Chapter 16: "Facing the music"
Without the mask where will you hide?
Can't find yourself, lost in your lie
I know the truth now.
I know who you are
and I don't love you anymore.
It never was and never will be.
You don't know how you've betrayed me.
Somehow you've got everybody fooled. (2)
Draco smiled to himself as he watched Crabbe and Goyle pushing everyone out of their way.
"I'll tell the headmaster, I swear I will!" one of their victims sniffed. Draco rounded the corner but he could still hear the sickening crunch and thud. He took a seat in the classroom as the Professor came in.
"Every year the N.E.W.T. students take their annual trip to D.L. Potions. As any decent wizard would know, D.L. Potions is the only exporter in England of already made potions which they export to other countries. During midterm the permission forms were sent out and returned. We will now proceed onto the grounds."
Draco rolled his eyes and led the pack outside where a big red bus was waiting. Once inside he noticed names above the window of each seat.
"Did I fail to mention the assigned partners?" Snape said, sweeping past him to move to the very front. Draco walked down the aisle and reached the last seat which read: Draco Malfoy and Helen Cliff.
"Bet Helen will get a kick out of this," he muttered sarcastically. To his great surprise she smiled cheerfully at him.
"Move over, partner," Helen grinned. Draco slid next to the window to make room for her. In the seat across from them were Harry and Hermione, so to Draco's great annoyance she spent the entire way talking, joking, and laughing with them. He was completely surrounded by Gryffindors and for the first time he felt lonely.
"Ay oh whey oh, ay oh whey oh," Helen danced in her seat, "Walk like an Egyptian!"
Draco tore his eyes away from the sight of her, furious with his body for the reaction her movements were having on him.
"Shut up, you're so loud!" Draco griped. Helen shrugged.
"Whatever. Hey Dean, put on a quieter song for me to sing to. My partner's cranky."
Draco could feel his temper rising. He almost retaliated until he saw the serious look on Helen's face.
"What song is this?"
"Anywhere by Evanescence. Why?"
"Start is from the beginning."
Draco looked curiously at Helen's abrupt mood change. He took the extendable ear from Helen's hand (which was near the headphone of Dean's portable CD player), and put it to his own ear to listen.
A/n: They're traveling through muggle areas on the bus so muggle stuff would work.
Dear my love, haven't you wanted to be with me
And dear my love, haven't you longed to be free
I can't keep pretending that I don't even know you
And at sweet night, you are my own
Take my hand
We're leaving here tonight
There's no need to tell anyone
They'd only hold us down
So by the morning's light
We'll be half way to anywhere
Where love is more than just your name
I have dreamt of a place for you and I
No one knows who we are there
All I want is to give my life only to you
I've dreamt so long I cannot dream anymore
Let's run away, I'll take you there
Forget this life
Come with me
Don't look back you're safe now
Unlock your heart
Drop your guard
No one's left to stop you now
Before the song could finish she took the extendable ear away from him.
"Happy now, Malfoy?"
She made Dean change the song and she started dancing again.
What gave her the right to be happy? He broke up with her! What wasn't she broken? Why was he left feeling emptier; darker inside and worse off instead of her?
"We're here," Helen informed him.
The whole time Helen steered him everywhere she wanted to go and he couldn't help wondering if she was purposely trying to irritate him.
"Hurry up, slowpoke, one more place," Helen directed.
"No," Draco stopped. Helen just shrugged.
"Whatever you say," she finished before going off on her own.
Little bitch!
[PAGE BREAK]
By the time Year 7 potions students came back from their trip it was dinner time.
"Don't forget, Helen, we've got Quidditch practice."
"How can I forget? We have it every night."
"Harry, you promised we'd work on our History of Magic project and then spend a little time alone together," Hermione interrupted.
"We can do that tomorrow."
"I've got Head Girl duties tomorrow. You can't keep putting me off to the side."
"I'm not!" Harry said defensively, "If anyone is, it's you!"
"Me?" Hermione yelled, "How's that?"
"You're always giving Ernie Macmillan all those private lessons. The guy doesn't even need it! Besides, it shouldn't take five hours!"
"Are you accusing me of something? Like cheating perhaps?" Hermione asked heatedly.
"No…" Harry said after a long pause.
"You are! Well you won't have to worry anymore. Our relationship is over!"
Hermione stormed off, followed by Harry. Helen and Ron looked at each other, then at the two leaving the great hall.
"Why do their fights always seem so sudden to me?" Helen asked him.
"Because you've been too wrapped up in your own problems with Malfoy to pay attention to your friends," Ron answered knowingly.
"How did you know about Draco? Why haven't you told anyone else?"
"Pansy and I saw you in Honeydukes and since Harry and Hermione found out my secret on their own I decided to let them do the same about your secret."
"Draco and I aren't together anymore."
"Well you just say the word and at least fifty guys will be kneeling at your feet. Malfoy could never make you happy. You don't need him."
Helen sighed.
"And quite honestly it never would have worked out anyway. I'm glad it happened sooner rather than later," Ron tried to be tactful in what he was saying; "Malfoy is an evil, poisonous, arrogant, cocky, and manipulating git. He doesn't care about anyone but himself. He isn't capable of love. He doesn't have enough backbone to stick by your side the way a good boyfriend should. The things he does best are using and abusing. Trust me, you don't need him."
"That's what my brain keeps telling me, Ron."
"Then listen to it. He's been raised his entire life to worship you-know-who, hate muggles, and see himself as the greatest thing on the planet. How can someone like that just forget it all and change? There's just too much against you. I'm sorry I had to say that, Hel, but I'm just looking out for you."
"I know, Ron. Thanks."
"Helen!"
"Hermione, when did you get back here?"
"I need my head girl room back."
"But—" Helen stopped. If she agreed then she wouldn't have to see Draco anymore except class, and although she made it appear like she had no problem being around him…she was still hurting, "You can have it. Right away! Let's go move my stuff right now."
Ron nodded his head at her and followed the two girls out.
[PAGE BREAK]
Harry rolled on his bed and his hand touched something soft. He opened his eyes and saw Helen laughing at him.
"Good thing today's Saturday, Mr. Potter. You missed the Hufflepuff/Slytherin game."
"Crap, yeah, what happened?"
"Hufflepuff beat them, 180 to 10."
Harry sat up quickly with a huge smile on his face.
"So if we beat Hufflepuff in the upcoming game then we're definitely still alive."
"Ravenclaw also has to beat Slytherin in order for us to play them for the cup, but we'd have to win be a considerable amount…"
"If only we hadn't lost that first game!" Harry's face darkened, "Will you tell me who it was now?"
"Malfoy."
"WHAT! HOW?"
"Long story."
"That's it—" Harry jumped out of bed. Helen grabbed him quickly.
"Not yet…"
"But—" Harry saw a strange spark in her eyes, "What?"
"Nothing."
"No, tell me."
"It's a plan…pretty low but…"
"What?"
A/n: Notice Helen has a lot of plans?
"On the upside it could help you get Hermione back…or drive her further away…"
"What?"
"No. Forget it."
"Helen! Please!" Harry pleaded with desperation in his eyes, "I'll do anything to make up with Hermione."
Helen sighed.
"Jealousy."
"What would make Hermione jealous and at the same time get back at Draco?"
"If another girl dated you then Hermione would get jealous…or hate you more; if I was that girl…then you'd be dating your enemy's ex. Draco would hate that!"
"But you aren't—WHAT THE HELL! YOU DATED THAT –"
Helen had forgotten Harry didn't know and now he was going ballistic.
"WHY? HOW? WHEN? HOW LONG? HOW FAR DID YOU GO? DID—"
"It's complicated. Let me explain…"
So Harry told him everything…the Worset stone, Vias, and everything and of course he was furious that she hadn't told him earlier.
"That's pretty twisted," Harry ground his teeth, "How sick is that, having someone love or kill you."
"I know." Helen smiled, glad she'd come clean with Harry, "Oops. I forgot my photo album in the study. I'll be back."
Helen left the boy's dorm and jogged down to the study. When she opened the door she saw books, parchment, and ink everywhere, tables upturned, her photo album on the floor next to Draco's foot, and a letter in his hand.
"Uh…hi."
"So…you plan on visiting Kevin this summer, eh?"
"You read my letter!" Helen dropped her jolly act immediately.
"And you met up with some disgusting muggle during the holiday I see. You work faster than most whores at this school," he kicked the photo book at her, which she picked up.
"Yeah, I'm a whore alright," Helen mocked, "And you're the only one who I haven't shagged. Now I see why you're so bitter."
She snatched Kevin's letter from his hand and took a step away but he grabbed her and threw her onto the couch chair.
"You're not getting away with that last comment," Draco snarled, getting on top of her.
"Don't you dare!" Helen yelled furiously, trying to get away.
"Dare what?" he faked a puzzled expression as she could feel his hands moving where they weren't supposed to go.
SLASH!
Out of nowhere two daggers materialized into her hands long enough to slice him across the chest, before it vanished. Draco yelled out in pain and rolled to the floor, allowing Helen to pull a vanishing act of her own.
[PAGE BREAK]
"Ouch!"
"This is a magical cut, Mr. Malfoy," Madam Pomfry mumbled, "How in the world did you get that it?"
"From the blade of an old friend, look, can't you just put a bandage on it?"
"That's the only thing I can do. It'll have to heal without magic."
"Fine, fine."
After a minute or so she left to attend to someone else.
"My, that's one serious injury."
"What do you want, Zabini?"
"I want Larson, but I can't have her yet, now can I? I've got to get rid of my current girlfriend first. You know how it is."
"Does it look like I care?" Draco asked moodily.
"You're right old chap. I'm here for you after all."
"Explain and make it quick."
"The Dark Lord said you needed some guidance when it came to your personal life so I'm instructed to keep you on the right path."
"Take your guidance and shove it."
"Oh no thank you," Blaise chuckled, "You may think you're the baddest thing in Hogwarts, being Cliff's Via and having the ability to do magic without a wand, but you're still weak."
A/n: I know there is no such word as baddest but I wanted to use it anyway.
"I don't see how that is."
"The proof is that fact that you're stuck here while she is in her house common room."
Draco started to pay more attention to what he was saying after that.
"Your weakness is being in love with her."
"Lust. Both are 'L' words, never to be confused."
A/n: Draco's last line from Passions (the book).
"Deny it all you want. If it was just lust you would have had sex with her already…unless you were going to and that's how you got hurt right now…"
"Okay, psychic, what's your advice."
"Don't think about her, don't talk to her or communicate with her in any way. Immerse yourself in every possible girl and you'll forget all about her."
"Consider it a done deal."
"I haven't finished yet."
"I'm listening." Draco muttered.
"Don't be fooled by Cliff's sugary sweet, vulnerable exterior. Isis women are capable of anything, as if you've forgotten that little token of her appreciation across your chest."
"I haven't."
"Good. In that case, if you need someone to talk to…let me know, and if you need me to get you a girl for tonight then let me know too."
"No thank you. I'm a big boy, I can get my own."
Blaise smiled as he left the hospital wing.
Screw Zabini. There'd be no girls in his bed until he healed. And what the hell did Blaise know about loving Helen anyway? If those daggers stayed in her hands a little longer, he was sure she could have chopped his head off…and the one on his neck too. One thing Blaise said was right…Isis women were dangerous which made Helen all the more exciting and intriguing. He may end up killing her later, he may not be able to be with her now, but if he couldn't have her…certainly no one else was going to either. Anyone willing to try better watch out!
[PAGE BREAK]
Alright team…" Harry started, his face full of determination, "If we don't beat Hufflepuff today then Gryffindor is out of the running for sure. We were cheated last time and there's no way in hell I'll let it happen again. We can do this! We can win! We have to!"
"Let's go," Ron motioned for everyone to follow him out to the field.
Once out there Helen gave Harry a good luck peck on the cheek and whispered in his ear, "It's almost March and Hermione hasn't forgiven you. We've got no choice but to stick with the plan."
"You sure you're okay with this?" Harry asked.
"Positive."
"Okay then," Harry said, giving her a long, slow, kiss in front of the entire school (the teaching staff included). Helen ignored the crowd and looked at him in surprise, then smiled.
"Nice," Helen nodded in approval.
"Players ready?" Madam Hooch frowned.
"Yes."
"AND THE QUAFFLE IS RELEASED! IMMEDIATELY TAKEN BY POTTER'S KISSMATE—I MEAN TEAMMATE, HELEN. HA HA (sorry Professor) PASS TO WELSH, DODGES THE BLUDGER, BACK TO CLIFF…SCORE! 10 TO 0!"
Harry droned out the commentating and concentrated on the game which was at 50 to 10. WHIZ!
Gold flashed by his nose and with one quick whip of his arm he caught the snitch.
"GRYFFINDOR WINS! 200 TO 1O! VICTORY KISSES FOR ALL!"
"AHHH"
Harry saw Helen fall to the ground, blood spurting from her forehead.
"What the hell happened?" Harry demanded as his feet touched back on the ground.
"I-I got so excited that I didn't watch where I was swinging my bat," Deidre sobbed quietly. Professor Dumbledore calmly stepped through the crowd and conjured up a stretcher.
"She'll be fine, right?" Harry followed the professor. Dumbledore didn't answer.
[PAGE BREAK]
Draco was on his way to common room when he saw the headmaster leading Potter who was holding someone's hand.
"Helen!"
He darted forward but something caught his robes.
"No," Blaise shook his head, "Don't. She isn't your concern."
It wasn't until 10 o'clock that Draco snuck away. He unlocked the hospital door and spotted Helen lying on the hospital bed. He sat in the chair to her right. Only the memory of the cut she gave him prevented him from touching her.
"You beautiful wench," Draco shook his head, "What a waste…you being born a Sacred Keeper and me your Via."
His throat started pricking so he grabbed a glass of water from the table at her bedside. Suddenly his eyes involuntarily closed on him and he realized he'd just taken a sleeping potion.
DREAM SEQUENCE
Draco found himself standing in front of two little boys. One was a spitting image of Helen but with the blue-grey eyes Draco used to have; the other looked exactly like him as a little boy except he had with Helen's eyes. Both children looked at him in terror.
"Don't kill mommy!"
"Daddy, NO!"
And lying at his feet was Helen's corpse.
END OF DREAM
Both Helen and Draco woke with a scream. Helen panicked when she saw him.
"Get away from me!" Helen freaked out and ran.
"Helen, wait! Please! We need to talk!"
"And how the hell did your eyes get blue again? Forget it! Fuck this! Fuck you! I'm gone!"
And she was.
[PAGE BREAK]
Helen finished her mug of hot chocolate (she needed it after the scolding she got from Madam Pomfry for leaving the hospital wing the other night) when Harry called her from outside.
"Ready?"
"For?"
"You haven't forgotten our casual date plan for Hogsmeade have you?"
"Not at all."
So as you can imagine Helen made the most of their date playing the part as Harry's girlfriend perfectly.
"Whoa the ground's slipperAH" Helen slipped and pulled Harry down with her. Then she felt a powerful angry energy. Draco was watching! Helen pretended like she didn't know and let Harry kiss her in such a way that he really did outdo himself.
A/n: Hehehe Helen likes Harry's kisses.
A fireball landed a foot away from them and extinguished with a sizzle in the snow.
WHOOSH!
"Move!" Helen yelled, pulling Harry on her other side, dodging the ball of fire.
"Malfoy!" Harry jumped up, his wand out. Before he could utter a spell, Malfoy got him first.
"Secare!"
A gash sliced his arm.
"Delelve!" Harry fired back. Draco produced a mass of fireballs and lobbed them all at Harry…unable to dodge them all.
"CEASE!" Helen shouted with both hands outstretched between Harry and the fireballs which disappeared with a poof. Draco had a confused look on his face.
"You've gotten your revenge," Helen whispered in Harry's ear, "Let's go."
[PAGE BREAK]
Draco was about to follow them but a letter dropped to his feet:
Get the gold Wosret emperor, fool, and magician cards from somewhere in the headmaster's office.
-Your father
Draco shook his head. Too easy…
Twenty minutes later he held the slim black box which contained two of the gold pieces. But where was the magician?
"Pleasant seeing you here, Mr. Malfoy. How unexpected."
Draco froze.
"Yes, thank you for finding those. I was wondering where I put them," Dumbledore took the box from him and put it back under his desk, "Have a seat."
"Thanks but—"
A chair rammed into his knees, knocking him off his feet into it.
"Well, Draco, I'm glad you came. We have a few things to discuss. The most important one is Helen's safety. Will you harm her or protect her?"
"Sir, I'm her Via."
"Then you would know you can harm her or protect her."
"Protection is not an option."
"Lord Voldemort only gives out the bits of information that would benefit him. Here," the headmaster handed him the Eriam book. Draco read the passage and looked up.
"I may also be destined to love her…the Dark Lord didn't mention that…"
"So what will it be? Harm her…at the risk of dying by her hand or anyone else against you or protect her at the risk of being slain by Voldemort and his followers. You'd lose your family and friends but gain new ones…and the chance to be with Helen."
The dream came rushing back to him…What did he really want? What would it be like to actually live his own life, not having to take orders from someone for the rest of his life…would it be so bad? He'd have people who wanted him dead no matter which side he chose.
"Voldemort is afraid of the two of you getting together because he knows that as long as you both are together…you can't be murdered."
Then that would mean he shouldn't be afraid of the dark lord killing him, right… Why not pick the side with the girl? Damn, but he already broke up with her. More than that, he'd threatened her twice. Helen would never forgive him for that so then there was no point in trying...and she was dating Potter.
Draco felt his blood boil. No! Absolutely no way would Potter have her! Oh yes, Draco was going to get Helen back no matter what the cost. He was destined to be with her…Not Saint Potty!
He could just imagine Harry with his arms around Helen; holding her, kissing her, going to bed with her. NO!
Dumbledore smiled at him as if he knew Draco had chosen Helen's side…or at least to give it a try.
"Next thing you must know is that the last gold card needs to be placed in the stone by the sacred keeper, therefore they can't kill Helen yet."
Draco nodded.
"At the moment I can't think of anything else to advise you on except to never betray Helen as she holds grudges, and don't try to 'find' things before they're 'lost' (meaning don't steal his gold cards again). If there's nothing else…you may go."
And go is what Draco did.
I hear... a voice say "Don't be so blind"...
it's telling me all these things...
that you would probably hide...
am I... your one and only desire...
am I the reason you breath...
or am I the reason you cry...
I love you...
I hate you...
I can't get around you...
I breathe you...
I taste you...
I can't live without you...
I just can't take anymore...
this life of solitude... (5)
A/n: Here are the list of songs quoted. And I'm sorry for any mistakes (other than gramatical ones or spelling) because I'm using a different format to upload now.
1) (Chap 15) Avril Lavigne "Nobody's Fool"
2) Evanescence "Everybody's Fool"
3) Bangles "Walk like an Egyptian"
4) Evanescence "Anywhere"
5) Saliva "Always"