Chapter Seven: An Unsuspected Relation

The days went by with out anymore incident from Pansy or Tesania. Draco had become even more intent on finding out whom Tesania Nightshade was and where she came from, but Zabini, Crabbe and Goyle had no success in finding anything out. Draco had begun to watch how she acted with other people and how she acted when she was alone. The only thing he didn't like at the moment was that he was beginning to feel like a stalker.

Tesania sat in the corner of the Slytherin Common room with a book in her lap. From a far he could read the title: Demon in my View. Sounded interesting, but he shook his head as he moved past her and out the secret doorway into the rest of the dungeons. When he exited and was out of ear shot of Tesania, Zabini walked over to him with a grin on his face that even made him become worried.

"Well I have news for you that we didn't know before." said Zabini slyly.

"Yeah and what's that?" said Draco now realizing what this was about.

"The new potions teacher…" he paused. Maybe this wasn't what he thought the news was going to be. "Is Nightshade's father." Then again. Draco looked shocked. The new potions teacher is Tesania's father.

"So then the teacher's name is Mr. Nightshade?" asked Draco questionably. He didn't remember hearing that name.

"No, the potions teacher is Mr. Ruche." Draco knew that name very well. This was the same man that kept in touch with his father, but his father never told him about why he was talking to a man that wasn't a wizard, or so he thought he wasn't. His father made it seem like the man was something else, but apparently the man was more than what he appeared to be as well. Could Tesania and Mr. Ruche have the same secret? Then he remembered what Tesania had said on the train.

Draco's face became urgent and he walked down the corridors that he and Zabini had just walked through. He had to get to the common room and find Tesania. There was something he wanted to know.

"Zabini. I need you to find out more about Mr. Ruche." Zabini nodded and he jogged away. Draco continued his fast speed towards the common room. He was only a corridor away when one of Pansy's friends ran up to him.

"Malfoy, Pansy is really hurt. You need to talk to her." She didn't sound like she cared all that much but sounded more demanding. Malfoy became annoyed again.

"If you think I need to talk to her, and then have her come to me herself that way I can spell it out for her. She and I are through. Now move out of my way." He moved past the girl and walked fast down the hallway.

"If you're looking for Nightshade, then you just missed her. She walked off towards the great hall." Draco didn't look back at the girl. He didn't believe her, he that that she may have been trying to keep him away from her. But why would she? Was Pansy arguing with Tesania again? He remembered the day that they were in Defense Against the Dark Arts class. Pansy had wanted to fight Tesania, but he had a feeling that the new girl could hold her own. Only that was a month ago almost, why would she still want to fight her? They were avoiding each other and were doing a good job at it. Then again why was she still dragging on about her and him? They weren't going out anymore and no matter how many times he told her, she didn't seem to get the message.

Draco walked in the common room and over to the chairs where she had sat before. She wasn't there. Pansy's friend must have been telling the truth. He went to turn around and head for the Great Hall, but a glimpse of something shiny caught his eye. He turned back to the chair and saw something stuck in between the cushion and the arm. He grabbed it and pulled it out. It was a necklace with two crescent moons stuck together at their points. One was black and the other was gold. On the black moon were gold jewels and on the gold moon were black jewels. He looked at it curiously, but then remembered the reason why he was trying to find her. He placed the necklace in his pocket and then stormed out of the common room and out into the twisting corridors to the Great Hall.

Harry, Ron, Ginny and Hermione were just about to walk through the doors that led to the Great Hall when Malfoy ran around the corner and past them. The four watched him as they saw him run down the Grand Staircase and to the main floor. He stopped and spoke to another Slytherin. They saw the person point to the great oak doors that led to the grounds of Hogwarts. Draco sped off and ran outside.

"He was sure in a hurry." said Ginny holding onto Harry's hand. They had watched him curiously until Ron had pushed them all forward, getting them to remember that they were all headed in the same direction as Malfoy.

"Come on, we're still going to Hagrid's." he said as he moved back into place beside them. Harry nodded and they continued on their way down to their friend's hut. They walked through the giant doors and down the steps. Harry looked around to see if he could see Malfoy still running around. He found him standing by the lake with Tesania. Why was he in such a hurry to talk to her? He shook away the thoughts. He would bring them up again later with Ron and Hermione.

Draco finally caught his breath and then looked at Tesania. He had to look down at her since she was shorter then he was. When he looked into her eyes he saw the reflection of the sparkling lake beside him. She caught the sense that he really needed to talk to her and there were too many people around.

"Come on let's walk around the lake." She turned and began to walk; he stood up straight and followed her. He didn't know why she didn't want to stand and talk but he didn't bother asking.

"I wanted to talk to you about a few things."

"Like what?" she asked. She didn't sound worried about what he may ask her, but he knew that as soon as he brought up the topic she may get defensive but he wanted to know.

"Is Mr. Ruche your father?" She stopped and turned to face him. She had a somewhat serious expression and she was looking into his eyes. She was searching his face for the reason why he had asked her that question. "Is he the same person from the train?" He could sense her body tense. Her eyes glazed over and he feared he may have forced a memory to resurface or a fear she may have been trying to forget or even a problem she was probably trying to get through.

"I know something is going on and I know that there is a connection between you and the new potions teacher." he said. "I can also tell that you tensed when I asked if he was your father." She looked away and stared at the lake. He waited for her to answer. He didn't want to push her away by asking her too many questions. She looked back at him and saw that she was no longer on the verge of tears, but instead anger and revenge replaced the tears that were threatening to explode.

"Yes, he is my father, but I do not wish him to be so. He has cursed me with something that I do not want." Draco looked dubiously at her. What kind of curse was she speaking of? Was he holding her in some sort of spell? He didn't think that was it since she was speaking freely now. Was this the score to settle thing that she was speaking about on the train?

"My father is a rather strong wizard and has always kept me in his line of view. I have inherited…some…features of his that are impossible to get rid of." He was even more confused now. What was she talking about? Features?

"So is he the same person that was on the train?"

"No, that was someone else. But like my father he is after me as well." She walked past him and sat down on the beach of the lake by rocks and sand. Draco walked over to her and sat down. He looked out to the lake and saw the northern lights looming over the rocks. They were slithering like snakes and seemed to be calling out to them for attention. To be stared and awed at. He brought his attention back to Tesania. She was looking at the lights as well. Draco noticed that it had fallen completely dark and no one seemed to be outside any longer.

"My mother is a queen back in South America. She is actually a native there unlike my father who was just a rich foreigner who came from England. He was visiting our small town and my mother saw him while she was in the gardens. She invited him to dinner and for almost five months they were seeing each other and then I was finally conceived." She looked down at her hands and then back up again. "My mother disappeared a few moths after I was born. My father took me and raised me, someone else ended up taking my mother's and mine place in the royal line."

"So then you're a princess?" She nodded at his question, but then quickly changed her mind and shook her head.

"No, not anymore. I gave up my place and decided not to return so that I could take my rightful place on my mother's throne. My mother was no longer there and she, as far as I can tell is the only blood relation I have down in South America."

"So where does your hatred for you father come in?"

"He disappeared as well when I was fourteen and I hadn't seen him in three years. I was told that he was sent to Azkaban for being a thief, but I argued on his behalf saying I know he wouldn't do that. Even though I was right at the end I still felt like something was wrong. That's when I learned…" she trailed off.

"Learned what?" he asked. She became defensive again.

"Never mind, the point is: what I had learned was something big enough to turn me against him. I no longer consider him any blood relation to me." Her eyes flared with anger. He understood that she didn't want to tell anyone and he wasn't going to push her. If she was any other students he just might have, but there was something different with her. Something that made her seem like someone that you don't want to mess with when she is upset. Someone with a dark passed, that no matter what story she gives you there will always be something more to it and he was determined to find out what it was.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to snap."

"Hey it's no problem. You were upset." He stood up and offered her his hand. She took it and she stood up. "One last question." She gave him a stern look. "No it has nothing to do with that. Actually I was hoping that you would come to the Halloween Dance tomorrow night with me." She gave him a startled look. She diffidently wasn't expecting that. She fixed herself and then answered.

"Sure, why not." He smile and she smiled. The two headed back and she linked her arm in his.