ʙɪᴛᴛᴇʀꜱᴡᴇᴇᴛ ᴇxɪꜱᴛᴇɴᴄᴇ | ꜰᴇᴍʜᴀʀʀʏ x ᴛᴍʀ

ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ᴇɪɢʜᴛ ── ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴀɴɢᴇʟ ᴘᴏᴛᴛᴇʀ!?

CHAPTER EIGHT

It had been a few weeks since Luna had come out to her friends, and she felt ever so loved and supported. But as the days passed, Angel felt increasingly guilty about hiding her identity from her friends. Now, as the brunette sat there, lost in thought instead of reading the book in front of her, she was jolted out of her reverie by a poke in the arm.

Without glancing away from her book, she listened as Draco began whispering to her. "Angel, I need to talk to you. It's important."

The girl, only now looking up from her book, replied to her brother-like figure. "What is it, Draco? You look worried."

Draco sat beside the girl, who was tucked away in the corner of the library. "It's about your identity. You know, being known as Lilith Peverall but actually being Angel. How much longer do you think you can keep it a secret from them?"

"I don't know, Draco. It's not like I wanted this secret identity. It's for my safety, not that I really care about that if history has anything to say. We both know that if it wasn't for Marvolo, I would have walked into school with my new look and yelled 'fuck you' at everyone who ever did anything to me. Anyway, they would go crazy if they found out who I really am," Angel sighed, her anger slightly brewing.

Draco frowned, knowing very well the girl had no sense of self-preservation. "I know. It's just... I mean, I'm your friend, your brother in a way, and I hate seeing you hide."

Angel's heart warmed at this statement; she saw him as a brother, and for him to confirm it made her really happy. With a smile, she spoke softly. "And I love you for that, but it's not that simple. It's best this way, as much as I hate it. Besides, being known as Angel and not being the hero anymore would put a target on my back. The Peverall name offers some protection."

Draco started becoming frustrated, being the hothead in this situation. "I get that, but it's risky. Someone's bound to figure it out sooner or later. What if someone overhears us talking like this?"

Angel smiled slightly. "That's why we're careful, Draco. We talk in private, like now. And I trust you and Luna to keep my secret. I'll tell the others soon, I promise. I trust them too."

Draco nodded. "Of course, you know I'll keep your secret. And Luna? We both know she'd rather let a pack of centaurs trample her to death than betray you."

"I know, Draykins. It's just I've got a lot of trust issues from my aunt and uncle, as well as finding out what Peter did to my parents and Sirius." Angel had told Draco about Sirius being framed and Peter being the actual traitor a few months before.

Draco became concerned, knowing how careless the girl really was when it came to anything involving her safety. "Just be careful, okay? I don't want anything to happen to you. You're like family to me."

Angel, smiling warmly, replied, "I'll be careful, Draco. I promise. And thank you. It means a lot to me that you're looking out for me."

"Always. We're in this together, no matter what," Draco smiled back. "Now, let's get back to studying before someone starts wondering what we're up to."

Angel laughed softly. "Right. Wouldn't want to raise any suspicions."

"Exactly. Now, about that Potions homework..." Draco grinned.

"You just want me to do it for you, don't you?" Angel said, rolling her eyes playfully.

"Who, me? Never," the blonde boy replied with false innocence.

"Sure, Draco. Sure. Let's get to work," the girl laughed.

[][][]

Angel stood in her dorm room, pacing nervously as Draco sat on her bed, trying to get her to relax. Eventually, their friends arrived, and Angel played with her hands as she began to speak, "Thanks for coming, guys. There's, uh, something I need to tell you, something important."

Pansy looked curiously at her friend, "What is it, Lily? You look really serious."

Angel took a deep breath, glancing at Draco and receiving a reassuring look in response. "There's something I've been hiding from all of you. Something big. My name isn't really Lilith Peverell. My real name is Angel. Angel Potter."

Blaise began laughing, causing Theo to join in. They laughed for a while but stopped once they realised Angel wasn't joking.

Daphne was the first to speak up, shocked, "What do you mean? You're Angel Potter? The actual Angel Potter? Why would you hide something like that from us?"

Theo looked at the blonde before adding, while frowning slightly, "Yeah, Lilith... or Angel, whoever you are. Why the deception?"

Draco looked at their friends, trying to get them to understand calmly, "Let her explain, guys. There's a reason."

Although he put his hands up in defence at the sharp look Pansy gave him, he seemed to realise he was an accomplice in this.

Angel sighed, taking the attention off Draco. "Don't be mad at him, he was roped into this by me. There is a reason I lied. Basically, to sum it up, I overheard Weasley and Granger badmouthing me, saying how they were just using me for money and because Dumbledore told them to. I was obviously pissed off and went to Luna, who told me we should get an inheritance test. So we went to Hogwarts, and it turned out that I'm Angel Grace Lilith Potter Black Peverell Hufflepuff Gryffindor, and Dumbledore put a bunch of compulsions on me, including changing my race like the racist he is. Anyway, we found out that Cissa and Lucy are my rightful guardians, and here I am."

Daphne spoke up, a little agitated, "Yeah, but that doesn't explain why you lied about your identity."

Angel spoke again, "Uh, well, that was an order from the Dark Lord. He said it was for my protection and all that. If people found out their precious hero turned dark, I would be in a lot of danger."

"The Dark Lord? Why would he care about who you really are?" Pansy spoke up, still slightly angry at one of her best friends.

The girl in question looked down, "I'm not sure why he would care, but he does, and it really messes with me because he killed my parents."

Daphne's face softened at the realisation, "So you've been living a lie to stay safe? That's... intense."

Theo, still frowning, finally spoke up again, "But why didn't you trust us with this sooner? We're your friends."

Angel was nearly at her breaking point, and tears began to form in her eyes, "I wanted to. Believe me, I did. But the Dark Lord made it clear that my identity had to be kept secret. Even from those closest to me. Only Draco and Luna knew."

Blaise spoke for the first time on this matter, "I understand now. You were following orders and trying to protect yourself."

Pansy, sighing, agreed with him, "I'm still mad you didn't tell us, but I get it. It must have been hard keeping this from us."

Angel was relieved. So relieved, "It was. Every day. I'm so sorry for not telling you sooner. I just... didn't want to put any of you in danger."

Daphne rushed to the brunette's arms, hugging her. "We forgive you. It's just a lot to take in."

Theo nodded along, "Yeah, we're still your friends, Angel. Or Lilith. Or whoever you want to be called now."

"You can call me Angel. But you still have to call me Lilith around others. Thank you all so much."

Blaise was now smirking at his friend, "So, Angel, now that we know your secret, does that mean you can help me with my Potions homework?"

"What is it with you people and trying to pawn your homework on me?" Angel spoke, exasperated.