Unraveled
Chapter Twenty-Seven: Something Lingers in the Shadows
Draco was in a foul mood by the end of the day. He encountered prank after prank. The Weasley twins were having the time of their lives observing the results, but Harry wasn't even there. He didn't care. He just wanted to get away from every living thing.
An owl came into the library, where Draco had chosen to take shelter in closer to the end of the day. He looked around to see if Madame Pince noticed before he took a note from its talons. He read the messy script on it, wondering who it was from. "Master Draco" was written on the envelope.
He looked around again and carefully opened it. He had a bad feeling about this letter. He opened it carefully. His eyes quickly skimmed through the note. It was from one of the house elves at Malfoy Manor. It was a warning. A cold feeling started at the base of Draco's spine all the way up to his brain.
The Dark Lord knew about Dumbledore's plans. Draco stood up. He had to tell the Headmaster or one of the teachers before anything happened to Fiona. He stormed out of the library with the note clutched to his hand. His father knew everything. Draco was a walking corpus. Fear gripped him as he walked.
He paid for his distraction when he found himself suddenly covered in a sticky web that smelled like bubblegum. "What the Hell is this?" he shouted.
"We call it 'The Web of Pink Evil,'" said George Weasley proudly with Fred laughing uncontrollably. Draco gave them a power death glare, which only served to further their amusement.
"I don't have time for this, you immature paupers! Get rid of this! I have to go to Professor Dumbledore!" he shouted.
"It should dissolve soon. Later," chuckled Fred as he and his twin walked off. Draco struggled a bit more. This was getting beyond ridiculous. There were only two people in all of humanity that he cared enough to save: Ryu Ran and Fiona Black. If it wasn't for the two of them, he'd let everything else get destroyed.
Fred and George were still laughing as they entered Gryffindor Tower. Harry looked at them impassively at first, before he remembered what they were supposed to be doing for him. "How's it going?" he asked.
"Everything we've invented has worked perfectly. But, Malfoy hid in the library for a while. We had to wait for him to leave before he got trapped in the net," reported George.
"Because of his hiding, he pushed us behind schedule. What an uncooperative test subject," commented Fred.
"What are you two talking about?" asked Ron with a raised eyebrow.
"Nothing," chorused the twins as they quickly left for the next round of pranks. Harry smiled to himself. He would have called off the whole thing, but the twins were having so much fun. If Fiona found out and asked, then he would stop as well. At that point, she was the only one who could stop him.
"What's going on, Harry?" asked Ron.
"Nothing to worry about, Ron," replied Harry with a shrug, deciding not to stop the twins from wrecking anymore havoc on Draco. He stood up and went to the room. "I've got homework to catch up on," he added.
"Hermione, I have a bad feeling about this," muttered Ron as she looked up from her homework.
"Yes, it's suspicious all right," agreed Hermione. "Your brothers. Harry. Draco. It's not a good combination at all."
"No good can come of this," nodded Ron.
Draco had to wait for the net to dissolve. Before it was gone, he had decided to go talk to Fiona first and warn her father of the impending danger. Furthermore, he was going to demand that she stop Harry Potter. They had more important things to deal with other than his childish pranks that were obviously out of jealously.
Fiona, Nell, and Sirius gave him a look of utter surprised at his entrance. "What are you doing here, Draco?" asked Fiona.
"We have to talk," Draco hissed through his teeth.
"You are aware that your skin has a slight greenish tint on it and that there are pink fibers in your hair, right?" asked Nell.
"Yes and no. I was aware about the condition of my skin. Madame Pomfrey said that I had to wait for a few more hours for it to wear off. If it doesn't, I'll have the Weasley's hides. As for the pink fibers, no, I was not aware of those. They were supposed to dissolve with the rest of their evil pink web of gum," he replied with increasing agitation.
"This I have to hear," said Sirius.
"I would rather discuss it with Fiona in private because it involves her."
"How is this my fault, Draco?" she asked. "And another thing, you're several hours late. You didn't show up. But, it's okay. I forgive you. I went with Harry, Ron, and Hermione to the village instead."
"I'll give you one guess as to who's behind all this, Black," he seethed.
Fiona looked at him carefully. "Oh, come on. You can't be that paranoid. Why would he do this to you? You must have done something before to cause all this!"
"How can someone appear so smart and be so blind and stupid at the same time?!"
"Sirius, I'm lost. Who are they talking about?" asked Nell as she took a sidelong glance at him.
"I think they're talking about Harry, but I'm not that sure…"
"Damn right, we're talking about Harry Potter!" snapped Draco. "I have been bombard by the most heinous things today. Never in my life have I seen anything like it. They don't even sell the pranks those Weasleys used at Zonko's. They should be outlawed!"
"Um…actually, I know for a fact that they're not sold at the joke shop in the village," said Fiona. "It's because Ron's brothers are developing it for the business that they want to open when they graduate from Hogwarts this year."
"I know that Potter is behind this! Tell him to stop! We have better things to do with our time! I have bigger problems without Potter being a prat for no good reason other than the fact that I said…" Draco snapped his mouth shut, remembering that Fiona still had no idea what kind of conversation he had had with Harry the day of the big fight.
"Tell him, what?"
"Nothing. Just tell him to stop."
"I have no control over him. Ask him," said Fiona as she jerked her thumb towards her father. "He's his godfather. Like I have any control over him. You paranoid, delusional freak!" She crossed her arms in front of her chest.
"No! It won't make a bloody difference! Potter won't listen! He hasn't listened to McGonagall or Lupin!"
"I'm not going to continue this pointless conversation any longer. Go home," she said as she stood up. "Like I can make him do anything. I have no power over anyone," she continued to mutter as she stalked off for her room.
"Do you know something that I would like to know?" asked Sirius.
"Why don't you sit down?" offered Nell.
"Stupid. They're both stupid. I can't believe I've put my neck on the line for her more than once," said Draco, pausing as he remembered what brought him to the Shrieking Shack other than telling Fiona to stop Harry. He pulled out the note and handed it to Sirius.
He read it and passed it to Nell, looking rather serious. "We have to get word to Dumbledore. But, I think neither you or Fiona should ever leave the castle alone."
"Do you really think they could get in here?" asked Nell.
"Yes. Voldemort's not a fool. He's done it," replied Draco as he nodded at Sirius' direction. "And Wormtail's managed to stay for three years before. They probably want her alive, but as for me…I'm dispensable."
"We won't let anything happen to you," assured Nell. "Will we, Sirius?"
Sirius sighed inwardly. "No, of course not. I never liked your father, Draco. I certainly wouldn't let him win. Even if it means keeping you in one piece."
Draco gave him a sardonic smile. "I didn't know you cared so much," he drawled sarcastically.
*
Ryu Ran walked along the white marble walkways of the great temple to go and meet with the high priestess. It felt good to be back to the place he had always considered his real home. He felt his powers were stronger there than anywhere else.
"Sir Ran," said the familiar, melodic voice of the high priestess.
Ryu turned and kneeled before her with his head bowed. "Milady."
"Please rise and report," she ordered.
"The mission goes well, but you have already seen that," he started.
"Nay, I do not wish to hear about her progress or the other children. I watch her all the time, Sir Ran. Please tell me of the meetings with your grandfather. I hope he is well."
"Very well. As strong as ever. We have had the meeting with the rest of the Order of the Phoenix. They are ready to meet with you and the rest of our kind soon."
"I cannot tell from watching her alone. Is she prepared to meet with me?"
"I cannot tell myself. She has gotten used to being surprised often, Milady. However, she does not know anything about the power that she possesses beyond what is given to her by her father's line along with Voldemort's line."
"She will have to be prepared. I will not see what power she possesses wither to nothing like her mother's. Bring her to me within a fortnight along with the representatives of your grandfather's. He will order that their child come with the representatives. I daresay the other child would be more than willing to join her."
"What about Draco Malfoy?"
"Aye, you may bring him as well. The boy holds some promise. Has he mastered any of the magic from this isle?"
"Yes, Milady. He has learned how to do some illusionary magic from the isle. He is a fast learner."
"You have my permission."
"Very well, Milady," said Ryu as he swept into an elegant bow.
"Sir Ran, remember to rejuvenate your powers at the temple before returning to the Merlians. You have much to meditate upon."
"As you will it, Milady."
"May the Goddess be with you," she whispered as she walked away to her private chambers. She had to prepare herself for the meeting with Fiona. Her heart felt lighter than it had been for three decades. Finally, a part of herself was coming home.
She gazed at herself in the mirror in her private chambers. She looked young for her age. She was only fifty years old. Almost no one knew of the shame she felt. She was only sixteen years of age when her whole life was taken from her. Looking at her, no one would know that she had more sorrows than people twice her age. She felt the upper part of her left shoulder blade with her right hand as she remembered how the metal had seared her flesh with the Dark Mark.
The marks on her forehead had been there since she was Fiona's age. She had shown much promise and delivered as expected. She was the high priestess, but had she known what the price was, she would have never followed her destiny so rigidly.
Now, the lives of two children hung in the balance. She didn't know if she could live with the consequences of her actions if anything were to happen to them.
*
Over the next few days, Fiona was moved over to Hogwarts, but was hardly seen by the other students. Madame Pomfrey met with Dr. Lawson and was rather impressed with the body of knowledge she possessed. Professor Dumbledore decided to open a club for those who wanted to learn some healing arts with Nell as the head.
They went to Madame Malkin's to get Fiona's robes and school uniform. She was outfitted in Gryffindor's colors. "Not bad," she commented.
Sirius was with them in the store after much charming and pleading from Fiona to the store clerk to let him in. He wagged his tail and barked in approval. "The Slytherin colors made me look so Christmassy," she added as she wrinkled her nose in distaste.
Nell paid with galleons from Sirius' accounts. Fiona would be allowed to spend the 5000 galleons on whatever she wanted. The only other thing they needed for her was a familiar. They purchased other school supplies like quills and parchment. Fiona already had books, so they didn't have to bother.
"Do I have to have one? I can't decide," said Fiona as she looked at the different animals. "Besides, I have you," she said to Sirius.
He pawed at a cage. It was a creamy colored owl. Very rare indeed. "He's 20 galleons," read Fiona out loud. The owl was sleeping until she said it. He peered at her and hooted happily.
"Aw…he's so cute," she cooed. "But…20 galleons?" She bit her lip. Most of her life, she was taught how to save her money and not to spend it. Did she really need an owl? There were owls at school that anyone could use. She didn't even think she needed a familiar.
"Miss, he seems to have cottoned to you. Most of the time, he glares at anyone who tries to pick up his cage to take him to the counter. Or he starts flapping around. He's been here for a week and a dozen people have tried to buy him," the store clerk told her.
"What do you think, Aunt Nell?"
"You could name him, Piper or Pepper," suggested Nell as an answer.
"Okay, I'll take him. But, I'll figure out a name later," said Fiona as she looked pointedly at Nell.
"Oh! That's right. I'm the one who's carrying the money," remembered Nell with a laugh as she paid the clerk for the owl.
"He's so cute," said Fiona as she propped up her arms with her chin in her hands to look into the cage. He was between Hedwig's and Pig's sizes. Fiona reached a finger into the cage to touch the owl who hopped up to it. "Open the cage," said Nell.
"I should. He probably hasn't had a chance to stretch out his wings." She opened the cage and the owl hopped out. He walked up to Fiona and nuzzled his head under her chin. "I seem to have this effect on people. Hello," she said to the owl.
"I believe that owl's fallen in love with you, Fin," observed Nell.
"What should I name him, Aunt Nell?" she asked.
"I'm not sure."
"Maybe, Puck Piper. It's a full name. I bet not all the owls have full names."
"Actually, I believe that the owls take the owners' last names," joked Nell.
"Let's go home, Puck," said Fiona as the owl hooted happily. "You have to get back into the cage. I'll let you out as soon as we get home." He flew back into the cage on his own. Fiona closed the latch on the cage.
They trooped back to the Shrieking Shack. The strange feelings Fiona had wouldn't lift. She felt like something terrible was coming, but she couldn't be sure as to what. When they entered the house, Sirius changed back and Fiona released Puck.
"Isn't he sweet, Dad?"
"Yes, he's very sweet," he agreed as the owl landed on his shoulder.
"I think I'll send a letter to Draco to test him out."
"That's fine, but put the packages in your room first."
"Okay. Come on, Puck." He flew along side her. Sirius smiled. "I can talk to animals when I'm a dog. That owl likes her already, so it should work out. He also wanted to leave the shop."
"I see. Do you think she's ready for Hogwarts?"
"The real question is: is Hogwarts ready for her? Between her and Harry that makes half of the Marauders. Of course, Remus will be keeping a good eye on them. He knows all the tricks before they're played," laughed Sirius.
Nell smiled, but said, "Believe me, Fiona will come up with something that will get past most of Remus' defenses. She'll come up with new tricks."
*
Fiona went to sleep that night, while Puck went out to find food and fly. She started tossing and turning. She was having another nightmare, but it was a different kind this time. It was too real. She dreamt that she was running along the Forbidden Forest. She was looking for something. No. Someone. Draco.
She called out to him, but he didn't answer. The sky was gray as the trees loomed above her head, causing her to feel trapped. She suddenly had feeling that all the strength in her body was leaving her. Her will to live diminished. Memories attacked her at that moment. Memories of coming home and finding her mother dead. She felt her vision blur. The sky filled with figures dressed in black cloaks like a swarm of Death without the blades to hack and destroy. They were everywhere. She opened her mouth.
Sirius was jolted out of bed by a high pitched scream coming from Fiona's room. He bolted out of bed and grabbed his wand. He apparated into her room to find her tossing and turning. "Fiona, wake up. You're having a nightmare. Fiona, please wake up," he tried to say as gently as possible.
She finally opened her eyes again. She let out a whimper as he supported her shoulders. "It's okay. You're fine," he whispered softly.
"Saw it happen all over again. Coming home that day…" she trailed off. Her face was damp from tears and sweat. Sirius calmly rubbed her shoulder. "Something's coming. Something terrible and it wants Draco."
Sirius felt a chill go down his spine at her words as he remembered the note he had read. Draco's father knew about it and an owl was sent to Dumbledore about it. Neither child was to leave the castle alone. Sirius knew that Draco's life was in danger because he remembered Lucius' temper.
Draco didn't stay long afterwards. Nell walked back with him to the castle claiming that she had to get ready for teaching the first aid class, but she wanted to make sure that he was alright and safe. The house elf wrote a terrifying letter. Mrs. Malfoy was gone, it said. None of the house elves had heard anything from her and there were letters from France left unanswered.
Typically, every birthday, Draco's mother would send a trunk's load of presents, but this year only the wizards' armor came from his father. It was the worst birthday he had had in his entire life, but he didn't even remember it was his birthday until the present came. He was isolating himself from his fellow classmates more and more. He felt very much alone, except for Fiona. He hadn't come back for another visit since his argument with her.
Fiona sent Puck to check up on him to see if he was mad at her. She was worried about him. The nightmare only served to reinforce her worries into fears. Puck flew in and landed on the nightstand. Seeing his owner's distress, he hopped towards her slowly before holding out his leg to present her with a message. Sirius took it from Puck and unfolded the note.
"'I'm not mad. Don't worry about it. Draco.' See, Fiona? He's fine," said Sirius, knowing full well that it wasn't reassuring her.
"Dad…I was thinking about what I said before at the restaurant in San Francisco. I know that I said some horrible things. I'm sorry," she mumbled.
Sirius gave her a smile. "It's all right. You don't have to apologize for anything. But, it's nice to hear. Do you want me to stay until you fall asleep?"
Fiona nodded. Sirius tucked her back into bed. She suddenly felt like a small child again, but this time she had her father, instead of her mother to reassure her. She had no trouble getting to sleep.
*
Lucius Malfoy arrived with Wormtail, who was in his Anigmus form to avoid suspicion. Everything had to be planned very carefully. They had to get close enough to the school. Draco was Lucius' target. Wormtail was ordered to come because Voldemort knew that Lucius would be distracted with "disciplining" Draco.
Lucius always had the feeling that Draco would be his undoing. The boy was too much like his mother. Weak. He remembered how Narcissa pleaded with him before she died. She wasn't pleading for her life, but for Draco's. She wanted him to promise that no harm would come to their son, but Lucius made no such promise to her. She tried to use her Veela charm to stop him, but he was stronger than her. Draco wasn't going to be a problem.
The boy had single-handedly under minded all of the efforts Lucius had made to gain the good graces of the Dark Lord. Instead, he chose not only to work for Dumbledore, but to protect the girl. He had befriended her. He was supposed to control her, not befriend her. The boy couldn't do anything right.
"We have to find the young mistress," squeaked Wormtail. "And avoid her father." He was scared to death of Sirius. That came with good reason. He was terrified of what he was capable of doing. There was also Remus.
The full moon was approaching, so it would work to Wormtail's advantage. Remus would undergo his transformation, but that still left Sirius. Wormtail had a feeling that this time, even Harry Potter wouldn't stop him from killing him.
"We'll do that after we find my son," said Lucius coldly.
"Do we have to have them with us?" asked Wormtail, referring to the reinforcements that Voldemort allowed them to use.
"Yes. We need to weaken the whole castle," replied Lucius with a shrug.
Wormtail gulped. He looked out the window as he hoped for the full moon to come sooner. He hoped that the young mistress would just comply without trouble. Somehow, he knew that she wouldn't come along quietly.
*
Draco woke up the next morning, feeling very tired despite sleeping for more than eight hours. Perhaps, it was the nightmares. He opened the drapes to find that everyone else was asleep. He sighed with relief. It was getting more and more dangerous these days for him. He could simply request to be moved, but that would be bad. Everyone would notice that way.
He was debating whether or not he would spend time with Fiona openly at school. He didn't want to draw even more suspicion from his house mates by hanging out with a Gryffindor, but Fiona needed him to help her adjust. He also didn't want her to spend too much time with a certain Gryffindor. Hanging around Harry Potter would just increase the already high level of danger that she was in.
Besides, getting Harry and Fiona at the same time would give Voldemort exactly what he wanted. Draco couldn't care any less for Harry, but he didn't want to give Voldemort what he wanted. HE remembered that there were the pranks that those wretched twins were playing on him, so he was going to have to avoid that as well.
He had to get moving and out of the dungeons before anyone else talked to him. So, he got ready quickly and left. He carefully looked around, trying to see if the Weasleys were up to anything. He wrote a note last night when Fiona's owl came. He returned it and told her that he wasn't mad.
The Great Hall was nearly empty because it was so early. Draco seat down after looking around. "Hey, Draco," said Fiona as she smiled.
"What?" he said, looking extremely surprised.
"I start today," said Fiona.
"I forgot. Have a seat," he told her as he gave her a smile.
"I already ate breakfast," she said.
They talked quietly while he ate his breakfast. Hermione came in with Ginny and approached the Slytherin table. "Good morning. I'm supposed to show you around. What are you seating here for?" asked Ginny.
"Um…what do you mean?" asked Fiona. "And good morning."
"Good morning, too. You're in Gryffindor and most people don't sit anywhere else, but their house tables in the Great Hall," explained Hermione.
"It's all right. I was done anyway," said Draco as he stood up. Ginny watched him closely. "I have to go to the library for a bit. I'll see you later."
Fiona looked disappointed that he wasn't coming with her. He gave her a soft smile. "I'll meet you at the Quidditch field after class. I'll bring the broomsticks," he added.
"Okay," she said with a smile.
Ginny watched them curiously. She glanced at Hermione for an answer. "They're friends, Ginny," she explained. She didn't really want to say that Fiona's grandfather was Voldemort.
"So, you're going to come with me today?" she asked.
"Yes, we have classes together. What did you pick for elective classes?" asked Ginny.
"Um…I don't know," said Fiona as she looked at her schedule that Sensei Ran had set up. "Runes, Care For Magical Creatures, and Arithmacy."
"Those are hard classes. Especially Arithmacy," said Ginny.
"My other teacher set it up this way," she said with a shrug. She was labeled as a transfer student.
"So, you're from America?"
"Yes, I was born in the capital, Washington, D.C. I spent most of my life on the East Coast, but recently I lived in San Francisco. My mother and father are English and a witch and a wizard."
"So, are my parents. Your father works with my parents," said Ginny quietly.
She nodded. "He's busy these days and my teacher went on business. They thought it would be best for me to attend classes here."
"What does your mother do?"
Hermione placed her hand on Ginny's shoulder. "Why don't we just sit down and have breakfast?" she suggested.
"It's okay. Voldemort murdered her," said Fiona softly.
"Oh," said Ginny, feeling terribly for asking.
"Don't feel bad," said Fiona gently. "You didn't know any better." Professor Lupin walked in just as the conversation started. Sirius asked him to make sure that Fiona settled in comfortably. He watched her carefully. It was going to be a very long day.
Harry came in with Ron fifteen minutes later. He paused for a moment, taking a deep breath. Unlike Draco, he remembered she was starting today. He had counted the days until she did the same way he counted the days during the summer. "Harry, please move. I'm hungry," said Ron because Harry was standing right in front of him.
He walked forward with Ron, who was grinning. "Good morning all," he said brightly. "Harry, say good morning."
"Good morning," he said softly.
"Good morning, Harry," said Fiona brightly. "Aren't you going to sit down?" Harry sat down. He ate breakfast slowly as he listened to them talk. Why was he only able to talk to her when no one else was around? He felt so embarrassed when other people were around. He wasn't a smooth talker nor did he have any real charisma. At least that's what he thought.
"Harry?" she called, noticing that he wasn't contributing much to the conversation. "What are you doing today?"
"Going to class. Are you moving in today?"
"My things have been moved in already. I have to do more settling after I go flying with Draco this afternoon."
Harry felt his insides tightened again. No. You can't. Why? Why are you going with him?, he thought possessively. That feeling that she belonged to him came bubbling up again. "I don't think it's a good idea," he said finally.
Fiona gave him a strange look. "I need the practice. It's not like I'm going to play Quidditch or anything. I just want to fly. Besides, I already promised I'd go." She stopped herself from saying the last question: why did he care so much? Also, why did she have to explain herself to him? Remus was sitting right there. If anything he required more of any explanation than Harry.
Harry glared at her for a moment. "You shouldn't be out in the open." It bothered him that she was putting her safety on the line. It bothered him more that she insisted on spending time with Draco.
"The castle grounds are safe. And Draco wouldn't let anything happen to me."
"You can't trust him!" flared Harry.
Fiona looked startled. Remus sat up straighter. He could see that Harry was fighting the urge to grab and shake her. His hands rolled into fists. He dug his nails into his palms, fighting that urge. "I don't need you to tell me who my friends are. I think I can do that myself. Thanks for looking out for me," she said in a soft voice, sounding frightened. She stood up. "I have to go find my way to class."
"I'll go with you," said Ginny hurriedly. "We don't want you to get lost on your first day. See you later."
Harry loosened his hands to find that he had cut into his palms. He remembered telling Draco before that he could pick out his own friends. "Harry, let's get something for your hands," said Ron quietly.
"We can go see Madame Pomfrey before class," added Hermione nervously.
"Harry, come with me to my office instead," said Remus finally. He had managed to sneak up to the table because of the silence. Harry nodded. "I'll see you later, Ron. Hermione."
Harry walked with Remus towards his office. He closed the door behind him and then went to go get something for Harry's hands. "How can she trust that ferret over me?" asked Harry quietly.
"Fiona's known Draco longer. Neither of them have any other friends other than each other. She doesn't know you that well. Just try to be her friend, Harry. You know part of where she's coming from. You have an advantage. She's in Gryffindor. Work with that," said Remus as he treated the cuts. "Another thing. I don't think she'll appreciate you talking to her like that. No girl would. Her father made all sorts of foolish mistakes with her mother. Including public humiliation and getting her fired from her job. Both were accidentally. You should talk to Sirius about this."
"I don't want, too," admitted Harry, but he was glad to hear that Sirius had trouble with girls before. Somehow, Harry would have never imagined it. "I'm not good at this. I don't know what to say half the time. I just watch her. She probably things I've got nothing in my head. Remus, she's really smart. Malfoy said that she could beat Hermione. He wasn't joking."
"When did he say that?"
Harry stopped. Draco told him that right before the fight. "Before. I don't remember," he lied.
"You're smart. Smarter than you give yourself credit for. You have other things to think about." Remus was trying his best to give Harry some self confidence. He didn't think he would need it. This was the same boy who faced off with Voldemort in his first and second years of school and survived the Triwizards Tournament as the champion. He also survived his latest encounter with Voldemort. His undoing was a girl. A sweet girl who had no idea the affects she had on him.
Sirius told Remus about Draco telling Fiona to stop Harry. She claimed she had no control over him. All the evidence that was being presented to her wasn't making a dent. She was either in denial or just oblivious.
"The best advice I can give you is to be yourself. And you may not have to work as hard as you are right now. The hardest thing is getting the first word out, and you've already done that."
"She must think I'm crazy."
"Ah, but that's part of the process of charming her. Her mother told us that she knew Sirius was crazy. Take your time if you're not comfortable yet."
Harry looked up at him. "Remus, please don't tell Sirius about my hands or what happened earlier. Please?"
"I won't tell him, if you don't want me to. Eventually, you'll have to talk to him about what's going on," said Remus. Especially if it involves taking his daughter away from him in the future.
"Thanks, Professor Lupin," nodded Harry as he went to class. Remus grinned ear to ear as he shook his head.
*
Harry had to finish his homework as soon as classes were over, so Hermione dragged him and Ron to the library to study for the O.W.L.s again. They were months away, but Hermione's regiment to get as many possible required that they study a lot. Harry wanted to get it over with as soon as possible, but there was also the Potions homework that Professor Delacour gave.
Professor Snape was at the school, but they were preparing to go to meet with Ryu Ran's order, so the Headmaster thought it was best to keep Fleur there to fill in. Earlier that day, Severus had brought in some Wolfsbane Potion for Remus to drink. The full moon was tonight, so he had to drink the latest batch to make him harmless.
Fiona ran to go meet with Draco. It had been a calmer day for her. Draco stood there waiting for her in his black jeans and white turtleneck shirt. She met up with him wearing jeans and a red t-shirt. "Sorry, I'm late. I had to put my books back at the tower and change."
"It's all right. I was thinking that the sky was getting so gray," said Draco as craned his neck upwards. "It's too early for it to be this dark."
"Can we still go flying like this?"
"Yes, but I think we'd better go in if it rains," replied Draco.
They mounted their broomsticks. Neither of them saw a rat with a strange paw watching them. He scurried off to set the next phase in motion.
Deep into the Forbidden Forest, figures in long draping cloaks hovered and waited, poised to attack. Lucius Malfoy had a telescope which he focused on the pair as they flew in the sky. He motioned the figures to attack.
"You will surround them. You can't have either of them though. I'll take the girl alive. I'll kill the boy myself."
AN: Longer chapter to build up to the next part. The next part will be a real mess. Draco's in the for a real fight, even after the battle's over. Fiona's other powers will unfurl themselves. ^^
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. I own this plotline and the original characters of this story. Please ask my permission before use.