Disclaimer : I am not JK Rowling... ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

TO UNDERSTAND

'Not used to the sight of mud blood are you?'

'It doesn't look brown to me…'

Chapter 12 – Mark my words

'Bleh?'

I woke up. I checked the time. I went back to sleep.

'Harry wake up!' hissed a voice and I rolled over again. 'Harry!'

'Whadoyawant?' I mumbled.

'Your hair!'

'Whachootalkinbout?'

'It's black.'

'Your point being…?'

'It's meant to be blonde.'

I opened my eyes to see a red-headed girl leaning over me.

'Hello… Lily…' I said happily and she scowled.

'Wake up!'

With a massive push she shoved me straight off the bed, covers and all.

'Ow!'

'Keep your voice down!' she hissed before grabbing my arm and leading me to the bathroom. She flicked on the light and I squinted through the glare.

'Look!' she said, pointing at the mirror.

'I need my glasses.' I said petulantly and she sighed before leaving the room grabbing them from my table and shoving them onto my nose. 'Now do you see?'

I stared at my reflection. My hair was a mess but big deal it was always a mess and now that Ginny had cropped it I resembled a toilet brush lathered in boot polish.

'What am I supposed to be seeing?' I said impatiently to the newly identified Ginny Weasley.

'We are supposed to be blonde!' she said in frustration. 'The sodding spell must wear off every night! If I hadn't needed the loo, we'd have both been found out!'

I stared back at the mirror. It was true. We could have been seriously in trouble just then… Us waking up looking completely different from what the Gryffindor girls thought we looked like would have been a pretty big mistake to make…

'We'll just have to keep redoing the spell every night.' I said simply.

'But what if it wears off in class!?!' said Ginny sounding slightly panicked.

'…We'll just have to say we said a spell wrong or something then set it right…'

I grabbed my wand.

'Crocinus.' I muttered and my head turned bright yellow.

'Um Harry I think that's a little too blonde…'

'You do it then!'

She tapped my head and it turned the same colour as yesterday but it still stuck up.

'Can't I keep it messy?' I pouted, as she raised her wand to straighten it. 'It always flops

in my face when it's straight…'

'Sorry Harry.' said Ginny, looking at me through the mirror. 'But we've got to keep up the same disguise…'

I sighed heavily. I guess she was right…

'Prolix.' she said briskly and the toilet brush look was no more.

'Thanks Ginny.' I said flatly.

'Cheer up Harry.' she said smiling. 'It's only for a while remember?'

I tried to smile back but optimism wasn't really filling me up.

What if we never got back? The spell had shown no sign of wearing off yet. What if we were stuck in the past forever! What if we have to wait 22 years to get back to the Burrow and try to fit back in…? We'd be 39 years old, the same age as Remus. Where as Ron and Hermione would still be 17.

'Yeah.' I said, staring guiltily at the floor. 'We'll be back before you know it.'

I picked up my ripped robes from the side of the bath and walked back into the girl's dorm. I pulled off the t-shirt and buttoned up my bloodied shirt, shoving my tie into my newly donned trouser pockets. Taking of my glasses I pulled out the box for my contacts.

'Come here.' said Ginny softly and I passed her the box. 'Lean back.'

She slid them in softly and I blinked rapidly.

'Thanks Gin.'

'No probs.'

I made the bed to the best of my ability and picked up the Marauder's Map from the draw I'd put it in.

All this trouble for one scrap of bloody parchment… I looked across to Ginny's bed to see her climbing back under her covers, her eyes shining at me through the gloom… It just might have been worth it.

I crossed the dorm in one movement and opened the door to the stairs, glancing back once more to see Lily Evans snoozing gently through a gap in her hangings… My Mum. I wrenched my gaze away before walking to the stairs and shutting the door as quietly as I could behind me. Placing a tentative toe on the first step the alarm didn't go off (thank Merlin). It must have been immobilized after whatever the Marauders did to it. I walked down slowly and took in the warm gloom of Gryffindor tower the smell of Quidditch, fire and perfume from the girl's dorms making my stomach twinge with longing.

It hadn't changed a bit. There were still 3 arm chairs and the huge comfy sofa; the same worm ridden notice board and… what looked like a toad croaking from under a table. God that brings back memories…

I hesitated before walking over to my favorite armchair and sinking into its depths. Bliss...

I glanced across at the sofa beside me and picked up the newspaper dropped upon it. Scanning the front cover, my face contracted.

WIZARDING WORLD SENT REELING IN LATEST MUGGLE MASSACRE!

'Merlin…'

There was a picture of a muggle street with bodies strewn across it emblazoned on the front page. I took in each empty pair of eyes, every pair of sprawled limbs and the glittering Dark Mark over head before beginning to read what was under it:

67 muggles die in latest attack from 'Lord Voldemort'

At 10:34 this evening wizarding men and women of unknown identity strode into the small village of St.Cearnon and murdered 67 muggle men, women and children. This small group led by the newly identified 'Lord Voldemort' left soon after the apparently motiveless killings were finished. The Minister of Magic comments:

'We at the Ministry are currently doing our best to catch and imprison the murderers of St.Cearnon. The wizarding people can rest assured that this incident will not be left unpunished. This so called 'Lord Voldemort' is a mindless psychopath and mark my words will be made to pay for what he has started. There have been rumors of The Ministry having lost control of this situation and I shall tell you now this is not true. This 'Lord Voldemort' has no power in our lives and is most definitely not a threat to our stable community. He and his 'Deatheaters' will be dealt with and that will be the end of it. Mark my words, this 'Lord Voldemort' character will come to nothing. Your Ministry assures you of that…'

Story continues pages 2, 3, 7 and 9

I felt the paper slip numbly from my fingers. Was that what Lucius had been so smug about at dinner? Was that what he was so happy about? The murder of 67 muggles in cold blood…? It's hard to believe… But then again if any could be happy about murder it would definitely be Lucius Malfoy…

I ran a hand through my hair and stood up. I needed to get out of Gryffindor tower. I strode across to the portrait hole, whipping out the Map and climbed out. It was a clear run.

'Teachers must have gone to bed.' I whispered into the dark.

I began to run, shivers dancing up my spine. 67 muggles murdered.I glanced at a portrait, lit up by my wand and let out a yelp. For a split second an image from the newspaper flashed up on the canvas, the dead eyes blank and staring. This 'Lord Voldemort' has no power in our lives. Bull shit, you don't know what's to come. He and his 'Deatheaters' will be dealt with and that will be the end of it. Butit's only the beginning… I closed my eyes and the Dark Mark flashed in my mind... It's only the beginning.

I ran into the entrance hall and deep into the Dungeons, pictures of bodies and masks still flashing in my mind. I spat the password and practically leapt into the common room, anything to get away from the bodies.

'Snape?!?' I hissed, looking across the room.

The teenage Severus was sunk into an armchair, a curtain of black shielding one eye and both arms flopped either side of the arms. I leant a bit closer to squint into his face to see no sign of any lines or his usual sneer. I guess it's never occurred to me that Snape actually does something as human as sleep… and if Snape was going to sleep he would do it hanging upside down from a cave, not crashed out in a cosy looking armchair by the fire…

I jumped as he let out a loud snore, blowing his hair off his face before letting it flop back down again. I breathed a sigh of relief, he was still sleeping… I picked up the Evening Prophet from beside him and realized what his owl had been delivering earlier… The same headline and picture flashed up at me and I dropped it. It's only the beginning.

'Threston?' he grunted and I moved away hurriedly.

'Hey.' I said, trying to appear casual as he rubbed sleep from his eyes.

'What are you doing?' he snapped

'Sitting, why?'

'…It is 6am in the morning.'

I glanced up at the clock on the mantel piece.

'I guess I hadn't noticed.'

'Have you seen the paper?'

I fell silent and he sat up, his hair sticking up behind his head.

'Well?' he snapped and he picked it up, shoving it in my face.

'Yeah I've seen it.' I said reluctantly, trying not to look at it.

'The Ministry is very defensive…' he said calculatingly

'Well 67 muggles have just been murdered on their watch! Of course they're going to be sodding defensive!'

He looked at me, his eyes black.

'Are you still bleeding?' he said bluntly.

'No.' I sighed. 'I got fixed…'

'By who?'

'….'

'Threston-'

There was a creak at the top of the stairs and we both span around.

'Good Morning children.' drawled Lucius, swaggering down the stairs. 'Have a nice sleep?'

'Perfect.' said Snape, still staring at me. Lucius straightened his green silk pajamas and sat down beside me, casually picking up the paper I'd dropped.

'ohh…..' he smiled, tutting loudly. '67 muggles die in latest attack…Why that is a tragedy…'

My fingers clenched as Lucius began to smirk.

'Don't you find it interesting Threston?' he asked me, pointing at the headline.

'Not interesting, just horrific.' I said stiffly and his smirk wavered. 'Why? Do you find it interesting?'

He sat back in his seat, lounging like a cat and curled his lip contentedly.

'Very interesting Threston.' he said, carefully. 'Especially the part the Minister says… However I'm sure he shall soon be eating his words…'

He laughed softly at his little joke but my chest went cold. Was Lucius already a deatheater? Like father like son?

'What do you think Snape?' Lucius asked suddenly but Snape didn't move.

'What do I think…?' he said eventually and his eye twitched.

'Lucius… Harry… Good morning.' murmured a voice behind us and Bellatrix Lestrange slunk over, in her emerald vest top and long satin trousers. She enveloped me in a thin hug from behind and I grimaced.

'Morning.' yawned Regalus, emerging from the boy's stairs looking extremely knackered and flopped down in the spare armchair. 'Any news?'

'A few deaths in the paper.' said Lucius, smirking at me. 'None of any importance…' Bellatrix seized the evening prophet and her smile vanished.

'67 Lucius?!?' she said in a slightly strangled voice.

'Yes.' he replied happily. 'More than I expected I know…'

He knew they were going to kill those people!?! Those men, those women… and the children…?

Bellatrix fell silent as she read the front cover before looking at Lucius with a shaky grin.

'That's- That's wonderful Lucius…' she said eventually and Regalus snatched it out of her hands looking down in horror.

'What's wrong Regalus?' Lucius asked, noticing his face. 'Not used to the sight of mud blood are you?

'It doesn't look brown to me…' he said quietly so only I could hear him.

'I'm going to get changed.' I said forcefully, unable to take in Lucius's smug grin any longer.

'You go Threston.' said Lucius as though he himself was dismissing me. 'But be down soon. I may pop open that bottle of Champagne Father sent me… This could do with a celebration…'

I span around swiftly but Snape stood up.

'I'll come with you.' he said firmly, grabbing my shoulders and pushing me back. 'Come Threston. I have a corkscrew in my trunk…'

He pushed me all the way back up the stairs, my face turning redder and redder.

'What did you do that for?' I spat as soon as we got to the dorms.

'Why?!?' he hissed, slamming the door behind him.

'Because you ought to realize by now from that practical confession that Lucius is an extremely dangerous man!'

'I don't care! Did you see him smiling for God's sake? That's psychotic!'

'Lucius is psychotic!'

'Well it's about time someone did something about it!'

'AND END UP JUST LIKE THOSE MUGGLES?!?'

I fell silent, staring at him. His face was red; his hair still on end and magic was sparking at the end of his wand.

'I thought you were smart Threston…' he whispered clearly. 'But you still never fail to amaze me by your blatant stupidity…'

I clenched my fist tightly.

'Look Snape if those people are happy about cold blooded murder then I'm going to stop-'

'You think you have the power to change things Threston!?!' he yelled and I froze.

'Is that why you're here?!? Is that why you came, to try and change them?!?'

'I….I…'

He smiled softly, chuckling under his breath. I stared at him blankly.

'You can't change anything Threston.' he spat, suddenly serious. 'Not Lucius, not anything. The world is how it is and there is nothing you can do about it…'

I looked at him blankly and part of what he was saying sank in. He won't change. He was supposed to be in the Order, be Dumbledore's trusted ally… He won't change, not one bit. Peter Pettigrew changed. He changed for the worse. People always seem to change for the worse.

'The only thing that's going to change is you Threston…' he said spitefully. 'You're going to become just like them! I've seen it all before… People start off with their own ideas but they are soon quashed and molded into what the new revolution wants them to be!'

'And what's that?' I said whispered shakily.

He looked me straight in the eyes. Green on black.

'Pureblood.'

Lucius burst into the dorm and Snape looked away.

'Time to get ready.' said Lucius briskly, pinning the front page to the wall beside him and smiling at it. My stomach felt sick.

60 minutes later I sat on my bed, clutching the strap to my bag. My wet hair dripped onto the clean shirt I'd wrenched from my trunk as the Marauders map burnt a hole in my trouser pocket. I thought I'd better keep it on me incase the marauders decided to do a raid on the Slytherin dorms. Though how they could do it is a mystery to me seeing as there's no windows. However these are the boys who made themselves animagi… They'd probably manage it eventually.

'You ready Threston?' asked McNair sharply, hoisting his bag over his back.

'Yeah.' I said distractedly and followed him out the dorm.

Once we got down into the common room the Scottish wizard lead me over to the notice board.

'Scram!' he hissed at a dozen 2nd years and they scattered, leaving the space clear to read. 'Quidditch tryouts!' he said happily, pointing to the largest notice.

I stared at it gloomily. Ha ha…They were looking for a seeker…

'What position are you Threston?' he asked me swiftly and I hesitated.

'Seeker.'

'And what do you know!' he said happily, pointing at the large bold letters 'They're wanting a seeker! You should try out Threston!'

The thought swam in my mind. I guess getting back on a broom might bring a little sunshine to this whole situation… Though on the other hand I'd be playing for sodding Slytherin… After telling all these people that house doesn't matter it still does really, talk about hypocrisy.

'You'd have a hard job though…' he said. 'James Potter's the seeker for Gryffindor. He switched from being a chaser early last year…'

'Really?' I was trying not to sound too interested. Though in reality my chest had started beating twice as hard…

'Yeah.' he said, deciding to carry on. 'Gryffindor's won the house cup every bloody year with James Potter…Even that year we nearly broke both his legs…' he smiled nostalgically as though remembering a very sweet memory. I coughed loudly and he jumped. 'But I gotta say' he said, puffing out his chest. 'Even though he's a Gryffindor and y'know a total bastard…'

I rolled my eyes and nodded him on. He looked around nervously before speaking.

'He's the best bloody Quidditch player I've seen. I mean for our age…' he searched my face for what I think was supposed to be an outraged reaction. I couldn't help but smile as my chest filled with pride. I couldn't wait to see dad play.

'We get slaughtered every bloody year by Gryffindor and I said to Lucius, I said "Why don't we just kill the bastard? Make it look like an accident?" and he said to me "Dumbledore's too smart and too biased he'll see through it." and I said "Well he won't be able to get biased if Potter ain't gotta head to be biased about!"'

He laughed loudly and I tried to laugh too but failed. He didn't seem to notice anyway.

'Come on Threston.' he wheezed, wiping a tear from his eye. 'All this talk has made me want my food more…'

He walked out the common room and I followed like a lost sheep, a frown on my face and Snape's words spinning round my head. He'd left before me this morning, packing his bag and taking off. I don't even know if we're still on speaking terms.

'Threston!' said Lucius jovially as I sat down at the Slytherin table. 'You're just in time!'

My eyes widened. Lucius was sat in front of what looked liked a giant toaster.

'What the hell is that?' I said sharply.

'A giant toaster.' said Bellatrix simply. 'What do you think it looks like?'

Fair enough.

'We've decided to take a leaf out of your book Threston' continued Lucius, fiddling with the heat setting. 'If you are not prepared to put up with the Marauders any more, neither are we.'

What?!?

'We want revenge.' grunted Crabbe

'Yeah revenge!' cheered Goyle.

'Lucius…' I said nervously. 'I really don't remember saying I had a problem with the Marauders-'

'Of course you do!' he snapped, organizing an army of 1st years to load the toaster. 'You were right Threston. We should beat them at their own game!'

'I don't remember saying that Lucius-'

'We have managed to find the toaster that the Gryffindors used yesterday, enlarge it to twice its size and steal all the bread and marmalade supply for the whole hall!'

'Ah.'

A small boy poured the last jar of marmalade into the toaster before giving Lucius a small salute. The blonde boy clapped his hands together as everyone moved to a safe distance.

'It's ready…' He said, looking at me with an air of triumph. 'Will you do the honors?'

I looked at him blankly as he got up out of his seat and gestured for me to take it. I hesitated. I don't want to be part of Lucius' stupid plan! I don't particularly want to piss off the Gryffindors anymore than I already have. I've already stolen the Marauder's map, who needs to blast them with toast?

'Go on Threston.' whispered Lucius in my ear. 'I dare you…'

I raised my eyebrows.

'No thanks.'

Lucius hissed softly.

'Are you scared Threston?' asked Bellatrix silkily and I turned to her unconcernedly.

'No. I just thought that since Lucius has gone to all this trouble he might as well be the one to fire it...'

I sat down in the seat next to Narcissa and ripped a large piece of toast in half, stuffing it into my mouth. Lucius's lip twitched as he clenched his fists tighter.

'Will anyone of you cowardly bastards do it?' he hissed and a lot of people stepped forward eagerly. McNair sat down quickly and was about to flick the switch when Lucius swung out a hand 'Wait Walden!' his gaze swung slowly round to finally rest on Snape, sat with his head down a couple of seats away. Snape looked up blankly.

'Will you do it Snape?' Lucius hissed.

Everyone was still, watching Snape.

'Well?!?' Lucius shouted, spraying Snape with spittle.

The greasy boy simply wiped his face with his napkin before turning again to his book,

'It is just as Threston said...' he murmured quietly. 'Since you've gone to all this trouble Lucius, you should be the one to reap the reward…'

The elder Malfoy smiled softly before leaning over so he was inches away from Snape.

'Coward.' he hissed and Snape stiffened. 'You're a coward Severus. You let those Gryffindor buffoons walk all over you and now you are too scared to do anything about it…You are the most gutless wizard I have ever-'

'No I am not.' hissed Snape and alarm bells went off in my head.

'Well prove it!'

Snape suddenly stood up and I moved forward quickly.

'Snape don't-!'

But it was too late, Snape's hand shot out as he lunged for the switch on the side of Lucius' home made breakfast bomb. 600 kg of compressed toast and marmalade exploded out of the toaster. The force of it blasted the toaster backwards and I pushed Snape down letting it slam into the wall behind.

The rest of the hall weren't so lucky. The shells of bread hit people's heads and bodies with such force that it bowled most over as though they'd been hit by metal not a mixture of flour, water and yeast. The marmalade splattered across peoples clothing, ruining many a uniform and bruising many a head.

'Shit…' I whispered as the hall broke into absolute chaos.

Me and Snape stared at Lucius beside us who was grinning like a loon.

'Did you see their faces?!?' McNair howled but we still stared at Lucius in total shock.

'Shit Lucius…' I said weakly staring at the blitzed hall.

'I thought you were used to power Threston.' he said calmly, surveying the hall with unfazed eyes. 'I thought you of all people would have been able to handle it.'

'You could have killed someone Lucius.' I yelled as Snape stood up beside me.

'No.' spat Lucius, turning to Snape. 'He could have killed someone!'

I stood up to hit him when a firm hand gripped my shoulder.

'WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS?!?

McGonnagol.

'Well?!?' she screeched and I gulped hard.

BANG!

The toaster fell to the floor, leaving a large dent in the stone behind us. The Scottish teacher actually seemed to growl before grabbing me, Lucius and Snape by our ears and dragging us out of the hall.

'I hope you're happy!' I hissed, my head clashing against Lucius'.

'Don't worry Threston.' he spat back as McGonagall screeched at Snape. 'We shall not be punished for this. Mark my words, we shall not!'

I looked at him in confusion but the Scottish teacher gripped our ears even tighter and I was forced to follow her to our awaited unfortunate fate...

Hey ! I am so sorry i haven't updated in weeks and weeks and weeks! I've had exams and work experiance and a whole lot of crap that cropped up! Plus writers block yatatata. Well I'm back and after the exams are finished i'll probs be writing a lot more! (Fingers crossed) So keep reading! AND REVIEWING! cos seriously that's what keeps me going! (Thanx people :) )

Ellie

xoxoxo

PURPLE BOX!! PURPLE BOX!!