Whispers and hauntings

The student body spent a restless night in the great hall. Draco set his sleeping bag right next to mine. I woke up with his arm draped over me and his face next to mine. His sleeping bag unzipped so he could do this. My heart ached no matter how hard I tried he persisted. I don't get it. Would I have to try harder? How? Should I just let him back?

Draco deserved better though. I would be pitting him against his father. His views on his father had changed when I met him. The earth-shattering moment was when he realized his father had almost killed me. He couldn't look at his father the same after that. I could see it in his eyes. That didn't mean I had to make it worse. If I was the vengeance type that didn't give a shit if Draco got hurt I would egg him on and take the one thing Lucius cared about. If you could call molding your son to be the perfect little pureblood dickhead caring. I snorted. I carefully watched Draco to see if he awoke. I was still unsure what to do. Whatever I decided I needed to be sure. If I took him back that was it no more breakups. Either I would give him everything I had until the day I died or I would walk away.

Part of me realized that I was thinking like an adult would. Growing up how I did had made me that way though. No one taught me how to be a good person. I had to grow up fast. I had to be mature. As much as my father was trying to give me a childhood it was too late for that. I couldn't just pretend I was a normal kid. I wasn't and I never would be. Maybe that's why Draco and I clicked so well we were both forced to grow up fast.

I stared at him for another long moment. His hair was for once messy. His shaggy platinum blond hair was everywhere. He had circles under his eyes from all the nights he couldn't sleep. I know because he told me about that last year. It was hard for him to sleep. His aristocratic features were at peace. His face void of the usual scowl sneer or controlled blankness. I traced my finger lightly along his features. He stirred slightly so I stopped staring at him another moment. If only he could look like this all the time.

"I will always love you." I whispered so softly even I could barely make it out.

He stayed blissfully asleep. People were starting to stir and go back to their dorms. I gently removed Draco's arm from me and put it on his side. I slid away from him and stood. I went quickly to the dorms. I went into the shower and then got ready for the day.

It was the weekend thankfully. I needed time and space right now. I wondered if I should spend the weekend in my father's quarters. I decided I needed some air to breath. Then I remembered the match today. Which means everyone will be awoken soon so they can serve breakfast for the team.

I got dressed in my quidditch gear. Students were heading to their dorms as I was headed to the great hall. That when I heard the whispers. Not from Basilisk this time. No from students.

"Sirius Black was in the castle!"

"He tore up the Fat Lady's portrait!"

"Wonder what he was looking for in Gryffindor tower?"

"Bet he didn't hear his precious heiress is in Slytherin where she belongs."

"I bet he was after Snape probably thought she was in Gryffindor. I mean no one expected her to be in Slytherin."

I was asking myself those same questions. What did Sirius want in Gryffindor tower? Unlike the others, I knew that he knew my house and Aria's house. Why did he not tell us he was coming here? Why didn't he ask for help? Why risk being caught? Had his brain been so addled by Azkaban? That didn't seem right though. All eyes would be on Aria and I right now. Ugh more pressure more problems. Would it ever stop?

I reached the great hall and Draco and Arabella were sitting at the Slytherin table. They weren't fighting that was a good thing. The biggest surprise though was who was next to Arabella. Fred Weasly was sitting next to Arabella alone. Where was George?

I sat next to Fred and asked. "Aren't you missing something Mischief?"

He turned bleary eyes towards me. "Like what Phoenix?"

"Well half of you is missing. Where is Trouble?" I asked.

"He is getting ready." He said.

"Ok, so why are you down here?" They twins were never up before they had to be.

Fred actually blushed and his eyes flashed to Arabella's direction then back to me. "You know Flint insist on breakfast before matches." He said.

I raised an eyebrow at him. "Right…. Flint." I said in an unbelieving tone. Maybe he was playing a prank? Who knows.

I gave a quick hello to Arabella and Draco. Draco handed me a drawing. It was him and I dancing together.

Let our love play an endless tune that we can dance to. Was written elegantly beneath it.

While I was looking at the drawing he filled my plate with all my favorites. "Thank you Draco." I choked out. I carefully placed the drawing in my robes.

He smiled at me a genuine smile. "I won't give up on you." He said.

I was more than ready for the match today. I needed to relax I needed a distraction. Today we were playing against Hufflepuff. Cedric Diggory was the seeker for that team and the new captain as well. Cedric Diggory was a good-looking boy and a fair flyer as well. I wondered idle what kind of girl he dated. He is a sixth year. Fred and George know him though not well. They say he is just a pretty boy. I sighed. I needed to focus. I often found myself focusing on my opponent before matches.

After forcing myself to focus I walked down to the pitch with Fred, George and Draco. We all walked in silence. When we got to the locker room Flint was there with the rest of the team.

"Alright. This is Hufflepuff so it should be easy. Don't screw up." He said.

We all cheered and grabbed our brooms. We headed out onto the pitch. Thanks to the Malfoy's everyone had nimbus 2001's. The brooms had helped win us the cup last year.

Flint shook Diggory's hand a little too hard. Actually, it seemed like he was trying to break his hand. Flint liked to intimidate the other captains. Madam Hooch blew the whistle and we all took off.

"Hufflepuff gets the quaffle first!" Lee Jordan said.

I smirked Lee was the twins best friend outside Aria and I. Diggory was looking around for the snitch. At least he didn't just tail me like most of the other seekers. For a long time nobody scored and the snitch stayed out of sight. Slowly we gained a lead. It was sixty to zero at this moment. I just needed to find that snitch. Suddenly I saw it. It took off above me and Diggory was closing in. We were neck and neck for it until suddenly everything went quiet. I could see the snitch and reach for it. Suddenly there was screaming.

"Not Jamie! Please not Jamie. Kill me instead!" She pleaded. I heard the high cackling laughter.

"Stand aside silly girl. Stand aside." The voice that had to be Voldemort's said.

"Mum…" I muttered before blackness over took me.

I woke up and everything hurt. How was I alive surely, I had fallen off my boom. THE MATCH! Had we lost? I hope not Flint would finish what the fall didn't.

I kept my eyes closed as I heard voices. "Uncle Sev please! It is the only way we can be together." Draco said.

"This is not the time or place for your drivel Draco." My father said.

"You won't listen to me otherwise. You have been avoiding me." Draco drawled with annoyance and stubbornness in his voice.

"Because you will not change my mind." My father said.

"Why not?" Draco demanded.

"First off I sincerely doubt that your father would agree to the contract. Second did you ever stop to think what it would mean if he did?" My father said.

"What would it mean? Besides us getting married?" Draco asked uncertainty in voice.

"It would mean he would have control over her. He is the Malfoy patriarch and as such has rights. He can make betrothals break betrothals and anyone entering the family is under his control. I can't let him get his hands on her. Draco surely you don't want that?" My father asked. It was a test. It was the same tone he used when he was testing me.

I opened my eyes slowly I saw Draco on my left and my father on my right. Draco had a thoughtful expression on his face and my father had calculating one on his.

"Of course not, but it's the only way I can be with her." He said.

"And is it worth putting her under your fathers control?" He asked.

"No but what can I do?" Draco asked pleading for an answer a way for us to be together.

"You let her go. You deal with whatever contract your put in and you let her move on." My father said.

"I…. I love her I can't just let her go." Draco said.

"Because you love her you must let her go." My father said.

"I don't get it." Draco said.

"When we love someone, we want what's best for them. Even if that means we can't be with them." My dad said.

The look in Draco's eyes was heartbreaking. The fight left him in that moment. It went further than giving up on us though. He was giving up on life. It was like with that one sentence he was broken. I could see him thinking about it. He was debating giving up.

That look lasted a second then he scowled. "NO I will not give up. There has to be a way to do protect her from him. Why should my father get to ruin my life." Draco said.

His eyes were blazing with intensity. I knew then and there that I would never be able to leave him. He was fighting against my father against his. I should be fighting too, right? Part of me screamed yes! Take him back hold him close. There was another part of me though that said. If you take him back you are letting him destroy himself. Lucius will go after you and Draco will stand in the way. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if Draco died for me. I needed more time to think. I needed someone to talk to about this. I didn't know who though everyone was biased on the subject.

They were staring at each other. My fathers expression held understanding, he was impressed by Draco's devotion. My dad even though he would never admit it gave his blessing. He was hoping it would work out for us.

I decided it was time to let them know I was awake. "Dad… Draco… what happened?" I remembered hearing my mothers scream was there dementors? Did they make me fall off my broom?

"Jamie!" Draco said. "Your awake." He said sounding relieved.

"How are you feeling?" My father asked.

"I hurt. What happened?" I asked again.

Draco and my father's faces darkened. " Dementors came to the match." My father growled. His eyes showed he wanted to rip the dementors limb from limb.

"Yeah then you fell off your broom. Dumbledore slowed you down with a spell and I caught you. Barely. I was so scared." Draco admitted. I realized how much he was giving me. I was the one person he let past his guarded walls.

"Thank you, Draco." I said. He smiled at me and gave me a hug. "I am so glad your ok."

"Yes I owe you one Draco." My father said begrudgingly and watched us carefully.

"You know what I want Uncle." He said. He raised a hand to cut off my fathers protest. "Just think about it." Then he gave me a kiss on the forehead and was off.

"Dad…." I started unsure what to say.

He sighed heavily. "I almost lost you again." He whispered.

He hugged me tightly. "I am so sorry dad." I said.

"I have never seen the headmaster so angry. He slowed you enough and Draco caught you." He said.

"What about my broom?" I asked.

My father looked uncomfortable. "Your broom hit the whomping willow and well you know it doesn't like to be hit." He said taking a jab at how I arrived last year.

I took a deep breath. "Lovely now I have to get a new broom." I sighed.

"What about your old nimbus 2000?" my father asked.

"I gave it to Ginny Weasly." I said.

"Well tell me what you want and we will make arrangements." He said.

"I will just owl order one." I sighed heavily.

"If your sure." He said.

"Um so what happened did we win the match?" I asked.

"No, Diggory caught the snitch before he realized you had fallen off." He said.

"Great! Stupid bloody dementors!" I said tears pricking my eyes.

"Do you want to talk about what you hear when they are near?" He asked concerned.

"I hear mum screaming pleading for him to kill her instead. I heard him telling her to stand aside then a flash of green light." I whisper. He looked really upset.

"I am so sorry that you have to hear that." He said.

His normally stoic mask had fallen. He was in pain feeling helpless. He couldn't take away the haunting voice in my head. Her words her voice played in my head. Not that I would tell him that it would only make it worse. Did Sirius do this to me? Was he the reason my mother had to plead for my life? The reason she had to sacrifice herself for me? I needed answers and only one man could give them to me. Sirius Black. I didn't know how to get him to tell the truth. I needed to get my hands on some veritaserum. For that I would have to steal from my father. I hated that prospect. Maybe I could just talk to Sirius first. Then I could dig into the past and see if I could find evidence that supported his version or revealed him a liar.

"Elli?" My father asked prodding me from my thoughts.

"Yeah?" I asked.

"You ok?" He asked.

"Yeah dad thanks. I will be fine it's just going to take some time." I said.

"Well I better get going have Madam Pomphrey floo me if you need anything at all." He said.

I gave him a small smile. "Love you dad." I said.

"Love you too Elli." He said then he left.

There had been so much going on that the Marauder's had not done any pranks. The mood I was in I thought it was about time to fix that. We had been focusing on completing our Animalgous transformations. Of course, and our investigations which hadn't revealed much. There wasn't a trial and the only witnesses were dead or muggles. There was a piece missing though I could feel it. It seemed like forever before I fell into a uneasy sleep.

Determined to talk to Sirius and finally get a chance to find out something anything about that horrible night. I left the hospital wing in a hurry. After pushing Madam Pomphrey to release me which she reluctantly did. She also made me promise to come back at any dizziness or pain. I was running and I wasn't paying attention and knocked right into someone.

"Umph!" He grunted as he fell.

"Ow." I complained as I fell forward. I landed practically on top of the person.

I quickly rolled off them and laid flat on the floor a second to catch my breath. I had already been sore now my muscles were on fire. I heard scuffling next to me. Suddenly I saw a young boys face looking down at me. He had glasses and I gasped. He had my eyes and he reminded me of James.

"Are you ok?" He asked.

"Fine sorry…" I said. "Wasn't looking where I was going.

He helped me up and I couldn't stop staring at him. "Who are you?" I asked.

He was wearing a Gryffindor uniform. "Oh I am Braydon Prewitt. Of course I know who you are." He said smiling brightly.

I snorted. "Watch it icle Prewitt" I said. "What year are you in?" I asked.

"First you?" He asked.

"If you know who I am then you should know the answer to that." I joked.

He grinned a cheeky grin. "I know your name but the rest is just rumors. I don't really listen to idle gossip. My mum always said that actions are more important than words." He said.

I smiled brightly at that. "I really appreciate that. Well I am a third year so need any help let me know." I said.

"I will thanks Jamie." He said.

There was something about that Prewitt boy. I shook my head and headed down to the dungeons. After saying hello to my friends I headed into my room and pulled out my mirror. I cast a silencing charm.

"Sirius Black" I said.

After a few moments Sirius answered. "Hey Pronglet whats up?" He said.

I raised an eyebrow at him. "I should be asking you that Padfoot." I said.

"What do you mean?" He asked slyly.

I rolled my eyes. "Don't play dumb with me. Why were you in the school?" I asked.

He stared at me in silence for a moment. "I can't tell you that." He said.

"Why not?" I demanded.

"Because you wouldn't believe me if I told you, and if you did you would do something stupid." He said.

"I would not!" I said hotly.

"Yes you would." He said.

"Oh yeah? Why is that?" I asked angrily.

"Because there are things that happened that you don't know about that no one knows about. Let's just say I am not the most dangerous person hidden around the school." He said.

I narrowed my eyes. "Who? Why?" I demanded.

"I can't tell you. I failed your parents in helping protect you before I won't do it again. Just let me handle this Prongslet. Listen I have to go. Behave and stay safe and don't go anywhere alone." He said.

With that he was gone. I sat there for a moment what could he mean? Who else could be hidden in the school? Why would they be hidden in the school? The map! I needed to check the map! I quickly pulled it out and sat on my bed.

"I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." I said.

I watched as the map came to life. I opened it to where it showed Gryffindor tower. It was the weekend so everyone should be in the tower. I scanned through the names. I saw Braydon Prewitt hanging with Collin and Dennis Creevy. I saw Ron, Finnigan, and Thomas. There was a fourth name there with them right on top of Ron's. I gasped as I read the name.

I had no idea what it meant or how it was even possible. The name on the map was Peter Pettigrew. I now knew why Sirius had wanted to get into the tower. Somehow he knew that Pettigrew was hiding in the tower. What did he want with Pettigrew? Pettigrew was a piece to this mystery I was sure. How did he fit in though? Was he the one that betrayed my parents somehow? Or was he another person that Sirius intended to end. After all he tried to kill Pettigrew once. Or was Pettigrew somehow the one to do that? What motive would he have though? Padfoot came from a dark family and perhaps he had finally given into that side of him. Then I remembered something. My father had the dark mark on his arm. It was his deepest source of shame. If Sirius was a death eater he would have the mark to. Next time I talked to Sirius I would ask him to show me his left arm. In the meantime, though I had to get ahold of Pettigrew and maybe get one step closer to finding out the truth.

I started trying to come up with the ways Pettigrew could disguise himself. To find him I would have to be able to recognize him. Maybe Aria would have some ideas something Uncle Moony had mentioned to her. I headed out to the common room to grab the others. I was excited that we finally had a new lead.