When I came back to the Room of Requirements, the next night, I was surprised to see Harry Potter first. Then I saw Ares, which I raised an eyebrow in alarm about. Then I saw Sophie, Kellen, and Parker. Oh, dear.

"What in the world?" I asked.

"Well, in the world," Harry teased me, "I'm teaching all of you defense."

"But-"

"These are your friends and they are just as much of a target as you are."

I doubt that. "But Harry, I don't think that Zabini needs to be here," I said, "No Death Eaters allowed, remember?"

Harry frowned, spinning his wand in his hands, "I thought the two of you were friends."

"Were," Ares supplied, glaring at me. I could see the smirk on his lips, but knew no one else could. He was always so smirky that his neutral expression was eerie.

"My mistake then. . ." Harry said, a confused look on his face, "Mister Zabini, if you'll please head back to your dormitory, then."

"With pleasure."

When he left, his brisk footsteps caused him to bump into me.

I hissed, "Watch it, Zabini."

"You watch it," he retorted.

"Go cuddle up with your little snakes and leave the real lions to their games."

He clutched his wand menacingly, "I would watch your back if I were you, Weasley."

"You and who's army? Oh, that's right, your father's."

He narrowed his eyes, turning abruptly and slamming the door behind him. Maybe I went too far.

"Alright, that was a great show, but we need to get to work."

"Harry, just tell us what to do," I sighed.

"I want spells that you've yet to learn."

"In war, why don't we just use Unforgivables?" Kellen asked.

"Because, if they dodge and it hits someone you know, it would make you the traitor," Harry insisted. "Now, let's start. Filipendo."

After going through every spell in the book fifty times, he only then started to insist upon weird ones. Like bandage charms. He even had us do a flower sprouting charm.

"If I wanted to go through school again, Harry, I would have reread my books," I snapped after he asked us to do Aquamenti.

"You never know which spells you'll need in war. It doesn't hurt to be prepared."

"Prepared?" Parker complained. "I'm bloody exhausted and we haven't even started any physical duels! This is insane!"

"Come back tomorrow night, then. Sahara, your mother will be here to teach you more power enhancers."

"Joy," I muttered. "Night, Harry."

"Night, you three," Harry yawned before opening a door at the back of the room and leaving.

We made our way back to Gryffindor Common Room, slowly, and tiredly. The bell was ringing nine o'clock. An hour of spell casting. I might have wand-wrist in the morning.

"So what happened between you and Zabini."

"I saw his Mark," I told Kellen.

"You knew he was a Death Eater, Sahara. Don't feed me that crap. What happened between you two?"

Parker was always so invasive. So I made up a lie, "I caught him."

"With?"

"Renee," I replied. Sophie's eyes widened.

"When!"

"Last night," I replied.

"But-"

"That's why I was late coming back to the Common Room," I shrugged. "I was upset."

"You didn't break his teeth in?" Kellen seethed.

"Um, if I would have, Renee would have totally known something was up," I shrugged. "Anyway, Sophie, how's Jake?"

"I'm moving to America once school's out."

"What?" Parker, Kellen, and I asked at the same time. My tone was more a squeal and their's was disbelief.

"Well, we're sort of serious and he says that the pack needs him back there. So, I agreed to move there. I already told my parents that I was going to University there, but some details don't hurt to omit. And he wants me to meet his father and sisters."

"No way! When did he ask you?"

She mulled it over in her head, "About a week ago, I believe. I told him my answer yesterday after I talked it over with Professor Black."

"You talked to my Mum?"

"No, Sirius," Sophie laughed. "He said that if I really want to, I should. And I really want to."

"We have to have lunch every weekend, then," I ordered her. "And any puppies, I get godmother."

"Who else would I pick for that?" she laughed. "And only if I get godmother for your kids."

I thought about it, nodding, "Deal."

"There's birth control in the Muggle world, did you know that?"

"But it doesn't work for purebloods," I told her. "The magic in our system thinks its a poison and dilutes it. My mother already gave me this whole sh-peal."

"Shame. Do you realize what kind of figure you have?" Parker asked, looking me over.

"That's what my metamorphic powers are for, stupid," I said, ignoring his stare at my legs. "And besides, I don't plan on becoming pregnant anytime soon."

"You aren't even dating anyone to worry about that," Kellen laughed.

"Exactly," I smiled. Thank god they believed my lie. And although I felt awful about it, I had to do it. Ares and I had to appear not friends anymore. The war was approaching. We didn't know who to trust anymore with information. And being in love with a Death Eater is not something Order members approve of right now.

Besides, something big was coming. Something that would change us forever.

Eleven more! Review and you'll get a cookie! Who's in for a shocker?

-Nastya