Crystal Power

Chapter 13: - Upset

Life continued at Hogwarts, Vir tried to study hard, ignoring the snide comments that were made by the Slytherins and the continual echo's of sympathy that the other houses offered. Draco was proving to be an irritation as well, he was a complete git in Potions but the glances he offered her occasionally were different... un-Draco-ish. Vir became introverted and buried herself in her studies. Her escape came rarely in the form of writing, both literature and factual, in her diary and in her art. It was Halloween and the majority of the school had abandoned the castle to visit Hogsmeade. She had however, decided to sit in her room and draw. Pulling out an unfinished portrait she seized her pencils and came to add the final shadowing. He was coming to life. She had opted for a simple pencil sketch rather than a painting or ink. The pencil lead showed the colour of his eyes and she hoped to enchant it so it moved like wizard photographs. Lazily she trailed the pencil across the parchment, with each new stroke she tilted her head. After a while she sat back and bit her lip, nodding she smiled.

"Finished," she said gleefully. She used her wand to elevate the picture to the wall and fix it there. She walked to the window and looked out onto the grounds of Hogwarts. There was a cloud break through which rays of sunlight shone. By the lake she saw a solitary figure, the sunlight reflecting from his hair. Knowing fully well who it was she grabbed her cloak and ran out to join him. He was throwing stones into the water. She closed in on him but stopped when she saw someone else, someone who had been blocked from view by a tree. Pug faced Pansy Parkinson was laughing at something Draco had said. Vir's eyes widened and she frowned with jealousy. She turned on her heel and stalked back to the castle. Returning to her room she ripped the picture from the wall and tore it in two. She removed the necklace he'd given her and wrapped it in the destroyed portrait. Wiping a stray tear that ran down her cheek she took the parcel and ventured to the dungeons. Writing 'Draco' on the package she left it on Snape's desk.

*****

Vir sat at the Gryffindor table aware of Malfoy's glare. As she stood up to leave left she saw that Snape was ignoring Draco, which was quite unusual. She held her head high determined not to react. She would not give him that satisfaction. She went for a walk through the school to clear her head but on reaching the second floor she came across him in a deserted corridor. >

>"Miss Weasley, step inside please," he stated flatly. There was a opening in the stone wall which she'd never seen before. Frowning, she entered. He followed and the wall/door sealed behind them. In the minutes of tense silence, she looked around the room. It held a bed, wardrobe and a desk. There was an adjoining room that Vir assumed was the bathroom. "What the Hell did you do that for?"

"Do what?" she spat back.

"Leave that lovely gift for me on Snape's desk you idiot!" With each word his voice escalated to almost a scream.

"I don't know what you mean," she lied.

"This." He picked up a piece of torn parchment, the pendant and held them up. She assumed it was the portrait. "This, nearly cost me my job here. What were you thinking you stupid girl?"

"What made you think I drew that?"

"Let's have a look shall we. I gave you this necklace a week before the start of term. It is unique. Who else would have it?"

"Oh. So, on one scrap of evidence you assume it was me?"

"It's not just a scrap of evidence it's undeniable proof that it was you," Closing his eyes he sighed, "I am guessing that due to the torn portrait I've upset you."

"Give yourself a medal. You deserve any punishment Snape gives you! You are messing around with a student and I don't think that members of staff are meant to do that."

"Oh?"

"I am not going to take this laying down MALFOY. First you get me a detention and lose my house a load of points. Then, during the said detention you attack me. Not only are you satisfied with that but you belittle me and make me feel worthless. I took all of that because I thought you cared and couldn't show it because it would appear suspicious. But then today..." She threw her hands up. "...today I see you and your supposed ex-fiancée laughing it up by the lake. If you thought I was just gonna take it you are wrong! Stuff the prophecy and stuff you." She turned from him and took a step to leave.

"Stop being such a bitch! Get down off that pedestal you've put yourself on." She turned back to him, her eyes focused on him with a penetrating glare. Her hair appeared wild and redder than ever. His eyes appeared harder and colder than ever too. "I know that I'm no saint but neither are you. Think about it. You turned your back on Potty and turned to me. I took you in and bought you your school supplies. You haven't contacted your remaining family members in months and here you are lecturing me?"

"Now look who's trying to polish their halo."

"Pansy was here for a reason; she was delivering a message from my father. Plus, she was talking to Dumbledore about her little brother. We were just talking. Why does it matter to you?" He threw the parchment and necklace onto the desk.

"It doesn't" She turned away.

"It does. It has mattered ever since you performed a certain unforgivable curse on me. Before that even, wait, I understand. You see me as your new Potter. A saviour, a knight in shining armour." He placed a hand on her shoulder and leaning over he continued in whisper. "Well, your saviour is one of circumstance and your knights armour is dull. I am not nice nor have I ever been. You're seeing something that just isn't there." She could feel his breath tickling her cheek and was aware of how close he was.

"You never were my knight. You incarcerated me; you lied, hurt and cheated me out of so much. You really are nothing more than a Death Eater, Draco Malfoy!" His eyes snapped open and his heart beat slowed. Sure he'd been called that before but it actually cut into him when she said it. He backed away and sat at his desk playing with a quill.

"Go," he commanded not looking at her. Vir glanced at him and then slipped out. He waited to hear the door click and then stood quickly. His chair fell over and he picked up some books and threw them. He unmade the bed and created as much destruction as he could manage. His eyes then came across the drawing and her pendant, sighing he picked them up and sat on the bed. He trailed his fingers over the lines of the drawing. He charmed the parchment to bond back together. The rip was still visible but less so. She had the makings of an artist; a natural talent. Glancing at the clock on the desk he realised it was time for the Halloween feast. Growling he stuck the pendent in his pocket and left, his robes billowing behind him

*****

Vir watched people arrive back from Hogsmeade from her window. She saw Shane laughing with his friend Joanie and Colin Creevey being harassed by a Slytherin called 'Lucretia'. They all looked happy and unaware of the threat that was residing in the castle. Walking away from the window she sat down on her chair and engrossed herself in her potions essay. She was tempted to write scathing comments about Draco in the margin but when the urge to do so became too much, she restrained herself by taking a nap. She curled up on her bed and almost instantly fell asleep.

*****

She awoke to a gentle shaking. Groaning she looked up. When her eyes adjusted she saw that it was Shane.

"Welcome back to the land of the living." She groaned once more wishing he was less cheerful.

"Go 'way, Shane," she mumbled ramming her head under her pillow.

"Not gonna happen. You missed the feast." His voice was stern but caring.

"So?"

"Virginia Weasley, I know you. You love special occasions; something's wrong with you and I'm not going 'til you tell me what it is!" Frowning she removed her head from hiding, sat up and glared at him.

"I wasn't hungry."

"Liar! You're awful at lying."

"It's Malfoy," she spat out his name venomously. "He is the most.... You know what he's been like..I have no idea how Ron put up with him for seven years. I'd have killed him."

"That's it? Malfoy?" he laughed at her.

"I really wasn't hungry."

"Gin." Her eyes narrowed at him. "Habit. okay. If he's affecting you that badly... you are Head Girl you are better than that."

"He was head boy last year, slept in your room. He shared our little common room with Hermione and I thought I knew him."

"Huh?"

"Oh, we spent the summer together. He took me in. I'm avoiding my brothers and I've left Harry."

"Wow, Gin!"

"Now he's just making comments that hurt. If this summer hadn't happened they wouldn't but they do. I'm tired and I bet you are too. So...."

"Yep. Don't worry about Harry. You probably did the right thing leaving him. Malfoy is a two faced bleached blonde ferret." She laughed at his snarky comment

"Yes, he is."

"Night. And somewhere under it he has a heart. You were vulnerable and he did a nice thing. A miracle occurred and now he's back to being himself."  He left the room and she slumped back down.

*****

"Miss Weasley, that is the third time you have ruined a simple potion." Snape growled after a disastrous lesson in which Malfoy got covered in her potion and came out in purple boils. The victim was standing behind his mentor drinking a counter potion

"Sorry," Vir mumbled.

"It also seems that Mr. Malfoy is always around you when your potion explodes."

"Coincidence? I'm pre-occupied."

"I do not care about your personal life but I understand you have been under a lot of stress recently. You must concentrate." She was taken back. Snape was being almost caring. Christmas was hurtling towards them and she couldn't concentrate around him. "You will write a two foot essay on the art of potion making."

"Yes, Sir." She walked over to her bag and piled her belongings in. She then ran out to sign up to stay for Christmas and was disappointed to find that Shane was returning home. Scanning the list she noticed that all of her year's Gryffindor were leaving. She entered the Great Hall and sat down, she ate quietly and then wished Shane a good holiday as he'd be leaving early the following morning. She then retired to her room to start her extra potions essay.

*****