Dark: Enjoy & plz review. The chaps r yet 2 get 2 their normal size 2 which I write.

Summary/Disclaimer: check the prologue.

Italics – thoughts

"..." – speaking

Chapter 2... The Beginning...

October came, no more accidents happening in between. That month also meant Quidditch season. And the first Quidditch game was today, in a cold, but sunny Saturday morning. Gryffindor versus Slytherin. The majority of the castle was wide awake by now, 9.30am, but some were still snoring away, of course.

A loud knock at the door was what Iris heard, before opening her eyes and seeing two light blue orbs looking down at her.

"ARRGHHH!"

While Iris sat up straight, catching her breath and calming down her thumping heart, Ten was laughing at her. "Merlin, calm down woman! I was just waking you up!"

"Scaring me to death, you mean..."

Ten rolled her eyes, "Whatever..." she got up, rummaging through the armoire and picking up some jeans, a top and a waist-length jacket, she placed the clothes on the bed. Looking at her best friend again, she noticed Iris was still rubbing the sleep off her eyes. She giggled, "Iris, c'mon, hurry up... I want to catch some breakfast this morning, not lunch."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, I'm coming..." she picked up the clothes and entered her private connecting bathroom. Doing the normal routine we ladies do, after some minutes she came out, ready for a new day.

As soon as she saw her, Ten walked up to her and took the elastic that held up her hair, letting the black mane tumble down her back. "No way I'll let you do that every day, Koltchak! Sometimes, just let the thing loose, for a change!"

"Ahh, fine! As you wish. I don't mind. At least, in a ponytail, it doesn't get in my way." The two girls made their way out of Slytherin and entered the Great Hall, where they sat down.

"Hey guys!"

"Hey!... Hi, Ten!... Oh hey!..." the normal slurring and bored tones from the greetings were replaced by quick, short, enthusiastic sentences, the humming of the quiet chatter starting right after.

"I still can't understand how this game is so damn popular..." Iris grumbled, rolling her eyes at the male population, helping herself with some breakfast.

Ten sighed, "You sure woke up in a bad mood today..."

"I have a reason to..." the other girl spoke quietly, but it was enough to pick up the other's curiosity.

"How so?"

"You know what happened in the night I came here, I already told you!"

"You're still with that?"

"You can't blame me; how could I let down me defences just like that? It never happened before..."

"Iris..." seriousness and uncertainty sounded in her friend's voice, "You... You're not... I mean.. You seem to think about him every day and-"

"Woah, slow down! I'm NOT falling in love here, ok? I'd rather die."

Ten looked away; I just hope you're right... "Malfoy's known by his relaxed playboy façade. Most girls know that. He snogs almost every half and pure-blooded witch in Hogwarts, and I even heard that some of them ask him to take their virginity, because of his so-called experience. That's the reason I don't trust him... I'm sorry to be the one telling you this, but it's the truth."

"And I agree with you. Besides, I don't have any intentions of being anywhere near him. I hate him; I know it, you know it. And that's that." They started eating slowly.

"Ten!" a cheery voice said. The witch turned around, looking at the Gryffindor Quidditch team, more particularly, to a certain green-eyed captain. "Good luck for today's match."

She smiled, "Thanks, Harry. To you too."

Dean Thomas, one of the new Gryffindor Chasers, stepped forwards. He snickered lightly, "Hope there's a bit of actual challenge from your part, this year..." he motioned the rest of the Slytherin's with a nod.

As soon as she felt a hand on her thigh, Iris turned around quickly, looking at her left side. Malfoy had just sat down and placed his hand on her leg, narrowing his eyes at the Gryffindor's. He obviously had heard the comment. Still, Iris slapped his hand away, standing up and frowning lightly at Dean. She was a Slytherin, and for that, the boy had crossed the line with that sentence. The Slytherin Prince and the rest of his team quickly did the same.

"Watch your tongue, you-"

"Malfoy's trying to say that we'll pretend we didn't just hear that and no more jokes will be said, that right?" the normal twinkling sapphire eyes grew cold, as the heiress of Dumbledore glared at Dean, who had the decency of looking ashamed. The rivalry between Houses was tense and both captains were glaring daggers at each other.

"Harry..." Ron and Ginny (another new Chaser) started pulling Harry along, knowing that this would end up with both sides having problems. "C'mon, we should get going."

The lions left, leaving behind an almost silent Great Hall. Draco finally sat down. Contrary to what people said, he felt responsible for the rest of the Slytherin's. They were like his family, much more proper than his own. They trusted him and he trusted them. It was his responsibility to look out for them. As simple as that.

"Draco, do you have any idea yet? The meeting is getting closer..."

"No, Greg, I don't. I tried to find something, but I still didn't manage anything... And time is running short. I don't think we'll get away with it."

"Oh."

Ten had picked up the small, but useful conversation. Must report back to Grandfather. The auburn haired girl had two reasons to be in Slytherin House: 1) it really was her nature and 2) was to keep an eye on potential Death Eaters, know the maximum about their plans and inform The Order. She could tell that said meeting was the one where they would get the Dark Mark, initiate in their fathers' footsteps and give the Dark Lord some reason to make him believe that they were loyal to him. Like their first murder... She suppressed a shiver. But the question was... Is Malfoy trying to rebel to that fate? Every part of the puzzle the blonde young man gave to her was coming together. That discussion after Quidditch practise... But why? What are his reasons? What does he win with that! Lucius will surely Avada him, if he knew...

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"HELLO, YOU CRAZY LUNATICS FOR QUIDDITCH! I DECLARE THIS YEAR'S QUIDDITCH SEASON OPEN!" cheers followed Zacharias Smith's sentences, his voice magically louder echoing all around them. Some moments later, both teams entered, doing the normal lap around the pitch and making a circle around Madam Hooch. "OKAAAAAAAY, THE QUAFFLE IS RELEASED AND SO IS THE SNITCH! COME ON, GRYFFINDOR! SLYTHERIN! MOVE THOSE ASSES!"

"Mr. Smith! Language!"

"OH, ERR YEAH, RIGHT, ERR SORRY 'BOUT THAT, PROFESSOR MCGONAGALL... AAAAND, WHAT'S THIS? WOOOAHHHH, GO, GO, GO, DUMBLEDORE! THERE SHE GOES.. ALMOST, YEAH... WEASLEY LET THE LADY PASS, AAAAAAAAAND YES! SHE SCOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORED!"

By doing a couple of loopings, Ten surprised Gryffindor's team, scoring a goal upside down. Slytherin was doing great. She flew higher; letting her two other companions score another goal. Her broom was at level with Malfoy's, as she floated beside him.

Draco stopped his search on the Snitch to look at his side, "What are you doing here?"

"I was right." a small smile tugged at the corners of her mouth, "The strategy needed to be changed."

"Hn."

"Come on, why don't you admit you were wrong and I was right?" A bit of pressure won't hurt anybody, right? Hehe...

"Whatever, Dumbledore! Do your work, they're attacking." And with that, the young blonde made a sharp turn, trying another area to search the golden little ball.

Ten sighed, Why? Why don't you let anyone in, Draco Malfoy? What are you hiding under that mask of yours?

"TWENTY MINUTES OF EMOTION AND BOTH TEAMS ARE TIED 70-70! SEEKERS, IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA TO CATCH THE DAMN SNITCH NOW, DON'T YOU THINK?" angered green eyes and stormy grey ones narrowed at the blonde Hufflepuff, as they kept searching, while the crowd snickered slightly.

Suddenly, Harry felt a throbbing on his scar, getting worse by the minute. He rubbed it gently, then forcefully, but nothing seemed to work. The pain only got worse.

While that, Ten was flying towards another goal, when her breathing seemed to slow down, everything seemed to stop. And she knew that it was there. Instinct or maybe not, she just knew it. She tried a look to the tower where her Grandfather, teachers and some parents (including Malfoy's father) were. That thing... that dark being that was above Iris that very first night, "No..." a whisper sounded from her lips before darkness took her over.

Harry was floating, no longer searching for the Snitch, but trying to ignore the aching from his forehead. No such luck. It was then that he saw her, falling off her broom. "No..." his blood ran cold from then on. Shoving the pain to the back of his head, he inclined on the broom, at top speed, trying to reach her before it was too late.

He urged his Firebolt to go faster and faster, as time grew short and the most sensitive part of the crowd started screaming and turning away from the sight. Ten was unconscious, at barely thirty feet from impact. Harry saw the ground coming closer and closer, but that wasn't his priority right now. He only saw the possible scenarios that could become a hard reality, feeling his heartbeat pumping inside his head. At the last instant, he managed to put an arm around her waist, securing her against his own body, but the speed he was flying at wasn't easy to manoeuvre with only a hand.

And so, The-Boy-Who-Lived did what he supposed it was better. Letting go of the broom at something like ten feet, they both crashed onto the ground. Harry made contact first, as he fell on his back, Ten falling on top of him.

His eyes kept open after they stopped rolling on the grass, looking at her pale prone body, now beside him, as the teachers surrounded them. She didn't look too hurt, even if her left arm was at a strange angle and that she had a sharp cut right above her right eye, but besides that, she seemed to be just knocked out.

At that moment, he heard several gasps, as the sun light was blocked. The others must've come over to see... Hands turned him on his back, more gasps ensued. Voices... mingled voices here and there...

"...ribs, no doubt, at least two, yes, yes!" Madam Pomfrey... Yes, it was her voice, "...have to! He still... rest! ...and... recover!..." someone crouched beside him, pressing something to his lips. He drank what it had, not really knowing what, but it tasted like water. And he appreciated a bit of water. The voices faded slowly, the colours twisting and turning to black as a deep dreamless sleep put its cloak over him, the Dreamless Potion already taking its effect.

Draco's boots touched the ground, as he walked towards the growing multitude. He had caught the Snitch, but when he was about to land, everyone was surrounding something in the middle of the pitch.

"...he was going to die! Both of them! I mean..." two chattering Ravenclaw's passed by him.

"...Hu huh. Tenebrae wouldn't have had a chance if Harry didn't catch her..."

Potter? Dumbledore! "Blaise, what the hell happened?" Draco addressed one of his Chasers, as he got closer.

"Ten. She fainted or something, and fell out of her broom. Potter managed to save her at the last minute." Blaise Zabini tried to look over the crowd, as it was too thick to get through.

Draco rolled his eyes, starting to push over the students and making his way to the front, his team following his lead. What he saw there, made his eyes widen. Merlin's robe... Ten wasn't too bad, considering the height she must have fallen. A scratch in her forehead and her arm seemed broken or at least dislocated. Now, his rival wasn't looking all that good. His shoulder was disjointed, no doubt, and for the problems he had at breathing, some of his ribs were probably broken. With a Levitation Charm, both players were moved towards the Hospital Wing.

"I don't want to see anyone here! Go to your common rooms!" Madam Pomfrey shooed everyone out of the Infirmary. Both the Gryffindor and the Slytherin team sat on the floor or simply rested against the wall, waiting for any news.

Ron and Hermione arrived a few minutes later, pale and worried about their friend. The door of the Infirmary opened again, Madam Pomfrey pushing Iris out of the door, "I don't know how you managed to get in, but you are not going back again, Miss Koltchak!"

"Whatever!" the black haired witch sulked, leaning against the wall, ignoring the astonished looks from everyone else, their thoughts asking the same thing Madam Pomfrey had just said.

"Have you seen anything?" Hermione finally asked her, "How are they?"

"Not good, don't you think, Granger? Urrgh... Ten's stable, even if she's still out. Now, Harry seems ok, but he's quite hurt. That's all I know." Silence followed her words, anxiety and worry on everyone's mind. Even in Draco's.

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After stopping the bleedings and Reparo'ing the broken bones the teens had, Madam Pomfrey started to take care of the minor wounds, muttering to herself. "...Dangerous sports... Headmaster should!... Killed them!..."

For the next two days, Gryffindor's and Slytherin's were normally seen in and out of the Medical Wing, wanting to know about their members. But no one ever saw the black being that every night came over the place, in the early hours of the morning, as Harry and Ten struggled to wake up under its piercing scrutiny.

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Quiet steps were heard, as he got nearer from Ten's bed. Koltchak was there, as she did every two hours, even if she knew there was no progress whatsoever. Still, she was there, a hand on top of her best friend's, looking trough the window absently, her face emotionless. She was worried, he could tell that much.

Some more minutes after, she walked away, delivering a last glance at the other girl. Iris didn't notice him. Good.

Stepping into view, he took her former place, his fingers threading gently through the auburn hair. Something pulled him towards the girl, something he couldn't really identify. It wasn't attraction or anything like it, therefore, nothing he ever experienced with another female. It was an unfamiliar feeling.

Dumbledore, as Koltchak, wasn't near normal. Not as mysterious, but just as intriguing. It was strange. How can she be in Slytherin, if she was so nice with everyone else? If her whole family had been in Gryffindor? If she was so different from everyone else? How?

Draco knew she didn't like him, though she had never said that to him, ever. And yet, she did, by the sympathetic looks he sometimes caught in her eyes. Am I turning soft? He felt something for her.. A duty... but not like the normal one to protect his other house-mates. Almost as if... She makes a part of me? Like brother and sister feel?

He got up quickly, angrily, retracting his hand from her hair. His eyes narrowed. No. Stop it. Show no mercy. Show no weakness. You don't feel, there's no need to. Concentrate. With a silent snarl, he walked away as quietly as he had come.

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Ten woke up with a start, sitting up right, only to fall onto the pillows with a soft groan, her right hand rubbing her temple. Damn, I feel like I've just been hit with the Imperious Curse time and time again... Her whole body hurt, specially her left arm and head.

She let out a hiss as her fingers swept over something just above her right eye, "What the-?" looking to her night stand, the sight of her wand greeted her. Picking it up, she quickly configured a hand mirror. "How did I do that! All I remember is... that thing!" scanning the room, she didn't see or feel it, but she knew it was out there... somewhere.

With a sigh, she placed her wand and the mirror on the night stand again. As she turned on her side to catch a bit of sleep, she gasped. Harry...

He was there, pale, his face reflecting a look of silent pain. What happened? Why can't I remember anything!

"Miss Dumbledore?"

Her head quickly looked to the foot of her bed, which she immediately regretted, as the throbbing pain got worse, "Yes, Madam Pomfrey?"

The nurse took her temperature, taking out her wand and murmuring something to herself. Slowly, but surely, the head-ache started to fade to a simple memory, "How are you feeling, child?"

"Better, thank you. But... Could you tell me what happened, please? I don't really remember..."

"And we were all hoping you knew, my dear. You see, while flying, you seem to have fainted. In the rush, Mr. Potter managed to save you at the last minute, with only a few minor injuries." The medi-witch explained, while looking at Harry, "He was very brave."

"But he'll be alright, won't he!"

"You don't need to worry. Rest and quiet, that's all he needs. And you too, young lady! There is no way you'll leave that bed until that arm of yours is completely healed."

For the first time, Ten looked down at her left arm, noticing it was bandaged tightly. It was not broken, Madam Pomfrey had taken care of that already, but the bones were still tender from what had happened. She tried to move it, but stopped, as a sharp pain shot up her whole arm. Grimacing, she laid back against the fluffy pillows. "What time is it?"

"4.30am. Tuesday morning."

"TUESDAY!" her chin almost fell, "I was out for almost THREE days!"

"Shhh! Keep quiet! You are not the only one here, Miss!"

"Sorry."

The older woman sighed softly, "I'll speak with the Headmaster. I'm sure he'll be happy to know you're alright. And you should thank your friends; they visited you many, many times." With a flick of her wand, a large box appeared, holding almost every candy from the Honeydukes shop. "Specially, Miss Koltchak and..." yup, the Swiss chocolate left no doubts about its origin, "Ah, yes, young Mr. Malfoy."

"Malfoy!" What did he want!

"Oh yes. He came to see how you were every few hours." the nurse walked away, assisting her other patients, leaving Ten to her own thoughts.

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"But why did you faint?" Iris asked, as she walked along the halls beside Ten, to have breakfast. It was an early Thursday morning, and only now did Madam Pomfrey let both Harry and the Slytherin Chaser go on with their business. Both of them looked tired and still quite pale and they needed to finish their homework too.

"I told you before! It was that thing! The one I told you about the first day you came here, and that you said you didn't saw it or hear it. That's all I remember." Ten sat down on her normal seat, receiving (incredibly enough) some concerned stares from Slytherin House, but mostly from others. She turned on her seat, looking to the table beside hers, Gryffindor. Harry was having the same problem, but he looked better than the last time she saw him, pale and motionless in the white bed. They haven't talked yet... But I need to thank him!

A good breakfast was pleasant to her, as she had only eaten very little whilst under Pomfrey's care. After it, both she and Iris made their way to Slytherin, picking up everything they would need and walking outside to have their Care of Magical Creatures class.

Hagrid came out of his hut, greeting everyone and ignoring the sneers and rolls of eyes the majority of the Slytherin's were doing. " 'ello, class! Okey, as I told ya last lesson, we'll be studyin' unicorns, in a more careful analysis than we did back in third year." Most girls gasped at that. "As som' of ya might know, we'll learn how tah ride." This time, squeals were heard too. "So, follow mey!" the class got up, following Hagrid, as the half-giant walked along the line of the exterior trees of the Dark Forest.

While they walked, Ten managed to stand beside Harry, dragging Iris along. "Hey there.."

The Golden Trio looked at her, Harry smiling softly, "Hey Ten! You ok?"

The small smile playing on her rosy lips grew, "Thanks to you, I am. Thank you for risking your life for me like that.. I mean, no one asked you to and you could've died."

Harry shook his head, "Don't worry. It's ok. I did it, because I wanted to. I couldn't let you die. No one was near enough to save you, I had to do something. Besides, I didn't die, did I?"

"Don't play with serious things, Mr. Potter.."

"Très bien, Mademoiselle." Harry nodded at her, placing a piece of parchment in her hand as he walked away to stand along with the rest of the Gryffindor's, as they reached a fence where two dozens of unicorns were. All white, golden hooves and silver horn, they all had a bridle, but only catching their muzzle, not going around the ears, and with no bit in their mouths. To ride a unicorn, you need to trust him and it needs to trust you; strength and force are not necessary.

Ten smiled after him, putting the parchment on her pocket. Wonder what he wrote... She turned her attention to the class for the time being, the smile never leaving her lips.

"As I call yer names, ya'll come forwards and tha unicorn I say, will be at yer care fer as long as Dumbledor' wants this assignment tah last. They were chosen fer yer personality and attitude, making this easier tah ya. They're used to human companey, but please, boys be careful, they still prefer girls. Now... Miss Dumbledore, as ya know, yer unicorn will be Chestnut."

She stepped forwards, smiling, entering the fence and watching as Chestnut came towards her, his red eyes recognizing her immediately. She already knew this unicorn from her childhood days. Petting its neck, Ten giggled as he nuzzled her shoulder affectionately, giving a soft snort. Leading him by the silver reins, she stood outside the fence.

"Mr. Malfoy, yers will be young Pravus over ther'!" Draco quirked an eyebrow at the name, knowing it was Latin for 'nasty' or 'perverse'. Wonder what it do to deserve it... A tall, young-looking unicorn stepped forwards, with silver reins, a small black trimming in them too. Pravus looked at Draco up and down with its cerulean eyes, before approaching and letting him pet itself. He led it to stand beside Ten.

"Miss Koltchak," Hagrid smiled at her, "We already talked 'bout yer case, as ya'lready know how tah ride! Yer unicorn will be, of course, Onyx!" a loud neigh was heard, as a dark blur stopped beside the fence. Almost every pair of eyes widened.

"But how-? I thought they were extinct!" Hermione sputtered out, while seeing the beautiful creature, as the purebloods nodded their heads. Draco and Ten looked at it in surprise too.

Onyx turned out to be a black unicorn, silver hooves and horn, and red piercing eyes. Seemingly young like the others and emanating health, it really was a sight to cherish. Half of his reins were dark red and black, the other half, silver and black. Iris stepped forwards, scratching its soft ears. Placing one hand on its withers and another on the beginning of the croup, she hauled herself up on its back, settling into a side-saddle position, as to not to show the world her business. She was still in a skirt, much to her displeasure; Dumbledore didn't lift the rule of the uniform for her. "Most black unicorns are extinct. But not all." Guiding him with the reins, she made him trot in the same place, warming him up a bit, before letting him rest by Ten's other side.

"Harry... Yer unicorn will be Viridans." Another unicorn stepped forwards, looking as tall as Pravus, its reins dark red and his eyes a light blue shade. As Harry led him towards the others, it shoved his back gently, pushing him onwards a bit. Once everyone had their unicorn, Hagrid turned to them again, "Very well, in this class, ya'll learn how tah take care of 'em, cleaning 'em and feeding 'em. In the next class, mey and Miss Koltchak over ther' will help ya with tha mounting an' riding', understood?" at everyone's nod, he added, "Good!" the lesson passed by fairly quickly, and the rest of the afternoon was passed doing homework. The two girls, exhausted by all the work, finally dragged their feet towards the Great Hall.

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Draco watched them sit down with an amused glint in his eyes. This will be interesting... Perhaps he shouldn't be doing this. But it's her fault. She has been refusing me. No one refuses me; I'm a Malfoy.

Nonchalantly, he leant forwards, helping himself of more food. With a tap of his finger, he slipped his Ardenter-Caritas Potion in Koltchak's drink. I'll have her... tonight. It was odourless, colourless and tasteless. There was no way she could sense it.

He saw her eat, and then drink. Eat some more, chat a bit, drink. It takes twenty minutes or so for the potion to act. Therefore, he didn't have much waiting to do...

You'll regret the day you've met me, Iris Koltchak... Mark my words... No one ever says no to me...

...TBC...

Thanks to:

Tenebrae Rosa: hehe, dun mind either xDD & thnx. Spelling mistakes again? Grr.. I've checked so many, that after a while I can't really see any mistakes anymore… o.O Where, pray tell?

Dark: next week, no update. I'm going on vacations. B back on the 16th, so the update will b on the 20th.But if I get a few reviews, I may leave one more chap b4 I go. Up 2 u. If not, 2 in a row once I'm back. Sayonara