Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or Sailor Moon.
Harry Potter and the Moon Crystal 25
Raye the Detective, Again
It wasn't easy fighting a giant pixie. It was bad enough when the scouts had to fight the thousands of Cornish pixies. Yet Sailor Rainbow wasn't about to give up. It was her destiny to get all the rainbow coins and she was going to get them. If she could fight a giant fish under water, she could take on a ten foot pixie.
"RAINBOW PRIMARY SWIRL!"
Beams of red, yellow and blue light swirled together and the pixie dodged it with ease. Even though it was no longer a swarm of miniscule pixies, it was still fast. The pixie laughed.
"You've got to try better than that!" it shouted.
Sailor Jupiter yelled and ran up to the pixie, throwing punches. The pixie grabbed Sailor Jupiter by the front of her bow and tossed her into the trunk of a tree
"Jupiter!" Sailor Venus gasped.
"Hey, I thought all these guardians are supposed to be benevolent!" Sailor Moon shouted.
"I am," said the pixie, "I'm just having some fun. I'm still a pixie, after all and we happen to like making practical jokes."
"Well, you don't see us laughing!" Sailor Venus yelled, preparing to gather her energy.
"VENUS LOVE AND BEAUTY SHOCK!"
Sailor Venus tossed the heart of Venus at the pixie. The pixie just grabbed the heart in its large hand and crushed it in pieces.
"Pitiful…" it muttered, shaking his head. It stepped closer to the scouts and opened its mouth wide, emitting a loud, high pitched, head splitting scream. The scouts grunted and winced as they put their hands to the ears and fell to their knees. Had the scouts been battling the pixie in a city, all the windows would've been broken.
"Stop…stop it!" Sailor Moon yelled.
The pixie continued to scream. Its scream was so powerful it made the branches, grass and even the girls sway back. Its scream caused Sailor Jupiter to come to.
"What's that awful noise?" she grumbled.
"Somebody shut it up!" Sailor Venus begged.
The girls struggled to get up to their feet. The pixie's powerful scream kept them imbalanced and they couldn't concentrate.
"Must…fight it…" Sailor Rainbow muttered.
Leaning against the tree trunk for support, Sailor Jupiter got up to her feet. "Gotta help them…" She tightened her fists and shook her head. "They're disturbing…the peace…of this place. It's going to wake the dead unless I do something!"
Sailor Jupiter found new strength to attack the pixie.
"JUPITER SPARKLING WIDE PRESSURE!"
A frisbee of electricity whizzed toward the pixie and hit it in the arm. It stopped short and looked at Sailor Jupiter. "What?"
"You know," Sailor Jupiter said, "your singing really stinks!"
The pixie laughed. "Oh, you think so, do you?"
"Just give us the coin already," Sailor Moon said.
"You haven't proved your worthiness of it yet," the pixie said, "I am the rightful keeper of this coin."
"Liar," Sailor Rainbow said, "I am! I'm Sailor Rainbow and I will get that coin! I didn't get this far just to give up. I got all the coins up till now and I'll get this coin and the violet coin!"
"Come prove it then, Sailor Rainbow," the pixie challenged. "You want this coin so badly?" the pixie pressed its hand on its chest, where the coin rested. "Come and get it!" The pixie took off in the air, laughing.
"It's getting away!" Sailor Moon yelled.
"Well it's not going to get far," Sailor Rainbow said, "I'll follow that thing to the end of the Earth if I have to!"
Sailor Rainbow opened her brooch and called upon the power of the latest coin. "RAINBOW BLUE GLIDER!"
A blue star-shaped glider appeared in front of Sailor Rainbow. Sailor Rainbow jumped on it.
"I'm going to try and bring it down," she said to the other scouts. "Ye lassies get ready!"
"Got it!" Sailor Moon said and the girls all got in a circle. Sailor Mercury took out her computer and turned on her visor.
Sailor Rainbow went after the pixie. The blue glider allowed her to go faster and higher than the green glider. She was right on the pixie's tail.
"You're not going anywhere!" Sailor Rainbow shouted at it. She raised her hands and began shooting blasts of color at the pixie. She missed every time. The pixie laughed at her, even stopped in midair to give her a chance to hit it. It would dance around her and give her raspberries.
"Love your hair!" the pixie cackled as it flew around her, flicking her now collar-length hair.
"Shut up!" Sailor Rainbow snarled, attempting punch the pixie. It laughed and flew away, zig-zagging around the trees.
"Just you wait," Sailor Rainbow muttered under her breath as she chased the pixie down. "I'll get you! I'll get you and the indigo coin. You can't keep it away from me forever! It's my destiny!"
As the pixie weaved around an oak tree, Sailor Rainbow took her opportunity to attack the pixie. Shooting her colored lasers did not work. It was far to fast. She had to attack it differently and she knew how. Sailor Rainbow held out her hands and opened her brooch. The red, yellow and blue coins flew out of it and began tracing circles in the air.
"RAINBOW PRIMARY TARGET!"
A red, yellow and blue bull's eye appeared on the pixie. Now that it was targeted the pixie couldn't dodge Rainbow's attacks, no matter how it flew.
"RAINBOW GREEN BLUE TERTIARY!"
The green and blue coins combined to make a green-blue blast of light. The pixie was hit right in the bulls' eye, between the shoulder blades of the pixie. The pixie called out began hurling to the ground.
"Hah!" Sailor Rainbow said, "Bulls' eye!"
"Here they come!" Sailor Mercury said. "The pixie's been hit! We need to hit it again!"
"No problem," Sailor Jupiter said. "JUPITER OAK EVOLUTION!"
"VENUS LOVE AND BEAUTY SHOCK!"
"MERCURY AQUA RAPSODY!"
"RAINBOW MOON HEARTACHE!"
The combined attacks hit the pixie just before it hit the ground. The sailor scouts approached it with caution. The pixie struggled to stand. Sailor Rainbow jumped off her glider when she came three feet above the ground. The blue star-shaped glider disappeared.
"Well, it looks like you have to give the coin to me because you're not worthy to keep it," Sailor Rainbow said, her brooch flashing indigo.
The pixie grunted as it pushed its torso up and at back on its legs. It smiled. "That was good, Sailor Rainbow." The pixie coughed and rubbed its chest. "Very good, it seems you've proven yourself. You really know how to handle those coins."
"That's true," Sailor Rainbow agreed.
"And now you'll have the indigo coin to add to your collection," the pixie began to fade from indigo to electric blue (I wonder what electric blue looks like). "It's yours!"
Sailor Rainbow's brooch opened up as the giant indigo pixie shrank down and divided the many miniscule pixies as before. The pixie in the middle stood holding the indigo coin. It soared up to Sailor Rainbow and fitted it in the lid of her brooch, next to the blue coin. The little pixie flew backward before the lid came back down and closed the brooch. Sailor Rainbow's blue brooch changed to indigo as well as her blue choker. The sapphire in her tiara became an indigo spinel crystal. Her shorter hair became braids agan with indigo gems and bows. An indigo stripe was added to her white boots. Once Rainbow's upgrade was complete, an indigo stream of light swirled around the other four girls and gave them more energy. The pixies clapped and jabbered in pixie.
"What did they say?" Sailor Venus questioned.
"No idea," answered Sailor Rainbow. "I don't speak pixie."
A pixie flew to Rainbow's cheek and kissed it. Sailor Rainbow laughed and the pixies flew away.
"Well, for annoying little pixies," she said, "they are kinda cute."
--
While the scouts were retrieving the indigo coin, Raye was exploring the Malfoy Mansion. On the top floor she heard strange noises. Raye paused and wondered if she should investigate them or not. What did the Malfoys keep up there? Was it a monster of some kind? A ghoul? No, it didn't sound like the sounds a ghoul would make. There was no banging against the walls or pipes being shaken. It sounded more like talking, shouts, blasts from wands…but it was so unclear and muddled. Was Lucius killing something up there? Or practicing for the time when he would be killing something? Then Raye remembered, Lucius was visiting with some "associates" today. It was just Raye, Draco and Narcissa in the house. Raye walked down the hall, closer to room where the noise was coming from. Perhaps it was a music player that was left on. Raye paused at the door and knocked on it.
"Eh, hello? Draco? Mrs. Malfoy?"
No answer. Raye put her hand on the doorknob, turned it slowly and pushed the door open just a crack. Peeking through, she saw nothing that looked dangerous. It was just a normal room. Raye pushed the door all the way opened and walked in further. The room was almost complete empty except for acid green candles sitting on tall candlesticks. The walls were plastered with pictures of people being tortured with the Cruciatus Curse. Raye walked up to one of the pictures with her hand over her mouth. What kind of room was this? Is this where Lucius Malfoy would come and re-live his Death Eater days? Raye sniffed, then finding something funny in the air, sniffed again. She looked at the candles.
"Poisonous Candles," she mumbled, putting her hand over her mouth and nose. In one corner was a small wooden chair. Raye walked over to the chair and found a white hat on it. It was patched, sort of like the sorting hat. Something was written down the hat in black letters:
BAD SON.
"Bad son?" Raye muttered
Raye sat down on the rickety chair and fingered the hat. Perhaps this was place Draco went for "time outs." Were the pictures always here? And what was the "BAD SON," cap supposed to be for? Was this some sort of cruel way Lucius disciplined his son? Calling him a bad son?
Feeling as something over took her; Raye raised the hat and dropped it onto her head. A second later, she wished he hadn't done so for she saw what happened in this room.
Lucius was speaking to nearly a six year old Draco.
"You humiliated me in front of the minister, Draco."
"Daddy, I'm sorry! I didn't' mean to!"
"You need a lesson
"Father please!" Lucius raised his wand. "Sapio!"
There was a smacking noise and Draco ended up with a smack in the face.
Raye witnessed more punishments and they became more intense as Draco got older..
"I'm getting tired of fighting your battles, Draco. You embarrassed me. Just because you couldn't listen in school."
"I didn't know the hippogriff was going to attack!" Thirteen year old Draco claimed.
"If you listened to the teacher then you wouldn't have!"
"That oaf shouldn't be teaching anyway!"
"Even if he is drunken fool, he knows animals," Lucius countered, "he clearly stated not to offend a hippogriff, didn't' he? If you weren't slacking off and just listen to the teacher, Draco, you wouldn't' have offended the beast and it wouldn't have attacked you. You know what I had to do to fix your mistake?"
"I'm sorry, father," Draco said, "I'm sorry. Please don't hurt me…I'm stil in pain from the attack."
"Oh, you are?" Lucius demanded. "Over a scratch, hmm? If that hurts then let me show you want real pain is like so you can get your mind off it!"
"Father, no, please!"
"Crucico!"
Draco's screams filled Raye's head. She wanted it to stop but she couldn't do anything. What was causing this vision? Her powers? The hat? She had to get it off. She tried lifting her arms to remove it but her arms couldn't' move. She kept seeing more of Draco's punishment.
"You are nothing but an embarrassment to me!"
"Dad, what'd I do?" Draco asked.
This vision looked so recent. Had it been over the summer? Lucius didn't look well. His hair looked like it was falling out and he looked like he was gaining weight. He had the measles.
"Potter got away! Those damn scouts! We were so close!"
"I've got nothing to do with that!" Draco shouted. "Father, what's the matter with you? You've been acting weird since I've gotten home!"
"Don't talk to me that way!" Lucius growled.
"I'd hex you now if Chizpurfles hadn't infested my wand and ate the core out of it!" Lucius hissed. "How many times have I told you, Draco? You must wash the Crups to keep Chizpurfles from getting in their fur!"
"But I have washed them!" Draco insisted. "I wash them all the time—except when I'm at school—that's when they got invested was it? I can't give the crups baths when I'm at school, Father!"
"Don't you talk back to me!" Lucius snarled and he smacked Draco with his hand. Draco yelped and put his hand to his cheek.
"F-father? Why? I haven't done anything!"
"Oh, yes, nothing, Draco! You've done nothing!"
Smack. Hit. Punch. Kick.
"Dad! Stop it! Stop it!"
"Stop it!" Raye shouted, her cries united with Draco's. "Please, make it stop! Stop it!"
Raye closed her eyes but she saw the visions in vivid color. Along with all these visions of Draco being abused, she saw many terrifying images of other people being hurt. She saw monsters of every kind devouring on the innocent. It was the most horrible thing she's ever been through and once again she felt so helpless. This was a hundred times worse than the day she entered Moody's office and was accosted by Barty Crouch Junior. This was worse than lying in a pit with a half-dead man and wondering if anyone was going to find her. She was trapped yet again. Why did Raye wander into this room?
"Raye!" It was Draco's voice, but it wasn't like the voice she was hearing in her head. It wasn't full of fright. It was more of concern mixed with anger. "Raye, what're you---No!"
"Draco!" Raye called.
"Ablego!"
The hat was whooshed off Raye's head but the terrifying images still remained in her brain. Raye slid out of the chair, her whole body limp. Draco ran to her and crouched down.
"What are you doing in here?" Draco demanded.
Raye opened her mouth to speak but all that came out were sobs. Draco pulled her up and she fell against him, shaking.
"I heard you screaming," Draco said, "if my mother or father found you…come on, let's go."
Raye was still so weak that Draco had to half carry her out of the room. Draco kept asking her why she was in there but she wasn't able to say a word until they entered her room. Draco set Raye on the bed and stepped back.
"Raye, what were you doing in there?" he asked. "You shouldn't be wandering around my house. You could've gotten stuck in a secret passage or something. I would've expected better from you since you know very well my father's a Death Eater."
"I—I'm sorry, Draco," she stammered. "I got lost and I heard something. It was the people in the posters."
"Why didn't you leave when you saw them?" he questioned her. "I found Nott running out of there when we were playing hide and seek when we were kids. He won't even come to the top floor to this day!"
"Theodore Nott?" Raye mumbled, "he's seen that room? Did he put the hat on too?"
"No," said Draco, "he would've been screaming just like you would've done if he did."
"How long were you in there?" Draco asked..
"I don't know," Raye replied, "maybe an hour…not sure. What was that room, Draco? Don't tell me it was used for storage."
"It doesn't' matter what it was," Draco said firmly.
"It was a torture chamber, wasn't it?" Raye asked her eyes still wide. "Your father abused you and that's where he did it. That hat he made you wear was all part of the sick punishment he gave you."
"I told you, Raye, it doesn't matter!" Draco said. "Just drop it!"
"But I can't. I know why you were in pain when Hogwarts started. Your father abused you over the summer, didn't he?" Raye asked. "Draco, why didn't you tell me?"
"I can't go around telling everyone how my father disciplines me!" Draco shouted. "It's none of their business and it's none of yours!"
"But I'm your girlfriend," Raye insisted as she got to her feet.
"You weren't then," Draco said, "just forget what you saw."
"I can't," Raye said, her eyes tearing up. "I saw too much of it to forget."
"Fine, I'll modify your memory," Draco said.
"No," Raye said, putting her hand on his. "I'd rather you didn't. Now I understand you more, Draco, and your father."
"What you saw wasn't real! Just forget it!"
"Not real? It looked real to me!" Raye countered. "Your father abused you since you were a little kid; he still abuses you, doesn't he?"
Draco did not respond and he looked at the floor.
"I saw him hurting you," Raye said, "so many times. He kept telling you that you were an embarrassment to him. I saw him using his hands on you because his wand wasn't working. Draco, you need to tell someone."
"No!" Draco shouted turning around. "No one can know! No one!"
"But they can help you, Draco, just see the ministry…." Raye walked up behind him and put her hand on his shoulder. Draco growled, slapped her hand away and turned around.
"You know how close my father is in the ministry?" Draco demanded. "They won't believe it, and even if they did, they wouldn't care!"
"But…what about Dumbledore…or Professor Snape, they can…"
"No, no one can help me!" Draco shouted, tears now stinging his eyes. He grabbed Raye's arms and shook her. "If my father ever found out that I told he'll be furious! He'll lock me up in that room for the rest of my life! He may even kill me! Please don't tell anyone, Raye! Please!" Raye looked back at him in shock. He really did look scared.
"All right, I won't tell anyone," Raye said, "but I don't like what he's doing to you, Draco. What he's doing to you is wrong."
"It's my fault he hurts me," Draco said, "I'm embarrassment to him…I try to make him proud but…"
"It's not your fault," Raye snapped. "He has no right to abuse you like that. That is no way to discipline children. He should send you to your own room, not that torture chamber."
Draco fell to his knees with his arms wrapped around Raye. "Oh Raye…"
Raye put her arm around him and her palm on top of his silver head. "It's all right," Raye whispered, "is this one of the reasons you've invited me over? You were afraid to be with your father?"
"Yes."
"Well, don't worry, Draco," Raye said, "he's not going to hurt you while I'm here."
"Please don't' say anything to him, Raye," Draco said, "if he found out I told you…"
"But you didn't Draco," Raye said, "I found out myself. I won't talk to him. I'll avoid him at all costs."
"Thanks, Raye," Draco whispered.
I won't talk to Lucius, Raye thought as she comforted Draco, but I'm sure Sailor Mars would have some words for him.
Draco composed himself and stood up. "Let's go to the piano room. Playing piano always calms me."
"Sure," Raye smiled, "your piano playing calms me too, Draco."
They went to the piano room and Draco played a number of songs for her, one of them being "Oh, Starry Night" which they sang together. By Raye's request, Draco taught Raye all the keys on the keyboard and how to play a few simple songs. When Raye touched the wrong key, she felt a sting in her fingertip. She yelped just as Draco gasped.
"Oh, Raye, I'm sorry!" he said, taking her hand in his. "I meant to tell you—this piano is kind of hexed."
"What do you mean, hexed?" Raye questioned.
"Well, when you hit the wrong key on the piano," he said, glancing at it, "it attacks. The bigger the mistake, the bigger injury."
"Couldn't you just tell when it sounds well, off-key?"
"Well, I guess I would if I was playing an ordinary piano," Draco said, looking at his piano and sighing. "But this is the only piano I used. I've grown accustomed to it. It's okay, Raye. It doesn't hurt as much as getting kicked in the shins when I step on the wrong pedal."
Draco pointed down at the three pedals. Raye shook her head. She took Draco's hand and looked at his fingertips.
"You were practicing your part of 'Oh Starry Night' all summer, weren't you?" she asked. "And when you messed up you got hurt—that's why you were limping when we got to school and that's why you were wearing those gloves. I saw the cuts on your fingertips. You father was hurting you this summer and then you put yourself in more pain to write a song…Oh Draco…"
Raye moved into Draco suddenly. Draco gasped in surprise.
"Raye, I'm all right."
"I'm worried about you, Draco," she admitted.
"Listen, I'm fine, really," he said, "the wounds from the keys don't really last that long."
"You've been sick too, haven't you?" Raye inquired, looking at him. "You really haven't been well."
Draco smiled and patted her head. "I'm okay. There's nothing to worry about."
--
Raye was tossing and turning in her sleep that night. She was replaying the awful visions from what the "Bad Son" hat gave her in her mind. Lucius was abusing Draco again and there was nothing Raye could do to stop it. Raye's sleeping face began sweating and she grimaced as if she was the one being cursed and smacked around.
"No, leave him alone," Raye muttered. "Stop…stop it!"
"AAAAAUUUUGGGGHHHHHHH!"
Raye's eyes flashed open and she sat straight up in bed, gasping. The screaming continued as if it were real. As Raye continued panting, the screaming didn't stop. It wasn't all just a dream—that scream was real! Draco was screaming right now! He was hurt. It was Lucius, he was hurting Draco!
"Lucius," Raye said in a deadly voice, throwing her covers off her and getting to her feet. She seized her wand and bounded in her room, thinking how she was going to hex Lucius Malfoy.
"You leave him alone---Draco?"
Lucius was not in the room and he wasn't attacking Draco. All of Draco's covers were a mess but the bed was empty. Draco was on the floor next to his bed, yelling his head off.
"Draco!" Raye shouted, falling down next to him. "Draco, what's wrong?"
"Cramp…in…my leg…it…hurts!" He managed to say, his hand grasping his left calf.
Raye put her hand on Draco's calf and began massaging it. Draco yelped and whimpered as Raye spoke to him soothingly.
"It's all right," she said, "just a cramp. You really scared me, Draco. I thought that…that your father…"
"Damn leg cramps," Draco groaned, "they're getting worse…"
"What do you mean?" Raye questioned. "You've been getting these lately."
"Yeah," Draco said with a grimace. "But they were never this bad."
"You poor guy," Raye said sympathetically. "Perhaps you should go to St. Mungos."
Draco laughed then grimaced again. "It's okay. They're only cramps. I just need to rub them out."
"How's your leg?" Raye said after rubbing for a while. "Is it okay?"
"Yeah, I think so," he muttered.
"Let me help you up," Raye volunteered, putting his arm around her neck and lifting him to his feet.
"Thanks…hey…it's a little stuffy in here," said Draco as he sat on his bed. "Could you open the window for me?"
To Raye, the room didn't seem at all stuffy but she went to open the window anyway. She went to sit next to Draco and began massaging his shoulders.
"You read my mind," Draco moaned.
"Well, I am psychic," Raye said with a grin. "Thought it would help you relax so you can go back to sleep."
"Thanks, Raye," he whispered and then he grunted as she put pressure to a certain spot.
"Oh, sorry," Raye mumbled.
"It's all right," he said. "I'm just really tense there."
Raye pulled on the collar of Draco's pajama top and peaked at his shoulder. From what she witnessed from that evil "bad son" hat, she was expecting to see it covered in bruises. His shoulder looked just fine except a large triangular knot next to it. His other shoulder had the similar knot.
"Weird," Raye mumbled, "you're so tense, Draco, I can actually see the knots in your back!"
"Don't worry," he said, "I'll live."
Raye continued to rub his shoulders but with more gentleness.
Draco gave a small smile and put his hand over Raye's. "I'm so glad you're here, Raye. I would've had an awful Christmas with out you."
"Yeah," Raye whispered and kissed his cheek. "You should be all right now. Get some sleep, Draco."
--
On New Years Eve, the Malfoys held a party. Raye and Draco were wearing matching dark green robes. Raye avoided Lucius as much as possible. Since she learned that he was an abusive father, she hardly spoke to him or looked at him. It was hard not to look at him and control her feelings at the same time. Lucius Malfoy's "friends" would be arriving soon and that made Raye nervous. She knew that it wasn't other school generals, or people from the ministry. Death Eaters were coming. She was going to be surrounded by Death Eaters once again. There may even be a chance that Voldemort was coming. Raye had to act like she really was just Draco's girlfriend. One good side of this was that Draco and Raye weren't going to be the only young people there. Theodore Nott, Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle—also sons of Death Eaters—were coming. Raye just had to pretend she was at school. She could handle the sons of Death Eaters, no problem. As Draco and Raye were talking in the front room, Lucius Malfoy entered.
"Draco, your friends are here," he said, "you may go and greet them."
"Thanks father," said Draco and hand in hand with Raye, he began to leave.
"No, go see them alone," Lucius said, "I'd like to talk to Raye. Tell her mre about the party."
Draco hesitated, glancing from Lucius to Raye. "I'll be right back," said Draco and he left the room.
Raye smiled at Lucius, as painful as it was to do so. "You want to talk to me, Mr. Malfoy?"
"Yes," he said, walking into the room. "Is there a problem?"
"Problem?"
"Lately you have been quiet," Lucius said, "I hope that you haven't lost interest in staying with us this Christmas."
Raye chuckled. "Oh, no, of course not. I'm having a great time. You have a lovely house."
"I know," Lucius said, folding his hands behind his back and walking to a portrait of his grandparents. "You know how long this house has been in my family?"
"No sir," said Raye.
"Thirteen generations."
"Wow, that's neat," Raye said, trying to sound enthused, "thirteen, that's incredible." 'What a lucky number,' Raye thought sarcastically to herself.
"Draco has never told you?" Lucius asked her over his shoulder.
Raye shook her head.
"Tell me, something, Raye," Lucius said, "do you feel…uncomfortable in this house?"
"Mr. Malfoy, I just told you that you have a lovely house," Raye said somewhat defensively. "I don't feel uncomfortable."
"Just as long as you're with Draco, I'm sure," Lucius inquired.
"I care a lot about Draco," Raye said.
Lucius smirked. "Do you really?"
"Of course I do," Raye retorted. "I'm going to go meet with him and our friends from school. Excuse me."
Raye turned to leave but Lucius grabbed her arm, quite painfully. She winced and looked at her arm. She didn't want to look at his evil eyes. He might use Legilmency on her. He would know who she was and she'd be in real trouble.
"Mr. Malfoy, let go," she said.
"No, I'm not done with you," he said, "I think I know why you're really here, Raye. You didn't come to spend the holidays with Draco, you're after something."
"Like what?" Raye demanded. "I'm not after anything. Let me go!"
"So, you saw me in the mirror, didn't you?" Lucius asked. "I didn't expect you to see me."
Raye fought not to glare at Lucius. She closed her eyes and tried to pull her arm from his grasp. "Well I did. I'm a psychic, Mr. Malfoy…didn't Draco tell you?"
"He did, actually," Lucius said, "but only after you saw me in the mirror and he destroyed it. That was very expensive, I have you know."
"Well Mr. Malfoy, you watching me through that mirror is kind of sick!" Raye snarled.
Lucius laughed. "Oh, you have the wrong idea, my dear. I wasn't going to try anything."
"I don't buy it!" Raye hissed.
"I was simply watching you to make sure you weren't taking anything what doesn't belong to you."
"You think I'm a thief?" Raye demanded. "Mr. Malfoy, Draco has already given me enough! Why would I roam your house intending to steal from you?"
"I don't mean jewelry," Lucius said, "I mean cursed items. I'm sure you know who I am? Draco said that you did. Tell me, Raye, how do you know that I'm a Death Eater?"
Raye gasped and fought hard to find a way to lie. It was hard with the way he was looking at her. She cleared her mind with all thought, all emotion, all memory. "I heard about it…from the Daily Prophet…when You-Know-Who lost power."
"Ah, I see," said Lucius said, letting go of Raye's arm and putting his finger to his chin thoughtfully. "So you must've done your research, hmm? You think because my family supported The Dark Lord's motives, you think I am a Death Eater?"
"Well, you just admitted it to me now, Mr. Malfoy," Raye said casually.
"Ah, yes," Lucius said, "but you seem like a smart girl. You're not going to tell anyone. You're not going to tell a soul I'm back in The Dark Lord's circle."
"Oh, of course not, Mr. Malfoy," Raye said, "it's not my job. I'm not an Auror. I'm just your son's girlfriend."
"Well then," Lucius said, "just keep in mind if I find anything missing from my home, you will pay for it."
"I'm not a thief, Mr. Malfoy," Raye said firmly.
"And I don't just mean dark items," Lucius added. "What happens in this house stays in this house."
"So, you don't just think I'm a thief, you think I'm a spy too don't you?" Raye demanded and laughed before he could answer. "What's going to happen, Mr. Malfoy? Are you going to have a surprise birthday for The Dark Lord?"
"Anything can happen where The Dark Lord is concerned," Lucius said, taking a step toward Raye, who stepped back. "You know, Raye…I think I can see why Draco likes you so much."
Raye collided into the wall. Lucius getting far too close. She really didn't like that grin on his face.
"Mr. Malfoy--," Raye began and then she was saved by the yell.
"Raye!" shouted Narcissa's. Malfoy's voice. "In the kitchen! Right now!"
Raye chuckled and tiptoed backwards to the door. "Well, what do you know; it sounds like Mrs. Malfoy needs a hand in the kitchen! If you excuse me…"
Grinning ear to ear, Raye walked to the kitchen.
"You called for me, Mrs. Malfoy?" Raye asked.
"Could you set the—what the devil are you grinning about?" Mrs. Malfoy demanded once she saw the grin on Raye's face.
"Huh—oh!" Raye's grin faltered slightly and she blushed. "Draco just told me a really funny joke. You know, he's got a great sense of humor."
Mrs. Malfoy furrowed her eyebrow and made that "what's-that-smell?" face. "Draco doesn't know any jokes. I want you to set the table before the rest of our guests arrive. Then after that I want you to help me with the dinner."
"Yes ma'am," Raye replied and groaned inside herself. Where's Lita when I need her?
When Raye finished setting the table, she noticed that another guest arrived. She was relieved to see it was Professor Snape. Even though he was a Death Eater, she knew that she could at least trust him. Narcissa stopped what she was doing immediately and smiled. Raye watched curiously. That was the first time she ever saw Narcissa smile since Raye came to stay for Christmas. What was most curious was that Professor Snape didn't look like he usually did. His long, greasy black hair was now clean and pulled back nicely with a green bow. Emerald green dress robes replaced the black working robes he always wore at school. He returned Narcissa's smile with one of his own and his teeth wasn't yellow but white.
"Wow," Raye mumbled, "Professor Snape?"
"Good evening, Narcissa," said Snape.
"Severus, thank you for coming," Narcissa said.
"Thank you for inviting me."
Raye watched them for a while then decided to speak before Narcissa noticed her staring. "Um, Mrs. Malfoy—I'm done—what would you like me to do next?"
Narcissa didn't even look at Raye. "Oh, just…start serving the hors d'oeuvres."
Raye spotted a tray of appetizers on the counter and picked it up. "Yes ma'am. Er, hello, Professor Snape."
"Miss Hino," said Snape.
Raye walked up to the guests and let them pick off the plate. She wasn't sure whether to tell Draco what she just noticed or not. Maybe Narcissa and Snape were just good friends. But the way he was dressed—was it for the party—or for Narcissa? She saw Draco with his friends and he moaned when he saw her with the appetizer tray.
"Raye, is my mother going to make you work for the whole party?" he asked.
"I'm only giving her a hand, Draco," she said as she held the tray out for the boys "Care for a hors d'oevre?"
"No thanks," said Draco.
Theodore Nott shook his head but Crabbe and Goyle both picked off the tray. Theodore groaned and shook his head. Raye smiled.
"Well, I'm glad some of you like these things," she said.
"Did you make them?" Draco asked, looking at the tray. If Raye had made them, he should have one so he didn't upset her.
"No," Raye said, "I got out of having to cook…so far." She turned to Crabbe and Goyle. "They taste all right?"
The two big boys shrugged and continued to gobble them down. Raye noticed that Gylle's grizzly hair didn't look so grizzly.
"Um, Gregory," she said and Goyle looked surprised to be addressed by his first name. "Your hair…looks different."
Raye was surprised to see him blush a little bit and Draco had to explain.
"Oh, his mother got him Lockhart's hair potion for Christmas," he said, "you going to start curling your hair next, Goyle?"
"Oh stop it," Raye said to her boyfriend, slapping his shoulder playfully. Draco rolled his eyes. "He looks nice."
"Thanks," Goyle said, "you think Sofia would like it?"
"Oh, she'll love it!" Raye said.
"Who's Sofia?" Theodore asked.
"Don't you remember Sofia Saulite?" Raye inquired. "She's from Durmstrang. Gregory danced with her at the Yule ball last year."
"Oh," said Theodore, "yeah, I remember her. How did you get her to dance with you?" He looked at Goyle skeptically.
"I just asked her," Goyle said.
"I'm surprised she danced with you too," Raye admitted, "but she says she likes guys like Gregory."
"You're kidding," Theodore and Draco said together.
"Speaking of Sofia," Raye said, "I really need to send her an owl. I wonder who their new headmaster is…"
"Headmistress," Goyle said, "Professor Hazar. She was the Deputy Headmistress for Durmstrang and she took over when Karkaroff left."
"How does Sofia like her?" Raye inquired.
"Better than Karkaroff," Goyle said as he took another appetizer.
"You write to Sofia often?"
Goyle nodded. "Almost everyday."
"I didn't know you could write," said Draco.
"Draco!" Raye scolded and Draco flinched. Theodore suppressed a smile.
"Well, that's great, Greg," Raye said, patting the large boy's arm. "That's great!"
Raye looked down to find the appetizer tray empty. "Well, it looks like I'm going to need more appetizers, excuse me guys."
When Raye went back to the kitchen to get another tray and ask Narcissa what else she could do, Narcissa wasn't there.
"Strange," Raye mumbled, "where'd she go? Mrs. Malfoy?"
Raye went up to the third floor, where her bedroom was. She stopped right outside the bedroom when she heard Narcissa speaking. The person she was talking to wasn't Lucius, but Snape. Raye put her hand in her pocket nd pulled out an Extendable Ear. When Fred and George learned that Raye was coming to the Malfoy's house, they gave her tons of things they thought would "help."
"Fred, George, I owe you guys one," Raye mumbled as she put on piece in her ear and let the other fall by the creak of the door. Now she could their voices perfectly.
"I'm worried, Severus. Now that The Dark Lord is back, I may lose my family."
"You won't," said Severus.
"I've already lost my sister," Narcissa said with a slight laugh. "Bellatrix is in prison and she has entirely lost her mind. She should've renounced her actions. She had a child…how could she turn her back on her own flesh and blood?"
"I don't know," said Severus.
"I couldn't stand it if I lost Lucius too," Narcissa moaned.
"You've already lost him," Severus said quietly.
"What do you mean?"
"You lost him the day you married him," Severus said, "you knew what kind of man he was. He didn't really love you and you didn't love him either. You still don't."
"That's a lie!" Narcissa shrieked and Raye winced slightly. The Extendable Ears surely did work, a little too well at times.
"He doesn't love you the way I do, Narcissa," Severus murmured. "I've always loved you."
"Severus, please," she whispered.
"I know you love me too," Severus told her. "Look at me Narcissa."
Raye tried peeking in the keyhole. She should've asked Fred and George for some extendable eyes. She could hear what they were saying but she couldn't see what they were doing.
"I do love you, Severus," Narcissa said with her voice breaking. "But I'm married."
"But I'm the one you really trust," Severus said, "I'm the one you really love. I'm the only one you can come to. You only married Lucius because he was a pureblood. You didn't want your parents to disown you like they did Andromeda."
"She was stupid to marry a mudblood," Narcissa hissed, "she knew the family rules."
"Maybe," Severus said, "but she was smart to marry someone she really loved. You should've married me. You should've married the Half Blood Prince."
"I know that. I wanted to marry you but it's too late now," Narcissa moaned, "Lucius is Draco's father. Severus…I…I don't know what to do."
Raye gasped and put her hand to her mouth. Did she just hear Snape correctly? Is he a prince? Was he really in love with Narcissa Malfoy? Were they having an affair? Her head full of questions, Raye backed away and put the Extendable Ear in her pocket. She wandered away from the door. Raye wandered up to the top floor and sat at the steps to think. What was going on here? The man of the house was a Death Eater, his wife was possibly having an affair with royalty and his son was being abused by him. The Malfoy family really was screwed up.
Raye saw Theodore Nott walking up the stairs toward her. He stopped at the foot of the stairs.
"I wouldn't go up there if I were you," he said nervously, pointing at the top of the stairs.. "Come on, Draco is looking for you. The dinner is about to start."
"Oh, right," said Raye getting to her feet and following Theodore down the stairs. "So, why wouldn't you come up here?"
"I don't think you'd believe me if I told you," Theodore muttered.
Raye glanced behind her. You might me surprised, Raye thought as she followed Theodore to the dining room.
"There you are, Raye," Draco said as he put his arm around her. "We're about to start eating."
"That's great," Raye murmured.
As Raye came to her seat, she heard some voices. She paused and listened.
"First thing we need to do is hunt," said a logical voice
"They'll let us out soon enough," said an absentminded voice. "I was just dreaming of a…."
"All you ever do is dream," interrupted a critical voice, "Both of you be quiet. . ."
"Huh?" Raye mumbled, turning to Draco and his friends. "Did you guys say something?"
"No," Theodore said, "come on, let's eat."
Raye looked around her. She could've sworn she heard voices. Three of them. The voices continued throughout the dinner. Raye kept looking around but none one at the table matched the voices she was hearing. Was the Malfoy mansion haunted?
"Our master will be here soon," Lucius announced, "and we shall give him his new birthday present."
"What's he talking about?" Raye mumbled to Draco.
"The Dark Lord," Draco whispered back.
"He's coming here?"
Draco nodded. "There's something the Death Eaters want to give him."
Raye felt queasy. What were they about to give Voldemort? Was it the weapon he was looking for? Have they found it? I just had to ask Lucius if there was going to be a surprise party for Voldemort, didn't I? Raye thought. What was she going to do now?
TO BE CONTINUED
--
Man this was a long chapter! Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed it. Sorry for the late updates. I'm so busy with school and work and stuff I'm about to go insane! I can't wait until spring break…Hey! There's going to be an anime convention in Boise soon. The voice actor for Ed from Full Metal Alchemist will be there. I am so PSYCHED!