Been spending most of the school days writing. I have to admit, even though I miss my old school terrible, it's a huge load off my shoulders. Everything is so easy! Which, in return, means faster updates for my readers (: I did a super rush to finish this one, but it was super long. Actually the longest chapter I've published so far. And I've already started writing Chapter 10, so it will be up soon after as well. Thank you, again, to my wonderful readers!

Chapter 9. Hope you like it (:

Happy Reading!


I t h a d b e e n a b o u t a month since the letter, the kiss, and the incident with Pansy. I as starting to cope with my MIA family and I owed that, surprisingly, to Draco. He was doing a great job of providing a distraction. I wondered to myself if that was the only reason I was giving him this chance. Because I needed an outlet, some sort of diversion from the pain, fear, and worry.

That could have been part of it. Not the whole reason, but part of it. If it had been the only reason, then wouldn't that make me some sort of sick psycho? Finding a relief for pain by retreating to the source of more pain? I sighed and shook my head.

"What's wrong?" Draco asked. We were seated on the floor, leaning against the couch, working off the coffee table doing our assignments.

"Oh... Nothing. Just thinking to myself." I replied. I'd been unaware that he'd been watching me.

He reached out and stroked my cheek. "What about?"

"Just things, you know? Everything, but not really anything."

He smiled. "I know how that is."

I nodded then decided to change the subject. "I hate this weather." It was true, at least. I did hate all the rain and cold air that'd been moving in.

Draco snorted. "You're really talking about the weather?"

I grinned and looked down at my parchment. A roll for McGonagall. "I'm serious, though. I really do hate it.

"Too warm-hearted for the cold?" He taunted.

I shot him a look. "Because I'm not cold-hearted like you?"

He grinned. "Exactly." Then he wrapped his arms around me, pulling me to him, and kissed my forehead. I felt exhilarated and couldn't help but laugh a little. "I love you," he whispered.

My heart skipped a little, like it did every time since the first he'd said those words. He'd gotten into the habit of saying it here lately. I'd made it clear to him that I wasn't going to say it back until I did actually love him, or at least think I did, and could trust him and that he shouldn't say it unless he truly ment it as well. But he insisted on saying it anyway.

I shook my head again. "You only think you do."

His chest shook a little and I could feel the vibration of his chuckle under my cheek. "No, Love. Not think." He said softly.

"You don't know anything about me."

"That's not true," he defended. "I do know things about you."

"Like?" I pulled back to look at him.

"You're favorite color is lime green."

I laughed. "Wow. I'm so impressed. My favorite color."

He huffed. His face flushed a little in agitation. "That's more than you know."

I shrugged. "Maybe, but I can always find out." I winked at him and tapped my temple.

"That's cheating."

"No. That's being resourceful." I stuck my tongue out at him and stood, gathering my things.

He stood as well. "Resourceful my ass," I heard him mutter under his breath. I laughed again and started towards the stairs. He followed me.

"Someone sounds jealous."

"Yeah," he was still annoyed, I could tell, but he was getting over it. "Because, that's definitely it." I could hear his eyes rolling.

"You are. Admit it." I turned and looked at him in my doorway. He was standing in his. Without saying a word, he retreated into his room. I giggled again. It was so much fun making him angry, mostly because it was extremely easy. I walked into my room and sat my books down on my desk. I picked up McGonagall's essay and started double-checking it. A few moments later, I felt hands on my waist.

"So tell me, how does it work?" Draco breathed into my ear. I resisted a shutter.

I turned and faced him. "How many times have I explained to you I don't know how it works?" without really thinking, I lifted myself up and sat on the desk. He moved closer to me, wrapping his arms around me, and kissing me softly. My pulse quickened slightly.

My hands instinctively went around his neck. "Break it down for me. I'll ask an easier question. What all can you do with it?" He put his nose to mine.

"Anything." I replied simply.

He made a face. "Care to elaborate?"

I smiled. "Anything. Really. I can do anything."

He groaned. "You're making this more difficult than it is. 'Anything' as in what? Moving things? Changing them? Teleportation? Mind control? What?"

"Yes, yes, yes, and yes."

His eyes widened a little. "Mind control? Seriously??"

"Yeah. How do you think I can erase memories and read minds? I get access to their brains, and if I wanted to, I could control them. You know? Control the way they think, fake their memories and make them believe what I want them to. Plant thoughts in their heads that they will only think are their own." I grinned. He leaned back a little, watching me.

"What all can you do with that?" He seemed a little hesitant, maybe even afraid.

"Draco. What part of anything do you not understand?" I held out one hand and a book wiggled in its spot one my bed and flew into it. "I can move things." The book changed into a quill, then a flower, then back to its original self. "I can changed it into anything I want." It left my hand and returned to its place. "I can read minds, even control them if I wanted to. Stop spells with my hands." I paused and watched him. My hands left his neck and traveled down his chest. "I could kill you if I wanted to without even lifting a finger."

"How?" his voice was coarse and came out as a harsh whisper.

"Oh... Anyway really." My finger traced over the stop where his heart was. "I could stop your heart from beating." I slid my hands slightly further down. "Make your lungs stop working." They worked their way back up his neck and into his platinum hair. "Give you the thoughts to do yourself in. Or, just do it by force, say lifting you a few stories into the air and letting go. Even make objects do it. Other people... Maybe even an animal."

He didn't say anything and his face was blank and flushed. I laughed. "Of course, I wouldn't ever do anything like that. But I still have the ability to."

"That's insane."

"That's the truth." I replied. "I can do anything you can think of. Stop the blood in your veins. Go even further to say I can stop cell reproduction. I can make it snow in June or stop a tsunami before it lands. Anything. Except," I looked down. "Except, bring someone back from the dead."

He ran his fingers through my hair. "Anything?"

"Anything." I smirked. "In fact, this could all be a figment of your imagination. You liking me. I could make you think you had feelings for me. It could even be a dream."

His jaw tightened. "It's not."

"No. But again, possible." I kissed the corner of his mouth and he relaxed. Then I looked down and sighed. "It's a powerful gift and a deadly curse. To abuse or over use it causes extreme exhaustion and sometimes physical damage. Even fatality. Until your heart or brain, one, explodes under the pressure."

He winced a little. "What do you mean physical damage? It hurts you?"

"It can if I push it too far. I'm not sure exactly how, and I really don't want to find out, but I'm pretty sure it wouldn't be curable. You know, probably has something to do with Dark Magic."

"You've never experienced it before though, right?" He was looking at me for reassurance. Reassurance that I hadn't been hurt.

"No, I've been building it up for years. Making myself stronger. Mostly, I just get really tired. Of course, there could always be some sort of side-affect I don't know about. But no, not as far as I know." I said.

He leaned forward and kissed my forehead. "Okay."

"Why are you so curious about it, anyway?" It was my turn to ask questions.

"Oh, I don't know." I caught a flash of something that crossed his mind. A letter, maybe? I couldn't be sure, but it was gone almost as quick as it had appeared and he blocked his mind. That made me a little suspicious. "It's something new to me. I'm sure everyone else would jump at the opportunity to learn more too if they weren't so afraid of it."

I snorted. He wrapped his arms around me again, pressing his lips to mine. It was an adrenaline rush for me, kissing him. Somewhere inside myself, I craved for more. More kisses, more touches. I wanted more. It'd even grown to the point where I needed more. The passion that flared behind each one was unrealistic, but no matter how much I wanted more, I kept it at only kissing. And many times, I'd had to stop him from going any further.

My hands slid down his chest and undid the first button of his shirt. He pressed harder against my lips. My hands kept going, second button, third, forth... Until it was completely open. His arms tightened round me and I grinned into his lips. I went for his tie and loosened it then ran my hands over his bare torso.

He moaned and pulled away. "Why do you taunt me if I have to stop?" He looked pained and annoyed.

I laughed. How easy it was. Leaning forward, I kissed the corner of his mouth then slowly moved down his jaw and to his neck. "Because, I like being in control." I whispered against his skin and I could feel the goose bumps that rose there. I smiled, kissed him, and sat back straight. He'd relaxed again and smiled back at me. I kissed him again and whispered against them. "You love me, remember?"

"It's true," he shrugged.

I laughed, "Yeah, sure." Then jumped off the desk and walked towards my bed.

"You're a little devil is what you are. And here I was thinking you were this sweet, fragile, innocent, little girl." He said jokingly.

"Times have changed." I laid down and yawned. That was true too. Here lately I'd had a much worse temper and attitude problem that I'd ever had. Of course, it wasn't noticeable to anyone else, but it was a big change for me, and I didn't know why.

"Don't go to bed," he said. "We have rounds to make tonight and we need to prepare for the Prefect's meeting. Come to think of it, that's coming up sometime soon isn't it?"

"Already covered it.? I yawned again.

He leaned on one of the posts of my bed, and I watched him fiddle with his clothes. "You've covered it?"

"Mhm..." I closed my eyes. I heard him move then felt him lay on the bed beside me.

He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me to him. I laid my head on his chest. "Why are you so tired?" I shrugged, keeping my eyes closed. "You didn't over it did you? I shook my head. "Did you sleep well last night?"

I didn't answer. In fact, I'd gotten almost no sleep last night. It'd been raining and I'd been having nightmares almost every night, about the time the weird attitude flares started. I didn't know why .But, I didn't tell Draco that, of course.

"I'll take your silence as a no. How come?" He asked. I swear, he was more worried about me than my own parents would have been.

I exhaled. "The rain?"

"It's been raining on and off for a week, so you haven't slept much at all then. What does the rain have to do with it though?" He asked.

"It gives me nightmares." I replied he opened his mouth to ask how but I cut him off. "I don't know why, it just does." And it was true, the rain did, and I didn't know why.

"That's not the only reason though. You've been tired everyday so you're having them even without the rain." He stated. I could practically hear the gears in his mind turning. I didn't answer. He tilted my chin up so I'd have to look at him. I opened my eyes. "How about I sleep in here tonight? Help keep the nightmares away."

Honestly, I wanted him to, but I also was afraid. Somewhere in the back of my mind it kind of seemed wrong. But again, I didn't say anything. He smiled, picking up on my internal debate.

"I'll sleep in the floor if you would like."

I yawned again. "You think that would work?"

"Wouldn't hurt to try, would it?" He was stroking my hair again. I looked down again, burring my face in his shirt. I inhaled his scent; I couldn't get enough of it. I felt him chuckle, but didn't move. I was dozing off and a few moments later, was out of it completely.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

I let her sleep against me for a while. She needed it. I knew she'd been trying to play it off as nothing but these nightmares were really taking a hold on her. Some nights I even woke up to her screaming, though I never told her. Even though it killed me.

I wanted to ask her what they were about, but I could probably guess and I didn't want to make her relive them while she was awake. While she slept, I thought about the things she'd said she could do. All the years I'd tortured her and she could have killed me on the spot and gotten away with it. I resisted a shudder.

I didn't want to wake her but I had to or we'd get in trouble. "Alex?" I whispered ad shook her a little. Her eyelids fluttered a bit before opening.

"Huh?"

I grinned, and idea forming. "G'morning, Beautiful."

She gave me a startled look. "Morning?" I nodded. She shot up and gaped. "You let me sleep all night? What about rounds?!"

I smirked at her confusion. "I did them."

"Draco!!"

"You were tired, and McGonagall didn't say much about it anyway, so what's the big deal?"

"You got caught?" She hissed. "Oh, my God, you idiot!! What were you thinking? I can't believe you!"

"Alex, calm down."

"Calm down? You got caught! What did you tell her? God, what did she say??"

"Alex."

"This is serious! 'Sorry, Professor. Just doing rounds alone 'cause Alex is asleep.' How is that supposed to sound?" She ranted, and stood.

"Alex, it's okay." I was laughing now while she paced her room.

"How in the bloody hell is this okay?!" She was almost in hysterics.

I stood and hugged her. "Because, I was kidding."

"You—what??" she looked up at me.

I laughed more. "I'm kidding. You were only asleep for about an half and hour."

"You were kidding?" Her eyes got wide. I nodded.

Then she punched me.

"Jerk!" She growled and pulled away from me. I laughed harder and she stomped off.

"Where are you going?" I called after her.

"to make the damn rounds!" She called over her shoulder. I chuckled more and ran out of her room after her.

We'd almost finished our rounds. Alex hadn't said a word to me since we'd left. It worried me a little; I didn't want her to be mad at me. "Alex?" She didn't look, just kept walking in front of me. I caught up to her. "Are you really still mad at me? It was only a joke."

"Jokes are funny. That wasn't funny." She muttered.

I put my arm around her waist and pulled her into a corner of the empty path. She made a face and looked out the hole in the wall. The cold air was blowing in and out, whipping her hair around her face. She was cold, it was obvious, but she would never show it. She looked out at the dark campus, refusing to look at me.

I stroked her cheek, hoping to gain her attention. "I'm sorry, Love. I was only just kidding." Her eyes glanced in my direction then back to outside. It'd started raining again. She turned away from me, completely facing the hole, and wrapped her arms around herself.

"Alex." I frowned and put my hands on her hips. She didn't move. They snaked their way around her and I placed my chin on her shoulder. "What's wrong?" I whispered in her ear and kissed the spot under it. I felt her shudder slightly and grinned.

"Nothing," she whispered back.

"Liar." I kissed her again and pulled her tightly against me. "You're mad at me." She shook her head. "Yes, you are."

"Why would I be?" Sarcasm.

"Alex," I sighed. "I'm sorry."

"Good," she sniffed in a cocky way and turned in my arms to face me. I smiled a little. She groaned softly and looked down. "Do you realize how unfair it is that it's so hard to stay mad at you?" I grinned more.

"For you. I call it 'being resourceful'." Smirking, I leaned down and kissed her softly. She snorted and then grinned a bit. I laughed and kissed her again. Her hands found their way up my chest and slid up my neck, entangling themselves in my hair. She then deepened the kiss. My pulse raced and without know, I backed her up against the wall.

Suddenly, she pulled away. "Someone's coming."

"What?" I was still on some sort of high and couldn't comprehend what she was saying.

"Come on! Someone's coming!" She hissed. Then I heard the footsteps and giggles. She pulled away from me, not wanting whoever it was to see us together. It was too late to hide because they were already on us. I turned just as they came into view.

"Pansy?" she was in the arms of some sixth year Slytherin boy who's name I couldn't place.

"Draco!" She chimed. Alex remained quiet, glowering at her. I cleared my throat.

"What are you doing?" I snapped, the anger in my voice evident.

"Just a little... you know." The sixth year winked and wiggled his eyebrows at me like we were best mates and I was supposed to be okay with it. Pansy giggled more. I shot the darkest death glare I could conjure up. The laughs died immediately.

"What are you doing, Draco? With her." Pansy sneered, jerking her head towards Alex her scowled.

"We're making rounds, Parkinson. And, if I'm not mistaken, it's passed curfew." Alex snapped before I could reply.

Pansy untangled herself from the boy's arms and took a step towards her, bluffing for the boy because I knew damn well she was terrified of Alex. She matched Pansy. "Is that so?" Pansy scoffed in her face. "And just what is it you're going to do about it, Freak?"

My anger flared, but I knew I couldn't do anything or I'd give myself away. Alex, on the other hand, was completely calm. She leaned forward. Pansy looked scared but didn't back down. "I'd be careful, if I were you, Pansy." She warned in a whisper. Then her voice dropped even lower. "Don't want another accident, do we?"

Pansy's eyes widened and she jumped away from Alex like she'd touched a burning pot. "You did it!"

Alex smirked, "I never said that."

"You did do it! You bitch, it was you! You messed with my head!!" Pansy accused loudly, pointing her finger at Alex. She was terrified now and couldn't hide it.

"Insulting a Head, disobeying school rules, breaking curfew, and now false accusations? Tsk. Why not stop while you're ahead, Parkinson?" Alex growled, spilling her name. She moved toward her again and Pansy quickly moved back.

"You stay away from me, you psycho! Draco!" She called at me, panicking, fear in her eyes. "Do something!" My eyes jumped from her to the boy, who was confused and scared, then to Alex, who was sneering evilly.

"Pansy, go back to your common room. Now. You too." I pointed to the boy. "Three days detention for breaking curfew. Both of you."

Pansy took a few more steps back then sprinted down the hall, leaving the boy struggling to catch up with her.

I looked at Alex. Her head was down and the shadows from the torches fell across her face. I didn't say a word when she started walking towards our common room.

"It's getting worse." She whispered, breaking the silence.

I reached for her hand and intertwined my fingers with hers. "What is?"

"These flashes."

I looked at her, confused. "What do you mean flashes?"

She looked at me. Her eyes were dark, tired, and pained. I was immediately worried. "Alex, what flashes? What's wrong?"

She shook her head as we started up the stairs that lead to the Head's room. "Not yet. Wait," she said quietly. I didn't question her further, no matter how much I wanted to.

She sighed as we topped the stairs. "Here we go."

"Why do you have such a difficult time with her?" I asked. I would have been amused, had I not been so worried about her.

"I don't know. She just hates me." Alex growled. Then muttered "stupid picture" under her breath.

I gave an unenthused chuckle. "Lovely."

We approached the portrait. She gave us a reproachful look. "Look have mercy, you look like death rolled over." She barked in reference to Alex.

"Sod off, you half-wit, old hag." She growled back lowly. I wasn't sure if the lady had heard her or not. I chortled.

"Caprium Tatum," I muttered quietly.

"What's wrong with her now?" She ignored me.

"Open the bloody door!" Alex snapped harshly.

"You'd think you'd be the least bit nicer and respectful. Rudeness will get you no where. I could just not let you in." The portrait looked offended.

Alex narrowed her eyes, "We've been over this. I do not need the password to open you up."

"Caprium Tatum," I tried again.

"Oh fine," she rolled her eyes and swung open. Alex was through it in an instant. I followed closely behind and it closed as soon as I was through. Alex was muttering to herself and headed up the stairs. I continued after her.

"Now, what about these flashes?" I sat on her bed. She yawned and sat beside me.

"It's nothing." She shook her head and leaned back.

"No. Tell me." I laid down beside her.

"I don't know how to explain it." She closed her eyes. I turned on my side and stroked her cheek.

"Try. For me?" I replied gently.

She sighed again. "It's almost as if there is someone else sharing my brain. The short temper, anger, the dreams. They aren't mine." She opened her eyes sadly. "Or maybe they are, I'm not sure. I can't really tell. I think I'm going crazy."

I watched her while my mind filled with the possibilities. "You said they've been getting worse? What do you mean? When did they start?" I asked.

She rolled onto her side and pressed her face into my shirt. I held her closer/ "I'm not sure? About the time I got the letter about Mum and Dad. Maybe after."

I kissed the top of her head. "What is it? Does something happen?"

She shook her head. "I just get an impulse, to hit something or scream or something. Just angry. Over nothing. And it's not like me. And these nightmares, they're so... Strange I can't explain it."

I nodded. "You're not crazy," I told her softly.

"Feels like it," she sniffed. I ran my fingers through her hair. Was it what I thought it was? Could it be he was actually... Why though? Why her?

"Just block your mind, okay?" I said. "Alright? You said you could do anything, so put a shield over your mind or something. Whatever you can do to block out anything that isn't yours. If that makes sense."

She nodded and looked at me, too tired to ask why or what I was getting at. "What about the dreams. They aren't like thoughts, and I can't do it while I'm asleep."

I kissed her forehead. "Well tonight, I'll be here so let's go with that." She didn't reply, but sat up and yawned.

"You should go change." Her voice was layered in drowsiness. I felt a pang of sadness and I wished I had a way to really help her.

"Okay," I sat up and kissed her cheek. I'll be back in a few. She needed and I stood and left.

I quickly changed into my green and silver pajamas and grabbed the blanket and pillow from my bed. She'd changed into a tank-top and pajama pants.

I made a small pallet on the floor by her bed, much like the one I'd made the night she'd received the letter. She crawled into her bed and I turned out the lights. Then I walked over and sat down on the edge of the bed.

I leaned down and kissed her, She kissed me back. "I love you," I whispered. She game me a small smile in return. How I longed to hear her say those words. "Sleep tight, Sweetheart." She nodded. "Night," I leaned down and kissed her again then stood and slipped into my own makeshift bed on the floor. I laid on my back and looked up at her. She reached her hand over the edge and I took it, praying this would work.

I shot up out of the dream, waken by a blood-curling scream. Alex was sitting up too, crying. I jumped off the floor, slightly disoriented, thinking of only how I needed to help her. I sat on the bed and pulled her into a tight hug.

"Alex," I was panicking. "It's okay. It's okay. It's just a dream!" She didn't reply, only continued to cry. We sat there, her crying and me trying to comfort her, for the better part of an hour before she'd calmed to a sniffle.

"They're so real," she whimpered after a while. I had a twinge of pain.

"They're only dreams, Love. Only dreams," I said back, holding her even tighter. She nodded and laid her wet face against my chest. I laid my head against hers and pulled her into my lap. The amount of love and care I had for this girl would surprise anyone. It was unreal, and I was still figuring it out for myself. How could I help her when she was so clearly suffering. I would do anything to figure it out.

She slowly started to fall asleep and I looked at my left forearm. The Dark Mark was vibrant, almost glowing in the dark. I'd been so careful in hiding it from her, she'd no idea. Maybe I should just tell her. I sighed. She'd hate me, but at least she'd know. It was her or me and I would gladly take the spot, hands down, the save her.

I kissed her head softly and laid back, closing my eyes, hoping to get some sleep for myself. I had until Christmas.


Good Lord, thirteen pages! Around 5,000 words. Took forever to type!! (: But it's done and I hope you enjoyed it. Chapter 10 is on the way!! :D Reviews are appreciated. And remember, if you have any ideas or suggestions, feel free to let me know!! (: