Chapter 9

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I had blushed when Draco stooped down to pick me up in his arms once we had reached the castle but not as deeply as I was now as he carried me through the common room in front of everyone.

People stared and whispered but I could tell it wasn't malicious. I heard the occasional

"Is she alright? Where's Pansy? Isn't he strong! That's so cute!"

I wanted to bury my face in Dracos chest to hide away but that would have certainly caused more whispers.

I heard a loud gasp and footsteps in front of us and turned my head to see Pansy looking very worried.

"Allie! Oh no, what happened?" She gently held my arms, checking me over for signs of damage.

"Potter ran into her. I sent him packing." I felt Dracos chest puff up proudly.

Pansy gasped again.

"Oooooh, I'll hex his stupid face! Allie wouldn't hurt a fly! How dare he!" She began to go into a protective rant before Draco cleared his throat.

"I'm gonna take her to go lie down."

Pansy stopped, wide eyed as Draco politely passed her and began to carry me up the stairs to the girls fifth year dorms.

I looked to Draco wide eyed.

"Are you allowed to do that?"

He smirked a little and shrugged.

"Very much not."

I caught Pansy making kissy faces at the bottom of the stairs and flushed bright red once more.

"I can walk..." I began to protest for the 20th time since he started to carry me.

"We're right here now. You'd be so slow. Which bed is yours?" I pointed him to my section of the dorm and he walked over to lay me on the bed.

I scooted up to the headboard as he sat down, crossing his legs up and closing my curtains around him.

I cast lumos as he charmed the curtains to be sound proof so we could talk in private.

It didn't stop other thoughts entering my mind and making me blush though...

After he finished he let out a whoosh of air and bent forward, his arms out in front of him as he slouched against the bed, breathing hard.

"And there goes the adrenaline..." he laughed to himself.

I tilted my head, reaching out to touch his shoulder.

"Are you alright?" He was shaking...

"I couldn't let myself buckle while Potter was watching... but dammit, that was a horrible feeling... like my blood was..."

"Floating..." I finished, looking at him with wide eyes as he nodded.

"This can't just be Hogwarts doing this... something bigger is taking place..." he trailed off and I knew this had something to do with what Snape had said to him in private.

"...Draco... you can tell me anything. You know I can't judge you..."

He looked down at my covers for a while before slowly meeting my eyes.

"My father... has a very important job... soon I'll be joining him..." he trailed off and I sighed, leaning back against my headboard.

"Right." I muttered, knowing he wouldn't tell me and I didn't want to push him the way he pushed me.

"... it's not something I want others to know about... the school knows- I mean the actual castle, I think it knows. And it doesn't like it. But I have to do it. I'm proud to be a part of my fathers work."

I stayed quiet as he staggered on, minding his words carefully- being very particular about what he was allowing himself to give away.

"Do you read... the daily prophet?" I blinked at his question and shook my head.

"My parents aren't fond readers... I've never been keen on the twisted truths myself..." I'd seen some headlines over summer, a lie about Voldemort coming back that was all over every paper for all of two weeks.

I had assumed fear mongering and chosen to stick to my beloved fiction.

He nodded slowly and exhaled, sitting upright.

"I don't think I can tell you much more... it's not my secret to tell... hey..." he tilted his head.

"If you're from Beauxbattons... then how come I didn't see you last year for the TriWizard cup?"

I looked away, picking at a new hangnail.

"I was living with my Grandmere at the time who didn't approve of me spending a year in England... she decided to home school me somewhat illegally and from January I was wrapped up in all the ministry hearings..." I winced as my head felt like it was being squeezed for a moment and sighed in annoyance.

"And something else I can't remember... something that's just... missing."

I held my head with one hand, massaging my forehead with my eyes closed.

Red

Red

Red

Red... eyes?

I shot up straight as the image sent a chill down my spine.

Draco touched my face softly and frowned.

"Are you alright?"

I gulped, putting my hand over his and shaking my head a little, feeling myself calm down considerably at his touch...

"Come here..." he said lowly, moving to lay on his side and pulling me towards him.

I curled up with my head against his chest as I tried to calm down all the way.

He gently rubbed my back as my wand extinguished its light, leaving us in comfortable darkness.

"I think you should speak to Dumbledore alone..." Draco said after a long time of silence. I didn't question him and nodded once.

He rolled onto his back, pulling me with him to keep my head against his chest.

I slowly drifted off listening to his heart beat.

He was gone when I awoke.

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It was after dinner that I made my way nervously to Dumbledores office, muttering the 'Lemon drops' password to the hidden stair case.

I took my time to climb them to the office door, groaning under my breath as the doors opened before I even had a chance to stand in front of them.

With a swallow, I stepped inside.

"Headmaster...?" I called out to the seemingly lifeless office full of strange artefacts.

There was no answer.

I hesitantly walked in further, looking around until a loud clunk to my right caught my attention.

A wardrobe opened to reveal a large flat bowl of liquid swirling away.

I peered over the edge of the bowl to watch the luminous liquid dance, putting my hands on the rim to peer closer at a shape I could see moving at the bottom.

My stomach lurched as I seemed to fall head first into the bowl, screaming.

I tried desperately to catch my balance as I plummeted into a dark room.

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I gasped out as I hit the floor unharmed and stood up, looking around.

My eyes almost burst from my head as I could see myself on a seat in the middle of a courtroom... the very same courtroom I had been in many times over the summer...

A man stood beside me and I glanced up at him with my jaw dropped.

"P-professor Dumbledore?" He looked tight through me and smiled, reaching through my body to pat a shoulder of a man the other side of me.

I squeaked and backed up, feeling very strange and panicked.

I noticed the other man was Snape and gulped.

"Professor?" I asked again, but it was like I wasn't even there...

I looked around frantically as they began to chat.

"Why are we here? You've done your good deed for the day by letting Potter off the hook and saving him from expulsion... what interest do you have in this witch?"

Dumbledore looked at Snape with a saddened smile that nodded to a man across the stalls.

"I fear if we don't intercept her path, she will be taken advantage of... look who else seems to be taking interest, Severus."

"Lucius... but why?" They both looked to a man in black with very long straight platinum hair who I hadn't noticed in my hearings before.

I gulped at the way he eyed the copy of me sat in the chair. Like he was plotting something terrible.

"She is young and vulnerable... too easily turned into a weapon."

"A weapon? How?" Snape grumbled, curling his face in disgust.

"She's just a witch."

"No..." Dumbledore said with a sad exhale.

"She is less and more than that. Do you remember the —- incident nine years ago?"

Snapes eyes bulged in shock.

I tilted my head as the word was muffled and distorted.

"Her?!"

Dumbledore nodded and Snape bristled.

"You have an annoying habit of taking in monsters." He grumbled while the headmaster chuckled.

"If we don't take her, the death eaters will. They will turn her into a weapon for the Dark Lord. He is raising his armies and she would be too powerful of an addition to ignore."

"Her magics are too unruly for the school, Albus... it will be aggressive and confused. It shares your wants as well as its own. I won't be picking up the pieces of your choice this time."

"I won't make you, my friend... I'll let her begin her path... keep her protected, no matter the castles fury. We cannot have her turned into a weapon."

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I could feel myself being tugged backwards as Dumbledore stood up and began to loudly address the court.

I didn't fight back as the force yanked me back and out of the bowl, sending me falling backwards from it, panting and tears falling in silent shock.

"I'm sorry..."

A voice softly sighed behind me and I turned to see the real Dumbledore in his seat at his desk.

"You deserve the truth, I just wanted you to settle in first... I'd hoped the school may get used to your presence and relax... I'm sorry to hear it's been less than welcoming at times..."

I stammered without words, getting to my feet and hugging my arms tightly.

"What do you mean?" I whispered, shivering.

Dumbledore shook his head with a kind smile.

"I strongly suggest you take what you saw and use it to make your future more resolute. The school will calm down eventually... and I hope it does. But for now, what I've shown you is all I can tell you..."

"Wait... who was that man you were talking about? In there- the one with the long hair." I gulped, the look on his pointed face haunting me.

Dumbledore sat back in his chair with a sigh.

"Someone not to be trusted I'm afraid... would you like a sherbet?" He gestured to a glass bowl on a small desk by the door.

"N-no thank you..." I frowned, looking at the ground, still holding myself.

"I insist- they're good for shock." He offered a warm smile and I looked to the bowl again, taking slow steps towards it and pulling out a sweet, popping it in my mouth and shivering at the bitter taste.

"My office door is always open, Miss Avian" he smiled once more before picking up a quill and starting to write.

I felt myself unconsciously walking out and back to my bed in a haze, having learned nothing from that frightening visit.

I knew I had a terrible power, I knew I was upsetting the castle... I knew Dumbledore had taken me in...

I learned only one thing... there were people out there wanting to use me for my dragon.

Death Eaters... and Him. He-who-should-not-be-named...

Did that mean he was really back?

My blood ran cold as ice as I tried to fall asleep, curling myself in a tight ball and suddenly incredibly thankful to be within a castle that only occasionally made its disinterest in having me in it known...

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It still, however, did not answer why Draco was being affected...

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A/N: Hope you're enjoying it! please leave a review! :3