Leah POV

 "Someone looks happier," Pansy said.

 "A bit," I smirked and she laughed.

 "Well what went down?" she asked and then paused.

 "Are you alright?" she asked and I let my smile slip.

 "Mom is leaving dad. Well it's more like dad's leaving mom...for Astoria's mother," I said, between clenched teeth. Pansy's eyes grew wide, and we threw vicious glares at Astoria, who flinched. She had no idea what was happening.

 "Well...Leah... I kind of want my parents back together," Pansy said timidly. I looked at her in bewilderment and let out a laugh of surprise.

 "You're joking, right? You've had real parents your whole life! I just wanted more than a year of a family," I said, shaking my head.

 "That wasn't going to happen, you're Voldemort's daughter. Let's face it, Mom got rid of you and left your dad. They weren't going to stay together," Pansy said, and then clamped her lips shut, looking away quickly.  

 "Gee Pansy, thanks a lot," I said coolly.

 "No Leah, I didn't mean it like that," she said quietly.

 "Whatever," I whispered and felt tears threaten to fall. I walked out of the common room, hearing Pansy and Draco calling my name, but I just kept going. I wasn't sure where I was going, but I ended up on the seventh floor. I paced back and forth angrily; wanting a place I could be alone. I vaguely remembered when I did believe I had a real family, and my Mom was teaching me piano without magic. I used to start playing whenever I was upset. I looked up from the floor to see a door that I never noticed before. I walked in and saw a room that was exactly like my old living room, with a grand piano near the window. I looked around in amazement and walked over to the piano, feeling the familiar smoothness of the keys. I sat on the bench and played a few notes before smiling softly and beginning Hallelujah.

 "I've heard there was a secret chord that David played, and it pleased the Lord, but you don't really care for music, do you? It goes like this the fourth, the fifth, the minor fall, the major lift, the baffled king composing Hallelujah," I sang.

"Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah. Your faith was strong but you needed proof. You saw her bathing on the roof; her beauty in the moonlight overthrew you. She tied you to a kitchen chair, she broke your throne, she cut your hair, and from your lips she drew the Hallelujah."

"Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah. Maybe I've been here before, I know this room, and I've walked this floor. I used to live alone before I knew you; I've seen your flag on the marble arch, love is not a victory march. It's a cold and it's a broken hallelujah. Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah."

"There was a time you'd let me know what's real and going on below, but now you never show it to me do you? Remember when I moved in you?

The holy dark was moving too and every breath we drew was hallelujah. Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah."

"Maybe there's a God above and all I ever learned from love, was how to shoot at someone who outdrew you. It's not a cry you can hear at night, it's not somebody who's seen the light; it's a cold and it's a broken hallelujah. Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah," I sang and then played a few extra ending notes.

  I stared at the keys for a while. I never realized how lucky I was to have a family, but now it's gone and I only have Claire, who I don't even trust anymore. I will never show weakness though; no one can know I'm upset over something like family issues.

 My mind flashed back to when I was little and fragile. I had been teased by the other kids on the playground (how stupid) because I was a freak. I made the flower die, that's all, but the other kids didn't like it.

 "Leah's a freak!"

 "You're unwanted!"

 "Go back to where you belong!"

I ran to my mum who was back home taking care of little baby Claire, and I cried into her shoulder. That was about the time I started hating muggles; I was only three. I can't believe I was so messed up as a child. 

I stood up off the bench and brushed the soft couch that was sitting there; looking like it was untouched by time. I dropped to my knees with my hands covering my face and I cried, loud, gut wrenching tears. I needed this, I really did; after this I'll try to become the cold hearted girl I was. I have to step up and be the Slytherin Heiress. Not everyone can be perfect though. Not even a Riddle.

***

Harry's POV

 "Come on Ron, I need a place to study; desperately," I said coolly, glaring at Seamus who was glaring back. Ron hesitated but nodded, and followed me out of the common room.

 "He was way out of line, mate," Ron said after a while.

 "It's fine, so long as you and Hermione believe me," I said firmly.

 "We do believe you," Ron said and I nodded, pacing back and forth. I need a place where I could just be alone and talk to Ron.

 "Harry," Ron whispered and I looked up to see a huge door that appeared out of nowhere.

 "This must be the Room of Requirement," he said breathlessly, and I slowly opened the door to see a room with couches, a piano, and a feeling of home. The sound that I heard, however, was saddening. Loud cries were ringing through the room, and they seemed genuinely heartbroken. Ron nudged me and pointed to a couch near the piano where a girl was sitting, crying her eyes out, oblivious to us. We slowly walked over and I felt a bit awkward.

 Ron, of course, tripped and slammed his fist down on the piano keys, which made an annoying screech. The girls head shot up in surprise, and she took out her wand, quickly wiping away her tears.

 "Leah?" I asked and she took a deep breathe, lowering her wand and wiping her eyes again. She stood up and turned around, not wanting us to see her.

 "Hi Harry," she whispered, and then cleared her throat.

 "What are you doing here?" she asked in her normal voice. I frowned and realized she didn't even look quite herself. Before she turned around I could've sworn I saw deep blue eyes; that and her hair seemed to lose its shine.

 "Never mind us, are you alright?" Ron asked and she laughed lightly.

 "I'm fine, yeah," she nodded and I would've been convinced if she hadn't just been bawling.

 "Why were you crying?" I asked firmly and she turned around with a glare, looking normal again.

 "Why do you need to know?" she snapped and I was taken back.

 "We're your friends," Ron said with a frown. She laughed, only it wasn't a sweet laugh. This laugh was cold, and sent shivers down my spine like ice water.

 "Friends...hm...you see Weasley, I don't have friends. I have minions and Death Eaters, but no, not friends," she said with a smirk, and her eyes were a cold green with flecks of steely silver. I was too stunned to speak, but Ron wasn't.

 "Come on, what happened? Obviously it was something big," he said, though he sounded slightly angry.

 "Weasley, get it through your blood traitor skull that I am fine," she snapped, and I narrowed my eyes.

 "What's gotten into you?" I asked, clenching my jaw as she rolled her eyes.

 "You need to shut up as well, you filthy half blood," she sneered, and then went to brush past, but I caught her arm. When I did, she swung around and held her wand to my neck.

 "It would do you well to let go of me," she said lowly and I let go, moving back in fear. I watched in shock as Leah left and then the room morphed into something more accommodating; something of a Gryffindor common room.

***

Leah's POV

I rolled my eyes as I shut the door behind me; who do they think they are? I made my way back down the stairs and then into the common room where Pansy was staring blankly into the fire and Draco was sitting in his designated chair, looking scared and pale.

 "Leah," he said in relief when he saw me. I gave him a smile and walked over, hugging him tightly. He hugged back and it wasn't long before I heard a cough. I looked behind me to see Pansy looking at me with an apologetic look in her eyes and her nervously biting her lip.

 "I'm sorry Leah, I really didn't mean it like that," she said and I shrugged.

 "I understand, it's okay," I said, and then hugged her. She relaxed and smiled, hugging me back.

 "So you seem different," Draco said and I walked into his open embrace.

 "I just needed time to find myself," I said, snuggling into his firm arms. He kissed the top of my head and then laughed.

 "Well I'm glad you did," he said and I laughed as well. I looked at him and placed a hand on his cheek.

 "You are insanely pale; are you okay?" I asked and he sighed.

 "I'm nervous; I don't feel like I'm cut out for this," he said, and I knew what he meant.

 "Oh Draco, of course you are," I said softly, kissing him lightly.

 "I'm not like you," he shook his head.

 "No, but I know you'd protect me. Just think of it as protecting me. Forget the fact that you could be hurting others. Who cares about aurors and what not any way?" I shrugged and he managed a smile.

 "That's true. I just don't want to disappoint your father. Not that it would matter...will I ever see you again?" he whispered the last part and I looked at him in confusion.

 "I'm right here," I said, and he pulled a ring out of his pocket, slipping it on my ring finger.

 "But you won't be in a few years," he said, and I looked at the engagement ring. 

 "I won't ever leave you," I promised, resting my head on his shoulder. He stroked my hair and Pansy watched with tears in her eyes.

 "This sucks," she said quietly and Blaise walked up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist.

 "Yes it does...look how cute they are together," he said softly, trying to crack a joke, but it didn't work. My eyes wandered around the room and I saw Alex watching, almost looking sorry, and he had conflict written all over his face. I used my induction ring to talk to him, needing an answer.

Are you okay?

'Jesus you scared me, and to be honest, no.' 

'Why?'

'Leah, I may be a jerk, and I really do want to marry you, but I know you'll never be happy.'

'In time Alex. I love Draco so much, but I can learn to love you. It's true, I'll always love Draco more than anything, but I'm doing what's right in honor of my father.'

'I know you are. I just feel as if you should marry out of true love, and only one of us will be doing that.'

I didn't have an answer for that, I really didn't. I just looked at him sorrowfully and then turned my attention back to Pansy, Draco, and Blaise.

 "Leah maybe if you had a kid...I mean in your seventh year. You could over the summer right before your birthday, I just...I want you to be happy," Pansy said, tears running down her cheeks.

 "Pansy, I will be happy. I don't need to get pregnant to remain happy. In time I'll be happy and I'll love Alex eventually," I said, slightly uncertain.

 "It won't be the same as what you have with Draco," she whispered, and then buried her face into Blaise's chest. Draco's arms tightened slightly, and he started rubbing my back in small circles with his thumb.

 "No it won't," I whispered and then the sad and reserved atmosphere broke because of  Ariana. Her laugh echoed through the room and all the other students stopped watching us with sympathetic looks and turned their gaze to her.

 "Did you hear that?" she laughed and I rolled my eyes.

 "I do believe they said Leah was pregnant," she said with a wicked glint in her eyes, and I narrowed my eyes. The room gasped and Alex stood up from his leaning position against the wall.

 "That isn't at all what I said," I scoffed and Ariana smirked.

 "I believe it was. I think I'll pay your father a visit," she said, walking over to the fire and using Floo powder to go to the Malfoy Manor.

 "No, she can't do that!" I gasped trying to get up, but Draco restrained me.

 "Leah maybe he'll call it off if she tells him," he said hopefully.

 "No Draco, he'll kill me," I gulped and he looked conflicted.

 "Go, quickly," he decided and I ran over to the fire place.

 "Leah Riddle," Severus drawled, walking in and I cringed.

 "You are late to your detention," he said, grabbing my arm and pulling me out of the room.

 "No Severus, I need to get home! Ariana is about to tell father I'm pregnant!" I protested, pulling against him. He stopped short and pulled me closer to him.

 "You're what?" he hissed.

 "Your father is going to kill you!" he snapped.

 "That's the thing, it isn't true!" I panicked and Severus shook his head.

 "I'm sorry, you'll have to deal with this later," he said, and dragged me all the way to Umbridge's office. I knocked on the door angrily and then walked in.

 "Miss Riddle, you are late," Umbridge said sweetly.

 "I was taking care of something," I glared and she smiled.

 "No matter, you will be writing lines today," she said, gesturing to the parchment on a desk. I sat down and went to pull out a quill when she stopped me.

 "No, I want you to use my quill," she said and I took it with narrowed eyes.

 "You will be writing 'I must not be disrespectful'," she said, and I rolled my eyes.

 "Are you going to give me ink?" I asked and she smiled.

 "Oh you won't need ink," she said and I started writing. As I began, I felt a burning sensation on my left hand and took it as my Mark, but became confused when I felt warm liquid running down my hand. I looked at the parchment and saw the ink was a deep red, and then I looked at my hand to see blood all over it, and the words 'I must not be disrespectful' written across it. I glared up at Umbridge and she cocked her head.

 "Is there a problem?" she asked and I sneered.

 "Obviously," I snapped.

 "No there isn't. Because you know you deserve this," she said firmly and I narrowed my eyes.

 "Would you like to see what you deserve?" I asked, standing up. She hesitated and smiled.

 "I like you, you have spunk. You may stop for tonight," she said, and I was slightly shocked. That was when my Dark Mark burned with a raging intensity. I nodded and ran down the stairs, into the common room and to the fire.

 "Leah, what happened?" Pansy gasped but I just took some Floo Powder and fainted from the pain father was causing just as I yelled 'Malfoy Manor'.

***

-Shay