Chapter Nine: Through Grey Eyes
Draco Malfoy returned to Hogwart's late on Sunday evening after his mother's birthday with a deep feeling of satisfaction. Alysia was safe at his house; he trusted his mother would look after her and make sure that his father never found her, much as he had never found his young cousins Griffin and Zel. He imagined how Alysia had looked when he left: smiling silently through her full lips, her eyelids fluttering as she dreamed. Yes, she was safe there.
He returned to the Slytherin Common Room, decked in green with green sofas and armchairs. Crabbe and Goyle were staring at him stupidly as he came in. They were more than twice his size, but he was at least ten times smarter than the two of them put together. "What are you staring at?" he snapped as they watched him come in.
"Where were you all weekend?" Goyle asked, sounding more confused and worried than threatening.
"Is that any of your business?" Draco sat sideways on one of the armchairs. The Common Room was strangely quiet for a Sunday night. "Where is everyone?"
"Dunno," Crabbe answered stupidly. "I think the Professors were questioning people about that girl."
"What girl?" Goyle asked, dumfounded.
"You know, the one with the black hair. The one Draco's always hanging around with," Crabbe explained. "Her name's. . .ah. . ."
"Alysia," Draco supplied quietly.
"Yeah, that's it!" Crabbe exclaimed as if Draco had just solved the mystery of the century. The three had known each other for years, and yet Crabbe and Goyle never ceased to amaze Draco with their blatant stupidity. "They think whoever's been attacking the school kidnapped her."
"Oh do they?" Draco asked, nonchalantly, pretending not to care much.
"Yeah. Professor Karadhras is really worried about her," Goyle added. Draco didn't often like teachers, with the exception of Snape, but Professor Karadhras was Alysia's mother and did seem to have an odd sort of relationship with his father. Perhaps he would tell her where Alysia was, to put her mind at ease. It would probably be wise, he decided, but it was better to sleep on it before doing anything.
The next morning dawned gray and damp. It was not yet cold enough for snow, so it was misty and rainy, the kind of day that just makes everything seem so depressed and droopy. Everyone seemed in a bad mood, particularly during double potions that afternoon with Gryffindor. Professor Snape was feeling point-happy and taking away Gryffindor points left and right.
"Now that we are through discussing sleeping draughts and delayed reaction poisons," he stated, giving the Gryffindors an evil eye, "we will begin work on the very potent Polyjuice potion. Can anyone tell me what the Polyjuice potion does?"
Not surprisingly, Mudblood Granger raised her hand, but very surprisingly, so did Ron Weasley. Ron participated in class about as often as Draco himself cared to, so even Professor Snape was taken aback that Ron was volunteering an answer. Silently, he nodded at Weasley, who spoke as clearly and knowledgably as Granger ever did. "Polyjuice Potion, when brewed correctly causes the drinker to take on the appearance of another person," he answered. Professor Snape blinked in surprise. It was the right answer.
"I see you have done your reading, Mr. Weasley," he stated, coldly. "Now, can anyone tell me what is the key ingredient in Polyjuice Potion?"
Granger's hand shot up again, along with Weasley's and even Potter's. Draco rolled his eyes, and noticed that Snape was looking at him. Taking the hint, he raised his hand. "The hair of the person whom you wish to impersonate," he drawled before Professor Snape even called on him.
"Well done, Mr. Malfoy. Ten points to Slytherin." Draco smiled smugly and glanced at Potter, Weasley and Granger, who were glaring at him poisonously. For the remainder of the class, Professor Snape went through each of the ingredients of the Polyjuice Potion very carefully and specifically. He stated that they would be brewing the potion on Friday. It would be brewed in a watered-down so that the students would only remain in each other's forms for an hour. With that announcement, class was dismissed. As Draco left the dungeon, thinking of how he would most likely owl Alysia that afternoon, he bumped into Potter, making him drop his books.
"Watch where you're going, you stupid git!" Weasley growled.
"What, me? Watch out for the likes of you?" he sneered and began to walk away. Granger suddenly called after him.
"You weren't here this weekend. They're going to want to interview you about Alysia," she stated. "Have you heard from her at all?"
"Why would I tell you, Mudblood, if I had?" Draco snapped, whirling around.
"We're just as worried about her as you are, Malfoy," Potter said quietly.
Well that was just the wrong thing to say. He wasn't about to admit that he was, in fact, worried about Alysia and that he had been ever since the attacks began targeting her as well. If he stated he was not worried, however, he had a funny feeling that he would sound too much like his father for the Gryffindor three's liking. They were all three eyeing him suspiciously as if they knew he was hiding Alysia in the West Wing of his parents' castle. This was a dilemma he had not anticipated. Everyone seemed to be waiting for his response, so rather than say anything he scowled and stormed away. Thinking back on it later, he realized this was probably not the best response, but there was nothing he could do.
Defense Against the Dark Arts the next day did him in, however. Professor Karadhras looked as if she hadn't slept at all since Alysia's "disappearance". Without looking up from the papers on her desk, she told them to simply read the chapter on beasts of Northern England and their defenses. She looked very shaky, and finally left the classroom halfway through the period, fleeing to her office behind the classroom. Draco could hear her sobbing inside.
The other Slytherins found it hilariously funny and dissolved into fits of giggles. The Ravenclaws, with whom Slytherin shared this class, looked concerned, but said nothing. The laughter began to escalate. Pansy Parkinson was laughing the loudest.
"Ooh, I hope whatever happens to that girl is nasty and dreadfully painful!" she giggled loudly through her turned up nose. "She's such a horribly ugly thing anyway."
Draco had had enough. He slammed his book shut, stormed over to Pansy's desk and banged his fist down on it, hard. "Enough," he stated. "You're an annoying little pug-nosed git who can only ever dream of being as beautiful as Alysia. In fact, I'll even take that a step further to say that you are uglier than anyone I've ever met, Pansy Parkinson, pureblood or not." Ignoring the way her face crumpled as she burst into tears, Draco swept from the classroom and headed for Alysia's tree by the Forbidden Forest. He blindly climbed to one of the top branches and sat there, staring at the castle without thinking or doing much of anything but breathing.
He must've fallen asleep because the next thing he knew, the tree was shaking so hard that he nearly fell out of it. Holding tightly to a branch, he looked down to see a centauress kicking the tree with her hind hooves. "Would you cut that out?" he shouted. The centauress looked up at him.
"Come down from there," she commanded. Draco blinked at her and dropped lightly from the tree.
"What do you want?"
"You know the whereabouts of the falcon-girl," the centauress stated colorlessly. Falcon-girl. That must be Alysia.
"Yes," he answered, finally.
"You must tell her mother," the centauress spoke again in her colorless voice. "It is of the utmost importance."
She didn't say anything else, but turned and galloped off into the forest. For a moment, Draco thought of following her and asking her why it was so important. He realized, however, that it was getting dark, and that, moreover, it was a full moon. A howl sounded deep within the forest, and Draco backed away, shaking a bit. If there was anything that scared him, it was a werewolf, and there would be plenty in that forest tonight. Casting one last glance at the centauress' trail, he hurried from the Forest back to the castle. The Main Hall was noisy and crowded-it was suppertime. Draco looked into the Main Hall briefly, and noted that Professor Karadhras was not there, before running to her office and knocking on the door.
"Who is it?" a choked voice called from inside, confirming for Draco that he was doing the right thing.
"Draco Malfoy," he answered, his voice sounding high and nervous. He mentally kicked himself for sounding so stupid.
"Just a minute, Draco," Professor Karadhras called from inside. Moments later, she opened the door. Her eyes were red and puffy from crying and she looked nothing short of miserable. "Come in. Have a seat," she invited half- heartedly. Draco came into the office, but refused to sit down. Professor Karadhras sat down behind her desk, and Draco noticed a black dog at her feet, looking thin and forlorn. Alysia had told him about this dog: a gift for her thirteenth birthday named Blackie. He assumed the dog missed Alysia as well, and reached to scratch behind the dog's ears. The beast stood and started growling at him.
"Down, Blackie!" Professor Karadhras ordered and the dog lay back down, eyeing Draco suspiciously. "What can I do for you, Draco?"
"I know where Alysia is," he blurted before thinking. Professor Karadhras stood abruptly and made a motion as if to grab him by the arm, but restrained herself. Blackie, however, was on his feet, looking at Draco intently until Professor Karadhras put a hand on his head.
"Where is she, Draco?" she finally asked in a barely controlled voice.
"I. . .I don't know that I should tell you," Draco replied, suddenly unsure of what else to say. "She's someplace safe, and I don't think her location should become common knowledge, or she may be attacked again."
"Did you take her away?" Professor Karadhras asked, her voice now beginning to tremble.
"I brought her someplace where she will be safe and protected from everyone- even my father," he added as an afterthought. Professor Karadhras was staring hard at him. "Professor, I wouldn't do anything to hurt Alysia, I swear it on everything I know. I care very deeply about her. I know that you think I'll do something to her like whatever my father did to you, but it's simply not true!"
Where had those words come from? Draco clamped his mouth shut before any more emotional outbursts could force themselves out of his soul. Professor Karadhras regarded him seriously.
"Draco, I know that you care about my daughter very much. I believe you when you say that you will not hurt her. But please understand this." She sat down, maintaining eye contact with Draco, giving him the feeling that she was more a peer than a teacher. "Alysia is my daughter, and her well- being is my highest priority. I would sleep easier at night knowing that your words were not simply idle comfort." Draco shot her a confused look. "Tell me where my daughter is."
Should he? She wouldn't tell Dumbledore, would she? He opened his mouth to speak, when suddenly the door burst open. A Hufflepuff second year was standing there, breathless. "Professor! You'd better come to the Main Hall, quick!" he exclaimed. Professor Karadhras stood and nodded to Draco to join her, which he did. They ran there as fast as their legs could carry them, Blackie following. Professor Karadhras stopped short when she reached the Main Hall, and Draco, pushing past her, soon saw why.
Alysia was lying on the Gryffindor table, one arm lying across her stomach and bleeding. She was unconscious and pale as death.
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A/N: I love cliffhangers. But that's beside the point. I was tired of Alysia's perspective, so I tried Draco's perspective. He's a lot more Draco- y in this chapter, I think. And this chapter's so.SHORT! Anyway, give me reviews because I get lonely without them! :)
Draco Malfoy returned to Hogwart's late on Sunday evening after his mother's birthday with a deep feeling of satisfaction. Alysia was safe at his house; he trusted his mother would look after her and make sure that his father never found her, much as he had never found his young cousins Griffin and Zel. He imagined how Alysia had looked when he left: smiling silently through her full lips, her eyelids fluttering as she dreamed. Yes, she was safe there.
He returned to the Slytherin Common Room, decked in green with green sofas and armchairs. Crabbe and Goyle were staring at him stupidly as he came in. They were more than twice his size, but he was at least ten times smarter than the two of them put together. "What are you staring at?" he snapped as they watched him come in.
"Where were you all weekend?" Goyle asked, sounding more confused and worried than threatening.
"Is that any of your business?" Draco sat sideways on one of the armchairs. The Common Room was strangely quiet for a Sunday night. "Where is everyone?"
"Dunno," Crabbe answered stupidly. "I think the Professors were questioning people about that girl."
"What girl?" Goyle asked, dumfounded.
"You know, the one with the black hair. The one Draco's always hanging around with," Crabbe explained. "Her name's. . .ah. . ."
"Alysia," Draco supplied quietly.
"Yeah, that's it!" Crabbe exclaimed as if Draco had just solved the mystery of the century. The three had known each other for years, and yet Crabbe and Goyle never ceased to amaze Draco with their blatant stupidity. "They think whoever's been attacking the school kidnapped her."
"Oh do they?" Draco asked, nonchalantly, pretending not to care much.
"Yeah. Professor Karadhras is really worried about her," Goyle added. Draco didn't often like teachers, with the exception of Snape, but Professor Karadhras was Alysia's mother and did seem to have an odd sort of relationship with his father. Perhaps he would tell her where Alysia was, to put her mind at ease. It would probably be wise, he decided, but it was better to sleep on it before doing anything.
The next morning dawned gray and damp. It was not yet cold enough for snow, so it was misty and rainy, the kind of day that just makes everything seem so depressed and droopy. Everyone seemed in a bad mood, particularly during double potions that afternoon with Gryffindor. Professor Snape was feeling point-happy and taking away Gryffindor points left and right.
"Now that we are through discussing sleeping draughts and delayed reaction poisons," he stated, giving the Gryffindors an evil eye, "we will begin work on the very potent Polyjuice potion. Can anyone tell me what the Polyjuice potion does?"
Not surprisingly, Mudblood Granger raised her hand, but very surprisingly, so did Ron Weasley. Ron participated in class about as often as Draco himself cared to, so even Professor Snape was taken aback that Ron was volunteering an answer. Silently, he nodded at Weasley, who spoke as clearly and knowledgably as Granger ever did. "Polyjuice Potion, when brewed correctly causes the drinker to take on the appearance of another person," he answered. Professor Snape blinked in surprise. It was the right answer.
"I see you have done your reading, Mr. Weasley," he stated, coldly. "Now, can anyone tell me what is the key ingredient in Polyjuice Potion?"
Granger's hand shot up again, along with Weasley's and even Potter's. Draco rolled his eyes, and noticed that Snape was looking at him. Taking the hint, he raised his hand. "The hair of the person whom you wish to impersonate," he drawled before Professor Snape even called on him.
"Well done, Mr. Malfoy. Ten points to Slytherin." Draco smiled smugly and glanced at Potter, Weasley and Granger, who were glaring at him poisonously. For the remainder of the class, Professor Snape went through each of the ingredients of the Polyjuice Potion very carefully and specifically. He stated that they would be brewing the potion on Friday. It would be brewed in a watered-down so that the students would only remain in each other's forms for an hour. With that announcement, class was dismissed. As Draco left the dungeon, thinking of how he would most likely owl Alysia that afternoon, he bumped into Potter, making him drop his books.
"Watch where you're going, you stupid git!" Weasley growled.
"What, me? Watch out for the likes of you?" he sneered and began to walk away. Granger suddenly called after him.
"You weren't here this weekend. They're going to want to interview you about Alysia," she stated. "Have you heard from her at all?"
"Why would I tell you, Mudblood, if I had?" Draco snapped, whirling around.
"We're just as worried about her as you are, Malfoy," Potter said quietly.
Well that was just the wrong thing to say. He wasn't about to admit that he was, in fact, worried about Alysia and that he had been ever since the attacks began targeting her as well. If he stated he was not worried, however, he had a funny feeling that he would sound too much like his father for the Gryffindor three's liking. They were all three eyeing him suspiciously as if they knew he was hiding Alysia in the West Wing of his parents' castle. This was a dilemma he had not anticipated. Everyone seemed to be waiting for his response, so rather than say anything he scowled and stormed away. Thinking back on it later, he realized this was probably not the best response, but there was nothing he could do.
Defense Against the Dark Arts the next day did him in, however. Professor Karadhras looked as if she hadn't slept at all since Alysia's "disappearance". Without looking up from the papers on her desk, she told them to simply read the chapter on beasts of Northern England and their defenses. She looked very shaky, and finally left the classroom halfway through the period, fleeing to her office behind the classroom. Draco could hear her sobbing inside.
The other Slytherins found it hilariously funny and dissolved into fits of giggles. The Ravenclaws, with whom Slytherin shared this class, looked concerned, but said nothing. The laughter began to escalate. Pansy Parkinson was laughing the loudest.
"Ooh, I hope whatever happens to that girl is nasty and dreadfully painful!" she giggled loudly through her turned up nose. "She's such a horribly ugly thing anyway."
Draco had had enough. He slammed his book shut, stormed over to Pansy's desk and banged his fist down on it, hard. "Enough," he stated. "You're an annoying little pug-nosed git who can only ever dream of being as beautiful as Alysia. In fact, I'll even take that a step further to say that you are uglier than anyone I've ever met, Pansy Parkinson, pureblood or not." Ignoring the way her face crumpled as she burst into tears, Draco swept from the classroom and headed for Alysia's tree by the Forbidden Forest. He blindly climbed to one of the top branches and sat there, staring at the castle without thinking or doing much of anything but breathing.
He must've fallen asleep because the next thing he knew, the tree was shaking so hard that he nearly fell out of it. Holding tightly to a branch, he looked down to see a centauress kicking the tree with her hind hooves. "Would you cut that out?" he shouted. The centauress looked up at him.
"Come down from there," she commanded. Draco blinked at her and dropped lightly from the tree.
"What do you want?"
"You know the whereabouts of the falcon-girl," the centauress stated colorlessly. Falcon-girl. That must be Alysia.
"Yes," he answered, finally.
"You must tell her mother," the centauress spoke again in her colorless voice. "It is of the utmost importance."
She didn't say anything else, but turned and galloped off into the forest. For a moment, Draco thought of following her and asking her why it was so important. He realized, however, that it was getting dark, and that, moreover, it was a full moon. A howl sounded deep within the forest, and Draco backed away, shaking a bit. If there was anything that scared him, it was a werewolf, and there would be plenty in that forest tonight. Casting one last glance at the centauress' trail, he hurried from the Forest back to the castle. The Main Hall was noisy and crowded-it was suppertime. Draco looked into the Main Hall briefly, and noted that Professor Karadhras was not there, before running to her office and knocking on the door.
"Who is it?" a choked voice called from inside, confirming for Draco that he was doing the right thing.
"Draco Malfoy," he answered, his voice sounding high and nervous. He mentally kicked himself for sounding so stupid.
"Just a minute, Draco," Professor Karadhras called from inside. Moments later, she opened the door. Her eyes were red and puffy from crying and she looked nothing short of miserable. "Come in. Have a seat," she invited half- heartedly. Draco came into the office, but refused to sit down. Professor Karadhras sat down behind her desk, and Draco noticed a black dog at her feet, looking thin and forlorn. Alysia had told him about this dog: a gift for her thirteenth birthday named Blackie. He assumed the dog missed Alysia as well, and reached to scratch behind the dog's ears. The beast stood and started growling at him.
"Down, Blackie!" Professor Karadhras ordered and the dog lay back down, eyeing Draco suspiciously. "What can I do for you, Draco?"
"I know where Alysia is," he blurted before thinking. Professor Karadhras stood abruptly and made a motion as if to grab him by the arm, but restrained herself. Blackie, however, was on his feet, looking at Draco intently until Professor Karadhras put a hand on his head.
"Where is she, Draco?" she finally asked in a barely controlled voice.
"I. . .I don't know that I should tell you," Draco replied, suddenly unsure of what else to say. "She's someplace safe, and I don't think her location should become common knowledge, or she may be attacked again."
"Did you take her away?" Professor Karadhras asked, her voice now beginning to tremble.
"I brought her someplace where she will be safe and protected from everyone- even my father," he added as an afterthought. Professor Karadhras was staring hard at him. "Professor, I wouldn't do anything to hurt Alysia, I swear it on everything I know. I care very deeply about her. I know that you think I'll do something to her like whatever my father did to you, but it's simply not true!"
Where had those words come from? Draco clamped his mouth shut before any more emotional outbursts could force themselves out of his soul. Professor Karadhras regarded him seriously.
"Draco, I know that you care about my daughter very much. I believe you when you say that you will not hurt her. But please understand this." She sat down, maintaining eye contact with Draco, giving him the feeling that she was more a peer than a teacher. "Alysia is my daughter, and her well- being is my highest priority. I would sleep easier at night knowing that your words were not simply idle comfort." Draco shot her a confused look. "Tell me where my daughter is."
Should he? She wouldn't tell Dumbledore, would she? He opened his mouth to speak, when suddenly the door burst open. A Hufflepuff second year was standing there, breathless. "Professor! You'd better come to the Main Hall, quick!" he exclaimed. Professor Karadhras stood and nodded to Draco to join her, which he did. They ran there as fast as their legs could carry them, Blackie following. Professor Karadhras stopped short when she reached the Main Hall, and Draco, pushing past her, soon saw why.
Alysia was lying on the Gryffindor table, one arm lying across her stomach and bleeding. She was unconscious and pale as death.
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A/N: I love cliffhangers. But that's beside the point. I was tired of Alysia's perspective, so I tried Draco's perspective. He's a lot more Draco- y in this chapter, I think. And this chapter's so.SHORT! Anyway, give me reviews because I get lonely without them! :)
