Bloodthirsty Dragon

Chapter Six-- Surprises in the Astronomy Tower

Professor Dumbledore looked at Draco in shock. Draco mentally slapped himself for so readily coming to Dumbledore and revealing himself, but how much of a choice had he had? He didn't even fully understand why he had allowed Pansy to get the best of him if Dumbledore was only going to send for a hunter anyway. Damn my weakness, Draco thought bitterly.

After several moments of intense silence, Dumbledore stood up. His eyes flashed with unmistaken anger. He glared at Draco hard, causing the boy to shiver with fear. "You're the vampire?" he asked, his voice soft but stern at the same time.

Draco nodded slowly, still shaking under Dumbledore's hard glare. O, I'm in for it now! Finally, after another tense silence, Dumbledore's features softened slightly and he sighed. He walked across the room and stood before Draco. Draco felt as if he were as small and helpless and a mouse trapped in a corner by a cat; he was the hunted and not the hunter. Draco was surprised when Dumbledore smiled softly and laid a hand on Draco's quivering shoulder and gripped it hard.

"You've caused me a great deal of trouble, but I am not mad," Dumbledore began, causing Draco to sigh with slight relief. "I am glad that you stepped up and revealed yourself. Many others, if in your position, would have hid in a corner and attempted to hide out a hunter instead of just stepping up. I'm proud of you. And yes, my offer still stands. But, because you are a vampire, I need to know the answers to two questions. One, why did you kill Fenrir? And two, would you kill again?" Dumbledore released Draco's shoulder and stepped back, giving him a bit of room to breath and to think clearly.

Draco locked eyes with Dumbledore, black hidden behind a veil of silver- blue looked into the deep depths of a wise, thoughtful ocean of sincerity. "I lost control of myself," Draco said, jerking his gaze away from Dumbledore and directing it at the stone floor. "I usually would have been able to have just shrugged the centaur off and left him alone, but I hadn't fed in weeks, and it was so tempting."

Dumbledore gave Draco a questioning look. "Hadn't fed in weeks?" he repeated.

"I- I could feel someone watching me wherever I went. I couldn't feed," Draco explained, purposely leaving out the part about the hunter.

Dumbledore nodded in understanding. "And the second question?"

Draco paused, thinking. Finally, he looked back up at Dumbledore, making sure not to look into those eyes. For some strange reason, they made him a bit uneasy. Maybe he saw just a bit too much sincerity in those eyes than he could handle.

"I won't lie to you, sir," Draco began. "I am a vampire, after all. I can't assure you that I will be able to control myself as well as I have for the past year. I've come close to slipping many times, and the only reason I haven't was because I had to be sure I didn't slip when I was at home. There could come a point where I may not be able to do anything and will kill on sight, sir. That is your answer. I cannot assure you that I won't kill, but I can assure you that I will try ten times harder to control myself than I have been doing in the last year."

Dumbledore stood silent for a while, apparently thinking. He gave Draco an appraising look, then smiled. "You're a good lad, you know that? And I would like you to know that I trust you. I think that all people, even the worst like Lord Voldermort, deserve a second chance, though I assure you that Voldermort has had many chances and he's blown them all. Now, if you try you're best to control yourself, I will make sure that you don't starve, so we don't have this problem again. But, rest assured, Mr. Malfoy, that if you ever harm a student, I will make sure you a duly punished. Is that fair enough?"

Draco smiled in relief and nodded.

"Good," Dumbledore said, striding over to the door and opening it. "Now run along, and mind yourself."

Draco nodded again and left the room. When he heard the door click shut, he had quite a time just keeping himself from whooping. Now why didn't I go to him in the first place? he asked himself. Look at all the trouble it could have saved me! Draco grinned as he shoved his hands in his pockets and whistled the tune of 'Fly Me To the Moon' as he walked down the stairs and back into the school.

*****

Draco merrily entered the Slytherin Commons, receiving many strange looks as he strutted past the younger students, still humming the tune of 'Fly Me To the Moon'. He started up the stairs, but was stopped at the foot of the staircase by Pansy.

"Why are you so happy?" she snarled, her arms crossed over her chest.

"Still mad, are we?" Draco asked, his voice still merry.

"Who wouldn't be?" Pansy snarled back. "You should be devastated by now! I heard from Professor Snape--"

"You need to cut out the gossip, you know that?" Draco asked, his voice not losing its happy tone. "It really will get you in a lot of trouble one day."

"But--" Pansy began.

"Oh, shut up Pansy," Draco said, brushing past her and hurrying up the stairs. Pansy snarled and followed him like a hunting dog.

"Hey! You don't just shove Pansy Parkinson out of the way and expect to get away with it!" she nearly yelled at him.

Draco spun around. They were right in front of the door leading to his dorm now. "Look, Pansy," he growled impatiently, "consider yourself incredibly lucky that I promised Professor Dumbledore that I would not kill a student, because if I hadn't you'd be the first I'd call a meal."

Pansy opened he mouth to say something, but Draco spun around, threw the dormitory door open, strode in and slammed it behind him before the words had the chance to form on her lips.

Draco rushed over to his bed and threw himself upon it, laughing. Blaise Zabini looked up from his spot on the bed, where he sat reading some Muggle book. "What's so funny?" Blaise asked.

"You should have seen the look on her face!" Draco laughed. "It was completely hilarious!" Draco hugged his middle and laughed. "My side hurts," he giggled, rolling onto his side.

"You're so easily amused," Blaise sighed, placing his book on the bed and going over to Draco's, sitting down next to him. "Whose face? And why was it so funny?"

"Pansy's!" Draco said, still giggling uncharacteristically. "The little bitch! It's the first time I have ever seen her lost for words! And... that face! She looked like a pissed off mutt!"

Blaise cracked a grin and shook his head. "More?" he asked, finding Draco's explanation more than a little amusing.

Draco sat up and stopped laughing, though his mouth was still hid behind a huge grin. "Well, you see, she's been blackmailing me, and I just got the best of her, and now she's totally pissed," he explained. He grinned broadly, and then started giggling again.

Blaise pictured Pansy's pug-like face, then joined in, laughing so hard that tears streamed down his face. "I can just see her!" he said, shaking his head in amusement. "Well, can't say she didn't deserve it." The laughter died down, but their grins stayed, pasted on their faces. "Why was she blackmailing you?"

Draco's grin disappeared and was replaced by a thoughtful expression. "You know," he said, "I bet that she and Lita had another fight. I remember Lita yelling at her about taking advantage of me just to spite her. I'll bet you that's why."

"To get back at Lita?" Blaise cocked his head to one side. He sighed and shook his head. "Yeah, that's probably why. She really is a little bitch."

"Who?" Draco asked, frowning. "Are you talking about Pansy or Lita?"

"Pansy."

"Oh, good."

Draco stood up and stretched. "Gods, my side hurts," he groaned. "Too much laughing for one day."

Blaise chuckled. "Yeah. You know, we should really get back down. Poor Alexis, left all alone to watch over the Common Room," Blaise sighed shaking his head.

Draco nodded and headed for the door. "That's a really good idea," he said. "I need to talk to Lita, anyway."

Blaise nodded back and followed Draco out of the room. They hurried down the stairs and entered the crowded Common Room. Draco quickly glanced around. Where is she? he asked himself.

Draco's eyes reluctantly fell on Pansy, who was sitting at a table across the room with Millicent Bullstode. Draco heaved a great sigh. "What's wrong?" Blaise asked.

"I'll see you later," Draco muttered, striding across the room to the table where Pansy sat. "Pansy," Draco muttered reluctantly.

"Hiya, Draco!" Millicent said cheerfully.

"Hi, Millicent," Draco said, straining a smile in her direction. He turned back to Pansy. "Pansy, have you seen--"

"Have I seen that little tramp girlfriend of yours?" Pansy finished, looking up at Draco. "Yes, but not recently. She left soon after you did this morning."

"Uh, thanks," Draco said, ignoring the homicidal look on Pansy's face. "Do you know where she went?"

"No, and I don't care," Pansy growled. "Go find her on your own, I'm not going to help you."

"I was just asking if you knew where she was, I wasn't asking you to assist me in a crusade, geeze," Draco said, spinning around and heading out of the Common Room.

*****

Draco rushed through the halls searching everywhere he could think of for Lita. Finally, after at least an hour of searching, he found himself at the foot of the staircase leading into the Astronomy Tower. He froze in mid step.

He could feel the phantom.

He glared up the Astronomy Tower steps. It's up there, he thought.

"Mr. Malfoy! Why aren't you in your Common Room?" came Dumbledore's voice from behind him. Draco ignored it as he frowned in frustration.

No more running away.

"Mr. Malfoy?" Dumbledore placed a hand on Draco's shoulder in concern, but Draco still ignored him.

It's time to end this.

"Mr. Malfoy, are you alright?"

Now I'll finally find out who you are.

"Mr. Malfoy!" Dumbledore called as Draco suddenly broke away from his grasp and rushed up the stairs. He ran up them two at a time, heading toward the aura. He wouldn't run away any more. He'd end this now.

Draco reached the top and stood before a pair of large, double oak doors. He could feel the aura, and it was stronger than ever. And it was right behind those doors.

Draco placed his hands on the doors and threw them open. He entered the room and gasped at what he saw.

Oh, sweet damnation!

*****

A/N--Well, there it is. And yet another cliffy! ::rubs hands together evilly:: I do hope you all enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. By the way, I'd like you all to meet the muse that created this story. Put your hands together for ::drum roll:: Avria!

Avria--::flutters in and bows:: Thank you! Thank you!

::crickets chirping::

Avria--Ahem! ::hands on hips::

::silence::

little lizard--Well, wonderful! Back to typing! ;p

Avria--I'm still waiting for my applause! Show gratitude people! ::storms off:: No respect! Absolutely no respect!