"Abraxas," drawled Kylo. "I presume you have something to say?"

The Magistrate was sprawled across the throne, his leg and arm dangling lazily off the edge. The circlet of thorns was tilted precariously, a bemused expression on his face.

Abraxas Malfoy spluttered before bowing in a forced manner. This smug bastard was the worst thing that came into his life. Only hours ago had a red parchment been sent, informing him of his decided appearance at the Yule Ball. He was no fool of course but Valina should not have intervened.

"My Lord, what do you think you're playing at? You're a mere fif-,"

"Let me remind you that you were the one who attacked her, provoking that man. You're lucky I've kept you alive after that stunt," he interrupted, his voice growing dangerously quiet. He stiffened slightly- he may have prodded a nerve too hard. It was well known how much he hated being looked down on because of his age.

"Give me a chance to fix it," Abraxas said harshly. This was his only opportunity before the gala which was only months away.

"I'm not an idiot. We all know," he started, sweeping his arm across the clusters of royals, "That you want the throne. If I don't marry the heiress before the Chairman's Gala, which is this year, you have the right to challenge the crown,"

His grip on his cane tightened in disdain. He hadn't expected him to catch on so quickly. Yet if all went according to plan, none of this would matter.

"Now the only thing you've done is anger that man, who may I remind you, killed half of us in years past. Worst of all, you and your filthy son laid your hands against her," he added, meeting him dead in the eye.

Abraxas stilled. He knew that the boy only decided to attend the ball because of his actions but it would look foolish on his part if the others discovered his motive.

"I believe, Abraxas Malfoy, that if you make one more move I'll have you convicted of high treason. After all, didn't I make explicit orders for no one to approach the girl, Him or tell your predecessors of her existence?" he said mockingly, feigning innocence.

Clenching his jaw, Abraxas stiffly bowed again. He spun on a heel and began to walk towards Walburga. He hated that child more than anything. How dare he try to give orders to the second most powerful man in Britain, a man nearly four times his age.

He would put him in his place eventually but he needed to be careful now. Valina's position would be undermined if the others found out about why he's going but it would harm him as well. Some of the royals liked him more than others though the big issue would be the Thorn's and Calista's. On top of that, if his incompetent child didn't choose a respectable date they would be in position of mockery. Unless he could pin the attention on the Black's son.

Although he didn't have much love for his pathetic excuse of a kid, he would need to be warned.

"Cookie?" offered Adara. Luca was walking with her, arm in arm, down a musty corridor. Days ago McGonagall had found them in a niche, laughing with various textbooks. She flatly informed them that they were to physically stand up and patrol the corridors or risk being dismissed from their duties.

She had been feeling rather sleepy for a while and despite Luca's confusion and horror, she linked her arm with his and leaned against him. He helped her shuffle forward, occasionally complaining about her being a heavy burden.

No one was around and so she hadn't been shoved off yet but she knew that he would if another student showed up.

"What type?" he grouched. She poked him, sighing. He sounded like he was still bitter about that.

"I'm sorry, alright. But that wasn't cheating," she said defiantly. They'd played a round of Wizard Chess by which Luca insisted she went first because he'd taken private lessons for years. Seven, to be exact. Yet she somehow managed to beat him three times in a row and his poor ego couldn't take it.

He looked down at her expectantly, raising an eyebrow. Some of his hair was falling into his eyes and she almost blushed at his gaze. Right, cookie flavors.

"It's a double chocolate chip," she said.

Stop reddening, neck. Their relationship with each other was great, other than the fact that she seemed to melt when he looked in her direction.

I like him.

I like him and I really want him to ask me to the ball because I'm a coward.

Shaking it off, she wordlessly handed him the bag of cookies to which he gladly began eating.

"What?" he asked defensively, his voice muffled by his chewing. She'd stifled a laugh at the way he ate so eagerly.

"It seems like you're being starved. Is three meals a day not enough for you? Or do you need to eat all fifteen of my cookies as well?" she teased. He stiffened, blushing.

It was so easy to make him do that to the point where it was second nature.

"Do you want one?" he said quietly, extending his hand. He had turned his neck to hide his face. She accepted the treat gracefully. Coming from him, that was a big gesture.

"Thank you but are you sure-,"

"Eat the damn cookie or I'll dump water on your head,"

The two stumbled down the corridor, Adara pushing him away from her before he could actually conjure water, flushing as he laughed.

I really like him and I want him to ask me to the ball because I'm afraid of what will happen if I try.

The moon had risen, casting a soft glow across the dorm. All was quiet with the exception of Carrow's snoring. Luca lay on top of his blankets, sprawled across the bed. Ripples of green from the lake washed over the room, bathing him in an eerie light. Yet this was his home. The lights others called eerie were fascinating to him- they were caused by a strain of rare algae. Paired with the snoring and soft swishing of the lake creatures, he was feeling drowsy himself.

Goodnight. Don't let the bed bugs bite!

He chuckled softly, shaking his head. She was so freaking cute.

It was long past the end of their shift and Luca was lying in bed, smoky letters dancing in front of him. He'd been messaging her for over half an hour, hers outlined in bright, sunshine yellow while his were an emerald green. She'd shown him this system only hours ago and they'd become obsessed. He lazily drew letters in the air, watching them join the queue above.

Don't say silly things like that. Are you two?

He sighed, quickly adding another message.

Nevertheless, have pleasant dreams.

Task complete, he vanished the letters and set down his wand. She had no idea how hard her stupidly adorable messages affected him. He swallowed, pressing his head into the pillow.

She had become a vital source of happiness, a drug that he couldn't imagine withdrawing from.

So why won't you ask her to the ball, you idiot? He looked at his sleeping classmates resentfully.

That was why.

Because unlike her, he had to maintain a position. Otherwise he would have to face the wrath of the entire pure-blood world, worst of all his father.

Who was now going to the Yule Ball.

Clenching his jaw, he pushed his hair back in frustration. He wasn't stupid- he knew he had caught feelings for her. Feelings he had tried to get rid of on more then one occasion but failed horribly.

He wanted to take her so badly but he doubted she would accept him. He was surprised that she'd managed to tolerate his surliness for so long.

Stop. Why couldn't he stop making excuses? Stop running from his problems, stop burying the truth.

The truth is I'm a coward. And she knows it. He smiled darkly. Ever since they'd become close, he would push her away whenever other Slytherin's grew near. He hated himself for it but he couldn't let Father or the others find out. It was partly for her own protection but he knew it was another excuse. Yet worst of all, he saw that look in her eyes whenever she complied, that horrible sweet, sad smile that his brother had created.

"How do I fix this?" he whispered tiredly. "How do I show her I'm not a broken coward?"

He regarded the small, embroidered yellow sachet under his night stand. She had given him the cookie bag with hand stitched bumblebees. Luca let out a shaky breath. He owed her for everything his family had done to her. Even if she rejected him, he at the very least needed to try. He couldn't run anymore.

The opposite of being a coward was being brave. Remus, Sirius and James were brave yet extremely reckless. He wasn't like that. He wasn't put in Slytherin for hasty acts of bravery. He was put here because he was cunning.

Tomorrow he would try to defy society in his own way. Not loud and dangerous but in the style he preferred. He was so sick and tired of running and hiding all because of expectations.

Forget sleep, he reasoned grimly whilst sitting up. He was going to make the best plan of all time. To ask a girl to be his date. And defy everything he's ever known on the side.

"God, you're hopeless," he groaned, reaching for his quill. Sighing, he clumsily accioed a coffee. Adara was much better at that then him. It was going to be a long night.

"Attention staff and students," boomed Dumbledore. The Great Hall fell into a hushed silence, whispers of conversation falling away. Adara looked up curiously from her plate of eggs, not bothering to look at Peter who was balancing a sausage on his nose to the others' amusement.

"As all of you know, the Yule Ball is in three days' time. Very high ranking Ministry officials will be attending and so I recommend you all be on your best behavior. Remember, you represent this school. Any shame one causes will disgrace our entire institution. But enough seriousness," he said, releasing a small smile. Fawkes swooped in through the window and perched on his shoulder.

"As a twist, the faculty decided that instead of the traditional dress robes, students will wear something different. To represent our school pride and community, you will dress to represent the house of your chosen partner and yourself,"

The room broke into murmurs of excitement. Adara let out an internal groan. Now she really needed to find a way to make sure Luca would go with her because yesterday she had a moment of weakness. Before she went to sleep, she ordered this wonderful velvet, dark green dress with an open back. Adara had fallen in love with it at first sight and wanted to wear it before the announcement. However, with the new rule of house colors she would end up wasting 700 galleons if she didn't go with a Slytherin. And she might've saved some money if it didn't have an enchanted, gold snake that would lay on her spine, holding the dress together. Either Malfoy or risk getting yelled at by Father. She sighed, trying to suppress the wave of memories about the Adaralyn Thorn situation.

Yet despite her worries, the boys didn't seem fazed.

James only raised his eyebrows in surprise while Remus shrugged.

"Then I've got nothing to worry about,"

Adara smiled as she saw him happily rest his head on Sirius's shoulder. She was glad everything was working out for him.

"But I don't know what you're going to do, Dara. Those two colors would clash horribly,"

Never mind his happiness. Her smile faded in an instant and she looked at him with increasing horror.

"Remus John Lupin, you are so dead," she breathed, shooting daggers with her eyes. He only grinned while James looked like he was about to explode.

"You're going with someone? I thought you didn't have a date yet," he said fiercely, his expression one of betrayal. She blushed deeply, looking down at her plate. Why the hell would he put her in this position? James would murder Luca if he found out she planned to ask him- with only three days left she couldn't wait for him anymore.

"No," she stammered, trying to regain her composure. "Not yet, at least,"

She tried really hard to not look at Luca because now James was watching her every move. He was a real sweetheart but he could be overprotective. Unnecessarily overprotective. She was also a bit surprised by his reaction- it was more than she would have expected.

There was zero hope of telling him her date beforehand, or even walking with the boys into the ballroom on the big day. Because if they got one look at the dress she had bought, well, she was dead meat.

Sirius Black was walking to potions when he saw Luca Malfoy walking towards him. He looked terrible and despite Sirius's curiosity, he ignored him. Just because Adara was friends with him didn't mean he was. He hated everything he represented because every time he looked at him he was reminded of his old life.

A life of strutting around Number 12 Grimmauld Place just to impress that woman. A life of crying in the bathroom after family gatherings. A life where his own mother called him worthless and a pathetic excuse of a pure blood before thr-

Shaking his head, he brought himself back. Stupid memories.

"Black," uttered a voice behind him. He didn't have to look to see who it was.

"Malfoy," he replied, mustering as much contempt as he could. Turning to face him, he met his eyes heavy with bags. "What do you want?"

He knew that Luca understood the venom laced in his voice. He understood that just because he was Adara's best buddy didn't mean he forgot about what happened three years ago. And that smug little bastard smiled.

"Straight to the point, I see. I have a question for you,"

"Shoot," said Sirius drily. He pretended to check his wrist for the time, tapping his foot.

"Was it worth it?"

His voice was meticulous and careful. Sirius met his eyes again, this time with surprise. Was he mocking him? There was no way he could be asking what he thought he was.

Yet as he regarded him, he could see nothing but sincerity. This weariness seemed to roll off of him in waves, his eyes nearly dead.

"I see those expectations are finally bringing you down," Sirius said quietly. Luca tensed at his words but that was all the conformation he needed. "And yes. Yes it was,"

Without a backwards glance, he strode away. A grim smile began to form. The golden boy was considering a rebellion. Maybe the stick up his ass wasn't so big after all.

[EXTRA: HEADCANON]—(Because there are two updates, this canon will be short)

"Hey Sirius," called James lazily from the other side of the room. They were the last to go to bed and the only ones left in the common room.

"What?"

"Why did the chicken cross the road,"

Sirius groaned.

"Why?"

"To get to the idiots house,"

Sirius looked at him, confused, but James only grinned.

"Knock, knock,"

"Who's there?" he responded grudgingly.

"The chicken,"

It took a second but Sirius's eyes widened as he realized what it meant. He glared at James but then smirked.

"I won't kill you if you tell that to Lily,"

He swallowed.

"I think I'd rather have you kill me first,"