Autumn Fairy – Now THAT's a complement. Chocolate? *licking lips* Mmm… chocolate… *clearing throat* Ahem. There's just something incredibly sexy about bad boys, isn't there? And Draco certainly fits that category… Have you checked out the story that comes first, "Hidden Intents"? That one features my favorite Potions Master… another sexy man…
Glittergirl14142 – yep. Bad boys. Mmm-mmm. Keep reading and enjoying this one…
Shahrezad1 – heh heh heh. Danger, you say? How did you know? *rubbing hands in anticipation* Lets see how you like the end of this chapter…
Metrodweller - *grinning like an evil maniac* No one is safe in my stories. Be afraid, be very afraid…
Amidala – glad you like it! Draco's got that itty-bitty-teeny-weeny bit of sweetness buried deep inside, doesn't he? I like to think so…
Everyone else reading – please review! Or I'll make you wait on this cliffhanger a looong time… *smirk* How about a bribe? Give me lots of reviews, and I'll get you the next chapter this week…
Chapter 18
Cara was humming as she came down the stairs from the girls dormitory. La-la-la-la-la-la-la… So Draco's crazed cousin was trying to kill him, so what? Last night, they'd gotten very up-close and personal in the Astronomy Tower, and she refused to dwell on the scary stuff. After all, she pretty much knew that Draco would do the dwelling for both of them. She figured she'd do her part and keep things from getting too bleak.
She glanced around the nearly empty common room. Practically everyone was at breakfast, she was running late, courtesy of one Ginny Weasley refusing to get out of the shower in a timely manner. That was in retaliation for one Cara McDouglas refusing to spill every little detail of the night before.
Her eyes fell on the sole person sitting in a chair in the corner, staring off into space. She frowned. "Harry?" she asked. His head jerked up and eyes focused on her. "Are you ok?" He looked a little pale, she thought, and there were dark circles under his eyes.
He lifted a shoulder and dropped it. "Didn't get much sleep," he said briefly. "Go on down to breakfast, if Ron asks, I'm coming."
She eyed him uncertainly, he didn't really look all that great. But he'd already looked away from her, staring off into space again, and she got the feeling that he'd just flat out refuse to talk to her if she tried again. She shrugged and headed for the portrait. She suspected this was pancake morning, and if there weren't a few blueberry ones left, someone was going to get hurt.
"Cara," Harry's voice stopped her in the act of opening the portrait.
She turned around and looked at him in surprise. "Yes, Harry?" she asked.
His eyes were intense on her face, and she felt her head start to ache a little. Funny how that seemed to happen when he got that look on his face… "Tell Malfoy I said to be careful." Cara blinked at him in startled shock, after all, Harry wasn't really Draco's biggest fan, even if he had said that the other boy wasn't all bad. But Harry looked away again, and she was left to close her mouth before she continued gaping like a fish. With a confused shake of her head, she stepped through the portrait and headed for the great hall. What was up with that boy?
**********
Draco was on his way to Astronomy when Cara came dashing after him. "Hey," she said, catching him by the sleeve and tugging.
He looked down, and pulled her to the side of the hallway, out of the way of the passing students' curious looks. "Yes?" he said, arching one eyebrow. While he appreciated her enthusiasm for his company, it wasn't like her to chase him down in the hall.
"First, this," she said, jumping up on her toes and planting a kiss smack on his lips. An enthusiastic if somewhat hasty move that left Draco with the slightest hint of a smile. "And then, Harry asked me to tell you something."
His eyes narrowed sharply. Potter… "What?" he said, his voice a cold hiss.
She gave him what was probably meant to be an intimidating stare. "Quit. He's not out to get you or anything." She frowned. "Although it WAS kind of weird… I mean, he's just sitting there, and he really didn't want to talk, and I was on my way out of the room and he just come out with it…"
"Cara," he interrupted, muscles tight with the need to go pound Potter. It didn't matter why. "Get on with it."
"Right. Sorry. Anyway, he said to tell you to be careful." Cara frowned. "And then he just kind of zoned out again. I'm telling you, that guy can be weird. I mean, I know Ginny's got a thing for him, and I can see where she'd get that, he is cute and all, but he's got major issues and he says the strangest things…"
Draco stopped listening for a moment. Be careful? What the hell was Potter playing at? His brow furrowed as he thought intently. He'd been extremely careful not to let his situation, as it were, get out around the school. With the gossip mill, it wouldn't take long for everyone to know. So what in the name of Merlin was the Boy Wonder talking about?
Briefly, he flashed to a recollection of last winter, and how Potter had gotten a 'dream' of Professor Stone's abduction. His blood slowed and chilled at the thought that perhaps, just perhaps, the other boy was referring to something similar with him. Damn it all, he thought furiously, he was going to have to talk to the bastard. And he did NOT want to do that.
Abruptly, he realized that the hallways were clearing, and Cara was standing, patiently watching him. He looked down at her and she raised an eyebrow. "You going to share?" she asked.
He eyed her. "Do I have a choice?" he said, somewhat dryly. "You'll babble on at me until I tell you."
She smiled sweetly. "See, you know me so well already," she said, and leapt up to press another kiss on him. This time he was able to catch her and prolong it into something a little more satisfying. When he let her go, he was able to smirk at the soft, dazed look in her eyes. "Right," she sighed. "Ok. Off to class. You'll tell me later, right?"
He sighed and let her go, giving her a gentle push the other way from him. "Astronomy Tower, tonight," he said. "Same time."
She grinned. "The other students are going to start wondering who's locking them out every night."
He snorted in disdain. "Let them," he said with a curl to his lip. He hadn't hexed anyone in a while, he wouldn't mind if some nitwit decided to challenge his right to do just as he pleased. It would be quite enjoyable.
She rolled her eyes. "I'm late for Herbology, I'll see you later," she called over her shoulder as she dashed off.
Draco watched her go with a look of indulgence. It was fascinating, this feeling she inspired. Protective, possessive, one of amazement and adoration. He had a sneaking suspicion that he could lay a name to it, but he refused to do so. Not yet. Not until he had Bellatrix straightened out, one way or another.
Turning, he headed for Astronomy, mentally making a note to corner Potter later and demand to know exactly what he'd meant.
**********
It was after dinner before Draco was able to track Potter down. He found him in the library, hunched over some books with his faithful sidekicks. Draco strolled up to where the three were muttering together and stopped, waiting until all three gazes shot to him. He looked at no one but the green-eyed other boy, however, his own gaze cold and remote.
"Potter," he said coolly. "A word."
"Bloody hell, Malfoy, what the blazes…" Weasley started, sounding pissed off as usual. Draco could have cared less, his eyes steady on the person he was determined to get alone. He wanted this conversation done and over with.
Harry shook his head at his friend, cutting him off even while keeping his eyes locked with Draco's. "No, Ron, it's ok," he said, rising. "Let's take this somewhere quite, Malfoy."
Draco inclined his head. "After you," he said coldly. As he followed Potter from the library, he was intently aware of the many curious eyes following them, particularly the two they had just left behind. He wouldn't be surprised if Granger and Weasley followed and tried to eavesdrop on them.
Potter seemed to have an idea of where he was going, and they ended up on the second floor, in a dusty, abandoned classroom. Harry turned as Draco shut the door and pulled out his wand. Draco's appeared in his hand by instinct, but all Potter did was point it at the door and mutter a locking and silencing charm.
Draco slipped his wand back into his pocket. "What was your bloody message about, Potter?" he snapped, not wasting time. He didn't want to be in close quarters with the Boy-Who-Lived any longer than necessary.
Potter ignored him and walked over to pull out a chair and sink down into it like he was tired. Bloody hell, he looked awful, Draco noticed belatedly. Eyes sunken and skin pale. "Well?" Draco demanded roughly. Bloody arrogant Gryffindor.
Potter rubbed a hand over his face as if to wipe something away. "You mean what I said to Cara this morning," he said, as if Draco hadn't made that perfectly clear.
"You know precicely what I'm referring to," Draco shot back icily. "Explain."
Potter dropped his hand and gave a faint grin. "Don't go into politics, Malfoy, you've got no diplomacy," he said before his grin faded. "You've got Bellatrix after you."
Draco's blood chilled. "How do you know that?" he demanded in a near whisper.
Potter raised his eyes to meet Draco's in a humorless, tired gaze. "Same way I know everything," he said, voice grim. "Our dear friend, Tom Riddle."
Draco was momentarily confused. "Who?" he said.
Potter had the gall to roll his eyes. "God, he really tells his followers nothing, doesn't he?" he said. "Voldemort. Previously known as Thomas Marvolo Riddle, half-blood and former Head Boy of Hogwarts." Draco had to gape for a moment. Bloody hell…
Then he got a grip on himself. "How do you know?" he demanded again.
Potter rubbed his forehead once more. "I've got a… connection, you could call it," he said and gave a bitter laugh. "Voldemort used it last year to get me to the Department of Mysteries. I've learned how to block it, but sometimes I get flashes of… plans, or thoughts, I guess you could say. They're not him planting things anymore, they're just what slips through when he's not being careful."
"And you got a 'flash' about Bellatrix," Draco said, voice chilly. Inside, he was worried, scared even. He knew he couldn't handle the Dark Lord. Bellatrix, he'd been preparing for, but if Lord Voldemort was now involved…
Potter stared at the ground. "He knows about her and what she's going to do to you," he said, and shrugged. "So I know."
"Dammit," Draco muttered under his breath, turning to stare out the windows on the far side of the dark room.
Potter broke the silence. "I don't think he's involved, if you're worrying about that." There was an inelegant snort behind him. "There's no mistaking it when he's pleased or excited about something he's about to do. This is more him approving her plan."
"Shut up, Potter," Draco snapped. His own head was aching. What did this mean? How did it affect what he had to do?
"She's sent me a note too," Potter said, ignoring him. "Similar to the one Cara got." At that, Draco jerked back around to glare at the other boy. Potter's gaze was steady and remote. "Along the lines of, 'I finished off your worthless godfather, I'll get you soon'." He was nearly emotionless now, as he snorted. "Right. She's clearly crazy, because good ol' Tom wants that pleasure himself."
Briefly, Draco found himself wondering what it would be like, going through life knowing that the most dangerous man in the world was out to kill you. Then he pushed the unaccustomed thought aside. He had his own problems. "Why you?" he finally ground out, reluctant to talk to Potter about anything. "I understand Cara, but why you?"
Potter shrugged, and got up and started to pace. "Everyone wants to kill me," he said flatly. Draco had nothing to say to that, they both knew it was true. Hell, Draco's father had raved non-stop about how he'd like to serve his master and finish Potter off.
"Fuck," Draco finally said, giving in to the weariness that was seeping through his mind and body and pinching the bridge of his nose in an effort to relieve some of the tension gathering behind his eyes. "Fuck, fuck, fuck."
Potter gave another humorless laugh. "Yeah, that pretty much says it," he said dryly. He pulled his wand back out and pointed it at the door, muttering the counter-charms. "I just thought you should know."
Draco said nothing, staring at the window as the other boy headed for the door. "Potter," he finally said, words practically sticking in his throat but something forcing him to say them despite himself. Perhaps it was Professor Stone, lingering in the back of his mind, or Cara, floating through his consciousness. He heard the feet pause. "Thanks," he forced out.
There was silence for a moment, and he could literally feel the other's gaze on him. A mild headache slipped through his defenses, one that disappeared as the Potter said softly, "Anytime." And then he heard the sound of the door closing behind him.
Draco stared out the window, alone now. Shit. What did it all mean? He had the sinking feeling that Bellatrix was lurking around the corner, waiting to strike. And he wasn't sure he was ready. His potion worked, but not enough. Not enough to give him the advantage he needed. Shit, shit, shit, he thought again.
A few long moments later, he glanced at his watch and realized he was late to meet Cara. He turned and headed for the door. He didn't like to leave her wandering about alone, not after this piece of news.
**********
Cara was strolling leisurely along towards the Astronomy Tower, when she nearly ran into Ginny. "Whoa," her friend said, stopping quickly to avoid running into her. "Where are you going?"
Cara gave her a smug grin. "Why, to meet Draco, of course?"
Ginny eyed her speculatively. "Tell me, buddy ol' pal of mine," she said, leaning close. "Is he as built as he looks?" she whispered.
Cara gave her friend a solemn look. "Better," she whispered back. And the two of them giggled.
As they were standing there, Millecent Bulstrode came around the corner, cast them a disdainful look, and swept on past. As she did, a quill fell from her bookbag over her shoulder.
"Hey," Cara started half-heartedly, but the other girl was already gone.
"She probably wouldn't have bothered to come back for it," Ginny said, shrugging. She walked over to where the quill was lying on the ground. "Heck, I could use a new one. Ron keeps thinking mine are sugar quills and chewing up the ends." Ginny reached down to pick up the quill, and just as her fingers touched it, she disappeared.
Cara stood there, frozed, shocked. "Oh, God," she whispered. "Ginny?" Not even pausing to think, she pulled her wand out and clutched it tight in her hand, before reaching to grab for the quill herself. Just as her own fingers brushed it, she heard two voices, coming from different places.
"Ginny?" one called.
"Cara, no!" the other said, but it was too late. Cara felt that tug at her navel and knew in a sickening flash what it was. Portkey, she thought fearfully, and then Hogwarts disappeared.