Hey all! Sorry for the later update, been busy doing other things in between writing chapters and brainstorming...it's life, ya know? Anyway, here's the next chapter! :) Chapter 10 is up next to make up for it!

Chapter Nine-Strengthened Suspicions

Oliver was sitting on a ledge in the courtyard, trying to stay attentive to the girls' conversation. Lately, his mind has been straying to Graham and that wonderful kiss. Sure, he's kissed a couple boys before, namely the Twins, but this one seemed different...a little forceful yet sweet. He hoped Montague would do it again but Katie always stood in the way so did Penelope and half of the female population at Hogwarts.

'Maybe I should corner him next time.'

"What you think, Oliver? Oliver? Are you listening?"

"Hm?...Oh, yeah. Sure."

"All right! I'll see you Saturday for our date in Hogsmeade."

'Wait..what? No! Fuck!' before Oliver could change his answer, he saw Graham* approach the four.

''Afternoon, Wood. Perhaps you'd like to join me for a few Butterbeers this weekend?"

Katie scoffed. "Are you serious? I don't think so, Montague. Oliver and I have a date that morning."

"Oh, really?"

Angelina snapped. "Yeah, really. Why the hell would YOU even bother asking? Oliver doesn't like you."

Returning with a smirk, Graham* replied. "I never said this was a date. Maybe I wish to branch outside of Slytherin to make new acquaintances. As far as I'm concerned, I don't need to further justify my actions to either one of you. If Oliver wishes to join me sometime after your...date...then he is welcome to find me.'' Giving Oliver a farewell nod, the Slytherin left three glowering Chasers to squawk amongst themselves.

"Ugh, can you believe him, Oliver?" Katie rolled her eyes at the attempt of wrenching the Keeper away.

Wood shrugged ''I don't have a problem. People can change. And who am I to deny Butterbeers?"

Far away from the Lions, Graham* thought to himself. 'Almost had 'im! Ah well..maybe I'll snatch 'im up later. Now to see Bobby..' he trekked further down the path, past a couple of trees to Hagrid's hut...failing to notice a thin figure watching his every move.

Shuffling around for the mere fun of it, Bobby was eyeing a few brave squirrels that were creeping a little too closely to his cage.

''Come on...jus' a lil' more...make mah day!'' his conquest stopped upon seeing Graham* approach. Seeing the coast was clear, he spoke "Hey! What ya'll doin' down here?"

"I came to visit before you leave tomorrow."

"Dat's sweet o' ya. Think we can talk in mah dialect fo' a bit? I miss it somethin' awful!"

"Hm...I don't see why not. I've had a notion to do it myself."

Pointing his wand at his throat, Graham's* voice returned to that Cajun drawl. "There we go...all righ'." they continued bantering in their native Cajun French. Behind an enormous oak stood Percy Weasley, watching their exchange.

'What the hell is that accent? And Montague has never spoke that way as long as I've known him! Wait Percy, before you go charging in, think. There has to be a very logical explanation to why he's talking like Bobby. Of course, I need to figure out some things first.' the prefect stalked off, without notifying the figures of his presence.

"It was great talkin' to you, cher..but I need to revert mah voice.''

''Understood. Thanks again, Garrett.'' Restoring the British accent, Montague bid Bobby farewell and headed up the path. He couldn't help but stare behind the oak tree as he walked past...a nagging feeling just stabbing away at him.

At dinner that night, a Gryffindor prefect was silently observing Montague, who was merely laughing with the rest of the team.

"What's up, Percy? You've been quiet." Colin asked, moving his long hair across his shoulder.

"Suspicion over a fellow sixth-year."

"I can see it's directed at Graham but why?"

He lowered his voice to a whisper "I think something is off. Today, he started talking to the alligator, Bobby, but in the reptile's own dialect. Different accent and everything."

Colin nodded, having heard of Bobby. The gator graciously posed for him last week. "What's the problem? Maybe the gator was feeling homesick and Graham wanted to help him out?"

"Talking to him in some strange version of French? I have no clue in what part of France they speak it. It sounds odd."

Colin narrowed his eyes. "How odd are we talking?"

"Um,one of the words was 'cher'...I dunno what it's short for.''

'' 'Cher'? hm...I have an idea but I'm consulting Justin first."

"Ok, I'll talk with his friends later. Maybe they've noticed a change or two." Percy nodded went back to his meal.

Colin sipped on his pumpkin juice 'I know exactly where that word is used and it's nowhere around here.'

Salem Academy, Dorm 108..

"It's perfect! If I can say what I've written here in French, I'll have that Beauxbatons chick in my lap in no time flat!" Jason exclaimed in anticipation of his new conquest. "Hey Raven, think you can help a brother out?"

Garrett* peered up from his book. "You realize there is a charm fo' dat, righ'? Ya don' need me fo' translation and plus, mah French is different from hers."

"Yeah, but the charm won't help me learn on my own...you know I don't always like to take short cuts when it comes to the ladies."

Sighing in defeat, the raven took the piece of parchment, scanning the phrase which was quite bold. That was the nice way of saying 'filthy'. He almost laughed aloud. 'Is he kidding? There is no way she will fall for this. I've met several just like her and they will either laugh or slap him. Meh...it's not my relationship. I'll help.'

"First o' all, you need to stress da accent on da vowels righ' here...so you won't mess up. Like this..." Garrett* pronounced the phrase exactly how a Frenchman would say it, like his instructor taught him as a child. "Now repeat dat a few times an' tell her when ya can. Good luck."

"Thanks, man!" Averting his eyes to the wall, 'Yeah, you're going to need it.'

Camden asked. "How did you pronounce that perfectly? Cajun doesn't exactly use the same articles as those in France."

That caught him off guard. ''Well, I read up on it. Got bored, decided to hit da library.'' he smiled, flopping back down on the mattress.

''Ok.." 'I don't believe you. That's it, something is definitely off with him. And I am going to find out.'

Three boys were talking in the corridor after dinner the next day, summarizing their conclusions from last night. ''That is exactly where that word comes from and no one but a native from that area uses it."

"As I suspected." Percy rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Thank you, Justin...Colin."

Justin replied "No problem, man. One question, what do you plan on telling Flint and all of them? This is totally out of the blue."

The redhead sighed "I'm not sure. I just hope we can get this sorted."

"Maybe if we approach this calmly, it won't be so bad? I dunno, trying to hope here." Colin added, nervously twirling a golden lock.

"Just follow me.." Percy led the fourth years up to the second floor, where he asked the others to meet.

Ten minutes later, Flint saw Percy, Colin and Justin round the corner towards them. ''Hey, what's so urgent that you needed to see us?"

"Yeah, and why didn't you want Montague to come along?" Terence queried.

"To be honest, it's about Graham. As I am sure, you've noticed his behavior has changed somewhat."

Bletchley shrugged "Yeah...doesn't everyone's?"

"Does everyone start talking in another accent to a creature when no one else is around?" Percy countered.

The Snakes stared at him silently.

"What do you mean, Percy?"

Justin interjected. "He means he saw Graham talking to that alligator in an accent and dialect not native to England but to another place entirely...like America."

"The state of Louisiana to be exact." Colin finished for the Hufflepuff.

Adrian responded. "He went down there this summer for a fencing tournament and vacation. It's possible he may have picked up something from the locals."

"Perhaps, but haven't you noticed him doing anything strange...acting differently?"

"Now that you mention it..." Lucian chimed in. "Graham has been leaving once, sometimes twice a week mostly on late Saturday nights and coming back nearly an hour later. He's been doing this since the first week of fall term."

Flint gazed at the short Beater with his icy blue orbs "Why didn't you mention this before?"

"Graham's always had his quirks."

"Yeah. His kisses have been different, too. Adrian, you've had to have noticed they were a little rougher this time around." Terence added with a snap of his fingers.

"You felt that too?" Lucian asked, recalling the deep snogs they've shared in September.

"Hey, don't forget him keeping eye contact with that gator longer than what he should have. Montague never does anything like that." Warrington included.

"Last Saturday, I found him in one of the dungeon closets. He gave me this excuse about being 'random'."

"Percy, you're right. This isn't like Graham at all. He's like a completely different person, almost." Flint sighed, leaning against the stone wall.

"Mates, you don't think something happened to him over the summer and someone took his place, do you?" Terence muttered, his jade green eyes full of concern.

"Frankly, I don't know what is going on, but I do know this...he is not Graham Montague."

At Salem Academy, that same afternoon.

"I'm telling you guys, something is up!"

"Yeah, you can't just be unable to eat 15 firedrops at once in one summer!"

"Are you sure we're not jumping the gun here? I mean..it is Raven, after all. He's never been one for convention." Sam supplied in uncertainty.

Camden replied "I'm positive. We need to corner him...whoever he is and fast."

"If I were you, I wouldn't be hostile in your method of interrogation. He's not evil, I can tell you that right now. Wait until Saturday." Randall chimed in, cooling the fire erupting within his pals. Being the voice of reason had its perks.

"All right, Randall...we'll do it your way." Tony grumbled, putting his knife away.

'Mobster boys. What are you gonna do?'

Oh...whatever will they do? Tune in for the next chapter! :D