Draco Malfoy and the Last Year

Level 2.7: The First Game of the Last Season

The common room was nearly empty when Draco passed through. Nott was speaking in a fast hushed whisper to Laurel, undoubtedly retelling the events of the Forum. Zabini was reading calmly by the fireplace as though nothing unusual had happened. Draco found the dorm room darkened when he entered. Crabbe and Goyle were already in bed. He could judge by their breathing that they were still awake, but neither of them spoke to him. Draco changed quickly, climbed into bed, and likewise pretended to sleep. When he did sleep, it was dreamless, and he awoke to an empty dorm feeling unrested.

With a mounting sense of dread, he dressed and went up to the Great Hall for breakfast. The Seventh Year Slytherins were clustered tightly around the table, minus Nott. Zabini was sitting in Persephone's normal spot, comparing star charts with Indigo. They were much quieter than usual, and Draco approached them apprehensively. "Morning," he coughed.

"Morning, Draco," they said in a staggered chorus. The girls were smiling at him, so he sat down and took a piece of toast.

"So what's the first game of season?" Daphne asked in a kind of forced cheeriness.

"Gryffindor vs. Hufflepuff," Draco answered.

"Who do you have your bets on?" Pansy asked.

"I dunno," Crabbe said. "Both are pretty solid. I just hope they keep the game close."

"Ravenclaw's got a new Seeker," Goyle added.

Draco felt a bubble of relief and reached for the jam. If Daphne was bringing up Quidditch, that meant they were planning to simply act like the Forum never happened. This tactic suited him just fine. He did not want to relive the meeting and could see no way to discuss it that would not inspire an argument of some kind. He had only started discussing Quidditch in earnest, when Persephone approached the table. He glanced guiltily at Zabini, who was too intent with Indigo to notice.

"Good morning, Persephone," Pansy said coolly.

Persephone gave them all a broad smile. "Good morning," she returned cheerfully, before passing them by to sit with the sixth year girls who were eagerly summoning her.

Everyone was quiet while Pansy watched her walk past, then she turned resolutely back to the topic of Quidditch. "So how is Chessann working out?"

Persephone made no attempts to take her place back that day or the next. She gave Draco all the space he could have asked for. As far as he could tell the separation did not faze her, she had plenty of friends to fill the new gaps in her time. Her groups seemed to grow more at ease, while his friends were slightly irritable and overly careful with their wording.

The only improvement that Draco could see was that Snape had stopped being quite so cold and hostile to him. He gave Slytherin ten points for Draco knowing the components of Wolfsbane and summoned him to his desk after class with a small wave of his hand. "Mr. Malfoy, I wanted to ask you something about Persephone."

Draco fought the urge to sigh. "Yes, sir."

"Has she said anything strange to you?"

"Everything she says is strange," Draco said dryly.

Snape's mouth actually twitched into a half smile. "Anything in particular that sticks out as unusual? Any strange dreams? Nightmares?"

Draco blinked. "No, nothing comes to mind," he said, though he had a vague feeling that this was not entirely true. "Why do you ask?"

"It's not important," Snape said dismissively. "How are the new Chasers working out?"

Draco had a feeling that he would run out of adjectives to describe Chesann's remarkable scoring arm before the week was out.

****************

It was somewhat of a relief to drop beside his telescope in Astronomy and know he would not be expected to make forced conversation for a while. If patterns held true, Hermione certainly was not going to speak to him. Sinistra explained something about ancient Egyptian constellations and left them to locate them in the heavens. Draco was making his first note on his chart when he heard a voice barely above a whisper.

"Are you in trouble?" Hermione asked him.

He glanced at her, surprised to see her looking at him, and then back at his telescope. He had been hoping she would talk to him every time he had climbed the stairs to the astronomy tower for the past month, and now that she did he felt suddenly dumb and uncomfortable. He wondered if she was really concerned. It was hard to read her in the dim light. He wondered how much he should tell her, and what had inspired her question in the first place. He realized she was still waiting for a verbal response. "Yeah," he breathed.

"Does it have something to do with Persephone?"

He nodded and thought he caught something close to satisfaction flickered across her face.

"Do you need help?"

"Would you help me?" he asked softly, feeling a small thrill. He had always known Hermione could set things right. It had been his first instinct to go to her. He should have followed it.

"What do you want me to do?"

Talk to me, kiss me, jump me, lean in and make all the bad things go away. "Could you get Harry to talk to Persephone?" he said instead.

She only moved a little, but he felt like she had retreated several feet. "What?"

"Convince Harry to talk to Persephone somewhere alone. That would help me more than anything right now." Because then you'll both know I'm not a bad guy. Because maybe Harry can talk some sense into her. Being family would have to give him some influence.

"Why is it so important that she talk to him alone?" Hermione asked in a sharp whisper.

"You wouldn't believe me, if I told you," Draco murmured looking at the stars. He wondered later if this had been the wrong thing to say. It caused her face to take on a shrewd look. She did not try to talk to him anymore, and he returned to his constellations.

****************

It had not been his intention to continue participating in any of Persephone's clubs, and Draco was therefore slightly surprised when he heard Goyle making plans for the Friday Evening Study group. "Gotta go for Toady," Goyle explained in a grunt.

Draco was pretty sure Charles Bulstrode would have managed to recover if deprived of Goyle's guidance, but he had a feeling Goyle's motivation was more out of devotion to Millicent. Draco found he did not have the heart to take out his irritation with Persephone on the first and second years when Thomas Dey turned his large eyes to him in the common room and asked if he was coming.

It was an even greater shock to discover Pansy there.

"I'm not letting the Ravenclaws show us up," she said simply. Padma Patil and Anthony Goldstein, the seventh year Ravenclaw prefects, had volunteered, as had Hufflepuff prefects Hannah Abbott and Ernie Macmillan. Draco search the third floor study hall for Hermione, but the Gryffindor prefects were noticeably absent. He caught Persephone's eye. She gave him a quick smile and glanced down. Laurel and Indigo were clearly enjoying themselves. They had taken over assigning tutors to study groups and making the announcements about the prize incentives. Draco got them to give him Bardolf's group. The boy had stubbornly refused to invite anyone, but a couple of his assigned team members had shown up of their own accord.

At the end of the meeting, Persephone had wandered up to him and said she was glad he had come even if was mad at her.

"I'm not. I just..." He took the opportunity to tell her he thought letting Creevey take photos of the sixth year girls was a bad idea. She nodded to show she had heard, but he had no reassurance that he had managed to dissuade her.

****************

The weather had turned unseasonably hot by Monday, and even the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom was lazily hot. Several of the students had loosened or discarded their outer robes. Hermione had her legs crossed under the desk. Her skirt had fallen back a few inches more than she normally allowed it, and Draco was enjoying the view. The heat had shut down his brain so that the parts remaining functional were absorbed in contemplation over the texture and curves of her skin.

He was jostled out of his stupor by Nott and found that the other students were standing. Hermione's robes fell back into place as she stood, and his brain began to resume normal functions. Dumbledore flicked his wand and the desks parted to line up neatly against the sides of the classroom. Draco slowly caught on that they were partnering up for something and figured it had to do something with hurling hexes at each other because Nott partnered up with Daphne, both grinning wickedly at each other. Blaise was already making a short bow to Indigo. Draco discovered that Hermione was making the same twisting search for a partner that he was. It was really too good of an opportunity to pass up.

"Hey, Granger, I'm open," he said, trying to look cool and inviting.

She looked startled to hear her name and stared at him assessingly. He had the wonderful feeling that she was going to accept, when Weasley pulled her away, and Potter stepped forward. Stupid Weasley, he though viciously. Stupid Potter. Hey, I'm taller than he is. When did that happen? It's so unfair, he still got the build for a proper seeker... oh well, at least I'm not freakishly tall like that red headed boy over there.... I have really got to wakeup. Looks like we're dueling. Might not be the best idea for a first date anyway... He shrugged away his disappointment and gave Potter a short bow.

Potter gave him the shortest nod of the head in return and looked off to the side. Draco caught sight of Longbottom and Bones who had started practicing in the corner. His brain was catching up. That's right, we're doing shield charms.

"Do you want to go first or should I?" he asked trying to get Potter's attention.

"First with the shielding or the hexing?"

Draco wondered if he was being this thick on purpose or if it was a family trait? "The shielding, Potter. That is what we're supposed to be learning, isn't it?"

"Right, well, I guess I'll go first then. I know you're itching to hurl a hex at me."

Draco hesitated. Had almost forgotten that he had tried to kill his classmate last year, but clearly Harry had not. "Look, Potter, I--" But what could he say? He could not apologize without admitting that he had been trying to knock Harry out that window in the first place. "Never mind. Defend yourself."

He felt very stupid trying to hurl hexes at Harry Potter when he wanted to convince him that he was no longer a threat. So he lobbed easy ones at him, things that could not possibly be construed as truly aggressive.

"Come on, Malfoy, you're not even trying."

"Let's switch up," Draco said. Harry shrugged and immediately hurled a Jelly-Legs Jinx at him.

"Protego!" Draco shouted, blocking the bulk of it just in time.

"So, how did you like the forum?" Harry asked.

"It was swell," Draco said, willing his muscles to shake off the little bit that had gotten through.

"Swell?" Potter said as though he had never heard the word before.

"Yeah, you know in a hellish sort of way." It was way too hot to try to pretend he had actually enjoyed the meeting, and it bugged him to realize that Potter was giving him time to recover. "Look, are you gonna hex me or not?"

"Blaterare!"

"Protego!"

"Vaespertilio Nasus!"

"Protego!"

Potter was grinning at him, and Draco could not help giving him a small grin in return. He had wondered from time to time what it would have been like if Potter had taken his out stretched hand on their first train ride to Hogwarts. The rejection had wounded him at the time more than he would care to admit. He had not been use to rejection. He still was not fond of it.

Draco looked passed Harry's shoulder and caught Hermione looking back at him. There was something calculating in her gaze that killed his grin.

"Let's switch again," Potter said.

Draco nodded and decided that there was really not much point being delicate with Harry Potter. The boy had taken on Lord Voldemort. He probably found it insulting that Draco was trying to be careful with him. Besides Draco did not want to throw wussy hexes with Hermione watching. Potter did seem glad he was putting more effort into it.

"Let's alternate," Potter said, and they did. It kind of fun in its way, like more civilized dueling. Oddly clarifying to focus on your actions rather than attempting to distract your opponent verbally. They had a nice rhythm going when suddenly Potter stepped off it, and Draco's curse flipped him head over heals. The bell rung while Potter was in midair, and he hit the ground with a heavy thud. Draco had not expected the curse to actually hit him. Potter had been blocking really well. He saw Granger's hand fly to her mouth. He's fine. I'm sure he's fine.

Potter got to his elbows with a grunt. Draco watched him anxiously for a second, but he seemed to be okay. Draco wanted to reach out a hand to help him up, but he heard Daphne's laugh and knew she was watching. It was too overt a sign of peace for a Death Eater's son, particularly one trying to lie low, to make. He gathered up his bag and retreated from the room, worried what everyone was thinking of him now.

****************

Nothing would have pleased Draco better than to completely forget about the Forum and focus on his schoolwork. Unfortunately none of other students were willing to forget it. Justin Finch-Fletchley and Wayne Hopkins kept coughing "Nazi" behind his back in Transfiguration. A little Hermione like voice droned in his head "ignore them, just ignore them", but he was having great difficulty doing so. He was unable to focus long enough to conjure more than half a thimble, and Goyle was progressing to teacups.

At length Crabbe turned on them. "If you two don't shut up..." He went on to describe something equally unpleasant and creative.

Hopkins and Finch-Fletchley just smirked, knowing they had gotten to him. "Forgot about the Stormtrooper," Hopkins muttered when he had turned his back on them.

Crabbe made to whirl around again, but Draco caught his arm and shook his head. "Is there a problem?" Professor McGonagall asked tersely.

"No, Professor," Draco said evenly.

"Oh," McGonagall started in surprise. "Very nice, Goyle."

****************

Draco retreated to the Slytherin common room that evening while Persephone and her sixth year friends headed back to the Arithmancy lab. Crabbe and Goyle had disappeared after dinner, and Draco had not bothered to find them. Goyle was not a loud gloater, but Draco was quite sick of the smug look on his face.

He nestled into a lonely little table and spread out his translation notes for Ancient Ruins. The common room was very quiet this evening. He had made his first mark when the portal opened, and Pansy strode inside clutching a short stack of books. She caught his attention because she was alone.

"Hey, Pansy," he called to her.

She looked genuinely surprised to see him. "I thought you would be at the Forum," she said, striding up to him. He raised his eyebrow questioningly. She tossed her brown bob. "Everyone else is."

"But you're not," Draco pointed out.

"There's only so much I can stomach," Pansy said. "Daphne says she just wants to know what they're saying, and you know Indigo does whatever...oh, nevermind." She looked down and Draco saw a crack in the cool exterior she always tried to present these days. She looked abandoned and slightly nervous. "Can I join you?"

"Of course," he said, tapping his wand so one of the chairs slid back for her. She smiled at him and sat down. "What are you working on?"

"Um, Potions," she said. "That essay where we have to explain why Wolfsbane works. I do wish Professor Snape had just explained it."

"But then it wouldn't be Advanced Potions, love."

"I suppose," she said and took the first book off her stack. They worked quietly for a while, occasionally making comments about their assignments. It was nice. He liked her when she was like this, just being Pansy and not trying to impress anyone. It had been a long time since it had been just the two of them, no Crabbe or Goyle or gaggle of girls. Why couldn't he just fall in love with Pansy? It would make things so much simpler. She was very pretty, and there was no question of common ground between them. He had known her for ages, and she would gladly accept his attentions. Or so he assumed. He wondered if she would look at him so fondly if she knew his parents had disowned him, as he was sure they had or would very soon. Would she want him without his fortune, knowing he would never inherit the grand manor of which she was so fond? Would she join him if she knew it meant defying Voldemort and her own parents?

"Pansy?"

She turned to look at him.

"How are you doing, Pansy?"

"I'm fine. Might need your help a little bit on the moonstone."

"I wasn't talking the assignment."

"Oh...well, I'm still fine. Can you believe we'll be leaving school soon? It seems strange to think about it."

That's right, she was annoyingly evasive. "I meant. Have you had any contact from your father?"

Pansy shifted and made a quick sweeping glance of the nearby area. "Mother has," she said casually. "It's been a few months since I've seen him."

"Do you miss him?"

Pansy gave a short shrug. "I think Rose misses Daddy more than I do, but then she's so young. I've had my time with him. Besides," she said straightening her back. "It's not like he's run away. He's doing something import, isn't he?"

"Yeah," Draco said his mouth dry. "Important."

****************

He wanted to talk to Hermione more than anything now and climbed the Astronomy Tower hoping that she was feeling particularly blunt and chatty. Alice had come back from the meeting, laughing nearly fit to burst of Hermione's plea for House Elf rights. "Badges! Spew badges, oh I'm going to laugh my head off at Hannah Abbott if she wears that one she bought. Could imagine her fixing it right under her prefect badge? Prefect spew!"

Draco did not care if she did want to rant about House Elf rights. He just wanted some reassurance that intelligent women still existed. Hermione was standing with her back to the stone wall when he came in. He crossed to her, tossed his bag down, and started to say something when Alice's voice rang out across the room. "Granger? Granger? How much was it for a spew badge again?"

"Two Sickles," Hermione said icily. Alice, Indigo, Lisa, and Su all burst into a fit of laughter. Hermione rolled her eyes and took her seat, turning her back on them. Draco sat down beside her and decided it might not be the wisest move to debate House Elf rights with her at the moment.

"Did you convince Potter to talk to Persephone?" he asked quietly.

"No," she said huffily. "And I'm not going to."

Draco felt wounded. "Why not?"

"I'm not telling Harry to do anything, until I know what's going on," she said resolutely.

"I just want him to talk to her."

"Tell me who she is, where she comes from, and what she wants, and we'll see."

"Would you believe me if I did?"

"Probably not," Hermione said coolly. "I don't trust you, and I won't until you give me some reason."

"Like what?"

"Tell me why you missed the train."

"I-" he started to tell the same story that he had told the others, about walking up from Hogsmeade, but if she was wanting to trust him, lying was probably a bad idea. He did want her to trust him. "I can't tell you, not yet, but I promise I'll explain everything after Harry talks to Persephone."

Hermione looked unimpressed. "Either give me some answers, Malfoy, or stop talking to me."

Draco sat there with his mouth hanging half open for a full minute, trying to search his brain for some tidbit he could give her that she would not be able to link immediately back to his parents. "Look, Granger, it's not that I..." But she was resolutely ignoring him. He felt a flush of anger, but the reasonable parts of his brain knew Hermione was in the right. She had no reason to trust him, and it was wise of her to demand some proof. He had intended for Persephone's rescue to be that proof, but that required Persephone to tell Harry what had happened. From Hermione's reaction, he could not expect anyone to believe the story if it came from him.

****************

Draco received two surprised at breakfast. The first was Indigo's hair, which had turned rebelliously blonde. The second was Oberon sweeping down on him when the post arrived. He took the letter with Pansy and Blaise looking on curiously. Daphne was preoccupied with her own package.

Dear Draco,

I would like you to meet me at Hestia's Table on your next Hogsmeade weekend. I wish to discuss some things with you. I am concerned by your choice in company as of late. Think of me when you look at the stars and know I will be with you soon.

Your loving mother,

N.M.

Draco felt himself go cold. She knew he had been talking to Hermione. There were no portraits in the Astronomy Tower, someone had to be spying on him. He folded the letter and looked down at his plate to avoid looking at the others. It was one of them.

After breakfast he found Persephone and dragged her casually as he could manage to one of the broom closets.

"Look at this," he whispered after he had closed the door and shoved the letter into her hand. "She knows I've been talking to Granger."

"Maybe," Persephone said.

"No maybe. She knows," Draco snapped back in a hiss, feeling highly agitated. "And she wants me to meet her at Hestia's. Alone is the implication. What do I do if she's not alone? Or if she slips Veritaserum in my drink?"

"You're actually going to meet her?"

"I-well, if I don't then she'll know something is up," Draco explained uneasily. He looked at Persephone's worried face. "No, scratch that. She already knows something's up. She knows about you. Question is whether she's told anyone. No, she wouldn't do that...not if she could avoid it. But let's face it. Voldemort isn't stupid. He knows I could be a danger to him, and in the end, she'll do what he tells her." He ran his fingers through his hair, hoping the contact with his scalp could stimulate his brain. They stood in silence for a long minute while he tried to think.

"So, you're talking to me again?" Persephone asked gingerly.

"Have you told Harry yet?"

"No, I told you I'm trying to let him get to know me. I think it's working. He's coming to the Forum, and he's started participating. He said some really wonderful things about Goblins..."

Draco grabbed hold of her shoulders. "I need you tell Harry."

The smile she had been growing faded again. "I will. Soon."

"How soon?"

"I don't know."

"The next forum. I'll give you until the next forum to tell him or I will."

Her silver brows knitted. "Why is this so important to you?"

He took his hands off her shoulders and stuck them back in his pockets. "Because I'm tired of the way they look at me. Like I'm the enemy. I need to be on someone's good side." His fingers closed around the little paper envelope tucked inside. "I need to have allies who I know won't give me up to Voldemort. I need someone to know." He looked directly into her silver eyes, knowing what he was going to say was a little manipulative but not really caring. "I need to know you'll be taken care of if I have to run."

"Severus will..." she began, but Draco gave her a hard stare. "Okay, I'll tell Harry, but you have to back me up. Next Forum, I swear."

****************

He continued to avoid publicly speaking to her. She continued chatting with everyone from Longbottom to Quirke as openly as she pleased. He felt incredibly nervous and jumpy. He was afraid to speak in front of his friends, not knowing what slip would be instantly reported, and he was equally afraid to avoid them, sure that this would find his mother's ears just as quickly. He tried to act comfortable and at ease at meal times but retreated as quickly as he could into his bed curtains at night.

In Defense Against the Dark Arts, Dumbledore took them outside so that they could attempt Patronuses, which was supposed to be the most effective defense against dementors. Draco wanted very much to master the spell, but every time he tried, he pictured himself facing a real dementor. Dementors caused you to relive your worse fears. This had not seemed like such a big deal a few years ago. Scary, yes, but bearable. He wonder what would happen if he ran into a dementor now. Would he have to relive Evra Tome's murder over and over in his mind? How was he supposed to hold onto a happy memory with that running through his head?

He had spent much of his third year, laughing at Potter for fainting at a dementor's presence. Now he wondered if he might do the same. He caught sight of Potter and his impressive looking stag. Potter was eyeing Draco's feeble attempts and gave a soundless laugh. Stupid irony.

To make matters worse, everyone else in the class seemed to be grasping the concept much faster than he did as well. Several of his classmates were producing fully corporeal Patronuses on the first try. None of his housemates mastered the spell that quickly, but all of them were doing better than he was. Daphne had an impressively large silver shield that made his silver sparks look particularly pitiful, and he could read the verbal jabs she was holding back in her eyes. None of these things were helping him hold onto a happy thought.

His nerves got worse as the Forum approached. Feelings of inadequacy of every shape and size were chasing through his mind. Madam Pomfrey had called him a hero, but Potter would know better. Granger would want to know the answer to a thousand questions that he still would not be able to give her. Weasley would love a chance to get back at him and would certainly be looking for a way to foul it all up. Still, he was resolute to see it through.

He joined the group of students who made their way up to the Arithmancy lab after dinner. "You're coming?" Persephone said, looking a little surprised.

"Gotta make sure you don't back out," he murmured under his breath. She looked nearly as nervous as he felt.

Draco took a seat with the other Slytherins and listened to Laurel and Nott debate which flavors of Bertie Botts were the best. Daphne was making a study date with Indigo to practice their Patronuses. "Interested Draco?" He made a grunt in response. He was looking for Potter. He had just been seized by the horrible thought that Harry might skip the meeting, and he would have another whole night of anxious waiting. But Potter came. Longbottom and Loony Lovegood had joined his usual entourage. Wonderful, Draco thought. Two more people who hate me.

Persephone had been flitting about, standing with a few different people but not really talking to anyone. She drifted over to Harry, attempting to look casual. Slowly she engaged in conversation with him and his friends, and the tightness in Draco's chest eased. She took Potter's hand, and he snatched it back. Now what? Persephone left the table wringing her hands. Draco caught her attention and mouthed, did you tell him? Persephone shook her head.

He sighed, partly from relief and mostly from dread. Persephone collected herself and slowly the meeting got underway. It was more interactive than before, but Draco did not try to participate. He watched the wunderkind have their own hushed conversation. He wished they would try to look a little friendlier. The meeting ended and people began to file out. Draco made his way to the door, determined to physically keep the two Potters from leaving the room if need be. Luckily, Harry was deeply involved in whatever conversation he was having with Granger and Weasley. Loony and Longbottom slipped out. He told Nott that he wanted to wait for Persephone and would be down at the common room before too long. Padma Patil shot him a surly glare as she passed. Blaise gave him a crafty grin. Finch-Fletchley looked surprised to see him there.

At length, the room cleared except for Persephone and the wunderkinds. Persephone made to approach them but lost her nerve and headed towards Draco instead. He stepped into the doorway, effectively blocking it. "Now," he said in a hard whisper.

Persephone's face tightened with nerves. "I think he's mad at me," she whispered back.

"I don't care if he's trying to jinx you, tell him now."

"Can't it wait 'til morning?" she whimpered.

"You tell him now or I will," Draco hissed.

"Oh, alright," she breathed. She visibly steeled herself and turned back. The wunderkinds had stood and were looking at them apprehensively. Draco watched them past Persephone's silver puff. Maybe Potter did think they were trying to hurt him.

"Harry, I need to talk to you."

"Go ahead," Potter said. Oh, come on, Potter, try to look a little friendlier. She's nervous.

"In private."

Hermione was looking past Persephone at Draco. Come on, Granger, he pleaded silently. Help me out.

"You can say whatever it is in front of Ron and Hermione."

"No, I can't. It's personal."

"Oh for Artemis sake," Weasley snorted. "He doesn't want to go out with you."

"What?" Persephone said. Draco had to admit it took a few seconds for him to register what Weasley had said too. "Go out with Harry? Oh my--that would be too weird!" She started to laugh. "Go out with...of course I don't want to go out with Harry. Is that-is that what you thought?"

Potter shot Weasley a nasty look. "No," he said very unconvincingly. He was actually turning red. Draco found himself giggling. He was actually turning red. His giggle turned into a real laugh. Potter though they were cornering him about a date? He thought Persephone was a love struck fan girl?

The laughter was shaking him to the point he could hardly speak. "That's what you thought she wanted to talk you about, Potter?" he blurted, leaning on the doorframe for support. "You really are thick, aren't you?"

"Be nice, Draco," Persephone said. She was shaking with laughter too. "I still have to--" She looked at Harry and laughed even harder. "Oh, I can't do it now." She stumbled back to the door and fell against Draco, tears rolling down her cheeks. "I can't...I'll have to...later."

Draco tried to dissuade her, to tell her they had to do it now, but the laughter was choking him. He had been so worried, and Potter thought she wanted a date.

"It's NOT THAT FUNNY!" Potter yelled at them.

But suddenly everything seemed very funny to Draco. Potter's yelling. Granger's stunned face. The blank look on the tall gangly fellow. Some calm rational part of his brain told him that his behavior was completely inappropriate to the seriousness of the moment, but Draco found that funny too. "Yes, it is!" he managed. "If you only knew!"

Persephone hit him on the arm. "Not NOW! Don't you dare tell him now!" Her own face had grown rather red, and he could tell she was nearly as embarrassed as her nephew.

He had to admit if the situation was reversed this would not be the way he would want to make his announcement. "Okay," Draco gasped. "Okay." One more night really would not be that bad. Besides he doubted at this point he could manage to look serious for more than a few seconds, and she was having just as much trouble breathing as he was. Persephone gave him a light push in the direction of the hall, and he stumbled back, clutching at her hand so she would retreat with him.

"I'll talk you later, Harry," she called and tripped out into the hall.

He found himself shouting. "Later, Potter!" His brain extremely amused by the double entendre. Persephone jogged down the hall, and he ran to catch up with her. They both collapsed at the end of it with a fresh bubble of mirth, recovered themselves, and made it half way down the stairs before collapsing against the banister.

"Oh mon! His face!" Persephone cried. Draco nodded, too choked to reply. "Oh mon!" She made some gasping breaths. "There was this one time. First time I went into Hogsmeade. James took me to the Three Broomsticks, and we went to get our drinks. And Madam Rosmerta said 'oh, James is this your little girlfriend?' And I swear he got the 'xact same look on his face." She giggled hard enough she had to grip the banister. "He turned purple!"

"This is really bad you know," Draco chuckled, resting against the banister himself. "He probably thinks we're both raving."

The idea that they were both insane or thought insane was also insanely funny and left them laughing like lunatics. Draco felt lighter than he had in weeks, and that alone seemed to counterbalance the disaster. He had missed his little sister. They managed to get themselves under control before they reached the dungeons and walked into the common room together before Draco remembered that they were not supposed to be speaking.

It suited him just as well. He slept better knowing that he still had an ally. The whole thing still seemed funny in the morning. Persephone sat with him at breakfast again, and they fell to smirking at their private joke every time they looked at each other. The others took this in stride. Pansy arrived to breakfast late and by that time Persephone already had Indigo giggling over something from the Friday Study group sessions.

Draco's good mood mellowed a bit later when Persephone told him rather unhappily that Harry was now very mad at her indeed and had blatantly ignored her attempts to get his attention. He doubted she was exaggerating because looks Potter gave him in class now were close to murderous, but this hardly seemed the end of the world it had before. He was a bit concerned because the Wolfsbane Potion also called for Agaricus, and his stock had been emptied making the Poison Detection Potion. Normally he would have just sent Oberon off for more or purchased some on his upcoming Hogsmeade weekend, but every Sickle looked precious now. Persephone, whose bottle was also a bit low, promised to ask around for someone willing to share or sell their stock cheap.

The thought of Hogsmeade also filled him with dread, and he was still quite uncertain whether or not to meet his mother. His concentration in Transfiguration was improving at least. He finally managed to produce a decent thimble, and to his guilty satisfaction, his Protean Charm came out much better than Goyle's.

He decided to try to make peace with Granger again in Astronomy. This did not go so well either. "Look, Hermione, I'm really sorry about-."

"Don't call me Hermione," she snapped at him.

"Okay, Granger. Look, it wasn't really you and Potter we were laughing at...are you wearing eye shadow?"

She flushed and turned away. He fought very hard not to chuckle, knowing it would not help his case. So Hermione Granger cared about silly girl things after all.

****************

On the Friday before the Hogsmeade weekend, he sent his mother a letter excusing himself from the meal, blaming his absence on a large pile of homework, which he very honestly had. In a burst of wicked humor, he sent her the first thimble he had conjured, which was silver, along with the letter. He did not have the gall to ask her for money or Agaricus. This seemed to cross some line of decency in his mind. After he sent it, he returned to the common room to find Persephone in an unusually reserved mood.

"What's wrong?" he asked her.

"Neville Longbottom asked me to meet him at the Three Broomsticks," she said dolefully.

"Longbottom?" Draco laughed. "Well, that would depress me too."

"Oh, no, I like Neville," she said softly. "It's just..."

"Sephi! What's wrong?" Daphne called, descending upon her with Pansy and the other Seventh Year girls in tow.

"Longbottom asked her on Hogsmeade date," Draco explained.

Daphne laughed. "Longbottom?"

Pansy laughed too. "Oh, dear, that is awful. Gotten a bit presumptuous hasn't he?"

"Does he know about Oliver?" Indigo asked. Persephone shook her head.

"Oh are you missing Oliver?" Pansy surmised, looking genuinely sympathetic. "Poor dear, why don't you come with us tomorrow?"

"I can't," Persephone said, and began to drift towards the girls dorm.

"You're not still mad at us, are you?" Alice asked.

"Oh, no, I'm not mad at you at all," Persephone said, resting her hand on the railing of the dorm stairs. "I just can't go."

"What do you mean you 'can't go'?" Pansy asked starting to sound a little annoyed.

"Oh come on, Sephi," Daphne said. "It'll be loads of fun."

"I'll buy you a butterbeer," Indigo promised, but Persephone climbed the first few steps.

"Sephi, don't be a killjoy," Pansy said. "We want you to come."

"I can't. I can't come because I don't have a permission form."

"Don't have a permission form?" Daphne echoed. "You mean your parents didn't sign yours?"

Persephone shook her head. "They couldn't."

"That's so stupid," Pansy said with a snort. "Why couldn't they sign a simple permission form?"

"Well, they're dead aren't they!" Persephone shouted her eyes brimming with tears and ran up the rest of the stairs.

The girls' eyes went wide, and Pansy looked absolutely horrified. "I didn't know," she said as they all looked at her. "I didn't know. Why didn't she tell us?" She turned her wide brown eyes on Draco. "Did you know?" He nodded somberly. "Why didn't you tell us?"

Draco shrugged uncomfortably. "It was Persephone's business."

Daphne, Indigo, and Alice ran up the stairs. Pansy continued to look at Draco. "But all that stuff she said about her Papa is or does. She always says 'is'." Draco had no response for this. It occurred to him that what he had taken for resilience in Persephone was much closer to blatant denial.

****************

To the girls' credit they offered to stay in the common room the next day instead of heading into town, but Draco convinced them to head on. Indigo had to buy the candy orders for the first and second years. Persephone did not come back down until well after noon. She did not say anything about Hogsmeade, so he did not bring up the subject. They did homework at one of the tables with the Dey children. Victoria's father had not signed her permission slip either. "He thinks it is frivolous," she explained.

"You know what's really sad about it all," Persephone said later when Victoria and Thomas had left to make a lap around the lake before dinner. "She doesn't even want to be a witch."

Draco scowled. "What do you mean doesn't want to be a witch?" he asked, but Persephone just shook her head.

****************

The week before Halloween passed in a daze, and Draco found himself decorating the Great Hall with the other prefects. Potter had finally stopped glaring murderously at him, which was some relief. He was feeling lethargic and bullied the fifth and sixth year prefects into actually hanging the fake cobwebs while he and Pansy directed from the ground. Potter, Granger, and Weasley were carving out a giant pumpkin and being very messy about it. They also looked like they were having a great deal of fun. Hermione's laughter rang through the chamber inspiring mixed feelings of fondness and sharp stabs of jealousy in him. He wanted to make Hermione laugh like that.

One of the fifth year prefects made the mistake of asking Peeves to tell the secret he kept singing about and was told that his face resembled something in Snape's Potion laboratory. "That's not a secret, Peeves," their partner called out good-naturedly. The first prefect put a fake spider down their partner's robes soon after, which might have been mildly amusing if Draco had been in a better mood. Pansy was inspired and sent a spider in Weasley's direction.

Potter snatched it up before it could get to his friend, who was notoriously terrified of them. "Thank you for your generous gift, Ms. Parkinson," Potter said with a theatric bow that sent Hermione laughing again. Pansy undaunted sent another one along.

"Cut it out, Pansy," Draco said. "You're wasting them." He was hoping Hermione might notice his maturity, but she did not seem to be paying him much attention.

Pansy looked a little sulky but did as told. She headed back to the common room to freshen up, while he made sure the four great tables were put back in place (they had been moved aside for the pumpkin carving).

"Hey, Draco!" Persephone called, jogging up to him. "I think I may have found us some Agaricus, and it's free."

"I like free," Draco said.

"Pansy and Daphne heard I was looking and said that there was a growth down in the dungeons."

"Fresh Agaricus?" he said making a face. "Well, I guess it'll help. Drying it shouldn't take too long."

"You want to get it after dinner?"

"No, let's go now," he said quietly. "While everyone else is at the feast. I know it's not really shameful to pick your own, but I don't want to let everyone know I'm short on Galleons before I have to."

"Okay," she said. "Maybe if we're quick we can still get back in time."

Students were beginning to file into the Great Hall for the feast, masses of them talking and laughing. Draco and Persephone slipped past them. When the stairs to the dungeon were clear, Draco checked for any of the other Slytherins that might be watching, and they slipped down.

"Has your mother written you back yet?" Persephone asked in a whisper.

"No, not yet," Draco whisper back out of habit. "I bet she's pretty angry though. But I figured it was better to leave them wondering what I was up to than give them a chance to ask me questions directly."

"The first and second years were really happy with their candy haul," Persephone said. "I thought maybe we should have waited until after Halloween, but I don't think they'll have any Fizzing Whizbees at the feast and that was our most requested item. Anyway the kids seemed really please to get them. I think stuff like that's better when you earn it. Indigo bought a little extra and made sure everyone got a small box of Droobles, so nobody got left out."

"Did Daphne ever come through with the forty Galleons?"

"Yeah, she got them in last week. We're using the leftovers from the candy fund for the winter exam prize so we can save the Galleons for the end of the year exams. We're splitting them eight ways. Five per person to one team of second years and one of first years."

"Well, what if a three people team wins?"

"We're counting people as being on teams whether or not they show up to the study hall. Thought that was fairest in the end."

They made their way much deeper into the dungeons than Draco was used to going. "How far is it?" he asked.

"They said it was over here," Persephone said indicating a dark and foreboding looking passage way.

"How could they see anything in there?"

"Lit their wands?"

"Oh, yeah. Did you bring a jar? Wait a sec..."

"There's something moving," Persphone said, her voice suddenly anxious.

"Back off," Draco told her sharply. She did not argue but backed away and pulled out her wand.

"Lumos," Persephone said clearly. The end of her wand lit up. It was much easier to see now, but the increased light made the darkness of the side passage more pronounced. It was quiet at first, and then he heard it. A slithering sound like fabric dragging over stone. It was familiar though he could not place it, and it filled him with dread. The shadow started to crawl towards their feet. Draco took a few more cautious steps back and knew Persephone was doing the same.

Then HE stepped into the light and Draco felt the blood freeze in his veins. No, no, not here. No, he can't be here. Persephone screamed, and Draco thought he heard a second scream, though he did not remember screaming. His throat was too tight to let him scream. Lord Voldemort's lipless mouth parted in a smile, but there was murder in his eyes. He's going to kill me. He's going to kill us. He would have to beg. He would have to plead. He would have to give him anything he wanted. "L-lord Voldemort, I-I," Draco stuttered. They were both going to die, and it was his fault.

"Get out of the way, Malfoy!"

Potter was here? Harry Potter was here? A small rush of hope sprung in Draco but died almost immediately. Voldemort seemed unconcerned. His smile faded, and he reached in his robes and pulled out his wand. He pointed the wand at Draco's chest. Please no, please no.

"Stop!" Potter yelled, but Voldemort paid him no attention. Draco could not believe Voldemort hated him so much as to ignore Harry Potter, but then the Dark Lord did not allow betrayal.

"I'm going to kill you this time, Voldemort!" Potter yelled, and there was an odd squeaking noise. Draco was quite sure he had not made it. He was finding it hard to breath.

"OLI-OLI-OXEN-FREE!" Persephone shouted. Draco risked flicking his eyes to her. Either she had gone completely mad or something was not right.

"It's a -" Was Hermione here too?

"It's a boggart!" Persephone announced. She gave a short relieved laugh, and Voldemort flinched. "It's just a boggart. Use the Riddikulus charm."

A boggart. It's just a boggart. "Right," Draco murmured. He pulled out his wand and pointed it at Voldemort. Something funny...he needed something funny. He thought of the Victorian sofa that Voldemort had sat on for tea and pictured his robes in the same floral pattern. "Riddikulus!"

Voldemort's black robes became white and covered in flowers. So it was a boggart, just a boggart. At least, it had not made him see Evra's bloody face again...but even as he thought it blood began to seep out of the flowers as though cuts were opening. There was a moaning sound that came up from Draco's soul without passing through his throat. Stop, someone please make it stop.

He felt something knock him into the wall and realized it was Persephone. He crumpled against the wall, grateful as she put herself between him and it.

The boggart's robes began to twist and shrink. Persephone held her wand out, ready for whatever the boggart might become for her. What the boggart became was short girl in Slytherin robes with wild silver hair. It became another Persephone. The original twitched.

"What a curious fear," the doppelganger said, looking at her own body, then she or it looked up with a look of shock.

Hermione spoke and the sound of her voice opened a spring of horror within Draco. They saw. She saw. They saw Voldemort. They saw the blood. He had groveled before the Dark Lord in front of the eyes of the very people whose respect he had most longed for. They had seen his cowardice. They had seen him freeze up.

"I know," the boggart said in voice so like Persephone's. "How strange. You must be very afraid of saying something to give me the ability to speak. What sort of secrets are you keeping?"

"I can't think of anything!" Persephone cried. "Does anyone have a less disturbing fear?"

"I'm still afraid of spiders." Merlin, no, Weasley was there too? He could hope for discretion from the other two, but Weasley would never let him forget this.

"Ugh. Riddikulus!"

There was some laughter. It sounded very hollow and distant.

"I think we should run," Hermione said flatly.

Draco wanted nothing more, but his legs would not move. Persephone slammed against him again, knocking him forward, forcing his legs to work. Once they worked, he ran. They were all running. The stairs back to the common room and light coming from their top was sweet as salvation. He found himself in the entrance hall again. His heart was beating again, now it was too fast. He squeezed at his chest willing it to become still. The same sort of laughter he had envied earlier rose from Potter, Granger, and Weasley. Only now it sounded cold and mocking.

"You should have seen your face," Hermione laughed.

"It wasn't anything like Malfoy's," Weasley said, turning to Draco. "What the hell's wrong with you, freezing up like that? What sort of sick mind makes flowers bleed?"

He wanted to not be here. He wanted to be anywhere but here, anyone but himself.

"Shut up!" Persephone snapped. "You have no idea!"

Draco felt her push him towards the Great Hall and submitted to her. He held her arm to steady his shaking. He could not understand why everyone in the Great Hall looked so happy. He could not understand how anyone could be happy. He was vaguely aware that Persephone was speaking, asking how he was, assuring him that it was okay. But he was transfixed by the sea of chattering students. How long would it take for the rumors to spread? How long before they all knew his cowardice? How long before they knew he feared Voldemort above all else and he had the sort of depraved mind that made flowers bleed?

What would they think of him? What would Crabbe and Goyle think? What would Pansy--Pansy. His fear was pushed aside by a sudden rush of anger, and he tore towards the Slytherin table. Persephone tripping along behind him. Pansy and Daphne were laughing. He slammed his hands on the table, jostling its contents. A million profanities screamed through his mind, but he could not find the voice for them. "Draco, are you all right?" Pansy asked.

"You knew what was down there?!" he demanded.

"What?"

"You knew there was a boggart down in the dungeons!"

Pansy blinked at him. She looked over at Persephone, slowly putting it together. "There was no Agaricus, was there?!" Draco continued. "That was sick, Pansy! That was really sick!"

Pansy and Daphne had stopped laughing. Everyone around them was staring. "We told Persephone. We didn't know you were going with her," Pansy said, as though she thought this was calming.

"So you were going to send her alone?! You think that's better? You don't send someone to face a boggart alone!"

"It's just a boggart," Pansy said.

Draco's hands gripped the table like claws. He wanted to hit her.

"It's okay, Draco," Persephone said in a small voice and put her hand on his arm. "It's okay. It was just a boggart."

"Draco, are you okay?" Pansy asked again.

"Come on," Persephone murmured to him. Calming him against his will. "Let's sit down. She didn't know what it would do. It might help if you eat something."

Draco did not want to sit. He wanted to throw things and rage, but he was aware of all the eyes on him now. He sat down shaking with rage now as much as fear. He could not eat though. After a while, Persephone forced some chocolate onto him. Everyone else seemed afraid to speak to him. He could tell he had spoiled their mood, and it gave him some vicious satisfaction.

When the feast ended, he trudged back to the dorm. He pulled the curtains shut on his bed and curled into a fetal position, clutching his pillow and waiting for his shakes to subside. He stayed in bed the next morning, skipping breakfast and lunch. He did not want to face the other students. Sometime after noon, he fished a book from his school bag and tried to read. Around two, Crabbe parted the curtains, startling him.

"Are you okay?" he asked. "Do you need Madam Pomfrey?"

"No, I'm fine," Draco said, knowing that he was not convincing anyone.

"Well, we brought you a plate," Crabbe said. "It's on the dresser."

"Thanks," Draco said. He wanted to ask if the story had started circulating yet but could not manage it. Crabbe looked extremely worried.

"Are you going to be okay for Quidditch practice?"

Draco blinked at him. Quidditch? "Yeah, yeah, just let me get dressed." He had some vague idea that going out into the sun might warm him. But the air was cool. The broom gave him some comfort, but it was a hollow one. He could not focus on what he was supposed to be doing.

Captain Weatherby flew up beside him. "Hey, Malfoy, why don't you just head back to bed, okay?"

"Sure," Draco said and numbly set back down and headed back to his dorm. He lay down in his bed without bothering to change out of his uniform. He was aware at some point that the other boys were whispering. He slept. He woke. Crabbe forced him to eat a sandwich. He tried to read. He tried to drown himself in the bath but could not go through with it. He slept again. He woke again. He was told to get dressed and found himself muscled downstairs for breakfast.

They'll know by now, he thought. Everyone will know by now. But no one said anything about his boggart or Persephone's. She sat beside him, her hand on his back. She was telling him to eat. He did, but he could not taste anything. He found himself in Charms class. Potter, Granger, and Weasley were there. He avoided looking at them. They were there again in Defense Against the Dark Arts. He could feel their eyes on him but hid behind Nott. By Transfiguration, he was wondering what they were waiting for. He wondered why everyone was not snickering and pointing. By Potions, he realized they must not have told anyone, but this made him anxious too. He dreaded seeing Snape, sure that Persephone would have confided in him, but Snape showed no signs of anything unusual. His face was not heavy with disappointment, though he gave Draco a curious glance. Pansy tried to talk to him again, but he ignored her.

He said something to Persephone about Harry, but she was not willing to entertain the subject. "He laughed. That was horrible, really horrible, and he just laughed." Draco thought she was being unfair but could not work up the energy to argue with her. He skipped Astronomy so he would not have to face Granger alone. He made it to another weekend and still no one was discussing his boggart. He did not understand why they had not told, but it seemed by some miracle they chose silence.

He awoke from his stupor with a fresh determination. He renewed his efforts in his studies and conjured teacups. They had passed Patronuses for the time being, so he did not worry about them. Quidditch became fun again. He forgave Pansy and started talking to her at breakfast. He kept his silence in Astronomy, and Granger kept hers.

****************

The first game of the season came on clear day in the second weekend of the month. Slytherin was not playing. It was Gryffindor verses Hufflepuff, but they would play both teams at a later date. Draco could not say who he wanted to win, but it was shaping up to be a good game all the same. Both teams were fairly evenly matched. The Hufflepuff Beaters were far superior, but then Gryffindor had better Chasers. He was a good thirty minutes into the game before he noticed that Persephone was missing.

It was not so much panic as a creeping feeling of unease that set upon him. He tried to ignore it and focus on the game, but he felt guilty for ignoring it. He said something to Crabbe about needing to use the facilities, though he doubted that he heard him over the cheers as Hufflepuff scored their fourth goal, and slipped out of the stands. He jogged back to the castle, assuring himself that everything was fine.

The castle felt very lonely with all the students and most of the teachers at the match. He decided to start with the Slytherin common room, though he peeked into the Great Hall as he passed.

His footsteps echoed more loudly than usual as he made his way into the dungeons. He did not realize how worried he had been until he found Persephone sitting in the common room with her Arithmancy homework spread out in front of her. "What are you doing in here?" he asked. The room was deserted except for Persephone and the Dey children.

"I'm not that fond of Quidditch," Persephone said.

Draco gaped at her. "Not fond of Quidditch?" He looked at the Deys. "What about you?"

"Our father does not approve of Quidditch," Victoria said.

Draco could not think of anything to say to this. He took Persephone's arm instead. "Everyone's at the Quidditch match. It's going to look funny if you're not there."

"Oh, I don't think so," she said. "I never go to Quidditch matches."

"Maybe you never used to, but you should now."

"Do I have to?" she whined.

"Do you-Have you-How on earth-Yes, you have to come."

She pouted and slowly packed away her homework.

"Just leave it," he told her. "Victoria won't steal it. You can get it after the game is over."

"Won't everyone have noticed I'm not there by now, anyway?" she muttered in the same whiny tone.

"Better late than completely absent," he said stubbornly. She let him drag her towards the door. "Didn't your brother play Quidditch?"

"Yes."

"And you never went to any of his matches?"

"I told you. I don't like Quidditch."

"That certainly explains a lot. Don't like Quidditch? Were you planning on not coming to my games?" Draco closed the door to the Slytherin common room behind them.

"There you are!" a haggard voice called.

Draco swirled around. It took him a few seconds, but he soon recognized the man striding towards them was Remus Lupin. Draco really only knew three things about Lupin. One, he was always shabbily dressed and today was no exception. Two, he had otherwise been a reasonably competent Defense Against the Dark Arts professor during Draco's third year. And three, he was a werewolf.

With everyone else at the Quidditch match, Draco knew that he and Persephone were on their own once again. Draco raised his wand. "Stop right there!"

Lupin stopped about twenty feet away and gave Draco a dark look. "Put that wand away, Mr. Malfoy," he said softly.

"No." Draco spared a quick glance at Persephone, who was watching Lupin uncertainly.

"Put it away," Lupin repeated using a more authorial tone of voice.

"You're not a professor anymore," Draco snapped. "I don't have to listen to you."

Lupin considered this and put his hands up in a sort of defensive shrug. "I merely wish to have a little private chat with Persephone."

"Do you think I'd let her go anywhere with a werewolf?"

Persephone gasped. Draco glanced at her again and found delight where he had expected fear.

"REMUS!" she shouted gleefully. She ran past Draco and launched her arms around the former professor. Her caught her and swung her a quarter turn as he hugged her. He dropped her back down to the ground and held her out at arms length.

"My poor little bird," he said with a smile. "I thought we'd lost you."

They both seemed to have forgotten that Draco was there. Draco dropped his wand and closed his dropped jaw. "What the devil is going on?" he demanded.

"Oh, Draco, this is Remus Lupin," Persephone said as if they had never met. "He was a good friend of James!"

"I thought you didn't like James!"

Persephone cocked her head to the side and looked at him as though he were very silly. "Well, Remus isn't James now is he?" Draco felt a little dizzy. Had the girl known EVERYONE in the wizarding world? "Don't worry. He's all right," she assured him, then a serious frown fell over her expression. "How did you know that he was a werewolf?"

"Not much of secret anymore," Remus said. "Afraid I had to give up my teaching position here when that got out."

"You were a professor!" Persephone beamed, forgetting Draco again. "Bully for you. What did you teach?"

"Defense Against the Dark Arts," he said mock-grandly. "But enough about me. I came to find out about you. Where have you been?"

Persephone knocked his hand off her shoulder. "In someone's attic! I've been sitting in an attic for twenty years with a dusty old cloth over my head and nothing to do!" She punched Lupin's shoulder. "Where were you?"

Draco was still recovering from shock, and this knocked him back again. It was the first time he heard Persephone say a single word of complaint about her imprisonment since he had rescued her, and he had never heard the cross tone she was using.

Lupin smiled at her sadly and touched her cheek. "Everywhere, my poor little darling."

"Severus went looking for me, you know," she said in the same sharp tone, though there was an undercurrent of pride.

"I know."

"Everyone else gave up, and I was just sitting in someone's attic."

"If Severus couldn't find you, what chance did the rest of us have anyway?"

Persephone grinned at this, and Draco realized her anger had only been half serious. Lupin seemed to have understood this from the start, which made Draco feel even more like an outsider. Lupin took Persephone by the shoulders again. He seemed to share in the apprehension that she might go vanishing again if not held down. He looked at Draco with a probing eye. "Which makes me very curious to know how young Malfoy here managed it. Tell me, whose attic were you in?"

Draco wanted to be back outside the conversation again. "I promised not to tell, Remus," Persephone kept her sharp tone. "And if you keep badgering me about it, I really will get cross with you!"

Former Professor Lupin sunk to his knees, which put him slightly below eye level with Persephone. "But why, my darling? How can we protect you from it, if you won't tell us what happened?"

"That danger's already gone, Remus," Persephone said. Draco wished he could feel as certain as she sounded. "Besides, everyone's watching me like a hawk now. And I didn't think anyone was supposed to know I was here...who told you?"

"Dumbledore of course," Lupin reported. "Probably figured I'd put two and two together anyway."

"Did he forget what the word 'secret' means while he was at it?" Draco snarled. "Why'd he tell you I was involved?"

"He didn't," Lupin said. "He told me a student, not Harry, had unexpectedly showed up with a little silver-headed girl we had been missing. Your mother sent owls to nearly half the country looking for you, and then there was that Quibbler article. Two and two."

Draco was not convinced the werewolf had just put things together, but he realized he had just confirmed away any doubts Lupin may have had. He narrowed his eyes and quietly fumed. Lupin turned his attention back to Persephone. "How'd old Severus take it when you showed up out of the blue?"

"He took it alright," Persephone grinned even more broadly.

"And Harry? Spitting image of James isn't he?"

"Just like James," Persephone's grin faded. "I haven't told him, yet."

"Why not?"

"It's not like I haven't tried," Persephone whined. "But he won't let me get him alone. It's like he's afraid I'm going to hex him or something."

Lupin laughed hard enough to turn slightly pink and got to his feet, "Oh dear, poor Harry."

"Poor, Harry?" Persephone repeated incredulously. "Poor me. Poor Draco. That's Ron fellows always about him, and he says the most beastly things."

Lupin stifled his laughter and tried to sound serious. "Draco can be fairly beastly himself, if I remember. Ron's a good friend to Harry. He's just trying to protect him. You have to remember, there are a lot of people out there who would do awful things to Harry if they could get him alone. He and his friends have learned to be wary of strangers." Persephone still looked sulky. "I'll tell him to have a word with you, okay?"

She nodded. Draco was standing right there, wishing they would either keep him in or out of the conversation. He wanted to go back and watch the rest of the Quidditch match, but he refused to leave Persephone alone with a werewolf, no matter how well she thought she knew him.

"Now to be fair, Persephone, I have looked for you," Lupin said. "I'm afraid a lot of people assumed you were dead after it came out that You-Know-Who had hunted down your family. But I followed up leads as I came across them. The handful I found went nowhere."

"Well, I suppose I'll forgive you then," Persephone said. "Severus tell you all the places he looked for me?"

"Some of them," Lupin said with a sad smile. "You're not getting into trouble are you?"

"Me? I'm the good girl, remember?"

Lupin regarded her warily. "I always had my doubts about that."

"Liar," she said in the same mock-cross tone.

He chuckled. "Still the angel among the demons?"

"All the demons were once angels," she said.

"I'm still here," Draco reminded them.

"You can go on to the game if you like, Draco," Persephone said in a let-the-grownups-talk tone.

Draco crossed his arms, wand still in hand, stubbornly refusing to budge. Lupin was regarding him once again. "So what are you, Mr. Malfoy? Fallen angel or penitent demon?"

"I'm an annoyed seventeen-year-old wizard who isn't fond of werewolves," Draco said.

"Not a fan of the abstract concept either, I see."

Persephone giggled. "Stop picking on Draco and come tell me about yourself," she said taking his hand. She led him into the empty Potions classroom and sat on one of the desks. Draco followed them, not really wanting to be there but not willing to leave. They must have talked for nearly an hour, comparing notes on people he did not know and laughing at jokes he did not get. He knew Captain Weatherby was going to kill him for missing so much of the game. It was probably over by now.

"Well, I'm afraid I do have to get going," Lupin said. He leaned forward and gave her temple a quick kiss. "You need to be careful. Wanting people to be good does not make them good, Persephone."

"It doesn't make them bad either," she said.

"You are hopeless." Lupin said with a sigh and turned to Draco. "Look after her, Mr. Malfoy. And good luck on your next game. I hear Ravenclaw's new Seeker is very fast." The werewolf gave them both a pleasant smile and left the room.

"Well, that wasn't weird," Draco said surlily.

Persephone was beaming. She hopped off the desk and took Draco's hand. "Oh, Remus is all right. Come on, you can still catch the end of the game."

Not very optimistic, Draco stalked back towards the Quidditch field with Persephone swinging his arm beside him. She was chatting very happily about how nice it was for Lupin to pay her a visit and making a very long list of people that she would like to look up again given the chance.

So what are you, Mr. Malfoy? Fallen angel or penitent demon?

Stupid Question. I'm human.

To his surprise and delight the game was still in full swing. He led Persephone up into the stands. It was a high scoring game. Gryffindor had a slight lead. He spotted the Snitch and bit his lip, but neither Potter nor the Hufflepuff Chaser seemed to notice. He soon understood why Persephone never went to Quidditch matches. She seemed to be infinitely more worried about the well being of the players than the score. While everyone else was yelling and cheering she was gasping and whimpering. She covered her eyes and cried out over things he considered minor bumps. She gave a loud scream when a Bludger nicked Potter's shoulder knocking him into a short spin. Draco thought she was going to start crying and assured her that he would be fine. By the end of the game she was shaking so badly that he felt very guilty for having dragged her out, and quite happy for her to stay in the dorm during his own game.