Title: Revenge Sweet or Not?
Author: Gia
E-Mail: divinechild18hotmail.com
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Draco/Harry
Time: 5th year.
Summary: [Sequel] Draco has an annoying voice in his head. Harry's got a psycho pendant. Firenze is possessed. And Voldemort's got a secret weapon. What more could you want?
Disclaimer: I own not a thing.
Author Notes: Ack! I'm so sorry!! It's been a long wait, hasn't it?? Well, I was on a roll with my newest fic, so I was busy with that. I had like five freakin' tests last week! Sheesh.. And it's only the.. What? Third full week of school!? What are these people thinking!?? --.. Yeah.. Uh.. Ranting? Whatever, I'll be working on this chapter for the weekend, hopefully I'll be able to post at least two chapters to make up for the long wait! I'll be doing some community service hours this coming Monday for school but.. Hmm.. It just depends I guess! Anyway, I've got way more reviews for my other fic, "Bless the Child", and it only has five chapters! I was seriously surprised, but anyway, where was I? Oh yeah, I've decided to leave the answers to each previous riddle of the chapters under the dedication part. So yeah, that's pretty much it.
Tears coursed down his cheeks, as he ran away from it all. He didn't know what made him blow up, it was all the bent up tension and-- Why? WHY did I do that!? His chest burned, his legs felt like they were going to fall off, a pain was digging through his head. All these things were ignored, solace only to be found in Neville's gift to him. 'I'm probably going to be expelled for burning the Headmaster's bird.' he thought sadly.
He stops running abruptly, trying to catch his breath. He took in his dark surroundings, realizing that he hadn't a clue where he was. Searching his pockets for his wand, he found it and did a quick lighting spell. The entire hall was illuminated quickly, few shadows here and there. 'Where am I?' he thought to himself, walking forward.
"Alright, Mr. Longbottom. You will be fine. You have no risk of catching a slight cold, you may leave."
"Thank you."
Breathing lightly, he rolled off the bed, managing to land on the floor upright. He grabbed on his now dried robes, putting them on quickly, and bade Madame Pomfrey a quick good-bye. He had absolutely no idea what time it was, and considered just heading towards the common room. His light footsteps echoed through the hallway, but Neville was lost in his own thoughts.
Flashback
"Give this to Potter, I hear he's particularly fond of phoenixes.."
'Why did I trust him?'
"--little present to give the Golden boy.."
'It's a trap… it has to be..'
"No! That's alright, it's what friends do. It doesn't matter!"
'Harry's too modest for his own good..'
"Thanks Neville, really.."
'Harry! No! I know this is wrong, I have to find him!'
End of Flashback
Changing course, he turned completely around. He hadn't the faintest idea where he was, but he had a gut instinct that was leading him down the corridor.
'I did it.. I can't believe I really did it..'
'Did it? Do you know how wrong that sounds?'
'Your sick! I don't mean it that way.. This is much more serious than that..'
'You don't know how right you are.'
Draco growled low. He was talking to that voice again, and he was starting to feel.. well, guilty. Harry's innocent mind, unknown of the very danger that hung from his neck. So easily given.. Too easy. Draco stopped in his tracks, head turning up quickly.
"That was too easy…" he whispered incredulously.
He turned, and ran. Somehow knowing exactly where to go. Unknown to him, eyes stared at him from a portrait. A very familiar portrait that belonged to Hogwarts. The portrait of Godric Gryffindor.
Shadows flickered and jumped across the walls. Light dust decorated the large room. Having walked a good deal long, he had come upon a door. It opened fairly easy, surprising him by not creaking like most doors would have. The windows were covered with ragged curtains, the few couches and chairs covered with a white cloth to prevent it from gathering dust. A lone grand piano stood at the end, the only piece of furniture uncovered.
Harry never heard much of piano, he had vaguely remembered hearing one when he was about six or seven. The next-door neighbor of the Dursley's had their son home tutored in piano lessons. The boy was quite good, and the music would often drift around. He could already imagine the tune in his head, as he approached the piano. He sat on the stool, not caring if it was dirty. All attention was focused on the piano. He raised an elegant hand, humming the tune under his breath.
Neville stopped, breathing hard. He never was the running type, and he never really had the practice. He had absolutely no idea where he was, and how he had gotten there in the first place. He needed to find Harry, he needed to get that necklace. It didn't seem right, not right at all.
"Where is he?!" he whispered furiously to himself.
A whisper came. Faint, but there nonetheless. Neville almost jumped up, eyes darting around to find the source. It was blatantly obvious he was alone, but he could clearly hear the faint whispering. Tilting his head to the side, in hopes of hearing better, he discerned a whispered song.
"Softly in the dusk, a woman is singing to me;
Taking me back down the vista of years, till I see
A child sitting under the piano, in the boom of tingling
Strings
And pressing the small, poised feet of a mother who smiles
As she sings."
Neville blinked. The voice seemed male yet.. He sharply turned his head, aware of footsteps. The whispering had immediately ceased. Neville brought out his wand, leaning back against the wall, the shadows aiding in his concealment.
"--As she sings."
The last remnants of the song flitted through Draco's ears. He was getting closer, he knew it. That voice had to be Harry's, it was his. Draco always paid attention. He knew the tone of Harry's voice when he was mad, frustrated, happy, and sad. This one.. It sounded flat, emotionless. He sped up, not noticing the slight bulge in the shadows until--
"Stupefy!"
Draco acted quickly. Hands darting into his robes, he ducked first, and aimed.. Right between the eyes.
"Never," he hissed, "try that again, Longbottom. Understand?"
Neville nodded fearfully, eyes slightly going cross-eyed from staring down at the tip of the wand. Draco sneered, fighting the urge to hurt the cowardly boy. He stepped back, putting the wand away.
"I take it your looking for Potter?"
Blinking from his temporary daze, Neville narrowed his eyes at him. "Yes, I am. I don't know your plan Malfoy," he spat the name, "But whatever it is, it better not hurt Harry. Or you will pay." He stated the last part with confidence, knowing he wouldn't be the only one to hurt Malfoy.
Far from being scared at his statement, he smirked in amusement. "You've finally gained some backbone, eh Longbottom?" Shaking his head, he motioned for him to follow. They walked in silence down the hallway. Only the sound of their footsteps were heard, Neville's eyes briefly glancing at the back of Malfoy's head from time to time, before giving up.
'Looking for Harry?'
'You again?'
'Aren't you getting tired of saying that? Who else would be talking to you in your head apart from me?'
'Oh, I don't know.. Probably someone far less irritating than you.'
'Ouch, that hurt. Come on, can't you at least say you've grown fond of me?'
'I'd rather grow fungus on my face.'
'It'd be an improvement.'
'Just bloody shut up!'
'Fine.. But you won't find Harry!'
Draco sighed, furiously grabbing his hair. The voice was getting on his nerves, and no doubt Longbottom is looking at me like I'm nuts.
'Alright, where's Har-Potter?'
'Knew you'd come around!' A laugh seemed to ring in his head.
'Just tell me where he is!'
He could almost feel the grin and heard the voice's smug reply. 'Can't say, until.. You say your sorry for yelling at me!'
"NO FUCKING WAY!"
Neville halted, shocked beyond words at his sudden outburst. Draco could already feel himself heating, but he turned around to face Neville, daring him to comment. It was a dark hallway, and Neville paid no heed to Draco's obvious frustration. "Uh.. Anything wrong Malfoy?"
"Nothing really," he started sarcastically, "Just that I hear this really annoying voice in my head that says he knows where Potter is, but won't tell till I apologize." He ended his small pronouncement flatly, avoiding the Gryffindor's eyes. Far from calling Draco insane, he replied back with question in his voice.
"Really? Is it male or female?"
"It sounds male to me.."
"Oh! I don't think it's anything to worry about, I remember when I was a child I had an imaginary friend and he would always tell me to do these outrageous things with mum's--"
"Longbottom! I am not standing here, listening to your rave on about some imaginary friend you have! I knew you wouldn't understand.." he trailed off muttering something about psychotic Gryffindors, leaving Neville blushing to the roots of his hair. Turning his head away, he countered back. "Well, at least I can admit it. Besides, what's the harm in saying sorry? Wouldn't hurt, we're obviously not going to find Harry anytime soon."
Not giving Neville the benefit of seeing him agree, he gave an imperceptible nod and closed his eyes in exhaustion. 'Okay.. I'm sorry.. There? You happy? I said it!'
'Hmph! I've heard cold-blooded wizards apologize better than you. But, since you were so sweet about it, my dear Harry is in my favorite room! The music room!'
'Just curious, but you're favorite room? You've been here before?'
'Oops, shouldn't have said that..'
"Aha! Now, I'm slightly closer to finding out who you are!" Draco proclaimed, one finger pointing up in victory. Neville stared at him as if he were nuts, wondering why the proclaimed Slytherin looked like he was about to do a victory dance. Draco seemed to have realized his disturbing stance, coughed, and regained his composure. Without a backwards glance, he walked forward, listening to the directions the voice was giving him.
'And make a left. Your almost there.'
"Malfoy, wait!"
Neville realized Draco must've been busy "talking" with his friend in his head, and decided to just follow silently. He still had his misgivings about him, but the small revelation of Draco having an imaginary friend seemed to have abated some of his fears. 'Besides,' Neville thought to himself, 'If he has an imaginary friend like normal people, then I guess he isn't so bad.'
They proceeded to walk down the hall, Draco occasionally making a sharp turn, obviously showing that he knew where he was going. 'I hope Harry's alright..'
A clear single note rang out into the desolate room. Harry scooted closer to the middle of the piano, raising both hands as if poised to play a particularly difficult yet beautiful piece. He took a long drawn out breath, closing his eyes, and played.
The music in itself was beautiful, a seemingly haunting piece. His long fingers trailed at the higher octaves, creating a light carefree song… but then, his fingers trailed lower and lower, the beat slowing and rising again.
The phoenix around his neck flashed unnoticed by Harry. The very air in front of him seemed to be tearing slowly. The sound of whispers rang from behind the tearing only added to Harry's trance-like state. Harry was inadvertently creating a portal into Hogwarts. Something for which Voldemort was counting on.
The sound of music reached them first, before they even approached the door. It sang around them, ringing around the hallways of Hogwarts. Draco and Neville's eyes met, each silently asking the same question. Neville fixed his face with a determined look, and pushed open the door ahead of Draco.
The sight that met them was disturbing in a sense. Seeing Harry's slowly swaying body as he moved to the song of the piano. They could not see what Harry's music was doing, nor could they see the phoenix necklace start to become animate. This time, Draco rushed forward, and grabbed Harry by the shoulders. The sudden contact broke Harry from his trance, the phoenix became inanimate once again, and the portal… vanished.
"Harry?"
Neville raised his eyebrow at the name, but otherwise stayed quiet. Harry blinked his eyes, and turned upward to see Draco's face above him. Frowning in confusion, he asked what was wrong.
"What's wrong? Are you mad? Your sitting here in some remote part of Hogwarts, with no one knowing of where you are, and your asking me what's wrong?"
Harry smiled wryly, "Didn't know you cared, Draco."
Far from telling him not to call him that, they both seemed to have reached an agreement about calling each other by their first name. Neither would say anything about the change, nor would they try to think about it. It just… was.
Clearing his throat lightly, Neville interrupted their short staring contest. "Let's go, this room is giving me the creeps." The other two nodded, and stood up. Harry's hand brushed against Draco's, the two meeting each other's eyes quickly.
'Something has changed..' Harry thought to himself. 'Something has definitely changed.'
He waited. He had listened to him. He was to watch the castle, preferably at night. Nothing seemed to be out of the ordinary, except the part about the haunting melody. It chilled him to the bone. This was no ordinary song. He stepped back a few steps, using the trees to shadow him in case of other people watching him.
He did not hear the approach of footsteps, nor the light breathing that would have given the intruder away, he only felt the person touch his shoulder lightly and whisper his name.
"Firenze.."
A/N: END OF CHAPTER 10!! YAYNESS!! Anyway, I hope this chapter was long! I'm sorry for the delay, but I've been working on my other fic. Especially my other two, sheesh, need a sequel and a chapter two!! GAH! Oh well, can't just write anything quickly, has to be great, right?
This chapter took me forever, since I didn't know what should happen. But, at least you all know who the person with the pale blue eyes, is!