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Paige woke up early to get ready for Hogsmeade. She opened her trunk, looking for something warm to wear. She was throwing clothes all over the dorm room when she suddenly saw two necklaces lying on the bottom of her trunk. One was dark red with a lion in it and the other had green diamonds in the form of a snake.
Those were Harry's and Draco's Christmas gifts last year. She couldn't believe she forgot about them. But then.. There was a lot going on right after Christmas. She hesitated and held both of the necklaces up. They were both so precious to her right now. But it would be better to wear Draco's necklace. She didn't want Harry to think she still wanted him, even though she kissed him.
Next to where she found the necklaces was also a crumbled picture. She picked it up. It was her father's photo with the woman and baby. Her finger stroked the woman in the picture. Who was she? She put the picture in her pocket. She quickly got dressed and grabbed something to eat.
Not many students were going to hogsmeade today, so Paige walked alone through the snow. It was freezing cold and she couldn't see one bit. Draco wasn't joking about the snowfall. She looked behind her, she thought she saw a figure that looked like Draco but she shook her head in disbelief. It was probably her eyes messing with her because of the thick snow that was falling.
She finally made it to the three broomsticks. When she walked in she looked around for a second. She saw Ginny and Dean sitting together, she saw Slughorn sitting with another professor, who looked not really interested in what he had to say. She spotted Katie Bell and a friend of hers gossiping. But other than that she didn't see anyone she knew, so she just sat in a corner at an empty table, alone ordering a butterbeer.
She was looking into her glass, in thought. She felt deeply alone. Her best friend was busy with stuff. She couldn't hang out with the people she really wanted to be around.
'Even Pansy isn't around right now.' Paige ranted to herself. She was holding the necklace she got from Draco tight. She sighed, an overwhelming feeling of helplessness came over her.
'These days all good I can do is sigh.' Paige sighed ironically, taking a sip from her butterbeer.
Paige was so distracted by herself she didn't even notice Harry, Ron and Hermione walking in. They placed themselves in the middle of the three broomsticks, Harry noticed slughorn. Dumbledore had told Harry to befriend him so he'd set himself and his friends just right. So that Slughorn could see him.
'Paige is here.' Hermione mumbled to her friends.
'Yeah well so are Ginny and Dean.' Ron hissed, looking really uncomfortable.
'So?' Hermione asked, not really interested in them.
'So? That happens to be my sister.' Ron said, still looking at them, they started to snug. 'I want to leave.'
Hermione ignored him and bent over to Harry. 'She doesn't look great. She looks really tired.'
Harry glanced over at Paige who was staring into her butterbeer.
'Can you blame her, you know it's all my fault that we're in this situation. I should have protected her more..' Harry replied looking back at Hermione. He noticed Slughorn standing up so he got up as well, signing to him.
Paige got snapped out of her thoughts when she heard a loud voice. 'Harry, my good boy.' slughorn said.
'Good to see you.' Harry said, shaking Slughorn's hand. 'And you,' Paige heard Slughorn say. But then she didn't hear anything else 'cause she got distracted by the sight of...
'Draco?' Paige mumbled to herself. It couldn't be, he said he wouldn't go. Everyone can change their minds, sure, but why not tell her? He looked nervous like he was doing something he wasn't supposed to.
Paige stood up, ready to confront Draco when she got stopped by none other than Slughorn.
'Miss Prince, you will be attending my small gathering as well, won't you?' He almost demanded.
Paige and Harry's eyes met for a moment. Then his eyes looked at her neck, which had her green necklace exposed. She felt her heart sink a bit to her stomach. Looking back at Slughorn she nodded.
'Of course, I wouldn't miss it for the world.' She stated, 'Excuse me.' Paige walked past them looking for Draco. She saw him leaving the three broomsticks again. She closed her coat and went into the snowstorm.
She picked up her pace, holding out her hand to stop Draco. With her slight touch he turned around quickly. So quickly Paige got startled.
'Paige?' He asked, almost surprised to see her. Paige looked furious.
'So you just forgot to tell YOUR BEST FRIEND that you WERE going to Hogsmeade?' Paige snapped, she felt all her anger coming up. 'You know how bloody alone I feel, all the time. So would it be such a drag for you to go with me to Hogsmeade for one damn day?'
Draco looked lost for words. He didn't dare look in her eyes, so he glanced at her necklace she was wearing. 'That's the necklace I gave you,' he said softly. If Paige wasn't mistaken he smiled faintly.
'Yeah because I thought you were my best friend Draco.'
'You are… I am!.' Draco almost whispered, 'but there is something I have to do. And I do not want you to get involved.' The door opened again, Paige looked who it was. Katie Bell and her friend walked out. When Paige turned back to Draco to continue their conversation, he was gone.
'Rude.' Paige sneered, starting to walk back to Hogwarts. Katie Bell and her friend were walking behind her, probably also returning to school. She could hear them arguing, but she couldn't care less until suddenly she heard the most painful scream she ever heard behind her.
It was Katie's friend. Katie looked like she was screaming as well but no sound came out of her mouth. In a flash she was flying up in the air, the pain on her face.. it looked unbearable.
Out of the storm Hermione, Ron and Harry came running towards them, Katie's best friend was crying. 'I warned her not to touch it.'
Harry and Paige's eyes met for a moment before Paige asked, 'Not to touch what?' She felt disturbed by the sight. Katie fell to the ground, her body lifeless and limb. Paige's mind went everywhere, was it her parents doing? Was this her fault? Was it… Draco?
'Don't come any closer.' A heavy voice sounded behind them. It was Hagrid. 'Get back all of you.' He spoke as he took Katie Bell's lifeless body. Ron started walking towards a gift wrapper that was lying in the snow, the thing that Katie had touched. 'Don't touch that except for the wrapper, Ron.' Hagrid said dead serious. Paige looked closer at it, almost already covered in snow was a necklace.
Paige was sitting outside the office of McGonagall. Weirdly enough she asked everyone else to come in even Katie's friend but not Paige she was ordered to sit here and wait. She saw Snape entering the hallway walking in a fast-paced direction towards her .
'Miss Prince, are you ok?' He asked hastily. Paige nodded and he entered the room leaving Paige all alone again.
She was looking at the ground when all the sudden she saw a shadow on the ground. She looked up and to her surprise she saw Dumbledore. He was smiling kindly with his hands behind his back.
'They're all inside.' Paige said, expecting him to be here about the necklace.
'Actually I'm here to speak to you.' He said, still smiling. 'I don't have much time, I really need to run an errand.' He placed himself next to her. 'Miss Prince are you alright? We were quite worried when your mother got a hold on you. We couldn't get in contact with you or your parents. And now I hear from Harry that you are avoiding him.'
Paige wanted to tell him everything, but before she could he already stood up again. He turned to her still smiling. 'Friends are most important of all, I know you're scared but I also know you will do the right thing... And.. once you're seventeen you don't need to go back.' He walked away without further words.
Paige looked confused at her hands thinking about what Dumbledore said, 'Can I do the right thing?' she whispered to herself. 'I am doing the right thing..'
Suddenly the door opened and Ron, Harry and Hermione walked out.
Paige glanced at Harry and gave him a weak smile. McGonagall came out of her office as well, she took a look at Paige, 'Did he speak to you?' She asked. Paige knew directly that she was talking about Dumbledore.
'Yes, professor.' Paige said standing up.
'Good, then you're all dismissed.' She said going back into her office.
'Well we should go.' Hermione said, pulling Ron with her leaving Harry and Paige alone in the hallway.
Harry didn't look happy, on the contrary, he looked quite hurt. Paige opened her mouth to say something but couldn't actually think of something to say.
'Nice necklace.' Harry stated, Paige thought she heard a bit of sarcasm. 'Who gave it to you?'
Paige hesitated. 'Draco.' She finally mumbled. 'but I couldn't wear yours.' she tried, but Harry only looked more hurt than he already did.
A long pause filled the hall. Paige just wanted to melt into the ground and be non-existing at this point. 'I don't have a choice, Harry. It's better this way.'
'That is where you're wrong, Paige. You always have a choice and how is this better? I thought we made each other strong. Telling me you would stay beside me.' Harry turned around and walked away. Paige could feel every inch of her body begging her to stop him. But she didn't. she made her choice, she took a look at her necklace again and walked away as well.
It was a few hours before Slughorn's gathering. Paige was in the library, she had her father's photo in her hand. She was looking at old yearbooks with students who had attended Hogwarts, maybe she would be able to find out who this mystery woman was. Hours went by when finally,
'Got'ya!' Paige pointed at an old picture, her father was holding the quidditch cup and next to him stood the woman. Names were written beneath the photo.
'Bill Tobias Prince,' She followed her finger to the next name… 'Evanora Greengrass..'
A small smile placed on Paige's face, 'I have a name. I'm awesome!' She belted, but she stopped smiling seeing the face of the librarian. 'Sorry,' she stumbled while closing the book.
Paige looked at her watch, 'Oh bloody hell! I'm late!' She gave the librarian an apologetic look and left in a hurry.
When she arrived at the door she was already quite late. She opened it and everyone felt silence in the room. They were already eating dessert. She caught the eyes of Harry for a second before she walked in and closed the door behind her. 'I'm sorry, I lost track of time.' She took place at the table next to Blaise.
'That is quite alright, miss Prince.' Slughorn said jolly. 'Now where were we?'
Paige was looking at Harry, Ginny was sitting next to him. Paige felt jealousy boiling up inside of her. She didn't even notice Hermione looking at her, worried.
Continuing the party Paige could only think about Harry. She wasn't really paying attention to anything else. She wanted to tell him what she found out in the library, about this strange mystery woman called Evanora Greengrass.
Paige didn't touch much of her food, Blaise kept trying to make conversation but Paige didn't feel like talking. She just kept glancing over at Harry and Ginny. Fire roared inside her. There was no way that Paige could let him go!
She suddenly felt something she hadn't felt in a while. In her heart a small feeling of hope got bigger. The connection she lost with Harry.. she thought she felt a glimpse of it again.
'What is going on.' Paige whispered to herself. She met Harry's eyes, as if he felt it too.
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