(CoS) CHAPTER SEVENTEEN: Truth and Trust

The next few days were tense, to say the least. Dean gave Ellie such a cold shoulder, she felt like she might get frostbite, and the grave announcement Dumbledore made to the school about Colin Creevey had everyone on high alert. The twins joined Ellie in the library to research both Sirius and the previous Chamber of Secrets opening, but they had no luck. Worst of all, though, Ginny was acting strangely again.

"I'm fine, Ellie," Ginny said dismissively when Ellie approached her after dinner a few nights after the game. "I see that look on your face, but I'm alright, really."

But Ellie wasn't convinced. Ginny had barely said a word to any of them since the game, and while Ellie hadn't caught her in another frightening stupor, she was still highly concerned. "Ginny, you're not… socializing like you usually do."

Ginny rolled her eyes. "Just because I haven't dated half the school already like you doesn't mean I'm antisocial, Ellie."

Ellie froze at that, feeling like she'd just been punched in the gut.

"Okay," conceded Ginny, coming to a stop next to her. "That was too far. I'm sorry."

It was too hard to remain angry without understanding what was going on with Ginny. "I just don't understand what's going on with you, Gin. You know how much I care about you, right? How much your brothers care about you?"

"I know—I know." Ginny seemed to contemplate sharing something, then decide against it. "How about some band practice? The Halloween show went great; we should try and keep the momentum going."

Ellie suspected that her friend was just using the band as an excuse to avoid talking about whatever was really going on, but at least if Ginny was practicing with them, she wasn't alone. So, reluctantly, Ellie nodded and opened up her locket to wrangle up the twins.


"She seems okay to me," Fred said that night when practice was over and it was just the two of them in the common room, munching on subs, like old times. "You sure you aren't imagining things?"

Ellie thought of the way Ginny had snapped at her. Just because I haven't dated half the school already like you doesn't mean I'm antisocial. Ginny never would have said something so harsh in her right mind, would she?

But it was too humiliating to share with Fred, so she said reluctantly, "Yeah—maybe."

"So, how's the Polyjuice Potion of Hermione's coming along?" he asked her. She had filled him and George in on the plan, and they both agreed it would be a smart way to find out whether or not Draco was involved in the business with the Chamber.

"Good, I think. She's brewing it in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom, which is pretty much the safest place in the school."

Fred looked confused. "Do I want to know why?"

"It's a girl thing." She grinned slightly, but her grin faded as she thought back to the new question of why Dumbledore had used the word again in reference to the Chamber being opened. "I can't believe we haven't been able to find anything about the Chamber in the library."

"Or about your dad," agreed Fred, frowning. "Have you considered sneaking into the restricted section?"

She actually hadn't considered that option, though now she felt rather foolish that she hadn't. "That's not a bad idea, actually. Do you think I could sneak in there in my dog form?"

"Maybe, but you can't really use the Map when you're in your dog form. D'you reckon Harry might let you borrow the cloak? Then we could go together."

She bit her lip, considering. "Maybe, but he'd want to know why. If I told him it was about the Chamber, he'd want to come with us. And if I told him it was about my dad…"

"No," he said surprisingly firmly. "Don't tell him that."

She frowned. "I don't like lying to him, Fred. He shares everything with me."

"You're not lying to him. You're… omitting things."

She gave him a sarcastic look.

"Look, it's not Harry I'm worried about—not really. But you tell him, you know that means you're as good as telling Ron and Hermione, too. Then you've got five people knowing you're the daughter of one of the most dangerous men around."

"Allegedly," she couldn't help but say.

This time, he shot her a look. "Fine—allegedly. Still… I'd be worried for you, El. Even if none of them judged you for it, other people would. And what about Black's family? The Blacks are all but extinct now from what I've heard, but they had blood ties to a ton of other powerful, pureblood families—including the Malfoys."

"Hang on." Ellie sat up a little straighter at that. "How do you know all this?"

"The pureblood families all sort of know each other. It's why Ollivander was so quick to say Bretherworth wasn't a real pureblood name."

"Then why didn't you question me when you heard it?"

"Because I'm no expert, and I mistakenly took Mum and Dad's word as law." He shrugged. "Point is, it doesn't seem to be common knowledge that Sirius Black had a daughter—and it certainly isn't common knowledge that you're his daughter. If that were to change, people could… well, they could try to hurt you."

"People?" she repeated. "Who—the Malfoys? Non-convicted Death Eaters? But isn't Sirius supposed to have been on their side, according to them?"

"Not according to You Know Who, though, remember? It's possible that they know more to the story than anyone on our side does." He ran a hand through his hair, looking frustrated. "Just… keep it to me and George. For now. Okay?"

She had no choice but to agree, she mused; he was clearly pushing this so hard for the sake of her safety. So, reluctantly, she nodded.


"Borrow my cloak?" Harry asked her the next day when she approached him about it after breakfast on the way back to the common room. "For what?"

She might have promised Fred she wouldn't tell Harry the truth, but she wasn't going to lie to him, either. "Look, Harry, I hate to say this, but I can't tell you. Not yet, anyway. I just… really need it."

He contemplated her for a moment, looking surprisingly more understanding than she herself would have been if their roles were reversed. Finally, he asked, "Is it dangerous?"

"No," she said quickly. "Not dangerous. Just… secret."

He held her gaze for another second, then asked, "You'll bring Fred, though?'"

A pang of guilt hit her at that question. Now that he had asked the question, she couldn't lie. But wouldn't it hurt him to know that she trusted Fred over him?

"It's okay, Ellie," he said when he saw her expression. He actually laughed. "I get what Fred means to you. I just hope that one day you'll find a way to trust me as much as you trust him."

And with that, he headed upstairs to fetch his cloak for her.


That Harry is quite a gem, isn't he? Then again, Fred is obviously my choice gem of the lot... Stay tuned to see how the visit to the restricted section goes, and don't forget to leave a review to show your support!