An Ace In The Hole

Chapter Eight: The Laughing Heir

"Good morning Lucius."

Lucius Malfoy opened his eyes to see the Joker leaning over his bed; mere inches from his face. He immediately went for his wand, only to find that it wasn't there.

"Looking for this?" asked the Joker, holding up Lucius' wand with two gloved fingers. "You know – you really shouldn't play with your wand in bed." Lucius made to retort, but the Joker raised his other hand in protest. "Before you blow, I brought you a gift! Your dear wife, Narcissa, has returned."

At that moment, the bed shook as a huge battle ax split the mattress; directly between his legs and only an inch from Lucius.

"Oh… and it looks as though she brought the battle ax!" exclaimed the Joker, biting his finger and looking concerned. "Ya know, Lucius old boy, you shouldn't just leave those hanging on the walls! Not going to look, but are the crown jewels still intact?"

"YOU CLOSED MY INHERITANCE VAULT!" shouted Narcissa, fire dancing in her eyes.

"Narcissa! Love!" exclaimed Lucius, sweat pouring from his frightened face as he held his hands out; begging for her to stop. "I can explain!"

"You have thirty seconds to explain, Lucius," growled Narcissa "before I hex off your manhood!"

"I think she means it, Lucy my boy." cooed the Joker, laughing merrily.

"I moved the money out of the vault to keep the Ministry from claiming it as Dark Wizard money!" explained Lucius, swallowing hard, pulling himself up in bed and away from the ax. "With the demise of the Head of the House of Black, the fall of the Dark Lord and Sirius Black and Bellatrix Lestrange being sent to Azkaban – I felt that it was the only way to keep your inheritance safe. The Minister had cleared me and the Malfoy name of any wrong doing. The Black name, however, was tarnished."

"Put it all back!" spat Narcissa coldly.

"Or – Lucius can simply sign over half of his vaults to you."

"Black!" breathed Lucius, wide-eyed with fear as Sirius strolled into his bed chamber.

"Greetings, Malfoy." said Sirius, straightening his robes. "That's Lord Black to you."

"Narcissa," said Lucius, sounding desperate as he turned his eyes back to his wife "I'll find a way to rescue you. I swear."

"Rescue me?" repeated Narcissa, an odd smile curving her face. "I don't need bloody rescuing."

"You'd rather stay with this – this freak?" asked Lucius in awe, glancing at the Joker.

"Now, now, Lucy." chided the Joker, waving Malfoy's wand. "It's not nice to call people names. Even if it's true."

"Besides," said Ivy, striding into the room behind Sirius "she's with me. Not him."

"That makes it better?" retorted Lucius, finding his sneer.

The Joker flopped down onto the bed beside Malfoy, snapping his fingers as he did.

"There ya go, Lucy my boy." smirked the Joker. "Channel that inner bastard."

"Get the bloody hell out of my home!" growled Lucius, glaring at the Joker.

"He's giving me chills." laughed the Joker, shivering with delight.

"Maybe I should ice him then." quipped Frost, as her and Harley joined the party at the foot of Lucius' bed.

"No, my ice queen." growled Sirius. "This one needs to live to see his fate."

"Whatever you say, animal." cooed Frost, tracing Sirius' arm with a single finger.

"Please stop." demanded Harley, scrunching her nose.

Lucius' eyes found Narcissa's once more and saw that they were filled with hatred as she glared at him. She was holding a piece of parchment in her hand in an offering gesture. He started to protest, but spied the wand in her other hand and the ax still wedged into the bed. He took the parchment, grabbed a quill from his nightstand and signed the bottom.

"That wasn't too hard." sighed the Joker, sounding disappointed. "Now, Lucy, be a good boy and stay away from your Ministry, lest you want to see your lovely wife again."

Lucius nodded quickly, looking about the crew of dangerous Muggles that accompanied Narcissa and Black. At that moment, he knew the time wasn't right to argue.

****ACE****

"How can you possibly say that Potter isn't behind all this?" demanded Snape as he paced the Headmaster's office.

"We know that Peeves has somehow escaped his banishment, Severus." sighed Dumbledore, looking quite fatigued. "The rude noise at the end of the feast was practically his calling card, regardless of whether he allowed us to see him."

"What about Filch's cat and the warning on the wall?" snapped Snape. "Surely Peeves didn't do that!"

"Severus, there is no doubt in my mind that Mr Potter is innocent of this as well." huffed Dumbledore, now looking to lose patience with his Potions Master. "He would never orchestrate an event that would overshadow the petrifying of Ms Norris, nor is he capable of doing such."

"You underestimate him, Dumbledore." retorted Snape. "I have wondered for many years how he survived the Dark Lord's attack –"

"Severus," interrupted Dumbledore, his voice straining "I have explained to you numerous times why Voldemort was unable to murder young Mr Potter that fateful night. Now, that is quite enough. We have two important matters to deal with and Mr Potter is not the answer to either. First, we must find the medallion and recapture Peeves. Second, we must find out how the Heir of Slytherin has returned and stop him before any students are hurt. As for Mr Potter, his odd behavior is due to his raising. At heart, he is still a child that needs some guidance."

"Very well, Dumbledore." grunted Snape. "Though I believe that any efforts to guide Mr Potter, will find said Professor pulling a knife from his chest."

"Never fear, Severus." chuckled Dumbledore. "I removed his ability to carry a knife about with him before he even arrived for start of term. I truly believe that you overestimate young Mr Potter."

"This Saturday is the match between Gryffindor and Slytherin, Dumbledore." said Snape silkily as he turned to leave the room. "I believe that we shall see what Mr Potter is capable of. Once he nearly kills one of my house, then maybe you'll be forced to see who he really is and deal with him."

****ACE****

Harry watched the commotion below as a member of the Slytherin Quidditch team was helped off the pitch. It had been nearly a week since Halloween and Wood had kept the Gryffindor team so busy training for this match that Harry had barely been able to savor the holiday. Despite Wood's efforts, they were currently down thirty to nothing. Harry could feel Ace begging to come out and 'play', but he had to hold him in a little longer. As soon as the game resumed, it would be time for Ace to make a subtle appearance. He could see Hermione, Neville and Luna sitting together watching the match. He could also see the 'others' mixed into the crowd; the twins hovering below him in their Beater positions.

Luna had thoroughly enjoyed her first Halloween at Hogwarts as well. She had recounted her experience with glee, but sighed every time she thought of how lovely it would have been to see all the pumpkins exploding and the candles flying high into the air in the Great Hall. Truly, she downplayed her activities in the Ravenclaw Boy's dorms, as Boot now had the reputation of enjoying his own company a little too much.

As for Boot, he was recovering slowly from his Q & A with Red. She had easily convinced Boot to tell them all he knew about the day before he attacked her in Herbology. She had kept his toes as a souvenir of the experience, as the potion that 'Healer' had given him would grow back the toes in a week's time. Harry marveled at how much talent there was amongst the 'freaks' of Hogwarts. Boot would keep his mouth shut about the experience, lest he lost his tongue and had to regrow that as well.

The only let down on Harry's first Halloween at the magical school was that someone had tried to upstage him. Someone that everyone referred to as the Heir of Slytherin had nabbed the caretaker's cat and petrified it before hanging it by its tail outside the third-floor girl's bathroom. They even left some kind of message on the wall in blood. While Harry admired their style, he wasn't a fan of their general lack of flash and showmanship. Mr J had taught him that there was no use setting something on fire if there was no one around to enjoy the blaze.

The other thing that irked Harry about this 'Heir' was this person had a reputation of hating students like Hermione, according to Malfoy, because their parents didn't have magical powers. Hermione had questioned Professor McGonagall about the message in blood's reference to a Chamber of Secrets. After a little prodding, the good Professor explained that it spoke of a legendary chamber within the castle that harbored a monster. The idea of a 'Chamber of Secrets' intrigued Harry. As for the 'Monster' – well, that term had been thrown around more than once in his past while monologuing with the Bat about Mr J.

Harry closed his eyes while he waited, cleared his mind and began to hum to himself; focusing on the task at hand. He had promised a Quidditch Cup to Professor McGonagall – and he always kept his promises.

"Lightning, lightning, lightning, lightning, light-"

"Harry?"

"Hey Wood." sighed Harry, opening his eyes while hovering thirty feet above the pitch on his Nimbus 2001.

"What was that about lightning?" asked Wood, hovering next to him.

"Oh nothing." replied Harry, smirking.

"Alright, well we're about to resume play." said Wood, looking back towards the Gryffindor goal posts. "Not sure what happened to the Slytherin Chaser, but her replacement is ready."

"Gotcha." said Harry, giving Wood a salute. "My eyes are peeled and watching for the Snitch."

"Excellent. Remember, stick to the plan. We cannot afford any penalties. Well, back to my post." said Wood, smirking at Harry.

Harry could hear Wood mutter something about not a cloud in sight as he soared away.

"No clouds needed." muttered Harry, as he spied Malfoy hovering near the Slytherin hoops. "Lightning is about to strike."

"Lightning, lightning, lightning, lightning."

The sound of Madam Hooch's whistle rang out and Harry immediately took off like a bullet; soaring around the top of the pitch to the roar of the crowd. It seemed that today, Gryffindor was the favorite, despite the Slytherins all having brooms like Harry's Nimbus. Speed wise, the Gryffindor team as a whole was outmatched. Wood, however, was counting on his team's skill and, of course, Harry.

"I was soaring, I was soaring,
In the middle of an exciting Quidditch match!
I looked round,
And I knew there was nothing, nothing I could do!
My mind raced,
And I thought, where's that Snitch!
And I knew, I knew,
There was no need, no need to ask you!"

Harry's voice carried all around the pitch as he sang with all his might; his voice magically magnified so that he even drowned out Lee Jordan's commentary. Then he swooped down below the play, near the stands, and buzzed the pitch with speed as he continued to sing.

"Sound of the crowd,
Beating in my heart!
The sound of Beater's bats,
Yeah they tore me up!
That's when I knew,
Lightning was about to strike!"

Harry looked back, and to his delight, he saw Malfoy tailing him closely. He threw his head back and continued to sing as he increased his blistering pace.

"Flew around the pitch,
Broke the Malfoy in half, as he hit the wall!
Played some more Quidditch, yeah Quidditch, and we had some fun!
We battled the Slytherins,
Some Quidditch players who gave a good fight!
Broke all the rules,
Made the Slytherins look like fools,
Yeah we, we, we blew their minds!
They were shaking at the knees,
Begging us to end the game please,
Yeah we weren't all too kind!
Oh yeah Slytherin,
Lightning's about to STRIKE!"

The crowd roared with approval as he tore around the pitch, his eyes scanning for the Golden Snitch. Malfoy was trying to stay with him, but looked now to be keeping his distance at the same time. The Slytherin players looked to be rattled by Harry's song, as Gryffindor started to take control of the game. Hermione had read over the rules of the game carefully, and there wasn't a single rule against a player singing during the game. He knew that he was pushing it by magically amplifying his voice, but so far Madam Hooch hadn't called him for it. Harry continued to sing as he pelted straight up behind the Gryffindor hoops; Malfoy still in pursuit.

"They were shaking at the knees,
Begging us to end the game please,"

Harry almost fell off his broom as he heard those in the crowd chanting:

"Lightning! Lightning! Lightning! Lightning!"

Then, Harry saw it. The Golden Snitch soaring along the grassy pitch nearly sixty feet away and below. He looked back to see that Malfoy was scanning the sky and looking clueless. The score was tied now at sixty each, but it wouldn't be for long; the Slytherins were starting to regain their composure. Harry pulled up straight, almost dead center of the pitch and fifty feet above the ground, spun once in the air before he dived like a bullet; laughing all the way.

He weaved past screaming chasers as he pelted for the ground. He could see the Snitch and could hear the whistling sound that meant Malfoy was diving right behind him. He leaned closer to the broom and willed it to go faster as the Snitch took a sudden burst of speed and headed for the Slytherin hoops. Harry pulled up tight and was right on top of it as the hoops came up fast. The Snitch went through the large hoop and so did Harry. Many sounds filled his ears just as he reached out and plucked the Snitch out of the air.

Harry came to a halt and spun round to see the crowd roaring with delight as he held up the Snitch in his right hand. He roared with laughter when he saw Malfoy and the Slytherin Keeper lying in a heap on the grassy pitch. Apparently, Malfoy had been right with him, but collided with the Keeper as he tried to follow Harry through the hoops. He could see the Hospital Wing Matron running across the pitch to check on the fallen players. Madam Hooch's whistle blew, signaling the end of the game. Final score: Gryffindor two hundred and ten points, Slytherin sixty points. It was possibly one of the fastest and weirdest matches in Hogwarts history.

Harry swooped down towards the stands as his fellow Quidditch teammates cheered and celebrated. He slowed down as he circled the pitch once more and began to sing again.

"We've won the fight!
Yeah, yeah, yeah!
We've won the fight!
Baby, baby, baby!
We've won the fight!
Yeah, yeah, yeah!
We've won the fight!
Slytherin… Lightning's just STRUCK!"

Harry could hear Professor Snape shouting about unfair play and poor sportsman like conduct, no one was really listening or caring. As the Slytherins booed, the rest of the crowd continued to chant, "Lightning! Lightning! Lightning! Lightning!"

Harry landed on the grassy pitch and was quickly joined by his team. He looked up into the stands to see Hermione, Neville and Luna heading down to meet up with him. He could also see Joseph clapping, while wearing a wry smirk on his face. The day was his and he couldn't help but laugh. His singing and his 'freakishness' was being celebrated by 'normal' people in a school of Witches and Wizards. The sheer irony and madness of the thought brought a tear to his eye.

The students were ushered back up to the school where the celebration would continue in the Gryffindor common room. Neville, Hermione and the twins helped sneak Luna in as well. She would be no more missed in Ravenclaw Tower than she was on Halloween night.

"Incredible catch!" exclaimed Twin one (Fred), slapping Harry on the back.

"And incredible singing voice!" laughed Twin two (George).

"Not to mention the way you took care of Malfoy." added Seamus, toasting Harry with one of the twin's contraband butter beers.

"Malfoy was just a bonus, Seamus." said Harry, bowing. "His time is coming though, I assure you."

Seamus smiled nervously then rejoined Ron and Dean.

"Stop making the 'normals' nervous." whispered Hermione into his ear. "They might wet the floor."

The party was going on as though they hadn't won a game in years. He knew that beating Slytherin was important to his house, but it was the carnage and chaos that had made Harry so happy. He also knew that it was their victory that was making all the 'normals' happy and wanting to be near him. That would change soon enough, he was sure.

"Where's Ginny?" asked Luna, looking about the common room. "I haven't seen her since we left the Quidditch pitch."

"I'm sure that she's up in her dorm room." replied Hermione. "I'll go check on her for you."

Luna nodded her appreciation before turning her sights to Harry.

"When will it be my turn?" asked Luna dreamily.

"Soon." breathed Harry. "Very soon."

This seemed to satisfy Luna, as she nodded before skipping off to grab a sandwich from a nearby tray of food.

"What's soon?" asked Ron, walking up to Harry while chewing on some form of cookie.

"You wouldn't understand, Weasley." sighed Harry, staring at the currently useless waste of space.

"Wait… what did you call ickle Ronny?" asked the twins in unison; smiling devilishly. "What happened to Red?"

"I've suddenly found a new fondness for the name 'Red'." explained Harry, smirking at the twins who were fully aware why. "Sorry if I have offended your family." apologized Harry to the twins before turning back to Ron. "You wouldn't understand, Robin."

The twins and Neville roared with laughter as Ron's ears began to glow red. For a moment, it looked as though Ron was going to tackle Harry; clearly reaching his breaking point.

"What's the problem, Ronald?" asked Harry, a corrosive smile curving his face. "Don't like my new name for you or is it something else?"

"Why must you constantly call me names?" growled Ron. "My name is Ron Weasley."

"Names are important, Ron." retorted Harry calmly, cracking his neck. "You took 'Red' as an insult, the way others identify 'freak' as an insult when they call me one. I value names – like Quinn. It may not be my birth name, but it represents who I am. I can see it in your eyes. You desire to be like me, but you don't know how. Accept who you are and maybe one day you'll have a name that represents you – if you're willing to embrace it."

Ron's face was blood red as he turned and stomped away; knocking over a chessboard as he made his way for the boy's dorms. Harry smirked as one of the enchanted chess pieces swore loudly at Ron.

"You can't help everyone, Harry." whispered Hermione into his ear.

"There's potential there." said Harry, still staring at the entrance to the boy's dorms with a dark look in his eyes. "He has so much rage… such a waste." He turned to face Hermione and looked at her with pride; his gaze causing her to blush. "Nothing wasted here. Tell me, were you able to lure the youngest Weasley down to the party?"

"Of course." retorted Hermione, smirking. "Luna grabbed her though, the moment she entered the common room."

"Good. Luna needs a playmate." said Harry, smirking.

"When are you going to let her 'play'?" asked Hermione casually.

"Luna put you up to asking?" retorted Harry, raising an eyebrow.

"Nope." replied Hermione, popping the "P" then smirking at him.

Before Harry could respond, Professor McGonagall entered the common room. She began to give what sounded like a well-rehearsed speech when she spotted Luna.

"Ms Lovegood!" gasped Professor McGonagall. "What are you doing in Gryffindor Tower?"

"Visiting with my friends." replied Luna dreamily.

"This common room is for Gryffindors only, Ms Lovegood." snapped Professor McGonagall, folding her arms.

Luna looked down at her shoes and Harry felt a savage rage burn in his chest. If he had been Mr J, the Professor would have been dead by now. Luckily for her, he was Ace.

"I'm the one that allowed her to come, Professor." said Harry, speaking up. "She's our friend and I wasn't aware that this school was that way."

"What way is that, Mr Quinn?" asked Professor McGonagall, raising an eyebrow.

"Segregated." replied Harry. "I mean, I know that she can't stay here all the time, but why is it off limits for her to even step foot in a room known as the 'common room'? First, we're forced to join a school house. Then, we must eat at different tables, sleep in different dorms and now we can't even visit other common rooms?!"

"Mr Quinn, I understand that you were raised as an American, but I would ask that you respect our rules and laws while you're here in Britain and more importantly – in this school." retorted Professor McGonagall in a clipped tone.

"There's no law or rule against students visiting other common rooms or sitting at other tables during special occasions, but it's not encouraged either." said Hermione clearly and boldly; staring at Professor McGonagall.

Professor McGonagall stared at Hermione, and Harry knew that she was shocked to hear the 'Bookworm' speak out against a teacher.

"My apologies, Professor." said Harry, taking advantage of the moment. "I'm just still not use to the rules and law around here. However, being that we beat Slytherin today," the common room roared in appreciation "would this be considered a special occasion?"

"Very well, Mr Quinn," conceded Professor McGonagall, biting her lower lip "Ms Lovegood can stay. Providing – that she's not caught out of her common room after hours wandering the corridors."

"No one will catch me, Professor." said Luna dreamily.

"Yes, well..." sighed Professor McGonagall, eyeing Luna suspiciously "please keep the party to a reasonable level and everyone be in bed before the sun comes up. I don't care if tomorrow's a day off or not. I will not have a bunch of layabouts in my house because they won a single match." She paused for a moment, staring at Harry, then glancing about the room. "Win the Quidditch Cup and you can party the whole weekend."

Harry saw the Professor smirk at her own wit before becoming stone-faced once more. She turned and swept from the room; closing the portrait behind her.

"Did she just make a joke?" asked Twin one in surprise.

"I believe that she did, oh brother mine." replied Twin two.

"Fine work out there today, Harry." said Wood, stepping over to the group and patting Harry on the back. "That was a unique idea – singing. I was afraid we might draw a penalty, but it was the Slytherin's fault for not scouting us better."

"When has Harry sang in practice?" asked Hermione, looking at Wood curiously; having been to every one of the Gryffindor practices.

"He hasn't." retorted Wood. "I just meant that between dancing around like a chicken on a broom to pretending that he's sweeping the pitch, Harry is quite unpredictable. Had they sneaked in a spy, they would have known not to be distracted."

The group, including Wood, broke down laughing as they remembered some of his antics. Harry's laugh became a little too ruckus, earning more than one nervous glance from the common room. The twins smelled the opportunity and seized it by proclaiming, "All hail the Laughing Heir of Gryffindor! Slytherin's Heir beware!"

****ACE****

Luna entered the Ravenclaw common room to see Terry Boot sitting alone and reading what looked to be a fourth-year potions book. He lowered the book to see who had entered the common room, before returning it to eye level. She walked straight over to him and stepped on his right trainer with her heel where his toes had grown back; digging in hard. Boot would have screamed in pain, but a quick jab to his throat by Luna's petite fist prevented him.

"I will be leaving shortly to go to out." said Luna dreamily; her tone conversationally yet icy. "I know Ace promised to slice out your tongue should you tell of Halloween, but I will remove an appendage if you tell a single soul that I have left this tower. Simply nod if you understand."

Boot quickly nodded, biting his fist to keep from screaming again as she wiggled her foot.

"Funny that word – 'appendage'." mused Luna, removing the heel of her trainer from his foot. "Did you know that it also means for one to be subordinate or of a dependent position to another person? Not a slave mind you, but someone that owes another something."

"I don't follow." coughed Boot, massaging his foot through his trainer.

"Oh, okay." said Luna dreamily before slapping Boot across the face as hard as her small frame could; nearly knocking him out of his chair. "Follow me now? I asked Ace to spare you, so you owe your life to me, Terry Boot."

"What happened to you?" asked Boot, just above a whisper; holding his face. "How can you side with those devils? You seemed so sweet."

"You never called me sweet before, Terry Boot." said Luna in her dreamiest voice. "You were one of the first to call me Loony Lovegood. Remember? Now, nearly all of the school calls me that."

"I'm sorry." whispered Boot, looking at the floor.

"Why are you sorry?" asked Luna. "I admit that I didn't like it at first, but now I'm glad. It's one of the reasons that has compelled me embrace my inner me. I'm not like you, Terry Boot, and I never will be."

Luna spun on her heel and strolled away from Boot; towards the girl's dorms. He didn't dare move a muscle as he watched her disappear from view. Several minutes later, she re-emerged from the dorms and headed straight for the entrance to Ravenclaw Tower; not even bothering to give him a sideways glance. He watched as she stopped short of the entrance, withdrew her wand and waved it; her hair suddenly turning bright pink with red streaks around the edges. She pocketed her wand then opened the entrance and left Ravenclaw Tower.

****ACE****

Draco Malfoy sat up in one of the beds in the Hogwarts Hospital Wing, staring furiously at a piece of parchment in his hand. The moment he had been admitted to the infirmary after his first Quidditch match, he had quilled his father. He told him all about what that freak, Harry Potter, had caused him to do. He also informed his father what Potter had been doing all over the school since he had arrived at the first of the year.

He had expected his father to send a furious response to the Headmaster, demanding that the freak be dealt with. Instead, Draco had received a brief letter from his father, warning him against crossing Harry Potter and that he was not to leave the school grounds under any circumstance or with anyone other than his father. He simply could not believe his father's response. He read it over and over again, looking for hidden signs that his father was going to do something, but there was none. Suddenly, the paper ignited into flames in his hands. He shrieked as he threw the paper onto the floor.

"What's the matter, Malfoy?" hissed a voice from the end of his bed.

Draco jerked as he looked up to see Potter, wearing his face paint again and leaning against the foot rail. "Madam Pomfrey!"

"Did you receive bad news from home?" asked Potter casually, a sick smile curving his face; not looking one bit concerned.

"MADAM POMFREY!" shouted Draco.

His eyes darted all around the wing. Not only was the Matron not coming, but it seemed that nobody else could hear him. There were two other students in the wing, including the Slytherin Keeper Bletchley, yet they remained fast asleep.

"Tell me, Malfoy," sighed Potter, taking a seat at the end of his bed "what injury keeps you trapped in the infirmary tonight? Or are you just faking it because you have a thing for the nurse. I mean, she's old, but you might be into that experienced –"

"How did you get in here, P- Quinn?" interrupted Draco, suppressing a shiver. "What have you done to the other students and Madam Pomfrey?"

"Do? Quinn?" repeated Potter (Quinn), pointing at himself. "I didn't do anything. They're all asleep – and it would be kind to keep your voice down, lest you wish to disturb them. As for Quinn – he's not here right now, but you can call me Ace."

Draco knew that he wasn't going to get a straight answer from Potter, and he didn't think it wise to pull his wand on the freak again. He did, however, place his hand in his pocket – just in case.

"What do you want?" growled Draco. "Come here to gloat?"

"He thinks I'm here to brag." chuckled Ace (Quinn/ Potter).

"Wh-Who are you talking to?" asked Draco, frowning.

"He doesn't even know who I'm talking to!" cackled Ace, making the hairs on Draco's arms stand up.

Draco looked around the Hospital Wing, but there was nobody around awake, except for he and Potter. 'The git was trying to get inside his head', thought Draco, sneering.

"Don't get so upset, Malfoy." cooed Ace, smiling. "Not many do. Just know that they're always watching – always."

Draco drew his wand, but watched in horror as it soared across the wing before being snatched out of the air by a witch as she stepped out of seemingly nowhere; laughing merrily. She wore white face paint that was covered by red lightning streaks, dark red lipstick and had eyes that almost glowed red. She stared at him devilishly and he immediately realized that it was Granger.

"Ready to find out why Ace keeps me around?" quipped Granger, smiling broadly.

"Now, now, Red." cautioned Ace, holding up a finger in Granger's direction as he rose to his feet. "Malfoy comes from a sophisticated background. You haven't even formally introduced yourself, yet you're all ready to play."

Draco's eyes darted back and forth between the two, completely mad, figures standing before him. Whatever they had done was preventing anyone from waking up or hearing him. He was trying not to panic, but he wasn't sure how much longer he could keep it together.

"Forgive me, Malfoy." simpered Red (Granger), giving a mock curtsy as though before royalty. "I completely forgot my manners. I'm The Red Witch, but you can call me Red. Hermione Granger has stepped away so that I can play. Don't worry though, Ace won't let me bite tonight."

Suddenly, the Ravenclaw girl that read the Halloween poem stepped out from behind a nearby privacy curtain. Draco pushed himself harder up against the metal head rail of the bed as he looked at her. Her face looked like someone had splashed it with light blue and hot pink paint. Her hair was a mixture of bright pink and dirty blond with red streaks in it.

"Hello, Draco Malfoy." said the girl in the same airy voice that she had read the poem with. "My name is Stain. Wanna play?"

Draco's eyes went wide as the girl raised her wand in his direction. Immediately, pain shot through his body as though he was being burned from the inside. He knew that she wasn't using an Unforgivable Curse, for he had seen them performed first hand, but the pain was as bad as anything he had ever felt. He bit down, trying not to scream; his vision going white from the agony. The girl lowered her wand and the pain ceased.

"I really didn't want to do this, Malfoy," whispered Ace, mere inches from his ear "but from the moment we met on the train, you've been begging for my attention. The Watchers agree with me." Draco watched as Ace stepped back from him. "It's a shame that you're too dense to recognize all the wonderfully talented future witches and wizards about you." Ace waved his hand in the direction of Red and Stain, who curtsied. "Blinded by your status and wealth." Ace leaned in close and whispered, "We could have been brothers… oh, how thin the line is between love and hate. Your world looks to me as a hero. They want me to slay their dragons. One day, your world might even look to you to save them from the 'Monster'." Draco watched silently as Ace strolled around his bed; playing with the young girl's pink hair while running a hand down one of Red's arms in passing. "Mr J taught me that the making of a man requires trials and challenges. If you're Jewish, no offense intended, but consider this Malfoy's Bar Mitzvah!"

"I'm not Jewish, Quinn." retorted Draco, suddenly feeling bolder.

"I know that." sighed Ace, smirking at Draco. "Now, I feel that it be only fitting that the ladies make you a man… though I doubt that you'll enjoy it."

Draco had heard enough. He bolted from the bed and made a break for the large doors to the wing; stepping on Bletchley's legs as he jumped over his bed in an effort to escape. The Slytherin Keeper didn't even budge.

****ACE****

"Awe, that was disappointing." sighed Stain, looking up at Ace.

"No worries, little sister." said Red, smiling. "Remember, we started a joke that has the whole castle sleeping."

"Not Terry Boot." corrected Stain. "I had a conversation with him before I left Ravenclaw Tower."

"That was over an hour ago, little sister." said Red, stroking Stain's hair lovingly. "Besides, didn't you say that he is coming along nicely?"

Stain nodded in agreement.

"Ladies, Malfoy needs to return to the Hospital Wing – for his own good." said Ace, hating to interrupt his two favorite ladies – next to Aunt Harley and Aunt Ivy, of course.

"No worries, Ace." purred Red. "Twin One and Twin Two have confirmed that all the castle is asleep. Potions knows his craft."

"Yes Red… but I would really like to finish this tonight." said Ace, running a finger down her left arm; causing her to shiver.

"I'll go fetch him, Ace." said Stain, looking excited.

Ace looked at Red and saw his smile reflected in hers. He knew that they were thinking the same thing. It was time to let Stain 'play'.

"Okay, Stain, my dear." said Ace darkly. "Just remember to bring him back here with all his parts intact. Okay?"

"Okay, Ace." agreed Stain dreamily, before turning quickly and skipping off towards the large doors to fetch Malfoy.

Ace roared with laughter, his body shaking with delight. "RUN MALFOY! RUN! DON'T MAKE STAIN SAD!"

At that moment, Ace heard the same voice that he had heard in detention. "So hungry!" His eyes narrowed as he thought about the possibilities. If there really was a Chamber of Secrets, then could he be hearing the 'Monster'? He looked at Red and could tell that she hadn't heard the voice. He was used to hearing things that Red, Stain and the Others didn't. 'Had the 'Heir of Slytherin' avoided the sleeping potion somehow', pondered Harry. 'Perhaps it was time for the 'Heir of Slytherin' to meet the 'Laughing Heir' face-to-face'.

A/N: Hope that you enjoyed the chapter! Not nearly as long as the last time, but like I said, I'm finally back in! Please review and let me know what you think.

Special thanks to Dark Lord Holmes for being beta. Any mistakes are now his. Now, RUN MALFOY! RUN! ;)