Chapter 4: Mind Games

Lacy watched the sorting lazily devoid of emotion, because mainly she was half absorbed into her book flipping the pages and making the illusion that she was reading when she wasn't. She had sensed more than saw many people turning discretely to look at her, but she ignored them. When the sorting had ended and all the new first years were seated in their proper houses, Dumbleore stood up to speak. Lacy knew he would say something, anything, of importance, but she had a throbbing headache and put her head down on the table. The cool wood on her hot surface soothed her aching head instantly. Lacy heard flutter around her, but she didn't move, she couldn't move. She was paralyzed, but in a good way; she was too weak to move even if she'd wanted to, which she didn't.

She smelled food around her, but wasn't hungry. Someone had accidentally bumped into her and mumbled, "Sorry." before scurrying away, which made Lacy groan and sit up with great effort. Lacy shook her head and saw a flicker of something buzzing around in the vicinity of the end of the table out of the corner of her eye. She looked that way, but only saw many people stuffing their faces with food and drink. She closed her eyes and massaged her temples with the pads of her fingers.

She heard a high pitched tinkling laugh from somewhere above her, and Lacy lifted her head upwards and opened her eyes with a cry that was barely audible. But, not to her surprise, no one was there. Lacy lowered her head down and looked at her empty plate before her, and suddenly she felt the desire to eat. She grabbed a piece of bread and nibbled on it while helping herself to some of the leftovers. Lacy didn't eat much, because most people were finishing and she didn't want to hold them up. The food cleared and many desserts appeared along the tables, but Lacy's desire to eat was gone and once again she put her head down on the table. Lacy felt an icy wind blow in her ear and a shiver run down her spine. She squirmed in her seat, thinking it was still a part of her imagination and that nothing was happening to her. The icy gust blew in her ear again, and Lacy's arm reached out and collided with a hard surface. Her arm froze in place and she lifted up her head and looked at her arm and followed it to whoever she'd hit. It was Malfoy.

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Draco had been watching her all night, while she battled with some unknown force. She'd been looking around her like she was hallucinating, and he just couldn't resist blowing in her ear and tempting her. He watched her expression change from scared to confusion to anger as her eyes locked onto his. He smiled at her, and she looked pissed off yet relieved in a way. He stood up and offered his hand out to her, but she just looked at it and didn't move.

"The feast is over, time to go back to our common rooms. Come on, I'll show you." Draco said as smoothly as he could. Lacy blinked and shook her head, but quickly got to her feet. She didn't look quite as composed and refined as she did on the train. There she'd been able to maintain her feelings, but now he could read them all over her. She was shaking and jittery, like she was expecting someone to strike her down right where she stood.

"Don't worry, most of the people have already left, but if you're still worried I know a secret way to the common room. Not many people know about it, it's my favorite spot. Come on.." Draco took her hand in his, and he felt her soft, smooth hard warm in his. Draco brought her to a standing position, she looked miserable. Her eyes were bloodshot and had bags under them that he hadn't noticed before and she was very limp; she looked like a rag doll. Draco put his arm around her waist and guided her out the hallway, but was stopped by a heavy voice booming out to him.

"Where do you think you are taking Miss. Kilnern? You leave her here with me, and return to your common room. I'll bring her back there later. What are you still doing here? Go!" It was Professor Snape, telling him to leave but he didn't want to. He wanted to stay there with her or take her with him, but he couldn't disobey Professor Snape, so he handed Lacy over to him without a sound and walked back to the common room alone, without Larissa.

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Author's Note: It might be a little confusing, but Lacy knows Draco as Malfoy and Draco knows Lacy as Larissa. It's a simple way of understanding the characters, not everyone would pick up on that. Some people might have gotten confused, and I didn't want them to, so there. Burn. Ash