Kia&Niki- We.Gotta--Stand.`TOGETHER`

[Corliss Malfoy]

It was here wasn't it? The day the three girls had planned to meet in the Chamber to 'talk' about certain people. She knew in the pit of her stomach she'd have to tell them. Tell themTobie was feeding the New Order information about the DE. Tell them that Rowen was also in the New Order. She had wondered all day how they would take it, would they believe her or would they say she was dreaming? She wasn't though. She'd seen Rowen talking to Zane, a smile upon both of the boy's faces, seen October chatting with James Potter, laughing like she had when they had been friends. All of that had changed when the girl had switched houses, it had all changed.

So there she was, the short, pregnant girl she was, entering Moaning Myrtles bathroom so she could slip into the chamber. Her mind was racing, what if they didn't show up? What if they brought Tobie? Then her plan would fail. Crash and burn is more like it. She had thought so hard about it, thinking out every word she would say two the high ranking officers. She was a trusted member of the DE, one of the first to join. Faitful and detrimed to help the cause. She would be taken seriuosly, she knew it.

As she opened the secrete pass to the Chamber, she glanced over her shoulder, making sure she hadn't been followed. She gulped a deep breathe of clean air and began the decent. It was a slow process, kicking snake bones out of the way. The dark corridor was lite by a few, well spaced lanterns. Even those weren't very bright. She held her wand up, thinking a quick spell and watching as her wand emitted a soft, blue white glow. Smiling to herself, Corliss walked faster, her back aching for rest and relaxitation. When she fianlly entered the vast main Chamber, she let a sigh of relfe escape her lips.

She walked slower then, biding her time until she reached the table at which they sat for their Inner Circle meeting. She took her normal seat, to the side of Charlotte's and across from Kianthra. The plain wooden chair wasn't the most comfortable seat in the house, but it would slowly ease the aching pain from her back. She glanced at the dark opening at the far end of the room, as if expecting the girl to emerge soon. She rested her elbows on the table, looking at the intricate carvings on Lottie's chair. It was very pretty. She lost herself in thoughts and words, thinking about how the Hemingway twins had betrayed the DE.

Her lips trembled as she thought about it. How she'd found out from Brendon that her old best friend was a traitor. She could still hear October's voice in her ears as she looked up at her in the compartment they met in. 'Is, uh, anyone sittin in here?' she had asked. Corliss remembered how she had looked at the girl, knowing she could be trusted. She invited her to stay and talk. They had instantly became friends, always sitting together and chatting all the time. She felt bad hat she had to rat the girl out, but she was leaking DE plans into the New Order. It had to stop and it had to stop now. 'They have to believe me. They trust me." she whispered under her breath.

[Nikita Snape]

Nikita walked down the corridor, her mind wandering from various thoughts of Xavier, the DE, Corliss and her baby bump, Kianthra's big mess of a relationship with Rowen, the recent murder of Kota and last but not least, the Hemingway siblings. Her heart had recently been closed off in one section, which use to rely on Tobie's section, but she had been ripped out and sadly, Niki didn't think Tobie would be able to fill it back up again. Her switching of houses had been the start of it, until Nikita had became very curious of the girl whom use to be apart of her group.

Nikita had found Rowen in the forest, holding a NO coin, and waiting for Zane Lestrange. they had fought for quite the while, hurting each other randomly, and then at the very end Rowen almost burning the whole damn place down. What. An. Idiot. Finally, Nikita had strutted off, knowing for a fact that she could ruin rowen's whole life and that she wouldn't hesitate to do so. She would tell Kia the whole story, hopefully she would dump his white ass, and then Rowen would just be gone. From Kia's life, and from Niki's troubles. Hopefully.

Eventually clearing the thoughts from her head, Nikita entered Moaning Murtle's bathroom, slipping into the secret passageway for the Chamber of Secrets. It had an eeiry smell, and Nikita mumbled to herself although it was indeed rather loud and it echoed softly off of the walls, "It smells like death in this hell hole," she laughed gently, knowing that if anyone was in the area that they would hear what she had voiced. Slowly, Nikita continued on, entering the room and she immediately spotted Corliss and her well developed baby bump.

Nikita smirked slightly, seeing Corliss, hearing her few statements that were ever-so quiet. "Well, of course I'll believe you, as long as you believe what I have to say to you, love." She laughed gently, taking her seat next to Kianthra, which had been across from Scorpius' chair. It looked so empty now, and Niki had just wanted to cry from time to time. She had loved Scorpius, although she now knew that she loved Xavier. It still didn't stop her from shedding a few tears for her beloved, and she wished she had told Scorpius her feelings that she had for him.

[Kianthra Lestrange]

It would be safe to say that Kianthra Lestrange wasn't in the best mood. Having cursed several fifth years for walking too slowly on her way to Moaning Murtle's Bathroom and causing a duel just outside the door, she was in a bad mood. The fifth years hadn't even been Gryffindors. They were a mixture of Ravenclaws and Slytherins, most of which were now on their way to the Hospital Wing, trying to hide the large boils growing on their faces. And the worse thing was, she didn’t feel any regret. She was back to how she used to be, before she met Rowen, all because everyone in Slytherin seemed to be trying to keep the couple apart. It just wasn’t fair. They’re all just jealous. They can’t stand the fact that I’ve found someone who isn’t Scorpius. It’s not as if I’m betraying him at all, I mean, he keeps disappearing from school all together with no valid reason...Rowen’s always been there for me and they just can’t bear to see it.

She stormed through the bathroom, hauling abuse at Moaning Murtle who was being her usual obnoxious self. We’ll all be glad when she’s gone. Why can’t she go haunt somewhere else? She opened the secret passage and quickly descended down into the tunnel. She kicked aside some of the rat bones littered throughout the tunnel and proceeded to the chamber where they usually held meetings, when the Room of Requirement was occupied. There was the table and the chairs set out perfectly, as they always were. Kia slid into her chair, a slightly darker would than the seven plain chairs, and rested an elbow on one of her spiralled arm rests. She sighed in frustration and then looked up only then meeting the faces of those present.

[Corliss Malfoy]

Corliss looked at Nikita with a smile. She was always one to say things like that. She was also the one to curse for no reason. "Of course I will believe you, Nik. You're one of my four best friends in the entire world!" she said, winking at her friend. Tucker, Kianthra, Nikita and Naoh. The only people she fully trusted. Her brother and Tobie had once been included in the best friend category, but now that Tobie was in the New Order and Scorpius had vanished, they were marked off her list. She smiled at her friend, her hand resting on her belly. "But what I have to say is kinda crazy..." she added, looking at the dark entrance as Kianthra entered.

She watched as the girl fell down in her chair, saying nothing. She looked, quite bluntly, pissed. Everyone knew not to mess with Kia when she was mad, even if she was only a tad angry. She had a nasty temper, and was not one to be fooled with. "Hey, Kianthra. Care to explain why you're angry before we piss you off more?" she asked, her voice soft.

[Rowen Hemingway]

He had been on edge all day; the fact that October and Brendon Keaton had fought in the Trophy Room had frightened him; he knew that Brendon wouldn't hesitate if he wanted to kill October for bruising him up a bit. His sister had recovered from the incident...physically anyway. She never left the Common Room nowadays on his orders. He refused to let another Slytherin sink their claws into her. She was lucky that he let her see Aiden. Somehow he didn't quite trust the Irvine anymore...even if they had been friends since childhood.

It may have seemed like an overprotective move...but Rowen didn't care. The last thing he wanted was to have October killed...or worse. He was also aware of the fact that now both of them had allowed their covers to slip and it was only a matter of days until the entire DE found out about their little chirade. Though Rowen had always been disliked amongst the Slytherins...October had blended in well with them. She had been popular; she had made friends. She had also managed to climb her way up the DE ladder; securing the t rust of everyone, including Charlotte. Now if anyone found out...she'd be right in their crosshairs.

Rowen was currently wandering the halls, trying to find Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. Since it was the girl's lav, there were probably spells that kept it hidden from any men and finding it would be difficult. Kianthra had told him to meet her in the Chamber of Secrets, and for what reason he was unsure. He knew that the DE met there on occasion (Tobie had told him) and he had a theory that perhaps they were going to try and recruit him for the hundreth time. That would be interesting. But...he had a feeling that it was for another reason. He also had a feeling that he wouldn't leave their without being attacked, so he brought his wand and New ORder coin with him for good measure.

He sighed heavily when his eyes rested upon a bathroom that might be what he was looking for. Wrenching open the door and walking in, he looked around casually. Hm...it seemed rather deserted...

He glanced up when he heard something and jerked to his right suddenly when he saw a book flying in his direction from above, followed by a giggle.
Myrtle," he muttered, rolling his eyes. Kia had warned him about he poltergeist that tormented those who entered 'her' bathroom. He shrugged it off, finding the entrance and walking down the steps. When he was fianlly in the Chamber, his nose crinkled. It smelled heavily of decaying flesh and blood; not something he was used to. The air was cold and the floor was partially flooded, though by less than an inch. He then saw Kianthra, Nikita and Corliss, sitting down in their respective chairs, waiting for the arrival of the otehr members...or were they?

Clearing his throat, Rowen approached the trio. "Where's October?" he asked darkly, looking over his shoulder. "And why am I down here, Kianthra?"

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[Kianthra Lestrange]

Kia looked up and caught Corliss' eyes. "Me? Angry? No, of course not," she whispered, her hands clenched into tight fists. Why am I down here anyway? I don't want to be. I could be in the Common Room, or doing something useful, instead of this secret meeting. Why do they have to be called at the most inconvenient of times? Why? For once, can't they be called at a time which is suitable for me? Sure the DE ones are fine because Charlotte always consults me on those, but these little meetings, with three or four of us, why? And why here? Why not the Great Hall? Or classroom 11? Why can't things go my way for a change? I'm fed up with being told who I can like and who I have to stay away from. I hate it. Hate all of it. I sometimes wonder whether I'm doing the right thing. Maybe I should change and join the NO just to spite them? No, I couldn't stand that. Not even to prove a point to them that I'm fed up of being pushed around. Well they've started to learn. I can't hold it in any longer. I should just curse the whole lot of them and be done with it. Maybe that's the solution I've been searching for?

She banged her fists on the table and stood up suddenly, pushing her chair back. "I can't take it anymore. Everyone telling me what to do. Who I should like, who I should stay away from, what subjects I should like, what I SHOULD DO IN MY SPARE TIME! I HATE IT! YOU KNOW HOW I FEEL ABOUT ROWEN AND EVERYONE IS TRYING TO KEEP US APART!" she paused for breath, before beginning to pace around the room, knocking down empty chairs in her path, sending several flying across the room, causing them to shatter. She kicked the piles of wood as she paced around the room, taking a deep breath before continuing. "I SHOULDN'T BE ORDERED AROUND BY SOMEONE WHO'S PARENTS WEREN'T EVEN DEATH EATERS, HE'S NOT EVEN IN THE DE! WHY ON EARTH DOES, STEBBINS, THINK HE HAS THE RIGHT, TO TELL ME, KIANTHRA, THAT I SHOULD STOP BEING A CONTROL FREAK? I LIKE THINGS TO BE ORGANISED, IS THAT A CRIME NOW? IT SEEMS AS THOUGH I CAN'T DO ANYTHING WITHOUT IT BEING COMMENTED ON BY SOME STUPID FIFTH YEAR. I'M A LESTRANGE! NOT A BLOODY POTTER OR WEASLEY, I WON'T STAND FOR PEOPLE THINKING THAT THEY ARE BETTER THAN ME, WHEN THEY ARE NOT! SOME GRUNT CAME UP TO ME YESTERDAY AND SAID THAT I SHOULD TRY AND PAY MORE ATTENTION TO THE FIRST YEARS. WHO THE HELL DOES HE THINK HE IS? JUST BECAUSE HE'S NOW A THIRD YEAR, DOES NOT MEAN HE HAS THE RIGHT TO TELL ME WHAT TO DO!"

She continued fuming, running a hand through her blonde locks before turning her attention back to Corliss and Nikita. "You know this doesn't apply to you Corliss, you're like a little sister to me. You never tell me what to do, you just give advice and it's my decision whether I take it or not. Unlike some people," she whispered, turning her head quickly towards Niki, with whom she had had a slight argument about Rowen. She continued in a whisper, totally oblivious to the fact that Rowen had just appeared, "And do you know what really bugs me? People who think they can tell me who I CAN FALL IN LOVE WITH. I LOVE ROWEN. AND I KNOW YOU HATE THAT NIKI. BECAUSE YOU DON'T LIKE HIM. BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN YOU HAVE TO STOP ME FROM BEING HAPPY DOES IT? YOU'RE ENEMIES, OKAY I GOT THAT WHEN I FIRST SAW YOU MEET HIM. YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PUT THAT ASIDE BECAUSE THERE'S NOTHING, NOTHING, IN THE WORLD, THAT WOULD KEEP ME FROM HIS SIDE."

[Rowen Hemingway]

Rowen had barely enough time to put his few words in before Kianthra...exploded. That was the best way to describe it. She had completely lost her cool; that sheer, icy exterior that made her who she was had evaporated completely, and all that remained was this savage, uncharted side of the Slytherin girl who Rowen hadn't had the pleasure of meeting yet. He swallowed, watching her storm around, knocking down anything in her path; even if it included pieces of furniture that probably weighed more than she did. Hot! Rowen thought with a smirk, but it disappeared as quickly as it came. He listened intently to his girlfriend, unsure of how to tame this savage behavior.

With growing shock, he realized that this rant had been because of him. Everyone was giving her a hard time for dating the Slytherin softie, and thus far Kia had dealt with the insults gracefully (and by gracefully, he meant chasing after whatever idiot with a heated wand.). The two learned to walk with pride, and whatever time that Kia had free they'd spend together. However, the DE meetings were beginning to strain her and began to interfere with this they did as a couple. He was convinced that it was done on purpose, but decided not to voice his opinions for fear of tipping Kia off about where his loyalties lay.

Although what she was saying was sweet (despite the tone it was spoken in), Rowen had to take action before she did something reckless. Holding in a laugh when Kia provoked Nikita, he stepped forward and took a firm grip on her shoulder. "Kianthra..." he said softly, glancing at her with green eyes. "I hate to do this...but you need time to cool off." he uttered, pulling his wand from his back pocket. Before Nikita or Corliss could take action, he gently touched Kia's neck with his wand.

"Petrificus totalus," he whispered, feeling Kia's body immeadiately go limp. He caught her, picking her up easily. He looked down at her blank, unmovable expression, terrified that soon her eyes would blaze with anger against him. He bit his lip, lowering down to the floor and stared her dead in the eye. "Kianthra Elody Lestrange," he warned. "This isn't a safe place. Be careful about what you say...who you say it to." his eyes wandered to Nikita before looking back to Kia. "Kianthra, I want to tell you this before you're told by another source." he said, throat closing. He sucked in a breath, closing his eyes. "I'm a member of the New Order." he said.

"Finite."

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[Kianthra Lestrange]

Kia paused for breath ready to continue with her rant, when she heard his voice and felt and hand on her shoulder. She looked up into his eyes, the anger slowly ebbing away as she realised he must have heard and seen what she had just said and done. She opened her mouth to say his name, but before she could do so, his wand was at her neck and she lost control of her limbs. Her eyes showed signs of fear as she fell, without the means of stopping herself, but this quickly vanished as Rowen caught her. She wanted to reach out and touch his face but she couldn't. All she could do was watch as Rowen lowered her gently to the floor and looked straight into her eyes. She listened to his words, confused when he used her full name, but that quickly disappeared with his last few words.

What did he just say? I don't think I heard him right. I'm sure I didn't. He didn't say that. He didn't. I...I...my brain's probably confused from that spell. I know why he did that now, I'm calm, well more calm than I was but...how? He's been in the new order all this time, he betrayed me? No I can't believe it, I just can't. He wouldn't do something like that would he? To me? To Tobie? No. It's all some kind of sick joke, they've cursed him or something. No there's no silver in his eyes. I can't believe it though. I just can't. It goes against everything that has happened in these past few months. All the time we've spent together. Everything I've told him, all my secrets, they know them all, if it's true. NO IT'S NOT TRUE! Why does everything always go wrong with my relationships? Scorpius...I'm not going to think about him, he's nothing compared to Rowen, but it seems I was mistaken. I trusted him, I still trust him, but I just can't believe what he's saying.

Kia looked up and met Rowen's eyes, searching for any signs that he was lying, that it was all a lie. Nothing. Everyone would have expected the girl to fly at Rowen screaming curses at him. Or maybe just ignore the fact that he had said anything, and continue as if he hadn't spoken. They would both be wrong. Kianthra Elody Lestrange did not get up from the floor, or remove her gaze from Rowen's. Something she doubted that anyone here present had ever seen occurred. A single tear rolled slowly down her face, leaving a smudge of makeup around her eye.

[Nikita Snape]

Taking quick note to Kianthra's fuming entrance, Nikita decided not to talk, to keep her business out of Kia's. She leaned back against her chair, looking down at her feet before slowly responding to Corliss, "Eh, I think I can take a little crazy Cor. I mean we are all a little crazy, or insane don't you agree?" She smiled friendly at her, nodding Kia's way to greet her, but not in any way to make her more angry than she already was. Before she could turn her attention back away from her though, she began to fall, and break. Nikita pulled her gaze away from her, sitting in her chair, showing off the expression of her relaxed, carefree self.

Soon enough, Nikita's eyes turned back to look into Kia's as she said this didn't apply to Corliss. She immediately stood up, her head cocked to the side as she finished speaking. Her eyes were filled with hurt and dismay as she looked into Kia's eyes, and she spoke gently, her voice cold as ice, "Excuse me, Kianthra, for being protective, because I WAS AFRAID HE WAS GOING TO HURT YOU!!" She hollered, turning her head away from one of her best friends, "I thought that was what friends were for... but I guess you wont be getting any of that from me anymore."

Nikita's voice sounded broken, as she turned away from the two to look at Corliss, "If you want you can tell me what else happened here. I wont be watching. I have to go..." Just like that she turned, but just in time to watch Rowen storm up and make Kia go limp, she watched silently, seeing the whole thing with wide, unbelievable eyes. She was shocked, to say the least, as she listened to Rowen, but couldn't seem to run away from the scene like she wanted to.

[Corliss Malfoy]

Chairs flew, smashing on the cold brick walls. The fragments of wood laying shattered at their feet. A cold chill, that had nothing to do with the damp freeze that lingered in the air, went down her spine as Kianthra Lestrange lost her cool. Corliss closed her eyes, wishing she could comfort the girl who she considered her sister. Her heart hurt for her, wishing she could take all that pain she was feeling and give it to some lowly Gryffindor instead. She said nothing, her eyes locking with her friend for a few moments before she chucked yet another chair into the distance. The clatter from the chair was still ringing in her ears when Kia addressed her. She nodded softly, her voice was lost to her. She was stunned with the way she was spoken too. With respect. She smiled, glad her friend thought that way. She looked away, looking at Rowen for the first time. She didn't look at him for long closing her eyes as she heard Nikita yelling back at their friend. She only opened her eyes when Nikita's voice addressed her. Before she could do anything, Kianthra fell, Rowen's wand in his hand.

Two things happened then. Corliss felt her heart rip down the middle for her friend. Hearing the words that came from Rowen's mouth only helped her. Two, her body stood up, her eyes blazing. She knew Kia so well that she would react for her. She saw the tear slide down her cheek. Then her wand was out pointed at Rowen. "You and your traitor of a sister need to figure out how bad you messed up. Don't you see that you just made her cry? You made my sister cry! YOU DO NOT MAKE MY FAMILY CRY!" she yelled, her wand pointing at the ground. She wouldn't raise her wand until she was told she could. With another angry glare, she dropped to Kia's side. She wiped the tear away with her thumb. "Kianthra, what do you want me to do?" she asked, her voice soft.

[Rowen Hemingway]

Thoughts and words swirled within Rowen's mind in a whirlwind of color and sound; everything began to blend together, and even his own thoughts stopped making sense. He nearly staggered backwards in an almost drunken stupor as the next few moments played out. He had said his piece and now had to wait until everyone else put in their thoughts. His heart tore in two as he watched Kianthra shed a single tear, and suddenly he wanted to take it all back. Take back his decision to join the NO and to betray her...betray everyone. Maybe if he had stuck to the traditional Slytherin approach to life none of this would have happened. He sucked in a breath, longing to reach out and steal Kia's tears. He wanted to hold her close...steal her pain.

Corliss went about on her rampage, attitude matching that of a lioness going in for the kill. He stood his ground, allowing her to vent out her frustration, her rage on him. He deserved it. As she came closer and closer to him, he didn't even flinch. By this time, a cold, numbing feeling had sunk into his skin. It was almost as if he was going through an outer-body experience; because at the moment, he was unable to move his limbs and for a moment he wasn't sure if he was actually residing within himself anymore. Perhaps his spirit was slowly seperating from his body. Maybe that was what happened when your world began crashing down. Tilting his head down, he held his breath.

"Corliss," he started, unable to meet the eye of his house mate. After a few moments of silence he lifted his gaze. "You have every right to hate me. Every right in the world." he said. "I betrayed our house. I went behind Kianthra's back, I told all her secrets," he glanced at Kia. "All of her secrets," he looked back to Corliss. "To her brother, and to the New Order. I broke her trust, and led a double life. I hurt her." he sighed, closing his eyes. "But don't think for one second that I don't care about her." he felt his voice falter. "You love Kianthra. Like a sister." he paused, trying to collect himself. "And I, Rowen Wesley Hemingway, deceptive member of the New Order, am in love with Kianthra Elody Lestrange, member of the Death Eaters." he stopped speaking, unable to go on without crying.

"I'd love Kia if she was short or tall, blonde or brunette, sneaky or sweet, Slytherin or Hufflepuff, good or evil," he took in a breath. "Whatever that is, anyway." he added. "Whatever the case, I love her. I'll always love her." he bit his lip. "But I hurt her. And you don't do that to someone you love." he sighed. But I also love the New Order. I love my friends. I'd do anything to protect them. he thought.

"Nikita!" he shouted as the Snape girl began walking away. "I think you should be the one to do this." his eye color faded to a dusty brown. A defeated, dull color. He pulled his wand from his pocket, sucking in a breath and snapping it in half. He dropped the splintered pieces of wood to the ground, a sob caught in his throat as it let out a soft moan and blackened.

"Kill me. Do it now."

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[Kianthra Lestrange]

I shouldn't have said those things to Niki, but I just got carried away. Wait, why am I apologising? I know it's true. She hates Rowen and most probably hates me now too. Why can't everything just be simple? She was just looking out for me...she thinks that Rowen...that Rowen...oh what's the use? She's gone, fled the scene. I should go after her, tell her that I didn't mean any of those things, that she is my best friend, that I would trust her with my life if it came down to it...and maybe it will, someday. She paused for thought, not looking up from the floor as she heard Corliss shout at Rowen. Kia only looked up when Corliss dropped to her eye level and wiped away the tear. Tear? Since when do I cry? I haven't cried since...well I can't even remember it was so long ago. But that was before all of this. Before my boyfriend...before my boyfriend became a member of the New Order. I trusted him, with all of my secrets and he told them everything, but I still trust him, despite everything that has happened.

Kianthra brushed a stray strand of hair that had fallen across her face, behind her ear. She couldn't decide what to say to her sister. What did she want her to do? Punch the traitor in the face? Help her to focus? Get her out of there and as far away from him as possible? Or none of the above? All the words she wanted to say, all mixed themselves up inside her mind, making incoherent sentences, phrases and playing through different scenarios. “I...I don’t...know,” she whispered, so quietly that only Corliss would be able to hear. Her face was a picture, showing the suffering she was going through inside her mind, the anguish, the feeling of loss, the deep sadness. She looked into Corliss’ eyes, wishing somehow that she could turn back time and make everything better. Maybe if I was a better person, he wouldn’t...he wouldn’t of betrayed me. If I hadn’t taken sides in this...pathetic...war, I might still have had him to call my own. But I think I’ve lost him forever. She held her head in her hands, trying with all her might to stop the tears rolling down her face.

Then she heard his voice, still calm even when confronted with a furious Malfoy. Quite an achievement. She listened carefully to his words, her own thoughts spiralling out of control, coming to conclusions which she couldn’t tell apart from reality. So it really was everything. Even...even the regret I had about Lawrence’s death and how it still haunts me to this day? I really thought he’d never tell anyone that, I mean, what use is that to my brother? Apart from the fact he now knows I have a conscience, which contradicts all the rumours his New Order have been creating. He’s been leading a double life, and I had no idea. I’ve been deceived, tricked, lied to, but... She peeped through her fingers at Rowen as he mentioned Corliss loving her like a sister. Then she heard it, he spoke his full name as well as her own. Her head lifted up slightly out of her hands, so she could see her boyfriend, declaring his undying love for her. “I love you too,” she whispered, even more quietly than the last time which she had spoken.

That’s when it all happened, someone flicked a switch and everything had changed. Her eyes filled with fear as her boyfriend asked her best friend to kill him. How? I don’t understand. I...I thought he loved me and that...no he’s actually asking for death. Doing the noble thing, instead of being a coward. I hate him more than anyone in the whole world right now because he betrayed me and I trusted him, but, at the same time, I love him more than anyone in the whole world. I don’t want to be apart from him, I couldn’t bear it. Her thoughts broke off suddenly as the darkness enveloped her as she imagined living without Rowen at her side. There was nothing, no sounds, no lights, no nothing, just black. Endless black lasting for eternity. She saw herself, in a downward spiral, wanting to follow Rowen, or in another scenario, turning against everyone, her friends and family, and getting her revenge. Her eyes caught Corliss’ once more and she realised that she just couldn’t let this happen. She didn’t want Rowen to die. She didn’t want anyone to lay a finger on him. But she didn’t want to deal with the consequences of her actions if she stood by and did nothing.

She simply nodded to Corliss, hoping that she would understand that Kia was ready to say her part. She got slowly to her feet, not taking her eyes from Rowen. She stood there in silence, just watching him, trying not to show the deep sadness that was within her. She looked as his hair, now a dusty brown colour, as she remembered all those evenings by the common room which they had spent snuggled up under a blanket, telling each other secrets. Secrets that were never meant to be repeated. She took a step closer to him, still not uttering a word, wishing that he would understand without her having to say anything, but of course, that was not the case. She felt the feelings of betrayal and anger, rise up inside her. Her right hand crumpled into a fist once more, but unlike a few minutes previously, she was in control. Slowly, she raised her left hand, her wand pointing at Rowen, as another tear slid down her face. This time she didn’t bother wiping it away, instead, she opened her mouth to speak.

“How could you do it?” she whispered, her voice trembling slightly as she spoke. “I trusted you. I...I told you everything, my deepest secrets that you swore you would never repeat. And look what’s happened now...I thought you were different from them, the others who promised things as you did and then broke my heart. But I never loved them like I loved you. I really thought you would break the mould. But it turns out I was mistaken...unlucky in love once again.” She paused, still not looking away from her boyfriend’s face, while another tear rolled on by. “Unlucky in love, the story of my life it seems. But the truth is...I really do love you Rowen Hemingway, still do and always will,” she pocketed her wand as she said this, taking another step towards her boyfriend. “But you want to leave? You want to die? And break my heart,” she uttered the last bit so quietly it was almost inaudible. “You can’t see inside my head, see the darkness that’s hidden there. I don’t want you to die. You’re doing the honourable thing, and it will tear me apart. I can’t let you just stand here defenceless. I don’t want that. I didn’t want any of this. I just wanted and still do, to be at your side so we can be together.” After she had said this, she caught sight of Niki and gave her a look which read, I wouldn’t try it if I were you. But of course, when had her friend taken her advice recently? She stepped closer still, until she was only a couple of inches away, close enough so that she could reach out and take his hand in hers, but she didn’t, not yet. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a tiny scrap of parchment which she had been carrying around, since two weeks previously. She pressed the parchment into his hand, a small smile on her face. On the parchment were five simple words:

Till Death Do Us Part

[Nikita Snape]

Nikita's eyes flashed over to Corliss as she stood up storming over towards Rowen with her wand in her hand. It was facing the ground, but Niki's was not. She had pulled it out the moment she saw the tear trickle down Kia's face. It was pointed at Rowen, though she was sure he hadn't noticed it. Her eyes were hurt, yet fierce with anger. Mainly because Rowen had made Kia cry, the second for how deep Kia's words had cut at her heart. She felt like she was bleeding eternally, probably like Kia was now. Nikita could feel her heart beating rapidly underneath her chest, and she was sure if you looked at it it was beating like a hummingbird's wings.

Nikita sucked in a deep breath listening to everything that the two said. She snorted occasionally at Rowen's words, feeling herself heat up once more. Nikita's head twisted towards Rowen as he snapped her name, and she hissed at him defensively. His words seemed to give an entertaining feeling to her, but also giving her the feeling of power and want. She wanted to kill him more than anything, though she knew how much it would hurt Kianthra. She wanted to kill the boy begging to die in front of her, and her wand raised to his throat, her eyes finding Kianthra's.

Nikita's pale eyes were filled with coldness and darkness as she looked at Kianthra. Her voice filled the stiff air, with a sudden fright as she spoke to Kia, "The boy wants to die, Kia. Let's not deprive him from what he wants. That would be cruel, don't you agree?" Her head cocked to the side as she felt revenge seep through her from the words Kianthra had cut at her earlier. If it hadn't have been for those words voiced directly at Niki, she wouldn't have felt the sudden urge to actually kill Rowen Hemingway. "This is your fault Kia, not mine."

[Corliss Malfoy]

Anger flared inside the small Slytherin's body. No one who was a traitor would act like that, tell his secrete to them and go on to say that he loved the woman he had betrayed. "You... and your bloody sister have been leaking information to the New Order all this time!" she shouted, it was more a statement than a question. Her chest tightened, her fists balled up into little fists. She thought for half a second about punching the boy in the face, but thoguht better of it. "You have a audacity to reveal the fact that you are part of the rebellion and then say you love her? You've told every single secrete she trusted in you? She may forgive you, Rowen, but I never will." Corliss whispered, her voice covered in anger. If she could, she'd slap that God awful look of the boy's face, but she wouldn't. Not right then at least. Her eyes found Kia's and fell quickly. "I'm not sure how to tell you this. I know you'll hate me for the rest of your life, but it needs to be said. You tell me you like my comments and advice? Well her is some more: I don't care how much he loves you. Once he lies, he'll lie again and again and again. Trust me on that one. Sure, he tells you he isn't telling the NO about our plans, but would he really be telling the truth?" she said, a grave look on her face. She took a step back, her face going blank. "I'll go now, just remember what I said." she whispered, turning slowly before beginning the long walk ahead of her.

[Kianthra Lestrange]

She listened to Niki’s words and held her breath as the girl held her wand to her boyfriend’s throat. He doesn’t want to die, he doesn’t he doesn’t. He wants to stay here, stay here with me. He loves me and I him. I don’t want to be consumed by the darkness. Rowen is the one who’s holding me here. She knows how much it will hurt me, that it will break me, and yet she still stands there, moments away from uttering the words. It’s not my fault, it isn’t. She just wants to blame me so that she has a reason to kill him. That is not a valid reason. She’s always mistrusted him, hated him and now she’s got the chance she has been waiting for. So why hasn’t she done it? Why is she prolonging the agony? She must be having doubts. In any other situation she’d have them writhing in pain on the floor by now, begging for it to end. She knows that if she kills him, she’ll have to live with the threat of me getting revenge. I swear if she kills him, I’ll...I’ll... She wanted to finish her thoughts with the words, kill her, but she just couldn’t. She couldn’t imagine killing her best friend. She didn’t want to. She was frightened of getting into a situation where that was a possibility. “Niki, please,” she said quietly, not moving her eyes from those belonging to her friend. Her eyes swimming with tears that threatened to fall down her face. “Don’t kill him,” her voice became more urgent, more insistent. “I’m begging you,” the tears rolled down from her eyes, as she watched her best friend and boyfriend. “Please,” she whispered, slipping her arm through Rowen’s.