Draco Malfoy, Seeker Of Souls

Chapter Eleven

Disturbing Behavior

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I woke up the next morning with big circles under my eyes. I had had strange dreams all night and I glared at the ceiling. I had a very bad taste in my mouth and the general feeling that I had been hit by a truck. Plus, it was Monday and that meant classes. Classes with people who hated me because of my bad Quidditch match.

Snape came over and shook me. "Come on lazy one, you're going to miss breakfast. What classes do you have today besides Potions?"

"Divination and Care of Magical Creatures." Just what I needed…two classes with the Gryffindors that day.

"Move those lazy bones! You'll have a fine day."

But I refused to move. I lay there, and soon enough Snape was pulling my dead weight off the end of the bed. "I love you, Draco, but you're driving me mad! You're being most stubborn and irritating!" Apparently Snape had little patience with being my guardian. I was a difficult child and he knew it.

I grunted at him and headed into the bathroom. My day was off to a bloody brilliant start.

Breakfast was uneventful, although I was busy giving the Gryffindors hard glares and they were just as busy giving me confused looks. Crabbe and Goyle sat next to me and eagerly stuffed their faces. "What's wrong with you? They mad at you?" asked Crabbe.

"When aren't they?" I picked at my eggs.

"Earlier this year, you know," said Crabbe. "You liked them more than us, even. That's why we trashed your stuff."

"Oh yeah, I remember that!" Goyle started to laugh. "That was funny!"

I rolled my eyes. "Yes…funny, har har."

"Well, at least you're back with the good house," said a snotty Slytherin seventh year. "It was a bloody good Quidditch match too. You have nothing to be ashamed of. Who needs friends like the Gryffindors anyway? You took a wrong path, but you learned your lesson. Now you're back with us." The boy made a rather rude gesture towards the Gryffindor table.

"Yeah…you're right!" I held my head up high. "I wonder what I was thinking."

Crabbe and Goyle started to laugh loudly. I rolled my eyes again. "Oy." I escaped up to Divination as fast as I could, blowing right by Hermione who opened her mouth as if to talk to me.

"Git!" Ron yelled after me. I shoved aside the hurt feeling it gave me.

I sat curled up in my armchair in Divination, trying to stay awake. I was supposed to be trying to figure out who was going to fall down the stairs after class…or was it fall in the lake?…or fall out of the sky? At any rate, I was starring into my crystal ball, seeing absolutely nothing. Goyle was starting to beat upon his. "Uh! Uh!" he grunted.

"My dear!" cried Professor Trelawny, which almost knocked me out of my stupor. "My inner eye will not be happy if you break the ball!"

Goyle sulked and elbowed Crabbe instead.

Meanwhile, Professor Batty leaned over me. "My dear…what do you see?" She looked at me hopefully.

"I see…" I could see myself keeling over asleep, actually. "I see…"

"Yes?" Old Trelawny seemed to like me. I reckon she thought I was pretty and mysterious. She obviously didn't get out enough to know what a terror I really was.

"I see…Tom Riddle!" I suddenly yelled.

The whole class jumped, and within seconds were eagerly gathered around my crystal ball. "Oooo…Draco! Where? I heard he was handsome!"

"Isn't he dead?"

"Wasn't he the guy who opened the Chamber of Secrets and captured your girlfriend, Malfoy?"

"I thought he was given a shield for service to the school!"

Apparently everyone had a different idea of who Tom Riddle was, but they all seemed eager to see him. I was staring into the ball, shaking with fear. Tom looked out at me and smiled evilly. My mind started to swirl.

Trelawny pressed a hand to my forehead and discovered that I was sweating. "He is actually Seeing!" she exclaimed in her mistiest voice. "I hope you're all paying close attention."

"I can't see anything!" Crabbe exclaimed in disappointment. "I wanted to see the evil guy."

Goyle grunted in agreement.

I gasped out a response. "There's n..nothing there. F..False alarm." The image had faded.

The rest of the class groaned and walked away muttering their disappointment. It had been possibly the most exciting thing that had ever happened in our Divination class, since we didn't have Harry there to be practically pronounced dead for us at every class (which I found quite exciting, really). I felt bad to disappoint them, but this was hitting me too hard. I breathed deeply now that everyone else had gone back to pretending to look in his or her crystal ball.

I stared into the depths of the ball, willing him to come back. "What do you want me to do? Why did you just appear to me? Do you have something to tell me?" I gazed into the ball until I was nearly lost in it, my eyes glazing over. I could hear Crabbe mutter something about me looking odd.

Luckily, class ended just then and we started to clear out. I was suddenly very nervous. It was time for Potions with the Gryffindors. My head felt full of fog. I heard Tom's voice in my head. "Take your revenge, Draco. Ginny needs you to get rid of them."

"Get rid of them," I muttered. "Get rid of them…now."

*****

As I sat in Potions, my mind was swirling. Colors looked funny and the whole room looked a bit surreal. Sounds were louder and it made me feel sick. I focused on three faces…Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Harry's face was confused, Hermione's was worried, and Ron's was mad. Things seemed to swirl slightly and I blinked slowly.

A voice came through the haze. "Draco? Draco?" It was Harry, although his voice sounded like it was coming through water. "Can you see me?"

"He's just staring at nothing, Professor!" Hermione's voice added. This came through so loud that I felt as if a speaker had been pressed to my ear.

"Sod off," I managed to mutter.

Snape's voice filtered in. I recognized the word 'tired'.

I reached for a bottle on the desk in front of me. The liquid was blue. Or green. I think it was green. Snape's voice rambled on. Potion instructions. I lifted it. It was a large bottle, and heavy. Oh, God, I was so dizzy and disoriented. I decided to get up.

Tom's voice was in my head. "Walk with the potion, Draco. Do what you must do. I am seduction. You are my vessel. You are evil!"

"Mmm." I stood and started to walk through the rows of desks. The images were highly colorful and swirling a bit. I almost stumbled.

Snape's voice came through clearer. "Draco?"

I passed Ron's desk. He no longer looked mad. He was scared. Dead scared. "Draco, what…?"

"DO IT!!!!" The voice cut through my consciousness so hard that I started and fell. I fell forward and let the bottle fly from my arms. My eyes focused as the liquid flew from the bottle and soaked someone to the skin. Hermione. I saw her scream in agony as my head met the cold floor. I sobbed in pain.

"Stand back, all of you!" Snape bellowed. I opened my eyes painfully and witnessed him run to Hermione and lift her into his arms. She was writhing in pain, her skin burning from the potion. Snape wasted no time in running from the room with her.

Harry was on his knees next to me, lifting my head. "God, Draco, are you all right?"

"What happened?" I was confused. Confused and terrified.

"Snape asked you for an answer and you didn't respond at all. You were staring at the wall, your mouth hanging open slightly. You couldn't seem to hear or see us when we tried to get your attention. Snape said you were tired and moved on. But then you got up with that bottle of potion and started to walk. You had your eyes on Snape, like you were going to give it to him, but you tripped and it hit Hermione. Are you feeling well?"

I cleared my throat. "I'm fine!" I said with irritation. "I must have just been spaced out. Not enough sleep. Let me alone!" I pulled away from him. I hadn't forgotten how mad I was at him.

Harry crossed his arms. "Fine! But you'd better hope Hermione wasn't as hurt as she sounded! I do hope she'll be okay." His voice trembled. He was frightened.

"Madam Pomfrey can heal anything." Why did I feel no remorse? I wasn't even worried. Why wasn't I more worried? I noticed that Ron was gone. He must have followed Snape, concerned about his girlfriend.

We all sat in silence for some time, everyone eyeing me strangely from time to time. What had I done? All I had done was tripped! Well, excuse me! Can't I have a bad day too sometimes? Everyone has accidents.

It wasn't long before Snape came back to the room, Ron at his side. "Attention! Miss Granger will be just fine, so everyone may go ahead to lunch now. The rest of the lesson is cancelled for today." You could sense the excitement in the air about the lack of Potions, even if Hermione had suffered for it. "But everyone will be required to write a full parchment worth of safety procedures for potion burns, due next class. I'll not have this pandemonium happen again." Everyone groaned. Snape's eyes glinted with amusement. He loved destroying high hopes for no homework.

I was on my out of the room, eager to get away from Harry and Ron, when Snape pulled me back by one arm. "What is it?" I asked gruffly. I couldn't take much more of this.

He looked at me seriously. "You look ill."

"I'm not!" I wrinkled my nose. "I'm just sleepy. I tripped."

He shook his head. "You looked strange. You looked as if you were in some kind of trance. And that trip didn't look as much like an accident as everyone thinks. It looked more like you threw that potion."

I looked at him in terror. "I didn't! I didn't, I didn't, I DIDN'T!" I stomped my foot in anger with each exclamation.

"I want to believe you." He felt my forehead. "You're clammy. And sweating. You're sick. No wonder you tripped. I want you to go to bed."

"No! I won't! Come off it, Severus! I'm going to class!"

I broke away from him, and he didn't try to stop me. As I stormed down the halls, I was seething. "Why does everyone think I'm always up to no good!" I hollered, scaring several first year Hufflepuffs half to death. "I am not a bad person!"

"Could have fooled me!" sneered a voice. Ron and Harry were standing at the end of the hall.

"Ron…" said Harry with a warning voice. "Draco, look, what happened to Hermione was an accident. Why don't you come eat lunch with us, and just forget about Potions and yesterday's Quidditch match? Then go to bed. You don't look well. I'll tell Hagrid that you're sick."
"I'm not sick!" I sulked. "I'm going outside. I'll see you both at Hagrid's hut." I pushed past them and escaped towards the lake.

*****

I lay curled up next to the lake. I tucked my legs right up to my chest and tried to think happy thoughts. My mind felt clear and I was starting to feel bad about Hermione. I closed my eyes and pictured the first time I had come into real contact with Ginny. I had been sprawled almost in this same place. I sighed. I missed her so much. I was also missing Nathaniel, and wished I could bring him to class, but my nurse was watching him and Ginny somewhere in the hospital wing. And I still had to wait a whole hour before I could get to them.

Someone's shadow loomed over me. A hand stretched out. I looked up. "Hi, Harry."

Harry was grinning down at me. "Feeling any better?"

"Yes." I didn't feel like being mean to him at the moment. I took his hand and he pulled me up. I glanced at Ron who was skulking around nearby. "Hey, Ron."

"Hey." Ron smiled vaguely. "Hermione will be out of the hospital wing by dinner. She's just fine now."

"Good thing." Admittedly, it felt good to have my friends back. I slung my arms around their shoulders as we headed towards Hagrid's hut. Then I shuddered.

Harry gave me a concerned look. "Draco?"

"It's nothing." I forced a smile. 'Oh please, Tom…leave me alone!' I thought desperately. I swear I had heard his voice say my name. But what could I do? I needed him to help me get Ginny back. I needed him desperately. Everything about Tom was amazing and I couldn't live without him. I just couldn't! I just wanted to be left alone for awhile.

For most of the hour, I was left alone. But soon enough my head started to cloud. My head swam and I was dreadfully dizzy. I was supposed to be looking after a rather large puffball type creature with large eyes and a happy little mouth, but I was starting to loose my concentration. I set down the apple I had been offering it and kneeled down, hugging the soft creature. The voice radiated through my head. "Do you hear me, boy?"

I closed my eyes, my head spinning. "Yes, I hear you." I forced my eyes open and looked at the surreal, unfocused shapes around me. No one was watching me.

"Good. Listen to me. Get rid of Harry. It will be easier that way. Get rid of him early."

"Get rid of Harry?" The words sounded foreign to me. I considered it. What would happen if Harry were killed? I would be powerful, that's what. "Okay," I whispered. I stood up and set the little animal down. It looked up at me solemnly.

I heard a laugh cut through the buzz in my brain. "That's my good little tyrant."

My mind held one thought: Kill Harry - Tom Riddle wishes it so. I headed around the back of Hagrid's cabin to where he kept several cages where various animals were slumbering peacefully. I studied the creatures before making my final decision. I wanted to let the fire-breathing wildcat out. He was sleeping now, but if there was one thing Hagrid told us, he hated to be woken up. Thinking of this, I lifted the cage and carried it back around the hut again. The wildcat was small, but could be vicious when it was tired. As I set the cage down, it jolted slightly and the animal made an irritated noise, its eyes opening slightly.

Setting my gaze upon Harry, I carefully opened the cage door and stood up on top of it. I pulled out my wand, stuck it up in the air, and shot out a bang as loud as a gunshot.

The wildcat jumped a mile and shot out of the cage. It bolted towards Harry and Ron, who were right in its path, mouth smoking with fire. Poor thing. I had scared it nearly to death. But at least Harry would die. Die? What was I saying? Harry, die?

Moving unsteadily, I ran right behind the cat and threw myself into Harry and Ron, knocking them out of the way. The cat leapt on me instead, trampling me to the ground.

"Ev'rybody into the 'ouse!" Hagrid was yelling. "You'll be alrigh'! Jus' get movin' there!" The class poured into the hut in terror while the wildcat ran through the midst of them, working off his terrified energy. Hagrid came back for Harry and Ron, pulling them right off their feet and practically tossing them into the house. Meanwhile, the wildcat had managed to calm itself down, and was then sitting on me, licking my cheek like an oversized kitten. It was only dangerous when it was startled, and even then it really hadn't done too much. Just knocked a bunch of people over and such.

The class eventually drifted out of the hut again and stood staring at me. I looked up cheekily from under the cat. "Hello, all."

Hagrid glowered at me. "What d'ya think you were playin' at, Malfoy!"

Harry tugged on Hagrid's sleeve. "He's not feeling well," he whispered. "Something's wrong."

"I didn't mean to do it. I really didn't!" I insisted. Panic had struck me hard. I felt sick…so sick and so dizzy. I managed to move the cat enough to sit up. I held my head with both hands.

Tom's voice hissed through my head. "You coward! Weak little bastard!"

I covered my ears up. "SHUT UP!" Hagrid nearly jumped a mile, as did the rest of the class. Hagrid made a motion towards me, and I jumped up, screaming. "STAY AWAY!" I ran like hell towards the Forbidden Forest, the wildcat tearing after me.

"Wait, stop!" Hagrid bellowed and took chase. "Yeh can' go in there! You'll be lost!"

I ignored him. The trees were shimmering in front of me. I had to get to the forest. I had to hide. Ten minutes later, I was a good way into the forest, tripping on tree roots and slipping on damp leaves. I could hear Hagrid somewhere behind me, still chasing me. What would he do? Kill me? Turn me in to Dumbledore for accidentally letting the wildcat out? Why was the whole world against me? It just wasn't fair.

Eventually, I managed to loose Hagrid and successfully hide myself in a large clump of brush. Normally, I would have been scared about what would happen to me after dark, but I was far too sick. Besides, I felt extra brave, what with the wildcat sitting next to me in the brush, licking my hand from time to time. I curled up in a ball, holding my head. The world was spinning so, I thought I would die before Hagrid could even get to me. The wildcat curled up next to me and I snuggled against his fur. "I love you, wildcat," I said blearily, not caring how dumb it sounded. At this point, I loved anything that didn't yell at me or chase me down like an animal.

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Note: Hey all! Sorry if this chapter is odd…it was especially hard to write. It's really difficult to write thoughts for someone who's going a bit nutty but doesn't know it. It's just supposed to illustrate how much power Tommy Riddle has over vulnerable, love/power hungry Draco. Poor little Dracie…*sigh* Anyway, thanks for bearing with me! Love you all!

As for a question about their ages, Draco and the Dream Team are all fifteen, but as we know, dear little Draco is short. :) Thought I'd mention that just to bug him. Ginny is fourteen. Nathaniel is about the size of a one-year-old, but he has an extraordinary vocabulary for that age and he's not really aging since he's, well, deceased technically. And Sevvie is as old as all you Sevvie fans want him to be! *grin*