"Don't you dare do this James," a voice stirred me awake, "she'll never forgive you."

"Not if she doesn't find out," someone mumbled near my ear, playing with my hair.

"Do you really not trust her?"

"No," the movement of my hair stopped, "no I don't. Not when she's keeping secrets from me."

"So you seduce her..." the voice faded in and out, "and you're now going to use legilimency on her?"

Seduce me? But I've only been seduced by... James. The dots slowly connect in my sleep driven mind, the events from last night rushing back as I continue to listen to snippets of their conversation.

James was planning to forcefully enter my mind with legilimency because he didn't trust me. The thought hit me hard, my heart aching at the newest revelation.

I sat up slowly, my eyes opening as I stared at a furious Sirius and a numb James, neither having noticed my current state of consciousness.

"What other choice do I have?"

"Any!" Sirius bellowed, throwing his hands up in exasperation, "any other choice, James, you have any other choice!"

"This isn't your choice to make, mate, she is my girlfriend after all," Sirius flinched, not expecting the venom behind his best friend's harsh words. "Let's not pretend that I don't see how you look at her."

"I'm in love with her, it's not like I haven't told her – she didn't tell you?" Sirius chuckled darkly, catching the other man's shocked expression, his dark features now cold and defensive, "what a surprise."

"That doesn't matter, you don't have any say in my actions." James ran a hand through his hair, a frustrated sigh escaping his lips. "Look, I don't want to fight with you mate."

"A bit late for that, Prongs." Sirius sat down at the edge of the bed next to James, hunched over backs preventing me from seeing their expressions. "Do you even love her? Truly? Or was that just another part of your plan?"

Silence.

I held my breath, knowing that this answer had the potential to finally break me.

"I don't know."

--

I sat perched on my bed after I 'woke up' in James' bed, having made a hasty department.

Was everything a lie? The memories, the laughs, every kiss, every moment.

It was all a plot to seduce me so that he could use legilimency on me. He truly should've been in Slytherin, he was definitely cunning enough.

The peace of the empty dorm did nothing to quell my raging thoughts or silence the breaking of my heart.

I wanted to be angry. I wanted to be sad.

I wanted to feel something.

Something, anything to distract me from the tormenting thoughts.

"So I'm dating your cousin." A voice interrupts my thoughts, almost sending me off the bed in shock. My head whips to my left, not even having noticed the entrance of the redhead or when she sat down next to me.

"I know," I force a nod, smiling for pretence.

"Really?" She coughed, rubbing the back of her neck. "Well, I guess this makes things easier then."

I nod along, my mind no longer with the conversation.

"Knock knock," a voice sang, opening the door without waiting for permission.

My thoughts stilled, heart squeezing, palms beading with sweat.

"Care to join me, Love?" A crooked grin lit his face, having not noticed my paling face or empty eyes.

"Lily and I were actually in the middle of something," I informed him, smiling coldly.

"Oh, ah that's fine. I'll catch you later then," he scratched the back of his neck before leaning forward, lips puckered.

I turned my face to Lily, ignoring the fall in his expression when I brushed him off. "Later, yeah, maybe," I forced out.

I waited for the door to close before I breathed out, falling back onto my bed.

"What was that about?" Lily questioned, eyebrow raised. "You both seemed fine last night."

"Last night was years ago, Lils."

--

*Third person POV*

"She's from the future, My Lord." A voice squeaked out as they cowered back in fear.

"The future?" He repeated, smiling wickedly, red eyes squinting.

"Y-y-yes, I heard her admit it herself."

The deformed figure raised a finger, immediately quietening the hunched figure before him.

"Cinder the Beguiler, come forth."

"Yes, My Lord?" His white teeth shined in the darkness, his uniform rolled to his elbow, proudly displaying the mark.

"This task now falls on you, do you accept?"

"I accept."