When I awoke I was in my own bed, and bright sunshine poured into the room from the open windows. I recognised the familiar decorations of my room, and sank back against the pillows with a groan of mingled confusion and relief.

There was a tray set on the bedside table, bearing tea and toast. I sat up, trying to remember everything that had happened.

Memory seeped back into my mind in dribs and drabs. The Quidditch final, Australia winning, the party, Rabastan's sneering face, the forest… the conversation between Malfoy and Lestrange, the explosion… Ted…

I clasped a hand over my mouth against a sudden resurgence of sickness. I had to find out what had happened. Pushing myself off of the bed, I ignored the dizziness that threatened to knock me over and staggered to the door in my nightgown. I used the wall to help me down the corridor until I reached Bella's door, and pushed it open.

Her room was empty, the bed neat and well-made, sterile.

I frowned. Judging from the sun outside the window, it looked to be around mid-morning. I suppose it wasn't unreasonable for Bella to be out somewhere. But I still felt rather unsettled.

I shuffled back into the corridor and was just wondering whether it was worth checking Narcissa's room when my little sister herself came walking up the stairs.

She froze when she saw me, her mouth opening in a small 'oh' of surprise before she hurried forward.

"You're awake," she said, taking my arm in a steady grip. I tried to shake her off, convinced I didn't need any help, but she was insistent. "You should be in bed, Andy. Come on, let's go back to your room."

I pouted, but allowed her to steer me back to bed. "What time is it?" I asked when I was again seated on the mattress.

"About eleven o'clock, I think."

I hesitated. "Of - of what day?"

"It's only Sunday," she said with a small smile, and I breathed a sigh of relief. I had begun to think I had been out cold for days, but it had really been less than 12 hours.

"How did I get back here?"

"Roly brought you," said Cissy. She settled herself on the mattress next to me, smoothing the bedspread with her hands. "After you passed out at the kitchen table. You scared us, Andy. I think Bella nearly had a heart attack when you fainted."

I managed a smile, trying to imagine Bella's reaction to my dropping unconscious right in front of her. "Sorry about that. Where's everybody else?"

"Sirius is back at Grimmauld Place," answered Cissy, correctly interpreting who I was really asking about. "With his parents and Reggie. Uncle Alphard is staying with us here, until mum and dad get home. They should be back soon."

"Oh." I fidgeted, steeling myself for my next question. "What happened at the Quidditch, Cissy?"

"There was an explosion," Narcissa replied matter-of-factly. "In an area of the campsite."

"Did – was anyone hurt?" I forced myself to ask.

Cissy shrugged. "I think so. It was in the Prophet." She paused, looking at the large tapestry hung on the far side of the room. It depicted our Ancestor, Cassius Black, battling a dragon. "They're saying it was supporters of the Dark Lord."

"And was it?" I asked in a voice that was barely even a whisper.

"How should I know?" responded Narcissa calmly. "I didn't see anything. I was inside dancing with Lucius when – "

"Was anyone we know injured?" I interrupted, a little rudely, and she shot me an offended look.

"I don't know. They printed the names in the Prophet, but I don't have – "

"Bring me a copy," I said, using my older sister tone, and Cissy sighed. She got up and stuck her head out of the door.

"Roly!"

I heard the patter as our house elf rushed over. "Yes miss?"

"Bring a copy of today's Daily Prophet."

"At once miss!"

I waited anxiously, my mind running over and over the events of the night before. Could I have done something to prevent it? If I had confronted Mr Malfoy and his colleagues, would I have been able to stop them? I thought about this for a while and concluded the answer was no. They would not have listened to the thoughts of a fifteen year old girl. And I still did not really know for certain that it was them who –

"Your paper Miss."

Roly had returned. I took the paper from his outstretched arms and spread it flat on the bed. On the front page was a photograph of the same scene of chaos and horror I had witnessed with my own eyes the previous night: the burning tents, screaming people, and the green skull above it all, with the serpent curling in and out of its mouth.

Beneath the picture huge words were emblazoned that read:

CARNAGE AT THE WORLD CUP! FIVE DEAD, DOZENS INJURED AS BLAST RIPS THROUGH AFTER-MATCH CELEBRATIONS!

And beneath this was a sub-heading in slightly smaller letterhead:

Dark Mark found at the scene points to self-styled "Dark Lord" involvement. Head of Department of Magical Games and Sports resigns as investigation continues…

I opened the front page, and there they were. Five faces, blinking up at me in serene oblivion. I stared at them all at once, and felt the iron band around my heart release a fraction.

I don't know what I had been expecting. The chances of knowing the five that had died, in a crowd that numbered in the tens of thousands, were slim. Still, I was relieved to note that I had not, in fact, ever heard of any of them. Then I felt guilty, because surely someone, somewhere, knew these people. Out in the world somewhere there would be people grieving over these deaths.

"They were all Mudbloods," Cissy commented coolly. I glanced up to find her watching me closely, almost as though scrutinising my reaction.

"Oh."

"Where were you last night Andy?" my sister asked. Perhaps she thought that springing the question on me would make me more likely to answer truthfully, but I was well prepared with an answer.

"I went for a walk in the forest."

Her eyes narrowed imperceptibly. "When you came back your dress was torn, your shoes were ruined and you looked like you'd gone rolling in mud. What happened?"

"I got lost," I answered in what I hoped was a casual voice. "Tripped over a couple of times because of the stupid shoes Aunt Walburga gave me." That part was true enough. I scowled as I wriggled my toes, feeling the blisters that had formed there. "That's all."

My sister studied me for a moment, before settling back, seemingly satisfied with my answer. "That was silly of you." She put a gentle hand on my arm, her touch so different from Bella's rough, demanding one. "You could have been hurt."

"I know," I said, remembering the moment of the explosion, the way the air had seemed to ripple around me. "I'm sorry."

"I'm just glad you're safe." Cissy smiled at me, and gave me a brief embrace, her blonde hair tickling my chin. "Your tea's gone cold. Shall I get you some more?"

We did not leave the house much after that. My parents returned early from America, but I didn't think their haste was out of concern for us children. After an initial visit to ensure I was well, I hardly saw them again; they flitted back and forth, visiting different pureblood families, organising dinners and functions to which we were never invited. I thought the atmosphere at these events was much tenser than it had been when I was younger, as though everybody was on edge. I did not have to wonder why.

Bella was gone more than she was at home. I began to listen for her nocturnal activities, and noticed that she snuck out almost every night, often not returning until just before dawn. How she managed to present herself each morning for breakfast without betraying her secret was beyond me, but I didn't confront her about it. I did not want to know what she was doing, nor who she was doing it with.

In all the excitement of the World Cup, and the confusion and terror of the aftermath, my fifth year at Hogwarts had been pushed well and truly to the back of my mind. So it was with a great deal of surprise that I woke up one morning to find a tawny owl at to my bedside, hooting impatiently as it waited for me to open my bedroom window.

It was my letter. I skimmed it quickly, noting the new books we would be required to buy, before my attention was caught by something that had fallen out of the envelope into my lap. It was a badge, green and silver, adorned with an intricate 'P' that partially covered the Slytherin snake and emblem. I gaped at it.

"Well of course they made you Prefect," drawled Bella when I burst into her room a moment later. I hadn't actually expected to find her, since she seemed to spend as little time there as possible. But it looked as though I had caught her in between outings. "You've been a shoo-in since first year."

"What do you mean?" I asked. I still clutched the badge in one hand, so that I could feel the weight of it. It didn't quite seem real yet.

Bella gave me a sardonic look. "You're the prodigal student, Andy. Teachers love you. Who else were they going to give it to? Phylissa?" She snorted and returned to her mirror, and I noticed she was putting make-up on.

"Where are you going?" I asked curiously.

"Out," said Bella curtly. She fluffed up her hair, her eyes drifting to me in the mirror. "Rodolphus is seventeen now, you know?" She smirked.

I resisted the temptation to roll my eyes. "So when's the engagement?"

It was meant to be a joke, but Bella span on her heel and paced towards me with a fervent look of excitement on her face. "Soon," she said, gripping my arm and using her other to sweep my hair off of my shoulders.

"Soon?" I blinked at her. "But you're not even seventeen yet. And you've got another year left of school and – "

"It doesn't matter," said Bella breathlessly. "Who cares about school? The whole world is changing." Her eyes flashed and she drew me closer, lowering her voice to a whisper, though there was next to no chance we were being overheard. "Our time is coming, and those who are loyal will be rewarded, beyond all measure."

I could think of nothing to say. Bella continued to stare at me intently, before sighing and releasing me. "You're too young," she said in a patronising voice, stepping away from me and back to the mirror. "You don't understand yet. But you will."

My parents celebrated the news of my Prefect status with a huge end of summer dinner, inviting all the best pureblood families and putting on a banquet the likes of which I had never seen before. The table was so large I could barely make out the faces of those at the other end. I was dressed in my best robes, sitting demurely as one person after another came forward to congratulate me on my achievement. They were also congratulating the male Slytherin Prefect, who sat beside me at the table. It was Leo Avery.

I had avoided looking at him all night. In fact I had avoided thinking about him ever since the night in the forest when I had seen him kiss Sebastian Bletchley. Every time I thought about it my stomach threatened to upheave itself. Bletchley wasn't at the dinner. His parents were not particularly friendly with my own, and their status in the wizarding world was not high enough to justify an invitation. So it was just me and Leo, sitting beside each other in a frosty silence, fake smiles plastered on our faces.

"You look nice tonight, Andy."

I clenched my jaw, not even acknowledging that he had spoken. I could hear the hesitation in Leo's voice. He knew I was mad at him. I wondered what he was thinking right then.

"Are you excited for another year at Hogwarts?" he asked tentatively.

I poked spitefully at a floret of broccoli. Are you excited for another year of snogging Bletchley in secret while you pretend to be training for Quidditch?

Leo shifted fractionally closer to me, and out of the corner of my eye I saw his worried frown. "Is something wrong?" he asked in a low voice.

I glanced up and down the table, ensuring no one was paying attention to us. Aunt Walburga was laughing wildly in the middle of the table, apparently over some joke Abraxas Malfoy had told. Using the booming sound as cover, I half-turned to face Leo and whispered accusingly, "I saw you."

He went very still. "Saw me where?" he asked, but I could hear the sheer terror in his voice, and I thought he knew what I meant.

"At the World Cup Final, after the game," I went on, drawing a rather vicious sense of satisfaction from the way the blood seemed to drain from his face. "With Bletchley."

There was a frozen silence. I could feel how tense Leo was beside me, strung as tight as a bow. His breathing was shallow, and it sounded like he was hyperventilating. "Andy – " he began in a strangled voice. "Andy I – "

"Don't bother," I hissed. "I saw it Leo. I saw him kiss you. There's no point denying it."

"I – I can explain. It – it's not what it looks like, I – "

I turned in my chair, cutting him off. His face was paler than I had ever seen it, his eyes wide with panic. I wanted to tell him to get a grip, that if he wasn't careful somebody would notice his reaction.

"Do you understand how humiliated I am?" I demanded in a cold voice. Leo winced, and dropped his eyes to the floor. When he raised them again his expression was beseeching.

"I'm so sorry Andy. I know I should have – I should have – I promise it won't happen again."

"Don't promise that!" I snapped at him. His eyes widened.

"What – "

"I saw the way you kissed him," I went on, fighting the colour that I could feel emerging on my cheeks. "You've never kissed me like that."

I saw his adam's apple bob as he swallowed. "I'm not – " he said. "I mean it's just – "

"Just what?"

He seemed to be panicking, his eyes darting around the table, his pupils wide. "It was just a – a – "

"A fling?" I finished for him. He nodded tightly. "I don't believe you," I said at once. "I think you care more about Bletchley than you do me and you're using me as cover for your real relationship."

He cringed, and seized my hand. I wanted to snatch it away, but I knew that somebody might be watching us and I didn't want to raise their suspicion. As angry as I was at Leo, I wasn't so mad as to out him in front of everyone like that. For all my harsh words, I understood what a dilemma he faced.

"Please Andy," he begged me. "Please – no one can know – they'll k-kill me, you know they will – and I – I just need some time – "

I disengaged his hand from mine as gently as I could, and returned to my dinner. "You're asking me to continue to pretend to be your girlfriend while you snog another boy behind my back?"

"No," he said quickly. "No I – just don't tell anyone – just for a little bit, while I figure out what to – I do like you Andy, I do – you're a great Quidditch player and – and you're really beautiful and – but I – I don't know what's wrong with me – "

He sounded so miserable, I could feel my anger fading away. "Nothing's wrong with you, Leo," I said quietly.

He released a quavering breath, and I thought his next words sounded close to tears. "I'm sorry for hurting you."

"Just… leave me alone for a little while," I said. I heard him open his mouth and hurried to add, "I won't tell anyone. At least not yet. But I won't lie for your forever."

I felt Leo nod, and we spent the rest of the dinner in silence. At the end of the night, we stood together and he took my hand.

"I can't tell you how much I – I mean – " he leant forward and kissed me gently on the cheek, like a brother might. "Thank you, Andy."

"Goodnight, Leo," I said, turning my back and walking away.

I didn't think anyone had noticed our disagreement, but when I returned to my room later that night I found Narcissa waiting on my bed, and the first thing she asked me was, "Did you have a fight with Leo?"

I sighed. At least she had not asked me when Bella was present. I didn't think I could handle my older sister's overreaction right then. "Not really."

"You looked pretty angry."

I glared at her. "Didn't you have anything better to do than spy on me all night?"

It was not a particularly nice thing to say, and I couldn't really blame her for looking offended. "I was just asking," she huffed, sliding off the bed and brushing past me towards the door. I caught her wrist.

"I'm sorry Cissy," I said. "I'm just really tired and – yes, we did fight. But it was over something stupid and I just want to forget about it."

She stared at me, studying my face, before her expression relented. "Alright, well, I hope you sorted it out. I don't think I was the only one who noticed." And with those not so comforting words, she turned and left me alone.

I was looking forward to being a Prefect, if only because it gave me something to do on the long train ride to Hogwarts besides sit with the other Slytherins and listen to them complain about Mudbloods. The letter that arrived with the badge had instructed me to go straight to the Prefects' carriage, where we would meet the Prefects from other houses and be briefed by the Head Boy and Girl. I dumped my luggage in the same compartment I always shared with Bella, Cissy and the other Slytherins, and said hello to Annabelle, but did not sit down.

"Andy's too important to sit with us now, aren't you little sis?" Bella commented in a lazy drawl. She was sitting tucked into Rodolphus' side, regarding me with a hooded gaze. "Got too much brown-nosing to do."

"Shut up Bella," I said lightly. Leo was standing by my side, also waiting to leave, and I was hyper-aware of his presence.

"I think being Prefect is stupid," said Rabastan sourly. "Who wants to have to patrol the corridors every week, being friendly to Mudbloods and blood-traitors? As if we don't have better things to do."

I glared at Rabastan, but couldn't be bothered getting into a fight with him right then. He was only jealous. I noticed Bella staring hard at him as well, and thought she might have words with him once I was gone. Bella might tease me herself, but that didn't mean she would let just anyone get away with making fun of my position. I smirked, enjoying Rabastan's confusion over my reaction to his words, then stalked out of the compartment with Leo at my heels.

Leo kept shooting glances at me on our way to the Prefects' carriage, and more than once I saw him open his mouth as though about to speak, before closing it again. Finally, when we were about to enter the carriage, I stopped and turned to face him.

"What is it?" I demanded.

He looked alarmed, but quickly composed himself. "I wanted to say thank you," he said in a low voice. "For… you know… not telling."

"Okay." I reached for the door to the compartment, but Leo's hand shot out and grabbed my own.

"And – and I wanted to say – that is, about S-Seb – I'm not – "

"Let's just leave it," I sighed. The high of my Prefect appointment was seeping out of me quicker than air from a punctured balloon.

"I don't want to break up with you," said Leo very quietly.

"I don't think you have much choice," I said. Leo opened his mouth to argue but I cut him off, "But let's not talk about this right now. We'll just – let's just see where things take us, alright?" And without waiting for him to reply I flung open the compartment door.

We were the last ones to arrive. I cast a quick glance around at the other students, taking in their faces, and felt my stomach plummet.

From Ravenclaw, there was Edgar Bones, a clever wizard who had beaten me in Charms in first year, and a girl whose name I did not know. I recognised Frank Longbottom instantly as the Gryffindor Prefect. His companion was the same brunette girl that had commented on my flying back in first year, Dorcas Meadowes. She gave me an appraising look as I entered, and I wondered if she remembered me.

But it was not any of these that made my stomach sink. It was the Hufflepuff Prefects, Emily Howard and Ted Tonks.

I had wondered if he would be made a Prefect, and now my fears were confirmed. He caught my eye as I walked in, and I saw that he looked as surprised as I felt. Ignoring him, I went and took my seat beside Leo, folding my arms and scowling at the floor as I waited for the meeting to begin.

The Head Boy and Girl were both redheads. I glared at them suspiciously as they began to talk, sure that I recognised the boy as a Weasley.

"Welcome, all of you, to another year at Hogwarts," the girl began once everyone had settled down. She was short and a little plump, with rosy cheeks and warm brown eyes. "I hope you all had enjoyable summers."

There was a murmur of agreement. I could feel Ted's eyes on me, like burning pinpricks against my skin. After a minute or two I glanced up at him with a scowl; he blinked and looked away.

"First thing first, is to introduce ourselves. I'm Molly Prewett and this is Arthur Weasley." I muffled a snort. How on earth had a Weasley managed to become Head Boy? "We're here to help, so if ever you feel you need advice, or assistance with any of your duties, please don't hesitate to approach us. Now, I'm sure you're all probably aware of what your duties will be as Prefects, but I'll let Arthur explain them to you just in case."

"Thanks Molly," said the Weasley boy with a smile. He was tall and gangly with thick, untidy red hair and a somewhat eccentric look. The classic air of Weasley shabbiness seemed to hang around him like a cloud. "So, as I'm sure you're all aware, Prefects have the power to deduct house points from other students for misbehaviour. This is a significant privilege to have, and anyone found to be abusing it will be immediately stripped of their position. You've all been chosen by your Heads of Houses as the most responsible students in your year, so I hope you can live up to this trust."

"Your other main responsibility as Prefects this year will be to help us patrol the corridors. Usually you will be scheduled one patrol a week, in pairs, to be completed after curfew on a designated floor." He glanced at Molly.

"Arthur and I have assigned you each a patrolling partner," she continued for him. With a wave of her wand slips of parchment appeared in each of our hands. "And scheduled you for a particular night."

I glanced down at the paper in my hands. If I had thought my stomach could not sink any lower, I was mistaken. I was scheduled Mondays, but it was not this that bothered me. It was my partner.

"Arthur and I decided it would be nice to try patrolling with someone from outside your own house," Molly went on as I continued to scowl down at the piece of parchment. "To promote harmony and good inter-house relationships."

The pairings were:

Leonardo Avery and Dorcas Meadowes

Frank Longbottom and Emmeline Vance

Edgar Bones and Emily Howard

Edward Tonks and Andromeda Black

Ted's eyes were back on me. I bit my tongue and stared down at the names until they began to blur. Weasley was talking again.

"… if there are any problems don't hesitate to come and talk to us. You're also scheduled to patrol the train today. There's a separate roster for that," he waved his wand and another scroll of parchment appeared, but I barely even glanced at it. "Are there any questions?"

There was silence. I wanted to ask why they thought they had to muck with centuries-old tradition that had always worked perfectly fine. And why they didn't think it was hypocritical to promote inter-house harmony when they were both in Gryffindor themselves? But I held my tongue, and before long Molly was speaking again.

"Since Arthur and I thought it would be nice to celebrate the holidays with something a bit different, you'll also be helping us to organise a Christmas ball this year. But that's quite a way off yet so we won't bore you with too many details," she gave a small laugh. "And of course you'll help to guide the first years to their dormitories after the feast tonight."

Emily Howard raised her hand. "Are these patrol schedules going to stay the same all year?" she asked, a little sulkily. Perhaps she wasn't too happy about not being paired with Ted? The thought made me feel slightly better. "Or will they be changed?"

"We planned on them staying as they are all year," Weasley answered with a smile. "We think it's important that you get to know your patrol partner, form a relationship with them. It's part of the fun of being a Prefect."

The thought of 'forming a relationship' with Ted Tonks did not sound particularly fun to me. Still, I did gather a small amount of satisfaction from Emily's sour expression. She caught me watching her and gave me a poisonous glare, and I raised my eyebrows disdainfully, enjoying the effect it had on her.

Leo was fidgeting beside me. "What is it?" I asked in an undertone as Molly began to explain the procedure for accessing the Prefect's bathroom on the fifth floor.

"I'm paired with Dorcas Meadowes," he whispered in disgust.

I was not in the mood to feel sympathetic. "So?"

"So?" said Leo incredulously. "I've never even spoken to her! And I'm pretty sure she's a halfblood."

"You'll get over it," I yawned.

He made a sarcastic noise. "Gee, thanks."

Once the meeting was over I stalked back to my own compartment without waiting for Leo. I didn't want to give Ted a chance to catch my eye, which he had been consistently trying to do all through Weasley and Prewett's boring speech about the responsibilities of prefecthood.

The rest of the Slytherins were exactly where I had left them. Bella was still tucked in against Rodolphus, although she perked up when I entered.

"The Prefect returns!" she declared dramatically, reaching out and tugging my hand so that I came to sit beside her. "Tell me, darling sister, how does it feel to be a part of the establishment?"

I shrugged. "It was pretty boring. Nothing I didn't know already. I'm allowed to deduct points though." I cast a sly glance at Rabastan, who glared back at me. "So you'd better watch out, Lestrange."

"Very funny," he scoffed, but I thought he looked a little uncomfortable as he resumed the game of wizarding chess he was playing with Andreas Yaxley.

Leo entered a while later, looking annoyed. "Well that was bullshit," he declared dramatically, flinging himself down on a seat.

"What was bullshit?" asked Rabastan, as his bishop was mercilessly walloped into submission by Yaxley's knight.

"The meeting," Leo said. "We have to do our patrols with Prefects from another house. And I'm paired with some chick from Gryffindor, never even heard of her before, she looks like a real do-gooder type."

"What's her name?" asked Phylissa.

"Dorcas Meadowes," scowled Leo.

"Oh yes, she's terrible," said Helena. Phylissa nodded her head in agreement.

"Who've you got, Andy?" Bella asked me.

Everyone turned to stare at me. I fixed a bored look on my face, even though inside I was quite worried about my sister's reaction. Perhaps she wouldn't even remember him? "Ted Tonks," I said.

The atmosphere tensed immediately. Clearly, my hope that nobody would be interested in this news was in vain.

"The mudblood?" asked Bella in an acidic voice. "The blonde one from Hufflepuff? That plays Quidditch?"

"That's the one," I said wearily.

Rabastan was wearing a very dirty expression, and it wasn't just because he was losing his game of chess. "He's a punky git," he muttered. "You shouldn't have to do it."

"Didn't you ask for a change?" asked Helena.

I shrugged. "They wouldn't do it. The Heads are all about 'promoting inter-house harmony' these days."

Rodolphus gave a dark chuckle. I glanced at him, but he didn't say anything else. He hardly ever spoke around me; it was one of the reasons I found it hard to understand why my sister liked him so much.

"I'd refuse," said Bella. She still had a firm grip around my shoulders, pinning me to her. "I'd resign my position in protest. That's awful."

"It's only once a week," I said. "I'll just ignore him, and after a month or so I'll ask for a change. They might let me then. And besides, mother and father would be furious if I gave up my Prefect position over something so silly." I was not sure this was strictly true, as I thought my parents would probably agree with Bella that spending one night a week with a Mudblood was not just 'silly', but dangerous. Thankfully, my elder sister's attention had been caught by something else.

"You must be angry," she said to Leo. There was something in her tone that put me on edge. Leo must have sensed it too, for he sat up a little straighter.

"Angry about what?" he asked carefully.

Bella sneered. "About your girlfriend spending so much time with a mudblood, obviously."

Understanding spread over Leo's features, and he blinked. "Oh, right. I mean, yeah – yeah of course I'm angry."

"You don't seem it," Bella pressed. Beside me I could feel how tense she was, wound tight enough to snap. "You seem far more concerned about your own partner than with Andy's."

Leo flushed. "No," he said quickly, his eyes darting to me and away again. "I just – of course I'm angry – Tonks is a prat and – and if he ever said anything to her I'd – I'd – "

"You'd what?" asked Bella coolly as Leo broke off.

"Leo knows I'd never touch a mudblood," I said, coming to his rescue. My 'boyfriend' shot me a relieved glance.

"Yeah, yeah you're right. I know she'd never – never touch him. As if!" He attempted a laugh, but nobody else joined in.

There was a tense silence, broken by a tap on the compartment window. I looked up, and saw with a sinking sensation that it was the man of the moment himself, Ted. I heard Rodolphus give a snarl of anger, while Bella sat up like a jack-in-the-box.

"What is he doing here?" she hissed.

"We have patrol together," I said quickly, putting a hand on her leg to keep her from jumping to her feet. "Bella, I told you already, he's my assigned partner. I have to go. Please don't make an issue out of it."

My sister was breathing heavily. She wasn't the only one. All of the Slytherins were glaring fiercely at Ted. I was amazed he had the courage to slide open the door.

"Uh, hi," he said. Dead silence met his words. "Um, I have patrol with Andy – "

"Don't you dare call her that!" screeched Bella, springing to her feet. She pointed an accusatory finger at Ted, but I was only glad she hadn't drawn her wand. "You have no right – filthy Mudblood – you shouldn't even – ugh!" she broke off, apparently too disgusted to put into words.

I got to my feet as well, keeping my expression a careful neutral. "I'll be back as soon as I can," I said.

I thought that would be the end of it, but Rabastan stood up too. He was an inch or so shorter than Ted, but that didn't stop him advancing menacingly on the Hufflepuff boy, who stood his ground and blinked back at him calmly.

"Listen Mudblood," began Rabastan in a threatening voice. "If you even touch a hair on Andy's head, you'll have us to answer to." He glanced around at the compartment, then back to Tonks. "Do you understand me?"

I could see Ted's jaw moving, as though he was grinding his teeth. But in the end all he said was "Got it," before turning and walking off. With a last glance at my sister, and a sour glare at Rabastan (whose over-protectiveness I certainly did not appreciate), I followed him into the corridor.

We walked in silence for a while. Ted was frowning. At last he asked, in an apparent attempt at humour, "Are you lot always that friendly? Or did I just catch you on a good day?"

I didn't laugh. "You shouldn't have come to my compartment."

"We had patrol," he bit out. I was a little taken aback by the anger in his tone. Surely he hadn't been expecting anything less? Personally I was quite relieved by my sister's relatively mild response. "What was I supposed to do?"

"Send somebody else to get me?" I suggested.

He gave me a sharp look. "And by 'somebody else', you mean a pureblood, right?"

I didn't break eye contact. "Yes."

Ted took a deep breath, then blew the air out of his cheeks. "I'm sorry," he said. "But your family are complete whack-jobs."

"No they're not," I said automatically. "They're just… different."

"Different?" Ted shook his head. "Yeah, right."

It was an uncomfortable patrol. Neither of us had much to say to one another. The students we passed gave us funny looks, as though they couldn't believe the sight that was the two of us walking together. I supposed it must have looked a little strange.

We were nearly back at my compartment when Ted finally broached the subject of the world cup final. I had been waiting for him to do so all patrol, not because I was looking forward to the discussion but because I wanted to get it over with.

"Listen, Andy," he began, and I couldn't believe he still had the nerve to call me that after both mine and Bella's reactions. Was the boy impervious to threats or something? "About what happened, at the world cup..."

"I don't want to talk about it," I said swiftly.

Ted stopped walking. We were at the back of one of the carriages, obscured from any of the students' view. But I still felt overexposed. My sister's compartment was only a few doors down. If she happened to come out into the corridor…

"You knew what was going to happen," Ted said in a flat voice.

I glared at him in silence.

"You said they were after people like me," Ted went on. His expression was very serious. "How would you know that, Andromeda?"

I narrowed my eyes at him. "What exactly are you suggesting?"

He shrugged. "I'm not sure. But you hang out with a bad crowd."

My temper was rising, but I kept my voice low to avoid drawing any attention. "You don't know anything about the people I hang out with!"

"Maybe not," he said casually. "But they seem to have made up their mind about me. Why can't I do the same?"

"That's… different."

"Uh-huh. Who was it you were running away from that night in the forest?"

I was so shocked at his sudden line of questioning that for a moment I couldn't answer. I simply stared at him, speechless. His gaze searched my face, as though trying to read the truth in my eyes.

"Was it Avery?" he asked quietly.

I blinked. "M-mind your own business," I mumbled, backing away from him.

"Andy – "

Before I knew what I was doing my wand was in my hand, and I had it pressed to Tonks' throat. "Call me that one more time," I hissed. "And I swear to Salazar I will hex your voice-box out."

He pressed his lips together and said nothing. Satisfied that I had made my point, I pocketed my wand once more. My hands were shaking, and I clenched them in my robes to try and stop it. I shouldn't have lost my temper. It wasn't my style to threaten people with wands… but Ted just made me so mad.

"I'm going back to my compartment," I said coldly. "Our patrol's finished."

Ted didn't say anything. He was simply staring at me, his face expressionless. Without another glance I turned and stalked away.

I almost shattered the compartment door with the force of throwing it open. The Slytherins glanced up in surprise, but when they saw it was me most of them dropped their heads again.

"How was it?" asked Annabelle as I slid in beside her.

I made a face, and she giggled.

"That bad, huh?"

"Worse." My gaze drifted to Bella, and I saw that she was smirking. When she caught me looking she raised her eyebrows as though to say "I told you so."

I folded my arms and spent the rest of the train trip scowling out the window.

.