Chapter Thirteen: You Shall Take the Blame

Only a few days had passed, and it was the start of the term. The other students had arrived by the Hogwarts Express, and things went back to normal. As normal as it could get at Hogwarts. She had skimmed the whole book, searching for more information on her mother, or the man Tom Riddle, in the last few days and nights.

She decided it was time to ask.

Snapping the book shut, she stood from the library table. Draco would have to wait, till tomorrow, for her to tell him what Harry and herself had found in his absence.

Leaving the library, she started down the corridor, heading for the second floor. She trudged down the stairs, her shoes slapping against the stone structure. She turned a corner, and started up a flight of stairs.

"And where are you off to Tsukino?"

Usagi glanced over at Professor Snape. He was standing in the doorway of Professor Moody's office. "I was on my way to speak with Professor Dumbledore, Professor Snape." The potion master raised an eyebrow in question at her. Curious, he asked, "And why is that Miss Tsukino? Professor Dumbledore is a very busy man, he shouldn't be bothered with petty things."

His eyes dropped to the book she was holding tucked beneath her arm. A frown formed on his face.

Usagi caught him glancing down at the book. Smiling thinly, she replied, "I want to ask him about my parents."

At her answer, the stoic Professor balked. "What?" Usagi glanced down at the book. "I came here to find answers about my parents Professor Snape. And I can't find anything about them in the books at the library. Professor Dumbledore was here at this school, when you, and Harry and Draco's parents went to school. Most likely he knows mine as well."

Snape nodded at her logic, but his frown deepened. "Why are you suddenly so curious about your parents?"

The blonde caught her bottom lip between her teeth nervously. "I, well after the incident in the common room, I realized time is running out."

Snape crossed his arms over his chest. "Running out?" She nodded, her eyes displaying her concern. "Those girl's disappearances aren't a coincidence. I think it has something to do with me."

Snape started up the stairs, and Usagi made to follow him. He was taking her to Professor Dumbledore's office. "Why do you say that Tsukino?"

Usagi sighed suddenly. "My Obason. And Peeves actually. My obason sent me here to learn of my past, and what happened to my real parents, not the ones that adopted me." She frowned, as they turned down another corridor. "A few weeks ago, Peeves paid me a visit when I was in the infirmary. He told me this riddle, and before Christmas, my Obason gave me a hint for the answer."

She paused to glance at the Potion master's back. He had slowed his pace, and was inclining his head slightly to listen. "In the riddle he mentioned They Are All The Same. Obason said it meant the kidnapped girls."

They stopped near a statue of a giant gargoyle. "Here you are Tsukino. I will leave you, and I expect to see you in Potions next week. We will continue our discussion then."

Usagi looked up at the older man, as he muttered something under his breath. Her head jerked around, as there was a low rumble. She watched as the gargoyle began to turn, and slowly rise.

Not wanting to be left behind, she jumped on, and waited as the stairs lifted her up into Professor Dumbledore's office. Inside, she climbed out from the stairs, and entered. It was a quaint little office, filled with book, and magical items.

"Awe what a pleasant surprise. How may I help you Miss Tsukino?"

Usagi glanced over at the desk, a blush rising into her cheeks. The old man smiled warmly at her, and beckoned her to come in. "Please, do sit."

She did as he asked, seating herself in the small chair by his desk, which was covered with parchments, and inkbottles. He clasped his hands in front of him. "I believe you're here to asked something of me?"

Usagi nodded, and pulled out the book she had taken with her. Opening to the first marked page, the one Harry had pointed out, she set it down on his desk. Leaning forward in her seat, she pointed at the picture, "Is that my Okaasan?"

Professor Dumbledore didn't look at the picture, but stared at her, with saddened eyes. She frowning slightly, tapping the picture, "Is it?"

Sighing, he adjusted his half moon spectacles, and looked down at the picture. He studied the image thoroughly, and he read the name. It hurt him; she could see it in his eyes, as he studied the picture.

He leaned back, "That is an obituary of witches and wizards Miss Tsukino. Your father Mr. Tsukino was a Wizard, while your mother was not. If that was her, she would not be in this book."

Usagi shook her head, "Iie. Professor Dumbledore, don't beat around the bush. The Tsukino's hai are my family, raised me from when I was four. But my parents, my biological okaasan and otosan, are a witch and wizard.

Obason said they were both a powerful sorcerer and sorceress. Now is that my okaasan?"

She pointed at the picture again, demanding from him an answer, yes or no, whatever one, she wanted it.

His old eyes glanced at the picture again, and then slowly he shook his head with defeat. "Yes, the resemblance is unmistakable. Why do you wish to dredge up bad memories Usagi, it will only hurt you more."

Usagi felt the tears fill her eyes. So Serenity was her mother. This woman, who she couldn't relate to, was her real mother. "How did she die?"

Dumbledore sighed deeply, washing his face with his hands. "Your questions will only bring painful truths Usagi. But if you must know, I will tell you. It is time that you finally realized where you came from."

He stood from his chair, and moved to the shelf behind his desk. He searched the titles of books, as he spoke. "You're Mother went to this school, a great many years ago. Which is why I find it hard to believe she could be your mother. She died so young, and yet here you are, and you are so much like her."

He taped each spine of each book, as he talked, "She was in Slytherin, much like yourself. She was never fully accepted, considering she never fit in with their way of expressing their selves.

Your mother spoke her mind, and never seized to smile. Serenity was filled with so much love, and so much energy she wanted everyone else to feel it as well."

He found the book he wanted, and pulled it from its place. He moved back to his chair. "So when she met your father, she gave him everything she had, including."

He sat down, as he set the book on the desk. He blew at the dust, which had collected over the years. "Her life."

"Her life? You mean he." She shook her head, not sure she had heard him right."

He nodded sadly, and opened the book. He thumbed through the pages, looking for something. "Your father was a great man, with extraordinary power. But he did horrible things."

Usagi nodded, watching him fan through the pages. How could he know what he was looking for, when he wasn't even looking at the book?

Professor Dumbledore stopped, and laid the book open before him. "They were dark times, back then Usagi, and your father was mighty greedy. He wanted extreme power. He wanted to rule the wizardry world."

Usagi fell back into her seat, when she caught sight of the picture on the page he had turned to. She shook her head, to deny what he was telling her.

"Why would my okaasan marry such a man?"

Tears pooled her eyes, and she so badly wanted to let them fall. Dumbledore replied quickly, "He wasn't always like that Usagi. When your parents met, he had yet to be corrupted. And your mother vowed to stay by his side, till she died. And she kept her vow."

He shook his head, "He wanted to be the most powerful wizard, but there was one person who was strong enough to beat him. Your mother held the strongest power that could defeat him. So by his own hands, she died by his side."

Usagi bowed her head, trying to hide the pain in her eyes. She couldn't believe it; none of it could be true. It was impossible.

"Your mother left you on a doorstep, knowing you were in danger. And she was right Usagi, because you are still in danger."

Usagi looked up sharply, "he wants to kill me?" She felt her throat crack under the pressure of emotions building. She remembered the rat, the present she found on her bed. A gift from her father, a death trap? He wanted her dead. "Why?"

Dumbledore tilted his head ever so slightly. "Have you not heard a word I have said Usagi? You were born from the blood of two powerful beings. One only slightly stronger than the other. And because of this, you are much stronger than he is."

Usagi stared at the headmaster in disbelief. Her stronger? Her powerful? The crescent moon, the ability to heal herself. The ability to jump thirty feet, and land perfectly on the ground without so much as a scratch. Things she had been able to do since she was seven. Her eyes filled with horror. She had his blood; she had his genes inside her. He had helped create her, and yet he still wished to see her dead.

She felt sick, her stomach turning over with a sickening plop. The color drained form her skin, much like water through a sifter. She was nauseated, dizzy.

She went to her feet, swaying as she shoved the chair back. She grabbed the book she had taken from the library, from the restricted section.

Dumbledore went to his feet, "Usagi what's wrong?"

She shook her head, stumbling for the stairs. She reached them, and they began to descend downward to the second level corridor. She had to get out of there, and she needed time to think.

Stumbling out of the stairs, Usagi started for the Slytherin common room.

Who in the world was Tom Riddle?

Tom Riddle, was her father.

Tom Riddle was Voldemort.

Voldemort, the sorcerer everyone feared and hated.

"Oh kami I think I'm going to be sick."

?????

Usagi clung to the toilet for dear life. Feeling the bile rise, she heaved, her lunch coming back up, and it spilled into the water of the toilet.

She moaned falling back. Her head banging against the stall, but she made no move to get up. Feeling somewhat better, she relaxed. She had barely made it the bathroom on the second floor, before she puked.

That had been fifteen minutes ago, and she was still here, waiting for more to come up. She sat on the cold floor, breathing in and out, in and out.

"Luna where are you when I need you?" She sniffled, wiping vainly at her falling tears. Luna had been missing since Christmas morning, but so was Peeves. She hadn't seen him since he opened his Christmas present.

Unable to fight it, her shoulders began to tremble. Raising her hands, she covered her face with her palms, and let out a pitiful sob. She had gotten more than she had bargained for. Voldemort, of all people.

A heinous cry ripped from her throat. She broke down into hysterical tears, and shattering sobs.

"Why him, kami why him?"

She drew her legs to her chest, stuffing her runny nose into the folds of her robes. Her body shook with each sob, and she didn't seem like she was going to relent any time soon. "He killed Harry's parents, he killed all those people. And Okaasan. Why did it have to be him?"

She felt it, and she rushed to the toilet spilling more into the toilet bowl. When she was done, she flushed it. Sniffling, she rubbed at her swollen eyes. She pushed herself up to her legs, before she opened the stall door.

She moved to the sink, and rinsed her hands, then washed her face. She was panting, unable to catch her breath. Turning from the sink, she walked to the bathroom door.

Usagi slipped out into the empty corridor wiping at her eyes. She followed the hallway to the main stairs, and took them down to the ground level. She turned left, instead of right, and moved to the Great Hall doors.

Pushing them open, she slipped into the large room. Only a few of the students had arrived. When she walked in, the room went silent.

Looking around, she glanced at each table. Everyone was staring at her oddly. Then the whispering began. From the Hufflepuff table, fifth year Susan Bones pointed at her cheek.

Instinctively Usagi touched hers. They were still there. Unlike all her other cuts and scrapes, this one didn't heal. The three jagged lines were still there, evidence of what conspired in the common room over Christmas.

She looked over at the Gryffindor table. Hermione was whispering to Ron and Harry heatedly. Her dark eyes glanced over at Usagi frequently as she spoke.

Usagi dropped her eyes to her feet, and turned around. She suddenly wasn't so hungry. Opening the door, she slipped out of the room. The voices in the Great Hall lifted, and people were speaking louder now that she was out of the room.

"Did you hear?"

"No what?"

"I heard from Susan who stayed here on the vacation, that on Christmas morning, Tsukino was attacked."

"No!"

"Yep. Haven't you noticed, that all the girls disappearing, are blonds?"

"Yes."

"She's the only blonde left with blue eyes. I bet it's because of her they're disappearing."

"No!"

"Yes."

Usagi felt tears stinging. So they saw it too? They also believed it was because of her, that those girls were missing. If Voldemort took them, than they surely were dead. He wouldn't have kept them; there would have been no point.

She was feeling queasy again. Innocent lives taken, just because he had thought they were her.

This time, she didn't hesitate. Usagi made her way down the common room. Saying the password, she slipped in through the secret door. Entering the room, she instantly felt someone else in the room with her.

Frozen near the doorway, she half expected something to jump out at her, much like the rat had from the present.

"Is it true?"

Relief swarmed her, and she turned towards the blazing fire, where Draco was at, leaning against the hearth. "Is what true?"

She let the door swing shut behind her, as she moved across the room. Usagi didn't want him to see that she had been crying. He would only insult her. She didn't think she could handle something like that right now.

Draco pushed himself from the stonewall, as he replied, "Harry told me about a present you received. Is it true?"

Usagi paused near the stairs, and she ducked her head, as he came up behind her. "Hai."

He turned her around, and his eyes caught site of the three scars. "What about that healing thing you can do?" Usagi shook her head, "It won't work. It has been days, and they haven't cleared up at all."

His frown deepened as he asked, "Why are you shaking? What the hell is wrong?"

She pulled away from him, and started up the stairs. "I don't want to talk about it." Draco followed her, "I don't care, if you want to or not, tell me what happened while I was gone?"

They entered the first year girl common room.

Usagi moved towards her bed, and sat down with a heavy sigh. "I'm not feeling to well is all." She touched her forehead, but there was no sign of a fever.

Draco stalked towards her, and jerked her back to her feet. "You can't fool me so easily Usagi. Tell me now what is bothering you, or I'll go straight to Professor Snape, and have him ask you."

She stared down at his chest, studying the material of his robes. Both her hands latched onto the nice cloth, and she buried her face into his chest. "Oh Draco!!!"

She squeezed her eyes shut, the tears falling, and her body shook with more sobs. "Usagi? What's wrong?"

Shaking her head, she only sobbed harder. Draco sighed uncomfortably, unsure what he should do at a moment like this. What do you do when a girl cries like this, like there is nothing left, like nothing was right anymore? Swallowing the lump in his throat, he helped her down, so that they both sat on her bed. No use standing.

He didn't move to hold her, to touch her, or even soothe her. He let her cry, using his robes to soak her tears. When her crying softened, just barely above a whimper, he finally relaxed. "I.Usagi, thank you for the present."

He couldn't think of anything to say to comfort her, so he went to the second best thing. Her crying stopped all together, and slowly she lifted her head from his chest. Her eyes were slightly puffy, and red around the edges. The tears she had shed created trails down her checks, and were already beginning to dry.

"You got my present?"

Her voice sounded hoarse, pitiful really. He nodded, and again thanked her for the invincibility cloak. He had never expected to get one, even though he always wanted one of his own, when he had seen that Harry had one.

"I liked it a lot. And I, I got you something too." He paused studying her face. She was really pale, her eyes sullen. "I left it downstairs." It came out barley above a whisper. He licked his lips, feeling that they had gone dry.

Usagi's eyes searched his face, "You didn't have to." She swallowed hard, her heart beating rapidly.

Was he going to kiss her?

Her heart leaped at the very idea, as she waited for him to move, to say something. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Well there you go. I thought I should put it up since I will be gone for four days, and most likely wont be remotely anywhere near an internet access. ACK what will I do with myself??? *Sigh* I'll think of something I'm sure of it. Well take care, and I hoped you enjoyed this story. I'm nearly finished with it, YAY!!!! You'll are probably thinking "its about damn time!" hehe well like I said, thank you for reading it, and I'll miss all of you.

Oh and if you haven't figured it out, Draco won. Srry Harry fans, but I promise my next story will have lots of Harry/Usagi (Bunny) action. Hehe enjoy your summer vacation, cause I know I will hehe!!!! BYE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

LP signing out.

PS. PLS read Bunny Moon and Philosopher stone, or Flip Side of Life for Sailor Moon. Good stories really. Again my grammar sucks, but I think they are good. Well bye.