As i made my way down to the dungeons where Professor Snape taught, a lot students gave me odd looks; one or two first years actually ran away from me when they saw me. I could hear several whispers, small groups of students would look at me then turn and say something inaudible to their friend, before hurrying away. I frowned, but continued walking. As i carefully made my way down the crooked stairs, i heard my name being called behind me. I stopped, but before i'd had time to negociate turning around, Ginny flew in front of me, beaming, followed closely by a not so happy Heidi Goodwold, a plump, mousey haired girl, with a freckled face and small, brown eyes; she was nice i suppose, but a bit of a bore. I frowned at her a little, as she stood, arms folded, with a face like thunder. I ignored her, and turned to Ginny, smiling.

'Hi Cleo!' she said, giving me a careful hug, 'How are you? Better?'

'Getting there, getting there.' i replied, nodding. Ginny seemed sort of awkward, like she was trying to avoid something. 'Erm, Ginny, do you know why everyone's looking at me, well, strangely?' i enquired. Ginny turned a light pink, glancing at Heidi, who looked away.

'Um, there's a sort of...rumour, going round, that, and it's dreadfully silly, i don't believe it, i think most people are just uncertain about it...' she whittered, before noticing my look of expectation, and sighing. 'People have been saying, that you stole Belinda's boyfriend. I don't believe it, i mean, its just stupid, like i said. They only started going out yesterday, it's just she said they were going out in secret before-hand.' Ginny continued, hurridly. My mouth dropped open. Belinda's boyfriend? She didn't have a boyfriend, as far as i was aware...Oh.

'Not Malfoy?' i said in disbelief. I used his last name because i knew that Ginny liked him about as much as Hermione. Ginny nodded. 'But they were never going out! Dra-Malfoy was with me! And now he's going out with the girl who attacked me? What's wrong with him?' i gabbled, still shocked. 'Well, that one thing i can be certain about in my life. No More Draco.' I finalised this in my mind; i didn't care what had happened or why, i wasn't going to let that leech suck me in again. No way. I was more determined about that then than i had been since i'd started at Hogwarts, and the emotional struggle had begun. I took a few deep breaths, composing myself, then linked arms with Ginny and continued to potions, Heidi following moodily behind us. As we walked in, all eyes watched us carefully. Iknew it was at this point i would have to seperate from Ginny's comforting grip and continue to my seat next to Belinda. As i approached slowly, i heard Snape's cold voice, causing me to hault without thinking.

'Miss Pendragon, you have been moved, for your own safety,' he looked at Belinda ' to a new seat over here.' he said clearly, indicating a seat by the Gryffindors. There were several jeers and laughter from the Slytherins, as i happily sat down next to Ginny and Cathy; intelligent, quiet and a generally nice person. I glanced back over at Belinda. The devious smile that had occupied her face had grown sour, and she now looked at me darkly, her plans obviously ruined. I still couldn't believe what had happened to Belinda, she had been such a dipsy, friendly girl; this, this, evil i suppose, had never shown through in her character. It was like something had snapped deep inside her, changing her completely. Maybe she was just more Malfoy's type now. I turned back and was welcomed by my true house.

The rest of that term was pretty awful. Belinda sort to make my life hell, although i was able to avoid some things, and others just backfired, which was always entertaining. Even after christmas, (which was brilliant), she persisted to try and torture me the best she could. Malfoy, (i had taken to calling him this so that i could become as distant as i could from him), was still acting...odd. I tried to avoid him, using his own sneeky tack-ticks against him. I mainly just hung out with my Gryffindors, and if i saw him coming in my direction, i would instantly walk away and disappear via dissillusional charms. It was strange, he kept changing his mind about me. For instance, one day he walked past me in the library and hit me in the back of the head with a book, looking back with disgust, as if i'd dirtied his possession. The day after that, he kept running after me, calling my name, begging to talk to me as he once had. It was very odd, but i had more pressing things to worry about than him.

'Sirius Black? You're quite sure? Why didn't i hear about this before?' i asked Harry, who looked confused at me. We sat at the Gryffindor table during lunch one tuesday in May, a few of us gathered around a copy of the daily prophet Harry was holding; its main story was:

SIRIUS BLACK: STILL AT LARGE

Sirius Black? Everyone around me seemed to be panicing about it, they thought he was coming after Harry, to kill him. But i knew that was nonsense. Sirius would never want to kill anybody, and never had. Me and my parents believed him, believed he was innocent. He was, technically, my cousin. My mother had been the youngest child of my grandparents and had married my father after leaving home at the age of eighteen. (I didn't know presisely how old my mum was, but to me she never looked any older than somewhere in her thirties). I couldn't tell anyone this, of course, he was a convicted 'murderer' although i wanted to scream every time someone spoke ill of him. The dear, wonderful cousin i'd never known, but instead had been told about by my parents, who cared for him greatly. I punched the paper, much to several peoples amusment, and strode down the hall towards the huge doors, raking my hands through my hair. I had to calm myself down, i couldn't help feeling angry about Sirius. I found myself heading outside, into the quiet spring morning, a gentle breeze cooling my hot face. I ended up on the old wooden bridge to hagrids hut, and stopped to lean on the side and look over the huge rivene. I liked being here, it was very calming just to watch the sky and river below. I was quite happily gazing, when someone tapped me on the shoulder. I looked round to see George, who joined me, leaning on the wood next to me. I frowned slightly.

'Hi George. Where's Fred?' i asked, not used to seeing them apart. George sighed.

'He's chatting up Leah Evans in the courtyard.' he replied, seeming disgruntled. He sighed again, but then seemed to go back to his normal self, straightening up a little more.

'Oh, i see. Do you like her as well then?' i said. He shook his head.

'Whatever gave you that idea?' he asked. I thought about it for a second.

'Well, you just seemed a bit put out a the fact he was chatting her up. And that's something i've always wondered about twins,' i replied, 'Do you always like the same person? It must get kind of awkward.'

'No, not always.' he said. He looked at me in that strange way again, that made something fizz deep inside me. 'For instance, right now he likes Leah, and i..' he paused for a second, 'Don't.' He smilied at me, then looked back out over then bridge again, going a tiniest bit red in the face. I looked at him for a moment, then did the same and we stared at nothing companionably.