Note: Neville was pushed back a little farther during recent editing. Apologies for the very long wait for update, but I've had a lot of health issues and have also been working on my own novel. I hope this is worth the wait. The next chapter is almost ready so hopefully it will be up this week. Also, if you see any inconsistencies please let me know. It's been a while.
Chapter 6
Hello, Persy.
I sat up in my bed startled, what a horrible nightmare! Well parts of it anyway. I remembered a few moments that weren't so awful, like embracing him, the letter, the bright full moon. My thoughts kept drifting back to those moments. Moments that could never possibly happen.
I shook my head to free myself of the morbid pleasures and forced my body out of bed. Stepping away from my slumber, I dressed and began to pick up my black bag.
"No! Leave it here!" I ordered myself. I didn't need Draco trying to corner me again. No doubt he would.
Quickly, I left my room and headed for breakfast. I wanted to eat early in anticipation of Arithmancy class. Arithmancy wasn't my favorite class but it did have one advantage: no Draco.
My body floated through the halls in a dream state. I had clearly not given myself enough time to wake up. Halfway there and I was already losing energy. I stopped and brushed my fingers through my hair. It was then that I noticed every student passing me was staring; some in horror, some chuckling. What were they staring at?
Their gaze seemed to me pointed toward my chest and I was perplexed. Looking down, I saw clearly that nothing was there. Did I grow a full cup size overnight? I shook it off and continued on, deciding to skip breakfast. I'd be too distracted anyway.
Every person I passed was still staring and I was beginning to feel extremely uncomfortable. My arms jumped to my chest to cover whatever could be drawing attention and as soon as I made it to class I hurried through the door and tossed my books on the nearest table. Another student entered after me and I turned around, spying Hermione with her arms full.
"Good morning." She said, smiling curtly.
"Morning." I replied, letting my arms fall to my sides as she sat her books down.
"It's not often I'm second to arrive to Arithmancy. Persy right?"
"I wasn't hungry, and yes." Her eyes immediately fell to my chest and her gaze became horror, her mouth falling open. She backed away from me a little, shaking her head as if in shock. "What?! Everyone keeps staring at my chest! What is wrong with you?!"
"Uhh. You're wearing Malfoy's pendant." She nodded at me disapprovingly.
"What? No I'm-" I looked at my chest again and there, right in front of my eyes, was a dragon pendant sporting an emerald eye, hanging gingerly from a silver chain around my neck. How had I not noticed that? "…not" I finished.
"It looks like it. I'm sure that's why everyone's staring at you. He flaunts that thing everywhere. Did you steal it?" Her eyes gleamed in anticipation surely hoping that Draco was about to feel some misery. My eyes widened as her words fell forth and I realized in that moment that the night before wasn't a dream. It was true. All of it was true.
"No… I don't think so…" I replied. She looked at me as if I had just betrayed every decent living and non-living witch. I knew she wouldn't know how to act toward me now. The pendant implied that I was cavorting with a Slytherin. That made me slip into my memories. I remembered everything as the night before flooded back.
"I'm…" He kissed my forehead, "…so…" my cheek, "…happy..." my neck. My fingers pushed into his hair and I cradled him. The memory was like a dream and I was a stranger looking in. "I love you, Persy." he said.
"I…" I watched myself hesitate; unsure of whether or not it was smart to welcome vulnerability. "I love you too."
"So you have accepted it."
"Accepted what?" I asked.
"That you're mine."
"As I've said before, I belong to no-one." Even if I had felt that way numerous times, I wasn't going to admit it.
"I'm sure you've accepted it. Now one last kiss then off to bed." He stood up and kissed me, pulling me close, closer than I'd ever remembered. What were his hands doing behind my back? The necklace! I knew it! He muttered some kind of invisibility spell that I knew I hadn't heard the night before, or had even heard of period.
That slime waited until I was defenseless to brand and humiliate me. I was crushed. This was all a joke. I knew it was a joke! Just like the Draco to do something like this. No doubt he was clever... I knew he wasn't capable of what he'd said. Sincerus paper… Right. That sneaky son-of-a-.
"Take your seat Miss Moonbeam." The professor ripped me out of my daydream.
"Huh? What?" I shook my head and looked around. Where was I? Oh, yeah, Arithmancy. "Sorry." I apologized and sat down. Quickly looking down at my shirt, I stuffed the necklace underneath it. I couldn't let anyone else know I had it.
"Good Idea." whispered Hermione as I took the last seat beside her. "Please tell me you aren't involved with that cockroach."
"I don't know…" I said anxiously. "I really have no clue what's going on." I put my head in my hands. A headache was creeping up. "Most of all I don't know how he got it on me without my knowing."
"It's an easy invisibility spell. Distraction and manipulation. Sounds like the prat." She pulled out a book and placed it in front of me, then opened it to the correct page like she'd memorized it completely. "Occultus Proprono - Hidden Display spell. It's easy for the placement of an object on someone's person without their knowledge. They won't know until someone points it out."
"...How do you know that?"
"It was taught at the beginning of the year in our first week."
"Oh... I guess I haven't paid much attention."
"I guess not."
"Is there something you'd like to share with the class?" The professor interrupted.
"No." We said in unison as we opened our books. That class was filled with anxiety. I felt like I had been purposely humiliated. Was it that or had he branded me? Either way it was horrible! I couldn't believe it. I'd said I loved him! What was wrong with me?
There was no facing him now. I couldn't argue with him or say anything insulting because I'd said I loved him. That was the clincher. He knew I meant it. Maybe I could make up a lie that I had said it just to get him away from me. I could tell him I never meant it and never would.
I thought on about who could have possibly written that letter besides him. No one felt that way about me. Could he have possibly lied? Maybe like I'd thought, it wasn't Sincerus paper after all. But if it were all a sham, then why would he entrust me with such an expensive piece of jewelry? One that obviously was important to him if he was flaunting it enough for Hermione to know.
The classes sped on like a blur and the students passed by in fast forward. I was in my own world. Was there any way that I could possibly take back what I'd said? There had to be something I could do.
I entered potions and saw Draco standing by my usual desk flitting through his potions book. My first inclination was to pull out the necklace and give it back but I couldn't manage that. I didn't want to see him at all. At that time I didn't care for the outcome of skipping class. I turned around and left as quickly as I could. At this rate I would be flunked in every class by the end of the year.
Instead of class I went to the lake to think for a while then wandered into the courtyard and eventually to my room. It wasn't possible for me to keep skipping classes. Not only would my mother be extremely angry with me, I wouldn't move to seventh year. I didn't want that now, did I? An extra year in Hogwarts? No way.
So I sat on my bed and thought out the happenings of the last few days and asked myself what I really felt for Draco. His demeanor the night before, though strange for him, seemed sincere. Was it an insatiable infatuation with a tinge of lust that drew me in, or did I really love him? I thought I did, but what did I love about him?
Did I love the way he treated me? Was I a glutton for punishment? Was there really anything in him worthy of loving besides his ability to chase down and catch any prey he hungered for? I wished I knew the answer to that. I harbored strong feelings for him, yes, but what did I love?
After a long while pouting and soul-searching I decided that it wasn't love. It was just strong attraction that made me feel the way I did. Love would be with someone like Neville; someone who actually cared about my feelings. Why did I have to think of him? He was the one who dumped me, not the other way around. Don't think of Neville, Persy. Don't.
I pushed myself off of my bed and made the decision that I was going to hunt him down and give him the damned thing back. I didn't need it and I didn't want it. I surely didn't want the school seeing me wear it.
Sneaking through my house was easy. I was unnoticed as usual and headed to D.A.D.A with my head held high. I wasn't that easy to trick. If the necklace had been part of a plot to humiliate me he'd achieved his goal. It stopped here.
I stopped in my tracks as I approached the class. There were no students around anywhere. I'd forgotten about the inspection! I turned around hurriedly and headed back toward my house. Oh if I was caught outside of class I'd be suspended for sure. I saw Snape turning into the hall and slid into the next, hiding behind a large curtain.
"She's an impressionable girl, Lucius."
"Her father approves and Draco's sphere foretells it."
"I'm sure it was mistaken."
"Severus." They stopped in the middle of the aisle as I peeped out through the curtain. Snape and Draco's father were standing only a few feet from me. "The Sphere never lies. Draco is enamored with her. I used to give him lashings for his ramblings about the mudblood until this recent revelation. She's anything but. Her father wants her back and Draco is in love. It all works for the best."
"You desire her father's cooperation. You don't care for the girl, Lucius."
"Must I? Draco cares. I do not dislike her, and any child of Gustav's is welcome in my home. And yes, I desire to have a Gutweg in my family line. Can you blame me?" Gustav? They were talking about my father? No, they couldn't be. I shook my head and the curtain rustled. Lucius eyes fixed on me but he only kept talking. "Sometimes I would believe that you are soft Severus. It seems you feel as though she is your own. The dark lord would not approve."
"I treat her no different than the rest of the students."
"There you are." Mcgonagall appeared beside them with a sniffed look at Mr. Malfoy. "Dumbledore wants us to convene in the Great Hall. You will find the other parents are waiting there, Mr. Malfoy. I suggest you be on your way." Lucius nodded and walked slowly past me with his eyes fixated on the curtain, then he shot a sideways smirk my way. He knew I was there and he didn't reveal me. Why?
"So the Minister of Magic believes that the Helm is in the school." Snape said.
"What would cause him to believe such a hideous thing?"
"Ginny Weasley swears that she had a dream about it."
"What business would the Helm of Darkness have in Hogwarts?"
"Don't quote me, but I have a bad feeling. The invisibility powers of that helm are so strong we couldn't detect him if he did penetrate…" Snape trailed off.
"Nonsense..." They began to walk in the same direction that Mr. Malfoy had gone and Snape glanced over at the curtain. I closed it and stood as still as I could. I'd been caught!
"I believe I may have forgotten something. Go on without me."
"Alright." There was silence for a few moments then the curtain swung to the side and he glared at me.
"What are you doing out of your house Miss Moonbeam?!"
"I-."
"I should expel you for this."
"Please don't. I was just…"
"Come with me." He flipped around and led me in the opposite way of Mcgonagall. "I'd expect this from a nosy Gryffindor, but not from you, Persephone. Not from you."
"I forgot. I swear I did… I was going to return this to Draco." I pulled the pendant from beneath my shirt
"Silence." He turned on me then saw the pendant. "Draco gave you this?"
"Yes." I put it back in my shirt.
"I see."
"Please don't expel me… Please… My mother will have my hide."
"Be quiet child, I'm not going to expel you." He turned around and began walking again. I followed in silence. We turned a corner and he stopped, shooting his hand out to stop me. He checked the hall then went forward again.
"Do you really think of me like a daughter?"
"I said be quiet, Miss Moonbeam." We traveled through the school silently, then he stopped and pulled out a black cloth from his pocket.
"You're the closest thing I've had to a father in six years." I blurted. He stared at me for a moment and I could have sworn I saw emotion in his eyes.
"Hold out your hands." I did so and he laid the cloth over them, then folded it. "You are to keep secretive. No one is to know you have it. Are you listening?"
"Yes sir." I said.
"I'm sure you heard the conversation."
"Yes."
"Then you will recognize this." He pulled out his wand. "Obscurum Galea!" A helmet appeared in my hands. It seemed to be made of some kind of animal hide with wings on the sides and had a luminous glory, as if it belonged to the highest god.
"Helm of Darkness…" I said.
"Yes. Put it on and you will be able to move through the walls, past the other students."
"You trust me with this?! Couldn't you go to Azkaban for having it?!" I exclaimed.
"Quiet child. I have it under Dumbledore's supervision."
"Wait… Why isn't it hidden?" I asked.
"Enough questions. I will retrieve it after dinner. Go. They will be suspicious if I don't arrive soon." I put on the helmet and a funny feeling washed over me. A lightning pulse ran through me and my finger tips felt like they were in light sockets. Then I waved my hands around in front of me. I couldn't see them or any other part of my body. "Remember, you can walk right through the walls. Now go." I walked toward the entrance and he was swiftly going the other way.
"Wait!" I said and he turned around. "How do I hide it?!"
"Just repeat the words; Obscurum Galea."
"Thank you." I said. He stared through me for a moment then turned around and I sneaked through the entrance of my house. To my surprise there weren't any students in the common room except the two girls who always had their noses in books.
I made my way to my room and quickly slid through the wall. Luna was there looking out of the window with her leprechaun cube in her hand. I stared at her for a moment in confusion. What was she doing in my room and where was my roommate? Before she had a chance to sense my presence I hurried over to my bed and stuffed the helm under it. I would transform it later.
"What are you doing here?" I said, standing up quickly.
"Ahh!" She jumped about three feet and stared at me wide-eyed. "Where'd you come from?"
"Um... I've been here for a while, Luna. This is my room... but what are you doing in here?"
"They switched my room. The girl in my old one didn't like me."
"I'm sorry."
"I'm not." She smiled and lay down on my bed with a dreamy look on her face. "You have a kind soul. I'll rather enjoy rooming with you."
"Well, you know that's your bed right?" I pointed across the room.
"But of course. I thought we'd get to know each-other, Persy." I sat down on the bed beside her and raised my brows. "What do you think of this ministry investigation? I think they're looking for the nargles."
"The whats?" I replied.
"Nargles."
"Oh… Well, I think it's something more sinister, but I'm a pessimist."
"It doesn't pay to be a pessimist, Persy. Then you are never happy with what you have." That comment shot my thoughts back to Draco and the necklace. My hand rested on my chest and I realized I needed to return it to him as soon as possible. I didn't need rumors spreading or any more humiliation. "What's on your mind? You seem lost."
"Nothing. I'm just tired."
"Take a nap and I'll wake you for dinner." I thanked her as she got off of my bed and I settled down for a nap. It didn't come. Instead I stared off into space. I was half worried that she'd find the helm and half stressed about my situation. I still couldn't believe that I'd told Draco I loved him. With what Mr. Malfoy and Snape had said in the hall I was beginning to wonder if his words were true. Even if I did care for him, from their conversation it seemed he'd only changed toward me because of my heritage; because of my father. I wanted to be loved for me, not my father's name. And what was this 'Sphere'?
The door to our room opened and Flitwick entered, waddling with a slight smile on his face. He always reminded me of Willow. I loved that movie!
"You may leave the dormitories now." He turned around and magically closed the door behind him.
"Coming to dinner? You can sit with me." Luna gathered herself dreamily and I admired her apathy. Nothing seemed to affect her like it did me. Why couldn't I be more like her?
"I will. Give me a few minutes. I'll meet you down there." She nodded and flitted out of the door then I immediately pulled out the helm. "Obscurum Galea!" I exclaimed and it twirled round and round like a tornado then disappeared. The cloth laid quietly on the floor in front of me. I stared at it and thought how something so minuscule had such great powers. What you could possibly do with an object like that... No, Persy. Don't think like that. You sound like a Slytherin! I immediately folded it and slid it into my pocket.
"Oh Persy." The door opened and Luna slipped through. "What are you doing?"
"Sorry." I put on a show that I was sick, as realistic as I could. "I had a stomach pain. Must be hunger." My hand slid over my stomach and I grimaced.
"You're coming with me then." She helped me up and dragged me through the common room. Soon we were on our way to dinner. We came around the corner to the great staircase and began to descend. "I was coming back to tell you about this rumor I heard. It's about the Helm of Darkness." I slid my hand in my pocket just to make sure the cloth was still there, and then sighed with relief as I felt it. "You know the helm of Hades from Greek Myth?"
"I've heard of it." I said nervously. What was this rumor? That it was missing? It sure enough was missing! ...and right in my pocket.
"Someone did mention it the other day. I was in the bathroom and overheard a couple of Slytherin girls. You know I love reading in the bathroom, it's so peaceful. You should try it sometime."
"Go ahead. What about it?" I urged. I didn't want to hear about her bathroom excursions.
"It can make you completely invisible, like an invisibility cloak, but it's more powerful. No one can hear you move, you can walk through walls, objects, even people…"
"Sounds scary. I hope it's just a myth."
"No it's real. I'm sure of it." I raised a brow to hide the panic rising inside of me. "Well…" We stepped off of the last stair. "I could swear I saw it once-."
"Hello Persy." Luna's fanciful expression changed to sudden surprise and I clenched inside. It was just the person I didn't want to see right now. He was in front of me, too close for my comfort. Those cold gray eyes still and judgmental made me wish I was anywhere but Hogwarts. Though I was relieved at the interruption I couldn't have possibly wanted to see anyone less than him. "You weren't in class today. Feeling a bit under the weather?"
"Yes I- wasn't feeling well."
"You weren't at lunch either."
"I wasn't hungry."
"Persy, let's go." Luna grabbed my arm and started to pull me away.
"I'm not done with you yet." He grabbed my arm and pulled me back.
"You're making a scene." I said through my teeth.
"You're avoiding me."
"I'm not. Now let me go." I yanked my arm free and swiftly headed into the great hall with Luna. We hurried to the Ravenclaw table as quickly as possible. Draco came in the entrance and was quickly swarmed by his friends though his stare was brazenly fixated on me. I ripped my eyes from him and stared at my dinner. Fish and chips. Chips? Why couldn't they fucking call them fries?
"What was that about?" Luna prompted.
"He wants me to write his Muggle Studies paper."
"You're lying but that's okay. I wouldn't tell me either if I were you. You don't know me well enough yet. Say, do you like Brussels sprouts? I learned how to turn potatoes into them if you want to see."
"Sure." I said. I didn't really care. Even in the few words Draco and I had shared he knew how to make me feel like complete hell. Depression was hovering over like a black cloud but the rain wouldn't come. It was waiting for things to get even worse.
Luna performed her spell brilliantly and grinned at me. I smiled and told her that she'd done a superb job, though I wished to be alone. I enjoyed her company but her bright view of the world was making me nauseous. She was a breath of fresh air and my soul had allergies.
"I thought you were hungry. You haven't touched your food."
"I've lost my appetite." I pushed my food away and got up. "I'm going back to bed, sorry."
"Want me to come with you? In case you feel ill?"
"No thanks."
"I hope you feel better." She smiled that bright wispy smile of hers and I left her there. I was feeling a little faint but my nerves were haywire. Draco, as usual, was at fault.
My feet took me out of the great hall and lumbered up the steps. I was extremely exhausted and the faint feeling was getting stronger. Maybe I should have eaten a few bites just to keep my energy up. I was half-way up when it the wooziness washed over me. The walls became a blur and the railing felt like gelatin in my hand. My knees buckled and I fell backward.
"Persy!" A flash of brown hair played before my eyes as I was caught. The figure sat me down on the top step. I saw his face and I knew who it was but I had no energy to speak, none at all. I let myself fall against his chest for comfort. Good old Neville had come to save the day. …Everything went black...