Chapter 24 Things Fall Apart

Jes, Alana, Amber, and Selphie sat in a circle on the dorm floor. They were whispering their theories about what had happened as if they would be in trouble it anyone heard them. After consoling her sister and sending her to bed Shayna was ready to be consoled herself. She was pleased beyond anything you could know that the girls were still awake, that she didn't have to be alone. As calmly as she could she told them all what Potter had told them, no more.

Amber was the first to speak. "So, why the gloomy face Shayna? This is great news! Oh he's really back this time, if Dumbledore believes it then..."

"Amber! What the hell is wrong with you!" Jes cried, jumping to her feet "This is a horrid thing. Maybe you don't understand, The Dark Lord, the most evil and murderous person in all history, has returned to Power!"

Amber looked down at Jes. "And the down side is?"

"Ammie," Shayna said her voice shaking "You don't know what you're talking about. This isn't a game anymore."

"I don't know what I'm talking about?" Amber laughed bitterly "The man just happens to be my Grandfather."

"Lusius is Voldemort's son!" Selphie gasped

"No" Amber said to the side "I was adopted" she turned back to Shayna "And you're right, it's not a game anymore, it's the most wonderful reality you'll ever meet." she now turned to the whole group as if making a public speech "For years Draco and I have listened to Dad's stories about Voldemort and being a death eater. He told us all about the power it gives you. The dark arts empower and free you!"

A lump was forming in Shayna's throat, this wasn't happening, it couldn't be happening. "The dark arts don't free anything!" she cried through the growing pain inside of her "It imprisons you, they'll haunt you. They're awful Ammie. Taking innocent lives, and feeding on the fears of the helpless is not power. Even people who stay away from it aren't safe. No matter what you do you can't out run it once they've got your name."

Amber was still looking at Shayna as though she couldn't understand her. "Shayna, that's why you join him. The benefits are amazing and you'll be safe. I think you're the one who doesn't know what she's saying. After all you won't even walk down Knockturn Alley."

Shayna tried hard to swallow the lump, but it was now leaking steadily through her eyes. Her voice trembled as she spoke. "Lord Voldemort was once called Tom Riddle. This man was my father. I knew nothing about this or my powers until one day he came for me. That day, when I was 6 years old, I saw him murder my mother. I had no idea what dark magic was, but that day it ruined my life. And because of a situation I can't help I will never be safe, things will never be o.k. again."

The eyes of every girl in that room were fixed to Shayna, all wondering the same thing. How could she have never told them. "And you chose to fight against it, he's your father!" said Alana in amazement "Weren't you listening!" Jes cried "He killed her mother right in front of her!"

Selphie was looking from Shayna to Amber, but said nothing. "I don't get you Riddle" Amber said at last "You have such a gift. The most powerful wizard of all time is your father. And you would throw that away. For what? For your little friend Potter?" Shayna said nothing "You're a fool" Amber shook her head "You had such potential, such a gift ... but you seem desperate to squander it." she took a breath and looked at Shayna in a cold way that frightened her "Go then, join Dumbledore's little band of Mudboolds and Muggle-lovers."

Amber turned her face from Shayna and folded her arms. Shayna didn't know what she was to do, so she stood firm as she could. "I will Amber" she said imploring "And you'd be foolish not to do the same." She turned to look at Shayna out of the corner of her eyes "No thanks Shayna" she hissed in pareltounge All of the girls now stared avidly at the two of them. "No, I'll stay on the side that will win." She turned to the rest of the girls "Well Riddle's made her decision, and it's time you all made yours. There'll be no more fence sitting around here. Show your colors here and now, are you death eater or muggle-lover?"

"Death eater" Alana said proudly

Selphie looked nervously from Shayna to Amber trying to make up her mind. "Death eater" she said at last

"You're all nuts." Jes hissed "Speak up Wilde" Amber growled "We can't hear you." "I said you're all nuts" Jes cried "Especially you Malfoy, leading them to become murderous scum like you and your family. You're all being childish! Shayna's right, but by the time you all see that it'll be too late!"

The room was now divided, both groups staring at the other. Amber only grinned "Well girls, now we know who our real friends are." She turned and walked to her four-poster. All was silent, everyone waiting for someone else to speak. Shayna was aching to do something, she had to be able to change this. She searched herself frantically for the words to say, the words that would make everyone hug and be friends. But they would not come. Tears rushing down her face, she went hysterically after Amber. "Please don't ... don't do this! Ammie I-" Amber stood strait up in her bed, towering over Shayna, wand pointed down at her. Everyone froze as the unexpected happened again. "No, you don't- Don't call me Ammie, don't come near me." she said coldly "I thought I knew you, but I don't, just keep your distance Riddle!"

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And was how it stayed. Amber, Alana, and Selphie wouldn't even look at Shayna and Jes the next morning. When the two of them sat down at breakfast, the three death eaters got up and moved down the table. Shayna wouldn't tell Josh what was wrong, so he bugged them for a grand total of 3 hours, but they said nothing. No one knew what to think, what could drive apart these girls?

Jes and Shayna spent most of that week outside. Away from the rest of the school where it was quiet they sat and watched the clouds. The sun shone brightly, mocking the pain and fear that were thriving in Shayna. And all she could think was one week. In one week school would be over, she'd be back with the muggles. If her father came for her then there'd be no stopping him. But at least there was one more week of safety.

"Miss Riddle, Miss Widle" Severus said walking toward them "Is everything alright?" He was speaking to both of them, but talking to Shayna. "I told them last night" she explained "It went just how you said it would." He smiled sympathetically, but said no more. Shayna could tell there was something wrong. His sallow skin had a sickly tint to it, and his eyes darted back and forth occasionally.

"What's wrong?" she asked at last

"Nothing's wrong"

"When will you stop thinking you can lie to me? Now tell me what it wrong!"

"I won't. Dumbledore wouldn't like it, and the last thing I need is for you to worry about my problems. Just know that I am well and it would be foolish to give anymore thought to whatever you think you see."

There was a tense moment in which Snape seemed to fear that Shayna might press, but she decided against it. She wouldn't want anyone pressing her about why she was so down. "Well then ... as long as you take care of yourself." At this Snape's composure broke for a moment. He smiled a weak but honest smile and dropped a hand to Shayna's shoulder. "I'm so sorry Shayna."

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It was Thursday before Michelle even left her dorm room. Late that afternoon she met up with Shayna and Jes outside, not saying a word. Shayna was watching her watch the lake. She must have not eaten the whole time, the color was gone from her skin, and she was still clutching her left forearm weakly.

Down by the gamekeeper's cabin Harry and his friends were walking up to the castle. He waved, leaving his friends, starting toward the Slytherin girls. Jes took this as her cue to leave. She seemed to think it best that Shayna's dealings with Potter not involve her. "See you at dinner" she said shortly, and left just as Harry reached the Riddle girls He tried to smile at the two of them.

"How you doing Harry?" she asked He sighed deeply and sat with them under the tree. "Things aren't easy here, but Malfoy was saying loudly how his sister's friend was a disgrace to the Slytherins. If that's half as bad as it sounds you have it worse then me."

Shayna shook her head "The Malfoy's have a bad habit of sticking so closely together that they loose sight of other things." "Don't take what he says too seriously." he advised "I don't. Things are really messed up in the Slytherin house. You can imagine, with such a high death eater count."

Harry nodded "Things aren't gonna be easy. But we'll get by, one day at a time right?" Shayna saw no comfort in these words, but Michelle raised her curly head. "You're right" she said softly She smiled at her sister, who turned back to Harry. "Congratulations, that's the first time she's spoken since that night."

"I'm sorry Potter, but I have to go." she said rising quickly And with that Shayna ran off to the castle and into her dorm, without waiting for him to say good-bye. No one seemed to understand, not even Michelle or Severus. This wasn't like a chore or homework assignment, it couldn't be procrastinated. They all seemed to be pushing it from their minds, acting for the time, like he wasn't there. The fact was he was there and Shayna couldn't just forget that. No matter where she had gone, his resurrection followed her, even to sleep.

She threw herself on her bed and pulled to curtains shut. An aching swelled in her chest as she thought of the way things were not four days again. It was only four days ago that Shayna was laughing happily with her friends, and there was no more then a twitch on her arm. Now it was lost, she and Amber would never be able to be friends like that again. They had been the only happiness Shayna had since Voldemort took her mother from her, but it wasn't enough, he had to take them from her as well.

Light shone mildly in the dorm as footsteps entered. "Shayna, you in here?" Jes's voice called Shayna made a fait noise to let Jes know she was there. "Come down for dinner." she said, Shayna was silent "You have to stop doing this. I realize this is hard, but you can't just shut down."

Shayna poked her head through the curtains. "Jes, you don't understand" she began but true to form she cut her off "No I don't understand and I don't pretend too. But you can't just give up!" "Why bother" Shayna hissed "Anything that's ever gone well for me, he's ruined it. There's nothing for me to do-" Jes putt her hands on her hips and suddenly had a very motherly and commanding look about her. "YES THERE IS! Shayna, get back up! Show them and him that no matter how many times he knocks you down you're gonna get back up. That's the only way you can show that you won't let him win, is simply refuse to admit defeat. Now GET UP!"

Tears welled in Shayna's eyes as Jes spoke. She just watched her, this wonder of a girl. She could seem so shallow and yet inside her was a giant. A true best friend that would not let her friends lie down to die. And Shayna realized in that moment that she had one thing that her father could never take from her. Without a word she pulled Jes into a hug, tears dripping from both faces. And she thought, everyone should be so lucky to have a friend like her.