Chapter 4: Lies and Accusations

Reina woke early the next morning, feeling refreshed and unusually calm. As she went through her morning routines, she thought back on Malfoy's…no, Draco's firm but reassuring words. He was right, she realized now that she'd stopped to let his words sink in. There was no way she could've known what the dream meant at the time; she didn't even start Divination until her third year. As Reina finished up, the other girls in the dormitory began to wake up, signaling Reina it was time to head up to breakfast. It was too early for a confrontation with Pansy.

Reina was one of the first ones in the great hall for breakfast. She found Blaise seated alone as usual and was about to join him when she heard two familiar voices behind her.

"Ugh…I feel like I've been trampled by a herd of hippogriffs!"

"I know what you mean," replied an identical voice. "I've half a mind to pull a Malfoy and fake a broken arm." Reina turned and laughed lightly as the groaning Weasley twins entered the great hall.

"Malfoy would probably be so offended, he'd never fake another broken arm again," Reina input cheerfully. Fred and George laughed. "So what makes you two seem oh so cheery this morning?"

"Angelina's been practicing us non-stop since we lost so much time waiting for Professor Imp's permission to reform the team," Fred griped, using the trio's nickname for Umbridge.

"Yeah," George agreed. "Pretty soon we're going to merge with the Quidditch pitch!"

"Take advantage of the practice time," Reina advised. "We're not going to make it easy for you this year."

"It's been ages since you Slytherins beat us," Fred pointed out.

"Yeah, mate," George said in agreement. "You guys haven't beaten Gryffindor since Harry joined the team."

Reina just shrugged saying, "You never know. I have to go, see you two later."

Reina sat beside Blaise, grabbing a blueberry muffin. "Hey!" she greeted. Blaise looked up with a smile.

"Someone's looking rather happy this morning," he said giving her a brotherly hug.

"I finally got some stuff taken care of last night," Reina said taking a bite of her muffin and pouring a glass of pumpkin juice. The two friends looked up as Kira and Hermione walked in chatting about something or other, followed soon after by none other than Malfoy who was surprisingly alone. To the Slytherin pair's further amazement, he headed their way and sat down across the table.

"Zabini. Summers," he said nonchalantly. Reina sighed and shook her head. Apparently they were back to being on a last name basis.

"To what do we owe the honor of the Slytherin Prince's presence?" Reina joked.

Malfoy merely shrugged saying, "Zabini, could you hand me an apple?"

"Ever the conversational one isn't he?" Reina said to Blaise wryly.

"I try," Malfoy replied with his trademark smirk in place.

Shrugging and tossing Malfoy an apple, Blaise finally spoke up. "So, no Parkinson leech today?"

"If it was up to me," Draco explained with a grimace, "there would be a restraining spell on her." Reina laughed a bit at the thought of Pansy struggling against an invisible barrier as she tried to get to Draco. Blaise raised a questioning eyebrow but Reina just shook her head. She was finishing off her breakfast when the owls arrived.

…with Kira…

"So the next DA meeting is tonight?" Kira asked Harry.

Harry nodded in confirmation. "I changed the time on my coin before I came down. I'm thinking we should start--"

"Oh no," Hermione whispered dismally, Daily Prophet in hand.

"If it's more lies about me," Harry said, "it doesn't matte, Hermione." Hermione shook her head and wordlessly passed the paper to Kira pointing. There, at the bottom of the page was a small article on her father.

Death Eater Escapes

Last night, officials at Azkaban found the cell of notorious Death Eater,

Donovan Summers, empty. It is believed that he escaped yesterday

morning, only the second to ever manage such a feat. Summers was

part of You-Know-Who's inner circle before his downfall and was

considered one of his most devoted and deadly followers. He was

arrested based on an anonymous tip that had been given to the Ministry

when the Dark Lord fell from power. Although his current motives are

unclear as of yet, citizens are advised by the Ministry of Magic to be alert

and wary as Summers is considered very dangerous and ready to kill

without mercy.

"That's a lie!" Kira exclaimed, only to be shushed by Harry and Hermione. She went on in hushed tones, "He's been free since this summer. Fudge was probably trying to keep it a secret since they would look bad after the same thing happened with Sirius! Word must have leaked out somehow." By now all four Weasleys were listening as well. Kira turned to Fred and George. "Don't tell Reina," she said imploringly. "She'll be furious!"

"Too late, mate," George said, nodding towards the Slytherin table.

…with Reina…

Reina fed Tobias a strip of bacon before he flew off, leaving her a copy of the Daily Prophet. She skimmed the pages for anything of interest, bypassing the Ministry's irritating ramblings about Harry. "Anything good in there?" Blaise inquired. Reina was about to say no when something caught her eye.

There at the bottom of one of the pages was a picture of Donovan Summers, who seemed to be leering up at her. As her garnet-amber eyes reached the end of the article, Reina felt a burst of anger take shape. She stood suddenly muttering, "Incendio!" through gritted teeth before storming out of the great hall. A stunned Blaise managed to catch a glimpse of the article's picture before it was consumed by the enchanted flames.

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Reina felt herself slowly regain her control as a cool October breeze rearranged her midnight black hair. She breathed in the scent of the crisp autumn air, momentarily closing her eyes and relaxing into fall's cool soothing arms. Reina slowly opened her eyes at the feeling of someone sitting down lightly beside her.

"Rei, you alright?" Kira asked voice laced with concern. Reina nodded.

"It's just…if they'd done their job and reported right away when he actually escaped, mum might still be here," she said sadly. The sisters sat in a comfortable silence for awhile, gazing at the Hogwarts grounds. After a few minutes, Reina broke the silence. "We'd better go back in," she said quietly. "Classes are gonna start soon." Kira stood and nodded in understanding.

"See you in Transfiguration," she said before heading into the castle.

Reina stood a minute longer before heading into the castle in a slightly better mood. As she headed down one of the halls on her way to Transfiguration, she slowed down at what sounded suspiciously like Umbridge. Looking around the corner, Reina saw Umbridge interrogating Ginny.

"Are you saying that the Ministry is lying about Potter?" Umbridge asked indignant.

"Yes," Ginny replied firmly. "Harry never lied about You-Know-Who and the Ministry refuses to admit the truth." Umbridge narrowed her eyes and opened her mouth to begin some tirade when Reina strolled calmly around the corner.

"Sorry to interrupt professor, but the headmaster wishes to see Miss Weasley," Reina lied. "He told me to escort her to his office immediately. So if you'll excuse us…" Without even waiting for the woman to reply, Reina grabbed Ginny's arm leading her away from the impish professor. When they were safely out of sight Reina stopped, ignoring Ginny's questioning gaze as she cautiously peered around the corner and watched Umbridge depart in the opposite direction. Reina let out a small sigh.

"You're not actually taking me to see Dumbledore, are you?" Ginny piped up. Reina shook her head.

"No, but it would be wise not to bad mouth that crap the Ministry calls news while that imp is nearby," she cautioned.

"You're not very fond of her are you?" Ginny asked.

"About as much as Malfoy likes Harry and vice versa." Ginny nodded in understanding, looking as though she was contemplating something else. "Look," Reina said, "I'm late for class. I'll be lucky if McGonagall doesn't take tons of points from Slytherin."

"Well, thanks," Ginny said sincerely. Reina shrugged it off before heading to class.

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

The sound of quills scratching filled the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom that afternoon as the Slytherins worked silently on Umbridge's assignment; a one and a half foot essay on the reasons behind the ban on various dark arts. Even in the eyes of the Slytherins, her teaching methods and assignments were even more annoying and pointless than those of Lockhart himself. Therefore it was no surprise when Reina, Slytherin's smartest member, was the first to turn in the pointless assignment.

"It seems you've surpassed the minimum length," Umbridge said tartly as Reina handed her paper in.

"I tend to study harder than most in my house, Professor," Reina replied briskly. Umbridge did not respond and proceeded to skim through the essay. Reina turned and began to head back to her seat when she was stopped by a quiet "Hem, hem." Reina tensed.

"Is there something else, Professor?" she asked stiffly without turning around.

"You seem to have knowledge of this subject that goes deeper than that of a mere student, Miss Summers," Umbridge stated, although there was no compliment or praise in her words.

Is this because of the article in the Daily Prophet? Reina wondered. A few students had stopped their essays at the beginning of the tense conversation. "Despite their very many flaws," Reina responded cautiously still not looking at the impish woman, "most of our previous teachers in this subject were very capable instructors."

"Or is it that you have some personal experience in this area acquired elsewhere, say…at home?" Umbridge inquired slyly. "Perhaps your mother taught you some of the dark arts?"

Reina snapped. "How dare you!" she exclaimed whirling around.

Umbridge ignored her outburst. "Or perhaps it is that you study them on your own and wish to follow in your dear father's footsteps," she speculated. By this time about half the class was following the exchange with rapt attention, assignment forgotten.

"Are you implying that I'm a Death Eater?!" Reina whispered menacingly.

Umbridge narrowed her beady eyes. "The apple doesn't fall far from the tree as the saying goes, my dear."

Reina's garnet-amber eyes narrowed as well, making her look extremely intimidating. "As far as emotional ties are concerned," she hissed furiously, "that man is my father solely through ties of blood, which in this case, happen to be thinner than water."

The imp stood firm. "You-Know-Who's followers do not care about emotional ties."

"That is ENOUGH!" Reina shouted whipping out her wand from her sleeve, and causing an empty glass vial behind Umbridge to shatter in her fury. "Don't EVER insult my mother's memory or me again, or Merlin help me, I will show you how like Donovan Summers I can be!"

"Are you threatening me?" Umbridge asked her voice rising an octave, eyes never leaving Reina's wand.

Reina glared at her for a minute before causing Umbridge to jump in fright when she jabbed her wand in the air saying, "Accio bag!" Without even glancing behind at her completely shocked and silent classmates, Reina stormed from the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom.