O N E

" shadowboxing with giants "

Bianca North was relieved as the hot summer winds faded away into the cool breezes, promising that Autumn was soon going to fall upon them. Autumn meant Hogwarts, which meant that she could finally escape the suffocating hold of her parents that only Summer could bring.

Summers belonged to endless training and extravagant parties, such as the one she was attending now. Only the Pureblood families attended these parties, with the exception of Bianca's family. Somehow, among the corrupted Purebloods, it was a known fact that the Norths were the Midnight Assassins, and that they were to be equal parts respected and feared.

But, going to parties meant meeting with Theodore Nott, Bianca's betrothed.

Bianca sighed, and shifted her weight to the other leg, not bothering to hide her discontent. She scowled at the large span of grass that laid before her, and scowled harder at the people that stood on it.

"You're not the only one hating this," Theodore grumbled, pulling at the hems of his dress robes. "I would rather be doing anything else right now."

"Hmm, Blaise didn't tell me that he changed his name to 'anything else'," said Bianca, her blue eyes wide with innocence. She smirked as Theo glared at her. Then, his gaze softened as he looked to the other side of the sprawling yard to Blaise.

"You don't even try to hide it," she murmured to him softly.

Theo glanced back at her. "Yes, I do!" he insisted indignantly. "Why else do you think no one's found out yet?"

"Because the word 'homosexual' doesn't exist to these people. It would never cross their minds to even think that about you two. Trust me, you're not great at hiding things."

"And you are?" he drawled sarcastically.

Bianca only grinned, then winked at the boy. But the wicked look slowly faded off her face as she noticed Natalia North glaring at her.

There was only coldness and harsh expectation glittering in her mother's eyes. No sign of love or caring that Bianca knew a mother was supposed to have. Then again, most mothers didn't make a living off assassination.

"Think we should hold hands?" Bianca asked, tearing her gaze away from her scrutinizing mother.

"I was just dying for you to ask," Theo responded, taking her hand into his. His hand was familiar inside her own, and it felt like it belonged there. Just not in the way it was supposed to. Theo was like the brother that she never had, and she loved him as such.

"Feel that sexual tension?" he asked her while squeezing her hand, grinning.

"I'm curling my toes in my boots, darling," she responded dryly. Bianca glanced towards he mother, and found that the woman was still darting glances towards her.

"Look at me," she hissed, pulling Theo's arm towards her.

He did, a questioning look in his eyes. Bianca offered a shy smile. "Don't look, but my Mum is watching us right now, and she looks pissed. So you're going to have to sweep me off my feet, my friend."

Theo gave her a lazy grin, and Bianca forced a pink blush onto her face. To any onlookers, they looked like a pair of nervous teenagers, both afraid of their feelings.

"Do I look like I love you?" he asked, his lips barely moving with the smile plastered onto his face. His eyes were focused somewhere behind her, where Bianca knew Blaise and Draco were talking.

Bianca fought the urge to roll her eyes. "Believe me, this is every girl's fantasy. Come on, we'll go talk to Blaise. It looks like Draco is talking his ear off, anyways."

A flash of terror shone in Theo's eyes, but he didn't fight Bianca as she dragged him to the other side of the lawn. Draco Malfoy's mouth was moving almost faster than Bianca's eyes could track. He was nervous; that much was obvious. Ever since she knew him, Draco tended to speak the more he was anxious. And, he was unfortunate enough to insult anyone in sight when he got this way.

Which meant that Draco was most likely insulting Blaise.

"Hey, Blaise!" Bianca called out cheerfully, waving with the hand that wasn't gripping onto Theo. "And hello, Draco. I didn't see you there."

Draco scowled at her. "Half-blood," was all he said.

She smiled sweetly at him. "You flatter me. But remember, I'm taken." She held up the hand that he was clasping Theo's.

Draco's eyes darkened. "It wasn't a compliment. You're the only one here who isn't a Pureblood."

"I'm also the only one here who could kill you five different ways without using magic," Bianca responded, winking at him. "And I understand that congratulations are in order. Like father, like son, right?"

Fear flashed in Draco's eyes as his hand drifted to his left forearm. A grin slashed across Bianca's face.

"Hello, Bianca," Blaise said, interrupting the silence. He was failing to hide the smirk that blossomed onto his face. "And hello, Theo."

"Hi, Blaise," said Theo, failing to be casual. He was smiling a little too brightly to be considered as just friendly. Bianca smiled down at the grass. Theo was terrible at hiding things, just like she had pointed out.

"Ready to return to Hogwarts?" Blaise asked conversationally, his eyes locked onto Bianca.

Her stomach squirmed with guilt as Theo failed to realize who Blaise was focusing his attention on. "Of course. But I'm sure that's far below Draco's priorities. Right, Draco?"

He glared at her. "I doubt you'll be so smug tomorrow, North."

She laughed. "Don't underestimate the bounds of my smugness, Draco darling."

His gray eyes met Bianca's, and she returned the glare.

Theo released a sigh, and squeezed Bianca's hand. "Do you two always have to go at each other?"

Bianca gave Draco a long look before dismissing him, locking her eyes onto Theo. She gave him an innocent grin. "Can't a girl have a hobby?"

Theo rolled his eyes. She grinned at her betrothed.

Then, like a cold winter moon eclipsing the Sun, a firm hand clasped onto Bianca's shoulder. The girl fought the urge to shudder. Without looking, she knew who stood behind her.

"Enjoying ourselves?" asked Natalia North, her smile colder than ice.

Draco gave her the same look he had given Professor Moody in Fourth Year; one of pure terror that showed his acknowledgment of power. His eyes darted to the ground, avoiding any form of contact with the assassin.

"Yes, m'am," responded Theo, a beaming smile on his face. His hand squeezed Bianca's, and for a second it truly felt like they were in love.

But Natalia's cold gaze met hers, and a single well-groomed eyebrow lifted. Bianca beamed at her.

"Your father and I have a mission tonight," was all the woman said. "The Notts are allowing you to stay with them, and they'll drop you off at Kings Cross tomorrow with Theodore."

Bianca nodded in response, and a rushed release of breath escaped from her lips as her mother left.

"What a bitch," Theo murmured in her ear.

Bianca stifled a laugh, and turned to him. "At least you don't have to live with her."

"Are they expecting us to have sex?"

Bianca's blunt question left Theo blushing as he locked his door for the night. He turned to find her staring at the large bed. The single bed. She walked towards it as if approaching a potentially dangerous animal.

"Probably. I mean, we are two horny teenagers in love," he responded, ducking the pillow Bianca threw at him. "You can sleep on the floor if you think you can't keep your hands to yourself."

Bianca rolled her blue eyes. "Vain, much?"

"Very," Theo grinned.

Bianca ignored him, and sat down on the side of the bed that was facing the wall. "I call this side, Nott. If you want, I can pretend like I'm Blaise."

Theo shuddered. "Please don't."

She grinned at him. But it faded as her hand traced the wall absentmindedly, as if searching for something. Bianca hardly seemed to notice as Theo gingerly sat down next to her on the bed.

"What are you doing?" he asked finally.

Bianca turned to him. "Who do you think my parents are killing right now?"

With no makeup surrounding her wide blue eyes, she looked as young as a sixteen-year-old girl should. But there was a dark sadness deep in her eyes that sixteen-year-old girls weren't supposed to have.

Then again, they all had a darkness following them. And it always had to do with their parents choices.

Theo gently wrapped his arm around Bianca's shoulders, and held her close. "That's not important, Bee. Because it's not your fault. You're not them. This isn't your choice."

Bianca was silent for several minutes. Theo stayed quiet beside her, and held her. The wind outside provided the only noise, and it's howling almost sounded like screams.

"Don't call me Bee," the girl finally said, pulling away from Theo to lay down.

"Whatever you say, Bee," Theo smiled.

"I'm surprised your parents didn't leave a very sheer nightgown for me."

Theo threw a pillow at her. "Go to sleep, Bee."

The pillow returned to Theo, and it hit him in the face. "Don't call me that!"