Well, I seem to have slacked off on my thank you's, so I have double-work to do this time. But that also means I actually have reviews, so I don't mind so much. *grins*

So, for LAST chapter: La Princesse D'Or, Hiei no bara, Forfirith, killing-dance (You don't happen to read Laurell K. Hamilton, do you? It's just, you're name reminded me of one of her books, and... Well, anywayz.), caroline, an anonymous reviewer, Rowenna (I will read and review your fic. Someday. Eventually. Promise! *ducks & covers* Don't hurt me!), and Dark Peppermint.

And, now, for this chapter: michelle, silma, jasmyn (I'm really glad that you kept reading and that you're enjoying my fic now. You are enjoying it right? You're not just asking for more so you can laugh and ridicule? *sweats* Ugh, I need self-esteem help...), Hippy Flower=Voldie's kid (Okay, you have officially typed the longest 'please' I have ever seen. Give yourself a prize! *grins* I'd give you one myself, but I'm a flat-broke college kid, so... Anywayz, hope you enjoy!), Fantastic Mr. Foxkins, hannya (Hun, you've reviewed, like, every single chapter! *throws hannya a 'thank you' party* You so completely rock!!), Tiger Eyes, Natzlin, Gia, Lee Malfoy, and frizzy.

Thank you all so much! You can't even comprehend how much reviews mean to me, and ya'll are just absolutely awesome!

And, finally, big time thank you's go to Andrea (HeartoftheDragon) for pre-reading all my chapters for me. Oh, BTW, she told me to post this one as is, so if there's anything wrong with it, we can all blame her. *innocent smile at Andrea* Aww, ya know I love ya! Thanx so much!

Chapter 7

"Come on, Harry."
"Go away."
"Open the door!"
"Leave me alone."
A despondent Draco was standing outside Harry's room, forehead resting against the closed door. "Please, Harry, just talk to me." Harry was silent. Frustration and anger took over, and Draco slammed a hand against the door. It was the wrong thing to do; Draco knew he'd probably just scared Harry into never speaking to him again. But, damn it all, what was going on?
At the same time, Harry was pacing around the room. The hit on his door had startled him, but it didn't distract him for long. Jumbled, frantic thoughts chased each other around his head like horses on a merry-go-round. Suddenly, the door swung open, and Tori stalked into the room. Draco peered around the doorframe, but the witch closed the door behind her. "What, exactly, is going on with you two?" she demanded.
The intrusion stopped Harry in his tracks as all his thoughts collided. Tilting his head to the side, "I don't know."
It was Tori's turn to stop and look. "Excuse me? You don't know? How can you not know?"
"He kissed me, Tori! Like a real kiss! I was fine with it last night, or so I thought. Then I wake up this morning and start thinking about it, and I just freaked out." He laughed sardonically, an almost bitter yet confused smirk twisting his features. "I can face Voldemort without flinching God knows how many times, but one good kiss has me running for cover. I am completely messed up in the head."
Tori noted the sense of wonder and amusement in his voice. The calm aura worried her a bit "Harry, Sweets, don't go all weird on me now, okay? You are most definitely not messed up in the head. You're just not completely used to physical affection. It's perfectly understandable that you went kinda freaky. But now you're also scaring Draco, so I think you should at least talk to him."
She watched as Harry processed her words then continued thinking. Then, he cringed. "Perfect, Tori, you've just given me more to think about. Thank you. All these thoughts, all over the place; I'll never be able to sort myself out. You'll have to send me to St. Mungo's simply because I can't keep my own damn thoughts straight." He flopped face-first on his bed in an attempt to smother his mind out. Muffled though it was, Tori could hear a mantra of "damn, damn, damn" drifting from the bed.
The witch dropped on her stomach next to him, flinging an arm across his lower back. "Come on, Sweets. It's not as horrible as you're making it out to be. Some people-like you-are bred more for the fighting evil scum-suckers side of things. Others-like Draco-can do the whole romantic thing. Lovers versus Fighters, y'know? If anything, you two will balance each other nicely."
Harry rolled his head to the side so he could look at her. "I hate you."
"Yes, yes, I know." She rolled off the bed while shoving him the other way. "Now get your sulky butt up so you can go talk to Draco."
Harry also stood but pulled his upper lip between his teeth in an unconscious, hesitant habit. "Just- Can you- I mean…" He huffed at himself in obvious annoyance. "I just want some time alone, okay? Give me the day off or something. I'll talk to you and Draco later."
An understanding smile graced Tori's lips. "No problem there, Sweets. Try to figure yourself out before you confront anything else. Just don't make Draco wait too horribly long. I don't know how well he can hold out against this kind of tension." She ruffled his hair lovingly then walked out of the room again, closing the door on Harry's glance of Draco's hopeful face.

"You didn't know? How could you not know?!" Voldemort thundered around the room, cursing random targets. "Do you not watch your son, Lucius? You should be aware of his every move at all time, despite any excuses or stories he may give you!"
Lucius bowed his head in a humble gesture, mostly so his Lord wouldn't see the indignant flashing in his cloudy eyes. If it had been up to him, Draco would have been disowned the moment Lucius had found out exactly where he was and exactly what he was doing. Voldemort, however, thought it beneficial to keep the brat around and had instead decided to make Lucius the brunt of his rants.
Voldemort drew a deep breath to calm himself. There was work to be done, and this ranting wasn't getting anyone anywhere. "We have two initiate hopefuls. I want to know everything about them, Lucius: where they come from, where they've been, any family they have. Nothing left out."
With a single nod of his head, Lucius silently made his way from the room. As soon as the door was closed, he absently rubbed his hands together in a futile attempt to invoke the warmth back into them; Voldemort seemed to suck all warmth from wherever he was. Almost as if he actually was the cold-blooded reptile he so resembled, basking in the heat.
So now Lucius had been designated to the information-gathering side of things, to find out anything and everything about the new kids. His only question was: Where in the world was he supposed to start?

"Tris?"
"Yeah, Ry."
"Can we do this?"
Tristina glanced over at the tremor in Rylan's voice. The optimism was slowly fading into gnawing uncertainty. "Well, we're going to have to, aren't we? It'll be hard, but we'll just have to suck it up and get on with it." Her own voice was strong, determined, everything she'd always been; on the inside, however, she was just as scared as Rylan.
Rylan's eyes clenched shut at this confirmation of all his fears. "Let's just get back to Tori's. This day has been way too much." His arm slipped around Tristina's waist, and the two walked out of Malfoy Manor. As the front doors closed behind them, they disappeared completely.
At the same time, Tori was sitting on Draco's bed, attempting to comfort a fairly depressed blond. "I just don't get it, Tori. What does he want from me? What can I say to make this better?" She didn't know what to say. Perhaps just letting him get these frustrations out was the best course of action, but she still felt so helpless.
"Draco, hon, listen to me." His sad, gray eyes rose to meet hers. "You did nothing wrong, and there's nothing really to fix. Harry's confused right now, and he's just trying to sort through himself and everything else. You just have to let him; he's good enough at it. I know it's hard to hear this, but you just have to give him time."
Draco groaned. "You're right; it is hard to hear that. In fact, I don't want to hear it. I choose to deny the fact you ever said it in the first place. Any other options?" The sheer, almost-desperation in his voice almost caused Tori to laugh. She just barely managed to turn it into a half-sneeze, half-snort when Draco turned to look at her.
"Listen, Draco, I'm sorry it's so hard for you. Really, I am. But Harry will manage to calm himself down all by his lonesome, and you'll just have to wait until he gets to that point." Draco started to protest, but she held up a silencing hand. "I'm serious about this. He'll approach the subject when he's ready for it, just because that's the kind of guy he is. Don't push him into anything."
Draco sighed and almost, but not quite, glared at her for making him face the harsh reality that he would have to wait. He hated waiting. It was right up there with "Now this will only hurt a little…" Glancing up at Tori again, he started speaking. "But are-"
"Yes, Draco, I'm sure there's no other way. Sorry."
Another sigh. "Maybe-"
"Nope, definitely not."
"Not even if-"
"Would never work."
One more sigh. "I really hate you. Did you know that?"
Tori simply giggled. "Well, that does seem to be the general opinion today. I'm just not so popular, am I? Note to self: plans for world domination by way of being the most popular person ever seem to have hit a small snag."
This statement drew a small laugh from Draco, and Tori silently rejoiced. Progress at last. "Alright, you've made you're point. I should stop sulking and get my butt out of this room, right?" An emphatic nod sent crimson curls flying. "Okay, then, what's for dinner?"