Chapter Five – Pandemonium's Secret

The chute slowed to a jerky halt, making her stomach lurch. The bindings snapped off as if they were on springs, and skidded along the floor. Shade stepped off quickly and pressed her fingers against the door. It slid open and she took a daring step out.

'Where do you think you're going?'

Shade jumped, stopping in her tracks and clenching her fists.

'Professor' she said, trying to sound as cheerily surprised as possible. She turned to see the wizened man with a half-smile, her eyes filled with hatred.

'Shade, the Astronomy Tower is out of bounds to any students. Might I ask why you are here?' Professor Lucinda snapped. Shade narrowed her eyes.

'Oh fuck off, why don't you,' she said before hitting the bewildered Professor with a paralysis charm.

'Where shall I stuff her?' she asked, holding the limp body in her arms. Two robed figures jumped out from behind a pillar and embraced her.

'We were wondering how you would get here' Chloe said. Shade smiled at her and threw the Professor to one side.

'So, what's the big secret anyway?' Shade asked. Anne-Marie gave a large smile and blushed a deep crimson.

'Pandemonium asked me out' she said. Shade's eye twitched slightly. She had the feeling they were being watched. She glanced around quickly, staring out at the grounds. The cold wind picked up, brushing her hair towards the lake.

'What's wrong, Shade?' Chloe asked. Shade went to the side of the tower and looked down at the lake. There on the other side the banks looked black and daunting. What surprised Shade so much was the fact that Dumbledore hadn't noticed anything. She could see a bird sitting on the roof nearby.

'Nothing' Shade said after a moments' pause. She gave another glance before dismissing it and smiling at her friends.

'Shade?' Chloe asked, looking at her.

'What?'

'Something's wrong' Chloe said. Shade frowned at her.

'Leave me alone' she said. Anne-Marie's lip wavered.

'Shade?' Anne asked. She threw a dark look at the small girl and headed for the stairwell.

'Why don't you trust us, Shade?' Chloe asked after her. Shade ignored her and walked off.

'You know what, Shade? Fuck you! I've had it with your mysterious bullshit! Go find some other friends to abandon!' Chloe shouted. Shade just walked down the stone corridors. She couldn't even be bothered to light her wand. Tears formed in her eyes slowly as she carried herself down the stairs. She felt weak and light-headed. After five minutes, she collapsed on the stairs. Tears rolled out of her eyes. The moonlight shone on her weak corpse. Shade cried and cried, trying to get up. Her body was too weak. She could see her bones slightly through her skin. She was nothing.

'Miss Lestrange?' Shade looked up slightly. Her head felt heavy.

'Miss Lestrange, are you alright?' Another tear rolled down her damp face. A woman crouched behind her, shaking her gently. Shade closed her eyes slowly.

'Miss Lestange?'

Whoever had found Shade had left her again. She woke up alone and cold with a cramp in her shoulder. She pulled her hair back from her face and retied her hair. There was no one around. The moon was still high.

'How am I going to get to the common room now?' she asked herself. Slowly, Shade climbed to her feet and shivered. It was getting colder. She rested herself on the handrail and eased her way down. She still felt weak.

Why had she joined Lord Voldemort? Why did she have to lose everything for him? Her dream flashed back in to view.

'Mother' she whimpered. Shade stumbled down a few steps, her feet searching for a place to land safely. The dark corridors ahead seemed endless.

'Mother!' Shade shouted. She was lost, cold and tired. Why was she so alone? Why was she?

'WHY?' she screamed, holding her hands to her face. Her knees gave way on the top step. Shade fell down the next flight of stairs, landing on soft carpet. Her arms and legs felt bruised. There was a sharp stinging near her temple. She supposed this was where she had hit a step. She rolled slowly onto her back, clawing at her face with her nails.

'Why, why, why, why, why?' she repeated, sobbing in the darkness. Not even the moonlight shone through the filtered windows. Shade was alone in the darkness.

'Shade'

Shade ignored it, crying in the black of the hallway. The darkness was all around her, ready to engulf her. She was alone in the dark, alone and cold. She felt naked. Her body was nothing. She was a decomposing corpse. Nothing.

'SHADE!'

She couldn't hear it. She couldn't hear it. She was deaf. Her eyes searched in the black. Nothing. She was truly alone. Her heart was empty. She could feel her soul dying. She was dying. She was nothing.

'SHADE! SHADE!'

She closed her eyes. She was finally in the darkness where she belonged. Suddenly someone touched her. No, she was not touched… someone grabbed her. Someone had pulled her into his or her arms. Tears were falling onto her face. She could feel someone holding her close. Shade opened her eyes. There was still darkness, but she could see light. The light was holding her. Shade tried to focus on the person but her eyes seemed to be fuzzy.

'Shade, listen to me. I'm going to take you to the hospital wing. You have to tell me if you are injured anywhere. Talk to me!'

She recognised the voice slowly, her eyes adjusting to the glow. A boy with almost white hair and green eyes looked down at her intently. Shade felt her throat catch with tears.

'Shade' he said.

'Help-'

Everything went black.

Shade woke up in a warm room, covered with thick blankets. She felt her bare skin against the soft material and gave a small smile to herself.

'So you're awake.'

Shade blushed and quickly pulled her covers around her. She sat up cautiously so she covered herself, viewing the speaker carefully. Pandemonium smiled, leaning back a little on the chair.

'I've been worried about you' he said. Shade blushed deeper.

'How do you feel?' he asked. Shade looked at the window.

'Tired. I've felt better' she said. Pandemonium stood up.

'Maybe you'll feel better if I let you change.' Shade nodded lightly as he pulled the blinds between them. She quickly got out of bed and started pulling on the clothes lain on a chair. She pulled on the white tank top and black underwear first before a pair of baggy black jeans.

'Done' she called. Pandemonium came back in and closed the blinds behind him. It was sunset.

'How long was I asleep for?' Shade asked. Pandemonium pulled up a chair and sat opposite her.

'I think about two days this morning. They've given you loads of food, complaining you are too skinny' he said. Shade gave a smile.

'I'm sorry I missed our engagement' she said. Pandemonium just laughed.

'It's no big deal. I can tell you now if you like' he said. Shade nodded. She didn't feel like talking much.

'Well, I've been meaning to tell you this for a while now, but I have found someone very alluring. I have been eyeing this person for a while now, trying to talk to them or meet them for a while. I wanted to ask this person if she wanted to come with me to the Halloween Ball, and whether she would date me. I believe I love this woman' he said. Shade nodded slightly. Pandemonium took her hand and walked her over to the window.

'Shade' he said. He closed his eyes and moved towards her. Shades eyes automatically closed as he kissed her lips. They kissed softly, Malfoy's arms holding her tightly. Shade felt tears form in her eyes. He broke this kiss, looking deeply into her eyes.

'I think I love you.'

A/N: Ok, It's been AGES since my last update but here it is. The next chapter in Shade. I felt like crying through this whole thing. It's so damn sad. Well, when you find out what happens next, you'll be surprised. It's so weird writing Shade because I love her but I'm giving her so much angst. It's so depressing as well. Well GIVE ME SOME FEEDBACK! If you don't I'll stop writing and you'll never know what happens in the end! Hahaha

Not like anyone's reading this anyway…

Sigh!

R&R R&R R&R!

PLEASE!!!!