Chapter 17- Truth?

Clouds are the epitome of escape. As they float aimlessly across the ocean of sky they morph into valiant creatures. Strong, brave and yet delicate, the clouds can take many forms. A wisp of air or even a change in a person's mood can influence a change in their appearance. The clouds, you could say, just go with the flow. To one they can be a graceful ballerina while another may see a headless horse.

The thing with clouds is they can tell a lot about a person. Their personality, their mood, can influence what they see. A cloud isn't a fixed object, it's a perception. As a glass can be half full or half empty, a cloud can be beautiful or ugly; it can be inspiring or depressing. But for most people gazing up into the bright blue sky, watching the tufts of white flow across it, is considered an escape. They can allow their mind to wander and imagination to soar. Their dreams, their fears and their wonders are displayed across the beautiful canvas above them.

The sky out on the grounds today was in perfect condition for cloud watching. Aliana, however she appeared to be, was far from a peaceful afternoon of gazing at the clouds. Her mind raced from option to option. Her decision would have been easy if Draco hadn't been involved in her life. Both choices were selfish on her part. She could turn herself in for her own benefit of sanity as well as the relief it would lend the wizarding world. Her other choice was to force herself to forget. Although this decision seems more selfish, in Aliana's eyes it was less selfish than the first. This would be harder on herself and yet easier on the people she loved the most. Draco, she believed, would be devastated and might do something drastic if she turned herself in. Her parents and sister's reputation would be shattered. Everyone back in France would be confused and angry. It would only bring up all of their feelings again. Aliana didn't want to hurt anyone else, at least not more than she had to. She just couldn't figure out the best way to do that.

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The dungeon walls, a severe contrast from the blue sky, were the clouds of Draco's afternoon. He sat slumped against the cold, hard ground staring blankly at the stone wall in front of him. He traced the cracks in the grey slate until they were swallowed by the shadows. His mind was clouded with confusion. Like Aliana he had a choice to make. He could tell her; yes he could tell her the truth. Then maybe she wouldn't make the mistake of turning herself in.

He was still amazed that she did it. Once she explained, it made more sense but it continued to blow his mind.

"He killed him. He deserved it. I deserved the revenge," her chest heaved as she breathed in slowly. "I didn't think I would actually do it."

Her last words were uttered softly and if the dorm hadn't been filled with the eerie silence Draco would have missed them: the words that connected everything together.

"The way, the way you said that. It… almost sounded like you didn't know you were doing it."

"That's the scary part, Draco," her bright green eyes flashed up to his face. "I didn't remember doing anything until this school year when I started having these dreams.

"I would get flashes of hallways and the grounds at night at first. Then it got sharper and I saw longer scenes. I would be watching people running and screaming and--"

Her tears caught up to her as her speech stopped abruptly. She succumbed to their power and let them drain her of her guilt. With a shower of tears and a strong arm around her she continued her story.

"I was watching people dying. I was killing them. It was my wand and my hand and me, killing all of these people. I knew this was why I didn't remember anything about that night. I didn't just wake up in a field by mistake; I must have blocked it from my memory. I just subconsciously decided to forget it."

"But it didn't work," Draco sighed. "Wait- who were you talking about before. Who was the one who deserved it? Who did he kill?"

"Saber… my old boyfriend. He deserved it; he definitely deserved it. He killed my brother. He broke my heart. He and Raine got what they deserved. The rest of them, didn't."

Oddly enough, though, he wasn't angry at her. He was mad at Saber and Raine and everyone who put her in that situation. He wished he could have been there to help her, to stop her. He didn't care about everyone who had died. They were invaluable lives lost for revenge. He was even happy that she managed to kill Saber, though he wouldn't confess that to her. The only true grief he felt for the situation was his grief for Aliana. She had to go through the pain of realizing the lives she ended and the people she hurt. She, alone, had to live with her choice; she had to live with the consequences. He didn't want her to turn herself in, for his own selfish reasons. In truth, he wanted her to stay with him. He needed her, and he felt that she needed him. To keep her sanity and to keep her happiness, she needed him.

He knew he could convince her. All he had to do was take the worry off of her mind. If she hadn't been such a good person he wouldn't have to betray his soon to be master. But if it came down to it, he knew he would be able to tell her. Voldemort was coming back. He was powerful and getting more so every day. She needn't worry about the sanity of the wizarding world. It is better for their own sake if they expect his return. If she goes out and blows her cover it will only harm them more in the end. He knew he needed to stop her from telling. It was the only way to keep her for himself.

A/N: Thanks to all of you who managed to review on the last chapter. It most definitely helped with getting this one out!! And I forgot to mention because I'm sure most people were completely confused. The eye colour change in the last chapter was linking her to the Metamorphmagus. Hint, hint… she can change her appearance. Hint, hint… like in the dream she had. Haha, I'm sure that its hard to keep track with such long waits between updates so there's a linking together for you!! So let me know what you think of the chapter… Reviews are always loved!!