Authors Notes:
I know no one reads this, but :P! I'm going to keep writing anyway, so poo on you! Err.. yeah.. I've had a bit too much sugar recently so... yeah... Anyways.. please read now.
Chapter Eight The morning afer, I awoke on the floor, though entertwined in Draco's arms. He was still asleep, I noted, one arm over my waist, one under my back, and his head was close to my neck, so close I could feel his warm, calm breaths on my skin. I decided that that must've been what woke me up. I felt unusually calm (considering that I was usually on edge in the morning) and for a moment I couldn't seem to remember why- and then it all came back to me. The entire night in all its passions. I cursed myself quietly for having thrown myself into him- not that I thought he minded terribly, it was a pride issue for me. I'd spent this long refusing his frequent attempts to rape me, and the moment he stops, I cooperate. Damn... I thought I was smarter than that!
Draco shifted so he was holding me a bit tighter, and opened his eyes. He'd felt me move. "Good morning Terra." He hissed into my ear, a triumphant tone lacing the weary whisper. I closed my eyes for a moment, thinking. What could I do now? I opened my eyes, and began shoving away.
"Good morning Malfoy." I growled, deciding that he'd obviously taking advantage of my weakness and that I, in my good person, had absolutely nothing to do with the act. That was, if I could remember it properly, which, was still proving difficult. Maybe he put a spell on me. Who knows? All I knew was that there was no, possible way I gave in when he stopped trying. It was just... inconcievable!! Another thing: Why did he stop trying? God knows he was close to achieving obedience, though, I still refused to admit the fact. I was, genuinely, afraid of Draco Malfoy, and he could've done anything he damnwell pleased to me and I would still have kept my mouth shut... ... ... I think.
But then, it didn't really matter, did it? The past is great, but that's all it is.. right? I sat up and groaned with the agony of thinking so early in the morning. If all the past is, is past, then why were this katadoes, or whatever the hell they were, trying to kill me? I couldn't -possibly- be the strongest woman in the world, and even if I was, it would still leave question as to why they attacked the, titleless, strongest woman in the world? Why bother? I stood and grabbed my robe, wrapping it around myself, and stalking upstairs without another word. I ignored the appearing act, as Draco was lying on my bed, watching me; and walked right into my closet, got clothes, and got dressed.
"You're being particularly distant." Draco stated matter of factly, as if I was supposed to talk to him as often as I did to any of my other friends.. well.. ex friends now. I dressed in my uniform rather quickly, and pulled the robe back around me, completely ignoring him as I walked into my bathroom, and began my morning ruitine, completely ignoring the fact that'd I'd forgotten it for a few days. I began brushing my teeth, purposely looking at the wall, rather than the mirror as he came, still nude as a jay bird, up behind me. "Ah. The cold shoulder. I remember that. I used that when I was five or so." He stated wisely, glaring at my reflection, though he couldn't see my face anyway, "You seemed older than five last night though..." He reached up to trail his fingers lightly down my neck.
I whirled around, and slapped his hand away, toothbrush still in my mouth, and the foam of toothpaste dripping down my chin as I spoke, "Last night never happened, Malfoy." I growled threateningly, "You, or someone, or something put a spell on me, or maybe you raped me again. I don't know. It doesn't really matter." I turned around to spit the toothpaste into the sink. Oh -why- didn't I just use magic for this? It would've gone a lot faster.
"Well my my, It sure didn't seem like I was raping you when you -jumped- on me." He stated matter of factly, crossing his arms over his chest, and shifting his weight to one leg. "I thought the other person had to be unwilling, and wounded for it to be rape."
"I have bruises." I defended. throwing down the toothbrush as I cupped my hands under the faucet, turning the water on with a twitch of my head. I watched the water pool up, and sipped it, before spitting that back into the sink as well. I turned around to continue yelling at him, but covered my eyes, "For gods sake, put some bloody clothes on..."
"Its a little late for covering our eyes, Terra." Draco stated, taking ahold of the hand over my eyes with one of his hands, and pulling it away. I closed my eyes anyway, causing him to laugh at my stubbornness. "Alright, alright. I'll put some clothes on, but when I come out I want to.. talk to you." He strode away, and out of my room. I opened my eyes, and sighed, shaking my head. I decided to get out before he did, and half jogged to my books, picking them up, and I jogged down the stairs, wincing at the sight of the sofa, and picked up my wand off of the table before heading out the door. I got out just in time, as I heard him emerging from his room, and I strode, with long steps, toward the great hall, knowing that if he had any of the respect he'd pretended to display last night, that he wouldn't use an appearing act.
I reached the great hall. Sanctuary. I let out a long sigh, and looked at the all the food. Was it double breakfast? I shrugged, and sat at the foot of the Griffindor table- for safety- Draco wouldn't be seen -near- the Griffindor table. I, on the other hand, sat wherever the hell I wanted. I almost immediately began spooning oatmeal and fresh fruit onto my plate. It wasn't long before Draco sauntered into the Great hall and took a seat at the Slytherin table, though he glared at me, or maybe the Griffindor table in general, the whole time. It wasn't much longer until I was surrounded by the golden trio. Ugh. What did they want? I didn't even give them the time to glance up at them. "What do you want." I growled between mouthfulls of fruit.
"What are you doing at the Griffindor table, -Hamilton-?" I heard Potter growled, shooting out drops of apple juice as he spoke. Apparently he wanted to show as little respect as I did. I continued eating as if he hadn't spoken for a bit, looking up through raised eyebrows to see that Draco had pushed his own plate aside, and was watching the group intently. It was as if he was attempting to hear us across the room.
"I'll sit wherever I damnwell please, thankyou." I stated finally, taking a sip out of my goblet of water. I hadn't bothered having it turned into juice. Water was just as good, when I wasn't really drinking it for taste, or liquidity.
"You will not." Potter responded as if repulsed by the fact. Hermoine backed away, sensing the wrongness that was being borne unto the conversation. Ron looked at Harry oddly, but I was the only one to remain completely calm, though I too sensed the difference. Harry had never been like this before, unless he did it when I wasn't looking.
"Harry," Hermoine tried sheepishly, stepping closer again, "You're acting oftly strange, Harry. I think you should probably rest. You must have caught the flu, or something."
"Shut up, you filthy mudblood." Potter snapped. The entire room went silent, but for a first year Hufflepuff girl who was still chattering on, oblivious to the fact that no one was listening. All eyes were on us. I'd stood up, at some point, though, I wasn't sure which, and I'd whipped my wand out. Hermoine had taken another step back in what could've been shock, and Ron had stepped in front of her protectively. They all felt the wrongness.
"Its alright, Hermoine, don't worry about the swine." I spoke quietly. Darkly. warningly. A couple of Griffindors gathered their food and moved to the other end of the table. No one wanted to be near me when I got into defense-of-someone-else-mode. "He's helpless against us both. He's just a cockroach under my boot..." I was very tempted to mention the Idiodoms, and Kadahoes, and fabled strongest woman on earth, but decided it wise not to. Thinking you were a book character wasn't considered healthy, even among witches and wizards, and I wasn't really sure I was anyway.
"Terra." I heard my grandfather through the haze of rage and thoughts. I looked to the side where Headmaster Dumbledor stood, a Hufflepuff prefect at his side. I looked from Potter, to Pop-pop, and back. I could roast the swine. Here and now. In front of my grandfather. Perform the ultimate in rebellion and kill the boy who lived. Ah, he lived, yes, but for how long? The thought made my blood quicken, but I could not. I lowered my wand, and stuck my gaze to Pop-pop.
"Yes, headmaster Dumbledor?" I asked, somewhat bitterly. I was taken off guard as a stream of something- a curse, of some sort, I hadn't heard him mutter it, hit my back. The entire room gasped, and the before dormant professors, in their seats, rose. I fell to my knees, paralized with pain. Everything was white. I could feel the world swirling around me, and I could hear screams. Screams.. from everywhere. Students were screaming. Teachers were barking orders. Hermoine was screaming shrill protests, and Ron was just screaming one note of shock. Draco was screaming something about killing someone, but there were more voices than that. So many more voices. Before I could place them, I blacked out entirely.
I woke up floating. It was like one of those nightmarish, muggle movies where they showed the ghost floating over their own bodies. Was that what had happened? Was I the one Draco was yelling about being killed? It had surely been painful enough to have been my death, but I didn't -feel- dead.. not that I would know what being dead felt like, as I couldn't remember ever dying before.. My body was on a soft looking bed in the Hospital wing. Madame Pomfrey was standing above me on one side, Draco on the other, and pop-pop was at the foot of the bed.
"Is there anything that can be done?" Pop-pop asked after a long moment of silent staring at my delicate, doll-like face. I was pale. It felt wierd to be looking at myself without actually looking in the mirror, especially when my reflections eyes were closed.
"I already explained this to you, headmaster." Madame Pomfrey stated patiently, "Its up to her now." She stepped away from the bed, and began walking toward the medicine cabinet, a bundle of bandages in her arms.
"What, exactly is going on?!" Draco raged, "Why is she so cold?! Why do I still feel like she's right in front of me?!"
"Because I am?" I thought pointedly, letting myself float downwards, and sit on my own stomach. I really felt rather good about all this. The pain was gone- completely gone. Even the ache in my womb area had disappeared, and I was completely free of the burdens of the world. I felt like laughing, though, for some reason I just couldn't. That made me want to cry. Maaaajor moodswing there.
Madame Pomfrey sighed, "It is not for common ears, mr. Malfoy..." She muttered, but Dumbledor gave the nod of approval, and Madame Pomfrey sighed again in frank disapproval, "Terra's spirit has been seperated from her body, by force. The only way she can return is to, willingly, return to her body. It is impossible for us to force her back in. I don't know where she is now. She could be anywhere, if she's done this before, but if not, she's probably in this room.." She looked around warily, as if trying to sense me. I tried to snicker, but could not. I had not the lungs to do so. "Ms. Hamilton, if you are in here, please return to your body- it won't survive long without you..."
I frowned. "Soul. Soul, dammit!" I tried to scream at her, but had not the vocal chords to do so. I frowned deeper. Shouldn't Hogwarts personelle, of all people, know the difference betwen the spirit and the soul?! Sheesh.
"She is here.." Draco muttered suddenly, stepping back as if he'd been burned by my gaze, "She's right there! I can see her! She- She- She's gone..." He frowned, stepping forward again. "Terra," He glanced at Dumbledor, and then at Madame Pomfrey, before clearing his throat, "A minute alone, please?" He requested, just a little too sweet for Draco. They hesitated, but left the room. I sighed, or.. tried to anyway.. and floated higher, resting on top of the medicine cabinet. "...right." Draco muttered, shaking his head, "Anyway. Terra Hamilton you get your ass back in there right now before you get yourself killed!"
I giggled, or more, tried to, and floated down to him, expirimenting. I walked right through him, and grinned, realizing that I'd heard something of his thoughts while I was there. I walked back through, -felt- it as he shivered, and tried to snicker, failing. "Nope. I don't think so. I like it here." I planted the thought, with my voice, into his head since I couldn't say it, and left his body, finding the confusion a bit overwelming.
"Terra," Draco began with strained patience, "What don't you understand about 'before you get yourself killed?!'" He hissed, trying not to get too oftly loud. I was about to go back to his thoughts with another airy comment when an agonizing pain shot through my head. It was as if someone had taken an axe to it. I blinked, seeing the room rush past me as someone, or something shoved me back into my body. I sat up, letting out a cry, and clenched my hands to my head. Someone else was trying to get in.
"My head!!!!" I shrieked, writhing in an attempt to make it stop. Tears were flowing down my cheeks, and I was laughing at the same time. "GOD -DAMN- it hurts!!!!!!!!!!!" Draco, though a bit startled, put his arms around me in an attempt to make it dull, as Madame Pomfrey, and Pop-pop darted back into the room, finding running faster than apparating. I continued muttering every curse word and phrase I could think of, since not only did it force me to concentrate on something other than the pain, but it gave me a feeling of satisfaction to know I was saying them in front of my grandfather, and he wouldn't do a thing about it.
Eventually, it went down to a dull throbbing, though I pretended it was completely gone, and Madame Pomfrey was explaining that my SOUL (she heard me?!) had been away from my body for too long, and when I went back in, it took my body a while to get ahold of me, and that was the cause of the pain. She didn't know half of the pain I was in. I wouldn't have even had to twitch if that was all it was. I knew what it was. Someone else was trying to get into my head, and my body rejected them. Why? People had been in my head before, I knew that well enough. That hadn't happened. So, what was going on? In my thoughts, I'd seemed to be in shock, so Draco'd been allowed to keep a watch on me while the adults went off to continue their own lives. He climbed on the bed behind me, and kept his arms around me for a while, resting his cheek against the squall of my back, quietly muttering about killing Potter the moment he got a chance. He was trying not to be too loud. He didn't want to bring the headache back.
"It's ok." I stated finally, carefully prying his arms away from me- he didn't fight me for the belief that I was sick, or something-, and scooting a little bit away from him. "Its better now." If anything was different about the way I felt now, than before I'd been disconnected, it was just that I was a little bit sleepy. Not all that sleepy, but I would definately go to bed early tonight. My stomach was back to its normal little ache, and now that I thought about it, the sleepiness wasn't really all that odd. I was always sleepy anyway.
"Are you sure?" Draco asked gently, though, I knew he'd be back to the ass hole he normally was as soon as I got some rest, "Madame Pomfrey said it may take a while..." He placed a hand on my shoulder, as if to pull me down, should he need to, "She said you'd need some rest.."
"She's full of shit." I stated matter of factly, pulling away from him with all of the strength I'd had before. "What time is it? I need to get to class..."
"You've been excused for all of todays classes." Draco stated as he watched me stand, and then stood himself. His normal, cocky smirk returned to his features, he stiffened up, and seemed to get a bit taller than before, as if he hadn't been worried at any point. He was back to Malfoy. "I'll take you back to the common room now."
"No you won't." I stated rebelliously, stepping away from him having watched the changes occur, "I said I'm going to class, and I'm going to class. I don't care if all hell breaks loose, my grades will not slip." I turned away from him, only to see him in front of me. DAMNED appearing act!! I just wanted to go to school. Was that -really- so much to ask?! At least in class I wasn't worrying about being cursed with unknown curses, and being chased by evil thingies for no apparent reason!! He took ahold of both of my shoulders, and shoved me in front of him. "-Get- your -bloody- -hands- OFF of me!!" I panted, trying to get him to let go, but he wouldn't, and before we could blink, we were back in the common room. I frowned, and kicked the sofa, which, he'd appeared on, "Bloody teleportation trick.." I cursed quietly.
"Oh its no trick." Draco stated, standing up, and with one quick movement, shoving me to the sofa. "You're staying here, and your resting. I'm going to class." I jumped back to my feet, but he stopped me short, by pointing at the bridge of my nose, the way parents do, "I'm not going to see you in any classes, do you understand me? Madame Pomfrey told you to rest, and you're going to rest."
"Fuck you." I growled, a little shocked that -I'd- resorted to that... word. I tried to refrain from it as often as possible.......lately. Draco just laughed, and walked out the door, not even giving himself to the argument. I growled, and threw a nearby pillow at the door, only to find an ache in my arm, and to collapse on the sofa, kneeding the spot with my other hand in an attempt to make it stop hurting. I growled quietly to myself. Oh I -would- get to class. How I would get to class, was not to be seen, I didn't know. But I -would- get to class.
I was there for hours, trying to figure out how I'd get to class. As I heard students rushing through the halls toward their common rooms, I concluded that I wasn't getting to class. However, I was still pouting as Malfoy entered. He lifted an eyebrow at the sight, and shook his head slightly, before dropping his books on the chair I usually do, silently walking toward me, taking the arm which had only recently stopped hurting, and dragging me up the stairs toward the dormitories. "Pouting isn't considered rest, Terra." He growled, somewhat patiently as he literally dragged me into my room, and shoved me on the bed, "I'll sit here and baby sit you if I have to, but I have homework to do, and that -won't- make me happy, do you understand me?" His voice held the same harsh tone it always did, but something was different. A bit as if it were all a joke.
"Can't you just leave me alone?!" I exclaimed, very much serious. I stood up on the other side of the bed, and pulled away from him as he leaned over to pull me down. He rolled his eyes, as if it were a stupid question. Why, ever, would he leave me alone? It didn't matter that my skin crawled when he touched me (I refused to acknowledge that they were goosebumps), and that I tended to get stupid when he decided I would.
"You don't understand any of this, do you?" He questioned with a lifted eyebrow. He began walking in front of the bed, and I, wanting to get away, moved to the other side. He took ahold of the bed, and pinned me to the wall with it, surprising me enough that I lost my breath, and ended up struggling to regain it. He strolled to the side, and took ahold of my arm, gently pulling me out, and letting me breathe. I clung to his neck in my confusion, as he swung my legs up, and laid me on the bed, sitting beside me. I thought he was going to say some gentle, and moving poem, but instead, he came out with, "It's all a game, Terra, and I'm not going to lose."
Tears welled up in my eyes, and I turned on my side, curling up, and crying into the pillow. He smirked and patted me on the arm before standing, and going down the stairs and back into the common room. In all fairness, I didn't want it to be a game, though I'd always known it was. I wanted it to be real. Real.. so many things had changed from real to not, and visa versa so quickly. My head was still spinning from it. I'd hoped maybe this was something that had changed too. Apparently not.
----Dracos POV----
I sighed lightly, turning around and locking Terra's door, deciding that I'd be daft to think she wouldn't try to escape. Terra -always- tried to escape, I'd gotten used to it by now. I returned to my books, smirk gone now, replaced by a look of utter confusion. No, no I wasn't confused, I was surprised. I hadn't expected Terra to be so sad to find out the truth. I'd thought she'd come up with some kind of smart remark, which I would easily counter, and we'd have an argument about absolutely nothing but our sheer hatred of each other. I hated to admit it, but I was mistaken. Horribly mistaken. I lifted the books, and walked over to the sofa, plopping down, and setting them beside me. I wasn't sitting for more than two seconds before someone knocked on the door between the common room and the hall. I closed my eyes for a moment, before looking at the door. Alright. Alright, I could handle this. I got up, and answered the door, leaning against the door phrame as I looked the person over. It was a boy, a little shorter than I was, and with messy brown hair. He was covered in dirt and leaves. It was obvious that he didn't pay much attention to how he looked. How I pitied him.
"Who the bloody hell are you?" I asked, taking in all of the details about him. My eyebrows raised as he smiled warmly, and though I hadn't offered it, took my hand in both of his, and began shaking it perfusely. I was getting scared.
"You must be Draco Malfoy! I've heard so much about you, from my father. Of course I didn't come to see you, though, you're a complete stranger!" He released my hand, as if with sudden bitterness. Now I was scared AND confused. "I came to talk to Terra. I didn't see her in class today." I rolled my eyes. Wooonderful. Terra has an admirer.
"She's resting from the breakfast incident." I explained rather coldly, "You can't see her right now." I blinked as an expression of confusion crossed over his face, "The breakfast incident." I repeated, and groaned. He didn't have a clue what I was talking about. I paused, he didn't know. I could tweak the story, just a little bit, and then poor Potter would have another rival... "Come in! Come in! I'll tell you all about it!" I made a motion toward the sofa as I stepped out of the door so he could cross through. He did cross through, and sat on the sofa, while I sat accross from him in the generally unused chair by the fireplace. "So. This is what happened..."
I went on for about an hour, exagerating everything I could. According to me, Terra was only looking at the Griffindor table when Potter attacked her, and she was being incredably sweet at the time. I, of course, had immediately sprung to her defense, but unfortunately couldn't counter the mystery curse on time. Afterwards, he looked at me with lifted eyebrows. "..Right. Where's Terra?"
Sweatdrop. "...She's upstairs.. I'll get her." So I did indeed head upstairs, hiding the suddenly borne rage behind a thin veil as I tapped lightly on her door. I reached to turn the nob, forgetting I'd locked it. I sighed, whispering the spell quietly under my breath, and stepping in, closing the door quietly behind me. "I know you're not asleep, Terra." I growled as I looked at her small form on the bed. She hadn't moved from the last time I'd seen her, though she was shaking ever so slightly, as if it were cold in the room.
"Then pretend I am." Terra nearly whispered, curling up just a bit tighter. I chuckled quietly with cruelty, causing her to sit up, grasp the covers, and pull them over her head. I supposed hiding may've been a good idea, if I didn't know where she was hiding, but it was reletively useless to hide under covers. I decided she just didn't want to know I was there. Well. What a shame.
"I don't think so." I drawled, strutting to her bedside, and pulling the covers back down, "We need to talk." We faught over the covers for a moment, or more, she faught to pull them back up as I just held them firmly down. It wasn't long until the fabric ripped, and she was left coverless.
"There's nothing left to say." Terra stated, finally glaring at me. I watched her flinch, ever so slightly, drawing her head back a bit. I assumed she hadn't expected me to be this close. I took in a sharp breath of my own, for an instant, the strength hadn't dissolved. It was there, vibrant, staring me dead in the face and daring me to try anything. Before I'd realized I was moving, my palm had found its way to her cheek, moving gently toward one of the before mentioned eyes. She slapped me. Well, that wasn't really a first. "Get your bloody hands off of me!" She shouted, taking ahold of my wrist, and forcing it into the sofa. I could easily have kept it up, but I decided to let her win just this once.
"There's someone downstairs who wants to see you." I continued, not bothering to acknowledge her minor victory. I could see by the look of triumph that crossed her delicate features that she'd already noticed. Her face had lit up with the possibility that she'd actually got a hand up on me, though the light went out when she realized I'd let her.
"Then tell them I'm 'resting'." She snapped, lifting her hand, turning away from me, and laying back down, staring at the wall ahead of her with what may've been disappointment. I couldn't really tell, she'd looked away before I'd gotten to read her face.
"I tried. He still wants to see you." I stated patiently, sitting lightly on her bed, and watching her as she continued to pout. "And when you two are done chatting, I'd like to know why you have men visiting our common room."
----Terra's POV-
Oh THAT took the cake!! I rocketed up, glaring at him with a start. CHRIST! Why did he keep getting closer?! It was time to use his own words against him! "Why do you care, mr. Malfoy?" I questioned dryly, my eyes glowing with rage, and mischief. It was a bit unnerving how he stared directly into my eyes, and the gleam quickly left. "You said yourself, everything we 'have' is just a game." I stood on the other side of the bed, "And, as it is, I don't feel like playing anymore. Have fun playing by yourself." I strode toward the door, thrusting the door open with my mind before he could grab me. I grinned, cherishing this triumph I knew wasn't a show of pity, and waved at the boy in the center of the common room. It was the one from the forest!
"Do I get to learn your name now?" I asked, jogging down the stairs, aggrivation forgotten, or at least hidden, as I reached him. He took both my hands in his, and examined me carefully, as if to ensure that I wasn't hurt too badly, before smiling at me.
"Surely enough." He stated warmly, releasing my hands, and draping an arm over my shoulders, "In a bit. Lets go sit by the trees, it's peaceful there." I stole a glance toward my dormitory to see Malfoy standing in the door, arms crossed over his chest, and a look of utter rage, or jealousy on his face. I grinned, and winked mockingly before I looked back at the before mentioned boy, and nodded my approval.
"Alright. No one will follow us." I stated, as a silenced warning to the angry one. It wasn't long before I was led to womping willow, which had leaned down to let us climb into it. The boy helped me onto one of the thicker branches before climbing on himself, and holding on to me as the bough lifted back into a position much like its original one, though now it was leveled, where we sat. I smiled, quite enjoying being able to look over the entire courtyard, and looked at the boy, "Well? You're called..."
"My name is Christian, but people usually call me Chris." He grinned back at my smile, and offered a hand, "Chris, at your service!" I laughed, and shook his hand, jumping as the tree shifted ever so slightly. He put a protective hand on my shoulder, to make sure I didn't fall off, but pulled both hands away as if burned. "Well now, that was a rush.."
I was confused. "What was a rush?" I asked, wanting to clarify whatever it was he was trying to say. I wasn't good at pretending to understand, though I did it a lot. It was one of the only things I was not perfect in my acting skills.
Chris paused thoughtfully, staring at me, "Nothing, nothing. Its just that there's a lot more to you than meets the eye." He smiled warmly, though I could tell it was somewhat forced.
"About time someone noticed!" I exclaimed, though my own grin had by now vanished. "Are you okay? You look a bit ill.." It was true. He had paled considerably, and his eyes had dulled quite a bit. He gave me another reassuring smile.
"There's a book I'm going to need to check out from the restricted section of the library. Do you think you could help me? You'll know it when you see it..." His head tilted as he stared at me. I shrugged, and smiled, what was the harm in helping him get a book? He nodded, whispering something to the willow as the bough lowered to let us off. He took ahold of me by the forearms as he jumped off, taking me with him. We landed safely in the grass, and we walked all the way to the library.
I entered alone, so the book keeper wouldn't think anything was odd. I strolled right into the resticted section, feeling three sets of eyes on my back. I could tell who they belonged to, it wasn't hard. One of them belonged to Chris, one to the book keeper, and one to Draco. I should've known he'd follow me. I shrugged it off, looking over the books carefully. There was one that almost seemed to call to me. It was odd. It was like I was drawn to it. I walked over to it, and tilted my head at the worn binding. Carefully, I pulled it out, and dusted off the cover. It read, "Encyclopedia of Wierd and Paranormal Creatures". Well now. Wasn't THAT interesting? Swiftly, I left the library, and handed the book to Chris, who smiled, a bit sadly at me.
I tilted my head, confused, "Isn't that the one you were looking for?" He sighed, trying to find a way to explain his grief to me. He was silent for a long moment, just thinking, before he smiled again, and nodded slowly.
"This is the book I was looking for." He stated matter of factly, putting a hand, rather hesitantly, on my shoulder. He kept it there, though every once in a while he twitched, as if it hurt to touch me. I could feel my energy leaving my shoulder, leaving it numb, and tingly. It occured to me what he was doing, he was running a little scan of my powers. Did he REALLY think I could be the fabled strongest woman on earth!
"Then what's wrong?" I asked, pulling my shoulder away. I was getting sleepy, and that meant he was tapping into my life force as well. I didn't like that idea at all. Not at -all.
"It was a test, Terra. If you could find the book, then you were.." He paused, shaking his head, "If not, then we could all breathe a little easier." He sighed, "I'm going to have to take a look at this. There are things even I need to find out. I suggest you return to your common room, and don't leave. He grabbed a muggle pen out of thin air, and took my hand, turning it over so he could write on my palm. "If 'he' gets too bad, say this. It'll stop time and give you a chance to escape." He looked up at me as he wrote, "Whatever you do, don't let yourself hate ANYONE. Bad things will happen.." I blinked in confusion. But- But- "Oh, and make sure you don't talk to my father, or tell anyone about this, ok? We don't want too many people knowing about this. Someone already tried damned hard to hide it.."
"What are you talking about?! Knowing about what?! Who's your father?!" He'd thrown me into a panic, and I didn't bother masking the fact. I could handle not telling anyone if I knew what not to say, and I could handle not talking to someone if I knew who to avoid.
"I'm not sure yet." He admitted quietly, as he stoppped writing, "But don't tell anyone, anything I've told you, and my father is Professor Armondi. You'll just have to skip his class, I can make sure your grades don't slip." He gave my hand a gentle squeeze, "I'll see you soon." He stated, before disappearing down the hall. I stared after him for a moment, at a complete loss. What the hell was all that about?? I sighed, and trudged back toward my common room, dragging my feet. Well damn...
Authors notes: REVIEW!! REVIEW!! NOW GOD DAMMIT!!! slams fist on table
I know no one reads this, but :P! I'm going to keep writing anyway, so poo on you! Err.. yeah.. I've had a bit too much sugar recently so... yeah... Anyways.. please read now.
Chapter Eight The morning afer, I awoke on the floor, though entertwined in Draco's arms. He was still asleep, I noted, one arm over my waist, one under my back, and his head was close to my neck, so close I could feel his warm, calm breaths on my skin. I decided that that must've been what woke me up. I felt unusually calm (considering that I was usually on edge in the morning) and for a moment I couldn't seem to remember why- and then it all came back to me. The entire night in all its passions. I cursed myself quietly for having thrown myself into him- not that I thought he minded terribly, it was a pride issue for me. I'd spent this long refusing his frequent attempts to rape me, and the moment he stops, I cooperate. Damn... I thought I was smarter than that!
Draco shifted so he was holding me a bit tighter, and opened his eyes. He'd felt me move. "Good morning Terra." He hissed into my ear, a triumphant tone lacing the weary whisper. I closed my eyes for a moment, thinking. What could I do now? I opened my eyes, and began shoving away.
"Good morning Malfoy." I growled, deciding that he'd obviously taking advantage of my weakness and that I, in my good person, had absolutely nothing to do with the act. That was, if I could remember it properly, which, was still proving difficult. Maybe he put a spell on me. Who knows? All I knew was that there was no, possible way I gave in when he stopped trying. It was just... inconcievable!! Another thing: Why did he stop trying? God knows he was close to achieving obedience, though, I still refused to admit the fact. I was, genuinely, afraid of Draco Malfoy, and he could've done anything he damnwell pleased to me and I would still have kept my mouth shut... ... ... I think.
But then, it didn't really matter, did it? The past is great, but that's all it is.. right? I sat up and groaned with the agony of thinking so early in the morning. If all the past is, is past, then why were this katadoes, or whatever the hell they were, trying to kill me? I couldn't -possibly- be the strongest woman in the world, and even if I was, it would still leave question as to why they attacked the, titleless, strongest woman in the world? Why bother? I stood and grabbed my robe, wrapping it around myself, and stalking upstairs without another word. I ignored the appearing act, as Draco was lying on my bed, watching me; and walked right into my closet, got clothes, and got dressed.
"You're being particularly distant." Draco stated matter of factly, as if I was supposed to talk to him as often as I did to any of my other friends.. well.. ex friends now. I dressed in my uniform rather quickly, and pulled the robe back around me, completely ignoring him as I walked into my bathroom, and began my morning ruitine, completely ignoring the fact that'd I'd forgotten it for a few days. I began brushing my teeth, purposely looking at the wall, rather than the mirror as he came, still nude as a jay bird, up behind me. "Ah. The cold shoulder. I remember that. I used that when I was five or so." He stated wisely, glaring at my reflection, though he couldn't see my face anyway, "You seemed older than five last night though..." He reached up to trail his fingers lightly down my neck.
I whirled around, and slapped his hand away, toothbrush still in my mouth, and the foam of toothpaste dripping down my chin as I spoke, "Last night never happened, Malfoy." I growled threateningly, "You, or someone, or something put a spell on me, or maybe you raped me again. I don't know. It doesn't really matter." I turned around to spit the toothpaste into the sink. Oh -why- didn't I just use magic for this? It would've gone a lot faster.
"Well my my, It sure didn't seem like I was raping you when you -jumped- on me." He stated matter of factly, crossing his arms over his chest, and shifting his weight to one leg. "I thought the other person had to be unwilling, and wounded for it to be rape."
"I have bruises." I defended. throwing down the toothbrush as I cupped my hands under the faucet, turning the water on with a twitch of my head. I watched the water pool up, and sipped it, before spitting that back into the sink as well. I turned around to continue yelling at him, but covered my eyes, "For gods sake, put some bloody clothes on..."
"Its a little late for covering our eyes, Terra." Draco stated, taking ahold of the hand over my eyes with one of his hands, and pulling it away. I closed my eyes anyway, causing him to laugh at my stubbornness. "Alright, alright. I'll put some clothes on, but when I come out I want to.. talk to you." He strode away, and out of my room. I opened my eyes, and sighed, shaking my head. I decided to get out before he did, and half jogged to my books, picking them up, and I jogged down the stairs, wincing at the sight of the sofa, and picked up my wand off of the table before heading out the door. I got out just in time, as I heard him emerging from his room, and I strode, with long steps, toward the great hall, knowing that if he had any of the respect he'd pretended to display last night, that he wouldn't use an appearing act.
I reached the great hall. Sanctuary. I let out a long sigh, and looked at the all the food. Was it double breakfast? I shrugged, and sat at the foot of the Griffindor table- for safety- Draco wouldn't be seen -near- the Griffindor table. I, on the other hand, sat wherever the hell I wanted. I almost immediately began spooning oatmeal and fresh fruit onto my plate. It wasn't long before Draco sauntered into the Great hall and took a seat at the Slytherin table, though he glared at me, or maybe the Griffindor table in general, the whole time. It wasn't much longer until I was surrounded by the golden trio. Ugh. What did they want? I didn't even give them the time to glance up at them. "What do you want." I growled between mouthfulls of fruit.
"What are you doing at the Griffindor table, -Hamilton-?" I heard Potter growled, shooting out drops of apple juice as he spoke. Apparently he wanted to show as little respect as I did. I continued eating as if he hadn't spoken for a bit, looking up through raised eyebrows to see that Draco had pushed his own plate aside, and was watching the group intently. It was as if he was attempting to hear us across the room.
"I'll sit wherever I damnwell please, thankyou." I stated finally, taking a sip out of my goblet of water. I hadn't bothered having it turned into juice. Water was just as good, when I wasn't really drinking it for taste, or liquidity.
"You will not." Potter responded as if repulsed by the fact. Hermoine backed away, sensing the wrongness that was being borne unto the conversation. Ron looked at Harry oddly, but I was the only one to remain completely calm, though I too sensed the difference. Harry had never been like this before, unless he did it when I wasn't looking.
"Harry," Hermoine tried sheepishly, stepping closer again, "You're acting oftly strange, Harry. I think you should probably rest. You must have caught the flu, or something."
"Shut up, you filthy mudblood." Potter snapped. The entire room went silent, but for a first year Hufflepuff girl who was still chattering on, oblivious to the fact that no one was listening. All eyes were on us. I'd stood up, at some point, though, I wasn't sure which, and I'd whipped my wand out. Hermoine had taken another step back in what could've been shock, and Ron had stepped in front of her protectively. They all felt the wrongness.
"Its alright, Hermoine, don't worry about the swine." I spoke quietly. Darkly. warningly. A couple of Griffindors gathered their food and moved to the other end of the table. No one wanted to be near me when I got into defense-of-someone-else-mode. "He's helpless against us both. He's just a cockroach under my boot..." I was very tempted to mention the Idiodoms, and Kadahoes, and fabled strongest woman on earth, but decided it wise not to. Thinking you were a book character wasn't considered healthy, even among witches and wizards, and I wasn't really sure I was anyway.
"Terra." I heard my grandfather through the haze of rage and thoughts. I looked to the side where Headmaster Dumbledor stood, a Hufflepuff prefect at his side. I looked from Potter, to Pop-pop, and back. I could roast the swine. Here and now. In front of my grandfather. Perform the ultimate in rebellion and kill the boy who lived. Ah, he lived, yes, but for how long? The thought made my blood quicken, but I could not. I lowered my wand, and stuck my gaze to Pop-pop.
"Yes, headmaster Dumbledor?" I asked, somewhat bitterly. I was taken off guard as a stream of something- a curse, of some sort, I hadn't heard him mutter it, hit my back. The entire room gasped, and the before dormant professors, in their seats, rose. I fell to my knees, paralized with pain. Everything was white. I could feel the world swirling around me, and I could hear screams. Screams.. from everywhere. Students were screaming. Teachers were barking orders. Hermoine was screaming shrill protests, and Ron was just screaming one note of shock. Draco was screaming something about killing someone, but there were more voices than that. So many more voices. Before I could place them, I blacked out entirely.
I woke up floating. It was like one of those nightmarish, muggle movies where they showed the ghost floating over their own bodies. Was that what had happened? Was I the one Draco was yelling about being killed? It had surely been painful enough to have been my death, but I didn't -feel- dead.. not that I would know what being dead felt like, as I couldn't remember ever dying before.. My body was on a soft looking bed in the Hospital wing. Madame Pomfrey was standing above me on one side, Draco on the other, and pop-pop was at the foot of the bed.
"Is there anything that can be done?" Pop-pop asked after a long moment of silent staring at my delicate, doll-like face. I was pale. It felt wierd to be looking at myself without actually looking in the mirror, especially when my reflections eyes were closed.
"I already explained this to you, headmaster." Madame Pomfrey stated patiently, "Its up to her now." She stepped away from the bed, and began walking toward the medicine cabinet, a bundle of bandages in her arms.
"What, exactly is going on?!" Draco raged, "Why is she so cold?! Why do I still feel like she's right in front of me?!"
"Because I am?" I thought pointedly, letting myself float downwards, and sit on my own stomach. I really felt rather good about all this. The pain was gone- completely gone. Even the ache in my womb area had disappeared, and I was completely free of the burdens of the world. I felt like laughing, though, for some reason I just couldn't. That made me want to cry. Maaaajor moodswing there.
Madame Pomfrey sighed, "It is not for common ears, mr. Malfoy..." She muttered, but Dumbledor gave the nod of approval, and Madame Pomfrey sighed again in frank disapproval, "Terra's spirit has been seperated from her body, by force. The only way she can return is to, willingly, return to her body. It is impossible for us to force her back in. I don't know where she is now. She could be anywhere, if she's done this before, but if not, she's probably in this room.." She looked around warily, as if trying to sense me. I tried to snicker, but could not. I had not the lungs to do so. "Ms. Hamilton, if you are in here, please return to your body- it won't survive long without you..."
I frowned. "Soul. Soul, dammit!" I tried to scream at her, but had not the vocal chords to do so. I frowned deeper. Shouldn't Hogwarts personelle, of all people, know the difference betwen the spirit and the soul?! Sheesh.
"She is here.." Draco muttered suddenly, stepping back as if he'd been burned by my gaze, "She's right there! I can see her! She- She- She's gone..." He frowned, stepping forward again. "Terra," He glanced at Dumbledor, and then at Madame Pomfrey, before clearing his throat, "A minute alone, please?" He requested, just a little too sweet for Draco. They hesitated, but left the room. I sighed, or.. tried to anyway.. and floated higher, resting on top of the medicine cabinet. "...right." Draco muttered, shaking his head, "Anyway. Terra Hamilton you get your ass back in there right now before you get yourself killed!"
I giggled, or more, tried to, and floated down to him, expirimenting. I walked right through him, and grinned, realizing that I'd heard something of his thoughts while I was there. I walked back through, -felt- it as he shivered, and tried to snicker, failing. "Nope. I don't think so. I like it here." I planted the thought, with my voice, into his head since I couldn't say it, and left his body, finding the confusion a bit overwelming.
"Terra," Draco began with strained patience, "What don't you understand about 'before you get yourself killed?!'" He hissed, trying not to get too oftly loud. I was about to go back to his thoughts with another airy comment when an agonizing pain shot through my head. It was as if someone had taken an axe to it. I blinked, seeing the room rush past me as someone, or something shoved me back into my body. I sat up, letting out a cry, and clenched my hands to my head. Someone else was trying to get in.
"My head!!!!" I shrieked, writhing in an attempt to make it stop. Tears were flowing down my cheeks, and I was laughing at the same time. "GOD -DAMN- it hurts!!!!!!!!!!!" Draco, though a bit startled, put his arms around me in an attempt to make it dull, as Madame Pomfrey, and Pop-pop darted back into the room, finding running faster than apparating. I continued muttering every curse word and phrase I could think of, since not only did it force me to concentrate on something other than the pain, but it gave me a feeling of satisfaction to know I was saying them in front of my grandfather, and he wouldn't do a thing about it.
Eventually, it went down to a dull throbbing, though I pretended it was completely gone, and Madame Pomfrey was explaining that my SOUL (she heard me?!) had been away from my body for too long, and when I went back in, it took my body a while to get ahold of me, and that was the cause of the pain. She didn't know half of the pain I was in. I wouldn't have even had to twitch if that was all it was. I knew what it was. Someone else was trying to get into my head, and my body rejected them. Why? People had been in my head before, I knew that well enough. That hadn't happened. So, what was going on? In my thoughts, I'd seemed to be in shock, so Draco'd been allowed to keep a watch on me while the adults went off to continue their own lives. He climbed on the bed behind me, and kept his arms around me for a while, resting his cheek against the squall of my back, quietly muttering about killing Potter the moment he got a chance. He was trying not to be too loud. He didn't want to bring the headache back.
"It's ok." I stated finally, carefully prying his arms away from me- he didn't fight me for the belief that I was sick, or something-, and scooting a little bit away from him. "Its better now." If anything was different about the way I felt now, than before I'd been disconnected, it was just that I was a little bit sleepy. Not all that sleepy, but I would definately go to bed early tonight. My stomach was back to its normal little ache, and now that I thought about it, the sleepiness wasn't really all that odd. I was always sleepy anyway.
"Are you sure?" Draco asked gently, though, I knew he'd be back to the ass hole he normally was as soon as I got some rest, "Madame Pomfrey said it may take a while..." He placed a hand on my shoulder, as if to pull me down, should he need to, "She said you'd need some rest.."
"She's full of shit." I stated matter of factly, pulling away from him with all of the strength I'd had before. "What time is it? I need to get to class..."
"You've been excused for all of todays classes." Draco stated as he watched me stand, and then stood himself. His normal, cocky smirk returned to his features, he stiffened up, and seemed to get a bit taller than before, as if he hadn't been worried at any point. He was back to Malfoy. "I'll take you back to the common room now."
"No you won't." I stated rebelliously, stepping away from him having watched the changes occur, "I said I'm going to class, and I'm going to class. I don't care if all hell breaks loose, my grades will not slip." I turned away from him, only to see him in front of me. DAMNED appearing act!! I just wanted to go to school. Was that -really- so much to ask?! At least in class I wasn't worrying about being cursed with unknown curses, and being chased by evil thingies for no apparent reason!! He took ahold of both of my shoulders, and shoved me in front of him. "-Get- your -bloody- -hands- OFF of me!!" I panted, trying to get him to let go, but he wouldn't, and before we could blink, we were back in the common room. I frowned, and kicked the sofa, which, he'd appeared on, "Bloody teleportation trick.." I cursed quietly.
"Oh its no trick." Draco stated, standing up, and with one quick movement, shoving me to the sofa. "You're staying here, and your resting. I'm going to class." I jumped back to my feet, but he stopped me short, by pointing at the bridge of my nose, the way parents do, "I'm not going to see you in any classes, do you understand me? Madame Pomfrey told you to rest, and you're going to rest."
"Fuck you." I growled, a little shocked that -I'd- resorted to that... word. I tried to refrain from it as often as possible.......lately. Draco just laughed, and walked out the door, not even giving himself to the argument. I growled, and threw a nearby pillow at the door, only to find an ache in my arm, and to collapse on the sofa, kneeding the spot with my other hand in an attempt to make it stop hurting. I growled quietly to myself. Oh I -would- get to class. How I would get to class, was not to be seen, I didn't know. But I -would- get to class.
I was there for hours, trying to figure out how I'd get to class. As I heard students rushing through the halls toward their common rooms, I concluded that I wasn't getting to class. However, I was still pouting as Malfoy entered. He lifted an eyebrow at the sight, and shook his head slightly, before dropping his books on the chair I usually do, silently walking toward me, taking the arm which had only recently stopped hurting, and dragging me up the stairs toward the dormitories. "Pouting isn't considered rest, Terra." He growled, somewhat patiently as he literally dragged me into my room, and shoved me on the bed, "I'll sit here and baby sit you if I have to, but I have homework to do, and that -won't- make me happy, do you understand me?" His voice held the same harsh tone it always did, but something was different. A bit as if it were all a joke.
"Can't you just leave me alone?!" I exclaimed, very much serious. I stood up on the other side of the bed, and pulled away from him as he leaned over to pull me down. He rolled his eyes, as if it were a stupid question. Why, ever, would he leave me alone? It didn't matter that my skin crawled when he touched me (I refused to acknowledge that they were goosebumps), and that I tended to get stupid when he decided I would.
"You don't understand any of this, do you?" He questioned with a lifted eyebrow. He began walking in front of the bed, and I, wanting to get away, moved to the other side. He took ahold of the bed, and pinned me to the wall with it, surprising me enough that I lost my breath, and ended up struggling to regain it. He strolled to the side, and took ahold of my arm, gently pulling me out, and letting me breathe. I clung to his neck in my confusion, as he swung my legs up, and laid me on the bed, sitting beside me. I thought he was going to say some gentle, and moving poem, but instead, he came out with, "It's all a game, Terra, and I'm not going to lose."
Tears welled up in my eyes, and I turned on my side, curling up, and crying into the pillow. He smirked and patted me on the arm before standing, and going down the stairs and back into the common room. In all fairness, I didn't want it to be a game, though I'd always known it was. I wanted it to be real. Real.. so many things had changed from real to not, and visa versa so quickly. My head was still spinning from it. I'd hoped maybe this was something that had changed too. Apparently not.
----Dracos POV----
I sighed lightly, turning around and locking Terra's door, deciding that I'd be daft to think she wouldn't try to escape. Terra -always- tried to escape, I'd gotten used to it by now. I returned to my books, smirk gone now, replaced by a look of utter confusion. No, no I wasn't confused, I was surprised. I hadn't expected Terra to be so sad to find out the truth. I'd thought she'd come up with some kind of smart remark, which I would easily counter, and we'd have an argument about absolutely nothing but our sheer hatred of each other. I hated to admit it, but I was mistaken. Horribly mistaken. I lifted the books, and walked over to the sofa, plopping down, and setting them beside me. I wasn't sitting for more than two seconds before someone knocked on the door between the common room and the hall. I closed my eyes for a moment, before looking at the door. Alright. Alright, I could handle this. I got up, and answered the door, leaning against the door phrame as I looked the person over. It was a boy, a little shorter than I was, and with messy brown hair. He was covered in dirt and leaves. It was obvious that he didn't pay much attention to how he looked. How I pitied him.
"Who the bloody hell are you?" I asked, taking in all of the details about him. My eyebrows raised as he smiled warmly, and though I hadn't offered it, took my hand in both of his, and began shaking it perfusely. I was getting scared.
"You must be Draco Malfoy! I've heard so much about you, from my father. Of course I didn't come to see you, though, you're a complete stranger!" He released my hand, as if with sudden bitterness. Now I was scared AND confused. "I came to talk to Terra. I didn't see her in class today." I rolled my eyes. Wooonderful. Terra has an admirer.
"She's resting from the breakfast incident." I explained rather coldly, "You can't see her right now." I blinked as an expression of confusion crossed over his face, "The breakfast incident." I repeated, and groaned. He didn't have a clue what I was talking about. I paused, he didn't know. I could tweak the story, just a little bit, and then poor Potter would have another rival... "Come in! Come in! I'll tell you all about it!" I made a motion toward the sofa as I stepped out of the door so he could cross through. He did cross through, and sat on the sofa, while I sat accross from him in the generally unused chair by the fireplace. "So. This is what happened..."
I went on for about an hour, exagerating everything I could. According to me, Terra was only looking at the Griffindor table when Potter attacked her, and she was being incredably sweet at the time. I, of course, had immediately sprung to her defense, but unfortunately couldn't counter the mystery curse on time. Afterwards, he looked at me with lifted eyebrows. "..Right. Where's Terra?"
Sweatdrop. "...She's upstairs.. I'll get her." So I did indeed head upstairs, hiding the suddenly borne rage behind a thin veil as I tapped lightly on her door. I reached to turn the nob, forgetting I'd locked it. I sighed, whispering the spell quietly under my breath, and stepping in, closing the door quietly behind me. "I know you're not asleep, Terra." I growled as I looked at her small form on the bed. She hadn't moved from the last time I'd seen her, though she was shaking ever so slightly, as if it were cold in the room.
"Then pretend I am." Terra nearly whispered, curling up just a bit tighter. I chuckled quietly with cruelty, causing her to sit up, grasp the covers, and pull them over her head. I supposed hiding may've been a good idea, if I didn't know where she was hiding, but it was reletively useless to hide under covers. I decided she just didn't want to know I was there. Well. What a shame.
"I don't think so." I drawled, strutting to her bedside, and pulling the covers back down, "We need to talk." We faught over the covers for a moment, or more, she faught to pull them back up as I just held them firmly down. It wasn't long until the fabric ripped, and she was left coverless.
"There's nothing left to say." Terra stated, finally glaring at me. I watched her flinch, ever so slightly, drawing her head back a bit. I assumed she hadn't expected me to be this close. I took in a sharp breath of my own, for an instant, the strength hadn't dissolved. It was there, vibrant, staring me dead in the face and daring me to try anything. Before I'd realized I was moving, my palm had found its way to her cheek, moving gently toward one of the before mentioned eyes. She slapped me. Well, that wasn't really a first. "Get your bloody hands off of me!" She shouted, taking ahold of my wrist, and forcing it into the sofa. I could easily have kept it up, but I decided to let her win just this once.
"There's someone downstairs who wants to see you." I continued, not bothering to acknowledge her minor victory. I could see by the look of triumph that crossed her delicate features that she'd already noticed. Her face had lit up with the possibility that she'd actually got a hand up on me, though the light went out when she realized I'd let her.
"Then tell them I'm 'resting'." She snapped, lifting her hand, turning away from me, and laying back down, staring at the wall ahead of her with what may've been disappointment. I couldn't really tell, she'd looked away before I'd gotten to read her face.
"I tried. He still wants to see you." I stated patiently, sitting lightly on her bed, and watching her as she continued to pout. "And when you two are done chatting, I'd like to know why you have men visiting our common room."
----Terra's POV-
Oh THAT took the cake!! I rocketed up, glaring at him with a start. CHRIST! Why did he keep getting closer?! It was time to use his own words against him! "Why do you care, mr. Malfoy?" I questioned dryly, my eyes glowing with rage, and mischief. It was a bit unnerving how he stared directly into my eyes, and the gleam quickly left. "You said yourself, everything we 'have' is just a game." I stood on the other side of the bed, "And, as it is, I don't feel like playing anymore. Have fun playing by yourself." I strode toward the door, thrusting the door open with my mind before he could grab me. I grinned, cherishing this triumph I knew wasn't a show of pity, and waved at the boy in the center of the common room. It was the one from the forest!
"Do I get to learn your name now?" I asked, jogging down the stairs, aggrivation forgotten, or at least hidden, as I reached him. He took both my hands in his, and examined me carefully, as if to ensure that I wasn't hurt too badly, before smiling at me.
"Surely enough." He stated warmly, releasing my hands, and draping an arm over my shoulders, "In a bit. Lets go sit by the trees, it's peaceful there." I stole a glance toward my dormitory to see Malfoy standing in the door, arms crossed over his chest, and a look of utter rage, or jealousy on his face. I grinned, and winked mockingly before I looked back at the before mentioned boy, and nodded my approval.
"Alright. No one will follow us." I stated, as a silenced warning to the angry one. It wasn't long before I was led to womping willow, which had leaned down to let us climb into it. The boy helped me onto one of the thicker branches before climbing on himself, and holding on to me as the bough lifted back into a position much like its original one, though now it was leveled, where we sat. I smiled, quite enjoying being able to look over the entire courtyard, and looked at the boy, "Well? You're called..."
"My name is Christian, but people usually call me Chris." He grinned back at my smile, and offered a hand, "Chris, at your service!" I laughed, and shook his hand, jumping as the tree shifted ever so slightly. He put a protective hand on my shoulder, to make sure I didn't fall off, but pulled both hands away as if burned. "Well now, that was a rush.."
I was confused. "What was a rush?" I asked, wanting to clarify whatever it was he was trying to say. I wasn't good at pretending to understand, though I did it a lot. It was one of the only things I was not perfect in my acting skills.
Chris paused thoughtfully, staring at me, "Nothing, nothing. Its just that there's a lot more to you than meets the eye." He smiled warmly, though I could tell it was somewhat forced.
"About time someone noticed!" I exclaimed, though my own grin had by now vanished. "Are you okay? You look a bit ill.." It was true. He had paled considerably, and his eyes had dulled quite a bit. He gave me another reassuring smile.
"There's a book I'm going to need to check out from the restricted section of the library. Do you think you could help me? You'll know it when you see it..." His head tilted as he stared at me. I shrugged, and smiled, what was the harm in helping him get a book? He nodded, whispering something to the willow as the bough lowered to let us off. He took ahold of me by the forearms as he jumped off, taking me with him. We landed safely in the grass, and we walked all the way to the library.
I entered alone, so the book keeper wouldn't think anything was odd. I strolled right into the resticted section, feeling three sets of eyes on my back. I could tell who they belonged to, it wasn't hard. One of them belonged to Chris, one to the book keeper, and one to Draco. I should've known he'd follow me. I shrugged it off, looking over the books carefully. There was one that almost seemed to call to me. It was odd. It was like I was drawn to it. I walked over to it, and tilted my head at the worn binding. Carefully, I pulled it out, and dusted off the cover. It read, "Encyclopedia of Wierd and Paranormal Creatures". Well now. Wasn't THAT interesting? Swiftly, I left the library, and handed the book to Chris, who smiled, a bit sadly at me.
I tilted my head, confused, "Isn't that the one you were looking for?" He sighed, trying to find a way to explain his grief to me. He was silent for a long moment, just thinking, before he smiled again, and nodded slowly.
"This is the book I was looking for." He stated matter of factly, putting a hand, rather hesitantly, on my shoulder. He kept it there, though every once in a while he twitched, as if it hurt to touch me. I could feel my energy leaving my shoulder, leaving it numb, and tingly. It occured to me what he was doing, he was running a little scan of my powers. Did he REALLY think I could be the fabled strongest woman on earth!
"Then what's wrong?" I asked, pulling my shoulder away. I was getting sleepy, and that meant he was tapping into my life force as well. I didn't like that idea at all. Not at -all.
"It was a test, Terra. If you could find the book, then you were.." He paused, shaking his head, "If not, then we could all breathe a little easier." He sighed, "I'm going to have to take a look at this. There are things even I need to find out. I suggest you return to your common room, and don't leave. He grabbed a muggle pen out of thin air, and took my hand, turning it over so he could write on my palm. "If 'he' gets too bad, say this. It'll stop time and give you a chance to escape." He looked up at me as he wrote, "Whatever you do, don't let yourself hate ANYONE. Bad things will happen.." I blinked in confusion. But- But- "Oh, and make sure you don't talk to my father, or tell anyone about this, ok? We don't want too many people knowing about this. Someone already tried damned hard to hide it.."
"What are you talking about?! Knowing about what?! Who's your father?!" He'd thrown me into a panic, and I didn't bother masking the fact. I could handle not telling anyone if I knew what not to say, and I could handle not talking to someone if I knew who to avoid.
"I'm not sure yet." He admitted quietly, as he stoppped writing, "But don't tell anyone, anything I've told you, and my father is Professor Armondi. You'll just have to skip his class, I can make sure your grades don't slip." He gave my hand a gentle squeeze, "I'll see you soon." He stated, before disappearing down the hall. I stared after him for a moment, at a complete loss. What the hell was all that about?? I sighed, and trudged back toward my common room, dragging my feet. Well damn...
Authors notes: REVIEW!! REVIEW!! NOW GOD DAMMIT!!! slams fist on table