It Started on Samhain

Anna tried to push Draco Malfoy out of her mind, but it was suddenly as if she was seeing him all over the castle. She broke up one of his famed altercations with Harry Potter, and watched him as he questioned the Seventh Year girls from each house.

"Does anyone know what's gotten into Draco Malfoy?" Penelope Clearwater asked, sitting beside Anna in the Ravenclaw common room.

Anna paused in the writing of a potions essay and looked up. "What do you mean?"

Penelope dragged a stack of books out of her book-bag. "Apparently he's been pestering all the Seventh Year girls about someone who dressed as a dancer for the Halloween Ball."

"What's that all about?" Anna dipped her quill into her ink and carried on writing.

"Who knows? At first he was just cocky about it, making out as if some pathetic muggle-born girl was in the thrall of his pureblood greatness. Now it's just annoying. He's become stubborn about the whole thing."

"Kids these days." Anna shook her head, but inside she was trembling. It had been over a week since the masque. Had Draco spoken truth about himself and his father? Did he really need her?

* * *

That evening as Anna headed for the Great Hall to eat supper, she saw Draco Malfoy approach Penelope and some of her friends.

"What now, Malfoy?" Penelope demanded, her hands on her hips. "Honestly - you've gone through Slytherin, Hufflepuff, Gryffindor and half of Ravenclaw - you ought to stop this nonsense immediately."

"Please, I just need to find her - "

Penelope and her friends brushed past him, muttering angrily under their breath.

Draco watched them go, shoulders slumped in defeat.

Anna instinctively flinched back into the shadows when he started turning toward her.

"That's the last of them," he whispered. "I'll never find her."

His two bodyguards arrived then, and his usual arrogant smirk was firmly back in place. "Crabbe, Goyle, what took so long? Honestly, if I'd waited another moment I'd have starved to death. Get a move on!"

Anna watched them disappear into the Great Hall and wondered if she should talk to Dumbledore.

* * *

And then Anna didn't see Draco for three days. Not in the corridors, not in the library, not in the Great Hall at mealtimes. She found herself worried beyond all belief. Everyone else was unconcerned.

"Good riddance, I say," Penelope pronounced at breakfast of the third day. "It seems he's given up his quest to pester the sanity from us Seventh Year girls."

Anna began to seriously reconsider her decision not to talk to Dumbledore.

Draco had told her that he'd thought of killing himself many times. Maybe he had finally gone through with it?

The boy had spent two days locked in a dark room. His father's voice haunted his head.

You are my son, and you will take the path I have chosen for you.

The door swung open, and the black-robed figures that had haunted his childhood entered swiftly, menacingly, torchlight flickering on to follow them.

And then spoke the voice that could make a grown man weep like a child.

"Ah, yes Lucius, he is beautiful. He has a perfect body. I am well pleased."

"I live to serve you, my Lord," one of hooded figures answered.

The boy shrank back when the hooded figures advanced. Four grabbed him roughly and dragged him to the stone altar in the middle of the room and pinned him down.

The boy gasped and turned away as dry, cold fingers caressed his cheek.

"Yes. So beautiful."

One of the figures drew a blade, and it flashed in the low torchlight, but the boy bit his lip and remained silent. He was his father's son - he would be strong.

The figure slashed open the sleeve of his robe and shoved the ruined fabric aside, revealing the pale unmarked flesh of his left forearm.

The tip of a wand appeared from beneath a robe, and all the boy heard was the word "Morsmordre," before his world went black.

* * *

"Percy bloody Weasley," Anna grumbled as she ascended the stairs to the Astronomy Tower. "Penelope sodding Clearwater. If they weren't so busy snogging each other into oblivion I wouldn't be doing this for the third night in a row."

Anna was angry. Ever since Penelope had been dating the Head Boy she'd been shirking her duties, and somehow it fell to Anna to pick up the slack.

The kiddies were going to get it tonight.

Anna opened the door to the observation room, and of course it was empty. With a heated flick of her wand all of the classroom doors came open. The students inside cried out, horrified at being caught.

Anna uttered a, "Lumos Maxima!" and the blaze at the end of her wand chased away all the shadows.

"There's no mercy tonight, children," she snapped. "Straight to bed, all of you, now, and five points from each of your houses unless this isn't the first time I've caught you, in which case you lose ten points."

The students didn't even protest. They scurried quickly for the door, casting terrified looks at Anna. Most of them were Third and Fourth Years, for the older students had found better rendezvous spots.

Anna watched them flee with no small amount of satisfaction that faded when she saw that the fourth classroom was still closed.

Someone must have locked the door.

"Alohomora!" Anna flung the door open wide, but no amorous couple cried out in fear.

Instead, a dark figure huddled in the corner.

"Come out right now," Anna commanded.

The figure trembled.

Anna stomped closer, and the werelight at the end of her wand flared brightly, illuminating a head of messy white-blond hair amidst a tangle of tattered black robes.

It was Draco Malfoy.

"Return to your house dormitory at once," Ann said firmly.

And then she heard the low, broken voice chanting.

"No. Don't touch me. I'm a monster. Please, don't touch me."

Anna felt all of her worry and panic converge with her fury and coalesce into a horrific rage.

He looked small and frail, huddled in the corner with his knees drawn up to his chest, face buried in his arms, but Anna didn't care. She was going to scream her fury at him until he understood how she felt, even if it woke up the whole damned castle. She caught one fragile wrist and attempted to yank him to his feet.

"Did you hear me? I said go!"

He let out a wail and tried to jerk away and that's when Anna saw it, peeking from beneath the torn cloth of his sleeve: the Dark Mark.

Anna dropped to her knees before home and tried to pry his hands away from his face.

"Oh, goddess, Draco, what happened to you?"

His face was pale and smudged with tears, and the dark circles around his eyes told her that he hadn't slept in days.

"I'm dead now," he whispered. "I am the Dark Lord's vessel and nothing more. I have borne his mark in my heart and now I bear it on my body." His gray eyes held the emptiness of insanity.

Anna felt her fury melt away, leaving the panic full force. She had to help Draco - save Draco. She could hear the brokenness of his voice.

"Draco?" She tried to catch his gaze a few times, then succeeded and held it. "Draco, I want you to look at me."

He nodded, gazing at her as if enthralled.

Anna did the only thing she could think of. "Draco, reach up and untie my hair from its bunches."

He obeyed, hands shaking as he tugged hesitantly at the dark blue ribbons. Anna winced when she saw the Dark Mark up close, but held still as if not to frighten off a small, scared animal.

"Pretty hair," Draco whispered.

Anna smiled shakily. "Thanks. You've done pretty well so far. Now, take off my glasses and give them to me."

Draco slid them down her nose, and they landed in her lap.

"Now look at me, Draco, and look hard. Where have you seen me before?"

Draco studied her intently for a few moments, and then his eyes widened.

"It's you. From the Ball," he breathed, voice full of awe.

Anna nodded, smiling encouragingly. "That's right, Draco. My name is Anna Cameron, and I'm a Seventh Year Ravenclaw."

Draco's brow furrowed. "But you're that prefect - from that night - "

He caught her face in his hands and kissed her fervently, desperately. Anna kissed him back, unable to react any other way. His lips were warm and chapped, and he winced when she nibbled on his lower lip - it had been cut. His mouth tasted faintly of blood when she slid her tongue out for a taste, but that didn't matter, not when Draco was trying to speak his need and desperation and want with his lips and tongue and teeth and tentative hands skimming over her face and hair.

Draco whimpered, and something in his voice brought Anna back to her senses. She pulled away and breathed,

"Draco, I'm real, I promise."

Draco gazed at her, gray eyes broken. "But you lied to me and hid from me, and I needed you..."

"I know, and I'm sorry. But I'm here for you now, all right?" Anna drew him into her arms and held him tightly. Shock coursed through her. He was so thin, and his forehead was hot where it rested against her shoulder.

Draco clung to her, shaking with silent sobs.

"It's all right, I'm here," she whispered, stroking his hair.

And suddenly his grasp on her went limp, and his dead weight sagged against her. He'd passed out.

Anna stifled the scream that rose in her throat, but rationality took over. She cast a featherweight charm on Draco's unconscious form and picked him up. She had to get to Dumbledore's office.

"Peppermint snaps!"

The entrance to the headmaster's office appeared.

Anna darted up the stairs, almost tripping over her robes in her haste.

"Professor!" she yelled. "Professor Dumbledore, wake up!"

She arrived at his main office, and it was empty.

"Help!"

And then Professor Dumbledore appeared on the balcony above the office. He descended, and looked quite awake despite his dressing gown and furry slippers.

"Can I help you, Miss Cameron?"

"Professor - it's Draco Malfoy - I found him in the Astronomy Tower - he's ill - "

Anna felt the words tumble out of her in a panicked rush. She clutched Draco desperately. "He needs help."

Dumbledore frowned. "He was called home three days ago, and was fine at the time." He crossed his office in a few quick strides and placed a hand on Draco's forehead. "We should take him to the infirmary. Madam Pomfrey will take care of him."

"You don't understand, sir," Anna babbled. "He was crying. He's hurting inside - "

"The safety of my students is paramount. Come along, Miss Cameron. We must take him to Madam Pomfrey immediately." Professor Dumbledore started for the main stairs.

"Headmaster!"

He turned, hearing the urgency in her voice.

Anna felt ready to cry in frustration. The headmaster always knew what was happening, what would happen; was she the only one who knew what was going on with Draco?

She shifted Draco and reached out with one hand to draw back his left sleeve.

Professor Dumbledore stared grimly at the marred flesh. He shook his head, his expression turning to one of sadness.

"So, it has come to this." He sighed, suddenly seeming weary and old. "Young Master Malfoy is but a child, and to bear the burden he does...well then, Miss Cameron. We will take Master Malfoy to my room and Poppy can treat him from there."

Anna nodded and hurried to obey.

* * *

Professor Dumbledore's room was simply furnished and neat, but Anna paid little heed to the décor and laid Draco on the bed. Perspiration beaded across his brow and his face was flushed.

Madam Pomfrey tumbled out of the fireplace suddenly, drowsy and panicked in a dressing gown.

Professor Dumbledore greeted her briefly. "Sorry to wake you, Poppy, but come quickly. It's Draco Malfoy. His father presented him and he's already been given the Mark."

Madam Pomfrey snapped awake. "What? But he's only a child!" She rushed to the bedside and began checking the boy over. "A child cannot be a Death Eater."

"But Draco isn't going to be a Death Eater," Anna burst out. "He's going to be used as Voldemort's new body. He told me. He said his father - "

"Miss Cameron, perhaps you should return to your room," Professor Dumbledore broke in gently, but Madam Pomfrey flinched when she heard the Dark Lord's name.

"He told you that?" she whispered, horrified.

Anna nodded. She gazed down at Draco, furious at her own helplessness.

Professor Dumbledore wore a grim expression. "Miss Cameron, you need rest. I will speak to you tomorrow."

Anna found herself nodding. Then she forced herself to leave the headmaster's office. She was numb as she walked back to her dormitory.

What would happen to Draco?

* * *

Anna was sitting in Arithmancy struggling to listen to Professor Vector's lecture when the classroom opened and a Fifth Year Hufflepuff prefect held out a note.

Professor Vector scanned it, then said, "Anandita Cameron, please report to the headmaster's office."

A ripple of whispers swept through the room, but Anna didn't care for the petty gossip - she was worried about Draco. The Hufflepuff left. Anna gathered up her things and hurried down the corridor.

"Peppermint snaps," she said, and statue slid aside to reveal the staircase.

Anna ascended quickly, and she was greeted by a giant red phoenix.

Professor Dumbledore was seated at his desk, but he rose when she entered his office.

"Good morning, Miss Cameron," he said, gesturing for her to sit and taking a seat himself. "I'm sure you know what this conversation is about."

"Is Draco all right?" Anna blurted out.

"Madam Pomfrey has taken care of him physically, but I still fear for his emotional well-being." Professor Dumbledore folded his hands on the desktop.

Anna bit her lip. "Is he not okay?"

"He called out for you in the night," Professor Dumbledore said. "And he is terrified of his father."

"I can't do anything for him." Anna sighed.

"I disagree." Dumbledore leaned forward and said, "Young Master Malfoy needs a friend, someone to relieve him of his burden for a while, to counter the damage his father has caused."

"But sir, I can't give any of that to him," Anna protested.

His eyes twinkled. "You can. Besides, Master Malfoy needs tutoring in all the subjects you happen to be taking."
Anna opened her mouth to point out that all Draco wanted from her was a good snog, then checked herself and clenched her jaw shut, nodding.

"When Draco has calmed we will release him back to his house, and you two can set up a tutoring schedule then."

"I understand, headmaster."

Dumbledore smiled. "I'm sure you'll do a good job."

If I don't do a good job corrupting the boy-Lolita, Anna thought grimly as she left the office. Cold terror settled into the pit of her stomach. Tutor Draco Malfoy?

* * *

Anna felt as if all eyes were on her when she approached the Slytherin table the next night at supper. She had been glad to see him looking healthier and sitting with his old friends as normal, but she could see the shadows in his eyes. And she didn't feel like taking on a whole load of bigoted Slytherins at once.

As she neared the table a Sixth Year boy rose.

"What d'you want, Mudblood?" he sneered.

Anna lifted her chin defiantly. "To speak to your darling little prince, Draco Malfoy."

When the boy opened his mouth to rebuff her, Anna said,

"And it's all on the headmaster's orders, of course."

"Like we care what that old coot says." The boy tossed his head haughtily.

Anna leaned in and whispered, "I'm a Ravenclaw. We know things ordinary witches and wizards don't know. Did you know that there's a curse that can rip the spine out of a living human body? And it doesn't even need a wand. Asian wandless variety, don't you know? I just need two syllables and to know where the spine of my victim is." She reached around him with one arm and drew a fingertip down the back of his robe. He cried out and recoiled sharply.

Anna smirked, stepped around him and headed for Draco.

"Good evening, Draco Malfoy."

He turned as if barely noticing her presence and looked her up and down, arching one eyebrow. "What do can I do for you, mudblood?"

"Start kissing the hems of my robes so you can earn the same excellent marks we mudbloods earn," Anna answered coolly.

Draco flinched, recognizing her deliberate reference to Hermione Granger.

"Meet me in the library in half an hour with all your homework," Anna said, spun on her heel and walked away, leaving a table full of Slytherins gaping at her. She glanced over her shoulder and saw Draco smile slightly before turning to one of his flunkies and snapping something about the other boy's manners.

* * *

Draco met her in the library as she'd instructed, carrying several textbooks, parchment, his quill and some ink.

Anna scanned the room and realized, just as Draco had, that everyone was staring at them. The library was crowded, but it was a weeknight and midterms were arriving, so that was to be expected. None of the more secluded tables were available, and the study rooms were occupied as well.

"We'll study in my room," Anna said finally.

Draco blinked at her.

"I managed to get a private room this year." Anna spun on her heel and swept out of the library, not bothering to check if Draco was following. She murmured the password to the Ravenclaw common room so that he couldn't hear, and then the password into her room.

Draco was impressed when he saw how spacious her room was. She had the same four-poster bed as everyone else, but then she had a wardrobe and desk and bookcase, and even an adjoining bathroom.

Anna set her books down on her bed and sighed, shrugging off her robes to reveal her school uniform beneath.

"You can get comfortable," she invited. She sat down on the edge of the bed and kicked off her shoes and socks, tugging off her tie and draping it around one of the bedposts.

Draco removed his shoes and socks but kept on his robes. He perched tentatively on the other side of the bed, setting down his books.

Anna stretched, and Draco fought the blush that crept up his cheeks when her blouse rode up to reveal a strip of warm golden skin.

"Draco, are you all right?"

He blinked. "Oh, yes, I'm fine. Madam Pomfrey fixed me up quite well."

Anna tilted her head to the side, and Draco realized how dark her eyes were behind her glasses. "Draco, there's no need to pretend around me. Really, how are you?"

He looked away. "I'm alive. I suppose it's all I have for now."

"Well, just remember if you ever need anything, all you have to do is come talk to me." Anna lifted her wand and twirled it casually. "What sort of music do you like?"

Draco blinked at her. "What do you mean?"

"Well, obviously you know something about muggle music. I listen to music when I study. What would you like to listen to?"

"What do you have?"

"Anything."
Draco raised his eyebrows. "Anything?"

Anna nodded.

He thought for a moment, watching her rifle through a black case that contained flat, colored disks.

"The slow Latin music, like we danced to," he said.

Anna grinned and held up a blue disk. She tapped it with her wand, and it began spinning in midair. A man's voice and a Spanish guitar suddenly flooded the air.

Draco's eyes went wide. "How did you do that?"

"A muggle CD, a wizarding trick." Anna shrugged. "So, what now?"

Draco listened to the slow music. Anna hummed to herself, swaying to the beat.

"Well, how about this? You do what homework you can, and if you run into any problems you can ask me." Anna picked up an Arithmancy textbook.

"Sounds good." Draco nodded and reached for his Potions homework. Even though Professor Snape was his godfather, Draco was naturally good at brewing potions, which was why he had a good grade in the class. But Anna had been right in the Great Hall - his father was extremely disappointed that Hermione Granger got all the top marks in their year.

Draco scanned his Potions book, occasionally glancing over at Anna. She had pulled her hair out of its customary bunches and was idly combing it with her fingers as she read. She was beautiful, but she really didn't seem to realize it.

Suddenly she noticed him watching her and looked up. "Is the music too loud? I can turn it down if you like."
Draco shook his head. "No, it's fine."

"Is there anything I can do for you?" Anna raised her eyebrows.

Draco went to shake his head again, but stopped himself. He was here in Anna's room. Anna was the girl who had been plaguing his nights for almost a month. Anna was the girl who could give him life and breath and warmth...

"Actually, could you come here and look at something?"
Anna set down her book and leaned across the bed to peer over his shoulder at his textbook.

"What's your question?"
She was too predictable. Draco felt a familiar frisson of glee when his Slytherin manipulations worked, but the emotion had none of its malice. He turned and cupped her chin in one hand and kissed her.

Anna made a sound of surprise but Draco silenced her by deepening the kiss. He pushed the book off of his lap and turned to face her, sliding his other arm around her waist and still kissing her. Anna curled one hand weakly on his shoulder, unsure if she should push him away or pull him closer. He moved his mouth away from her lips and began a trail of blazing kisses down her jaw and to her throat. Draco dragged his mouth up her throat and nuzzled the spot just behind her jaw, and suddenly Anna went limp, sinking back onto the bed.

He draped his torso over hers and continued kissing her, trailing his fingertips down her ribs. She moaned beneath him, and he nuzzled that spot again.

"You like that?" he whispered, pulling back and panting slightly.

"Draco, what are you doing?" Anna breathed, sounding dazed.

Draco traced her ear with his tongue. "Snogging with you, that's what."

She nodded, and he smirked to himself before moving his mouth down her throat and drawing her collar aside to place a series of butterfly-light kisses across her collarbone.

Suddenly she planted two hands on his chest and shoved him back, bolting upright.

"Wait, no, stop that!"

Draco sat back, unable to stop the hurt pooling in his eyes. "Did that not feel good? I can do better things if you like."
Anna spluttered. "No, no! No need to do better things. No need to do any thing at all."

Draco felt terror swirl in him. "Are you angry with me? Please don't be angry with me."

Anna placed calming hands on his shoulders. "No, Draco, I'm not mad at you. It's just - we can't do things like that."

"But I like it when we kiss," Draco said, lowering his head. "You let me kiss you before."

"And I was wrong to."

Draco's head came up sharply. "What? Why?"

"You're fourteen, Draco. You're a Third Year. I'm a Seventh Year. I'm nineteen. In most countries, it's illegal for me to even be near someone your age like this," Anna said.

Draco curled one hand around her wrist. "I told you at the dance - I'm yours. You can do whatever you want me with me, and I won't tell anyone."

Anna sighed. "Professor Dumbledore trusted me to help you, and I won't betray that. And you shouldn't give yourself to me - I'll be your friend, but you need something to keep for yourself."

Draco shook his head. "No. I want do to this for you."

"Draco, I can't do that. You have to learn that it's okay to go through life without giving yourself to someone else. You have to figure out how to keep parts of yourself for yourself. Only when you do that can you truly give yourself away, because then you're aware of what it is you're giving away." Anna reached up and stroked his hair. "Do you know who you are, Draco Malfoy? Do you know what makes you happy, what makes you sad? Do you know even know what your favorite color is?"

Draco felt himself begin to tremble and automatically fought back the tears. He was a Malfoy, and Malfoys didn't cry in public, they didn't cry at all.

"Do you even know what it means to be just Draco and not a Malfoy?" Anna asked.

He shook his head, biting his lip.

"Now listen, I'm still your friend," Anna said, "and we can hang out at night after we study. We can dance and play games and listen to music. Together we can figure out who you are. But you can never, ever, kiss me. Understand?"

Draco nodded, but he didn't trust himself to speak.

"I really don't mean to hurt you." Anna drew him into her arms, and Draco closed his eyes, burrowing deeper in her embrace. He felt warm and safe.

Finally he said, "Do you want to kiss me?"

"What I want doesn't matter," Anna said. "What matters is helping you."

Draco nodded against her shoulder. She was so close. He could kiss her now if she moved just right -

"And part of me helping you is tutoring you. We really do have to study, you know?"

Draco squeezed his eyes shut tightly when a familiar song came on, the song that had haunted him since the night of the ball, the song to which they'd had their first kiss. He wanted to kiss her so badly...

"Maybe we can study tomorrow night, all right?" Anna stroked his hair and began rocking him gently. "Sleep, Draco. I'll wake you and take you back to your room when it's time."
Draco felt a wave of exhaustion sweep over him then, and he plunged into oblivion.

Anna watched him sleep, and a mixture of relief and panic settled over her. Never had she been more aware of Draco's youth, and while he wasn't exactly innocent, there was something in him that remained untouched and pure, something that she wanted to protect. Anna had been horrified at the sudden burst of submissiveness Draco had displayed as soon as he had thought he had displeased her. And why would a fourteen-year-old boy know 'better things'? Anna lowered him to the bed and drew his robes over him to keep him warm. She could admit to herself that she wanted to kiss him, despite the fact that she knew it was wrong and generally illegal. He was a fantastic kisser, but he was so young. Too young to know how to kiss like that. Anna just wanted to help him. She knew that he was a Malfoy and now a Death Eater and had to keep up certain appearances to prevent incurring the wrath of his father - appearances that involved him still hating Harry Potter - but she had to make sure that he knew the difference between right and wrong, not only in what he did but in what he let others do to him. Anna gazed at him for a few moments longer, then turned to her homework and began studying again.