DISCLAIMER: All the characters you see here that are in any of the Harry Potter books belong to JK Rowling and I am not her. I am simply taking them out to play.

Chapter 36: Hogsmeade

By the time Mallory reached the Entrance Hall again it was vacant, causing her to smile in relief. She really didn't want to run into Filch and have him try to stop her or ask any questions. She crossed the Entrance Hall quickly, pushed open the large front doors, and made her way down the stone steps and into the snow-covered grounds. She paused momentarily, to wrap her forest green scarf across her neck, and to pull on her black winter gloves and hat. It was a bit of a walk to Hogsmeade and she didn't fancy freezing en route. The snow was falling rather steadily and there was a harsh wind whipping her cloak around as she made her way to the village.

Once she reached Hogsmeade she was thoroughly chilled and immediately made her way to the Three Broomsticks to warm up with a butterbeer before she began looking for Bellatrix. She was slightly disappointed when a quick but thorough examination of the pub revealed that her prey was no where in sight. However, the disappointment was abated almost immediately when she discovered that Severus, Sophia, and Avery were seated together in a secluded booth. She made her way to them as quietly as possible.

"I told you," she heard Sophia announce smugly when she was within ear-shot.

"Told who what?" Avery asked in a sour voice.

Sophia nodded to Mallory whom had thought she had not been detected, with a smug smile, "I told you that she would be along soon."

Both Severus and Avery turned to look over their shoulders as Mallory approached.

"Hello," she greeted as she slid into the booth beside Sophia, "miss me?"

"What kept you?" Avery asked.

"I thought you were meeting Nott," said Severus in a bored tone.

"He's not here," Mallory replied with a shrug as she ignored Avery, "have either of you seen Bellatrix?"

"She was walking toward Hog's Head last time we saw her," said Avery, "why didn't you come with the rest of us earlier?"

"I need to find her," said Mallory mostly to herself, ignoring Avery, "but first, I need to speak privately with you, Severus."

Severus looked at her for a moment and then, somewhat resignedly, nodded his head. They simultaneously got out of the booth and, sneaking past Madame Rosmerta, made their way upstairs. They snuck into one of the unlocked rooms and, after Mallory cast an imperturbable charm on the door, Severus said a spell she was not entirely familiar with, lit the candles with a flick of his wand, and then sank onto the bed while she paced before him, unsure of where to begin.

"If you've brought me here to tell me you've changed your mind about the Occlumency lessons, I understand."

She stopped pacing and looked at him shrewdly, "That isn't the reason I brought you up here. I have every intention of following through with our plans for your lesson."

He seemed a bit taken aback at this but responded calmly, "Then what is the reason?"

"I had a rather alarming conversation with Lily Evans this morning."

His eyebrows rose inquisitively, "Did you?' He sounded bemused, "What about?"

"You."

"Me?" He frowned in apparent confusion. Mallory thought, if she hadn't known him as well as she did, she could've been convinced by his act.

"She seems to be under the impression that the two of you are friends and I am going to lead you into harms way."

"Does she?" He sounded perfectly confused and concerned.

"Yes."

"I wonder how she got that impression," he commented mildly.

"I asked myself that same question Severus, and do you know what I came up with?"

He shook his head, "No."

"You."

"Me?" He frowned again, "What do you mean?"

"I mean you have been sneaking around Hogwarts with that girl and letting her believe you two are friends."

He looked at her calmly, "That's absurd."

She studied his casual dismissal for a moment and was mildly impressed with his act. He was responding in precisely the way she would have liked for him to if he were talking to anyone but her. "You have to end it," she commanded.

"End what?" He asked with a casual scoff.

"Whatever you are doing to encourage her feelings for you," she answered firmly.

Both of his fists clenched suddenly, but otherwise he did not betray any emotion as he held her gaze, "I am not doing anything," his voice was calm but she could see the tension in his shoulders, "someone must've confunded her."

"I would know if that were the case," she snapped as her eyes narrowed and she concentrated on his mind.

"Don't look at me like that," he also snapped in a surprisingly angry tone, "I know what you're doing."

"You've never objected before," she replied, immediately ceasing her attempt to use legilimens to see his thoughts, "What are you hiding?"

"I'm not hiding anything;" he snapped again, "this entire conversation is absurd. I have no idea what compelled Evans to speak with you about me, more than likely you cornered her, unless you're making all of this up."

"My patience is wearing thin," she replied icily, "She may be smart but she's still a muggle-born and she doesn't understand the pure-blooded world. You are being selfish by carrying on like this. If you care for her at all Severus, which I know you do, you will end this. She cannot think you are her friend. If you don't end it now, one of you will end up dead."

He stared at her for a long moment before replying in a calm voice, "You are over reacting."

Both of her eyebrows rose, "Tell that to the Harts."

There was a long silence between them before he cleared his throat and said, "There is nothing to end, but I will make sure she understands that she and I are not friends."

"Good," Mallory replied with a nod, "now if you'll excuse me I need to find Bellatrix," and without another word she left the room and went back downstairs.

Once outside Mallory followed a single set of tracks through the snow which lead to the Hog's Head Inn. With a quick glance, to make sure no one was watching, she disillusioned herself and just as she reached for the handle of the door to the old bar, it opened for her from within. She was slightly startled but managed to avoid a collision with what she was sure was a hagg and slip inside before the door closed again. Here she found her prey easily enough. Bellatrix and Lucius Malfoy were sitting in a booth together in the corner. Stepping exactly in the steps the hagg had made on her way out, so as not to stir up the dirt on the floor and draw attention to herself, Mallory made her way across the room and set herself carefully in the booth behind the others.

"… will be pleased to have this," Malfoy was saying as he pocketed a rolled up scroll inside his cloak. Mallory cursed silently; if she'd gotten there sooner she probably could have had a look at that scroll, "and you're sure these are the names of those ready to follow as soon as they leave Hogwarts?"

"Yes," Bellatrix replied confidently, "I've spoken with each of them while judging which department they would be most qualified for. They are all willing, if not eager, to join him."

"Good," Lucius smiled, "He will be most pleased to hear that. And this scroll will be most beneficial as I attempt to have them placed within the Ministry as he has charged me."

"Anyway I can be of service," said Bellatrix with a nod.

"Have you begun working on the other project we discussed?"

Bellatrix shook her head as she glanced around the dingy room. There was a wizard at the bar nursing a red, smoldering, drink Mallory had never seen before, but otherwise they were alone. "I have been working on this list," she continued quietly, "but I will begin the research this week."

"Have you recruited any help?" Lucius asked in a softer voice.

"No one other than Narcissa," said Bellatrix.

"Be sure to owl me when you have anything you believe he would be interested in."

"Of course," she nodded.

"I should be going," he said as he finished his drink in one long gulp, "I have a lot to do." He got out of the booth in one fluid motion.

"Yes, so do I," said Bellatrix as she too got up gracefully.

The two made their way to the door with Mallory following quickly and silently. As soon as they were outside they were both gone with two loud cracks! Mallory sighed. She had hoped to glean more information from them. With a quick glance around she took the disillusionment charm off of herself and began making her way back to the main road of Hogsmeade, not really sure what her next step should be. She thought of dropping into the Owlery and sending an owl to Dumbledore with what information she had just overheard. He would be very interested to know that Voldemort was using Malfoy to place spies inside the Ministry. That was, in fact where she was headed when she glanced through the windows of the Three Broomsticks and saw Bellatrix again. For a moment she stood in the snow and tried to decide what to do. But then a particularly fierce gust of wind sent a chill straight down to her bones and she headed inside the pub to get a warm drink. Not a moment after she stepped inside did she hear her name bellowed across the small, crowded, room. She cringed slightly as she removed her hat, gloves, and scarf and made her way over to the classmate who had beckoned her. The pub was packed and she got more than a few looks from her fellow students as she squeezed in between chairs in order to reach her destination.

"Hello Bella," Mallory said once she was close enough to be heard, "I was hoping to find you here."

"Sit down," Bellatrix ordered with a snap.

The occupants of the booth shifted to make room. Mallory nodded at the other three people in turn – Rudolphus, Mulciber, and Rabastan. They nodded back.

"You look cold," Bellatrix opinioned as she raised her arm to get the attention of the bar lady.

"I am," Mallory replied with a nod and an involuntary shiver.

The bar lady appeared and Bellatrix ordered a round of fire-whiskeys.

"Did you enjoy yourself this morning?" Bellatrix's tone let Mallory know that this was a weighted question.

"When?" Mallory asked.

"When you jinxed those Gryffindors."

Mallory resisted the urge to smile at the memory. Bellatrix's eyes were dancing with an angry fire. It seemed best to avoid answering, "Did you not enjoy the scene?"

"No," Bellatrix pulled her arms across her chest as Madame Rosmerta set their drinks down and left without a word. "I thought you were going to curse them."

Mallory's eyebrows rose and in order to not answer she took a swig of her fire-whiskey. The burning sensation in her throat felt pleasant to her cold body. Bellatrix took a swig of hers as well but kept those fierce eyes trained on Mallory.

"I could hardly seriously injure them with most of the school standing around us and any number of teachers just inside the Great Hall."

"Your cowardice and reluctance to punish those filthy blood traitors at every opportunity seriously undermines my opinions of you."

Mallory frowned, "Do not call me a coward," she growled in a surprisingly deep voice as she glowered at the girl across the table from her, "unless you are prepared for the consequences."

"Don't act like one, and I won't," Bellatrix replied just as savagely.

They sat in silence for a long moment, the two girls glaring at each other menacingly. Mallory took the opportunity to look into Bellatrix's mind. It wasn't an easy thing, to practice legilimency, and even harder not to get caught doing so. But it was easier to do when the target was emotional and Bellatrix was angry. After casting a quick silent spell and concentrating hard enough on Bellatrix's mind Mallory could begin to see and feel what Bellatrix was thinking about. Different scenes were flashing before her. Mallory could see herself as a first year standing up to Bellatrix when she'd tried to make her get out of a chair by the fire. Then it was later in the year and Mallory was telling Alice Brown, a bossy Gryffindor, to mind her own business. Then Mallory was a third year throwing a tripping jinx at Potter and watching him stumble down a flight of stairs amid peals of laughter; then Mallory was calling Lily Evans a mudblood to her face; then Mallory was splitting Sirius Black's bag open so all of his books spilled out into the hall; then Mallory hit Potter in the face with a bat-bogey hex.

Suddenly Bellatrix blinked and looked away. Mallory blinked a few times, startled by the abrupt loss in the connection. "I'm going to get us another round," Bellatrix announced sharply as she got out of the booth and made her way to the bar.

"Mallory," startled, Mallory turned to the source of the voice she'd heard and found Theodore Nott standing beside the booth, "you made it," he said with a smile, "Sophia said you weren't coming."

Mallory got out of the booth quickly and pulled Nott away, toward the restrooms, where it was a little less crowded, "It's a long story," she mumbled. Part of her mind was still engaged in Bellatrix's thoughts. "Do you want to go for a walk?"

"In this weather?" He asked, gesturing toward a window where the snow seemed to be falling heavier than before.

Mallory looked over her shoulder and saw the other occupants of the booth watching her curiously, "Yes," she said as she turned back to them, "it's too hot in here."

"It's freezing outside," he replied.

"Fine," she snapped out of frustration, "I'll go by myself. I apologize for thinking that your invitation here today actually meant that you wanted to spend time with me." She brushed past him and began pulling on her hat, scarf, and gloves.

"Wait," Nott called just before she got to the door, "I'll come with you."

She didn't pause; she just pushed the door open and began making her way up the snow-covered street, without any idea of where she was going. It wasn't long before he roughly grabbed her arm and spun her around to face him.

"Where are you going?" He demanded.

"Don't touch me," she snarled, ripping her arm out of his grasp.

He frowned at her, "You have too short of a temper for me."

"Good," she snapped and continued storming away down the street.

"Good?" He asked as he followed her, "You think it's good that your short temper frustrates me?"

"No, I think it's good that you're realizing now why you don't want to be with me. It'll make things easier when you understand why you can't be."

"Can't?" He demanded, "What are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about you, trying as often as you can, to convince me to go out with you. It won't work."

"And why not?"

"Because we can't," she snapped angrily as she continued up the street again.

"That's not an answer," he replied, as he grabbed her arm to stop her again, "we are physically able to do whatever we like."

"Not true," she stopped struggling to get her arm out of his grasp and faced him, "my father is in negotiations with other wizards regarding my marriage to their sons."

He let go of her arm and took a step back from her, "Is he really?"

She nodded, "I'm seventeen, of proper age for marrying as far as anyone is concerned."

"You're only in your sixth year," he protested, "you've got well over a year before you can be married."

"My father thinks it's prudent to line up as many offers as he can."

Nott frowned, "Well, even so, why can't we have some fun before we leave Hogwarts?"

The casual way in which he said this felt like a slap to the face, "What?" She growled as she clenched her fists so as not to pull out her wand.

"You've known since you were a child that you would get married after Hogwarts. Why should that prevent us from having fun now? No one would have to know and we wouldn't have to worry about it being serious. We're young, let's live a little."

Her eyes narrowed, "What kind of fun are you talking about?"

He leered at her, "I think you know."

With a flash of red light and a loud bang! he was flat on his back in the snow and she had her wand trained on his chest. White hot fury was coursing through her veins. "Don't you ever," she commanded savagely, "ever - suggest anything like that to me again!"

He held both his hands up in a surrendering fashion as he crawled backward away from her. "Ok!" He shouted in a winded voice, his eyes were wide with alarm, "I won't!" He got to his feet and brushed snow off his backside, "I won't," he repeated when she didn't lower her wand.

"Get away from me," she struggled out past her fury. It was all she could do not to send another curse at him.

"Fine," he looked shocked and confused as he hurried away, glancing at her over his shoulder as he went.

She stood alone in the lane for a few minutes after he was gone breathing deeply in the freezing air. How had she been so wrong about him? He wasn't interested in her at all. He just wanted to use her and whenever he had his fill throw her to the side, like trash. The rage that had been subsiding redoubled.

"Bastard," she whispered and red sparks shot out of the end of her wand. Was this the attitude she was going to encounter for the rest of her life? Was her world only full of wizards who wanted to use her? She immediately thought of Dumbledore and his request of her to spy on Voldemort. She thought of Severus and his desire for Occulmency lessons. Were wizards designed to control and manipulate witches? Then she thought of Eagar and her rage subsided a little to make room for an immense shock of grief. He hadn't been like that – at least not toward her. And the rest of her anger disappeared as an image of his smiling face came to her. Suddenly all her strength left her and she felt exhausted. Not caring about Dumbledore or his stupid school rules she disapparated to the gate of the school then made her way in and back up to the castle.

Several hours later, after a good cry and a long nap, she got out of bed and made her way downstairs to meet Severus for his Occulmency lesson in their Charms classroom. She was just coming up the stairs to the third floor when there was a shout from the end of the hall and instinct made her hurry to duck out of sight, despite being disillusioned. Lily Evans was marching toward her in what looked like a towering rage. There were tear streaks on her pink cheeks and her fists were clenched at her sides.

"Evans!" James Potter could be seen trailing after her, "I'm sorry!" He shouted as he hurried up to catch her. Evans did not change her pace. "Evans!" He shouted again and just as he reached her she whirled about, pointed her wand in his face, and shouted a spell. There was a loud bang! and Potter cried out in pain and fell to the ground, his face began swelling as Evan's stinging hex took effect.

"Get away from me Potter or so help me God much worse will come!" She positively shrieked with a mad glint in her bright green eyes.

"Merlin!" Potter cried from the ground as he felt his swollen face, "That hurts! What did you do that for?"

"GET AWAY FROM ME!" She bellowed in a hysterical voice as she advanced on him, her wand still out. Potter scrambled to his feet and pulled out his own wand but his swollen eyelids would not open enough for him get a clear view of her to take aim or defend himself.

"I'm sorry!" He shouted at her, still feeling his face with his free hand.

She sent another spell at him that burned a hole in the tip of his trainers and caused Potter to holler and take three giant leaps back from her. Mallory had never known Lily could lose control like this. She'd always been hot tempered but this was bordering on insane.

"I'm going!" Potter shouted as he took quick steps backward, "You're insane Evans," he echoed Mallory's thoughts. She shot another spell that missed his feet by inches and he turned and ran.

Evans stood in the hall with her wand still pointed just as Mallory had done in the snow-filled lane earlier that same day. She was struck by the similarities between them. After a few beats of silence Evans turned and continued marching away down the hall, muttering under her breath. Mallory waited until she was gone to come out of hiding and hurried along the corridor in the direction Potter had headed to find Severus.

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