Some Dangerous Liaisons

A/N: Coming to the end of the line with this. Probably a couple more chapters. I don't think anyone is going to be happy with the ending, but I'll let the feedback tell me if I should continue or let it go.

Big thanks to Elric Max (of course), Paigey07, thrnbrooke, Extraho and an anon viewer. Leave your name...I don't bite!

I really didn't like this chapter so much, but it's done. At least it's not taking me months to finish this like before.

Love to all...

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Careless Whispers

Ginny’s eyes widened as she stared into the furious eyes of Draco Malfoy.

She spluttered incoherently as his hand tightened around her neck. “Let..gahhhh!!” She pushed at his hands as her face turned a brighter shade of red.

Draco’s hand acted of its own accord. He could finish this bitch. Be done with her worthless, sorry blood traitor arse. She had done this, he knew it. It was written all over her ugly, freckled face. Draco knew to the tips of his toes that Ginny Weasley had given Harry these drugs again. He just didn’t know why she would do something so stupid.

Then again, she was a Weasley.

He pressed harder on her windpipe, enjoying the sound of her gagging and fighting against his hand. Her bag had fallen to the floor beside her, spilling its contents on the cold tiles.

“-foy! Stop!”

A distant voice slammed into his consciousness and he realized that a wand was now pointing in his face. He turned slowly and saw Granger staring at him with an angry scowl.

“You’re going to kill her! Stop!”

Draco turned to look at Ginny, who was now turning a weird shade of blue. He smirked at her and tightened his grip. Ginny kicked wildly and gagged horribly. Hermione shoved the wand into Draco’s neck.

“Malfoy!!”

“Fuck you, Granger.” But he let her go. Ginny dropped to the floor, coughing roughly. She sat back on her haunches, holding her hands around her neck, gasping.

“-cking bas-tard!”

Draco sneered and stepped back from the two Gryffindors. Hermione was looking at Ginny anxiously.

“Ginny? Are you all right?”

Ginny looked up, her eyes narrowing in anger. “You let Malfoy in Gryffindor!! How could you?”

Hermione rolled her eyes. “I’m quite sure Malfoy has been here, numerous times. Not that I approve of that.” She glared at Draco, who shrugged nonchalantly. “We needed some answers and Malfoy gave a pretty compelling argument that Harry would listen to him.”

Ginny struggled to her feet and glared at him. “Yeah, I’m sure Harry would. Seeing what Malfoy is capable of doing!”

“I have exceptional talents, Weasley. You Gryffindors seem to be the only dolts in this school who try to ignore what is plainly obvious to all.”

Ginny huffed, “Don’t play cute, Malfoy! You know what I mean. You’ve corrupted Harry, got him hooked on drugs! All sorts of stuff!”

Draco shook his head. “Oh please! You obviously don’t know Harry as well as you think you do. He was already corrupted, long before I came on the scene. He has a scar to prove it.”

Hermione narrowed her eyes and barked, “What’s that supposed to mean? Harry’s not bad; he was a baby when that happened!”

Draco sneered, “And you call yourself the smartest witch here? I’m not talking about that scar, you idiot. I meant the other one that the werewolf gave him. It made him different.”

Hermione blinked and opened her mouth but Ginny interrupted.

“You’re a liar, Malfoy! Everything out of your mouth is rubbish! Get out of here!! Leave Harry alone!”

Draco looked ready to retort but Harry began babbling. Draco turned quickly and saw Harry trying to sit up. Draco headed towards the bed and leaned over him.

“Harry, it’s me. Are you OK?”

Harry unfocused gaze attempted to settle on Draco’s face.

“Draco? What are you doing here?” He saw Hermione and then Ginny. They were both heading towards him.

“Harry, you were high.” Hermione said. “You were totally out of it. Do you remember what happened?”

Harry stared at them in confusion.

“I was high? How? I didn’t…I swear I didn’t take anything. I took Snape’s potion!”

Then he looked at Ginny.

“You were here. In my room. You said you saw me with Draco. And then…I don’t know. I don’t remember anything after that.”

Draco spun around to Ginny. “I knew it was you! You did this! I should fucking kill you right now!”

Ginny’s face was turning pale and she backed away from Draco, pulling her wand.

“I didn’t do anything!! I didn’t-“

“Then how’d he get the drugs, Weasley? He was taking Snape’s potion! He wanted to get better! He wouldn’t just go and get high!”

“I don’t know, Malfoy! Maybe it was Justin! Justin knew about this and he had the drugs in his hands!”

Draco rolled his eyes. “That Mudblood? Are you serious? He wouldn’t dare!”

Hermione’s wand flicked towards Draco. “Don’t call him that!”

Draco grunted in response, “Whatever, Granger. Can we focus on what the real issue is?” He nodded towards Ginny. “Which is that your fellow Gryffindor is trying to keep Harry addicted to drugs.”

“NO! It wasn’t me! I wouldn’t hurt Harry! I love him! It was Justin! Justin had the drugs! He wants Harry for himself! He doesn’t care about his well-being. He just wants to have him. Keep him away from you, Malfoy!” Ginny shouted. She raised her wand at Malfoy.

Draco pulled his and Hermione sighed. They both turned to look at her.

“Malfoy, it does make sense about Justin. He has been saying bad things about you. He seems pretty fixated on hating you.”

Malfoy shrugged. “Yeah, who doesn’t? And what’s that twat going to do to me?”

“Well, Ginny has a point. He did have some drugs. I saw him the other day with them. He was supposed to give them to Professor McGonagall, but he claimed that he didn’t remember if he gave them to her or not. And then suddenly Harry turns up high.”

Ginny nodded and then looked at Harry. Harry was staring at her with an accusing glare. She moved over to him quickly and grabbed his hand. She kissed it gently and he tried to pull away from her, but she held on tightly.

“Harry, I didn’t do this. I don’t want to hurt you, you know that! Please, I only want our relationship back and for you to get better.”

Draco looked on irritably. “I think he wants you to let go of his hand, Weasley. That murderous look clearly indicates that.”

“Shut up, Malfoy! You haven’t denied that you put a spell on Harry! Leave us alone! Get out of here and go back to your hole in the ground!”

“He doesn’t have to leave, Ginny! Just…go, alright? I need to be alone.”

Ginny whipped around to stare at him. “What? He gets to stay and you want me to leave? NO! I won’t leave you alone with him, Harry! You’re not thinking clearly!”

Draco snarled, “For fuck’s sake, Weasley! He said get lost. How thick can you get? He doesn’t want you here right now!”

Ginny’s face burned crimson. “You just want a chance to suck his cock again, eh Malfoy? How’s your daddy going to take the news that you take it up the arse!”

Hermione gasped and covered her mouth. “Ginny!!”

Draco growled, “OH, that’s it! She’s mine!” A jet of red light shot from his wand right at Ginny. Hermione shoved her hard out of the way and Ginny flew across the room, kicking her bag. She fell to her knees.

Hermione was shouting and Harry had grabbed Draco’s arm, yanking him towards him.

“What the hell are you doing? Don’t! You’re just going to make it worse, Draco!”

Draco snarled angrily. “Then do something, Harry! But look at you, you can hardly stand up! She did this to you!”

Harry was about to reply when Hermione spoke up. “Why is Harry’s cloak in your bag, Ginny?”

Harry looked towards the floor and saw the smooth material. He snapped his head up and stared at her. “You stole my father’s cloak?”

Ginny was getting to her feet again. “I didn’t steal it, Harry. I was…borrowing it.”

“That’s bollocks!! You stole my cloak!!” Harry was trying to stand up but was not having much success. Draco reached out his hand to help steady him. He swayed on his feet and held Draco tight.

“I can’t believe that you went into my things, Ginny! Why didn’t you ask me? What else did you take?”

Ginny’s lip trembled and she wrung her hands. Oh…this wasn’t what she had foreseen happening. Harry looked furious.

“Harry, I’m soo sorry. I didn’t want to bother you and I just saw it and I wanted to try it out. I didn’t even know you had a cloak like this. Please…I’m sorry.” She moved forward nervously, her hands in front of her. “Please, don’t be angry.”

Tears rolled down Ginny’s face and Harry’s anger dissolved. He never did well with tears.

Draco didn’t have that same problem though.

“Is that your Firebolt?”

He let go of Harry’s arm and marched over to the bag. He reached to pick it up but Ginny grabbed it from him.

“This is mine!! Don’t you touch my stuff!”

“That’s Harry’s Firebolt! You’re a fucking thief!”

“Get off, Malfoy!”

Hermione moved forward to intervene. “Accio Ginny’s bag!” The bag flew from both of their hands and into Hermione’s. Ginny ran to her just at Hermione looked into the bag. She saw the pill bag and her face contorted.

“Ginny!! I can’t bel-“

“AAAARRGGHHHHHH!”

Hermione, Ginny and Draco whipped around to stare at Harry, who had suddenly doubled over in pain. He pitched forward and almost fell headfirst onto the hard floor. Draco had sprinted over to him just in time and caught him.

“Harry?”

The bathroom door burst open and Ron tore into the room with Neville on his heels. They shuddered to a stop upon seeing Draco.

Ron was the first to react. “What the bloody hell are you doing in here, Malfoy? What’s going on?” He pulled his wand and aimed it at the blond. “Get away from him, Malfoy!”

Ginny shouted, “Malfoy’s hurting him, Ron! Do something!”

Ron needed no other prompting. He ran forward and grabbed Draco’s arm, pulling him away from Harry. Harry fell to the floor with a thud and moaned. Draco pushed Ron, who fell back into the writing desk. Papers and inkwells toppled over, doting the table with black spots.

“You stupid arse! I’m helping him, you idiot!”

Ron didn’t listen and shot a stream of red light at Malfoy, who ducked out of the way. The hex slammed into the four-poster bed, splintering the wood. It sagged drunkenly.

“RON, NO!” Hermione ran forward, tripping over the bag she had dropped. She landed hard on the floor, her hands stinging.

Malfoy twisted and shot a hex at the snarling red-head. It missed by inches and Ron bellowed. “YOU GIT!”

Neville dove out of the way as the light shot past his head, and embedded itself in the wall. He straightened up and shouted, “EXPELLIAMUS!”

Ron, Draco, Ginny and Hermione’s wands flew from their hands and into his outstretched one. Both Ron and Draco shouted in fury.

Draco reached Neville first and shoved him. “Give me my wand!”

Neville was roughly the same height as Draco and he stood his ground. “NO! Not until you all stop this! What the hell is going on?”

Draco grabbed Neville’s shirt, but Ron had arrived at just that moment. He pulled back and punched Draco in the mouth. Draco fell back, blood gushing from his cut lip. He spat blood from his mouth and narrowed his eyes.

He lunged forward and punched Ron in the face. Ron howled and grabbed his nose, blood pouring between his fingers. He grimaced and pulled his hands away, blood dripping on the floor.

“I’m going to kill you, Malfoy!”

The two teens connected and all hell broke loose.

Neville was knocked down by the ensuing tangle of flying fists, kicking legs and biting teeth. All of the wands had went flying and were now scattered around the room. Hermione had managed to get to her feet, only to be hit by Ron’s elbow in the back of her head. She cried out in pain and fell again, hitting her head on the now broken desk. She went limp.

Ginny stared at Hermione’s limp form but was distracted by Harry, who was writhing on the floor. She ran to him and kneeled down next to him.

“Harry! Harry!! What’s wrong? Oh, Merlin! What’s happening!”

Harry was bathed in sweat and he was gritting his teeth in pain. “Ginny…fuckk!! OH, make it stop! It feels like my insides are on fire!” He gasped in pain and twisted again, almost kicking Ginny over.

Ginny ran her hand over his sweaty forehead. She pulled her hand back in shock. He was burning up! She could almost see the steam coming out of his pores. What was going on? She leaned close to whisper to him, but with all the commotion in the room, it wasn’t really necessary. No one would have heard them anyway.

“Harry? Is it the withdrawal again? Do you need more drugs? I can help you! Just let me help you! Please!”

Harry moaned in agony, his face twisted in pain, almost making him look inhuman. He grabbed Ginny’s hand, squeezing so tight she felt her bones crunch. She cried out in pain.

“P-please, Ginny. Pleasee…just make it stop…ohhh…!!”

Tears ran out of Harry’s eyes and he took a huge sobbing gasp. Ginny didn’t wait any longer. She spied her bag on the floor and reached out and drug it towards her. She pulled out the small bag of pills and dumped them in her hand. She grabbed Harry’s face, but he was twisting and writhing so much she couldn’t get him to keep still. She jumped up and then straddled him, throwing as much of her weight against him as she could.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Malfoy and Ron, still beating the piss out of each other. Neville was trying to help Hermione, who had a nasty bump on her head. She was sitting up and Neville had found a wand to use to try and heal her bruise. It looked like hers.

A loud shout from Harry and his wild bucking drew her attention back. She pressed down as hard as she could to hold him steady and she mashed the pills against his lips, trying to get him to open his mouth.

He gasped again as another pain flared through his body and the pills dropped back into his throat. She had no idea how many she had used, but prayed that it was enough to help him and not too many to kill him.

Harry’s eyes were shut so tightly that Ginny swore she saw eyelashes pop off in the strain. Harry teeth were clenched and Ginny prayed that he had swallowed them.

A loud crash caused her to look up and Harry jerked wildly. Ginny flew from his chest and landed on the floor, the remaining pills skittering in all directions. Hermione had finally gotten to her feet and had stunned both Ron and Draco. The crash had been Ron falling into Harry’s display cabinet. The miniature Hungarian Horntail was blowing fire into Ron’s hair, singeing it.

Hermione clutched Ginny’s wand, trying to catch her breath. She then remembered Harry and quickly turned towards Ginny. Harry lay stretched out on the floor, completely still.

Hermione ran towards them and knelt beside Harry. “Harry? Harry!!” She shook him roughly, but he was unresponsive. She looked at Ginny. “What happened, Ginny? Did he say anything?”

Ginny was biting her lip. Then she cried out, “Hermione! I-I didn’t mean to hurt him! I just wanted to help him! He wanted those pills so bad and Justin was being an arse and Harry needed them! I just wanted him to love me again, Hermione! Don’t you know what that’s like? I’d do anything to get him back!” She began to cry great heaving sobs.

Neville was standing behind the two girls. He knelt down and awkwardly patted the distraught girl on the back. Ginny turned towards him and cried into his robes. Neville looked over her shoulder and made a face at Hermione as if to ask, what now?

“We need to get him to the hospital wing. He needs help.”

The door to Harry’s room sprung open and Professor McGonagall marched in, followed closely by half of Gryffindor

“My word! What is going on in here? I could hear the shouting all the way from the Fat Lady!” Minerva surveyed the room and gaped at the mess. Her eyes landed on Malfoy, who was lying stunned under the broken desk

“Is that Mister Malfoy? What is he doing in here?”

Neville piped up, “Well, Professor it’s kind of a long story.” He looked at Hermione. “Actually, I have no idea what that story is though.” He smiled sheepishly at Minerva, who glared at him.

“Someone tell me what is going on in here!” She flicked her wand at both Ron and Draco. The teens stirred slowly. Ron was rubbing the back of his head and he groaned loudly.

“Bloody hell, Hermione! You didn’t have to stun me! You should have just stunned that git, Malfoy!”

“Shut your gob, Weasel! You only got saved because your girlfriend saved your arse!”

Ron whirled towards Malfoy and jumped to his feet. He immediately crashed head first into Malfoy, who tried to move out of the way. They ended up in yet another tangled heap.

“THAT’S ENOUGH!”

Minerva marched over to the two boys and pulled Ron up by the back of his robes. She grabbed Draco by the arm and yanked him up as well.

“Draco Malfoy, I am appalled at your behavior! You are Head Boy. How or why you are in Gryffindor Tower I have yet to understand, but best believe that Professor Snape will hear of this with all due haste. Return to your dormitory immediately. I will be there soon to have a word with you and Professor Snape. Now get!” She pointed to the door.

Draco sneered at her. “ I need my wand back, Professor. Your Gryffindorks stole it. And then assaulted my person. I demand justice.”

Minerva rolled her eyes. “Spare me the theatrics, Malfoy. Just get out. And go clean yourself up.”

Draco huffed and Neville walked up to him and handed him his wand. Draco snatched it from him.

“Next time, I’m going to hex your ba-“

“Mister Malfoy!”

“Fine, I’m going.” His eyes rested on Harry. “What about Harry?”

Minerva looked and saw Harry on the floor. She paled considerably and she rushed forward.

“Why is Mister Potter unconscious? What happened!” she demanded. She pulled her wand and began searching him for injuries. “Miss Granger?”

“I don’t know Professor. He was high this morning and then he just started yelling in pain. It’s the withdrawal isn’t it?”

Minerva slowly dropped her wand by her side. She had a horrified expression on her face.

“Go alert, Madam Pomfrey. Tell her we are bringing Mister Potter to her immediately.”

Ginny now spoke up. “What’s wrong with him, Professor?”

“Just do what I said!”

Ginny shrunk back at the admonishing. She stood up, bumping into Hermione who was also attempting to stand up. Hermione gave her a cold look, but didn’t say anything. Ginny stared back defiantly, almost forgetting her tear-filled anguished confession.

Hermione walked out of Harry’s room, pushing past her nosy housemates. Colin and Dennis looked ready to rend their clothes at the sight of Harry stretched out on the floor. Colin clutched Hermione’s arm.

“He’s OK, isn’t he? He…didn’t try to kill anyone again, did he?” Colin’s eyes were bright…close to tears. “She’s not taking him to Azkaban, is she?”

“I don’t know what’s going on, Colin. But we had better find out soon.”

She hurried from the room.


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Pansy stood outside of Professor Snape’s quarters. She knew he would be leaving soon to have an early lunch in the Great Hall. He liked to avoid as many students as possible on the weekends, except those he gave detention. He enjoyed that immensely.
Taking a deep breath and casting her face into a hysterical look, she hurried forward and knocked loudly on the door. She waited nervously and practiced her words for this moment.

Severus opened the door with the look of an executioner. He froze when he saw Pansy, standing there breathing heavily. He opened his mouth to inform her of his displeasure of her appearance, but she beat him to speaking.

“Oh, Professor Snape! I don’t know what to do! I think…I think I may be…with child.”

Severus blinked. And then blinked again. “And you are telling me this because…”

“I need your help, Professor. Please!” She leaned dramatically against him, which instantly caused him to back away in alarm.

“Miss Parkinson! Surely you need to speak with Madam Pomfrey about this. I can hardly be the one to…deal with this issue.”

“Oh, no!! I couldn’t! That cow of a nurse! It would be all over the school. I want to talk to my mother, please. I just need to make a quick fire-call, Professor. She will be able to tell right away.”

Pansy pulled a small vial from her pocket, which looked suspiciously like urine.

“You want to use my floo?”

“Yes, for a tiny minute. I promise I won’t be long, Professor. You know I need this very badly. If I were pregnant with Draco’s child, he would have to come around. No more…distractions. And we could…get on with things.”

She smiled to herself, while she watched Severus for his reaction. She knew she had hit a nerve when the potions master’s eyes brightened briefly, but turned back to ice a moment later.

“Just for a moment, Professor. I won’t tell anyone that you let me. No one would believe me anyway, even if I did.”

Severus stepped back and allowed Pansy to enter the room. He pointed wordlessly to the hearth.

“I’m on my way out. Close the door behind you. I will know if you moved past the fireplace. I don’t suggest you find out how I will know. Just know you’ll have much more to worry about than a teenaged pregnancy.”

“Thank you so much, Professor. If it’s a boy, I’ll name him after you.”

Severus glared and swept out with flourish. The door slammed, echoing in the corridor.

Pansy hurried to the hearth, and dipped her hand into the ashes. She tossed them in and looked around furtively.

“Narcissa Malfoy, Malfoy Manor.”

She waited impatiently for a few moments and then a blond head appeared in the flames.

“Yes?”

“Mrs. Malfoy, it’s Pansy. I need to talk to you.”

“Yes, what is it, Pansy?”

“It’s Draco. He’s been using drugs again. You need to send him to rehab.”


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Draco stormed into the Slytherin common room. As it was Sunday morning, there weren’t that many students hanging out and Draco was glad for it. The sight of him with his face and shirt covered in blood and with his hair sticking up all over the place would have scared the living crap out of them.
Once inside his room, he stripped out of his clothes, hurtling them to the floor with growing viciousness.

“Fucking Weasel! Both of them! This isn’t over, not by a long shot! They think they can just do whatever they want? And that Weasel slut! Stealing Harry’s stuff and giving him drugs! What the fuck is she thinking? She’s nutters!”

He stomped into the bathroom, slamming the door so hard the room shook. He kept seeing Harry lying there on the floor, unmoving. He didn’t know what had happened! Stupid Weasley distracting him with that dumb fight. Harry needed him and he had been fighting like a common Muggle, again! What is it with Gryffindors and their fighting?

McGonagall was daft if she thought he was just going to sit around and wait for her to tell on him to Severus. He knew that Severus was going to kill him for being up in Gryffindor with Harry. But at least he wasn’t there by himself and Severus couldn’t accuse them of having sex or something. But he was not looking forward to what his godfather was clearly going to have to say about all of this.

After he finished his shower, Draco stepped out and stood in front of the mirror. He examined his teeth to make sure that oaf didn’t break any of them. He pulled his wand and began healing charms on any visible bruises he could easily see. He then picked up his toothbrush and brushed away the remaining blood that was still there.

He headed back into his bedroom and began to dress. He started to feel dizzy as he put his shirt on, but didn’t think much of it. He thought that he was just hungry or something. When was the last time he had eaten?

Draco bent over to put on his pants and the room spun violently. He struggled to focus and find his balance, but he was having difficulty moving his feet. He noticed his hands were shaking and he couldn’t make them stop.

“What the..?”

A sharp pain spiked through his head and he cried out, throwing his hands to the side of his head. It felt like the Cruciatus was centered on his skull. He stumbled forward and he noticed that the walls had started melting. It looked like long globs of black goo.

Draco yelled out in fear and the floor dropped away sickeningly. He staggered and forced his way to the door. Another spike of pain and Draco shouted in agony

“MERLIN! FUCK!”

He fell forward and hit his head on the corner of the dressing table. Blood spurted from the wound, staining his clean shirt, again.

He lay moaning on the floor, dazed and confused. He felt dizzy and nauseous, but he was determined to try and get up. What was wrong with him? This didn’t feel like a normal high he used to get when he was with Harry. This was wrong and completely terrifying.

He pushed himself to his hands and knees, noticing blood dripping from his head onto the carpet. The sight of the blood triggered his stomach, because the next instant, he was throwing up.

Draco had always had a pretty weak stomach. He wasn’t much of drinker, because he couldn’t hold his liquor. He also threw up when he was upset. This certainly qualified.

Draco felt his heart racing, much to fast. Something definitely wasn’t right and he needed to get help. He crawled as best he could to the bedroom and he managed to pull it open. His pants were soggy from the vomit he’d just crawled through, but he couldn’t be arsed to care.

Once out in the hallway, he pulled himself up and leaned against the wall, holding on for dear life. The floor kept disappearing and strange things kept appearing above his head.

Strange, horrible things.

Draco struggled out to the common room, his robes stained with his vomit and blood from his head wound.

Please let there be someone out here…

He turned towards the door, hearing someone enter the common room. Thank Merlin.

My mind must be playing tricks on me. Is that…my mother?

“Mother…” he croaked.

A loud scream careened through his ears and Draco fell to the floor.


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Harry woke to hear Draco’s loud voice bellowing,” I demand that you let me take it!”
Harry twisted his head and looked at his surroundings. He was in the hospital wing. Again.

He struggled to sit up and he noticed that he was shirtless. A piece of parchment floated by his head and strange writings flowed down the paper. He sighed. What had happened that he was in this place again.

Draco was shouting again. “Where is Professor Snape? Is he coming back or not?”

A murmured reply was heard, but Harry couldn’t see who it was talking. Probably Madam Pomfrey. Why was Draco in the hospital wing?

He got down from the bed and walked towards Draco.

“Draco?” Harry said and walked smack into an invisible wall. He fell back, holding his nose.

“Bloody hell! What the hell is that?”

Draco sat up now, his eyes fixed on Harry. “Harry, it’s OK. Don’t try to come closer. You’re behind a protection shield.”

Harry stuck his hand out and felt the magical barrier vibrating around his fingers.

“Why am I here? Why are you here?”

Draco stood up and walked towards, looking cautiously towards the entrance.

“Look, Harry. I OD’d on drugs. At least that’s what Pomfrey and Snape says. I didn’t touch any drugs! I don’t know what they are blathering on about. But mark my words, that Weasley bint is behind this. Her and Pansy.”

Harry’s eyes widened. “Ginny! She did something to me, didn’t she? She was in my room last night. She hexed me, I think. But I don’t remember what happened after that. The day seemed really weird.” He looked at Draco. “You came into my room. You and Hermione! I remember that. Ginny! She took my cloak and…the worst pain I can ever imagine hit me. And now, I don’t remember anything else.”

Draco nodded. “Weasley’s gave you drugs last night, Harry. I know she did. But she tried to blame it on that Hufflepuff Justin. He doesn’t have the bits for that. She had your things all right. But she never said why.”

Harry looked around a bit, feeling for the shield. “Why am I behind this? What’s happened?”

Draco shrugged. “I don’t know exactly. You were here when I got here. The teachers are all in a snit about it, though. McGonagall looked like she’d swallowed her own knickers.” He looked back towards the door and then at Harry. “I won’t let them take me away from here, OK? My mother’s here.”

Harry looked up sharply at this. “Why is she here? What do you mean, take you away?”

“I didn’t really have the chance to tell you last night. But Pansy told her that I was using drugs. She threatened to send me to rehab. But then Pansy suggested this whole marriage farce to keep me tied to her. Mother went along with it, but that if I got out line again, she’d take me out of Hogwarts. I know this isn’t a coincidence. Weasley sees us last night and now I’m OD’ing on drugs I never touched! I can’t believe that Pansy would be this stupid. She knows I’m going to kill her after this.”

“So, Ginny gave me drugs too? What for? I’m not going to get sent to rehab, am I? No one cares enough to send me.”

“Who knows what that bitch was thinking! Oh, she’s got one coming from me! Her and that stupid wanker of a brother.”

Voices came from the corridor and Draco quickly mouthed ‘I love you’, before he rushed back to his bed.

Harry raised his hand towards the barrier as if trying to touch Draco. He moved back towards his bed, but he listened intently.

Severus walked into the hospital wing with Narcissa Malfoy on his heels.

“I want him released now, Severus! I don’t understand why you are stalling with this. I know what I saw!”

Severus looked annoyed but turned to her anyway. “Yes, Narcissa. We both saw Draco writhing on the floor in a most undignified manner. But Draco’s insistence of his innocence in spite of that, is most…intriguing. As is your sudden arrival at the castle, with intimate knowledge of your son’s drug abuse.”

Narcissa lifted her head and fixed him with a haughty glare. “I am certainly allowed to see my son whenever I wish, Severus! And forgive me if I don’t just take the word of my seventeen-year-old son that he will stay in good standing! He’s obviously been influenced by negative people here and I want him released now!”

“I’m not going anywhere, Mother! I didn’t do this! Are you going to give me the test or not?”

Harry watched as Severus pulled a vial from his robes. Draco reached out to take it, but Narcissa snatched it from Severus’ hand. They both glared at her.

“Give it to me, Mother! I’ll prove that I’m not lying about this! I didn’t take any drugs! I don’t care what the drug test said! If it’s in my system, then someone gave it to me! It was either Pansy or Weasley!”

Narcissa frowned. “Why would a Weasley give you drugs, Draco? That’s ridiculous! They can’t even afford anything like that!”

“That’s why she had…” Draco trailed off suddenly. Both Narcissa and Severus looked at him curiously.

“She had what, Draco?” Severus asked.

Draco couldn’t admit that he’d been up in Harry’s room. Not with his mother there. He figured Severus already knew from McGonagall’s report, but thankfully the man hadn’t outed him yet.

“Never mind. I know it was Pansy! Let me take the Veritiserum! It’ll prove I don’t know anything about this!”

Severus looked at Narcissa, who was holding the vial tightly in her hand. She looked conflicted about the situation. She then handed the potion to Draco.

“Fine, take it then. But it’s not going to change my mind about removing you from here. This school has obviously lost all sense of decorum and proper supervision of the students, if drugs are just flowing freely like pumpkin juice. I’m going to get some house-elves to pack your things, Draco. This is your last day at Hogwarts.”

“NO! Mother, please don’t do this!”

But Narcissa marched out, head high.

“I’m not going to let her take him from here.”

Severus and Draco whipped around and stared at the young man standing there, shirtless.

Both men suppressed a sigh of pleasure at the delicious treat.

Severus then took a step forward. “Mister Potter, return to bed at once. This does not concern you.”

Harry took one look at Severus and he began to laugh. It made the hair on the back of Draco’s neck stand up. He was staring at Harry, but he knew that this situation was not good. Not good at all.

“Don’t think you can take him away from me…or keep me in here.”

Severus called out, “Poppy! When are we getting the support from St. Mungo’s?”

Madam Pomfrey hurried out of her office. Her eyes widened when she saw Harry standing up. She rushed towards him.

“Mister Potter, please. Just go back to bed, OK? I have put you behind this shield to protect both yourself and other students. We don’t want to hurt anyone, OK?”

Harry tilted his head, like a bird would listen for a worm. He looked at Madam Pomfrey.

“Why is she taking Draco? He hasn’t done anything wrong.”

Poppy bit her lip and looked at Severus. “I don’t know about that, Mister Potter. But you really need to lie down, all right?”

“SHE’S NOT TAKING HIM!”

Harry reached out and touched the barrier. It started vibrating roughly, shaking and twitching. Everyone could see the magic swirling and shimmering. Poppy gaped open-mouthed. He was removing the wards. From the entire castle.

The floor began to shake violently, so much that Severus almost toppled over and fell on Draco, who was jumping out of the bed in panic. A chunk of ceiling fell, almost hitting Madam Pomfrey in the head.

The castle groaned in protest and the walls shook horribly. Several portraits in the hospital wing yelled as they fell from the walls, frames splintering.

The door burst open and Minerva raced through the doors, followed closely by Remus, who looked terrible, and Hermione. They were all trying to keep from falling over as Harry shook the entire castle.

Throughout Hogwarts, screams began, as students ran for cover. Portraits, suits of armor, and chunks of castle ceiling fell dangerously. Even the dungeons shook and water from the Black Lake sloshed against the walls. The Slytherins were terrified and a mass exodus from the common room began in earnest.

Over the din of noise, Poppy was shouting. “We have to calm him down! What’s he so upset about?”

Severus pointed at Draco. “He thinks Draco is leaving.”

Minerva, who had now managed to make it over to them, pulled Draco by the arm. “Well, don’t just stand there, boy! Get over there and do something!” She pushed him towards Harry. Remus was shocked at Minerva’s actions. It just proved how unnerved the usually stoic witch really was.

Draco fought his way to Harry, who was grinning at the sight of Draco.

“Harry! Stop! What are you doing? You’re going to kill us all! I’m not going anywhere, you git! I told you that a minute ago! You still don’t trust me?”

Harry cocked his head again, but the castle just shook more violently than ever. “Why wouldn’t I trust you, Draco? Have you done something?”

Draco frowned in confusion. Harry didn’t even seem to know what was going on. He talked as if they were discussing a potions assignment.

“Harry, stop shaking the castle! Release the wards or whatever you’re doing!”

Harry looked into Draco’s eyes and Draco attempted to smile at him. Inside, he was horribly confused and frustrated with this. He had no idea what was wrong with Harry now. Hadn’t they just got rid of a demon? Now he was nuttier than a fruit cake.

Harry smiled back at Draco and lowered his hand. “Can I come from behind this now?” he asked eagerly.

“Ummm…I don’t know, Harry. But can you stop shaking the castle now?”

Harry shrugged and the castle stopped shaking itself. There were several loud crashes that were heard and more than enough screaming going on through the school. It sounded like a riot was going on.

Hermione walked timidly up to Harry. “Harry, it’s me, Hermione.”

Harry gave her an irritated look. “I know who you are, Hermione. I’ve known you for seven years. Why is everyone looking at me like I’m mental or something?”

Severus, Remus and Minerva were moving hesitantly forward, all of them had their wands drawn.

Harry frowned at this. “What are you doing?”

Remus spoke up first. “Harry, remember we told you about the blood poisoning? Well, we think that it has finally started taking affect. The pain you experienced before was not from withdrawal. Your friends thought that was what happened when you were in pain, but that’s not what’s going on. We put you behind this shield for protection until we figure out what to do now. We haven’t been able to find a cure for this in modern times.”

“Why do I need protection?”

“Mister Potter, this condition is centuries old. We don’t know exactly what the effects are. All we know is that we want to protect you in case you feel out of sorts.” This was Professor McGonagall speaking.

Harry laughed again. “Out of sorts? I feel like that all the time! How am I supposed to know the difference?”

Hermione said, “Um….shaking Hogwarts until it falls apart is a good indicator, Harry.”

Harry blushed. “Oh…that. Sorry. I guess I didn’t know I was doing that.”

Both Draco and Hermione gaped at him.

Meanwhile, Remus had pulled Severus to the side.

“What is it, Lupin? We are kind of in the middle of a crisis, with Potter at the center as usual.”

Lupin ignored his snide comment. “We have a bigger problem. Nicos escaped.”

Severus stared at him and then groaned.


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Narcissa had finally managed to make it back to Severus’ quarters. The castle shaking had been most disturbing. She didn’t remember anything happening like that when she was a student. Hogwarts had really gone to the Muggles. She was going to make sure Draco was out of here before daylight.
She had reached his door, only to realize that she didn’t know how to get past his wards. Of course the man was beyond paranoid. Her limited knowledge of ward magic was not enough to get past them. She should have known better. Lucius was equally devoted to…privacy.

She was not going to walk all the way back to the bloody infirmary. Really! Why was it in a tower? That didn’t make any sense. She was too dignified to do such a thing. Perhaps she should go to Slytherin and find Draco’s room and pack her things herself. She was surprisingly good at packing charms. So was her sister, Andromeda. Bella couldn’t pack for shit.

She headed towards Slytherin and was almost mowed down by a herd of terrified students, streaking past her. The green and white of scarves were a blur, but she was embarrassed to acknowledge the cowardly escape of her son’s housemates. She recognized the twin mountains of Crabbe and Goyle anywhere. Just like their oafish fathers.

She ventured closer to the common room, and heard a familiar voice.

“Merlin! The castle is falling apart and still you come down here! You are as mental as he is!”

Narcissa wondered who Pansy was talking to and she was going to make her presence known when she heard another female voice.

“I’m mental! You tried to kill your own fiancée! I told you not to give him so much!”

“I didn’t! I only gave him three! You should have told me how powerful those things were! You should have seen Narcissa’s face when she walked into the common room and Draco was writhing on the floor like a bitch in heat! Snape looked like he’d swapped spit with Dumbledore! Merlin, Weasley! I never should have listened to you!”

“Hey! I didn’t tell you to poison, Malfoy! I only told you the truth about him and Harry. You needed to know that. He wasn’t going to marry you, Pansy! When Professor Lupin came to my house that time, he said they were in love! He made it sound like they were going to run away together or something! I had to stop that from happening! You are the only one who understands that!”

Pansy huffed, but nodded. “Yeah, I know, Weasley. I just…wish this wasn’t happening! Draco is going to kill me, if his mother doesn’t kill me first. I told everyone in Slytherin that Granger had poisoned him. You know she came into our common room today, like she owned the place! But I didn’t want to lie to Narcissa, but I had to get him away from here, away from Potter! I didn’t know what else to do! I was losing him, Ginny. I do know that you understand that. I would die if I lost Draco, but I’m losing him anyway!”

Ginny touched the girl awkwardly and Pansy flinched slightly, but didn’t pull away.

“Pansy, it’s going to be hard, but you just have to fight for him, just like I’m fighting for Harry. Hermione already thinks I’m scum now, but I don’t care. She didn’t love my brother the way I love Harry. She didn’t care that he left her, but I cared! It was like a part of me died when he broke up with me. There was nothing…after he was gone. I can’t breathe without him.”

Pansy looked at Ginny. “Look, Weasley. I wasn’t going to say anything, but I’ll tell you. You have to be careful and watch out for Snape.”

“Snape? Why?”

“Snape has a thing for Potter, Ginny. I’ve…seen him with Potter. Lat night when Potter was in his office. Snape was…touching him. Kissing him. Potter was hexed, though. He didn’t know what was going on or he didn’t want to do those things.”

Ginny’s mouth fell open. “What? I can’t believe that! Snape hates Harry! You must have seen it wrong!”

Pansy shrugged. “I know what I saw. I’m only telling you as a warning. You can’t go up against Snape and win. Even if you tell on him to Dumbledore, he’ll only obliviate you or worse. Don’t cross him, he’s a Death Eater. Everyone knows that. And he wants Potter.”

Ginny swallowed a huge lump in her throat. “What am I going to do, Pansy? You’re right, I can’t fight Snape! He knows more magic then probably Dumbledore. I’d be toast!”

“But I won’t be.”

Both girls spun around at the sound of a new voice. Pansy almost pissed in her knickers at the sight of Narcissa.

“Mrs. Malfoy…”

Narcissa raised her hand. “Leave Severus to me.”


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Remus headed for Gryffindor Tower. Both Draco and Hermione had an interesting story to tell about a certain young red-head who had drugs in her bag. How Ginny Weasley had gotten drugs had Remus most curious.
He arrived and found the Fat Lady hanging by her hinges. She was squawking most horridly about her predicament, but Remus didn’t really care at the moment. He walked into the commom room, which was abuzz with conversation. The place was a mess, what with pictures and furniture shaken out of place.

He looked around and spotted Ron, who was in heated debate with Dean, Neville and Seamus.

Remus walked over to the young men. “Ron, where is your sister?”

Ron looked around the room, “Dunno. She was here a while ago, I think just before everything went haywire. What was that anyway?”

The other three looked at him expectantly and Remus sighed. “It was Harry.”

At this Dean’s expression went cold. “He did that? Shook the whole castle, like that? I told you he was dangerous! He tried to kill me!”

Neville looked anxious, but Ron stared in shock. “Harry did that? How did he do that? What’s wrong with him? I thought we had…gotten rid of…you know.”

Remus pulled Ron away from the others. “Sorry, boys.” He said to their disappointed looks. He took Ron into the corridor.

“Look, Ron. I need to know where Ginny is. I have to talk to her. Do you know where she could be?”

“I don’t know, Remus. I mean, she asked me where you were earlier today. She wanted to know where you transformed and what not.”

At this, Remus paled. “What did you tell her!”

“I told her that you did it in your office. But maybe the Shrieking Shack. But I’ve seen her since then, so she’s not in any danger from you, right?”

Remus patted Ron on the shoulder. “Thank you, Ron. You have been most helpful. If you see Ginny, keep her with you. I need to speak with her immediately.”

“Remus! Is she in trouble? Does this have to do with Harry?”

Remus nodded sadly. “Ginny isn’t in trouble, but she may have made things very hard to help Harry. We really need to find a way to help him. He’s very ill, Ron. We haven’t really told you everything. It wasn’t just the demon or the drugs that was affecting him, it’s the blood infection that he has. It’s now manifesting. His magic is going to be completely out of his control. He may not remember what he’s doing, he may try to hurt himself or other people. He’s quite dangerous, now, but it’s not his fault.”

Ron frowned. “How does Ginny fit into this?”

“Ginny may have let the only chance of a cure get away.”


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Severus entered his quarters with relief. This day was turning out to be another one of horror. Draco’s overdose and now Potter was turning into a teenaged Dark Lord, with no way to control it. And to top it off, Narcissa was lurking somewhere in the castle, ready to take his head off about Draco. Scratch that…she was lurking in his doorway, since he hadn’t shut the door yet.
“Severus.”

“Please, Narcissa. Not now. Draco passed the test. He didn’t know that he had taken drugs. Someone did slip him something.”

Narcissa nodded. “Yes, I know.”

Severus blinked. “You know? So you set this up then? To what end?”

Narcissa sauntered over the couch and sat down. “You’re not even going to offer me a drink, Severus? I realized there wasn’t time when I arrived here earlier. I can guess it was a bit of a surprise that I was here when you got back from your meal.”

Severus raised an eyebrow, but walked over to the decanter of brandy in the cabinet. He poured her a drink and handed it to her. She smiled lightly and took it, sniffing its contents.

“Good brand, Severus. Lucius’ influence?”

“What do you want, Narcissa?”

“Ah…let me see. I want to know why you didn’t tell me about Draco and…Potter.”

Severus slowly put down the decanter. “What do you mean?”

Narcissa took a sip. “Why didn’t you tell me my son was involved with Harry Potter?”

“Why do you think I didn’t tell you? Harry Potter? You would have panicked and probably ran to the Dark Lord with that information, which would have gotten us all killed.”

Narcissa snapped, “Do you think me that stupid, Severus? I have handled things quite well with Lucius gone! I’ve managed to keep myself and my son alive, thank you very much!”

“For now. But at this rate, Draco will be dead by sunset, if Potter continues in his madness. He just shook the whole castle! What did you think you were going to accomplish by pulling him out of here? Did you really think he was going to actually go?”

Narcissa narrowed her eyes. “He’s my son! And yes, he will go if I order him too! And yes, I’m taking him out of this school.”

“Draco will hate you for that, Narcissa. Do you really want that?”

“Draco will hate you too, Severus. When he finds out about what you’ve been up to.”

Severus lowered his glass. “What?”

Narcissa stood up. “You know exactly what I’m talking about, Severus. Your little crush on a certain black-haired Gryffindor.”

Severus moved so quickly that he dropped his glass. It shattered against the cold tile. He gripped Narcissa firmly by the arm.

“I don’t know where you’re getting this tidbit of information, but I wisely suggest you end this…now.”

Narcissa smiled coldly at him. “Severus, aren’t we a bit testy? I have no interest in telling Draco this…news.”

“What do you want?”

“I only want my son’s happiness. And…yours.”

Severus frowned and Narcissa pulled out of his grasp. “Oh…Severus, Severus. What you need is a woman’s touch.”

The potion’s master sneered. “I am hardly interested in-“

Narcissa laughed softly, holding up her hand to his lips. “Of course not, Severus. You think me daft, do you? I have only been Lucius Malfoy’s smarter half for twenty years. I meant, you need my help.”

He raised an eyebrow.

“You want Potter, Severus. Don’t deny it. But let me guess, he hates you. You…Confund him when you’re alone? Imperius , maybe? Then you have to obliviate him after, because he is, after all, a student?”

“I-“

“Shhhh…Severus. It’s OK. I’ve known you for years. I know your preferences, always have. I haven’t seen Potter in a long while, but I hear he’s a good looking boy. Like Sirius was.”

Severus tried to get away from Narcissa then, but she was now clinging to him like Devil’s Snare.

“You can have him, Severus. I can make that happen for you. That’s why we are witches and wizards. We can make the impossible happen.”

“I don’t want it like that. I don’t want someone to be with me because of a spell or potion.” Severus said angrily.

“You have to start somewhere, Severus. Let me help you. A woman knows better about the ways of the heart.” She rubbed her hand gently on his arm. “You want him, don’t you? Just let me help.”

Severus lowered his head, his heart racing with the possibility. Did Narcissa have a way to make Potter become his? He was afraid to hope. Could Potter actually care for him one day?

Narcissa smiled at him. “Do we have a deal, Severus?”

Severus looked up at her. “What do you want from me?”

“Nothing. What are old friends for?”

“You aren’t doing this out of the kindness of your heart, Narcissa. You don’t have one.”

“I’m not Bella, Severus. I have a heart, but it belongs to my son. I’m going to protect him whether he wants me to or not. Harry Potter? I saw the desperation on my son’s face, when I threatened to take him from this school. I see it in Pansy and the Weasley girl. I now see it in yours. Harry Potter is going to destroy us all, Severus. I want Draco to be as far from him when that day comes. You want Draco safe and want Potter as a willing lover. It’s a win-win, Severus. Do we have a deal?”

“Yes.”

“I’m not going to tell you again, Severus. Harry is not for you.”

Both Slytherins turned toward the voice. Remus stood in the doorway.

Narcissa smiled pleasantly. “Well, I’ll leave you boys to it.” She turned and tossed floo powder into the hearth and vanished with a ‘Malfoy Manor’.

Severus looked at Remus and sneered.

Remus faced him, his fists clenched tightly by his side, anger radiating from his body.

“I’m taking what’s mine, Severus.”

Severus looked into the ice-cold amber eyes and a tremor of fear went through him.