Unsortable

Chapter 6

Aerie slammed into the Room of Requirement at precisely nine o' clock during the Easter Holiday and rushed forward, throwing herself at the feet of Severus Snape reclining in one of the chairs.

"Tell me it's not true, Uncle Sevus!" she nearly screeched, gripping his knees.

"Lucius and Bellatrix are attempting to make the confirmation now," he sighed, his hand agitatedly tapping on the armrest, either distracted enough not to notice her holding his knees or not caring.

"Draco is going to be punished for this if they're not!" she cried. "He's not going to be coming back to school now, is he?"

"Most likely not, which is why I summoned you here, Aeridia." His black eyes met her equally dark ones. "I have prepared you for this, but I need to be sure that you are willing to do it."

Aerie shook her head in dismissal. "Never a question; I'm ready. You will cover my absence, I'm sure?"

Severus nodded. "Though it will be rare for me to make an appearance here, I will make the proper announcements. The Head Girl will have been removed due to overt support of Muggles and Muggleborn wizards, sending her to be questioned by the Ministry."

Aerie winced, not liking the sound of that. "Isn't that a little harsh?"

He looked at her levelly. "It would be the only reason why you would leave."

She mimicked his earlier sigh. "Do you have to head there as well?"

"I am attempting to stall as long as possible. Long enough to get you on your way, Aeridia."

Aerie blinked at him. Tension ran through her body at the fear that was creeping up her spine. "My things are in my room. My bag--"

"Unless the things in there are necessary, which I know they are not, they will remain there until your return," Severus chided gently. "Time is of the essence now."

She flashed him an irritated glare. "Then why did you wait until this evening to meet with me? I could have been there and back a hundred times over!"

"Identifying Potter and his friends does not need your meddling. This is the choice that Draco must make on his own. Albus discussed this with you over a year ago, so you cannot interfere until after his decision."

The fear trickled away and Aerie smiled brilliantly. "Then I best be off; I have nothing to fear. Draco needs me after making a good decision. I don't think he will know what to do with himself."

Severus stared at her, momentarily at a loss for words. "You can't be serious."

"About what?" she asked, rolling up her sleeves and pulling out her wand.

He looked at her incredulously. "You're in love with him."

Instead of outright denial like she would have done before, Aerie just shrugged. "I came to terms with that fact a couple of months ago, Uncle Sevus. Uncle Albus had warned me that this job would alter my world, and now I understand what he meant by that." Though thinking about Albus Dumbledore made her sad since he was the one who first showed an interest in her abilities, her smile was exultant at the thought of the truth of Uncle Albus' words to her. "I want to protect him not because I was told to, but because I want to. His safety is all I think about anymore." She pointed her wand to the floor and started etching symbols into the stone.

Severus was staring at her in undisguised shock. When he did not say anything, Aerie paused and turned back to him. "At least be happy that I'm taking this job extremely seriously."

His eyes narrowed. "Don't reveal yourself to him."

She winked. "Only in his dreams."

She went back to finishing the runes on the floor. She heard Severus return to sit on the chair. Runes for the mind, heart, air, sleep, and sight mingled systematically with the symbols of light, sound, smell, and memory. All of these were meant to make her virtually undetectable, a form of cloaking spell that would make her invisible and nonexistent to people while still being able to affect the environment around her. This would allow her to walk right into the lion's den at Malfoy Manor so that she could watch over Draco.

This spell was not used by the normal witch and wizard, mainly because the average wizard did not know it. The other reason it was not used was due to a little quirk in Aerie's genetic makeup. Apparently, the average witch and wizard did not have the capabilities of using the spell (Severus had tried multiple times); otherwise, Voldemort would have utilized it decades ago to effectively take over the world without being detected.

For the hundredth time of using this spell, Aerie wondered what it was about her that made her so special that she could use it. She could See auras, but so could psychics. Her affinity to easy learning of magic had just been a positive quality. The only thing she could think that would make her so special was the ability to Apparate into any building. It came in handy going in and out of Hogwarts during her years of training when it was supposed to be impossible to do so within the walls. Upon further thought, she let the idea go. Severus knew about her gifts, as had Albus; if the Apparating ability was so significant, then both would have told her. She just figured she was special and neither one of them said anything to the contrary.

She drew the last symbol for infinity in the center and tucked her wand back in her thigh sheath that she had strapped on before meeting here. "Done," she said, raising her head.

Severus got up and walked slowly around the circle of runes, checking for errors. When he was satisfied that everything was in order, he uncrossed his arms and stopped in front of her.

"Do not do anything stupid, Astoria Aeridia," he said softly.

Aerie froze for a moment, then smiled. She knew this was his way of caring for her. "Nothing that you wouldn't do, Uncle Sevus. Initium."

Brilliant blue light erupted from the runes on the floor, covering Aerie in a cold radiance. Ah, the comfort of perfectly performed spells. Just as soon as it appeared, the light was gone, leaving her standing exactly as she had been without runes surrounding her. Severus still stood before her, staring at the place he believed she stood, but he could not see her. He nodded and swept from the room. Aerie giggled, leaping after him. She always found being nonexistent a thrill. With a silent pop, Aerie left Hogwarts.

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She stood at the base of the sweeping white stone staircase in the foyer of Malfoy Manor, having been here a time or two in the minds of Narcissa and Draco. Without a glance in either direction, she ascended the stairs to the third floor, following the mental map she had memorized of the Manor that Severus had provided her. Down a stark hall of more white stone and ornate Persian rugs, Aerie came to the end and stopped before a beautifully carved black door. Etchings of dragons occupied most of the door with large emeralds for eyes that winked in the light from a near window.

Why am I pausing? she mentally asked herself, a hand outstretched to open the door. It's just a room.

It's Draco's room, another voice in her head sounded just a little too much besotted. And you love him.

"I know that," she hissed aloud, "that shouldn't mean that I should be nervous about going into his room."

It holds all that makes him who he is, the voice continued, and you have not been able to witness that. Go in!

With a sigh and a shaking hand, wondering why all her confidence left her when it came to Draco, Aerie pushed through the door, her bodiless form floating in. There was no need to open the door if there was not a reason to alert the people in the house.

The first thing she observed was that the room was much larger than his room at Hogwarts, sweeping roughly fifteen meters by twenty meters. The second thing she noticed was the bed that dominated the space. It was also the third, fourth, and fifth thing she noted; her eyes kept coming back to it because it was just so there. Draped in heavy black velvet, the mahogany four-poster commanded the room. It was large enough to sleep five people side-by-side with arm space and was covered in what looked like the softest black silk money could buy.

"Oh shit," she breathed, her heart pounding just a little faster. Images of him popped into her head of naked skin and tangled sheets. "Oh shit!"

With great will, Aerie turned away and inspected the rest of the room and quickly came to the realization that there was not much to look at: the walls were bare; no fire in the huge fireplace to the left (though the room was freezing); one small night table on the left side of the bed and a large armoire on the right wall. Next to the fireplace was a door. With another hot glance at the bed, Aerie went through it--and froze again with a dropped jaw, her blood immediately pounding in her ears.

"Holy fuck! Can he make this any more difficult for me?" she demanded to the heavens, knowing no one could hear her and feeling a little crazy for talking to herself.

White marble steps lead her down to a large open room that was the most opulent bathroom she had ever been in. Marble columns rose before her around a huge tub sunk into the floor on a dais. On her right stretched a black marble counter with two sinks (why he needed two, she was not quite sure) and a silver gilt mirror extending the length of it. On the left was a clear glass wall enclosing a large shower. Does he have parties in his shower? She wondered. You could twenty people in there!

Black towels were strewn artistically across a white chaise lounge located in the middle of the room. Walking up to the sink, she noticed a little alcove behind the wall where the toilet was located.

Overall, she had found a room that she was going to have to avoid like the plague if she had any hopes of staying focused. Sinful thoughts were already creeping into her mind, more so about the bathroom than the bed. Fantasies on the bench conveniently in the shower, the marble lip of the pool-sized tub, on the chaise lounge underneath...oh dear. There was a crystal chandelier glittering above.

Again with determination, Aerie walked out. The temperature had increased too much for her. "Focus, Matthews," she growled. "You now know the lay of the land. Not that you really needed to do that, but you did. Now get to work."

With a wave of her hand, she lit a fire, intending to be an unseen elf in his quarters. Protection runes formed in her hands and she placed them in every corner of the room and every corner of the two windows framing the bed.

It was as she was finishing her spells that the door burst open and the man she was trying desperately not to think about in such close proximity to the bed stalked in. She jumped and whirled.

Draco slammed the door shut and waved his wand at it, locking it from the inside. Aerie tried to slow her breathing as she watched him stand, glaring at the door, also attempting to slow his breathing. All her love poured forth, unbidden, as she looked him over.

His aura was a mix of emotions. Black with anger at Voldemort, red with frustration at having his wand thrust from him (apparently the wand he was holding was not his, but another Death Eater's), orange with defiance at knowing that Harry Potter had been in his home and Draco did not give him up, and (Aerie was surprised) blue with happiness that Harry had escaped.

"Oh, Draco," she sighed happily.

Draco froze.

Oh fuck, no. He can't hear me, can he? She thought wildly.

Draco turned around, his eyes scanning the room and passing over Aerie standing invisible next to the window. She inhaled in relief.

Running a hand through his hair, Draco growled deep in his throat, loosening the knot of his tie with the other hand. "She's not even here and I feel her. I'm going fucking crazy," he muttered, tossing the tie.

Aerie blinked. He felt her? When had that started? She was brought out of her musings by the sight of Draco's jacket hitting the floor and his fingers unbuttoning his black dress shirt. She stared in heated fascination as he made quick work of the buttons and slipped the shirt from his shoulders. Oh! Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh! Hot! He walked towards her and she nearly dropped to her knees. His chest and abs begged for her to run her hands over them. Darker blond hair trailed into his dress pants and Aerie just about cried from the longing. All the blood in her body convalesced in one spot.

Not seeing her, he opened a drawer in the night stand and pulled out a shot glass and whisky decanter, quickly pouring a shot and knocking it back. The second and third disappeared just a fast. The fourth he took his time, nursing it, leaning against the cold window only two feet from Aerie.

"My heart is ever at your service, Draco," she whispered with a smile. "You are safe." You wouldn't be, if I was corporeal right now, she thought, wanting to wrap her hands around the bicep in her line of vision. Merlin, I love your arms. Her eyes traveled slowly the rest of the way down his body. I love your neck, I love your chest, I fucking love your abs, I love your ass; I love your legs. I love you.

At that moment, Draco downed the rest of his whisky and walked toward the bathroom, taking off his belt in the process. Aerie closed her eyes. She may have been treating herself with observing him, but she would not indulge in this particular fantasy until they were both aware of it. She heard the shower turn on. She whimpered. You sound like a wanton hussy, Matthews. Get it together! she scolded herself. But it was very difficult to keep her thoughts straight when listening to Draco splash in the bathroom, wanting nothing more than to strip and join him there. For thirty minutes, Aerie attempted to distract herself, thoroughly astounded that he was taking so long. He was never like this at school. Then again, he has to share the bathroom at school. Aerie would be taking long showers as well if she had a bathroom like that. She trailed her fingers lightly over the black sheets, then stuck both hands in the tousled silk. This was not the distraction she needed, but she indulged in a few moments of blissful daydreaming; climbing onto the bed, she allowed a couple of seconds of environmental involvement before sinking back into nonexistence. Draco would not see the indention her body made on the mattress.

He came out ten minutes later in nothing but a towel, dripping wet, and fulfilling every one of Aerie's wet dreams in the process. She was leaning against his headboard when he came out, clamping her eyes shut again after searing her memory with the image he provided. She listened to him get dressed and only opened her eyes when she heard the tinkle of glass and the splash of more whisky. And, Merlin, he was in nothing but sweatpants. High-end sweatpants, but still.

He had another two shots of whisky. The boy was really trying to make himself drunk, she mused, concerned. He probably had not eaten anything today either.

"I feel you here," he murmured softly into his seventh glass, his back to her.

Aerie froze.

"I don't know how you're hiding yourself from me, but stop it. Show yourself, Johnny," he said, setting his glass down and stretching himself out on his bed, mere feet from Aerie's perch on the other end. "I feel the same warm feeling whenever you stare at me. Why are you here? Why are you not at school? Why the hell do I care if you are after all that has happened today?"

Aerie's heart soared and broke as he rubbed a hand over his face, knowing she could not show herself in this house without alerting the occupants. He turned his blurry gaze (oh, yes, he was getting drunk) to her side of the bed.

"You're making me go fucking insane, Aeridia," he grumbled right before he passed out.

Aerie was not sure whether to be angry or pleased with that statement, so she suspended judgment until further review. With a quick flop, she was lying prone beside him, watching him sleep peacefully.

"Time to talk, hun," she said, waving her hand across his forehead and passing out herself.

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This was Aerie's first attempt at dream-walking and the beginning experience was not pleasant. Soupy white fog drenched her and tried to push her away, not wanting her to interrupt the dreamer. After what felt like an eternity of deep sea walking with the current against her, she broke through and stumbled, suddenly dry and also in strappy stiletto heels. Looking down at herself, Aerie was stunned to find that she was in black ball gown. Her reflection in the gilt mirror beside her showed her neckline plunging down to the middle of her stomach, breasts supported by the halter style neck. Her entire back was exposed with strings of diamonds draped over it and the rest of the dress fell in folds of the lightest silk and one high slit right up the front of dress, coming to a stop a smidge above too high. Her curly hair had been controlled into romantic waves over one shoulder and white gloves pulled up over her elbows. Smoky eyes and blood red lipstick completed the ensemble. She had to admit, though she looked kind of like a slut, she looked hot.

"What on earth is he dreaming about?" she wondered aloud, noticing for the first time she was in a wing of Malfoy Manor. Voices to her right led her to two double doors. Her mental map told her the ballroom was on the other side. The moment her hand touched the dark wood, it swung open and the noise in the bright, broad space died instantly. Aerie was prepared for this. Her intrusion to the dream was causing the normal brainwaves of Draco's mind to reassess the situation. It would correct itself within moments. She sauntered in without hesitation, descending the large steps with the utmost confidence knowing all of this was not reality. She laughed mentally at herself. Her self-assurance rarely extended to dealing with people she did not know; her confidence only came from knowing her own limitations and understanding the spells she could work. Yet here she commanded her presence.

Holding her head up, she reached the bottom of the stairs without tripping. She loved high heels, and these were deceptively comfortable. The crowd parted before her and Draco stepped forward, looking resplendent in a Muggle tuxedo. He extended a hand to her--which she took instantly--and led her to the center of the dance floor; the crowd bled back into the blurry outskirts of the dream.

"I knew you would come," he said with a smile, placing a hand on her shoulder blade and sweeping her into the waltz. "I don't dream like a normal person. I have to have my mind guarded at all times."

She missed a step in the waltz, for which Draco corrected without problem. "You planned this?" she demanded. What the hell? she thought, I'm supposed to only be in the dream as a natural addition, not a planned intrusion. She was going to have to give him more credit in his deducing skills.

Draco spun her and continued the dance. "Naturally. I felt you in my room this evening and figured that the Johnny I knew had something she needed to tell me. You've kept something from me for far too long and it was pissing me off. The only reasons I could see that you would be in my room were that you wanted to see me naked, or you needed to talk to me."

Aerie huffed, "You think highly of yourself, Draco. I'm impressed that you figured out that much after what happened today. But how did you know I was in the room?"

The invisible musicians ended the song, and Draco swirled them to a stop. Tucking her arm in his, he walked them out of the ballroom onto a balcony, the fuzzy edges of the dream solidifying as they moved. "I have been more aware of you for months, Johnny," he said as they sat on a bench.

"When did that start?" she asked, "and what do you mean by that?"

"Unfortunately, I can tell you exactly when it started. October twentieth, the night we kissed. I woke up the next morning knowing when you looked at me and roughly knowing when you were close to me, even when I couldn't see you. A warm little white light would form."

She had wondered how it was possible for him to look up right into her eyes every time she glanced at him. She still was not quite sure why it happened.

"You are being very honest with me right now. Very talkative. Why is that?"

His smirk was impish. "This is my dream, my head. No one gets in here unless I want them to. I let you into my head because I wanted to know what the hell is really going on with you. The only thing I can provide is honest answers for you if I can hope for honest answers from you. So, Miss Unsortable, why do you want to be in my head right now?"

She nodded in approval. "Well played, Lysander. I never would have guessed that my skills would be noticed. I'm here to tell you the truth, though there are those who would wish me not to."

He raised a brow. "And what is the truth?"

"I am here to protect you," she said with a shrug.

She was going to give him a moment to absorb that, waiting for the expected reaction. He did exactly as she thought. He laughed.

"That is not the truth."

"Oh, but it is," she argued. "Your mother requested my skills from Dumbledore. I have been trained since I was a child to be the protector I am today. Dumbledore had the foresight to see this happening."

"But you're no older than me, Johnny." He was still chuckling, the twit.

"With a higher level of magical training. You yourself have noted that fact. Not out loud, but your aura has clearly expressed it a time or two over the course of the school year."

"A few extra tricks in your repertoire hardly means--"

"I will show you the contract the next time we see each other."

That made him pause. He scrutinized her for a moment, eyes momentarily caught at the skin of her thigh crossed out of the slit of her dress and the curve of her chest. "Why you?" he questioned with a cough when his eyes finally got back to her face.

Aerie shrugged again. "It's my destiny? I don't know. I just know that I have enjoyed the job far more than I should."

Draco seemed to like that answer. "How are you in the Manor without being seen or detected?"

"An uncommon spell that only works on me. You won't see me in the Manor because the moment I appear, the alarms will go off, I'm sure. Just know that I'm there. But then, apparently you already knew that."

"That I did," he laughed.

Aerie narrowed her eyes. "You getting in the shower and the display beforehand was all to tease me, wasn't it?" She was accusing.

Draco leaned forward. "That it was. Did you enjoy it?"

With a snort, Aerie stood, the proximity making her temperature rise. "I closed my eyes."

He stood with her, right behind her, gently trailing a finger down her back. "Pity," he murmured in her ear. "You look nice." His fingers traced along the exposed skin at her waist making goose bumps erupt.

She stepped away and around to face him. "It was your choice of attire for me. I didn't have a say."

With lazy hooded eyes, he roamed her body and looked slowly back up, paying particular attention to the curve of her hip and exposed skin of her cleavage again. She struggled not to cross her arms.

"And I chose well," he finally stated simply. His eyes suddenly snapped to her face. "What does this mean now? What is going to happen?"

Reeling for a moment from the intense gaze he had just given her, Aerie quickly tried to get her mind back into the here and now. "I'm stuck with you. Whether you stay here or go back to school, I am your personal poltergeist. I will no longer be seen by anyone until I feel that you are safe. This will be the last time you see me in your dreams."

He shook his head. "Not true."

Aerie paused. He has dreamt about her? "Fine, this will be the last time you see me in your dreams in this fashion. Our equal give and take repartee."

He nodded. "Probably. You and I don't do much talking in the dreams I've had."

As she was sure he meant it to, the comment made her blush. "You are definitely more vocal in your dreams."

He shrugged and took her hand, leading her back into the ballroom as the musicians began another number. He took her in his arms. "I was getting tired of not being able to talk with you. You're the only person who has been able to understand me; to like me as a man and not for my money. Forgive me if I'm a little pissed about it and am exploiting it in my guarded mind. Shut up and dance with me, Matthews."

With a laugh, Aerie did. He was a good dancer, but then, she would not have expected anything less from someone like him. She was not sure if it was the dream or something else, but he was a lot more relaxed here. Wanting to know why, she attempted to read his aura and was flabbergasted. He did not have one!

"You're aura is gone!" she gasped, stopping them both.

"Didn't realize it," he responded dryly, leading her back into the dance.

But it makes sense, she thought, following his lead, the aura is around the body, and I'm inside his head.

"Before we wake up, Matthews," he said a few minutes later, "I want to make one thing perfectly clear." He waited to make sure she was listening. She was. "Stop protecting me. You're going to get yourself killed. If the Dark Lord learns of this, you will be dead before you realize it. Get out of the Manor and go into hiding; I don't want your death on my conscience."

Aerie smiled. "And miss haunting you day and night and making you paranoid? Not a chance in hell."

Draco grabbed her face in his hands, surprising her. With his bright silver eyes inches from hers, her thought pattern scattered. "This will be the one time you hear this from me," he started, "I'm begging you to get out of here. Please leave and protect yourself. I will be fine. Just please leave."

She inhaled deeply and raised her hands to cover his. "No," she replied distinctly.

The look he gave her sent shivers down her spine. Blood pounded in her ears. "You're a fool," he growled, his hands traveled down her sides and around her waist, pulling her close, splaying across her exposed back. She could feel him getting excited as he completely closed the distance between them, dropping his face to her neck. The heat from their connection was making her dizzy with desire.

The pounding occurred again. It was at that moment that Aerie realized it was not her blood pressure. "What--?"

The rush of fog descended on them and she was swept away.

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She jolted awake with a groan. Stupid, stupid consciousness. She wanted to go back. She turned her head to the side to see Draco glaring at the door in similar frustration.

"You have the worst fucking timing," he cursed, launching off the bed as another knock resounded.

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For two straight days Aerie followed Draco around like a puppy. They were the most exciting and simultaneously the most boring two days of her life. Exciting because she was following Draco around. Boring because she could do nothing but follow him around. Her own personal sexual frustration after being cut off in the dream nearly drove her crazy. She could not tell if it was bothering him. He spent most of his time in his room, reading or staring at the ceiling, never once attempting to communicate with her. She enjoyed watching him, but having nothing to do to occupy her own time was killing her. It was many times that she stopped herself from writing a note and allowing him to read it.

Narcissa came to his room twice, once each day, to see her son. Aerie's heart nearly broke during each visit. The love between mother and son was so sound. You could see it in the respect they enacted toward one another and in the quiet way they asked personal health and safety questions.

Of Lucius, there was no word. Aerie wandered away from Draco the evening of the second day to see if she could find the disgusting father. She searched the Manor, staying away from the dining hall that was used as a meeting room; she had no desire to come upon a Death Eater. Sticking to the east side of the home where the Malfoy family had their rooms, Aerie snuck into every room for any evidence of Lucius or his doings, not really anticipating finding him.

When she slipped into a small room at the end of the fourth floor corridor, she had fully expected another cloth-covered, dust filled bedroom. What she found was the naked ass of one Lucius Malfoy, thrusting, grunting, and groaning into Pansy Parkinson, who was lying naked and face down on a desk, his fingers working her clitoris and making her cry out as she met him thrust for thrust, hands gripping the edge of the desk with white knuckled determination. Gagging, Aerie backed out through the door again, with Parkinson's cries of "Harder, harder, faster!" following her out. Well, she found him.

She could not help but see everything in the three second glimpse she had of the two. His skin was almost gray, his stomach bulging from the tell-tale consequence of too much drinking. Coupled with the sheen of sweat and grotesquely straining face, Aerie was feeling sick to her stomach. There was once a time when she would have said that Draco looked like his father; now she would never make that similarity again. Parkinson, well, she looked like a whore; her wanton screams the embodiment of a sex addict. The two were humping like overzealous bunnies, and not for the reason of keeping tabs on Draco. Parkinson had not seen Draco in over two weeks; not at school, and certainly not here. So why were the two sneaking away like clandestine lovers? Easy; Lucius was not getting it from his wife (because she despised him) and Parkinson was not getting any from Draco (because she was not keeping an eye on him or supposedly sleeping with him).

Aerie tried really hard not to think about them and hurried away, intending to report all of this to Narcissa. It was about time she knew. If she did not already; Aerie would not doubt that the woman was well aware of her husband's extracurricular activities.

The door to the study was open when Aerie came up and snuck in. The very person she was looking for stood by the window looking out. Grabbing a quill and piece of parchment, Aerie wrote:

Felt like you needed to know: Lucius and Pansy Parkinson have been sleeping together for months. Lucius is using her to keep an eye on Draco. Just came across them on the fourth floor of the east wing in the far left corner bedroom. Have been altering Parkinson's memories. Ask Draco.

A

Folding the parchment, Aerie walked up to Narcissa and placed the parchment on the sill in front of her. The second Aerie released the paper, it achieved corporeal form and the mother's eyes went straight to it. Without hesitation, she opened it, scanning the letter, and flicked her wand over it, burning it away.

Aerie watched her reaction. As she thought, Narcissa was aware. Her hazel eyes flared in fury. "I know," she muttered, then turned and walked out, heading upstairs.

Aerie followed her to Draco's room.

"Draco?" she knocked.

The boy answered the door a few moments later. "Mother." He stepped aside to let her in.

"She just informed me of something," Narcissa said once the door was closed and Aerie knew she was referring to her. Draco and Narcissa had discussed the day before the history leading up to and purpose of Aerie's introduction to Draco. Draco had taken it all extremely well; he only chided his mother for caring too much about him (which nearly brought Aerie to tears). Narcissa knew full well that Aerie had followed Draco to Malfoy Manor.

"And I'm sure I'm not going to like it at all," Draco replied, taking a seat on the edge of his bed.

"Your father--"

"Has been gathering information about me through Pansy," he interrupted.

Narcissa sighed. "Yes, she indicated that you knew. But I'm sure she didn't tell you the payment he was giving the girl, did she?"

Draco looked up at her blankly. "Payment? He was paying Parkinson?"

She nodded. "In a manner of speaking. He's been having sex with her."

Draco rolled his eyes. "Perfect. Didn't feel the need to tell me this, Johnny?" he demanded to the ceiling, knowing Aerie would hear him. Aerie sighed.

"Ease up on the girl, Draco. She just suffered witnessing them."

Draco grimaced. "Lovely. Another reason for you to get out of here, Johnny. Mother, release her from her contract. The more she learns, the faster they will kill her."

Aerie fumed. Talking about her like she was an incompetent little girl. She had not managed to protect Draco for the past eight months with no skill. She was fully qualified and had been trained by two fantastic wizards! Uncle Albus would be rolling in his grave if he heard how patronizing Draco was being toward her. Uncle Sevus would scold Draco then Aerie for not proving her worth.

"--I didn't realize it mattered to you this much, Draco," Narcissa was saying, bringing Aerie back to the present.

"We're not talking about this, Mother," he crossed his arms.

"Has she become--"

"Stop asking," he interrupted.

"I just find that--"

"We're done," Draco snapped. "We are not talking about Matthews, and we are not talking about her job. Or anything that has anything to do with her. My father is fucking the girl who we've been mind-altering to think she has been sleeping with me. It's kept me safe. End of discussion. I'm going to bed."

Narcissa nodded in understanding. "Goodnight, Draco."

She left. Aerie turned to Draco. He took a deep breath and spat, "That was information I could have used, Matthews."

Oh boy, he was angry.

"You and I need to talk, now," he growled. "I'm going to sleep. You had better be in my dreams or when you become corporeal, there will be hell to pay."

Aerie was pretty sure that he was serious, if the black anger rolling off him was any indication. Be that as it may, she had no intention of joining him in the dream world. She was just going to have to deal with his frustration when this was all over. For now, he could use this energy to keep going. Darkness was on the horizon, and Aerie knew it was going to take every ounce of energy just to make it through.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Two weeks later, Aerie and Draco were back at Hogwarts. Neither of them was happy about it. Narcissa barely let him go, nearly pleading with the Dark Lord that sending her son back would kill him. That did not change the circumstances. Draco had specific instructions from Lucius that if Harry Potter were to come back to the school, bring him to Voldemort and their family would receive redemption. Draco had given his father the ugliest scowl and stated that he would do what needed to be done.

The two of them now stood in the Head suite, Aerie still invisible.

"Hell is about to break loose here," he murmured morosely.

Aerie nodded and sighed, knowing he could not see her.

"Crabbe and Goyle will be coming here soon," he continued. "This is where I say that I'm glad you're invisible. There is some unhealthy interest there."

None of his words were really making sense. But at that moment, the bell from the Hogwarts' tower gonged and an announcement sounded. "All students report to the Great Hall immediately."

Draco sighed, "Potter's in the castle. Let's go."

They followed the flow of students into the Great Hall where Professor McGonagall stood at the head table with the teachers. Aerie noticed neither Severus nor the Carrow twins were there.

Aerie looked over the heads of the students at the head table, a figure in white catching her attention. No one else seemed to notice the beautiful woman standing beside Professor Sprout in such contrast to the dark robes swirling around to find seats. She had long, shimmering red hair falling to her waist and clearly non-human features. The high cheekbones and sharp nose, though gorgeous, were almost feline. Pointed ears peeked from the curtain of hair. Clear, ice blue eyes were glowing as they connected with hers. Aerie gasped. This woman could see her!

The noise from the Great Hall faded to the background instantly as the two women stared at each other. Students still swarmed around them, talking, in panic, but no sound emitted from their throats. Aerie glanced around warily, finding Draco taking a seat at the Slytherin table.

"We must talk, Daughter," the woman said suddenly to Aerie in a voice like a dozen soft bells and she made the two of them disappear from the crowded hall.