For the next week I kept myself from talking or making any contact with Lily and Sirius. Gabrielle and I conversed when there were few people around, as she too wasn't viewed as acceptable to the new crowd I'd placed myself in. Rosier, Avery, and Mulciber were absolute bastards, and why Severus put up with them and kept his sanity was beyond me. Then again, maybe he wasn't sane.

"Okay, listen up you lot, I just received an owl from my mum and she says the Dark Lord's looking for more Death Eaters." Rosier whispered quietly during lunch, his eyes filled with crazed excitement. "This is our chance, I reckon. Show him that we're loyal and made for the job. The five of us, that's including you, Elise. I had my doubts about you at first, but you've finally seen the light." Every word made me want to puke, but I forced a grin to form on my face.

"This is excellent news." I clapped my hands together. "Finally, we can help the Dark Lord bring peace and justice back to the true wizarding world."

"Well said, Elise." Avery complimented, patting me on the back. I'd noticed that he'd seemed to have taken an increased liking to me, one that I definitely did not return. While I was aware that he'd fancied me at one point in third year, I didn't know that the feelings had remained. Another effect of my joining their crowd was that Severus had begun to be shunned, as I was now taking the attention from him.

"Thank you, Avery." I said sweetly, internally wishing him a painful death and a one way trip to hell for a permanent vacation. "Did your mum say anything else, Rosier?"

"She mentioned something big happening around the holidays." Rosier shrugged. "Maybe that's when he'll be looking for followers?"

"No, that wouldn't make sense. He would be looking for followers now as well, not just over the holidays. I reckon the Dark Lord's meeting specifically with your family, or they're meeting him over the holidays, something like that." I disagreed, explaining my reasoning.

"Elise is right." Mulciber piped up. "Her logic makes sense, smart she-devil."

"Oi!" I scolded, slapping his arm, and ignoring the threatening look he sent me. I'd already showed Rosier not to mess with me after he'd challenged me in a fight, I'd taken him down. I wasn't afraid of any of the pathetic boys, they were all really cowards beneath the facade they put on for the Dark Lord and their peers. "Watch who you're calling a she-devil." I finished with a low growl.

"Right, my bad, Cascade." Mulciber apologized quickly, and Avery shot him a warning glare for good measure.

"Well boys, and lady, this is our big moment. You lot should come to my place over the break, scout out the opportunities. I reckon the Dark Lord would be thrilled to have spies within the castle. We can be those spies." Rosier suggested, and Snape nodded in agreement.

"My mum says that he rewards those who give him great information. What better information than information on the leader of the Resistance himself, the only wizard the Dark Lord has ever feared, Dumbledore!" Severus exclaimed. I shot him a scowl.

"Severus, the Dark Lord fears none." I reminded him coldly. "And don't you forget it. He's a skilled mind-reader, and if you think those kinds of thoughts around him, the only reward you'll get is death."

Severus opened and closed his mouth like a fish gasping for air. Finally, his eyes slightly red, he growled something under his breath and stomped away and out of the Great Hall.

"Poor bloke, sometimes I really do feel back for old Snape." Avery sighed, shaking his head. "Bloody hypocrite, that one is. Reckon he'd change sides if it gave him an advantage, slimy grease-ball."

I pondered the boy's words in my head. Yes, it was true that Severus would take anything that gave him an advantage, but only for the most part. I hated the way the boys laughed and spoke about it so casually, when it was a trait we all possessed, myself included. But I forced a grin on my face and nodded in agreement to Avery's speech.

"Well spoken, I agree." I said through secretly gritted teeth. Avery smiled charmingly at me.

"Only for you, Elise." I flushed, and he seemed to take it as a blush, meaning a good sign. My mind clouded in fear and surprise as the boy then proceeded to lean in, and kiss me.

Unsure of what to do, I stared blankly as Avery's lips found mine. I didn't like him, that was for certain. But I also couldn't refuse him, as that could potentially come back to hurt me and prevent me from gaining information in the future. Putting aside my pride and every disgusted feeling I'd ever felt towards him, I closed my eyes and snogged him back.

Across the Great Hall, a certain Gryffindor troublemaker stared openmouthed as Avery leaned in and kissed Cascade Elise, the girl he found himself fancying. His heart crumbled as she paused for only a second, before closing her eyes and snogging the disgusting boy back, her hands finding their way to his face and cupping his cheeks as she pulled back, still breathtakingly beautiful.

"P-prongs...?" Sirius Black asked, his voice cracking. "I-I can't watch, look at the Slytherin table and tell me they aren't snogging."

James Potter's head snapped from staring longingly at a certain redhead, to gaping at the newfound Slytherin couple. Wracking his brains for the proper words, the boy opened his mouth and spoke.

"Blimey, I'm sorry, mate. You've got the worst luck ever, Padfoot."

"Real comforting." Sirius snapped, searing holes in the table with his eyes. "I-I thought she hated Avery. She told me she hated Avery!"

"Maybe she changed?" Peter offered unhelpfully. Sirius ignored him.

"What the bloody hell is Cas doing?" Lily Evans exclaimed outrageously, her eyes wide.

"If you figure it out, please tell, Evans." Sirius told the girl hopelessly. "Because right now I think I might go drown myself in the toilets. Sure, I'd be okay if it was any other guy, but Avery? Seriously? Why do I even fancy that bloody woman, she needs to get her priorities straight!"

"You fancy her?" Lily looked at Sirius in surprise. He nodded hesitantly. The redhead then turned and slapped Remus on the arm.

"Oi! What was that for, Lily?"

"For not telling me that Sirius has confessed his love for Elise. Now all we have to do is get her to realize she loves him back!" Lily rolled her eyes, as if the answer was obvious.

"I'm not sure that she does." Sirius sighed, looking over at the Slytherin table once more. "She looks pretty happy to be snogging Avery."

"It has to be an act, she despises that entire crowd with her entire soul. She's up to something, like I've said before." Lily said optimistically. "Don't give up yet, Black."

"One can only try, Evans."