(A/N): Hey Guys! So, this chapter literally made me cry. Maybe I'm a big softie, but I really, really hated writing this chapter. Hope you like it!

Disclaimer: I own nothing but Leo, Elaine, Nicholai and Shari.

Leo

Today was the day we had found out what Maloney was planning to use the trance for, and the end result...wasn't good.

Remus and I were in Defense Against the Dark Arts, rolling our eyes at everything Maloney said, when he said it, out of the blue.

"But the worst things you need to look out for with Dark Arts...are the half-breeds." I swear to god, he was looking straight at us when he said this, so he knew, he most definitely knew. The worst thing though, was the fact that those in the chairs around us, those that considered us friends, allies, were nodding in agreement.

Even Elaine.

"It was crazy creepy! He says that half-breeds are the worst thing ever, and everyone just nods!" I exclaim, McGonagall staring up at me from her chair in the Room of Requirement, her face filled with concern, and a glint of apprehension in her eyes. "I hate this!" I yell, falling into the chair next to hers, arms crossed over my chest.

"So do I." Remus agreed quietly, and McGonagall raised her head again.

"I don't know how you feel, either of you, but I know if he starts on about my being an animagus, he's going down. Hopefully that will break the trance." I lifted my head to look at her with a slightly amused smile.

"What, so we could just beat the crap out of him and hope it breaks his hold over them? Because I'm all for that." She smiled somewhat indulgently, amusement written all over her face.

"For a twelve year old, you have quite the potty-mouth." I shrugged, sporting a small smile.

"It's a talent, I guess." Of course, saying that brought back memories of all the times Lily and I had said that, and it made me even more determined to stop this bastard.

"We've just got to hope that he doesn't reveal our conditions to everyone else. Then we're screwed, no one will ever trust us again." Remus said, and we nodded silently, before returning to what we had been doing before- reading, or tending to the potion that brewed in the middle of the table- in order to take our minds off the probability of this event actually happening.

"It's all we have left." McGonagall said, and we both looked up.

"What?" Remus asked, but I understood.

"Hope."

Remus

We were on our way back to the Gryffindor common room, Leo and I, earlier than usual. McGonagall had shooed us away, knowing that we were both exhausted and stressed from the events of today, and saying she would stay to watch over the potion until nightfall. Things were going as per usual, I guess you could say- until we ran into Elaine, that is.

"Ah, the Wonder Twins arrive." My eyebrows wrinkled, and I began to worry. Would she really say anything against us, just because of Maloney's urging? I hoped not, I very seriously did, yes for my sake, but mostly for Leo's sake. Those two were closer than I could ever be with either of them, and they leaned against each other for support. I doubt it would affect me anywhere near as harshly as it would him if she were to say anything.

"Damsel." Leo greeted her, a grim look on his face as her lip curled in disgust at the sight of him. The dread I saw in his expression looked like it had deeper roots than could possibly have been planted solely by Maloney's trance.

"Don't call me that." She said, her voice dangerously low. "You have no right to call me anything." Leo winced, and I stared at her, horrified.

"Elaine-" Leo cut me off, raising a hand to me, his eyes never leaving her face.

"Stay out of this, wolf-boy." I winced, and took a step back at the vicious edge in her voice. I glanced at Leo, to see how he was holding up, and I couldn't tell. His face, it was a mask. "Leave it to the grown-ups." She said with a hint of dark amusement, and I looked to Leo for an answer.

"Stay out of it, Remus." He said quietly, and I nodded slightly, knowing he would see.

"Ooh, agreeing with me? I didn't know you had that much intelligence." Leo raised an eyebrow, and I stared at her, aghast.

"Just say what you want to say Elaine. Get it over with." The hurt in the last sentence made me stare at him now, though his face was still emotionless, blank.

"And why should I listen to you, a lowly half-breed? A monster?" I flinched, but Leo stayed perfectly still, and I could see pain and anger flash in those bright blue eyes.

"Because we're your friends!" I exclaimed, unable to help myself, and her gaze- a gaze that was so unlike anything I had even seen from her- turned to me.

"Remus." He said my name quietly, but his tone made me stop and look at him. "Just stay out of it." He whispered, almost quiet enough that I couldn't hear it.

"Friends? Is that what you think? You two were nothing more than a fleeting alliance I made to get what I needed." It hurt, but it made me curious. Luckily, Leo asked the question I wanted to without me having to break his 'no interfering' rule.

"And what was it you needed?" Leo inquired, still staring straight at her, his eyebrow raised. Not challengingly, but almost concernedly. He wasn't actually considering this...was he?

"Information. Now that I've gotten all I wanted, I won't be needing to spend time with disgusting, soulless creatures like you." Like you. Not like you two, but you. Why was she focusing on Leo so much? And why was Leo allowing it? Just to protect my feelings?

"That's fine by us." Leo told her, and my head snapped round to stare at him, my mouth parted slightly in surprise.

"Fine!" She yelled, getting up in his face, with a fierce glare threatening to kill anything that moved. It was lucky Leo seemed to be unkillable, then.

"Fine." He said quietly, staring her down in a much calmer manner, and she stomped a foot, somewhat immaturely, before storming off, muttering insults under her breath. Insults that Leo could no doubt hear. Insults that she invariably knew he could hear.

"Leo..." I whispered, and he turned his face away from me.

"I'll meet you back at the dorm later. Try not to get into anymore trouble with Elaine." He told me, his voice flat, and dead, empty of all emotion.

"Alright." I said quietly, and I'm almost sure that while he was physically capable of hearing me, I expected he wasn't listening for my answer as he started walking in the opposite direction.

Leo

I climbed to the top of the Owlery, where no one would find me, and I cried, for the first time in a long time.

(A/N): So, what did you think?

Please review and/or check out my other stories!

By the way, this story is now the longest I have ever written, chapter-wise, and is almost word-wise as well, but it's like, 1000 words short.

Thank you, for all the lovely reviews!

This chapter has had small edits made to it on 29/12/22