CHAPTER 1: I FOUND A POTTY ON THE TRAIN


"What do you mean you can't sit with me?!"

I heard the snickers from my fellow Slytherin's and a hiss from Jojo at my outburst. I glared at them before looking back at my brother who was proudly putting his Fifth Year Prefects pin on his robes. Theodore Nott, the only person in all of Slytherin besides my brother that I could tolerate, put his hand on my shoulder and I looked at him.

"He's a Prefect he has to meet with the other Prefects and set up patrol schedules," He said looking a little sympathetically at me.

Everyone knew that Draco and I had always ridden the train together since first year; this would be the first time ever that we'd be separated on our way back to Hogwarts.

"I get to come back, little sister, don't get your wand in a knot," Draco said and pet my head, rolling his eyes in the seemed almost delightedly annoyed that I didn't want him to leave. "It's only for an hour or so."

At this I nearly latched myself to his arm and followed him out of the compartment. I watched as his blonde head went towards the front of the train with Tracey Davis, the girl Prefect of our house, following after him and I growled. I could feel my face getting red with annoyance and I looked at the others that occupied our seat unhappily. Jojo, being part kneazle and super protective and attuned to my emotions, was uneasy with how upset I was. She jumped in my lap and mewed slightly at me, looking at me with her big green eyes.

"I know, pretty girl, I know," I muttered darkly and looked around.

Blaise Zabini with his dark features and sickening smile and cunning remarks sat across from me and was laughing while I pouted. I sneered at him. Crabbe and Goyle, whom I'm surprised could both fit into one compartment, sat next to him. Daphne Greengrass with her wheat colored hair and eyes so brown they looked black, and who had tried her hardest to befriend me since First Year, was looking sympathetically at me. And of course, we couldn't be in a compartment without Pugface Parkinson trailing after my brother.

I snarled at her and she had the decency to look a little frightened; maybe it was because my snarl was actually as terrifying as I thought it was; or maybe it was because Jojo was glaring at her too.

I would never know

And then of course, we had Theodore; my saving grace in all of these people.

Theodore had been my first friend in Slytherin. We'd met in First Year in Potions when Professor Snape had had us partner up. I distinctly remember Theodore asking me why my cat was so on edge all the time and I remember telling him it was because I was so on edge all the time. He had laughed and introduced himself and thus here we were. We'd been very close throughout friendship and I couldn't have asked for a better person to best Slytherin house with.

However, I couldn't allow myself to be as flirty and friendly with him this year as all the other years though because he may have let slip that he fancied me last year when we went to the Yule Ball together. I had thought we'd gone as friends; he had thought otherwise. According to him nothing had changed between us and that he would be over his crush soon; but I had caught the extremely happy look on his face when I had strolled into the compartment and I couldn't help but notice that he was being a little too comforting with me when he took my hand in his. He had even pet Jojo; but since he fed her all the time there was no surprise as to why she let him.

However, I didn't think his crush was gone at all; in fact, I think it had grown. But he was all I had in all of Slytherin house, besides my brother but my twin was always flanked by these dimwits and there was only so much I could take of them. I couldn't afford to lose Theordore Nott; that was for sure.

"So have any of you been reading the Daily Prophet?" Parkinson spoke up, completely ignoring that fact that I was still pissed off that my brother wasn't present.

I took note that her voice was seemingly more nasally than usual and scrunched up my face; I wondered if maybe she really was turning into a pug and her transformation had just begun. I found strange delight in the notion. Maybe Jojo would have the pleasure of eating her alive if she became a full pug. I had no doubts that she could; my cat was the size of a small corgi.

"'Course we have. Potty Boy is just trying to keep himself in the spotlight, as usual," Blaise spoke, his voice deep.

"You don't think You-Know-Who could actually come back do you?" Daphne seemed a little skeptical and perhaps even frightened of the idea. Good, maybe she wasn't so dimwitted. "I mean the Ministry would tell us, wouldn't it?" Then again maybe I was wrong.

"Of course they wouldn't tell us, you bint, they're covering it up as we speak!" I said, not being able to control my anger rising at these insufferable people.

Daphne looked embarrassed that she was so easily belittled by me. Blaise looked intrigued at my intense outburst. Theodore was quietly trying to get me to calm down. Jojo was tense on my lap. I glared, took my hand from him and began explaining quite angrily how the Dark Lord returning is exactly the type of thing the Ministry of Magic would be sure to cover up.

Mentally I knew that if Draco had ever caught me saying any of this to our so called "friends" that he would have my tongue magically altered so that I was a mute. In other words; I shouldn't have been saying anything about it at all especially after father's warning. But I couldn't help myself. I was too passionate about the safety of my people and family to care about anyone's opinion.

"Do you honestly think the Ministry is going to just announce that he's back? They're taking this opportunity to run Potter's name through the dirt, which is fantastic yes, but they're also doing it at the expense of the safety of the whole of the wizarding world!"

"But don't you know what this means? We'll be back on top…the Dark Lord favors Slytherin's above anyone," Puginson tried to cut me off and I scoffed.

"If you think he favors anything above himself then you're sorely mistaken, Pug. He's going to kill anyone that gets in the way of what he wants," I said and stood up angrily. My whole body was tense. "If you lot want to continue and pretend like that Ministry isn't full of lying, manipulative cheats, then be my guest. I won't be attending your funeral."

"Wait, Cecily, where are you-," Nott called after me but I wasn't having it.

"For a walk!" I nearly screeched, my anger getting the best of me.

I shot out of my seat, receiving an angry hiss from my beloved cat that I ignored. She followed me despite my ignoring her angry meows the whole time.

It was just like the conversation at breakfast with my father all over again. None of them understood the seriousness of this. They could be killed so easily and none of them had a care in the world. Vaguely as I walked away I could hear their chatter at my exclamation. Puginson's voice was most annoying above the rest.

Fools, idiots! What are they thinking that they can just automatically side with the Dark Lord and then they'll be safe?

I marched along the train not bothering to try and even my temper. I was too angry. Sure, Potty was scum and he favored the spotlight and had things handed to him for no reason but I couldn't believe that everyone in this stupid wizarding world would think he would lie about his enemy coming back to life. Why would he want that in the first place? It just meant he was closer to his death. Not that I would mind that; it was just the aftermath of the Dark Lord's reign that I feared.

I didn't want things to fall apart. And if the Dark Lord won the impending war that was sure to come then things would most definitely fall apart.

I paused briefly on my walk, giving my labored breathing a chance to calm down. My anger was almost dwindling; I could feel the tightness in my chest loosening a bit. Jojo had stopped meowing at me and was now happily trotting beside me; she too could feel the change in my emotions. My walk hadn't been particularly long but it had cleared my mind a tiny bit. My opinion on You-Know-Who's return hadn't changed, but at least I hadn't had to look at my insufferable house mates.

I was almost at the point where I could call myself "relaxed" when I heard the voice. I felt my jaw clench immediately and knew there was no chance I would calm down now.

"What, you don't have any other part of the train you can infect, Malfoy?"

My name was spit at me like poison and were I not in such a bad mood I might've laughed at how pathetic he sounded saying it. I turned toward my left and saw the Golden Boy Potty sitting, surprisingly, by himself in a compartment with the sliding door wide open.

I took this as a blessing. He didn't have his Mudblood and Blood-Traitor friends with him and maybe, just maybe, I could get away with hexing him into oblivion.

"Aw look at wittle Potty, does he not have his wittle fwiends with him today?" I said in the most obnoxious voice I could muster.

It was a rare occasion when the Boy Wonder didn't have his posse with him. I wondered what could possibly have made them leave him so vulnerable to people.

People like me; who could easily jinx the poor sod or have their cat maim him to unrecognizability. I glanced down at Jojo and with furrowed brows saw that she was contently sitting right outside of his compartment. She didn't tense or hiss the way she did when she saw Parkinson and at this I was confused.

And a bit upset; was she broken? Kneazles were keen to enemies of their owners and with my cat being part kneazle it seemed obvious that she would attack Potter on the spot. Potter was nothing if not an enemy and Jojo was just standing there looking at him. Not even tense! Was she sick?

I'll have to take you to a healer!

I looked back at Potter and saw that his sour expression made me forget about Jojo being broken for the time being and think that maybe his friends hadn't been made to leave him, but perhaps left him willingly. I couldn't blame them. He was insufferable.

My comment seemed to have pinched a nerve with him though because suddenly he looked murderous. Good. I could use a fight. I reached for my wand and he immediately pointed his at my face. Jojo hissed then; clearly not liking having someone point a wand at my face.

Great, now, you hiss!

"Piss off Malfoy." He bit, his green eyes blazing. They looked acidic.

I admit I should've been more frightened with Harry Potter's wand pointing at my face considering he was one of the best in our year with wand work, aside from me of course, but I really couldn't seem to get past the itch I had to fight someone.

I managed a smirk and I stepped into his compartment slightly taking notice of the latest print of the Daily Prophet angrily crinkled on the seat opposite of him. I also noted the tired purple circles under his eyes and the sunken look behind them. The summer had really done a number on our dear Potty the Savior. He looked even thinner than he had when I'd first had the displeasure of meeting him in First Year. The sight made me stifle the jinx that was about to come out of my mouth.

Ugh. Right. Everyone hates him now, not just me.

It almost made me feel bad seeing how miserable he looked but at the same time he'd put me and my brother through so much hell that I didn't feel bad at all. I did lower my wand though. He took notice and did the same with a look of utter surprise on his face.

"How's life on the other side of fame, Potty?" I sneered. He snarled right back.

"Awful, but you would know all about that wouldn't you, Malfoy? You know, the general public's dislike of you and all that," He said, trying to act nonchalant.

I snorted.

"I would say nice try Potter, but I can't help but notice that lack of finesse behind the insult. Clearly something else is on your mind; I'm surprised. I didn't know your small brain could think of anything else besides yourself?" I said.

"Go away, Malfoy."

I narrowed my eyes at him. He definitely wasn't himself. Usually there were more biting comments back and forth before we parted ways. He seemed almost defeated. He was definitely more agitated than normal but I tended to manage to do that with people. Maybe Potty was really taking the Dark Lord's return to heart? But then again, why wouldn't he? It made me think about the terrible future if Potter didn't survive and then what would happen?

The Dark Lord would destroy our world and make a new darker one with more death, more curses, more of everything I didn't want for me and my family.

So maybe, just maybe, I would give Potter a break for a bit. Only for a bit though; I did have an image to maintain after all.

"Fine," I said, with much less malice but just as much, if not more, haughtiness. Like he wasn't worth my time in the first place. Which he wasn't.

He looked at me through his glasses, his green eyes blazing with curiosity but also, dare I say it, relief? He looked relieved that I was just going to leave him alone. It almost made me want to stay and make him mad again.

I had better leave before I changed my mind about giving him a break because that would just ensure a fight and honestly I was beginning to get a little hungry and not in the mood for a fight anymore. Poor timing.

"See you at the feast, Potty." I giggled at his agitated look at my nickname I'd come up for him in First Year but he didn't seem as upset as he could've been.

"See you," He said and I narrowed my eyes at him.

That was not normal. For him to sound almost…nice. For him to respond like that at all was different, it made me a little angry. Was he going to be like this all year? That wouldn't be very fun. I made sure to sneer at him before I left but I didn't bother looking back at him; Jojo took her sweet time looking at him and then following me daintily. Damn cat, what am I going to do with you?

She meowed loudly again and I looked frustrated at her. If she wasn't hissing at Harry freaking Potter then surely she was broken. I'd have to get her checked out. But I couldn't think about that now. Instead my mind was focused on the Pumpkin Pasties that I was dying to have. Hopefully Nott had maybe already gotten me some. Hopefully Draco was back! I mentally cheered at the thought.


Parkinson was two seconds away from receiving the jelly legs jinx from me if she didn't stop ogling my brother like she was. Honestly it was making me sick to my stomach just looking at how she fawned over him. I could practically see her drooling.

Draco, whom was oblivious to the sickening fangirl he had practically sitting on his lap, had returned shortly after I had from my walk and discussed his Prefect duties boastfully with us. I had rolled my eyes at his pompous tone but he ignored it, continuing in telling us how much of an honor it was that he was selected that he fully intended on abusing the right to giving detentions to any Gryffindor he saw fit.

This, at least, I could appreciate, for I would've done that same thing.

Tracey Davis, a fellow Slytherin and well known half-blood in the house seemed a bit more reserved about giving out detentions so freely but she still had a wicked smirk on her face at the mention of her being able to give detention to the two Weasel twins that she loathed so much. Apparently they had pranked her one too many times. I didn't mind them that much; were it not for the fact that they were blood traitors I would find them hilarious. Sometimes I even laughed at their darker schemes of mischief in the castle.

No other talk of "Potty the Liar" or anything like the Dark Lord returning was brought up in conversation this time.

Thank Salazar.

Theodore, bless his heart, had in fact gotten me pumpkin pasties and we shared some of the other sweets he had bought from the trolley lady. He seemed ecstatic that I was being so enthusiastically warm towards him. I couldn't help it; I enjoyed his company and quite frankly I kind of enjoyed that fact that he fancied me. I appreciated being appreciated, in other words. If Draco caught wind of it even in the slightest he'd have poor Nott's head on a platter. But still; it was nice.

"So Cecily, are you excited to try out for the quidditch team this year?" Blaise spoke to me as I finished off my liquorish wand that Theodore had split with me.

I narrowed my eyes at my brother and he smirked at me knowing this was exactly what I didn't want people knowing quite yet.

"I see secrecy is sacred nowadays between siblings," I muttered to my smirking twin and he shook his head and laughed at me.

"Oh please, they would've found out anyway. Besides there's a good chance you'll make the team. If anything Montague will put you on just for your looks alone," He said, bitterly at the end. I rolled my eyes.

Graham Montague, the captain of the quidditch team, more than once has said more than inappropriate things to me over the years and Draco hated him with all of his being. If he wasn't at risk of being thrown off of the team just in spite due to Montague's arrogance I'm sure my brother would've beaten the living pulp out of the captain by now.

"Montague's a slimy git anyway, I'm sure you'd make the team just on your talent. Draco here says you did extremely well this summer practicing with him." Theodore sounded just as miffed about the Montague comment as Draco was but he did seem genuinely happy for me that I had gotten good reviews from Slytherin's seeker.

"Thank you Theodore, I appreciate that but I wasn't that good," I said honestly. I'll admit I wasn't terrible but I wasn't as good as my brother.

"We'll have to see at tryouts, won't we?" Blaise smirked at me and I rolled my eyes at him.

There was idle chatter for the rest of the train ride to Hogwarts and I patiently waited for the moment were I could slip into my dormitory and get some sleep.


I hadn't even noticed who my brother was headed for before he started mocking the black haired boy we both loathed.

"Oh there he is, Golden Potty and his band of merry men," My brother's voice sounded cheerful at the idea of tormenting our nemesis before the feast even started and I was more than happy to join in.

However, I had told myself I would give Potter a slight break; did that mean I had to start before we even got welcomed back to school? On the train I had been more than willing to fight him but now that I was being so generous I wasn't sure of the rules. Ugh, I hated being a good Samaritan.

"Shove off, Malfoy," Potter snarled; just like before on the train I could tell there wasn't much passion behind his voice.

It almost made it not as fun if he wasn't going to get as mad as he usually did.

This time he had Mudblood Granger and the Weasel with him. Granger's fierce glare was slicing into my brother and Weasley simply snarled but they both let Potter do the talking. I glared at them both before reaching for Draco with my free hand; the other carrying and irritated Jojo.

"Aw look at this little Potty's mad. Have you enjoyed the things they're saying about you in the Daily Prophet? I know I have." Draco's voice was obnoxiously proud and I nearly laughed at him. Sometimes he was more like our father than he could see.

I gripped his arm tighter and gave him a hard stare.

"They're not worth it big brother," I muttered to him, shifting my cats weight in my arms.

He looked vaguely annoyed with me and looked as though he was going to say something else but then he nodded, straightening out his collar on his robes. We walked proudly ahead of them before anyone else could get another word in. Potter gave me a strange look; he had clearly been expecting more out of the infamous Malfoy twins.

Well he was mistaken because one of the two twins was starving again and she wanted nothing more than to eat and head to bed; Potter should've been thanking me.

"The hell was that about?" Draco snapped at me as we hopped onto one of the carriages.

"What are you talking about?" I furrowed my brows and scooched over so that Theodore could sit next to me. He hadn't been far behind with that whole debacle.

The rest of Draco's little fan club strolled in after him.

"Why didn't you let me rip Potter apart?" He asked, curiosity and anger in his tone.

"Are you honestly taking that as me keeping you from Potter?" I laughed bitterly. "I'm tired and hungry and I want to get to the Great Hall without any fuss big brother, Salazar's spit, it's like a girl can't do anything around here without being questioned on her motives," I hissed, now a little angry.

He simply glared back at me but did not say another word.

When we finally reached the Great Hall, Jojo ran off presumably towards our room, and I was finally sitting in front of my soon to be full plate in between my brother and Theodore, Professor Dumbledore made his way to the podium as he always did, after the First Years were sorted into their houses. Slytherin had had a nice lot this year and it did not go unnoticed when Draco and Tracey exchanged looks that said they were going to scare the piss out of the poor children.

I almost told them not to but I kind of wanted to see it in action so I refrained.

As Dumbledore spoke he told us that Hagrid, the games keeper at Hogwarts, was away on business and his position as Care of Magical Creatures Professor would be temporarily taken by Professor Grubbly-Plank. He also briefly mentioned the replacement of our Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher by one Dolores Umbridge, which wasn't surprising thanks to the last one being a follower of the Dark Lord disguised with polyuice potion, but as soon as he tried to move on to the next subject, the woman he mentioned, Umbridge, clad head to toe in an obnoxious tickle me pink, cleared her throat.

As if she had something to follow up on; like she wanted her own introduction.

She wasn't the best looking woman in the world, that was for sure; in fact, she looked a bit toad-ish. She looked very toad-ish, in fact. Her face was pinched and her eyes were beady like a toads were right before they were about to snack on a fly or some other poor insect. But something about her was familiar, like I'd seen her when I was younger and she was a vague memory poking at my head or something.

Maybe she was one of mother's silly book club friends from when Draco and I were much younger. I remember mother had tried to explain to us when we had come asking questions that they were simply going over the chapter's they'd read in great detail; really they were bantering back and forth about the latest gossip among the purebloods while sipping on their expensive wines and spirits.

But the women in front of the podium didn't look like any of the women mother would ever invite over to our home.

She was too…pink. Mother was a fan of black or green, or silver, and nothing else in range of color scheme.

"Thank you Headmaster, for those kind words of welcome."

Salazar's spit, I had no idea someone's voice could be more obnoxious than Puginson's!

Her voice was too high, too sweet and it left a bitter taste in my mouth. I snarled at her from my seat and I felt Draco jab me in the ribs with his elbow. I looked at him and he gave me a glance that said "behave." I shook my head no with an angry flick of my hair over my shoulder and he rolled his eyes. She continued.

"I thought I would say just a few words. I am here at the Ministry of Magic's bequest, under Educational Decree twenty-two; that if a Headmaster is unable to fill a post that the Ministry should select someone for the position," She clapped her hands together at the end of her sentence and smiled.

Her face split into a too happy grin as she looked at the student body before her. She looked at us like we were some sort of prey. I continued to listen on edge, while also noticing that my fellow students were just as bothered by her. I itched at my wrist involuntarily.

"The Ministry has always considered the education of our children to be of vital importance, and the passing down of this noble art must be passed down. Without progress, stagnation. However, progress for the sake of progress is to be discouraged-,"

What the bloody hell is she talking about!?

I looked at my brother and I could tell that that common look of outrage that passed on my face on nearly a daily basis thanks to my short temper was present and I was even more miffed when I saw that he had no surprise on his face; not even the slightest hint that he was upset. In fact, he looked a bit pleased.

Did he know that this wench was going to come into the school? I couldn't believe it! He did know! This was clearly the Ministry's way of keeping Potter and whoever else believes that the Dark Lord has returned, under their power and control. To ensure that people were keeping their mouths shut. There's no other explanation for it! Dumbledore would've never let that pink git into the school otherwise.

I sneered at my twin and he saw it but simply ignored it. Theodore seemed very concerned that I was glaring at my brother so harshly.

How could he have known and not told me?!

"There are large changes to come! Changes walking the fine line between order and chaos. Know that these are only for the best, and to prevent the destruction of our civilization. Thank you."

And with that she sweetly and calmly sat back down in her seat between Professor Snape, whom I could not wait to speak to now that I knew this creature was infesting our school, and Professor McGonagall, whom looked murderously at the pink devil.

Good, Gryffindor Head of House or not I know Professor McGonagall can kick that slimy toads arse if she wants to!

"Cessy, you alright? You look like you might murder someone," Theodore asked me quietly, using the nickname that mainly only he and Draco used for me.

His voice was sincere and concerned and I wondered vaguely what his opinion on all of this Dark Lord stuff was. Was he on my side? Or the Ministry's? And when, more importantly, did my side all of a sudden match the side of Potter's?

Ugh, gross, it's like I'm a bloody sympathizer to Potter's cause!

"I'm fine," I muttered.

Dumbledore finished his speech and then the feast began. I wasn't so hungry all of a sudden and barely even looked at my dinner plate. Instead I occasionally took sips of the sweet pumpkin juice and glared at my lap quietly.

"Eat," My brother demanded.

I did not respond to him nor did I eat like he asked. I could feel him growing irritated with me but I didn't care all that much.

He had definitely known that that toad woman was coming to Hogwarts and he had failed to mention it to me even after he knew my standpoint on the Ministry at the moment. Sure, father was well known and respected at the Ministry and because of that we lived a luxurious life but that did not mean that the Ministry was all sunshine and rainbows like they painted it out to be. It was quite corrupt and I was not going to stand for it!

Wait…

I looked up from my lap, feeling both Draco's and Theodore's eyes on me, and looked over at the pink abomination that sat at the head table with my Professor's. She worked for the Ministry that was for sure; maybe she knew father?

And if she knew father then that must mean father told Draco of her coming here…why wouldn't he tell me though?

I wanted very badly to address the subject with my twin but I also didn't want to let him know that I knew him and father had been keeping secrets from me. There must've been a reason he didn't want me knowing about Umbridge and I wasn't going to just ask him about it. I had to be sneaky.

"You really should eat, Cecily," Theodore looked at me with his big blue eyes, a very deep blue they almost looked purple, and sweet reddened cheeks and pushed my plate toward me slightly.

Despite him having a bit of a crush on me I was positive that this concern was coming straight from the anchor of our friendship. He did tend to look after me quite a bit while we were at school; a feat that I had often wondered if my brother had put him up to but over the years I had come to almost like it.

I smiled at him faintly and bit daintily into the seasoned roast beef that had been served. He smiled at my accommodation. I heard Draco sigh in frustration and I knew it could only have been because I refused to listen to him and instead listened to Nott. I grinned cheekily at him.

"You are the bane of my existence, little sister."

"And you are the sunshine of my life, big brother," I kissed his cheek lightly and he groaned, wiping it off as if I had cooties.

Theodore laughed at our sibling bickering. For the rest of the feast the Slytherin's chatted about nonsense. Most were wondering about our knew teacher and her horrid teaching skills. I could only imagine what she would have us doing. Probably brainwashing us with Ministry bullshit. I shuttered at the thought.

Across the Great Hall I heard some noise from the ever obnoxious Gryffindor table and noticed that in the middle, as usual, sat the Golden Trio with the two Weasel twins making a commotion. The red and gold lions all seemed to be enjoying themselves. All except one, of course. Potty had not cheered up since the train platform from what I could see.

What the bloody hell is his problem? It's like he's not letting himself feel anything but self-pity, pathetic little git.

He sat with his glasses almost falling off of his nose and his head down, looking at his lap. Much like I had been to be quite honest. His bushy haired friend, Granger, looked as though she was trying to include him in the conversation but he wasn't having it. He had looked up for a second when his friends hadn't been paying attention and his eyes made contact with mine. Now of course any other person would've looked away but I had no need. I was not afraid of Potter nor would I ever look away like I was.

He seemed shell shocked that I was looking at him in the first place, which admittedly I normally wouldn't do, but I was going to blame it on the twins making so much noise. It had distracted me. He seemed indifferent while he looked at me; like he was on the verge of sneering at me but also kind of not bothering to. I felt the same expression on my face. But since this was getting quite awkward I decided to look away first, back at my brother, who was getting ready to take the First Years to their tour of the school.

I did not feel any amount of jealousy at that. While he was showing the little brats around I would be comfy in my bed with Jojo cuddled into my torso, snoozing.

"Good luck with them, brother," I said to him, clear sarcasm in my tone.

He picked up on it and while he was leading them away he flashed me his middle finger. I laughed.

"Ready to head to the common room?" Theodore asked.

"Oh yes, I can't wait to get into bed. I'm not sure if you're aware, Theodore but it's very exhausting being this pretty and angry all the time," I teased.

The pink tint in his cheeks made me scold myself; I forgot how easy it was to flirt with Nott. I'd have to keep reminding myself that every time I did he probably wrote about it in one of his journals like a giddy little girl. The blush on his cheeks would indicate that, at least.

"I wasn't aware, no," He said, his voice catching.

I sighed, wondering just how much he actually liked me.

This is going to be harder than I thought…