Smile Like You Mean It

I'm sooooo sorry! I've had writer's block all week and found it so hard to continue! Also my life is getting complicated again, so I'm trying to sort all that guff out :(
Anyway, I'll try to update regularly again...

Hope you like the chapter!

Brighid - If you want to be included in my email list, you need to leave your email address in the review, ok? And thanks so much for your review!

Also many thanks to
Smurhy, shaki-em13, KShe, ucdevi and Aleera!
Keep it up!

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Chapter 15 - Visions From The Mirror


It was Sunday morning and Aera was lying with the curtains still closed around her bed. She could hear the other girls in the dorm getting up and preparing for the day and she had no intention of rising until she was sure the room was empty. She did not particularly want to come face to face with Hermione, especially when she was feeling just that little bit vulnerable.

She and the boys had talked for the rest of the day and into the night about how they could achieve their plan. She had laid out for them the basics. Now she was wondering if she was insane.

Her date with Blaise was the key. She would meet up with him, hopefully in a place where it would be easy for Draco Malfoy to see or overhear them. She would openly seduce Zabini and look for signs that Draco was getting jealous. Once that had been determined she would begin by subtly entrancing the blonde boy.

Aera bit down the frustrated growl in her throat. Today was when she was supposed to start, but that depended on her being first of all able to find Blaise.

The room had gone quiet around her and she sat up, peering out between the curtains. It was deserted beyond the heavy drapes and she felt a brief flicker of relief. Getting up, she sorted through her trunk. As it was the weekend she was permitted to wear her own clothes rather than the regulation school uniform. However, she hadn't exactly packed for the role of seductress.

As she began pulling items of clothing out she gave a low laugh, wondering what Hermione would think of the bizarre situation.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


Draco had risen early that morning. He was seated on the outskirts of the Forbidden Forest, his back up against a tree. Since his detention in the forest he had made the decision to battle his fear of it. Now he saw the place as no more than a quiet retreat that others avoided. It was perfect for him.

He had been there since break of dawn without disturbance, eyes closed against the first streaky lines of dawn. Now, with the sun stretching above the treetops, he heard the sound of someone approaching.

Zabini made his way over to his friend and dropped onto the ground beside him. For a while neither spoke. It was Draco who broke the silence.

"You don't seem to be getting me the information I want."

There was no reaction that suggested Blaise was offended by the accusation. "Rushing these things often results in disaster."

Draco scowled and curled his fingers tightly into the grass beside him. "Why are you holding back? You said your plan was to befriend her by any means necessary. Now your sitting here, waiting for what? Her to approach you?"

Blaise shrugged. "You want me to go up to her today and ask again if she'll accompany me on a walk? I'll do it, but she won't agree. It would be best to leave it a little longer. She's a shy girl and she won't respond to being pushed."

"Ask her." The order was plain and Zabini raised an eyebrow at his friend. No one commanded the Italian family. But Draco didn't blink and eventually Blaise sighed.

"I'll do this for you, old friend. But against my own advice."

Draco relaxed, mollified. He hated his own impatience. It was a trait that too closely linked him to his father, but for some reason he found it difficult to contain himself when this particular topic was raised.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


Zabini was outside the Fat Lady's portrait when Aera came climbing out. She stopped in surprise, one leg still inside the common room, as their eyes locked. He gave her a disarming smile and she smiled back. A 'harrumph!' from the Fat Lady brought her back to reality and she pulled herself completely through.

The portrait thudded shut behind her but she hardly noticed. Suddenly all her plans had gone straight out of her head.

Blaise was still smiling, leaning casually against the wall, his arms folded and one knee bent to rest a foot comfortably against the stonework.

"Good Morning. You seem to sleep in on weekends."

The tone was far from accusing so Aera ignored it. "Morning. Strange place for you to be so innocently hanging around."

Zabini grinned. "Well, actually not quite without intent. I was thinking, you have managed to escape me so far, it was time to catch you off-guard and take you on that walk." It was a request rather than a statement and Aera noticed the mental preparing in his eyes, obviously expecting refusal.

The opportunity was there, her plans started now.

"I'd love to." she said softly, looking deep into his eyes. He looked startled for a moment before he recovered himself, pushing away from the wall to approach her.

"Well, then, how about after breakfast?"

"Actually, I'm not that hungry yet. Why don't we head out there now?" Breakfast was still going and from what Aera remember from her first day at Hogwarts, Draco was an early riser. If she wanted him to spot herself and Blaise, he would probably already have eaten and be out on the grounds.

Zabini nodded. Aera smiled wider and they began down the hallway together, talking of classes and homework.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Zabini felt a little thrown, unsure of how things had changed against him. From what he knew of people, which was more than most, was that it had been unlikely for Aera to agree to accompany him. And if she had, she would have wanted to wait a while before they actually took the walk.

Now here he was, down near the Weeping Willow, the two of them gazing at it's graceful boughs. Though in truth his eyes were watching the witch beside him much more closely. She was wearing a skirt that swept the ground as she walked, swirling about her ankles in waves of shimmering blue and green. Her top complemented this with a tight bodice of forest green that betrayed the curves it hid. Though he already knew how large and voluptuous her breasts were, they seemed all the more tantalising when hidden by such a delicate material.

If Blaise hadn't already realised that Aera was innocent of such things, he would have thought she was trying to seduce him.

Aera had turned her attention back to him and he quickly resumed the poise of detachment. She shot him a look from under her long lashes and he felt his groin twitch. The task Draco had set him was momentarily scattered from his mind. He was just a Hogwarts student, trying to impress the most beautiful and captivating girl at the school.

Suddenly needing to be closer he stepped forward, pushing a stray strand of hair that was dancing in front of Aera's face. Her eyes widened and she smiled slowly.

"You really are a gentleman, Blaise."

He grinned at her, delighted that she was responding to his charm. Extending his arm for her, he led them back towards the castle. As they slowly walked, Blaise felt eyes on him. Glancing up towards the school he saw someone with hair fair enough that it caught the sun's rays leaning out of a window, watching.

Drake.

Realising he would have to report whether or not he had learnt anything from this walkabout, he cleared his throat.

"So, Aera. Do you have any siblings?"

For a moment he thought Aera was going to stop walking. Her hand tightened on his arm before she answered in a quiet voice.

"No, my family was killed when I was little. I grew up in an orphanage before Madame Maxime took me in to Beauxbaton."

"Ah, I'm sorry for prying." Zabini felt uncomfortable. The pain was stark in her voice and he was unsure how to continue.

"It's alright. I don't really mind talking about it. I had a brother, but he was... with my parents when it happened. I was too young to remember them. What about you?"

"I have a sister, her name is Arianrhod, though we all call her Arian. She'll be coming to school here in three years."

"That's quite an age gap. She's so young."

Blaise winced inwardly. Arian was much younger than him and in truth he didn't really know her. He had heard the unspoken question from Aera and sighed, figuring he might as well answer.

"My mother is in her third marriage. I was the result of the first, Arian of the second. My father is a stranger to me, Mother doesn't want him involved in our lives any more. Money can do many things." He knew he sounded bitter and hoped Aera wouldn't hear the irritation in his voice. However the girl was more insightful than he had realised. She stopped walking, pulling at his arm so that he turned to her.

He found himself staring into those dark brown eyes, unable to look away. She seemed sad, lifting her hand to place it against his chest, over his heart.

"Your mother's decisions shouldn't affect your own. If you want to meet up with him you should." she said softly, her hand warming the area where it touched him.

Zabin gave a rough laugh, running a hand through his hair, breaking eye contact and looking down to the ground. "You don't know Mother. She would disown me if she found I had disobeyed her."

"Blaise..." He looked up. "What is it? Please, tell me what it is that's making you so sad."

"I... I don't know. I think I want proof from Mother, that she isn't going to get involved in... darker things." As soon as the words left his lips, they slammed closed. Zabini felt as if she had winded him. He stared at her, unable to comprehend how she had managed to get him to reveal so much in such a short space of time.

Aera gave a soft smile, though he didn't detect even a hint of triumph. She nodded slowly. "I may not be the best person to give advice in terms of parents, but I'd suggest you just talk to her. Maybe not directly, trap her with words so that she answers the real question without realising."

Zabini nodded, registering her words, but still reeling from the conversation. He had never meant to tell her anything beyond the name of his little sister. Now he had blurted out a secret thought that was never intended to be up for discussion.

The rest of the walk was done in silence, with Blaise wondering how to regain his indifferent demeanour and gain the high-ground once more.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


Aera sat down in front of Harry and Ron, making sure her back was towards the Slytherin table. She was finding it hard to hide the grin suffusing her features. As she lowered herself onto the bench Hermione gave a disgruntled huff and stood quickly.

"I'm off to the library."

"Hang on, you haven't even eaten anything..." Harry called after her, but she had already passed through the double doors. He sighed and turned his attention to Aera. She gave him a covert thumbs up.

The Great Hall was only half full for Sunday lunch, but Aera lowered her voice anyway.

"I went for a walk with Blaise."

The two boys leaned forward eagerly with identical looks that demanded more.

"Ok, so I got the impression that he himself is against the Dark side. That doesn't necessarily mean he's for the light, but it's a start."

Harry was also grinning by this point and Aera scowled at him. If Zabini found out that she was telling Harry and Ron everything he said, it would ruin the plan. Harry obviously understood and his face relaxed into an expression of calm curiosity.

"That's brilliant. So what's next?" he asked, keeping his voice down.

Aera poured herself a glass of pumpkin juice as she thought. If she was going to spark jealousy in Malfoy, she would have to find a way to involve him in her meetings with Blaise. That could easily be the most difficult thing to manage. The memory of Hermione storming off to the library made her smile. That could work.

"I think I'll take a visit to the library after lunch."

Ron frowned. "I thought you and Hermione were avoiding each other? You planning on talking to her now?"

Aera shook her head, waving a hand to dismiss the question. "No. I want Blaise to come with me. It's the only neutral ground really, other than here, and this is too public. I have a feeling that Malfoy may want to spend some time studying today, so perhaps we'll bump into him."

Both boys looked uncomfortable at this. The only hiccough in the plan was that they were still not happy that Malfoy was going to be involved. They still thought that finding out more about Zabini would be enough. Aera's conversation with him earlier had proven that they wouldn't get any information on the Dark Side from him though. It was clear that he wasn't involved, and even if his mother was, he wanted nothing to do with it.

However, despite their reluctance to agree, they did not try to talk her out of it. Harry returned to his meal while Ron leaned forward to continue conversation with Aera.

"The potion is doing well. You still up for drinking it?"

Aera smiled at him. "Yep, though I still have three weeks to change my mind. I'll let you know if I do."

Ron let out a snort of laughter. "You don't really seem like the kind of girl who would back down from anything."

+++++++++++++++++++++++++

Aera was alone by the time she reached the library. Ron and Harry had left for Quidditch practice and Ginny was spending the day with a group of girls from her year.

Stepping through the door and into the quiet, peaceful atmosphere of the library, Aera felt her mind relax. She remembered this feeling every time she had visited the library at Beauxbatons, where the world of learning had literally been at her fingertips. Here was even more luxurious. Row upon row of shelves that stretched to the ceiling ran down through a room that would have seemed limitless were it not crowded with books. Even so, the feel of space surrounded her and she breathed in the musty smell of dust and pages.

She headed towards the back of the library, preferring to avoid the small groups of students puzzling together over their homework and assignments. She passed Hermione, who was seated alone, her hair creating a curtain around a tome. Thankfully she didn't look up and Aera was spared the awkwardness.

At last she reached the end of the room, finding a table that was obviously not used often. Where other tables had been etched by bored students, engraving their names and lovers, this one was smooth with polish.

She had sent Blaise an owl after lunch asking him to meet her in here. But it would be a little while before Ron's owl, Pig, managed to find the Italian. For now she was content to sit alone, feeling the weight of the knowledge held by the books around her.

++++++++++++++++++++++++

Blaise was down at the Quidditch Pitch when he received Aera's owl. He had no great fondness for the game, always preferring to be seated in the stands rather than straddling a broomstick. He had come down with Malfoy, unsure of how to tell his friend what had happened that morning and how he had failed to uncover anything of consequence from his date.

By the time Malfoy called his team into the changing rooms, after Potter arrived with the rest of his Gryffindors for their practice, Blaise was twisting the piece of parchment between his fingers.

Malfoy came up to where he was sitting, his hair still damp from his quick shower.

"What's that?"

Zabini handed it over and Draco quickly read through it. He gave it back, eyeing Blaise closely.

"So she enjoyed the walk and wants to spend more time with you. What's the problem?"

"I'm not sure it would be a good idea." said Blaise reluctantly.

Malfoy raised his eyebrows, clearly dissatisfied with the answer.

"This morning didn't go very well. Aera managed to glean more from me than I her. I don't want to get caught by her questions again."

He saw the flicker of surprise on Draco's features and winced inwardly. It was no secret that he himself was a master in most situations, able to direct conversation where he wanted it. But to admit that he had failed to gain even a little information from the girl was a blow to his pride. He didn't want a recurrence.

Malfoy was silent for a while. When he finally spoke Blaise was grateful for the lack of judgement in his voice.

"We underestimated her. Perhaps we should try a different angle?"

Blaise nodded, but didn't speak. He didn't want Malfoy to know that he was scared of what he would say in front of Aera. Right now he really didn't want to see her. He still needed time to get his thoughts back in order and retain his original outlook. He was doing a favour for Malfoy. He wasn't supposed to get involved any other way.

"I'll go." Zabini couldn't hide the look of incredulity that filled his eyes and Malfoy smirked. "It will throw her off. If she really is good enough to catch you out, maybe this will faze her, allowing us to take the reins once more."

Zabini nodded, not trusting himself to speak lest he give away how relieved he felt. As they picked up their things as began walking back to the castle, Zabini wondered if his friend fully understood how careful he would have to be. Aera was a lot more astute and clever than he had first thought.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Aera had grown tired of sitting waiting and had stood to trail her fingers along the spines of a line of books. Each bump held a different name and she marvelled at the variety of knowledge. Here there were books on Runes, Charms, magical disorders. She wanted to reach out and read every single one, yet the lure of hidden wisdom was that much more tantalising.

A soft sound made her turn, grateful that Blaise had finally decided to show up. She knew it was unlikely that her part of the plan involving Malfoy seeing them here would happen. This table was too far from the more public areas of the library, but in truth she was looking forward to spending more time with her new friend.

She was startled, therefore, when the man who slipped between the bookshelves to approach her had bright blonde hair and pale features. His hair was damp and falling across his face in light strands, he must have just come from the showers.

"Malfoy!" she said with confusion, wondering if she had somehow written the wrong name on the parchment.

"Blaise sends his apologies, he couldn't make it. He asked me to come in his stead."

Aera sat down at the table, her legs feeling a little weak. She had nothing ready for this occurrence. This was the last person she wished to be with in the dark areas of the library where surely no one else ever went.

Stop panicking, Aera. Maybe he is only here because Blaise asked him to. Even as the thought entered her mind she knew it was unlikely. She knew they were friends, but for Blaise to send Draco seemed a little improbable.

"Um, that's alright. I only wanted to spend some time with him. It wasn't anything important." she returned lightly. A small part of her was hoping Draco would nod and leave, having delivered the message.

As he moved to sit down she felt apprehension rise. So, he wasn't here just to deliver a message. He had some ulterior motive.

"You seem to like the library."

Aera shrugged, briefly wondering how long he had stood in the shadows where she couldn't see him watching her. "It's quiet. And a lot bigger than the one at Beauxbatons."

Malfoy nodded, though he didn't appear to have much of his attention on their conversation. He was watching her closely, judging her reactions to what he said.

Aera felt a flicker of irritation. She was annoyed that he was trying to play her at her own game. She decided that she would continue with her plan, if not in the original way. She had set out to seduce him and she would do just that.

They sat at opposite sides to the table so the moves she had used on Seamus wouldn't work. She would have to use her imagination, come up with something that would give her control once more.

Without saying anything, she looked deep into Malfoy's eyes. He was skilled at hiding his emotions, but that wasn't what she was trying to see. She wanted him to see what was in her eyes. She imagined the kiss that he had given her, the way it had made liquid fire run through her, made her skin burn to be touched.

Her eyelids grew heavy with remembrance and she caught her lower lip between her teeth, remembering how it had felt when he had done it. She was lost in the memory, his body pressed against hers, his tongue dancing with her own.

For a moment they sat there staring at each other, then Aera came back to herself suddenly, at the same moment that Malfoy realised what she was thinking about. As she self-consciously adjusted her skirt to try and hide the blush that was creeping up her cheeks she noticed the twitch of a smirk at the corners of his lips. The flush suffused the rest of her body.

"You've been avoiding me."

Aera froze. "I... I have?"

Malfoy nodded slowly, watching for her reactions closely. "Yes. At first I thought I had scared you. But I think it was more than that. I think you were trying to fight something."

Aera felt her heart pounding in her throat. Surely he hadn't been that insightful to see that she had been so effected by his kiss? She thought back to how she had moaned against him and winced. Perhaps it had not been so hard to see.

Recovering herself slightly she put on an expression of indifference. "Fight something? My word, Malfoy. You have a high opinion of yourself if you think a kiss can affect a girl that much."

His eyes darkened at the haughtiness in her tone and he stood up. Aera managed to hide the fear that threatened to show in her eyes, but she still felt in inside. They had travelled into unmarked waters here. She could not be certain of how he would react.

He came around the table towards her and she stood herself, not wanting to have to look up at him when he reached her. She had forgotten how tall he was, however, and still found her head tipped back to meet his gaze.

"Do you look to test me, Aera? Is it a challenge that you set me?"

Aera opened her mouth to reply, to say something, anything, but before she could speak his head dipped and she found herself breathing in his breath, their lips meeting.

If she had found his kiss hypnotic before, it was nothing to this. His lips crushed against hers, his tongue teasing her mouth open so he could assault her tongue. She reached behind her and grasped the edge of the table, unable to trust her legs to support her.

Draco seemed to take this as another challenge as pushed her back until her hips connected with the table, then he grabbed her by the waist and lifted her up and back, seating her quite comfortably on the polished wood. And all the while he kept their lips locked together.

Malfoy was now awkwardly pressing against her knees, leaning forward to continue the kiss. Without thinking Aera spread her legs and he slipped between her thighs as if he had been ready for it. She groaned into his mouth as she felt the pressure of his body against the apex of her legs. A fire was growing there, its inferno begging to be touched.

Suddenly Aera realised that she was touching skin. Her hands had travelled to the edge of his trousers and yanked the shirt out from where it had been tucked in. With that free she had skimmed her palms up along his toned torso, feeling the contours of his muscles. She reached up further and felt his chest. Without thinking she grazed her nails over his nipple and was rewarded with a growl. She did it again and the sound rippled in his throat.

But it was clear that she was not to best him. One large hand rested on her thigh, the other brushed over her breast, still covered by her shirt. Her back arched and his lips left hers. Disappointment filled her until she suddenly felt warmth bathe her nipple, through the material. One of her hands left his chest and wrapped itself in his hair, pulling his mouth against her.

She was only slightly aware of his hand travelling towards her inner thigh. Once it crept under the fan of her skirt to touch the wet cloth of her knickers she felt the fire that had been burning there become almost unbearable. She ached to be touched, she needed to be touched.

The groan of impatience that left her brought her back to reality. They were in the library, with Aera's legs wrapped around Malfoy's waist, her skirt had ridden up until it was above her hips and his mouth was against her breast.

"M... Malfoy, stop." she gasped, still fighting the sensations that were quickly taking over her mind. For a moment it seemed that he had not heard, but then he pulled back, his eyes meeting hers.

The look of him nearly made her lose control once more. His cheeks were flushed, his lips bruised by their kisses. His hair, still damp, was a mess that made her want to wrap her fingers through it again. Her eyes, of their own accord, drifted down to where she could see the bulge in his trousers, only inches from being pressed against the warm wetness of her knickers. It was clear that he had been every inch affected as she had.

Swallowing hard she sat up as he stepped away, letting her readjust her skirt and shirt. She felt foolish sitting there, on the edge of the table with her legs spread. She closed them quickly but remained where she was sitting. There was no way she would be able to stand without betraying how wobbly they felt.

Silence surrounded them, neither sure what to say. She waited for some smart remark on her reaction to his touch that never came. After a while Malfoy let out a heavy sigh and sank into the chair that had been pushed, unnoticed, to the side.

"This was not my intention when I came to meet you." he said, not looking at her.

Aera felt bitter disappointment rise in her throat. "So you only wanted to make me... want you?" she muttered. "You wanted to get a rise out of me? Well, bravo, you succeeded."

He looked up and she was trapped by the heat in his eyes. Without a word he stood again, approaching her. He placed his hands either side of her and leaned forward. Instinctively she moved back before she composed herself and stopped to meet him glare for glare.

"Is that what you think of me?" he snarled, "Is that what Pothead and Weasel have told you? I am nothing more than an evil guy who preys on young women in school? You think this is all fake?" Suddenly he grabbed her hand and pressed it against the bulge that was still very evident in the front of his trousers. "Do you think this happens for nothing, that I can become so hard when you haven't even touched me?"

Aera pulled her hand away sharply, not wanting to hear the anger in his voice and the evidence of how he felt. He stayed frozen for a moment longer, than pulled away and turned to face the bookshelves, resting his hands above his head against them.

The tension and emotion in his stance made Aera feel guilty. So perhaps he hadn't intended it to happen. Perhaps she was a little too quick to judge.

"I... I'm sorry." she whispered. His shoulders tensed a little more, but finally he turned around. She swallowed down the nervousness and slipped down from the table to walk up to him. "I just... I just don't understand. Why come here, why stay and talk with me? You hate my friends, but then you..." She stopped, knowing that what she said made no sense.

Malfoy looked at her, his eyes revealing nothing. When he spoke it was in a monotone voice. "You are too quick to judge."

Aera's face twisted in confusion. Everything she had ever seen or heard showed that he stopped at nothing to ridicule her friends. That he hated them with every fibre of his being.

Malfoy must have read the thoughts from her expression. "You see only the surface. One day perhaps you'll learn to see what is hidden in the deeper parts."

"Tell me, please. I want to know." Aera said, her hand reaching out to him, but he shrugged it away.

"Fair trade, Aera Vale. I will tell you something in exchange for a question answered."

Aera felt herself go still. This was it. She could find out all she needed to know. But she would have to reveal as much. Perhaps she could lie? The look on his face showed that this option would not work.

"Alright, you first." she said eventually, hoping that this would not backfire.

"What did you see in the mirror?"

The question came fast, clearly he had already been pondering this for quite some time. Aera tasted bile. How much should I reveal?

"I saw my family, who I lost when I was very young." That much was the truth. She had seen herself and Harry as well as their parents. "I saw the Voldemort dead and Harry had killed him." Not quite honest, she had helped Harry in the vision. But still close enough to the truth not to be a lie. "I saw myself, I called me a liar and deceiver."

This last was met with a look of surprise. Then his expression grew stoney. "The deal's off. You didn't tell me all. I can tell."

Heat reddened Aera's cheeks. She had hoped not to reveal this. It was embarrassing and degrading to have to tell him. But if she hoped to get anything from it would have to be told. "I saw myself with a man, in a position that left little to the imagination."

Malfoy didn't ask who it was. From the way Aera refused to meet his gaze it must have been obvious to him that it had been himself she had seen.

"Your turn to ask." he said softly.

"What did you see in that mirror?" The words burst from her mouth before she could stop them. She had been forming a question in her mind, one that would determine just how involved with Voldemort he was, but a sudden desperate need to know what he had seen had overcome her.

"I saw many things. I saw myself and my mother, free of my father's tyranny. I saw death, but I will not speak of that now. And I saw... you."

"Me?" asked Aera, confused.

"Yes. You were telling me your secrets."


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I'm sorry, cliff-hanger I know!

Wow, long chapter! Ok, so you know the drill... review review review!!

Love u all

Aera