Disclaimer: I don't own any characters.

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Chapter 19

He couldn't sleep. He kept having the same dream about a beautiful mermaid. She would come so close to shore, but when he would jump in after her, she would swim away. She led him further and further out to sea until he was trapped. Then…he would drown.

This is when he woke up, usually coughing.

He looked at his watch and saw that it was barely six in the morning. He crept into his room and found her sound asleep and peaceful.

He couldn't resist. He walked over to the bed and sat down.

His touch was soft. Slow. And curious. He ran his fingers down her fingers and over her open palm, went up her arm and to her neck. He grazed her cheek softly and brushed her lips with his thumb. She stirred softly and his hand recoiled. But she didn't wake.

His hand went back out tentatively and stroked her hair. It was soft, like a feather. He leaned in slowly, stopped mere centimeters away from her face and took in her scent. It smelled like her; warm, soft and beautiful. He wished he could bottle it.

She gave a soft groan.

She felt something tickling her face. She vaguely thought of Kit but dismissed it just as easily.

Her head still hurt as the memories came tumbling back. The last thing she remembered was seeing herself as a mermaid again. Then after that, it was blank.

As she woke she could feel something soft all around her. She also felt something cold and clammy on her head.

She opened her eyes and was met with a blank stare from the man at her side. He had a cold compress on her forehead and was looking at her intently.

"How are you feeling?" he asked as soon as he thought she was fully awake.

She took a minute to take in her surroundings before answering. She was on a large bed and the soft material she had felt was definitely silk. They were torches on either side of the walls and a few candles spread around. She felt slightly uncomfortable when she realized where she was.

She sat up suddenly causing the compress to slide off of her head. "What time is it?" she asked worriedly.

"Six."

"In the morning? Oh my god, I have to go. Piper and Paige are gonna think something happened." She made to get off of the bed but he forced her back down by putting his hands on her shoulders.

"How do you feel?" he asked again, but this time more intently.

"A little woozy, but otherwise I'm fine. What happened?"

She saw a small look of guilt cross his face. "I held the spell for too long. You collapsed and I brought you here to rest."

"Oh. Well, don't worry about it. I'm sure it happens all the time. But I really have to go before Piper blows up half the castle looking for me."

"I just have one question, Professor Halliwell. First a banshee, then a mermaid. How many other things have you been turned into?"

"Too many to count. But hey, better a mermaid than a wendigo or a vampire. And please, call me Phoebe. We both know I'm no professor."

She got off the bed and this time he let her. She was almost out the door when she turned around. "Thank you," she said.

"For what?"

"For being so patient with me. I know I must screw up a lot and I just wanted to thank you for not biting my head off."

He nodded but said nothing. He didn't really know what to say. He looked at her wondering why she was still there, when she spoke again.

"I just hope you're as patient with Harry. He's been through as much as we have in a shorter amount of time. He lost everything before he even knew he had anything to lose. He deserves a fair try to learn without being yelled at."

Without waiting for a response, she left.

Her words echoed through his head.

As she was walking out of his office she noticed the essays on the desk. Seeing Harry's, she stopped to look. She smiled softly when she saw the grade and then rushed out of the office and back up to their corridor.

... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...

(The night before)

"Who's going to kill you?" she asked her voice now low and very serious.

He could have smacked himself. Now he had to tell her.

"No one. That's not what I meant." Or maybe he didn't.

"It sure looked like you did. Tell me what is going on. And don't even think about saying nothing because it's obvious. I've been noticing for the passed few days, you're different, you look stressed."

"That's none of your bloody business," he snapped.

"If it involves us, which I highly think it does, then it most certainly is my business. Now tell me."

He said nothing.

"You know we can protect you, right? Me and my sisters."

Draco snorted. "Yeah right. They hate me, especially Paige. She's be glad if I died."

"She may not be your biggest fan; she just doesn't trust easily. And maybe Phoebe would be a little friendlier towards you if you stopped trying to hit on her all the time," she finished with a grin. "You have to trust us. We're the good guys remember?"

"According to who?" he asked before he could stop himself.

"According to everyone we've saved," she said seriously.

He didn't want to tell her, he just couldn't. If he did then that would mean he was on their side, one of the good guys and that thought sickened him. And yet he didn't want to be a slave to Voldemort forever either. There was no other word for it, he was confused.

And Piper saw it. "A penny for your thoughts," she asked softly.

"What's a penny?" he asked even more confused.

"I'll tell you if you tell me what's going on in that head of yours." This wasn't working and she knew it. She had to try a different approach. "Fine," she snapped suddenly. "Don't tell me. Just keep this in mind: I can blow things up with my bare hands, and if I ever find out that you've done anything to put me and my sisters in danger, I'll start with your toes and work my way up. Understand?"

He looked scared for a brief moment but then skepticism crossed his face. "Yeah right, and I can fly without a broom," he drawled.

"Seems like you can't exactly fly with one either."

He was getting angry. Perfect. That's just what she wanted.

"I see you need a little demonstration."

She walked over to the other bed, picked up the pillow and brought it back over. She threw it up in the air and froze it. She saw his eyes widen and finished it off. With a flick of her wrists the pillow exploded in mid-air and feathers were everywhere.

"That will be your leg if you're too chicken to tell me what the hell is going on," she growled in a low voice.

"I am not a chicken," he ground out sitting up in bed and glaring at her.

"No, you're worse. You're a Slytherin. And from what I hear they got the short end of the stick when it comes to having guts. The Gryffindor's have the guts don't they?"

She could see his eye twitch slightly. "You don't know what you're talking about! No one defies the Dark Lord and gets away with it! No one!"

"How would you be defying him?" she pressed on.

He caught on to her game and calmed down. But he needed to make up his mind before it tore him apart inside. "If I tell you, you'll hate me," he said softly.

"Try me."

He couldn't take it anymore. He could no longer hold it inside. "I'm supposed to spy on you. I'm supposed to gather information to help destroy you," he said coldly.

She simply nodded. "Why would I hate you if you haven't told them anything?" she asked.

"How do you know I haven't told them anything?" he asked bitterly.

"Because if you had, we wouldn't be having this conversation. Besides, it's not like you know anything," she added.

He looked almost offended. "I know some stuff," he admitted.

"Like?"

"Chris is your son," he stated.

"How did you -"

"That night, before I left, I heard him call you 'Mom.'"

"Him and his big mouth," she said annoyed.

"And now I know about your powers," he added.

"True. Well, it's up to you to decide what you think is right. Just remember the pillow," she added with another grin.

"You're not mad?" he asked not daring to believe it.

"I trust you to do the right thing," she said hoping that she wasn't making a huge mistake.

Before Draco could even move or register what was happening Piper had bent over and hugged him tight.

He tensed at first. He felt her breath on his neck. His face was in her hair and her arms were all around him. He felt safe in her embrace. Not even his mother had ever hugged him like that. He could tell she was a good mother. Her son was lucky.

It was then that he knew he could trust her. Maybe not Phoebe and Paige, but definitely her.

She pulled away and kissed him lightly on the forehead. His eyes widened when her warm lips touched his cold and pale skin.

"Rest up. You're gonna need it," she said. Then she smiled and walked out of the hospital wing.

... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...

Piper walked back upstairs hoping she had done the right thing.

He's young. He deserves a chance.

She said the password and walked inside the house. She went up to her room and went to bed not even bothering to change.

... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...

She didn't know what woke her. She looked out the window and it was still dark out. Checking her watch she saw that it was just about six in the morning.

Then she heard it. A rustling downstairs.

Slowly and quietly Piper got out of bed and crept to Paige's room. Before she even got to the door Paige had opened it. Apparently she had heard the noise too.

Together they went down the stairs. Not even halfway down, they crashed into something hard.

"Ow!" came a familiar voice.

"Phoebe?" asked Piper. "What are you doing? Where have you been?"

"I was with, never mind, I was nowhere."

"Nice try. Spill it, sister," said Paige now turning on the light.

They walked down into the living room and sat.

"Well?" asked Piper.

"I had occlumency with Snape remember?" she finally said.

"And? What took you so long? It's six in the morning," asked Paige.

"Did he give you some other lessons?" asked Piper wryly.

"Piper! Ew. No. I passed out, apparently. I don't really remember what happened."

"Oh, are you alright?" asked Paige.

"I guess. He said he held the spell too long. I saw…me and Cole, when he was becoming the Source. Then I saw when we vanquished him, and me as a mermaid," even as she spoke she fought the tears.

"Oh Phoebe," said Piper understandingly.

"It's like reliving it all over again. You almost forget it's not real. You feel everything exactly how you felt it when it happened. It's horrible," she shuddered.

They enveloped her in a tight hug and stayed like that for a while.

"Well, since we're up," said Piper. "Who's up for some coffee?"

"Ooh, pick me!" said Phoebe. "I definitely need the caffeine boost."

Laughing, they walked into the kitchen. Suddenly Piper remembered what had happened the night before.

"Draco," she said randomly.

"Ugh. What about him?" asked Paige though it was clear she couldn't care less.

"Remember how I said he was looking a little off lately? Well, I found out why. He's supposed to be spying on us."

This sent Paige on a seemingly never ending rant. "I knew it! I told you he was evil. I knew from the second we saw him on the train that he was bad news and now he's gone and sold us out. I ought to -"

She was promptly cut off when Piper stuffed a piece of toast in her mouth. Phoebe laughed and Paige, choking slightly, glared at her older sister.

"What?" Piper asked innocently. "I would have frozen you, but alas I can't."

"Alas? You sound like Dumbledore," said Phoebe.

"Besides, you didn't let me finish. I said he was supposed to be spying on us. He hasn't told them anything. He didn't have anything to tell, besides that Chris was my son. He overheard us talking that night."

"Weasel," she heard Paige mutter.

"Paige, I want him to trust us. If he doesn't, he'll turn on us. You need to be nice. He thinks you hate him," Piper said.

"Well, then he's not as dumb as he looks," said Paige.

"At least give him a chance," said Phoebe catching both Piper and Paige off guard. "Maybe he's not that bad once you get to know him. Besides, just 'cause he's a Slytherin that doesn't make him all bad."

"Phoebe, I don't think you're talking about Draco anymore," said Piper suspiciously. "Do you have your mind on a certain greasy haired potions professor?"

"No! How could you even think that? That's completely ridiculous," she said unconvincingly.

"Yeah, sure. Listen, I think we're supposed to go watch a class today," said Piper. "How about potions?" she asked not bothering to be subtle.

"Sounds good to me." said Paige. "Phoebe?"

But she had already gone upstairs to change.

... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...

Snape nearly dropped the cauldron he was carrying when he saw the sisters in the back of the classroom. He made brief eye contact with Phoebe before turning his back on the class. Piper and Paige noticed and nudged Phoebe while grinning to her great dismay.

As the lesson began, Snape told the class that they would be making a healing potion. It was best used on small cuts and such but if made incorrectly, could easily be turned into a strong sleeping draught.

With a wave of his wand he had the ingredients and procedures on the board and everyone began their work. While the students worked, Snape walked around and handed Harry, Ron, and Hermione their essays. Audible gasps filled the room as the trio saw their grades.

"He gave me an 'O'?!" Harry said not daring to believe it. "I thought he would fail me for sure, even though I actually tried on this one."

Hermione too seemed speechless. "I got an 'O', too." she whispered. "I never thought he would, no matter how hard I tried.." she seemed at a loss for words.

Ron, being Ron, failed to keep his enthusiasm in check. "Bloody hell! I got an 'A'!" he yelled loud enough for everyone to hear. "That's like my first passing grade in potions…ever."

He turned around and the smile quickly faded from his mouth as he saw Snape standing right behind him. "Congratulations, Mr. Weasley. Now do get back to your potion before I change my mind, and your grade."

Ron nodded mutely and turned back to Harry and Hermione.

He hadn't even taken any points off or yelled or called him names.

Something was definitely up with him.

Meanwhile, Piper walked around to the different tables and tried to help those out who needed it, to the great annoyance of Snape.

"Professor Halliwell, I would greatly appreciate if you would allow the students to attempt the potion on their own or they will never learn," he said in a would be calm voice.

"Okay. I was just telling Pansy that her potion would be thicker if she added ice to it, but you don't seem to have any."

He motioned her aside. "Does that actually work?" he asked curious. He was never in too bad a mood to learn something new about potions.

"All the time." she said and they continued their conversation.

Paige found herself wandering over to Draco's cauldron. He was working with Crabbe and Golye but it was obvious that he was doing all the work. She noticed that he kept shooting glances up at Piper and wasn't really watching what he was doing. If he kept that up, he could get hurt.

"You might want to add the pixie wings before you stir in the mandrake sap," she whispered close to his ear making him jump slightly.

"Why so it can blow up in my face?" he snapped.

"No. So it won't blow up in your face," she said and she pointed to the directions on the board which clearly said what she had just stated.

"Thanks," he said bitterly casting another glance at Piper.

"No problem. You know, Piper seems to trust you. So…I guess I will too." She gave him a small, reassuring squeeze on his shoulders and walked away towards Lavender and Parvati's table.

Draco wasn't sure whether or not to believe Paige. She had warned him about the potion, but why? He made a mental note to find out.

By the end of the class everyone had successfully made the potion (with a little help from the sisters of course).

That was the first potions class that hadn't ended in an explosion or someone, usually Neville, getting points taken off.

It had everyone hoping that the sisters would come to every potions class. Well, at least maybe Phoebe would anyway.

…...

I had to get this chapter out before I go too busy. Enjoy and please review.