Disclaimer: Alas, I still do not own Harry Potter…perhaps on my birthday. .

AN: I have written chapter 6-8 but typing them has been a bit of a challenge…Word crashed. Dumb Microsoft. R&R

Riddle Me This

Chapter 6-

Dearest Amara,

I trust you received my files on the Malfoy family, and I hope that satisfies your ever-growing curiosity. I must follow up on something you wrote. If that Malfoy boy struck you, you better be taking care of things. That boy has caused me trouble. He has switched sides in the war and I warn you to be cautious of him. He is not an ally.

Since you will not leave me alone about it, I'll inform you about the war. As the papers have said, the Trio was in London. They are following the Deatheaters progress carefully and I fear they have found where Hufflepuffs goblet is. I have my spies keeping tabs on them but they are tricky and everyone around me is an idiot or worse. I do miss your cleverness.

I have started to dig into Potter's mind more than usual to see if I can find where they are but he is getting better at Occlumency. The Deatheaters along with a few giants are hitting Birmingham next. Keep an eye out,

Grandfather.

P.S. Stay at school over Christmas, don't ask why, I have my reasons.

Amara buried his letter in her trunk. She was sitting on the floor in front of her trunk at the foot of her bed. She leaned on it and put her hand on her still-bruised cheek. Her hand moved to her lips. She could still feel his lips on hers, the feel of his body pressing against hers. Perhaps it was just lust. Amara had never had a problem with hormones and such before.

People who were much older and wiser than her had always surrounded her as long as she could remember. She had been so busy studying and learning, that boys had never been a problem for her. For once in her life, Amara didn't know what to do.

She rubbed her head and grabbed her hair in frustration. Suddenly she heard the dormitory doors open and three girls enter, chatting loudly. Amara stayed where she was but she could feel their eyes on her back. Pansy raised her voice unnaturally loud.

"So anyway, after Draco is done with potions we're going to find an empty classroom, right?" They all giggled. "At first I was a little nervous," she continued, "and I told him I didn't want to get hit, after all he had hit one girl."

Amara felt her blood boil at the mention of him.

"But he assured me that he would never harm me. It was just her, after all she's only a dirty little half-breed." Amara stood up and faced Pansy, who was smirking, obviously pleased with herself. "Yeah, I know who our real father is. A dirty muggle from the Caribbean, isn't he?"

Amara rushed forward and without her wand, she attacked Pansy. She dodged Pansy's hand, which was speeding towards her, and punched her squarely in the jaw. Pansy stumbled back and fell on the floor. Amara grabbed her bag and fled the room. She ran out of the common room to the potions classroom.

The bell rang shortly after she entered and she took her seat next to Triply.

"Hey," he whispered. "You look kind of shook up, you okay?" Even though no one else could tell she was upset, Jeff Triply had gotten to know her emotions better than she had. He could read people by simply watching them. In some ways, Amara admired him.

"Yeah. I'm fine. Just a little skirmish with Parkinson." Her eyes, involuntarily, flicked to Draco, who was staring at her. She looked away quickly.

"How's your face?" he asked in a concerned voice. She didn't think he'd ever forgive Malfoy based on his reaction when he found out he'd hit her.

"Its better. So, any news in the school world?" she asked, as she just recently found out he was Head Boy.

"Interesting. The prefects, Head Girl, and I are throwing around ideas for a Masquerade Halloween Ball for 5th years and up. What do you think?"

Amara shrugged, adding the first ingredient to the potion they were supposed to be brewing. "Do you think it'll happen?" Jeff ran his hand through his dark red hair. He smiled and added a few more things to the potion they were supposed to be brewing.

"We have permission to go ahead with it. Would you go if we did do it?" he asked. Amara paused. Would she go?

"Yes," she said finally. "I'd go."

"And not cause trouble?" he said with an amused smile. Amara grinned playfully; a real smile.

"Yes, I'll behave…for the most part." Jeff laughed, his dark blue eyes sparkling.

Draco looked over at them and shot a glare at Jeff. Amara could imagine what it looked like to him; the tow of them laughing together as they brewed a difficult potion. Suddenly, she felt her chest swelling. She felt an evil tingling of pleasure. Amara was pleased; she was enjoying the fact that he was jealous. What a strange feeling. She pondered it for the rest of the period.

When the bell rang and everyone was filing out, Jeff said, "We'll have posters in the common rooms very soon so keep an eye out." His unknown quoting of her Grandfather made her pause before nodding. They went their separate ways.

A few days later the posters showed up in the Slytherin common room. Everyone crowded around the bulletin board to get a good look, except for the underclassmen that were walking away, grumbling.

Masquerade!

All 5th years and up! You are cordially invited to the Halloween Masquerade Ball on October 31st from 7pm to midnight. This is a formal event, dress robes are required, and dates are not. Hope you will attend.

Jeff Triply; Head Boy, and Sylvia Yasmin; Head Girl

The girls giggled excitedly and started heading to the dormitory. As Pansy's group passed her, Amara heard them talking about a type of make-up that covered bruises. Even though it was almost faded, she still sported a bruise on her chin.

All the battle scars from the past weeks had faded from both Amara and Draco. Though the physical reminders had faded, they both still felt the wound on their hearts.

As the students began rushing out the door, hoping to get to Hogsmeade before everyone else, Amara felt in her pocket for her gold, which was tucked in a velvet bag. She left after the crowd for Hogsmeade and when she got there she saw everyone was crowding into the dress robes shop.

Amara smirked satisfactorily, as she had sent home for her dress robes as soon as Jeff had told her about the ball. The 31st was only three days away, but apparently, to the females that was not enough time.

Amara went into a jewelry shop and bought a few pieces that matched her robes and carefully selected a mask. After she paid, she went back outside into the cool fall air. She headed back to the castle, deciding she would much rather be in there than spend the day in Hogsmeade with all the giddy students.

On her way back, she passed Draco. His hand brushed her arm and she felt a slight pressure as he held on. She glanced back and made eye contact with him. He looked lost, a swirl of confusion in his grey eyes. Amara pulled her arm away and continued on her way, not looking back to see him staring after her.

When she got back to her dormitory, Amara saw a box on her bed accompanied by her own and a large black eagle owl she knew to be her grandfathers. That was quick, she thought, he must be nearby. She stood on her bed and peered out the thin window by the ceiling. The thought that he was close made her excited and she jumped down with renewed energy. She took the package and buried it deep in her trunk until the day of the ball.


When Halloween finally arrived, the school was in a flurry of activity. The Great Hall was closed for decorations and the students were forced to eat in their common rooms. Classes got out early and the younger students were not allowed out after seven p.m. Girls and guys were rushing about, trying to get everything ready by their deadline.

Amara waited silently on her bed as Pansy, Fay, Sandy, and Lucy got ready. They glanced at her briefly with a sneer as they walked past to go find their dates. Amara jumped up after they had left and dug out the package with her robes in it.

Sure, she'd be late, but Amara did love to make an entrance.

As she lifted the gown, a small package fell out of it. Curious, Amara put down the dress and unraveled the tiny box. Inside was a necklace. It was choker-like with silver entwined emeralds that came to a point in the middle of the chest. It was gorgeous.

Amara noticed a piece of folded parchment and she opened it.

Amara, this is the necklace Holliana wore on our wedding day. I know you'll look beautiful in it, my love.

Overwhelmed so that her breath caught in her throat, Amara flipped over the paper and wrote 'Thank you' before giving it to her owl and sent it out the thin window.

Amara used a series of charms to do her hair and make-up, and then she put on her mask. When she was done it was 7:45, and by her calculations, she would make it to the Great Hall by 8 sharp.