(A/N: Starting on this chapter, Fallen*Angel has filled in as the beta reader since Becker Wein couldn't do it because of some "computer issues.")
Chapter 10
A Past Revealed
A.J. and Cho sat nervously in the Gryffindor common room. Harry and Ron had dragged them to the common room for some serious questioning. Most of the Gryffindors were sitting there in there, including Dumbledore himself.
"Look," Cho said, breaking the silence. "None of this would have happened if A.J. hadn't been connected to You-Know-Who." A.J. glared at Cho as she continued talking. "I tried to kill A.J. several times, but I always ended up killing the wrong girl."
"So you're the one who killed Chrissy, Maret, and Hermione?" Seamus asked.
"Yes, but I had been after A.J.," Cho replied coldly.
"But why would you want to kill A.J.? Maybe she is connected to You-Know-Who, but she hasn't done anything harmful," George said, coming to A.J.'s aid.
Cho threw her head back and starting laughing insanely. "That's what you and everyone else thinks. Maybe it's time for our friend here," Cho pointed towards A.J., "to reveal her past."
A.J., who had remained quiet during this entire ordeal, finally raised her head to the group. "What do you mean?"
Cho stared into her eyes. "Exactly what I just aid. Tell these people who you really are, and what you were sent to do. Don't even think about leaving out detail, and starting in the middle."
Dumbledore, who was sitting in a huge armchair said, "Yes, A.J., let's hear your side of the story."
A.J. gulped but started talking. "I was transferred here from Durmstrang. Alright, I was EXPELLED from Durmstrang," she quickly added, seeing the look on Dumbledore's face.
"Why?" Dean asked.
"They found out that I was the daughter of a Death Eater."
Parvati gasped loudly. "Which one?"
A.J.'s eyes narrowed dangerously. "Lucius Malfoy."
"Draco Malfoy's dad?" Ron asked.
"Yes," she replied with a sigh.
"I don't believe it!" Cho gasped, backing out of her armchair so fast that it toppled over. "Lucius sent you to Hogwarts to kill his own son?"
A.J. glared angrily at Cho. "Took you that long to figure it out, eh? After you went snooping through all my personal belongings." Cho started to scowl, but A.J. ignored Cho and kept talking. "Maybe you should spill your secrets about the deaths!" She said, shouting hysterically.
"Fine," Cho replied in a tone of voice that expressed all of her hatred for A.J.. "I killed them all, on accident, of course."
"Their deaths weren't accidents and you know it!" A.J. yelled as tears rolled down the side of her face.
"Okay, fine! Have it your way!" Cho yelled back, throwing her arms into the air. "I had to kill all the girls, they all saw me try to murder A.J.! Chrissy and Maret were both too easy. I'm not even sure if Maret saw me pull a knife on A.J., but I couldn't risk it. I had to kill Maret. Hermione was a problem, though. She wanted to die the first time."
"Then explain what happened to the blood!" Harry snapped, his anger getting the best of him.
"Simple," Cho replied, brushing a strand of hair out of her face. "I'm a vampire. Ask A.J. about me, she should know everything."
Gasps of shock arose around the common room as all eyes focused on A.J.
A.J., seeing that everyone was looking towards her, waiting for an explanation, let out a weary sigh. "I've been tracking Cho ever since I came to Hogwarts. I did a lot of vampire research in the library after my classes. Once I realized that Cho was a vampire, I started to wonder about Draco, and why his father wanted me to kill him. I mean, you know how pale both of them are. Anywho, then it dawned on me. Harry, you may not be able to believe this, but that's alright."
Harry nodded his head to show that he understood.
"Lucius couldn't stand the thought that Draco wanted to become an Auror instead of a Death Eater. Ever since you two met in Madam Malkin's robe shop, ("How did she find out about that?" Ron whispered to Harry.) Draco has always looked up to you."
Harry stared blankly at A.J. "How do you know?"
A.J. shrugged her shoulders. "Easy, I'm his big sister."
"But then shouldn't you be A.J. Malfoy instead of A.J. Solo?" George asked.
A.J. shook her head fiercely. "Lucius took AFIN and I away from our true father when we were just babies. I don't even remember what he looks like."
"So what kind of connection do Malfoy and Cho have?" Neville asked, speaking to A.J. for the first time in his life.
"They're both vampires," A.J. quickly replied.
"I don't believe you," Parvati angrily said.
A.J. looked quite startled. "What?"
"I said, I don't believe you, and nobody should. I mean, how can we trust you after you lied to us the entire year? We can't believe anything that you are saying," Parvati coldly said.
"Parvati does have a point," Fred said, glancing around the common room, seeing the fear in the students' faces.
A.J., who was very near tears again, said, "Believe what you want to believe, but don't blame me if Voldemort kills every single one of you."
"How do you know about You-Know-Who?" Dean growled. "You're right Parvati, we CAN'T trust this girl," he said, pointing his index finger at A.J..
"You're right, you can't trust me," A.J. said through clenched teeth. "I've killed once and I can do it again!" she yelled, letting her tears flow freely.
Cho let out a small gasp and then starting walking out of the common room, yelling at A.J. as she left. "How could you?! You murderer!"
Dumbledore sat there, his face turning to stone, but kept him mouth shut, knowing it was the only way .A.J. would have enough guts to say anything else.
A.J. watched Cho storm out of the common room and then looked back at the group surrounding her. "Now, where were we?" she menaced.
Gulps could be heard around the common room.
A.J. suddenly jumped from her chair and started pacing around the common room. "You just flat refuse to believe me, don't you?" I know where Voldemort is hiding, and I know exactly what he is after."
"You ARE evil," Harry finally breathed.
"No, I'm not!" A.J. shouted at him.
"Yes you are," Ron said, coming to aid Harry. "You killed Malfoy without reason, didn't you?"
A.J. looked at Ron. "I've already told you. Lucius told me to kill him."
"So if Lucius told you to jump off a bridge, would you do it?" Seamus asked.
A.J. shook her head. "He threatened to kill me, and he has abused me! Lucius killed AFIN just for breaking his wand! Who knows what he would have done to me if I hadn't agreed to come to Hogwarts." She was so hysterical that her voice pitch was rising with every word.
George looked into A.J.'s eyes and then spoke up. "Okay, we believe you. Now, what about your dreams?"
"Lucius enters my mind, replays things that he has done to me, usually when I was abused. He even made me witness AFIN's death again, as a reminder of what would happen to me if I didn't carry out his orders," A.J. hiccupped.
Dumbledore looked at her gravely. "Now, what do you know about Voldemort?"
A.J. stopped crying, and her eyes suddenly hardened. "Everything." Her voice was cold and emotionless, making shivers run down Harry's spine.
"Please do tell us," Dumbledore softly said.
A.J. bit her bottom lip, but didn't object. "He's near Hogwarts, in Hogsmeade in fact, hiding in the Shrieking Shack." She paused for a minute, but continued talking. "He plans to attack Hogwarts any day now."
"Do you know when?" Ron asked.
"No, but I can find out!" A.J. said, practically shouting with excitement. "All I have to do is ask, since he'll tell me anything. I mean, I see him practically every week. Harry, Ron, you two come with me, just in case."
A.J. didn't have to say in case what, Harry and Ron already knew what she meant.
*~*~*~*~*~*
"Ah, young Solo. What do you need this time?" Voldemort asked as A.J. entered the Shrieking Shack. Harry and Ron quickly ran into the shadows to avoid being found.
A.J. smiled evilly. "When shall we attack Hogwarts?"
"Why should I tell you?" Traitor! Bringing Harry Potter and his Red-Headed Freak here!" Voldemort roared. He whipped out his wand and pointed it at A.J. "Avada Kedavra!!" A brilliant flash of green light blinded them all, followed by a girl's shriek of terror.
*~*~*~*~*~*