By Adaia Swordmaiden
Disclaimer: You should know this by now!
Chapter 4: Confrontations
Guinivere yawned as she climbed out of bed. After that night's little event, she hadn't slept well at all. She got dressed in jeans and a tank-top, ditching her school robes as it was the weekend. Then, grabbing her wand and a book, she made her way out of Gryffindor Tower.
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Lucius Malfoy looked out over the Hogwarts grounds moodily from his seat on a battlement. He glared at the other students on the grounds, happily playing in the sunshine. He heard footsteps on the stone and turned to see a slightly familiar girl in jeans and a green tank-top. She was reading as she walked and sat down on the ground, her eyes never leaving the book. She swept a few strands of silky black hair back behind her ear. Malfoy coughed and she jerked, looking up in surprise. Malfoy thought her slightly familiar but he couldn't quite place where he knew her from.
"Oh sorry," the girl exclaimed, jumping to her feet. "I didn't see you."
"Whatever," Malfoy said, turning his gaze back onto the grounds. The girl made for the staircase that led back into the castle. "You can stay if you want," he called out. The girl stopped and turned, walking back to the sot she had been sitting.
"Thanks," she murmured. There was silence as she began to read again.
"Its funny, isn't it?" Malfoy suddenly said. The girl jerked her head up.
"Sorry?" Malfoy ignored her confusion.
"Everyone thinks that life's perfect. They don't think about death. They don't realize how easy it is. So they waste life. Like they're gonna live forever. There's only a few that fully realize the shortness of life and do something about it." He subconsciously rubbed his upper arm. "Those ones - they have better lives. I should know. They get power, and money."
"What do-" Suddenly Malfoy remembered and turned quickly to stare at the girl.
"You're that Gryffindor girl!" he said accusingly, getting up and advancing on her. She scrambled to her feet. "That transfer one. Guinivere Adair, isn't it!"
"Uh, y-yes," she stammered. Malfoy whipped out his wand.
"If you tell anyone about what I said," he snarled. "You'll regret you'd ever been born."
"Leave her alone, Malfoy." Guinivere and Malfoy looked to see Remus standing at the top of the staircase, wand drawn and trained on Malfoy. Malfoy scowled and lowered his wand before striding off and down the stairs, Remus moving to the side to let him past.
"Thanks," Guinivere said, slightly shaken.
"You alright?" Remus asked, pocketing his wand.
"Yeah," Guinivere murmured.
"What was Malfoy threatening you about?"
"I'm not saying," Guinivere replied quietly, making for the stairs.
"You don't need to be scared of his threat." Remus followed Guinivere down the stairs.
"I'm not. I feel sorry for him. So I'm not telling."
"O…kay."
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Lily looked up out of habit as the portrait hole opened and spotted Remus and Guinivere coming through, Remus talking and Guinivere looking thoughtful.
"Hey Guinivere," she called out, standing and walking over. "Where were you last night? You weren't there when I woke up and it was about midnight."
"Oh I went for a little walk," Guinivere said vaguely. Remus had a suspicious look on his face but neither of the witches noticed.
"Well you're lucky you didn't get caught," Lily said, going back over to her seat. Guinivere shrugged and turned to say something to Remus but he was gone. The portrait hole swung shut.
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Remus found James, Peter and Sirius down by the lake, relaxing under a tree and laughing at something.
"There you are Moony!" James said. Then he noticed his friend's serious expression. "Hey- what's up?"
"I think I know who it ways down at the lake last night," Remus said. The others sobered quickly.
"Who do you think it was?" Sirius asked.
"Guinivere," Remus replied, sitting down heavily. He looked even more tired than he usually did after a full moon. "She told Lily Evans that she'd gone for a walk last night."
"Oh shit," Sirius said. "What're we gonna do?"
"Well the only thing I can think of is tell her that she shouldn't go out at night. If we don't say anything about the full moon, she shouldn't get suspicious," James said.
"Right. Who's gonna go then?" Sirius asked. Three boys looked at the fourth and the fourth swore.
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Sirius slipped into the library, casting a furtive glance at Madame Pince the librarian. He looked around the library as he walked towards the Magical Creatures section, trying to spot Guinivere. Lily Evans had said that she had headed here after Remus had disappeared. Finally he spotted her - sitting at a table with her back to him. Even from the back she was unmistakable to him. He came up behind her, stopping about a metre away.
"Hey Guin?" he said quietly, glancing at Madame Pince.
"What?" Guinivere's voice sounded like she had been crying but Sirius didn't notice.
"Remus said that you went for a walk on the grounds last night," he went on. "You shouldn't do that. There are dangerous things in the Forest and I doubt that they would just ignore you being nearby." Guinivere didn't reply. "Guin?" Suddenly she stood up and spun to face him. Her usually pale face was red with crying and anger.
"Who are you to tell me what to do?" she snarled. Sirius took a step back, surprised by her outburst. But it wasn't over. She took a step towards him, her face hard and furious but tears trickling down her cheeks. "You've known me for nearly a week and you think you know me enough to tell me what I should and shouldn't do. You have no idea of what I've been through, what I've seen. You have no idea what I am. WHO ARE YOU TO TELL ME WHAT TO DO!"
"Out!" shrieked Madame Pince as she ran over. "Out!" She flicked her wand at the book and piece of paper on the table and the items shot towards Guinivere. Sirius had backed into the next aisle and so was out of Madame Pince's sight. Guinivere brought out her wand and slashed it through the air before her, causing both items to suddenly fall in two. Then she turned and ran, followed by a furious Madame Pince. Sirius, on impulse, accio-ed the two pieces of paper and, stuffing them in his pocket, escaped to the other side of the library. Sitting down at a bench, he brought out the two pieces of paper out.
"Reparo," he said, pointing his wand at them and the paper was a good as new again. Then he picked up the paper and began to read.
A/N: sorry about the cliffie but I have writer's block for the next part and I didn't think you'd want to wait for ages for the next chappie. elise bentwin: the plant doesn't have anything to do with her past really…but I can't say any more, for fear of giving it away! Thanks for the review! Hippielover459: Oh I'd love to tell you all but, like I told elise, I don't want to give it away! Thanks for reviewing!And thanks to Fk306 animelover for reveiewing!