Chapter 27
Drake sat alone in the library thinking of what to do for Ginny now that he'd partially closed the space they had made between themselves. Ginny was still avoiding him but Drake had gotten out of being away from everything except in classes, and Ginny was starting to sit down with the trio and Drake at meals, ignoring Drake for the incident after he woke up from his comatose state though.
[What to do? I got to get her back… Hmm.] Drake thinks. [Finish the homework first Drake… study the muggle defensive arts and then think about Ginny.]
Falcore called the class to order. "QUIET!"
The class becomes silent.
"That's better. As you all know Drake was attacked by a still unknown assailant or assailants last month. That is why you are learning Defense the muggle way. Anyone sucker punches you, even if you have you wand, you need to know other ways to defend yourself. Drake had the wind knocked out of him and was then beaten while trying to get his breath back." Falcore says. "Be prepared. What if you are fighting a Death Eater Lavender and lose your wand? What would you do?"
"Uh… Um… Run?" Lavender, who had been only half paying attention and whispering to Parvati, answers.
"And be shot down by the Killing Curse? No, no not unless you were extremely fast." Falcore says. "We will all be following an exercise regimen. We will meet Saturday evenings at 8:00 on the Quidditch pitch. Any questions?" Falcore looks around. "Good. Class dismissed and I don't care if you have about 30 minutes left go study in the Amulet book. An essay. 2 ft. long. Why are Amulets useful? Due in one week. IT can be turned in early if you finish and are scared you will lose it. Go now."
The class still sits there.
"I understand you like this class but GO." Falcore says.
The class stays.
"One more time go now." Falcore says.
They stay seated.
"GET UP AND VACATE THIS ROOM!" Falcore yells.
The class gets up and quickly leaves.
"Harry, Hermione, Drake, Ron stay!" Falcore yells after them and the four come back in.
"Order meeting. Did you ever get Ginny to join?" Falcore explains.
"No sir, sorry. I had the crap kicked out of me the day I was going to tell her." Drake says. "Don't worry I'll get a chance soon."
Falcore gives an unbelieving look at Drake.
"I will!" Drake says.
The rest of the Order members file in and they update on the status of Aurors and if Fudge believes them and the usual stuff.
After a couple of weeks it is time for Christmas break hardly anyone is staying. It is the trio, Drake, Ginny, and a couple of people each from Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff.
[I still don't know what to do? What am I good at? Making a fool of myself? Causing people pain?] Drake thinks acidly. [ Yeah, those will work.] Drake rolls his eyes. [Well… I'm making something for Alexander and Rosalyn with ice… The squid will be mad again but who cares… oh my I just got it…]
"THAT'S IT!" Drake accidentally yells out loud in the library getting a look from Ginny and sent off by Madam Pince.
On Christmas Eve after working hard in his truly secret room, a gym behind the place with the dummies and punching bags, Drake finishes the present he has for Ginny and smiles. "Romantic yet, hopefully, not corny or mushy romantic like Alexander had me make him, though I think he finally gets not going to overboard…*Drake shakes his head at the memory of all the mealtime antics* and also, in a way, not exactly romantic. Perfect."
Drake sets off to find Hermione, Ron, and Harry and finds them in the library look in an old spell book. He sneaks in and asks them to come out of the library with him for a minute. "Hey do you think you all could get Ginny off to sleep early?"
"Perhaps… Why?" Hermione says.
"Well her gift from me is sort of big and secret so she needs to be asleep so I can get it in the common room. Please?" Drake says half begging half threatening.
"Oh alright. I know how to make a sleep potion which sets in slow in only a few hours of work. Put it in her drink at dinner and she will slowly but surely be asleep within 4 hours."
"Thank you, thank you, thank you. I owe you one." Drake says running off.
Ron shakes his head. "That is one strange bloke."
"He seems happy though, I'm glad to help him so long as I don't have to catch him when he is jumping off the astronomy tower again." Harry says staring after Drake until he disappears.
"Your surprise is set up Alexander." Drake says Coming into the room. "She figure anything out yet?"
"No but she will if you keep talking. She's in the bathroom." Alexander says.
"So how is she?" Drake asks. Alexander had let him in on what Rosalyn's condition was after he woke up from his coma.
"Other than (A/N: intentional blank to be revealed either when I write Christmas day later in this chapter or next chapter)?" Alexander says with a half grin. "Fine."
"That's good to know." Drake says then adds in a whisper. "Don't let her look out of your window it shows the lake."
Alexander lifts up the curtains and drake only sees the normal scenery. "What the… huh? I could have sworn I…"
"Hush. Hush. It's an illusion only I can see through it." Alexander says.
"Well Happy Christmas, you deserve it." Drake says with genuine feeling in his words, then turns and leaves seeming to be lighter than he had been since the day he killed the American Minister Of Magic.
"I guess he finally figured the past should stay there." Alexander muses.
"Who was that?" Rosalyn asks stepping out of the bathroom.
"Drake." Alexander says.
"Oh? How is he doing? He and Ginny were quite nice together." Rosalyn says sitting down on the couch that's in the room.
"Just fine." Alexander says looking out of the window at the sun setting.
"Dinner?" Alexander asks making a table and some food appear.
At dinner in the Great Hall Hermione slipped the tasteless potion into Ginny's drink. Two hours later up in the common room Ginny looked to be falling asleep and yawned saying good night and heading up to her dorm.
The others went up a couple of hours later and Drake went out to retrieve his surprise.
"Presents!" Ron called from his bed the next morning.
"Oh my!" The boys hear Ginny exclaim from downstairs.
Drake shoots up knocking over his gifts and heads out of the door to the stairs Ron and Harry follow behind him.
"Who is that from Ginny?" Hermione says before she catches the half stupid grin on Drake's face.
In the center of the common room was an ice sculpture up on a pedestal. It glows a golden light.
"I don't know yet." Ginny says examining the ice sculpture which is of her as angel with wings out of the back and a halo floating above the head. The halo and wings are giving off the glow. "I have an idea though."
Ginny looks at Drake who tries to look innocent and puzzled but still almost grinning. "Is that writing on the pedestal over there?" Drake points out pointing to the spot.
"Yes." Ginny says the reads out the inscription "It says: 'You're like a miracle or something sent just when I needed you'- Drake Dragonheart, sorry for anything that's happened in the last month and a half."
Ginny stares at Drake who is just standing there. "Well I meant that when I said it." He says. "I also meant what I promised you Ron." That line earns a Ron a look from Ginny.
"I just made him promise not to make you sad or I'd make him sorry." Ron says defensively.
Ginny raises one eyebrow at him but says. "Thank you Drake, but where can I store a statue in Hogwarts?"
Drake looks at her funny sort of like 'you've been here longer haven't you seen the space' but says instead "In a secret room… or around your neck." Drake adds the last part fast.
"Excuse me. Did you just say around my neck?" Ginny says puzzled.
"Yes. And for the pedestal your wrist." Drake says.
"How? They are rather big." Ginny says.
"Easy. Magic." Drake says and points his wand at the statue and says an incantation which makes the statue start to shrink down like a charm and the halo shrinks into a gold chain which hooks to the statue which is now a tiny crystal body with gold wings. Then he turns the pedestal into a bracelet which still has the inscription on it.
"Thank you." Ginny says hugging Drake who hugs back faster than near the lake but still tentative pausing for a moment. They stay like that for a little bit until they remember everyone is there staring at them.
"Come on let's open our gifts Drake." Ron says and Drake and Ginny pull apart red from embarrassment.
"Ok." Drake says smiling. "To the presents."
Drake points toward the stairs and the three boys run up them and into the room to open gifts.
Drake notices all of them have a similar lumpy looking package from Mrs. Weasley.
"Hey Harry, another Weasley sweater? Me too." Ron holds his up and groans. "Maroon again?"
Harry laughs at that and pulls out his sweater, it's Gryffindor red with a gold lightning bolt on the chest and it's Harry's turn to groan. "Must I be reminded of my forehead on my sweater?"
Drake opens his which is an icy blue with a darker blue 'D' on it.
"Hey why does he get the nice one?" Ron complains which only makes Drake grin evilly.
Fred and George had gone home to go visit Charlie with their mother so they wouldn't be busting in with the 'Gred and Forge' act. Drake puts on his sweater. "I like it."
Harry got a piece of paper from the Dursley's which he threw in the trash. He got a nice looking normal watch from Sirius and Remus. An amulet like Alexander and Falcore and Andre's from them. He got some sweets from Hermione, Ginny, and Hagrid. He got a pack of trick items from Ron and the twins and also a small ring from Drake which acted like a homing device and looked like lightning. Ron got one too and Drake was wearing one. He noticed another medium sized package and a small letter. Harry opened the letter first and the Marauder's Map falls out with a letter.
Use this wisely Harry Potter.
"I got the Marauder's Map back!" Harry says.
"Great man." Rona says.
"Marauder's map?" Drake says puzzled.
"Yeah. My dad and his friends made it when they were here. It shows you who's in the castle, and who they really are if they are an imposter." Harry explains.
"Oh. I see." Drake says looking at all of his presents which are still unopened except the sweater. "What's that package?"
"I don't know." Harry says.
"Well open it then." Ron says a pile of gifts in his lap which include sweets pranks some Chudley Cannons stuff and a little glass cloud with lightning, snow, hail, water, and a small tornado in it hooked to a chain.
"Cool chain Ron." Drake says.
"Thanks." Ron says.
"Open that thing already." Drake says. "Or I will Harry."
"Oh alright." Harry says ripping the package open. "Oh. A small, small Foe Glass and a smaller version of Dumbledore's pensieve. No this is a little different."
"Well is there a note?" Ron asks.
"Yes. There is." Harry says.
"Read it then man." Drake says.
"Ok. It says:
Dear Harry,
Use these wisely. Keep the small Foe Glass in your pocket. The basin isn't a Pensieve it is a Dream Catcher of sorts. If you have any dreams of Voldemort, like I heard you do, you can store them in here and even if you forgot details it will keep them. No need to send a thank you note as I might blast your owl if it surprises me. I was once delivered a magi-bomb that way… You're welcome, and Harry, prove everyone right to have faith in you.
Signed, Alastor Moody"
"Wow. Moody must be rich." Ron says.
"Well, he was an Auror right? And from what I know Aurors aren't paid poorly to risk their lives against dark wizards, especially in the days of Voldemort." Drake says. "Somewhere around 800-1000 Galleons every 3-4 weeks. Maybe more if they have a big week of catches and Moody was great. But that is only hearsay so I might be wrong maybe its more maybe it's less. Hey I've got one wrapped up like yours was Harry. You do to Ron you missed it there on the edge of the bed."
Drake rips his open. "Oh… what? Hmm. Huh? There's the little Foe Glass… and then there's… What's this?" Drake holds up a knife and a something that looks like a quaffle but it's clear.
"Hey that's a penknife. It's very handy. It can untie any knot and unlock any lock. I have no idea what that quaffle thing is." Harry says.
Drake mumbles to himself reading the letter. "Says it's a… Secrecy Detector/Keeper. If you tell it your secrets it won't read them as secrecy. And it only detects serious secrecy not lies unless it's a huge one like say working for Voldemort or being a secret informant for evil or something huge like that."
"Nice. What's yours Ron?" Harry says.
"The small Foe Glass and a three lock trunk and a more efficient Sneakoscope than the one I got for you in Egypt. The note says to keep the bigger gifts of ours in here, for safe keeping."
"Why would Moody give us these?" Harry wonders.
"And why haven't you opened your gifts Drake?" Ron points out.
"Oh I haven't have I? Well I should. So I will." Drake says and he rips open a present of some sweets from Hagrid, though they were homemade so he put those away. Then he opened up a package which was a book about Ice's uses from Andre which had a note of 'Know your element thoroughly, then you can use it to it's full extent. This is especially important for a high member of the Order. Use this well Drake.'
Drake then tears open a gift of a chain to which is attached an Icicle with a swirling blue mist in it from Alexander with a note 'Thanks for making this Christmas special for me and Rosalyn. It's our first one together in 6 years. You are a true friend.'.
"No problem Alexander." Drake mumbles aloud while tearing into his gift from Falcore which turns out to be a small dagger. 'Keep this on you at all times Drake, stay safe' the note reads.
He got sweets again from the trio, nothing from Ginny. Drake sighs. [Serves me right for letting faceless attackers get to me… wouldn't they have to be a brother of Ginny's to give a dang about us going out though? Oh my. It was the twins.]
Drakes eyes get wide and Harry and Ron ask what is wrong with him. "No gift from Ginny though I don't blame her."
"Oh." Harry and Ron say.
"Got any dreams to store Harry?" Drake asks.
"No not yet, maybe some old ones." Harry answers.
"Ok." Drake says.
"Breakfast." Ron says jumping up. "Come on.
"No I'll stay here you two go." Drake says and the two leave.
[Why'd I say no gift from Ginny when that wasn't why my eyes went wide in the first place? Ah who cares, not like I have any choice… some bloody spell probably. But Ginny was what I called her then and engraved on the pedestal. I told her I meant it and I do. I spilled my secrets to her… told her things not a single other person knows… she sat in the hospital wing for days… now she shuns me? I suppose I deserve it for saving her life… although if someone screamed at me they didn't want this anymore when I was hugging them I would probably take it to mean something horrid. Gah. Do I have ever have some explaining to do…] Drake thinks and the goes down to common room.
"You always were slow to get up Ginny." Drake says with a smile. "So am I."
"What Drake? I'm hungry please get to the point." Ginny says.
"You know how I told you all those thing that no one else knew or knows. And how you then hugged me and well let me cry on your shoulder while you did the same? Remember what you said then, Gin? Remember?" Drake says and Ginny just stares at him sort of blankly. "You said, and I quote, 'Oh, Drake. I'm so sorry you had to go through all of that… I never knew. I love you Drake. Even more so for sharing all of this. I'll love you no matter what your past, present, or future may be.' Remember that Gin? Well I'm sorry to point this out bluntly… But, Gin? Where's the love? The 'no-matter-what' love you promised? You didn't care we fell asleep like that and woke up with all these people surrounding us especially the tw *Drake lets out a croaking noise and looks shocked* Huh? I said tw *Drake croaks again* What why cant I say anything referring to them… the attackers… THE TWINS! Ha ha… Wait I just said that in Scandinavian didn't I?"
Ginny gives Drake a look like 'duh' and then answers his question. "Drake 'the love' went out the window when you said you didn't want me anymore…"
"That's not what I said! Dang it… I spoke Scandinavian again? Habla espanol?" Drake says.
"Yes I do Drake." Ginny says.
"Ok. The twins attacked me and I didn't say I didn't want you I said I didn't want to get beat up again. Ok? If you can't deal with that then maybe your brother is the only smart Weasley around here… I'm off. See you around Ginny. Maybe in the halls?" Drake says in Spanish his tone on the edge of venomous. "I didn't speak Scandinavian and I hope you understood. Goodbye, Gin...ny." Drake gets up and leaves the common room. [Jeez I hope that wasn't too mean. I hope that plan worked. Like I said, I'm good at making people feel bad so I make it work for me. I'm trying to make people feel bad… for me. I meant every word I said though. But if it failed then my persuasion ends and well what the hell? I've lived like this for years… I can do it again… though like a man I know says, 'Love. Love is a crazy thing. Hate it when you lose it, can't live without it once you've had it.' Yep I totally agree. Anyway… Time for food in my secret place.]
Ginny let her eyes water figuring out what all he'd said and letting it sink in. "Oh my. What have I done? Well didn't he do it? Wait… did he say the twins attacked him…? That would explain the way he acted when he woke up. It still hurts him to breathe. If they weren't gone… they'd wish they were… They knew that dang spell of theirs would wear off… FRED!!!! GEORGE!!! When you get back… you'll get it."
"Huh? Did someone yell Fred and George?" Ron asks at the table in the Great Hall.
"I think I heard it." Harry and Hermione say.
"Ok." Ron says. "Making sure I wasn't losing my mind."
"Hey Harry an owl is headed your way with a package." Hermione says.
Harry looks up and catches the dropped parcel and letter. In red ink is written 'Mr. H. Potter, Bane Of My Existence.' Inside the letter is 'Open this before it explodes and opens for you… like a howler but worse.' Harry opens the parcel quickly while Hermione and Ron are still eating.
"What the devil?" Harry murmurs looking at the object inside of the parcel.
~By way of answering that I am the Jeweled Snake which was sought and found by Voldemort. And I am the if you want or not part of Sergio's threat and message. No one can hear me but you just think at me and I will hear you.~ Jeweled Snake responds
"The heck? What can you do you're so stiff. I mean you are very fine detailed but you just straight in the form of a snake no curving of your body or anything. Only thing jeweled about you is your yellow eyes."
~I said to think it. And I'm no threat? Have you learned nothing in four years; this is a world of MAGIC! Foolish Potter your idiocy will bring your downfall.~ The snake bends his head down towards the ground and rises up on his tail tip head looking at Harry.
~Now I show you the way I work.~ Fangs about an inch long drop down from the snakes mouth.
~PICK ME UP BOY!~ Harry picks him up quickly.
~Tsk. Tsk. Like I said boy, idiocy will be your demise. Your demise… And you just performed an idiocy boy… Tsk, Tsk… I thought you might be smart. Guess not.~ Harry's eyes go wide in shock and then pain as the Jeweled Snake Hops from his hand and around Harry's left wrist like a bracelet sinking his fangs into the veins under the wrist and sucking the blood.
~Idiocy got you into this and now all the smarts in the world can't help you. I stay until my job is done and that's get your blood to help Voldemort become Immortal and to turn you into a Death Eater. There is a reason I clung to your left wrist instead of the right. The Dark Mark goes on the left forearm. Side effects? I may cause drowsiness, nightmares that'll make you hate your friends, cause immortality for Voldemort, oh and last but not least… I'll brand you and turn you into a Death Eater. Oh yeah, I control this hand now. Thank you and please be sure not to try anything dumb or you'll never have the hand again. And to answer your question I may let you continue with your sport if it's called back on. Idiocy. Your enemy; my friend. You are now property of Jeweled Snake thank you and *in a hissing whisper* good night.~
Harry falls asleep right backwards and off of his chair causing Hermione to shriek and Ron to stare. Dumbledore, who was sitting at the table with most of the staff except Alexander and of course Trewlany, Gets up and along with Falcore and Andre levitate Harry before he hits his head on the ground…
"Hmm. That was a quite sudden bout of sleepiness don't you think Albus? He was very awake when he got here and had enough sweets to keep him awake…" Falcore muses.
"Indeed Falcore… Indeed." Albus says.
"Did either of you notice anything?" Andre asks Hermione and Ron.
"Well, Harry got a package the wrapping and letter are over there." Hermione says and points at it but as Falcore and Dumbledore go to pick it up it bursts into flame and the smoking symbol of the Dark Mark hovers in the air above the flames for a minute before flicking it's snake tongue downwards and causes the fire to extinguish leaving nothing of the letter or wrapping but no scorch marks on the table and then it's snake tongue flicks outwards and it disappears.
"VOLDEMORT! What has he done?" Falcore bellows.
"Something grave I'm afraid. Ron, Hermione please leave." Says Dumbledore staring at a glow coming from within Harry's left robe sleeve.
"Now please." Says Falcore staring at it too.
"Go now or you will make these both mad and that's a bad thing." Andre says staring down at the glow not sure of it's importance.
Ron and Hermione leave Ron being dragged along.
"So what's with the glow?" Andre says.
"Jeweled snake." Falcore says and Andre's eyes go wide.
"Yes, it's terrible. It has control of Harry's left hand by now. Probably taking blood too to help Voldemort become immortal. It's great at mind control and nightmares too." Dumbledore says.
"Mind control?" Falcore says with a gulp, sort shocked and like he never knew that.
"Yes. Don't you know that?" Dumbledore says.
"Mind control?" Falcore says and sort of breathes heavily thinking back to the incident in the Shrieking Shack, 'The Master wants you Potter. He thought he wanted you dead but he thinks maybe he doesn't. He will not take no for an answer. You join him of your own will, or you join him against your will. Either way, you will join him.' Falcore hears the voice of the Italian Sergio… The haunting words… a prophecy of sorts… for now Voldemort may get Harry no matter what. Falcore heaves a sigh of helplessness. [If only Alexander could help but he wanted a quite Christmas so I will give him one. He deserves it.]
Falcore gulps again his eyes still like lopsided… one twitching one wide open. "Dumbledore. Sergio said Voldemort wanted Hary to join him. He said… 'The Master wants you Potter. He thought he wanted you dead but he thinks maybe he doesn't. He will not take no for an answer. You join him of your own will, or you join him against your will. Either way, you will join him.'" Falcore says a perfect imitation of Sergio.
"Oh my… It looks like Voldemort might have gotten his wish." Andre says sort of thickly like his mouth is full of something. "And when Voldemort gets a wish granted… horrible times are back again indeed."
"Indeed." The sentiment echoes from the others.