A/N: Lucky and unlucky for you I am at a computer right now, but with limited time. I have so much going on but I'm still forging time to make updates. I am alternating updating this story and Compatible Origins so here's number 2! This is ALMOST a filler chapter, but right after this it gets so juicy to me lol. Enjoy.


I made my way into Hogsmeade absentmindedly. My hand still loosely on my throat, I've never been in such deep thought.

Did he mean that the torturing was going to continue? And much worse? We may have hexed each other before, but he's never touched me in his entire lowly life. Has he always wanted to cause me harm?

"There you are!" Music to my ears.

"Hey," I forced the best convincing smile I could accomplish at this point.

"What's the matter with you?"

Damn.

Well, they call them "best friends" for a reason. No one knows me better.

Sighing, I intertwined my arm with hers and scoped my surroundings before I let slip one word.

"When 'Mione left me alone, I ran into Draco."

Faith's expression turned hard and she grabbed me by the wrist and pulled me into a nearby book store we would visit often. We considered this our third home; Hogswarts being our second, actual 'home' being our first. There's a little lounge area near the back that not many people know about. It's concealed by an old bookcase full of autobiographies, old ones, books in which not many people take interest in. For this is why the lounge area stays empty.

Once we reached confined solitude, she placed both hands on my shoulders.

"Do you think what Harry and Hermione told us was true?"

"I doubt it," I shrugged, "they were dealt a strong hand last year. Why would they show up now?"

Last year, we kicked Death Eater ass! We were outnumbered, but the land and our simple ambush gave us an edge. Numerous members were locked up or wiped out.

She paced back and forth, "I don't know either. I wish Harry would have told me where he got the information from."

"Pft, like our siblings are going to tell us anything other than what to do," I mumbled in an agitated tone.

It's this kind of thing I was trying to avoid all day, all weekend actually. Hermione had me on a wild goose chase helping her look up information she couldn't tell me about. Just 'look this up for me and report to me what you find'. If I didn't comply, it was like having a parrot in my bloody ear all day badgering me every five minutes! I couldn't handle it, so I just gave in.

"Just the other week, Harry had my spy on Lucius Malfoy when we went home for the weekend! Can you imagine? That's not my ideal break away from Hogwarts. I mean, he didn't even tell me what for, just to report anything that seemed suspicious."

My mind went into overdrive and I forced the breaks on that bitch. "You should have just given him an annoying play by play," I breathed. "I'm done doing favors until questions are answered, how are we supposed to get along and help out when they always keep us in the dark?"

"EXACTLY!"

"So it's agreed then?"

"What is?"

I rolled my eyes, "That our twinnies can go fuck themselves until they tell us what's really going on. Until then, anything they say is going in one ear and out the other." Crossing my arms in defiance, I huffed and headed back out of the store.

"Oh wait wait! Can we just get one book—"

"NO! Because when you say 'one' book, it really means fifteen…"

I could hear Faith grumble and curse behind me as I giggled at her reaction.

"We meant to go dress shopping remember?" I reminded her constantly about the upcoming Winter Ball. It boggled my mind as to how she could possibly forget; then again a lot of things were catching her attention lately other than me and the dance. I know she's had her eye on some hottie in Ravenclaw, but he was pretty obnoxious to me. His name was Avi. Man could that boy sing though, that's probably how she fell for him in the first place. I had to hand it to him though; he had the sexiest bass like voice that I've ever heard.

The first girly giggle I ever heard erupted from her. What the hell?

"Uhh…are you ok?"

"I didn't forget, I can't forget because…because Avi Kaplan totally asked me out!"

She squealed and for the first time I joined in and jumped up and down with her. Clearly she was ecstatic and I was happy for her, but at the same time I couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy. She was always able to do that! If she had a crush on someone, she could talk to them and they would instantly fall for her. She was a walking talking love potion. She didn't need any real magic. Quite ironic I think, because her brother Harry is the total opposite. He needs all the bloody help he can get…in fact, I think Faith soaked up all his romantic abilities in the womb.

"What are you two slut bags all excited about?"

"Not having a pug face like yours," it literally fell out of my mouth, like vomit. I don't actually take time to come up with insults, they fly away from me. My sister tells me I need a filter, I think people just need to quit pissing me off.

Pansy clenched her fists and made the most awkward looking face. "I'd watch it if I were you, Granger. You're on the special hit list."

Faith and I exchanged a look.

"I know I'm the shit and all, but hit list?" I tried pressing her for more information.

She placed her hands on her hips as she juts them out, "Hmph. You will find out soon enough mudblood. I wouldn't be surprised if my beaux is the one that carries it out. I will say, you have become the talk of Slytherin this year. After what you and your sister did last year, you're on EVERYONE'S list."

Courtesy of my sister and I, we held all of Slytherin hostage so that we could ambush the oncoming Death Eaters. I was the one who found out they were making a hit on Hogwarts in the dead of night, but Hermione helped me keep Slytherin in check as the deed was being carried out. Ironically enough, Draco wasn't in his bed when he was supposed to be, but he also had an alibi thanks to his asshole of a father. That guy gave me the creeps. He was passionate about all the wrong things, like he was born evil. Draco just seemed like a lost puppy that did whatever his master told him to.

"Don't listen to her Destiny, she's just trying to get attention and make you mad." Faith pulled me in the other direction.


"Destiny." "Faith."

Both voices so achingly familiar.

We had just finished a drink at the local pub as we begrudgingly turned around.

"What," we groaned in unison. We caught each other's eyes on this and held back the oncoming smile. Now wasn't the time, not with the stern look our twins were having.

"We want you to go back to the castle. Right. Now." Hermione had a sense of venom in her voice that wasn't directed towards me, but I took it that way.

"No," Faith stated simply, and this time I couldn't hold back the smile.

"Destiny, this is no laughing matter!" 'Mione tried not to raise her voice, but a few people in the general area stretched their necks around to see what we were on about.

"Yeah, Faith. Come on, you never give me a hard time when I ask you to do things." Why is Harry so easy on Faith? Why can't Hermione be more like Harry? Faith has it easy. Hermione would lunge at me and rip me to shreds if we weren't in public.

"I know, but this time it's just too much. I came here to enjoy my day with my best friend who respects me and that's EXACTLY what I'm going to do." She turned back around and ignored Harry.

"Who says I don't respect you?!" He was offended.

"We do," I chimed in, "it's obvious you two don't think of us as twins, as equals. You always order us to do your bidding and then won't reveal a damn thing about where you're getting your sources from, why, or any of the important details!"

"The important detail here is that you need to go home, or else," this time Hermione's threat was aimed at me.

I simply flipped my hair in her face and swiftly whipped back around.

Feeling a harsh tug on my shoulder, she whispered in my ear, "I will never forgive you if you do not return to the castle this instant."

That tugged at my heart strings a little, but I had to remain strong. Our reasoning was justified and if Faith and I wanted in, our strength in this belief could not waver, not now. I gulped and continued on a light conversation with Faith, not acknowledging Hermione's existence. If they truly wanted us to leave and be safe with whatever they think is going on in Hogsmeade, then they would let us know the truth.


"What about this one?"

My eyes popped out of my head, "Um, ok Pansy lookin' ass."

"Wow, that was hurtful," Faith laughed and I joined in. She held up a dress that was cut extremely short, like, 'hello, here's my ass' short. And let's just say that I wouldn't be surprised if it was famous for a nip-slip.

"He already asked you out, who are you trying to impress?" I nudged her and she rolled her pretty green eyes at me.

"Nothing, I just don't want to lose his attention."

"I don't think you will lose his attention, you've had it since day one."

She smiled at me and pulled me into a hug. "Thanks, Destiny."

Returning to the rack, she pulled out a beautiful crimson strapless dress. Her eyes lit up like diamonds as she ran into the dressing room to try it one. When she returned, I noticed it had sparkling jewels on the bodice, front and back; the back had a sensual dip that showed her perfect curvature. The dress had ruffles with more jewels placed in strategic places. She looked like Gryffindor royalty.

"Wow," was literally all I managed to say.

She took it wrongly, "Ugh, I know it's awful isn't it?"

"NO! No, no! You look, amazing! Like the Gryffindor Princess!"

"HA!" This girl was too modest, or self conscious, or both.

"What about you, Destiny? I mean, who is taking you to the ball?" As if seeing her look so damn beautiful didn't crush my already low confidence and self esteem already, she had to ask me THAT question.

"Um, no one's asked me yet." I could feel myself blushing and she rolled her eyes.

"I wouldn't worry, it's not for a while now and I know you will be asked for sure." Little does she know almost everyone has a date already; I'll be damned if I'm left with Neville…again. Sweet kid, not a sweet date.

"Sure, whatever you say Faith," I replied sarcastically and she slapped my arm.

"Why do you have to be so negative?! Why don't you go with Draco?" She teased and I glowered at her.

"Over my dead body."

We laughed simultaneously as I stumbled across the perfect dress. It was purple, short and ruffly. It shined to me, and it was simple. I didn't like wearing long dresses, it made me feel odd. This one was fun and cute to me. Besides I wasn't trying to impress anyone anyway. It had jewels on the bodice similar to Faith's but only lining the breast area.

I smiled and I could feel Faith hovering behind me.

"Do it."

"What?" I asked laughing at her abruptness.

"It's so you. Just do it. Don't even think twice, or we will be here all day," she joked and pulled the dress off the rack and shoved it into my arms to try on.

"AHHHH!" A piercing scream echoed from outside.

My face dropped and Faith became rigid. The dress fell out of my hands as we raced outside in time to see the town running amuck. People were screaming and running in circles; most of the students were heading back to the castle. None of them were familiar faces, but all were looking in one general direction. Both Faith and I lifted our heads to the cloudy grey sky, and there in the midst of all this chaos was a skull with a malicious snake slithering coyly out of the mouth.

The Dark Mark.


Like I said, kind of a filler chapter. But it does get better, and I know it's kind of short, but I had to make it short. Most of them will be in a humble length from now on because I do most of my updates from my phone. Please bare with me, and don't forget to review!