The day passed in a fog for Evanna.

Her Housemates, even Draco and Theo, avoided her like dragon pox. All had heard about her outburst in the Great Hall that morning and none were willing to risk reigniting her wrath. Most of her professors were utterly clueless, instead up in arms about whatever the "High Inquisitor" was going to mean for them and their careers.

Ginny seemed to sense that something was wrong, and kept trying to get Evanna to talk to her in Defense Against the Dark Arts, but Umbridge kept shushing them. Only Luna seemed to be treating her normally that day, or as normally as Luna ever treated anything.

"Daddy sent some dried dirigible plums to me this morning," Luna said cheerfully as Evanna took her seat next to the Ravenclaw in Ancient Runes. "Would you like one?"

"I'll pass, thank you," Evana said, trying to ignore the fearful glances Eva Blishwick was sending her every so often.

"Perhaps some chocolate then?"

She seems so sad. Always so sad.

Evanna smiled a little at that, recognizing her odd friend's attempts to cheer her up for what they were.

"You know, I think I would like a small piece of chocolate," Evanna said, some cheerfulness coming back to her. Luna gave her a beaming smile as she passed a piece of Honeyduke's Best to her just as Professor Babbling began to teach.

Evanna's good mood didn't last for long, however, as eyes seemed to watch her carefully wherever she went that day. Theo tried to engage her in conversation at the lunch table to distract her, but it didn't help. She could still hear the thoughts of the Slytherins around them.

….report to her father….

….Dark Lady and can barely do a lumos charm

….not nearly as powerful as she thinks….

….live up to the Dark Lord's legacy….

….torture and kill…

It did not take long for Evanna to excuse herself from the table to eat in the kitchens instead.

She could have dealt with all of that had it not been for Potions that afternoon. When she arrived in the classroom, she had immediately felt the Professor's eyes land on her. When she turned to him, she saw something she had never thought she would see from Professor Severus Snape.

Fear.

He was scared of her. The thought made her feel sick.

"Are you going to sit, Ev?" Bridget said as she came into the classroom. Evanna bit her lip, half a mind to leave class then and there, but she sat beside her Hufflepuff friend in the end before looking back at Professor Snape. He realized she was staring at him almost immediately, and it was like a wall went up around his mind. Evanna winced at the sudden cut off, the pain to her brain as if her fingers had got caught in a closing door.

"Are you alright?" Bridget asked.

"Just fine."

"You look like you're in pain-"

"Drop it, Travers."

Bridget's face hardened and she glared at Evanna. "I am not one of your Slytherins, Evanna."

Evanna turned to look at Bridget, somewhat shocked at the implications of that statement. The Travers family was by and large loyal to Evanna's father, proud members of the Sacred Twenty-Eight and favorable to the Dark Arts. But this Hufflepuff was less afraid to stand up to Evanna's moods than either of her roommates, neither of whom had family's anywhere near the inner circle of Death Eaters.

Evanna smiled.

"I never would have guessed based on the bee's nest around your neck," Evanna teased, gesturing to her Hufflepuff tie.

"Excuse you, black and yellow is-"

"Today you will all be making a Calming Draught. The instructions are on the board. Begin."

Professor Snape swept through the room, being more acerbic than usual. At least one of Bridget's Housemates were reduced to tears by the time they were released, but he kept well away from Evanna's table. When the bell rang, Evanna told Bridget to go on without her. The professor had his back turned, rustling in the supply cabinet.

Evanna walked up behind him quietly. When he turned, again his eyes flashed in fear. He even jumped a little and in her mind, Evanna saw the image of angry red eyes. Her father's eyes.

"What can I do for you, Miss Malfoy?" he said.

"Did you know?" she asked.

"Know?"

"About the muggles. In the paper this morning. Did you know about it?"

The professor frowned in confusion. "Such crimes are-"

"Tell me the truth," Evanna demanded. Bile rose in her throat when the professor winced, as though he was awaiting a curse.

"I assume some of your father's supporters decided to go out last night," he said carefully. "Such occurrences were not uncommon during the first war."

"Did… did my father order it?" Evanna said, throat dry.

"The Dark Lord does not concern himself with such trivial matters-"

"Trivial matters?" Evanna pressed. "Three people were murdered. A little girl, Professor."

A flash of victory and it was gone.

"Many would say that you ought not concern yourself with second-page news, milady," he said in a low voice.

Evanna nearly opened her mouth, but the Professor continued speaking.

"However, you have the power to decide that for yourself," he said. "The Dark Lord has made it clear that any order from you is an order from him."

Evanna tried to swallow, but her mouth was too dry. "Can you pass a message along for me?"

"Of course," Professor Snape said, mouth quirking slightly.

"Tell them-tell them no one else is to be killed without orders," she said, feigning more confidence than she had. "No more innocents killed for no good reason. No children murdered. That is not how we bring about a better world for wizards."

There was warmth in Professor Snape's eyes. "Very well, princess."

"And don't call me that!"

The man smirked and gestured to the door. "I would suggest you get on to dinner, Miss Malfoy."

Evanna hurried to do as he said, her day brightening a bit as she did so. The Slytherins still were treating her weirdly, she still was horrified at what had been reported in the newspaper, Lucius' comments still irked her, but she had been able to control something and her mentor was proud of her, and that somehow made everything more bearable.

Not wanting her good mood to be ruined by the odd looks she was still getting from her Housemates, Evanna decided instead to wander the halls after dinner, managing somehow to avoid her brother, her boyfriend, and her three best friends in the other Houses. In doing so, she finally found time to do something she had not done yet that day.

Panic.

Her father had told her that the Death Eaters had to follow her command, yes. He seemed to wish to keep her happy, allow her to grow powerful alongside him. But what if Professor Snape had been mistaken? What if the Dark Lord had ordered those muggles killed, and now she had put out her own order contradicting him? Did she truly know what kind of man her father was?

She remembered the night of the Third Task, when she and Harry and Cedric Diggory had been Portkeyed to the graveyard-her grandfather's grave, apparently. She remembered how Wormtail had immediately killed Cedric, luckily not spotting her in her black choir robes. And then her father had tortured Harry, had tried to kill Harry. And then she remembered to her first year, the young Tom Riddle in the Chamber of Secrets, how he had been taking Ginny's life. How he had tortured Evanna.

Had Evanna traded one evil father for another? How long would it be before he turned on her like Lucius had-or worse? She remembered that time in the Chamber of Secrets, how the shadow of Tom Riddle had cast the Cruciatus on her, how much more excruciating it had been than when Lucius had Crucio'd her. But now, her father was at his full adult capacity. And if she displeased him enough….

But what if pleasing him meant killing innocent children? She couldn't do it. She just couldn't.

The sun had set outside of the castle walls. It wouldn't be long before Evanna had to head back to the Slytherin Common Room. She could not help but wish she had been more forceful with the Sorting Hat to place her in Gryffindor with Ginny. But, no, she belonged in Slytherin. It was her House, no matter how uncomfortable she felt with her Housemates now.

She heard footsteps behind her, along with no small amount of muttering and cursing. She turned to see Harry obviously nursing his right hand. Evanna could see blood seeping through his left fingers as he held it close to his chest.

"Merlin, what happened?" Evanna gasped, forgetting herself in the moment.

"Nothing-nothing's wrong," Harry replied.

"Well that's a load of hippogryff dung. You're about to bleed out in the corridor," Evanna exclaimed, pulling her wand, ready to attempt (again) one of the healing spells her father had drilled into her over the summer.

"You never know when you may be injured, and you must always assume you are surrounded by enemies."

"What are you doing?" Harry said, nervousness in his tone.

"Healing your hand, what do you think?" she said. "Now let me see-"

I must not tell lies.

Evanna froze, mouth hanging open. "A blood quill."

Harry shrugged. "Yeah, I guess."

"Who-"

"It doesn't mat-"

"Umbridge," Evanna said immediately.

Harry frowned. "You said you'd stop reading my mind without my permission."

"You forget the Hogwarts gossip mill," Evanna said. "Ginny said you've had detention with her since we got back. But, Harry-why hasn't McGonagall done something? Blood quills are highly illegal."

"You should know," Harry grumbled.

Evanna froze and everything came rushing back to her. The war had begun. They had determined they were on opposite sides, unable to continue being friends the way they had been because of the danger involved. And that was before Evanna found out that the Dark Lord was her father. A fact which Harry had no idea about, and he still obviously hated her now.

She let go of Harry's hand, lowering her eyes to her shoes.

"You don't have to be cruel, Harry," she said softly. "I was just trying to help you."

Harry was silent. Evanna sighed, and reached into her bag, pulling out an embroidered handkerchief that Narcissa had insisted she keep on her, because "wiping one's nose on the end of your robes is the height of impropriety".

"You should wrap that around your hand," she said. "Since you're obviously trying to keep this secret for some reason, you should know that it won't be healed by charms or anything, but you should try and keep it from getting infected."

Evanna turned on her heel and went to walk away.

"Wait-Evanna," Harry said. Evanna turned toward him, somewhat surprised. "I-I just don't get it. You've always hated your father. Why go along with him now? I could go to Dumbledore. He could help you."

"Dumbledore already hates me and I think he would think I had Imperiused you if you were to ever go to him on my behalf," Evanna said bitterly.

"You can't possibly-"

"Things have become too complicated Harry," she said. "I-I really probably shouldn't be seen with you."

"Oh, yeah, wouldn't want to upset Nott," he grumbled.

Evanna blinked. "Who said anything about Theo?"

"Theo?" Harry repeated incredulously. Evana frowned.

"I hardly call my boyfriend Mr. Nott. We're not in the Victorian age," Evanna scoffed.

"Oh, you finally realized we're in the twentieth century?"

"And what exactly is that supposed to mean?"

"I've never met anyone so bloody posh in my entire life! And I've heard everyone in your House start referring to you as my lady or some sort of shit-"

"It's not as if I've encouraged them-"

"What is that even about? What, are you Pureblood elite not satisfied with trying to kill me and my friends-"

"I have never-"

"And another thing-"

"Evanna!"

Evanna turned to see Theodore coming down the corridor, an angry look on his face.

"Potter-what the hell do you think you're doing with my girlfriend?"

"She wanted to talk to me, Nott," he growled.

Theo looked at her with wide eyes. "Do you know what your father would-"

"Let me deal with my fath-"

"Don't threaten her, Nott, she can do-"

"Harry, don't-"

"You're calling him Harry? Evanna do you have any idea how much of an imbecile-"

"Don't you dare, start calling me names, Theodore Nott-"

"It's none of your business wha-"

"Stay out of this, half-blood scum-"

When asked later, Evanna would never be able to say which of them pulled their wands first, but soon, spells were flying in the corridor between the two boys, Evanna doing her best to try and protect herself and them from each other. Though, as she watched them clumsily exchanging spells, she could not help but think neither one would make it when the war broke out.

There was a loud "BANG!" and Evanna saw Professor McGonagall striding toward them, looking murderous.

"What is the meaning of this?" she thundered. "Detention, all of you! And twenty points each! Off to your Common Rooms before I make it more."

Harry shot another angry look at Evanna and Theo before stalking toward the Gryffindor Common Room. Theo took Evanna's hand roughly and turned toward the Slytherin Common Room.

"Ow, what do you think you're doing? Let go of me!" Evanna hissed, finally managing to yank her hand free.

"What do you think you're doing, Evanna?" he hissed back. "You're the Dark Lord's daughter. You can't be palling around with the Boy-Who-Lived!"

"Let me worry about my father-"

"No! I can't! Do you know what it would mean for my family if my girlfriend was found to be a blood traitor?"

Evanna gulped, and said, trying to convince herself, "My father told me to carry on as normal this year. I am his heir and equal. He wouldn't-"

"Maybe not to his heir, but to those of us close to you? He would," Theo insisted. "I'm not trying to be some sort of controlling caveman, Evanna, but you can't be seen with Potter again. What you do affects all of us."

A/N: Harry is back! Yippee! We will be seeing more and more of him throughout the coming chapters.