Harry was honestly glad that he had been pulled from the awkward date with Cho Chang. He had harbored a crush on the older girl for awhile, but between her lingering feelings for Cedric and, well his own other reasons, the date had been awkward as hell. He had been almost grateful that Hermione had ended his date early.
This alternative, however, was not so great.
"There were rumors, Harry, that you and Cedric were not the only ones to disappear from the maze," Rita Skeeter was saying, twirling that awful green quill around her finger. "Would you care to expand on that?"
Hermione shot Harry a concerned look and he frowned. "I told you everything that happened that night," he insisted.
"There was a picture taken of Evanna Malfoy with you-a picture someone paid the Prophet a great deal of galleons to keep out of the papers," Skeeter said. "My readers were fascinated last year about the possibility of a clandestine romance-this could-"
"No," Harry said. "It was just me and Cedric."
Luna gave Harry a small smile, while Hermione looked at him wide-eyed.
"We are trying to show the readers that you are not the liar that the Ministry make you out to be-if we could get ahold of that photograph, show proof of a conspiracy-"
"I told you everything that happened that night-everything people need to know to be safe," he said stiffly.
"Harry," the reporter said with a poisoned-honey smile, "romance sells. If Evanna Malfoy was indeed there that night-if the idea of a cover up and a forbidden love enters the public consciousness-this story you've just told me-"
"It was just Cedric. Focus on him-he was the victim of Lord Voldemort," Harry said, standing. "I'm done."
Hermione was standing too. "Harry, wait-"
"Let him-"
But Harry had already left the pub. He looked at the street ahead of him, cursing as of course he spotted the very person he had been trying his hardest not to speak about, walking around the snowy town with her Hufflepuff friend. She paused in her laughing as she looked toward his direction, her pale face turning visibly grey. Harry frowned; why should she be so distressed at seeing him, when she had been the one to lie to him for months? He was almost aggravated enough to tell her as such, when she turned to Travers, obviously arguing with the girl for her to go back to the castle. It took several moments, and the Hufflepuff looked far from happy with the situation, but she did ultimately listen to her friend. Then, Evanna glanced all around, before making her way into a narrow alley near Zonko's Joke Shop.
Harry could not shake the feeling that there was something terribly wrong with that action. Without hesitation, he sidled to the shadows of the buildings, trying to go unnoticed as he made his way to the alley Evanna had disappeared into. There were soft voices coming from the alley. Harry poked his head around the corner, eyes widening to see Lucius Malfoy-or at least whoever was polyjuicing as the man these days.
"...doesn't know anything. Perhaps we would be better served-"
"Yes, please tell me how you have come up with a better plan than the greatest wizard of a generation with far less information," not-Lucius drawled. Harry could not see the scowl that was on Evanna's face, but he could imagine it.
"Harry is really powerful, but the Headmaster refuses to teach him anything useful. Maybe-if father would leave him be-we could show him how much better the world can be, he could help us-"
"Don't be stupid, girl."
"I am the heir-"
"Potter is nothing more than a symbol in this war-a pawn for wizards beyond his ken to use. His usefulness ends where the likes of Dumbledore says it does," not-Lucius sneered. "Much like yourself."
"I am-"
"You are nothing more than your father says you are, and less than that if you don't learn to obey orders," not-Lucius said. "You need to learn your place in this war if you intend to survive it. And that begins with treating Potter as the enemy he is and not this fantasy daydream you've come up with."
"You're mistaken! Just because you are nothing but a broodmare-"
A smack resounded down the alley and Harry only just kept himself from drawing his wand. Evanna's head had snapped back, and Harry was fairly sure he saw a cut on her cheek from where not-Lucius's ring had connected with the soft flesh.
"Learn. Your. Place," not-Lucius hissed. "Or I will put you there."
A twist on the heel, and not-Lucius was gone. Evanna stood very still for a moment, taking several deep breaths as she seemed to regather herself. Harry could not help but remember her exile to the Chamber of Secrets last year, when she had been so scared of what Lucius would do because of their picture in the paper. Harry was about to step out of his hiding place, when he heard Hermione behind him. He pulled away from the alley quickly before Evanna could turn and see him there.
"Harry-I'm sorry, I know I should have warned you about it before, I just think it's so important that you get the truth out there-"
"I get it, Hermione," he said.
"There's still some time left before we have to get back to the castle-perhaps you and Cho-"
"I don't think that's going to happen," Harry said flatly. The Ravenclaw Seeker had been less than pleased when Hermione showed up to their date.
"I knew I was probably second place to the Malfoy girl," she had said, throwing her napkin down, "but third place to Granger too? Don't bother me again, Potter!"
"Shall we head on to the castle then?" Hermione said, still looking a bit nervous. Just as she said it, Evanna had come out from the alley, not ten feet away from Harry and Hermione. Hermione gave a little gasp at the cut on Evanna's cheek. Harry looked steadfastly at his shoes.
She's Voldemort's daughter, he reminded himself. You have to stay away from her.
But she's your friend. Has been your friend for years.
It's too dangerous for both of us-especially if she knows how I feel.
Look at her face-hell, look in the mirror. You're both in danger no matter what.
"Malfoy!" Hermione exclaimed. "Are you alright? Do you need-"
"I'm fine, Granger," she said quietly, her voice barely above a shaky whisper.
"But-your face-"
"I said I'm fine, Granger," she repeated, a little more edge to her voice. "I thought you were on a date with some Ravenclaw?"
It took Harry a moment to realize that had been directed at him and not Hermione. He looked up at Evanna and realized there was something colder in her eyes than he had seen before. Her face was tinged pink from the cold air around them, and her cheek was starting to bruise from the blow not-Lucius had struck. But her mouth was set in a hard line that had Harry thinking of Professor McGonagall last time Gryffindor had had a party late into the night.
"How did you know about that?"
"Madam Puddifoot's is hardly suitable for a secret romance, if that's what you're going for, Potter," Evanna said, voice like the Ice Princess the other Gryffindors gossiped about. "See you, Granger."
Harry could not take his eyes off her as she turned toward the castle, short curls bouncing with each step. It took several moments before he realized that Hermione was saying his name.
"Harry," she snapped, waving in front of his face. He blinked and looked at her.
"What?" he said.
Hermione looked nervous, biting her lip. "Why didn't you say anything about her? During the interview, I mean. She was there."
"It wasn't necessary," he said.
"Much as I hate to admit it, Harry, Skeeter was right," Hermione persisted as Harry shoved his hands into the pockets of his coat, making his way up the hill back to Hogwarts. "Hogwarts students saw her with you that night and a lot of them have questions as to why she wasn't mentioned. If they said anything about that to their parents, then that delegitimizes the Ministry and the Pro-"
"Did you just see her face, Hermione?" he snapped, whirling on his friend. "I don't think Evanna needs any press hounding her."
"I'm worried about you, Harry. She-"
"I've heard your rants about her before."
Hermione turned red. "I don't really think she's as bad as I used to. But-Harry-the way she acts-and the way you act-does she care for you the way you care about her?"
Harry flushed. "I-I don't-"
"Oh, come on, Harry," Hermione said, rolling her eyes. "I'm not even sure why you asked poor Cho out-you're head over heels for Evanna Malfoy!"
"Well, as you said, she hardly thinks the same of me!" Harry shot back.
"So then why not tell Rita Skeeter she was there?" Hermione challenged. "You heard her-it was probably her father who covered it up in the first place and you yourself said he is dead-"
Harry flinched, remembering when Evanna was Lucius Malfoy's daughter, still dangerous, still forbidden, but ultimately the risks did not matter because he knew she was on his side. Everything had changed when she told him who her father really was. The way she had talked about Voldemort saving her-the Dark Lord had made sure that his daughter would be loyal to him, that much Harry knew.
But she still taught you how to fight, even when she knew Voldemort was her father, voice in the back of his head reminded him. So maybe she isn't so loyal to him.
He told that voice to shut up.
"Harry?" Hermione asked.
Harry looked at his friend again, doing his best to hide the betrayal and sadness and even fear that had been swirling inside him since Evanna had told him who she was. It didn't work, because Hermione looked even more worried.
"I don't think that means she's safe, Hermione. None of us are," he said. "It's a real war happening out there."
Ginny POV
"Do you think they realized?" she asked as soon as she ducked into the abandoned classroom the day after the Hogsmeade visit.
"It doesn't look like I've been hexed, does it?" Draco Malfoy drawled as he leaned against the dusty desk. Ginny smiled as he pulled out the Juliet quill he had bought in the village. It was enchanted so that she could write on her own parchment and it would show up in Draco's journal
"You know that was way too expensive," she said.
"And it was an entirely selfish purchase," he quipped, taking her hand and kissing it lightly, like a gentleman in one of the absurd romance novels Evanna liked to read. Ginny had always found those stories over the top and utterly girlish, but she could not quite stop the blush rising to her cheeks.
Draco noticed that and smirked. She smacked his arm lightly.
"Are you going to slap me every time I kiss you?"
Ginny had stormed away after smacking him outside of Dumbledore's office that day, immediately going to the Castle Centre to rant and rave about the audaciousness of stuck up, pratty Slytherin boys who had no business kissing Gryffindor girls whose family they made fun of. After ranting long enough to Bridget, Evanna, and Luna, she had left to commiserate more with her fellow Gryffindors, only to find the Slytherin she had complained about waiting for her in the corridor leading to the Fat Lady's portrait with a box of chocolates and some conjured flowers.
"What is this, Malfoy?" she had demanded.
"I am truly sorry about the things I've said about your family, Ginny," he had told her, handing her the gifts. "I really like you-and-and I appreciate you helping me with Dumbledore. And I was hoping maybe you felt the same way."
Ginny had blushed, cursing herself for it. "Why should I believe you?"
"Do you really think I would embarrass myself by apologizing if I wasn't being serious?"
Ginny scoffed and put up her fingers in a gesture the twins hd taught her, making her way on to the Common Room.
"Wait-Ginny-"
He grabbed her wrist.
"Let go of me, Malfoy," she said.
"Play me for it."
"What?"
"Quidditch. If you win, I'll leave you alone," he said. "But, if I win, you accept my apology and let me kiss you again."
He had won. Though Ginny would deny it to her dying day, she had let him.
"Only when you irritate me, Malfoy," she said playfully, kissing his cheek. "Have you met with Dumbledore again?"
He seemed to pale, pulling away from her. "Yes. He still wants me to spy on… on the heir. I've told him some things I know but… He seems to think what I've shared is not 'significant proof' of my allegiance."
Ginny felt sick to her stomach. She had always thought of the Headmaster as a protector of the innocent, but to force his student to spy on someone as dangerous as the heir of the Dark Lord was sure to be.
"It isn't right," she said. "What he's expecting-I mean, if you've already told him what you know."
Draco was looking away from her, lips pursed together. Ginny nervously reached out a hand and was almost relieved when he took it without protest.
"Who is she anyway? Does she go to Hogwarts-I mean she would have to in order for you to spy on her," Ginny said.
Draco was silent, a faraway look in his eyes. "I don't think it's really-"
"It's not Parkinson is it?" she said, the thought coming to her in a sudden horrible moment. "I mean, Dumbledore said you were the closest to her-and you did take her to the Yule Ball-and oh Merlin am I stupid-"
She was cut off by Draco laughing. "No, no, Weasl-ette, the last person you need to worry about is Parkinson-as the heir of the Dark Lord or as my date."
"No need to laugh so hard about it,"she said petulantly. "I'm just worried for you-how dangerous is this girl? I mean, she's a teenager-Dumbledore said!"
Draco sighed. "She's dangerous enough that talking about her is not a good idea."
"But we're in a warded classroom-"
"E-The heir has ways of knowing things she shouldn't," he said. "How she does it, I don't know. But she's done things that most wizards don't think is possible."
"And Dumbledore allows her to continue at Hogwarts? Isn't that dangerous for everyone?"
"Our fearless leader of the light," Draco muttered sarcastically. Ginny shifted uncomfortably. "Can you please-just trust on this? The heir is dangerous. The more I talk about her-have to be around her-the more I can't help but think she will know what's going on and tell the Dark Lord."
"Not even You-Know-Who can tell that someone is talking about him. How could a teenager?"
Draco blinked and looked so hopeless that Ginny wanted nothing more than to hold him until that look disappeared. The feeling was so intense that it scared her.
"I don't know," he said. "And that's the scariest part."
A/N: To my guest reviewer-I plan to finish Bailey's story one day, but I have gotten on a really good roll on Evanna's story and do not currently have the juice to post in a somewhat regular fashion for both stories. I appreciate the reviews though!