◤ ❝I see how fearful you are of your own mind. Intelligent, as it may be, it is also very dangerous. You run away from it because you believe it will be the cause of your undoing.❞ ― Albus Dumbledore◢  

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CHAPTER FOUR:      COEUS  

September 1, 1996

             "Mia, you just disappeared."

Daphne and Tracey stood in the doorway of their dormitory, where Mia had escaped to once she was in the clear from Snape. It'd been a few hours, but when she heard the faint shouting of the prefects from downstairs, she knew that the Feast officially ended. In the time that they had stuffed their faces, she unpacked her belongings and got herself situated before the other girls showed up. She'd made sure to put a charm on her curtains, that way she was the only person who could open them, as well as keeping a lock on her things in case Parkinson took Draco up on his idea of a boggart. Nothing would surprise her. After finishing up that, she'd spend the rest of her time watching the Black Lake from their bay window. It was, coincidentally, not as black as it was green. 

Mia turned her head away from the lake when her friends entered. "I wasn't hungry." 

"Theodore was worried about you," Daphne said, frowning as she moved to sit on the bed that had been hers for the last five years. Tracey took a seat on the trunk that was next to it, embellished in the Slytherin crest. "So was Draco." 

"Which is someone we do need to talk about, Mia," Tracey said, bringing up the topic that had caused a scuffle between them earlier. Andromeda looked at the girl pointedly, but her curly-haired friend was bold enough to test the waters now. "What was that earlier at the table? You were plenty distracted this summer? What, have you and Malfoy gone and shagged in his fancy manor?"

Mia huffed in amusement, wrapping her change of clothes tighter around her body. It was the second time someone had publicly brought up her relationship with Draco that night. "That was just to annoy Parkinson... she honestly believes that there's something going on between the two of us. If my head is gone in the morning, you'll know why."

"I wouldn't be surprised if your head is gone in the morning, either," Tracey scoffed, scooting to look at Mia like she was staging an intervention. She didn't want to ruin how they'd moved past earlier, but her persistence and unfiltered mouth had more control than she did. "I thought he was ready to rip my bloody head off when I asked what you meant earlier...and then you go and act all suspicious at dinner. Do you think we're blind?"

Daphne pursed her lips together. "You two did spent all summer together."

"With his mother, Daphne," Mia said, her words spilling out in mild annoyance. It was hilarious in the beginning to get under Parkinson's skin, but she didn't want the entire school thinking that she spent all summer shagging Malfoy after her father passed away. Even if it was better than the alternative of what she was actually doing. "I think both of you are forgetting that my father died. His father is sentenced to Azkaban for life. His mother doesn't even know if she will see her husband again—my mother will never see hers—and you're asking if I made time in between that to begin a relationship with Malfoy? Honestly, is that what you think of me? That I will distribute my respect to anyone because I'm hurt? For the sake of what—a few late nights with a boy? I told you that I had no room for a relationship, and I meant it."

Tracey and Daphne quickly shrunk back in their seats, taken aback by the outburst from Mia. She forgot that they didn't know who she had become the last few months. They remembered their friend four months ago, who would laugh at their assumptions and raise her voice only in a sarcastic manner. She was not that anymore. She didn't laugh as much as she used to, and her voice became a powerful weapon when she needed it to be. She just hadn't quite figured out when to use it and when to keep it to herself.

"I'm sorry," Mia said, her eyes drifting down to her hands to play with the jacket she layered over her clothing. She'd never enjoyed apologies. They made her feel inferior, like her personality was something to be sorry for... and maybe it was. But she couldn't survive the year without Tracey and Daphne. She didn't want to have to. So, she became inferior.

"You lost your father, Mia," Daphne whispered, not finding the strength to raise her voice any more than necessary. Her friends could hear her perfectly fine, and that was what mattered most. "No one is blaming you for being angry."

Tracey watched Mia pick away at the pricey fabric on her arms, and she wasn't sure that she was staring at the strong, clever Slytherin that walked into the same room their first year. However, that didn't mean she, Theodore, and Daphne weren't determined to help her recover from what she'd sunken herself into. They may be self-preservative beings, but they could also be even more loyal than a Hufflepuff's heart. When it came to their friends, there was a bond there that could not be diffused by arguments or fallouts. 

"Mia, we're your best friends," Tracey said. "We've known you for five years...nothing that you do is going to change that. We're here for you."

Andromeda could sense her heart tearing a bit further, pulverizing the veins within it so deeply that it burned her left arm. They were wrong. They would not be there when she was standing next to the Dark Lord—when the battle came to Hogwarts, and they see that the girl they'd called their best friend was a complete stranger to them. She would be unidentifiable in a crowd of criminals, alike in mind and soul with people she promised she'd never be. Draco would be by her side, and everything would come to light for the people who questioned their relationship. Why they were so close. What happened that summer. They would know, and they would be wrong, and they would remember that very moment in time when they said that they would be there for her.

She tried to give her friends a smile, but it turned into a grimace more than anything, nodding at them in thanks. She didn't trust her words. Before any of them could continue the conversation, there was a shuffling of feet at their doorway, and in came their other roommates. Bulstrode was too busy picking at her wand to notice them, going immediately towards her bunk to begin unpacking. It wouldn't be surprising if it backfired directly in her face. Parkinson looked pleased with herself, and the messiness of her hair made Mia's eyebrow raise slightly in accusation. It was clear what she'd been doing after the Feast ended. 

"Have fun, Parkinson?" Tracey asked vindictively, scoffing from the middle of her throat as she got up to get her own bed ready. 

Pansy grinned, but with how swollen her lips were, it turned into an unflattering sneer. It was also directed at Mia more than it was directed at Tracey, who shared a look with her friend. "Lots. Draco's been very... active recently. It's quite attractive, this new him. Must be because there was little to look at all summer." 

Insinuations were being thrown left and right. Mia, however, had relinquished her care towards the subject ten minutes ago, and she could only smile the same as earlier. Rather than getting into an altercation the first day of school over a boy she didn't even like, Mia stood up and made her way to the door. She walked past Tracey, who had rolled her eyes at Parkinson's indirectness. "I'm going to go say goodnight to Theodore."

"Tell him I said goodnight!" Daphne said without thinking, throwing her cover to the side. Mia stopped at the doorway, turning to the blonde with a look of accusation. Daphne realized the oddness of asking Mia to tell her cousin she said goodnight and quickly covered herself. "And the others." 

Mia hummed out in acknowledgement, shaking her head as she left to go down the hallway to the Boy's Dormitory. The school year was already becoming a mess, and she'd only barely touched the mission given. Merlin's bead, she hadn't even seen the cabinet yet. Much less performed a spell to try and fix it. She may have been a bit too optimistic that she could work with Draco and no one would notice—that the year would be easy, and all she needed to worry about was the Dark Lord. That was a mistake on her part. It was only the first day, and she had already been questioned about things. Parkinson hated her now. Potter was suspicious. Theodore was concerned. Draco was making people bleed. Not much else could happen that would make the day worse.

Her way to the Boy's Dormitories would have been a short one had she stayed on course. It was only a bit of a way down the girl's long hallway, and through the common room, and she would be there—Salazar Slytherin didn't believe that genders should be sectioned off from one another, much like the other houses did, so he revoked the restrictions. Most of them just speculated that it was because he was encouraging actions that Parkinson and Draco would willingly participate in. There was just one thing stopping her from making her way to the boy's side of the house. Actually, a person. Mia would have laughed if she had the heart for it, but she resorted to shaking her head instead. 

A small sigh exhaled from her lips, and she was doing something she may eventually regret. "Shouldn't you be in your room? Fighting over whom gets which bed?"

"Mm, and that sounds very appealing to you, doesn't it?" Vaisey asked, his eyebrow raising as he gave her a cheeky grin. He didn't skip a beat in his reply. "Who wouldn't want to miss the opportunity to see five Quidditch players fight over who gets the bed by the window?"

It surprised her how unconcerned he was by her appearance, especially since they hadn't spoken regularly in many years. Most of the common room had filed out by now; aside from the younger students lingering by the fireplace, he was alone with the book that now rested gently on the arm of the chair. Mia couldn't help but smile, knowing very well that the image he just created was happening at that very moment. The boys hadn't designated their beds like the girls had, even as seventh years. It was first come, first serve above anything else. She just didn't peg Vaisey as the type of person to relinquish his desire to be first. Certainly not to read a book.

"And what happens if you find yourself on the floor tonight?" Mia quirked her own brow his way, moving further into the center of the room. She didn't want to sit. That meant her stay would become longer, and it was never her intent to converse with Vaisey. 

"I guess some unfortunate soul is going to find someone in their bed when they wake up," Vaisey suggested. His smile turned into a lighthearted smirk her way, as if to insinuate she would be the unfortunate soul. Well. Clearly, his charm hadn't changed as much as she thought. "Andromeda Erebus, would you like a roommate?" 

"I'm sorry to say that our room is currently full," Mia said, feigning disappointment as she crossed her arms over her chest. Vaisey's face jokingly fell, looking more wounded than ever. "I'm sure if you check back later, one of us will have probably killed the other... then, you can have all of the space you'd like." 

Vaisey broke out into a light laughter, for the mere reason of knowing there was some truth in her statement. "I appreciate the offer... I just hope that won't be how I find myself close to you." 

Andromeda's smile faltered a little bit, and she couldn't help but hope as well that that wouldn't be the reason either. She didn't want to be the one with the empty bed, and even if they may get on her nerves, she hoped the same would be false for her roommates. Thankfully, she recovered quickly from her small moment before Vaisey could notice the change of heart. She didn't want to make him feel bad, even if all of his small hints and attempts to flirt were being driven to a dead end. At the same time, she didn't want to stop having the conversation with him. He was the first person who hadn't stared at her like she had three heads all day. He'd never even once asked about her father or how she was. She felt normal. Like how talking to a friend should be. Not pestering or interrogating her.

Choosing to change the conversation, Mia decided to walk over to where he was sitting and grab a hold of the book he was reading. His mood changed instantly as he reached to grab it from her, but she had already stepped a bit away from him. The cover was ancient, and the top of the book was coated in dust that suggested he'd only just begun it, but it was the pictures on the front that intrigued her. Three women, surrounded in a series of small objects and symbols, were engraved into the leather book. Each of them more alluring than the next, drawing Mia in further beyond her love of literature. Someone about them was different. A borderline affection that made her feel bonded to the book without even knowing what it was about. 

She read over the title before turning to look at Vaisey. "The Furies?" 

"I found the book in my mother's study a few weeks ago," Vaisey said, this time more reluctantly than his previous sentences had been. By the way he was shifting uncomfortably, he didn't enjoy talking about the book as much as she enjoyed looking at it. "She said she received it from a muggle bookstore..."

The book didn't look like it belonged to a muggle. For some reason, Mia had the sensation that it was right where it needed to be. In the Wizarding World. In Hogwarts. In her hands. She flipped open the first page, and another picture of the women appeared. This time, they were surrounded in dead bodies. "Why was your mother in a muggle bookstore?"

"Does it concern you?"

Mia did look up that time, her head pulling from the book to look at him in surprise. That was more hostile that she'd been expecting. His green eyes were guarded now, and he looked as determined to protect his family as she looked upon her own. She understood why he was blocking. If she'd been any other Slytherin, and he told her that his mother willingly entered a muggle facility, his family would have a new title as blood-traitors. 

However, she didn't see it that way. "No. It's just uncommon that a witch would wander into a muggle bookstore without a purpose... I'm not judging her, Andrew. If I'd known these types of books belonged in their stores, I would have walked in, as well. I'm merely interested. That's all." 

Vaisey's shield fell apart, and he was quick to show guilt, sitting up straighter. "I didn't mean to be rude...it's just—"

"You would do anything for your family," Mia finished. "You don't have to explain it to me. I understand that kind of protection. It can turn you into a different person when you love them enough." 

"Yeah..." Vaisey agreed, nodding quietly. His eyes narrowed a bit on her, studying her as she studied the book. Something about her words resonated deeper than his meaning; he just couldn't figure out how. He cleared his throat, trying to ease another moment that turned into a crisp realism. "The book is interesting, actually...muggles created an entire world centuries ago that they forced themselves to believe. Everything that we've got, except our Merlin is their Zeus. The Furies were only a small part of it. From what I've read, they remind me a lot of us. Slytherins, I mean. Everyone presumed they were bad, but they just wanted to protect what they believed in."

"Would you mind if I borrowed this after you?" Mia asked, desperate to get her hands on the book. "Only if it's alright with you. I won't tell anyone where I got it from." 

Vaisey smiled lightly, nodding his head. "You can have it now. I'm not much of a reader anyway. Let me know if I was right." 

"I will," she said, glancing down at the book with glee flitting inside her. When she looked up again, she decided that she should leave before she spent the entire night talking to the boy. "Goodnight, Andrew."

He was bad news, simply by how genuine he seemed to be. She wanted to wipe the innocent smile off his face when he directed it her way and run far, far away. "Goodnight, Andromeda."

――――――――――    

September 2, 1996

Andromeda was up before the other girls, dressed in her uniform and sitting on her bed, staring at her O.W.L results for the second time since she'd gotten them. She still couldn't believe that she managed such high scores when her world had literally been crumbling to the ground those last two weeks. Neither she nor Draco had much time to think about what classes they would be taking their sixth year, which meant she had a few minutes to figure it out before Professor Snape was assigning them himself at breakfast.

Andromeda Athella Erebus has achieved:

Astronomy         E

Care of Magical Creatures         A

Charms         O

Defense Against the Dark Arts       O

Divination       E

Herbology        A

History of Magic        O

Potions        O

Transfiguration        O

Looking at her scores and remembering back to Snape's words that night, she wished that she were as utterly dumb as Crabbe or Goyle. If it were that simple, maybe the Dark Lord would have no interest in using her. She knew that she would get Outstanding in Charms, Potions, and History of Magic. Those were her best subjects. Defense Against the Dark Arts was easy for one simple reason—she had to learn everything in defense of what she loved most. If it came down to it, she had to know the spells her enemies used against her like the back of her hand. Her Transfiguration score surprised her most—all year, she had been aching to use spells that didn't require her wand. In most cases, she even attempted it in class. That was partially the reason why she was in detention so much last year. McGonagall, though a fair lady, did not tolerate how little Mia followed the rules. 

"I still can't believe Snape's our new Defense professor," was the first thing that Mia heard that morning, coming from the mouth of Daphne as she spoke quietly to a grumbling Tracey. 

Mia's head lifted from her scores immediately, quickly turning it to the blonde. "What?"

"Oh, you didn't hear!" Daphne practically exclaimed, causing another groan to come from Tracey as she moved to the bathroom. "Dumbledore told us last night—Snape's the new Defense professor. Apparently, that one professor that you ran into, Slughorn, is taking over Potions. It's great, isn't it? Snape's been going after that position for years... and after everything that happened last year, it will be nice to have him teaching the class. It's even better, since I didn't pass Potions..."

A sinking feeling hit her head on, and she couldn't help the indifference at the thought of Snape becoming her new Defense professor. It may have had something to do with the curse that everyone knew was placed on the position, or that he would now be teaching her a subject that had never mattered more than the present. However, if she had to choose a professor at the school certain to ensure her safety, it was him. She just didn't want to think about how much prodding he would be putting she and Draco through in that class, whether it be to find out information or keep them alive.

"What classes are you taking?" Daphne asked, moving to sit down on her bed across from Mia. She reached for her results letter, skimming through them quickly. "Merlin, Mia, you could take every class if you wanted to." 

Mia glanced over when she heard Pansy waking up, but returned back to Daphne. "I'm only taking my Outstanding classes."

Daphne's nose wrinkled in disgust. "You really want to take History another year?"

"I like it," Mia defended, grabbing her paper back. 

"Mia, you'll be the only one taking that class," Tracey announced, just as she came out of the bathroom in her uniform. Her hair was tamer than it had been ten minutes ago, but nothing could help how horribly she adjusted her tie. "The Hufflepuffs won't survive another year being too nice to tell Binns' he's dead. Ravenclaws' are probably filling their schedules with all of the important N.E.W.T. classes. Even Granger's probably got enough sense to drop it."

Andromeda frowned, biting her lower lip with a new decision settling in her mind. While she hadn't been very excited to share a classroom with Granger, it would have made her feel better knowing that the girl was taking the class. She knew that Theo passed his with Exceeds Expectations, and that had a lot to do with her finishing all of his homework for him, but he would rather sit through Trelawney's nonsense another year than take Binns' class. Unless, of course, she forced him to. 

She sat up quickly, grabbing her bag and moving past the girls. "I'll see you at breakfast. I need to speak with Theodore."

This time, she sped through the common room without stopping. There's a very likely chance she trampled a few excited first-years on her way through, but she was too determined to convince her cousin to take History with her to care. By the time she reached the sixth years' door, she was knocking enough times to break it off its hinges. A faint "Come in!" by one of the boys signaled that she could enter without having her eyeballs singed from her head, and she was opening the door without thinking twice. 

Blaise was the one closest to the door, adjusting his tie when she barged in. Crabbe and Goyle were both still asleep and would no doubt be flinging themselves out of bed in a few moments once they realized they would be late to breakfast. Theodore and Draco were the only two ready, but neither one of them looked like they would be making small talk. It was only when they heard the footsteps enter their room that they glanced up to see Mia. 

"What a pleasant surprise," Blaise huffed out, noticing her mood. 

Mia turned to look at him with a glare, before moving closer to her cousin. He seemed to already know that she was going to ask him something by the expression on her face, and he sighed heavily. "What is it?"

"Take Binns' class with me." 

Theo stared at her blankly. "You're joking."

"Theodore," Mia began. "I'm your only cousin—you have to take this class with me." 

"You're mad."

"No one in the bloody school wants to take his class but me, Theo. Davis said even Granger is thinking about dropping it. Do you know what that means? I'll be sitting in a class with Binns' all year. Alone. He's probably too old to even realize anyone's in the class, and you know he's hated me ever since Peeves played that prank second year."

Before Theodore could even be slightly convinced of her cause, Draco was interrupting them. "Why do you want to take that class again? It's not necessary. You've already received an Outstanding in it, haven't you? No job requires a N.E.W.T. grade."

"I happen to like the class," Mia explained. She knew that she probably was mad for wanting to take the class again. It would mean that she was stuck with Binns for two years, up until she would take the N.E.W.T. test at the end of her seventh year, but she loved history. She loved reading. It was the one thing that made the Sorting Hat struggle so deeply between Slytherin and Ravenclaw her first year, and the only thing that was going to keep her and Draco alive when it came to finding spells in books. 

Draco raised his eyebrows at her. "You need the time to study for other subjects. Snape's going to tell you to drop the class." 

"He will not!" 

Twenty minutes later, Snape told her to drop the class. Her body deflated a little bit, knowing that she had nothing to combat with him when it came to why she wanted to take the class so badly. He wouldn't accept that she wanted to take it because she loved the subject; if it did nothing for her future, it was useless. Theodore, to the right of her, was practically emitting relief through his pores now that he didn't have to take it with her. Draco, on the other hand, was staring at her with an 'I-told-you-so' expression that she wanted to kick off his face desperately. That would probably land her a detention her first day of class, though, and she wasn't necessarily eager to spend time with her professors more than necessary.

"You will be taking Defense Against the Dark Arts, Potions, Charms, Transfiguration, and Astronomy, Miss Erebus," Snape decided, practically creating a schedule for her that she had no choice but to agree with. She wasn't disappointed about Astronomy, but it wasn't her first choice. Besides, she already had a feeling that would be a class she rarely attended.

The others went after her, most of them scheduled for a few of the same classes as her. The only person who had a replica time-table was Draco, and Mia had to quirk an eyebrow his way as he decided against taking Divination to go into Astronomy. That was clearly a decision he made last-minute, and it wasn't a coincidence. Theodore, unsurprisingly, had almost every class with her, as well. He just had to take Divination rather than Astronomy, like she and Draco. Mia could tell that his Poor Astronomy grade would haunt him for the rest of his life. Parkinson, on the other hand, was fuming while Snape read Draco's schedule, putting the pieces together that Mia had the same classes with her boyfriend while she didn't. 

"I expect to see all of you in my class on time," Professor Snape interjected once he'd reached the last of them, Blaise huffing silently that he got stuck with Trelawney another year. 

Mia glanced down to see that Defense was their first class, but what she was more concerned with was the small caption that appeared right next to the class. Shared with all Houses. Which, in her mind, translated to: Shared with Gryffindor. Just as Snape walked away from them with a whisk of his robe, Tracey was grumbling about how she'd always hated Defense—it didn't matter who taught it. Daphne was trying to shove parchment in her bag unsuccessfully. Crabbe and Goyle were fighting over who would eat the last of the pumpkin pasties they'd bought on the train. Theodore was grabbing his books, silent in his accepted defeat over his classes. Pansy was still clinging on Draco, making sure to send a pointed stare Mia's way, who cared more about the apple in her mouth than Parkinson's affection. Blaise just looked like he wanted to fall over, dead.

"What do you think he'll have us do?" Daphne asked, talking to no one in particular.

Mia kept silent, even though she had an idea what Snape would be teaching. Blaise was the one to speak up, instead. "Something useful, at least... it's not like Umbridge really taught us anything last year. Only thing we learned from Lockhart is that his favorite color is lilac. Quirrell was a bloody mess from the beginning. Lupin ran off to kill things at night. The only person who actually taught us something useful was Moody, and he ended up being a criminal... which, it's quite sad, really. Our best professor is rotting in Azkaban." 

Barty Crouch Jr. certainly taught them things. Dark things. Terrible, despicable, unforgivable things. Beautiful things, that Mia couldn't help but call into question as she sat there—guilty of the same crimes as her former teacher. Coming to the same thought, Draco peered over at her, and his grey eyes locked in on hers for a split second. She knew what it meant; they needed to figure out a way to get to the the cabinet. They may be pretending that everything was normal, but every once in a while, reality would draw them back in to what they had to do. Blaise reminding them of Crouch Jr.'s lessons on the Unforgivable Curses happened to be the poison of the hour. She also suspected his glance had a bit to do with how Blaise described Crouch's fate, given that Lucius Malfoy was currently doing the same thing as they sat there eating.

"Maybe we'll get lucky and blast a curse in a Gryffindor's face," Tracey muttered, the thought alone putting a pep in her morning that hadn't been there before. "You think Snape will give me detention if I go after Longbottom?" 

Mia snorted, this time bringing herself to speak up. "Doubt it... Longbottom's a walking disaster as it is. Anyone would believe it was his fault before they even began pointing fingers at you."

"Even better." 

――――――――――      

"I wish to speak to you, and I want your fullest attention. You have had five teachers in this subject so far, I believe. Naturally, these teachers will all have had their own methods and priorities. Given this confusion I am surprised so many of you scraped an O.W.L. in this subject. I shall be even more surprised if all of you manage to keep up with the N.E.W.T. work, which will be much more advanced." 

Andromeda carefully watched as Snape glided throughout his damp and dark classroom, looking oddly similar to his Potions room with only minor adjustments. It took everything in her power not to glance down and to the right of her shared desk with Theodore—because, from where she was sitting, she could see the left side of Potter's face so clearly she wanted to burn it away right then and there. Just seeing him set her off. Being in the same room as him made her skin crawl, and knowing that he suspected Draco made her even more ill. However, the only two people who knew of that short conversation were she and Potter, which meant that Draco had no idea that the target on his chest was growing by the second. Only she could bear the weight of the tension, and only she and Potter were left to suffocate in it.

"The Dark Arts are many, varied, ever-changing, and eternal," Snape began, and her attention snapped back to him like an elastic band at his mention of the Dark Arts. Draco, to the right of her, sat up as well. "Fighting them is like fighting a many-headed monster, which, each time a neck is severed, sprouts a head even fiercer and cleverer than before. You are fighting that which is unfixed, mutating, indestructible. Your defenses must, therefore, be as flexible and inventive as the arts you seek to undo. These pictures"— he referenced the ones hanging on the walls around him — "give a fair representation of what happens to those who suffer, for instance, the Cruciatus Curse" — Mia's throat tightened, drying as she stared at the picture of a witch whom resembled her that summer — "feel the Dementor's Kiss, or provoke the aggression of the Inferius." 

"Has an Inferius been seen then? Is it definite, is he using them?" asked Parvati Patil, a Gryffindor whose fear tumbled from every syllable in her mouth. Mia's brow raised at Snape, wondering the answer herself. She hadn't been a follower long enough to know all of the tricks her Lord had up his sleeve. 

"The Dark Lord has used Inferi in the past, which means you would be well-advised to assume he might use them again," Snape replied, so cryptic in his explanation that even she had difficulty with what he meant. "Now, you are, I believe, complete novices in the use of nonverbal spells" — Mia did not miss the quick, pointed glower he sent her direction; she smirked unforgivingly — "What is the advantage to a non-verbal spell?"

Naturally, Granger's hand shot up so hastily, it almost took out someone's eye. It wouldn't have been a complete pity—Weasel number Five could always borrow one from Alastor Moody. As always, the muggle-born was practically flinging herself for the opportunity to answer a question correctly. However, for some reason, Mia felt a compulsion to raise her hand and answer herself. Why shouldn't she if it meant gaining house points and making Granger upset? So, she did. Even with Theo's questionable stare, wondering why in Salazar Slytherin her hand was up when she'd always stayed silent before.

Snape's relief that one of his own knew the answer surpassed his irritation that it was her answering, nodding in her direction as he ignored Granger's squirming. "Miss Erebus?"

"Their opponent has no idea what's going to happen," Mia explained, crossing her arms as everyone turned around to look at her. Granger was livid. "If you use a nonverbal spell, it's practically impossible to block it... in a duel, you will have the advantage." 

One of the reasons she practiced it long before she was meant to—why she was best. Better than Granger, at least. "Correct. Ten points to Slytherin. Those who progress to using magic without shouting incantations gain an element of surprise in their spell-casting. Not all wizards can do this, of course; it is a question of concentration and mind power which some" — Snape singled out Potter as he finished — "lack. You will now divide into pairs. One partner will attempt to jinx the other without speaking. The other will attempt to repel the jinx in equal silence. Carry on."

Mia was beaming. She was pretty sure that it would be the best Defense class she'd had in years. She had a feeling that Snape knew it, too, and that was exactly why he made it their first lesson. Even though she wished that she would be partnered up with Draco (what fun that would be), for their protection, she went with her cousin and he went with Blaise. Theodore stood a few feet in front of her, unaware of how skilled the person in front of him was at all aspects of nonverbal magic. As far as he knew, she was only good without a wand. Rather than administering the jinxes, she chose to block whatever Theo managed to throw her way. There was nothing for a while, and she watched as Theodore slowly started to get frustrated as he wondered if it was his charms that weren't working or she was just repelling everything he tried. 

Mia was holding her wand limply in her hand, the Cedar and Dragon Heartstring just as bored as she was. For the sake of her cousin's integrity, she met with his eyes and raised her brow once, tempting him to do his worst if he must. And, surprisingly, he did. The eye contact that they had to keep between them ended up being the reason she failed at repelling her cousin. Just as the jinx Flipendo rang through her head (although, not in her voice), she was sent back a few feet and onto the ground. Mia, taken back by the shock of being knocked away, didn't realize that she had accidentally gotten hit back into someone. By the way the class stopped what they were doing, she had a idea who it was.

Harry Potter stood over her, surprise on his face just as clearly as it was written on hers, and she couldn't help but mold her face into one of disgust. Moving to get up as quickly as possible, thanks to Theo's awaiting hand, she stepped away from Potter. 

"I would watch what you're doing next time," Potter stated casually, momentarily pausing his partner, Weasel's, jinxes. 

Mia's jaw jutted out, and the rage resurfaced just as ungraciously as it had in the Great Hall last night. She knew that his words weren't out of kindness. Everything he said was a threat, a tempt towards her that made her even more uneasy than before. She didn't say anything back for the second time, standing by her statement that she got no satisfaction through spitting out petty remarks. She would have loved to send a jinx that put him through a wall, though. Keeping to herself and allowing Theo to pull her back to their little corner before she did any damage to Potter, she didn't bother glancing over at Draco to see what he thought of the situation. He could gripe later. 

Theodore grabbed her upper arm, causing her to turn his way. "Are you all right?"

"I can handle Saint Potter and his arrogant commentary," Mia said lowly, dusting herself off.

She wasn't as upset about landing into Potter as she was at herself for allowing it to happen. Even if she was a Legilimens, her control over it was wavering. She should have been able to deflect her cousin's jinx easily. Not hear it inside of her head as it happened and become distracted by it. That was the second time since she'd been at Hogwarts that she lost hold on reality, accidentally slipping into another's subconsciousness. If she did that in a real duel, she would be dead in seconds. 

"Twenty points to Mister Nott for correctly producing a nonverbal jinx," Snape announced, ignoring that Granger just repelled one of Longbottom's jinxs. The stare he gave Mia suggested he was just as curious about her bout of weakness as she had been. A few moments later, he was getting on the pair that she just bumped into. "Pathetic, Weasley. Here—let me show you—"

Before anyone had really understood what was happening, Snape attempted to send a jinx Potter's way, only to be sent back a few paces after a Shield Charm blocked it. For a few short pulses, the single sounds in the room were their professor's body hitting the desk behind him and a spell. Potter had done exactly what they weren't supposed to do. He said his charm. Snape looked just as pleased getting knocked back as Mia had been. "Do you remember me telling you we are practicing nonverbal spells, Potter?"

"Yes," Potter numbly answered, his body stiff as a board. 

Snape, with his anger fuming enough to burst the windows, glowered at the blatant sign of disrespect from The Boy Who Lived. "Yes, sir." 

"There's no need to call me 'sir,' Professor."

There was an outburst of emotions as he said those fateful words. Slytherins roaring in anger as their Headmaster was disrespected by someone as filthy as Potter; Gryffindors bursting into fits of glee as their housemate finally told off the man they'd hated for so long; Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws alike silent in wild befuddlement. Mia's eyes flashed with resentment all over again, her hand reaching for her wand to do anything to the boy. Not that she needed it—she would probably get five hundred points alone from Snape if she used a nonverbal spell on Potter right then and there. Then, they'd win the House Cup and she'd make sure Potter was as good as dead. With the jinxes she was thinking up, he'd be lucky to come out with all of his limbs attached in the right places. 

Draco, who she saw in another dim corner from across the room, had his wand ready in his hand, but he didn't seem too keen on using it. They met eyes, and he was shaking his head. Dismissing her of her devilish thoughts. Diminishing the anger festering inside of her. She took a step back with reluctance, returning to Theo's side defiantly. How desperately she wanted to kill the boy. Even when she knew she couldn't, it didn't deny the urge.

"Detention, Saturday night, my office," Snape ordered, his voice straining to keep calm as he glared daggers at Potter. "I do not take cheek from anyone, Potter...not even 'The Chosen One.'"

With that, the class was sent off to break. Well, almost all of the class. Professor Snape turned his head, his eye catching a certain brunette as she moved to grab her things at their desks. "Miss Erebus, stay behind. I wish to speak to you privately." 

Andromeda sighed heavily, her eyes closing gently as she released her bag to keep it where it was. She should have known. Turning to Theo, she sent him a small nod to go without her. She'd catch up with him before their Potions class anyway. Just as she skirted through the aisles to move to the front, she got caught up in Draco's path to the exit. It looked normal to almost anyone, but concern was written across his forehead. He was worried Snape was going to ask about their mission—as though involving their professor would take away from their, his, spotlight from the Dark Lord. She rolled her eyes, knowing he could see, and moved out of his way. Soon enough, he would have to trust that she was reliable. If he didn't, his faith in her would be the reason the mission failed. Not her loyalty to him or their cause.

She got up to the front where Snape's desk sat, unusually cluttered with stacks of books and papers as if it was the middle of term. In fact, it looked a lot like her desk. She didn't think on it too long, knowing that Snape wouldn't concern himself about an ugly, rotting, impotent cabinet like she'd been all summer. Glancing over her shoulder to see that everyone had filed out, she asked, "You needed to speak with me, Professor?"

"Yes, I seem to remember you being very well rehearsed in the practice of nonverbal magic," Snape started, turning around to look at her with a cocked brow. "I, more than any other, was surprised to see how easily Mister Nott was able to administer a jinx given your range of... talent" — Mia could see how lenient he was being on the word; it was more of a means of destruction than simply a talent—  "in this area of magic. If you would care to enlighten me, Miss Erebus, and tell me that all of your studying this summer hasn't left you inept like Mister Potter or Mister Weasley."

A bitter taste built on her tongue at the thought of being anything close to Potter or Weasley. Snape waited patiently for her answer, clearly able to see that being compared to two-thirds of the Golden Trio annoyed her. 

Knowing he wanted a reaction, she refuted with a morose attitude. "Even the brightest witches have off days, sir... if you would like evidence that supports I'm plenty capable of producing and repelling a nonverbal spell, I'd be more than willing to show you what I've been studying this summer. Otherwise, I'll be off to my break." 

If Snape was taken back by her hidden threat, he gave no indication of it. She didn't bow down from a fight, though. Not anymore. They kept eye contact for a few moments, Andromeda wondering if he was trying to find anything out in her mind. She knew better than that, though. She'd been settled on one thought to hide the others as soon as she walked in his room. Since she couldn't keep him out of her thoughts like Draco, she had to find a way to keep him from what was important. That meant clouding her mind with images of her father. Images of her mother. Images of Theo. What she did allow him to see was the stone-cold honesty beneath her words—how she wasn't being deceptive with her warning, merely informing him. He was not her Lord. She did not follow him. She owed him nothing. 

His eyes flickered past her, breaking the contact and telling her that she had won. Her lip twitched in victory. "Be mindful of who you call your friends, Miss Erebus. Sometimes they lead us down a path darker than our enemies. You're free to leave." 

She did so willingly and never looked back to see that Professor Snape gave her a look of hopelessness, suggesting that she was further on the way to lost than he would have ever anticipated. He saw a possibility in Draco that was being burned out of Andromeda the longer she lived. And he had no idea how to begin saving it.

――――――――――      

Mia had just rounded around the corner to get to the Slytherin common room for break when she noticed a shadow leaning against one of the stone walls. She didn't even need to ask to know who it was. The arrogance in his posture told him off already. Rather than going straight to the portrait awaiting her entrance, she turned to her right to move into the shadows with him. The Black Lake's reflection gave enough green light for the two of them to make out each other's faces, but that was all that Mia was able to see of Draco. It was all she needed to see, nonetheless, as the scowl gave enough away without any further help from his clenched fists. 

He stared at her, awaiting an answer. "Well? What did he want?" 

"He wanted to know how my cousin was able to knock me two feet back when I'm supposed to be the best witch in our year at nonverbal magic," Mia explained, rather dully, as she watched his face slowly contort in relief. She didn't settle so easily. "What? Think I was going to tell Snape what we're really doing at Hogwarts this year? Mind you, you were the one blabbering on the train about how you 'might not be at Hogwarts next year.'  Honestly, Draco. You've known me longer than you've known anyone at this school. Not to mention that you've spent all summer with me—I'd have thought that you would have more trust in me to follow demands that could cost my family their necks."

While Mia had gotten most of what she needed to say out of her system, it happened to rile Draco up more now that they were alone to share their thoughts. For the most part, at least, until someone comes stumbling through the corridor. "I don't doubt your trust, Romy. I doubt your anger... you've already caused two scenes, and we've been at Hogwarts a day."

"And your anger is under control?" Mia practically hissed, stepping closer to him to keep her voice down. "You think that bloodying up Potter was a good idea? He knows something's up, Draco. He practically warned me that he knew what you were up to when I ran into him last night. Don't play yourself as victim when you've threatened this mission just as much as me."

"People are going to start asking questions," Draco muttered numbly, frowning darkly as he began to pace back and forth in the small space of the hall. 

Mia watched him, calming down. "People already are." 

"We just have to be more careful," he decided, stopping in his place as he turned to look at her. Although he tried to pretend it wasn't there, she could see the mild panic creeping through his skin as he wondered if they were really going to be able to pull of the mission. "It's not just Potter and his Band of Merry Men that are looking at us. Your cousin's going to start wondering what happened this summer, as well."

The thought of Theodore finding out what really happened to her made her stomach churn. If he knew the truth, she had no doubt that the Dark Lord would try to recruit him in the madness. Without his father in the inner circle, that spot needed to be filled somehow. Mia just hoped that, for right now, she was upholding the position of her father and uncle both. "We don't need to worry about Theodore. I'll handle him if he begins asking me."

"If Potter's already suspecting us, we need to stay away from one another," Draco said, his lips grinding against his teeth with nerves. "Just meet me on the seventh floor tonight, outside the Room of Requirement. We'll start testing spells and come up with a plan. Do you know what you're going to say to Slughorn in class yet?"

Mia gave him a wicked grin, her brown eyes lighting up with excitement that shined in the lake's waves. "Oh, I have a plan. Granger might end up hating me even more than she hates you at the end of it, though."

"Sounds like Potions class will be fun after all." 

"You have no idea." 

After all, the first paragraph of Vaisey's book said that the Furies were not deliberately evil; and if they were really as close to a Slytherin as he suspected, she wasn't as bad as everyone had written her off to be. Not deliberately, at least. 

Not entirely whole either, though.

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Author's Note: 

What do you guys think of Andromeda so far? This story? I hope that I'm doing Jo's world justice, and even more, Mia's thoughts and reasons.

COEUS: TITAN OF INTELLECT