Disclaimer: Don't own the original characters, you know it all.
CHAPTER 9: The Dark Mark
"WHERE IS HE?!!!!"
Harry awoke, feeling back pain. He had slept sideways on the armchair. Harry opened his eyes and saw Malfoy sitting on the table drinking something staring at the fire. The fire contained Percy Weasley's angry head.
"Who?" Malfoy said, taking another sip of his drink.
"Ron, WHERE IS RON? He missed work!"
"Did he now?" Malfoy seemed to be enjoying this.
Percy's head turned to Harry. "Harry- is Ron there?"
Harry shook his head. "Sorry Perce. I don't know where he is." Harry said sitting straight.
Percy shook his head in frustration. "People say he came here around here about 70 minutes ago, tell him to be by the office by 10 minutes before 2. And tell him I have his winnings and that Giles is already planning the surprise party."
"But then it wouldn't be a surprise?" Harry said. Percy disappeared.
"Every year Hugh Giles plans a party and whenever Ron wins, it hasn't been a surprise." Malfoy said, getting up.
Harry sighed and collected some of the newspapers that scattered the floor. Malfoy commented something on Paper Maché when they heard Greg's voice talking to Ron. Malfoy stood straight and sat down at the table. Harry lifted a pile of papers when he saw Ron come in. He froze when he saw their eyes on him, and ran his fingers through his slightly wet hair.
"What?" Ron asked.
"Nothing." Harry said and continued to clean up.
"So you're late." Malfoy said.
"Ohh...well sorry I was just-" Ron saw Malfoy staring at him. "I'm kind of thirsty." Ron got a glass of water.
"So- you take a shower?" Malfoy said pointing to his hair.
"Eh-yeah." Ron said sitting at the table.
"Probably with the bitch in there with him." Malfoy mumbled.
Ron almost choked. "What did you say?"
"Nothing." Malfoy said smiling.
"Who are you talking about?" Ron demanded. Malfoy turned his glass and didn't answer. "Are you talking about Hermione? You better not be-"
"Why because if it ever got out so many people would hate you?"
"You don't understand anything." Ron said, standing up.
"I think I understand my wife, what her diaries say the pain Granger gave her-"
"Hermione gave no pain!" Ron said sitting back down and leaned closer to Malfoy. "You know what I think about your damn grief, what I think of you?!"
"What? Give me a sign." Malfoy said carelessly.
Ron lifted his hand in front of Malfoy, and expressed a very rude sign with his fingers.
Malfoy narrowed his eyes and Harry got between them. "Ok-Okay- you hate each other, no need to use fingers, so Ron just put your finger down."
Harry smiled. Ron didn't move. "Ron! Put it down."
Ron looked at him and did so. He narrowed his eyes. "I got to check into my work." Ron stood up and left. Harry followed.
"Err, Ron. Just remember that Percy was really angry so you should have some kind of- alarm whenever you and Hermione-" Harry showed a slightly disgusted face.
Then quickly Ron answered, "We never. Did that."
Harry's face released. "Really?"
Ron bit his lip. "I just- accidentally- fell asleep there and overslept."
"Oh...Ok." Harry said. That sure took off some weirdness.
"I got to go so- bye." Ron smiled and left quickly.
Malfoy finished his water and started walking to his room. Harry followed talking. "I don't understand why you guys still hate each other through out all these years. Malfoy, Ron let you stay here, and do you really believe Hermione caused the death of your wife? I mean, you actually saw Hermione kill your wife? It's been 5 years, Malfoy, get over it, Move on!"
"Don't tell me to get over it!" Malfoy said outraged as he sat on his bed. "Ron didn't tell you the whole story, the details."
Harry sat down on his bed. "Surprise me."
Malfoy stared out the window, a distant expression on his face. "When I saw Lisa there, lying down on the steel stone after falling out of glass you can guess I was outraged. When she was brought to the hospital there was poison in her...She- she took my hand, tears in her eyes. She told me- told me that it didn't matter what the poison was doing to her body, the woe it was causing her- it was nothing against our lost. Without the poison, it still would have- would have died."
Malfoy wasn't exactly crying but he his eyes were wet. He sniffed and picked up a photo of a blonde, which turned out to be Lisa. He held it and rubbed it. "Ron didn't tell you she was-" Malfoy seemed a little choked up as he removed his thumb. "Expecting."
Harry looked at then Malfoy, who got up and got a large bag, which contained small books. He got one of them and looked at it. "She wrote that it would be gone, as well as herself." Malfoy handed Harry the diary. "My wife was a little psychic, just had these small dreams- sometimes they turned out wrong, and she was hoping with all her might that the feeling would go away, that it wouldn't be true. She was happy, but the chance...the chance of a family- lost." Malfoy took the diary shut. "Everything...lost."
Harry stared at Malfoy. "I'm- so sorry." He had never seen Malfoy like this it didn't seem like him, it couldn't be.
"She went missing for a week, sent search parties found nothing. Then while I was walking in the forest I saw her- Granger was holding her saying things about pain, and the poison killing her slowly, saying things that it could stop now." Malfoy was biting his bottom lip so hard that it could've started bleeding right there. "She killed her- in front of me."
"How do you know it was her?" Harry said suddenly.
Malfoy looked at him. "I don't. And I don't care. Family gone, friends gone. I saw her, she pushed Lisa and that's enough for me. I didn't know how to hold myself up, thought I'd just die from the burning inside of me, ripping me slowly, the laughter of killers, like the Dark Lord. Then- Selma helped me." Malfoy finished as straightened his black and blue-stripped tie.
"Selma Waier? I knew that, because she was at your wedding- she told me- she told me it was beautiful." Harry said almost in a choked up voice.
"Yes...it was." Malfoy said hiding the books under his bed. "But after finishing all 37 of my wife's diaries, I know what I must do."
"What?" Harry had to ask.
Malfoy looked at Harry. "I must follow her predictions...and move on." Malfoy then stood up and left.
Harry just sat there for what seemed like minutes just thinking, trying to put himself in Malfoy's situation. He couldn't. He didn't know the loss of a wife or an unborn child. How long was she pregnant? Well they got married after immediately after school, she died in October. Harry got up. He knew who he should see. Selma.
****** Harry finally came to the sign. Harp Springs. Selma lived just beyond the trees. Harry remembered that she clearly said that she had a large garden and a lot of bells that jingled musically in soft wind. And then Harry heard it. Harry turned and saw the house. It was two story and white and she had a large garden. Harry did indeed hear bells as a gentle breeze swept pass the sunny morning. Then Harry looked at the door. It was open.
"Selma?" Harry called as he walked down the walkway. Harry peeked through the crack and heard voices that were coming from the couch, but he didn't know who since the couch's back was on him.
"No, Just need some water." Selma sat up and started fixing her hair. Though the back of the couch only showed her head, Harry could tell she wasn't wearing anything. Then Harry jumped at the sight of the person sitting up next to her, pale and unclothed.
"Malfoy," Harry whispered and got up and backed away, catching himself before his back hit the steps. It was very silent. Then the door flew open. Selma was holding out her wand staring. Malfoy was staring. It was a long moment of just shock and staring.
Then Harry ran off.
**********
Harry sat on the couch confused. Had Malfoy lied? It seemed true, but then what was going on? His thoughts swam until it was dark outside and he then remembered the information he found and at that moment, Ron came through the door.
"Ron- you're home," Harry said. "I forgot- I found clues to Hermione's innocence I just need confirmation." Harry said handing Ron his notes and articles. Ron looked already in a sad bad mood looked through some of the papers then threw it aside.
"It doesn't matter. I don't know what will happen." Ron said. He sank his head into the couch.
"Ron- what's wrong?" Harry asked.
"The information on Jonathan Ocost won't do good because I doubt he'd ever admit and he ran out of the country." Ron said, tiredly. "And... And... She said it wasn't real... that they just put it on her so that the Dark Lord could keep an eye on her..."
"What, Ron?" Harry demanded. From the corner of is eye he saw Malfoy by the doorway.
Ron lifted his head. "The Dark Mark, Harry. She has it."
Harry's eyes were round and he watched as Ron stuck his head in the cushions. Harry looked at Malfoy, who's face showed no surprise or shock.
***************************************
yes, that is the end of the chapter. remember: Hermione's still not evil. I'm not sure if I will explain exactly why she has it...in this story. Anything else will probably be explained. But things will come together and since this fic gets darker and stuff, it will most likely fall apart. Next chapt is the reunion. More will be explained about Malfoy and Selma.
Thanx 4 the reviews, Pam Briggs and EvilMicella
CHAPTER 9: The Dark Mark
"WHERE IS HE?!!!!"
Harry awoke, feeling back pain. He had slept sideways on the armchair. Harry opened his eyes and saw Malfoy sitting on the table drinking something staring at the fire. The fire contained Percy Weasley's angry head.
"Who?" Malfoy said, taking another sip of his drink.
"Ron, WHERE IS RON? He missed work!"
"Did he now?" Malfoy seemed to be enjoying this.
Percy's head turned to Harry. "Harry- is Ron there?"
Harry shook his head. "Sorry Perce. I don't know where he is." Harry said sitting straight.
Percy shook his head in frustration. "People say he came here around here about 70 minutes ago, tell him to be by the office by 10 minutes before 2. And tell him I have his winnings and that Giles is already planning the surprise party."
"But then it wouldn't be a surprise?" Harry said. Percy disappeared.
"Every year Hugh Giles plans a party and whenever Ron wins, it hasn't been a surprise." Malfoy said, getting up.
Harry sighed and collected some of the newspapers that scattered the floor. Malfoy commented something on Paper Maché when they heard Greg's voice talking to Ron. Malfoy stood straight and sat down at the table. Harry lifted a pile of papers when he saw Ron come in. He froze when he saw their eyes on him, and ran his fingers through his slightly wet hair.
"What?" Ron asked.
"Nothing." Harry said and continued to clean up.
"So you're late." Malfoy said.
"Ohh...well sorry I was just-" Ron saw Malfoy staring at him. "I'm kind of thirsty." Ron got a glass of water.
"So- you take a shower?" Malfoy said pointing to his hair.
"Eh-yeah." Ron said sitting at the table.
"Probably with the bitch in there with him." Malfoy mumbled.
Ron almost choked. "What did you say?"
"Nothing." Malfoy said smiling.
"Who are you talking about?" Ron demanded. Malfoy turned his glass and didn't answer. "Are you talking about Hermione? You better not be-"
"Why because if it ever got out so many people would hate you?"
"You don't understand anything." Ron said, standing up.
"I think I understand my wife, what her diaries say the pain Granger gave her-"
"Hermione gave no pain!" Ron said sitting back down and leaned closer to Malfoy. "You know what I think about your damn grief, what I think of you?!"
"What? Give me a sign." Malfoy said carelessly.
Ron lifted his hand in front of Malfoy, and expressed a very rude sign with his fingers.
Malfoy narrowed his eyes and Harry got between them. "Ok-Okay- you hate each other, no need to use fingers, so Ron just put your finger down."
Harry smiled. Ron didn't move. "Ron! Put it down."
Ron looked at him and did so. He narrowed his eyes. "I got to check into my work." Ron stood up and left. Harry followed.
"Err, Ron. Just remember that Percy was really angry so you should have some kind of- alarm whenever you and Hermione-" Harry showed a slightly disgusted face.
Then quickly Ron answered, "We never. Did that."
Harry's face released. "Really?"
Ron bit his lip. "I just- accidentally- fell asleep there and overslept."
"Oh...Ok." Harry said. That sure took off some weirdness.
"I got to go so- bye." Ron smiled and left quickly.
Malfoy finished his water and started walking to his room. Harry followed talking. "I don't understand why you guys still hate each other through out all these years. Malfoy, Ron let you stay here, and do you really believe Hermione caused the death of your wife? I mean, you actually saw Hermione kill your wife? It's been 5 years, Malfoy, get over it, Move on!"
"Don't tell me to get over it!" Malfoy said outraged as he sat on his bed. "Ron didn't tell you the whole story, the details."
Harry sat down on his bed. "Surprise me."
Malfoy stared out the window, a distant expression on his face. "When I saw Lisa there, lying down on the steel stone after falling out of glass you can guess I was outraged. When she was brought to the hospital there was poison in her...She- she took my hand, tears in her eyes. She told me- told me that it didn't matter what the poison was doing to her body, the woe it was causing her- it was nothing against our lost. Without the poison, it still would have- would have died."
Malfoy wasn't exactly crying but he his eyes were wet. He sniffed and picked up a photo of a blonde, which turned out to be Lisa. He held it and rubbed it. "Ron didn't tell you she was-" Malfoy seemed a little choked up as he removed his thumb. "Expecting."
Harry looked at then Malfoy, who got up and got a large bag, which contained small books. He got one of them and looked at it. "She wrote that it would be gone, as well as herself." Malfoy handed Harry the diary. "My wife was a little psychic, just had these small dreams- sometimes they turned out wrong, and she was hoping with all her might that the feeling would go away, that it wouldn't be true. She was happy, but the chance...the chance of a family- lost." Malfoy took the diary shut. "Everything...lost."
Harry stared at Malfoy. "I'm- so sorry." He had never seen Malfoy like this it didn't seem like him, it couldn't be.
"She went missing for a week, sent search parties found nothing. Then while I was walking in the forest I saw her- Granger was holding her saying things about pain, and the poison killing her slowly, saying things that it could stop now." Malfoy was biting his bottom lip so hard that it could've started bleeding right there. "She killed her- in front of me."
"How do you know it was her?" Harry said suddenly.
Malfoy looked at him. "I don't. And I don't care. Family gone, friends gone. I saw her, she pushed Lisa and that's enough for me. I didn't know how to hold myself up, thought I'd just die from the burning inside of me, ripping me slowly, the laughter of killers, like the Dark Lord. Then- Selma helped me." Malfoy finished as straightened his black and blue-stripped tie.
"Selma Waier? I knew that, because she was at your wedding- she told me- she told me it was beautiful." Harry said almost in a choked up voice.
"Yes...it was." Malfoy said hiding the books under his bed. "But after finishing all 37 of my wife's diaries, I know what I must do."
"What?" Harry had to ask.
Malfoy looked at Harry. "I must follow her predictions...and move on." Malfoy then stood up and left.
Harry just sat there for what seemed like minutes just thinking, trying to put himself in Malfoy's situation. He couldn't. He didn't know the loss of a wife or an unborn child. How long was she pregnant? Well they got married after immediately after school, she died in October. Harry got up. He knew who he should see. Selma.
****** Harry finally came to the sign. Harp Springs. Selma lived just beyond the trees. Harry remembered that she clearly said that she had a large garden and a lot of bells that jingled musically in soft wind. And then Harry heard it. Harry turned and saw the house. It was two story and white and she had a large garden. Harry did indeed hear bells as a gentle breeze swept pass the sunny morning. Then Harry looked at the door. It was open.
"Selma?" Harry called as he walked down the walkway. Harry peeked through the crack and heard voices that were coming from the couch, but he didn't know who since the couch's back was on him.
"No, Just need some water." Selma sat up and started fixing her hair. Though the back of the couch only showed her head, Harry could tell she wasn't wearing anything. Then Harry jumped at the sight of the person sitting up next to her, pale and unclothed.
"Malfoy," Harry whispered and got up and backed away, catching himself before his back hit the steps. It was very silent. Then the door flew open. Selma was holding out her wand staring. Malfoy was staring. It was a long moment of just shock and staring.
Then Harry ran off.
**********
Harry sat on the couch confused. Had Malfoy lied? It seemed true, but then what was going on? His thoughts swam until it was dark outside and he then remembered the information he found and at that moment, Ron came through the door.
"Ron- you're home," Harry said. "I forgot- I found clues to Hermione's innocence I just need confirmation." Harry said handing Ron his notes and articles. Ron looked already in a sad bad mood looked through some of the papers then threw it aside.
"It doesn't matter. I don't know what will happen." Ron said. He sank his head into the couch.
"Ron- what's wrong?" Harry asked.
"The information on Jonathan Ocost won't do good because I doubt he'd ever admit and he ran out of the country." Ron said, tiredly. "And... And... She said it wasn't real... that they just put it on her so that the Dark Lord could keep an eye on her..."
"What, Ron?" Harry demanded. From the corner of is eye he saw Malfoy by the doorway.
Ron lifted his head. "The Dark Mark, Harry. She has it."
Harry's eyes were round and he watched as Ron stuck his head in the cushions. Harry looked at Malfoy, who's face showed no surprise or shock.
***************************************
yes, that is the end of the chapter. remember: Hermione's still not evil. I'm not sure if I will explain exactly why she has it...in this story. Anything else will probably be explained. But things will come together and since this fic gets darker and stuff, it will most likely fall apart. Next chapt is the reunion. More will be explained about Malfoy and Selma.
Thanx 4 the reviews, Pam Briggs and EvilMicella