I don't own Harry Potter. The characters and some of the places are owned by J.K.Rowling and Warner Bros. I don't claim ownership, nor do I make any money from this fic. Please don't sue.. I just paid my college tuition, and I still have to buy my books.
Compulsion - Chapter Six
By Caliko
I winced each time he moaned, yet still, I went on cleaning the crusted blood from his face. I had to see just how badly he was beaten, and I didn't trust any of my brothers to do it gently. So, I continued on, doing it myself.
Slowly, I went, moving the washcloth over his chin, and then down his neck. Carefully, I unbuttoned the last button remaining on his shredded shirt, then washed the mud off of the bruises on his chest.
His eyes tightened, and he groaned in his sleep, his head thrashing slightly on the pillow as his hands rose in defense. Draco was fighting someone in his sleeping mind.
For the first time, I noticed that his right hand was fisted, clenching something hidden in it's bony depths. A telltale cord dangled slightly out of his closed fingers, and I found my hand moving to take it away.
"NO!" He shouted, his hand tightening. "Get away from me!"
I jumped back, suddenly nervous at the now silent room. Ron and the twins gaped, then shuffled closer, wondering what I had done. I shrugged, nodding at the unconscious man, indicating that I had done nothing to him, and that Draco was still sound asleep.
"What was that about?" Fred asked, his forehead wrinkled.
"I dunno." George replied, "I haven't been watching, either. Ron?"
"Nothing that I could tell. Ginny, what happened?"
"I was trying to open his hand." I admitted. "Look, see? There's a piece of string in his hand. I guess I wondered if it may have belonged to whoever attacked him."
Ron's eyes opened wide, surprised that none of them had noticed it before. Bending over the bed, he motioned Ginny to move back, and tried to pry his fingers open himself. A few minutes later, he scowled, giving up.
"I never knew you cared, Weasley." Draco drawled, his voice tired, but alert.
Ron dropped his hand as if it were scalding his, then jumped back. "It's not what you think."
"I'm sure. Gin?"
I came forward, and sat next to him. "We were trying to see what you held in your hand. That's all."
Draco looked surprised. "My hand?" Puzzled, he looked down and opened his clenched fist, revealing a milky white quartz tied with a ratty string. His gray eyes widened in recognition. "I remember now…"
"What is it?" It couldn't be called pretty. The stone was nice enough, clear at the pointed top and clouded at the flat base, but it held an aura that was disturbing, ugly in color when you tried to see it. The stone actually bothered me to look at it, as nothing else had in my entire life. Even the thought of Voldemort attacking did not frighten me so much as this small, white rock.
"I don't know." He admitted, frowning. "Wells had just left, when I saw it on the ground in the corner. It seemed to… I don't know. Sparkle at me, I guess." Draco looked up, clearly not thinking much about it. "I picked it up, and when I stood, I heard footsteps."
"Who was it?" George interjected, "'cause there wasn't anybody there when we got there."
Draco shook his head. "That's the thing. I turned around, and there wasn't anyone behind me. I called out, asking, of course. I can't have strangers roaming the castle. They might be hurt, and then I would probably end up sued. Still, no one answered me.
I looked around a bit, checked the next chamber, then the outer stairway. But I was alone."
"Then who attacked you?" I finally spoke, puzzled. "When Fred and George brought you here, you were unconscious and still bleeding. Someone had to have been there!"
"I'm getting to that. I had just came back to the first room, when I realized that it may have been someone upstairs in the watchtower. I had just placed my foot on the first step, when I felt a hand clamp down on my shoulder."
By now, we were spellbound, hanging on to every word he said. Draco knew it, of course. I'm sure that some imp inside of him grinned at having his mortal enemies hanging onto his story, yet he showed no sign of amusement. Instead, he continued on, his voice becoming hoarse as he began to relive that moment.
"I spun around, intending to rip into the intruder, when I stopped. I was frozen, not with fear, but confusion. You see, when I turned around, I saw a very familiar face staring back at me." He met our eyes, one by one, making sure that we all knew that he was serious before he continued on.
"Was it your father?" I finally asked, not doubting for a minute that Lucius Malfoy was capable of giving his own son such a beating.
"No." Draco replied, his eyes coming back to mine. "When I turned around, I came face to face - with myself."
"What? Are you sure that you didn't hit your head when you fell? Maybe it was someone who just looked like you!"
"No, George, right? Sorry. No Fred. I know my own face, and it was identical, right down to the scar I have on my jaw from when I first learned how to shave. It was me, alright."
"Are you sure? Was he exactly like you? It could have been someone who took a polyjuice potion."
"Maybe. For all we know, it could have been someone hired by my father to get close enough to kill you, Ginny."
"Who knows that she's here?" Ron asked.
"I haven't told anybody. But I do have servants. I have no doubt that at least one is being paid extra by my father."
"Draco, what about the crystal? It doesn't feel right."
He sighed, then hesitated, thinking, I suppose, on what to tell me. Then, he shrugged. "It's an old castle that has been in my family for centuries. For all I know, it may have belonged to one of my ancestors that practiced the dark arts."
"Yet, it called to you." Ron reminded him.
"It must react to my family's blood. All I know, is I've never seen it before today." He leaned over and placed it on the endtable to examine later. "Look, It's late, and I'm sure that we're all tired."
"Is this a hint to get out?" George asked dryly.
"I wouldn't say that, precisely." Draco replied.
"Not precisely, but yes, I suppose. Alright, boys, our work is done for now." George herded them out, "But, Malfoy -"
"Hmm?" Draco asked, smirking.
"We'll see you in the morning." They snickered, as they left, closing the door with exaggerated firmness as the smirk fell off of Draco's lips.
"I truly hate your brothers." He told me, eyes narrowed as the footsteps retreated down the hall.
I simply shrugged and got back into bed, putting distance between the crystal and myself. I didn't say anything else to him, still not accepting his excuses. That crystal was evil, and he should have thrown it away.
"Goodnight, Draco."
No answer. I rolled over, and then grinned just a bit.
:::Poor Malfoy.::: I thought, seeing that he was already asleep. :::Must be exhausting, getting the stuffing beat out of you.:::
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I woke up the next morning to sunshine. Draco was already gone, leaving nothing behind in the bed other than the scent of his body, and the shape of his head on the pillow. Getting out of bed, I remembered the events of last night, and searched the end table for the crystal.
It was nowhere in sight, so I was left assuming that he had taken it with him. Fine. As long as it was far away from me, I could be happy.
Still - I didn't trust that rock. There was something about it that made my skin crawl. Twice that night, Draco had woken up and reached for it, holding it in his hand as he stared into its milky depths. I knew, because I could feel it get closer to me, and I woke up. I had watched through my slitted eyes, pretending to still sleep as he held it up to the moonlight, mesmerized as the haunting light filtered through the crystal.
He would place it down, then go to sleep, only to repeat his actions a scant hour later. Draco seemed to be under some spell, and I didn't know how to convince him of it. No, I really, really didn't trust that rock.
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The boys were at the breakfast table discussing the night's events. None of them had sensed the evil that clung to the crystal, and each held it as they passed it around, wondering where it had come from, and who belonged to it. Finally, upon seeing me, Fred handed it back to Draco and wished me good morning.
"I wish you would put that thing away, Draco. I don't like it. It makes my skin crawl." I said, regretting the words as soon as they were out of my mouth.
"Good morning to you, too, Luv." He replied dryly. "Sleep well?"
I didn't answer him. Instead, I sat down at the foot of the table and reached for the scrambled eggs that the footman was handing me.
"Ginny? Are you all right? You look as if you hardly slept."
"I didn't." I admitted. "That crystal woke me up. I think that you should put it back."
"No. If it's dangerous, I don't want to leave it lying around for anyone to take. Look, if it makes you feel better, I'll lock it up in the safe."
"Would you?"
"Since you asked, yes. This IS your home, Virginia. I want you to feel comfortable."
I was about to reply when there was a sudden commotion at the door.
"Sir! You can't go in there!" I could hear the butler shout, but obviously, the intruder ignored him.
The door opened, revealing Lucius Malfoy in all of his haughty arrogance.
"Father." Draco stood, his face pleasantly blank. "What brings you here, this morning."
The elder Malfoy glanced around the room, noting my brothers' presence, before his eyes landed on me. His eyes widened just a bit, taking in my rather … blooming body, then came to rest on his son's bruised face.
"So." He spoke, his voice almost lacking emotion. "I see that you have found the whore."
All three Weasley's stood up, outraged, calling out threats of dismemberment. Draco, however, stood up calmly, and walked over to my chair.
"I do not see a whore, Father." His voice sneered out the title that was supposed to indicate respect, giving the word a whole new meaning. "I see a beautiful young woman who is having my child, and who, I might add, has finally consented to be my wife. Now, apologize, or get out."
A strange black glow seemed to surround his body, swirling in nearly tangible power at our feet, revealing the anger that his training hid. Draco was making a point, warning his father that any further insults could result in his death.
I tried to pull away, sensing, somehow, that it was the crystal acting through my lover, giving him power that shouldn't exist in a mere mortal, but his hand clamped down on my elbow, keeping me close.
The spirit wind picked up, continuing to swirl at our feet. With every moment that Lucius stayed silent, the power built. It began to climb, licking at my fingertips and running up my back to cradle my waist.
It seemed to caress the child under my skin, and I suddenly knew, with no doubt, that it was a boy. The power rolled over my body, caressing my body in a possessive wind, claiming me for it's own. I knew that this power was Draco - the crystal created it, but his will directed it around the room.
Suddenly, it shot forward, slamming into his father's chest, knocking him down to the floor.
"I'm waiting, Father." He said, his voice cold.
Mr. Malfoy's expression matched my own. For some reason, even though he was acting to protect me, I feared Draco. So did his father. His face was tight, paler than normal when he raised his icy blue eyes to his son.
"I'm sorry." He said, and then fell silent.
"Not to me, Father. It was Virginia who you insulted."
"Draco.." I lay my hand on his shoulder, "It's alright."
"No, Luv. He insulted you. I can't have that, you see."
"I'm sorry, Virginia." Malfoy said, his voice tight. "I should have kept my feelings to myself."
"Now, get out. I remember telling you that I didn't want you here, Father. This is my home, not yours, and I no longer have to live under your domineering rule."
"You don't want to do this, boy." Lucius warned, not liking how the tables have turned.
"Oh? And what will you do? Send Voldemort after me?" Draco scorned. "Go ahead. I can take him."
With that, he held his hand up, palm forward, sending Lucius out the way he came. The wind picked up, pushing his father back out of the breakfast room and across the foyer to the large entryway. The door swung open, and wizard was flung outside, the doors slamming closed in the aftermath.
I swallowed, then looked up into Draco's face, shivering. The spirit wind was gone, but something was wrong. It took me but a moment to realize what.
It was his eyes. They had changed completely, making him seem like a different person. Instead of his normal soft gray, they were glowing an eerie blue. Together, with his strange new powers and confident dominance, it was like I was standing next to a complete stranger.
"Draco?" I touched his sleeve, motioning for Ron and the twins to stay back. "Are you alright?"
He looked down at me, his mouth set in a chilly smile. This couldn't be my Draco.
"Of course, Virginia. Why wouldn't I be?" He asked, knowing that I suspected, but not caring. Once again, I could feel the slight echo of that ill wind, remembering how I felt that it had claimed me. For good or ill, I couldn't simply leave. He wouldn't allow it.
"You just seem different." I said, not knowing what else to say.
"Of course I am. I have thrown off my father's shackles. You might say, that I've been reborn."
:::What did he mean? Who was this? If not Draco, then who? Some family shade that has taken possession of his body? How could I get my lover back?:::
I had no answers, only questions. Nodding, I pretended to accept this, then sat down to continue eating. One at a time, my brothers followed suit, and I could almost see the wheels churning in his mind. Fred made as if to open his mouth, but I shook my head, signaling to stay quiet.
"Do you have any plans today?"
"Today?" the Imposter mused. "As a matter of fact, I plan on looking up some old friends that I haven't seen in quite a while. Care to come?"
"No. That's alright. Ron and I are going to finish going over the guest list. If you want, I'll show it to you tonight, when you get home."
"No, it's alright. Invite anyone you wish. After all, I trust you not to invite the wrong people."
Ron was looking at me as if I were insane, but I ignored him. I needed to talk to all three of my brothers without Draco around, and the only way I could do that, was if I acted like nothing was wrong.
"Well, then, I'm off. I'll see you tonight, around dinner time. Ron, Fred, George. I'll see you three at our ball."
The boys nodded, pretending, like me, that all was normal. Then, as soon as Draco had left the manor, they clambered over to me, all three talking at once.
"Gin! You have to get out of here!" Ron demanded, "He's snapped!"
"Did you see that weird power?" George asked, in awe. "I didn't know he could do that!"
"What about his eyes? They CHANGED! How did that happen?"
"Quiet!" I finally shouted, waiting for silence. "I don't know who that was, but it wasn't my Draco."
"What? Of course it was Malfoy! I told you a long time ago that he was evil!"
"No, Ron. I'm sure that it was his body, but It wasn't him in control. There was something, someone else looking back at me through his eyes. I think.. I think that we have to get help. We can't handle this one on our own."
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A/N - Draco is possessed? Or, was that someone else entirely? A polyjuice potion is still possible, of course, or maybe something else… lol.. After all, we don't even know how that crystal fits into this mess! Oh well! Until next time!
~Caliko~