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Chapter 1 - The other woman- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Moranna Sankryo sat down in her bench, far back in the dungeon, long before anyone of the others had come in. She preferred it that way, staying in the shadows, as she knew it would not last much longer. A sigh escaped her pale lips as she came to think about that it was just one more week until it would all go official, her life become everyones business. The very same publicity that she had fought so hard against getting during the past six years. Her fathers inheritance was not what the average wizard would like to know, and once she was out in the light she knew that there would probably be queries about her origin, and she did not look forward to that.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the entrance of professor Snape, whom walked to his desk with a troubled look upon his face. It seemed that he dealt with an even bigger problem that she was, and this actually made her smile weakly, even though the smile vanished almost immediately. Mentally scolding herself for gloating at his misory she reminded herself that she was supposed to be a Ôgood girl now. The mere thought of being a good girl made her smile to herself. There was no way she could ever be a good girl. As they used to say, you cant learn an old dog to sit.
The Potions master made a noise and brought back her attention, and she decided she had hid enough for the moment.
"Professor Snape," she said in her low melodically voice, making her presence known to the older man.
He looked up with alarm just to relax when he saw who spoke to him, and nodded curtly at her. Frankly he wasnt the slightest surprised of that she was early, she had a tendency to avoid being outdoors as much as possible, people being something that she didnt really was good at handling.
"Ms. Sankryo," he regarded her. "Taking the potion?" He asked, voice just a little bit strained as he knew what could happen if she didnt take it.
"Every morning at dawn," she nodded and rose from her place, taking small, inaudible steps towards him. Even she noticed how he stiffened a little as she came closer but she pretended as if she hadnt. "Actually I wanted to talk to you about it.
"What about it?
"I think that the dosage is too low. Sometimes I find that I am unable to focus for hours, twice I have even passed out.
The Potions master frowned, seeming to think about what could be done to the potion to remove the side effects. The girl or more likely young woman, in front of him, had used it during the last six years and had never complained, he knew she wouldnt unless it was really necessary. After all she was a Slytherin and would thus never even think about admitting pain unless it was very urgent.
"How much dragon blood are you having in it?
"Five drops.
"Make it six, and if it still doesnt work, seven. Doesnt that work you must come to me immediately.
"Yes, professor, I will do so," she said and bowed her head slightly before returning to her seat, hearing that the other students were approaching.
Only a few of the Slytherins noticed her presence which all gave her that curt nod before placing themselves in their benches. Everyone except Draco Malfoy.
He gave her a look as if she was his favourite toy that he was about to play with, settling down in the seat next to her and gave her a wicked smile.
The smile was returned - she couldnt help herself from it. He had that certain thing about himself that she couldnt quite define, not to mention the extreme good looks. Maybe things wasnt as bad as she had figured earlier, maybe she could even outlast this whole thing
Placing her slender hands upon the desk she felt how he took hold of one of them, clutching it tightly as if to say that he would never let go of her. That caress was not very Slytherin of him, but she knew he didnt cared.
A gasp made her look up, to find that Harry Potter were looking at the two of them as if he had just been hit by the train while staring at the two of them. She could have sworn she had heard his heartbeat stop for a second there, but then he had continued from where they were and taken his place on the other side of the dungeon, far away from the Slytherin couple.
Throwing a quick glance at Draco she noticed that he had stiffened just the slightest, but the look was gone before she had to check it again.
If she didnt know better she thought that the two of them had a history together, but as fast as the thought came up in her head she shook it off. Please, the Malfoy heir and the Boy Who Lived? Merely thinking of it made her smile.
However Draco seemed deep in thought, as if he was concerned about something. She caressed his hand lightly to get his attention and instantly he shot her a pale smile.
"What is wrong?" She whispered.
He just shook his head, shrugging his head as if it was nothing. That raised eyebrow of hers told him that she didnt believe him but she settled with it for the moment as Snape started the class.
Throughout the class she couldnt help noticing that even now and then Harry and Draco glanced at one another, even though so discretely that nobody noticed. Nobody but her that was, and while mixing together the potion with extreme carefulness to make sure of that it got right she felt how jealousy tainted her mind. She had been wrong earlier, the two arch-nemesiss definitely had some history together.
In that instant she nearly snapped her quill in fury but scarcely managed to remain herself in custody of her body, driving the urge to hurt something far back in her mind.
The deep breaths she was taking to calm down was not just for the jealousy, early this morning she had felt that the potion had even less effect than usually. Nobody in the dungeon wanted her angry, least of all those who knew why she was taking the potion.
Draco suddenly noticed that she was looking rather strained and placed a hand on her shoulder, mumbling soothing words to her. The trembling he felt from her told him that she had heard him and did as he wanted, and a little while later she looked just as usual, perhaps her pupils still a little too large but otherwise just fine.
"You ok?
She nodded and then threw a quick glance around the room to make sure nobody had noticed anything. Finding herself to be pleased about her search she checked the board, then to add some of the ingrediences to the potion they were working on.
But somebody had noticed - someone who was rather concerned at this but didnt show it.
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Going back to Hogwarts after the summer had turned out to be the hardest thing Harry had done in his entire life. If it hadnt been for Ron and Hermione he probably would have been down on his knees even after the first day in school.
They didnt know who Harry had been in love with, well, Hermione had probably figured it out, but Ron hadnt. If he had he would have made these disgusted little noises from time to time, as if he was fighting the urge to throw up.
Harry hadnt told anyone of his friends about when he and Draco had been together, he even didnt think anyone knew he was gay. He was thankful for that almost nobody knew - had they known he would have to take even more rude and sarcastic comments from the others at school, things that he just couldnt take at the moment.
Throughout the days his two best friends had supported him silently, making sure of that he kept on living.
Knowing that it was Hermione who had taken sure of that he ate properly and checked that he didnt just hide in a corner and stay there for the rest of his life. He thanked her inwardly for that and took a bite out of an apple, just as she had thrown him an accusitative glance for not touching his food.
He groaned from his usual place in the Great Hall, turning his eyes as far away from the food as was ever possible. There was no way in hell he was interested with eating, all he wanted to do was to prove Malfoy wrong of dumping him by pulling him up towards the nearest wall and show him exactly what he was capable of doing.
That was even if it had to be done in front of the entire Great Hall.
Knowing he would never do that he just mentally shook his head and looked around in the Hall, watching people eating, speaking and having pretty much a normal day.
Throwing a quick glance at the Slytherin table he saw Malfoy sit in his usual place, commending the table with the usual condescending look upon his face. Harry suddenly felt relieved over that he was alone, because ever since they came back to school he had been surrounded with this dark-haired girl who acted as if she owned him.
But then he noticed the girl sitting next to him, almost unnoticeable where she sat in the shadows, only Draco paying her attention of by whispering in her ear, making the girl smile lovingly and whisper something back.
Even from the other side of the Great Hall Harry saw the sparks flying between the two of them, the girl placing a strand of raven hair behind one of her ears so that she would easier hear what Draco said.
Then suddenly the girl seemed to feel that they were watched, for she whispered something in Dracos ear and the both of them instantly turned their heads straight towards Harry.
If he could, Harry would have sunken through the earth in that moment, placing himself the necessary six feet below the ground. For what he saw in Dracos eyes was even worse than anything else pure hatred.
He didnt even bother to look in the girls eyes, she wasnt important to him, all he could focus on was Draco and the way he possessively placed an arm around the girl and then glared at him.
Harry tore his gaze away from the two, feeling another flash of pain inside of him.
Why couldnt he just have finished it all off, not twisting the knife around in my heart making me suffer even more?
"Harry," Hermione said, noticing the pain upon his face.
The look he threw her made her recoil just the slightest; she had never before seen such a mourning face-expression. Not even when they had forced Harry away from where Sirius was told to be behind the curtains, not even close to that night at the Triwizarding tournament with Cedric Diggorys dead body in his arms. How Harry had outlasted everything she didnt know, but he had, sad but still with something called hope. Now that was gone too.
In that moment when Harry rose from the table she knew the last nail had been nagged into his coffin, but she didnt stop him as he left, knowing there was nothing that was keeping him to the world.
Ron however seemed oblivious to what just had happened, he looked up from his kidney-pie with a startled face and threw Hermione a wondering glance whom just shook her head to let him go.
"Oi, Harry, where are you going?" He called out, ignoring Hermione completely as the dark haired boy stopped.
"Out," came the short answer, and Ron threw a look upward at the enchanted roof to see that it was storming outdoors and then looked in Harrys direction again.
"In this weather?" He queried.
"Yes.
Hermione had known that Harry had been really low, but now she saw that he was nothing more than an empty shell. She changed her mind about letting him go; there had to be something they could do. They had to bring him back to normal, but knew that it was impossible as he never would share his feelings he carried huge burdens, burdens that probably never would ease.
Harry started walking again, this time leaving the Great Hall, but to Hermiones surprise so did Ron, and she inwardly thanked him, then followed as well.
It was probably hopeless, but they had to make Harry become his usual self. They would not give up on him.