Betray

Why should I care

'Cuz you weren't there when I was scared

I was so alone

You, you need to listen

I'm starting to trip, I'm losing my grip

And I'm in this thing alone

Avril Lavigne - Losing Grip

Chapter Two

"Selene?!" gasped Harry. The young witch jumped up in surprise. She had been talking with Draco Malfoy, when Harry had burst in on them.

"Do you mind Potter?" said Malfoy, in his usual drawl. "Selene and I were talking so, get out."

Harry looked over to see Malfoy sneering at him.

"Eat crap, Malfoy," spat Harry. Then his attention returned to Selene, who was still standing staring at them. Malfoy too, looked at her. She knew what they were doing. They were making her choose. In a confused state, she stormed out the carriage, her eyes full of tears.

She somehow bumped into Hermione, who was coming out of an empty carriage.

"Selene? What's the matter? What happened? Come on in here." She beckoned Selene into the empty carriage she had come out of.

***

Ayenia was creeping along a dark corridor, some time near midnight, in her manor. On her left was a window that took up the whole wall space, and her only light was that of the shiny new moon. At the end of the corridor, Ayenia found a large, oak door. Despite the great force she put into opening it, the door creaked open slowly.

She was in a study - that looked like it had been abandoned ago. Cobwebs were everywhere, and the faded-red carpet was thick with dust. The right wall was filled with bookshelves, but most of the books had been pulled out, and they littered the floor, most of them ripped. The lamp, that would have been on the desk, had been smashed on the floor, green glass scattered everywhere. Someone had beaten the hell out of the chair, large chunks off the wooden legs were missing. The desk had been split in half, with some sort of axe. On the left, was a large portrait of a woman.

Ayenia moved closer towards it. She gasped. The lady looked exactly like Ayenia! Ayenia's eyes flickered down to the small golden plaque, which read:

Silver Malfoy

Bringer of the

Dark Lord

***

When they were in, Hermione sat her distraught cousin down, then locked the carriage door. She sat down opposite of Selene, and asked her to tell her what had happened.

"Well," began Selene, sniffing. "remember when I took that walk? Well, I was going down past the carriage doors, then that blonde boy we saw before, Draco I think his name was, was standing there, and I can't remember how exactly, but we started talking, and we got on really well," (Hermione's eyebrows raised) "and we went into a carriage, you know, for privacy. So we were talking in the carriage, and I have no idea how long I was there for, but then eventually Harry burst in, and then he and Draco were arguing, and they stopped and looked at me. And I just couldn't stand it, so I ran out."

"And bumped into me," said Hermione. Selene gave her a weak smile. She's not so bad, thought Selene to herself.

"Don't worry," reassured Hermione. "We'll stay in here."

***

Ayenia jolted up into a sitting position, right into a young man's arms. She looked at him.

"Michael?" she squeaked, her voice feeling dead.

"Ssh," he whispered. "I'm not supposed to be here." He held her there, on a bed in the Hospital Wing. She let out a sigh of relief. She lay down on the bed and looked at him. Michael had thick, wavy black hair that rested on his broad shoulders. He wore dark blue robes, and a gianormus sword lay in it's sheath at his left side. His skin was whiter than freshly laid snow, and his eyes were an un-holy, electric blue colour.

He stroked Ayenia's cheek. "Tell me about your dream," he said.

Ayenia told him about her nightmare, telling him about the dark corridor, and she explained vividly about the topsy-turvey room. When she began to tell him about the large painting of Silver, Michael's head perked up, and he looked at the door to the Hospital Wing.

"What is it?" asked Ayenia.

"Someone's coming, I've got to go. I'll be back."

He then hopped off of Ayenia's bed, and sprinted towards the open window. Hastily, he crawled out of it.

Ayenia's gaze turned to the door of the Hospital Wing. In came Dumbledore, and he strode towards Ayenia, with a smile on his face.

"Ah, Miss Malfoy, you decided to join us!" he exclaimed.

"Have I missed the Welcoming Fest?" she asked, frantically. The Welcoming Feast was one of the things she enjoyed most at Hogwarts.

"Oh don't worry. The other students should be arriving in Hogsmeade Station in about ten minutes or so."

"What happened to me on the train?" asked Ayenia.

"I'm not so sure about that, all I know, is that you fainted on the train, your friend Vanity ran to the front of the train, informed the driver, and you were somehow whisked here in the Hospital Wing. Are you feeling alright now?"

"Yes, sir," replied Ayenia.

"Still, I want you to rest here for ten minutes, then you will be informed when that time is up, and you will make your way to the Great Hall, where you can wait for the others. Would you like some hot chocolate?"

"No thank you, sir."

"Alright, I'll be going then." And with this said, Professor Dumbledore walked out of the Hospital Wing.

After about a minute, Madame Pomfrey scuttled in carrying a small bottle containing a blood-coloured substance. "Now, Miss Malfoy. I want you to drink every bit of this potion, then I want you to have a ten-minute nap, and after I shall wake you and then you shall..."

"Make my way up to the Great Hall where I will wait for the other students. I know, Professor Dumbledore said that when he visited me."

"Oh, he did, did he? Well, I'll see to him, anyway, every last drop," scolded Madame Pomfrey, as she put down the bottle, and stormed away, muttering to herself.

"Has she gone now?" cam Michael's impatient voice from the window.

Ayenia lifted herself onto her elbows and looked to the window.

"You of all people should know that," she answered.

Michael had jumped back into the room again. He picked up the bottle with Ayenia's potion in it.

He just stared at it. "It looks like blood," he finally said.

"Yeah, well don't get any ideas."

"I'd better test it for you," he said, looking at her. "I have been commanded to protect you, and to make sure nothing bad happens."

"Knock yourself out, but I highly doubt that a nurse is going to poison me."

"Hey, you're Slytherin. What do you think she'd do?"

She sighed.

Michael pulled off the stone stopper, and took a quick sip. He immediately spat it out again.

"Yyyyyyuck!" he exclaimed. "You call that medicine?!"

He handed the bottle to her, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.

"Good luck," he said.

Ayenia snatched the bottle, and drank it all in one gulp. She wished she hadn't. She dropped the bottle, and it smashed easily on the floor. She felt really dizzy, and sleepy.

She gazed dreamily at Michael. "I gotta private room this year," she said, very slowly. "I need to tell you something, wait for me in there."

Then she fell back on the bed, as if out cold.

***

Harry was in a carriage with Ron, Neville Longbottom, Seamus Finnigan and Dean Thomas. Seamus and Dean were playing Exploding Snap, and Neville was watching, jumping every time the cards exploded.

Ron was next to Harry, discussing about what happened in Malfoy's carriage. Ron said things like "Maybe he hypnotized her, you know what he's like," and "I wouldn't worry about it, Harry." But Harry did worry. He had only known Selene for about a week, but he felt like a brother to her.

A minute later, the train slowed down to a stop in Hogsmeade Station. The five of them walked out together, into the busy station.

They heard the familiar voice, shouting: "Firs' years, firs' years over 'er!"

Harry and Ron left Neville, Seamus and Dean, and walked over to the friendly half-giant.

"Hiya, Hagrid!" shouted Ron.

Hagrid looked down. "Oh, why 'ello you two! Where's 'Ermione?"

"We were hoping you'd know," said Harry, loudly.

"Oh yeah," said Hagrid. "I remember her runnin' off with some brunette girl, they seemed in an 'urry, so I said nuin' to her."

"Thanks," shouted Harry. Harry and Ron walked towards the horseless-carriages. Ron could see that Harry was thinking about something, and he was sure it was about Selene.

***

Ayenia's quick nap was interrupted by Madame Pomfrey, snapping at her to wake up. She sat up, feeling as though she had slept for hours, with a foul taste of sour cherries in her mouth, due to her potion.

"Oh finally," began the matron. "I've been telling you to wake up for at least three minutes now! Hurry up to the Great Hall, the students are in the station now!"

Ayenia got out of her bed. Pomfrey was well gone. She looked over at the window. She would have sworn that she witnessed a pair of electric blue eyes wink at her in the darkness.

***

When the train had stopped, Hermione and Selene were some of the first students to get out of the train.

Selene could hear a strong voice shouting, "Firs' years!" and Hermione pointed to a larger than average man with a lantern in his hand, and she told her, "That's Hagrid, he's a gamekeeper, and also the Care For Magical Creatures teacher."

They ran, (well, Hermione ran, and Selene followed her) to the horseless carriages. When they arrived at the closest one, Hermione opened it's door. "After you," she said politely, gesturing with her hand. Selene, rather confused climbed in. Hermione jumped in after her, and closed the door.

"They'll be leaving when the other students clamber in," said Hermione.

Selene nodded.

"So," began Hermione. "You, like, Draco Malfoy?"

Oh dear God, thought Selene. If I tell her the truth, she won't trust me. If I tell her a lie, she still won't trust me.

"Yes?" she answered.

***

Harry and Ron stepped into a carriage, followed by some fourth-year Gryffindor boys. Neither Ron nor Harry said anything until they reached the outside of the Entrance Hall.

"Hey Harry," said Ron, as Harry carefully climbed out the carriage. "Look who it is."

***

Ayenia was bored just sitting there in the Great Hall. She knew that the other kids would be here soon, but she was starving. The potion at first made her sleepy and tired, but now she was strangely up and energetic, but the potion also made a horrible taste in her mouth, and made her even more hungry.

While she waited, she wondered. Why was Michael in the Hospital Wing? Why is he at Hogwarts? How did he find out where I was? Where is he hiding? Surely someone's found him prowling around?

All the thinking made her head hurt, so Ayenia rested it on her hands, her elbows uncomfortable on the wooden table.

***

Despite what she said in the carriage, Selene knew that Hermione didn't care if her cousin liked Malfoy or not.

When the carriages were moving, Hermione told Selene nearly everything about Hogwarts, including how to get into the Kitchens.

"So all you do is tickle the pear 'til it giggles, then it becomes a door handle?" asked Selene as the carriages stopped.

Hermione went out first, then Selene jumped out.

"Yep," answered Hermione. She was about to say more, when she was interrupted.

"Hey! Selene! Er....Hermione!" called a voice. Selene and Hermione turned around to see Draco Malfoy running towards them.

"Oh God," Selene heard Hermione muttering.

"Hi," said Draco, rather quickly. "First of all, Hermione, I er, want to apologize about the way I've treated you ever since first year. I was a complete ass-hole, but I've changed. Do you forgive me?"

Not sure if it was a joke, all Hermione did was stare at him. Then, as if it was the hardest thing to say, Hermione went, "Yes, I forgive you."

Draco smiled, he didn't smirk, and shook her hand. He opened his mouth to say something to Selene, but....

"MALFOY! Get. Away. From. Them!" screamed Harry and Ron. The three of them jumped in surprise. Harry and Ron seemed to come from nowhere.

"We won't say anything," whispered Selene. Draco nodded in reply. He then turned to Harry and Ron, who were striding towards him. He simply curled his lip at them, then walked off to the other Slytherins.

The minute Draco was gone, Ron barked, in his usual older brother way: "What did he do?! What did he want?!"

"Nothing, nothing at all," said Selene.

"Oh really, it didn't look like nothing! What were you....."

"Look," snapped Hermione. "I think we've had enough today! How about, we run through the rest of day as if nothing happened, then tomorrow, we'll discuss it at Breakfast. Okay?" she asked Harry and Ron.

"Okay," they said.

"Lets go," said Hermione.

And so they walked up into the Entrance Hall, Harry said: "You two go on ahead, I want to talk to Selene. Privately"

Hermione and Ron exchanged glances, then walked on without them.

"Selene?" said Harry.

She looked into his shiny green eyes. "Yes, Harry?"

"Look, I'm........I'm sorry about how I acted today, I....."

"I'm sorry too," she said. "Lets just pretend this whole thing never happened."

"Yeah," said Harry. Unexpectedly, Selene went on her toes and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. Harry could feel himself go as red as a cherry. She took his hand, which was a bit cold and sweaty.

"Come on," she said. "You'll have to take me to the Great Hall."

Harry couldn't help grinning. Selene was really pretty, and it seemed that she really liked him.

"It's er, it's this way," he said quickly. He gave her hand a quick squeeze and they began walking towards the Great Hall, in the middle of a great flock of students.

People that either Harry knew, or that knew Harry were staring at him. Despite the amount of people looking at them, Selene and Harry didn't seem to notice them, as if they were in their own little world. Secretly, Harry felt like he was walking in the air. He looked at Selene, who she smiled at him. He gave her a sheepish grin back.

***

"Finally, I feel like I've been waiting for ages!" moaned Ayenia. Vanity, Christina and Vanity had arrived. Vanity sat next to Ayenia, Drusilla sat opposite of her, and Christina sat next to Drusilla. A cute, 7th year blonde boy grinned at Ayenia before he sat down at the Ravenclaw Table. She gave him a flirtatious smile back.

I feel like I'm home again, thought Ayenia.

"Don't let your father hear that," muttered Vanity, who inherited her mother's psychic abilities.

"Hey," said Drusilla, turning her gaze to the door. "Look who just came in."

***

Still holding hands, Harry and Selene walked into the Great Hall.

"Wow!" he heard Selene whisper. "This is about the same size as the ballroom in my old house."

"Selene?" he asked.

"Yeah?"

"Do you know what house you're in?"

"Gryffindor. I came her in the Summer Holidays, with some people from the Ministry, and they put a hat on my head, and it said, 'Gryffindor.'"

Harry was really amazed at the coincidence.

"I'm glad I wasn't in Hufflepuff," she continued. "I mean, me, loyal? Hah!"

Harry laughed, and he led her over to the Gryffindor Table. Ron and Hermione had managed to save to seats next to each other for them.

Ron and Hermione exchanged glances, as they watched Harry and Selene sit down.

***

Draco Malfoy couldn't help but glare at Potter as he came into the Great Hall with Selene. They were holding hands for God's sake! erupted Draco's mind. Potter had no right to take her away from me!

"Hiya Drakey," squealed Pansy Parkinson, as she sat in the stool next to him.

Oh dear God.

***

The Sorting seemed to take forever. Out of the four, only Drusilla was listening, and her way of telling her friends to applaud, due to a new Slytherin member, was to poke Christina who would stop slouching, quickly sit up and clap, joined by Vanity and Ayenia. They had been doing so for four years.

In the three girls' opinion, (discluding Drusilla), after what seemed to be ten minutes of torture, Professor Dumbledore simply said: "Tuck in."

"Oh finally," Ayenia heard Christina say.

***

"Cool!" exclaimed Selene. This is the life, she thought happily, as she placed a slice of chicken-and-ham pie, added chips, and filled her goblet with pumpkin juice.

She looked up and gazed in wonder at the ceiling, which was a fantastic shade of dark blue, all starry, with a few dark clouds

"So Selene," said Ron, after she tilted her head back down. "How do you like Hogwarts so far?"

She gave him a big grin. "It's brilliant."

Selene did not eat in silence. She had been introduced to lots of Gryffindors. Even Harry, Ron and Hermione learnt some new names. Everyone seemed to know about her parents, because they never said a word about Selene's parents, where she was during the holidays, and stuff like that.

When people had stopped talking to her, Selene looked over at the other tables. Quite a few people were staring at her. Over at the Slytherin table, nearly all the Slytherins were muttering and whispering, sometimes pointing or nodding towards her. Draco Malfoy was with them, but he eventually stopped. She caught his eye, and she smiled at him. He smiled back, then looked away, reaching for the apple pie.

***

Soon, the plates were cleared, and Professor Dumbledore stood up from his golden chair, to say his 'few words.'

"I would like to give a big warm welcome back to everyone, and an even bigger welcome to our new first-year students. As many of you know, but seem to neglect, that the Forbidden Forest is out-of-bounds to all students. Mr. Filch's list of banned objects, Muggle and Wizard alike, has grown to six hundred and thirteen items, any of those wishing to see it, please report to Mr. Filch's office."

Ayenia could feel a shudder around the Slytherin table.

"Also, Hogwarts' favourite sport, Quidditch, is back on, and many teams shall be needing more players. For those wishing to take part in their House teams, there will be trials, eventually. Captains should have received their letter, telling them of their new role. Goodnight to you all."

***

Draco slowly got up from his seat, and walked lazily out the door with Crabbe and Goyle. He was walking slowly, because Pansy and her friends were near the front. He did not want her to see him. For once, he did not snap at his two fat friends for being the greedy pigs that they were. He was to busy thinking about Selene. She had smiled at him, but he knew they couldn't be together. Who knew what the Dark Lord what do if he found out.

Draco changed his mind to other thoughts. Quidditch instantly jumped up. I wonder who the new captain is, he thought.

***

Telling her friends that she was tired, Ayenia hastily made her way down the stone stairs to the Slytherin Common Room. She was surprised. She had got here before the first-years. What the prefects would do, was try to get the first-years in as soon as possible, sound proof their dormitory doors, and party all night. Well, until Snape walked in.

Touching the familiar stone, she said, "Serpent roi!"

The wall opened to reveal the almost-empty Slytherin Common Room.

Montague, and three others from the Slytherin Quidditch Team were already in, obviously talking about team tactics.

They all waved at her.

"Hey there Malfoy," said Bletchley, the Keeper. "Where's your brother?"

"He's not here yet, I think he's trying to avoid Pansy Parkinson, who wouldn't?" laughed Ayenia.

"Has Montague told you the news?" asked Pucey.

"No, what?" she asked.

"I'm the new Captain," Montague said, proudly.

"Congrats," she said, smiling at him.

He nodded towards Warrington. "He almost got it, but I guess I'm too good."

"No one will be as good as Flint, though," said

Ayenia.

"Only 'cause you fancied 'im!" exclaimed Warrington, in his Geordie accent.

Ayenia's pale cheeks turned slightly pink. "I did not!"

"Yes you did," started Bletchly. "I remember over-hearing you say to Nightwood that if he did something about his teeth, you'd go out with him!"

"I said nothing of the sort to Drusilla."

"Guys, shut up already," snapped Pucey.

"Yeah, we need new Beaters," said Montague. "Will we see you at the party, Malfoy?"

"Maybe later, I gotta go. See you guys."

"Bye," they chorused.

***

Ron, Selene, and Harry were halfway through the Great Hall doors when Hermione caught up with them.

"Got....new....password," she panted, between breaths.

Ron, the tallest, lead them up the stairs towards Gryffindor Tower. "Be careful here, Selene," he warned. "We have trick steps, here at Hogwarts."

"I'll help her," offered Hermione. She took a rather confused Selene by the arm. "When I jump, you jump, okay?"

"Okay," squeaked Selene, worriedly. What the hell's going on? she thought, bleakly.

Harry stood at her other side. "Jump!" he exclaimed as the four of them jumped.

"Agh!" came a voice. Harry looked back and saw that his shout had caused Neville Longbottom to miss the step.

"You lot go on ahead," commanded Harry. "I'm gonna help Neville."

Hermione, Ron and Selene kept on going up the stairs, with Hermione crying, "Jump!" every now and then, while Harry struggled to help Neville.

The other three went along a corridor, lit by flaming torches, until they reached a dead-end, where the portrait of the Fat Lady awaited.

"Ah," she said, as they approached. "A new student. Password?"

"Er," said Hermione. "Is it alright if we wait for someone?" The Fat Lady rolled her eyes, but she stayed where she was. Soon, they saw and Harry and Neville come towards them.

"Didn't you say you got the password, Hermione?" asked Harry, cautiously.

"Yes, we were just waiting for you," she replied.

"If you five have finished with your lovely reunion, could someone please say the password?" came the Fat Lady.

"Sorry," said Hermione quickly. "Fresh Trout,"

The Fat Lady swung open to reveal a hole in the wall. Selene gasped. Hermione took her wrist and led her through the hole, into the common room.

"Welcome, Selene, to the Gryffindor Common Room."

"Hey, you five, over 'ere!" called Fred Weasley. They looked to the closest seats to the fireplace, where Fred and George Weasley and their friend Lee Jordan were waiting.

They made their way over to them. Ron took an armchair next to his brothers' sofa, Harry and Selene took the couch next to it, and Neville and Hermione took armchairs near Lee.

"By the way," said Lee, looking at Selene. "Who are you?"

***

Draco, Crabbe, and Goyle got into the common room, just as the Prefects were spelling the first-years' doors.

"Malfoy! Get over here now!" shouted Montague.

The three of them walked towards the dark-green sofas that the rest of the Quidditch Team, but Warrington said:

"Not them, they ain't part of the team!"

Draco turned to Crabbe and Goyle, and said: "Push of, go and find food somewhere," he said gesturing with his hand.

Crabbe and Goyle went to their dormitory, where they stayed because they didn't like parties.

"Your sister told us you're avoiding Parkinson, Malfoy," said Pucey, with a malicious smile. "We were just talking to her."

"Yeah, mate, she's awful hurt," grinned Warrington, evilly. "We were 'oping you'd talk to her, you know, sort things out."

Draco gulped, but he wasn't very good at hiding it.

"Hey, Parkoww!" cried Bletchley. Montague had just punched his jaw.

"We're here to discuss Quidditch, Blotchy, not Draco's sex life!"

***

"I've been waiting a rather long time, Ayenia," said Michael. He had been waiting at her small fire-place when she walked in.

"I'm sorry Michael," she said, walking up to him.

"What did you want to tell me?"

"It's about the dream that I had today. You heard Dumbledore coming when I started about the painting."

Michael looked alarmed. "Painting," he said, trying to hide his nervousness. "What...painting?"

"You know my grandmother, my father's mother? Well, it was a painting of her. I know I'm not supposed to know that, but I do. She looks exactly like me! I don't know why, but I've been having many strange dreams, in one of them, I was standing next to the Dark Lord, as he took over the Ministry, but it wasn't me inside, it was, it was Silver. But she's dead, she was killed by Aurors."

Michael sighed. "If I tell you this," he began. "I don't know what will happen, but something bad."

He took a deep breath. "Ayenia, do you know why you've never got into trouble, never got the blame, and could do nearly anything you fucking wanted? Well I'll tell you. On the eve of your eighteenth birthday, you shall be taken deep into the Forbidden Forest, where the Dark Lord and the other Death Eaters will be waiting.

"My sort-of cousin, Selene will be there too, with her twin Malificent. Her job was to seduce Harry Potter, gain his trust, and lead him into the forest, and when his blood is shed, you will be on a special sacrifice table, where your soul shall be sucked out, and Silver, your grandmother, will have her soul put into your body.

"Despite the fact that when attempting to escape, she was accidentally killed by Aurors, who wanted her only for information, then to be taken to Azkaban for life, her soul remained. She was what has been keeping Voldemort strong, as well as many other things.

"You never got into shit, because your body was supposed to be perfect for Silver, so your father took it out on your brother.

"And I was sent to make sure nothing bad happened to you, and to make sure Selene did her job properly. But I have already failed. I was sworn not do this, but it is impossible."

"What did you do?"

"I fell in love with you."

***