"So how was it?" Arabella whispered to Blue on their way from Divination.
"What are you taking about," Blue said rather irritably as she tightened the grip on her textbooks.
"The kiss," Arabella replied in a low hiss. Blue was so startled, she let go of everything she was holding and it went crashing to the ground. They both knelt down to pick the scattered items up, but when Arabella handed Blue a quill, she smiled.
"How d'you know?"
"Sirius used to reduce me to a babbling wreck, every time he gave me one of those fatal looks he's so famous for. I think I'd know a good kiss victim when I see one."
"He caught me totally unaware, I don't even-"
"Like him? Well that remains to be seen," Arabella said before walking towards the common room.
"Meet you in the hall," she called, as she disappeared round the corner.
There were thousands of things running through Blue's mind. Thousands of things that can't be thought about on an empty stomach, Blue thought as she felt her stomach rumble. When she entered the hall the first person she saw was Lily, sitting quite a few chairs away from James, Sirius, Remus and Peter. She looked really frustrated.
"Hey Lil," Blue said as she sat down opposite her.
"Oh, hello Blue," Lily said, slamming the book in front of her closed.
"What are-"
"Nothing. Unfinished work, that's all," she said hurriedly, sweeping pieces of parchment together before Blue had a chance to see what was written on them.
"Oh, there's Professor McGonagall. Excuse me Blue," Lily said politely, gathering all her 'unfinished work' up and swiftly disappearing after Professor McGonagall. Blue had no idea what had just happened.
"Feel deserted?" a familiar voice said slowly. Blue looked up to see Luke who had just taken Lily's vacant seat.
"What do you want?"
"You left so suddenly last night, I didn't get a chance to-"
"Oh shut up," she snapped. "I left because you're too pathetic to make up your own mind!"
"Harsh, very harsh," he said, patting his heart lightly.
"What do you really want Darwin?"
"Darwin? Since when do you call me that," he said, sounding a little hurt.
"Since last night." There was a silence before he took her hand in his.
"I still thought there might be a chance for me to redeem myself, maybe still give you those Quidditch pointers. I'm really, really sorry though, I know it was wrong for me to kiss you, and I hope friendship isn't beyond what we have." He kissed her on the cheek, and then got up to walk away.
"Luke," Blue said, calling after him. "We never had anything." He stared, soundless at her before going back to the Slytherin table.
"Harsh," Arabella said from behind Blue.
"What the hell was that?" Sirius said, staring open-mouthed at Blue. All four of them had witnessed the brief encounter between Luke and Blue, but no one was more gob-smacked than Remus. They had been sitting to far away to hear the conversation, but their actions were enough.
"I don't like him, that guy's trouble," James breathed, shaking his head.
"Very into the Dark Arts," Peter said suddenly and the whole group was plunged into silence.
"How would you know?" Sirius laughed.
"Trust me," he said, moving uncomfortably in his seat.
"Dark Arts or not, this whole thing still feels wrong," James retorted.
"Do you know something I don't James?" Sirius asked suspiciously.
"No." James said unconvincingly. "What d'you think of him Remus? Remus?" James looked next to him, but Remus had disappeared.
"Oh you know him, always up and about," Sirius said, waving it aside.
"There he is!" Peter pointed over to where Blue and Arabella were sitting.
"Oh no," whined Sirius.
"I want to talk to you," Remus said sitting next to Blue. His eyes moved over to Arabella, who got the message.
"I'll go find Lily," she squeaked. Remus made sure no one was around before he started speaking.
"I'm glad you came here, because I've got something to say as well."
"You look tired," he spoke gently. "Quidditch practice longer than expected?" Blue eyes shot a nervous glance over at Luke who was surprisingly looking back. Remus didn't have to turn around to guess what she was looking at. Then, Blue suddenly looked back disbelievingly at Remus who smiled.
"You know about that?" she said, startled.
"I get around."
"T-there's nothing… you don't think? Do you?" she said moving a hand between her and Luke's table.
"I don't actually care," he said, detaining his calm voice. "I just think, we're all friends and friends don't keep secrets from each other. You wanted to ask me something."
"You first."
"I think you've noticed that some people are acting strange. It's hard not to, but I think you should know it's because-"
"Thought about those pointers?" Luke was back. Blue was about to say something really nasty, but Remus had already stood up.
"You've interrupted me once Darwin, twice is not an option. Now just scurry back to that little table of yours and everyone's life will be much happier." Blue looked disbelievingly up at Remus. She'd never heard him talk that way to anyone before.
"My, my Lupin, we do bear grudges." Blue was suddenly glad there was a table between them because she envisioned this getting quite ugly.
"Why don't you crawl back to the cave you came from Lupin," Remus suddenly heard Snape's voice. He didn't even notice Malfoy and Snape standing behind Luke.
"Shut your greasy mouth Snape," James snapped from behind Remus. He turned around to see James and Sirius standing behind him, ready for action, while Peter lurked somewhere beyond any conflict.
"That's right Potter always the sharp one, you and your stupid broom."
"Oooo, is that jealously I hear?" James cooed.
"Will you all just stop this!" Blue shouted.
"Oh yes that's right, take advice from the mind controller," Malfoy hissed and Sirius made a quick grab for Remus' robes, stopping him from advancing towards Malfoy.
"Let me break his nose again so I can make it an even number," Remus whispered angrily.
"It's not worth it Remus," Sirius said silently. Malfoy had one of his legendary wide smirks planted firmly on his face as he talked.
"That's right Lupin, it's not worth it. Especially when you know you've lost Adams to Luke long ago."
"Excuse me" Blue said, narrowing her eyes. "Lost me? He never had me to begin with."
"You see, she said it herself. Why would she want to be with you when Luke and her have Quidditch practice? It does have it's perks, doesn't it Luke?" But before Malfoy had a chance to glance over at Luke and gloat, Blue has slapped him clear across the face.
"You're a horrible, egotistical little brat, and nothing good will ever come from you, ever." To her utter surprise, Malfoy smiled as he touched the spot where Blue had slapped him.
"Didn't think you had it in you. Last time all of us met like this, I reduced you to a sobbing, pathetic creature. Luke really brought you out your shell."
There was a long silence as Blue surveyed the scene. James and Snape were standing eye-to-eye, fists clenched and teeth bared. Remus was on the opposite side of Malfoy, with Sirius still holding his robes tightly, not daring to let go. Yet where was Luke?
"I would slap you again, but I don't want to waist the energy," Blue said quickly before turning to walk out. She had to find Luke and talk to him, clear things up once and for all. She went out into the passage and caught a quick glance of Luke departing up the marble steps.
"Luke!" she called after him, but he carried on walking. Blue had to run up the stairs in order to catch up with him. When she reached the top of the staircase, it took her a few seconds to regain her breath.
"I knew you'd come after me," he said suddenly, stopping to face her.
"W-what?" Blue panted, leaning on the railing.
"All those things you said to me in the hall, I know you didn't mean them." He said knowingly, but he couldn't convince her.
"I've known you for three days Luke. Only three days and you think you know the inner workings of my mind."
"But I do."
"You don't!! You presume to know me so well! Yet, you push me away and then run after me all of a sudden."
"When you crashed into me that day, it was fate. I don't know how to explain it. I just have this feeling. " His dark eyes twinkled as he looked at Blue.
"Listen to yourself Luke. You're saying because I fell on top of you we're meant to be together!"
"No I didn't, you just did."
"Stop twisting my words! Remus is the only-"
"Don't say it. You'll regret it, I promise you."
"I can't listen to this rubbish anymore." Blue said, spinning around and storming off to the Gryffindor common room. After what seemed like ages, she finally reached the dormitory and collapsed onto her bed.
"I'm sorry Blue," Lily's voice rang out clear from the bed next to her. She sat up to see her looming over thick books and parchment again.
"I didn't know until James told me," she continued. "But all the same, I put you're life in danger. I'm so sorry."
"What are you talking about Lil?"
"Luke he- he's a warper."
"He's a what?" Lily stared in disbelief at Blue.
"You've never heard- you don't know- how?"
"Lil, what's a warper?" Blue asked again, walking over to her bed and sitting next to her.
"In every generation there's one and Luke just happens to be this generation's."
"So?"
"Okay," she sighed, exhaling loudly. "Warper, warper… um, here." Lily pulled out a rather large book from the array on her bed and began flipping the pages until she stopped and laid the book out in front of her. The picture was absolutely horrible and Blue had to look away for a few seconds before glancing back. There was a young boy, about six of seven, lying facedown on the floor. He looked as if he was in so much pain, his eyes were screwed up and his fists tightly clenched. Above him a few feet in the air, there was a thin, rigid old man staring down at the boy. He had a stern look on his face as red blots of light streamed from his fingers, onto the boy. The artist had drawn everything in great detail and even the boy's wounds seemed so real. His sizzling flesh had been portrayed so vividly, that Blue's imagination smelt something strange.
"Why are you showing me this?" she managed to say.
"The man," Lily said, pointing to the picture, "a warper."
"They boy," she paused, "a mind controller." As if someone had flicked a light on in Blue head, her mouth dropped open and she gaped at Lily.
"Luke's a- a Rahli!"
"A what?" Lily said, now taking her turn to be utterly confused.
"That's the word we use in India for a, warper did you say?"
"Yes. I'm surprised you didn't realise."
"Does he know?"
"I don't know if he does. It's all very strange though. I've been reading up on warpers and apparently they have a natural mind controller killing instinct."
"Oooo, that makes me feel all warm and tingly inside," Blue replied sarcastically.
"But what I don't understand is, why he didn't act on that instinct."
"Maybe he's not the destroying type?" Blue said hopefully, but Lily wasn't convinced. She pulled another book out, smaller than the other one and turned to the back.
"I knew I'd read it somewhere!"
"What does it say?"
"The warper has two choices when faced with a mind controller, to kill it or to let it live, in exchange for it's eternal love. In most cases the mind controller is destroyed, but when the warper does not realise the full extent of its power, he would take a different approach to the mind controller." Lily and Blue both looked at each other, wordless.
"So he doesn't know what he is, because if he did, I'd be a pile of ash."
"Blue! Don't talk like that!" Lily pleaded.
"No wonder," Blue realised "he stopped me on the way here, and gave me the impression that we were soul mates or something stupid like that."
"We have to talk to Dumbledore. You're in danger being here." Blue didn't wait a second to fully agree. They hurried out their dormitory and down the stairs. But as Blue turned around to ask Lily something, she collided into somebody and was knocked clear to the floor.
"I'm so sorry, I didn't see you," a soft voice said from above her. She looked up to see a familiar seventh year's face staring down at her. He had dark brown hair and quite a strong build, but there was something so familiar about his eyes. She pushed herself up from the floor and looked back at Lily.
"Blue we don't have-"
"Philip? Phillip Darwin?"
"Yes," he said slightly puzzled "how d'you-"
"You're brother, Luke, he's one of my frie- I mean I know him."
"Oh I see, and who do I have the pleasure of talking to?" he smiled and Blue felt that these Darwin brothers really had charm.
"Blue Adams," she replied.
"Oh, you're on the Quidditch team. Nice to finally meet you."
"Blue! We don't have time for-"
"Your friend seems a little anxious to get somewhere." Being interrupted twice, infuriated Lily and she scowled at Phillip.
"Lil, maybe he can help us," Blue whispered and Lily's face brightened.
"Phillip, can you spare a few minutes?" Lily said stepping in front of Blue.
"I was actually on my way-"
"It's very urgent," Blue said and her smile managed to convince him.
"Okay, just a few minutes."
All three of them moved to a sofa surrounding a little table, and sat down. Lily offloaded all her books onto the table, and turned to the page with the old man and the little boy. They watched the expression on Phillip's face change instantly.
"You know about Luke." Lily and Blue nodded.
"Pity you had to find out, no one was supposed to know."
"Why did Dumbledore accept him though, he could've put potential mind controllers at risk."
"There were none of them here at the time, but now," he paused, looking at Blue.
"Oh great, that's just fabulous," Blue said, throwing her hands up in the air.
"Does he know?' Lily asked, remaining calm. Phillip shook his head.
"My parents didn't want to tell him. Have you been in contact with him lately?"
"Contact," Blue repeated, "yeah you could call it that."
"As long as he doesn't know, everything's fine. There's no point in making this an issue." Philip said.
"But-"
"Trust me, I'm head boy. I know what I'm talking about. Now if you'll excuse me."
"Sorry to have wasted your time," Blue said irritably, before walking towards the portrait.
"There's something very strange going on here," Lily said as she followed her.
"Great help he was, 'Trust me I'm head boy, there's no point in making this an issue'," Blue imitated him.
"How would he feel if he had a potential killer after him?"
"I think if we all moved around school very carefully, we should be able to keep out of Luke's way. Blue, do you still want to go to Dumbledore?" Lily asked.
"Well, if he let me into this school with the knowledge that Luke was here, I'd feel a little awkward questioning his judgement. Wouldn't you?" Lily nodded as they trailed off towards the library.
"I've got to return all of these," she pointed to the stack of books she was cradling.
"Thank you for telling me," Blue smiled as Lily brushed a few pieces of auburn hair from her face. Her green eyes sparkled as she smiled weakly.
"I felt guilty. If he had known what he was, who knows what would've happened last night."
"Couldn't have been worse than what did happen," Blue said silently.
*Author's Notes* Well, the story is just getting more and more exciting to write by the second. Can't WAIT for the Harry Potter movie to come out!! It's gonna be wicked! :) Well, JK owns everything as you guys know and I would really appreciate it as always if you could spare a few minutes to review! Thanks a mill! :)