A/N: Here's another chapter. I'm sorry for the long time I took to write it but, it's here.

Love Leads to Deceit

An uncomfortable silence greeted these words. Ariette had literally shouted it out. She could feel her cheeks grow hot as almost every face in the Great Hall turned to face her and Juanita, who had her face covered in her palms, her elbows resting on the table. 'I – I didn't mean to say that. Um, y – you can all go continue what you were do – doing.' Ariette stammered, raising her voice so that the onlookers could hear her. Then one by one, the inquisitive faces looked away and noise started to fill the Great Hall again. Ariette's face was still glowing red when she looked back at her friend, whose face was already out of her hands. Traces of blushing were still visible on Juanita's cheeks when she cleared her throat and asked, with a tinge of doubt in her voice, 'You dreamt about kissing Zeke Mantoe?' 'Yes.' Came the reply.

Silence fell between the two, unease working itself through Ariette's body. This was the first time Ariette felt uneasy in the presence of her friend, unless you count the time when Ariette forgot about Juanita's birthday, and that was when they were four.

'So do you have feelings for Mantoe?' Juanita asked suddenly, her eyes boring into Ariette's. Ariette could see the curiosity dancing in Juanita's eyes as she stared back. 'Yes.' She finally answered after a few moments, averting her eyes from Juanita's gaze and pretended to study the carvings of the plate sitting on the table in front of her, where pieces of leftover bacon contrasted to the shiny exterior of the plate. Juanita's eyes almost popped out of their sockets when Ariette answered. She opened her mouth to protest, but was cut off by Ariette, who said 'I didn't finish my sentence, Nita. I do have feelings for Mantoe, but it is hate, not l-' Ariette stopped at that, struggling to find a substitute for the word "love", for she couldn't bring herself to put Mantoe and "love" in the same sentence. '-a strong feeling of deep affection.' She finally concluded, and Juanita gave out a highly audible sigh.

- - -

As the days went by, Ariette realized that she couldn't fight back the fire burning in the pit of her stomach whenever she saw Mantoe. She could always feel the temperature in her body rising whenever he is in sight. 'It's hate, not l- a strong feeling of deep affection,' she would assure herself.

Night fell on the last day of September and Ariette was making her way back to the Common Room when she came upon a tapestry. What was weird about this particular tapestry is that it was flapping and ruffling hard, as though there was someone or something moving behind it. Ariette found herself stopping to investigate. She reached out her hand to wrench it off, but stopped when she heard the noise issuing from it. She blushed hard and hurried off when it dawned on her that it was a couple kissing behind the tapestry. Ariette turned her head back, still blushing, and caught a flash of red hair and a tuft of bushy hair sticking out from one side.

Once in her dormitory – where the other four girls were already asleep – Ariette climbed into her four-poster and drew the hangings shut, leaving a tiny opening so that she can look out and through the window into the moonlit night. Shadows danced past the sky, tiny flecks against the silvery light, which Ariette made out to be owls. She studied the creatures for a while and felt her eyes grow heavier, and heavier, until she dozed off.

Everywhere around her was dark, she couldn't see anything, but there was a faraway hooting sound. Then out of the blue, a figure appeared in front of her, his dark bangs falling into his even darker eyes. Surprisingly, she could see the 13-year-old boy standing in front of her, considering the light. Zeke Mantoe's pale hand reached out, brushed against the Slytherin badge on his chest, and stroked Ariette's cheek. Ariette felt herself melt into his arms as he pulled her closer and touched his lips to hers.

'Ariette!'

Her eyelids flew open, her heart thumping hard against her ribcage. Ariette searched around wildly for the person who called her name. Her eyes swept across the room until it landed by her bedside. Juanita was perched on her knees, looking flustered and sweaty. The dormitory was empty except for the both of them. The four girls had already left. Ariette sat up.

'What?'

'You'd better get out of bed, fast! Classes already started.'

- - -

Ariette scanned the walls as she made her way towards the girl's bathroom. She was almost there when a classroom door opened and from it emerged Mantoe. The burning sensation inside her sprang to life and Ariette glared at him. Instead of spitting an insult, Mantoe smiled – not his usual smirk, but a comforting one – and Ariette couldn't help smiling back.

'I need your help,' Mantoe said, eyeing Ariette, who looked right back. 'but you must ditch that friend of yours first.'

Shock and dilemma sent vibrations all through Ariette's body. Something urged her to go on and help Mantoe with whatever he needs help with, yet another something begged her to run away.

Mantoe watched as Ariette fought an internal battle, and nodded.