Chapter 10:

The Mark

Kalya tried to hollow her breath as she slid across the wall. She turned the corner at the home stretch to find herself face to face with Snape. Her face fell at her luck.

"Miss Hart, what are you doing out of bed at this time of night," Snape questioned.

"I was… well… there is no point in lying is there? I was visiting Ginny," Kalya looked up at him with no expression on her face.

"Is it wise to still see Weasley," Snape raised an eyebrow.

"Is it wise for you to be seeing Potter," Kalya shot back.

"You will do well to keep your mouth shut," Snape's face hardened as did his voice.

"Then don't try to tell me what I'm doing is wrong if you're doing something too."

"Dumbledore wanted your presents, I tried to collect you, but you were not it bed. It would be best if you got there quickly."

Turning up her nose at the dismissal the teacher had given her; she turned directions and made her way to Dumbledore's office. Whispering the password, she moved up the stairs after the gargoyle shifted from her path. Walking into Dumbledore's office she sat across from him, his eyes sparkling and a smile on his face.

"Lemon drop?"

Kalya leaned forward and took the sweet, sucking on it gently. Something had gone wrong and she needed to know what it was. Dumbledore only called her if he had to. The vile of potion sitting on the edge of the desk told her it wasn't good.

"That's a Sleepless Drought, isn't it?"

"Yes, it's for you, when you're ready to take it," his eyes becoming somber.

"What is it this time?"

"Draco hasn't returned, and he left early this afternoon. You have to go and find where he is."

Sitting up straight she grabbed the potion downing it, after she had finished it she grabbed another lemon drop, sucking the sour candy to remove the test of the potion. Moving in her seat she reached her hand out to the portkey. She was in for another really long night.

She had finally found him, broken and bleeding after the other Death Eaters had beaten him for not killing a muggle. He was healing in the hospital wing. Kalya sat beside his bed, her hand on his.

"It's alright Draco, the war will be soon and everything will be okay," Kalya wondered if she was whispering to reassure him, or herself.

Glancing at the clock she realized it was already fifteen minutes into breakfast and she had promised Ginny to be on time this morning. Kissing Draco on the head she performed a cleaning charm on her hand which had been covered in dried blood from his. She turned and ran.

She began jumping down the stairs to make it before they changed. Her feet slipped and she fell down a couple stairs. Ignoring the pain she shook it off and made it down the hall. Bumping into Flitch she apologized and continued to race to the Great Hall with Flitch yelling after her.

She finally opened the doors and walked calmly over to Ginny. Her clothes while clean were rumpled and showed signs she hadn't changed them last night. Sitting heavily down on the bench, she felt the potions effect start to wear.

"You fall asleep in your robes," Roslyn asked.

"No, it's a really long story," Kalya signed rubbing her temples and closing her burning eyes.

"What's going on," Ginny asked softly.

"Draco is in the hospital wing," was all Kalya said.

The six girls started asking questions in whispered voices hoping not to catch the attention of the Golden Trio. They stopped for a moment when they realized she wasn't answering any of their questions.

"She is asleep," Hermione's voice drew their attention.

The girls turned back and sure enough, Kalya was asleep, her arms bracing her head up. Ginny placed her hand on her shoulder and moved her softly. Kalya's head shot up and her eyes searched everywhere and she slid away from Ginny's hands.

Fear on her face she realized where she was. She couldn't believe she had fallen asleep, but she had been taking that dreadful potion so long that the effects were wearing off sooner and sooner and Madam Pomfrey told her that she would start getting sick if she didn't stop taking it.

"Sorry, you scared me," Kalya said breathless.

"Are you alright," Ginny asked.

"I'm alive. I haven't slept in four days, so excuse my attitude lately. It's not you. I'm not mad or anything I'm just tired," Kalya sighed.

"To much homework," Blair asked.

"You could say that."

"Maybe you should drop a class or two," Lillian proposed.

"I could, but I shouldn't. Don't worry, once Draco is better I can sleep more."

"What happened to Malfoy," Harry asked.

"You know, I forgot you were there," Kalya blushed, her face flushed with tiredness.

Grabbing her goblet she made a face at the liquid within it. She swallowed all of it before grabbing a lemon drop which had appeared on her plate and sucking on it.

"Only Dumbledore eats lemon drops. Did you just take a potion," Hermione asked taking her goblet from her.

The tiredness had faded from her face as Hermione began sniffing the cup. Reaching for it quickly she pulled it from a shocked Hermione's hand. No one had even seen her move, but the cup in her hand showed everyone she had.

"Sorry Hermione, I didn't mean to. Reflex," Kalya blushed harder.

"That's a Sleepless Drought, have you been taking that the last couple days," Hermione asked narrowing her eyes.

"I'll be fine."

"What is it Hermione? Many students drink Sleepless Drought," Ron pointed out.

"To take the potion is fine. It doesn't hurt you and it keeps you awake for a full twenty four hours, but how many of those do you drink a day," Hermione's voice was harsh.

"It started out as once a day, then twice, and now I take about five to six," Kalya held the cup to her chest, "Sometimes I have to take a double dose."

"At that rate you will kill yourself."

"I know that okay! Do you think I don't? I'm a potion major," Kalya snapped.

"That's how you get them, you brew them yourself," Hermione concluded, "Madam Pomfrey won't give them out but once a month per student."

Her eyes searched all of the people around her before the fear sunk in full force and she stood in a defense manor, "Yes. Yes I brew them with the strongest potency as possible."

"Does Dumbledore know," Harry asked.

Picking up another lemon drop she leaned forward, her face in-between Harry and Ginny's, "Of course he does. He gives me my lemon drops that take the taste of the potion from my mouth. If you know what's good for you, Harry, Ron and Hermione, you will stay out of my business."

Turning she walked down the rows over to the Slytherin table and sat down in a group of students whose parents were known Death Eaters. They didn't blink an eye and allowed her to join in their conversation. Blaise sitting further down looked scared for his friend.

Harry, Ron and Hermione had started to plot and see what Kalya was up to. They had all been friend with her and trusted her. Ginny was sitting with them in the restricted section trying to convince them to leave Kalya alone. Her paranoia came from lack of sleep and over use of potions.

They ignored Ginny's pleads and continued to speak about the weird things Kalya had said and signs she had shown this morning at breakfast. Ginny felt frustrated because she knew what Kalya was doing but refused to tell them unless Kalya said she could.

The Trio paused their talking, thinking about what was just said when they heard noses from further back. Someone was in here too and they were franticly searching through books; the turning of pages could be heard. Moving around the corner they found Kalya.

She had tons of books surrounding her and she was flipping page after page like she was looking for something. Moving from book to book, her eyes moving left to right, reading and quickly turning the pages. Her face was pale and she looked sick.

"Kalya," Ginny said softly hoping to not scare the girl.

"I have to find it," Kalya spoke; the panic in her voice almost scared the foursome.

"It could be the effects of so many Sleepless Droughts," Hermione mumbled.

"What are you looking for," Ginny asked.

"I don't know a cure or something. I have to help him. He is hurting because no one can figure it out. I have to find it. I have to save him," Kalya murmured.

"Save who," Harry asked.

"Draco," Ginny and Kalya said at the same time.

"You knew," Ron's voice was stiff.

"They used a spell. A dark spell, he is hurting. Bleeding and it won't stop. I have to find a cure. I have to heal him. I need him. I'm doing this for his safety and I failed. I failed him. I need to find this," Kalya became more frantic.

"What about fox's tears," Harry tried.

"No, Draco doesn't trust Fox. Fox can only help who trusts him. I need to find something," Kalya moved to a different book.

"Maybe see if your animagus is a phoenix," Ron shrugged.

"I'm a fox, not a phoenix," Kalya stated, "A black fox, my signature to be seen would be my eyes. No different color in my fur."

"Are you registered," Hermione asked.

"No."

"Did you know Ginny," Ron asked.

"No, I didn't."

"Here," she read the book over and over before running from the room.

Hermione moved forward and read the book, "This spell is more complicated then I could even dream of performing."

Following the running they left to go see what she could possibly do. They made it into the room and saw that she had her wand out. She whispered the spell, moving the wand a bright jolt of red light shot from her wand and into Draco. No one moved, scared she had accidently hurt him more.

"Madam Pomfrey! The bleeding has stopped," Kalya screamed.

The nurse rushed from her room and over to Draco. Indeed the wound had closed up and the bleeding no longer seeped. She proceeded to heal the boy as Kalya fell into the chair and lost consciousness. Ginny rushed forward and started trying to wake her.

"Let her sleep. Dumbledore knew the spell, but he wanted to see how far she was willing to go to save Draco. I told him he was putting this boy's life at risk with a student of her age, would never be able to perform such a strong spell that even most adults can't. She used all her magic to make the spell work," Madam Pomfrey moved around, "I will see to her as soon as I finish with young Malfoy."

The boys lifted Kalya and laid her down on a bed. Her eyes opened and she looked at them. She could see the looks on their faces. Frowning she looked at Ginny and reached for her hand. Ginny took her hand and smiled at her.

"You did amazing," Ginny kissed her.

"I did it to save him. He is after all like a brother to me," Kalya smiled.

"She said a witch of such a young age," Harry glanced at the Medwitch.

"I'm fourteen," Kalya stated, her eyes beginning to drift shut again.

"Sleep, I'll be here when you get up," Ginny kissed her head softly.

The Trio walked over and watched Draco as Madam Pomfrey worked on him. Ginny had stayed near Kalya, watching her face as she slept. It was almost February and things weren't looking to good. Harry, Ron and Hermione wouldn't leave Kalya be and it wasn't long before she knew they would find out.

Madam Pomfrey bustled over; the Trio still looked over Draco. There was a sad look on her face. Ginny knew she knew what was going on with the two of them and by the look on her face she didn't approve of what Dumbledore was putting them through.

"He is pushing her to hard. She is just a fourteen year old girl. Harry wasn't even pressed this hard to learn advanced magic. If he doesn't stop, she will be pushed to the brink of death at this rate," Madam Pomfrey sighed.

The Trio heard her speak and moved forward to hear more.

"She says she wants to learn and she is doing what she can to. I haven't realized in the last two weeks it was this bad," Ginny frowned, "She is always smiling and laughing. She never shows any signs of stress unless she has gone to long without sleep. I have noticed she gets really irritable once or twice a week."

"It's not only from the potions, it's from the amount of classes and stress from being pressured to learn new things. A mind can only soak in so much at once," the nurse's voice was somber as she began removing Kalya's cloak.

Ginny gasped in shock at the sight of Kalya's left arm. Instead of seeing the dark mark offset by her white skin like she had thought, she could only see nail marks, blood and cuts.

"She won't leave it alone. When she is nervous she picks at it, digging her nails into her skin and causing irritation and then she doesn't come here to get it cleaned up."

"But why," Ginny asked.

"Shame."

That one word brought tears to Ginny's eyes. She placed her hand in Kalya's left. Holding onto it she stared at the destroyed skin, knowing what would appear once the blood was clear. The Trio moved forward till they could see the marks on her arm. Confused they glanced at each other before turning back to the girls in front of them.

Madam Pomfrey grabbed her wand and cleared the blood from the arm. Even with the blood gone Ginny was amazing to see she couldn't see the mark. Crescent finger nail marks and cuts from a spell covered the mark and only the mark, the rest of the skin looked clean and healthy. Grabbing a slave, Pomfrey spread it across the skin.

They watched quietly as the slave slowly faded into the skin healing all the cuts and marks. Black ink began to show in the form of a skull and a snake. Ginny cried harder as she saw the mark that Kalya had been trying to remove from her body.

"She is healthy for the moment. The potions haven't started to harm her stomach, but you should watch out for her. Make sure she doesn't take them if she doesn't need to. Listen Ginny, Dumbledore doesn't want anyone getting close to her and he is trying to make her push you all away, because if Voldemort reads her mind, he will use you all to bring her down if she ever tries to defy him.

She is amazing at Occlumency and I doubt he could ever see inside her memory. She will need you now more than ever. She needs someone to make her feel loved while she is fighting for her life."

"Like bloody hell my sister will ever talk to this disgusting Death Eater," Ron snarled moving forward and grabbing his sister.

They drug her from the room. She was yelling at them and telling them to let her go. Kalya needed her more then they knew and she couldn't tell them. Unable to fight them off, she was dragged away.