Hands of Fate

Title: Hands of Fate

Author: Luna

Feedback: Loved and appreciated…send it to ambersgrrl@yahoo.com

Archive: Full Moon Romper Room, Tainted Fiction, and Luna’s Night Moves…anyone else, please just ask.

Fandom: Harry Potter

Rating: NC-17 for graphic sexual situations.

Warnings: Underage sex! (After all they’re still in school!)

Pairings: Aislinn/Draco Malfoy, Abigail/Blaise Zabini, Martika/Viktor Krum, and Kaleaha/Harry Potter

Disclaimer: J. K. Rowling, Scholastic Publishing, and Warner Brothers Entertainment do not authorize this author. All characters that you recognize belong to J. K. Rowling, Scholastic Publishing, and/or Warner Brothers Entertainment. Nothing is being gained from this work of fiction.

Summary: The fate of an entire race rests on their shoulders. Will they fold to destiny or will they fight it?

Author’s Note: As always with my stories I’m going to be using these characters as I see fit. I will be ignoring anything that I want to and that irritates me. This story qualifies as AU because let’s face it Krum left after GoF. If any of this bothers you save both our sanity and STOP READING NOW!

Anything else: Yes, I’d like to thank Kat for all her help over the little speed bumps in writing and a most awesome banner! Also even though if questioned she would deny it thanks need to go out to my loverly and terrific sister Dayla! Last but certainly not least; I’d like to thank Maggie not only for being a wonderful friend but a terrific beta. I love you girls!
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Chapter Eleven

Potions was the ninth circle of hell, Abigail decided as she watched the professor glare at her once more. It had started out innocently enough. Those that were lucky enough to be accepted into his N.E.W.T.s level class were gathered in the dungeon hallway waiting for the door to open.

The shock had come as Ronald Weasley had entered the classroom carrying a note with him. Snape had snatched it from his fingers reading it quickly, a scowl on his face. His liquid black eyes pinned Abby where she sat next to her cousin Kaleaha. The potions master said nothing as he handed the note back and the young man seated himself next to Harry.

Everyone could tell that the professor was not happy and their workload showed his displeasure. His first act of vengeance came in the form of assigning partners for this term. Abigail found herself paired not with Harry, as she had expected, but with his friend Ron.

They were also assigned their first potion. Abby could have just cried as Ron gave her a panicked look. The assignment was easily something that only a seventh year would be able to accomplish...or her eyes slanted towards the golden blonde head of her older cousin, a brainiac.

In a moment of compassion she had reached across the desk and patted the young man's hand reassuringly. Energy shot from one to the other where their skin touched. Abigail's wide hazel eyes assured Ron that whatever was happening she hadn't planned it. He felt a strange surge of protectiveness welling up in him towards the young woman. He couldn't explain it and he didn't try.

The rest of the class they studiously avoided touching each other for fear of another similar reaction. Surprisingly the two worked well as partners. While their potion would most likely not receive the highest marks they were confident that they had done reasonably well. The pair shared a smile with each other over their little success.

The potions master's final act of fury came when the redhead turned in their assignment. A malicious sneer marred his features as he told the class that they were to complete four feet on the Draught of Living Death, which they would be studying in depth this term. The groans that were beginning to make the rounds were quickly quelled by the icy stare he leveled on the room.

As the students gathered their things Snape's voice rang out, “Ms. Knight, I need to speak with you.” The professor's snide tone slid over the young woman like ice water.

Abigail hung her head letting out a heavy sigh. She knew whatever had upset him he had somehow decided was her fault. She wasn't going to get out of this thing unscathed. The redheaded Gryfinndor shot her a concerned look, which she waved off. She had been expecting this since class started and was only surprised that it had taken this long.

The professor stalked the front of the classroom his robes billowing around him. His face was blank but she knew enough about body language to know that he wasn't as calm as he might seem. Finally he turned and leveled a heated glare on her.

Instinctively she took a step back. Logically, she knew that he would never harm a student; however her heart wasn't listening to her brain at the moment.

“Do you have any idea what you've done,” he hissed.

The sheer venom in his voice made her flinch. “No sir,” she replied meekly.

“There is a reason I have the standards that I do. It is so that I do not have to suffer dunderheads like Mr. Weasley. Yet, thanks to you I have to allow him in the class or drop both you and Potter.” He held up a hand when she would have protested. “Don't bother,” he told her curtly. “I said that you could take the course and I am a man of my word. Much to my eternal consternation,” he muttered the last darkly.

“Professor,” Abigail began timidly. “How could I possibly know that this could have happened?”

The question only seemed to inflame him further. “How could I know this would happen,” he mocked. “I should have gone with my first instinct and made the corrections to your schedule this morning thus saving myself from Potter, Weasley, and you!”

His dark eyes roved over her form a sneer pulling his face into angry lines. “As member of the house of Slytherin I would have expected more from you. Instead of showing the other houses that we're above reproach you parade around like some sort of street corner harlot! Tomorrow you will be dressed in the uniform without deviation. Is that clear,” he growled.

Abby's eyes were wide as she strived to stave off the tears she could feel forming in her eyes. She nodded her head jerkily thoroughly embarrassed. Gathering the rest of her belongings she slung the bag over her shoulder. “Is there anything else,” she asked thickly.

“No, get out of my sight,” Snape thundered going so far as to point his finger in the direction of the door.

She needed no further encouragement. She fled.

Ron stood outside the room waiting for Abigail to emerge. He couldn't have told you why he felt compelled to stick around; he just did. Something in his gut told him to wait so he did. The longer he stood there the more anxious he became. He knew somehow that the young woman in that classroom was the source of this panicked feeling.

Abigail flew from the classroom tears falling down her cheeks, so absorbed with her abject misery that she didn't notice the Gryfinndor standing there until she ran into him. He caught her upper arms to keep her from falling on her posterior. Her watery blue green eyes met concerned cerulean orbs.

“What happened,” he asked, and for the first time in his memory he didn't jump to conclusions.

“It was horrible,” she whispered brokenly uncertain about why she was confiding in him. In her heart she knew why. There was some sort of connection between them and he seemed to actually care. Snape's words had wounded her deeper than she would like to have admit. “He said...he said.” She couldn't even speak as her throat closed and fresh tears coursed down her pale skin.

Ron wrapped his arms around Abigail's shoulders as hers went around his waist. She buried her face in the hollow of his neck. He stroked her silky black mane the way he used to do for Ginny after she had a nightmare when they were younger. It struck him then that was the same way he felt toward the young woman currently sobbing her heart out on his shoulder. He murmured soothing words to her while he stroked her back waiting for her to calm down.

“Get your hands off her,” said the quietly cold voice of Blaise Zabini. He still hadn't gotten over seeing her kiss Malfoy this morning but after hearing Snape ask her to stay after class he loitered in the halls in hopes of catching her alone. He figured he might be able to figure out what the hell his problem was if he could just talk to her. Instead he had found her in Weasley's arms. That had enraged him beyond measure.

Rather than releasing her, the other boy tightened his arms around her. She burrowed her face deeper into his shoulder not wanting anyone else to see her in this state. Zabini was incensed she should be clinging to him in that fashion not some pure blooded pauper. His fingers curled around his wand his knuckles white from the effort not to hex the other boy and be done with it.

Blaise knew that he had to get hold of his irrational jealousy though the harder he tried the more difficult it became. He ran a hand through his shoulder length curly jet black hair. Indigo eyes shone brightly as he tried to stare down the redheaded Gryffindor. He should have known Weasley wouldn’t have the good sense to know when to back down. Courage of the lion and all that rot Zabini thought bitterly.

“Why don't you take a long walk off a short pier,” Ron suggested.

Flaming red tresses flew out behind the young woman as she ran down the passageways in hopes of reaching her troubled cousin. She wasn't sure what had caused the emotional state the other girl was in but it had to have been something truly bad for her to react this strongly.

She skidded to a halt as she came upon Abigail wrapped in Ron's arms. She had only a moment to digest that fact before she heard the dark haired young man say, “Why don't you do the world a favor Weasley, and just drop dead?”

Aislinn was confused by what she was witnessing. As far as she knew Abby didn't know either boy. Yet there she was clinging to the redhead as if he were a lifeline. It was then that the faint scent of saline reached her. Narrowing her turquoise eyes she wondered who had caused the tears.

Chocolate brown eyes searched for the source of this troubled feeling. He ignored the stares sent by curious classmates as he hurriedly made his way towards the dungeons. The feeling growing stronger the closer he got to them. He was thrown off balance as he came upon Zabini starring daggers at Weasley who cradled Abigail almost possessively and a bewildered looking Ais.

Ron ran his hand over the back of Abby's head in a calming manner, which was totally at odds with the anger etched in every line of his face. “Zabini, I'm only going to say this once so listen carefully. Leave now or I will hex you so badly it will take Pomfrey weeks to sort you out,” his tone leaving no doubt that he meant every word he said.

Ais looked over at Goyle her eyes pleading with him to do something. His gaze telling her he had no idea what he could do to defuse the situation, especially since they had no idea how it had gotten to this point. The redheaded girl threw up her hands in frustration as she started forward. Gregory shook his head vehemently. He knew that both boys were beyond caring who they hurt at this point and the last thing he wanted was for Aislinn to get hit inadvertently by a stray hex.

Their gazes met and locked.

Her eyes very clearly said, “If you don't do something I will.”

His look told her, “Aside from physically dragging the other boy away there isn’t much I can do at this point.”

Their eyes waged a silent war and all at once they realized that they weren't just shooting looks to each other; they were actually communicating.

Aislinn folded her arms over her chest. “Get him out of here. He's just making things worse. As long as he's here she's going to hide behind Ron.”

“Fine,” he huffed internally. Goyle made his presence known by cracking his knuckles loudly. Two angry gazes swiveled to him. “Zabini,” He drawled casually. “Draco would like to have a word with you.”

The Italian regarded the other boy silently for a moment his indigo eyes traveling back to Weasley. “This isn't over,” he promised the redheaded boy.

“Not by a long shot,” Ron shot back.

Without another word the two Slytherins turned leaving him alone with Ais and Abigail. He felt the tension leave her body her breathing slowly returning to normal. When she pulled back he let her go a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “Feel better,” he asked.

“A little,” Abby answered.

“Wanna tell me what happened,” the redheaded girl asked gently.

“Snape,” Abigail said in response. She reached up to erase all evidence to her crying spree.

“I kinda got that since we’re outside of the potions classroom,” Aislinn returned a slight smile on her face that quickly vanished as fresh tears began filling Abby’s eyes.

Abigail held up a hand when her cousin would have approached. Taking a deep breath she let it out slowly trying to collect herself enough to tell them at least part of the story. The silence stretched between them as they waited for Abby to get through this.

“Professor Snape,” she said cautiously, mindful that they were still standing in front of his classroom. “Took exception to having to admit Ron to the class along with Potter and myself. He said some things that I will not repeat…at least not now. It just hit me wrong.”

Aislinn looked her younger cousin over carefully. She knew there was more to the story than that. However, short of interrogating the Dark princess there wasn’t much she could do right now. The princess had felt her cousin’s hurt and embarrassment as if it had been her own. So strong had the reaction been that she didn’t even think about whether or not to go to the other girl. Feeling that it was safe she ran a hand through the blue black tresses staring into the other girl’s eyes. “If you need to talk you know where to find me,” she said at last.

Abby caught her cousin’s hand in her own. “Thank you Ais. I mean that,” she insisted when it looked like the redhead was going to wave her off. Her eyes turned to Ron. “Thank you,” her gaze volleyed from on to the other. “Both of you, for everything.”

Ron nodded his head in acceptance. “See you at dinner,” he asked feeling that she was now on a more even keel.

“Yeah,” Abigail responded offering him a shy smile. “We can talk about the essay Snape wants.”

The Gryffindor male grimaced bringing a chuckle from both girls. “Can’t wait,” he said unenthusiastically. He waved at both of them before trotting up the stairs and out of sight.

“Are you sure you’re all right,” Ais questioned sincerely.

“I am now,” Abigail answered honestly. She shook her head softly strands of midnight black her waving around her face. “He just took it too far.” Abby shook her head when Aislinn opened her mouth. “I can’t Ais. Not now. When I’m ready to talk about it you’ll be the second one to know,” she assured the other girl.

“I’ll be here,” Aislinn said warmly wrapping her arms around her cousin’s shoulders.

“Thanks,” Abby answered returning the embrace. She rested her cheek on her cousin's shoulder relishing the warmth the other girl radiated. Aislinn might not be her sister but she was family and that she needed now more than ever.