Time jump:

Arriving back at Hogwarts, we were herded into the dining room. Taking our seats at the Gryffindor table, I peered around. In doing so, I noticed all eyes were turned to us. I wasn't sure if they were staring at Harry or me. Either way, it was starting to get creepy. I subconsciously lowered my sleeve, making sure none of it was visible.

Spotting Ian over at the Slytherin's table, I quickly turned away. I knew he was still hurt and I knew I needed to speak with him, but something deep down was telling me not to. That it was a bad idea. Ever since our last talk, I felt something off. Almost as if I was speaking to someone completely different.

Getting a nudge on the ribs by Hermione, I turned to her, mouthing 'what?'. She jerked her head towards the professor's table. Looking over, I saw what she meant. Snape sat between Hagrid and Remus; his eyes locked on me. It hurt having to glance away from him. I glanced over at Remus, who offered me a slight smile. Giving him a nod, I concentrated on my food and friends. Listening in on some of the conversations, it took all my self-control not to lash out. Several spoke of Harry, dubbing him a liar and whatnot. Others talked of me. Many questions were similar. 'Is she really a follower? Does she really have the mark? Didn't she just get married?' I swear they knew nothing, but gossip. If only they paid attention to what really mattered.

I had decided to call it a night after dinner, the looks and whispers were surprisingly getting to me. Hermione had offered to come with me, but see in her full plate I declined the offer.

As I was walking down the corridor, I was suddenly pulled into another hallway by the arm. "What the Fu-" The person promptly placed their hand over my mouth. Tilting my head to the side, I rolled my eyes at recognizing Ian. Yanking his hand away from my mouth, I whirled around to face him. "You couldn't just come up to me like a normal person?"

Ian raised a brow. "And risk being seen talking to you?" He stated that in the most obvious of tones. "But, I still wanted to check up on you. See how you were doing?"

"Seriously? That's a weird and rude way of checking up on someone." Hearing footsteps passing by, we both ceased talking. Two Hufflepuffs made their way down, murmuring something about Harry. "I am convinced no one has anything better to do than to gossip."

"Well, it's pretty sketchy." Ian said.

I glared back at him. "What's that supposed to mean?"

I am shrugged, taking a step back. "I am just saying it's a little off for me. I mean he claims the dark lord is back. But none of us have seen him."

"I am not about to get into this with you." Ian still didn't know just how far I would go to defend my family.

"Alright, fair enough." Taking a step closer to me, he placed a hand on the wall. My back was up against the wall with no way out. "Then let's talk about you and me."

"You and me? There is no you and me." This boy has officially lost his mind. "There has never been you and me."

Ian laughed, pushing a string of hair behind my ear. What used to give me chills of enthusiasm, have changed to repugnance. "Really, Because that kiss we had told me otherwise."

"What kiss?" I scoffed. "The one before or after the next girl you kissed?"

Ian dropped his head with a sigh. "Can you not let that go? I told you once and I will tell you again. That kiss meant nothing." Cupping my jaw, he tilted my head towards him. "I have only cared for yours."

Seeing him lean in closer I panicked raising my ringed hand between us. Breathing a sigh of relief, as he stepped away. "I don't know what sort of person you think I am, but I am married now. Do you know what that means? That I am with someone. And I am only ever going to be with him."

"So what? It wasn't like you asked to marry him." Ian argued, shoving my hand away. "It was a contract made by you and his parents. It's not like you're in love with the man."

He couldn't have been more wrong. "My feelings are none of your concern Ian. What goes on in my life is none of your concern. Like I told you last time, if you can't accept just a friendship between us, then we should leave it as it is."

That moment, he clutched the back of my head and slammed his lips over mine. It took me a good second to comprehend what he was doing. Reacting out of pure instinct, I grabbed him by the shoulders, kneeing him in the jewels. Ian let out a howl, tumbling to the ground with sobs. Leaving him there, I turned to leave only to bump into one of the teachers.

'Bloody hell, I just can't catch a break!'

We were both hauled to Dumbledore's office. Why? I don't know. I should be going to McGonagall and Ian should be going to Snape. So why here? Who the hell knows. Standing in front of the headmaster, I kept my eyes downward. I really didn't want to illustrate why I had to knee Ian.

"Who would like to begin?" Professor Dumbledore asked.

"Professor, it wasn't anything, but a fight between friends." I replied. "We had an argument and things got out of hand."

"That's correct, Professor." Ian winced, trying not to shift.

Dumbledore nodded slowly, leaning back into his chair. "For some reason, I don't believe that." He turned to me. "Those are not the actions of a disagreement between friends." He turned back to Ian. "I like to believe I know Athena well. Only times she has reacted in such ways is when provoked." He leaned back, his fingers locked together in front of him. "Now, let's try again. What happened?"

To my astonishment, Ian stepped up. "It was my fault headmaster."

"What did you do?" Snape's tone came out menacingly.

Ian visibly shuddered at hearing Snape speak. "I kissed her by force."

"You did what?!"

I jumped at not only hearing Snape shout but Sirius as well. Turning around, I noticed a fuming husband standing in the back. When the hell did he get here? Seeing the way he eyed Ian, I rapidly hurried to stand in front of him. Placing my hand on his chest, I held him back. His heart was battering against his chest in a rapid motion. I could both hear and feel the growls rumbling out of his chest. I needed to calm him down, promptly. One we were at school, two Ian was still a student, though he wasn't underage anymore.

"Calm yourself dog." Snape snapped.

"Go f-"

"Sirius!" Both I and Dumbledore interrupted him.

Dumbledore sighed, waving a hand towards Ian. "Mr. Gilbert retreat to your dorm. Severus will select your punishment later."

"Yes, Headmaster." He turned towards me to say something, but after one look at Sirius, he was fleeing the door.

Sirius kept his gaze fixated on the door, almost as if desiring he would walk back in. "Did he do anything else?"

It took me a second to realize he was talking to me. "No." Pulling his gaze to me, I smirked at him. "The moment he did, I kneed him."

"Kneed?" Sirius frowned. Following my eyes down below his waist, he cackled. "Guess you didn't need in after all."

"No, but I do." Professor Dumbledore said. "Athena, you can go about your night."

"Good night Professor." Tugging Sirius into a hug, I kissed him on the cheek. "See you soon?"

"Of course."

Sharing a look with Snape, I left the office. To my surprise, I bumped into Harry, Ron, and Hermione waiting in the corridor. "What are you three doing here?"

"Dean saw you and Ian Gilbert being taken into Dumbledore's office." Harry explained.

Hermione jumped forward, scanning me thoroughly. "He also said Ian seemed to have been in pain. Are you hurt? Did he hurt you? Do I have to hurt him? Or should I get Sirius to do it?"

"No, Hermione I am fine." Grabbing her hands to stop the probing, I motioned for us to walk. "Ian pulled me to the side to talk. He tried to kiss me. I kicked him in the jewels. A teacher saw me do it. And you know the rest."

"He kissed you?!" Hermione gasped. "The nerve of that bastard! I suppose he is getting in trouble."

I nodded. "Snape will be assigning one later tonight, but something else is happening."

"What do you mean?" Harry asked.

"Sirius is here. He is inside with Snape, McGonagall, and Dumbledore." I explained.

Harry glanced at Ron sharing a look of understanding. "That must be why Remus left in a hurry a while ago."

"You think they are going to go after Voldemort?" Hermione whispered.

I shrugged, walking into the common room. "I don't know. I will try and see if Sirius will tell me anything." Glancing up, I froze at detecting all eyes on me. 'Bloody hell.' Not wanting to deal with anyone, I stride over to the couch. Hermione and the others followed, sitting in front of the fireplace. "Now I can truly say, I know how it feels Harry."

Harry chuckled. "You'll get used to it."

"Any word on getting it removed?" Ron asked.

I shook my head. Tugging at my sleeve, I placed my hand over the spot laid. "Snape told me that, the call was coming. To fight it."

"What's that suppose to mean?" Ron scoffed.

Harry stared at my arm, almost as if he could see through the robe. "It means something is coming."

I took in an unsteady breath. "We need to get the training going. Pick up the pace."

Facing towards the fireplace I noticed the fire was put out. Snatching the newspaper from the table, I threw it in, just to give it some life at first. Pulling out my wand I lighted the fire up once more. The newborn flames licked the newspaper in the grate like a hungry kitten. They flickered and lapped at the kindling wood. They danced orange and yellow with their smoke that twisted in the draft toward the chimney. In minutes they grew ravenous, hungrily devouring everything in the grate. I placed a larger log into their seductive clutches and watched, hypnotized by their dance; a fiery, frenzied consumption that sent up sparks and ash. The yellow flames flickered and danced with no thought of the oxygen or the fuel they consumed. They had no appreciation of what had been given to them and no concern for what would be left after. It got me thinking, If Harry was right, it wasn't going to be pretty. The battle would be much like this fire. It will consume all and everything, with no remorse. If they were the fire, we were the water. Ready to stop the flames before it scorches everything we love into ashes.

"So it's true?"

I was yanked away from my reflections, to a group of gawking girls. "Is what true?"

The tallest one raised a finger-pointing it at my arm. "You are one of his followers."

Looking down at my arm, I mentally cursed myself. In being so close to the flames, I had pulled my sleeves up automatically. "No, I am not." Rolling them back down, I glared up at them. "This was forced onto me."

"Yeah sure." A first-year scoffed. "Why would he want you of all in his troops?"

"I am n-"

"Athena has no reason in explaining anything to any of you." Harry snapped. "Those that know her just as well as we do trust her. The rest of you can-"

"Piss off." Hermione jumped in.

Ron stood up next, moving to stand beside Harry. "Anyone who has a problem with that can take it up with us." A few stood their ground, before seeing the others stand with us.

"What's going on here?" We all turned to see the head boy standing at the door.

George grinned, draping his arm around the boy's shoulder. "Nothing dear brother, we were just about getting ready for bed. Isn't that right lads?"

To avoid any punishment everyone started heading back up to their rooms. Leaving only Harry, Hermione Ron, and myself. Slumping onto the couch, I puffed out. We knew this was going to happen, in was just hoping for a little more time. They didn't want to admit it, but they were scared. And I didn't blame them, things were changing and not for the better.

"You alright?" Hermione took a seat beside me, taking my hand in hers.

"Yeah."

"I promise Albus." Sirius infiltrated the room, startling us. "I will be on my best behavior." Shutting the door behind him, he turned to us with a grin. "That wizard still assumes I am the ruckus I was back then."

"Sirius!" Harry sprinted to him, pulling him into a hug. "What are you doing here?"

"I had some things to run with the order." Sirius replied. "I figured I would stop by and see you all." His eyes landed on me, slightly frowning. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing, tired I suppose."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "The rest of Gryffindor saw the mark." Dodging the pillow I threw at her head, she continued to open her big mouth. "We had a small showdown, between them and us."

Sirius sighed, walking over to me and taking a seat. "Let me see it." Grabbing my arm, he pulled back the sleeve. "Before you know it, it will be long gone."

"I know." Leaning my head on his shoulder, I inhaled his scent. "You staying for a while?"

Sirius nodded. "I can if you all don't mind?" All three were quick to respond with not at all. Harry day on the opposite of Sirius, while Hermione and Ron sat across from us. "You know, on our last day here Remus, James, and I stayed up all night right here."

"What did you do?" Harry asked.

"Nothing, we just talked." Sirius said. "We talked about the things we wanted to do after Hogwarts. I couldn't return home, so I mostly worked odd jobs. Stayed with the Potter's until I was able to afford a place of my own. James had one thing on his mind at the time."

Harry's eyes were lit up at hearing about his father. "What was it?"

"Asking Lilly to marry him." Sirius laughed. "She had that man wrapped around her finger. Now as kids we were a handful. Constantly getting into mischief. James's favorite thing to do was bugging your mother. How he won her over is still beyond me."

"So you three were a disaster?" Hermione snickered.

"Well, no-" Sirius paused for a moment, nodding to himself as of just concluding. "Yes. We were a disaster. Although Remus was the worse out of the three."

"What about Scabbles?" Ron asked.

Sirius gave him a confused look. "Who?"

"Wormtail." I know that came out as a whisper. I was snuggled into his side, allowing his warmth to blanket me.

"Back then he was a very different person." Sirius said. "He reminded me a lot of you, Ron. I don't know when he became so..."

"Different." Harry said.

I could sense the drastic change of mood. So, I figured it was time for a change of subject. "What about you?"

Sirius glanced down at me, knitting his brows together. "What about me?"

"Any stories to tell?" I asked. "Any sore ex-girlfriends I need to be on the lookout for?"

"No." Sirius laughed. "As for stories I have a few, but..." He pulled out his pocket watch, glancing at the time. "It is past midnight, you all should be asleep."

"Come on Sirius." Harry groaned. "Just tell us one."

"Alright, but it's going to be a quick one. I rather not get yelled at by Albus, all these years and he still frightens me." Sirius scoffed. "This was around our third year. James wanted to get back at some fourth year that had.."

Slowly closing my eyes, I fell asleep to the sound of him. His voice fading away. But instead of finding peace, it was replaced. A hissing sound echoed through my head. Hearing a quiet 'Come' in my head. The hissing sound became louder, almost deafening at a certain point. I could feel something building up inside me, slithering up to my head and down my spine. The harder I tried to ignore it, the tighter it felt on my spine. And at that moment I was startled awake by what felt like a bite.

Sirius was quick to grab ahold of me, stopping me from falling to the floor. "Hey, hey, what's wrong?"

My hands were gripping his arms, as I took in deep breaths. "I-I don't know." Closing my eyes, I tried to focus on what I had felt earlier. "I don't know."

Sirius grabbed my chin, tilting my head to the side. "How long has this been going on?"

"What?"

"The veins on your neck." Sirius growled. "Ron grab me a glass of water. Harry, I need you to bring Severus."

"No!" I snapped. "I don't want him here."

Sirius pulled my face toward him, gazing into my eyes. "Severus knows more about this than I do darling. He needs to be here." Once he got a nod, he sent Harry off to search for Snape. "When did you first see these veins?"

"The day before the wedding. That was the only other time I had seen them." I refused to look at him, knowing very well he had a look of disapproval. "I figured it was just the mark."

"You should have told me, Athena." Sirius said.

"I know-" Glancing down at my arm, I frowned at the tingling sensation I got. "What the hell." Pulling the sleeves back, I noticed the movement. "It's freakin moving!" The hissing in my head came back, louder than before. It was calling me, ordering me to go to it. Shaking my head, I grabbed onto Sirius's arm. 'I am not going. Ignore it.'

'Foolish child! You can't ignore me! You will learn what happens to those that disobey!'

"Athena?"

"Oh god!" Pain sears through my arm better than a branding iron, my mind conceding to the torment, unable to bring a thought to completion. "Si-" The pain is increasing in waves, small lulls giving false hope of an end. Each peak robs my ability to speak, sending me crashing to the bare boards.

"Athena!" Sirius was quick to grab me, pulling me up into his arms. "I got you. I got you."

"Make it stop!" I screamed as another waved ran through my body. "Please make it stop!" Without knowing I was doing it, I curled my body into a fetal position. My arm tucked in between, all while the pain burned and radiated. I couldn't think, speak, or move. I didn't want to. The pain was unlike anything I had ever felt. "Sirius, please."

"I know it hurts love, but you need to push through it."

I shook my head, tears now falling freely. "I can't. I can't do it." The pain was deep within my arms burning, almost as if the humerus bone was smoldering. Closing my eyes for a moment I could hear a deep laugh in the back. 'Leave me alone!'

The hissing got closer. 'You belong to him.'

"Athena?" Sirius has managed to get me out of the fetal position, placing my head on his lap. "Can you hear me?"

"S-Sirius make it stop. Please." It's as though my blood has become acid, the intent of destroying me from the inside out. "It's burning me!" I began scratching at the mark, attempting to rip it off. "It's fucken burning me!"

"Hermione get me some ice!" Sirius ordered, grabbing ahold of my arms. "Calm down love. I'm right here."

"Athena?!" Snape rushed into the room, taking in the sight before him. Expending no time, he was by my side. "He's calling for them."

Sirius clenched his jaw, flinching at the scream. "Is there anything we can do? She's in pain Severus!" He grabbed the ice from Hermione, placing it over the mark. Within seconds the ice had melted. "She's burning up."

Snape stood back. "No, she has to push through it."

Third POV:

Harry stood to the side, holding a crying Hermione in his arms. Ron had stayed by the door after Snape walked in. They all felt helpless, useless at this moment. The girl he considered a sister was trashing on the couch in pain, and all he could do was stand there and watch. Hearing her raw scream once more, caused him to jump. Those screams were going to haunt him. Hermione held on to him tighter, her eyes never leaving Athena's body. Every jump, flinch or twitch, Hermione mimicked it.

Snape although held together on the outside, was a disaster on the inside. He couldn't bare to see her in such a state. Telling Sirius to let her push through it, he left the room. Steeping out into the stair room, he leaned his back against the wall. A few tears rolled down his face. He couldn't keep seeing her trash around. He couldn't hear her scream anymore. He was the one that caused this to her. In an effort to keep her safe, he brought pain and agony instead. Hearing her scream once more, he crouched down holding his head in his hands.

"Severus?"

He looked up at McGonagall, taking in a shaky breath. "I caused that. My daughter."

She kneeled in front of him, placing a hand on his shoulder. "No, he did. What you did, you did to keep her alive. Just remember that."

Sirius was losing his mind. He held her down, looking for any way to help her. Instead, all he could do was watch her. Glancing at her arm, he placed his hand over the mark. Unexpectedly she stopped thrashing around. She still whimpered and screamed, but it has tamed down.

'Come to us.' The snake hissed.

Athena was trapped in her mind. There was nothing around. It was pitch black, but she could deduce something was there. 'No.'

'You can defy us all you want, but in the end, you will come to us.'

'Never going to happen. I rather have you kill me right now!'

'Such a tempting suggestion.'

She could sense something moving around her feet. 'Then do it.'

'Ahh, but I have a great need from you.' There was no longer hissing, but the voice of Voldemort. 'Perhaps after I no longer need you, I shall release you of your burden.'

'Get this through that dead brain of yours. I. Will. Never. Follow. You.'

At that moment whatever was wrapped around her legs, prompted her to fall to the ground. Athena tried to get it off, but it was slowly constricting around her body cutting out her air supply.

'Athena.'

'Sirius?'

'I'm here love. I need you to push through this. Follow my voice.'

As hard she tried, the snake was stronger. 'I can't.'

'Don't let him win.'

She was exhausted.

'I love you.'

It all went into a blur. The moment he said he loved her, she felt around the ground until finding something. Stabbing the snake wherever she could, she felt her blood once more begin to flow through her body again. The pain leaving her body, just as quick as it had arrived.

'You will join me on your own, sooner or later.'

Athena laid on the ground, laughing. Why she was laughing? She didn't know. 'Yeah, I am sure I will.'

"Athena?"

Slowly opening her eyes, she found herself gazing into his welcoming ones. "Hey."

"Hello, love." Helping her sit up, he grabbed her chin tilting her head to the side. "The veins are gone. How are you feeling?"

"I'm alright. It left just as it came." She glanced over at her friends, seeing the worried looks. "I'm fine really."

"What happened?" Harry asked.

Athena shrugged. "I don't know. One moment I was hearing hissing. Then his voice, telling me to go to them. When I refused a snake wrapped around me, not letting me breathe." A slight shudder ran down her spine at simply remembering it.

"How did you escape?" Hermione asked. The poor girl was paler than the snow.

Athena held out her hand to her, pulling her into a hug. "I'm fine Hermione. Just the scare." Once she was sure, Hermione had calmed down, she continued. "I heard Sirius. Listening to your voice helped my withdrawal. To hold on and not give in."

Sirius kisses her on the head, holding her tightly. "You gave us quite a scare Athena."

"I'm sorry." Although she tried to remain awake, her eyes kept closing. "I'm tired."

"Let's get you into bed." Careful to drop her head, he picked her up bridal style. Taking her up to the room, he laid her into her bed. Making sure she was settled in fine, he looked up to see the group of girls staring at him in shock. Sighting Ginny, he gave a sheepish wave. "Ginny."

"Sirius, what happened to her?" She leaped out of bed, standing at her side. "We heard screams."

"She's fine. Do me a favor, watch over her." Sirius said. "I can't stay here."

"Of course."

"Thank you." Leaning down, he kissed her on the head. "Get some sleep love."

Ginny watched him until he had left the room. Taking his words to heart, she pulled up a chair and sat by her side. Anyone that tried to bug her was met by a bitchy witch.

Downstairs:

"Will she be alright after this?" Harry asked.

Sirius didn't know. He wasn't sure this wouldn't happen again. He knew there was a possibility it would. "We will just have to keep an eye on her." Catching a glimpse of the time, he nearly laughed. "You three better get to bed. It's well past three am. I will be taking my leave as well. Harry do keep me up to date on what is occurring with Umbridge."

"Of course."

"Alright, please notify Athena I will be checking in on her." Hugging Harry, he took his leave.

"Well, this was an eventful night." Ron sighed. "I am going to bed. Let me know if anything happens."

"Night Ron." Harry took a seat on the couch, running a hand through his hair. "You alright Hermione?"

"Yeah." She sat beside him, resting her head on his shoulder. "You?"

"Yeah."

"Harry?"

"Yes?"

"C-can you stay here with me? Only for a while?"

Lifting his arm over her head, he tugged her in closer to him. "Yeah."