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Hands of Fate	By : LunaGrrl Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female Views: 2957 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 5
- 6
- 7
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, 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 Six

Martika couldn�t suppress her laughter as she got her first good look at Abigail. It was just like the girl to push to see how much she could get away with. The dark haired girl wouldn�t have put it past her cousin to have deliberately left her robe open just to flaunt her blatant willfulness.

She noted with some interest that Draco left Abigail in the care of the boy from last night before moving on down the table. The young man was well over six-foot tall. Brown hair and startling blue eyes completed his look. It was as if she stared long enough she could see the boy he had once been. His face when it was just he and her cousin looked softer somehow. It was as if he were more approachable at that time.

Her eyes followed the blonde that had arrived with the other boy and her cousin as he stopped next to another one of his classmates. She couldn�t tell what they were saying but from the looks on their faces it was rapidly turning into an argument. It made the young woman wonder what they could possibly be talking about.

Marti�s view was interrupted when one of her fellow housemates sat down in front of her. �Have a seat,� she said smirking slightly as the young man began to blush. Her icy blue eyes flicked over his shoulder. Seeing nothing of interest she returned them to the boy in front of her.

�Don�t mind if I do,� Anthony returned giving her a smile. �So what do you think so far?�

�It�s different; I�ll give you that,� she replied noncommittally.

�Not what you�re used to?�

�Oh it�s not so much a matter of used to as opposed to comfortable with. I�ll tell you one thing though. The dress code sucks,� she stated bluntly.

Anthony laughed drawing a few stares.

Dark eyes watched the pair. He couldn�t understand why the young woman affected him this way. As a Quidditch player he was used to all kinds of female attention but the very lack of attention from the Ravenclaw felt like a physical blow. He had to concentrate on keeping his seat for fear of doing something foolish, like dragging Martika away from that Goldstein character.

The scowl on his face only deepened the longer she laughed and talked with the boy. The other Gryffindors wisely left Viktor alone with whatever thoughts were currently in his mind. They had no wish to become someone he could take issue with.

With a sigh he pushed away his plate. He wasn�t sure why the young woman affected him so strongly but he felt it never the less. He knew that most people thought he wasn�t too intelligent and most of the time he let them believe that. It gave him an edge however slight. In this strange place he was willing to take whatever advantage he could. If it got him closer to the raven-haired young woman it was so much the better.

�Kaleaha, isn�t it,� Ernie asked taking a seat next to the blonde.

Wide blue eyes looked up at him blinking. �You know it is,� she responded with a tinkling laugh. �What can I help you with,� she asked.

�Nothing at all really, just thought you might like some company,� he replied not at all put out by her tepid reception.

�That obvious, huh,� she questioned miserably.

�Only to those who know what to look for,� he offered.

A sad smile was on her face. �In other words everyone in the hall noticed.�

�Not at all,� he assured the young woman. �I know what it�s like, you know, to find yourself suddenly away from home.�

�Does it get any easier,� she asked her eyes flicking to Aislinn and Martika who seemed to be adjusting just fine to the transition.

�Honestly?�

�No, lie to me,� Kaleaha said drolly.

Ernie chuckled at that. �Yeah it does, but not much and it takes some effort on your part too. You can�t isolate yourself from the rest of the house,� he told her.

�You think I�m being snobbish,� she demanded clearly affronted by the idea.

�No, I don�t. It�s clear that you were close with the other three you arrived with last night. Just give some of us the same chance to get to know you. I think you�ll find we�re just as welcoming as they are,� he offered with a slight smile.

Kaleaha smiled softly at him.

Harry refocused his gaze on the redheads in front of him. Aislinn had a smirk on her face. �See anything you like,� she asked as she followed his gaze to her blonde cousin.

�Yeah�uh�I mean I was just lost in thought,� Harry answered flustered.

�Uh-huh, and would you be lost in thoughts of blonde hair and big blue eyes,� She teased clearly enjoying taunting her fellow housemate.

�Wouldn�t you like to know,� he returned.

�Nope,� Aislinn replied popping a piece of toast in her mouth. �But I�m sure that Kaleaha would very much like to know.�

Harry paled considerably. �You wouldn�t!� He was panicking and couldn�t have said why. Sure he had found his gaze more often than not straying towards the blonde that didn�t mean anything, did it?

She leaned over and patted his hand. �Of course not Harry. I wouldn�t do that to you on our first meeting. Now, by our third I can�t promise you anything.� She laughed as the brunette shot her a very dark look.

Draco couldn�t figure out why the redhead kept garnering so much of his attention. She was a bloody Gryffindor for Merlin�s sake! And to make matters worse the company she was keeping was deplorable. He just didn�t understand what anyone saw in Potty and the Weasel. They had been nothing more than a pain in his ass from their first year.

Shaking his head he refused to let his gaze wander over to the girl any more. Resolve firmly in place he began filling his plate. His slate gray eyes wandered over his house table. He was still confused at how Zabini had arrived at the conclusion that he had any designs on the new girl. All he�d done was show the silly chit how to do up her ruddy tie.

It seemed that it was just not his day. He ate his breakfast quickly knowing that any moment now the professors would begin to pass around their class schedules. He washed the last mouthful of food down with a swallow of milk. Taking his napkin he made sure to erase any sign of the meal from his face.

The teachers soon were flowing between the tables making last minute adjustments.

Abigail looked at her schedule thoroughly dejected. She touched Professor Snape�s hand. �Professor,� she said quietly hoping her misery didn�t carry through. �I�m afraid there�s going to have to be some changes.�

�Oh, and why is that,� he asked perturbed to be dealing with such a difficult young woman again.

�I wasn�t aware of the stringent demands you placed upon your NEWT level potions class. At the academy Exceeds Expectations would have been enough to grant me entrance. My Care of Magical Creatures class was contingent upon getting into potions.�

�I see,� was all the potions master said. He watched her stare at the piece of paper hearing what she hadn�t said as well as what she had. He had a soft spot where his house was concerned and this was no exception. He would make a deal with her. �If you can find someone else, who not just wants, but needs potions and didn�t get my required grade, with the exception of Longbottom, you�ll both get the class,� he said just as quietly.

Abby lifted her head and met those liquid dark eyes. �Anyone Professor,� she asked. She didn�t want to find out later that she had missed something.

�As long as they meet the requirements I have set out anyone from any house is eligible,� he answered.

Her face became determined, �How long do I have?�

�One hour. You have until the end of breakfast to find someone that fits my criteria. If not we will make the changes then, is that clear?�

�Perfectly clear, sir,� she responded.

Gratified by that answer and fairly confident in the knowledge that no one wanted to take potions that badly he returned to his duties.

Abigail strode across the short distance between the Slytherin and Hufflepuff tables. Taking a seat next to her cousin she waited impatiently for the blonde�s attention. She tried her best to keep from just telling the young man talking to her cousin to just buzz off. Finally she reached the end of her limited patience. �Excuse me, I�m terribly sorry to interrupt but I need to speak with Kaleaha for a moment,� she cut in.

The young man looked at her as if she�d grown a second head. It couldn�t be! Slytherins were never that polite unless they wanted something. His eyes narrowed on the young woman. His suspicions were confirmed as the two young women spoke. He wondered what the dark haired girl hoped to gain by approaching the blonde.

�Please Kay, you just gotta. You know how much I was looking forward to Care of Magical Creatures!�

�Absolutely not Abby! Besides, I already got in,� Kaleaha informed her cousin.

�Figures, brainiac. Damn it Kay, who am I going to find that not only wants to take potions but needs to,� Abigail asked a whining note in her voice.

�Well, you could always try Ais. I doubt she fits either category but she would be your best bet. We both know Marti wouldn�t go near potions not for love nor money.�

�Miserable bastard,� Abby muttered. �I bet he knew how difficult this would be. I think this is pay back for my tantrum earlier, giving me false hope like this.�

�Abigail,� Kaleaha said warningly. �What did you do this morning?�

�Oh nothing much just threw a fit when I was told I had to wear the uniform,� she responded blithely.

�Speaking of which, you aren�t so much wearing it as falling out of it. Really Abby, I would have thought you above such behavior by now,� Kaleaha reproved gently.

�Hey, who do you think you�re talking to here? You�re the only one that hasn�t made even a minor adjustment to the required dress.�

�Clearly I was under the delusion that I was talking to someone reasonably mature,� she said tartly. Stung by her cousin�s words the blonde�s blue eyes became hard.

Knowing that she shouldn�t have spoken to the elder girl like that she reached out to her. �Kay I�m sorry. That was wrong and I had no right. It�s just�I don�t like this place,� She trailed off her voice becoming choked.

Kaleaha patted the other girl�s hand sighing as she did so. �We�re going to have to get used to it Abby. For better or worse we�re here until the end of term.�

�I know,� she said softly. �Kay, I really am sorry.�

�I know you are honey. I just wish we didn�t have to go through this every time you felt out of your element.�

Abigail didn�t meet her cousin�s eyes as she said, �Some times I think Bella should have been named heir. Everyone would have been much happier.� Without another word she stood and walked over the Gryffindor table.

Kaleaha watched her go sadly. �She�s never going to find strength if she keeps doing this to herself,� she said more to herself than anyone else.

Ernie touched the young blonde�s hand to garner her attention. �What was that about?�

�That was typical Abigail behavior. I love her to death but she doubts herself far too much and trusts others far more than she should.� Her gaze went to the Gryffindor table where Abby was being met with a less than friendly welcome.

Harry and Ron were glowering at the young woman standing next to their table. The newcomer seemed unaffected by the look however as she continued to wait to be noticed by the redheaded female.

Finally losing her patience with her cousin Abigail tapped the young girl seated next to Ais. �Would you mind moving down a bit? I need to speak with Aislinn.�

The little brunette gave her a strange look but did as requested. She had heard that Slytherins were nothing short of nasty toward Gryffindors so it came as something of a shock to be asked instead of being told�or even worse shoved out of the way.

Laying her blue-black head on her cousin�s shoulder she rolled her blue green eyes up to an unamused turquoise gaze. �How much do you love me,� Abby asked coyly even going so far as to bat her eyelashes at her cousin.

�Whatever it is you want, the answer is no. I�ll do you one better. Hell no,� she returned scowling at the younger girl. She absolutely hated it when Abigail pulled this shit. It was made even worse because she also had to worry about what Harry and Ron would think of her if she had been willing to give into whatever her cousin was going to ask.

Abby sighed. �Please Ais, just hear me out before you make it final,� the young girl pleaded knowing that once Aislinn had refused a final time there was no going back.

Pushing her half eaten plate away from her she turned her full attention to her younger cousin. �All right�but this better be good.�

�Thank you Ais,� Abby gushed.

�Don�t thank me yet. I still haven�t heard what you want,� she said stiffly.

Duly chastised Abigail nodded. �You know how much I was looking forward to another year of Care of Magical Creatures��

�Yes, though Danu only knows why,� Aislinn responded with a roll of her eyes. Her younger cousin was just weird like that.

Slightly embarrassed about having an avid audience of two only made the situation that much more awkward. �Please Ais, let me finish,� she said softly, unaware that her pale skin was beginning to glow softly.

Aislinn noticed though, and she covered the young girl�s hand with hers. �Go ahead, I promise I won�t interrupt again.� She was gratified when the glow started to fade. From the corner of her eye she saw that both Harry and Ron had noticed it. She knew they would want an explanation later. Maybe, if she were lucky it would be much later.

�You know that father said that in order for me to take the class I would have to get into NEWT level potions. Professor Snape was kind enough to offer me a deal,� she finished in a rush.

�What kind of deal,� Harry interrupted, wondering if life had granted him a stroke of good luck for once.

Aislinn slanted her unusual gaze toward the dark haired young man. He didn�t seem to be mocking or belittling her cousin, just genuinely curious. It made her realize that Harry was far more forgiving than his friend.

Shocked Abigail�s blue-green eyes shot up to meet his emerald stare. She faltered for a moment under that intense gaze. Her mind was trying to figure out if this was some kind of trick to make her look foolish. �Uh�he said that he would let me in if, and only if, I found someone that met his requirements,� she stammered.

Impatiently he waved his hand as he waited to hear what the stipulations were.

�You can�t be serious Harry! She�s a Slytherin for Merlin�s sake,� Ron managed to choke out around a mouthful of food.

Abigail looked as if she�d been slapped. Slowly she turned her blue-black head towards the other young man. �What the bloody hell does my house have to do with what I was talking about?� Her tone was colder than ice and harder than steel.

Aislinn turned a dour look at her fellow redhead. He more than anyone should have known what it cost Abby to come to the Gryffindor table knowing she wasn�t likely to be welcome. Ais was not at all happy with him at this precise moment. �Chew, swallow, think, and then speak,� she said coldly. Impassively the older girl watched as Ron turned the same shade as his hair.

Abby felt a stab of pity for the young man. Aislinn always had the power to put someone in their place with a few well chosen words. The older girl never did it maliciously only when the occasion warranted it. She guessed that according to her cousin this situation called for it. Still she felt bad for him.

Shaking herself out of those thoughts she turned back to Harry. Abigail blushed when she realized that he had been waiting all this time for an answer. �Sorry,� she mumbled.

��S all right,� He assured the young woman, amused by the coloring in her pale cheeks.

�As I was saying,� she started desperately trying to remember where she had left off.

Harry almost laughed at the panicked look in her eyes. It was quite clear that she couldn�t remember what she had been saying. �The requirements,� he reminded her.

The blush on her face deepened. �Yes. Professor Snape said that if I could find someone that not only wanted but needed to take potions he would allow us both in,� she finished proud that she had been able to get through it without stuttering or tripping over her words.

The dark haired young man knew that he was gaping but he couldn�t help it. Here it was�the answer to his prayers. Not only that but he fit the requirements to a tee. This was too good to be true. His jeweled gaze traveled up to the head table watching Snape deal with some of the problems students in his house seemed to be having.

Reality came crashing back in. He realized that there was no way that the head of Slytherin was going to do this without some kind of gross retribution. It didn�t seem fair but he wanted more than anything to become an Auror. �Abby, I fit,� he said quietly. Her eyes lit up. He hated to do this to her but he just couldn�t let her walk in there blind. �Wait Abby.� Her face fell instantly and he regretted that. He held up a hand to stop her before she could speak. �It�s not what you think. There�s going to be more conditions added,� he informed her.

�What? Why would he do that? He told me himself that if I could find anyone that fit the requirements then we would both get in. Why would he go back on his word like that?� Her distress and anxiety clearly showed in her voice and face.

Harry cleared his throat uncomfortably and as much as he hated defending the other man it had to be done. �The professor and I don�t exactly get along�and technically he isn�t going back on his word. He�s going to be adding to it, which is how he operates. Not to mention when he finds out exactly whom you got to agree and managed to meet his standards he�s going to look for a way to get one or both of us to back out.�

Abigail gnawed the inside of her lip thoughtfully. Her lips quirked as her thoughts turned. �So, when I hear the new set of stipulations I shouldn�t just agree,� she said at length as if she weren�t exactly sure she had come to the right conclusion.

The dark haired young man shrugged taking a bite of toast. �Do whatever seems prudent at that time,� he advised.

She shook her dark head slowly conviction written upon her pretty face, �No, this concerns both of us. I can�t in good conscience agree to something that will in essence affect us both.�

�Harry, mate, have you gone mental? Snape�s just looking for a reason to make you miserable and you�re offering it up to him on silver bloody platter,� Ron interjected.

�I know what I�m doing Ron,� Harry said calmly his gaze never leaving Abigail�s.

Aislinn stared from one to the other trying to figure out what she was missing. There was a hidden meaning behind the exchange between the two and she was damned if she could find the answer. In a blinding flash of insight it came to her. Harry was testing her cousin and for once she felt powerless to protect the younger girl. If things turned out badly Harry would have good reason to distrust Abigail. Her turquoise eyes shot over to the Ravenclaw table catching Martika�s eye.

The youngest girl was surprised when she looked up to see Aislinn�s wide aqua gaze. Her own icy blue eyes widened at what she saw. Abby and the infamous Harry Potter were deep in a staring contest. It felt like there was a battle of wills going on with neither of them willing to concede to the other.

The two young people continued to stare at one another the outside world falling away. Harry had a brief moment of panic as he felt himself slide into that unusual gaze. It was almost like falling into Dumbledore or Snape�s Pensieve. He could feel moments of her life passing through him but never stopping long enough to gauge what exactly was going on.

Abigail had never maintained prolonged eye contact for very long. She had learned long ago that she sometimes learned things she didn�t want to know. She couldn�t put her finger on what about this experience was different. It was there just out of reach.

Their combined memories flowed through the other in psychedelic disarray. They were unable to make a truly solid connection and only the vaguest hints of strong emotion touched them. It was as if they were getting a crash course about each other. It was terribly personal and acutely invasive. The encounter would leave neither of them unchanged.

In a blinding flash, it seemed to them, the noise and bustle of the room surrounding them came back to life. Each of them sucked a much need breath of air. Their eyes were still locked but they now had a better understanding of the person sitting across from them.

Neither of them said a word about the newfound awareness but it was there just under the surface. They knew things about each other that had never been spoken to another soul. Knowledge wasn�t the only thing gained from the connection. There was also a sense of familiarity between them that when asked they wouldn�t be able to explain. It was just there.

Breaking the tension Abigail plucked the parchment from the young man�s hand moving towards the head table. As soon as their volatile cousin was safely up at the table Martika moved over to join Aislinn taking the seat Abby had so recently vacated. �What the hell,� she asked confused.

Aislinn�s flame red hair swirled about her shoulders as she shook her head. She was still trying to wrap her mind around what she had just witnessed. Without even being aware that she was doing it she slipped into Gaelic, replaying everything she had seen and heard.

Martika was completely and utterly stunned. She had, of course, known how much that class had meant to Abby. Yet she�d had no idea the lengths her cousin would go to just to be able to take it. Concerned blue eyes traveled up to the head table once again. Abigail had to know that she was being fed to the lion and she had done it willingly.

The young woman turned to Harry then her gaze hard and unyielding. �You hurt her in any way and I will make you pay.� There was no room in her voice for argument. The young man didn�t seem surprised by that statement. In fact he seemed to have expected it, which made the raven-haired girl frown at him to emphasize her point.

�I don�t plan on intentionally hurting her,� he stated flatly.

Marti was in no mood to play games with her sensitive cousin�s fragile feelings. �I�ll say it again. You hurt her�in any way,� she stressed. �I will personally make sure you pay.�

Aislinn�s eyes grew round. She placed a restraining hand on her cousin�s arm. �Please Marti. Don�t say it again,� she begged, knowing that if it were said a third and final time that Martika would be honor bound to follow through with the thinly veiled threat.

�No Ais, this isn�t something I can let go. She is far too trusting for her own good, and I for one will not stand by and watch her get hurt.� Her face held something close to fury. �He hurts her in any and I will make him pay.�

The redhead closed her eyes hanging her head. She should have tried to stop it sooner. Things had gotten out of hand so quickly that she really couldn�t have stopped it aside from a silencing charm, which was prohibited outside of classrooms. She waited for the fall out from that announcement.

There was a deafening crack of thunder followed closely by a chill wind that whipped through the Great Hall. The earth itself seemed to shiver as the Sidhe princess� final words faded away. Students and faculty all looked around as if trying to figure out what had just happened.

It seemed only Abigail, Kaleaha whose gaze was now trained unerringly on the Gryffindor table, Aislinn, Martika, and surprisingly Dumbledore whose eyes were also on the foursome knew what had occurred.

�As you were,� the headmaster stated calmly. The other reassured by the elderly wizard returned to what they had previously been doing, quickly dismissing the happenings as another one of Hogwarts mysteries.

Abigail stood in front of her head of house clearly distracted. She was a bit hurt that her cousins obviously didn�t think she could handle the situation between Harry and herself. True, she wasn�t happy here. It was also true that she wasn�t exactly making things easier by clinging to those most familiar to her. However, they should have trusted her enough to know that she was well aware of what was going on.

�Ms. Knight, did you need something,� Snape drawled in a low voice.

Startled out of her reverie she returned her gaze to him. �I found someone who meets your requirements sir,� She said softly, bracing for the coming encounter. She handed him the two schedules with hers purposely placed on top. It would give her an opportunity to gauge his reaction.

The potions master�s eyes widened momentarily before narrowing suspiciously. �What is the meaning of this Ms. Knight? I specifically told you that your partner had to not only want but also need potions. I don�t see how Potter fits either of those.�

Placing her hands flat on the table she leaned down to her head of house. �I beg to disagree professor,� she began calmly. �Mr. Potter wants to take the class that satisfies the first part of our agreement. Not only that but he needs to take the class because, as I�m sure you�re aware, he would like to become an Auror. That fulfills both of your requirements.�

While she never raised her voice nor had she used any phrase with which he could find fault, Professor Snape got the distinct impression that he was being challenged. He set both schedules down on the table in front of him. His long fingers were steepled under his chin.

The potions master had to give the girl credit. He didn�t think she would be able to find someone willing to take his class. His only annoyance came in the form of her partner; though the idea of being able to torment Potter for another two years appealed to him. �All right Ms. Knight�as you�ve pointed out Mr. Potter meets both requirements.� He watched as she quickly smothered a triumphant expression. �However,� he said before she could become too excited. �There is one more stipulation,� he announced only slightly disappointed when she showed no outward reaction to the news. �Your grades are to be tied together. Meaning the lowest grade scored by either of you is what you will both receive for any assignment both in and out of class.�

Abigail clenched her teeth to keep the sharp retort safely behind her lips. She had expected it; Harry had prepared her for this. However, she had underestimated the professor�s loathing of the young man. She glanced over her shoulder at the young man in question. His gaze found her immediately. One broad shoulder rose and fell telling her quite clearly that it was totally up to her.

Turning back to the man in front of her she narrowed her eyes on him. �For how long professor?�

�Whatever do you mean?�

�Don�t play coy sir, it doesn�t suit you. How long will our grades be tied together in such a fashion,� she bit out desperately trying to control her rising temper.

Professor Snape didn�t rise to her bait. Instead he offered her a cruel smirk. �For the entire time you take the class. Please keep in mind that if you drop potions when you go back to your school I will have no choice but to drop Potter from the class.�

She dropped her gaze to the space between her hands. She was not going to let him see how much his words angered her though she was pretty sure that�s exactly why he�d said them. Taking a deep breath she tried to figure out if she should just agree then tell Harry what she had done or if she should discuss this with him. After all she had told him that she wouldn�t make a unilateral decision that affected both of them.

�Well Ms. Knight? What�s your answer?�

Looking up at the man she grimaced more than smiled at him. �I�ll talk to Mr. Potter. If he agrees you�ll have our answer before the first bell.�

�And if I insist on an answer now,� He asked casually inspecting his long pale fingers.

That was the final straw as far as Abby was concerned. �Listen to me and listen well Professor,� she hissed. Her voice was deadly serious. �I am well aware what you consider a true Slytherin to be but under no circumstances am I going to make a decision that affects that young man as well as myself.� She leaned in close to him their noses almost touching. Abigail was aware that she was going to have to play her part well in order to cover up the fact that she already knew more about Harry than anyone outside of family should. �The ends do not always justify the means. I will not tie myself to some spineless thing that is going to balk at the first sign of hard work. If, and only if, he agrees will I have the true measure of the man.�

Instead of being offended by either her words or actions he was pleased. He leaned back crossing his arms over his chest. �By all means Ms. Knight take the measure of the man then.� He waved a pale hand toward the Gryffindor table. He watched as she walked over to the bane of his existence. He had wondered where she drew the line and now he knew. It was valuable information to have when dealing with problematic students.

Dazedly Abigail sat back down at the Gryffindor table completely unaware of the numerous eyes on that end of the table. She was in a state of shock or something very similar. She kept going over what Professor Snape had said. She still couldn�t believe that the man so clearly hated Harry. It made her wonder what he had done to the potions master.

Kaleaha rubbed the young girl�s arm. �Abby, honey? You�re beginning to scare us. What did he say?� She had joined the others after the oath had been sworn. She had been amazed to say the least. It wasn�t everyday that a Sidhe princess threatened violence.

Dumbly Abigail turned to her older cousin. �When did you get here,� she asked distinctly aware of how disconnected she sounded. She couldn�t seem to take her eyes off Harry and he seemed to have no problem maintaining her stare.

Aislinn watched the pair with amusement shining in her dazzling depths. This was just too good not to use later she thought mischievously. Here Kaleaha was not an arms length away from him and he seemed content to stare at Abby. It was priceless!

�It doesn�t matter,� the blonde waved off the question. �Just tell us what he said.�

�He doesn�t like you,� Abigail said to the young man across from her.

�Already knew that luv,� he returned a small smile quirking the corner of his mouth.

Kaleaha brows furrowed at that. What in the name of Danu had gone on she thought as she looked from one to the other and why the hell did the fact that Harry Potter called her cousin �luv� bother her? Shaking her head she shoved those thoughts aside as they were too confusing to deal with right now.

Taking a deep breath she steadied herself. Feeling a bit more like herself now that she had bought some time. �It�s like this,� she began folding her hands on the scarred wooden surface. �He pulled out one more condition, just like you said he would. He wants to tie our grades together��

�What,� everyone, except Harry, cried at once.

�That�s not the worst of it.� That was meet with groans. �Harry, how badly do you want this? Because I�ve got to tell you that it all comes down to you.�

�Badly enough that I�m almost willing to agree to anything he laid out,� he responded.

�Harry, let me explain something else. It�s not an averaged grade that we get. Whoever gets the lowest grade is the grade we both get. Not only that but our grades are tied together for the next two years. If I drop potions when I return home Snape has already informed me that he will drop you from the class. So I�ll ask you again, how badly do you want this?� Abigail waited for him to answer needing to hear it verbalized even if she already knew just much he wanted it.

Harry dropped his emerald gaze to his clasped hands. He had wanted this more than anything and knew that she was well aware of that fact, but was he really willing to tie his grade for the next two years to a girl he barely knew? He already knew the answer to that. In fact he had known how he would answer regardless of whatever roadblocks Snape decided to throw in his path.

Raising his head he met Abigail�s blue-green eyes. �I want it that badly Abby.�
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Hands of Fate