Smile Like You Mean It

Hey guys sorry for making you wait!!!

Hope you're not too mad at me (sorry face)

xxxx
Aera

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Chapter 31 - Chilling Comprehensions


Aera reached the portrait entrance to Gryffindor Tower with no difficulty. She hoped Draco had experienced as little trouble as she had.

“Glory and Gumdrops.” Aera recited the present password. She had a foolish grin on her face, a result of the evening spent with Draco. But if anyone noticed it they would probably put it down to the victorious win against Slytherin in the match.

The Fat Lady swung open to reveal a packed and rowdy room. The students had obviously been waiting for the opportunity to celebrate. Groups of people stood chatting or laughing loudly, pints of what Aera hoped was juice in their hands. Around the fireplace a number of students were having fun casting Illusion Spells, causing hilarity. Images of rival pupils snogging passionately, teachers with their pants around their ankles. It was the sort of thing Aera avoided at all costs. She edged around them.

Harry, Hermione, Ron and Ginny were sitting together, telling old stories of past matches. Aera sighed. She’d been hoping to avoid that part of the evening. Harry looked up as she approached.

“Aera! Where the hell have you been?”

Aera shrugged, trying to feign nonchalence. “I just got back from the library. Had to finish something so I have tomorrow free.”

Ginny smirked at her from the other side of Harry. She didn’t look convinced. On the contrary she looked as if she had a very good idea of what Aera had been up to.

Aera settled down beside Hermione. The bushy-haired girl was slightly pink in the face, snatching covert glances at Ron when she thought he wasn’t looking. Ron himself was clearly trying to appear cool, reclining in one of the large chairs, a pint of juice in his hand. Aera smiled to herself. Right then she wanted nothing more than for her friends to feel as happy as she felt. She glanced between Harry and Ginny and Ron and Hermione.

Harry was staring at Ginny as the young girl retold an amusing story about Jelly Snakes to Hermione. Aera guessed Ginny was unaware of the attention and Harry appeared at a loss as to what to do. He was saved from the moment as he was pulled across the room into a conversation about the game by an excited second-year.

Ron and Hermione began talking about the upcoming Halloween Ball so Ginny leaned closer to Aera.

“I broke up with Dean.” she said quietly. She glanced to where Harry was talking avidly to the group of second-years.

Aera hesitated. “Well, isn’t that what you wanted? Now Harry might ask you out.”

“Maybe.” Ginny shrugged, keeping her voice low. “Then again maybe not. If he hasn’t shown any interest by now, why should I keep trying to convince myself I have a chance?”

Aera felt her heart swell with sympathy at Ginny’s dejected tone. She was about to say more when Harry returned and the other two looked up.

“I’m going to head to bed.” Hermione said, yawning hugely. “It’s been kinda a long day.”

Aera saw the disappointment in Ron’s eyes at Hermione’s goodnight and he soon followed suit, clearly having no interest in staying if she wasn’t there. Aera shook her head at her friends. Why did they have to make it so complicated? It was obvious, at least to her, that they liked each other, so why not just take a chance and find out?

She was left with Harry and Ginny, who was now sipping from Ron’s discarded juice glass. She was eyeing Harry from under her lashes. Aera struggled to find something to say.

Ginny beat her to it. “Hey Aera, did Dumbledore ever tell you about Harry’s second year here? I was in first year.”

Aera shook her head. Of course Albus had told her the story, but she got the impression Ginny was going somewhere with this and didn’t want to be interrupted.

“Yeah,” Ginny continued, her voice becoming distant. “Harry saved me from the Basilisk in the Chamber of Secrets.”

“Ginny . . .” moaned Harry. Clearly he wasn’t very fond of people bringing up events that portrayed him as the hero.

Ginny ignored him, addressing Aera with a sad, self-mocking smile. “I was infatuated with him afterwards and even managed to convince myself he liked me. After all, he saved me, didn’t he? Load of bollocks, of course.” She took a long swig out of the glass and Aera suddenly realised the juice was not as innocent as she had hoped. She reached out and plucked it from Ginny’s hands, sniffing it.

As she had suspected, there was a hint of alcohol. She sighed and placed it out of Ginny’s reach, ignoring the young girl’s protest. Ginny slumped back into her seat, scowling.

Harry had been unusually silent throughout Ginny’s admission and Aera turned to see what was wrong. His expression was one of pained repression.

“I do like you Ginny.” he said quietly. “I think you’re beautiful.”

Ginny’s head jerked up at the words, fearful hope in her eyes. They stared at each other for one long moment before Ginny launched herself across the small space and into Harry’s arms.

Aera looked away from the passionate kiss. It was time for her to go to bed and she didn’t honestly want to see her brother snogging the face off her friend.

Leaving them to it, she slipped away.


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“Doesn’t that bother you?” Ron growled, stabbing his scrambled eggs in annoyance as Ginny giggled quietly, twisting her fingers in Harry’s messy hair as he whispered in her ear.

Aera shrugged. She ignored it fairly well most of the time. Generally she was glad Harry was happy. “Just try not to think about it.” she advised Ron, helping herself to more bacon.

Ron had, of course, found out about his little sister and best friend the very next morning as both Harry and Ginny found it difficult to keep their hands away from each other for very long. His reaction had surprised everyone, with a grudging acceptance of what he had named as something ‘fairly inevitable’. Now, though, a few days after the two had first admitted their mutual feelings, it seemed to be getting on his nerves.

Aera had the sneaking suspicion that Ron was jealous, a theory strengthened by the covert looks he shot at Hermione while she read at the table. Aera herself couldn’t help but feel a little envious. She could see Draco across the hall, sharing a quiet conversation with Blaise. She couldn’t help wondering what it would be like to have her relationship with him out in the open, with everyone accepting them being together. She imagined sitting beside him at breakfast. The picture made her smile.

As she watched the Slytherin table, the post arrived, owls sweeping through the hall clutching letters and small parcels. She saw a particularly majestic owl drop a green envelope in Draco’s lap and his face immediately darkened.

Returning to her breakfast Aera wondered idly who could have sent Draco a letter that would so quickly put him in a bad mood.


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Draco flipped the envelope over, glaring at the Malfoy crest stamped in the wax seal. He had been careful to write to his father, keeping his news light and boring. What did the bastard want now?

He was finding it difficult to focus on anything this morning. The night’s events with Aera had been amazingly intimate and the letter from Lucius was casting a blemish on it all. He didn’t want to be reminded of how risky his relationship was with Aera, what danger it put her in.

Deciding to get it over and done with, he ripped the seal open, unfolding the sheet of paper within. His father’s elegant penmanship scrawled across it in neat, even lines.

Dear Draco,

I must first inform you that your letters have been sadly lacking in details regarding the young lady we conversed about previously. I was hoping to discover better her origins and reasons for switching schools in such a perilous time. We must gather out allies around us and know our enemies.

Our esteemed friend has decided to move residence and you have been honoured with an invitation to meet with Him. I need not remind you that such a privilege is bestowed upon few and you must be prepared for whatever He may ask of you.

However, the date for the audience is still unsure, allowing you time to prepare yourself. I will inform you of the venue and time as soon as He reveals it.

Regards,
Lucius

Draco could feel cold sweat sliding down his back as he finished reading. Without a word he passed the piece of parchment to Blaise who ran through it quickly, sucking in a sharp breath at the mention of the ‘invitation’. He turned large, brown eyes on his friend.

“I suppose you know what this means.” he said quietly.

Draco nodded, his hands clenched under the table. “It’s time for me to join the ranks.” he said through gritted teeth. Blaise handed the letter back, watching as it balled up in Draco’s fist.

“There’s a hint of urgency in your father’s words. I should think he intends for this to happen within a few weeks.”

Draco fought down the urge to snap at Blaise. He had already guessed at that part. But this was how Blaise did things and Draco needed his friend’s brilliant mind. If anyone could read between the lines and discover more about the terrifying situation, it was Blaise.

The tall Italian rested his chin in one hand, eyes becoming distant. “He’s asked again about Aera, trying to imply that it is to discover whether she is for the Light or Dark. I don’t think it is that simple.”

Draco pried the page open again, reading the creased words once more. It did appear somewhat implausible that Lucius would press so far about her in order to find out what side she was on. To better discover her origins.

The cold sweat was back, causing goosebumps to rise on Draco’s arms. Something was niggling at his mind and he was desperately trying to think some way that he might be wrong.

Aera had told him herself that her parents had only informed family and close friends about the birth of the twins. Draco knew it had never been Sirius Black who’d betrayed the Potter family to Voldemort. Peter Pettigrew had been Secret Keeper. The Potters had clearly believed him a good friend.

So, what if Pettigrew had never thought to inform Voldemort that Harry had a sister? What if that morsel of information had been left untold until recently, giving rise to Voldemort’s interest in a girl who had so suddenly appeared at Harry’s school, with no past and no parents.

All they really needed was for someone to pass on some hint that Aera was who they suspected her to be.

The breakfast hall faded from Draco’s sight. Blood was pounding in his ears, muffling the carefree talk of those around him. It made perfect, simple sense. Pettigrew had taken his animagus form as a rat after Voldemort’s downfall in Godric’s Hollow. He would never have had the chance or reason to reveal Aera’s existence until years later, when the Dark Lord returned. Even then, he would have hesitated, being such a cowardly little vermin, from telling Voldemort. Draco imagined Voldemort’s fury must have been incredible.

Aera was in danger, greater than he ever would have guessed. Hidden in Hogwarts, unknown and innocent, she had some protection. But if the Death Eaters even suspected who she was, they would kill her at the first opportunity.

Noise came flooding back, along with sight. Draco turned to see Blaise watching him, wondering what had caused the blankness in his face. His friend’s eyes widened perceptibly as he saw the look in Draco’s eyes. He could only imagine what Blaise saw there but he figured it must be fairly close to the helpless, terrified way he felt.

“Tell me.” Blaise demanded, his voice low.

Draco shook his head. “Not here. Come on.”

Together they exited the breakfast hall, Draco’s mind whirling, trying to decide on what to do. As he reached the doors his eyes found Aera sitting chatting happily with her friends. She seemed totally at ease.

Unaware of how dangerous her life had just become.


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