|In The Dark|

33

Smoke To Die

ANNABELLE LUPIN-BLACK

First day of another year. At least we know this year will be slightly good. There's no way in hell it could be worse than last year. There's no deadly tournaments, no Durmstrang students, no best friends dying, no secret parents, no death eaters, no Voldemort. We have a decent shot.

I was sitting at the Gryffindor table trying to eat but I just couldn't. I was too nervous. I wanted to visit my dad. I decided a little weed wouldn't hurt so I headed over to the Slytherin table. Theo, Draco, Blaise and Pansy were all sitting together and eating.

"How are my favorite snakes?" I teased as I sat down next to Theo. They all smiled at me. "Just incredible, excited for another year in this hell hole." Pansy said. "How's our Gryffindor princess?" Blaise said. "Annoyingly sober. Who wants to get high before our first class?" I asked. All of their hands shot up. "Good, we have to stop by the Greenhouse first because I haven't stocked up with Neville yet." I said. "Sounds good. I can't do this shit sober either." Theo said. We all stood up and walked out. I swear, I could feel Edmund's eyes burning into the back of my skull. But I won't let him do this. He won't take Theo from me. Not when I'm finally happy.

We arrived at the Greenhouse and I knocked on the door and walked in. Neville was tending to some plants and Dean and Seamus were sitting with him talking. The second we walked in, it went silent. I assumed it was because I was with Slytherins. "Hey Neville, how was your summer?" I asked. He didn't even look at me. I walked closer and looked at him. He had tears in his eyes. "Did something happen with your mum and dad?" I asked. The second I said that, he whipped out his wand and pointed it at my neck. Dean and Seamus jumped up and Theo and Draco ran over with their wands drawn. "Woah, Neville. Calm down mate." Dean said. I put my hands up and looked at him. "Neville-" I started. "Don't-" he spat, his voice laced with venom.

"Don't you ever speak of my parents again. Not when it was yours who-" his voice cracked and my heart broke. No. No, he knew. He wasn't supposed to know. "Your parents tortured them. So don't you ever talk about them again and don't ever talk to me. I hate you." he spat. "Neville, it's not-" Dean started. "Leave!" Neville yelled. "Please Neville, I'm so sorry, please. I didn't know- I wish- Just please. I'm so sorry." I said. My eyes watered and I choked back a sob. "I hate you." he repeated. Tears fell down my cheeks and Draco grabbed my arm. "Come on Anna, let's go." he whispered. "No, just wait- please Neville, you don't understand-" I started. Theo wrapped his arms around me and began to drag me out. "Come on Belle, it'll be ok," he said. Theo pulled me all to the edge of the forest and we all sat down. I lit a cigarette and began to smoke. We all did.

"Belle, he was going to find out." Theo said in between puffs. "He's right Anna. maybe it's better he knows now, I mean, he'll forgive you eventually." Pansy said. "Isn't that like part of being a Gryffindor? You have to be all high and mighty?" Blaise said. I gave him a look and he shrugged.

"Sorry" he mumbled. "But he confided in me about that, only to find out it was my parents who did it." I said. "But that's just it Belle, those aren't your parents. Sirius and Remus are your parents. As soon as he realizes that, he'll forgive you. He just needs time." Theo said. I shrugged and lit another cigarette. "Why do you smoke so goddamn fast?" Blaise asked. I inhaled and it burned so good.

"You all smoke for fun, I smoke to die." I said plainly. Then I stood up and started walking towards the castle. I heard footsteps and someone catching up to me. Gee, I wonder who this is.

"Hello Draco," I said as he walked behind me. He started walking next to me and staring. "You're staring at me." I stated. "Just trying to figure out if I should stake out the lake tonight?" he said. I laughed. "Very funny." I said. "I'm serious," he said. "Maybe I'll just have to jump off the Astronomy Tower instead." I said. He looked at me with annoyance and concern. "That was a joke Draco," I said. "Was it?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. "Yes." I said. He nodded hesitantly.

"Yup." I said. "Anna, come on, just-" he started. "No, it's cool. Neville hates me now. I'll just add it to the list of shitty things that have happened." I said. He stood in front of me and blocked my path. "Annabelle-" he said. "I'm going to be completely honest with you cousin. The list of reasons to go is far longer than the list of reasons to stay." I said. Then I pushed past him and walked into Potions. I saw an empty seat next to Deana and Seamus so I headed over there.

"Hey guys, can I sit?" I asked. They both looked at eachother and Dean nodded.

"How did he find out?" I asked. "Edmund told him." Seamus said. I nodded. "Do you both hate me too?" I asked. "No. It's not your fault Anna. You can't control what your parents-" Dean started. "They aren't my parents." I said quickly. They both looked up at me. "My parents are Remus and Sirius. Not those death eater psychos." I said. Dean chuckled. "I had a feeling you'd say that," he said. I smiled. "Tell Neville, if it makes him feel any better, Crouch tortured me with the cruciatus curse too." I said quietly. Their faces dropped. "What?" Seamus exclaimed. "Why?" Dean asked. "He wanted to force me to take the dark mark. I said no. He didn't like that answer." I said with a shrug. "Annabelle, that's insane! How could-" Dean started.

"Silence." Snape snapped. We stopped talking and turned our attention to him.

Classes went by fast. I was walking out of DADA and waiting for Harry. He kind of got into it with Umbridge since she was covering for my dad. "Harry-" I said as I caught up to him. He was pissed, I could tell. "What?" he snapped. I looked at him with concern. "Listen, I know that Umbridge has got your wand in a knot but that doesn't mean you can take it out on me." I said. He sighed and rubbed his forehead. "I'm sorry- I just- I'm sorry." he said. I placed a hand on his shoulder and he looked at me. "Let's sit down." I said. He nodded and we sat on a bench in an empty alcove.

"This is what dads warned us about." I said. He sat there quietly. "They are trying to cover it all up, even Cedric's death, aren't they?" I asked. He nodded. "I don't understand, why would the Ministry-" I started. "Because they are afraid," he said. "Shouldn't they be more afraid of what will happen if they don't do anything? Won't it be worse if we just sit back and wait for him to attack again, to kill someone else?" I said. "You mean me? For him to kill me?" he said. "I don't know. I just-" I started. "Voldemort is getting stronger everyday. When he's ready, he won't just try to kill me, it'll be everyone who doesn't fall in line. There won't be 8 people left of the order, there will be none." he said. "Don't you think I know that?! I want to protect everyone just as much as you do but getting in an argument with Umbridge isn't going to solve anything." I said. "So what do you suggest I do?" he asked. "Something that counts. Something that will make a difference." I said. He sighed. "I'm supposed to be the chosen one but I have no idea what I'm doing," he said. "You don't have to save everyone all by yourself." I said.
"I do," he said. Then he left.

My classes finally ended so I could go visit dad. I walked to the room he always stays in and knocked. "Come in Annabelle-" he said. I walked in and smiled. "How'd you know it was me?" I asked. "Your last class ended a few minutes ago, I knew you'd be here soon," he said. I laughed. "Of course you did. How are you feeling?" I asked. "Fine, your father and I stayed in the forest mostly," he said. I nodded. "You should be careful out there, there are creatures that aren't as friendly." I said. "I'm ok kiddo." he said. I nodded. Dad and I talked about classes and eventually he had to rest. I was walking out to head back to Gryffindor when I heard a voice.

"Did dear old dad have a rough night?" I turned around and Edmund stood there smirking.