Author's Note: I know I have been gone for a while, but I'm back with a chapter. And after re-reading the first in this serious I am ready again to keep going! Even if this chapter is rather short.

Chapter Four:

Nate had still been his egotistical self when with his friends, but at times he would catch my eye and would show his nervousness. I was nervous too, my stomach barely stopped doing flips. December crept up on me faster than I wanted it too. I did try out for Quidditch and got the position as seeker, a position I greatly enjoyed. My house mates were wonderful, the whispering had died down, the teachers were OK, work was tiresome, I basically lived normally.

Normally: The usual, average, or typical state or condition.

Okay well, thanks dictionary for proving me wrong. I did say basically. On the outside I was living 'normally' but the inside was definitely not normal. I felt nervous, no, scared. I was scared, horrified, nauseous, disgusted and confused. It was almost worse than being invisible, where I mostly felt confused and annoyed.

I had told Scorpius just that I was to send Bellatrix that I accepted her offer on the 31st, he knew nothing of the fact that he, and no one else, could rescue me should something go wrong. He still tried to talk me out of it, right up until I was writing the letter on the thirty first.

"Bethany, you don't have to do this..." He went on, for the billionth time that day.

"I agree with him," Nate spoke up, jumping both Scorpius and I.

I had yet to tell Scorpius that Nate knew of my little plan, so you could imagine his surprise. "Wait what?" Scorpius asked shocked.

"You haven't told him yet?" Nate asked, equally surprised.

"Told me what?!" Scorpius was growing angry and impatient.

I bit my lip angrily, "Scorpius," I began trying to let my anger fade, "Nate knows about Mission Invisible, he found the letter that the WIB's sent to me and, being the nosy git he is, he read it." I waited for a response, but first I added, "Please don't be mad..I can't stand you being mad at me right now."

Nate was staring at his feet, embarrassed to be in the middle of this. I had my eyes planted firmly on Scorpius's. He seemed to be struggling internally right about then. "I can't believe you didn't tell me.." was his first words. I felt my heart sink just a little. He was angry, I could tell. I hated that he was angry. Angry at myself that is...I looked down at the letter on the table, I had only the first three words written down and I could barely read them through my blurry vision.

"Look Scorp.." Nate was about to interrupt but Scorpius stopped him. "You didn't let me finish. He cupped my chin, pulling my face up gently so I was forced to look at him. "I can't believe you didn't tell me about him but he doesn't matter right now," ("Hey!" complained Nate), "What matters is that you are about to put your beautiful life at risk and it's because of some harebrained plan I came up with."

Finally it clicked. He was feeling so guilty because he thought of the plan in the first place. "A brilliant plan it is Scorpius, what am I compared to hundreds, thousands, of witches, wizards, and muggles alike?"

He knew I was right but hated it. I looked at the two boys in front of me, two Slytherin's who are frightened for the well being of a Gryffindor. "I need to do this you guys, and I need your support on this because without it I would run out as quickly as we'd run from a boggart. And I really can't afford to do that, not now, not when I'm so close." They nodded, "Besides, I might not get a response for another several weeks."

They nodded again, "You know," Scorpius spoke, picking up my hand, "that I will get you out, again I might add, if need be."

Nate and I exchanged a glance and I shook my head.."Scorpius, you can't..." I swallowed. "You can't rescue me, the WIB's said that if it would put anyone in danger they wouldn't come. And you technically are included in the "Anybody' category."

His eyes widened and he paled, "I don't care." he began but I shook my head, tears falling.

"But I do care Scorpius, I do. I agree with them, if it puts them at risk, or my cover, then you can't try to rescue me. You know then, much of my work will be at the school. I doubt that I'll be leaving."

He nodded, still uncertain and most definitely not listening. He wouldn't do what I told him and both made me relieved and upset. Before I could change my mind about anything I wrote the last bit of the message, gave it to the awaiting owl, and sent it out. "I'm going to bed."

Before they could respond I squeezed Scorp's hand, gave a slight smile to Nate, and walked out of the owlrey.

When I woke in the morning a small black owl was perched on my feet. I nearly screamed, but that would be very un-spy like. The bird hopped up to my face and stuck out it's leg. Attached to it's leg was a note. I undid the note and looked. "As promised" I read out loud in a whisper. It must be from the WIB and meant for the talking to them. I wrote quickly on the note saying, "sent out the letter yesterday..that's all" and the bird flew off instantly.

I got up, dressed rather slowly and dragged my feet to the Great Hall.

***

That day in Defense Against the Dark Arts class Scorpius and I were practicing defensive spells on each other, I'm sad to say that he was winning, when a small dark owl flew threw the open window and landed rather humorously on Scorpius's pale blond hair.

Nate laughed loudly from his practice area, along with his gang of friends. He wasn't the only one laughing, most of the kids were giggling like a bunch of ten year old's, honestly, sometimes I thought my class was filled with the "special" kids.

Confess, I must, however that I too was laughing simply for the expression on his face. My laughter died in my throat once I saw the name written on the parchment. "Bethany Stone" it read.

"Crap.." Feigning to help Scorpius rid himself of the mean looking owl, I slipped the note up my sleeve.

The Professor was calling for attention and soon they got it for just as the note was detached from it's leg, the black owl flew off back through the window.

Scorpius was too busy scowling at Nate (for his bird poop in hair comments that I chose to leave out of this) to notice my pale face and wide eyes. The teacher however did notice. "Ms. Stone, are you alright?"

Thank you Professor, now you can have the whole class watch me throw up. And that is exactly what I did. I suppose exhaustion, nerves, not eating a lot for breakfast, and putting my life at risk, is not that good for your health, or stomach. After I threw up my meager breakfast and the professor led me to the hospital wing, after I had swallowed two potions, after I had fallen asleep and woke up again, I finally got to read the note.

***Scorpius's Point Of View***

I wanted to visit Bethany right away, I couldn't stand the fact of her being sick and alone. However, I had classes and I was assured she would be sleeping and would hardly miss my company. But I couldn't focus on the rest of my classes. I needed to know why she was so freaked out.

Nathan had suggested that she was actually sick as she hadn't much during breakfast and that she probably really had an upset stomach, I however did not believe it. Why right when the owl came?

Now that I think of it, it really was not hard to figure out. The owl had not randomly flown into the room, the owl came for a reason. It had a letter to deliver. A letter to Bethany. A letter from Bellatrix.

After that realization I must of looked ill, for Professor Longbottom sent me straight to the hospital wing. Great I thought sourly while on my way up there, even without being near us Bellatrix is sending us to the Hospital Wing.

I arrived to the sight of Bethany sleeping, clutching a piece of parchment in her right hand. I walked to her bed and sat next her in a chair. Brushing a few strands of hair from her face I gently removed the parchment from her hand.

So glad to hear you've accepted to work with us. We need a sign of good faith though, you understand. Hold tight until we tell you what to do.

Your favorite ex convict,
Bellatrix.

Sign of good faith? What did that mean? Did they want her to kill someone before accepting her into their trust? Confused and frightened for Bethany, I lay in her bed next to her, slipping my hand in hers, and falling asleep. Not caring what Madame Pomfrey would think when she walked in.