A/N: Thank you for all who continue to read this...
As the story progresses, the amount of confusion increases. Basically, it's a web of conspiracies all banning together against one another. The Arm of Riddle (including the Hogwarts Arm, the Beaxbatons Arm, the Durmstrang Arm, ect.) vs. the Order of the Phoenix/ Deateater's Children/ Strictly Underground Children's Army (SUCA). But it's like a two-against-one because the Order of the Phoenix are not allied with the Deatheater's Children and the SUCA, but the DEC and the SUCA are allies. (DEC/SUCA & OoP vs. AoR)
If you read, please leave a review… If you read the paragraph above and decided 'screw it' and don't read the rest… TELL ME! TELL ME I'M CONFUSING YOU! I NEED TO KNOW!
Anyways… I am proud to say that this is my longest chapter I've ever written. So even if you ignore everything above this statement, and everything below it, feel happy for me!
The characters short cut 'organizations' to make it seem less inconspicuous such as: DEC, HAL, HA, HDEC… yada yada yada… I hope you can figure most of it out… DEC= Deatheater's Children and HDEC= Hogwarts Deatheater's Children, HA= Hogwarts Arm as HAL= Hogwarts Arm leader. SUCA= Strictly Underground Children's Army. Any confusion, you are welcome to leave a review… or you can be left in your confusion… ;P
Okay, enjoy the chapter!
•
A Weasley Named Malfoy
[The Hogwarts Arm and the S.U.C.A.]
A month had passed since Serena had found out her mother was pregnant. Ginny was holding back telling the family, afraid of what they'd think about a new baby. She remembered when she had introduced Serena to her family, and she was quite frightened of the idea of doing it again.
Harry was ecstatic. With only two months into the pregnancy, he had been pampering Ginny with meals in bed and such. Although Ginny had thought it sweet at first, she soon found Harry's sudden protectiveness annoying, especially when he would rush to do the simplest things for her.
Serena still hadn't told her cousins about the 11th Weasley. For one, her mother didn't want anybody to know yet, and two, she hadn't wanted to tell them anyway.
Winter was quickly closing in; the match with Ravenclaw vs. Hufflepuff was this Saturday. The losers of this game would play Slytherin next and the winners would play Gryffindor. Then finally, the winners of those games would play each other for the house cup. Wolf had become considerably laid back in his Quidditch practices; he wasn't worried about Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff.
•••
"The Arm of Riddle has no idea we exist. As such, stealth is our most powerful weapon. Several people have been keeping tabs on death eaters in our immediate area, but they are spread out. I've recently received information that the Arm has reached out to younger people- people like us. No doubt hoping the Arm will last longer. Youth can easily be deceived as we are still in our stages of blind trust. Those raised by death eaters- purebloods especially- have been victims to this all their lives. They were introduced to hate at a young age, and do not know any better." Malikye glanced around the table at the high-ranking Children. Those in the immediate circle of Malikye were mostly children of high ranking deatheaters in Voldemort's circle when he was still alive. Macnair, Crabbe, Nott, Pettigrew, Lestrange, Avery, Rosier, and many more people she had never heard of before, Bagman, Rookwood, Mulciber, Jugson.
"The death eater's have reached to Hogwarts, Beaxbatons, Durmstrang… other wizarding schools. The Arm will have reached far across the world, something I'm not sure is possible for the Children." Malikye paced down the rectangular table. "We are going to need more people. Even with all the Deatheater's Children rounded up, it will never be able to take out the full force of the Arm. They will have other creatures- giants, goblins, dementors- creatures that they have fought with before… We need more people."
A blond haired girl spoke, "And how do you suppose we do this? We can't exactly tell random people about us… that would leak out to the Arm, surely."
"No, we can't. But there are people we know who would do anything in their power to help rid the world of the remaining death eaters. So… how to recruit them?" There was a heavy silence that filled the room. When nobody could think up an answer, Malikye said maybe it was just best to let the idea sit for a while.
"We have to connect with the Order. People will be willing to help the Order," a sandy haired boy with a deep voice spoke up.
"We can't exactly do that either… It's not as if they would trust us readily," Serena countered, her arms folded across her chest.
Malikye looked thoughtful. "And, do you have a suggestion?"
"Possibly… I've been around the Order all my life; they are not about to take on youth. We don't have to connect with the Order, just advertise that we have the same goals in mind. I propose we have a branch off the Children, for non death eater related people willing to help." A heavy murmur rose at this. Serena stared at Malikye intensely.
The murmuring carried on for several more minutes until Malikye finally spoke up. "We would have to keep this strictly youth. Older people would fear for us and side with the Order- order them to stop us from getting hurt. And, using youth would give us an advantage, as it does in the Children. No one suspects them."
Serena smirked, "I know of a few kids who would jump at the chance to join…"
"Then it's settled. These non death eater related people will have no idea the Deatheater's Children exist, but work right along side them. Serena, I want you to set up a committee that will head this new branch. Next… As I mentioned before, the Arm is reaching out to younger people. Though I have spies working with the Arm, I don't have any working directly in it other than myself. I will need some strong volunteers to- if not to spy for me directly- to have connections to those who do. I want to turn the Arm inside out and know everything they are doing and thinking and planning. Any volunteers?"
Many people raised their hands, including Serena; but Malikye counted off 5 people, skipping purposefully over her.
"Are there any other articles we need to address?" Malikye turned to the girl who was seated to the right of his chair.
"None at the moment."
Does anybody else have any thing to discuss further?" Everybody looked at each other, but nobody said anything. "Alright, meeting adjourned. I still want to hear if we get any new leads."
Chairs scraped, feet clicked, voices spoke in undertones, capes swished, and Serena was left sitting at the table all alone. Silence fell in the room. Malikye walked around the table and sat down beside her, folding his hands.
"You didn't pick me," she said stonily.
"Yes," he said simply. Serena didn't say anything. "Serena, you are my most trusted, no doubt, and if I lost you-" Serena didn't say anything. Malikye continued talking, "There are other able people to do the job, and right now, I want you stationed recruiting people-"
"Why did you ask me to become your right hand if I wasn't going to do anything important?"
Malikye sighed, "There will come a time when I will need you- for bigger, more dangerous things… Right now, I need more recruits… That is the biggest, most crucial thing right now. Do not think this is unimportant… Right now, I want you to round up what ever Children there are at Hogwarts and build that branch. Then you can penetrate the Arms youth forces. I'm sure making friends with the Hogwarts Arm leader would give us significant access to their plans. I know I can trust and count on you to bring in the recruits…"
"As you wish." She bowed her head slightly toward him.
"Good girl. As soon as everything is set, I want you to report to me. Dismissed."
Outside the meeting room, the Children were mulling about, talking. As soon as Serena stepped down the steps to the main room, Alael Evrett, daughter of man named Avery, and Raphael McCoy, son of a man named Lestrange, stepped up to greet her, inclining their heads slightly, "Serena." She nodded back. Raphael pulled her aside to a more secluded corner with Alael, "What did Malikye say?"
"He gave me a new assignment, and I'm going to need your help. Gather your most spirited… We're going undercover…"
•••
It was breakfast time in the Great Hall. The normal stream of chatter and clinking of silverware that played around the hall was more pronounced and excited today. Today was a Hogsmede visit.
Serena was sitting at the Gryffindor table, not eating, all her attention focused across the hall at two raven-haired twins who were the center of a huddle, whispering. Malikye's words were ringing in her ears, Right now, I want you to round up what ever Children there are at Hogwarts and build that branch. Then you can penetrate the Arms youth forces. I'm sure making friends with the Hogwarts Arm leader would give us significant access to their plans. I know I can trust and count on you to bring in the recruits…
Serena scribbled a message on a spare piece of parchment and began folding it, all the while watching the twins. What were they talking about? Serena was sure that the Slytherin twins would lead her right to the Hogwarts Arm leader. She sighed impatiently; she was getting ahead herself. Crease, crease, crease… she bent the paper neatly, folding in the beak. Her first job was to start the new branch, that's what Malikye wanted. She tapped the paper crane with her wand and watched it come to life. She blew gently onto it and watched it's wings billow, fold, and lift into the air. But it wouldn't hurt to get friendly with them. The crane soared gracefully through the Hall and out the doors, swinging to the left, it's fragile wings tilting in the air. After all, they were her cousins…
The hall slowly emptied. Serena tried to blend in with the few stragglers, trying to keep her bright strawberry head down. It was not hard to notice her though, she stuck out like a sore thumb. So she tried to act as if she had purposefully meant to take her time, trying to make it seem as if she wasn't aware of when the twins and the gang of Slytherin 4th years finally rose and proceeded out of the Great Hall. She gave it a few minutes before following them.
A tingling in her right arm let her know her familiars were wondering where she was. She hurried down the icy path to the gates and found Alael and Raphael waiting for her. Alael set fire to a creased piece of paper before tossing it into the slush at the side of the road. Hogsmede was covered in a light frost from the night before, and even though it was still October, there was a bite in the air of November to come.
Raphael bent his head conspiratorially, for he was taller than the two, and told them, "I have this place covered with DEC's. They'll be keeping the look out and noting any suspicious students."
"Good." Serena looked around and immediately spotted the gang of green, "I want to follow those kids. The two in the middle are Ashe and Charcoal Black. Death eaters in training if I ever saw…"
"Ashe and Charcoal… Those would be my relations no doubt." Raphael eyed them with curiosity and suspicion.
"That would make you their uncle or something." Serena thought for a moment. "This whole pureblood lineage is way too complicated…"
Raphael did look similar to the twins, he also had raven hair and pale complexion, but his eyes were honey colored, making him look considerably warmer. Alael had rich brown hair, but she had blue eyes that shifted suspiciously around at all times, accusing.
All three were dressed in regular wizard robes to blend into the crowd, also to bring away the attention of a Slytherin, a Gryffindor, and a Ravenclaw together. There were 4 other trios of Hogwarts Children walking around in hopes of catching Arm activity.
The three of them eyed the Slytherin gang suspiciously who were huddled in a circle. Finally, they started moving down the road.
"They're going to the Hogshead."
"Good, 'cause I'm freezing my ass off. Come on, let's get a butterbeer."
"Or something stronger…" Raphael whispered to Serena.
Alael lead the way and they passed the gang up. As Raphael went to get the drinks, Alael and Serena found a booth and sat down. The Slytherin's filed in and shook off snow, then sat down at a table in the corner while someone went to get drinks. They were in clear view of them, which Serena didn't like at all.
"We're in plain view… We're too obvious…" Serena tugged at a lock of hair unconsciously.
Alael rolled up her sleeve to reveal the Children's mark and tapped it lightly with her wand. Serena could feel the prickling sensation crawl up her arm. They waited a few minutes, and two more Hogwarts Children came up, waving to them and hurrying over.
"Renee, Al, I haven't seen you in ages!" Serena smirked over at Alael; she really had gathered her most spirited. Annabelle and Antoinette were the loudest pair of Children you could ever meet. Despite their past, the pair of them were out going.
"Ages it's been since last night, eh?" Alael said in an under tone. Serena smirked at this.
"What's up Belle, Ann?"
"Oh, the usual…" They both slid into the booth and all bent forward to listen, "We just spoke to Blythe, he says Ladonna and Patrice overheard a pair of Slytherins talking about some guy named Killian Powers. They think he's a high ranking officer in the HA… A 6th year."
"Good lead, we'll have to check up on him later."
Raphael came back with drinks for everybody and slid into the seat, "That's a major meeting they're having over there," he whispered. "It sounds like they're waiting for somebody named Warrick Ghostwitch…"
Serena's eyes widened, "The beater?"
Raphael shrugged, "Could be… what year's Ghostwitch?"
"7th year, we played him last match… Could he be the HAL?" Serena questioned aloud.
"Anything's possible. Maybe Powers is his right hand man?" Belle suggested.
"Powers? Killian Powers?" Raphael looked somewhat surprised.
"Know him?" Serena turned to face Raphael.
"I know him…" Raphael's voice was suddenly deadly soft.
"Raphael!" All of them turned to see a sandy blonde haired boy striding toward them; two formidable looking boys following in his wake, "Well, well… What are you doing here with all these lovely ladies?" The boy scanned around the table and came to a rest on Serena. His deep blue eyes flickered for just a second before turning back to Raphael.
Raphael looked around the table at them, seeking help, "Oh, you know, Kill… drinking, having fun… Hogshead gives a bigger variety of choice drinks," he said casually.
"Yes, Raf was just telling us about you," Ann spoke up; flicking her hair off her shoulder, "HAL?" She grinned at the girls.
"HAL?"
Bella giggled insanely, and Serena almost burst out laughing at the pair of them. Bella eyed the boy flirtatiously, "The HAL?"
Alael and Serena smiled, but with their eyes asked them what the hell they were doing…
"What's this HAL?" The boy's slow smile and amused expression wondered over to the giggling pair.
"Hot available lad!" Suddenly Ann had stopped giggling and eyed him with well acted lust out of the corner of her eye.
The boy gave a soft, slow laugh, "My, and what are your names?"
"I'm Belle."
"Ann."
The boy looked expectantly at Serena, "What's your name?"
"I'm Alael, and this is Ser--uh… Sera…" Alael finished, glancing at Serena.
"I'm Sera," Serena confirmed.
"Sera… pleasure. This is Reid and Geoffrey, and I'm Killian." There was a pause as everybody looked at one another, "As much as I'd love to stay and chat, I have business to attend to. Raphael, I've been meaning to talk to you for a while now. Come, join us." He motioned to the Slytherin table which was quickly gaining in size. Apparently, it was a very important meeting.
Raphael rose, glancing one last time at the four of them, "I'll give you the update on the HAL right?" He clicked his tongue and winked and allowed himself to be lead away by Killian and his bodyguards.
"That couldn't have possibly gone any better than it just did…" Serena gave a mischievous smile.
"I don't know…" Alael looked after the four of them retreating, "If I didn't know any better, I'd say Raphael was in trouble or something." She stared after them, not saying anything for a while before finally speaking again, "Maybe I'm just paranoid…" She shook it off and looked back at Serena.
"You are… Do you realize he practically paved our way in!"
"What are you on about?" Ann took a sip of butterbeer.
"Come on, did you see him? All I have to do is be nice to him… and I'm as good as in the HA!"
"Now, how would that look when you're trying to make a group to stop those very same people?" Alael took a swig of butterbeer. Serena noted the sarcasm in her voice.
"Yeah, yeah… Well, I believe our work here is done. Raphael's in, and there's really nothing we can do until their little meeting is over. I better get started on making that army to stop the bad guys…" They all got up and pulled their coats back on. Ann waved to Raphael and pointed to the door. He gave a weary look and they waved them away.
Once outside and in a secluded area, Serena tapped the mark on her arm and felt the rest of the girls shiver as the tingling sensation fell over them. Within minutes, ten other Children had joined them.
"Raf is in… They are having a very important meeting right now, and there's nothing we can do until they leave, which I don't think will be for a while. Me or Raf will let you know when it's over." They all departed, "Well, that's taken care of," Serena sighed. They walked slowly down the street to Honeydukes and spent the next half and hour eating sweets and getting insane sugar highs.
They left, laden with bags of candy laughing merrily. On their way out, Serena ran into the Quads who were stepping in, "I'm calling a Weasley family meeting after dinner in the common room. Tell everybody?"
They wondered around a bit more before feeling that particular prickling sensation on their arms. They found Raphael outside the Hogshead.
"Well?" Annabelle demanded.
"Not here…" he hissed, "Back to the castle… I'm sure everybody will be informed eventually." He ushered them back up the street and to the gates, cautiously peering over his shoulders at all times. Once they were back at the castle they found an empty classroom and cast a silencing charm on the door.
"Well, I'm as good as in." But the crease on Raphael's forehead told otherwise.
"But…"
"But I think they're on to me… I bet the moment I get initiated, I get the Imperious."
There was a silence as everybody looked at one another uneasily, "But you can't exactly back down now… that would look suspicious."
"I'd be too hard to pull off even if we tried."
Annabelle spoke up, "I think, if one of us is there at the initiation, then the worst possible situation would be a short time under the curse for Raf until he and the mole could get out."
"Any objections?" Serena looked around. "Okay, we'll report to Malikye tonight and establish a mole,"
"Serena," Antoinette said slowly, "I think Killian has already established who the mole's going to be…"
Serena glared at her, "Meaning?" she asked sharply.
Antoinette rolled her eyes, "Come on, like you said before. All you have to do is be nice to him and you're as good as in!"
"That was before we were going to report it to Malikye," Serena growled. "Might I remind you that he doesn't exactly want me to spy… And I still have to create the non death eater branch!"
"Who says we have to right away? And who says we have to tell him about you?"
Serena gave a growl in frustration, "I can't do that…" she said exasperatedly to them, "I'm Malikye's Right! I'm a Gryffindor! I don't- do that!"
"Then we won't report anything to Malikye yet-"
"You do realize we are conspiring against our own leader right?" Raphael broke into a grin.
"Stop it Raphael, I'm not doing it. Tonight, we are going to go to Malikye and tell him all we know and let him decide what is going to happen."
•••
After dinner, Serena paced in front of the common room fire waiting for everybody. So far, the only people who turned up were Xandra, Gail, and Theo.
"Trust the Quads to screw up a simple task of getting people to meet me here…" she mumbled to herself. A few minutes later Elizabeth wondered in.
"What are you guys doing?" she asked as she flopped into an armchair.
"I will kill them…" Serena mumbled again.
"We were supposed to have a Weasley family meeting, but nobody's turned up except us…" Gail eyed Serena warily.
"We were? I never heard about it."
"That because I made the stupid mistake of only telling the Quads," Serena snapped at her.
"Jeez, don't need to snap at me, I didn't know."
Serena growled in frustration, "Of they don't show up in the next 10 minutes, I'm going to hunt them down myself and drag them all the way back here…" And coincidently, they didn't turn up.
"Ooh, are you going to yell at then? Can I come and watch?"
"Whatever." She didn't bother to grab her robe as she climbed out of the portrait hall and strode briskly towards the kitchens. Elizabeth, Gail, and Theo followed after her, but Xandra mumbled something about homework and wondered away to a table.
Serena didn't find them in the kitchens, and she didn't find them in the Great Hall. She found this very surprising. "Where have they gone to?" she was talking to herself again, "Why do I bother? Oh yeah," She rolled her eyes, "I forgot…" she sighed.
"I bet you 5 galleons that she'll yell at them for at least 10 minutes…" whispered Theo.
"Make it 5 galleons and those pack of licorice wands and you're on." Gail shook his hand.
Serena walked out onto the grounds and to the Quidditch pitch, but they weren't there either, "I GO THROUGH SO MUCH TROUBLE TO TRY AND BREAK THE LAW AND THE QUADS AREN'T EVEN HERE!" she yelled her frustration to the sky in the middle of the pitch.
"Someone say something about breaking the law?"
Serena turned around and found the Quads, Wolf, Rashad, and Harrison stepping around the broom shed.
"Well, it's doesn't really count of nobody is supposed to know… And it's not really breaking the law if we're trying to stop death eaters," she said mumbled. "WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN!" she yelled them.
"What is it with Weasley's and yelling?" Wolf smirked.
"I AM ON THE VERGE OF HEXING YOU ALL, SO SHUT UP AND LISTEN!" She stepped forward and stood in front of the Gryffindor 6th year boys, "I'm setting up a group of people to take out the death eater's in this school, are you going to help me or not?"
At first there was silence and then Erik started laughing, which made everybody laugh. Serena swiftly sent a babbling curse Erik's way. At this Rashad fell to the ground laughing and Serena glared at them until they finally all quieted.
"You're serious?" asked Darren.
"Yes."
They all looked at one another, "Get over here, quick!" Aaron mentioned the rest of the Weasley's behind the broom shed.
"You owe me 5 galleons," Gail said triumphantly, "And a pack of licorice wands!"
Bottles of bottomless beers and butterbeers were strewn everywhere along with boxes of Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans and all sorts of an array of candy.
"Is this what you do on Saturday nights? Drink beer and eat candy?" Gail demanded.
"No Gail, just on days you come to visit. Here, have a butterbeer!" Harrison tossed her a bottle and she caught it.
"You're lucky Xandra didn't come. And Faye's not here; we can tell her later."
"So what's all this about death eaters?" Erik asked her cautiously.
Serena eyed Harrison and Rashad.
"What?" Harrison asked, offended.
"What ever it is you have to say, the Quads and Wolf will tell us later, won't they?"
The party in question looked uneasy, "Maybe you should go." Derrick glanced at Wolf, Harrison, and Rashad.
"No, Wolf stays," Serena spoke up. Wolf looked at her curiously. Serena had been avoiding him ever since their confrontation in the locker rooms, "Rashad, Harrison, please… just go." They must have hear the tiredness in her voice for the left without complaint. "Sit," Serena gathered her school skirt up and spread it in front of her as she sat down. Everybody else sat as well. A tension had been building.
"If I'm going to do this death eater chase, I better tell you somethings. I know you guys found some stuff about- about me…" Nobody spoke; they were afraid to. "I don't know how to say this…" She looked away.
"Serena, we know… You don't have to tell us…"
"No, but I do…" The sun was setting over the mountains that ringed Hogwarts. The Weasley's blended in with the background. "I've been running from it my whole entire life and I can't do it anymore…" The lump in Serena's throat made it hard for her to swallow.
"Serena, we know about Draco Malfoy," Elizabeth said gently. "We ran into him while we were looking for you."
At this, Serena's head whipped around to look at her, "You- you met him?" Serena's voice was unnaturally low.
"Yeah, me and Wolf."
Serena looked at Wolf, "He's alive-?"
"Well… we thought it was him, he admitted it. But you never know…"
"No, it was him…" Serena confirmed and looked at the ground. She toyed around with strands of grass.
"He's my father," she said very softly. Nobody said anything. "Mum was kidnapped-"
"Serena, it's okay if you skip that part… We know…"
"You do?" She looked up fearfully.
"I'm sorry we never told you… Aunt Gin and Uncle Harry came to the school when they'd heard you'd gone. I meet them. The story just kind of fell out from there. I told the rest of them before we went looking for you…" Wolf admitted. He didn't dare look at Serena in the face.
"Well, that's one thing less to explain…" She weakly tried at a joke. Everybody made feeble attempts to smile, uneasily glancing at each other. "Well, since you know... You can see every reason why I'd want to form this group…"
"We'll help!" piped up Theo. "We'll help you…"
Serena smiled, "Good…" She breathed a sigh of relief. She never doubted the kids would help her, but she thought they'd react differently about her past.
"What about the Order? Are they-"
"No," Serena quickly cut Aaron off, "We can't tell them. Can you imagine their reactions if we did?"
"Well… Grandmum would throw a fit, Aunt Ginny would throw a fit-"
"And the two of them alone is bad enough-"
"Our parents would fear for our safety and tell us we're too young-"
"They'd never trust us again, we'd be in trouble for the rest of our lives-"
"Dad and Uncle Fred would beat us to death-"
"Dad would say I was a disgrace and then say how we should let the ministry handle it-"
"Dad and Uncle George would beat us to death-"
"Extra French lessons as punishment,"
"Uncle Harry would rant on about the dangers of You- Know- Who's supporters... Mind you, he'd use his real name-"
"Dad and Uncle George would beat us to death-"
"Extra everything as punishment-"
"I think someone said Dad and Uncle Fred would beat us to death already-"
"Yes, okay… We get the picture!" Theo burst out, "Our parent's would kill us…"
"So this is a strictly, underground, children army?"
"Yeah, pretty much…"
"What are you going to call it?"
Serena didn't know.
"How about the S.U.C.A.?"
"The SUCA?"
"Strictly Underground Children Army?"
"Brilliant. Elizabeth, why don't you be secretary for now, and record this as the first ever meeting of the SUCA?" Elizabeth obediently pulled out a piece of parchment and began writing. "Okay, first off- we need members,"
"All of us… and Faye. I don't know about Xandra…"
"No, Xandra's in, write her in," Serena told Elizabeth.
"Of course, Rashad and Harrison are in," Daren said.
"Okay, they have to be people we absolutely trust. In fact, I have an idea. We can have a initiation!" Serena was thinking along the lines of Veritaserum.
"Good idea."
"You can probably count the Gryffindor Quidditch team too... They hate the Slytherins."
"Yes, good… This is all very good, but I think we should head up to the castle now. It's getting late."
"It's only 6:15!"
"I have other things to do." Serena stood up and took the sheet of parchment Elizabeth handed to her.
"Like what!?
"Like homework, and studying," The Quads looked at her incredulously, "Dinner?" she tried.
"Dinner!" The boys were suddenly heading towards the castle at light speed, weaving slightly.
Serena picked up her bag and tucked the parchment into her pocket after casting a spell to make sure nobody unwanted would be able to glance at it.
Serena had accomplished much in one day. That would show Malikye… Serena headed up to the castle absently wound up in her thoughts. She crossed the entrance hall to the Great Hall and sat down at the table, hardly noticing where she was. It was only when a fluttering at her hand brought her back to the here and now that she realized she was staring up at the ceiling and at dusk starting to fall. A small paper crane was trying to get her attention. She caught it and opened it.
You want in? You have to meet Killian tonight at 7. I'll tell Malikye you'll be late… RL
Serena looked at him from across the hall. He was staring intently at her. Her eyes voiced her distress. She quickly scribbled.
I can't! Raf, you know me… I've got this weird loyalty to MM that I couldn't break if I tried. Tell Killian I'm playing hard to get or something…
She folded the crane back up and set it flying low to the ground, weaving in and out of tables.
But she didn't know, someone was watching her.
•••
Wolf couldn't help but feel suspicious again. He stared at her, trying to figure her out. She was staring at the ceiling, wrapped up in her thoughts. He studied her.
Her pale skin was so fine, and her eyes could be so expressive if she wasn't realizing it. The way her neck curved was so delicate and it met with the wave of liquid fire that ran down her back. Her gorgeous red lips would be full if she didn't purse them together in thought.
"Yo, Wolf!"
He looked at Derrick, "What?"
"Stop staring at my cousin." The Gryffindor 6th year boys were smirking at him. He couldn't stop himself as he stole another glance at her. She was reading something. He saw her glance across the hall with a pleading expression on her face before scribbling something and folding the note into a crane and sending if off again. Her gaze kept steady passed the Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw tables to a black haired boy at the Slytherin table.
Wolf recognized him as Raphael McCoy; they had Potions and Transfiguration together.
Raphael frowned at her and Serena's expression grew incredulous. Wolf got the feeling she was trying to say something like, 'Well, what am I supposed to do?'
"For the love of Merlin, Wolf."
Wolf's eyes snapped back to the Quads, "What!"
"Go talk to her! And try not to make a fool of yourself."
"No, no… Looks like she's occupied already." Wolf helped himself to some more chicken while all the Quads looked down the table at Serena and followed her line of sight to the Slytherin table.
"A Slytherin?"
"She's really serious about this whole SUCA thing?"
"Apparently." Wolf buttered a roll. "She's been really odd this year… I have a feeling there's more to this than she lets on."
"Wolf, always the detective."
"No, I saw her with him and this other girl at Hogsmede today."
"What, are you spying on her?"
"No!" he said forcefully, "She's only one red head out of only a handful at this school… It's not exactly hard to miss any of you," he said defensively.
"You don't have to defend yourself. We know…" And they all exchanged meaningful glances.
"Hello!" Harrison and Rashad plopped down beside them, "What are we all talking about?"
"Don't answer that-" Wolf's head shot up.
Several answers came at once, including, "Wolf's love life-" and, "Wolf's infatuation with Serena-"
"Ah, yes… What did she want to talk to you guys about anyway?"
"Apparently, she's gone mental. She was serious about this whole hunting death eater thing."
"That is one determined girl." Harrison glanced down the table at her. "I like that in a woman." He smirked at Wolf.
"Oy, shut up."
"Well, it is safe to say, you know her better than all of us."
Wolf scowled, and buttered another roll furiously. He glanced down the table again and found that girl he saw her with at Hogsmede was talking to her. They were discussing something, their heads bent close together.
Wolf's first thought was who was this other girl and why where they talking? His next thought was that he had to talk to her and find out what they were talking about. His third thought was that he was over reacting. They were just friends who happened to be in different houses. But what about Raphael? Wolf again thought about questioning him what the whole talking across the hall business was. Having a friend in Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff was one thing, but a Slytherin?
"You just can't keep your eyes off her, I swear."
"Just go talk to her. Then you can stare at her up close!" Wolf shot Rashad a filthy look, "What?"
"No, I'm not going to talk to her. She's busy." He picked at his food moodily.
"Aw, go on!"
"If you don't go talk to her I'm going to," Rashad said.
"Alright! Alright!" He pushed his food around his plate, "In the common room,"
•••
If you don't go, you'll never get another chance. The girls will help me explain. He's going to personally invite you himself. Watch for him in the hall… Do it Renee. RL
Serena looked across the hall and finally gave him the 'I surrender' look which was half between a glare and a roll of the eyes. He smiled back appreciatively.
"Well?" Alael who was sitting next to her peered over her shoulder at the note, "Will you?"
"Fine, fine! But I'm going to write a letter to Malikye myself and I want you to deliver it to him at the meeting. If you don't, I will know." Alael nodded her head vigorously. Serena pulled out a piece of parchment and wrote:
MM,
I have made the first steps in setting up the new branch. I already have quite a few members and they have deemed ourselves the SUCA… or the Strictly Underground Children's Army. I will discuss this further when I meet you.
As for the reason I am not present is because we ran into, what we think, is a high-ranking Arm officer- possibly the HAL himself. But as of now, we aren't sure. He showed a great interest in me when we meet today and- as RL has told me- is going to personally invite me himself. Other HDEC feel that I cannot pass up this opportunity to get into the HA, and therefore I have very reluctantly agreed to meet him.
I know you did not wish for me to become a spy until the branch was established, but I believe the SUCA will be within a matter of days with the support I have. I'm sure the other Children will give you their versions if they haven't already…
Stay well,
Renee
"Finished." Serena preformed the usual spells to seal the letter to unwanted eyes and then gave it to Alael.
She turned and waved it at Raphael who smirked. "I will not lose this."
"Dammit, I've been falling behind in so much work… I'll have to do it Sunday," she muttered to Alael, propping her arms on the table and putting her head into it, "This is crazy- why am I doing this again?"
"Because you can't pass this up!" Alael accented each word sharply and happily.
"Merlin, I just want to sleep for a week."
"Here, take some of this." She pulled a bottle out of her bag, "Pepper up potion. Might need it." She wiggled her eyebrows. Serena ignored her but drank some anyways. "Now, you have to look good to meet him!" Serena kept her mouth shut as Alael called over Ann and Belle to help fix her up.
"Really now, you'd think I was going to marry this guy," She waved their hands away. "I am not out to impress him, just to get in."
"You might just have to impress him to get in,"
"There are other ways to impress a guy without drowning myself in makeup!" Serena herself wore hardly any, but the girls persisted. "Stop, stop!" She brushed their hands away, "I'm going to do this myself!" She stood up, but regretted it; she didn't really want to do this. And it really didn't help that the girls started giggling and squealing. "Honestly, I don't understand how guys put up with all your giggling and simpering."
"Because my dear," Bella batted her eyelashes, "We're HAL's! Hot available ladies!" This only caused more fits of laughter.
"I'm going, see you all later."
"We hope!"
"Tell us how it went!"
"Save us all the juicy details!"
Serena rolled her eyes and focused on getting to the Entrance Hall. But it was proving to be harder than she expected. Between the giggling she could still hear, she was also painfully aware eyes on her.
Somewhere- she had to be heading somewhere; she had to think. Everybody was still eating and she was leaving. Going back to the common room? That would seem odd. Bathroom? Did she really want to be going to the bathroom when he went up to talk to her? The library? That would make her sound like a bookworm. Perhaps that was what she was going for… No, she had to impress him. Hospital wing? No way.
The pitch. She would head for the pitch. She had a spare broom in her locker, Harry's old Firebolt. That sounded good.
As soon as she had made up her mind she felt him rise up and stride after her. The door was only 30 feet away. With Killian's speed, he would reach her as she reached the doors. And then everybody would see them. She speed up a bit.
She reached the door and was slipping passed it when a hand grabbed her arm. She spun around to face him. Serena was painfully aware how visible they were just beyond the open doors, and how close they were standing, his hand gripping hers.
"Trying to run away from me Sera?"
"No-" She pulled back her hand, "No, I just needed some air. I was going to the pitch-"
Killian clicked his tongue and gave a charming smile, "Perhaps you would like some company?" He placed his hand in the small of her back- she tensed- and guided her to the oak doors. She just had time to glance back in the Great Hall before her view was replaced by solid stone wall. She felt as if she had been cut off.
"Sure," she managed feebly, though the reply was late. He opened the door and they stepped out onto the grounds.
It was a cool night; it felt good on her skin after the warm Hall. She relaxed. Killian gave a low chuckle that made the air around her vibrate, "I felt that." They walked in silence for a bit. "Raphael was talking to me about you." She felt he look sideways at her. Serena was surprised at how open and unashamed he was.
"Really?" Serena was grateful it sounded genuine, even a bit flirtatious.
"Yes. He said you were a really good friend."
"Yes." Serena was pleased.
Another short pause, "I saw you play against Slytherin. Gutsy, aren't you?"
"I wouldn't say gutsy… just competitive,"
"Modest too…" Serena didn't like how he was talking. It almost felt as if he had been observing her. They reached the pitch and Serena skipped ahead of him and flopped down onto the grass, staring up at the sky. She took in a deep breath, feeling the grass beneath her. Killian laughed. He came over to her and lay down so they were side-by-side.
Serena tried not to tense up again.
"Potter, wasn't it? Serena Potter."
Serena internally cringed, "Yeah… Sera's a nickname."
"I see." A pause. "Potter as in Harry Potter… right?"
Serena wished he's stop coming up with all these facts about her, "Yes… he's my adoptive father."
"What would he think of you with a Slytherin?" he mused. Serena felt him reach up and tuck a piece of hair behind her ear, letting his hand linger and slide down to her next, caressing.
"Killian," she stood up, "Let's just cut to the chase. I know who you are… and I want in."
She looked down at him, determinedly. He gave that smile that made you think of sour lemons, "I like you…"
"So, am I in?" She held out her hand.
He looked like he was considering it for a moment, and then reached up to grab her hand. She was expecting it and let herself fall on to him as he pulled her down. He immediately rolled over and trapped her beneath him. Serena was sickly aware of him on top of her. That perverted Slytherin bastard…
"You can be in… if-"
"If what?"
He was leaning in and Serena had to think quickly. Let him kiss her and be in, or play hard to get and hope he likes to chase-
"STUPIFY!" Seven voices came out of nowhere and suddenly Killian was knocked away and she was being pulled up.
"WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING?" All the voices of the Gryffindor 6th year boys surrounded her.
"MOTHER OF MERLIN! GET AWAY FROM ME!" She pushed passed them and turned to face them.
"WHAT WAS THAT? THAT SLYTHERIN BASTARD-"
"HOW COULD YOU!" Serena stormed, "DO YOU REALIZE WHAT YOU JUST-"
"DO YOU REALIZE WHAT YOU JUST DID?"
"YOU KILLED IT! THAT WAS MY ONE CHANCE-!"
"YOU ARE SICK!" Wolf stepped out of the crowd and up to her, "YOU MAKE ME POSITIVLY SICK!"
Serena slapped him, "YOU IDIOTS! THAT IS ONE OF THE HOGWARTS DEATH EATERS LEADERS!" She glared at all of them, "I WAS DEAD SERIOUS WHEN I SAID I WAS GOING TO TAKE THEM DOWN! THAT WAS MY CHANCE IN- YOU- YOU DON'T EVEN REALIZE THE DAMAGE YOU'VE DONE! WHAT WILL HAPPEN ONCE HE WAKES UP? HE'LL NEVER TRUST ME! THAT'S THE ONE THING- THE ONE THING I NEEDED, AND YOU BLOODY MORONS CAME AND MESSED IT UP!"
There was silence on the pitch except for the faint rise and fall of crickets chirping.
"He's- he's one of them?"
"YES!" she screeched.
Daren looked at her, "Why can't you all just take out all of Slytherin? They're all in anyway-"
"YOU DON'T GET IT!" Serena was so angry tears were streaming down her cheeks, "YOU ASSHOLES!" She let out a long scream. Not only might they have blown her cover, but each second that passed made her one more late to meet Malikye. Malikye and the rest had trusted her.
All of them seemed too surprised to speak. Serena knelt down on the grass and held her hands to her forehead. She sat there for a few minutes massaging her temples until she finally clamed down and regained her composure. When she spoke again, her voice was low and even, "As much as I appreciate your concern," she spoke in a clipped manner, holding back her anger, "I can take care of myself… I've had a life time worth of experience beneath my belt," She stood up and brushed her hair out of her face, wiping away the tears with her hand, "Please just go… so I can sort this all out,"
They tried to mumble apologies but she cut them off and told them to leave. Finally, they retreated into the darkness back to the castle. Serena fixed herself up and pushed her anger aside; she had a mission to accomplish. She wiped his memory and then lay down beside him whispering, "Enervate," and kissed him.
When she pulled away and Killian was looking at her with unfocused, but content eyes. She stayed with him until the after affects of the memory charm wore off then sent him on his way.
Serena trudged up to the portkey room wearily grasped the quill and spiraled off to meet Malikye.
•
WOW... O.O
list of OC's will need to be updated again...
leave a review!
[.lady patronus.]
