Arielle found herself re-accepted into Hogwarts society at least by the Slytherins. After her grand entrance into the Great Hall with Regulus, the two became friendly. Potions class was more bearable, and Arielle found that Regulus was actually quite smart and knew his way around a cauldron.

Once potions was over Arielle walked with Regulus to the Slytherin common room. As soon as they rounded the corner in the dungeons, Arielle let out a loud gasp. Emma Vanity stood in nothing but sexy underwear with a bottle of champagne in her hands.

"Regulus, you didn't tell me you were bringing a guest." Emma said with a hint of spite.

Regulus opened his mouth to speak but no words came out. Arielle looked over, clearly Black was memorized with Emma. She was quite fit and beautiful.

"Um….this is a mistake… I should not be here." Arielle managed to fumble out. She quickly turned around and left the common room. After a few minutes of brisk walking, she turned around to see the corridor empty. Arielle felt a bit of sadness creep into her disposition but terminated it immediately. Why would he follow after her?

The next few days Arielle avoided Regulus like the plague. At mealtimes she couldn't help but notice that Emma seemed quite put out and that Regulus didn't speak a word to the blonde Quidditch captain. And of course Regulus was conveniently absent from Potions which Arielle thanked Merlin for. Christmas break was approaching and Arielle managed to distract herself with intense studying in the library with Severus.

"So...what's going on between you and Regulus?" Sev finally asked.

Arielle sighed. "Nothing. Nothing is going on. Why would you think that something happened? Nothing happened."

"Right, " Sev said sarcastically. "I guess you wouldn't be interested to know that Emma ended things with him."

"Wait what?" Arielle nearly shouted.

"Sssssssshh." Spat a neighboring Ravenclaw.

"What do you mean she ended things with him?" Arielle whispered.

"I mean she broke it off with him. She has recently begun a relationship with Wilkes." Severus said.

"And Regulus?"

"And Regulus what? He seemed quite relieved if you ask me." Sev noted.

"Yeah, that's one way to put it." Arielle growled causing Sev to quirk an eyebrow in her direction. The two went back to studying in silence. A few hours had past and Arielle tried to suppress the million questions that popped into her head. Sev glanced at his friend from the corner of his eye in amusement.

"Okay I have to ask.." Arielle finally huffed. Severus shook his head with a sly grin. "Why did Emma break up with Regulus?"

"I'm not sure. But I think it has something to do with the competition that most of the fourth, fifth, and even sixth year boys are about to start."

"Competition?" Arielle asked.

"Don't ask me. I wasn't invited to participate."

Arielle frowned. Competition? What could they possibly be competing for that even Emma wouldn't want a part in.

"I'm hungry, wanna head to the Great Hall?" Arielle said.

"Sure."

Arielle and Severus were late to Great Hall and walked quietly to the Slytherin table as Dumbledore was speaking. Arielle sat down next to Lucienda. It wasn't dinner time, why would the headmaster be speaking, she tought.

"You missed it...Dumbledore just announced that there is going to be a ball here at Hogwarts before the Christmas term ends!" Lucienda squealed.

"Wonderful." Arielle said piling her plate with food.

"You don't sound excited." Lucienda frowned.

Arielle sighed. She loved dancing and balls. It was finding or hoping for a date that made the whole thing worse. It was one thing to go to a ball in high society without a date. Those affairs were usually pureblood matching making events anyway. It was a whole other demon to go to a school ball without one.

"I am. Let's go to Madam Malkin's this weekend to try on dresses." Arielle said with a fake smile.

"Oh yes!" Lucienda squealed in delight.

"So ladies…" Avery said with a wicked smile. "Which of you would like to do the honor of accompanying me to the ball?"

"Not a chance a Avery." Arielle said with a smirk.

"Awww. playing hard to get Malfoy? I'll wear you down eventually."

"Oh really...sounds like a challenge." Arielle quipped.

"Avery, Arielle is a Malfoy, you'll have to sweep her off her feet." Lucienda remarked. Arielle cheeks darkened.

"Don't you remember how long it took Narcissa to bring Lucius to his knees?" Regulus interjected.

Arielle looked at the Slytherin boy in surprise. It was the first time she heard him speak in her presence in a week. The others burst out in laughter at Regulus's comment, and once the initial shock was over, even Arielle graced the witty remark with a sly smile.

"I'll warn you Avery, that I am not as easily as smitten as my brother." Arielle quipped.

"We shall see about that." The fifth year said wiggling his eyebrows which sent Lucienda into a fit of giggles.

"Who will you be going to the ball with Regulus?" Arielle asked clearly her throat, trying to not sound to interested. Addressing him in front of his friends, guaranteed an answer.

"I'll be going with the most sought after girl in Hogwarts." Regulus replied nonchalantly sending the eavesdropping Slytherin girls into a fit of whispers.

Arielle snorted. He sounded just like his brother, Sirius. The Black charm was legendary at Hogwarts.

"Of course." Arielle said with an eye roll.

"So what color tie should I get?" Regulus asked. Lucienda let out a loud gasp and Arielle felt a tight knot form in her stomach.

"How should I know what color tie you should get?" Arielle replied rather dumbly.

"I prefer green. Lucienda, be a doll and make sure she picks a green dress." Regulus answered causally.

Arielle mouth fell open unsure of how to respond.

"I don't recall you asking me to go to the ball with you?" Arielle questioned trying her best to sound uninterested.

"Will you be my date to the Christmas Ball, Arielle?" Regulus asked with charming smirk. Arielle crinkled her brows in distaste. This was not the invitation she had been imagining. Out of the corner of her eye she could see that her conversation with Black had gained the attention of the entire Slytherin table. Some stared with envy, others with curiosity.

"Well, I suppose you'll have to do." Arielle said raising her chin high.

"If there is someone else you'd rather…" Regulus began.

"No!" Arielle stood up abruptly causing Black's friends to snicker. Regulus couldn't hold back his wicked smile. He was enjoying this. "I mean...yes I'd like to go with you Regulus. Now if you'd excuse me, I need to get to Charms. Severus?"

Severus got up reluctantly and followed Arielle as she practically ran out of the Great Hall. He had to jog to catch up to her.

"And that boys, is how it's done." Regulus quipped folding his arms triumphantly across his chest. The Slytherin boys cheered, all except for one who sat rigidly with a dark expression.

Evan Rosier vowed to destroy this budding relationship.

"Smooth." Severus panted finally catching up to her.

Arielle buried her face in her hands. "That was mortifying."

"Which part? When Black managed to coax you into going to the Christmas Ball even though you two haven't spoken in days or the fact that the entirety of Slytherin house was watching him do it? Or maybe it's because he recently hooked up with Emma and now everyone knows you'll be his next conquest?"

Arielle looked up at her friend in horror. "Thanks Sev, you really have a way of putting things into perspective. How did you know about Emma?"

Severus shrugged as he opened the door to Charms class, "The guys talk about these things...usually in the loo of all places." The door was about halfway open when a firm hand slammed it closed.

"Snivillius." James sneered casually leaning against the wooden door. Sirius and Peter appeared behind the Gryffindor boy.

"I see you recovered since our last encounter." Severus remarked with a smirk and a glance in Arielle's direction.

"Oh you mean when your crackpot girlfriend tried to kill me." James quipped, his friends laughing.

"Oh fuck off James Potter. You could've killed Severus!" Arielle spat.

"That's right I forgot, the slimy git can't even swim." James remarked as the Marauders burst out in laughter.

"Come on let's go Severus." Arielle said pushing past James and attempting to open the classroom door. However, Sirius had joined James in leaning on the door. Arielle could not move their combined weight as she gripped the door handle tightly.

"I suppose you two will be going to the ball together." Peter Pettigrew squeaked.

"Who else would ask either of these freaks to the ball." Sirius looked back at his friend unimpressed.

Arielle's cheeks flushed with rage. "Actually I'm going to the ball with your brother Sirius. He asked me just this afternoon."

James shifted his gaze from Arielle to Sirius. Sirius opened his mouth to say something then closed it promptly.

Arielle smirked with satisfaction.

"I suppose it was going to happen sooner or later...the induction." Sirius finally remarked in an icy tone.

"Induction into what?" Arielle asked incredulously.

"Into the death eater camp of course."

Arielle let the rage consume her. Her grip on the door handle was so tight that when she pulled her hand away the steel rod came with it.

"You listen to me Sirius Black!" She yelled holding the rod towards his chest. James and Peter stepped back in awe of her recently acquired strength, even Snape looked shocked. "Whatever fantasies you have about me, your brother, or his friend's being a part of some sort of cult… i'm sorry to inform that it's simply not true."

Sirius shifted his gaze from the door handle in Arielle's hand to the dark expression on her face.

"What's going on here?" A familiar voice said.

Severus turned around to see his old friend LIly Evans approaching the scene.

"Oh you know, just your daily run-in with Snvillius and the house-traitor." James smirked at the red-head.

Lily looked unimpressed much to Arielle's surprise.

"That's a detention Potter for your insufferable cheek." Lily spat.

Arielle raised an eyebrow at Lily who smiled at Severus before casting a spell on the wooden door to open it.

James rolled his eyes and followed after the redhead, Sirius and Peter joined him.

Arielle looked at Severus with a shocked expression.

Severus shrugged. "You never ask."

Arielle frowned as her friend walked into Charms. She had been so consumed with her own affairs, she truly had forgotten all about Severus and his relationship with Lily. When did they become friends again? Wasn't Lily was dating James? Arielle sighed she had some catching up to do.