Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. If I did, I'd be rich and you wouldn't see me here posting this fanfic. I do, however, own Jade, Peridot, and Opal. Jade, Peridot, and Opal Miko are my characters and no one else's. You touch, I hurt. Understand?

~~Righty-O! In the last chapter, we got to see Peridot's dark side.  He broke Opal's arm and ran off.  Opal decides, after much deliberation, that she should indeed tell Dumbledore. That brings us up to date. Read and Review! ~~

You'll find better love

Strong as it ever was

Deep as the river runs

Warm as the morning sun

Please remember me

-Tim McGraw, "Please Remember Me"

Chapter 11: Confession

            As they walked, Opal realized something.  She didn't know where Dumbledore's office was.  "Hey, do you know where Dumbledore's office is?" She asked hopefully.

            Before he could respond, they found themselves in front of an enormous stone phoenix.  "I think it's behind here.  Uh-oh."

            "What is it?" Opal asked, breathing a bit heavily from the walk.

            "I don't know the password.  Only teachers do," he said, looking down, wondering what to do.

            Opal tugged on Draco's robes as the phoenix began to move silently.  "Uh, Draco?"

            Draco jumped.  "Well that was easy."

            As the phoenix slid up the hole, stairs rose.  A few seconds after it stopped moving, Professor McGonagall came down the steps.  She jumped when she saw Opal and Draco.  "Can I help you two?" she asked sternly.

            "We need to speak with Professor Dumbledore," Draco replied.

            "Is it that urgent?"

            "Yes, professor."

            McGonagall sighed.  "Wait here," she said, and walked up the steps. 

            Draco bowed his head for a moment, and then looked at Opal.  "You alright?"

            Opal shook a little.  "I was just about to ask you the same question."

            Draco picked her up.  "You're shaking; you should rest your legs." That's not why I'm shaking, Opal thought to herself.  Not wanting to worry Draco, she thanked him.  "No problem," he replied, none the wiser.

            McGonagall walked back down the steps.  She glared sternly at the two, wondering why Opal was in Draco's arms.  "He's waiting for you."

            "Thank you professor," Draco said and headed up the stairs. 

            Dumbledore sat at his desk, writing something.  Draco knocked on the door with his free hand.  "Enter," Dumbledore said.  The door opened on its own, and Draco walked in, setting Opal onto a chair.  He looked at her, telling her without words to start talking. Dumbledore looked at Opal, a little confused. 

            Opal spoke very quietly.  "Um…it's about Peridot, professor Dumbledore.  He…um…er…" There was a long pause.  "He used to…used to…" Opal stopped again, shaking.

            Draco put his hand on her shoulder, bending over.  "It's okay, you can do this."

Opal took a deep breath, nodding.  "He used to hit me and Jade…he…he still hits me."

            Draco gripped Opal's shoulders with both his hands, trying to offer her comfort.  She started to cry, and he hugged her.  "It's okay."

Dumbledore looked sympathetically at Opal.  "There, there Opal.  It took a lot to tell me that."  Dumbledore looked at Draco.  "I assume, Mr. Malfoy that you are here to give witness to this accusation?"

"Well, sure, um, yes professor," Draco stuttered. 

Dumbledore looked at him expectantly.  "Please explain."

"Well professor, Opal had invited me to do something with her and her brother, Peridot.  I arrived, she greeted me.  He just glared.  When I sat down, he asked to talk to her," Draco paused, taking a deep breath.  "So he took her aside and started yelling at her.  He then grabbed his wand and started running at me, but Opal stopped him the best she could.

"She grabbed his arm but he picked her up and threw her. She landed on a table, breaking her arm and bruising much of her body.  He looked at her then ran out the library.  That's when I took her to the hospital wing.  He went to see her, and made me leave the room.  I think he might have tried something there too."

"Opal?" Dumbledore asked.  "Did Peridot do anything to you in the hospital wing?"

Opal looked at Draco, and then back at Dumbledore. She nodded.  "He…he put his hand around my neck and asked if I had told anyone.  By then, I had already told Draco, but…I…I couldn't tell him that.  I was terrified as to what he would do if I did tell him…he…he…gripped harder and asked me again," Opal began crying harder and trembling violently.  "I…I told him again that…that I didn't tell anyone…I don't know if he believed me, because…because he walked out after that."

Draco was still holding her shoulders.  "Professor, is there anything you can do to stop him?"

"I will see, Mr. Malfoy.  Now please take her back to the hospital wing.  She's had a rough day, and needs rest.  Tell Madame Pomfrey I told you not to let Peridot into the hospital wing."

Draco bowed his head. "Yes sir," he said, and picked up Opal, leaving Dumbledore's office.

Opal clutched at Draco's robes, sobbing.  "He's going to kill me."

"No he isn't," Draco insisted.  "I won't let him.  He'll have to go through me first."

"I don't want you to get hurt, too."

"I'm going to protect you," Draco assured her.  "He isn't going to do this again."

            They were silent the rest of the way back to the hospital wing.  Opal dozed off in Draco's arms.  Draco walked into the hospital wing and almost dropped Opal.  Inside the waiting room was Peridot.  He regained his hold on her, sweeping past Peridot.  He tucked Opal into her bed.  "Where did you take her, Malfoy?" Peridot demanded.

            "No where.  She was feeling a little better and wanted to go for a walk.  We did, but her legs gave out, so I carried her back here.  Looks like she was tired," Draco replied, glancing at Opal.

            Peridot stalked out of the hospital wing without another word.  Opal winced and opened her eyes, hearing Draco and Peridot talking.  "Peridot?"

            Draco didn't have a chance to respond.  Madame Pomfrey stormed in, passing Peridot, who was leaving.  "WHERE HAVE YOU TWO BEEN?! I WAS WORRIED SICK! COME IN HERE TO CHECK ON HER AND YOU'RE BOTH GONE!"  Madame Pomfrey calmed down a little.  "Is she okay? Where did you go?"

            Opal jumped.  She was now wide awake.  Draco looked at Madame Pomfrey.  "Sorry ma'am.  We…um," Draco paused.  Better not tell her, Draco thought.  "We went for a walk…she needed to stretch her legs, that's all."

            Opal glanced at Draco.  "She could have been seriously injured Malfoy," she said as she bustled about Opal.  "Stay still dear, I have to do my check.  Is there any where else that you hurt? Tell me while I check your arm." Madame Pomfrey unwrapped Opal's arm.  She pressed slightly.  "Does this hurt?"

            Opal shook her head. "Nothing."

"Good, good.  How about here?  Here?  Here?" Madame Pomfrey pressed in different areas on Opal's arm, pausing to let her reply.  It wasn't until Madame Pomfrey pressed on her wrist that she felt any pain.

Opal winced when Madame Pomfrey put pressure on her wrist.  "Just there."

"Oh dear.  Let me check it," Madame Pomfrey said, lifting her hand slowly.  She moved Opal's wrist around very gently.  "Does this hurt?"

Opal tried not to cry out. "Yes!"

Madame Pomfrey stopped putting pressure on Opal's arm.  "Still healing.  I'd say about two more hours.  Anything else that hurts, dear?"

Opal shook her head. "No.  When can I leave?"

"I'll check you in an hour or so dear.  We shall know then," Madame Pomfrey replied.

Opal nodded.  "Alright."

"I suggest you get some rest," Madame Pomfrey said, glaring at Draco and leaving.

"Why does everyone glare at me?" Draco wondered.

"Well, you did take me out of the hospital wing without her knowing," Opal pointed out.

"Yeah, yeah," Draco muttered.

"He was here wasn't he?" Opal said.

"Yes," Draco replied, knowing exactly who she was talking about.

"You didn't…hurt him, did you?"

"No, I told him we went for a walk and you got tired.  And he stormed out."

"What about Madame Pomfrey?"

"That's when Madame Pomfrey came in screaming.  She was mad…she noticed we left. OH!" Draco cried realizing something.  "I have to tell her, I'll be right back, okay?"  Opal nodded, and Draco ran out to find Madame Pomfrey.  Making sure Peridot was no where in sight, he told Madame Pomfrey where they really went, and what Dumbledore said.  She was thoroughly mad that they left without telling her first, but she agreed.  He left to go back in to see Opal.  He walked back in to find Opal sitting up, trying to adjust her pillows.  Draco ran over and did it for her.  "Rest!"

Opal sighed.  "Sorry, I'm not tired."

"Then at least stay still!"

"You fuss over me too much," Opal said. 

"No, I don't," Draco insisted.  "I'm just trying to help."

"You don't have to, you know."

"But I want to!"

Opal blushed, defeated.  "Thanks."

"No problem at all," Draco said, not realizing he was blushing too.

Laying her hand lightly on Draco's cheek, she said, "You blush so easily!"

Draco backed away a little, enough so Opal's hand wasn't on his cheek anymore.  "So?"

Opal dropped her hand, looking away.  "Sorry."

Draco felt bad, going back to the bed.  "I wasn't trying to offend you, it's just, well, embarrassing I guess."

"Embarrassing?" Opal asked.  "Why?"

"I never used to blush.  Since I met Jade, my face has been permanent fire."  Opal smiled, laughing lightly.  He blushed again.  "Don't laugh."

Opal stopped quickly.  "I did—sorry."

Now it was Draco's turn to laugh. "It's okay.

"Don't tell me I make you feel like Jade did," Opal pleaded.

            "No," Draco replied, surprised.

"Well, good, because that would make me feel like I was intruding or something."

"No," Draco repeated.

"No, what?" Opal asked, a bit confused.

"You aren't intruding."

"Maybe not," Opal said, unsure of whether or not she believed Draco.

"You aren't!" Draco insisted. He looked at her, suddenly very confused.  "Maybe not what?"

Opal laughed.  "Don't worry about it Draco," she winced.  "Guess I'm still a little sore."

"Now will you rest?"

"You can go, Draco, I'll be fine," Opal said, noticing how tired Draco looked.

"No, I'm fine."

"You need rest too," Opal persisted.

"I'll be fine," Draco refused.

"Thanks," Opal said.

"Sure," Draco said, smiling.  "Now rest.  It will make you feel better!"

"I'm not…" Opal trailed off, closing her eyes as she fell into a deep sleep.  It wasn't long after she fell asleep that she began to mutter in her sleep.  She smiled and said sweetly, "Mmm, Draco." Her smile faded a few seconds later, replaced by a look of sheer terror.  "No, Peridot, don't! No, Peridot!!!!" Opal screamed.  Draco, who had started to doze off in his chair, leapt up at the sound of the scream, falling hard onto the floor.  Opal squirmed in her sleep as Draco pulled himself up off the floor.  He set his chair upright, scooting it closer to Opal's bed.  He put his hand in Opal's and fell asleep, owing to the fact that Opal seemed to have calmed down somewhat.

Opal jerked awake in the middle of the night, pulling her mending hand from Draco's and punched him hard in the face with it.  "No!!" she screamed, and sat bolt upright, a cold sweat drenching her face.

Draco leapt up, crying out in pain.  He rubbed the cheek where Opal had punched him.  "Opal! Are you okay?  It was a dream."  Opal didn't respond, she was breathing heavily and crying.  "Opal…" he repeated, putting his hand on her back, trying to calm her down.  Opal didn't respond; she put her head in her arms, ignoring the pain from her broken arm.  He kept his hand on her back, not saying anything.  Opal lifted her head, looking at Draco for the first time since she woke up, and practically screamed.  She thought Draco was Peridot.  He jumped.  "Uh, hi?"

Opal panted, still out of breath.  "Oh, Draco!  I'm so sorry!" she said, recognizing Draco. 

"It's okay.  What happened?"

Opal closed her eyes.  "P-Peridot," she said shortly, shaking her head.

"What about him?"

Opal, flustered, looked around.  "I—it was a dream," Opal said, trying to convince herself more than Draco. "Nothing more than a dream.  It was so…vivid, though."  She was shaking violently now.

"I'm sorry.  What was it about?  You screamed several times.  My bruised bum is proof."

"Oh my god, I'm sorry, Draco!  Did I hit you?"

"Yeah," Draco said, nodding.  "First you scream and I fell out of the chair.  Then I come closer to maybe calm you down, and you whapped me, but I'm okay."

Opal held her wrist, realizing she had hit him with her newly mended arm.  It was probably broken again.  "I—I'm really sorry…I didn't…I—," Opal couldn't finish. 

"It's okay," Draco insisted.

Opal ignored her wrist and grabbed a tissue.  Cleaning her face, she hoped the tissue hid her grimace.  Regaining her composure, she blew her nose and tossed the tissue in the trash.  "Are you sure you're okay, Draco?  I didn't hit you too hard did I?"

"Oh no, not that hard.  I've been hit harder.  Are you okay?"

Opal smiled, laughing a little.  "For once I'm glad I'm not that strong."

"Aw, thanks," Draco said, laughing with her.  "I am too."

Her smile faded.  "This…isn't the first time I've had nightmares like this."

"You've had nightmares about me before?" Draco asked, still smiling.  "Or just Peridot?"

Opal glared at Draco, half playfully.  "You know what I mean."

"Well, you said something about me said 'mm Draco', and then yelled 'NO PERIDOT DON'T'.  That's when I fell off my chair."

Opal blushed a bright red.  "I—I said something about you?"

"Yes," Draco said, laughing.  "Now look who's blushing!"

Her face got redder, if possible.  "I don't really remember what it was, though."  Opal did in fact remember her dream.  It was hard to forget, but she didn't want to tell Draco that. 

"Oh, okay.  Are you alright now though?"

"Other than the fact that I am now totally embarrassed, I'm fine."

"Don't be," Draco laughed.  "That's good."

Opal didn't get a chance to respond, for right then Peridot walked into the hospital wing.  "Leave, Malfoy," Peridot ordered.

Draco leapt up, turning to face Peridot.  "No."

Peridot stood close to Draco.  He was about five inches taller than Draco and better built.  "Yes."

It was then Draco realized just how much bigger Peridot was than he.  He cowered a little, but stood his ground.  "No."

Peridot grabbed Draco around the neck.  Lifting him up into the air, Peridot tossed Draco aside.  "Yes."  Draco flew across the room into a chair.  He hit his head, hard, and was knocked out. 

"Draco!" Opal screamed.  She snatched her wand off the table, pointing it at Peridot's advancing form.  "Petrificus totalus!" Peridot's body went rigid, falling to the ground.  Opal leapt out of bed and ran over to Draco, practically falling on top of him.  "Draco!" Draco's face was contorted in agony.  He didn't open his eyes.  "Draco, please!"  Draco still didn't awaken.  She put her arms under him, ignoring her wrist, and lifted him up.  He was heavy, and her wrist was most definitely broken again.  She staggered over to the nearest bed, laying him there.  He lay there, unconscious. 

Madame Pomfrey burst in, hearing the commotion.  "What was that bang I heard?" Spotting Peridot's rigid body on the floor, she asked, "What happened?  Miss Miko, get back in bed."

Opal took her good hand and put it behind Draco's head, touching it gingerly.  Her fingers felt cold liquid.  "You have to help Draco!  His head is bleeding!"  She refused to move from Draco's bedside.

"Please, Miss Miko.  I will take care of Draco.  You have to rest that arm.  It looks like you broke it again, didn't you?"

"I think I did."

"Okay.  I'll get Draco, you go lie down," Madame Pomfrey said, pointing at her bed. 

"But—," Opal started.

"Go," Madame Pomfrey ordered.  Opal reluctantly went back to her bed, lying down.  She winced as she shifted her wrist and looked back over at Draco, worried.  Madame Pomfrey wrapped Draco's head with a bandage, and then took out her wand, muttering a spell.  "That should stop the bleeding.  Now to take care of that one," she said, referring to Peridot.  Using her wand, Madame Pomfrey lifted him up and put him on the empty bed next to Draco.

"Madame Pomfrey!" Opal cried, causing Madame Pomfrey to turn.  "Peridot came in here…he…I guess he came because he heard what I told Dumbledore.  Draco tried to stop him, but he wasn't strong enough!  Peridot lifted him up by his neck and threw him against the wall!  I had to body bind him…it was the only way I could stop him from hurting Draco more, or killing me…"

"He what?  That's Peridot?  I'll inform Dumbledore immediately," she said, and left.  She was too busy leaving to notice Opal get out of her bed and go over to Draco's.

"Draco, I'm sorry," she whispered, holding her broken wrist.  Draco lay there motionless, with the exception of light strained breathing.  Opal stared fiercely at Peridot.  "I should kill you where you sleep," she spat.

"Then you'll be just like him," Draco whispered.  Opal jumped.  "You should," Draco whispered, pausing for a moment, "be in bed."

"Don't worry about me, Draco.  I'll be fine," Opal said, smiling.  "It's you I'm worried about. 

"Ug…It's just a bump," Draco said.

"A bleeding bump," Opal pointed out.

"It's bleeding?" Draco asked, and then lifted his hand to touch the back of his head.  "Ow…"

"Don't touch it, stupid," Opal snapped.

"Yes, mother," he replied sarcastically.

"Well, if you want to feel pain, go ahead and touch it!  See if I care!" Opal cried.

"Okay, okay," Draco conceded, dropping his hand and sitting up slowly.  "Now what about him?"

"I body bound him," Opal said shortly. 

Looking over at Peridot, Draco said, "I can—ow…" Draco paused, his face scrunching in pain.  He lay back down.  "See that," he finished, his eyes closing tight.

"Shh…Don't move," Opal said softly.

"Ug…look whose talking Miss I-Broke-My-Arm-Twice," Draco said irritably, opening his eyes and looking at Opal.  "Well, never mind."

"Maybe I should have left you on the floor then!"

"Don't think my head is screwed on right anymore," Draco said, not really hearing Opal.  "Ug…" Draco got dizzy and closed his eyes again.

Opal's expression softened, and before she realized what she was doing, she rubbed Draco's cheek lightly.  "You should rest…" she said quietly and went back to her own bed and lay down, feeling a bit dizzy herself.  She was still cradling her broken arm. 

Madame Pomfrey came bustling back in to check on them.  "Miss Miko, how is that arm?"

"Still broken," Opal snapped.  "Madame," she added.

"Well of course, my dear.  It will be broken for a while now.  You might as well get comfortable.  You will be here all night," Madame Pomfrey replied and started rewrapping Opal's arm.  She winced, trying not to cry.  "You really did a number on it this time.  How did you break it again?"

"Um…I picked Draco up," Opal answered.

"Well, I guess that was a good thing, but not for your arm.  Just stay in bed, I'm going to go check on the boys."  Opal nodded and lay down, trying not to move her arm.

Madame Pomfrey moved over to Draco.  Examining his head, she noted, "It's still bleeding.  He must have gotten hit badly."  She left the room to get more bandages.

"Uuuggggg…" Draco groaned.  Opal looked over worriedly at him as he started to mumble.  Suddenly, Draco sat up straight, then falls back forcefully, waking himself up.  "OW!  Dammit all!" Draco cursed.

Opal jumped, looking over at Draco.  "You okay?" she cried. 

"Ouch," was all he could say.  "Uggggg," Draco said as Opal got out of bed and sat in a chair next to Draco. 

Opal put her hand over Draco's.  "Stop your moaning."

"But it hurts," Draco insisted.  "How's your arm?"

"It hurts too.  Madame Pomfrey set it again."

Madame Pomfrey came back in, seeing Opal out of bed.  "Miss Miko!!!!"

Opal jumped.  "Sorry Madame Pomfrey! I just—," she stopped, not having an excuse.

It was then that she noticed that Professor Dumbledore was following Madame Pomfrey.  "He's over there, headmaster," Madame Pomfrey said, pointing to the curtained off area that shielded the body bound form of Peridot.  As he walked over there, Madame Pomfrey went over to Draco and started to wrap his head with more bandages. 

"OW!  Careful!  It hurts," Draco complained. 

"Shush," she scolded, then looked at Opal. "Just stay in bed Miss Miko, okay?"

"Yes, ma'am."

Dumbledore pulled back the curtains, revealing Peridot.  He performed the counter curse on Peridot, with Madame Pomfrey standing there watching. 

Peridot groaned as he woke up.  "Wha…?  Professor Dumbledore, sir!" Peridot stuttered.  Dumbledore didn't say anything, he merely closed the curtains.  He sealed it magically, so the others in the hospital wing couldn't see or hear their conversation. 

"What do you think he is saying?" Draco asked Opal.

"I don't know," Opal replied, still standing next to Draco's bed.

"Never you mind that, that's between headmaster and Peridot," Madame Pomfrey snapped. "Miss Miko, please…"

"What?"

"Bed.  Now," she said, looking at her sternly. 

"Yes, ma'am," Opal said, squeezing Draco's hand and going back to her bed.

Madame Pomfrey went into the lobby as Peridot and Dumbledore came out of their secluded area.  Peridot was silent, and didn't look at Opal or Draco.  Draco glared after Peridot, and then looked at Opal.  She looked terrified, and wasn't looking at Peridot.  She started to shiver.  Draco sat up, getting out of bed, ignoring his throbbing head, and went over to Opal.  "It will be alright, Opal.  Dumbledore will take care of this."

"Thanks, Draco," Opal replied.  "But you shouldn't be out of bed."

"I don't care," Draco replied.

"At least sit!"

"Okay, okay I'll sit," Draco conceded and sat down. 

"Thanks.  I knew you'd at least see it partially my way," Opal said, and Draco laughed.  "Madame Pomfrey will kill you when she gets back, though."

"I don't care; she is probably following Dumbledore anyways."

"How is your head, anyway?"

"It hurts.  I'm kind of dizzy, but it's okay," Draco replied.

"I wish I could do something to make it better," Opal mused.

"No, it's alright," Draco said.

Opal sat up, using her good arm.  "I'm hungry," Opal said, realizing how late it was. 

"Ug, not me," Draco said.

"It is 1:00 in the morning you know," Opal said.

"Oh wow," Draco said his eyes widening.

Opal shivered suddenly.  "I just realized something."

"What?" Draco asked.

"I may never see Peridot again."

"Is that a bad thing?"  Draco asked.

"He's my brother," Opal insisted.

"Not much of one, if you ask me," Draco said sullenly. 

"Excuse me, but despite what he did, he was an excellent brother," Opal said, unsure as to why she was defending Peridot.  "He practically raised me and Jade."

"I guess," Draco conceded partially.  "But…still…"

"I know," Opal said, cutting him off.  "You can't get over what he did.  But for me, I've been with him almost all the time my whole life, and now I won't see him anymore," Opal stopped and shrugged.  "But what is the point of explaining myself?"

"I'm listening," Draco said.  "I see what you mean.  I'm sure there is more to him than just what he does.  But I don't forgive him.  He may have been a good brother otherwise, but what he did was wrong and doesn't show he loves you."  Opal didn't respond; she looked away.  "Opal…" he started, but stopped.

"What, Draco?" Opal demanded.  "Do you think I haven't run it through my mind a thousand times that Peridot could possibly be doing what he's doing out of love?  I never came up with a logical solution for that, and I never will.  So despite me and Jade's relationship with him, you're right Draco.  I don't think he ever loved me.  Or Jade."

Draco looked down.  "I'm sorry.  I was just telling you what I thought.  I'm sure you thought it over.  I'm sure it has been on your mind.  I didn't mean to offend you.  I'll go back to my bed then," Draco said and stood, heading back to his bed.  He wobbled a little from dizziness.  Opal hopped out of bed, using her good arm to support Draco.  "Thanks, but please go back to bed.  I don't want you to hurt you arm again.  I'll be fine."

"My arm's fine," Opal insisted.  "You're going to give yourself brain damage if you stay out of bed much longer."

"Hence why I'm going back," Draco snapped.

"Hence why I'm helping you.  So you don't fall down."

"Alright, alright.  I give, you win."

Opal laughed.  "I knew I would

Draco laughed too, but it hurt to do so for him.  "I'm sure."  Opal put him back in his bed, but didn't move to go back to her own.  "Opal…"

"Yeah?" She asked.

Draco looked away and closed his eyes.  "Go to bed."

Opal looked very hurt.  "O…kay…" She went dejectedly back to her bed, lifting herself onto it with her good arm.  She lay with her back to Draco, the tears falling silently from her face.  She closed her eyes.

Draco opened his eyes, sensing he did something wrong.  He moved silently from his bed to beside hers.  He leaned over her shoulder and whispered in her ear, "Sleep well.  Good night, Opal.  Thanks so much."  And with that he went back to his own bed and fell asleep.