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A handful of bad news is something Mia's experienced in. At a young age, she faced countless revelations and handled them with poise. Sure, there were night terrors and insecurities gathering over the seasons, but other than that, she's proficient at the task.

But the thing is, how was the bad news told?

Many try finding the silver lining. Others try being optimistic or offering words of comfort. There's dread in revealing the terrible, afraid of the person's reaction or the effects it may dawn into their lives. Unless they're close to the affected, they stray into the shadows and relish in the distance. Many remain secluded in their personal bubble in fear of the repercussions they might receive for being the messenger. A selfish reason, some might say, but to those who are used to breaking terrible news, it's quicker than ripping a bandaid. It's as easy as breathing that eventually, they forget being empathetic to the person.

Mia knew something was wrong the second Dumbledore welcomed her at Hogwarts' doors. His kindness was unfamiliar territory considering he's not known to show amiability for anyone besides Gryffindor. The furthest he ever went was fending for Tom Riddle. Obviously, everything went to hell with him. It's understood why he favors one house over the other, but the rejection and favoritism has created monsters and their bitterness for the favored ones is much deadlier than any curse.

Being a Grey wasn't enough of a curse, but being sorted into Slytherin was the cherry on top. A domino effect was created. Everything went downhill and she's paying the price with every breath. It didn't matter if she drew inside the lines. Being sorted into the same house as her father made everyone's beliefs modify into an official certainty.

Her mother had been in Gryffindor, the man she considers her father is a Gryffindor like his friends along with hers, and even the man she fell in love with had been sorted into Hufflepuff. No one she was remotely close with was in Slytherin, so she was the first snake to emerge from the crevices.

Dimitri Grey had unwillingly placed his legacy on her shoulders. She had been carrying it the second she was born with magic. His venom ran through her blood, waiting for the time to emerge from the ashes and obliterate everyone in her path. Denying the inevitable has always been foolish, but it was the reassurance of being good that kept her afloat.

Now, she's not too sure.

"I know you're not fond of me," Dumbledore states the obvious as he and Mia sit across each other in his office. "I haven't been the best in offering the same help I've offered to Harry. I would defend my actions, but there is nothing worth defending."

"Then perhaps you shouldn't claim that help will always be given to those who need it."

He faintly nods, "Yes, perhaps you're right."

"I do not intend to sound rude, but is there a particular reason as to why I'm here?" Mia asks, her expression remaining stoic despite her unease.

Hesitance gathers in his eyes. He looks down for a brief moment as if to gather his thoughts before revealing the reason for this gathering. "There is something you should know," he says, his words having a sense of foreboding and the room turning quieter as if a storm were about to impact. "When you destroyed the cure, it was viewed as an act of defiance against Voldemort. It changed the course that was written for you."

"Oh, I'm sorry his plan didn't go the way he hoped, but I'm not regretful for what I did," she bitterly says.

"Mia," Dumbledore raises his voice slightly, his brows furrowing with concern and eyes filling with discontent. "This is serious. Your act opened doors to other possibilities that can hurt them."

Them.

He's not referring to the wizarding world, but to Edward and the Cullens.

"Care to elaborate?" Mia's terrified as to what her actions have brought. She destroyed the cure in the name to protect him and it seems she worsened everything.

"Vampires have become a threat to Voldemort's cause. Their immortality and variations of abilities are factors that would contribute to his loss," Dumbledore explains. "Creating a cure for immortality was only the beginning. When you destroyed it, he relied on the dark arts to create weapons."

"Weapons?"

He pauses for a moment, "A cure was nothing against what was created. To have full control, Voldemort devised weapons that would temporarily put a cease to their immortality. Their strength, abilities, anything that makes them a threat would disappear until he were to decide."

Mia's resolve starts deteriorating as despair overcomes her. She's tried so hard to do everything right. She hasn't taken her place in the war or even interfered against his plan to overrule the wizarding world. She's kept to herself and never hurt anybody, so why is the universe so intent on hurting her? Why is it allowing her loved ones to be sought after?

"I- I don't understand," she nervously stutters. "Why is he after vampires? They're not interfering with his plan or taking the order's side. They haven't done anything, so why is he-"

"Mia," Dumbledore lowers his voice, a softness emerging in both his expression and tone. "You were meant to join his army in exchange for sparing Edward's life, but when you destroyed the cure, he needed to find another way."

This is all her fault. That's what he's intending to say. Intervening with fate was foolish of her and now she's paying the price. By saving him, she signed his and his family's death sentence. Everything she did had been in vain.

"What can I do?"

"There's nothing you can do, Mia," Dumbledore expresses, but she doesn't believe him. "Voldemort has these weapons hidden far beyond our knowledge. I only told you so you can let them know about the danger they're in."

"Even if they hadn't come here, he would still be after them because of me," Mia argues, her voice quivering with fear and anger. "I'm the connection. I'm the one who brought danger to them, so how do you expect me to not attempt to do anything to save them?"

"I know you care for them, but defeating Voldemort is the only way to protect them," Dumbledore appears like he wants to say more, but there's still uncertainty.

She knows it's time to take her official place in the order. Her mother has been against it, claiming more danger would follow her and how it's better if she remained in a neutral state. All this time, she's abided by her demands, but her demands are no longer her priority.

"What if there was a way to make this war more interesting?" Mia's cryptic question makes him curious, causing him to remain silent in acknowledgement for her to proceed. "If Voldemort's paranoid about vampires being a threat against him, perhaps we should make his fears a certainty."

Dumbledore leans forward, slightly afraid yet interested in her suggestion, "Please, elaborate."

"A vampire coven is in charge of enforcing the rules. They value power and consider themselves the strongest in all existence," Mia might be making a mistake, but she's certain this will grant an upper hand in the war. "If they learn of Voldemort's creation, I'm sure they won't stand back and allow him to control the supernatural world."

He seems to consider her idea, "Are you certain they would accept?"

Mia remains firm, not an ounce of doubt in her, "I'm not, but I have my ways to persuade."

Dumbledore recognizes the determination in her eyes and it's only then when he realizes she could be a great asset to triumph in this war. The burden of her last name has been carried since birth, but it hasn't brought down her desire to fight for their side. The cost of his rejection had been a mistake, but an even greater one would be casting her aside because of the blood running through her veins.

"Do what needs to be done," he says, nodding in approval. "Know that when the newborn army comes for you, help will be offered. Have no doubt about it."

Mia gives a slight nod of appreciation and walks out of his office. She has no intention of letting any of the Cullens know about her plan to head to Italy. If Edward were to find out, he would become a liability to her cause. His overprotectiveness would be viewed as a sign of defiance and place more enemies on her back. For now, she's pushing her reservations for the sadistic coven aside all in means of keeping the ones she loves safe.

When she arrives in her common room, she's prepared to face the ridicules and rejection from her housemates. Having avoided them for the past two days had been a mistake, but she's not making any more. Sooner than later, she needs to face the crowd. What better way than now?

At the sound of her arrival, a few of her fellow Slytherins glance up. Their expressions are full of disdain, but one in particular holds a tinge of approval.

"Well, well, well," Draco's tone is one full of hostility, matching the stance he's managed to master. "It appears Grey has finally decided to stop avoiding us. Seems her cowardice has officially vanished."

Pansy tauntingly laughs, "Do tell us, Grey, did running off to the States serve as redemption for your offenses?"

"Do not answer her or else she will turn us in to the Dark Lord," Blaise taunts her as he flicks his wand in her direction as an attempt to startle her. "Or better yet, she will call her father to do the work for her."

Mattheo remains quiet as he lounges onto the sofa. He runs his fingers around his glass of whiskey, his expression remaining stoic and unentertained.

Draco faintly chuckles, "Wouldn't put it past her. It's so unlike her to place herself on the frontlines."

Mia laughs, more out of sarcasm than anything. She takes a step in his direction and stops a couple centimeters in front, "What about you? Are you standing on the frontlines or hiding behind your father like a frightened little girl?"

His friends laugh at him, which definitely worsens Draco's mood. He clenches his fists and avoids looking at her, something that definitely doesn't go unnoticed.

"What is it, Malfoy? Scared?" Mia tilts her head, the enjoyment disappearing and her voice turning lower in a threatening way. "With the tasks you're doing, I wouldn't allow a cowardly Grey to beat you down. Perhaps we should discuss your late endeavors if we're mentioning my lack of involvement. Do tell us, Draco, how are you taking part in this?"

Draco internally panics as he fears his involvement with the Dark Lord would be revealed. His plan is meant to remain a secret until the time is right, so if anyone were to find out, he and his family won't be given any mercy. "You're pathetic."

"Indeed," she carelessly says and takes the drink from Mattheo's hand to take a sip. "But who's the one avoiding the question?"

"She got you there," Mattheo finally speaks up, his sudden involvement taking them by surprise. "A coward wouldn't answer, so are you a coward, Draco?"

"Whose side are you on?" Pansy angrily whispers and kicks him on the knee.

Mattheo looks up at Mia, indifference and interest in his eyes as he leans forward to rest his arms on his legs. "On the winning side, like all of you should be."

A sense of curiosity causes Mia to focus on him. He's always thrown insults and mocked her about her family name. Any chance there was to disrespect her, he took it. To hear him take her side, she questions his change in mind and the intentions behind it.

"What have you been doing then?" Mattheo asks Draco, who's becoming more unsettled by the accusatory questions.

"You should know," Draco eventually says, his gaze hardening as he glares at Mattheo with a look reserved for an enemy. "How about you explain?"

"I'd rather you humor me," Mattheo says.

Draco swallows hard and clenches his fists. He remains silent as both of them stare each other down as if deliberating their choices. "Who's the one avoiding the question now?"

Mia notices him further lowering his sleeve as he storms off toward the dormitory. He's hiding something, that part is obvious, but could it be that Harry's suspicions are right? Could Draco have joined the Dark Lord by becoming a death eater?

"What in the bloody hell is the matter with you?" Pansy aggressively shoves past him in Draco's direction, soon followed by Blaise in an attempt to avoid more remarks, which leaves Mia alone with Mattheo.

The two of them are quiet, simply staring at the other as if deliberating who would say the first word. His gallant smirk returns and it annoys her how he keeps staring as if finding her presence entertaining. She turns around and starts heading to the girls' dormitory, but that's when he decides on breaking the silence.

"Shouldn't you thank me?" Mattheo asks and fills himself another glass.

Glancing past her shoulder at him, Mia narrows her eyes in incredulity, "Thank you? For what exactly?"

"For taking your side. You were drowning without me."

"I was doing just fine," Mia tries getting the last word, but that's when she hears him laugh. "Is there something you want to say?"

Mattheo approaches her at a relatively slow pace, almost as if he wanted to create a dramatic effect. He stops a couple feet from her, his hands placed inside his pockets and that damned smirk remaining intact. "I'm just supporting a fellow Slytherin. Is that so wrong, Mia Grey?"

"I don't need your support or should I remind you the hell you and your friends put me through?"

"Come on. That's in the past," Mattheo argues. "Or do you not believe people are capable of change?"

"No," Mia states and turns around, but tenses when his hand holds her arm to prevent her from leaving. "Take your hand off me."

Raising his hands in surrender and taking a step back, he complies to her demands, "All done, Grey. You see? Change."

"Great," she sarcastically says. "Good night then."

"How was training?" Mattheo's question makes her stop in her tracks as she wonders how he knew of her training session with Jackson and the Cullens.

Pretending to be oblivious, Mia shrugs as if she had no idea what he means, "Training? I don't know what you're referring-"

"Don't act dense," Mattheo interrupts. "I know about the training involving you, that presumptuous lad, and those vampires. But I do wonder what you're training for exactly?"

If Mia wasn't annoyed earlier, she's one-hundred now. She's beyond irritated by all the questions he's asking, especially by his belief that she would willingly trust him. "How about you stay the hell out of my business before I give you something to talk about?"

Mattheo narrows his eyes in surprise and she can tell her reaction is unknown to him. He's not used to people arguing against him. There's either staying out of his way or complying to his wishes. His last name certainly has something to do with it, but with her sudden snap, he's startled at this unknown territory he stepped in.

Mia leaves him standing like a deer caught in headlights. With his knowledge about training, she's certain he's been keeping a close watch on her. The thing is, why is he suddenly interested in what she does? Is there an ulterior motive? Regardless of what it is, she needs to be more careful, especially now that she's heading to Italy.

With haste, she walks to her bed, grateful that it stands in the far corner away from the rest. She would have preferred staying anywhere not in her common room, but sleeping in the cold concrete is making her back ache. No matter how much of a great view the astronomy tower has, it is not a good place to camp in. She nearly sighs with relief upon arriving at her bed, but that's when she notices a bright red rose laying in the middle.

The same one Mattheo intended to give her at the train station.

Author's Note

Hey, everyone! Hope you're doing good!
It's been a while since I've left notes like this, so just thought I'd say hi!

So, what are we thinking of the third act so far?
Let me know!

Also, please do not be ghost readers. It's discouraging working hard on the story and not receiving interaction. I'd like to know your thoughts and opinions, so comment as much as you'd like.

Comment and vote!