TESS/THERESA

"Wow," Tess snapped before she could help herself. "Way to be totally Star Wars. How long have you been practicing that little speech?"

She stood, knocking her chair over, and ran from the room. She tore down the stairs, past a still furious McGonagall (who looked like she had been Transfiguring a torch bracket) and down the hall. How many more surprises was she going to get this year? Sure, she'd surprised herself when she kissed Draco, but that was after he'd revealed he was a Death Eater (surprise) and then Snape was suddenly her father (surprise)?

"God," she moaned. She ducked into a small alcove and sank to the floor. Draco went running past, his face contorted with anger. She hoped it wasn't directed at her.

She needed a girl friend, not a boy friend, to talk to. She needed Raven. And not Quinn. The two had become inseparable the last few weeks.

Heaving herself to her feet, Tess drew her wand—precaution—and crept from her hiding place. She headed towards the Ravenclaw Tower, hoping that she would find Raven.

She didn't notice Draco slip from the shadows and trail her like a whisper.

"Tess," Quinn exclaimed. He rose from his chair by the fire. "What's going on? Are you okay?" His brow furrowed. Tess figured she was pale. "Where's Raven?" she asked.

"She went to bed early," Quinn said. "She was talking about a headache and a cold."

"Really?" Tess found this surprising (yet another thing that was surprising this year); Raven hardly ever got sick.

"Yeah. It surprised me too." Quinn shrugged. "But seriously. Are you okay?"

"Lots of surprises this year," Tess muttered.

Quinn moved closer. "What?"

Tess looked up. "I've been having a lot of surprises this year. Like a lot." She found a chair, tucking her legs up, and put her wand on a table next to her, shaking her head. "God, I'm so sick of surprises."

"Life is like that," Quinn agreed. He perched on the armrest of her chair. "I've got something to tell you." His tone made Tess get an uneasy feeling in her stomach. It grew when his fingers brushed her wand, knocking it to the floor.

Quinn bent down and whispered in her ear, "I'm a Death Eater."

His hands closed around her throat.

A/N: Short chapter but LOTS of drama! Squeal! :D