DISCLAIMER: I don't own anything here. They most likely belong to Tamora Pierce, J. K. Rowling and other various publishing companies and stuff. But not me. Nope, not me.

AN: Hey, all! I'm back! Another chapter is out, but this one isn't terribly long either. At least I still know where I'm going, eh? And there was an absolutely perfect breaking point! (Not really all that much of a cliffhanger, after all. Heh)

CHAPTER 15:

Severus Snape kept his face carefully blank as Lucius Malfoy dragged the young black girl from behind a bush.

Now, Severus wasn't an evil person; he hated seeing innocent people die. He especially disliked seeing innocent children die. But, Severus wasn't a good person either, and he desperately needed to maintain his cover as a loyal Death Eater. Then again, if there was an opportunity to save an innocent child's life without appearing to do so, he would partake.

No luck, yet.

As Lucius Malfoy tried to draw information from the girl, Severus thought about it.

Maybe he could help...

Draco was terrified. More than he'd ever been in his life. He was terrified of Voldemort, Death Eaters in general and failing potions, but he was most surely Terrified of his father. He'd rarely seen this side of his 'beloved parent.' And he'd never been quite in this type of situation before.

"What do you know?" Lucius Malfoy asked.

"A-about w-what?" Draco stuttered.

"About," his father leaned in close and hissed, threateningly, "Potter."

"P-Potter, s-sir?"

"Yes. Him or any of his friends. What do you know?"

"N-nothing," Draco said, his mind almost completely frozen with terror, "Don't know anything,"

"Well, let me persuade you," the Death Eater raised his wand and pointed between Draco's eyes, smirking, "Crucio."

Pain.

Pain filled him.

That was all that existed in the world. Pain.

Through his own screams Draco suddenly heard his 'friends' through the mental connection.

'Malfoy!' came Hermione's voice.

'What?'

'He's not with us,' Briar said, 'He's gone.'

'DRACO!' some called.

'MALFOY!' bellowed others.

'Dragon?!' worried Daja.

His bones were on fire, and his skin was melting. Torture beyond belief. It was the worst feeling he'd ever had. He couldn't answer.

After his father had let up on the Cruciatus Curse, Draco lay gasping for air. He found he was on the ground, his muscles sore from convulsions and his throat raw from screaming.

His father asked him again, "What do you know?"

After being subjected to that kind of torture by his own father, for a prolonged period of time, Draco felt suddenly defiant. He decided he would be strong. He wasn't going to turn out like his father, torturing innocent people who may have information that he wanted.

"I-I d-d-d-don't know," Draco gasped, "any-thing... about...anyth-ing called... Potter."

All his life, Draco had thought his father had been in the right, simply purifying the world from dirty blood and blood traitors. That was all. But, Draco now realized, he had been given an extremely distorted version of the truth. His father had picked the wrong side.

He almost hated to admit it, but Dumbledore was right. Potter was right.

Something about this decision must have shown in his face, because a moment later, he was writhing under his father's wand once more.

Draco found he couldn't muster enough energy to respond.

He passed out.

Sirius felt something jerk from his hand. He was startled to see Harry convulsing on the ground. Looking around at the other children, he saw all four of his charges were doing the same. After another moment two of them began to scream. Before he could decide which ones, the other two joined them. The sound was deafening. Oh, great.

Remus Lupin was having a similar experience. Three of his charges (and he guessed Draco was too) were writhing on the ground, quite obviously in pain. Hermione was the first to scream. Briar and Sandry joined her after a brief moment.

Remus' sensitive hearing, which could pick up a soft bird call from miles away, burned with the sound. He covered his ears, while he tried to think of something to do.

Sirius, who's hearing was almost the same as a normal wizard's, covered his ears as well. He hadn't been trained for this sort of thing!

The black girl finally passed out.

Lucius lifted the curse and turned his eyes toward Severus.

"Snape," he said, but before he got any further, the sound of several piercing screams met their ears.

"What's that?" Rookwood asked.

"I have no idea," Snape sneered, "Why don't you go find out?"

All of the Death Eaters in the group seemed eager to do this. Snape saw his opportunity. Slyly, Severus grabbed hold of his wand (still in his pocket) and pointed it toward an area a ways to the East (from what he could tell from the sun) of the screams. He muttered a spell and there was a huge explosion (or so it seemed, it was actually just a lot of smoke and a loud 'bang').

The Death Eaters looked in that direction. The black smoke was curling gracefully up, into the sky.

All of the Death Eaters were now interested in leaving their current spot and exploring the surrounding areas.

Knowing that Lucius was itching to investigate, but didn't want to leave their captive, Severus stepped in.

"I'll take over here, Lucius. I've more patience for tough subjects. Especially ones who tend to pass out a lot. If I can't get any valuable information, I'll dispose of the body."

Severus could see that Malfoy was eager to take him up on his offer, but was determined not to show it, "Yes, I suppose that would be alright."

"Do you wish to leave someone with me?" Snape asked.

Malfoy looked around at the other Death Eaters and he, too, could see how all of them wanted to go.

"I don't suppose that would be necessary, Snape. Unless you do, of course?"

Snape flashed Malfoy a smirk which he knew to indicate, 'Do you really have to ask that question?'

"Alright, then," Bellatrix clapped her clawed hands together eagerly, "Let's go."

Before they were out of sight, Severus pointed his wand at the girl and, so the other Death Eaters could hear, bellowed, "Ennervate."

Instantly, the girl opened her eyes and sat up. Severus was surprised at how quickly she had recovered from the curses. He shot her an apologetic look that the Death Eaters couldn't see, and then raised his wand to her again.

He held her under the curse no longer than was necessary.

Draco awoke to the apologetic gaze of his Potions Master. Draco noticed the other Death Eaters walking away from him and Professor Snape.

This time he was ready for the curse.

His Professor cast Crucio.

Draco noticed that Snape's curse wasn't nearly as strong as his father's. Not that he didn't have the power, or that he couldn't use the curse as well as his father, but more he was trying to muffle it. Strange.

As soon as his father and the others were out of sight, Draco was free of the curse. His professor waved his wand in a circle around the two of them and then helped him to his feet, asking, "Are you alright?"

His voice was cold, but it wasn't hateful. He almost seemed... concerned.

"Yeah, I'm fine."

"I'm sorry I had to put you under the curse," he said.

Draco had to ask, "Were Death Eaters always like this, Professor Snape?"

Snape looked startled for a moment before answering, "Always? This is the way we've been from the beginning. The torturing, I mean."

Draco nodded.

"If I may ask, how did you know we are called Death Eaters?" Snape asked, "And my title? Do you go to Hogwarts?"

Draco reminded himself again that he was not exactly his usual self, at the moment.

"Er, well, yes... kind of."

"Who are you?" Snape asked, stepping back and examining Draco more closely, "I don't recognize you."

"Oh, no, you wouldn't, professor. I...I don't look like a Slytherin..." Draco stopped.

Would Snape hand him back to the other Death Eaters if he found out that he didn't want to be evil? Was Snape evil?

"Are you... which side are you on, professor? Dumbledore's?" Draco ventured.

"I can't tell you that. Classified information," Snape said stiffly, still slightly flustered.

"Oh," Draco thought for a moment before confiding in Snape, "I really don't know which side to be on. You were always my mentor, Professor, but I don't think I really want to join the Death Eater ranks."

Snape hesitated. He was thoughtful for a full minute, before finally speaking, "You are Draco Malfoy, are you not?"

Draco was surprised.

But then, Snape was a very intelligent man. He should have known his professor would figure it out.

"Yes," Draco told him, "I am."

Snape nodded, acceptingly, and held out his hand, "Nothing said goes beyond you and I."

Draco felt a rush of sureness and relief. His teacher was on Dumbledore's side. He was sure of it.

Readily, Draco snatched Professor Snape's hand and shook it, "Wizard's Promise."

A bright white light enveloped their hands, sealing the promise.

Harry slowly became aware of his location... and was surprised to learn that it was not in his own body or Briar's. And he wasn't alone in it.

"Who's there?" he asked, but found himself thinking it. He couldn't control the body.

Hermione's voice spoke through the silence, "Harry? You there?"

Ron came next, "Hermione? Harry?"

"Where are we?" Harry wondered.

"I don't know. The last thing I remember is..." Hermione stopped.

"What?" Ron prompted.

"We were being... tortured... I think. It was so painful, do you remember, Ron?"

"Only a little... I think I... passed out."

"Yeah, me too," Harry agreed.

Suddenly, Harry, Ron and Hermione felt the added presence of four minds.

"What happened?!" demanded Briar.

"We fainted," said Sandry, matter-of-factly.

"I know that. Where did all the pain come from?" Briar said.

"Guys, I think it's Draco," said Daja, "I've got this feeling."

"Must be the bodies," Hermione said, "I mean, because you two have each other's bodies, you know more about what's happening to the other person."

"Yeah, that makes sense," agreed Tris.

"But still, where did all the pain come from?"

"I think it's the Death Eaters," Harry said, "I'm positive it was Crucio. Not as powerful as Voldemort's curse, but someone almost up there. Lucius Malfoy, maybe?"

"Oh, that would be awful!" cried Hermione, "Malfoy, being tortured by his own father!"

"Funny," said Ron, "I almost feel sorry for Malfoy, now... er... Malfoy Jr. of course."

"Yeah, me too," Harry agreed.

"Hey!" cried Daja excitedly, "Look outside! We can see through Dragon's eyes!"

"We're in Malfoy's body?" Ron asked, disgusted.

"No, Ron, we're in Daja's body. But I think Draco is still in control of it," Hermione corrected.

"Yes, it appears so," said Tris, pressing her essence against Draco's eyes, "and Daja's right, we can see outside!"

All seven of them scrambled to get to Draco's eyes.

"Hey, that's Snape!" Ron pointed out.

"Isn't that your evil potions teacher?" asked Daja.

"Yes, but he's on the good side. He works for Dumbledore undercover."

They watched intently as Snape looked apologetically at Draco and said "Crucio.", less forcefully than usual Cruciatus curses.

"I didn't know Snape could be apologetic."

"So, if he's good, why is he torturing Dragon?"

"To keep his cover I s'pose," said Harry.

"Hey, we can't feel it." Ron stated rather thickly.

"Yes, Ron," Hermione said, exasperated, "That's because we aren't in control of the body. We can only see out of the eyes. We're not controlling the nerves, but their signals are still going to Daja's brain, which Draco currently can feel. I'm pretty sure that's due to the..."

"Alright, alright, okay. Never mind. We know you're the smart one, Hermione."

"Ron..."

"Hey, the rest of the Death Eaters are gone now," Harry interjected, hoping both to draw his friends off the track of their argument and to point out what might have an effect on their situation.

It worked.

"Yeah, they are," agreed Daja, as Snape suddenly let up on the curse. After waving his wand in a circle ("What's Snape doing?" "He's putting up a silencing spell, Ron, so no one can listen in") he helped Draco up from the ground.

Harry realized there was a reverberating feeling going through Daja's head. Draco had been screaming.

"Are you alright?" Snape asked, his face showing a hair more emotion than he ever had (other than loathing for Sirius Black and Harry's father, of course), which still wasn't a whole lot.

"Are you sure he's on the good side?" Briar asked, hesitantly, "He looks pretty evil to me. Scares me even more than Rosethorn scares Harry."

"Hey," protested Harry, "She doesn't scare me anymore."

Briar made a disbelieving noise.

Harry corrected himself, "...much..."

"Yes, I'm fine." Draco said, oblivious of the people in his head, putting an end to Briar and Harry's debate.

"I'm sorry I had to put you under the curse," Snape apologized. SNAPE APOLOGIZED!

"Did Snape just apologize?" Hermione asked, disbelievingly.

"I think so," answered Ron, equally disbelieving, "But I'm not sure. I really wish I had my pair of Omnioculars with me so I could rewind that and play it again!"

"And then use it for blackmail?" Briar asked.

Ron would have grinned, if he could, "Yeah. Something like that."

Draco spoke up, again, "Were Death Eaters always like this, Professor Snape?"

Harry would have sworn, but this is a PG story, so he didn't, "ARE YOU TRYING TO BLOW YOUR COVER, MALFOY?!"

"He never had a cover, Harry," Ron pointed out.

Harry was annoyed.

Snape looked at Daja's body strangely and then answered, "Always? This is the way we've been from the beginning. The torturing, I mean."

The seven people inside Draco's head saw the world bob down and then back up.

"Woo!" Ron yelped, "That'll getcha every time!"

"I feel ill," complained Sandry, "And I wish I had my crystal for light. It feels dark in here.

"I think he nodded," Harry said.

"'Kay," agreed Hermione, sounding quite ill, "I wish he'd warn us next time. Except I don't think he can hear us."

"Probably not."

"If I may ask, how did you know we are called Death Eaters?" Snape asked, Draco, "And my title? Do you go to Hogwarts?"

Draco paused, "Er, well, yes... kind of."

"Who are you?" Snape asked, stepping back and examining Draco more closely, "I don't recognize you."

"Gee... ya think?"

"Shut up, Ron."

"Oh, no, you wouldn't, professor. I...I don't look like a Slytherin..." Draco stopped.

"Doesn't look like a student at the school at all," announced Briar.

"Are you... which side are you on, professor? Dumbledore's?" Draco ventured.

"He's really subtle, isn't he." said Tris, sarcastically.

"It's a good thing Snape is on Dumbledore's side, or Draco would be so dead right now."

"I can't tell you that. Classified information," Snape said, looking highly uncomfortable.

"Oh," Draco paused.

"I really don't know which side to be on. You were always my mentor, Professor, but I don't think I really want to join the Death Eater ranks," Draco finally said.

"Great," Ron said, "How is Snape going to answer that?"

There was silence.

"Say something, someone!" ordered Sandry, "It's too quiet.

Snape finally answered, "You are Draco Malfoy, are you not?"

"Ha! He figured it out," laughed Tris.

"Well, it was kind of obvious," protested Daja, muttering, "He's a Kaq, if ever I've seen one."

Draco paused again, before saying, "Yes, I am."

Tris laughed.

Daja made an exasperated noise, "I meant Snape."

"Great. So much for any kind of a cover," groaned Harry, "Let's tell the whole world our identities, shall we?" he added, sarcastically.

"I think we should advise him not to go into the spying business," Briar said.

Snape nodded (which made Tris laugh again. "It's not that funny, Tris." "But it sounds like he's replying to what we say, and it's funny!") and held out his hand, "Nothing said goes beyond you and I."

Draco quickly grabbed Professor Snape's hand and shook it once, "Wizard's Promise."

"Malfoy knows how to do those?" gasped Hermione, "Wow!"

A bright white light came from their hands.

"Ow! Bright light! Bright light!" complained Sandry, "I wanted light but not that much!"

"Well the light's a good thing," Hermione pointed out, "I've done my research on it, and that means the Promise was sealed correctly. It can't be tampered with. If someone breaks the promise, then they are doomed never to speak again."

"Lovely," commented Ron.

Snape leapt back, letting go of Draco's brown hand and looking startled.

"What's wrong with him?" Daja asked, jokingly, "Do I have something on my hand?"

Draco had just sealed the Promise, when Snape jumped back from him, looking particularly distressed.

"What's wrong?" Draco asked, worried.

Snape didn't answer, but walked up to Draco again and gripped his hand firmly.

Draco watched with wonder (and a sore hand) as Snape's face turned from disturbed to surprised to annoyed and then back to distressed. Draco pulled his hand away, saying, "What was that, Professor? What are you doing?"

Snape shot an annoyed glance at Draco and answered, "I'm talking with the little people inside your head. Please stay silent for a moment."

Snape grabbed Draco's hand again, but not as hard.

Draco was confused.

Draco was very confused.

He had little people inside his head?!

END CHAPTER.

Ha, ha. Draco has little people inside his end and he doesn't even know it.

So? What do you think? Too short? Everyone OOC? I would like your opinions, please. Just review.

PREVIOUS REVIEWERS:

Monikka DaLuver: Sorry about the wait, was this soon enough?

Raiast: Thanks!

Jedi Alanna: Sorry about the short chapter, again. Heh.

Luisa Adele Reilyn: I know, I'm really bad at doing Daja and Briar. I think Briar is most likely not scared that easily (or that rude) and I know Daja stopped calling people Kaqs. I dunno why I keep writing them like that. I guess it was begging to be done. I'm trying to do better, but I'm not sure how to fix what I've already written.

Alanna Hrncir: Oh, Alanna is a character from one of my favorite books, and I was just putting random names in the breaks. Sorry if it confused you. Here's an update for you!

Here's me signing off,

Kiwi Jeanne

And me! Don't forget me!

Sqwerty Jeanne