Disclaimer in previous chapters.
Chapter title is a song by Switchfoot.
Reyana stumbled into the Great Hall, barely awake. She'd had a rough night, and finding herself unable to sleep, had spent the majority of the night curled up in front of the fire with a copy of "Moste Potent Potions". She yawned hugely and grimaced as the action aggravated her headache. She rubbed at her gritty eyes as she sat down and put a bagel and a few sausages on her plate.
"Sleep in your clothes?"
Reyana sighed heavily at the familiar sneer. She was really too tired to deal with Draco this morning.
"No."
She rather reluctantly took a bite of her bagel. Her stomach clenched in reaction to the food. It was as she'd expected. She couldn't eat until her body had time to fully wake up. If she was tired she couldn't eat without getting a stomachache.
"Where'd you get that necklace?" Draco interrupted.
Reyana blinked. That question was so far out in left field that she hadn't seen it coming.
"Huh?" was her brilliant response. She mentally kicked herself. She was not her best in the morning.
He snickered and repeated the question slowly, as if she were a small child.
"I don't know." was her curt reply. She was really really too tired to spar with the blond boy today.
A sudden thought occurred to her and she looked up.
"Trea?" she called.
The Slytherins around her looked at her in amusement. Talking to thin air wasn't exactly a healthy thing.
A loud pop startled the students. A small house elf appeared and looked at Reyana.
"What is Trea doing for miss?"
"I'd like a pot of coffee if that's not a problem." Reyana covered a yawn.
"Yes miss! Right away." the elf disappeared with another pop, and moments later a pot of fragrant coffee and mug appeared at Reyana's plate.
"Thank you!" she said fervently to the air, and poured herself a large cupful of the bitter liquid.
The other Slytherins looked at her in awe.
"Never thought of that." Blaise murmured, his eyes twinkling.
Reyana grinned at him, the caffeine slowly entering her system.
"Have some. I can't drink it all."
He looked excited and transfigured his goblet into a mug and poured his own cup, adding some sugar and milk.
Reyana caught the envious looks she was getting and laughed to herself. This was rather fun.
Feeling a stare, she looked up into Draco's eyes. Her heart gave a little shiver.
"Go ahead." she sighed. "You can have some too."
He looked startled before nodding regally. He too transfigured his goblet into a coffee mug and helped himself.
"Really." he said stirring a little cream into his coffee. "Where did you get that necklace?"
Reyana felt a surge of irritation.
"I told you. I really don't know. I've had it forever."
He looked doubtful, and Reyana saw a flash of anger in his eyes before he concealed it behind his flawless mask of indifferent scorn.
Without really thinking, she fingered the pendent beneath her orange pullover. Strange that she would have no idea where it came from.
"Ahem."
The gathered Slytherins paled a little as Reyana turned to greet their visitor.
"Severus!" she exclaimed happily, her face breaking into wide smile. To the astonishment of the students, a faint smile touched the usually stern Professor's face.
"I was wondering if you might be inclined to share that coffee with your cousin." he replied stiffly.
Reyana grinned, nodded, and slid to one side, motioning for him to sit.
"Reyana!" Blaise hissed in her ear.
She ignored him and smiled winningly at her older cousin. He looked uncomfortable and was about to decline when Reyana played her card.
"You can't have any unless you sit and talk to me."
He gave a long suffering sigh and sat, holding out his cup. Reyana giggled happily and filled his cup with the steaming coffee.
He took a long appreciative sip and gave another ghost of a smile.
Reyana noticed the open mouthed stares around the room and positively beamed. She was making progress. Her eyes fell on the Headmaster, whose eyes were twinkling like mad. Catching her eye he winked, and Reyana grinned even harder.
"So, Severus." she said casually. "What are your victims...I mean students learning today?"
He snorted in dry amusement, totally ignoring the rest of the room. It was easier to do this if he pretended that he was alone with his young cousin talking in front of the fire.
"A simple Calming Draught." he replied. "I of course have little faith that any of it will be useful." he sneered. "They are total idiots and cannot appreciate the art of potion making."
Reyana nodded, inclined to agree. The book she'd been reading the night before had convinced her of the complex beauty of potion making.
"I was reading last night, and I found a rather interesting sleeping potion."
He raised one eyebrow in silent question.
She drew in a breath, quite aware of the interest of the other students, particularly Draco Malfoy.
"It was like the Dreamless Sleep potion with a few modifications. It puts the drinker into a deep sleep like coma. At first the user is only asleep, but then when the body wakes up, it is petrified or something." she gave an apologetic shrug. "The writing was faded a little, I think I missed some of the information. I do remember that it lasts for up to 12 hours, depending on the dosage, and that if taken in large quantities will prove fatal. It shuts down the immune system and the victim dies from overexposure to bacteria in the air."
Severus nodded, but gave her a disapproving scowl.
"Who allowed you to read that book?"
Reyana blinked and shrugged.
"Dumbledore gave me full access to the library. It was on a shelf way in the back." she bit her lip. "Should I not have read it?"
Severus glared.
"I will be having a talk with our beloved headmaster." he growled.
Reyana winced a little.
"Sorry?" she said tentatively.
Her cousin glared at her, but she wasn't intimidated. He always glared.
"You're fine. It's not like you could brew them." he got up and without saying farewell, strode up the headmaster.
Reyana flinched a little at the harsh words, but knew they were true. She couldn't brew the potions. Only read about them.
Blaise looked at her in concern, but Reyana merely shrugged at him.
"I think I'll go back to my rooms." she said thoughtfully. "Maybe take a nice long bath in that divine tub."
Caught up in her vision of bubble bath and warm water, it took Reyana a moment to realize that she was discussing her bathing with a male. She flushed a little and looked up.
"Sorry Blaise."
He chuckled and gave her a gentle shove.
"S'alright Rey, but you may have to revive Draco over there."
Reyana looked over at the young man across the table from her, and saw him staring into space, a distant half smile on his face.
Reyana flushed deeper and touched his arm.
"Malfoy?"
He jerked, saw her hand on his arm, looked rather upset, glared, stood and fled.
"I seem to have that effect on him often." she mused. "He's always running from breakfast because of me."
Blaise smiled rather knowingly and exchanged a wink with Millicent across Reyana's unknowing head.
"Go on then." he teased. "Don't let Malfoy's foul mood ruin your day of relaxation."
She shot him a grin and then left the table, already debating between the lavender bubbles and the vanilla.
Severus Snape was deep in thought, a scowl on his face. He was thinking about his cousin. The scowl intensified and if he'd looked up from his plate, he would've seen several terrified students averting their eyes. He was proud of the girl, but he was furious that Albus Dumbledore Headmaster of Hogwarts would allow, even encourage a child to read "Moste Potent Potions". The damn book was in the Restricted Section for a reason. It was completely inappropriate for young minds. He stabbed his fork violently into the half eaten potato cake, missing once again, the flinches his action evoked. However, he thought, letting his anger simmer on a back burner, she hadn't seemed in the least bit disturbed by the book's contents. In fact, he'd seen longing in her eyes. Perhaps she wanted to learn to brew them. But no. He stopped the thought. She was a muggle. She did not have the magic to brew the more complex... His thoughts trailed off. She couldn't brew the complex potions that had incantations or wand work, but she could learn the simpler ones. A feeling of satisfaction filled him. That was the most brilliant idea that he'd had in a long while, and for Severus Snape that was saying a lot.
"Severus."
The Potions Master looked up inquiringly.
"Yes Albus?"
"I was hoping that you would set aside your lesson plans for the 5th years and replenish Madam Pomphrey's supply of that wonderful numbing agent you created."
Severus sighed inwardly. How he hated teaching! The little brats were helpless and he cringed every time an expensive ingredient was wasted by an incompetent child. Potions was a delicate science, as he always reminded his students. Very few people have the temperament for it.
He only nodded in resigned agreement. He knew that he had no choice. Albus was sheltering him from the Dark Lord, and Severus owed his life to the ancient wizard. The least he could do was alter his lesson plans every so often.
Draco slouched in his hard-backed chair, trying to pay attention to his Ancient Runes professor. He was getting weird looks from most of the students because Draco Malfoy never slouched. He had perfect posture and manners. But right now he just didn't care. Every day he was getting more and more confused. His grief at the death of his mother, his hatred for the bastard who killed her, the dragon pendent, and his inexplicable...well...feelings for the muggle girl. He scowled heavily and doodled absently on his parchment. He was irritated by his attraction to the girl. Her comment about the bath had induced images of her silky skin sleek with bubbles and her brown eyes begging him to touch her. Draco closed his eyes and forced the unwanted images away. He was not attracted to her. She was a muggle and he was a Death Eater. He shouldn't be contemplating the way her mouth would feel beneath his and the way her skin would taste on his tongue. He hated her and what she did to him. He really did.
His Mark burned. Draco jerked in surprise and stared down at the black tattoo. As he watched, it came alive, glowing a fearsome blackish green, and the pain began. He cried out in surprise as the knives dug into his flesh. It felt like the Cruciatus only focused on his forearm. He abruptly stood.
"Mr Malfoy! Sit down!"
Draco had no choice, but to ignore the command. He was being Called by his Lord and he had to answer.
He turned and ran, forcing himself him not to clutch at his arm. No one could know.
He dashed through the silent halls, joined by Theodore Nott, Crabbe, Goyle, and a corpulent Ravenclaw with terrified eyes. They did not speak, but speech was not needed or expected. They were bound by the same evil, and each understood.
They went the the edge of the apparation wards and apparated away from Hogwarts.
Draco opened his eyes and surveyed the familiar dilapidated cottage sitting on the windswept moor. All around him were masked Death Eaters. One of them silently extended a white mask to the teen, who took it and placed it over his face. He was now anonymous among the servants of Voldemort.
Draco stood impassively waiting for his master. The large group of Death Eaters fell silent as the familiar skeletal figure walked up. As one they bowed low.
"My Lord." they murmured respectfully.
The Dark Lord was silent for a long moment.
"Draco Malfoy." he finally spoke.
Draco's insides turned to ice. He was proud to serve the Dark Lord, but that didn't mean that he wasn't terrified of him. He stepped forward and bowed very low.
"My Lord?"
"Ahh yessss." he hissed. "Our youngest disciple. Anything from Hogwarts?"
Draco felt the harsh probing touch of his master in his mind and knew that he could not lie.
"There is a muggle guest in the castle, My Lord." he spat. "A cousin of one of the professors."
"Realllly..." the word was drawn out in interest.
"That fool Dumbledore has forced Slytherin House to associate with her. I myself have tried to avoid contamination." he bowed again, "But Zabini has befriended the bitch."
"Isss that sooo?" the hiss was amused. "And I can tell that you are not unaffected by her beauty."
Draco felt a stab of fear. Shit. He was in trouble.
"My Lord. She is very beautiful, and I admit to having inappropriate thoughts, but I have tried to repress them."
"Not hard enough it would ssseem, my young dragon."
"My Lord." he bowed to the ground awaiting his punishment.
"Crucio."
Draco bit his tongue to restrain the screams as he fell to the ground writhing under the internal torture. Coppery blood flooded his mouth as he bit through his tongue. The screams burst forth along with the blood. His ears rang with the Dark Lord's high pitched laughter as the pain took him in waves. He twisted in impossible contortions trying to rid himself of the torment. He knew that he had several broken bones and the thick clotted blood in his throat bespoke internal injuries. Then the pain abruptly stopped, but Draco's nerves continued to twitch as he convulsed on the wet grass. Tears mixed with his blood, staining his school robes and streaking his face.
"As you seem so attracted to this muggle, you will seduce her, and then bring her to me. We can extract information from her. And use her for our...amusement." the Dark Lord commanded. "I will be watching you. I will know if you fail and the punishment will be beyond your imagination."
"Y...y...ye...yes." Draco slurred, nearly choking on the blood filling his mouth.
A Death Eater kicked him hard in the side, and Draco heard and felt the snap of his ribs.
"M...my...Lord." he added painfully.
"You may go." the Dark Lord turned away to address another of his servants.
Draco dragged his pain ridden body to an upright position, and using all his concentration apparated back to Hogwarts. He struggled up the lawns to the school, hoping that he could make it to his Common Room before he was seen. He was a quivering mass of pain and blood and anyone who saw him would know instantly where he had been.
But his luck had deserted him. As he fought to stay conscience, he caught sight of the muggle girl. She was walking unconcernedly, humming quietly to herself. Her hair was caught up in a ponytail, and her yellow hoodie made her skin glow. Through his haze, he remembered his assignment. Spots danced in front of his eyes as he fell to the ground, allowing his control to slip. A loud groan slid from him as the contents of his stomach burned their way up his throat and he vomited, doubled over from the pain.
"Draco?"
Her sweet voice that sounded like all the good things about summer, caressed him.
He tried to look up at her.
"What the hell happened to you?" she sounded appalled and scared.
He grunted once before toppling over in a dead faint.
Reyana's eyes were wide in horror as the bloody young man fell at her feet. She'd never seen anything like it. Blood trickled from his mouth and his arms lay at impossible angles. She swallowed back the bile that stung her throat and wrapped her arms around him. She bit her lip and lifted the battered boy into her arms. He was heavy, but Reyana knew that she could carry him to her rooms. Her mind raced as she hurried as fast as her burden would allow. She didn't know how to care for injuries like his. And somehow she knew that she couldn't ask at the Hospital Wing for help. She had a suspicion as to where he'd been, and she couldn't help but wonder who would willingly follow a man who inflicted pain on his servants for the pure orgasmic joy of it. She shuddered at the thought. Of course she had no idea where he'd really been. He could've wandered into the forest and been attacked. Reyana decided to give him the benefit of the doubt. At least for now.
"Firefly." she gasped out to her portrait, her arms beginning to shake from the strain.
The door swung open and she stumbled inside and gently set Draco on the couch. For a moment she just stared at his unmoving body, overwhelmed by the vastness of his injuries. Then she rushed to the bathroom, filling a basin with hot water and grabbing a clean towel. Returning to Draco's side, she stripped him out of his robes, wincing as his limbs flopped limply. As soon as he was down to a tight white undershirt and his boxers, Reyana began gently wiping the hardened blood from his face, hands, and arms. She gently pried his mouth open, and saw that some of the blood was from the gaping wound in his tongue, but the darker blood she knew was from his lungs. She was way out of her league. An idea sprang to mind, and she decided to firecall Severus. His head appeared in her fireplace, a look of annoyance on his face.
"I have a class in 20 minutes. Make it fast."
Reyana felt a tear burn a path down her cheek.
"It's Draco." she told him. "I found him outside bleeding and hardly upright. Someone hurt him, and I need help."
"Take him to the Hospital Wing." he said shortly. "That's Madame Pomphrey's job."
"But..." she protested. "I think he was with the Dark Lord. He has a Mark."
Severus' face suddenly froze.
"I'll be there in 30 seconds."
His head disappeared, and Reyana went back to Draco's side, her eyes alight with concern.
45 seconds, Severus entered her rooms carrying a black case full of vials.
"Out of the way." he commanded.
Without greeting her in anyway, he started his examination. His face grew graver and graver with every passing minute.
"He must've really angered the Dark Lord. He is very weak." he said softly as he forced Draco's arm back into place and secured it with a length of cloth.
Reyana started pacing. It tore at her to see Draco's beautiful arrogant face so still and his graceful body battered and bruised. Her affection for the young man grew as she watched Severus labor over him. Perhaps when he awoke, she could apologize for her behavior and they could be friends.
"I need your help Reyana." Severus called tightly, his face a mask of concentration.
She went immediately to his side and took the vial of light green potion he extended.
"Mix this with water."
She did and waited for further instructions.
"Now I'll open his mouth and you'll pour it in and then stroke his throat to make him swallow."
Reyana did, and relief filled her as his throat muscles contracted and he swallowed.
They repeated this process with 2 other potions before Severus stood.
"I must go to class." He pointed out a jar of salve and instructed her to apply it to his ribs and arms.
He left in a swirl of black robes, leaving Reyana alone with the unconscious blond.
Reyana gently rubbed the fresh smelling balm into Draco's milky white skin. His chest was smooth and soft, completely free of hair. His stomach was firm and his abdominal muscles were well defined, and Reyana fought back a blush as her fingers strayed over them. She jerked her hands away and turned her attention to the safer territory of his arms. Her eyes drifted to his Mark, still angry and swollen and she winced. She brushed her fingers over it as softly as possible, but even the soft touch caused him to squirm and moan. She guiltily stood, putting the lid back on the salve. His face was twisted in pain again, and her heart went out to him. She touched his face gently as if trying to smooth the anguish away. To her surprise, his good arm came up and his hand grasped at her fingers. A half smile touched her face, and she sank to the floor next to him, twining her fingers with his.
There's the next one.
Please review. And let me know if think I should up the rating. There will be more of the violence and blood.