Chapter 3: The Ultimatum

The next morning came all too quickly for Rayne. She dreaded the first day of classes. She knew she had to avoid looking suspicious at all times. She cleaned up, got dressed in her new school uniforms bearing her new house colors; the red and gold of Gryffindor. She went down stairs and found a few early rising Gryffindor's in the common room. Harry was not among them. She quickly walked out of the Gryffindor Common room and went toward the great hall. She was hoping to have the chance to explore the perimeters before breakfast. She knew that she had to become quickly familiar with the school in case any enemies decided to make an attack.

Harry had laid awake all night thinking about the things that Rayne had said to him. He had come to a very important conclusion. He was going to do whatever he could to get to know this girl. He had a feeling she would be more important to him than she let on. He knew he had to spend as much time with her as possible. He knew he had to gain her trust, and then maybe she would share some of her secrets with him. He looked over at the clock and saw that it was time for Breakfast. He hoped that if he hurried he could catch Rayne before she went to breakfast. Maybe he could convince her to sit with him and Ron and Hermione. He got up quickly, dressed in his uniform, then he hurried down stairs and saw Ron and Hermione had just arrived as well.

"Hi guys," he said, meanwhile his eyes scanned the room for any sign of Rayne. He didn't see her anywhere.

"Harry, who are you looking for?" Ron asked.

"What makes you think I was looking for someone?" He asked.

"You were looking right past us when we were talking to you. And I just asked you why you looked so tired and you completely ignored me. You were definitely looking for someone." Ron told him.

"I never could lie to you guys could I.." Harry laughed. "Actually, I was looking for Rayne. I thought we could ask her to sit with us at breakfast.

"I haven't seen her, but I wanted to apologize for yesterday when I do. Ron said.

"Actually," Hermione cut in, "I heard from Seamus that she left the common room about two hours ago.

"Oh," Harry said. "Well lets go get some breakfast then."

They walked out of the common room and started down to the Great hall. After they had finished breakfast they walked toward their first classes. That is when Harry finally spotted Rayne.

Rayne was walking toward Advanced Potions, the same Class Harry and Hermione were heading for. She was almost at the door when she came face to face with Phoenix Darklighter. She stopped dead in her tracks as he approached her. He came within a foot of her and looked her straight in the eyes.

"What do you want Phoenix." Rayne said in a low hiss.

"Now, now Rayne, is that anyway to greet me? I am hurt." Phoenix said in a less than sincere tone.

"Why don't you crawl back under your rock you traitor." Rayne replied.

At first Phoenix looked amused by Rayne's accusation, and then his eyes turned dark. His glare turned icy. He leaned in no his face just inches from hers.

"Did you honestly think that you would win; that I would never find you again." He hissed at her

"I stopped you once, and I could do it again. Don't test me Phoenix. I am not the same person you remember." Rayne replied coolly.

"You honestly think you could ever defeat me again. You are a fool." Phoenix spat.

"Try me, asshole." Rayne said, her voice laced with anger. She then turned and stormed into her Potions class.

Harry, Hermione, and Ron couldn't believe the scene that had played out in front of them.

"If I didn't know better I would say that those two have a history." Hermione said to Harry.

Harry just remained silent. He knew he definitely had to find out what had happened just now. He was out of earshot of the confrontation and couldn't hear what happened, but the body language and facial expressions spoke volumes.

"Hermione, please forgive me if I am not your partner this year." Harry looked over at her.

"When has Snape ever let you be my partner?" Hermione asked, looking at him as if he was crazy.

"I have to sit next to you so he will switch me. I have a plan. I am going to be Rayne's partner." Harry told her.

Hermione just looked at him strangely.

"Why?" she said point blank.

"Because, I want to find out what all this is about. If I get to know her better, maybe she will tell me." Harry whispered to her.

Harry took a seat next to Hermione and noticed that Neville had taken a seat next to Rayne. Just then Snape entered the room. Just as Harry had predicted, the second he saw Harry and Hermione sitting together, he made Neville and Harry switch places. Hermione groaned. Neville was the worst possible person she could have been paired with especially in potions. It was like being paired with Seamus Finnegan in Transfiguration. Both were absolutely hopeless in there respective subjects. Rayne had not planned on being partnered with Harry, she had hoped that she would be able to make some new friends in her classes, but she figured that Harry probably wasn't too thrilled to be her partner anyway, since he had originally tried to be partnered with Hermione.

"Oh well," she thought, "I have plenty of other classes to make friends in."

As Harry took his seat next to Rayne, he looked over at Hermione and gave her a look that said he was really sorry. She just rolled her eyes at him.

"Hi Rayne" Harry said with a lethargic look while glaring at Snape.

"Good morning, I am sorry you got stuck with me, you don't look to happy about it." she responded noticing the glare Harry was giving Snape.

Harry took out his potions book, never taking his eyes off Snape, who was staring straight at him smiling a wicked smile.

"Nothing against you, he said rather loudly, but I really needed a good grade in this class."

Rayne just said "I understand" and looked down at her book.

Snape finally begun the class satisfied that Harry was miserable once again. As soon as Snape turned his back to the class Harry whispered into Rayne's ear

"I am so sorry, bear with me while I pretend I am miserable about this pairing."

Rayne understood what he meant and smiled. Just as she smiled, Snape turned around.

"Miss Solara "he hissed, "What, may I ask you, is so amusing."

Rayne decided to play along with Harry's game and replied "I apologize professor, but I found it rather amusing that "The Boy Who Lived" can't even pass a potions class without his little girlfriend over there."

Snape smiled at Rayne and responded. "Oh if that's all, I agree with you."

Hermione turned red and Harry's jaw dropped and they both turned to face Rayne as Snape turned back to the blackboard.

"Sorry" she mouthed with a weak smile.

Harry just looked at her and shook his head. Now it was Hermione's turn to laugh silently as she watched this unfold. Served Harry right for picking on Rayne in front if Snape in the first place. At least Snape would be satisfied that he had made a good decision in partnering Harry and Rayne together.

After potions, Harry had Advanced Defense against the Dark Arts. He noticed that Rayne was walking right in front of him.

"Rayne, he called out.

She stopped and turned around.

"Yes?" She said.

"I want to make sure you understand that I didn't mean anything I said in Potions. Snape would have partnered me with some Slytherin if he saw I actually wanted to be your partner. He absolutely detests me"

Rayne smiled. "Harry, I completely understand, I just hope you realize that I can play the game as well as you can. And please do not take it personally. I do not mind having you for my partner at all. And to ease your mind, I am actually quite gifted in potions."

Harry smiled at this, and they walked into Defense against the Dark Arts. He noticed some of the other kids in the room, one especially. Phoenix Darklighter. Surprisingly enough, Malfoy and his gang were trailing around after Darklighter like he was some sort of Dark God.

"Rayne," he said as he took a seat next to her, "How well do you know that new kid?"

"Why?" she said.

"Because he just walked in the room with quite a hefty Slytherin following." Harry replied.

Rayne's eyes grew dark. "Harry, now do you believe me. I told you this would happen." She whispered so as to not draw attention to herself.

Harry just thought back to what she had said earlier in the week.

"I wouldn't be surprised if he had the entire house of Slytherin following him around like lost puppy dogs by the end of the week."

Rayne broke into his thought.

"Phoenix and I do not get along very well to say the least." Rayne told him.

"I kind got that impression this morning." Harry said.

"You saw us?!" Rayne said now putting her face in her hands. "how embarrassing, did you hear anything."

"No," Harry replied. "I was to far away, but your body language spoke volumes."

Rayne let out a little sigh of relief just as the professor walked in the door. Professor Hoppytoad was the newest in the long line of Defense against the Dark Arts teachers. He was a short, chubby little man with brown eyes and blonde hair that showed a light tinge of green, almost looking like he had a bad incident with some hair coloring product. Harry also noticed that he walked with a slight hop in his step. Harry couldn't recall any teacher that had lasted longer than one year. He wondered if the new professor would be any exception.

Professor Hoppytoad decided to start the class with a little speech. "I would like to welcome all of you to DADA. Since you are all seventh years in this class, we will be focusing on using what you have learned over the past seven years, and putting it into use. There will be duels every class and there will be points awarded to the winners houses. I think everyone in here will benefit from some extra practice," he said looking mainly in Harry's direction.

Rayne couldn't help but smile. This class was going to be EASY.

"Why are you so happy? This is going to be one dangerous class." Harry whispered to her.

"Harry," Rayne replied, the one thing I am better at than potions is DADA. I am a fighter, Harry, I thought I told you that."

She turned to face forward again. The Professor continued on.

"I want everyone to know that we will not be holding anything back, anything goes with the exception of the most unforgivable spell. If you are caught trying to use that one, you will be expelled and sent straight to Azkaban. And to clarify that to all of you I mean the DEATH spell. I hope you will all learn a new appreciation of one another after this is over. Please break up into pairs and start discussing different spells to be used in a duel. You all will begin dueling your next class."

With that he sat down and said "Begin."

Harry and Rayne just sat there.

"Rayne, you said you would teach me to fight last night, does that offer still stand for tonight." Harry asked her.

"It does, as long as you tell no one that the fighting we are studying has nothing to do with DADA. And by no one I mean not even Ron and Hermione." Rayne said very seriously.

"It will be hard to keep something like this from them. I share everything with them." Harry protested.

Rayne just looked at him with a hard stare.

"Not this. Too many lives are at stake here. You want to keep them protected don't you?" Rayne asked him.

"Yes." Harry responded with a slight tone of defeat in his voice.

"Then please do as I ask. Please keep everything between us. I will promise to do the same. We tell no one of anything we do together or speak about." Rayne said trying to impress the importance of secrecy upon Harry.

"That is a lot to ask Rayne." Harry replied.

"Well think about it, and if you accept my proposition meet me at 1am in the common room." Rayne replied.

Then her face turned dead serious and looked him right in his emerald green eyes .

"Harry, DO NOT come if you are not ready to deal with a harsh and painful reality and the consequences that come with it. A lot of people will be hurt, and I can't afford to let you into my life if you are not willing to deal with the results. This is life or death. You will need to put your complete trust in me and never question me. I promise to never do the same to you. You do need to know that if you show up you are willing to accept no secrets, and that it is just you and me from now on." Rayne was now speaking in a very low serious voice.

She did not want to be overheard. Harry could tell she was dead serious. All the cheerfulness and youth had escaped from her eyes. He just sat there staring at her.

Just then the bell rang signaling lunchtime. Rayne got up from her seat, and as suddenly as it had left the cheerfulness and youth had returned to her.

"Until tonight then perhaps." Rayne smiled and walked out the door giving Harry a friendly wave. Harry was left to pack up his things and let what she said sink in.