Alright here's the next chapter! I have now entered my last year of high school… oh… joy…

Chapter thirty-one: Castor's POV

Sometimes when things got really bad, I liked to pretend that I was someone else, not just the disgusting product of an arranged marriage. I liked to pretend that I was a muggleborn, entering our world for the first time and seeing none of the horror that magic brought with it, only gazing in awe at everything and seeing it for beauty, not disgust. A muggleborn didn't judge me, not at first at least, not until the rest told them who I was, who my parents were. I could never hate muggleborn's because they were the only ones who didn't flinch at my last name, or my appearance. They accepted me and in that gave me freedom. Still now as I hugged Draco to me tightly I tried to do the same for him, see him with brand new eyes and I'll admit it wasn't that hard. My trembling fingers clung to the fabric of his robes as he buried his head on my shoulder and wept, we stayed like this for a few minutes. I just allowed him to cry to me, allowing his sobs to fill my ears without interruption. I breathed a shaky sigh, not liking to think about how we were going to explain the trashed toilet, which looked like a muggle bomb sight, to Dumbledore. I sighed, that wasn't important right now, my sobbing cousin was the important thing.

"You don't need to tell me how it felt to be tortured," he whispered, wiping his eyes when he finally pulled away, seeming to become embarrassed. "I just… dad says that when they fail him… the dark lord… he p-punishes them." I knew what he was saying, my mother had been a victim of it, Voldemort had no doubt tortured her for her failures. His most loyal servant.

"Draco listen to me… you don't have to join them. You might think that you don't have anyone but you have me, I am your flesh and blood… look at Sirius," I realized that he probably wasn't the best example as he was now dead… at the hands of my mother, "Our Aunt Andromeda. We may be from the house of Black, Malfoy and Lestrange… but we are our own people. The only ones who ever seem to really find true happiness are those who go against their families, no matter how hard Draco," I whispered to him, wiping my nose of blood and dabbing the cut on my eyebrow. Draco passed me my wand and pulled out his own, "Episkey," he said and I felt my nose click back into place as I groaned at the slight moment of pain, Draco performed the curse again on my eyebrow and then the cut on my arm I touched it to feel the cut gone and only the remainder of mattered blood reminding me that it was ever there. "No… I have to, to protect my families honor. You wouldn't understand," I sighed, working on Draco to try and get him to believe me would take a long time but it would be worth it. So for now I merely sighed and tried to stand up, I found myself shaking as I grasped onto the sink looking into the mirror to find my hollow sunken out eyes staring back at me, my pale skin was wracked with the gaunt and hollow cheeks that my parents wore so well. Although there's had been forced by Azkaban, mine had no doubt come from stress, although I did admit that mine weren't as bad.

"We'd better tell Dumbledore what happened," I sighed, after how rude I had been to the old man yesterday I really didn't want to see him again, still it was what we had to do. Draco nodded and followed me to Dumbledore's office as I desperately worked to get the blood off my face. My fingers were cold as I knocked on the door, drawing in a shivery breath. Images of the trashed bathroom flashed through my mind, tiles lay broken and cracked, a section of the wall was in pieces, a stall door was burnt and lay in tattered, charred remains on the ground. A mirror and sink had also been destroyed and water from the sink now lay in pools, drowning the floor. I had no doubt the headmaster would be less than pleased. However when we heard Dumbledore's voice say, "Come in." My nerves were somewhat repressed. "Would you boys like a-," he said, lifting the small pot which contained his sweets to us.

We both quickly answered, "No thank you, sir."

Dumbledore smiled and popped one of his sherbet lemons into his mouth and gave a slight smile at me and Draco, his blue eyes twinkling, "May I enquire as to why young Mr. Black has blood on his face and arm?" Dumbledore said to both of us, chewing the little sweet in his mouth as Draco went to answer him.

"We had a fight Professor. Regrettably I let my emotions get the better of me and Castor… unfortunately was there when my anger got the better of me," Draco answered quickly. I cursed myself, my scrapbook and art stuff were still in the bathroom, away from the water at least but still there. I would have to fetch them later. Dumbledore fixed us with his piercing blue eyes as I shuddered under his gaze, under his power.

"Well, I'm not really angry at either of you, if one of you had been hurt it would be different but as no real damage was done, there won't be much consequence," I was thankful then that none of Draco's more powerful spells had hit me, it wouldn't be good if I had serious burns or something. "I must ask that duels not be performed in the boys toilets next time though. Mr. Filch won't be pleased at the mess you two have caused though so humor him I highly suggest that you steer clear of him and if you do see him make sure to give him an apology. I would normal issue punishments for dueling but due to the circumstances surrounding both of you… I think you've had enough of an emotional time recently and I don't feel the need to make you suffer anymore," Dumbledore said his last sentence with a sad breath as he stroked his beard. "Castor, if you wouldn't mind returning to the hospital wing… you still need more medical attention after the battle. Madam Pomfrey won't be pleased that you left for more than a shower." I nodded with a sigh, not wanting to be stuck there for what would no doubt be weeks. Still it wouldn't do me much good to argue so with a sigh I said my goodbyes to Draco and returned to face Pomfrey's wrath.

I remained in the hospital wing until two days before the end of term, I returned just before dinner was served. Apparently I'd missed Umbridge being finally chased out of Hogwarts, good riddance. For the most part conversation between, me, Ron and Hermione was awkward, with only small talk really being made between the three of us while they talked mostly among themselves. I didn't mind much though because I was visited most days, either by Tonks, when she could get time off work, Andy and Ted, Luna, Colin, who I had began to repair my relationship with, which I was very glad about. It had hurt losing him and it felt so much better having him back with me even though things still weren't exactly how they used to be. Fabian and I still hadn't had our chat but I was sure to change that when I got out of the hospital wing. I was also visited by Neville and sometimes Fred and George and others. Draco even popped in a few times, much to Ron and Hermione's disgust as they would frown and glare at him and sometimes even whisper about the two of us. I didn't blame them though really, I knew of the great hatred that existed between the golden trio and Draco Malfoy. The worst times were when Harry visited Ron and Hermione, we barely looked at each other and he practically blanked me, although I must admit I didn't make much of an effort to talk to him.

Finally though, I was allowed to leave and after changing into fresh clothes and cleaning up slightly I strolled into the Great Hall, only to see heads turn and hear whispering ensue. Most of the school, although they knew that I was back hadn't yet seen me as I'd been cooped up in the hospital wing. I grinned a slightly manic grin and pushed my glasses back up onto my nose. I'd asked Neville to retrieve my art stuff and scrapbook from the toilet which he had done, I was happy to find nothing had been damaged and thanked him. I stood there for a few moments, surveying the hall, all the pairs of eyes, Luna grinned at me and continued to eat as though nothing was out of the ordinary.

"Has anyone got a problem with me?" I smiled, moving throughout the tables, "I have made mistakes. We all make mistakes but I am not a Death Eater and I never will be. I will never join my parents, my family are Andromeda, Ted and Dora," I thought about how my cousin would kill me if I said her full first name with a slight smile, "Tonks. My family are my friends, those who have stood by me through it all, not caring what others think and not caring when I make mistakes and do things I later regretted. I am Castor Sirius Regulus Black and you will do well to remember my name, not because you'll one day fear it, no, because when the Death Eaters stand against us I will be standing with you all. I will be prepared to fight to the death against them… I will fight for you, all of you, for our freedom and most of all I will fight for my family. For those who dare to love me, despite my name and blood… once I thought being a Black, a Lestrange was a curse but I know… I know now that I am lucky… because I wouldn't have the Tonks' to care for me. I will fight for Hogwarts and to prove everyone wrong about me… I will fight for love and I will fight because it is the right thing to do and muggleborns should never ever be told that they are not as worthy as others. As someone like me, a pureblood… a pureblood who was ashamed of their blood purity because of who it linked me with… you all treat muggleborns with respect," I looked over at the Sltytherins but they did not respond. "All I'm asking is that you do the same to me. See me, not by my blood, by my family, by my family's legacy… you wouldn't dream of being prejudice to a muggleborn… so please, don't do it to me." Everyone sat in silence as I finished my tirade, coming to stand in front of the teachers table. No one clapped but then she stood up and grinned at me, just Luna clapping alone, grinning… then Neville got up and clapped, both of them just clapping together, as the rest of the school stared. Then shakily Colin stood up and began to clap, I noticed Fabian trying to pull him down and scowling but Colin refused to sit down and stood beaming at me. "This was a war started by the generation who came before us, the generation fuelled on anger and greed and power and now they pass their war onto us, expect us to finish what they started. Well we will finish it, Voldemort," a few people gasped and I resisted the urge to roll my eyes, Voldemort was just a name, "will fall. Harry will destroy him and I look forward to the day where muggleborn's don't have to hide anymore and I don't have to look in the mirror everyday and see my mother's eyes staring back. I am not them, I am me and I will set my own course. Death to the dark arts," I smirked slightly but quickly wiped it from my face as a more positive grin emerged. To my upmost surprise Hermione stood up and a few seconds later Ginny stood with her, then a few more Gryffindor students, I shot a glance over at the Slytherin table and I caught eyes with Draco, he nodded and gave me his trade mark smirk as I felt myself fill with warmth. A few more students stood up, Hufflepuff, then Ravenclaw, then practically the whole of Gryffindor, then most of Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw until soon the whole school, bar Slytherin, was stood cheering for me. I noticed Harry stand up and head towards me as the clapping and cheering and whistling dimmed somewhat. He extended his hand and I took it as he squeezed it.

"I would have done the same… had it been Lily… had it been my mother, it wasn't right but I understand it Castor and I can forgive it. It's good to know that you're not on their side though… that your one of us, on the side of light," I nodded and detached my hand from his grip.

"Forever and always… I will stand with you Harry," I whispered, he nodded and was about to turn but I leaned in close to him. "I'm sorry about Sirius."

A steely glint entered his eyes and I realized that he would never forgive my mother and that the wound I doubted would ever truly heal, "So am I. Mark my words Castor… you are my friend but when I see her, I'm not going to give up dueling her and if you get in my way… I don't know what I'll do," I gulped, revenge was a powerful emotion. One that dug into your skin and stayed there, niggling at your human decency, "I don't want to hurt you Castor but if it comes to that. If your emotion for her gets the better of you I will hurt you to get to her and I won't think twice. Are we clear?" I just nodded, I wouldn't let it happen again, even if I thought my mother loved me she was right, she was a Death Eater, I was a fighter for light. "Good because my emotion will get the better of me and I will fight her. Don't try and stop me." I just nodded again as he turned around and gave me a slight smile before heading back to his seat. I was trembling slightly but I knew he was right, both him and my mother were right, I couldn't be that foolish again, I would only get hurt. Both emotionally and physically.

Dumbledore smiled and me and I headed to sit down quickly, "Well that was a rather eventful dinner. It certainly stumped my end of year speech," the old man chuckled looking at me, "But I still have tonight to rewrite it. Enjoy." With that the sound of chatter and food being shoveled into mouths resumed as I sat next to Neville.

"Nice one mate," he grinned and I shook my head nervously.

"Thanks Nev, maybe now… I can just enjoy the summer," but I doubted it. I doubted I could enjoy anything knowing that Death Eaters were on the loose and knowing that I couldn't have my mother and father and that I was going to face them on the battlefield and that either me or them were going to die.

Okay, thanks guys, please tell me what you think about the chapter :) or any suggestions you'd like to make thanks!