A Twisted Candle chapter Twelve

Malfoy awoke happily to find himself at Candle's room. He looked over at Candle's sleeping form and smiled with crazy joy. Then it hit him like another kick in the stomach. He had to get back to his cell, or they would take Candle back as prisoner! He groggily, but silently, crept out of bed. But not before he kissed her hand lightly, as if saying goodbye. Malfoy peeked out over the balcony, to find that the cost was clear. Slowly, he climbed back down, and slipped back into Azkaban.

Candle slept for quite a while before she woke to see that Malfoy had left. She felt like crying, but knew his leaving was for the best, according to him. But she still felt as if her insides were about to explode with a whole load of emotions. She then remembered the kiss she and Malfoy had shared the other night. Candle almost felt happy, until she realized that Malfoy was probably just replacing Pansy with her, because he was desperate. That made her feel lousy all over again. She got out of her bed lazily and walked to the mirror. She looked at herself. She was sad, hurt, and maybe a little angry but most of all, she was empty. Candle walked to her closet and dressed for the day. Now was the time for her to act and be strong.

Malfoy had never felt such a loathing feeling before. He knew he had returned, returned to his nightmare. He was consumed with fear and torture. He had had many nightmares all his life. He was always afraid of losing the things he had and this one was big. But last night was about the only time he dreamed something good and comforting. Now was the time to act and be brave.

She stood before him. Like a beggar kissing his feet. She dressed and black and remained impassive. He could only leer down at her with condemption and grin at her pain. She looked like an old haggard widow. "What do you want?" she asked a faint hint of anger in her voice. She grinned. "What do you mean mi'dear?" he asked. "Don't feign ignorance and naiveté on me!" she growled. "You have him here for some reason! Why?!" she asked anxiously. "Now, dear Candle. You still don't understand your purpose do you?" he asked. She looked at him in shock. "Tell me what you mean!" she demanded. He shook his head. "Your poor parents didn't tell you. But then again, they never were your real parents.' He said calmly. She swallowed hard like she had been dealt a blow to the stomach. "W-What do you mean?" she choked. He chuckled bitterly. "Don't you get it?! You have no parents, no real family! You are nothing but my creation! A shadow! You have powers locked in you cloned from Mr. Potter. But your's were always much more needed. His powers can defend....your powers however, are like the key to some mysterious door. What lies beyond them is unknown but whatever it is promises great wealth and power. A typical evil bad guy plot. But there's really nothing else to desire, power and wealth is all there is to want in the world. Your 'parents' were once a witch and sorcerer but they didn't have the brains to stay that way. They are a disgrace to our kind! They became muggles soon after discovering you! They knew at once what you were! Never were they nearly smart enough to use you." He finished and looked down upon her as she clutched her stomach and tried to breathe.
"Didn't you ever wonder? Wonder why you caused the glass to break in the ballroom? What others events put students endanger because you couldn't control your abilities? You are nothing but an empty shell with a hidden aura. You couldn't figure out why Malfoy didn't want you or why Oliver has been sneaking off to meet with Cho Chang?!" She gasped and sank to her knees. "W-what?!" what she croaked. "That's right. The poor boy's reputation would be ruined if anyone ever found out. He liked you at one point but he simply can't find it in his heart to dump you even though he no longer cares for you. He merely pities you. Harry didn't cut it good enough I guess, because that girl has no problems getting over Cedric with Oliver around. I thought he was a graduate? Well, young people don't care about age anyway." He said idly. Candle put her hands on the ground shakily as she tried to hold herself up. She choked out a sob, which increased to tears. "Though your despair is amusing it is also disturbing my time. Take her away!" he commanded. Two dementors came and lifted her up violently.

Malfoy was maybe desperate. For the past four days he had been digging a hole with his bare hands to escape. " This wall should be the last cell against the wall so it should lead to the outside world!" he said insanely. He glanced over at his cell partner. They looked at the wall in a haunted daze. "It's every man for himself!" Malfoy hissed as he dug further. He suddenly felt the ground softer. As if covering only a hole. He grinned insanely as he greedily pushed the dirt out. He peered around cautiously before climbing out. The dirt beneath his nails crunched and his dirty hands burned as he stood before the outside world. It was all dead. He looked around for a weapon in case anything should happen. The best he got was a stick and he sharpened it for impalement. He crossed the ground around the Azkaban dungeons. He eventually found the familiar yard leading to Candle's room. He climbed up into the room by the tree again. The whole room was dimly lit and hauntingly clean. Candle was no where in sight. He scanned the room impatiently and felt a soft hand to his shoulder. He jumped and turned quickly.
His voice caught in his throat as he looked at her up and down. She had on a dark velvet black gown that gracefully went over her every curve. It had straps that criss-crossed in the back. Her hands had on long black velvety gloves that went to her elbows. Her hair poured across her shoulders wearily and her emerald eyes held a faint glow but looked dull. Something happened to her. She was paler than a ghost and her lips had a bluish tint to it like it had received a hard blow to the jaw. Her body was thinner than four days ago. He swallowed hard as she stepped forward. He stepped forward and looked at her. "What happened to you?!" he asked. She didn't reply and he wrapped his arms around her in a hug. He pulled his head away. "What's wrong?" he asked worriedly. "Nothing." She replied as tears stung her eyes. Her voice shocked him. She sounded weak and as if she had aged. "We're leaving now. It'll all be better soon." He said and she nodded numbly. She pulled away from him and ignored his hurt expression. "Let's just get out of here." She said coldly. He nodded and walked forward numbly.

Malfoy ran across the yards slyly with Candle at his side. A shriek was heard. "Dementors!" Malfoy cried fearfully. Insanity getting the best of him he furiously ran across the yards quicker. Candle's foot stepped on her gown and she tripped. In a flash a dementor loomed over her, she screamed. Malfoy attacked it with his stake. Easily, the dementor pulled the stake out and threw it aside. It grabbed Malfoy and Candle by their arms and dragged them forward soon joined by others who hungrily watched them.

"Well, Mr. Malfoy, it looks like you over did it this time." Malfoy glared at him angrily. "I promise you, your death will be swift. Though it's rumored axes are most painful." He said smirking at Malfoy's helplessness. Candle was at his side in chains like a dog. A dementor pushed Malfoy forward at the guillotines. Malfoy felt somewhat of a relief until as he had said, an ax appeared in the hands of an approaching dementor. Malfoy was pushed over to a table. His head was roughly shoved onto the table as Candle cried out. The dementor stepped back slowly as Malfoy closed his eyes. The whole 'your life flashes before your eyes' was crap. All he could think about was 'this is it'. Death in itself was selfish. All you can think about is yourself and question is this it. Was life really over like this? It was hard to believe. The dementor raised the ax, poised to kill. Malfoy waited for the final blow anxiously and fearfully. He could fell wind being pushed to his neck from the force of the ax coming down. Suddenly a roar was heard. In an instant flame consumed the dementor. A dragon flew over Malfoy and landed on his executioning stage. On it were Hermione, Ron, and Ginny. "Stand back! I have a dragon!" Ron threatened with a rush of adrenaline. Ginny jumped off along with Ron and Hermione walked forward. They untied Malfoy as dementors swiftly approached only to be burned to the steak. The dragon turned to where Candle sat. She looked and her tormentor had disappeared. She looked around expecting him to come back, why not? He had the power?! The dragon flew over and violently bit her chains, breaking them. She smiled and petted her dragon happily. She ran over to the dragon and was lifted up by its tail. She waited as Ginny, Hermione, and Ron ran over to them carrying Malfoy. "Where's Harry?" Candle asked fearfully. "He's been missing." Hermione said gravely.

Candle laid on her bed tiredly as Oliver entered. "How are you feeling?" he asked softly. "Fine." She answered, obviously she wasn't. He smiled. "Work has been keeping me pretty busy. Sorry I couldn't visit you often enough. I heard about Hermione moving." He said sadly. She didn't reply. "But it's all right. Next year is your last year here anyway, right? You'll be a graduate like me." He said smiling. She was so different since she got back. She didn't eat much and you could see she couldn't sleep well either because her eyes were bloodshot. Every now and then she'd go off on her own to 'be alone' leaving her eyes swollen. She didn't talk much to him or anyone. She was so....distant. He turned around. "I better be going." He said, no reply. He shook his head and opened the door and left.
Candle rolled over to her other side and closed her eyes. Yeah she didn't leave Oliver even though he was secretly dating Cho Chang. Why? To her, she was nothing but a shadow therefore worthy of little, including Oliver and his affections. Besides, it's not like he wanted to hurt her that's why he couldn't break up with her. The door opened again and closed.

Malfoy approached Candle's bed softly, he couldn't tell if she was asleep. "What do you want?" guess not. He stood there quietly. "I'm tired of watching you spend your health needlessly like this. Get up." He said firmly. She cuddled with her covers protectively. Malfoy sighed and removed the bed-sheets and cover picking her up. She didn't fight, she felt too weak and tired. He set her down on a cute little wooden stool by her dresser. He pulled out some clothes he liked and threw them down at her. "Come on! Get dressed!" he said tapping his foot. She stared at the clothes blankly. He sighed frustratingly. "What's your problem? Ever since we got back....what did they do to you?" he asked, no answer. "You can tell me, it's better to get out your feelings than to keep them locked up and let them slowly kill you." He said. "Where are we going." She asked hoarsely. "I've decided for today, I'm going to become a juvenile delinquent again. Why, you ask? Because I am craving for the new restaurant in town, so we're gonna go get breakfast!" Malfoy declared. "Isn't that against school rules?" Candle protested weakly. "What did you think I mean by becoming a juvenile delinquent again?" he asked arching a brow. She sighed. "Go over there, no peeking!" she said faintly point to the other side of the room. He obeyed and ignored temptation to look back. She walked up to him. "I'm done." She said softly. He nodded in response and opened the door. "Your chariot awaits milady." He said bowing gracefully. "And what chariot is that?" she asked curiously. "Your dragon of course!" he said walking past her.

Malfoy walked into the restaurant. "Now we can talk about what we saw." He whispered as they were seated. She had on some normal jeans and shoes with a loose saggy off-white shirt. Her shoulders were revealed and the sleeves went over her hands letting her fingertips barely show. She played with the sleeves uncomfortably. "Where do you think Harry disappeared to?" she asked. He was quiet for a moment before answering, "I don't know. But Voldemort's identity is more troubling." Malfoy said gravely. "Do you think it's 'him', he always seemed like a nice guy. Voldemort may be using his body image only!" she said softly. "I doubt it, but we can't assume anything right now." Malfoy replied. "Ginny is pretty upset over Harry's disappearance. Poor thing took up quilting. She has made some good ones but a few 'accidental' ones of Potter." Malfoy said. She laid her head on the table softly. "Are you okay?" he asked. "I'm just so tired, but, what does it matter anyway?" she mumbled. He ordered some coffee, which he could use right now. "Water please." Candle said to the waitress, turning slightly.
Malfoy looked at Candle with pity. "You don't have to be alone. Open up." He whispered. "Why? Only to be hurt? That's all that ever came of it." she replied chuckling bitterly. "When were you hurt by opening up?" Malfoy asked. She was quiet, not because she was wrong, though she was; she was holding back her answer. Something harsh, maybe she wanted to say when he had left her for Pansy. "You've grown." He said looking at her. She went from fifteen to seventeen so fast. "So have you. You've grown away from the proud boy you once were." She replied softly. "And you've left behind the happy girl that could take on anything." He whispered back staring into his coffee nervously. "Remember the day we met? On the train?" he asked. She smiled slightly. "I didn't like you because of the way you treated me yet at the same time I did. Maybe it was the challenge. You know how people always go for the hard to get?" she suddenly stopped and blushed. "I didn't mean that I wanted you or that you were hard to get-!" she protested but he cut her off. "I didn't like you because you were a muggle yet I was fascinated by you for some reason. Maybe it was how careless or careful you were in life. So young and innocent." He said and then the waitress returned placing their food in front of them. "And to think I just said you grew up! Silver Dollar Pancakes from the kid's menu?" he asked arching a brow. "I'm not as hungry as a hippo, so I didn't order some scrambled eggs, bacon, French toast, and a biscuit in gravy." Candle retorted stealing a look at him. Wearily Candle cut off a piece of her pancake and stuffed it in her mouth. It tasted sweet and good like it was homemade. Suddenly she looked down at her pancake. "What's happening?! Has it gone bad?!" she asked worriedly. Malfoy looked at her in confusion. "You ordered the Silver Dollar Pancakes, did you not?" he asked. "Yes but not REAL silver! I mean, what about the golden brown?" she asked. "This isn't the muggle world Candle. This one, take things literally." He warned jokingly. "Did you just call me by my first name?" she asked in mild shock and joy. "Don't flatter yourself. Just eat, you're embarrassing me." He said.