Indigo by C C

Summary: When loyalties clash and their hearts are torn apart, how will the students of Hogwarts ultimately choose? Read to discover what is hidden beneath all the masks, deceit, and lies, but, most of all, how strong friendship and, ultimately, love, truly is.

Disclaimer: Harry Potter is the property of J.K. Rowling

Chapter IV "Rain Over Me"

The stage is silent as the heavy red velvet parts – the ghost of (Christmas) past smiles secretly; this will be a good scene …

The gray, clouded sky wept his tears into the impassive face of the lake, onto the resilient green grass, into the sinister darkness of the forest, and onto the dull stone eaves of the castle. One day in the not so distant future, these tears would wash away the red wine that would stain the lives of those it touched forever …

Seeing Blu's slim figure become engulfed in the baleful shadows of the Forbidden Forest, Draco felt a pang of fear and a sense of foreboding. Ignoring the intensifying rain that brushed his pale skin like a million cold fingers, he ran towards her direction as the saturated ground regurgitated the water to send waves of iciness into his sneakers. He cursed under his breath as he anxiously searched the murky gloom for a trace of his elusive companion. A deep, pointed indentation, the print of a heel, caught Draco's attention and he followed it and its companions further into the maze of towering trees.

The wafting aroma of food met Ron as he entered the Great Hall with Harry. Scanning the crowds, he saw Hermione and Ginny waving energetically at them and the two picked their way over. Ginny looked at them reproachfully.

"You've been promising to introduce me to Blu for so long, but she's always hanging out with that Malfoy." Ron shrugged as he buttered his bread and discussed Quidditch strategies with Dean Thomas. Harry pecked her on the cheek.

"I will, promise."

"Well, now's a good time to do it – Malfoy's not there," Hermione pointed out.

"Okay, where's Blu?" Ron glanced over at the Slytherin table.

"She's not there either …" Harry and Ron looked meaningfully at each other. Hermione knocked their heads together.

"Get your minds out of the gutter."

Wandering aimlessly in the obscure shade of the pines, Blu began to feel apprehensive. Would anyone find her? Would she ever get out? What if she froze to death in this rain? Be brave, she mentally scolded herself, if there's a way in, there must be a way out.

Pansy pouted, ever since that new girl came, Drakie-poo hadn't paid a lot of attention to her. Now, where in hell was he?

A stab of lightning lit the sky for a brief moment and Draco felt his heart sink. What was now a storm had washed away all possible footprints – it was pointless for him to search any further, maybe it would've been better in the first place to go back and alert a teacher. Just when he was about to leave, he heard a soft rustle and turned to see a drenched figure standing just a little farther from him. Slowly, he made his way over and rested a hand gently on her cheek. It was icy cold. Startled, Blu turned around and frowned.

"Why're you here?" her voice was hoarse from cold and fear. Draco looked down.

"I – I'm sorry, I won't say things like that again. Let's just go back …" he trailed off. Then, his eyes widened in shock as she threw her arms around his neck. Awkwardly, he patted her shaking shoulders.

Blu felt the hot tears roll down her cheeks and cursed her own weakness. Unable to help herself, she sobbed out all of her fear and misgivings, her tears mingling with the punishing rain and moistening Draco's robes. Not unkindly, he attempted to comfort her. Neither knew how long they stood like that, it could have been but a moment or an eternity, as the unforgiving rain beat against their tired figures and the darkness pressed close. But, in the end, Blu pulled away and wiped her tears.

"Sorry …" she looked down. Draco shifted uncomfortably.

"Let's – Let's just go." Blu nodded her silent acquiescence. Turning to find the way from which he came, Draco found that he could no longer distinguish between the forest that walled them in. He had forgotten the way.

Professor McGonagall paced irritably in her office. That Malfoy hadn't come report to her yet and it was already fast approaching midnight! She would have to duly reprimand him tomorrow.

Draco fought to control the rising panic he felt as they stumbled on, not knowing in which direction. He needed to stay calm, for himself, for Blu, if he lost his self-control they would only become more disoriented than they already were. As the shadows began to take on the grotesque shapes of his half-formed fears, some from his last encounter here, some from childhood nightmares; Draco glanced worriedly at Blu who walked wordlessly beside him. In addition to the occasional raising of a hand to push her wet locks out of those downcast eyes, she made no movement as if she already knew that they wouldn't find the way out. He sighed. It was little use to keep lying to both of them – the sun was already setting and they were lost.

"Lumos!" Draco muttered, and a bright light appeared at the tip of his wand. He turned to Blu. "I'm sorry …" She didn't look up, but he saw what little color that was left in her cheeks drain. "Um … I'm sure someone'll find us soon enough. Instead of just wandering further, let's just rest here for the night." Slowly, she nodded. Grabbing some damp twigs, Draco used his wand to light a hesitant blaze and gently led her to sit by it. In the distance, the cry of a wolf could be heard and she instinctively grasped his hand while continuing to stare vacantly into the fire. Recoiling at her icy touch, Draco saw her numb, blue hands and cursed himself. Quickly untying his cloak he draped it loosely around her shivering form.

Forcing a bitter smile, Blu accepted Draco's cloak gratefully and hugged it tighter against herself. Her mind felt numb, as if it had gone to sleep forever, leaving her body to fend for itself. It was like that odd surrealistic feeling of a nightmare, something that seemed real, but just couldn't be real. Through the black silhouettes of the trees, she saw the pale, wan moon rise, dragging her bedraggled procession of dim stars behind. Then, a dark shadow swallowed the moon, bite by bite, until nothing was left but an empty hole in the sky where the moon should have been. An omen. She shuddered, if only she had paid more attention in Divination. What could it possibly mean?

Jane Silvers glanced curiously at the two wizards before her.

"Are you okay? Mr. And Mrs. –" her piercing shriek was cut short by a blinding flash of green.

Harry sat up. It was that dream again, except this time it was a young witch. He paced to the dorm window and gasped. The moon had been replaced by a gaping hole in the sky.

Alba paced the length of Blu's dorm and let forth a tentative meow. With sudden decisiveness, she streaked towards the headmaster's office.

Dumbledore was sitting before his Pensieve, softly swirling the silver thoughts within when a white blur landed itself on his lap. Laughing quietly, he stroked the silky white fur.

"I remember you," he chuckled, "Alba, am I right? You are quite a smart cat to reach here from Venice." Alba meowed and looked at him with her milky blue eyes. "You know, our names have the same derivative – Albus and Alba – dawn. But the dawn, like all else, must fade too … I am an old, old man now, and I worry for the future of those who sill be left when I am gone …" The wrinkles usually hidden by smiles became more prominent, and, in a moment, he changed from the only wizard the Dark Lord feared to an aged man, fearful for the future of those he loved. Alba mewed sympathetically and turned a circle. She then became more insistent, tugging at his robes, as if asking him to follow. Trusting the cat's intuition, he followed.

Professor McGonagall rushed to the Slytherin dormitories, her usually neat hair a tangled mess. Dumbledore and Snape were both there, looking grave.

"They are no where within the school!" she reported anxiously. Dumbledore frowned.

"Then there is only one more place to search," he stated clearly, "the Forbidden Forest."

Draco felt something heavy drop onto his shoulder – it was Blu's head. Weary from the day's wandering, she had dropped to sleep. He forced his own eyes to remain alert, if anything happened, as Head Boy, he would have to answer for both of them. Furthermore, Blu was his friend and it was his fault they were here in the first place. Why did he have to always be so imprudent?

The rain pounded against the apprehensive professors with redoubled ferocity as they gathered outside of Hagrid's cabin. Hagrid, in his heavy moleskin coat, twisted his handkerchief subconsciously. Talking in strained whispers, they decided to split the forest up in order to find the missing students with the utmost speed.

"C'mon, Fang, ol' boy," Hagrid murmured to his giant dog, "Ya come wit me." The silent figures then set out into the forest, wands in hand.

The sharp sound of a cracking twig shook Draco out of his doze. At his side, Blu also woke up and glanced around her with fearful eyes. Whipping out his wand, he pulled her behind him as she did the same.

Hagrid trudged carefully through the sodden forest and Fang followed silently behind. Suddenly, the dog's ears perked and he began to move more quickly with a certain sense of anticipation. Barely hoping it was true, Hagrid followed. In the process, he accidentally snapped a twig, the resulting sound causing both he and Fang to jump slightly.

Peering into the murky shade, Draco saw two large figures approaching them quickly and tensed, preparing to attack. The closer one bared its sharp teeth upon seeing him and lifted its snout to let forth a bloodcurdling howl. At this the second, maybe its master, increased its pace and came forward. It had something of the rudimentary forms of a human, like a giant primate. He shivered, all the stories of bloodthirsty giants he had heard as a child returning. As it approached, he stepped back slightly. His mind had been a mess before, but as the creature appeared before them, only one thought remained – he would be a man and protect them, or die trying. Holding his wand before him, he prepared to attack when –

Seeing the two children standing fearfully before him, Hagrid felt relief wash over him. Without thinking, he pulled Draco into a -

Bear hug. Draco felt the familiar grasp of the half-giant he used to mock incessantly with his friends. It was odd, what tricks life would play on you, that at that moment, that gamekeeper was the person he liked best in the world.

Blu walked over to Hagrid, not quite believing that they were safe.

"Hagrid?" she whispered. He looked at her gruffly and nodded. "Hagrid …" all the tears she had been unable to shed came tumbling out all at once. "Hagrid …" He pulled her into another warm hug.

"There, there, young'un. Yer safe now, nothin' ta worry 'bout." Sniffling she nodded, and then she flashed a beautiful smile at Draco.

"Thankyou …"

Dumbledore beamed at the two students as they walked towards Hagrid's cabin.

"Well, Blu, you have your cat to thank for this one, if she hadn't alerted me as to your disappearance, heaven knows when we would've found the two of you." Blu smiled weakly.

"Alba's a smart cat." Dumbledore nodded.

"I agree." Meanwhile, Professor McGonagall was berating Draco angrily, but even she couldn't hide the smile of relief painted across everyone's faces.

"As Head Boy, I expected better from you! I entrust a student to you, and this is what happens!"

"Now, now, Minerva," interrupted Dumbledore mildly, "You're just glad that their safe, don't deny it." Professor McGonagall allowed herself a soft laugh.

"Well, I guess that's true, though I'm still taking thirty points each from Slytherin." In the comforting presence of safety, Draco felt his legs give way and he stumbled a few steps before collapsing. Hagrid scooped him up.

"Now, young'un, ya must be tir'd, let yerself rest fo' a bit an' I'll carry ya back." Draco looked at him remorsefully.

"Hagrid, I'm really sorry about the way I've been in the past. You're really a nice person, I can see that now," he mumbled.

"It ain't nothin'" Hagrid forgave him, "misunderstandin's happen." Professor McGonagall glanced at Draco's pale face uneasily,

"Hagrid," she inquired, "would it be okay to let Mr. Malfoy rest in your cabin for the night? I don't think he's up to the journey all the way to the castle." They reached the log cabin and walked into the soothing warmth. Hagrid lay Draco down on the bed.

"It's fine, professor."

"Thankyou. Now, let's go." The latter part was directed to Blu. She didn't move. "Ms. Nero?"

"Please …" Blu whispered, "can I stay with him?" Professor McGonagall frowned.

"Both of you need medical attention as soon as possible and it would be too much trouble for Hagrid to look after both of you. You've caused enough trouble as it is."

"Please … professor, it's all my fault, I'll take care of him." Dumbledore intervened.

"If it's fine with Hagrid, Minerva, I don't think there's anything particularly wrong."

"It's fine wit me," agreed Hagrid.

"Well …" Professor McGonagall wavered, "fine, but only this one time."

"Thankyou." Blu looked at the floor, "thankyou." And the ghost of (Christmas) past tucked them away into the healing realm of sleep.

Many thankyous to Reyy, ArwenFairTinuviel, and eternal rose for the reviews!

Reyy, I already replied to most of your reviews via email, but I'll just clear some of those things up here too since they're very popular questions (I posted this story about a year ago on winglin)

the whole Christmas thing was just a sudden flash of randomness. I was sort of going along the lines of how the ghosts showed what was, what is, and what has yet to come. Right now, what you guys are reading (and I have written) is the past. The present won't be as upbeat, or so I'm envisioning it as of now

this fanfiction is technically staged after the 6th book, but because I disliked the whole Horcruxes and Dumbledore dying idea (it just didn't flow as well as the other books for some reason and seemed a little half-developed), I just cut it out. So something happened in the 6th book, but I'm just going to leave it at that. As most of you have probably noticed, the pairings are still the same. I'm not a big fan of the Harry Ginny pairing, but it works for this novel, so I'll leave it

The riddle in the beginning will be explained later! I'm pretty excited for the dénouement actually. It won't be the climax of the story, but it'll be the climax of this particular subplot. I'm curious about whether anyone of you have been able to put two and two together as of yet (it'll be easier if you read Bleach, I took the riddle from one of its earlier chapters). Feel free to put forward any theories, it might give me ideas for future developments and, if you get it right, I'll dedicate the next chapter to you )

That's all for now, this is the last chapter I have pre-written, so any suggestions are welcome! I have an idea of where I want it to go for the next few chapters until the end of this subplot, but the smaller details and plot developments remain to be determined and then there are a bunch of other chapters and subplots to cover, so suggest! And review!