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p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"I despise Potions - it's a horrendous subject and is a constant battle between myself and the ingredients every lesson. I didn't think it could get any worse than the time my Shrinking Solution I created in third year exploded in my face. I was wrong./p
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p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"The following Monday morning proved this as the Slytherin and Gryffindor 6th years were queuing up outside Slughorn's classroom. The door burst open and the large walrus-like man grinned at his awaiting students./p
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p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Now class!" he announced. "Today we will be shuffling the seating arrangement around - you will be working with different partners; I don't think my desks can take another Potter/Black explosion."/p
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p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"At this the aforementioned boys sniggered, high fiving each other./p
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p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""When yours and your partners names are called, you may enter. The first pair will sit at the front of the class and we will make our way backwards. Now, where are we..." he muttered to himself whilst digging in his pockets to find the list of names. After struggling to pull it out of his too-tight trousers, Slughorn managed to get the list without ripping it./p
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p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Mulciber, Mckinnon"/p
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p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"The two equally disgusted students glanced around at their separate groups resignedly as they traipsed through the classroom door. I zoned out until I heard my own name;/p
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p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Avery, Lupin"/p
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p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"I sighed; it could have been worse. After wrinkling my nose at Serena, I made my way into the classroom and plopped down next to an already seated Lupin. He stared calmly ahead until he registered that I was there, then nodded politely in acknowledgement. I returned the nod swiftly./p
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p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"In the background I heard the next names being called; "Lestrange, Black". I groaned out loud and put my face in my hands. This meant I'd have to put up with Black's incessant mischief./p
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p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"Once everyone was seated - I think almost everyone in the class was displeased with this new arrangement - Slughorn made his way to the front of the room and clapped his chubby hands together cheerfully./p
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p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Now that we're all settled, let's begin!" he announced. "If you can please turn to page 57 of your books you will find that today we will be brewing a batch of Polyjuice Potion. It is a particularly tricky potion to create which is why you are now joined with a partner."/p
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p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"I zoned out for a while, doodling a picture of an owl on my parchment. There were sudden scraping noises around me and I looked up to see my peers standing up and moving towards the supply cupboard./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""You weren't listening to a word he was saying were you?" asked Lupin from beside me./p
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p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Nope. 'Spose you'd better get the ingredients in that case." I said with a sarcastic smile./p
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p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Yeah 'spose I'd better. Not like they're listed on the board or in your textbook or anything." he quipped. He stood up and brushed past me, leaving me to shade in the underside of the owl's wings. His arsy tone didn't faze me one bit./p
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p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Adhara?"/p
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p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"I swivelled lazily in my chair to look behind me./p
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p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Rabastan?" I mimicked. Black had disappeared, leaving Rabastan and I alone./p
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p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""We still need to have our chat - I've been trying to get you on your own for the past week. I've taken the liberty of swapping Prefect duties so that we can catch up on patrol tonight" he said./p
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p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Right... Sure." I responded, my stomach lurching. I knew it was going to be about the wedding./p
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p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""I'll meet you in the Common Room at seven." he stated, not bothering to ask me if that was alright with me./p
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p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"I nodded and turned back around moodily just as our partners were returning with their arms full of creepy looking ingredients. Lupin sidled in between my chair - which I purposely did not move - and the desk behind, struggling to keep hold of the ingredients./p
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p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Chop chop Lupin, most people have already started!" I commanded, struggling to hold back a smirk as he sighed in frustration, dropping the lacewing flies and various other items on the wooden surface./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Right, I'll sort out the Fluxweed, you need to separate two bundles of Knotgrass OK?" I directed, squinting at my potions book./p
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p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Bossy bitch." I heard a grumble from behind. I turned my head over my shoulder to throw a glare towards Black who smiled sarcastically./p
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p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"Lupin and I continued with our tasks in silence. Surprisingly, we worked fairly well together, completing the first part of the potion with ease. It was all going swimmingly until a cold and wet sensation began to slither down my back. I tensed up, reaching to my back only for my hand to be met with a sticky goo-like substance./p
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p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Black!" I screeched, whipping around to find his annoyingly perfect face twisted into a wicked grin./p
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p style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11.0pt;"span style="font-family: Calibri;"Without a seconds hesitation, I grabbed a leech from my desk and threw it at Black's face. It met its target with a satisfying /spanspan style="font-style: italic; font-family: Cambria; color: #5e6466; background: #DBDBDB;"splat/spanspan style="font-family: Calibri;", and he quickly reached up to peel it from his skin. I saw him glance down at his own desk, searching for his next weapon as I raised my eyebrow challengingly./span/p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Do you two have to be so childish?" sighed Lupin, turning to face us both. Black and I both rolled our eyes./p
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p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Do you have to be so boring?" I quipped. From the corner of my eye I saw Black reach for something on his desk and I quickly ducked just as he threw it in my direction. I looked up to see Lily Evans slowly turn around with an almighty glare./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""What, the hell, just hit me?" she snarled slowly. I sniggered at the green slime now running down her left arm, dripping onto the floor./p
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p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Oi Avery! Did you just throw something at Evans!?" an obnoxious voice rang out. To my left, Potter was standing with a leech in his hand and a furious expression. Of course, this stupid git had to get involved./p
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p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""No, unfortunately not. It was your idiot friend." I replied, glancing at his hand that was holding the leech. Potter followed my gaze down to his hand and then grinned, pulling his arm back and flinging the black slug-like creature at me./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"Chaos ensued, leeches and other bits of slime were flying across the classroom. I quickly ducked under the desk so as to save my hair; leeches would be a bugger to untangle from my curls./p
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p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""That is enough!" Slughorn commanded, only to be ignored as the entire class began to join in. I burst into laughter as I saw a shoe fly into the back of Severus' head./p
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p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""ENOUGH!" the stunned teacher roared, waving his hands in the air. The class slowly quietened down, their hands falling to their sides. "50 points from both Gryffindor and Slytherin. Avery, Black, stay behind. The rest of you shall go. I expected better from a 6th Year class." he scolded in a disappointed tone, albeit not very convincingly./p
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p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"The rest of the class grumbled, packing their things away and heading towards the door. Slughorn flicked his wand, restoring the classroom back to its regular state. Leeches flew past me as I crawled out from under my desk, zooming back to the storage cupboard./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Now, I am all for fun and games. But to disrupt your fellow housemates is unacceptable." he began. "You will both serve detention this Saturday."/p
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p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"Both Black and I groaned./p
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p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""But Sir, it's a Hogsmeade weekend!" I pleaded./p
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p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""No but's Avery! I will send you the time and location later this week." Slughorn informed, turning away to enter his office. I whipped around to glare at Black./p
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p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""This is all your fault!" I prodded his chest with my finger. He winced, rubbing the area I had just poked as I stormed out of the classroom./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"-/p
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p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""I wish I'd never accepted this position now." I grumbled./p
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p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"I was slowly walking through the dark corridors of Hogwarts, accompanied by Rabastan whilst we fulfilled out prefect duties./p
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p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"Rabastan grunted in agreement and I sighed; is this the sort of conversation I would have to suffer through for the rest of my life? His eyebrows were furrowed as he seemed to be in deep thought./p
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p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""So, what did you want to talk about?" I asked, half regretting even bringing the subject up, half wanting to just get it over with./p
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p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"He paused for a moment, seeming to gather his thoughts. I watched his face as he frowned; he is rather good looking, I thought. I could have ended up with some absolute troll like Mulciber. Rabastan's heavy set eyebrows were knotted together, his strong jaw defined as he tensed. Yes, I could definitely do a lot worse./p
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p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""I wanted to know..." he started, pausing again to look at me in the eye this time. His dark brown eyes were almost black. "What are your thoughts? About the marriage?"/p
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p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"I was surprised to hear him approach the topic - we hadn't really discussed it at all since we'd first been told a few months ago. I thought about it for the moment. What did I really think? I'd tried to push it out of my mind for so long, I hadn't settled on any feelings towards the arranged marriage agreed by our parents./p
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p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"I suppose he was rather good looking, and also very rich. He was a pureblood, with a reputable family and great connections within the ministry. The Slytherin in me was jumping at the chance to marry Rabastan - he was one of the most eligible bachelors in the wizarding world./p
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p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"But I could feel a slight nagging internally - was that enough? Yes, all of those traits were positive and promising, but are they really enough for a happy marriage? I'd hardly spoken to the guy, how was I meant to know if he'd make me happy?/p
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p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""I think we're well matched on paper; pureblood, intelligent, good genes." I replied after a minutes silence. I was speaking the truth - we were incredibly well matched in that regard./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"br / Our walking had slowed to a snails-pace stroll, and I kicked my legs out lazily with each slow step. His head was bent, facing the floor as yet again he frowned in thought. I couldn't help but think about how wrinkly he would be when he was older what with all the scrunching up of his features he seemed to do./p
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p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""I agree," he said. He paused in his strolling and turned to face me. I followed suit and watched him expectantly, waiting for him to continue. "And now that we know we're to be married after school, why wait until then to start getting to know one another?"/p
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p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"My eyebrows rose in surprise. Well this was an improvement I suppose - it appeared that we were both on the same page. I was about to respond when he continued./p
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p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""You're a very beautiful girl Adhara. And I've seen the attention you attract from other men. I want them to know that you're taken. That you're mine." he said, his eyes piercing in to mine./p
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p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"'You're mine'!? I'm nobody's thank you very much! My mouth opened and closed like a fish, struggling to voice this out loud. Before I had chance he continued to walk, leaving me behind for a few moments before I caught up./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""I think you're mistaken there Rabastan." I began, but was interrupted again./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""I've seen the way they all look at you, even the Gryffindor's turn their heads whenever you walk past." he said bitterly, with the attitude of a jealous child who wanted a toy all to themselves. I can't say I'd ever noticed this apparent 'attention' Rabastan spoke of, but I dismissed it for the moment./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""So you want us to... Get to know one another?" I asked, still curious about where this conversation was going./p
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p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Well if we're to be married I think we ought to make it official." he stated bluntly. Oh he was so romantic./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Official?" I questioned again. He sighed in exasperation, clearly frustrated at being questioned so much. He was obviously not used to people answering back./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Yes, official, Adhara. As in us, being together, as a couple." he replied, looking ahead of rather than at me. It was my turn to frown now./p
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p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Rabastan, I'm not sure I'm ready for an actual relationship - I mean, we hardly know one another! You said so yourself that we should get to know each other, why don't we just do that first, and see where it goes." I offered nervously, watching his face darken with every word. Looks as though he wasn't used to being told no either. But to my surprise, his scowl dropped and he nodded his head slowly./p
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p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""I understand," he began slowly as I waited patiently for him to continue. "Wouldn't want to get ahead of ourselves - I suppose we have the rest of our lives ahead of us."/p
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p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"My stomach dropped. Merlin, we really did have the rest of our lives together. My entire existence on this planet, spent with someone I don't even know./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"I tried to keep my face neutral as he continued./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"br / "We could always begin this 'getting to know each other' this weekend? In Hogsmeade?" he asked, his dark eyes watching me through his even darker hair./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"Relief flooded through me as I remembered the detention I would be serving whilst the rest of Hogwarts visited the small village./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Oh, I can't this weekend; my detention with Slughorn is on Saturday." I replied. His eyebrows furrowed at this, but he didn't say anything./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""We could get to know each other a bit better now?" I suggested, only to try and make our patrol less tedious./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""How?" asked Rabastan. I held back from sighing./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Well... What's your favourite colour?" I asked. His eyebrows raised as he considered the question./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""I don't have one." he stated dully./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Right, ok... Well mine's black if you were wondering." I huffed, frustrated at his short answers. "What's your favourite animal?"/p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""A snake of course. You?" he asked. Perhaps he could sense my increasing irritation so decided to cooperate./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""A dog... I love them, I have two at home." I sighed, my mind wandering to Cassie and Fidget, my two lovely golden retrievers./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Ah yes, I remember them chasing Nott around your garden in the summer." said Rabastan. "Your favourite food?"/p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"I grinned at him, I was finally getting somewhere. He returned a small smile as I answered, "probably Hot Dogs. It's a muggle food, sausage in a bun."/p
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p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"The smile dropped from his face as he paused mid step, then continued./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""You should probably keep that to yourself Adhara. You are aware of the current... Situation occurring beyond the castle walls?" Rabastan asked sternly./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Yes - by situation do you mean the rise of the Dark Lord?" I queried, feeling confused as to why my love of hotdogs would lead us to discussing that lunatic./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""The Dark Lord is our saviour. His aim is to cleanse the Wizarding World of the foul and filthy muggle blood that has tainted us. He is leading us in to a new age, an age where wizards are free to use magic as we please, a world where muggles will bow down to us, fear us. An age where we purebloods will no longer be surrounded by dirty, impure blood." he ranted passionately. Bloody hell! One moment he's sulking and moody, the next you can't shut him up!/p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Now I suppose that's a world I could get used to." I said, agreeing automatically. "The muggleborns can be sent back to the muggle world where they came from."/p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""No Adhara, not just banished from the Wizarding World. They have tricked and lied their way into this world, they have fooled people into believing that they have magical blood inside of them. This is a crime, with the only suitable punishment being death." Rabastan lectured./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"I stopped walking, stunned by Rabastan's words. "Death?" I began, starting to feel a bit sick. "You mean the Dark Lord wants to kill every single muggle-born?"/p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Yes Adhara." he said softly, stopping next to me, "We have been sheltered from this knowledge while we have lived in this castle. But this is what the war is about; not just for wizarding rights, but to rid us of these criminals."/p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"I stuttered, lost for words. My stomach was churning at the thought of thousands of people being slaughtered. "Why are you telling me this Rabastan?" I asked slowly, scared of the answer. He smiled slightly, taking my hand. My hand twitched out of shock but didn't pull away./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Because we have been chosen to follow our Lord in his mission to cleanse this world. We are the sons and daughters of Salazar Slytherin. It is our duty to join the Dark Lord in battle." he replied, his dark eyes gleaming as he spoke./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"I pulled my hand out of his, pushing my hair from my face to disguise the fact I could not stand to touch him any longer./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""I understand you have your heart set on becoming a Magizoologist after leaving Hogwarts, is this correct?" asked Rabastan./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Yes." I gulped./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Unfortunately these dreams will need to wait-"/p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""But that's all I've ever wanted to do!" I interrupted. Rabastan's face darkened - yep, he was definitely used to getting his own way./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""The rest of your housemates are willing to put their lives on hold for this cause" he said, gritting his teeth. This was news to me. "I suggest you do the same. Once we leave Hogwarts, we'll be expected to do our duty to our families and to our bloodline."/p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"Before I could object once more, Rabastan turned and walked away in the direction of the Slytherin Common Room, leaving me to stand alone sick to my stomach with my mind racing./p
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p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"I despise Potions - it's a horrendous subject and is a constant battle between myself and the ingredients every lesson. I didn't think it could get any worse than the time my Shrinking Solution I created in third year exploded in my face. I was wrong./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"The following Monday morning proved this as the Slytherin and Gryffindor 6th years were queuing up outside Slughorn's classroom. The door burst open and the large walrus-like man grinned at his awaiting students./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Now class!" he announced. "Today we will be shuffling the seating arrangement around - you will be working with different partners; I don't think my desks can take another Potter/Black explosion."/p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"At this the aforementioned boys sniggered, high fiving each other./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""When yours and your partners names are called, you may enter. The first pair will sit at the front of the class and we will make our way backwards. Now, where are we..." he muttered to himself whilst digging in his pockets to find the list of names. After struggling to pull it out of his too-tight trousers, Slughorn managed to get the list without ripping it./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Mulciber, Mckinnon"/p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"The two equally disgusted students glanced around at their separate groups resignedly as they traipsed through the classroom door. I zoned out until I heard my own name;/p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Avery, Lupin"/p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"I sighed; it could have been worse. After wrinkling my nose at Serena, I made my way into the classroom and plopped down next to an already seated Lupin. He stared calmly ahead until he registered that I was there, then nodded politely in acknowledgement. I returned the nod swiftly./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"In the background I heard the next names being called; "Lestrange, Black". I groaned out loud and put my face in my hands. This meant I'd have to put up with Black's incessant mischief./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"Once everyone was seated - I think almost everyone in the class was displeased with this new arrangement - Slughorn made his way to the front of the room and clapped his chubby hands together cheerfully./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Now that we're all settled, let's begin!" he announced. "If you can please turn to page 57 of your books you will find that today we will be brewing a batch of Polyjuice Potion. It is a particularly tricky potion to create which is why you are now joined with a partner."/p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"I zoned out for a while, doodling a picture of an owl on my parchment. There were sudden scraping noises around me and I looked up to see my peers standing up and moving towards the supply cupboard./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""You weren't listening to a word he was saying were you?" asked Lupin from beside me./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Nope. 'Spose you'd better get the ingredients in that case." I said with a sarcastic smile./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Yeah 'spose I'd better. Not like they're listed on the board or in your textbook or anything." he quipped. He stood up and brushed past me, leaving me to shade in the underside of the owl's wings. His arsy tone didn't faze me one bit./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Adhara?"/p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"I swivelled lazily in my chair to look behind me./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Rabastan?" I mimicked. Black had disappeared, leaving Rabastan and I alone./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""We still need to have our chat - I've been trying to get you on your own for the past week. I've taken the liberty of swapping Prefect duties so that we can catch up on patrol tonight" he said./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Right... Sure." I responded, my stomach lurching. I knew it was going to be about the wedding./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""I'll meet you in the Common Room at seven." he stated, not bothering to ask me if that was alright with me./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"I nodded and turned back around moodily just as our partners were returning with their arms full of creepy looking ingredients. Lupin sidled in between my chair - which I purposely did not move - and the desk behind, struggling to keep hold of the ingredients./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Chop chop Lupin, most people have already started!" I commanded, struggling to hold back a smirk as he sighed in frustration, dropping the lacewing flies and various other items on the wooden surface./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Right, I'll sort out the Fluxweed, you need to separate two bundles of Knotgrass OK?" I directed, squinting at my potions book./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Bossy bitch." I heard a grumble from behind. I turned my head over my shoulder to throw a glare towards Black who smiled sarcastically./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"Lupin and I continued with our tasks in silence. Surprisingly, we worked fairly well together, completing the first part of the potion with ease. It was all going swimmingly until a cold and wet sensation began to slither down my back. I tensed up, reaching to my back only for my hand to be met with a sticky goo-like substance./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Black!" I screeched, whipping around to find his annoyingly perfect face twisted into a wicked grin./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11.0pt;"span style="font-family: Calibri;"Without a seconds hesitation, I grabbed a leech from my desk and threw it at Black's face. It met its target with a satisfying /spanspan style="font-style: italic; font-family: Cambria; color: #5e6466; background: #DBDBDB;"splat/spanspan style="font-family: Calibri;", and he quickly reached up to peel it from his skin. I saw him glance down at his own desk, searching for his next weapon as I raised my eyebrow challengingly./span/p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Do you two have to be so childish?" sighed Lupin, turning to face us both. Black and I both rolled our eyes./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Do you have to be so boring?" I quipped. From the corner of my eye I saw Black reach for something on his desk and I quickly ducked just as he threw it in my direction. I looked up to see Lily Evans slowly turn around with an almighty glare./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""What, the hell, just hit me?" she snarled slowly. I sniggered at the green slime now running down her left arm, dripping onto the floor./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Oi Avery! Did you just throw something at Evans!?" an obnoxious voice rang out. To my left, Potter was standing with a leech in his hand and a furious expression. Of course, this stupid git had to get involved./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""No, unfortunately not. It was your idiot friend." I replied, glancing at his hand that was holding the leech. Potter followed my gaze down to his hand and then grinned, pulling his arm back and flinging the black slug-like creature at me./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"Chaos ensued, leeches and other bits of slime were flying across the classroom. I quickly ducked under the desk so as to save my hair; leeches would be a bugger to untangle from my curls./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""That is enough!" Slughorn commanded, only to be ignored as the entire class began to join in. I burst into laughter as I saw a shoe fly into the back of Severus' head./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""ENOUGH!" the stunned teacher roared, waving his hands in the air. The class slowly quietened down, their hands falling to their sides. "50 points from both Gryffindor and Slytherin. Avery, Black, stay behind. The rest of you shall go. I expected better from a 6th Year class." he scolded in a disappointed tone, albeit not very convincingly./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"The rest of the class grumbled, packing their things away and heading towards the door. Slughorn flicked his wand, restoring the classroom back to its regular state. Leeches flew past me as I crawled out from under my desk, zooming back to the storage cupboard./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Now, I am all for fun and games. But to disrupt your fellow housemates is unacceptable." he began. "You will both serve detention this Saturday."/p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"Both Black and I groaned./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""But Sir, it's a Hogsmeade weekend!" I pleaded./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""No but's Avery! I will send you the time and location later this week." Slughorn informed, turning away to enter his office. I whipped around to glare at Black./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""This is all your fault!" I prodded his chest with my finger. He winced, rubbing the area I had just poked as I stormed out of the classroom./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"-/p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""I wish I'd never accepted this position now." I grumbled./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"I was slowly walking through the dark corridors of Hogwarts, accompanied by Rabastan whilst we fulfilled out prefect duties./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"Rabastan grunted in agreement and I sighed; is this the sort of conversation I would have to suffer through for the rest of my life? His eyebrows were furrowed as he seemed to be in deep thought./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""So, what did you want to talk about?" I asked, half regretting even bringing the subject up, half wanting to just get it over with./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"He paused for a moment, seeming to gather his thoughts. I watched his face as he frowned; he is rather good looking, I thought. I could have ended up with some absolute troll like Mulciber. Rabastan's heavy set eyebrows were knotted together, his strong jaw defined as he tensed. Yes, I could definitely do a lot worse./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""I wanted to know..." he started, pausing again to look at me in the eye this time. His dark brown eyes were almost black. "What are your thoughts? About the marriage?"/p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"I was surprised to hear him approach the topic - we hadn't really discussed it at all since we'd first been told a few months ago. I thought about it for the moment. What did I really think? I'd tried to push it out of my mind for so long, I hadn't settled on any feelings towards the arranged marriage agreed by our parents./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"I suppose he was rather good looking, and also very rich. He was a pureblood, with a reputable family and great connections within the ministry. The Slytherin in me was jumping at the chance to marry Rabastan - he was one of the most eligible bachelors in the wizarding world./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"But I could feel a slight nagging internally - was that enough? Yes, all of those traits were positive and promising, but are they really enough for a happy marriage? I'd hardly spoken to the guy, how was I meant to know if he'd make me happy?/p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""I think we're well matched on paper; pureblood, intelligent, good genes." I replied after a minutes silence. I was speaking the truth - we were incredibly well matched in that regard./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"br / Our walking had slowed to a snails-pace stroll, and I kicked my legs out lazily with each slow step. His head was bent, facing the floor as yet again he frowned in thought. I couldn't help but think about how wrinkly he would be when he was older what with all the scrunching up of his features he seemed to do./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""I agree," he said. He paused in his strolling and turned to face me. I followed suit and watched him expectantly, waiting for him to continue. "And now that we know we're to be married after school, why wait until then to start getting to know one another?"/p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"My eyebrows rose in surprise. Well this was an improvement I suppose - it appeared that we were both on the same page. I was about to respond when he continued./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""You're a very beautiful girl Adhara. And I've seen the attention you attract from other men. I want them to know that you're taken. That you're mine." he said, his eyes piercing in to mine./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"'You're mine'!? I'm nobody's thank you very much! My mouth opened and closed like a fish, struggling to voice this out loud. Before I had chance he continued to walk, leaving me behind for a few moments before I caught up./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""I think you're mistaken there Rabastan." I began, but was interrupted again./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""I've seen the way they all look at you, even the Gryffindor's turn their heads whenever you walk past." he said bitterly, with the attitude of a jealous child who wanted a toy all to themselves. I can't say I'd ever noticed this apparent 'attention' Rabastan spoke of, but I dismissed it for the moment./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""So you want us to... Get to know one another?" I asked, still curious about where this conversation was going./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Well if we're to be married I think we ought to make it official." he stated bluntly. Oh he was so romantic./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Official?" I questioned again. He sighed in exasperation, clearly frustrated at being questioned so much. He was obviously not used to people answering back./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Yes, official, Adhara. As in us, being together, as a couple." he replied, looking ahead of rather than at me. It was my turn to frown now./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Rabastan, I'm not sure I'm ready for an actual relationship - I mean, we hardly know one another! You said so yourself that we should get to know each other, why don't we just do that first, and see where it goes." I offered nervously, watching his face darken with every word. Looks as though he wasn't used to being told no either. But to my surprise, his scowl dropped and he nodded his head slowly./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""I understand," he began slowly as I waited patiently for him to continue. "Wouldn't want to get ahead of ourselves - I suppose we have the rest of our lives ahead of us."/p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"My stomach dropped. Merlin, we really did have the rest of our lives together. My entire existence on this planet, spent with someone I don't even know./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"I tried to keep my face neutral as he continued./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"br / "We could always begin this 'getting to know each other' this weekend? In Hogsmeade?" he asked, his dark eyes watching me through his even darker hair./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"Relief flooded through me as I remembered the detention I would be serving whilst the rest of Hogwarts visited the small village./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Oh, I can't this weekend; my detention with Slughorn is on Saturday." I replied. His eyebrows furrowed at this, but he didn't say anything./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""We could get to know each other a bit better now?" I suggested, only to try and make our patrol less tedious./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""How?" asked Rabastan. I held back from sighing./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Well... What's your favourite colour?" I asked. His eyebrows raised as he considered the question./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""I don't have one." he stated dully./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Right, ok... Well mine's black if you were wondering." I huffed, frustrated at his short answers. "What's your favourite animal?"/p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""A snake of course. You?" he asked. Perhaps he could sense my increasing irritation so decided to cooperate./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""A dog... I love them, I have two at home." I sighed, my mind wandering to Cassie and Fidget, my two lovely golden retrievers./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Ah yes, I remember them chasing Nott around your garden in the summer." said Rabastan. "Your favourite food?"/p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"I grinned at him, I was finally getting somewhere. He returned a small smile as I answered, "probably Hot Dogs. It's a muggle food, sausage in a bun."/p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"The smile dropped from his face as he paused mid step, then continued./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""You should probably keep that to yourself Adhara. You are aware of the current... Situation occurring beyond the castle walls?" Rabastan asked sternly./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Yes - by situation do you mean the rise of the Dark Lord?" I queried, feeling confused as to why my love of hotdogs would lead us to discussing that lunatic./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""The Dark Lord is our saviour. His aim is to cleanse the Wizarding World of the foul and filthy muggle blood that has tainted us. He is leading us in to a new age, an age where wizards are free to use magic as we please, a world where muggles will bow down to us, fear us. An age where we purebloods will no longer be surrounded by dirty, impure blood." he ranted passionately. Bloody hell! One moment he's sulking and moody, the next you can't shut him up!/p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Now I suppose that's a world I could get used to." I said, agreeing automatically. "The muggleborns can be sent back to the muggle world where they came from."/p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""No Adhara, not just banished from the Wizarding World. They have tricked and lied their way into this world, they have fooled people into believing that they have magical blood inside of them. This is a crime, with the only suitable punishment being death." Rabastan lectured./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"I stopped walking, stunned by Rabastan's words. "Death?" I began, starting to feel a bit sick. "You mean the Dark Lord wants to kill every single muggle-born?"/p
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p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Yes Adhara." he said softly, stopping next to me, "We have been sheltered from this knowledge while we have lived in this castle. But this is what the war is about; not just for wizarding rights, but to rid us of these criminals."/p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"I stuttered, lost for words. My stomach was churning at the thought of thousands of people being slaughtered. "Why are you telling me this Rabastan?" I asked slowly, scared of the answer. He smiled slightly, taking my hand. My hand twitched out of shock but didn't pull away./p
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p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Because we have been chosen to follow our Lord in his mission to cleanse this world. We are the sons and daughters of Salazar Slytherin. It is our duty to join the Dark Lord in battle." he replied, his dark eyes gleaming as he spoke./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"I pulled my hand out of his, pushing my hair from my face to disguise the fact I could not stand to touch him any longer./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""I understand you have your heart set on becoming a Magizoologist after leaving Hogwarts, is this correct?" asked Rabastan./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Yes." I gulped./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""Unfortunately these dreams will need to wait-"/p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""But that's all I've ever wanted to do!" I interrupted. Rabastan's face darkened - yep, he was definitely used to getting his own way./p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;""The rest of your housemates are willing to put their lives on hold for this cause" he said, gritting his teeth. This was news to me. "I suggest you do the same. Once we leave Hogwarts, we'll be expected to do our duty to our families and to our bloodline."/p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;" /p
p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt;"Before I could object once more, Rabastan turned and walked away in the direction of the Slytherin Common Room, leaving me to stand alone sick to my stomach with my mind racing./p
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