In The Shadows [Book Two]

Chapter One:

[[A/N: THIS IS A SEQUEL, go read Behind the shadows first before this one, thank you! ALSO BOOK THREE IN THIS TRILOGY IS OFFICIALLY OUT, IT IS CALLED 'OUT OF THE SHADOWS'!!]]

Chapter One:

Staring down at my hidden arm, I imagined what you'd see if you could take a look behind the clothe. You'd see a tattoo, nothing abnormally large or colourful or even particularly distasteful unless one knew the meaning behind it.

A skull with a large snake slithering in and around it.

Unfortunately the meaning behind it was one that most in the wizarding community, my community, knew about.

It was warm today, which was perhaps why everyone was staring at me as if I was talking about phones or toasters. My long sleeved sweater looked so out of place that I felt like I was shouting out 'hey look at me, I'm now officially a Death Eater, I have the mark and everything!'

Easter Holidays had just ended. Thinking back on my 5 day holiday, I thought of what I'd learned, what I'd done.. what I'd become. Blue felt like it was a major part of my life now, I wondered why Devil's Snare wasn't nearly as important as blue, but then I figured... I didn't get to see Broderick Bode die, I didn't get to see the life leave his eyes or watch as his body stopped all struggles but with blue I did. I saw it all, I saw what I was capable of and I realized I liked it... a lot.

After Blue, I remember Lucius taking me into the back field with Bellatrix and Narcissa and teaching me to apparate. It was a rather grueling process, full of Bella laughing at my own misfortunes (such as me getting splinched and having to have Mother fix me up...at least four different times) but in the end I learned how. I was also gifted with a book of the Dark Arts, full of spells, enchantments and curses, as well as potions and how to make them.

When the time came, I'd made my way back to Hogwarts without a hitch and despite my fears that everyone would know what I was and what I'd done as soon as they saw me, it wasn't a problem.

I fingered the slightly frayed sleeve of my sweater before glancing around the Great Hall at the Slytherins.

Normally during supper I would sit next to Draco Malfoy but tonight he was surrounded and hadn't saved me a spot as he usually did. The idea that he no longer cared for my company was both infuriating and depressing all at once. I was the best thing that ever happened to that boy just like he was my best thing; how dare he just toss me out like a large, smelly bag of rubbish?

Sighing, I glared across the Great Hall at the blonde haired, grey eyed boy, wondering what was so interesting about pug-faced girl sitting to his left; so close beside him that their shoulders were squished together.

Blaise Zabini sat on his right, while Crabbe, Goyle and another boy I vaguely recognized but didn't actually know sat across from them.

He'd prefer the company of a near stranger than my own?

I stood up, my mind screaming at me to pull Pansy up by her hair and drag her away from Draco kicking and screaming.

Instead, I stomped out of the Great Hall and went to bed early.

***

The first Monday after Easter Holidays was filled with good fun, all thanks to the Weasley Twins who had now left Hogwarts to pursue their careers in Jokeology 101, and before they'd gone they decided to give Umbridge a huge surprise.

Unfortunately, I hadn't been able to see any of it but the stories I heard had me laughing at Umbridge every time I saw her fat, ugly face. Granted, it earned me a few detentions (because I laughed in the halls, during her class, after class and at supper) but it was definitely worth seeing her face turn beet-red in either anger or embarrassment (or perhaps both) every time she caught me mid-laughter.

I'd grown accustomed to the pain that was delivered to me nearly every day at the hands of our new Headmistress, and every day I thought about how I'd deal with her. I needed it to be perfect, without a doubt it could not be suspected that it was caused by me; and it'd have to be the end of the school year because currently Voldemort needed the cow. He had the Ministry of Magic in the palm of his hands, and she was part of the ministry, meaning that everything that went on here was all but reported directly to him and if he needed her to do something then all he had to do was have the Minster tell her to do it and she would. She was ridiculously loyal to the Minister.

Soon, it would be the end of the school year.. soon, I'd be able to deal my revenge.. it would be too bad she'd not be around to regret her decisions on harming me.

The only thing this school had to look forward to until the O.W.L.S came around was the Quidditch game, which was unfortunate because first through fourth years didn't have to take O.W.L.S, just your average end-of-classes exams. I'd really let my grades fall these last couple of months, and honestly it would be completely surprising to me if I passed fourth year, so I knew if I had any hopes of doing so, I'd have to make Outstanding marks on all my exams otherwise I'd be repeating classes.

"What are you thinking so hard about, you're not hurting yourself, are you?"

I sneered at the all-too-familiar voice, glaring up at the boy who stood over me as I sat under the tree by the lake. I still didn't know his name but the fact that he'd taken my spot beside Draco was enough a reason for me to hate him. He'd taken a liking to making fun of me in subtle ways, as if trying to see if I was smart enough to notice his bullying or if I was just stupid enough to miss it completely.

I was smart enough to notice it as well as to pretend as though I didn't. The less competent people thought I was, the more they'd be surprised when I pulled my wand on them and had them beg me for mercy.

"Just wondering if I needed to get a tutor so I could pass classes this year, I've fallen behind a lot." I smiled as softly as I could, feeling a familiar gut-wrenching swirl of anger run through me like a dagger.

Hurt him.

Kill him.

"Nice seeing you again, I should get back inside now, it's too warm out here for me," I stood up and brushed off the backside of my pants, sending dirt and dried leaves twirling and falling to the ground before grinning brightly, fakely, and waving at him.

***

"You've been ignoring me."

I smiled as the words filtered into my ears, the voice all too welcome in a place such as this. Detention, and Umbridge had left her goon squad in control while she went to deal with some other crisis.

"Yes, I have. Just as you've ignored me for the last several weeks."

It was the end of school days, with only perhaps a week and a half left, and I'd been steadily ignoring the boy before me in hopes of catching his attention. It worked, if his talking to me was anything to go by. White blond hair fell into his steel eyes; he needed a haircut.

He'd also grown, whereas before we had been at nearly the same height (give or take two inches), now he seemed to tower over me. It looked as though he was trying to intimidate, but I wasn't one to cower away like some child who got caught with their hand in the cookie jar.

"I don't like it."

"I don't care," I replied, going back to writing my lines despite the blood smudges that coated the piece of parchment I was using. I grinned downwards at the desk as my hair fell like a curtain around my face so that he could no longer see what expressions I was making. It was getting late, soon I'd be finished with these lines and I could sleep but until then I'd just keep ignoring Draco Malfoy.

"You know, I don't appreciate your attitude Amaryllis."

I laughed, tossing down the blood quill before standing up. Forget the detention, I'd finish it tomorrow or start all over but I wasn't going to stay with him any longer when I didn't have to, not when my mind kept telling me to hurt him while my heart was telling me to forgive him.

"Goodbye Draco."

----

[[A/N: HEY so I finally finished chapter one of this book. For those who don't know, this is a sequel to behind the shadows
and you should read that before starting this. Please let me know with some comments what you think of this chapter, thank you!]]