied. She nodded and sauntered off. Bugger, bugger, bugger, I cursed as I approached the two Gryffindors. "Could you tell Oliver my friend Willow is feeling sick? I'm just going to the lady's room and I'll be right back."

"Sure," the blonde nodded and I hurried off. I gathered the bottom of my dress robes into my hands so I could walk freely, skirting around the people who crowded the hall. The closet's loo was just outside the Entrance Hall, near the main staircase, and I figured that's where Willow had gone. I kept a steady stream of curses running through my head as I exited the Great Hall – of all nights for Willow to feel sick!

I was halfway through the Entrance Hall when someone grabbed me by the arm. I yelped, startled and tried to kick the person who had grabbed me, but he was stronger. I was pushed against the cold wall before I could get a good look at them.

"Terrence," I hissed when his face came into focus. He looked the same as ever, composed, sadistic, and handsome. But tonight he wore a smile that I didn't like.

"Looking beautiful, Lisa," he murmured, holding on to both my hands and pushing them down so I couldn't move them. I tried kicking again, but he stopped my leg with his, and then pressed himself against me so I could barely squirm. "And you are wearing my favourite perfume too…"
"Why don't you go harass your date?" I said, moving my head towards the side to avoid his lips.

"Because she isn't nearly as interesting as you are," he replied, leaving wet trails on my neck that made me want to vomit. "Besides, she's busy."

"With what?" I gasped, trying to hit his jaw with my shoulder.

"Your lover boy." I held in my breath as a new set of mental curses run through my head. I tried to wriggle my hand off his grip so grab the wand inside the pockets of my robe, but he tightened his grip and laughed. "Now, why the urge to run away?"

I opened my mouth to curse him to the seventh ring of hell, when he crushed his lips on mine, forcing his tongue inside. My eyes bulged open, and I tried to bite his tongue off. I managed to draw blood just before he pulled himself off me, a look of pure loathing making him look deranged rather than handsome. "Get off me, or next time I will rip your tongue out."

Terrence's features relaxed, he held out of my hands and grabbed them both with his left arm. With his free hand, he began pushing back a few stray hairs. "Is that a threat?" he said, leaning in to kiss me again but I was ready this time. He pulled away just short of getting his lips bitten off.

"I'm with someone, Higgs and it isn't you. He'll come looking for me soon," I said, feeling horrible for having to play the damsel in distress card. If only I could grab a hold of my wand…

"You think so?" he replied, smiling. "Didn't you tell him you were going to the loo to attend to a sick friend?" I kept my face impassive, not wanting him to know how quickly anger was boiling. "Besides, Elizabeth, there is no need for you to pretend to date the prat anymore," he said looking serious, evading my teeth and kissing my cheek, lingering there longer than needed. "The deed is done. The marriage contract is broken. You are free to kick your little toy to the curb."

"What is he talking about?" Oliver's voice paralysed me. I looked over Terrence's shoulder, just as he released my hands and continued to kiss my neck. Oliver was standing in the middle of the Entrance Hall, a hurt and angry and confused look on his face. My lump formed in my throat as I realised how this must look. I could barely see Oliver's expression over Terrence's shoulder which meant that, whatever he saw, there was no way he saw my feeble attempts at keeping Terrence off of me.

"Oliver I-" I started but was interrupted by Darlene's gasps. She was standing beside Oliver, trying to look surprised.

"Terrence, how could you! You told me it was over between you!" she clasped her hands on top of her face, her eyes staring at me, mocking me. I felt my belly boiling.

"Over? This is just starting, now that dear Lizzie is finally no longer engaged," Terrence said, grabbing my chin and forcing me to look at him. My hands were free to reach into my pockets, but they were balled at my sides.

I could hear the pain in Oliver's voice quickly turning to anger, "Engaged? What the hell is he talking about? I go looking for you with our drinks and Aimee tells me you went to the loo because Willow was sick. Then I see Blackthorne and she tells me she's going there and then –"

When will my life stop being a ruddy cliché? I grabbed my wand and send green sparks to ward Terrence off. He hissed and jumped backwards to stop the tiny specks from burning his robes. I walked up to Oliver, trying to quelch the shaking that had overcome my body. His face was unreadable. "I can explain."

He didn't look convinced. "Start with the engagement part, why don't you?"

"Oliver I-"

"Was engaged to Marcus Flint," Terrence said, coming behind me and placing his arm over my shoulder. I threw him off. "But she wanted out you see, so she made a deal," he paused for effect, watching Oliver's blood fall from his face.

"A deal?"

"A bet more like. A bet that if she brought you to this ball as her date, then the engagement was off. A bunch of legal technicalities but hey, the end justified the means, right baby?"

My eyes were focused on Oliver's slightly opened jaw, the way his own eyes were darting sideways as if trying to see if more people were going to pop up and scream surprise.

"I don't believe you," he muttered, stating his ground. I shot Terrence the angriest glare I could and tried to block Oliver's view of him, but Terrence reached around me and extended his arm. Then I felt my heart stop.

He had a slightly burned parchment in his hand.

"Read this then."

I made a mad dive for it, but Oliver grabbed it before I could. His eyes darted across it, while I racked my brain for anything that would salvage the situation but I kept coming up empty handed.

His eyes lifted from the parchment and landed on me. He looked furious. "You told me you weren't with anybody."

"I wasn't- not where it mattered. Oliver, I wasn't playing you. I called it off."

He let the parchment fall on the floor. "All my friends told me not to trust you and I did, I defended you, and now," he took in a deep breath before shaking his head. "All this you've just been using me."

I heard the sound of approaching footsteps and giggles, gasps and whisper; but above all, I heard the hurt in his voice.

Is this what a breaking heart sounds like?

"I was engaged to Flint," I said with a loud exhale. When did the tears begin pooling into my eyes? "But not anymore. Not since we've been together. There's a lot more to the story."

Oliver chuckled and turned around. I tried to grab his arm but he shook me off. "Were you engaged before or after the Yule Ball?"

My lip trembled. "Before."

"You lied to me," he said, curling his lips and looking at me like I was a stain on his shoe. He walked past me then turned around, just to dig the dagger in deeper. "You told me you left your house to escape an arranged marriage – I asked you and you lied."

"I know," I walked towards him but he took a step back. Oliver was like a bull: calm and happy to eat his grass all day, until he got angered. Then there was no getting through his thick head. "I can explain, if only you'll let me-"

"There is nothing to explain, this is all clear. I'm just your toy," he whirled around and walked towards the stairs, taking two steps at a time. I gathered my dress and rushed towards him, pushing Darlene out of the way with my shoulder and calling his name; but he wasn't looking back.

"Like you never lied to me!" I shouted. I was less than a foot away from the stairs when I heard a loud bang before my legs gave under me, twisting my ankle as I fell down. He had reached the first floor. "Oliver!" I tried to get up, and heard rather than saw the heel of my shoe falling off. Two arms were grabbing me by the armpits and pulling me away from the stairs as I fought to move forward.

"Elizabeth don't," Willow said as she grabbed my shoulders and helped pull me up. I was being lifted off the ground, my toes barely brushing the marble floor. "There is nothing you can do right now you'll just make a fool of yourself. Well, more than you already have."

"He can't just walk away like that," I said fighting the person holding me back. It couldn't end like this; this night, this damned year…

"Listen to Willow," Adrian said close enough to my ear to make it hurt. "He's gone, Lisa and he won't listen to you tonight."
"But he doesn't know half the story," I insisted, feeling a sob nestle in my throat. I hadn't even noticed I was crying until I felt salty tears on my tongue. That bloody stubborn arse!

"I know, Liz," Adrian murmured as Willow reached forward a napkin to clean my face. There was washed off mascara on it when she was done. "But he'll be at Gryffindor tower by now and you can't reach him there. There is nothing you can do tonight."

"Yes there is," I replied, pulling Adrian's arms off of me and nearly losing my balance, but he caught me by the waist. I pulled my shoes off and threw them to the ground. Darlene and Terrence weren't in the room anymore, and that only made me angrier. I pushed past Adrian and past the crowd of spectators that had formed. I vaguely heard Flint yelling that there was no show going on, but blood was thumping in my ears. The marble floor gave way to the cold stone that was the signature of the dungeons. The closer I got to the Slytherin common room, the more uneven the floor.

I screamed the password at the serpent that guarded the entrance and entered the room with the force of a typhoon. There, sitting on a leather sofa looking like a victorious queen was Darlene. I wiped my wand out and yelled a curse before I could think. "Incendio!"

She yelped and jumped off the burning sofa, patting down the flames on her dress. I couldn't see Terrence anywhere, but I could always deal with him later. "Angry, little Lizzie?" Darlene taunted as she too withdrew her wand. "You should have known this would happen. Not all fairy tales end up happily ever after."

"Reducto!" I yelled, but Darlene blocked my curse.

"You aren't the only one good at magic, Elizabeth," she said, no longer taunting. "You may think highly of yourself – the brightest witch in Slytherin – but that's all it is: a figment of your imagination."

I glared at her, feeling my chest rise and fall dramatically. The door behind me opened, but I ignore it. "I understand Terrence wanting to screw up my life," I yelled, fighting back tears, my voice trembling. "But you? You conniving little bitch you-"

"Ha! You think I have no reason?" Darlene countered back, "I have every reason to hate you."

"You slept with my boyfriend," I replied evenly, coldly, "In my bed when you were supposed to be my best friend."

"That was always your weakness, Elizabeth. You should know not to trust people," she said with a mocking smile. I threw another curse at her which she dodged. "Terrence should have been mine, not yours. Your family is nothing, you are nothing. I was only reclaiming what was mine."

I laughed bitterly. "You want Terrence? Have him, he's a lousy git and you two deserve each other!" Darlene looked surprised for a moment, but she quickly hid it with another sneer.

"That's not how it works," she snarled, "I have done better than Terrence – but I couldn't pass the opportunity to ruin you. And you made it so easy it was almost boring."
"Darlene, that's enough," Willow said stepping forward and putting a hand on my shoulder. "You've done enough," but Darlene just laughed shrilly.

"I think you are right, dear cousin," she said evenly, "I have done enough. You are done Elizabeth – your family hates you, you have no future, and the bloke you fancy knows just how much of a horrible wench you are. And I barely had to lift a finger to make it all happen!"

"Stupefy!" I yelled before Willow could grab my wand. Darlene was so focused gloating that she didn't block it. Her eyes widened before she hit the floor. No one said anything for a moment then, someone clapped.

"I was wondering why it was taking you so long to knock her out," Terrence said, peeling himself off of a dark corner. He too was grinning madly, and I pointed my wand at him. "Now, now, behave, will you? I have a proposition for you," he circled closer, like a predator and his prey. Willow tightened her hold of my shoulder. "Now that you are disgraced, broke and single, perhaps you'll reconsider my previous offer. At this point, you really have no other options."
I set my jaw, glaring at him. "Yes I do. I'd rather rot that marry you."

Terrence clicked his tongue, coming ever closer. "Then go ahead and rot, because that was the last time I was offering you a way out."

"You are just sour I chose a half-blood Gryffindor over you," I sneered back. "Prefect Terrence, pureblood, rich, dissed by a disgraced witch and he still-" but I couldn't finish my sentence. Terrence had lifted his wand only to leave an opening for two red flashes to hit him square on the chest. He fell backwards, landing with a dead sound against the stone floor.

"Merlin," Flint said, stepping forward and hugging Willow from her back, "I've always wanted to do that, the stupid prick."