Chapter 32

Christmas Horrors

"Never forget me."

"KYLE!" Isabel screamed as she opened her eyes. She was lying on a bed in the infirmary. Sirus and Snape were standing over her. She sat up and glanced around Max was on the bed next to her talking to Dumbledore.

"Kyle was warning us, HE has something horrible planned for Christmas. I think Kyle was telling us that he wouldn't be able to protect us."

Isabel broke down and started to cry. She grabbed both Sirus and Snape to her. Both wizards glanced at each other in confusion.

Dumbledore looked up to Amy and Rath. "Until further notice everyone is going to be staying in the Ravenclaw rooms. Rath, help move Hermione and Harry. Amy, get everyone else and their things. I want no evidence of anyone left in the other houses. Understood?"

Both nodded their heads and left.

Draco was very worried, ever since Kyle returned he was acting very strangely. Draco sat in his room and began writing a letter to the only person other than Kyle who would believe him. Draco watched as the letter and the owl disappeared from sight, before heading down to dinner. There he found Kyle already eating and talking with Lucius. Draco watched as his mother's eyes shifted nervously between the two.

"What's going on?" Draco asked.

Kyle turned to him and Draco froze. Kyle's eyes were hazy with green sparkling around the edges of his irises. "Just asking my stepfather about his noble life," Kyle spoke, but his voice sounded strained and horse.

"Noble?" Draco asked as he twisted his wrist too soon and sweet potatoes tumbled off to his plate and some onto to his lap.

Lucius ignored the action as Narcissa watched on quietly.

"Why yes, being a deatheater, it sounds so interesting, I want to know everything."

"Why?"

"So I can find my place in this family, and in his world."

Draco's hand was frozen over his plate as his jaw unhinged and dropped open.

"Draco, your plate," Narcissa whispered.

Draco stood and stepped away from the table knocking over his chair. It hit the floor with a loud thud. "I don't understand, what about Isabel?"

"Isabel shall be safe. She is special after all, she killed Kavar."

Draco's eyes moved rapidly between Lucius and Kyle. "I-I-I…" Draco ran from the room.

He needed to talk to someone, but he didn't feel he could trust anyone in his house anymore. Voldermort had done something to Kyle and his mother Draco's; Kyle's own mother had done absolutely nothing to stop it. Tomorrow was Christmas and then they'd all find out what the dark wizard had been planning. "Hey!" Draco skidded to a stop in front of his grandmother's portrait. "What is wrong with the mudblood?"

"I don't know; why do you care?" He asked her confused.

"Because I never told anyone about my visit to the states and do not want him babbling to the dark lord."

Draco couldn't take it anymore; he ripped the portrait off the wall.

"Hey, what the bloody hell do you think you're doing?"

"Changing the game," Draco hissed as he threw the portrait. It sailed over the banister and hit the floor below with a loud crack. Draco wasn't there to see it; he was already in his room with his bag and a handful of Floo Powder. He threw it into the fire and stepped into it.

Snape and Sirus were doing their final sweep of the castle grounds when Sirus shifted his form and started running toward the lake.

"You stupid…" Snape started to yell, but stopped when he saw the figure in the snow. It wavered and then collapsed. Snape called for a broom and flew off after the dog. He arrived at the spot to find Sirus cradling an unconscious Draco.

"Isn't he supposed to be at home?" Sirus asked.

"I fear tomorrow's fate is worse than we thought." Snape spoke.

"Merlin, to attack on Christmas," Sirus sighed as they made their way back up to the castle. He handed Draco to Snape, "I'll finish, take care of him."

Snape took the boy and that's when he saw the boy was clutching a bottle in his right hand. Snape entered the castle and flew to the Ravenclaw dorms, since all other parts of the castle were currently warded, closed off and empty. He spoke the password and entered. He laid Draco on the couch and watched as Hermione left her chair with Rath and ran to get the headmaster. Rath made his way over to them as Harry entered the room. Snape took the bottle from Draco.

"What is that?" Rath asked as they both stared at the blue and red swirling liquid.

"I'm not sure."

Dumbledore entered just as Draco began to wake up. He helped the boy sit up.

"Kyle, they did something to Kyle! I stole that from the Riddle house before coming here. They are going to make Kyle do it!" The words spilled from Draco's lips.

"Do what?" Harry asked.

Draco's eyes widened as his eyes shifted to Harry's. "Come for you."

Harry took a step back, but bumped into Amy. He glanced up to see tears falling from her face. She turned and ran out of the common room out into the castle.

"Let her go." Dumbledore told Snape and Sirus. He then turned to Draco, "how do you know?"

"Kyle's different, ever since he returned from his visit with the dark lord."

"Draco, what is this?" Snape asked holding the bottle to Draco's eye level.

"Whatever they're planning."

Snape handed it to Dumbledore as Liz entered the room.

Liz rushed to Draco with a blanket; she began to wrap him in it. She glanced up to see the bottle, "may I?"

Dumbledore let her touch it. As her fingers made contact, she received a flash. Kyle, hate, fear, confusion, sparks in eyes, Kyle's eyes, Isabel, the dark mark.

"No," she gasped.

"What?" Rath asked.

"That potion is pure hate and fear and only Kyle and Isabel are immune."

Snape took the potion back and turned to leave. Liz stood as well.

"You should stay," Snape told her.

Liz shook her head, "no, I'm the reason Kyle was even messed up in any of this, I have to help."

"You can't change the past."

"I'm a great chemist and not so bad at potions, I need to help."

"Severus, you have until noon," Draco spoke.

Snape glanced at Liz and then to Dumbledore, "we'll work fast."

"Where is he?" Lucius roared as he glanced around Draco's empty bedroom.

Kyle appeared in the doorway just behind Narcissa, "don't you know by now?"

"What?" Lucius hissed.

"Your son will be your undoing, he's a traitor. Let him go, he now shares Potter's fate."

"No!" Lucius roared. "Not my son, hers maybe not mine!" Lucius knows that the dark lord has manipulated Narcissa's eldest son, but he will not give up on his only son.

Kyle smirked, it wasn't his own; the boy was now a puppet. Lucius grabbed one of Draco's draggers. His son had been collecting them for years, ornate ones, antique ones, all sharp. He threw it at Kyle, but the Roswellian slid to the side and the blade embedded itself in the wall behind him.

"Lucius, calm down, once my plan goes into action we will know who is truly loyal."

Lucius glared at the boy as he left the room. He turned to see Narcissa standing in the doorway.

"You won't lose him," she spoke, "he's confused, he loves someone at the school."

She held out a piece of parchment.

Lucius strode over to her and ripped the paper from her hand.

"I know we don't get along, but Kyle needs our help. You-know-who has done something to him. I don't know what, but it certainly isn't good. You're the smartest witch I know, is there any spell I can do to reveal another presence or possession?"

Lucius looked at who the letter was addressed to, "the mudblood?"

The day had been uneventful, which just made everyone worry even more. Well, except for Maria who was kept in the dark about everything, Michael and Amy didn't want her become stressed. Snape and Liz spent the night in the potions classroom carefully extracting bits of the potion for study. All they were able to identify was Isabel and Kyle's blood, a.k.a. the red swirls. At some point, Snape had fallen asleep; Liz continued on.

Harry awoke the next morning in the same room as Draco and Hermione and Rath. Harry stretched, reached for his glasses and put them on. Draco was sleeping soundly, and Rath was sharing a bed with Hermione? Harry shook his head something odd was going on with those two. Harry slid out of bed and silently moved toward the door. Down in the common room he found Max and Dumbledore. Harry sat down unnoticed next to Max on the couch. Dumbledore sat next to them in a chair.

Max yawned, "he insisted on sleeping down here." Max whispered nodding at the headmaster.

Harry looked up at to see that the headmaster was indeed sleeping.

"Merry Christmas," both glanced up to see Amy enter. She was dressed in black pjs covered with little green alien heads.

Max raised an eyebrow.

"What? These are my favorite."

"Nothing," Max replied, "just when you dress like that I tend to forget you are a powerful witch."

"I'm not that powerful, hi, Harry." She spoke as she ruffled Harry's hair.

"Merry Christmas, Amy, how's Maria?"

"Still sleeping," she glanced around. "Liz still with Severeus?"

Max nodded his head, "Severus warded all the passageways between us and them, so we can't go and check on them."

Once the rest awoke Dumbledore had the house elves bring breakfast.

"I got something!" Liz exclaimed. She was so excited, until she noticed the sleeping potion professor. "So that's why he stopped griping." She spoke to herself. "Snape! Severus, wake up!"

Nothing.

She knew he would be angry if she did a spell to wake him up. She smiled wickedly. "Amy, why are you naked!"

Snape jumped up and waved his wand at Liz. A robe appeared atop her other clothes as the professor glanced around angrily. She yanked off the robe and smirked.

Before his steely glare could turn into a rant she spoke, "Now I couldn't figure out a counter spell, but if we add samples of our blood to the potion we'll be immune as well."

Snape blinked and then glared at her. "Sounds like a good idea, but how are we to add our blood to Voldermort's potion?"

"Well, uh, I don't know, you got sleep I haven't." Liz leaned over and put her head on her arms on the table.

"Sorry, I don't like to be defeated."

"And you're the one who fell asleep?" She sighed. "At least you're not the bitch who sold out her son." Liz's voice sounded funny as she spoke into the table. She yawned, "I could use some coffee."

POP

"Headmaster tolds Dobby to brings you breakfast."

Liz glanced up eyeing the fresh pot of coffee; she practically leaped over the table. Snape watched her pour a large mug full and add lots of cream and heaping spoonfuls of sugar.

"Thank you, Dobby, tell the headmaster we appreciate it."

"Oww, hot, hot," Liz muttered as she burnt her tongue taking a large sip.

Dobby bowed and disappeared with another pop.

"How is the coffee?" Snape asked as he poured himself a cup.

"Tongue burning hot," she watched as he used magic to cool it down.

"One would think with both alien and magical powers you think to use them."

"Too easy."

"Or more comfortable."

"Again, too easy," Liz picked up one of the prepared plates and began to eat.

Snape sat across from her and did the same.

"So while I was resting my…"

"Sleeping," she filled in.

"…eyes," he glared at her, she looked at him innocently while chewing her eggs, "did you come up with anything else."

"Laughter bomb."

He choked on a piece of pumkin danish, "pardon?"

"Yeah, you had one in your desk drawer; I think it's one of the Weasley twins' inventions."

"And how will that help?"

"Happiness, positive feelings, maybe if we have them charmed to go off after Kyle arrives."

A loud alarm sounded, Liz and Snape jumped. "Is that?" Liz began to ask.

Snape grabbed her arm and pulled her out of the way of the door as it blew open. He threw her toward his desk, "I have five bombs in the right drawer."

Liz landed on the floor behind the desk; she ripped the drawer out of the desk and stuffed the bombs into and inside pocket of her robe. She kept one in her left hand and held her wand with her right. She peered over the desk in time to see Kyle throw a bottle to the floor a vapor rose and began to engulf them. Liz felt her chest tighten, no; she thought strongly and threw the bomb.

"NO!" She yelled, "Severus, hold him off!"

Snape began to laugh as Liz ran by Kyle. Kyle shoved Snape away and reached for her. Liz grabbed a student's cauldron and threw it. The contents splashed over Kyle's legs and turned to rock hard cement. Liz fled from the room, but before seeing Kyle's very empty eyes. Her heart ached, but she kept running.

Rath and Hermione were in the common room when the alarms went off. Max, Michael and Sirus ran in.

"He's here isn't he?" Max asked.

Dumbledore entered from the portrait entrance. "Yes, he is, Severus is trying to contain him, while Miss Parker serves as a diversion if he gets farther into the castle." Dumbledore stepped forward and handed out the laugh bombs; "if, if the potion leaks into this room you are to use these to counter the effects, understand?"

Max stepped forward. "But, Liz, I have to help…"

"No, you will stay here Harry, Draco and Maria needs you. Rath, you will come with me."

Rath bent down and kissed Hermione on the lips, "our secret!" He told the others with a glare. "I'll be back."

"Be careful," Hermione told him.

"I will," Rath turned and followed Dumbledore out into the hall.

Michael and Max turned to look at Hermione.

"What?"

"You do know what he is right?" Max asked.

"An alien and so are you two."

"Dangerous," Michael finished.

"Yeah, well, so am I," she was serious, but could see that the two alien-hybrids were waiting for the joke. "Think about it, I'm one of the smartest students, sure Harry is special, but I read a lot, like Liz. Just because I'm young does not mean I don't know how to turn you into a rat." With that she turned and went to look for Harry hoping he and Draco hadn't killed each other yet.

They hadn't in fact Draco was just about to finish another protection ward when she entered. Harry pulled her into their circle as Draco finished.

"It may not hold." Draco spoke softly.

"Then why bother casting it?" Harry asked.

"Cause I don't my brother to have blood on his hands."

"He won't," Hermione spoke as she sat next to Harry, Draco glanced up at her. The way he looked at her, made Hermione nervous, it was as though he wanted something. "Liz, Snape, Dumbledore and Rath are out there."

"Liz?" Draco asked frightened.

"Yeah, Harry, do you have any laughter bombs on you?"

"A few why?"

"That's what we are supposed to use to counter Voldermort's potion."

"You're not serious?" Draco asked.

"It seems to be working so far."

'Yeah, so far,' Liz thought as she ran. After she told Dumbledore her plan, she found herself on the moving stairs and Kyle running toward her from four flights down.

"Where's Snape?" She yelled down as she stopped in the middle of a flight as it moved.

"A bit frozen," Kyle replied, but his voice wasn't his own, it was rough and strained as though he had a sore throat.

She stayed in the middle of the flight, but then she heard a crash glass shattering. She glanced down at another bottle of potion. She inhaled without thinking, her head spun. Kyle was being such a wimp, letting that wizard use him. He should be great full without her, he wouldn't have his powers. She leaned over the railing and yelled a spell.

Kyle's body went rigid and started to fall, but then he shivered and the spell starts to break. Rath enters the stairwell and throws a bomb at Liz in hits her square the chest and explodes. She falls to her knees and beings to laugh. Rath runs to her as Dumbledore covers him.

'Why did I let myself be the bait,' she thought as she let Rath drag her out of the stairwell.

Dumbledore shot a stun spell at Kyle as Rath returned and began chanting an exorcism spell, he had learned back home in New York.

Kyle screamed, "Fools, no, muggle mystic crap… aaahhhh!" They watched as Kyle dropped to the floor as though his strings were cut.

"Careful," Dumbledore spoke as Rath jumped over the railing and landed next to Kyle's body.

Rath leaned down to check his pulse.

"No!" Kyle yelled out, causing Rath to fall back onto his butt in surprise.

"Shit, don't do that!"

"He's still here, I'll hurt you." Kyle spoke.

"Well, then this is going to hurt." Rath replied.

Kyle looked at him confused, before he could ask why Rath punched Kyle hard knocking him out.

"Hurry, I don't know how long he'll stay out." Rath spoke as Dumbledore helped by levitating Kyle's body.

"I'm going to go unfreeze Snape." Liz spoke and started down the steps.

Dumbledore turned to Rath, "where did you learn that spell?"

Rath smirked. "A palm reader in New York tried to exorcise me after seeing my alien powers, I thought it was funny and memorized it."

"Exorcism spells are not often used in the wizarding world, but they do have power. I doubt Voldermort was expecting that."

"So is he out then?"

"I hope so."

The common room door opened, Max, Amy and Hermione stood expecting the worst. Liz and Rath entered and ran directly to their lovers.

"It's over," Liz spoke.

"Is it, really?" Amy asked.

"Well, Kyle's clean, but no, he's still out there." Rath replied.