A/N: Here's chapter 13…

Chapter 13: Alone Again

"Ginger!"

I whirled around. Harry was hot on my trail. I stopped and smiled at the boy.

"Oy, Harry! What's up?" I leaned back against the railing.

"Ginger," he panted. Harry took a minute to catch his breath. "Wood wanted me to give you a message."

"What is it, then, so I can get to Potions?"

Harry turned bright red. "Well, um, he said that he'd be busy practicing for a while, but wanted to see you tonight."

"Is that it!" I screamed huffily.

"Well, uh, no…but I'd feel wrong about giving you the next bit." Harry shuffled his feet.

"Out with it, Potter!"

Harry grabbed me and kissed me quickly. "He said there's more where that came from." Then he ran down the hallway.

"Should I be telling Wood, Bensington?" an oily voice bellowed behind me.

"Hello, Marcus." I turned towards him. "Actually, if you must know, Harry was just relaying a message from Oliver to me. Excuse me." I pushed past him.

"Sure he was. And I'm St. Nick." Marcus smiled.

I turned to him and put my most innocent look on my face. "Santa, can I have a doll house for Christmas? Pretty please! I've been so good this year, honest!"

"Ha, ha, ha. Quite witty." Marcus rolled his eyes. "So, things are great in paradise, then?"

The two of us were heading toward the dungeons. I shook my head in frustration…I wished Marcus would just disappear.

"Just peachy, Marcus." I glanced at him. "Don't you have someone else to annoy?"

"Not at this precise moment," he muttered. He stopped me and stared right into my eyes. "How have you been sleeping?"

I wrinkled my brows in curiosity. "Why do you care, exactly?"

"Just wondering. Well?" He looked into my eyes.

"A little roughly, but all in all, well." I pulled away.

"Ginger!" He grabbed me and pulled me into the shadows.

"What is your problem!" I yanked my arm away.

"I know what you've been dreaming about…He's coming for you soon." Marcus looked at me sorrowfully.

"What…how…What are you playing at?" I looked at him terrified.

"You know very well what I'm saying." Marcus looked up and down the hallway behind us. "He knows about Wood…and Cho…and how close you are to Potter. He's furious."

I looked at Marcus suspiciously. "How do you know?"

Marcus sighed. "Because…because I told him." He looked at his feet.

I gasped. "You sold me to Voldemort?"

Marcus winced. "Don't say his name!" He looked back into my eyes. "I had to. My dad's a Death-eater. It's expected of me. I'm really sorry."

"So does Voldemort know you're playing double agent?" I asked hotly.

"I'm not playing double agent. I just thought I'd warn you." He ran a hand through his greasy hair. "You're my only true friend here, Ginger. I'm sorry."

I slapped Marcus across the face. "Not as sorry as I am for trusting a git like you!" I stormed out of the darkness and back toward the Great Hall.

"Where are you going? You have Potions!" Marcus was tailing me.

"I'm not in the mood for Snape and you at the same time. I'm going to my room."

"You can't just skip! You've got to act like nothing is going on!" Marcus grabbed my wrist and hurled me against a wall. "If you make a scene, then all your friends will find out the truth."

"If they know the truth, then they'll be better prepared when HE shows up!" I spat.

"True, but do you think they'll believe you? When you tell them who warned you, they'll probably think I was just pulling your leg." Marcus grinned sadly.

"What do you propose I do then?" I glared at him.

"Well, stop talking to them. Hurt them, like you started to do to Wood. Say you're hanging out with Draco and me. That'll keep them away."

"You'd enjoy that, wouldn't you?"

"Slightly, but it would protect your friends."

"Fine, I'll do it your way." I pushed him off of me. "But if you sell me any further to the Dark Lord, and I swear I'll kill you myself." He held his hands up in surrender. "Fair enough." I stormed out to the Quidditch pitch, where I knew Wood would be. I didn't know how I could make this work; he knew about Voldemort. I felt tears well up in my eyes. I stopped outside the entrance to the enclosure and took a few calming breaths. Then I entered. The entire Gryffindor Quidditch team was there. My nerves were strung tightly; I hadn't wanted to break Wood's heart in front of all of them…but, what could I do? "Wood! I need to talk to you!" I bellowed to the Keeper. "Alright, in a minute," he replied, blocking a pass made by Katie. "No, now!" "Don't get your knickers in a twist; I'm coming." He looked at his teammates. "Take five, everyone." He flew down and touched the ground next to me. "Hey, lover. How are you?" He leaned over to kiss me. "Don't! What I have to say will make you reconsider the title you just gave me." I kept my voice even and stiff. "Are you alright, Ginger? Do you need to see Madam Pomfrey?" Oliver looked at me, concerned. "I'm fine, Mr. Wood. I just came to tell you that I can't see you anymore." I was surprisingly calm, considering how much I wanted to cry. "What! You're joking, right?" Oliver laughed. "I am not. I've decided that our relationship is too physical, that I was only using you, and I'm sick of it. I've decided I do not require a fake boyfriend and am instead going to stay single, while hanging out with completely new people." Oliver's handsome face clouded over. "And who, pray tell, are these new people, Miss Bensington?" "Marcus Flint, Draco Malfoy, and their friends." I tried not to cry. "Flint, Malfoy, and company! They are the worst gits in school!" Oliver looked deep into my eyes. "Why are you acting like this? I know something's wrong; tell me." I glared at him. "Nothing is wrong. I'm just choosing to try a new life…without you." I turned and stomped out of the pitch. Oliver yelled after me, cursing and pleading. I think I heard him begin to sob. I was approaching the castle when I heard someone clapping sarcastically. I took a deep breath and faced my tormentor. "Yes, Marcus?" "That was brilliant. You are quite an actress." Marcus looked at me appreciatively. "I don't care what you think; the only 'hanging out' we will be doing will be for appearances. I refuse to be your friend any longer." I whirled back around to face the castle. "Whatever you wish, milady." Marcus chuckled. I started up the main staircase, heading for my dorm room. I felt dreadful. As soon as I reached my room, I collapsed onto my bed. The tears I'd been fighting since I'd seen the hurt in Oliver's eyes finally forced their way out. I sobbed myself to sleep, then dreamed about how Oliver wouldn't even mourn me when I died, simply because I'd made him hate me, just to protect him. A/N: That was kinda sad. I'm so mean. Poor Oliver! More later. Nelli