The Mark of Death

Harry resolved the next morning that he would take the potion next time if offered to him by Professor Malfoy. He had gotten so sick at night that Ron nearly had dragged him to the Hospital Wing, and Harry had to remind him that no one was to know what he was learning.

"I don't get it, why am I getting so sick? I'm sure plenty of wizards know how to use these curses!" He felt frustrated and weak.

"Dark wizards, Harry," Ron muttered, passing him a cool wet face towel to wash up a bit. "I bet it's your conscience making you feel ill."

Harry nodded, burying his face into the cloth's coolness feeling somewhat improved. "It's horrible. I have to learn the Cruciatus next! I have to use it on her!"

"You're complaining because...?" Ron smiled, passing him a dry towel now and putting his hand out to assist Harry from the bathroom floor. "You hate her."

"Not that much," Harry mumbled. "Not enough to use that. I've had it used on me enough times to not want to use it on anyone."

Ron looked thoughtful for a minute as Harry splashed a bit of cold water on his face.

"They teach Aurors the Forbidden Curses in their training..." Ron said. "Then the Cruciatus is performed on them, so that they will know how it feels and will know to only use it if it's the very last resort. Don't beat yourself up about it, you'll have to do it eventually if you're going to be an Auror."

They made their way down to breakfast. Harry was exhausted from being sick all night, yet he found the smell of French toast and bacon had given him a big appetite, reaching for his third helping as Ginny and Hermione sat down quietly across from him and Ron, who was struggling to pull a letter off of an excited Pigwidgeon's leg.

"Harry! Have you spoken to Luna yet?" Ginny snapped forcefully over the squeaking bird, making Harry spill syrup all over the table which Hermione instantly cleared with her wand.

He glanced over at the Ravenclaw table to see Luna sitting by herself at the very end; Cho and her friends were talking animatedly and laughing obnoxiously loudly, as if they wanted to be heard. They appeared to be making fun of Luna.

"Er... no."

"WHY?"

"She knows where to find me," Harry replied cooly, wondering why this was suddenly any business of Ginny's. "I'm not going to try and talk to someone who doesn't seem to know if they want to speak with me."

"Harry, she wants to speak with you! She's just..." Ginny paused and looked like she was trying to find the words written on the piece of toast she was buttering.

"Yes?"

"She's scared! Cho and her friends made fun of her and said you only went to the Ball with her because Ron was going with Cho, then of course you snogged her, and she isn't sure if THAT would have happened if you hadn't been given that potion..."

Ron and Hermione were looking very uncomfortable at this conversation, Harry wondered if they felt it was too personal or if they were embarrassed by whatever had happened between the two of them.

"I tried to kiss Luna before, in Sirius's old cave..."

"I know!" Ginny said exasperated. "RIGHT after Cho and Ron joined us. And YOU didn't ask her to go there, she followed you. YOU didn't ask her to the dance, SHE did. I know you fancy her, but she thinks that you don't, and she has Cho spitting her poison at her and preying on her insecurities!"

Harry gaped at Ginny stupidly. "Why doesn't Luna tell me this stuff herself?"

"ARGH!" Ginny fumed and several students looked over to see what was the matter. Harry heard a few people muttering about the OWL levels stress. "Boys are utterly useless!"

"Hear, hear!" Hermione giggled, looking over at Harry amused. "I figured that out in my fourth year!"

"Meaning?" Ron snapped and stared at Hermione angrily. "Is this about Vikky?"

Harry quietly ducked out of the Great Hall just in time before Hermione and Ron began to get into a full blown argument, heading for the library to study as he had a spare period. As he rounded the corner he saw Professors Snape and Malfoy ahead of him in deep discussion, walking slowly in the same direction he was going. He found himself keeping pace with them to listen, very curious about what kind of blackmail Malfoy was using on him.

"You are wasting both of our time," Snape hissed. "Not to mention your son's, too. I would have imagined the humiliation of having a son not want to have anything to do with you would have lessened your determination, yet you stupidly continue to make these empty threats..."

"Empty?" Malfoy said in a very quiet yet dangerous voice. "I assure you I have made no empty threats, you will find out soon enough."

"I believe I was supposed to find out yesterday, unless my calendar is wrong and today is in fact not Friday?"

"Very clever, Severus," she returned the sarcasm. "I did in fact carry out my threat, as you will soon see the results. I am not afraid to take them further."

"He'll be seventeen in June, Narcissa. Even if I told him otherwise he will be of age and able to make his own decision as to where he goes."

"You think that is what this is about?" she snapped angrily, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "I realize he will not come back to live with me - I am a traitor, after all."

"So you don't want your son, how very maternal..."

Harry could see her reaching in her pocket and was certain she was gripping her wand.

"I love my son. How dare you suggest otherwise?" Malfoy hissed. They were now getting closer to the library, and Harry was hoping that they would continue to move so he could slip in there without being seen, but they slowed down considerably to argue.

"What do you want then?"

"Back out of the St. Mungo's project," she replied, grabbing his arm. "Don't do it, don't let him get involved either..."

This comment seemed to draw a lot of paranoia from Snape, who ripped his arm out of her grasp and whipped his head around to scan the halls just as they approached the library doors.

"POTTER!"

"Er, just going to the library, Sir." Harry glanced at Malfoy and smirked - her eyes seemed to be glazed and frequently blinking as though fighting off tears, but Snape's eyes were narrowing murderously down at Harry, trying to bore into his own, attempting to judge Harry's honesty. He deliberately moved his gaze to the door to swing it open and scoot inside, leaving the pair to argue. His heart was beating so hard in his chest that he was having difficulty breathing.

St. Mungo's Project. What was it? Was Snape working on some sort of cure potion that Voldemort wouldn't want the Ministry to have?

He opened his bag to take out a book to study from, but his eyes rested upon the red leather of the book Professor Malfoy had given him; Withstanding Legilimency via Legilimency, and found himself drawn to it. He had a disturbing suspicion that this was somehow part of Malfoy's revenge against Snape but could not quite figure out how, and the idea of learning Legilimency strangely peaked his curiosity more than Occlumency. He stole off to a very quiet spot on the floor in a corner where he figured no one would bother him and carefully opened the book to read.

Legilimency is a very ancient branch of magic used to see inside another person's memory; but is not highly recommended as there can be complications. While using Legilimency enables you to experience things that have been seen from another's perspective, you may not be seeing the event as it actually occurred. Also, with Legilimency, you will not have access to the memories of the senses save sight. You will only see things as they were seen but you will not hear, smell or touch. Believe only half of what you see, as you will have no other means of verifying the event.

In some Wizarding communities the art of Legilimency is strictly prohibited, while in others it is merely frowned upon. Use this art with caution, as it is considered to be an invasion of privacy...

"Someone should tell Snape that," Harry thought to himself as he continued to read. It was difficult to understand, as the book seemed to be trying to tell him both to use it and not to use it.

...and it's use may result in seeing things you would not have wished to see.

There are different levels of competency, and this book is designed to help you progress to the level of an Accomplished Legilimens if not further, providing you have the patience and concentration needed. The levels are as follows:

Novice Legilimens: the ability to perform Legilmency with the incantation under controlled conditions, such as defending yourself against mental intrusion and see random memories, providing they do not retaliate with Legilimency or block you with Occlumency (see index).

Intermediate Legilimens: The ability to use the incantation under any circumstances and to break into someone's mind against their will and see random memories, providing they do not retaliate with Legilimency or block you with Occlumency (see index).

Accomplished Legilimens: The ability to seek out random memories with incantation and the ability to sense when someone is lying to you through eye contact, providing they do not retaliate with Legilimency or block you with Occlumency (see index).

Masters Legilimens (Also known as Superb Legilimens): The ability to scan one's memories with purpose, organized and orderly, and to feel another's emotions through eye contact, providing they do not retaliate with Legilimency or block you with Occlumency (see index).

Harry felt a shiver run down his spine. He recalled Lupin telling him that Snape was a superb Legilimens, and Dumbledore saying he was an Accomplished one.

To enter one's mind with Legilimency you must know how to open your mind to theirs, to try and project yourself into their head almost like an echo to come back into your own mind using the incantation: Legilimens.

"What are you reading?"

Harry nearly jumped out of his skin, he had been so engrossed in the book that he had shut everything around him out. Luna was standing over him with a casual sort of look to her face, wearing long silver lightning bolts in her earlobes.

"Er, just some homework," Harry shoved the book into his bag quickly and stood up, shaking his leg a little to get the pins and needles feeling out of it. "Don't you have a class?"

"No, they gave us a revision period instead of Transfiguration. Professor McGonagall had to cancel her class."

Luna looked around at all the books like she didn't expect them to belong in the library. Harry stared stupidly at her wondering what he could possibly say, he was glad she was finally talking to him but now there was an awkward space he didn't know how to fill.

"Er, yeah. McGonagall's been looking rough."

"Rough?" Luna looked at him with her blue eyes widening - the sun was catching her hair from the window and giving it a multicolored iridescent look.

"Yeah, like a candle burned at both ends," he hated the way he sounded, like a total dunderhead. He couldn't remember the last time he felt this stupid... he guessed that would have been last year whenever he spoke with Cho.

"OH!" Luna suddenly seemed to catch on. "She's had to take on extra work, hasn't she? It's because of what Headmaster Dumbledore has been doing at Saint Mungos Hospital, my daddy told me that Fudge has been taken ill there and they have added all this security, trolls and Heliopaths..."

"Ridiculous Luna!" Hermione suddenly interjected from behind her. "Please stop wasting everyone's time with this drivel from your father's paper! It's nonsense!"

"Why, because you didn't write it first?" Luna looked at Hermione with her surprised expression, but Harry was certain he saw a flicker of hurt in them. She opened her mouth to say more, but then looked at Harry and just walked off, leaving him and Hermione standing there.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt," Hermione said, a deep crimson spreading across her face. Harry didn't care, he was angry. He had wanted to talk to Luna, and for some reason what Luna was saying seemed too coincidental with what he had overheard just moments before.

"You did a bloody brilliant job of it then, didn't you? And she's right, too - just because you've never heard something doesn't make it untrue Hermione!"

"Harry, I-..."

"What, you're sorry? What was the point? You know I fancy her, don't you? She's been avoiding me since the Ball, I finally get a chance to talk to her and you have to pop up and insult her?"

Hermione looked humiliated, tears were coming to her eyes, but Harry was too angry to let it get to him.

"I said I was sorry! I as just coming to tell you that Transfiguration was cancelled and Ron wants you to get your Firebolt and meet him on the Pitch, I heard her going off on the Heliopaths, and..."

"Hermione, what is wrong with you?" Harry suddenly lowered his voice after noticing a group of first years staring at them. "You've been moody and weird all year. Does it have anything to do with where you have been going with Professor Malfoy every Monday?"

"How... how do you know about that?" Hermione said quietly. "Have you and Ron been following me?"

No..." He nearly slipped and said, "not yet", but managed to stop himself. "We saw you after we left Hagrid's last Monday."

"Well, it's none of your business!" Hermione whispered. "It's nothing, I don't need to explain it to you because you wouldn't understand. You hate her."

"She helped to kill Sirius!"

"Did you see her do it?" Hermione asked patiently. "Because you should only believe half of what you see, and none of what you hear."

"Dumbledore told me, I think I trust him over a Malfoy..."

"AND a Black," Hermione interjected. "I'm only pointing out, whatever was said before, Dumbledore trusts her now, and so do I. And might I point out that for twelve years Dumbledore thought Sirius was guilty?"

*

By the time Harry had found Ron he was furious, and felt that there was no better way to relieve his anger than a quick round on his broom. Ron was getting the team together for a practice, they were to play Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff in back to back matches, because of Draco stalling the games so long it was the only way they could fit all the matches before the end of term.

"Oi! Harry, we're working on a few plans here!" Ron grinned as Harry took a seat on a bench between Ginny and Katie.

"First of all, the game will be a week Saturday, so I want everyone on their high alert. Since Malfoy and Chang are dating, the Slytherins are favoring the Ravenclaws and may try and put some of us out of the game, be careful between classes."

Kirke and Sloper exchanged glances. They were fairly big, likely not weighing as much as Crabbe and Goyle but they looked as though they could take care of themselves well enough.

"Another thing that has been brought to my attention, Ravenclaw have two new beaters. Andre Sicamour and William Bodger. They're huge, and smart. Picture Crabbe and Goyle with brains people!"

Harry grinned, impressed with the amount of confidence Ron seemed to be developing from being captain - he was more poised, standing straight and had the team hanging on his every word. It was unfortunate that he couldn't keep it up around Hermione, something might actually progress if she were to see this side of him.

"So... we need a plan," Ron said nonchalantly. "And lucky for us, I have one! We need to be able to each communicate to each other without yelling to give away our plans. We need to be able to take down Ravenclaw as quickly as possible so that we won't be too tired against Hufflepuff!"

Ron pulled out his wand and held it in front of him in one hand with his Broomstick on his other and tapped the wand against it. Harry was surprised to see it gave off a sound like a drum, loud and clear. "I discovered this trick recently - it's amazingly loud, isn't it? We'll use signals - obviously the Beaters can't do it with their bats in their hands, but the signals are mostly for them anyways. Three short, sharp taps will warn that you are in danger; four sharp ones to say you see someone else in a situation. We don't have Jordan yelling out the commentary as we used to and this will help us."

Harry took his wand out and smacked it against his broom three times, impressed again by Ron when the noise rang into the air.

"Brilliant, Ron!"

"Cheers!" Ron grinned, a soft blush creeping into his cheeks. "The signals will mainly be for the Beaters to know, so we're going to need a buddy system. It's not as complicated as it's about to sound... Harry, you will keep watch on Ginny - if they hear four knocks from you they'll know, Ginny watches for Katie and Katie for me. I'll watch for Harry. Just every so often scan for your buddy, I hear Ravenclaw have some very nasty plays already in plan. Roger Davies quit the team he was so disgusted."

"Davies quit?" Sloper stared at Ron with disbelief. "He's so good though - and he was the captain!"

"I know, but Cho is a selfish, spoiled, conceited..." Ron stopped himself and smiled at Ginny and Katie. "Well, you know."

They lifted off into the air soon after, practicing their signals. Each broom seemed to have a different ring to it, so Kirke and Sloper were able to soon differentiate between the signals, and Harry was having the easiest time watching for both Ginny and for the Snitch with his usual routine, confident that they wouldn't have a hard time beating both teams.

*

Monday they had a grueling day of classes. Professor Malfoy was showing them techniques to use when you are trying to get an injured ally to safety during combat. Separating the class into two groups; Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs against the Slytherins and Ravenclaws to stimulate a battle where a few students were to pretend to be injured so the others could learn to get them to safety and defend them. It would have been fun except for the Slytherins; Harry had been sliced by Pansy Parkinson with a Silent Curse while protecting Ron and Professor Malfoy threw her out of the class for bad ethics, causing yet another rift with the Slytherins. Apparently there are rules of conduct during battle, so Professor Malfoy assigned the class with an essay on the Codes to be written on two feet of parchment, three feet for Pansy.

Harry and Ron both took their time getting their things together when they saw Hermione approach the teacher's desk, giving each other mutual looks when they heard Hermione say quietly, "Tonight, after dinner."

They would be going under the cloak to follow them providing Harry didn't get any detentions.

"You're late, Potter." Snape sneered as Harry walked in through the dungeon door just as the bell was ringing. "I say we take oh... ten points from Gryffindor?"

Harry could tell that Snape was livid about being overheard on Friday; he somehow managed to lose Gryffindor another twenty points that period, five for just breathing too loudly. He wondered to himself how the Slytherins managed to get anything done in a class where they spent most of their time laughing at him as he got in trouble; and were hysterical when Snape said that Potter's cauldron contents were "pathetic enough to have been done by Longbottom". Harry thought it was wrong that Snape was still belittling Neville when he wasn't even in the class.

"Harry- wait!" Hermione exclaimed as he shoved all his books into the now empty cauldron after the bell.

"I want to get out of here before I clean the whole hourglass out! I cost us enough points!" Harry also wanted to get out of there before Snape managed to give him a detention and prevent them from following Hermione, but he couldn't really tell her that. He thought he could feel Snape's eyes burning on his own... he didn't want Snape to know anything was going on.

"Walk with me to the Great Hall," Hermione said quietly after their last class of the day, grabbing the books Draco had deliberately knocked to the floor when passing. Harry nodded reluctantly, still annoyed with her for the way she had scared off Luna, but slowly walked the halls with her to the Great Hall for dinner, his Invisibility Cloak well concealed in his book bag.

"We need Dumbledore back," she muttered quietly as they rounded a corner. "McGonagall can't seem to maintain order as he did. Snape is way out of hand."

Harry agreed, taking a seat at the Gryffindor Table next to Ron. Neville was sitting across from them staring so intently at Parvati that he hadn't realized his elbow was on his plate, the sleeve absorbing a large amount of gravy.

Harry watched as McGonagall walked in and sat at the High Table. She looked as though she had aged at least ten years, her eyes had dark circles below them, and Harry couldn't help but feel sorry for her. Surely Dumbledore must see what this is doing to her?

"Look at this!" Hermione said angrily. "The Daily Prophet is getting to be just as bad as the Quibbler! Percy Weasley Sacked from the Ministry!"

"Er... no Herms, that's not drivel. I was Owled earlier. Percy began to question Umbridge's recent tactics, and... he was sacked! I think Mum's trying to get him in with Dumbledore now, not sure though."

"Umbidge is still there?" Harry snorted with disgust. "I thought Percy had her pegged to be a such lovely person."

"Well it seems that Percy's trying to do things right and work things out with us," Ron shrugged. "Better late than never, right? Apparently she tried to enforce taxing of magical items, including wands, Apparating Licenses, cauldrons, spell books and some pets even, saying that they'll need to pay for the upcoming war and Percy just lost it! They've been confiscating so much property over the last year that they have more gold that the Muggle Queen and Gringotts put together!"

Harry could see why this would bring Percy back in Ron's good books - he had always resented that their family had little money.

"I'm tired," Hermione said suddenly, dropping her fork into her barely touched dinner. "I think I'm going to go take care of a few things before bed, excuse me."

Harry turned to nod at Ron, and they both got up and left their half finished pies to follow her, slipping behind a tapestry to quickly put the cloak over themselves.

"Guess we're going to find out now, get your wand handy," Harry muttered to Ron as they made their way towards the Defense corridor shortly behind Hermione, taking extra care to keep the cloak over them as they passed Snape; who was busy talking to Filch.

Malfoy seemed to be expecting Hermione, she was standing outside her classroom door wearing a heavy black cloak, and holding Hermione's cloak in her hand.

"Hope you didn't hurry through dinner, are you ready?" Professor Malfoy handed Hermione her cloak, which she quickly slipped on.

"Yes," Hermione said quietly. "Why are these sessions to be kept so secret again?"

"Ministry's keeping tabs, they are trying to insist that this is a spy tactic... is Snape still skulking around the corner?"

"Yes."

"Oh well, I suppose we'll have to work on the other stuff, come along," Malfoy held her office door open for Hermione before slipping through herself and closing the door.

"What are they doing? They're dressed to go outside!" Ron whispered.

"Keep the cloak on Ron, I'm going to walk in there to ask her if I can skip next Thursday's lesson to practice Quidditch!"

Harry shuffled out of from the protection of the cloak seeing Ron's long legs sticking straight up from the floor and ending at the knees momentarily, giving him the creeps as Ron drew the cloak back over them.

"But I haven't booked the pitch for Thursday!"

"She doesn't have to know that, does she?" Harry whispered, smiling as he knocked the door and waited.

"Why aren't they opening it?"

He banged harder and the door swung open, obviously Malfoy hadn't shut it tightly. He walked in to the empty office, looking at the wall where Mad-Eye Moody (Barty Crouch) Had his Foe Glass now had a large framed picture of Draco holding his Nimbus 2001 and glaring hatefully around the room. The walls was sparsely decorated other than the single picture of Draco and a huge silver sword with the head and neck of a snake with jewel encrusted eyes, which Harry recognized to likely be something from the Black family - the house was full of silver serpents looking just like this one. Her desk was fairly neat and orderly, papers left sitting ready to grade and a few smaller framed pictures of Draco, all glowering angrily.

"Where'd they go? Floo powder?" Ron said from somewhere to Harry's left.

"No, the fire's out." Harry put his hand in the ashes to feel them. "Stone cold, too. Must have been a Portkey."

"Do we say anything to Hermione?"

"No, we'll just have to wait and see, I doubt she'll tell us anyways." Harry slipped back under the cloak with Ron. "Let's go."

*

By Thursday both Ron and Harry had hardly spoken a word to Hermione, keeping their attitude cool with her. Ron accompanied Harry to the Dark Arts corridor but left him to go practice flying while Harry went for his session. Professor Malfoy had the room ready, the light from the candles trying to compensate for the loss of light from the windows and locked the door heavily behind him.

"Ready, Potter?" She mumbled as she reached her hand into the rat's cage then jerked her hand quickly out, shaking the entire cage when one of the rats bit her.

"More than they are I guess," he muttered. He was not looking forward to doing this at all but at the same time was curious about using such a painful curse on her. She seemed to be having a few doubts herself, occasionally glancing at him apprehensively; weighing him with her eyes wondering if he would in fact be able to do it.

"I hear you can summon up a Corporeal Patronus," she said quietly, slapping the rat down onto the desk in front of him roughly, as if angry that it had drawn blood.

"Yes, it takes the form of a Stag."

"Good, so you know the thoughts you need to summon it... the best thoughts and memories you have?" Malfoy smirked slightly, her dark blue eyes darting from Harry to the rat.

"Yes..."

"With the Cruciatus it's very similar. Same technique, only you take your worst memories, try and summon all the pain you have ever felt in your lifetime and project them onto your victim physically. Can you think offhand a recent memory?"

"Meeting your sister." The words slipped from his mouth automatically, and he wondered for a fleeting moment if she would be angry but instead she only nodded, a faint smile on her face.

"That doesn't surprise me, try and bring those feelings into it, you won't have to remember that each time, only until you get the hang of it. Hate the rat."

Harry stares at the rat on the table, watching it sniff at it's paws and trying to see Bellatrix's face in the rat's.

"Crucio!"

The rat squealed and rolled onto it's back, but only for a moment before it was back on all fours. Malfoy shook her head impatiently.

"Hold the curse on him, Potter. Direct all of your negative energy to the rat and continue it!"

Harry glared at her and tried several times, seeming to fail worse each time. Malfoy finally had to place the rat back in its cage and stare moodily at Harry.

"I guess... you're going to have to try it on me now, I want to see what, if any - progress you are making, perhaps I can help from there."

This was the bit Harry had been dreading; to use the curse on a person. He had been more than ready to do it to Bellatrix in the heat of the moment in the aftermath of Sirius's fall... but could he do it now? He stood in front of her, reminding himself of her part in Sirius's death before raising his wand...

"CRUCIO!"

Professor Malfoy screamed but did not fall to the ground as people generally did when they were in as much pain as the Cruciatus Curse inflicted, but she had definitely been hurt. Her face contorted with pain and her eyes closed as though she was trying to block out something as she doubled over holding her hands on her middle.

"Professor Malfoy?" Harry said quietly, scared he had used the curse wrong and done something damaging, "are you all right?"

"I'm fine!" she snapped, standing tall as though trying to prove her words even though her face said otherwise. "You were close, we're going to have to try something else. I see the problem was you didn't hate the rat enough."

Harry couldn't resist the smile that crept across his face; he was actually beginning to get used to her sarcastic dark humor.

"You know..." she said, watching Harry carefully, calculating him. "I think it might work... you know what a Metamorphmagi is, Potter?"

"Yes, like Tonks, er... why?"

"Tonks, my sister's daughter," Malfoy said quietly. "Has a rare gift that runs in our family. Me and my sisters were Metamorphmagis, we could change our appearances at will - imitate each other if we felt a need to. It's more difficult for me to change than it was for my elder sisters, but..."

Harry wondered what this had to do with anything until Professor Malfoy took a step back and scrunched her eyes shut tight as he had seen Tonks do - and watched in horror as her bright blonde hair turned a jet black, her cheekbones became more pronounced and her eyes became heavy lidded - a horrible sneer played across her lips... she looked exactly as Bellatrix had before Azkaban - the way Harry had seen her in Dumbledore's Pensieve years ago.

The confusion and anger rose in Harry, "CRUCIO!"

She screamed, it was still Malfoy's even voice and not Bellatrix's gravelly one, but the words had affected him; "Is that the best you've got Potter? Come on! You can do better!"

"CRUCIO!"

This time it had the effect he had wanted; she had fallen to the stone floor of her classroom screaming; her limbs bending in the wrong directions... and Harry was enjoying it. He had forgotten that it wasn't Bellatrix; he was getting revenge... he was hurting Bellatrix as she had hurt him...

The pounding on the door brought Harry back to his senses quickly and he stopped the curse, hurrying over to kneel beside her feeling guilty. Tears were streaming down her face as the pounding on the door became more determined.

"I have to change back!" She whispered hoarsely, scrunching her eyes shut and trying but screaming again and wrapping her arms across her middle again, curling into a ball. Her hair was lightening, but it was still a noticeable shade darker than usual.

"Open the door, Malfoy!"

Harry knew it was Snape, and could see from the lights glowing around the perimeter of the door that he was now trying to curse his way through. Malfoy tried to stand but screamed again; something was seriously wrong with her.

"What do I do?" he asked her urgently, looking from the door to the teacher indecisively.

"Open it!" she coughed out. "I need to get to the hospital wing, don't let him know what happened!"

Harry unclicked the lock and moved back just in time as the door swung heavily open, narrowly missing him.

"What in Merlin is going on in here?!" Snape's eyes quickly swept across the room as McGonagall walked swiftly past him to Malfoy, who was on all fours and breathing heavily.

"Narcissa!" McGonagall said loudly, placing her hand on Malfoy's forehead. "What happened?"

"Pomfrey!" She choked out, glancing terrifed at Snape, Harry could swear he saw a look in her eyes like she had just realized something that scared her. "I need to see Pomfrey right away!"

McGonagall didn't need to be told twice; she had pulled Malfoy to her feet and had rushed her out of the room, leaving Harry and Snape alone together.

"What happened, Potter?" Snape said quietly, glancing around the room again.

"Nothing sir," Harry said quietly.

"I suppose we'll have to see tomorrow, won't we?" Snape sneered, his cruel black eyes trying to bore into Harry's.

"I suppose so, sir," Harry returned the sarcasm as he walked out, his legs literally shaking. He was going to stay up all night reading that book now, he knew Snape would be using the Occlumency session to try and find out what was going on.