Dark Days Pass But Are Never Forgotten
By: Logical Raven

Hello everyone....I'm glad to see the site is back up and running better than ever. I know the past few chapters haven't been my best, but I really am happy with this one. The poition Noel made is not the one she described to Susan, that is the decoy potion.
Noel biggest fear is knowing what people truely think of her. She'd never admit that to anyone though. She doesn't care what Harry thinks. She made the potion to see if she cared for him, because she considers feelings like that a weakness. I hope that helps....Well without further delay.....

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Nothing is my Own

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Thanks again!!!



A Change in Direction



Harry mind felt foggy suddenly as he turned around to look at the person he had grown to loath so much. Noel's expression was one of confusion as words slipped out of his mouth before he could stop himself.

"You're breathtaking."

He wasn't sure what he was expecting, but it wasn't what he saw. Noel's normally harsh face was somehow softer. Harry shuttered as her normally stern face melted into a grin.

"What are you saying, she isn't breathtaking, she's horrible," Harry mind screamed, but his body didn't seem to be listening.

Noel seemed to have shaken herself out of shock and she was whispering as one does to a small dog or child, "That's right Harry, come over here."

"NO! What are you doing?" Harry mentally screamed, but his legs walked towards her.

Noel gently brushed one of his cheeks and he shuttered. Her touch was as cold as ice.

"What about Moody?" Harry asked. His voice seemed distant, but it was the first thought he had managed to materialize in the past minutes.

Noel sighed, "He isn't coming. I lied."

He was about to ask why when Noel seized his face and brought it down to met her own. A burst of fire erupted somewhere in Harry's chest as his body grew rigid under the contact.

"Stop, what are you doing?" he asked himself as he tried to tear himself away from his situation, as soon as his lips left her he felt the surge of a dagger into his chest and he shrieked in pain.

Noel gasped as she threw her hands over her mouth. Harry crumpled to the floor and drew his knees up into his chest. Panic filled Noel's voice as she dropped her knees and cradled Harry's head.

"Let me see," she demanded tugging at Harry's jumper.

"What's wrong with me?" Harry moaned as he tried unsuccessfully to fight off Noel's touch.

Noel closed her eyes as the horrible truth was revealed; under Harry's sweater was a growing dark purple region, a common symptom of bleeding heart. Her mind raced as she mentally cursed herself for not perfecting the potion.

Harry groaned as Noel bit her bottom lip. She could only do one thing, if she didn't the effect of the potion could kill him. Noel lowered her head and planted her lips firmly on his. He made a motion to pull away but suddenly stopped. Though his mind told him he shouldn't be doing what he was doing, the pain in his chest subsided. In fact the more fiercely he kissed her the less he was aware he was in any pain at all. His thought seemed to disappear. The only thought that mattered was that this pain was not present. Noel let a moan of surprise as Harry sat upright only to lean over her pushing her onto her back.

"This isn't right. What are you doing?" his mind was screaming, but every time he tried to pull back the pain erupted. It was as if someone was ramming a steel beam into his chest.

It took a moment for Noel to finally realize what was happening as her mind and heart raced. The more passionately he kissed her, the more she seemed to forget the reason he was kissing her. Occasionally he would attempt to pull away but the grimace on his face as he returned told her the reason why. It wasn't feelings he had for her it was the potion.

A grunt escaped Noel's lips as she shoved Harry forcefully off her and cut him a cold glare. Harry immediately crumpled to the floor as he shook with pain.

"Listen to me, you have to fight it," Noel hissed as she attempted to wipe her lips off with the back of her hands.

Harry didn't respond, he was having some sort of a fit as he clutched his chest tightly. If Noel had been an emotion person, she would have lost it right then and there, but she wasn't.

Noel walked back leaning down near Harry, catching a glimpse of his tear filled green eyes. He tried to speak, but he couldn't produce a sound. Noel frowned as she lifted up his jumper again to examine the effects. It was something out of a horror movie and Harry's entire chest was lit up like a gigantic blood blister. Noel cringed as she made a move to cover up her work when she felt Harry's hand seize her around the neck and bring her back down to his lips.

The pain didn't completely diminish this time, though it lessened considerably. Noel tried to pull back, but Harry was clinging on to her for dear life, desperately trying to rid himself of his pain. Nothing else seemed to matter at the moment.

Suddenly the feel of her lips against his wasn't enough and his mind told him he need more, he had to be closer to her.

Noel gasped as Harry's hand tugged at the bottom of her blouse.

"Stop," she whispered.

Harry ignored her cried as he backed her against the floor pressing his weight down upon her. Noel eyes glimmered with excitement and confusion. It was a sensation she had never been privilege to before. Noel tugged forcefully at Harry's hands as his lips carried down near her shoulders like a hungry dog.

Suddenly reality hit her, it seemed to have a funny way of presenting it self at the worst possible moments. What had she done? Noel eyes grew as she desperately tried to push Harry off her. He was much stronger and the look in his eyes was no longer the Harry Potter she knew, she wasn't sure what he was anymore.

"NO!" Noel screamed as she gave him a hard shove.

Harry shoved back pinning her firmly to the floor, Noel was shocked by his violent reaction and suddenly panic began to overtake her. She managed to free her wrist to glance at her watch. The potion still had a good half an hour left in it. No telling what could happen in the period of time.

"NO!" Noel said loudly again giving Harry a swift knee into the groin.

Harry curled into a ball and Noel pushed him off his mount. She drew out her wand as her mind began to race in confusion. What was she going to do? Certainly if Potter died the truth would come out, especially since Susan had some idea what she had been up to.
She made a mental note not to finish the other potion and tell Bones that love potions were just too dangerous. Noel sighed as Harry's eyes once again looked up her pleadingly.

Why hadn't she just added that one part? Why had she been so afraid that he wouldn't have had feeling for her? It was a stroke of brilliance when Susan had caught her during her initial steps of the potion, but this potion wasn't about discovering Harry's feeling for her. No, she had made this potion for a selfish reason.

Harry reached out towards her and mouthed her name. She wrapped her arms around herself as she closed her eyes knowing the worst was coming.

"It's a potion Harry, what you're feeling isn't real," Noel said firmly kneeling down to an exhausted looking Harry.

Harry's eyes grew slightly wider, but Noel couldn't tell if it was because of her words or the severe internal bleeding.

"I'm sorry," Noel muttered letting her fingers linger across his face. He closed his eyes as if her touch was giving him some relief. Her head dropped as she felt the need to scream. What had she done?

Suddenly she felt a warm tear drizzle down her face. She moved her hand from Harry's face and touched in mild surprise. Noel held her hand away from her as if what she had just touched was a dangerous object.

"Please," Harry croaked in a barely audible plea as Noel snapped her head back towards him.

She slowly moved her hand back towards his face as her fingers danced across his scar. Harry's eyes began to flutter close and Noel felt a sharp constriction within her chest. She had made her bed, and she had no choice now but to lie in it. With a shaky breath she lowered her head back down to his.

"Pass me the blister shrinking potion," Terry said quickly as he glanced at Hermione.

It wouldn't take someone with Hermione's IQ to see something was clearly wrong. Terry tried to coax a smile out of her, but remained unsuccessful. She merely pursed her lips and handed the bottle over towards him.

"There you are Mr. Tarhill. Just two drops tomorrow and it should be as good as new," Terry announced.

Hermione scowled as Mr. Tarhill popped back on his hat and walked briskly out the door.
Terry sighed as soon as their patient had cleared and shook his head.

"What is wrong?"

Hermione tutted, "This just isn't what I expected we'd be doing."

"We're students. Not only that, we're the youngest students in training currently," Terry reminded her.

Hermione rolled her eyes and started stacking the potions alphabetically, "You don't think it's a bit degrading? We aren't doing anything worth doing. I mean honestly, blisters…"

"We'll move into the bigger stuff later. You have to make a start somewhere. You can't just start out with complex internal charms." He gave a quick stretch and glanced down at his watch, "We've got a good half an hour for lunch, do you want to grab a bit to eat?"

Hermione frowned as if the thought of food was repulsive but she eventually nodded, "I know I'm being silly. You're right, we can't start off doing complex spells and charms now can we. Although I think it would be more effective if we didn't have to bother with patients like Mr. Tarhill, can't the healing assistance do that type of thing?"

"Nah, their assisting the healers with important cases," Terry joked, causing Hermione to rolled he eyes again.

Hermione lifted her chin as she saw Terry frown and she sighed, "I think you did a fine job tending to Mr. Tarhill's blisters. You were much more patient than I was."

"It's alright, I know you have other things on your mind right now," Terry offered.

Hermione narrowed her eyes stopping in mid stride, "What is that suppose to mean?"

"Well, you're still fighting with Ron aren't you?" Terry asked.

Hermione crossed her arms firmly across her chest and looked at Terry defiantly, "Ron has nothing to do with me disliking the ridiculous assignments their giving us."

Terry shook his head and starting walking again, leaving Hermione alone with her fumes.
She didn't budge until Terry was down the corridor out of sight. It was true; she had been in a touchy mood since her falling out with Ron. If she could just make herself resolve the fight and fix things, then she was sure things would go on like nothing had happened. She just couldn't. If she and Ron were going to work out, then he had to learn to get over his jealousy. She nodded as if to affirm her thoughts and started back on her path towards the galley.

She had walked a few steps when she heard what sounded like bickering only one sided.
Hermione changed her direction and followed the angry voice into a corridor off the main lobby at St. Mungo and caught sight of something that made her blood boil.

Mr. Tarhill was shaking his wand at his trembling house elf, clearly reprimanding him about something. She might have been able to walk away if it wasn't for what he did next. With a swift foot he gave the elf a good kick.

"You evil man!" Hermione shrilled approaching, "What did that poor creature do to you?"

Mr. Tarhill straightend up and adjusted his tall black hat, and answered with a dignified sounding voice, "This matter doesn't concern you."

"You are abusing your elf just because you think you're better then him or her," Hermione said swiftly, "You should be ashamed of yourself. You're nothing but an ungrateful ignorant bully. You don't deserve a servant, you have no idea…"

The man narrowed his eyes and flashed Hermione a cold glare, holding his hand up to hush her, "I will not tolerate this type of action towards me. I own this elf he is my property! I will do with my property as I please. It make me neither ignorant nor ungrateful."

"Property?" Hermione asked with an expression of shock and anger, "He isn't property he is a living creature, with feeling….Or perhaps you don't know what feeling are since you obviously haven't got any."

The house elf shook madly dashing behind his master as if Hermione had thrown the worst insult possible at him.

"I demand to see your superior, I will not tolerate this type of disrespect!" Mr. Tarhill fumed.

Hermione snarled her nose, "The way your house elf tolerate yours?"

"Is there a problem here?"

Hermione whirled around and saw her superior and teacher Healer Wheeler with a confused expression.

"Are you responsible for this witch?" Mr. Tarhill demanded, jabbing a finger at Hermione.

"Miss Granger?" Healer Wheeler asked as he studied her face, "Are you having a problem with Mr. Tarhill?"

"Yes," Hermione spat acidly, "He was abusing his house elf."

"It's my business Jack, I will not her questioning how I keep my servants in order," Mr. Tarhill snapped quickly.

Hermione eyes widened, "You wicked man!"

"Hermione," Healer Wheeler said in a rather harsh voice, "Perhaps nobody told you but Mr. Tarhill is one of the Academy's Healing training programs strongest financial supporter."

Hermione caught on quickly to what Healer Wheeler was saying but it only strengthen her anger.

"She attacked me Jake, is this what my money is going towards? Insane witches who attack people. I thought my contributions were meant to better society not to educate nut cases," Mr. Tuthill hissed, not taking his eyes off Hermione.

Hermione started to protest but Healer Wheeler quickly placed a hand on her shoulder to distract her, "I'm sure this is just a misunderstanding. Miss Granger is one of our brightest students. She was top of her year at Hogwarts."

"I don't really care about her academic resume. I'm sure she's quite brilliant, I just don't particular like having meddlesome witches nosing in my affairs," Mr Tarhill spat impatiently.

"Yes, of course. Miss Granger, I think you owe Mr. Tarhill an apology," Healer Wheeler said trying to keep a calm face.

Hermione drew back in a frown, "I will do no such thing. He kicked his house elf. He was shouting at it so loudly I could hear him from up the corridor."

"Miss Granger, that is Mr. Tarhill's business," Healer Wheeler said sternly.

Hermione gasped at the injustice, and set her face in stern determination, "I will offer no apologies until Mr. Tarhill apologizes to his elf for acting like a ignorant oaf."

"Hermione," Healer Wheeler said looking quite upset as Mr. Tarhill sneered in a hateful gesture.

"Perhaps I'm funding the wrong program at the Academy," Mr. Tarhill said in a twist towards Healer Wheeler, "I trust this situation will be resolved."

"Of course Mr. Tarhill. I'm on top of the situation," Healer Wheeler said slowly, watching Hermione as if he almost dared her to speak.

With a quick flash of his cloak Mr.Tarhill marched out into the main lobby and out the main door of St. Mungo with his whimpering house elf at his heels. Hermione stared after him with a look of complete loathing imprinted onto her face.

"I'm afraid you give me little choice in this situation," Healer Wheeler sighed, "A month's suspension, without the ability to make up the assignments. I'm afraid you're just going to have to be a bit behind."

"I'm being punished?" Hermione asked looking amazed that something so ridiculous could even be suggested.

"I don't have much of a choice," Healer Wheeler said heavily.

Hermione narrowed her eyes, "Much of a choice? That foul excuse for a wizard was practically beating his house elf. What did I do wrong? I merely took up for a creature that couldn't take up for himself!"

"Mr. Tarhill is an important man, Hermione. He is by far the programs largest contributor. His donations pay for your training and your salary."

"Well, I don't want his money," Hermione snapped looking insulted, "it isn't right. Just because he has money…"

"He's an important man. His family is the largest distributor of butter beer in all of Europe."

Hermione sneered, "Well, explains it then doesn't it."

"Explains what?" Wheeler asked with a slightly puzzled look.

"Why he contributes to our program. He needs someone to patch up all the bloody idiots he gets drunk and injured," Hermione spat.

"I'm not saying what you did wasn't noble, you just shouldn't have done it," Wheeler tried to put lightly.

Hermione crinkled her nose, "I wasn't trying to be noble. I decided to become a healer because I wanted to make a difference, not because I wanted to heal blister off rich old fools… I don't think I made the right decision."

"The right decision?" Wheeler continued, his expression not changing.

Hermione took in a deep breath trying to look as professional as possible, "There won't be any need in suspending me….I'm resigning from my position."

Wheeler looked almost like he was about to laugh, and he probably would have if is wasn't for Hermione's serious expression, "You're quitting. Do you realize what you're saying? Wizards and witches spend their whole life for an opportunity like the one you were offered. You're making a mistake child. Don't throw your life away for an elf."

"You don't get it. He isn't just an elf," Hermione finished as she quickly turned for the door, "I'll have my dormitory and study room cleared out by tomorrow."

"Please think about this," Wheeler pleaded, "Don't do something you're going to regret."

Hermione lifted her chin, "I won't."

The hour was late as Cho Chang stifled a yawn. Her back was bowed from her heavy stack of book and her eyes were red rimmed from over reading again. At the moment the only thing that she wanted to do was collapse into her bed and try to forget why she was turning to her studies so desperately.

She had tried to find a way not to dream. If she wore herself out to the point of pure exhaustion then she wouldn't see the picture of Harry and Ginny replaying over and over in her mind. Cho had let her defenses down and now she was walking blindly lost in that thought.

She stopped abruptly at the edge of the corridor steps with a mildly shocked expression. She had completely lost track of where she was heading.

"Brilliant Cho, people are going to think you're loony if you keep this up," she scowled at herself before heading the opposite direction to the descending stairs. Cho felt her heart constrict in her chest as she caught a glimpse of a shadow rushing ahead of her. It wasn't normal to find someone out so late in the Academy. A rested mind was a ready mind after all.

Her curious nature drove her to quicken her pace to see if she could figure out who was wandering alone at this time of night. She bit her lip wondering if it was safe to call out. Moody truly did make his students paranoid. Cho frowned at the thought and willed all her Ravenclaw courage, which wasn't much up into her throat, "Hello, is anyone there?"

Cho froze as she thought she heard something shuffle in one of the meeting rooms. Her heart was pounding in her chest so fast she was sure it was going to explode. Cho wrapped her fingers around the handle of her wand, not daring to pull it out.

"Is there anybody there," she attempted in a strong solid voice that only seemed to quiver with nervousness.

The halls were very dark and Cho narrowed eyes were little defense with a quick thought she pulled out her wand, lighting the tip. The corridor erupted with light as she searched again.

Finally she sighed, deciding she must have heard a mouse or something.

"You really are rather stupid sometimes," she muttered to herself as she noxed her wand and tucked it back into its wand holder.

She shook her head one final time and started towards the descending stairs when she heard a very distinctive moan. Her eyes bulged as her heart went from racing to suddenly stopping. This time she knew it was not her imagination.

Cho bit her lip in determination and seized her wand tightly facing the door she had heard the noise come though. With a deep breath she raised her foot and let it hit hard against the wood, pushing it open.

"Stop, or I'll be force you to curse you," Cho warned entering the room and aiming her wand at a crumpled heap on the floor.

The heap merely let out another long moan and Cho slowly approached, she prodded what she assumed to be its shoulder and rolled her suspect over. Immediately she dropped to her knees throwing her hands to her face.

"Harry!" Cho exclaimed, "Are you alright? What happened?"

Harry moaned again as he clutched his chest and took another deep breath, "I don't remember."

"Just don't move, it looks like you're hurt pretty badly," Cho whispered trying to cradle his head in her lap, "Where does it hurt?"

"My chest, my chest feels like someone just shot a bludger into it," Harry croaked and he attempted a few more breaths with some difficulties.

Cho gently pushed his hair out of his eyes, "Let me have a look."

Her hand shook slightly as she pulled back his jumper to examine the damage, "You've got a nasty bruise, it looks like someone hit you with a curse or something."

Harry groaned again rolling back onto his side with some difficulty, "Did you see Noel?"

"Noel O'Riley?" Cho asked as if she knew another Noel.

"We had a meeting with Moody. Last thing I remember was leaving to go get December," Harry whispered, "If someone attacked me, they may have attacked her as well."

"She isn't in the room," Cho said softly looking around, "I should go get help."

Harry let his eyes linger up towards her face, "Don't leave."

Cho felt the familiar feeling of heat creeping up towards her face and she attempted to hide it with a frown, "Harry, you're hurt. I need to get you to the hospital wing."

Harry shook his head, "I'm fine. It's getting better honestly."

Cho looked at him skeptically as he attempted to sit up but failed, "You look loads better."

"I'm not letting you wander alone in the corridor if there is somebody out there who could attack you," Harry sighed.

"You concern is appreciated, but I think I can manage. I was out in the corridor before I found you and I didn't see anything suspicious," Cho said firmly, knowing that it wasn't completely true.

Harry finally managed to sit up, though he was still clinging to his chest, "Can you help me to the hospital wing?"

Cho nodded slowly as she attempted to pull Harry to his feet. He wobbled slightly almost causing both of them to fall, but she soon felt his weight settle onto her shoulder.

"Alright?" Harry asked with a pinched pain filled face.

Cho sighed, "This is ridiculous. You don't need to be walking. Even if there is somebody out there who might attack, I'm a lot better off trying to defend myself. I'll seal the door so nobody can get in so you'll be safe."

Harry shook his head in between short breaths, "I'm fine, I can make it."

"And what if we're attacked?" Cho asked.

Harry acted like he was trying to smile but it looked more like a grimace, "Don't worry, I won't let anything happen to you."

Cho set Harry back to the ground where he collapsed with a loud moan.

"I'll be back in a bit, just don't move to much," Cho instructed.

Harry reached out barely catching her hand, "I'm not letting you go."

Cho sighed trying to frustrated, "Please, don't argue with me about this."

"You're still mad at me, I suppose," Harry forced out.

She frowned, "Now is not the time to talk about our personal lives."

"What if something happens and I never get to say I'm sorry," Harry said as lightly as he could, gripping his chest at his last word.

Cho shook her head and pulled Harry back to his feet, "Come on. I'll help you to the hospital wing."

Harry forced a smile and mouthed a silent thank-you. It was a long uneventful journey. Cho was positive she was going to collapse from exhaustion, but just when she thought she couldn't take another step Harry seemed to take some of his weight off her.

Cho finally pushed the hospital wing door open with her foot and led Harry inside, setting him down on one of the beds.

"I'm going to go find whoever is on duty," Cho said softly as she pulled a pillow under his head.

"Will you come back?" Harry asked, his voice sounding a bit more normal.

Cho froze for a second and muttered a barely audible, "Yes."

Harry seemed satisfied with her answer and laid his head back onto his pillow, closing his eyes. She paused for a second as she studied his featured before snapped back into reality.

The floor was cold and hard as Draco felt his beaten pride smash against it.

"I don't care about your pathetic excuses!"

Draco touched his bleeding lip and spit a bit of blood out as he cut his eyes towards the man he had grown to hate more than he ever thought possible.

"I've told you, sir, they won't talk to me," Draco said harshly shaking to keep his composure.

"Those traitors that you use to hang out with at Hogwarts. Crabb, Goyle, Marcus?" Moody barked.

Draco didn't flinch as Moody walked closer his wild eye pounding in its socket as it studied him.

"They were cleared… They won't know anything," Draco continued in a deep hate filled tone.

Moody sneered, "I'll be the judge of that, Malfoy. You will try to pry information out of anyone I tell you to. I'll decide it they know anything or not."

"Do you plan on sending your fools with me again?" Draco hissed.

Moody face grew red as he raised his wand with a growl, "Are you questioning me?"

"No sir," Malfoy spat.

"Get up off the floor, you're getting it dirty," Moody continued turning away but never taking his magical eye off of Draco.

Draco slowly pulled himself off the floor and dusted off his robes. He still was a pureblood and as so wouldn't be seen in a dirt cover robe.

"You're going to Hogmeade today, Malfoy," Moody instructed, "We know Parkinson is working at The Relic Shop. Her father is a convicted Death Eater, responsible for a number of Ministry deaths. I want to know if she knows anything about what her kind are up to."

"Pansy won't know anything," Draco said slowly.

Moody's hand smashed against Draco's face as he fought to keep from crashing to the floor, "Do not dare question me!"

Draco moved his head back into a dignified pose; "I apologize. I've seemed to forget you don't believe a word I say."

Moody narrowed his good eye and tossed towel over towards him, "Wipe that blood off your face, you look like fool standing there bleeding all over yourself. Get your cloak."

It seemed like only seconds later Draco was pulling his fall cloak around his shoulders and walking through the crowded streets of Hogmeade. He found little peace in that fact, especially since he was well aware that Mad-Eye Moody was merely paces behind him hidden for the view of the average witch or wizard.

Malfoy walked passed the shops that had seemed so inviting in his youth, now they were mere teases, being dangled in front of him. He was no longer in Azkaban, but he was still a prisoner.

The Relic was a shop similar to the shop his father visited in Diagon Alley when he was a young boy. It was full of strange magical devices and dark object whose explanation was lost in history. The shop smelled of ancient dust and the sunlight barely made its presents known.

"Can I help you?" ask an elder witch whose face was set in a suspicious pinch.

Draco sneered at her appearance and pulled his cloak tightly around himself as if he were around a foul beast, "I'm looking for Pansy Parkinson."

The witch turned her head as her eyes moved to examine him from head to toe, "What be your business with her?"

Draco lip curled as he felt a swift prod in his back, reminding him he still was being watched, "I'm a friend from Hogwarts."

"Hogwarts is it now?" the witch asked, "Likely excuse, easy to make up one like that. Can I be given her a name?"

"Draco," Malfoy said in a low whisper, "Draco Malfoy."

The witched eye grew wide, "Malfoy is it?"

"Yes," Draco sneered as he narrowed is eyes, daring her to make fun of his family name.

The witched grinned as she moved towards the back room with a slight hobble. A moment later Pansy made her way out.

"Well, look who it is?" she said with a half smile half glare.

Draco forced a return smile as he bend down to kiss her hand as a proper wizard would to a pureblood female witch, "Pansy, it has been far to long."

Pansy allowed Draco his pleasantries before snapping her nose towards the sky, "What brings you to my family's shop today? In the trade for something?"

Draco shook his head, "I've been released from Azkaban. I heard you were working here in Hogmeade and desired a chat with you."

"Draco, you never have desired a chat with me. Why would you desire one now?" Pansy asked in false sweet voice.

Malfoy could almost feel Moody's breath on his back as he forced himself not to look backwards, "Perhaps you'll forgive me for the stupidity I showed during Hogwarts, and entertain me over a bit of lunch."

Pansy sneered at the comment, "I'm not sure it's a good idea to be seen in public with the likes of you. They say your family has been disgraced. Is it true that your mother has gone mad?"

Malfoy held his temper, "My mother has not gone mad, but my family has been disgraced."

Parkinson grinned and motioned for Draco to follow her into the back of her shop. Her office was similar to the rest of the shop, dark and dusty.

"Sit, Draco. Can I offer you anything to drink or eat?" Pansy asked snapping her fingers to summon her house elf.

Draco declined the offer as he pulled back his cloak in a regal fashion and sat in the antique chair.

"What are you real intentions? Surely you did not come to Hogmeade to flatter me," Pansy asked bluntly.

Draco smirked, she always did have a way with words; "I'm looking for revenge."

"Revenge?" Pansy smiled, "Why am I not surprised. May I ask who you are looking to get revenge on or can I venture a guess?"

"I don't think you'd need to guess who I have in mind," Draco replied, hoping Moody wouldn't catch on, but knowing he already had.

Pansy sneered, "Potter, such a horrid looking boy. I read in the Prophet he is becoming quite popular with the female population. Don't know how really, I always found him a bit of a toad."

"I haven't time for such gossip. I have more pressing issues at the time," Draco snapped, she also had a way of annoying him to no ends.

"How do you plan on getting your revenge then?" Pansy snapped back.

Draco lowered his voice, though he knew it was useless, "Have you heard from our type? Is the Dark Lord truly gone?"

Pansy's eyes widened, "My father never wouldn't tell me much. I am a woman, and not allowed to pry in such matters."

Draco sighed in relief, "I thought that would be your answer."

"But," Pansy smirked, "I have heard rumors here in the store about a new rising. They say your father is in command."

"My father?" Draco asked looking slightly surprised, " From whom have you heard these rumors from?"

"The shop is dark. Most customers are merely shadowy figures without faces," Pansy whispered low, "I can keep a sharp ear, incase I hear of anything. I can even drop your name into the circle if you'd like."

Malfoy blinked hard at Pansy's words, "Yes, do keep a sharp ear. I'll be contact."

Pansy smiled broadly, "I've missed you Draco."

The words hit Malfoy like a cold burst of air causing him to shutter involuntarily. He left quickly without another word, fearing he would say something he'd regret if he didn't leave immediately.

The far side of Hogmeade was place she still felt safe. Here Luna was surrounded by supporters of her master. She clutched tightly to her robe, shielding her face from prying eyes. She was a known Death Eater, and being such she couldn't participate in society like others.

A swish of blond caught her eyes as the doors to The Relic flew open. A moment later the doors opened again as if pushed but a brisk breeze. Luna narrowed her eyes as allowed her feet to carry her towards the shop. Inside was a comforting murk. Luna's fingers gently brushed a shelf holding heart devours and mind reapers.

"Finding everything?"

Luna turned to the hutched back witch eyeing her slightly as if trying to see though her heavy robes.

"Is your lady in?" Luna asked quickly, "I have a trade."

The witched nodded and hobbled towards the back room. Luna clutched her wand tightly beneath her robe. Coming here was always a risk. She half expected an Auror to burst though the doors and try to arrest her, but she wouldn't go down without a fight. If they took her, it would be in a body bag.

Pansy Parkinson appeared moments later with a suspicious eye, she was probably just as aware as Luna how dangerous these types of interactions were.

"I have need for some objects," Luna said in a quite voice, "I'm here to place it on the Mr. Malfoy's orders."

Pansy smiled as she pulled out a pad, "My services are always available to the servants of the Dark Lord."

"I'm in need of some snivling worm, a ball of gazzat and a bottle of restricted sleeping serum," Luna listed quickly.

Pansy snapped her fingers as the hobbling witch began to gather the order.

"Did you happen to catch a glimpse as who just left this shop?" Pansy asked causally.

Luna turned her head, keeping her face revealed, "Who?"

"The Malfoy heir," Pansy said lightly, "He's out of Azkaban."

"Why would I be interested in such information?" Luna hissed.

Pansy smirked, "I thought your master might find it interesting. He's looking for him."

Luna nodded as she tossed a bag of gallaons onto the counter and seized her bag of ingredients, "Speak of this interaction to no one."

"He wants revenge on Potter," Pansy continued as if Luna had asked her continues, "Rather interesting… he wants his name dropped back into the circle."

Luna nodded as she quickly left the shop and disapparated back to her safe haven.

Next Update: 07-04-04!!!!