Previous Chapter.
"I'll take him to my chambers, I've spent years caring for him." With a nod of agreement from Dumbledore the professor exit's the hospital wing, Alister in his arms.
Zander can't help but dry heave at thought of Voldemort claiming children. Looking up at the old wizard, who places a hand on his shoulders, he frowns. "That can't be true. There's just no way. That's sickening."
Dumbledore sighs, beginning his trek out of the hospital wing. "My boy, the are more sickening things in this world, more then you could possible imagine." With that last statement the old man disappears, leaving Zander to his haunting thoughts.
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1
Alister groans loudly, rubbing his eyes viciously with his arm. Slowly opening his crystal eyes he takes in the dark, gloomy surroundings. A gasp escapes him unwillingly. After a few minutes, he lifts himself onto his forearms. "W-Where am I?" wincing at the rawness of his voice he brings himself to a full sitting position. Glancing down at his bare chest questioningly, he lefts the thin white sheets, lowering them again quickly with a small blush. Bringing the sheets around his naked form tightly, he turns on the bed, slowly pushing himself off the hard mattress. Wrapping the bundled sheets around his form completely, he begins making his way towards the nearest door. Calmly he places a hand on the knob, turning it slowly. After a few clicks of the lock turning the door swings noisily open. Glancing around the room once more he enters the sapphire tiled lavatory. Looking around the large bathroom, he walks over to the huge tube, full of clear blue water. Leaving the sheets to fall around him, he steps over the tiled steps and into the calm cool water. Wadding over to a few nozzles to his left, he turns a purple and red one. Sighing pleasantly he closes his eyes and sinks into the now steamy crimson colored water.
Alister's eyes open slowly, a familiar burn of pain in his chest. Glancing down at it he can't help but flinch. Reaching up his traces the dark tattoo, his mind roaming away from his body, detaching him from reality. Flashes of a child's scream burn his mind, but none of the nightmares return. Clenching his fist tightly, burring his nails into his chest. With a few swift motions he begins to tear the skin off his body. Clawing away repeatedly, finally stopping as blood oozes out of the small wounds. Breathing roughly he once again starts up the vicious thrashing, an undying anger and hatred bubbling into his stomach.
After a few moments he stops, breath short and rapid. Staring down at his bloody and bruised skin he sighs, relief was€hing over him in small waves. He closes his eyes for a moment, before once again opening them. He stares down at now fully healed flesh, numbness flooding his senses. Sinking down into the water he grumbles. After a few moments of holding his breath he resurfaces, a small smile gracing his features. Standing from the bath he grabs some soap, proceeding to scrub his pale skin roughly. After rinsing off he drains the water and steps out of the bath, onto the forgotten sheets. Looking around the bathroom a few times, he walks over to a cupboard, pulling out a light blue towel. He dries himself off quickly, wrapping the cotton fabric around his waist and walking to the conjoining room. Throwing him self unceremoniously onto the dark leather arm chair he takes another minute to look around the room. Finally giving up his search, he walks to what he presumes is the closet and pulls out a silky crimson red dress shirt and black dress pants his size. Staring at the close in wonder, he goes about searching for some sort of under garment, finding some in a dresser just bellow the racks of clothes. Staring into the closet he notices the rest of the clothes is the same size and of the same quality. Shrugging off the odd feeling, he proceeds to dress himself.
Fastening the last button on his shirt he hears a door to his right click open, swinging noisily. Alister tilts his head back in the direction of the noise, seeing the familiar blonde hair in the corner of his eye. Turning fully he stares at Draco with an empty glare, who returns the gesture. "What do you want, Draco." the onyx boy says coldly, not in the mood to deal with emotionally confused idiots.
Draco scowls at his cool tone, crossing his arms in distaste. "Rude." he says softly, walking to the sheet less mattress and taking a seat, crossing his legs elegantly. "I came to see how you were."
"What Zander, told you everything and you just wanted to see it for your self, right?" Alister says, leaning onto the frame of the closet door.
"He told me most of it, left out crucial details though. He told me you were taken to Snape's chambers, never imagined that my godfather would treat you so luxuriously. He even added an whole other room just for you.
"Snape?" Alister questions, glancing around the dark room. "Explains the gloominess."
"How do you know my godfather?" The blonde male growls, standing and walking towards him at a rapid pace, stopping only inches from Alister's face.
"I've known him for years, he cared for my injuries when I returned from... from attacks." the onyx boy says, loosing his confidence suddenly.
"Attacks?" Draco contemplates this for a second, before reaching over and grabbing Alister's left arm roughly, yanking the crimson sleeve down to reveal the famous dark mark he himself had refused. "Death eater?" He breaths, in slight shock.
Pulling his arm from Draco, Alister scowls. "Don't touch me! I'm not a death eater anymore." he yells, annoyed by the scrutinizing look in the blonde's eyes. "That was a long time ago. Just leave me alone."
The blonde male frowns, placing a reassuring hand on the younger male's shoulder and pulling his other shoulder towards himself forcing Alister to lean into him. "Calm down." he says, voice firm but with a gentle edge.
Alister frowns slightly, pressed up against the elder's chest. Staring at the dark robes in front of him he sighs, pushing away gently. "I'm fine. Just a crazy first day getting the best of me. Uh what time is it? I'm hungry." he asks a small slaying onto his face.
"Lunch." is all the blonde says, before turning and walking to the door. He stops in the door way, looking back at him expectantly. "Coming." he says, before walking away.
Alister nods, running out after him.
XXX
Standing patiently beside the stoic blonde, he waits for the staircase to stop moving. Looking up he notices the familiar raven boy, waiting a flight of stairs just above them, connecting at the same point as theirs. Climbing the stairs slowly, so he is behind the tall blonde.
Zander smirks as him and Draco come face to face. "Hey there Dray." he moans, wrapping his arms around Draco's shoulders tightly.
The blonde returns the smirk and wraps his arms around the raven's waist, their lips crashing in a fit of passion.
Ron and Hermione wave him over, waiting for him to walk around the pair.
Just as he is going to step off of the stairs, they unhinge and begins moving to the left. Completely caught off guard he gasps, loosing balance. Leaning dangerously forward he catches himself on the railing, but the friction of the movement causes him to fall back a couple of steps below, still clinging to the rail.
"Alister!" he hears Hermione and Ron scream his name in worry as they watch the onyx boy move farther away.
When the stair case finally stops moving he is sitting in front of a vicious looking boy. Alister's breath catches in his throat as he pulls himself up in a quick motion. Narrowing his crystal eyes at dark haired male, known as Theodore Nott. (By the way I do not know exactly how Theodore looks so I'm making things up as I go.) "Nott."
Theodore's scowl turns to a dark smirk. "Well, well, If it isn't Axiell Black." The coarse haired male snaps loud enough for him to hear, taking a couple of steps towards him, unaffected by the movement of the stair case as it begins to swing in a different direction. "Thought I'd never see you again? Come crawling to Hogwarts looking for protection? Or was it that meddling women who decided to bring you here."
Alister returns Theodore's previous scowl with his own. "Shut up! Don't call me that. You don't know anything!"
"Oh yes, that's right. You changed your name after the 'accident' didn't you?" Nott's smirk widens a fraction as he steps closer to the younger male. At that same moment the stairs stop moving and Alister turns and runs down the stairs to the forbidden third floor, leaving Theodore to his victory grin.
From a few flights up Hermione, Ron, Zander, and Draco watch the receding form of their friend and the triumphant dark haired boy, who walks past them without a second thought. Seconds later they bolt down the steps to the third floor door.
"This place is off limits, if Flinch catches us who knows what crude things he'd do." Ron says, gulping silently. Zander and Hermione glace oddly at him the look around to make sure no one watches, before they disappear behind the heavy wooden door with Draco. Ron glances around worriedly, then follows the others into the forbidden floor.
"Alister? You here?" Hermione calls quietly, not finding any sign of the boy's presence.
"He's probably deeper in." Zander says, walking forward with a curious Draco at his side. "Alister?" he calls, Hermione hushing him loudly.
"Not so loud!"
"Sorry." Zander whispers, smiling at his curly haired friend. "Alister?" he calls again, but stops walking when he spots the onyx haired boy staring blankly at an old mirror. "Alister?"
The onyx haired boy stares up at the expensive looking mirror, not daring to remove his eyes in case he missed something special. Leaning forward to stare deeper into the reflective glass he focuses on a small spot behind Ron, who is looking completely mortified. "Ron? Who's that behind you?" he finally asks, turning curious eyes to the frozen red head.
Turning Ron can't help but whimper pathetically. "Mrs. Norris, Flinch's cat. We're going to be killed!" he screams, hiding himself behind a large pillar.
Alister stares at the cat in curiosity, walking past the other three fifth years he crouches in front of the cat with a pleasant smile. "Hey there kitty, what are you doing here?" he coos, gently petting the feline's head. The dark cat purrs loudly, rubbing her head into his palm. "Who's a pretty kitty." he says, picking her up off the floor and into his arms continuously petting her.
"He's petting Flinch's cat!!" Ron screams, pointing at him in accusation, making Hermione laugh.
"Wow, would never have seen that one coming." Zander smirks, gripping Draco's left hand tightly. "Don't tell me, Alister. You have a magical, can speak to animals, gift." he jokes.
Alister turns hard crystal eyes to him, taking him in quietly. "I can only speak to snakes." he says, his voice implying more. Turning away, he returns to petting the purring feline.
Zander frowns, looking away for a moment.
Hermione raises a curious eyebrow, feeling the unsaid meanings and feeling of unease between Zander and Alister. "Maybe we should go to lunch. I'm getting rather hungry." she finally says, Draco and Ron nodding in agreement.
Zander turns his attention to her and smiles. "You guys go on ahead. I want to talk to Alister for a bit.
The trio send him questioning looks but turn and walk out of the corridor, not really wanting to know what kind of conversation the two tense males were going to have.
"Axiell, why did you change your name?" Zander asks, stepping up to stand beside the silent fourth year.
"Block out memories. Alister isn't completely different but it helps me forget the pain. I guess you could say I have multi. Personality syndrome. Axiell was locked away in the back of my mind like he doesn't exist, but every night he comes back as nightmares. Why did you change your name Harry Potter?" he asks, not once looking up at the raven male.
Zander blinks in surprise, but shakes it off. "I didn't want to be known as, Harry Potter, the-boy-who-lived anymore. I adopted my godfather's name and changed my physic. No one recognizes me anymore. I guess I've reached my goal." he laughs dryly. "We better go to breakfast." Turning he walks away, leaving Alister alone with Mrs. Norris.
For once the onyx male turns watch is receding form, huffing in annoyance at the simple blunt conversation. Placing the purring cat onto the floor, he runs after the raven, not wanting a repeat of his earlier encounter with Nott. Stopping just a couple of steps behind Zander he blushes at his 'lost puppy' attitude. After a few seconds the stair case begins to move, turning in the direction of the great hall.
After turning at an exaggerated amount of corridors they finally come to the doors of the great hall.
Zander glances back at Alister with a smile. "Well this is where we part, Axie. See you soon." the Gryffindor seeker smirks at the nickname, walking into the great hall.
Pouting in annoyance Alister follows behind, heading towards his table and a hyper looking Kailey, who waves him over furiously. Alister smiles, walking to her and taking a seat beside her. She sets a full plate of random goodies in front of him.
"Eat up!!"
Smiling brightly he begins to literally gobble down his food, like a starved zoo animal. "Food..." he moans in pleasure at the wonderful taste. "Finally Food."
Kailey laughs, digging into her own meal. "Yay food!"
2
"Alister," Hermione turns to the frustrated fourth year in curiosity. "Can I ask you something?"
"Give me a second 'Mione. I just have to finish up my Divinations." Alister growls, scribbling away at his partially empty parchment.
Hermione nods, looking down at the book laid in front of her, unable to concentrate. After only a few seconds she slams her book shut and rips the parchment from Alister. "Just answer my question, then I'll help you with divinations!"
Alister looks at the bushy haired Gryffindor in annoyance. "Fine, I'll answer your stupid question!"
"Alright," Hermione leans over the table, whispering to the stubborn slytherin. "How are you a parsale mouth?!"
Alister looks his crystal blue eyes on the scarily serious brunette. "Inherited." is all he replies, snatching his paper from her in annoyance.
Taking the parchment back from him, her temper flares. "It's not an everyday thing! How did you inherit such a thing! That isn't possible!"
"You don't know anything about my past Hermione. Now if you don't mind, I'm going back to my dorm." Ripping the paper from the astonished brunette, he hurries to the dungeons.
Slowing his pace as he reaches the Slytherin portrait, he can't help but feel somewhat relieved. It had been a few days since the chaos had erupted and so far no one knew exactly what had happened, besides Zander, Dumbledore, and Snape of course. It was quite amazing, how they could keep something as big as his life from the wizarding world. He would have to watch his back. They could turn on him any moment and send him to Azkaban for all the people he's killed. No he couldn't think that way. They wouldn't or at least they didn't seem like they would. Sighing he whispers the password and enters the common room. Stopping in his trek towards the stairs, he notices a certain blonde sitting on the old couch near the fireplace. His crystal eyes widen as he tires to figure out a way to approach the Slytherin ice prince or even if he should approach him at all. Choosing to avoid the situation he turns, about to run to his room in Snape's chambers only to stop dead at the sound of the blonde's voice.
"Running away are we?" Draco smirks, feeling a slight advantage over the younger male.
Alister whips around, narrowing his eyes at him. "I'm not running away from you Malfoy, I chose not to be near you." he says simply, crossing his arms in defiance.
"Alright Black. If you aren't running away then you wouldn't mind me..." Draco stands, going over to him and looking down at him from only a few inches away.
"Look Malfoy, if you think I'm going to be a bloody git and let you cheat on Zander with me your wrong. As astounding as it sounds we're actually friends and I'm not going to let you hurt him." Alister growls, backing up a few feet. This of course was the last thing he needed, he had been avoiding Draco so well, but now he had no idea how to be rid of him.
Draco's steely eyes harden, giving him the look of pure evil. Examining Alisters crystal eyes for a moment he turns and plops back onto the leather couch, not once glancing back at him.
Alister blinks in surprise, uncrossing his arms. Raising an eyebrow in question he turns away and continues on his way to Snape's chambers. Holding his breath, he can't help but look over his shoulder repeatedly. Sighing in defeat he quickens his pace.
XXX
"Severus, why is Draco such a prick?" Alister asks the aggravated potion's master as he searches through his different ingredients.
"Alister, would you please refrain from insulting my godson. I am too busy to hear you complain like an old women." Severus replies coolly, categorizing his many potions.
"Severus, you old man! Your so... so...Uhg! I can't even describe how awkward you are!" Alister cries, falling back into the arm chair and closing his eyes.
A loud click from the door signals the arrival of another. Snape turns and scowls slightly, pointing to his lazy charge who is sinking into his seat.
The male grins, nodding and slowly sneaking up to the snoozing teen. "ALISTER!!" Zander screams against the Slytherin's ear, making him jump from the armchair and straight to the floor.
"Zander!" Alister fumes, his crystal eyes narrowing dangerously. "I'll kill you!" he screams, drawing his wand and charging at the snickering Gryffindor.
"I'll bring him back later, Sevy!" Zander calls over his shoulder, running out to find a stern Hermione and a calm Ron, who eyes Draco dangerously. "Come on guys! Alister's coming!" he yells, running past them.
The three stand there watching Zander run off in confusion. Hearing multiple crashes and screams from behind them, their eyes widen in horror when they turn and see Alister storming their way, hexing everything in his path. With quick pace, they run after the still snickering Zander.
After a few corridors pass, Alister slows down, finally worn out. "Geez." he huffs, Leaning against the wall and shaking his head. He had to admit though, Zander was turning out to be cooler then he could have ever thought. It made him feel bad though. He had an enormous crush on almost all the males he came in contact with. It was harder around Draco; although, nothing had ever really happened between them when they were close. With a loud sigh he hangs his head, staring intently at a tiny spider that crawls past. How could this year be any worse, was the first thought to leave his mind just as a flash of women and children screaming fill his ears. Crying out, he covers his ears, trying to block it out. "Stop!" he whimpers, his vision swimming into a dream.
3
Loud foot steps echo around him, followed by creaks of several doors. He was in a long corridor, surrounded by a multitude of doors and mirrors. A scream from his left startles him, turning his eyes widen in horror. There in the reflection of the mirror he sees a girl, but her face is blown off, leaving only muscle and bits of tissue. She reaches to him, her eyes slowly rolling behind her head and down her boney cheeks. "You!!" she screams, her jaw slowly unhinging and melting away from her disintegrating features. "You killed me!!" Screeching she breaks through the mirror and hooks her skeleton fingers onto the edge of the wall, pulling herself out of the mirror, to a petrified Alister. "You killed me!!" Her remaining four upper teeth become sharp spikes, jutting out from her fleshy skull. "You killed me!!" Raw tears of maggots and green puss roll down her bony cheeks and puddle onto the ruby red carpet below her body that's evenly balanced between the mirror and the corridor. "You killed me!!" she screams on final time before her body flies out of the mirror and onto a frightened Alister.
Alister's body shakes violently as the blood and pus of the rotting body seep through his cloths, soaking his pale skin. Screaming, he starts thrashing, trying to escape the heavy body above him. He continues screaming when he feels someone pull him up and away from the horrid dream. "Alister!" they call from beyond the darkness, quieting the screams and sobs.
"Alister!" Zander gasps into his ear, startling the smaller male.
Ripping away from the worried Gryffindor, he tries to shake away the sickening feeling of the wet body above him. Gagging he only manages make himself violently sick. After a couple of minutes of repeated vomit, he finally feels his body relax, the dream fading into the darkness in his mind. Taking a few deep breaths, he glances cautiously up at the four worried stares.
Cursing to himself he turns and stares at the opposite wall. Knowing it wasn't going anywhere good he turns, coughing, and slowly makes his way back to the Slytherin common rooms, to Snape's chambers. Looking around the dull room carefully he practically runs to his room, locking himself in. Shaking his head to rid his mind of a few snippets of the remaining dream he makes his way to the lavatory, quickly.
XXX
It seems like a millennium before Alister comes out of the lavatory, worrying the four teens, who are sitting in various parts of his room, further.
"Zander, maybe we should just go in! What if something's happened?!" Hermione cries, anxious to see if the small slytherin was alright.
"'Mione has a point, Zander. What if something's happened to him? We wouldn't know from out here." Ron agrees cautiously, watching the clam Gryffindor leaning against the lavatory door.
"He hasn't done anything." Draco sneers, getting aggravated by the situation.
"Why so sure Malfoy?!" Ron growls back, his former irritation against the slytherin prince returning.
"He's a slytherin." is all the blonde says, crossing his arms.
"So you just have to assume that he's alright on the pure bases of him being a bloody SLYTHERIN!" Hermione screams, standing and stalking towards the calm Draco menacingly.
"Gu-" Zander yells, before getting cut off by the opening of the lavatory door.
Alister blinks in surprise as the raven Gryffindor falls onto the floor at his feet, moaning in pain. "Zander..." he says calmly, glancing around the room quickly, before looking back at the suddenly happy Zander.
"Alister! Your alright! You had us worried!" Hermione screeches, throwing her arms around the startled slytherin. "Tell us what happened. We've been waiting for you to come out of the lavatory forever! Why were you screaming!"
Alister squirms in her tight embrace, feeling the awkwardness of the situation heighten to a frightful level. "Hermione! Let me go!" he yells over her loud voice, trying to catch at least a smidgen of air.
"Hermione! Let him go already. Bloody hell women, your completely demented." Ron shakes his head, pulling away the emotional girl.
Draco stands and stalks towards him, looking him straight in the eyes. Silence clouds the room as the two stare at each other intensely, neither wanting to loose to the other. "Don't lock yourself up. Makes it harder to see if your still living." he finally smirks, backing away to make way for the raven Gryffindor.
"Alister! You need to go see Snape!" Zander cries, pulling the wide eyed boy along and into the annoyed professor's study. "Sevy! Help him!" he scream dramatically, pushing a half naked Alister towards the cold man.
"Mr. Black. If you chose to drag my charge to my office in only a towel I'd have to ask you to get yourself checked into St. Mougles [sp]." Snape snaps, looking back to his paper work.
The four finally notice that what the professor had said was true, Alister was only wrapped in a dark blue towel. Blushing madly Ron and Hermione scatter away to the exit of the office, Draco and Zander right behind them with Alister in tow.
"Here just put these on." Draco says, handing the stunned fourth year a sapphire blue dress shirt, black dress pants, and a pair of boxer.
Blushing wildly, Alister stands there staring at the couple in front of him who are staring back. "Well... Turn around!" he yells, waiting until everyone in the room is turned around before changing into his clothes. This surely promised to be a weird year.
Woho! Second chapter!! Hope you enjoyed!! I'm currently working on the next chapter, but it might take me a while to post it.
=D