Let the Darkness Become You

Let the Darkness Become You

*~*

Chapter Seven

The mysterious attacks that had been plaguing Hogwarts, stopped after our return from the Christmas holidays. Professor Sprout was even overheard reporting to Dumbledore that the Mandrakes were nearly ready for pruning. Much of the school accepted this with anticipation, even among us Slytherins. We may not like Mudbloods, but having an unknown monster in the school was something no one wanted to encounter.

Suspicion around Potter also began to fade away as I noticed him having to weave through the crowds once more, Weasley close behind. Come to think of it, I hadn't seen Granger in a while. Just where could she be?

Contemplating this, I didn't notice the person in front of me until I had run into something very solid and took a hasty, unbalanced step back.

"Watch it!" I growled.

Looking down my eyes widened slightly in surprise as I stared at Lisa Turpin. She glared at me before scrambling to her feet, her friends gathering around her to help get her books.

"Damn Slytherins think they own the bloody halls," I heard her mutter angrily.

My eyes narrowed dangerously. "If you Ravenclaws didn't have your noses wedged between the book pages, maybe you'd notice a little more!" I snapped.

Millicent laughed at my side and we brushed past the affronted Ravenclaw.

"Bitch," I muttered darkly to myself, as we strode behind a crowd of Hufflepuffs.

My friend raised an inquisitive brow. "Why the jealousy all of a sudden?"

"I'm not jealous," I replied instantly. I conveniently made myself forget to think about earlier this week when I had caught the blonde coming out of an abandoned classroom, followed minutes later by Draco.

The second year merely shrugged, apparently unconvinced, as we entered Professor Binns classroom. I immediately froze in the doorway, frowning as an idea wormed its way into my thoughts. Was I jealous?

I considered my actions, before shrugging them away. There was nothing wrong there, just a disagreement between a Slytherin and another house. Following Millicent to a table, I looked towards Draco to see him watching me intently. The minute I looked towards him he nonchalantly shifted his gaze to Theodore. Noticing Draco's slip in attention, Theodore also looked in my direction and grinned knowingly.

I barely spared him a scowl before getting parchment and quill as Binns floated through the wall. There was nothing to be jealous of; Turpin was just annoying me as usual.

*~*

I could tell that it was going to be a bad day the minute I walked into Professor Sinistra's class. All of my housemates wore murderous expressions and I couldn't blame them; at every table a Slytherin was paired off with a Gryffindor.

Apparently Sinistra had decided it was time to work on inter-house relations. She couldn't have picked a worse class to experiment with. I would be genuinely amazed if anyone came out of this unscathed, Slytherins and Gryffindors alike.

"Ah, Miss Parkinson," Professor Sinistra said, looking up from her desk. "Do you have an excuse for being late?"

I hesitated. Turpin had cornered me rushing on my way to class and taken the opportunity to taunt me when none of my friends were around. She would have to learn that I wasn't so easy to beat, but the intrusion had delayed me.

"Miss Parkinson?"

I looked back up at Professor Sinistra, realizing my thoughts had wandered.

"No, Professor," I replied. "I left a book in my dormitory and had to return for it."

Sinistra's dark eyes gazed at me intently from above rectangular glasses. "Very well," she replied, "see me after class. You may be seated."

Frowning I turned back towards the tables; all but one were empty. Neville Longbottom watched me nervously as I approached.

I sighed, my day was obviously not going to get any better. Ever since our first day at school when the Gryffindor's repulsive frog had jumped on me, I had disliked the nervous boy. Add that to being a Gryffindor, and he really didn't have much going for him as far as I was concerned.

He hesitantly handed me the piece of parchment everyone was working on. I snatched it grudgingly. "What are we doing?" I growled in frustration.

Longbottom jumped at my tone and knocked his bottle of ink over his papers. Groaning inwardly, I turned towards Tracey to get the assignment. It was definitely not going to be a good day.

*~*

My second year continued to transgress uneventfully until Professor Lockhart took it to mind to decorate for Valentines. It was strange to see the Great Hall so oddly bedecked, not to mention having classes interrupted for caroling cupids. But the fun quickly got old as the cupids continued to hang around for the following week.

"Damn cupids," I muttered irritably as McGonagall ushered the irksome dwarves out of the room.

I brushed away the annoying glitter that always accompanied the flittery things. By the time this was over I would need a new set of school robes, as all my others were already glitter covered as well.

"Your just sore because you haven't gotten one yet," Daphne pointed out. She had gotten five so far, one for each day the cupids had been around, and she had been one of the ones to receive another that class.

"Not true," Millicent said, with a wicked grin from her seat in front of me, next to Daphne. "There was that one from Crabbe."

I cringed at the memory of the bad card writing and horrible little dwarf who had discovered me in the library. The only amusing thing about the whole affair was getting to watch poor Madam Pince fret over her beloved, and now glitter filled, bookshelves.

I glared at them as they laughed, then transferred my glare to Draco as he joined them. He leaned forward with a smirk and reach out to brush away one of my errant ebony curls. His touch was soft and warm, my breath caught at his nearness.

"You missed some," he replied, shaking the curl. Glitter fell into my lap.

Looking down distractedly, I brushed the glitter from my skirt. "Thanks," I mumbled, shifting to face the front more directly, breaking our contact.

What in bloody hell was that just about?

*~*

An escape to the lake that evening was relaxing as I sat on a hillside, enjoying the breeze. Snagged by the wind, my curls flew about my face, overjoyed at having been released from their confining twist.

Below, the lake remained calm, interrupted only by the occasional thrash of a tentacle of the Great Squid as a red sun began to sink towards the horizon.

I sulkily thought back to Daphne's words earlier in the day. The end of the week was now at a close, and I had passed it with only one card and a peck on the cheek from Blaise, who remained too sweet for his own good.

Not that I had truly expected anything spectacular, but maybe something a little more. Even Tracey had managed to get two cards; one from a Ravenclaw and the other an admiring first year Slytherin, Marek.

"You never appealed to me as the sort to brood."

I nearly jumped out of my skin with shock. I hadn't even heard anyone approach. Looking up at the blonde Slytherin I smiled slightly.

"Brood?" I repeated as Draco sat next to me. "What makes you think I was brooding?"

He smiled, answering, "Your nose does this funny thing."

I frowned at him as I watched him stretch out his long frame, ankles crossed. He had grown even more throughout the school year. I was rather surprised that he had sought me out; perhaps he was merely out thinking as well.

"No," I replied. "I was just thinking."

"About what?"

Not feeling like discussing it, since I had been brooding I shrugged. "Why do you think there haven't been any more attacks?" I wondered, steering the subject away from my own dour thoughts.

He frowned. "It's been bothering me too. I wish I knew who it was."

"Do you think there is anything odd about the other attacks?" I asked.

"You mean other than the fact that no one has witnessed any of them?"

I jumped in surprise at how fast he grasped the concept of what had been annoying me. He smirked smugly. I should have known that something so obvious wouldn't escape his notice.

"Why do you think that has been?" I wondered.

The blonde twirled a stalk of grass between his fingers. "Nobody knows as far as I can tell. The only witnesses are the victims themselves - "

"And not likely to reveal the answer soon," I finished for him.

He cast me an approving nod. "Exactly."

"So who is the Heir of Slytherin?"

His jaw tightened in the anticipated anger I knew he would show. Potter's alleged attacks had irritated him to no end, especially being a Slytherin himself.

"Believe me, if I knew that all this would be finished," he practically growled.

"Surprising, I would have assumed you'd want to see the Mudbloods done with."

Draco grinned at me but it held no mirth. "Not if it discredits Potter."

Love and trust are weaknesses for the mind - it was an old lesson I had learned through my years in training as a Parkinson.

As I sat there with Draco, however, his eyes burning with an inner intensity, I realized that so was hate and jealousy. Realizing I had been portraying glimpses of these traits myself, I made a mental note to not be so obvious with my feelings.

"He's just a Gryffindor."

The blonde gave me a sharp look. "And?"

I fiddled with the lacings of my cloak. "He hardly matters. I don't see why you let him get to you."

Draco's jaw tightened angrily, eyes slipping from gray storm clouds to icy cold steel.

"He doesn't get to me," he snapped.

I rolled my eyes. "I am so sorry if I have wounded your manly Malfoy pride," I said, sarcasm adding a bite to my words.

He glared at me. "It takes more than that to pierce this armor, Parkinson," he replied. "You'll need to try harder next time."

I smiled grimly at him while standing, too tired to have another round with my obstinate housemate.

"What makes you think I was trying?" I retorted. "Goodnight Draco."

He nodded moodily, eyes glaring out over the water.

Walking away, I halted as he called out to me. Looking back I saw that he had turned towards me, the sunset behind him casting his face into shadow. "Happy Valentine's Day, Pansy."

It was as much an apology as I could expect. "You too, Draco."

The next morning Nightshade woke me to deliver a single, beautifully preserved red rose. Delighted beyond compare I handled the sharp thorny stem carefully as I hastily opened the attached note.

To go with your prickly nature.

Yours Truly,

Draco Malfoy

I smiled. So he had been listening after all.

*~*

It was a beautiful spring day as I walked out to the Quidditch stadium with my friends chatting around me. The sky was that perfect shade of blue and not a cloud in it, as a pleasant breeze swept across the air.

The playful manner of the day seemed to rub off on everyone as smiling students walked through the grounds towards the pitch. It was nice to not be locked inside studying on this day, even if the game was going to be Gryffindor and Hufflepuff. Marcus wanted his team to watch the Hufflepuffs, since we would be playing them soon and rumor said they had a half decent team.

I settled into the front row of the seats between Daphne and Millicent. On Daphne's other side Blaise sat rather tensely as my friend started to give him the full treatment of her attention.

"Do you play Quidditch, Blaise?" she asked sweetly.

He nodded. "At home."

"You should try out for the team next year. I bet you would be wonderful!"

Millicent and I traded amused glances before movement on the Quidditch pitch drew our attention. McGonagall was storming out onto the field as the players prepared to take off, waving a megaphone she had grasped in one hand.

"The match has been cancelled. All students are to make their way back to the House common rooms, where their Head of Houses will give them further information. As quickly as you can, please!"

A loud protest rose up from the stands.

"This is going to delay all the other games," Marcus sneered from behind me.

I looked around to see the Slytherin team all looking murderously upset.

"Leave it to McGonagall to screw things up," another player, Bole, sneered.

I moved to follow the crowd that was headed back towards the school.

"Wonder what could delay a game," I murmured thoughtfully, looking pointedly at the clear sky.

Taking the hint Millicent shrugged. "It must be something else. A tragic event or something."

Once we had all assembled in the common room the prefects informed us about the "tragic event." Granger and another student had been petrified!

I noticed Draco grinning widely in delight from the opposite end of the room, and couldn't hide my own small pleasure. I had hardly seen Granger at all that year due to some mysterious illness she had in the hospital wing, and now she would be gone until the Mandrake potion was complete!

*~*

As usual, Potter spoiled the fun by discovering and killing the monster in the Chamber of Secrets that year and rescuing the distraught Ginny Weasley. His heroic event drew a close to the school year, and much of the next days were spent in celebration of his greatness. Damned Granger had been revived to attend, too.

Growing use to Potter's great contributions to everyone's safety, I actually enjoyed myself throughout the celebrations. My friends and I stayed up late that night in the common room, as Draco sulked in the corner rather than taking advantage of our cancelled tests.

He was still in a murdeous mood the next day brushing past me impatiently as I turned towards my sister, who had insisted on escorting me to the train station. She was going to spend the night at Neil's manor, where the Lestranges were holding a grande, formal dinner in celebration of completing their last year at Hogwarts. Most of the seventh years had been talking about it nonstop throughout the remaining week of school.

"Aren't you nervous?" I asked her when we reached the train station, I couldn't resist the question that had been haunting me for weeks.

She smiled prettily at me. "No," she answered. "Why? Should I be?"

I sighed. "I guess not. But everything is so sudden."

"Missing me already?" She laughed.

"I just don't like the fact that you will be all alone with Neil in that large house. When will I ever see you?"

I fiddled with my cloak, sensing that I was treading into dangerous ground.

She frowned at me, her attention shifting to the mass of students around us. "Why can't you two get along?"

"We get along," I replied defensively.

Had Neil and I been that obvious?

She snorted. "Right. Why don't you like him then? He's a good person, Pansy and.... I love him."

I looked up at those words, words so foreign in our household, which had been ruled by lessons and commands. They seemed sincere, but when I met her blue eyes I realized the truth. Something I didn't even think Zella herself realized. She was a perfect woman; beautiful and talented. But she had also been molded and crafted into that perfect image a Parkinson daughter should be.

Her obedience to my parents was unquestionable, and one that said that she would love whoever they told her to love. It was an obedience that terrified me in it's determined attempts to ensnare me in its grasp. I feared a manipulation so strong that you did not even control your own thoughts or will.

Zella's own unquestioning obedience was to the point of being dangerous. I shivered to think of what kind of havoc my soon to be brother-in-law would wreak when he got his grasp on her devotional loyalty. The thought weighed on me oppressively, like a shadow that, once adorned, can not be shaken off.

The Hogwarts Express whistled loudly, disturbing my thoughts. I looked up as Zella grinned, mistaking my desperate expression as she ruffled my curls.

"Don't worry. We'll still see each other. I don't plan on abandoning you. I'll be home the day after tomorrow, promise!"

It was a testament of what was truly between us that she reached out to comfort me with an embrace. Parkinsons hardly ever showed any emotion to each other publicly and I appreciated it. If she didn't need the assurance, I most certainly did, for I feared the brother-in-law I was about to inherit.