A/N: OK. OK. OK. The chapter that have major changes are. . . drum roll (this is with the new numbering) ALL OF THEM! Haha. Actually I combined a shit load of chapters in the beginning, hence the evil new numbering. 1 stayed by it's self, which I suggest everyone reread. 2 & 3 became 2. Nothing of any importance changed in those. 4 & 5 became 3. The Lupin conversation has some slight changes that hints are crap. 6 & 7 became 4. Dementor scene has been redone. 8 & 9 are now 5. thinks I don't think anything changed there, except I say that Zandyr's last name is Glasgo. 10 stayed because it was semi-long. 11 & 12 made 7. Over 3,000 words there, lol. And the rest weren't combined with anything. Ummm… the last couple of chapters have been totally screwed with. Certain things made issues. Like the dreams. Emi was only one year old! So I had to change them to a degree. Then I had to make something up so they can make a connection to Peter. sighs So, I suggest, rereading, 1, 3, 16, 17 and the ending of 19. Because this picks up exactly where that left off. If you really love me you can just reread the entire story! Minor things were changed here and there. So yeah. I'm done.
Chapter 20: Denial"What?" I asked Nephiro as I approached her and Zandyr. She smiled at me as though she was plotting something.
"I just thought it was a little early in the morning for that," she stated. "Besides, it was making your brother uncomfortable." I rolled my eyes a little and watched as Nephiro returned her head to Zandyr's shoulder, patting it as though he were a dog.
"You two have room to talk. And since when do I care what bothers Zandyr?" I hissed. She narrowed her eyes and Zandyr sighed. I grinned and walked out of the Great Hall. Draco's, and many other's, eyes followed me out of the giant room. Stifling to myself, I started off towards the common room to ponder life. Monday's are the best for this because I have a period of free time. And free times rock.
I looked around my empty dorm and sighed. There was no one here to talk to. Not that I honestly needed someone. It just would have been nice, I guess. I took a couple steps towards the window, glancing hesitantly around. The panes that were broken from my fall had been replaced and it looked exactly the same as it did before. I sat down slowly and watched the people make their way to their classes. People are so pathetic.
I mostly sat around for the hour or so before heading off to Transfiguration. I mean, what could I do without electricity by myself? I didn't even have the first or second years to intimidate. During, McGonagall's class, I rested my head in my arms and spent quality time with my dreams. Lily nudged me just in time to scribble down the homework. "Ugh. I know nothing about this stuff!" I exclaimed, making a face at the words I wrote down.
"Maybe, if you were awake during the lesson you wouldn't have to copy my notes during lunch everyday!" she said tartly. I stuck my tongue out at her but I keep my head looking down the hall though. Draco was walking into the Great Hall, but himself. It didn't even faze me at first, but then it hit me as a bit out of the ordinary. Draco always had Crabbe and Goyle by him unless he was talking to me . . . I shrugged it off and took my seat. I ate quietly and got up as soon as I was done. Lily eyed me funny.
"I'll see you next class," I whispered to her. She nodded and I left.
I walked down to the fields in peace after my Transfiguration lesson and lunch. Compared to being stuck in that unaired room, the outside seemed nice. I took in a deep breath and strolled around like there was nothing bothering me. Or so I tried to make it seem to anyone who might be watching. The fact that Draco was by himself was getting to me. Maybe I should have stopped and talked to him about it. It's not like him to leave Crabbe and Goyle by themselves. They're too stupid. They could hurt themselves. And on top of it he had that wandering look in his eyes that reminded me so much of my brother's expression when something pained him. He kept so much stuff to himself when we were little, and the look was something I was used to whether I liked it or not. I stopped at the Quidditch pitch and stared blissfully as the wind blew my hair in my face. I tucked the pigtail behind my ear and turned, only to be startled by the gazing eyes of Draco. I jumped, but then laughed. He smiled a little.
"Emi... I -" He looked down. "Can we...um...talk?" He seemed rather hesitant. I eyed him funny and nodded in response.
"Sure Draco." He walked over to the depth of the stands and leaned lightly on one of the beams, grimacing slightly.
Um, if I told you something, just a hypothetical situation would you tell anyone? It's just hypothetical remember." He stared at the ground as he said that.
I watched him for a second, as he avoiding my eyes. I was beginning to think he didn't want to meet my gaze. "No."
Slowly he brought his eyes up to meet mine. "Lets say that a certain girl - er - kid had problems with an adult. But the adult has so much power that the kid can't do anything about it. Uh, what advice would you give the kid so that this kid has a chance to get away from this adult?"
"Advice? To tell another powerful adult. Say, Dumbledore, for example." He turned his head towards me, eyes blank. Maybe it was the way the sun was hitting his face, or maybe I overlooked it when I saw him this morning, but on his left cheek, sat a good-sized bruise. It looked hideous and more than a little painful. "What happened to your cheek Draco?"
He looked down quickly. "Uh, well say the adult in question won't listen to Dumbledore. Doesn't like him in fact. No, hates him. What if the kid doesn't like Dumbledore?" he asked, completely avoiding my question.
"Then maybe go to someone else. Nephiro's dad is high up there. Snape could help too. It all depends on who the kid trusts."
His eyes searched the ground. "There's a problem with that. This kid doesn't trust."
I sighed. "Then this kid should trust. There's nothing the "kid" can do against the adult unless they're willing to have someone help them."
"But you know how Rilee is!" He flinched. "Shit."
"Rilee! Are you talking about her and Voldemort?"
"NO!" he barked.
I stepped back. His eyes flickered with anger. "To say the least, I don't know how Rilee is!" He growled in frustration. "Ferget it." His eyes turned away again but mine didn't leave his face.
I took a breath, "Draco, tell me, how did you get that bruise on your cheek?" I decided trying again wouldn't hurt.
"It's none of your business," he muttered. He looked up at me, eyes traveling down to the ring that glinted in the sun. "Where did you get that?"
"It's none of your business. Come one. We're late for Hagrid's class."
He sneered. "What's he gonna do? Cry?" He pushed off of the beam and headed towards Hagrid's "house" quickly. Rolling my eyes, I followed.
Class was a little more interesting. Instead of us freezing our asses off, Hagrid had decided to make us a bonfire, complete with fire-loving salamanders. All we had to do, (there's always a catch, isn't there?), was collect leaves and crap. Draco stayed away from everyone else, alone on his own log, refusing to participate. After the first few attempts at getting him to join in, even Hagrid decided to let him rot in his misery. No one else seemed to mind his absence. I tried hard to ignore him, but it's hard to ignore someone's pain when you actually care about the person. 'Why must he push me away like this?' Hagrid dismissed us and I ran to catch him. He kept walking as I called his name. I repeated it until he turned around exasperated. "What?!' he snapped.
"What the hell is your problem?" I replied.
"What's yours?" he retorted. His shoulders drooped and he sighed. "Sorry," he said quietly.
"Draco!" I pleaded. He glanced up at me, his eyes full of pain. That look. I ran my hands through his blond hair and pulled him closer to me. "Tell me what's wrong! I beg you!" He yanked away from my grip.
"It's nothing..." He told me again. It's always nothing.
"No! It's not!" I cried. He stared at me in shock for a second. I just continued. "I'm tired of having to answer everything you ask, but you won't even answer a single, simple question!" He looked a little taken aback at first. People stopped walked and were watching us, like they did on the sorting night. Why were our fights so interesting? Nephiro and Cedric stood close to us, well, closer than the others dared to be. She eyed me strangely but made no effort to interfere.
"My life can't be summed up to answer one 'simple' question, Emi! I have so much going on right now, you don't even know!" I gave him a shove and he stumbled back a few feet.
"You're right! Maybe I don't know! But at least answer something other than 'Oh, it's nothing'!"
"You wouldn't understand!"
"Understand what, Draco! Understand how is it to live in a home where no one pays attention to you? Or hits you? Now answer my question!" I didn't mean for my voice to get harsh. I was starting to sound like Professor McGonagall. He took out his wand and pointed it towards me.
"OK then. I'm just peachy! Just fucking peachy!" I was about to grab my own wand when Miketsu finally spoke up.
"Is magic really necessary for a petty fight like this?" She laughed. "Put that stick away Draco before you poke someone's eye out." He placed the wand back into his school robe with little reluctance. I don't think even he wanted to piss her off. "Now let's sort this out without contact, shall we?" God... she is starting to sound like Snape! I gave a weak shrug.
"Whatever. I just want my question answered." Malfoy made a disgusted noise.
"I'm not answering it Black!" Draco yelled. I beginning to get tempted to hit him but resisted the urge.
"Now, now. Stop it." Nep guided us to a less populated area and smiled. "I'll be waiting over there. She nudged her head towards a tree. "Touch Emi, and you'll regret the day your mother first laid eyes on your father," she growled. "And I don't care if you are like a 'god' here, I'll still kill you. Or at least make you suffer." He stifled a laugh and she walked away.
"Just tell me. Get it over with," I snapped. He breathed in and released it.
"Fine." 'I win.' "I told my father that I have no desire to become a Deatheater." It came out in a slur, the words bunched up together. My mouth hung slightly open. He sighed. 'OK. Maybe I didn't win.'
"Oh Draco." I hugged him tightly, forgetting I was supposed to be angry with him, and hoping he wouldn't push me away like before.
"Don't be afraid of others, the only person who you can and should truly fear is yourself." He gazed into my eyes and I into his. His eyes were radiating pain, and hurt. Both bad emotions, and an even worse combo. I moved my hand on his cheek, across the bruise he refused to talk about it. "I'm here for you." I leaned in close and kissed him. Suddenly I felt an arm around me and I pulled away. Nep stood there smiling cheaply. My cheeks grew red.
"I take it you two lovebirds are done fighting?" She did not wait for an answer. "Good. I have better things to do than playing referee. If you'll excuse me, I have to find my own boy toy. One of them anyway. Bye." She waved her hand and then she was basically gone. How or why, I didn't know. Nor did I care. I had my Draco back.
A/N: Wahoo! Lol. The Draco thing is revealed! Everyone rejoice! cough Sorry. I'm done now. I'm happy the editing is done and over with. Those chapters will never be redone! YaY! wipes forehead I'm surprised my brain didn't blow up from thinking of things to replace the dreams with. And there is now a hole in the story smiles Cara. . . Oh her. She will come more into play in 4th year. But she will be mentioned at points. Pay attention to anything they say about her parents and their friends. I'm writing a side-story with Jess about them. Very interesting past they have. Thanks to Monsoon for helping me with Draco's part. But you're not getting thanks after this. :)