In The Life of Skye Black

In The Life of Skye Black

By NarnianAslan

Chapter Seven

Author's Note: Website: http: / slytherclawx. webs. com / index. htm (type it in without the spaces) I'm going to make a SKYE website when I get the time… it will include character profiles, and some Author pages (what could have been/almost was, behind the scenes, etc.)

I made a QUIZ!! Go on my profile to find out who you are out of this story. Be warned: contains mild spoilers.

This takes place in Late June/Early July.

XxX

Regina did wind up coming to Ottery.

She said it was whether her mother liked it or not.

"Skye, I'm sure you've heard of the punk movement, though," Josh insisted, the day before she was due to come.

"Yep. It sounded wicked cool, all that mass rebellion."

"Yeah, well, she's heard of it, and I've got a feeling that's what she's trying to do. Have you read this?" He held a book up. We were in a Muggle book shop.

"Rotten? Nope."

"Look at the picture and the author," he said as he handed it to me.

"Johnny Rotten? From the Sex Pistols?"

"Yes. And I've got this book at home, he was thrown out of his house because he was rebelling. I just don't think that'd be smart… I mean, my family's fine with Gina staying for a month, but… she turns seventeen a year from now. My cousins all hate Slytherins. I doubt, honestly doubt that she'd be allowed to stay for a year."

"Really?" I said, deciding to buy the book. "Well, I'm sure she could stay with me. Family and all that."

"Wait a minute," he said after I bought the book and we left.

"What?"

"Your mum's Gina's aunt, correct?"

"Yes," I said. I had a feeling where this was going.

"And you know who her dad is?"

"Yes."

"And he's not your dad, I'm not stupid," he said.

"That's actually pretty obvious. What, were you almost a Ravenclaw?"

"Actually, yeah. But… did your mum say that your dad had a brother?"

"Yeah. Why?"

"Skye," he said, stopping me by the arm. "Seriously? You know why. You're not stupid either."

"Thanks, but…"

"What was his name and what happened to him?"

"Regulus Black and I have no idea. He might've died… but I don't know how."

"Gina has a resemblance to your dad, Skye. Did his brother look like him?"

"No idea. Dad doesn't want anything to do with that side of the family and neither does Mum. She's a lot better about it, though."

"D'you think you know who any of his friends were?"

"Dad mentioned Lizzy Poe…"

"Come on," he said, dragging me.

"Josh!" I complained. "Really, now!"

"No. Ben Poe owes me a favor, anyway."

"Right. Well, I think this would fall under intrusion."

"You know who her father is, and you're not telling…"

"Why d'you care so much?" I asked, pulling my arm away from him. "D'you fancy her?"

He froze. "What makes you say that?"

"You do?"

"I never said that."

"But you're acting bloody well like you do."

He looked around and saw no one. He sunk down so that he was eye-level with me. Damn, I hated being short. He couldn't have been much more than 5'7" and he had to sink down to be eye-level with me?

"Fine. I fancy Gina. I have since the train ride in first year. She was the whole damn reason I became a Slytherin. Otherwise I would have been a Ravenclaw or Gryffindor. I hate blood-prejudice as much as you do. It took me longer to get Sorted than it did Harry Potter. Don't repeat this. I know you fancy Fred Weasley."

"I do not!" Damn, how obvious was I?

"I've got a question. Does the jealousy card work?"

"Everyone's different. I dunno with Regina. Maybe… but…"

"Then I've got an idea. You and I could pretend to go out. I've known Fred Weasley for more than six years… Cedric Diggory and I used to hang around with Fred and George… he gets jealous fairly easily. I dunno if he fancies you, honestly, but do you think it's worth the risk?"

I considered it. "Well… maybe, but if Regina and Fred don't fancy you and I, respectively, what happens then?"

"I'd prefer not to think on that, but then we could 'break up'… and I'd have wasted almost seven years of my life."

"Fine. Deal. But… I think we should start the day after Regina gets here."

He nodded. "I can see why. Okay."

"So, you were that other boy, then? Ginny, Katie and I wondered who you were. Cedric came over once, to play Quidditch. Hell, he nearly got me knocked out."

Josh laughed. "Yeah, that'd be Cedric, wouldn't it? He and I even got along after we started Hogwarts…"

"I'm probably going to become an Auror," I said.

"I think that's pretty smart. That's something I've considered doing."

"Do it, then."

He shrugged. "So, would you rather have a brother or a sister?"

"Dunno," I shrugged. "I've always wanted a brother…"

"Sisters are all right… but I think you'd do better with a baby brother."

I nodded. "It doesn't hurt that if it's a boy my dad can't sing around Mrs. Weasley anymore."

Josh laughed. "Your father can not sing."

"Exactly my point."

He grinned. "So… you won't tell me who Gina's dad is… you won't let me go see Lizzy Poe… what do I do?"

"Chill?"

"But…"

"Josh, look, if this plan works… I guess I'll tell her who her father is."

"Really?"

"Only if the plan works," I reminded him.

"So, have you ever really heard the Sex Pistols?"

I shrugged. "Dad has old records and record player. I listen to the Sex Pistols sometimes."

He grinned. "So, did you ever hear the story of Sid Vicious and Nancy Spungen?"

XxX

"So, Regina's in town?" Fred asked.

"Yep."

"You don't sound too excited."

"I'm trying to read this. It's brilliant!"

Fred looked doubtfully at the book in my hand. "But it's a book…"

"Shh!"

Fred sighed. "Whatever. I think you might be turning into Emily or Hermione…"

"Nope. Now, I'm on page 147, I want to finish it."

"One hundred and forty-seven pages in one day?"

I glared at him.

"Fine, fine," he muttered. "I guess I'll just have to annoy Ron or something, since George is gone off with Katie…"

That was really bugging him. "Let me finish this bit and we can play Quidditch… toss the Quaffle around."

He grinned. "Great!"

I finished up the other thirteen pages in the chapter, marked my spot, stood up, and grabbed my broom. "Let's go!"

"So what's with that book?"

"It's the autobiography of the lead singer of the Sex Pistols."

"Ah," he said. "Did you know they're doing a tour this summer?" He tossed me the Quaffle.

"What?" I asked as I tossed it back.

"That's what Rushy said." Back to me.

"Matt?" I asked. I didn't understand his problem with the boy. I threw the Quaffle back to Fred.

"Yep. Says he's trying to get a group together to go see one of their concerts."

The Quaffle was back to me. "I want to go, I think it'd be wicked."

Fred nodded as he caught the Quaffle. "Sounds it."

"You don't even listen to Muggle music."

He threw the Quaffle back. "True… but they seem like a good band."

"They've got this defiance that's just amazing," I said as I tossed the Quaffle to him.

"Brilliant," Fred groaned.

"I think Katie and George have abandoned us," I sighed as I caught the Quaffle.

"I know. I'm just about ready to sneak a puking pastille into his food, but then again, he helped me develop them."

"Shame, isn't it?" I asked, throwing the Quaffle back to him.

"Definitely. Wanna go into town today?"

"Sure."

XxX

"Skye!"

I turned around to find Martin Vance, a Ravenclaw in my year.

"Hey, Martin."

"Are you going to be at the meeting Sunday?"

"If by that you mean there, but not in the actual meeting, yes."

He laughed. "Yeah, that's what I mean."

"What brings you here?"

"Uncle Remus. Since Mum's at work, he asked me if I wanted to come along."

"Oh, he's supposed to be meeting my dad, isn't he?"

"Yep."

Martin and I weren't exactly friends, but we'd known each other since before Hogwarts, Remus being his godfather. We got along all right, but we were in completely different social circles, not to mention chasers on different Quidditch teams. That led to just a bit of competitiveness.

"Hey, are you in Muggle Studies?" he asked quietly, noting the Muggles.

"Yeah, why?"

"Because, apparently we're doing this bloody huge project, involving both sixth and seventh years… we're reading a book and then acting out a play."

"D'you know which one?"

He shrugged. "No… it changes every year. Last year it was A Midsummer Night's Dream."

"I think my dad did that one…"

"Really? What year was he in?"

"Sixth."

Martin laughed. "Well… Lena, Magdalena Marlowe, that is… my best friend… she said that she hopes we're doing Gone With the Wind. She wants to be Melanie or Ellen."

"Who would you be?"

"Probably Rhett, because I have the misfortune of being shoved into leading roles…"

I laughed. I'd read the book, and Rhett was… well, he wasn't anything like Martin, who was shy and nice, and somewhat like Neville… except Martin was brilliant at all of his subjects. "If you don't mind my saying, you're much more Charles than Rhett."

He grinned. "Yeah, but… I think Neville Longbottom'll be cast as Charlie, if we do wind up doing Gone With the Wind…"

"So, I'm supposed to go meet Josh McAllister in a few minutes, at the café… you can come if you want, a few other people are supposed to meet us there."

"Nah, I'm supposed to go to see the new horror movie at the cinema with Ben and Anna Poe. I'll see you at the meeting, though."

"Yeah, see you."

He smiled as he walked towards the cinema. I went to the café, fully aware of why Josh wanted to talk to me.

I wasn't so sure this was going to work, and "dating" a Slytherin could butcher my reputation (I didn't really care about that, though). I knew this whole idea could backfire, and I admit I was a bit weary… but Josh was so obviously in love with Regina, and I questioned my own obviousness.

"Shit," I muttered, the second I entered the café, a bit of realization dawning on me.

"Well that's not very ladylike."

So Fred was here, too. And Regina. Bloody brilliant.

"You, sir, are no gentleman."

"But you're no lady," he smirked.

"Even if that were true, Gryffindors are supposed to be chivalrous, Mr. Weasley. I think that implies that you should be more of a gentleman."

"But Miss Black, being a rouge and piratical figure is much more enticing."

I couldn't help it; I burst out laughing. Fred soon followed suit.

"What brings you here? George dragged me along, though, he's snogging Katie, so I don't get why."

I laughed. "I'm supposed to be meeting Josh McAllister… he wanted to talk to me."

"Did he?"

At the first mention of a Slytherin, Fred gets angry. Of course, most of the Weasleys are that way… Dad, too.

"Yep. I've got a question."

"Shoot."

"Did you used to be friends with him?" I asked, knowing that the real answer was yes.

Fred stiffened. "Yes, I was."

"And you stopped talking to him because he was a Slytherin?"

He lowered his face so it was close to mine, so that no one would overhear. "Listen, he was so set on becoming a Ravenclaw, straight up until we were about to get Sorted. I don't bloody know what happened, Skye, and neither did George or Cedric. But he's a Slytherin and Slytherins and Gryffindors don't associate."

"I don't think he's like the other Slytherins, though."

"If he were to tell me why he's a Slytherin I might listen, but, until then, I'm not going to try to hide my disgust."

At that moment, I realized that boys were incredibly stupid and immature… even if I had realized it before. Really, turning on one of your friends because of his House? If he became a Death Eater or something, that I could see, but… just because of his House? That's ridiculous. Of course, I knew better than to tempt his Weasley temper by voicing that particular opinion.

"'Scuse me," I heard Josh say as he bypassed a couple of busy Muggle teenagers. I laughed. "Skye!"

"Hey!"

He grinned. "Can I talk to you alone?"

I raised an eyebrow, though I knew what he was going to do. "Sure."

I followed him to one of the few empty tables. "So you obviously know what I'm supposed to be saying," he said quietly, so that we weren't overheard. "How good an actress are you?"

"Eleven years," I answered.

"Damn."

"Yep."

"All right, so this'll probably work. How long…?"

"How about a Christmas holiday deadline?"

"Sounds good. So, Skye," he raised his voice to a normal level, "wanna go out sometime?"

"Sure," I answered.

"Out of House doesn't bother you?"

"Nope. I went out with Danny Abbott from Hufflepuff for about a month."

He raised an eyebrow. "Well, I hope you realize this'll piss Fred off…"

"I know," I answered. "If for no other reason than that you're a Slytherin."

"He's in Muggle Studies isn't he?" Josh asked suddenly.

"Yeah. Why?"

"Because the three of us will all be in Muggle Studies together. I think we're doing Gone With the Wind…"

"Lovely. I think I'd want to be Carreen."

"Even though Fred and George are obviously going to be the Tarleton twins?"

"Yeah…" I answered. I'd forgotten that part. Carreen was my favorite of the O'Hara sisters.

"Well… you better tell him, cause I'm not gonna."

"Right, and have him hate me?" That was the one thing I didn't want happening.

"Fine, but if he finds out on his own he'll be even more pissed…"

"So, tell him, you say? That sounds brilliant!"

Josh laughed.

XxX

"So…" I began, playing Quidditch with Fred, George, Katie, Ron, and Ginny. "Guess what?"

"You've decided to forfeit the Swear?" Ron guessed, as he failed to block a goal from Ginny.

"Nope."

"You're dating Josh McAllister?" Ginny guessed.

"What?" Fred yelled, at the same time I said,

"Yep."

"Josh?" George asked. "He's not as bad as most Slytherins… granted, that doesn't mean he's great."

Katie rolled her eyes. "Only you."

Fred seemed incapable of speech, and I really wondered if he did fancy me.

"Don't worry, I don't think they'll end up like us," George said.

Fred frowned briefly, but the next moment, he was grinning. "Who's up for using real bludgers?"

"And get Mum to bite out heads off?" Ron asked as he blocked a toss from Katie. "No thanks."

"Last time that happened was when Cedric got them out… Ron and George got knocked out, and one missed me by inches. I think I'll pass."

"Fine," Fred said, still grinning. "Dinner, then?"

"Can't," I said. "Matt's family's supposed to be coming over. I have to go home."

"Oh. Well, I'll see you tomorrow." He was still grinning. That wasn't normal.

After we landed, Ron spoke up.

"Hey, Gin, wait a second, all right? We need to talk to Skye. You three go ahead," he added to Katie, George, and Fred (still grinning).

"No one can be that happy," Ginny said. "It's not human."

"I know," I said.

"Skye, you're not pulling a Scarlett O'Hara, are you?"

"Yeah, when you were in the café, I heard you and Fred having a sort of Scarlett-Rhett conversation."

Shit, they knew what I was up to.

"First off, before I answer anything," I started, "Ron, how the hell do you know Gone With the Wind?"

"The movie was playing at the cinema, when they did one of those throwback nights. Ginny dragged me along. Now, answer."

"What business is it of yours, Ronald?" I asked.

"Don't think I won't break that stupid Spit Swear and tell him if you're just fake-dating McAllister."

"You wouldn't dare," I grinned.

"Why the hell wouldn't I, Skye? You're one of my friends and he's my brother. I'm not going to let you two keep acting so stupid."

What the hell did he mean by that? "Us two? And since when did you give a damn about Fred? Or George?"

"They're my brothers… there's always some loyalty there, even Percy the Git. If he came groveling back, I think I'd forgive him, eventually, because he's my brother. That's also the reason I'm so pissed at him."

It made sense, I'll admit. And being an only child didn't help my understanding of that.

"Skye, I just think that it's a stupid idea to mess with Josh McAllister," Ginny said, "Very few guys deserve that, and I don't think he's one of them."

I raised an eyebrow.

"Unless you're trying to get over someone, or if you two have some sort of plot."

"Look, I think I can handle this myself…"

I turned to go home, but Ron grabbed my arm. "Skylar Lily Black, this isn't the end of this conversation. Tell us why you're dating him and we might believe you."

Damn all the Weasleys to hell, I thought. I debated whether or not to tell them the truth. Ron knew, I know he did, he just wanted to hear it from me. And Ginny was good at keeping secrets. "I… it's a plot. But… don't tell anyone, please?"

"What's going to stop me from marching home and telling Fred?"

"I'll castrate you. Or, maybe just tell Hermione…"

"Fine. Deal. No Spit Swears, either, I got a cold from that."

I laughed. "Seriously though, Ron, if this gets out… And Ginny, if you tell anyone…"

"Oh, I won't," Ginny said. "Just… well, you know."

I did know. "Fine. Now, I really do have to go. Bye, I'll see you two tomorrow."

I began walking home, thinking. Ron and Ginny wouldn't dare tell anyone, but what Ron had said about family had gotten me thinking… Dad once said that to know what someone's really like, look at how they treat their inferiors, not their equals. He got all lost in thought after he said that… Kreacher didn't like my dad at all, but he loved my Uncle Regulus.

It made me wonder just what sort of person he was and if my dad truly hated him.

XxX

Author's Note: squee! Chapter seven! The last bit's actually doing some setting up for chapter eight.

Still taking guesses and suggestions on names/pairings, even new characters. Reviews are loved and will result in a virtual cookie!

Also: for Regulus and Sirius, check out my story Disenchanted.

Stop by next time for: Chapter Eight: in which there is a meeting at Grimmauld Place and secrets are discovered