Title:Game Without Tears

Disclaimer: I do not own, wish I did, but I don't. I only own my plot line. Full disclaimer, first chapter.

Author: ShaeLynn Teelle

All other information: See first chapter.

Polite constructive criticism welcome. FLAMES WILL BE FED TO THE DRAGON IN MY BED.

Chapter 12:Live With the Scars

"Perhaps you should look into a career in the theatre, Granger. You hardly act like you were missing just a few weeks ago, unless even the disappearance was all an act."

The Gryffindors had been the last to leave Advanced Charms and Hermione was waiting for Ron and Harry to walk with Harry to Transfiguration, but Draco had been waiting for them as well. Ron looked like he was about to pull his wand on Draco when the confrontation was interrupted.

"Draco, Draco!" Pansy's fake shrill voice echoed down the hallways.

Draco turned towards the other girl as she walked quickly down the hall. She reached his side, trying not to show that she was slightly out of breath. Instantly her hands wrapped about his arm in what, to anyone outside their group, would be a possessive gesture, but she had lightly pulled on it, getting Draco to bend down closer to her height as she leaned up towards his ear.

"Go to Vin and Greg's dorm room. The potion book is there along with my notes. Vin will show you the potion I found. I want to know if it means what I think it does and if you can make it, Dragon." Then, she pulled away and smiled up at him suggestively through her lashes, knowing the picture it would present to the Gryffindors standing barely five feet from them, though she knew Draco would see the hope in her eyes rather than suggestion.

"Please, Draco? For me?" At his nod she stood on tiptoe and placed a light kiss to his cheek before letting go of his arm and stepping away, calling over her shoulder as she hurried to Transfiguration, "Bye, Draco! I'll see you after class!"

Draco stared after the other Slytherin for a moment, wondering what potion it could possibly be that had Pansy so excited about it. It was Harry's voice that brought Draco's attention back to what had been going on before Pansy interrupted.

"Come on, Hermione, or we'll be late for class, too. Ron, just go up to the common room until we're done with Transfiguration."

"Yeah, Weasel, go to the Gryffindork common room and wait for Potty and the Mudblood. Wouldn't want you to get into trouble on your own," Draco sneered, turning back to the Trio.

"Shut-up, Ferret, or I'll—"

"Is there a problem, Mr. Weasley, Mr. Malfoy?"

The four turned to see Professor Snape standing there, watching the group with his arms crossed in front of his chest.

"No, Professor. Ron was just on his way to the common room," Hermione answered, giving Ron a slight nudge.

"Yes, I was just leaving. I'll see you later, Harry, Hermione." Ron turned and left the hallway, his hands clenched at his sides, but his temper held in check.

"I entrust that Mr. Malfoy had a similar destination in mind," Snape said, an eyebrow raised in query.

"Of course, Professor. I'm a Prefect. I would never cause a problem for the school."

Professor Snape and the two Gryffindors stood in the hallway, watching as Draco walked away. When they were sure that he was no longer within hearing range Professor Snape turned to the two Gryffindors. Hermione was frowning after Draco, but stopped when she noticed Snape's stare. Harry had simply nodded at the Professor when his gaze landed on him.

"I suggest you two leave for your class or you won't make it on time and I will not be responsible for any effects of your tardiness," he said, still looking between the two.

"Of course, Professor," Harry answered immediately. "Come on, Hermione."

Hermione nodded to Snape and, rather reluctantly, hurried after Harry as he began walking quickly towards the Transfiguration classroom. Her mind was still occupied with what Draco had said when he first saw them and silently vowed to find out what the Slytherin knew and to speak to Dumbledore about her savior's possible detection.

As the two Gryffindors made their way to Transfiguration, Draco had reached the Slytherin common room. There was no one present in the room and he made it to Gregory and Vincent's dorm room without incident. He knocked once on the door and walked in. Vincent sat on his bed, the bed hangings were drawn at the end and one side, partially concealing the bed.

"Dragon," Vincent said, nodding to Draco.

"Pans said you had something to show me.

"Take a look at this," Vincent said, pulling one of Draco's notebooks out from the shadows of his bed.

Draco took the notebook and looked over the potion written on the pages in Pansy's neat handwriting. It took him several minutes to read through the recipe, as some parts of the effects weren't yet translated. When he finished he looked up at Vincent in shock, then, back down to the notebook.

"Is this what I think it is?"

"If it is, can you make it?" Vincent asked quietly, watching Draco's reaction.

"The ingredients are all listed, but the effects are only half deciphered," Draco answered, concentrating on the recipe.

"Dragon," Vincent said, waiting until Draco looked up at him to continue. "Can you make it? Pansy's aware of the risks in not knowing everything about it, but can you make it?"

"Yes. It'll take four hours, but I can make it tonight," Draco said, staring at Vincent, his expression indecipherable.

"We'll meet behind the portraits after dinner. Pansy's going to speak with Daphne about it the first chance she gets." Vincent held up a hand before Draco could even open his mouth, "She planned to tell her whether or not you could make it. Thank you, Dragon."

"For what?" he asked quietly, looking over the potion again and thinking of what could all go wrong with not knowing the side effects or what was actually going to happen.

Vincent placed a hand on his arm, drawing the other Slytherin's attention, "Thank you for taking the risks you do. Thank you for not giving up on any of this. Thank you for giving us all hope that things can change for us."

\/\/\/\/\/

"The potion will be cooled and ready in five minutes," Draco said, turning away from the simmering cauldron to his companions.

"Do you think this will really work, Dragon?" Daphne asked quietly, a shiver running through her as she remembered things better left forgotten.

Tracey put her arm around her friend's shoulder. It was the night when she and Daphne usually taught Blaise what they'd learned in the DA the night before, but the meeting was canceled for the potion. The two unmarked Slytherins had accompanied the others to the alcove for support if anything went wrong. Tracey was reliantly self-taught in medi-magic and was getting occasional instruction from Madam Pomfrey whenever they both had sufficient free time. Draco knew the basics, but anything serious and he was at a loss. Tonight he hoped that neither his nor Tracey's abilities would require use.

They spent the next few minutes in silence after Daphne's question until Draco stirred the potion counter-clockwise one final time. He poured out two large vials of the light purple potion. Silently he handed one to Pansy and one to Daphne. The two girls looked at each other before simultaneously lifting the glasses in salute and drinking them.

The book had said that one effect of the potion had to do with the stomach, but Draco and Pansy hadn't been able to decipher what would happen. It was only a few moments after the girls set the vials on the single table in the room that they both clutched at their stomachs, faces contorted in pain. Vincent and Gregory caught the two as they fell to their knees and held them as they started shaking.

Draco looked to Tracey in worry, but when he caught her eye she just shook her head and cast a revealing spell. Whatever the spell told her, she pulled two small objects out of her robe pocket and enlarged them, revealing two waste containers. She pushed one in front of Pansy and the other in front of Daphne. The two immediately grabbed the buckets and held them in front of themselves as they bent over.

For nearly ten minutes the only sound in the room were that of Pansy and Daphne emptying their stomachs while Vincent and Gregory soothingly rubbed their backs and kept their hair away from the messes. After the vomiting spell was over the two girls weakly leaned back against their respective partners as Tracey cast a spell to judge their condition.

"You'll be alright. Don't worry, Daphne, Pansy. I think the worst is over and it looks like the potion did what it was supposed to," Tracey spoke quietly as she put her wand away within the folds of her robe.

"How do you know for certain, Trace?" Gregory asked just as quietly, still lightly rubbing Daphne's back.

The other girl looked to Daphne, who nodded her head reluctantly. "About two weeks ago I learned a spell that detects viruses and diseases that are spread through more… intimate contact. Daphne had a mild one, but it's gone now. The potion worked as it should have."

"Daphne?" Gregory spoke even quieter, tensing slightly at Tracey's news. When Daphne turned in his arms enough to look at him, he continued, "Why didn't you tell me?"

"I—" Daphne looked away weakly, staring towards the ground like it held all the answers. "I didn't want to upset you and… I didn't want you to know until it was too late."

"Too late?"

Tracey answered for her friend sadly, "It was a… potentially fatal virus. There would have been no way to stop it depending on what course it took. We were preparing for the worst, but it's gone. There's not a trace of it left thanks to that potion."

The room was silent for a moment, each to their own thoughts until Gregory spoke again, turning Daphne's face towards his so she'd meet his eyes, "Daph, you know I care for you, right?"

Daphne nodded, confusion in her eyes, "Yes, I know. You've helped me through this more than even Trace and Blaise. You're a good friend and I didn't want you to worry about me."

"Daphne, I care for you… as more than a friend. You mean so much more to me than just a friend. I—I want to be more than a friend to you. I—I don't know how to say—" his words were cut off by Daphne's fingers gently brushing against his lips.

"Greg, I understand. There's something I heard once that this reminds me of. All the worries I've had before with what's been happening have clouded what I see. I finally see it. I can see what you mean in your eyes. The way you look at me. The way you care for me after… what happens. I think I love you, too."

Gregory closed his eyes for a moment and when he opened them again, there were tears gathered, but they didn't fall. He leaned in and rested his forehead against hers, just collecting his thoughts as he held her.

"What is it that you heard? That reminds you?" Tracey asked after a moment of silence, the words non-intrusive.

"It was a song. When I got my school supplies this year, I left the Leaky Cauldron for a bit and I heard a song from a Muggle that was walking near the closest square. The lines were—" Daphne began to sing quietly, just enough to fill the room. Her light alto made the words even stronger than they might have been in the actually song.

"There's a smile on your face, let's me know that you need me. There's a truth in your eyes, tells me you'll never leave me. There's a touch of your hand, says you'll catch me if ever I fall. You say it best when you say nothing at all."

There were no more words spoken that night. No one made a comment on the solitary tear that wound its way down Gregory's cheek as he kissed Daphne lightly with all that he had as the others simply looked on. The Slytherins left in groups, Pansy and Vincent the first to leave. Pansy was still leaning slightly on her fiancé, weak still from the effects of the potion.

Tracey left shortly afterwards while Draco began cleaning up the leftovers from the potion, bottling them and labeling them so it would be ready for the next time it was needed. Daphne and Gregory left minutes later after Draco assured them that he would be able to take care of the rest of the mess.

When they were all gone and Draco was sure that none of them were coming back, he sat done near the hearth, not caring that his robes were getting dirty from the unclean floor and the ashes from the fireplace. He covered his face with his hands and let silent tears slip out unchecked. He didn't try to stem the flow since he was alone and he knew they needed to come.

Draco had tried numerous things to ease his stress and tension, but everything he tried left him unsatisfied and sometimes more anxious and tense than he had been previously. The only thing that seemed to help was to cry. To let the tears come when he could and not bottle them up inside until they exploded outwards. So far it had worked, but Draco helped it along, too.

He never wore short sleeves, nor did he pull his hair back into a low tail as Lucius sometimes did. If he were to, others would see the scars on his upper arms and the back of his neck. They weren't large, only the size of fingernails, but they were there as reminders and every few weeks there would be a handful more.

The others all had ways to release the pent up emotions so they didn't let it out at an inappropriate time, like at a Death Eater meeting. Vincent took runs around the lake at night when no one would see him, a long distance with just one circuit, but sometimes he would do two or three laps just to relax himself from the physical exertion.

Gregory would go to one of the unused classrooms deep in the dungeons and turn a table over, drawing a crude outline of his father, or Voldemort, or one that could be of any average person in the world. Then, he would pull out a set of throwing knives and use the wooden table as target practice. It was his way of letting the tension of Hogwarts or a meeting go.

Daphne would duel with Tracey or Blaise, or sometimes even both at once to get rid of her emotions that could create a problem when she was within Voldemort's presence. No one had ever learned what it was Pansy did to relieve her stress, but a week after every meeting she would disappear somewhere in the bowels of Hogwarts, where not even portraits hung and come back out looking lighter and far happier than she had before.

\/\/\/\/\/

Ron cursed himself for his foolishness. It wasn't like he wasn't aware of the danger that was always present, even at Hogwarts, but he had still gone out to walk at night alone. And he walked along the edge of the Forbidden Forest as though he thought it was just like any other benevolent forest out there, though he knew of the potential werewolves, the centaurs, the Acromantulas, the possible vampires, and all manner of other potentially dangerous creatures that could show up at nearly any time.

He was lucky that Lupin had noticed him out there when he was on his way back to the castle from Hagrid's hut. The Professor had stopped him to find out what he was doing outside so late, though it wasn't yet curfew. Hermione had appeared only a few moments later exclaiming that she had looked everywhere for Ron before checking near the Quidditch pitch where he had been. Then, came the movement from the Forbidden Forest that had all three grabbing quickly for their wands.

Now, five Death Eaters surrounded them, each with their black robes and white masks, and each with their wand out, trained directly on the three of them. The three had turned so their backs were towards each other's and gripped their wands tightly, not sure what was going to happen. The one obviously in charge grinned at them and opened his mouth to speak, but was interrupted.

"What are you doing?"

Everyone's attention was brought towards the lake where, through the dark, five more Death Eaters appeared, but the white mask of three of them were only half-masks, leaving the mouth open to view. Two of the half-masks had thin strips of colors decorating them; one, a light green and pink, and the other, yellow and gold. The third remained pure white, but there was an air about the person in this third mask that commanded attention.

Ron and Lupin had no idea who these others were, but from the straightening of shoulders by the ones surrounding them, these Death Eaters were more powerful than the initial attackers within Voldemort's lower circle. Hermione knew who the man with the white half-mask was. She had known as soon as he spoke and appeared.

"Your job is not to confront anyone or reveal yourselves for any reason. You were to observe and avoid contact or detection no matter what the consequences. The Lord will not be pleased when he learns of this."

The Death Eater with the half-mask was the one doing all the talking, but he spoke with no emotion as he berated the other group. Ron's grip on his wand tightened as the tone ran his blood cold and next to him Hermione shuddered at the unfeeling tone. She knew the amount of danger the Death Eater that had helped her was putting himself and his companions in by helping them.

'Voldemort's right hand Death Eater is a Hogwart's student?!" her mind shouted at her in disbelief, but she ignored it for the moment and concentrated on what the Death Eater was saying.

"The Lord does not reward independent thinkers. Return to your posts now and I might forget your attempt at spoiling the Lord's plans. I will deal with these three." When they didn't move, the Death Eater raised his wand at the other group and his voice grew even colder, "Do not make me regret my leniency on not informing the Lord of your transgressions. Go."

The five Death Eaters that had surrounded the three Gryffindors fled back into the trees where they had come from. Remus cursed, but didn't move, not knowing anything about the five they now faced, except that the one with the white half-mask was more of a threat than the ones that had fled, or they would not have obeyed his orders. But the five Death Eaters merely turned to the three and waited for a moment, watching them, but making no move to surround them as the others had.

"Danger finds you as quickly as it finds Potter, Granger. I entrust that you three will be able to return to the school without assistance. There's a group of loose ends in this matter that must be eliminated," the cold voice had the hairs on the back of Remus' neck prickling and Hermione shivered again where she stood, though she lowered her wand to her side, unnoticed by either Remus or Ron.

Hermione simply nodded to the five, gratitude in her eyes, and the five blended back into the shadows as they had come. They silently moved in the direction where the other five had fled. For a moment the three Gryffindors just stood there. Then Remus turned and began walking quickly towards the school.

"We're just going to let them go like that?" Ron demanded quietly as he followed Remus and Hermione back to the castle.

"Ron, let's just get back to the castle and tell Professor Dumbledore what happened. He needs to know that the school is being watched," Hermione said, lightly taking his hand that was still clenched around his wand, ensuring he wouldn't turn back.

Before Ron could reply to her, Remus interrupted quickly, "I agree with Hermione, Ron. Nothing productive has occurred from rash decisions these last few months. We need to reach Hogwarts and speak with Albus about what's been happening. Do not look a gift horse in the mouth, just accept it."

Ron grumbled under his breath, but followed the other two's example and ran up to the castle at Hermione's side, intent on reaching Dumbledore's office and then spiriting his friend away for a long over-due talk.

\/\/\/\/\/

Meanwhile, the five Slytherins had tracked the ones that had cornered Ron, Hermione, and Remus. The Death Eaters they were after were grouped in a circle, protecting their backs, but not letting their guard down from those across the fire. Daphne and Gregory moved to one side through the trees, just outside of the meager fire's light, until they were diagonal from Draco's position. Pansy and Vincent made a similar move to the other side while Draco stayed where he was, effectively producing a triangle around the group so none could escape. Draco took a step closer, staying outside of the fire, but close enough o hear what was being said.

"I don't understand why he should get the credit for capturing those three when we did all the work," one of the Death Eaters said, his voice gravelly and low.

"Be quiet, Zais. I don't care what you don't understand," a second answered, his voice identifying him as the leader Draco had openly berated. "I'm just glad we got away from him without being turned directly over to the Dark Lord."

"I doubt we'll be so lucky. I'm sure that even now he's at our Lord's side telling him that we disobeyed orders for no reason," a third grumbled as he huddled closer to the small fire.

"Are you sure you were a Slytherin?" a fourth asked.

"No, I went to Durmstrang, unlike some others," the third sneered back.

"Well, you sure don't act like it," the fourth voice spat back. "Why do you think he's going to tell? He's got something over our heads now. He wouldn't give that up just yet. No, he'll wait—"

There was a cry and a flash of deep burgundy light from one side of the fire and the Death Eater that hadn't yet spoken, fell over, eyes glazed as he stared unseeing at the sky above him. Before the other four could pull their wands, they each, one by one, joined their companion on the ground. The last red light faded away as a light breeze swept through the trees, removing the illusion of blood from the clearing. The fire was magically stamped out so not even faint smoke would rise from the ashes. Then all was silent in the forest once more.

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