Dark: A bit more development. Enjoy.
Summary/Disclaimer: check the prologue.
Italics – thoughts
"..." – speaking
Chapter 9... Slyherinny ways
"Hey." Harry grinned lightly, as he finally saw her. Not coming from the dungeons as he had first thought, but he wasn't about to ask her that.
"Hey there, stranger." As she arrived, Ten hugged him close, "No one asked you anything?"
The boy hugged her back, "Nope. Hermione was reading and Ron was entertaining himself at playing wizard chess against everyone. I doubt they even noticed me coming here."
"All the best for us." Pecking his cheek lightly, she began to walk, "Any ideas of where we could go?"
"I thought you already knew that." He chuckled, looking at her.
"Not really..."
"Well, to the grounds, that's out of the question. I don't want that thing from last time to happen again."
The witch at his side nodded, "Ditto. Though if we keep walking, Filch might find us."
"Hmm..." something shined in those green orbs, "Well, he won't know if we're in the Room of Requirement.."
"That's true." She linked their arms, "But then again, I didn't plan anything to do either, once we get there."
"We'll think of something. Besides, the more important part is being together, right?"
A shy smile made its way to her lips, "I guess."
A few minutes later, they had entered the room, safe from Filch and his cat. The room made them both remember of their respective common rooms, since it was quite alike; the fireplace, couches here and there... However, it also had a queen sized bed near one corner.
Ten chuckled quietly, "What was your idea?"
Even if he was blushing faintly, he also chuckled, "Dunno really... Umm, we could get tired, or something."
"Get tired? At doing what?" her head titled to the side in mild curiosity.
"There's many things you could do here to get tired." He sat casually in one of the couches, watching as she sat in one of the arms of it.
"Really?"
"Really." He looked amused at her own curious nature. Which only seemed to prickle more at that.
"Like what?" her reply was a pillow hitting her face. After picking up the offending item, she half glared half smiled at him, quirking an eyebrow in question.
"That does take a lot of your energy, you know." Picking up yet another pillow, he hit her playfully again.
"Very funny, Potter!" holding up her own pillow, she blocked him. Grasping his weapon, she hit him everywhere she could reach. Noticing she couldn't hit him on the head as he had done, the young woman got up.
After five seconds without feeling any hit, Harry opened his eyes. Looking at her former place, he didn't find her. Stopping for a moment, he glanced behind him, still lying down. Only to have a pillow shoved in his face.
The Slytherin girl finally took the fluffy item away from him and, still giggling once in a while, she sat down beside him.
"Told you it was tiring."
"So you did." She leaned in, resting her chin on his shoulder lightly as one of his arms wrapped around her waist loosely. "Have any plans for Christmas?"
"Christmas? It's more than a month away." He chuckled quietly.
Her hand came up, smacking him playfully, "That's not what I meant! If you're going with Ron to his house or something."
"Till now, he didn't say anything. You?"
"Well, if he didn't say anything to you, he surely didn't say anything to me."
"Hey, I wasn't-" one look in those bright blue hues told him she was clearly playing with him. "Very funny."
It was her time to chuckle, "No, I'm not thinking of going anywhere. Unless someone invites me."
"Hu huh. And any plans, without having anything to do with Christmas?"
"Without counting the day on Hogsmeade I'll spend buying presents to said season, the only plan I have is for Slytherin to win the Quidditch Cup." At that, a smirk played on her lips.
"Keep dreaming, Slytherinny girl." His eyes rolled.
"Does that word even exist?"
"Umm... I doubt it." The boy sweatdropped.
"Another word for the Gryffindor's dictionary!" as an after thought, she added, "That's usually what Malfoy says, but yeah."
"Please, from now on, spare me the thought of him when we're together."
"Meh, he's not so bad if you cared to get to know him. But anyway, the other thing I'm planning to do is Iris's birthday party."
"Thought she was older than you." He grinned lightly, looking down at her.
"One more remark like that, and the only thing warming up this couch will be you." The girl pouted, "Her birthday is on the 16th November. So, exactly eight days away. I have that amount of time to do her a surprise party. It's the least I can do, since she did the same to me."
"One night in which I won't be with you, huh.."
"Why do you say that?" her head lifted just enough to look at him. "Who said you won't come?"
"Your friend doesn't have much interest in talking to me or being my friend, so, I'm just saying." Harry shrugged.
"Exactly. That's what you say. Consider yourself, Ron and Hermione invited. Iris doesn't mind any of you guys; she just isn't all that social to go on and greet everybody in sight."
"I see." Glancing over at her, he seemed to be thinking about something.
"What is it?"
"Nothing, it's just that.. You have something near your upper lip."
"I do?" quirking an eyebrow, Ten rubbed the spot. "Still have it?"
His eyes had that glint again, "Hu huh. Right here." He sat up, bringing her along with him. Holding her chin gently, the motion made her tilt her head back slightly. And before she could say anything, his lips were on top of hers.
As the kiss ended, she gave him a look, "Not nice for a Gryffindor to be cunning; you never expect that from them. That's more of a Slytherin trait."
"The Sorting Hat would put me in Slytherin, if I wanted to. So, guess I have to have a few Slytherin qualities. If you can call them that..." he grinned at the last comment.
"Now that's a good thing for black mail." Her reply was grinning right back at him, "Insulting my own house... The rest of them wouldn't like that, you know."
"I do. They hate the air I breathe, the very ground I walk on." At that, they both chuckled.
"Seems just like a Romeo and Juliet story, huh.. A forbidden love." Her smile held a slight bitterness to it. Taking advantage of their sitting up position, she snuggled into him, her head resting gently on his shoulder.
The Gryffindor frowned, looking down at her, "Who told you that? We're happy with each other, right?" in response, he got her immediate nod, "And if someone disagrees, then let them think what they like. We are who we are. And I happen to love you. Just because someone says it's not usual or something of the kind doesn't mean I'll leave you."
The lines that worried her features dimmed visibly, "Meh, you're right. That was getting to me for no apparent reason, I guess."
"Malfoy said that, didn't he." So the Boy-Who-Lived had said that they wouldn't talk about his rival not ten minutes ago. And here he was, talking about him.
"Well... In a way, I guess." One of her hands came up, resting over his heart, "He didn't tell me to stay away, just that I should be careful. But as you said, it won't be him who will push me away from you just like that."
Harry nodded, a smile now enlightening his face, "Can I ask you something?"
"You just did, but I'll let you ask another one." The girl let out a quiet chuckle; that expression was heard more from the part of her grandfather, but that didn't mean she couldn't use it to...
And like her, he also remembered that same thing, "Hu huh. It's only a rumour, but since the Ferret was the former topic of our conversation... Does he have the Dark Mark or not?"
Memories from that day, already late in the afternoon, almost two months ago, came back. The first day when she had really saw that Draco Malfoy was a person with feelings. The day that she had sworn she'd help him and do all she could to stop his father from having the Dark Mark. Only to have that promise crushed the day right after her birthday. On that, I failed him. The finger that was doing small absent circles upon her lover's chest stopped, as her eyes lost part of their normal sparkle, "Unfortunately, he does.. Ever since the night after my birthday party."
His warm arms wrapped around her, pulling her close, safe away from her last thought, "I never... I never imagined he'd recruit his new followers at such a young age."
"It was not meant to be so early. But his father-" one gentle finger was placed upon her lips, as she looked into his eyes.
"The past is the past. There's nothing you can do to change that. Don't worry about it anymore. It was no one's fault, but Voldemort's." both their eyes hardened at the mention.
"Shouldn't we go back?" glancing at her watch, the heiress realized it was way past curfew by now, "It's already half past midnight. Someone might find out we're missing."
"Don't you have a room for yourself?"
"I never really shared it with anyone. And I suppose that being the Gryffindor team captain also allows you to have your own too, right?"
He nodded, "Exactly. By this time, the only ones that aren't really sleeping are the lovers, I guess. And even if someone else besides those is awake, they would be way too sleepy to notice who's gone and who's not."
"I'm not properly talking about me, I'm more worried about you. Ron and Hermione will notice, I'm sure." It was not that she didn't want him with her, let alone give him a silly reason to go, but the blue eyed witch had never really slept beside someone, and certainly, had never slept knowing that a boy was near her.
"True, they might notice." The soft smile didn't leave his lips, nor did he make a move to get up, "But if they do, they'll probably understand. And they won't tell to McGonagall or anything like that."
"Hu huh.." her eyes turned away from his as a small blush covered her cheeks. Guess he noticed what I was hinting at...
"If you don't want me here though, I'll take you back to your common room and that's that." His understanding tone made herself smile back at him as their eyes locked again.
"It's not that, it's just... Well, I never slept with anyone, let alone a guy.. I'm just saying-" the blush deepened ever so slightly.
"Thank you for not making me feel like the only one in that position then." His head lowered as he pecked a spot at her neck, which did nothing to help dissipating her blushing state. And ditto, when he also picked her up in his arms.
"See? The bed came in handy after all." Harry placed her down on the mattress gently.
She giggled lightly, "'k, so I'm a bit more convinced of your abilities. Though you forgot one small detail."
"And that would be?"
"The bathroom." The amused tone was now used by her.
"Oh." Looking around, almost hoping for one to appear just like that, he finally turned back to her, grinning sheepishly, "So I did..."
"And that means that we'll have to wake up a bit earlier than usual, to give us time to go get our stuff and take a small shower too." Taking out her shoes to the side and snapping her fingers, the girl swiftly changed clothes effortlessly before pulling away the blankets and lying back down under them, enjoying their warmth.
Sighing dejectedly, he nodded, "I'm not much of a morning person." With a small flick of his wand, he copied her own wandless spell, all the while glaring half heartedly at her as she laughed at his expression. Getting under the covers himself and after putting out most of the fire back in the fireplace, her chuckles quieted down as they looked at each other.
Slowly, their faces got closer and closer, and eventually, their lips touched ever so lightly. Lightly, at first. Tilting her head to the side ever so slightly, the kiss deepened. Her hands had came up, one resting over his cheek, the other fisting his shirt, as his own hands rested over her waist.
It ended all too soon for the both of them as they pulled away regretfully, their slightly darkened eyes opening once more to gaze into each other's.
"I love you, you know that."
Ten smiled at the softly spoken whisper. Soft, but with so much significance to her, "I love you too, Harry. Now, and always." Her eyes closed softly as she snuggled into him, sighing contentedly.
"Always."
She did not hear that last word coming from his lips, as he came to realize a few seconds after. But then again, after all that happened in so little time with her, it was no surprise that she had already fallen asleep.
Kissing her lips one last time and chuckling as a lazy smile curved her lips, his arms pulled her even closer to him. Sighing one last time, Harry let sleep come over his senses.
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««Vision(s)»»
Everything in sight was burnt, the once mighty castle of Hogwarts destroyed, its remnants all around me. Sadly, I could do nothing but watch as it kept killing everyone in sight.
Whoever it was, student or teacher or Auror... Everyone who moved, or could still move was killed in the next instant.
And blood.
The blood, all the blood... I think that's the worse part. Of course that in a carnage such as this one, there would be blood. But so much of it? As I descended the hill that led me to the valley that was most attacked, small rivers of the thick red substance followed me along, making me look forwards as not to see it.
That sight... The blood, the bodies... I doubt that it'll leave my mind, that I'll be able to forget it.
And then, the faces... The pale faces. Some, didn't even had a single drop of blood. I'd say they would be alive, if it wasn't their eyes. Soulless... Lifeless... Wide and unbelieving.
Only something like that could do this.
But now I knew. It couldn't be just a simple coincidence. It was far too dark to be something else. I doubt it was actually him. No, only one of his creations, perhaps.. Either way, I knew it came from him.
That black aura. The darkness itself. The same one as that of the Forest. I dare to say that it had evolved. I never got a good look at it, true, but I knew for sure it had not eyes or mouth. Now... Now it did.
Maybe it fed in evil. Maybe it fed on its kills. Maybe it got stronger that way. I don't know. Whatever it was, it connected to Voldemort, that, I was sure.
But then again... What was this vision all about? A prediction? Or just a warning? Both?
Maybe.
I know our time of calmness is coming to an end. I know that. All my visions, the Death Eater attacks on the newspapers... Everyone knows.
Enough the time to be in the grey. People will have to choose: black or white, Dark or Light.
That thing - whatever it was, I still didn't know – hovered over me now, as I loved up. It smiled deviously, mouthing something. At first, I didn't understand, but then..
"Soon." It was the word it was trying to say to me.
I simply nodded. It wasn't the end of that vision, I'm sure of that. I have been having it for quite some time. First, it was just the destruction, then all the blood, and finally the bodies. The new part this time was the killing while I watched.
Ron Weasley.
Draco Malfoy.
Hermione Granger.
Iris Koltchak.
All dead. Not a single sparkle in their eyes. All around me, there was only me. All around me...
There was only death.
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"Death." Two voices whispered in the calmness of the night, though none of the teens noticed the so called coincidence. As they slept in each other's arms, they were blissfully unaware of their role on the Final War.
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The morning came fast, as the sun light poured lazily through one of the few and far between windows of a certain black haired blue eyed witch.
Still half asleep, Iris made a face, recoiling from the unwanted interruption of her rest. She knew she'll have to wake up soon, it was Thursday after all. And Transfiguration to begin the day... Then Double Potions.. Merlin, I swear, this is my favourite day of the week...
Suddenly, she froze. She had been trying to find a position to escape the annoying sun rays, however, with her wriggling, she realized there was something behind her, namely someone, since one arm was draped lazily over her waist. Getting a hold of her nerves, she obliged herself to calm down enough to make use of her powers. Now calmer and as carefully as she could as not to wake whoever was there, she soon found out. Draco Lucius Malfoy... Who else... If anyone finds us here like this, I swear I'll kill someone today. Slowly, she turned around.
Judging by the sound of his soft breathing, his sleep was quite light. From the corner of her eye, she saw his cloak, discarded on the floor, but other than that, he had done nothing. Finally trailing her eyes up to his face, the girl had to smile. He was aged beyond his sixteen years, that she knew. Who wouldn't be, with a father like his... But then again, so was she, along with Ten and even Potter. But still, in his sleep, the young Malfoy seemed peaceful. Which didn't prove he was...
Letting her eyes travel lower once she was sure he wouldn't wake up very soon, the silver orbs stopped at his left wrist. The arm around her was his right, his left was lying beside him. She was able to see just the beginning of the Mark, the green curve of the skull. Taking a second look at it, she could almost swear-
"It glows, from time to time, if that's what you're so curious about." The sudden sound of his voice made her look up at him. The tone he used wasn't one of sleepiness, quite the contrary. He sounded even amused, although she did sense a slight detached coldness.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you-"
"You didn't. By the time you started moving about because of the sun light, I was already awake." The blond wasn't glaring at her, but he wasn't looking at her in a kind way either.
"Is there something wrong?" her own voice quietened. She knew she had nothing to fear from him, or at least she didn't think he'd hurt her, but his eyes.. Just alike his father's, it made her remember certain times.
"That, is wrong." Nonchalantly, Draco lifted his arm, flicking his wrist to show her the tattoo, "It's the proof that I was sold by my own dear father. And you were looking at it just as if it was a simple piece of a museum."
"Sorry for breathing and polluting your pure air, your highness." Getting up, the young woman picked up her uniform, throwing his cloak at him in her way. She entered the bathroom.
A few minutes after, she came out, her hair in its usual ponytail.
The boy had yet to move from her bed, even if he was ready with a simple spell. As he saw her, his eyes rolled, How she lets her anger take the best of her... "Look, Iris.. I didn't mean it that way. I don't want you to get mad at me, I've had enough ever since the beginning of the year."
Iris stopped for a moment. "I know. I know that.. that" her hand made a vast movement in his direction, still he knew what she meant, "must be a terrible burden on your shoulders. Though, you don't need to take it out on me."
"That, coming from the one who snapped at me just minutes ago while knowing."
"Alright, I'm sorry too!" they smiled mutually. "We seem like five year olds arguing over something..."
"I'll have to agree." He chuckled, "Come on." The boy got up, stretching lightly. Picking up his back pack from the floor, he headed towards the portrait, she doing the same. They got out.
"Well, well, well, if it isn't the royal family arising after having created their heir."
Iris looked around, confused for a moment, although Draco didn't look the least bit worried. Casually, he leaned against the railings, "What do you want, Pansy? Oh right, you want me to marry you. Which won't happen, even if you were the last woman on the planet."
The witch down stairs looked up at them both disdainfully, "You know that's what your father wants-"
"But it's not what I want."
Her eyes narrowed, "So you don't care about what he says anymore, right? I see. We are betrothed, remember Draco?"
"I never wanted you as my wife even when I did care about what he said. Your family is after my family's fortune. And mine, after your pure blooded reputation and all that. But the decision is always mine, it's my future after all." Grey orbs flashed in anger, "It's my feelings that matter here, now and always. And those feelings are towards her, never you." One of his arms pulled the black haired girl beside him closer, who was trying to stay out of the conflict. The hatred she felt coming from the other girl was worrying her.
She's up to something.. She has to. To only have a chat about this, she already knew Draco's answer.
Pansy turned around, unclasping her cloak in her way. Walking up to one of the couches, she laid down on it over its arm, her skirt going up in the process, not that she cared. In perfect sync, the other two teens rolled their eyes. "I know that." Her voice had lowered to a soft whisper, an odd smile on her lips, "I know your weakness. It's her. It's not just lust or desire you feel, it's love. They say, true love doesn't fail, you know. But fail, it does. It will be your downfall. And I'm terribly sorry for all that; you could avoid it all by just getting rid of her. Remember your initiation, to our Lord?"
Patience is a virtue, but it's one the young Malfoy did not have. Not taking his eyes off Pansy, he pushed Iris out of the way, barely realizing so. The boy descended the stairs, looming over the laid down female, one hand at the back of the couch, securing him. "Firstly, I never said I loved her, you didn't hear that coming from my mouth. Secondly, I have no good reason to get rid of her-"
"Is she that much of a good lay? I'm much more experienced, you know that." She glanced over at the girl upstairs briefly, before focusing on him again, a sultry look in her eyes.
Draco growled quietly, "Thirdly, he may be your Lord, but he's not mine. No one has a hold of me, no one. I didn't get laid last night either. And to shut you up, I took your virginity, so you weren't that experienced at the time."
As calm as ever, she shrugged, "Maybe. But I took yours."
"That's not the point."
In the meanwhile, the silver eyed girl had yet to move. Absently, she rubbed her side. When he pushed her, she had knocked against one of the railings not so gently. Iris dared not to intervene in the arguing, but she knew she was the responsible for it to be happening. Everything Draco had said, she knew he was only protecting her from whatever Pansy had in mind, but still she knew the other girl had a better way of taking him from her.
Almost as if reading her thoughts, the dark brown eyes turned to lock with her silver ones, "Perhaps it's not. But anyway, I'll get to kill two birds with one stone."
"Ah really?" he smirked, "And what do you intend to do that's so great?"
"I'll tell Lucius. All of it. Your rebellion to the Dark Lord, your hanging out with Koltchak, best friends with the heiress of Dumbledore. He'll be most pleased with me, don't you think?"
"And do you think he'll believe everything you say? You have no proofs, except for your own jealousy." As much as he hided it from the outside, his tone held slight doubt.
"And do you think he isn't watching you? He's waiting for you to give him the evidence of your loyalty to our Lord. Before, everything he said, you did, no questions. You're slacking. He doesn't like it; he's starting to get suspicious. So, yes, I think he will believe me. I'll get her out of the way and keep our betrothal intact." The smirk she had could rival his own from before.
His eyes were mere slits by now as he whispered "If you dare to betray me, I swear on my honour I'll make your life miserable. Whether my father believes you or not, if you do say anything, you won't get away with it." He smirked in pure malice as he saw the fear in her eyes, clear as day. His lips were beside her ear, as he lowered his head, "You'll regret ever having met me. You'll regret having fallen in love with me when I wanted nothing from you." Straightening up, he headed for the exit, leaving Slytherin.
Finally allowing herself to climb down the stairs, Iris shivered as he left. She could still feel the anger in the air, thick and heavy, the silent menace. The last few words he had said to Parkinson, she did not hear, but whatever they were, the girl was indeed scared. "You'll still tell?"
Her voice seemed to snap her out of her thoughts. Pansy huffed, "Of course. After Lucius is finished with his punishment, he won't even dare getting out of his dorms." Copying Draco, she also left.
"If he happens to believe you. And that if is huge." Rolling her eyes, the remaining witch also exited the common room. Closing her eyes, she let her powers do the rest. She had to find him. Knowing that attitude of his, classes aren't on his dictionary right now.
At the Quidditch pitch. Let's go. Once there, she spotted him in one of the stands. Walking up the stairs to the tower he was in, once more she sensed his annoyance.
"Please leave, Iris."
Rolling her eyes, the girl simply ignored him, opting to sit beside him, "You ok?"
"Do I seem like I'm ok to you?" his voice was cold, his eyes reflecting the inner turmoil he was fighting at the moment.
"I'm trying to help you, I don't need you to snap at me!" in return, Iris frowned at him. "I told you, no need to take it out on me."
"I know." He sighed, placing his head on his hands. And at that moment, she saw him, no masks, no nothing. Just like her, he was a simple sixteen year old who happened to have the devil's best friend for a father. And right then, he couldn't be more alone. "I should have never done that..."
Smiling at his unusual distress, she hugged him, "Done what?"
At that, Draco got up, an unreadable look in his eyes, "Don't act out of pity on me. Ever."
"Sorry." It wasn't normal for her to bow before anyone, let alone some egocentric guy, but Iris knew he was passing through a hard time. She had no right to act on her own attitude. Besides, if she was in his place, she'd act the same on the whole 'pity' issue. Lucius knew no pity...
"We should do as she says."
"What?" she also got up. Knowing that he was practically a foot taller didn't help much, but at the time, she didn't really care.
He sighed quietly, "Pansy. She's right, I mean... We shouldn't be together. My father... If he knew, Merlin knows what he'd do. If anyone knows.. If anyone else finds out..."
"Finds out what? That we're together? I think most of the school knows. I'm never alone lately; if Ten's not with me, you are." Iris shrugged.
"It's not that. With whom I am, my father doesn't really care, it's..." his voice trailed off as he looked away.
"Your feelings towards me?" she smiled at his discomfort of talking about it, "Your only weakness, in Pansy's words? If that's what's bothering you, you have nothing to worry, dragon. As much as it took me to admit it, even to myself, I feel the same way."
His eyebrow quirked, "Towards the son of the one who made your life miserable? Who almost raped you?"
The witch took a step back from him, "How did you find out that?"
"I have my ways." His expression gave nothing away that let her know about what he was thinking, "Do you have such feelings towards a Death Eater?" Draco pulled back the left sleeve of his shirt, rubbing his arm absently, looking up at her.
She sighed, placing one hand over his and covering the Dark Mark afterwards. Looking up to his eyes, she shook her head, "I don't care. You may have been sold, and that was unfair. You may be a Death Eater physically, but you're not one mentally. They can take over your body, but never your soul. You're the only one who rules over it." Her hand trailed down, intertwining their fingers together, "And nothing will ever change that."
"I can't help but think he knows of a spell that's able to control me.." with his free arm, he pulled her close, resting his chin on top of her head gently.
"There's no such thing as that. Unless the Imperius, but you know how to fight it off, right?" the boy above her said nothing, but she felt his nod. Which reminded her of something... "Draco... If you were not asleep when I woke up.. You felt me-"
"In my mind? Yeah."
"Though you know... I had to be pretty careful.. You have good defences. Maybe you're capable of blocking me. The only ones who can do that are Snape, Dumbledore and Ten, really..."
"Maybe." His voice had a slightly colder tone than before, "They trained me so. At facing their... Lord, I couldn't be weak."
"Don't think about it anymore." The girl snuggled closer to him, "We're together, we're ok." The next words came out as an after thought... she didn't really meant to say them quite like that, "I love you, you know that." She couldn't guess that someone would hear, could she?
He pulled back from her slightly. Looking around hesitantly, Draco smiled ever so softly, "Yeah, I know." Leaning in, his lips were beside her ear, his voice barely audible, "And I also know that I love you too."
Cupping his cheek, she turned his head slightly to the side, capturing his lips in a gentle kiss.
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Blue eyes slowly opened as her body stretched cat-like. Yawning softly, Ten made a move to sit up, but a heavy weight near her waist made her lie back down. Looking at whatever was responsible, she finally remembered she wasn't in her room. Oh right.. And beside her, still asleep, was Harry. Chuckling at how peaceful he looked, she gently shook him awake.
The Boy-Who-Lived frowned lightly, before opening his own eyes. Looking around for a moment, he finally focused his stare on her, "Hey... Good morning."
"Morning." Leaning over, she pecked his cheek, "Get up, sleepy head.. It's Friday, remember?"
"Unfortunately, I do.." lazily, he sat up. "What do you have now?"
"DADA. And you guys?" snapping her fingers, she was ready to face the day ahead.
"Care of Magical Creatures." Using his wand, Harry did much the same.
"Not too bad for the first class." The girl moved to stand by the door, "Will you join me at breakfast? Iris is probably with Draco back in her room and I don't really enjoy being beside the other Slytherin's."
That same thought had already popped into his mind, more than once. Tenebrae Dumbledore, the heiress... How could she be in Slytherin, and not in Gryffindor? She didn't seem to mingle with most of them, though she had her share of friendly house mates. But still it was weird. Maybe she did have a darker side to herself... Or maybe it was just him trying to find a reason. All in all, he decided not to ask her right now. "They'll skin me alive, but I will, if that's what you want."
In her eyes, those deep blue hues, laugher swam, "Hu huh. No worries, I'll be there if they try that." They exited the room.
On their way from the fifth floor to the first, where the Great Hall was, they found something strange. Both of them exchanged a look.
Lucius Malfoy was walking in their direction, seemingly absorbed in his own thoughts, a deep frown gracing his features. Something had happened. He turned to his left suddenly, towards Dumbledore's office. Giving the password to the gargoyle, it wasn't long till he disappeared behind the spiral stairs. He had not noticed them.
"Ok, he doesn't really come here unless it's something important and entering your grandfather's office is an even stranger thing."
"Sure is. I wonder what's wrong." She resumed their former walking, "But if it's something important, grandfather will tell us."
Half way through breakfast, Iris and Draco finally arrived, not too close to someone suspect of anything, but close enough to everyone know they were, in the least friends or very close to that.
As soon as he sat down at the table, the blond quirked an eyebrow, "What's he doing here?"
"I invited him over." Ten looked up at him with a look that clearly said no more talking about it. Still not so sure, the boy sat down. Sighing, the Chaser looked up at him again, "Draco..."
"Yes?"
"Your father... me and Harry saw him. I think he was coming from outside, or had just arrived.. He seemed pretty mad about something."
Fear suddenly took hold of Draco, "Where?"
"Heading for Dumbledore's office."
He frowned, "There's no way Pansy could have told him-" a sudden pain in his arm made him grimace, "Not now..."
"What is it?" Iris turned to him, her own features set into a light frown.
"The Mark... My father.. He must be waiting for me for some reason." Still massaging his arm, he got up.
"I'm coming with you." She did the same, as the boy glared half heartedly at her.
"No, you're-"
"Miss Koltchak, may I have a word with you?" both teens looked behind them to see Professor Snape. "In my office, if you please." Not waiting for her reply, he started walking out of the Great Hall.
"This is not over yet, Draco. Please... Don't go." looking back at him one last time, she followed their teacher.
Once in their office, his calm demeanour didn't waver. "Please sit. I want you to hear me perfectly." Glaring at her over his shoulder, his voice lowered slightly, "Just try to deny it, Miss."
In reply, she simply quirked an eyebrow as she tensely sat down.
"You should already know that sleeping with someone in a single room, let alone of the opposite sex, is forbidden. I have no information about your old school, but these are the rules of Hogwarts."
It's not like ¾ of this school don't do the same... "I didn't have sex with anyone, sir. I can assure you it was plainly sleeping. I let Mr. Malfoy into my room, because I was awfully tired and I wanted some company. You may ask the Headmaster about my 'condition' if you don't believe me. Of course that with the hours passing, he fell asleep beside me, but that's all. So, I don't know what you were told, sir," the last word was more like a hiss, as she angrily got up "but it's a lie. I'm as virgin as the day I was born." With that, she left the office, without a backwards glance.
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Draco stood, looking at her retreating back, debating whether he should or shouldn't go. Clenching his jaws together at feeling another sudden pain surge through his arm, he made up his mind. "Ten, say that I'm sorry to Iris, please."
Nodding, the heiress gave him a thumbs up, though there wasn't a hint of a smile in her face, "Get back in one piece, you hear?"
The boy nodded back, before exiting the Great Hall.
"Think he'll follow your advice?"
"I do hope so. Though I can't help but think this won't turn out good."
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The day was over. It was time for dinner.
No Draco. No letter. No nothing.
Iris sat tensely in one of the couches, right in front of the fireplace. The flames danced in her eyes silently as she waited, apprehension twisting its fist in her lower abdomen. That was never a good sign.
"Hey." Looking up at the sound of the voice, she saw her friend.
"Hey.." making way on the small couch for Ten, the other witch resumed her absorbed staring into the fire again.
"You're not mad at him, are you?"
"Course I am! I knew this would happen! I knew it. I warned him, and he ignored me." Her sentence was finished with a quiet growl.
"If he didn't go, his father would get suspicious, Iris. It might have been for the best." Placing a hand on her shoulder, she tried to make her see the reason, "Like you, he's not one to be judged easily, to be submissive. You know that."
One wooden door opened from the upper floor as both the girls' eyes looked up.
Leaning against his door with eyes tightly closed was Draco, his features scrunched up in pain. If the way he secured himself on the door and his fast breathing were any indication, he was quite hurt.
In the middle of getting up and climbing the stairs and running towards him, both females finally reached him. Just in time to catch him as he fell, unconscious.
"Draco!"
…TBC…
Thanks to:
Tenebrae Rosa: that did give me a lot of work 2 do it xD but glad u liked it ;)