~Year: 2009

"There's a test run tonight," Draco tells you, as the two of you stand at the top of the stairs in the Slytherin common room. "Bellatrix will attempt to come through the cabinet."

"We have look outs, then?"

"Crabbe and Goyle," Draco admits grudgingly, and then smiles. "I swiped some polyjuice potion from the potions room, and stole hair from some first year girls. I can't wait to see Crabbe as a girl."

You frown. "You're going to make them into girls?"

"If I have to work with people they have to work on my terms." Draco laughs, and then claps his hands together, rubbing his palms together.

"You sound like a spoiled kid," you comment.

"You like it," Draco teases, and you grab his tie to reel him in closer to you.

"You know me too well," you say with a mock sigh, kissing him.

That night, around 7:30, you are sitting in the common room, your feet stretched out on the coffee table by the fire, reading a copy of Transfiguration Today. Daphne's cat, Cainne, sits next to you, purring loudly, digging his claws into the upholstery.

"Hello, Celia," you hear two voices say. You turn around and gasp, then collapse laughing. Two girls, one dark haired and blue eyed, the other red haired and brown eyed, stand in back of the couch, their hands down by their sides, dressed in pristine Slytherin robes.

"Don't tell me," you say, and see Draco emerge from the top of the stairs. "Crabbe on the left, Goyle on the right?"

"How could you tell?" The dark-haired girl asks.

"Your expressions," you reply, throwing down your magazine. Cainne hisses loudly and claws at you, then taking off into the darkness. You shake your hand, and your thumb bleeds. "Shall we go up then?"

"Not yet," Draco replies, coming to your side. He wipes the drop of blood on your thumb and then waves his wand over the scratch, so the skin mends, covering the open wound. Draco raises your hand to his lips and kisses your palm, then folds your fingers over. "You can't come at the same time. They'll have to go first, so it doesn't look suspicious."

Crabbe and Goyle glare at the two of you, and then head out of the common room.

"I think they're in a bit of a strop with you," you tell him.

"Ah, piss it," he says, leaning his forehead against yours. "Not like it matters, anyway."

There's a sudden sound, like some one is having a fit in the room. You look 'round to see Pansy, entering the room with Millicent Bulstrode, looking furious.

"Right then," you say quickly, tugging Draco down the stairs and towards the door. "We'll just get going, then."

"Cunt…" you hear Pansy whisper as you pass.

"You know what?" You explode, and let go of Draco's hand. He hastily tries to grab you by the arm, incase you start swinging your fists. "I am tired of you and your crap, Pansy. I have put up with you far too long."

"I can't help it that you're some slut who butted in and-"

"It started long before that, Pansy. I remember when my parents died. And Draco was one of the only ones there to comfort me. You didn't even say sorry when I returned to school, even though you knew full well that I was going through a tough time. No, you freaked out because my best friend was there when I needed him. And you have tried to make my life miserable. And I don't deserve that."

"You…You…" Pansy can't seem to form the words. And then she spits: "I've always hated you. You're just so…ODD. You're weird, bitchy, and frankly," she throws a glance at Draco. "I'm not sure why any one would like you."

"No, Pansy," you correct. "That's not me. You just described yourself. You hate me because though I lost everything I own, I have everything you want." Draco places his hand on the small of your back. Pansy looks from you to Draco, tosses her hair, and glares, though you see a small sparkle of a tear in her eye. She turns away and quickly crosses the room, heading back up the staircase.

"Come on," you say quietly, not looking at Draco.

"Wait," he says, grabbing your arm. "I just…I'm proud of you."

"It was about time I said something," you shrug as the two of you slide through a shortcut, clopping up the staircase.

"I just want you to know, I don't think you're odd," Draco whispers in your ear.

"I am odd," you say simply. "But I'm okay with it."

"If you're odd, then this whole world is screwed up," Draco tells you, taking your hand in his.

Crabbe and Goyle are waiting outside the room as the two of you approach, dawdling as Goyle clutches a heavy set of scales in one hand. Draco looks around and then begins to pace in front of the room, and that's when something catches your eye. A movement, at the end of the hallway.

"I…I have to go to the bathroom," you say suddenly, avoiding Draco's eyes.

"You can always use one in the room," he counters, his hand on the door knob.

"No," you say suddenly, so suddenly that he raises his eye brows. "I…it's at the end of the hallway. Just go on. I'll be there in a minute."

Draco pushes open the door and disappears into it's depth. Ignoring Crabbe and Goyle's curious looks, you quickly head down to the end of the hallway and peer around the corner. At first, it appears no one is there, until you see a trainer peeping out from behind a large vase. You cautiously approach the lone shoe, and then put your hand out, as if searching the air for something. Seconds later, you feel something solid. You tighten your fingers and pull. Harry jumps up as you pull away his invisibility cloak.

"I could see your trainer," you tell him, nodding to his sneaker. Harry snatches back his cloak. "What are you doing, Harry?"

"What's it matter to you?" He asks rather rudely. "Shouldn't you be off somewhere snogging Malfoy?"

"Don't bring him into this," you reply calmly. "Harry, I know you've been…spying."

"I'm not spying," he says hastily, even defensively.

"You're a terrible liar," you say gently.

"What does he do every day in there?" he bursts out, and you quietly try to shush him, looking back towards Crabbe and Goyle, who thankfully, appear not to have heard. "I see him, Celia, he goes in there all the time, alone. He gets paler by the day…he misses class all the time…and, and…you don't look surprised."

"It sounds like you have a crush on my boyfriend," you say lightly, but Harry scowls and you swallow. "It's really nothing, Harry. It doesn't concern you."

"I know what he's doing Celia. And you don't deserve that. You…you're wonderful, perfect, even if you are dating Malfoy." Harry blushes deeply.

"That's nice of you to say," you tell him hesitantly. "I really am sorry, about everything, Harry. But if you feel the way you say you do, you need to stop coming up here."

Harry looks at you, the corners of his mouth twitching slightly, and his eyebrows contracting. Finally, his mouth drops and he says:

"I won't come up here any more."

"Thank you," you tell him. "Now, if you could make on that promise and get out of here, it would be really cool."

Harry grins sadly. "I miss you, Celia."

You're quiet, and you feel your face heat up. You thank the lord Draco isn't here, or Harry might be reduced to a mush of human pulp. As you're thinking this, Harry suddenly lunges forward and grabs your left arm, as if taking your hand in his. At that moment, the dark mark lets out a particularly painful throb, and you bite down on your lip to keep from screaming.

"I, I have to go…" you say, trying to pull your arm away.

"Celia," Harry says, looking concerned. "Your lip is bleeding."

"Yes, well," you say, finally wretching your hand away. "I have to go…Draco's waiting."

"Celia," Harry calls out as you begin to walk away. You turn back to look at him, and he suddenly smirks. "It hurt, didn't it? Your left arm?" And then he slithers out of sight, as quietly and as smoothly as a snake in the grass; nearly invisible and completely deadly.