A Twisted Candle chapter 6
Malfoy entered the classroom. He had been trying to control it but it got worse. Every time Harry was in the same room with him, it was sickening. Harry had killed Goyle, it was him! Malfoy had been harboring a hatred for him ever since that night but it was becoming stronger lately. Today was the day it was going to break loose. The dam was about to break. Malfoy purposely brushed Harry violently across the shoulder as he walked past him. "Hey, apologize!" Ron shouted. This was a surprise because even Ron didn't usually get this brave. Malfoy turned around with fury in his eyes. "Ignore him!" Hermione muttered. This was another surprise. Candle, Ginny, and Harry had lately noticed the two weren't talking that much, especially to each other. They seemed more....shy. Malfoy walked up to Ron and got directly in his face. "Repeat that, Weasely." He said dangerously. "Leave him alone Malfoy!' Harry said. Malfoy turned his malicious eyes to Harry. "The right you've got, murderer!" he spat. Harry glared at him. "I didn't kill him!' Harry said firmly. "I suppose it was just coincidence that you ended up by his body?!" Malfoy sneered and lunged at Harry. The two boys went on an ongoing struggle. Ginny brought out her wand. "No-!" Candle said pushing the wand away. Ginny and Candle began to struggle with the wand. Ron and Hermione gaped on in horror. "What is going on here!" a voice demanded. Everyone froze as they saw Professor McGonagall and Professor Snape staring at them. "There appears to be some sort of fight here. Who'd have thought the famous Mr. Potter." Snape said smirking. "Mr. Potter, Mr. Malfoy, Ms. Weasely, and Ms. Rosenburg I will see you all in my office!" Professor McGonagall said coldly.

"As punishment for your violent behavior, the four of you will be helping Hagrid once again in the Forbidden Forest as well as detention! On Christmas break!" Professor McGonagall said severely. Everyone's eyes widened. "Christmas break! But that's-!" "For the first week! That's final! You may join your family the second week, Mr. Malfoy!" Professor McGonagall said firmly. Everyone sat back in dismay. Harry didn't go home anyway but his free time was wasted with Malfoy! Candle didn't have a home to go back to either but her idea of Christmas Break was not detention. Ginny was going to be the only Weasely left behind for Christmas. Even Ron and Hermione were going to visit their families this Christmas. As for Malfoy, he was very displeased. He enjoyed going back home as well! Instead, he'd have to spend his break with Goyle's murderer!

Ron and Hermione said a sad goodbye to Harry. "I'm sorry that you have to stay here for detention, but Harry, WHAT in blazes were you thinking, fighting with Malfoy like that? You know that's just what he wants you to do!" exclaimed Hermione. "Well, you're not the one who is being called a murderer, Hermione!" he yelled, pushing past them in a huff. Ron was about to say something to Hermione, but then he remembered that they weren't on speaking terms. They both turned around and went separate ways to the Hogwarts Express. Hermione was so into her own thoughts, that she collided with Candle. "Oh! I'm sorry, Candle." She mumbled. She started to hurry on past Candle, but Candle grabbed her arm, saying, "Wait a minute! I-I wanted to say, um, goodbye." She lightly hugged Hermione. Hermione snapped out of it and hugged her back. "Goodbye. But you know, this is only Christmas break! I'll see you here after I get back! But that doesn't mean I won't miss you!" she breathed. They stood apart, looking at each other. "Well, good luck with detention. And don't forget to-Oh! I almost forgot! Here." Hermione gave Candle the homework from Professor Sprout's Herbology. "I think you'll be needing this! And you remember that spell book I gave you, on protection spells?" Candle nodded. "Just in case. Oh! Wait a minute! You-you don't have a wand! Oh, how could I be so STUPID! You need a wand to do magic!" But then Candle held up her wand, and Hermione just gawked at her. "H-how?" she choked out. Candle smiled. "Lets just say a friend helped me out." She said coyly." Did Harry-?" but before she could finish, Candle pushed her toward the train. " It's about to leave! Go! Go, go now!" "But-!" "NOW!" and Hermione hurried onto the train. When she got into a compartment, she waved to Candle, but still looked quite baffled.

Candle walked gloomily to the library to gather up some books for the MOUNTAINS of work that Professor McGonagall and Professor Snape had given her from detention that day. She was just inside the doorway when she heard someone calling her name. It was coming from her right. When she looked in between the first two shelves on her right, she spotted Malfoy, who was flagging her down. She looked around to see if any teachers were near, then hurried over to where he was standing. "WHAT are you DOING?" she hissed, before Malfoy could get anything out. "We aren't suppose to be hanging out. The professors specifically said to stay SEPARATE! Do you want to get us in more tr-!" but Malfoy put his hand on her mouth to make her be quiet. "Will you stop yapping?! I called you over here because I needed a, uh, um." Malfoy stuttered. Candle waited silently. "I needed a friend." He finished quietly. Malfoy wondered why she hadn't said anything, then realized that he still had his hand on her mouth. He quickly dropped his hand, blushing slightly. Candle didn't answer. She just put her things on the table and sat down in the chair. Malfoy stood there, waiting. He then sat down himself. But as soon as he did so, Candle jumped up suddenly, and went to a bookshelf. Malfoy frowned, but started his work again. Candle came back with a book labeled Potions. This puzzled him even more. "Rosenburg, why do you have a Potions book when you haven't learned the basics yet? Here, let me help." But before he had his wand out, Candle muttered something, and a mini cauldron appeared. He was speechless. "How did you learn that?" he finally got out. Candle looked at him as if he were crazy. "Hermione's not the ONLY one who pays attention in Potions class." She proclaimed. Malfoy was slightly impressed. "Plus," She continued, "It helps to be prepared. Especially when I'm sure that I am not on Professor's list of favorite students." She said, a note of shame in her voice. Candle then said, shyly, "I'm sorry that you can't spend Christmas with your p- parents." Her voice broke at the last word, and she suddenly bolted up and out of the library. Malfoy wondered what had happened, and tried to go after her.

Candle ran, blinded by tears. She didn't really know where she was going. Candle suddenly ran into someone. When she looked up, she saw Harry. "Harry-!" He didn't let her finish. Harry just hugged her, in a friendly way. The fact that he was being nice to her when she had only treated him like dirt, made her cry even more. "Oh, Harry! I-I'm so s-sorry! I've b- been a t-t-total jerk to y-you, and I'm s-sorry! I'm s-so sor-sorry!" Candle choked out. Harry just said "Shh. It's okay. You've, um, been through some stuff. It's okay to cry." He held her at arms length, and smiled. "What's wrong?" Candle looked up at Harry, and then she stopped crying. "N-nothing, I-I'm just stressed." She tried to smile, but Harry wasn't fooled. "No. It's not nothing. Is because of your, your parents?" he asked. Candle numbly nodded. "I-I miss them so, so much. But I better get back to the library. Thanks. I'm glad to have a friend like you, Harry." She smiled for real this time, and headed back to the library.
Candle was walking toward the library, when Malfoy ran up to her, looking worried. He stopped short when he saw that she looked fine. "Uh, Rosenburg? Am I missing something here? Because, just a few minutes ago, you ran out away, all sad, and now you look fine." He heaved. Candle just smiled. "C'mon, Draco. Lets get going on our work." She started walking again, when Malfoy stepped in front of her. "What's going on? Something's the matter, and we're not going anywhere until you tell me what that something is." Candle sighed and said," If we don't get our work done, then we WON'T be going anywhere for a while. Now, come ON." But Malfoy remained rooted to the spot. "Listen, Rosenburg. Just tell me what's wrong, and then we'll get going." Candle finally cracked, shouting, "Okay! When I said that I was sorry that you couldn't spend the break with your parents, it reminded me that I can't ever see my parents again!" This took Malfoy by surprise. "Why can't you ever see them again? I mean, it's not like we have to stay here the WHOLE break." Candle suddenly slouched, and looked worse than he'd ever seen her. "I can't see them because t-they're dead." She backed up against the wall, and slowly slid down it until she reached the floor. Malfoy was shocked into silence. He couldn't imagine being an orphan. It was a moment before he asked, "How, how did they die?" Candle told him about how she'd seen them be killed. Malfoy silently listened, looking down at his shoes, and feeling lousy for even bringing it up. After that, they went back to the library, and did their work in silence.

Harry sat on his bed, doing his work, when he heard a pecking sound on the window. He looked up to see Hedwig, with a letter tied to her leg. Harry jumped up, opened the window, and took the letter from her. His heart gave a leap when he saw that it was from Hermione. It read:

Dear Harry,

I'm sorry if I made you mad the other day, before I left. I should have just said goodbye like a normal friend. I realize now that I don't always have to give advice, just be there for you. And I think a friend is all you need right now. Also, on another, hopefully happier note, did you by any chance help Candle to get a wand? Because, as we were saying goodbye, I gave her the homework from Herbology. After that, I gave her a book on protection spells, then I realized that she needed a wand to do magic, and she didn't have one. But then, the strangest thing happened. She pulled out a wand of her own! I tried to ask her who might have given her one, but the train was leaving, so I had to go. I'm very curious to know who helped her get a wand, especially when all of our schedules are busy. It could be dangerous if it's from a stranger. Oh, well. Write me when you get the chance. And I'm sorry again, for giving you a hard time, Harry. I'm just, I dunno, worried.

Hermione

P.S. Could it have been Sirius?

This greatly puzzled Harry. Who could've helped her get a wand? He thought. Maybe it WAS Sirius. He was always surprising him before. Maybe this was to help Candle with her classes so she wouldn't have to keep getting in trouble. Harry blinked, and went to the library to see Candle.

Harry ran into the library, and looked left and right. He saw Candle, and started to run up to her. But as he got closer, he saw someone sitting with her. His heart lurched into his throat, so that he couldn't speak. Malfoy. As quickly as he had gotten there, Harry whirled around and sped out of the library, and out into the hall, not believing what he had just seen with his very own eyes!

Candle left the library without Malfoy. She couldn't risk being caught. Suddenly a white owl flew down and dropped her a letter. Candle opened the letter cautiously. It read:

I repeat what others to me relay

But there is nothing else I say

Only memories not erased of information do I give

But I myself cannot live

You-Know-Who

This riddle confused Candle. "Why would anyone send me something so ridiculous?! And really, why can't they just sign anonymous?!" she said exasperated. Candle took the letter and stuffed it into her pocket and walked on.

Candle entered her door-room to see Ginny sitting on her bed depressed. "What's up?" Candle asked softly. Ginny looked up. "Nothing." She mumbled. Candle sat down beside her and saw that she was looking into a yearbook. Strangely enough, people in the pictures moved as they smiled. "Your in the section for Hufflepuff. Why?" Candle asked confused. "She's beautiful." Ginny said gloomily. "I never stood a chance anyway." She said sighing. "What are you talking about?" Candle asked. Ginny shook her head. "Nothing. See him. That's Cedric Diggory." "He's cute." "He's dead." Ginny said sadly. Candle looked up in shock. "Died last year in the Triwizard tournament." Ginny explained. "H-How?" Candle thought feeling her stomach sicken. "He was killed by He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named." "Who is that?" Candle asked. Ginny looked at Candle as if she was the most stupid thing alive! "You-Know-Who!" Ginny said annoyed. Candle remembered the letter. "No, I don't know who!" Candle said angrily. "VOLDEMORT!" Ginny yelled. Suddenly Ginny covered her mouth in horror and looked around, she was further shocked to see that Candle hadn't flinched at his name. "Happy?!" Ginny snapped getting up and leaving. Candle looked after Ginny's retreating figure confused. "Harry and Sirius told me a little about him but...."

Malfoy laid back in his chair on his balcony sunbathing with a towel wrapped around his waist having just taken a shower. He used magic of course. It was winter and very cold so using a little magic, Malfoy turned his balcony into a little bit of Florida. Raises his lemonade into a relaxing toast, to himself of course, he took a nice sip of the cool and refreshing drinks. As it's sweet and sour taste swept his tongue and its cool liquid slowly poured down his throat. "Who's Voldemort?" Malfoy spit out his lemonade immediately and started coughing. He looked up at Candle who didn't seem the least bit disturbed by the fact he was in a towel. "What are you doing in the Slytherin house?! How did you get the password?! More importantly, how did you get into my room! Don't look at me, I'm naked!" Malfoy screamed standing up in a flash and almost loosing his towel. Candle as if suddenly taking notice that he was in a towel looked him up and down. "I just told you not to stare!" Malfoy screamed embarrassed and grasped his towel tightly. Candle giggled. "This isn't funny! Answer my questions!" Malfoy demanded. "Well if you exit room the great hall somewhere in there you go to the Slytherin house! I merely put the sleeping spell you taught me onto the painting guarding this room and a used some magic to pry it open. You really should get better security. As for you being naked, you are half naked, correct? Besides I'm your friend not a slut!" Candle said exasperated. "You're invading my privacy!" Malfoy said. Candle rolled her eyes. "And really, when I'm trying to relax you say his name-!" "Voldemort!" "Candle said coolly. "Yes!" Malfoy said annoyed. "Who is he?" she repeated. "If you don't know that then you truly are stupid!" Malfoy said. "Just tell me!" Candle said annoyed. Malfoy looked at her loathingly. She had disturbed his great time and relaxation and he was going to have to explain everything that happened 13 years ago to what happened at Hogwarts the last four years!

Candle seemed shocked by everything. Malfoy didn't say anything rude about Voldemort. He just told about what he had done. But Malfoy knew his father and his friend's fathers were all Death Eaters. He too would need to follow that path. Malfoy sighed. Candle looked at him scared and a tear ran down her cheek but she seemed to take no notice to it. "He's the one! He killed them didn't he?! Why?! Why?!" Candle said crying harder. Malfoy let Candle burry her head into his chest as she cried.

Candle tossed and turned as she slept in her bed.

'They say he floats in order to move' Candle saw somebody coming toward her. A shadow. 'But no one can say for sure now that he regained his true body!' The figure was getting closer. It wanted something! 'He has been weak for the past 13 years. All because of Potter!' Candle took a step back as the figure got closer but lost her step and fell backwards. The figure was now walking towards her with a hood on! 'People thought he was dead other said he was hiding!' "No!" Candle screamed scrambling backwards on the ground as the figure loomed over her. 'You have two new messages!' Candle shot up from her bed with a cry. She was sweating and panting. Candle threw off the cover and thrust open the window and grasped for breath. "What was that!" she whispered weakly.

I repeat what others to me relay

But there is nothing else I say

Only memories not erased of information do I give

But I myself cannot live

'You have two new messages!'

Candle was hit with realization. "A message machine!" she gasped. Candle ran over to her closet and thrust it open. She grabbed her broom, a Nimbus 2000. Candle loudly ran over to the window not taking notice to Ginny who was slowly waking up. Candle hoped on her broom and sped out the window.

Candle carefully entered her home. It had been so long since she'd been here. Lucky the police her go on the excuse of needing to get away. They kept saying she needed to stick around so she could speak at a trial once the murderer was found. But playing the emotional key of 'I need to get away! I can't take all this and a trial yet! My parents are dead! Have you no decency of letting me get away form all the stress! I'm just a girl!' Candle looked around the dark house and slowly walked to the message machine. "You have two new messages!" *Beep* "Wednesday, 11/22, 3:40 pm" "Probably elsewhere, no? You really shouldn't have left! No witness- protecting neighborhood can save you from me! Really such a pity. How your parents had wizarding blood in them yet denied it to a fault for their dislike of magic! Foolish muggles! They had once been forced to go to a school of wizarding when they were younger. Always hated magic they did! I offered them a second chance but foolishly they refused. But you may be different. Hard for you to believe but magic exist. So do witches and wizards!" *Beep* "Wednesday, 11/22, 3:42 pm" "This stupid machine cut me off! Oh yes! Look behind you!" *Beep* Candle felt a feeling of doom come over her as she turned around and screamed. Candle woke up. Did she faint? Unfortunately, 'He' was still there, looming over her. Candle screamed upward and backed away from where she was on the ground. She scrambled backward but then hit a nightstand. "You have a chance to be different from your parents, Candle. You can join my side and have eternal power!" he said. Candle felt sick. "No! No! I won't!" she screamed with hatred. "You killed them! You!" she screamed in tears. He frowned. "So be it, you are nothing but a weak muggle! I gave you a chance but you have refused! You will now meet your parents!" he said angrily. Candle was on the ground in a ball. She was breathing harshly. "But before that- Crucio!" he shouted. Next thing Candle knew was her eyes were rolling back into her head and pain consumed every part of her body. Candle just wanted it to end, she just wanted to die! Is this what hell was like?! Suddenly the pain stopped- a little too soon. Candle felt uneasy. "Scary isn't it? The waiting! The not knowing when or what will happen next!" he said grinning madly. Candle felt the tears go down her cheeks numbly. Memories flashed in her head of every person she had ever met. The more recent ones went by Sirius, Harry, Hermione, Ron, Ginny, Red &George, Percy, Malfoy, Professor McGonagall, Pansy, Snape, Sprout, Binns, Conroy of her Elemental class, Hagrid, Dumbledore, and again Malfoy. "Crucio!" Candle felt the horrifying feeling unpleasantly return. "Sir, Harry Potter is coming!" cried the familiar voice of Wormtail. The pain stopped. Voldemort smirked. 'Let him come!" he said sinisterly. "But Sir, he is not alone, Professor Dumbledore is with him!" Wormtail said pleadingly. Voldemort paled. "Then what are you waiting for, scoundrel, I cannot risk everything with my body and powers just returning! I won't lose them again!" Voldemort hissed. Candle breathed heavily as the two figures fled. Soon after three new figures entered.