Shadowed Evil

Disclaimer: I am not J.K. Rowling so I do not own Harry Potter and co. etc, etc… You know the drill!

Rating: Still PG-13!

Zupalupa: Hi! (Waves frantically)! Thanks so much! You've reviewed every chapter I have written! Thank youso much! You've helped me allotforthis story! Thanks again!

Myidea: Thanks so much for the review! I was thinking about making it a slash (and it has been done allot!)! But yeah it's going to be slash! … Please keep R&R!

Seeker: Hey! Yes theirs is a particular reason why the potion didn't work…I hope this is a good enough reason for you! Thanks for you review!

Shayne: (Shakes head) I should've never shown you my work Shayne… Anyway! Thanks for your review all the same!

Note from ME: Sorry this took so long! I'm contemplating re-writing the first chap again because after reading over it I feel ashamed at most of my spelling mistakes (and the fact it's soooo SHORT)!

This chapter is supposed to represent how Harry and co. relies on Draco's presence.

Anyway, I'm reading 'A Muggle's Guide to the Wizarding World' cover to cover so hopefully I can finish this quickly! Please ENJOY! And tell me what you think!

Chapter 6.

Eep!

Hermione let her mouth fall open, her eyes wide in shock. Harry and Ron had told her what had happened in the Infirmary. "He was supposed to marry Pansy?" was all she could out before slumping back in the overly plush seat.

The Golden Trio was resting in the Gryffindor Common room, it was late and everyone else had retired to bed. But the three Gryffindor's where still feeling they had to do something about Draco's situation, not go on as nothing was happening.

"Yes, their marriage was arranged when they were little" said Ron grimacing, "I'd hate that… having no choice who you married…"

"I thought arranged marriages were non-existent these days," asked Harry, agreeing with Ron. Harry closed his green eyes and leaned back into his seat letting his glasses slip further down his nose.

"They are… but almost all purebloods are forced to marry, if they like it or not… even if they're related," said Hermione, shuddering at the thought.

The three fell silent for a minute all two, the only sound was of the fire crackling calmly in front of them, releasing warmth like a blanket.

"How? I thought that was impossible," asked Harry suddenly "You know them being related and all" his eyes narrowed in confusion.

"Veela blood" announced the redhead unexpectedly.

Harry and Hermione eyed their friend curiously.

"How did you know that?" asked Hermione, letting a small smile grace her features. She knew if she had pushed over the years Ron would've learnt at least something.

"I do study you know," said Ron pouting at his friends' expressions of disbelief.

"Err… Yeah, sure… But you're right…" said Hermione smirking slightly, slumping back onto her chair, letting her smile slip. "Veela blood is injected into the toddler to make them compatible with anyone. It's quite ironic isn't it…? Purebloods' are so proud of their clean blood but in the long run they have a good amount of Veela genes coercing through their veins…"

Ron smiled calmly,

"Lucky mum doesn't believe in that crap," he said smiling before letting himself get lost in the flames that were leaping in the hearth.

Harry nodded his head silently, "But… are there any side-effects you know… Surely injecting Veela blood isn't good for you?" asked Harry letting his brow furrow.

"You're right… No one's truly sure… Wizards have recently found out that almost all purebloods die younger… The oldest known pureblood that's still alive today is Brutus Blackwood and he's only 52 and he's in St Mungo's dieing from an unknown disease…" said Hermione.

Ron and Harry grimaced at this

"People are saying it's the blood that's killing Brutus… but that hasn't stopped Lucius from giving it to Draco… I wonder why? Doesn't he care that Draco could die from it?" asked Hermione, looking over at Ron and Harry who were also looking quite grim at the thought.

"So what do we do?" asked Harry sitting up straight. "We can't just do nothing," Harry pushed some of his raven-black hair out of his face so he could look at his friends in their eyes.

"I could do some research in the Library?" the brunette suggested, her eyes brightening at the idea.

"I could talk to Bill! He's got that desk job in the Ministry!" said Ron smiling "He could try and squeeze some info out of Percy and he's beloved paperwork," said Ron, smiling at his idea.

"And I can write to Snuffles and Tonks, they should know something…" said Harry, smiling at his friend's eagerness (A/N: Due to popular belief Sirius is still with us in this story! And will never leave it).

Potions. Harry had thought he couldn't hate the class anymore than when Draco was around, but now he had been proven wrong. Theodore Nott and Blaise Zabini had rallied some Slytherins and were 'Taking over where Malfoy left off.'

"Now, who knows where the 'Black Death' originated from?" asked Severus from the front of the class.

The potions master had bags under his eyes and his skin was paler then usual. Harry knew this was because he had been staying with Draco every night in the Infirmary.

For the first time (and this should be a record) Hermione didn't raise her hand she was too engrossed in 'The Purest Potential' (Everything you need to know about the most pure family blood lines!).

"Anyone? Weasley" snapped Severus smirking, knowing Ron wouldn't know.

And as expected Ron's ears burned red as he slumped in his seat, "I-I don't know sir," he said sighing in defeat.

Instantly snickers broke out from the Slytherins on the other side of the dungeon.

"Isn't Weasley such a dolt!" laughed Millicent just loud enough for the Gryffindors to hear.

Harry turned in his seat and glared at the group of snakes but found that wasn't the best idea.

"Potter! Can you tell me the effects of the Black Death?" asked Severus sneering at Harry.

"No" said Harry averting his eyes from the potions professors black ones. Lately Harry couldn't bring himself to be mad at the older man, as he knew what Severus was going through.

"Tell me, Potter, do you know the effects of any potion?" sighed Severus as he rubbed his temples in annoyance.

"Yes," said Harry letting his emerald eyes darken in irritation.

"Is that so? What potion would that be?" asked Severus walking over to Harry's seat.

Harry wanted to yell at the Professor for his calmness,

"Tranquille Anima" said Harry clearly.

Severus' eyes darkened at these words and growled at Harry, "And what would those effects be?" asked Severus baring his teeth in anger.

"Tranquille Anima calms the mind and protects it from intruders" said Harry remembering what Hermione had said.

Severus nodded his head,

"This is true, but because Tranquille Anima is so intense it can sometimes drive the user insane… I myself just recently did some research and found purebloods have some sort of immunity to it… it develops from childhood" said Severus, looking quite grave as he sat behind his desk glaring around the room, as if daring anyone to breath.

"But why only purebloods?" asked Harry forgetting he was having a calm conversation with one of his most hated teachers.

"No-one's truly sure… but I have some theories," said Severus shaking his head before standing quickly "Now! Back to the Black Death, if consumed, or if injected, into the blood stream, the Black Death puts the victim into a deep sleep described in muggle fairy tales, but just like the deep sleep in those stories the subject can only be woken by loves true kiss…"

As Severus continued to drone on about the effects of the Black Death, Harry had fallen into thoughts about the Anima and the concern for Draco who was trapped in that… place! Harry was soon knocked out of his thoughts by the bell and he to began to pack up his possessions,

"I want a 25 inch essay on the effects and uses of the Black Death by next Thursday" said Severus over the noise of class before any could escape the dungeon.

But before Harry could get away himself, Severus had approached him, "Potter, where did you learn about the Anima?" asked Severus seriously.

"Err… I came across it in a book" said Harry slinging his bag over his shoulder.

"You're a very bad liar Potter," growled Severus "You know as well as I do that you haven't touched a potions text in a long time" snapped Severus.

Severus' glare made Harry suddenly feel quite unsafe.

"I-I heard Hermione talking about it," said Harry trying to cover up his stutters.

Severus didn't seem impressed but nodded his head,

"Fine" said Severus heading for his back room slamming the door behind him.

"Few…" the emerald-eyed boy sighed before heading for the door leading to the hall but was stopped by a drawling voice.

"Where do you think you're going Longbottom?" spat a voice outside the door.

Harry slowly opened the potion's door to see what was up.

"Hey!" Harry felt himself yell when he saw Blaise and Theodore beating a very bruised and sorry looking Neville up.

"Oh! It's Potter!" laughed Blaise pushing Neville to the ground roughly while Theodore spilled Neville's schoolbooks over the floor.

Suddenly Blaise plowed his foot into the Neville's stomach, causing the sore looking boy to let out a small cry of pain.

Harry stormed over to Blaise and pushed him away.

"Bugger off!" spat Harry pulling out his wand.

"Expelliarmus" yelled Theodore causing Harry's wand to fly out of the shocked boy's hand a few feet away.

"Good one" whispered Blaise smiling at the other boy before he laughed at Harry's expression. "I guess you don't have Malfoy to protect you anymore," said Blaise smirking.

Harry's eyes immediately clouded with bewilderment. "Protect me?" asked Harry eyeing the two like they were insane.

"Awe! Is little Potter confused?" laughed Theodore. "Drake always refused to hurt anyone without a good reason, and tried to make all of us do the same saying we'd get in trouble, but we know the truth!" spat Theodore glaring at Harry.

Harry tried to make sense of this new information.

"But, Malfoy always teased us and-"

"Don't you get it Potter" growled Blaise "He was only teasing! Only words! That's all he ever did, sure he threatened but did he ever follow through with them?" asked Blaise smirking at Harry.

Suddenly everything seemed to fall into place; it was true Draco never hurt Harry physically just with words.

"Malfoy was weak" were the words that knocked Harry out of the shock.

Anger flashed through Harry's green eyes at this and held out his hand,

"To me" was all he said before his wand came back to Harry's outstretched and awaiting hand.

As quickly as Harry thought possible Blaise and Theodore's faces lost what color they had,

"Oh-" started Blaise

"-No" finished Theodore as Harry pointed his wand at the two who promptly gulped loudly.

After Harry had successfully disposed of two unwanted pests and gotten Neville to the Infirmary, Harry found himself in the library with Hermione.

"They're getting worse 'Mione" said Harry letting his head hit the table earning a glare from Madam Pince.

"Really" said the brunette not looking up from her book as her brown eyes scanned over the text like lightning, for once too lost in her book to concentrate.

"Herm!" whined Harry. "I just caught the two bastard beating the crap out of Neville!" said Harry instantly catching the brown haired girl's attention.

"Oh no! Is Neville O-Kay?" asked Hermione putting the book down, her eyes brimming with worry.

"Yeah, just a bit bruised… but he'll have to stay in infirmary over night" said Harry, shaking his head.

Hermione nodded before she opened her book again,

"Here, read this paragraph!" she said excitedly.

Harry groaned loudly before peering over the words.

"Over the years, Veela blood has been driven into the pureblood family lines to keep their lines going on into the future. But many feared side affects and to boost their concern bizarre happenings have been taking place since the 'Grand Veela Merge' in 1873"

"What does it mean?" asked Harry, letting his brow furrow.

Hermione smiled happily while shaking her head,

"It means we're heading for the restricted section tonight… It's not as if we're going to find out about these 'bizarre happening' here"

Harry smiled; as usual she had a point.

Harry let his head hit the table with a loud thump, Hermione scolded him and continued searching the shelves. Harry's mind reeled as he thought as to WHY he was trying to help Draco, but then he remembered that Draco had been holding back, and Harry wanted to know why.

"Aha!" whispered Hermione holding a think book like it was sacred. She slumped into a seat and opened it, after a few minutes her smile faded as she read further.

Harry read the title

"'The Veela Blood' what's really happening behind the pureblood façade!"

"What does it say?" asked Harry leaning over Hermione's shoulder.

"Something about… Veela traits and DNA splicing… some purebloods used to experiment on their children to see if they could create some sought of a super-breed or something…" said Hermione, frowning. "It say's the purebloods still do in some cases but they hide it… Do you think Lucius could of…?" Hermione let her sentence trail off.

Harry hoped not.

"Let's say he did… Do you think that would have to do with Draco's immunity to the 'Anima'?" asked Harry sitting next to the bushy haired girl.

"Most likely…" sighed Hermione, letting her head lower in thought. "But the problem with this, other than it's against human rights… the effects are unknown… For all we know, Draco could suffer for years before dieing a horrible death… or worse"

"What could be worse than dieing a horrible and painful death?" asked Harry, narrowing his eyes in confusion.

Hermione just shook her head,

"Let's just hope it doesn't come to that," she mumbled putting away the book quietly.

Harry rolled his eyes, "Doesn't come to what?" he said in exasperation.

Yay! Another chap down! (Do a little dance)! OK! I'd like to thank SilverDragon161 for bedaing my work! Thank you so much for your help girl!

Thanks so much for your reviews! They are a big help! Anyway! Please give me some ideas! Please!

Oh! Myidea has asked me if I should make this a SLASH fic… I was planning on asking if anyone had any problems with that but I've decided it would be a good slashy! So if you do have problems with slash I'm sorry!

Drop a line and tell me if you have any ideas on what you want to happen next!

Review!

RG!