The Untold Story of RAB

Ginerva's Secret

Diana wasn't a liar. She wasn't good at keeping things from her friends. But this task, this load on her shoulders, Diana felt like she wanted to sit down and spill every second of the day.

A few days after her meeting with Dumbledore her friends confronted her over what was wrong.

Sitting on a couch, Margaret and Saorise to her left, Ginerva to her right. It was Saoirse who first said, "what is wrong? You haven't been yourself and we're really worried."

"I- " Diana stumbled over her would be words. How could she lie to them? What would she say? If she was going to do this, help save her friends, help Dumbledore, stop You-Know-Who, then she would have to commit to this lie, to hiding part of herself. But it wasn't as if she couldn't bend the truth.

"I'm scared. With the attack on Mary and the news in the prophet. All those muggles being attacked. I think, I don't want my parents to be hurt, I don't want to be hurt, or you guys." Tears started to well in Diana's eyes. They were real, the pressure and reality of her and Regulus' task had been dawning on her in the last few days. It was terrifying. Her friends moved in around her, giving her a big hug. It hurt to lie to them but the comfort of having them here was perfect.

"I know this is scary, if it helps we're all scared." Ginerva said, clasping Diana's hand. Margaret and Saoirse nodded along with her.

Diana did feel a small weight lift over of her, although she hadn't told the whole truth, this was the best she could do.

Potions classes were the same. Ginerva and Diana bent over a cauldron, mixing their ingredients, getting odd insects from jars off the wall. Diana didn't hear from Regulus on their bridge, they didn't speak in class, they didn't even look at each other. They would follow Dumbledore's plan to the tee. No one would even suspect they knew each other.

Occlumency classes began with Dumbledore on Sunday evenings. Her friends were all proud of her that she was receiving special training. To be pick to train under Dumbledore was a rare and high honour. It made a pit in her stomach to know it was all a lie.

His lessons were long and tedious. Hours attempting to shield him from entering her mind. The first few weeks she made no progress. Dumbledore wouldn't bring up his lessons with Regulus and Diana had no idea how they'd been going.

She debated opening their bridge but felt too nervous. Their almost kiss still played again and again in her head. Diana was so confused, she never suspected he felt that way and until he began to lean in to her she didn't know she felt the same. This rambled around in her head after her third, unsuccessful, lesson with Dumbledore. Walking back to her dorm, her black shoes clicking against the hall, she found herself heading towards the astronomy tower. She needed some fresh air to clear her head, this would be perfect.

Diana crept up the tall metal staircases in the astronomy tower, her calves started to burn by the time she reached the top. The wind was blowing hard tonight, whistling throughout the tower, she could hardly hear her own footsteps. Rounding the corner at the top of the tower she stopped dead in her tracks. Her hand slamming to her mouth to stop from gasping.

Leaning against a column, mouths tangled together were Ginerva and Duncan Ashe. Diana walked backwards tripping over herself and all sit falling back, causing quite a ruckus, the two whipped around to see her. Ginerva's eyes flew open as Duncan attempted to fall back into the shadows. Ginerva rushed over to Diana.

"Di, I didn't know you were here, it's a um," Ginerva fumbled for words.

Diana's eyebrows were raised. It was the surprise that caught her and also the betrayal, why hadn't Ginerva told her? Was it because Duncan was a Slytherin?

"I, how long have you two?" Diana noted to distressed look on Ginerva's face. "Look I'm not mad, just confused."

Ginerva's face softened as she said "we got to know each other when we were potions partners. And I we bonded over quidditch and we meet in the library to study. He's really nice Di, not like Barty or Severus. I guess it started a few weeks ago, a bit before Halloween."

Diana took this moment to look at Duncan, in his Slytherin robes, looking awfully nervous. Diana took a deep breath before saying. "I'm glad you two like each other, I do. I just wish you told us, and perhaps I wish more that you would've felt like you could, and I'm sorry for that."

Ginerva launched into a rib breaking hug. "Thank you for understanding. I don't think we're ready to tell the school but Saoirse and Margaret should probably know."

Diana wasn't sure what to say next, "I guess I'll leave you to it. See you later Ginerva," she said with a wink. Turning on her heels she left the two star crossed lovers to the astronomy tower.

Having not got the fresh air she needed, Diana gave up and headed back to the Gryffindor tower. A long nights rest would do her some good.