[Chapter fourteen]

My mind was going to explode, no I was going to explode, yeah that made sense. Too many things troubling me, this house war was, I'm being sent disgusting images of my death, Oliver's over protective attitude, Leona's worry and Kris's awkward mumbles as he tried to soften the situation.

"Leona I've told you I have no clue to who could be sending me them!" I snapped, my anger seeping through every part of me.

Please for the love of Merlin! I would just like two seconds of peace.

"Well think Peyton! For heaven's sake just look back into the past weeks and see if anyone sticks out, if someone has been following, looking at you, anyone that could of bumped past you in the halls!"

"Well……everyone then!?" I turned away from her, my head throbbing as I made my way up to our dorm.

"I'm just scared Peyton! I don't mean to trouble you anymore but I'm just worried about you" she called up the stairs.

I turned to her, her red hair behind her back making her light green eye's stand out. They only shone worry for me. I tried to smile back at her but it only came as a frown.

"I know but worrying isn't going to help. I'm going to get some rest, night" I turned again from her and rushed up the stairs.

–

I had his hand. I was safe. Walking to breakfast didn't seem as traumatic as I thought it was due to the fact he was next to me, his smile intact. All of my worries just seemed to melt away when I was with him and, I could finally breathe without worrying.

"You okay?" he whispered as we entered.

"Yeah, you?" I whispered back as he led me to a seat next to Kris and Leona, they both smiled sleepily up at us.

"Yeah of course" I smiled softly as I took my seat. I hadn't eaten much so as soon as the mouth watering food gleamed up at me I began piling my plate up. I was digging into my food when I looked down the table, casually as I saw the Patil twins, short hair and all grinning maliciously towards Pansy Parkinson's group over at the Slytherin table.

What have they done?

"ARGH! GET IT OFF!! GET IT OFF YOU IDIOT!" Parkinson suddenly screamed, making me jump a little from her frightening scream. She was flapping her hands like a fish out of water but I couldn't see anything....that was until a huge spider bigger than Oliver's hands jumped over the table and began attacking the girls.

I laughed. Yes I laughed!

HAHA! I didn't know the twins had it in them.

"Where's my camera!? Whose stolen my camera? Damn it" Colin Creevy, yelled over the suddenly loud laughter, I turned briefly to him to find he was also flapping about but not out of terror, in frustration. I shrugged, he must have misplaced it.

"SILENCE!"

Oh that voice was enough to shut anyone up, normally it would be calm and collected but today it demanded order from us all. I looked up to see Professor Dumbledore standing above us.

–

"I've never seen anything so bloody brilliant before! Where did you get them from?" George gushed giddily to the twins as we all soberly walked out of the great hall. They both seemed very pleased with themselves. I suppose if someone had chopped my long hair in a way that was so cruel I would have been looking for revenge.

Revenge. It's the most powerful way to enforce terror.

"I can't do this anymore! Have you seen us Malfoy? Look at Pansy she's flipping out, we all are!" I turned slightly as we walked out to see Blaise Zabini lose it completely to Malfoy. So it wasn't just me who could no longer take this? For the first time in my life I actually felt some connection towards a Slytherin.

"Oh pull yourself together, stop being so fucking pathetic!" Malfoy hissed back harshly. Ouch.

The look on Blaise's face was one of a mad man contempt on killing someone. I shuddered. Scratch that, I had nothing in common with him. He began waving his hands frantically, his eye's burning with an intense hate as the sound around me got louder.

Someone pushed me forward; I fell into someone, my hand digging in their back as I tried to support myself. I groaned when I looked up to see, Theodore Nott, the weirdest person alive was glaring back at me.

"What are you doing?" He demanded, his tone laced harshly much like a rattle snakes.

"Er, sorry I was pushed"

"Right" he spat with an eye roll.

I didn't like being accused of lying so my first reaction was to argue back.

"Yes I was!" I hissed, I hadn't expected his reaction because as the large mass of people started to clear he grabbed my upper arm.

"Don't ever touch me again, got it Lancaster?" The look in his eyes...I have never seen something so terrifying in my whole life even that sick picture couldn't compete with the look he was giving me. He was mother fucking crazy. Loopy. Off His rocker. Lost his marbles. A wackadoo.

I squeaked under the pain his fingers where inflicting on me but I couldn't look down, I had no chance of looking down because I was so scared that when I did he would hurt me more.

"Yeah...Sorry!" I mumbled breathlessly.

His mouth twisted into an evil smile, the whites of his teeth glinting the low lighting of the halls, his eye's daring me to move.

"Good" his tone was different, almost satisfied with my answer. I began to question Oliver's promise as his fingers started to draw blood.

"Please let go" I whimpered. Never in my life had I wanted to say those words to a Slytherin. I'm ashamed of myself.

"You know? I don't think I will. I kind of like seeing you in pain" How odd was his words. I suppose though, every Slytherin wanted to see a Gryffindor in pain.

"Where's your boyfriendPeyton?" He shouted, I jumped from the sheer loudness of his voice. Holy Merlin this boy was insane. I didn't know him! Why was he shouting at me?

"Please just let go of me!" I tried pulling away but that only made him angrier so he scooped both of my tiny wrists in his in and in a flash and pinned them against my side.

"Wood's a bit of a flirt to be honest" he mumbled. "Likes the attention...yeah he sure does. I mean have you seen the lad show off? God we all know he's got a ounce of talent when it comes to that no brained sport but honestly? He doesn't have to throw himself at every girl."

I couldn't understand a word he was saying. Was he angry at me or Oliver? I wished someone would pass now and hex him to death. Where were Kris, Leona and Oliver? I was right by their side....Or I thought I was.

This boy in front of me clearly craved attention; the way he made our eye's connect showed me how dominating he was. I mean I suppose I was right, he sat at the back of the class, his head always bent in some book or when he was sulking in the corner he would stare at you until you had to look away, too scared to breathe.

Malfoy was a bit like that. Intimidating. Rude. Hurtful. Arrogant.

"If you don't let go I swear I'll hex your ass off!" I said.

"Oh will you know? You'll need your hands for that, seeing as I have them you won't have much luck"

"Oi Nott what are you doing!?"

FINALLY!

Someone has come to save me from this bastard. I sure as hell hoped it was Oliver. I strained my eyes, only realizing that Nott had loosened his grip when I felt the pain in my wrists. Blood went straight to back to my hands.

"Oh nothing Malfoy, just enforcing what a show off Wood was to Lancaster here" he replied smoothly. I had the odd temptation to kick him in the- yeah well you know. How dare he call Oliver a show off!

Malfoy? What!? Malfoy was here?

Dear god I was going to die. Two people that hated my guts stood staring at me. Do I run? No...Malfoy's probably a good runner he would catch me before I even lifted a foot.

"Hello Lancaster" Malfoy sneered.

I blinked, taking a precautions step back I nodded.

"Your oddly quiet today I'm surprised you haven't got any insults to throw my way" He turned to Theodore.

"Go, I need a word with Lancaster here"

Oh I have seen that look before! Yes that look when you know you're in for it when you've smashed your mums favorite vase. Nott looked disgruntled, as he walked away.

I didn't like the way Malfoy had so much authority either. I didn't like how he wanted a word with me. I certainly didn't like the way he was staring at me, I didn't like Malfoy. I didn't like the way he took another step closer to me. I didn't like the way his index finger prodded my bruised wrist.