[RM] Scarlet Thread

The Red Moon series

Phase Four: Scarlet Thread

---


Blaise was making his way to the Great Hall when a certain red head stepped in his way, stopping his progress,

"What do you want Weasley?" Blaise hissed, crossing his arms over his chest and looked down his nose at her,

"I- I-" she took a deep breath then tried again, eyes narrowed in determination, "I want to know where Malfoy is."

"Probably in the Great Hall," Blaise shrugged,

"He's not and he didn't show up for last night's session," Ginny said then placed her hands on her hips, "And I won't let you pass until you tell me where he is."

"I haven't seen him since yesterday at lunch. He didn't go to afternoon classes. For all I know, he's probably laying in the middle of the Quidditch pitch, dead as a doorknob because he fell off his broom flying and snapped his neck," Blaise replied before pushing past her, "Why are you asking me anyways? Try Goyle and Crabbe, they follow him everywhere."

"I already have," Ginny said before sighing heavily, arms dropping to her sides, "And I'm asking you because I know you worry about him to."

"Why are you worried about him?" Blaise asked,

"Because I tried to help him two nights ago but he refused and suddenly he's disappeared and- I don't know," she sighed again, her posture slouching.

Blaise looked around them and saw several students walk by whispering. A Slytherin talking to a Gryffindor? That was almost blasphemous. He looked back at Ginny then took a step forward,

"Well, well Weasley. Never thought you'd have the guts to go interrogating Slytherins," Blaise stated as he began to circle her, "I'm telling you now, whatever ideas you have in your head having to do with Malfoy, get rid of them now. C'mon, a Slytherin and a Gryffindor? Are you mad?"

"I'm just trying to help him out. He is helping me out by tutoring me," Ginny defended,

"Well, if you're looking for someone to help, you could always help me," Blaise suggested as he stepped forward.

Ginny stepped back and somehow, she found herself against the corridor wall. Blaise put his hands on he wall on both sides of her head and leaned his head in. Ginny shut her eyes tightly as she searched her robes for her wand. However, she stopped when she heard Blaise's voice in her ear,

"It's been as sunny as summer these past two days. He's protected from it by his magic as a wizard, but magic does have its limits," Blaise whispered. He heard Ginny release a breath of relief, "Next time, don't approach me in public, Weasley, you don't want both our reputations questioned and a fight to break out between our Houses, do you?" She shook her head negatively, "Good."

With that, Blaise straightened up, glared at anyone passing by to stop their whispering. Then with one last look at Ginny, he continued on his way to the Great Hall, leaving Ginny confounded. For the second time she had had Blaise act kind towards her and for the second time, she was finding another person who wasn't completely like what they seemed.

---

Draco pulled the curtains shut violently, "Damn sun. I've never been a morning person, but this is starting to get annoying."

Suddenly, a familiar weakness filled his chest as his head began to pound steadily. Hand clutching the green shirt cloaking his chest, Draco slumped slightly against the wall for a moment. A few deep breaths after, his hand dropped to his side and he headed for his common room, stumbling through the doorway.

He walked across the room to the desk and opened the small black box sitting on top. Inside were vials of the red potion Snape had brewed for him and a single row of vials containing a blue potion. He reached for one of the blue potions, uncorked it and downed it immediately, replacing the empty vial as he waited for it to take affect. Slowly, the pounding in his head ceased and he let out a breath of relief.

He knew his limits, yet he had to look out the window that morning. He had to see how it was outside, but he wasn't prepared for the immense amount of sunlight. The past two days had been extremely sunny for autumn and Draco couldn't handle it, his magic unable to protect him to that degree. It felt like those unbearable summer days when Draco had to lock himself up in the mansion or risk perishing in the bright sunlight.

Once the headache, which came from excessive sun exposure, disappeared altogether, Draco put a palm down on the table, leaning against it. The weakness was still there, but he knew it wasn't from the sun. He gazed loathingly at the red vials and tentatively took one. He had to try something, he felt weak enough to collapse on his common room floor! Uncorking it, he slowly brought the vial to his lips. After a three-count, he tipped the vial's contents completely into his mouth and swallowed hard. He waited and counted the seconds before his body would reject it.

Twenty-seven, twenty-eight, twenty-nine-

The vial dropped from his hand that had gone limp. He wrapped his arms around his stomach as he felt the familiar feeling of his stomach crumpling itself into a ball and turning over. His torso lurched forward slightly and a hand went to his mouth, but he stopped whatever that wanted to come out from doing so. It happened again and he stopped it once more.

Letting out a frustrated growl, he grabbed the black box and flung it across the room. It hit the mantle of the empty fireplace and fell to the ground. The vials had spilt out of the box when it hit the mantle and now lay broken on the floor, the solutions pooling into a huge mess before the fireplace.

Draco felt the feeling of the potion wanting to leave his body, but he held it in again as he stumbled towards the sitting area. He let his body fall onto one of the couches, his head hanging over the side and finally, he let his body cough up the potion. Once again, he felt as if he were watching his blood being coughed up. When the last drop of the potion had been purged out of him, he lay on the couch, stomach down and was breathing deeply. The weakness had returned; had it ever left? He closed his eyes as strands of his hair fell carelessly over his forehead. Slowly, he felt sleep overtake him; he was too weak to stay awake.

---

When dinnertime came around, Ginny felt the anxiety ebb at her resolve. Blaise had tried to dissuade her worries, and she appreciated it, but it didn't work. She found herself searching the halls between classrooms and perking her ears to every conversation around her listening for anything that could be connected to Draco. She wasn't sure what brought on her constant worry; she never gave a damn about him before, so why start now? During the day, she had begun to attribute her concern for him after he had taken care of her, but she realized it didn't start then. If she was being honest, the connection she felt with Draco began when they started the tutoring sessions. They were hardly friends, barely acquaintances; however, she began to anticipate their squabbles and fights. After the first few nights, things would seem off if she didn't get into some kind of row with the Slytherin.

She began to realize that he added challenge and excitement to her otherwise dull school days. The night he saved her from a poisonous death, she realized there were two sides of him and she found herself compelled to get to know both sides. Then, she was reminded of what fear was like the night she found him coughing up the potion. He had pushed his pride aside to ask for her help and when he told his story, she had listened. The fear she remembered was not of learning what Draco was; the fear was for his well-being and his survival. That was the reason why on that night, her willingness to give Draco her blood was an easy decision. By the end of the day, all the pieces were falling into place and she finally realized that Draco Malfoy was beginning to mean something to her.

When she entered the Great Hall, she purposely walked along the length of the Slytherin table under the guise that she was stopping to talk to friends in Hufflepuff, whose table was adjacent to Slytherin. As she was talking to one of her classmates, her ears perked up when she heard Draco's name,

"Malfoy's not here again," Crabbe's voice noted,

"He's right there," Goyle's voice replied,

"Malfoy's not Asian, you dunderhead," Blaise's voice snorted,

"He hasn't been around lately," Goyle realized, "He doesn't even sit with us in class,"

"Maybe Malfoy's dead?" Crabbe suggested,

"Will you two shut up? Malfoy's not dead," Blaise retorted,

"How would you know Zabini? He hasn't been eating, I'm stupid, not deaf!" Goyle said,

"You mean you're not blind!" Blaise sighed exasperatedly, "Malfoy's fine. If he heard you two idiots planning his funeral he'd send you both to the bottom of the lake."

The conversation continued amongst the Slytherin Boys, however Ginny had stopped listening and focused on something Goyle had said: he hasn't been eating.
Ginny said her goodbyes to her friend and bolted over to the Gryffindor table but the person she was looking for had already finished dinner and left.

Anxiously, Ginny headed to the third floor corridor. As a prefect, she had to memorize the Head Boy and Girl's nightly routine in case of emergency. Once she found no luck on the third floor, she began to head to the fourth floor, however, she spotted her target just turning the corner at the top of the stairs,

"HERMIONE!"

A head of wild curls appeared from around the corner, "Ginny?"

Ginny sprinted the rest of the steps up, scared that the stairs would randomly decide to change on her. As she caught her breath, Hermione asked her if there was a problem,

"No, yes. I need to know where Malfoy's room is,"

Hermione raised a curious eyebrow, "Why?"

"Has Ron told you that Malfoy tutors me in potions?"

"Yes, he's not very happy about it. Whenever we ask him about it he just says that you're being tutored by a giant spider because that's more pleasant than you being tutored by Malfoy," Hermione laughed slightly,

"Yes well, Snape said he wants me to have a potion done for tomorrow morning, but Malfoy didn't show up last night and I need him to help me," Ginny explained, shocked at how easily the lie rolled off her lips,

"Well Ginny, I could always help you," Hermione offered, "I'm not Malfoy, but I'm just as good as he is at Potions."

Ginny thought fast to counter this small obstacle, "I would love to have you help me Mione, but at night Snape puts up wards in his classroom so no one can get at his storage. The wards only let Malfoy and me get through and it'd be hard for you to help me if you can't even be there with me."

"I can stand in the hallway while you -"

"The wards are soundproof, I wouldn't hear any of your instructions. Never mind that now, can you please just tell me where his room is? I don't know how long it'll take me to make the potion," Ginny rushed but was not faking her anxiety or her pressure for time.

"Okay, okay, on the fifth floor like mine is," Hermione explained, "But the entrance to his is behind that tapestry of the Bloody Baron. I'm not sure how to get the wall behind it to open, but maybe if you hit it or something he'll hear the noise and come out ready to kill?"

"Thanks!" Ginny called behind her as she bolted for the fifth floor.

---

With little trouble, Ginny was able to find the tapestry of the Bloody Baron (pre-ghost and pre-bloody). For lack of reason, she pulled up one side of the tapestry and began yelling at the stones beneath, calling Draco's name. Nothing. She took out her wand and began casting various spells and charms, but still nothing happened. Releasing the part of the tapestry she held up, she sighed in frustration. She was so close yet so far.

She stared up at the tapestry, if only she had the password. Hermione didn't even know it, but who else -

"Zabini!" She turned on her heel and began to run back to the Great Hall.

On her way down the steps leading to the second floor, she ran into somebody but before she could fall back onto the stairs, a hand grabbed her wrist and pulled her straight up. She looked up to find Blaise holding her arm,

"You really don't watch where you're going, do you?" Blaise snapped,

"I need his password Zabini, please," Ginny pleaded with him as he let go of her wrist,

"I don't know what you're talking about," Blaise sneered as he turned around and began to head down the stairs,

"You're worried about him to, aren't you?" Ginny asked, her voice a whisper even though no one was around,

"Now I know you're mad, Weasley,"

"I'm not crazy! You were going to check up on him, weren't you? Otherwise you don't have any other reason to be going up here," Ginny pointed out, "Zabini, if you're as concerned for Draco as I think you are, you'll tell me his password."

"Why should I give you his password?" he demanded,

"Because maybe you're not the only one worried about him!" Ginny blurted out. She looked away immediately, feeling her face burn. She hadn't meant to admit that, after all, she hadn't even admitted it completely to herself yet. However, in all her anxiousness to get the password and Blaise's persistent stubbornness to withhold it, she had a slip of the tongue.

"Nike."

Ginny's head snapped towards Blaise in confusion,

"The password, it's Nike," he chuckled as he continued down the stairs,

"Where are you going? Aren't you going to check up on Malfoy?"

"It seems that he doesn't need me to make sure he stays alive," Blaise called over his shoulder before he disappeared down the stairs.

Unsure of what Blaise was referring to, Ginny turned back up the stairs and returned to the fifth floor.

---

Upon arrival, she lifted up the tapestry, "Nike!"

Immediately, the stones rearranged themselves and an opening appeared. Peering through, Ginny was in awe as she saw a dimly lit common room. Stepping through, the entrance closed behind her. She looked around the common room. She saw the desk in the corner, the small window to one side, a door opposite to her and the fireplace, a small fire burning. Unsure of what to do, she began to head towards the door. Her progress stopped when she heard a noise from the sitting area. She looked over and saw some movement on one of the couches.

Tentatively, Ginny approached and finally found Draco. He was lying on his stomach with his head and his right arm flung over the side of the couch.

"Malfoy?"

Draco titled his head slightly then let it drop back to where it had been, "I don't have the strength to yell at you right now Weasley, so just leave."

"Malfoy, are you okay?" She walked around the couch and stood at his side,

"You don't bloody listen, do you?" His voice was a low growl, "Leave."

She looked around the sitting area and saw the pools of potion and the broken shards. She gasped, "Is that the potion Snape brewed for you?"

"Merlin's ghost you are the nosiest person I have had the misfortune to have in my life!" Draco muttered bitterly,

"That's why you haven't been around, isn't it? You haven't had any nourishment for a month and now you're just too weak. I'm right, aren't I!?" She demanded,

"Sod off Weasley!" Draco countered, the command seeming unthreateningly without his strength behind it.

"Why don't you just take blood?" Ginny asked quietly,

"Because I don't need -"

"Stop being a stubborn prat Malfoy! I understand it's hard for you to deal with the fact that you're a vampire now, but either accept it and take blood or deny it and let yourself waste away!" Ginny exclaimed,

"It's not that easy to just take blood Weasley, but perhaps that's just too complicated for you to understand," Draco retorted,

"Why, because you need to find someone? Or because you need to find a way to do it without someone outing you to Dumbledore? Is that it? Did you swear you wouldn't bite anyone as long as you were allowed to return to Hogwarts?"

Draco remained silent; he was surprised at how well Ginny had figured it all out. So, he thought, she's not just book smart.

"Weasley -"

"My offer is still on the table, Malfoy."

He turned onto his back, leaning back on his elbows for support as he looked at her in surprise, "What are you going on about now?"

"The other night Malfoy, I'll still let you take my blood," Ginny said, fighting the tremble in her body,

"It's not that simple,"

"Are you scared to take my blood now because you like how it tastes?" Ginny repeated her question from that night.

Draco hadn't answered it the last time, but this time he did, "Yes," he breathed,

"W-why?" She inquired, feeling her fear overtaking her previous courage,

"Because I'm scared that once I take your blood, I won't be able to stop - that I'll keep coming back for more," Draco admitted in a casual tone as if he wasn't scared at all,

"Then keep coming back," Ginny said quietly as she removed her robe and sweater and draped them across the adjacent armchair. Silently, Draco watched as she undid the top two buttons of her school shirt to completely expose her neck. Slowly, Ginny stepped towards him and sat down on the edge of the couch.

With all his strength, Draco pushed himself up and found himself looking down into her eyes. Even sitting down, he was taller than her. His right hand came up and held the back of her neck, he left hand came to the small of her back and pulled her closer to him. He felt her slightly shaking beneath his hands,

"You're scared," he stated, "you can still leave Weasley. If you get up and leave, we can go on with life and pretend this never happened."

"If I get up and leave, you may not be able to go on living," she said, concern lining her words,

"And you're willing to let me bite you to keep me alive?" She nodded slowly, "are you sure?"

She nodded as she raised her right hand, brought it to the back of his head and pulled it down to the right side of her neck. She closed her eyes as her hand dropped to her side.

"Thank you," he breathed into her skin before he bared his fangs and pierced her ivory skin.

By instinct, Ginny's right hand clenched the arm that was holding her waist and her left arm wrapped around his back and grabbed at his right shoulder from behind. Her head lolled back as she felt him begin to suck. Her shaking had stopped, but her breaths became deep. His hold on her tightened but it didn't hurt her, instead, Ginny felt protected. He held her body captive against his own body as he feasted on her blood.

When Draco had his fill, he pulled his head away from her neck and absent-mindedly leaned his cheek against the side of her head. Ginny was leaning her forehead against his shoulder and still holding onto him tightly. She was scared that if she loosened her grip, she would surely fall to the floor - she felt weaker.

After a silent moment that seemed to stretch across eternity, Draco spoke, "Are you okay?"

Ginny nodded against his shoulder. Suddenly, she pushed herself from Draco and stood up, avoiding his eyes,

"I should go," she murmured as she pulled on her sweater and threw her arms into the sleeves of her robe.

"Weasley," Draco said quietly as he grabbed her wrist before she could walk away, "Do you regret it?"

"No," she said steadily. She was thankful her back was to him, that way he wouldn't see her tears as she walked away.

When the entrance closed behind her, she leaned back against the stones, the tapestry draping around her. She took deep breaths to calm herself and to stop the tears. She didn't know why she was crying and she didn't understand any of the feelings roaming inside her. She had felt this way before, she realized as she wiped away her tears with the back of her sleeve. This cold feeling was familiar, the hollowness an old friend- she was feeling lonely. Somehow, when she was just sitting there in the circle of Draco's arms, she was reminded of just how lonely she was. What frightened her was the fact that she was beginning to want Draco to fill the void.

She felt the stones behind her begin to rearrange themselves and without thought, she ran away before the entrance had appeared.

---

Ginny stood before a mirror in the Prefects' bathroom. She had showered and washed away any blood that may have spilt. She tilted her head as she examined herself in the reflecting glass.

"I don't look different," she said quietly to herself.

Gingerly, she tilted her head to the left to expose her neck better in the mirror. Tentatively, she ran her forefinger over the two small bite marks on her neck. She began trying to adjust the collar of her white shirt to hide the marks. She struggled with the collar for a few minutes, but nothing short of flipping her collar up would hide the marks. She sighed as she ran her fingers through her hair and pulled pieces of her soaked hair over her shoulders. It hid the marks well, but it'd be difficult to make sure her hair was constantly covering it. Frustrated, she pulled her hair back, twisted it up and clipped it back. Pulling out her wand, she pointed to her neck and conjured bandages that wrapped around her neck snugly.

"That'll- that'll have to do," she whispered, "What happened Ginny?" She asked her reflection. Surprised, a lie spilt from her lips easily, "I slipped while I was showering and nicked my neck on a tap. I bruised other parts of my body, but my neck was the only one that had skin broken." She looked at her reflection again. It was probably a weak and transparent lie, but it would have to suffice until the marks healed. The next time Draco bites her, she'd have to come up with something better, but she'd cross that bridge when it came. And it would come because she opened that door for him.

---

Blaise walked through the entrance into the Head Boy's common room. He found Draco sitting in an armchair before the fireplace once again. Elbows resting on the armrests, hands folded in his laps, his head slightly titled towards the ceiling, he sat with closed eyes and steady breathing.

"Sleeping or thinking?" Blaise asked as he sat on the couch just hours ago Draco had collapsed on.

"Both. Go away Zabini," Draco muttered, nothing but his lips moving,

"Hmm- you're looking healthier Malfoy," Blaise commented,

"A few days away from the sun does a vampire well," Draco replied in the same mutter,

"A few days in the dark- or human blood?"

Draco remained silent for a moment before opening his eyes and answering, "I don't know what you're going on about,"

"You were never skilled in cleaning spells," Blaise stated as he took out his wand and cleaned up the pool of collected potions and shattered glass before the fireplace. Then, Blaise stood up, took the few steps to Draco's side and pointed the wand at his collar, "You've never been a sloppy eater. But I suppose we're all a little messy when we first start learning to eat." He said another cleaning spell and the red spot that his wand was pointing at disappeared in a few seconds. He pocketed the wand and began to leave, "Was it worth it?"

Silence.

"The temptation's only going to get worst Draco," Blaise said seriously as he stood by the entrance, pausing before activating it, "It's not right to make her your portable kitchen."

"I know that," Draco said through gritted teeth,

"Really? You could've fooled me." With that, Blaise exited the common room and left Draco with his thoughts.

[RM] To Be Like Glass

The Red Moon series

Phase Three: To Be Like Glass

---


After the night of the Elder Wood, Draco had decided he actually watch Ginny work on potions from then on. He stood beside the cauldron one night, leaning his hips against the edge of a desk as he watched her progress, arms crossed casually. After the consequences of the last potion, Draco wasn't keen on having to go in search for another one of Snape's ingredients all because the Weasley couldn't pay attention to potions.

Ginny was about to pour in a small vile of blue liquid when Draco grabbed her wrist out of reflex. Ginny pulled out of his gripped and replaced the vile,

"If you're so desperate to take another tour of the Forbidden Forest, I beg you to pour that vile in," Draco sneered before crossing his arms again, "This must be what Granger feels like when she's partnered with Longbottom."

Indignant, Ginny turned her back to him and returned to the ingredients, trying to figure out what she was forgetting from the earlier walkthrough Draco had done with her. She had created the previous potion without too much fuss the previous night and this night's potion was to be of the same level (Snape had pointed out that the most incompetent of first years could do the potion). To Ginny, however, this potion seemed more difficult. The ingredient names seemed to merge together as she looked over each and every one of them,

"Weasley, I'd like to get this done by the end of this semester," Draco drawled.

Resisting the urge to throttle to Slytherin, Ginny grabbed a vile of black liquid with thick consistency and threw it into the cauldron, vile and all. When nothing happened besides a colour change, she let out a sigh of relief when she turned back to her ingredients.

"Don't tell me you accidentally got the right ingredient," Draco looked at her curiously, "How is it possible for you to do so well at everything else, yet fail miserably with potions? I mean, Longbottom's horrible, but he hasn't even had to go gather ingredients for Snape. The idiot's got Snape yelling at him every day and yet he's still not as bad as -"

"Will you shut up!?" Ginny demanded, finally looking at Draco, eyes narrowed, hands clenching the edge of the table in an attempt to keep her temper at bay. "I can't concentrate with you mocking me every five seconds!"

"You call randomly picking ingredients, concentrating?" Draco replied in even tones, "Should I be thanking the fates that I haven't died yet from your random potion making? Or should I damn the fates in making it so I have to be here with you in the first place!?"

"Well I wouldn't have to make my decisions by luck if you'd just help me out a bit more," Ginny gritted her teeth to keep from yelling,

"You get top marks in Ancient Runes, yet when it comes to a simple potion you nearly blow up the castle! I don't think my teaching skills are the problem since I've been in Ancient Runes and I explain things a lot better than that old bat! So the problem must be you, Weasley!" Draco defended, voice beginning to sound like a growl,

"It's not my fault I get the ingredient names mixed up!" She exclaimed, hands planted firmly on her hips.

Draco sighed heavily, bringing a hand to his head. He relaxed against the edge of the desk, "Why didn't you bloody say that in the first place!?"

"I didn't think it mattered-" Ginny admitted, hands falling to her side,

"You didn't think it- Merlin's ghost, do you think it doesn't matter if you say Crucio instead of Lumos?" Draco demanded,

"That's an extreme example, Mal-"

"It's a very relative example!" Draco breathed to calm himself down. He pushed himself away from the desk, picked up his robe that he had tossed across the back of a chair and made for the door,

"Where are you going? We've only been here for an hour and I've hardly begun the potion!" Ginny reminded, a bit scared he was leaving her to make the potion on her own.

"We're done for tonight. Since you've finally decided to admit what your problem is, I can start teaching you in a way that won't end in either of us back in the Forbidden Forest," Draco explained, "The realization that the answer to your incompetence is so simple has given me a headache." With that, Draco left muttering along the lines of Idiotic Weasley'.

---

Later that evening, Draco was sitting before the fire in his common room, chin propped up on his hand as he focused on the flames, clearing everything in his mind. The sound of the entrance to his common room opening barely surprised him. When Blaise walked into his area of vision and sat down on a nearby couch, Draco remained as he was.

Blaise put down a box the size of a large apple on a table beside the couch, "Snape wanted me to give this to you. He said it was a reward for taking on the job of having to tutor Weasley."

Draco made a sound of disbelief, still staring at the flames.

"That's what I thought. Snape can be a horrible liar sometimes," Blaise said as he opened the black box and peered at the contents,

"Is it what I think it is?" Draco asked absent-mindedly, thoughts slowly beginning to cloud his mind once more as his eyes flickered away from the fire.

"I don't even know what I think it is," Blaise replied as he pulled one of the objects out of the box, "I wonder why Snape didn't think I'd open the box? Why wouldn't he just give it to you himself? He can't trust me as much as to give me this box."

"He doesn't trust anyone, besides Dumbledore I suppose," Draco muttered as he stood up and took the object from Blaise, "So he must know that you know."

"Did you tell him?"

"He doesn't need to know who I tell what," Draco replied tartly before replacing the object and shutting the box firmly. He walked into his bedchamber and when Blaise thought he wouldn't return, he came out holding a box identical to what Blaise had brought him.

"Draco-"

Draco looked up at Blaise. The only time Blaise referred to him by his first name meant he was worried about something or another,

"I guess I won't be needing this one," Draco ignored Blaise as he tossed the box in his hand into the fire.

The flames hissed violently for a few minutes before it enveloped the tossed box completely and resumed its previous state.

"Draco, was there anything in there?"

Draco looked absently at the flames, "I suppose we'll never know now."

"You know how dangerous -"

"What's dangerous is how I can't get Weasley out of my memory," Draco mused, still looking at the flames.

"What? Draco have you gone mad? You're thinking about Weasley!" Blaise reminded forcefully, "I knew these tutoring sessions would bring nothing but trouble!"

"It's not the sessions. It's her-" Draco said, almost in a trance-like voice, eyes glued to the fire,

"Draco?"

"I did the unthinkable," Draco's eyes darkened in a way Blaise had never seen before. Draco turned to face Blaise, his trademark smirk twisted evilly on his pale face, "I tasted her. I got a taste of Weasley and I liked it."

"Draco you bubbling twit! What are you - possessed!?" Blaise demanded as he took Draco by the shoulders and shook him forcefully,

"I want her, Zabini. I. Want. HER!" He shoved Blaise's grip off him.

While stumbling down onto the couch, Blaise whipped out his wand and aimed it at Draco. Saying a quick spell, Draco was sent flying back against the chair where he had sat. With the armchair and Draco both lying sprawled on the ground at the other end of the common room, Blaise stood up, wand still pointed at Draco.

"Draco, you're a man obsessed," Blaise commented as he slowly walked towards his fallen friend.

"No, I'm not," Draco managed as he held his head with one hand and pulled himself up with the other, "I don't know what got into me."

"Just remember she's a Weasley," Blaise said slowly as he replaced his wand, "Just remember she's a Weasley and you won't go psychotic again."

Draco nodded as he ran a hand carelessly through his hair,

"You're right. She's a Weasley and I can't want a Weasley," Draco replied,

"Draco, it shouldn't be that you can't want her, it should be that you won't want her," Blaise warned. He turned to leave but stopped at the entrance, "Just remember you're a Slytherin and how you've felt about the Weasley family up until now. That'll keep you from wanting her."

As the entrance closed behind Blaise, Draco closed his eyes and hoped that's all it took.

---

The next day, Blaise was eyeing Draco cautiously and for once Draco didn't say anything. Blaise had a right to be watching Draco and he was glad for it. After the previous night, Draco no longer knew what was happening to him. He was losing control of his emotions, his desire was taking over and he didn't like it one bit.

During lunch, Draco went with Blaise to the Great Hall. For the first time in weeks, he was back at the Slytherin table. As he sat there, gaze focused on a platter of butter rolls, he tried to clear his mind again as he did before the fire. Draco believed if he were able to clear all thoughts from his mind, he'd be able to keep his desire under control. Apparently, his desire didn't give a flying pigmypuff who he wanted, no matter how many times he reminded himself that she was a Weasley.

A nudge to his ribs caused Draco to break free from his reverie, "What?" He demanded, turning to the source,

Blaise looked back coolly, unaffected by Draco's tone, "Do you have to tutor tonight?" He said it casually, but Draco heard the words hidden in the message. Blaise didn't trust Draco to be around Ginny. He felt Draco would make a move - not only ruining his own reputation, but starting a fight with Ron Weasley and his friends; friends which included Harry Potter.

"Dumbledore wants me to, but I think I'm going to skive," Draco replied as he stood up, "I know you'll figure out some story if anyone asks." Before Blaise could refuse, Draco picked up a butter roll and left the Great Hall, already chewing a piece of the roll.

---

Bored later that evening during dinner, Draco decided to go to the Great Hall. Blaise spotted him and called him over,

"Malfoy, in for some flying later? Practice for Quidditch?" Goyle asked as Draco approached them,

Draco's eyes narrowed slightly before he schooled his expression, "I don't need practice," he turned away and went to sit beside Blaise.

"You're a prat, you know that?" Blaise questioned as he took his goblet and took a hearty gulp from it. "Right after you left at lunch I ran into the chit so I had to tell her of tonight's cancellation."

"You didn't have to do anything," Draco defended as he grabbed a dinner roll and tore a piece off,

"I thought you didn't like to eat bread anymore?" Blaise asked quietly as he held his goblet to his lips, giving the illusion that he was drinking again,

"I don't. It's an experiment to see if it would help sate the need," Draco explained as he looked at the piece of bread, examining it as if it were some newly discovered artefact.

"And did it?"

"Not in the least," Draco said distantly as his eyes saw past the piece of bread to a head of red hair that walked across the Great Hall and sat down with her fellow Gryffindors. Throwing the bread on the table, Draco got up and turned to leave, unfortunately he ran into Pansy.

"Draco! You've been neglecting me!" She pouted,

"I assure you, that hasn't been an accident," Draco drawled as he pushed past her and left the Great Hall.

Once out of the Great Hall, his pace quickened and he walked in a random direction. His heart was pounding and he had to get away from the Great Hall- away from the Great Hall and away from Ginny Weasley.

--

Draco was on the ground of the empty classroom on his knees; one hand to help prop him up, the other clutching his chest. He slumped back onto his backside, slouching against the wall. Hand still grasping the clothing over his chest. Feeling his heart pound slower, he used his free hand to push back the hair from his eyes. He cursed. There standing in the doorway to the room was none other than Ginny Weasley.

She stood there, worry and anxiety painted on her face, hands clutching the door handle and the doorframe.

"If you're going to spy on me, at least close the bloody door so I don't get an audience," Draco sneered as he glared at her through his loosened hair.

Tentatively, she stepped in and closed the door behind her, casting a locking and silencing charm on the room. He cursed himself for forgetting to do that when he first stumbled into the room.

"Malfoy, what happened to you?" She asked in almost a whisper, looking from Draco to the blood he had been coughing up just moments again,

Draco followed her gaze to the red pool beside him, "That's not blood. It's a potion Snape brewed for me," feeling the pain in his chest cease, he wiped potion residue from his mouth,

"He can't have done it right if you're just coughing it back up," Ginny note as she took a small step forward,

"You think you can brew something better than him?" He mocked,

"Forget it," she replied exasperatedly as she turned to leave.

"Weasley-" He called the moment her fingers grazed the handle. She didn't respond, not sure if she actually heard him, his voice was so quiet. Finally, she turned around to look at him, question in her eyes, "Can you-" He sighed letting his head hang down,

"You don't- don't know any cleaning spells, do you?" She asked hesitantly, walking towards him with slow baby steps.

He didn't reply. As she took out her wand and began casting cleaning spells, he closed his eyes tightly. He tried to focus his mind on something, clearing his thoughts, ignoring all urges. He opened his eyes and flinched back against the wall when he saw her wand pointed at his chest,

"Calm down, I'm cleaning your shirt," Ginny muttered, "Magic or not, white will still stain if you don't clean it up fast. There, done." She knelt before him, sitting on her feet watching him cautiously, "Where's your school sweater and robe? You're sweating and shivering!"

"It's called a cold sweat," Draco grumbled as he wiped his forehead with the back of his hand,

"What's wrong with you Malfoy? You were fine yesterday," She questioned, "And what's with that potion? It's not like any potion I've ever seen."

"Because you know everything about potions," he mocked,

"I try to be nice but you're not making it very easy to be Gryffindor right now!" She exclaimed. With that, she stood up and made to leave,

"The potion was made to keep me from dying," Draco said quietly,

Ginny froze in her tracks, "Dying?"

"It was brewed especially to keep me from starving myself to death,"

"The food here isn't so bad,"

"The food here doesn't do anything to sate my hunger," Draco explained, brushing his hair from his face again only to have it fall in his eyes once more.

"What's happening to you?"

"You're aware of creatures of the night?"

"Yes-"

"Once bitten by a pure blooded vampire, one becomes that which bites him," Draco said quietly.

Ginny's hand went to her mouth to suppress a gasp, "Then the potion-"

"Is to keep me from starvation," Draco finished,

"But how come you were coughing it up?"

Draco smiled bitterly, "That is truly the curse of things. The one thing that can sustain me is the one thing that my body keeps rejecting. Before it took its time. The first vile I had on the first day back to school took a few hours before my body began to reject it. After that, it's taken only seconds before I cough it all up again."

Ginny remained silent, unsure what to say. Here she was in a room with Draco Malfoy and he was admitting what should be a personal fact.
Draco looked up at her still body. He wasn't sure why he was telling her this. He wasn't sure why it came so natural to just answer her questions, to tell his dark secret.

"When was the last time you had something-er- satisfying to eat?" Ginny asked, turning back to him,

"Would have been the day it happened. Just over a month ago, I suppose," he replied. Once again the answer flowed from his lips before he could stop himself. Before he would have told her to mind her own bloody business, but not now.

"You've never," she swallowed hard, "taken someone's blood?"

He shook his head negatively and looked away,

"Would you?"

His head whipped back to look at her with question in his eyes. In silent fascination, he watched her walk back to him. She knelt down before him and with trembling hands she took off her robe and began to take off her sweater. He grabbed her wrist, stopping her progress. She looked at him quizzically,

"You don't -"

"That's why you stopped the one night- when you tasted blood after all the poison?"

"No. I stopped because-" He exhaled heavily, "I liked how your blood tasted."

She just watched him for a moment. His sigh made it seem like he was heavily burdened and it made him tired. His sigh sounded like he was giving up, something she thought she'd never see coming from Draco Malfoy.

"Are you scared to take my blood now because you like how it tastes?" She asked tentatively, not knowing where her courage was coming from. Perhaps there was a reason she was in Gryffindor.

"I don't need your blood to stay alive," he replied gruffly, not answering her question. He stood up and walked towards the door. He summoned his sweater and robe he had flung across the room in a hurried need to loosen up the clothing of his chest.

"I was just trying to help," Ginny defended as she stood to watch him,

He stopped at the door, "I know," he whispered. Then, he rid the wards and left the room.

---

The entrance closed behind Draco. One glance towards the couches and Draco scowled, walking towards his bedchamber,

"I saw her leave the Great Hall after you left, Malfoy," Blaise called from the common room.

"Sod off."

"You were gone a long time."

"Sod off, Zabini!"

"Draco-"

"Damn it, Zabini just sod off!" Draco growled as he reappeared at his door, still wearing his slacks and white dress shirt,

"She knows now, doesn't she?" Blaise inquired after looking at Draco's expression,

He sighed heavily and leaned against the doorframe, sometimes he was amazed at how Blaise seemed to read his mind, "Do I have to answer?"

"Malfoy- "

"I know how to screw things up, hmm?" Draco inquired as he crossed his arms loosely,

"Do you trust her to keep your secret?" Blaise asked as he stood up and faced Draco,

"I-I don't know," he avoided looking at Blaise.

Silent for a moment, Blaise saw that rare yet familiar expression cross Draco's face. He knew the exact moment when Draco let down his guard and it was just him: raw and vulnerable. Without a word, Draco turned into his room and shut the door behind him.



(Phase 4: Scarlet Thread)

[RM] Taste of Poison

The Red Moon series

Phase Two: Taste of Poison

---


Draco sat back in a chair, hands behind his head as he monitored the workings of Ginny Weasley. He had thoroughly gone through each step of the potion she had done the previous week but had failed miserably, and he hoped that he had been thorough enough to prevent her failing it again. If she failed once, it just meant one more night he'd have to spend with her and that was the last thing he wanted.

She began chopping more ingredients and once she finished he saw what she was chopping. She moved the chopping board towards the cauldron and before he could stop her, she stopped herself. She looked down at the ingredients then looked at him. He had already schooled his expression to apathy. If he was going to teach her potions, he wasn't going to make it easy on her. Not receiving any hint or clue if what she was doing was correct, she placed the chopping board back down on the table and looked at her other ingredients. The previous week, Snape had told them they must memorize this particular potion because they were now in their sixth year and that specific potion would be as easy as Lumos' to them. Apparently for Ginny, Lumos' wasn't that easy. She had hours memorizing the potion, but in the end, she had failed.

"The second time around is supposed to be easier," she muttered angrily at herself.

"I cannot believe you're having this much difficulty with potions," Draco finally said, "Even that dimwitted brother of yours wasn't the last of our year."

"Shut your mouth Malfoy. Just because I'm not good at this one thing doesn't mean I'm worst than Ron," Ginny defended, not even bothering to look at her tutor.

He wasn't going to argue with her; he knew she was correct. It was already their third night of tutoring and after a somewhat awkward start (awkward meaning complete silence the first night and absolute bickering the second) they were finally getting something done. However, after the first night, he decided he'd do some research on the littlest Weasley. He had gone directly to Dumbledore and asked for Ginny's school records, with reasons such as he was Head Boy and her tutor and he needed to know what her learning skills were and if she was bad in everything. To his surprise, potions class was the only thing she couldn't do. She was getting extremely good marks in all of her other classes and Draco had decided (although he would never voice it) that had Ginny and Ron switched ages, she would have given Hermione and himself some competition in their year.

Her frustrated exhale brought him out of his reverie and he looked over at her progress. She had once again picked up the chopping board and was putting the contents into the cauldron. Silently, Draco stood up, took ten steps backwards and crouched behind a desk as she began mixing the solution, her back to him. In his mind he counted as she stirred.

One, two, three-

On four, he covered his head with his arms. On five, he closed his eyes. As if on cue, Ginny let out a scream and jumped away from the cauldron as it not only bubbled over, but soon exploded.

Nine, ten.

Draco uncovered his head, opened his eyes and stood up. The damage was evident: the classroom walls were covered in electric pink soot; the cauldron had shattered into millions of pieces, scattered throughout the room; potion ingredients were either sprinkling the floor or melted and he was most certain there used to be a door between the class and the hallway. He walked over to Ginny. She was lying on her stomach, her arms covering her head. She was covered in the pink soot and wasn't standing up.

"Weasley? You can get up now," Draco drawled.

Slowly, she uncovered her head, shook her head out of its daze and stood up. She sighed heavily as she looked at the back of her robes, which were stained by the soot.

Draco went to the table where the ingredients once were, inspecting the damage, "The classroom will be easily fixed, but I'm sure Snape will be mad about that cauldron, not to mention the door." He walked to the entrance, "Oh, the door's here, just not altogether." He turned back to Ginny who was looking at the pink ceiling, "I'll see you tomorrow night then."

"What!? You're leaving? You're not going to even help me clean?" She questioned,

"It's your mess. Consider this a learning experience," he smirked before leaving her to her own designs. Just before he left earshot of the classroom, he was sure he heard her cursing his name.

---

The next morning, Draco was surprised (despite hiding it) to see Blaise reclining in his common room,

"You are in trouble Malfoy," Blaise said in an all-too-happy tone.

"What are you blabbering about now Zambini?" Draco asked as he left the common room, Blaise just behind him,

"I passed Snape this morning and he was muttering yours and Weasley's death," Blaise explained,

"Zambini, you're a horrible liar," Draco pointed out, "You used to be good at spinning tales, now that you've lost it, I no longer see your use to me."

Blaise rolled his eyes before replying, "Fine, wait until potions, then we'll see if I'm lying."

"Well, you're clearly lying since there's nothing Snape could be mad at me for," Draco said but stopped the moment the words left his lips.

His sudden halt caused a smile to cross Blaise's mouth, "Remembering a reason for Snape wanting to wring your neck Malfoy?"

"Sod off Zambini," Draco scowled as he continued on, his pace quicker than before.

When they reached the main floor, Draco saw the familiar head of hair of Ginny Weasley. He called after her. She stopped and turned; surprised to see it was him calling her. By the time he reached her, her friends had all ran away into the safety of the Great Hall.

"Malfoy?"

"Did you clean up your mess last night?" He demanded, eyes narrowing suspiciously,

"Of course I did, even if you left me to do it on my own. I wasn't going to risk detention just to spite you. There's no point in both of us being in detention," Ginny replied, feeling uneasy under her glare,

"If you say so," Draco muttered before pushing past her,

"I do say so! Trust me." She said confidently,

"That's the last thing I'll do," was all he said before disappearing into the Great Hall.

---

Apparently, Blaise had not been lying, the smug prat. He was listening to every word when Snape came up behind Malfoy in potions.

"Mr. Malfoy, why is it I wasn't informed that there were complications in last night's session?"

"It was a minor mishap with her potion."

"A minor mishap doesn't explain one missing cauldron and the complete disappearance on my stash of Elder Wood. The potion doesn't even require it, yet the ingredient is completely missing from my storage, even the jar!" Snape hissed angrily,

"Sir, I went through the procedure with her in thorough details, if she used it all, you can hardly make me share the blame," Draco replied,

"You saw her make the mistake didn't you Mr. Malfoy?" Draco remained silent, "Ah yes, I can see it now. You would be supervising her, you're not so ignorant as to let her make a potion unattended, but you anticipated the mistake when you saw her adding the Elder Wood."

"Professor, had I known she used up all of your -"

"Tonight you and Miss Weasley will not have a tutoring session. I have already asked the Headmaster and have received his approval: the two of you imbeciles shall go get me more Elder Wood instead. The closest source is the Forbidden Forest. Be at the main entrance after dinner Mr. Malfoy." Snape walked away immediately after, in a more horrible mood than usual for the rest of the class period.

"I'm going to kill the Weasley," Draco scowled to Blaise,

"MR. MALFOY! If you do not wish to spend the entire night in the Forbidden Forest rather than just a few hours, I suggest you shut your mouth and copy down the notes!" Snape demanded.

---

"There's no point in staying here," Draco muttered, "I don't even eat." He stood up from the Slytherin table,

"So you're going to wait for Snape outside?" Blaise inquired

"Snape already left. And it's better than watching her eat," he motioned towards Pansy who had the decency to stop eating and sneer at him. Without another word, Draco left the Great Hall and headed towards the main entrance. By the time he got there, Professor Snape was already waiting, arms crossed.

"I didn't expect you to take so long," Snape drawled,

"You said after dinner, you didn't specify a time," Draco replied in even tones,

"Don't be insolent with me. You and I both know you just spent an hour's worth of time in there sitting at the table and watching your food," he hissed,

"It was an hour well spent considering I'd have to wait for Weasley before I went into the forest," Draco muttered.

"Wrong again Mr. Malfoy. She was anticipating your departure the entire time," and as if on cue, Ginny came running around the corner and came to a halt before them, "So good of you to join us Miss Weasley."

She nodded while she tried to catch her breath.

"I've already told you both your main objective of tonight's job. I suggest you do it good and efficiently. If my storage of Elder Wood isn't replenished by daybreak, don't bother returning to potions - either of you," his stare hardening when it reached Draco. "Don't get any ideas Mr. Malfoy." He turned to leave but Ginny stopped him,

"Professor, how will we even know where to find it or how it looks like?" The look Snape gave her was one of complete loss of patience. Fortunately, before Snape could reply Draco pushed Ginny outside and shut the door behind him. "What's with the pushing!?"

"I don't know about you Weasley, but I do not want Snape giving me detentions until the end of the school year just because of your ignorance," Draco sneered before lighting his wand and heading before her towards the Forbidden Forest.

"What do you mean my ignorance?" she demanded, feeling her temper rise,

"Must I explain everything?" Draco said exasperatedly as they made their way towards the forest, "Asking that question just told Snape that you had no idea what you were doing last night with the Elder Wood, thus increasing the trouble your in. I wouldn't have given a damn had that fact not also meant that I didn't explain things well enough to you, thus, increasing the trouble I am in. Understand?"

Ginny remained silent,

"Good, now let's get this over with."

---

With both their wands lit, Draco and Ginny proceeded into the depths Forbidden Forest. Manoeuvring around twisted roots, which surfaced everywhere, blocking each sound of things that go bump in the night and having to fight off a few of the things that make those sounds.

"So where do we find Elder Wood?" Ginny asked finally,

"Weasley, do you ever shut up?" Draco questioned,

"I haven't spoken for at least an hour and half! So yes, I can shut up!" She retorted, "Besides, shouldn't I know where to find Elder Wood so you're not the only one searching?" Draco remained silent, continuing his search, "If there's two of us looking, we'll get out faster," she tempted.

"Elder Wood thrives easily in forests, so it tends to be bigger in diameter than any of the other trees," he couldn't have answered any faster, "However, the fact it thrives so well is because it tends to suck the life out of plant life surrounding it. Its roots don't grow so long, so it has its limits, but it continues to grow after killing all surrounding plant life with the basics of photosynthesis and such."

"So we just look for a really big tree surrounded by dead plants?"

"Or that," Draco aimed his wand to their left.

The light illuminated a clearing of a circumference of twenty-five meters. In the centre stood a gigantic tree whose diameter was at least five metres. The tree grew tall and eventually its branches and leaves meshed with the surrounding forestry, creating a canopy void of the sky's nocturnal lights.

"Finally! Now we can grab some and get out!" Ginny sighed happily and began to jog ahead of Draco.

"Stop you idiot!" Draco hissed, grabbing at her arm.

However, at the moment he got a hold of her, something flew towards her and pierced her right calf. She stumbled and almost fell to her knees but Draco pulled her to him and held her up with an arm around her waist. Quickly he put up a protective barrier around them and they heard noises as more things came at them, hit the shield and ricocheted off.

"Don't you ever listen!?" Draco demanded as he pointed his wand towards the base of the tree. Growling out an incantation, electric blue shocks shot from the tip of his wand and made contact with the massive tree. Suddenly, ice began to form at the base and spread both upwards towards the branches and foliage and also down to the roots along with the ground at their feet.

"What did you do?" Ginny asked, feeling a constant pain in her lower leg,

"Elder Wood is full of nourishment because it feeds off other plants. In return, certain creatures live in the branches of the Elder Wood and feed off it. There are several different kinds and, as you can see, thoroughly protective of the Elder Wood. If you approach it haphazardly the creatures attack. Lucky for you, only one thing tried to attack you before I put up a shield," he scowled, "You have to immobilize everything in the tree's vicinity so that anything protecting it becomes harmless while you extract samples from it."

"What about the other things around the clearing? With everything frozen, won't other things come at us?"

"Even if they did, once they hit the edge of the clearing, they'd freeze up," he explained as he let go of her, "Can you stand while I go get enough Elder Wood or do we have to go back and do this again tomorrow?"

By the expression on his face, Ginny knew there was only one way to answer him, "I'm fine."

Letting out an exasperated breath, Draco headed towards the tree and began thawing parts of the wood in order to extract it. When he got back to Ginny, she was lying on the ice-covered ground, holding her leg,

"Let's get out of here," He muttered as he grabbed her wrist and hauled her up and continued to drag her through the forest,

"Must we get out so fast? We got in fine enough at the pace we were at before," Ginny muttered defiantly,

"Do you want the creatures I turned into ice cubes to come after us once they've thawed?" Draco sneered, "They know our scent, they'll easily find us if we don't get out of here and frankly, I do not want to risk loosing the Elder Wood I just collected in order to fight off magical creatures you angered."

---

They had cut the time it took them to find the tree almost in half when they reached the castle doors, Draco dragging Ginny the entire way. He released his hold on her immediately and they entered the warmth of the castle.

"Malfoy-"

"What now?" He turned back, exhausted and exasperated.

She had opened the front of her robes and was looking down at her lower leg, her socks had slipped to her ankles on their trek back to the castle and her calf had turned a pale purple.

"Merlin's ghost, why didn't you say anything before?" He demanded,

"Every time I said something you'd get mad!" She defended as she cringed in pain and dropped to her left knee, holding her other leg.

"I did not get mad!" He replied before lowering his voice, "Damn it, you've been poisoned." He pulled her up quickly and she grimaced from the pain that shot through her leg. He pulled her towards the closest room and shut the door behind him. Casting silencing and locking charms, he pulled her to the centre of the abandoned classroom. It was void of any sign of cleaning, desks were pushed to the side and by the dust collecting on the floor it was obvious the classroom hadn't been used in well over a few years. "Sit," he pointed to a desk.

She did as she was told, gingerly trying not to hit her right leg in any way. Once she settled on the tabletop, her robe lying beneath her, she bent up her right leg,

"No, keep it straight, if you do that, the poison will spread faster. You want to keep the rest of your body higher than your leg," Draco instructed as he took off his robe and lit his wand. As he began rolling up the sleeves of his uniform, Ginny took off her school sweater, folded it and sat down on it, with her left leg curled beneath her. It wasn't much, but she was able to raise the rest of her body a few more inches higher than her right leg, which she now let hang over the edge of the desk.

"Why don't we just go to Madame Pomphrey?" Ginny asked as Draco began examining her leg.

"Time. And if you walk more, it'll cause the poison to spread faster," Draco explained distractedly,

"So you making me walk faster was a bad idea?" He glared at her then returned to his examinations.

"It's a slow enough poison that it didn't spread higher than your knee," Draco concluded, "but it should be taken out of your body before it does damage to your leg permanently."

"How are you going to do that?" Ginny asked slowly,

"Do you know what to do if you get bitten by a snake?" Draco inquired and she nodded slowly, eyes widening, "Same theory." He pulled out one of the jars Snape had supplied them with which he had not used (there was getting potion supplies, then there was being excessive), opened it and placed it on the ground. "Once I pull out the spike you were hit with, I'll have to start sucking out the poison so you don't lose any blood in the process," he suddenly looked up at her seriously and, for once, without contempt, "do you object?"

She shook her head, how else was she supposed to reply? Here she was sitting in an empty classroom in the middle of night with the archenemy of her brother and basically herself, and he was about to rid her body of poison but not before he asked for her consent. He nodded before returning to her leg,

"W-won't you get poisoned?"

"Not if I do this right," he said, "Trust me."

"That's the last thing I'll do," she repeated his words and he had to smirk at it, "But if I must."

"Ready?"

"Mhmm," she mumbled, closing her eyes tightly.

Quickly, he pulled out the cause of the poison and the spike turned out to be two inches long, more than half of it had lodged itself into her calf. Kneeling on the ground, he immediately put his lips to her leg and began to suck at the wound.

When he had a mouth full, he immediately spat it into the open jar, the poison was bitter and felt as if it were burning the inside of his mouth. However, after spitting out all the poison he held in his mouth, he returned to continue extracting the poison from her. In his mind, he kept concentrating on whatever wandless magic he had developed over the years and willed the poison to come to him. Again and again, he spat out more of the purple liquid and again and again, he continued to suck it out of her.

Inside her head, Ginny wasn't sure if she had fallen in the Forbidden Forest and what was happening was a dream. Malfoy didn't have to do this, he could have left her for dead and he wouldn't have any blame on him. But no, here he was, and he was basically saving her life.

Not if I do this right .

Saving her life and putting himself at risk. She had to admit that maybe Malfoy wasn't as bad as he used to be. Of course, she'd never voice that.

After what seemed to have been an eternity, Draco tasted something coppery enter his mouth. He spit the contents of his mouth into the jar and was relieved to see there was a streak of red in the jar before it dissolved into the purple.

"There, the poison's gone," Draco said in an exhausted tone as he tore off a piece of his uniform shirt and wrapped it tightly around her leg.

"Are you sure?" Ginny said, looking at him sceptically,

"Yes, I got some blood that last time," Draco said in a matter of fact tone as he sealed the jar and stood up, dusting himself off,

"But is that solid enough reason? You could've missed something, shouldn't you try one last time? If all you get is blood then-"

"NO!" He sighed. He had been more than a saint with her since bringing her to this room and he didn't need to be tempted to be a devil. "If you're that worried about it, you can go to the Hospital Wing."

After they had gathered their things and left the class room, Ginny paused before they parted ways; she going up to the Hospital Wing and Draco going down to Snape's classroom to leave the Elder Wood.

"Malfoy," she called after taking a few steps up the stairs,

He looked over his shoulder at her, pausing his descent,

"Thank you."

Once she disappeared from his sight, he leaned against the stairwell wall and closed his eyes. Out of habit he probably would have replied, but he couldn't. Not that night and not because she was a Weasley. He couldn't because she tempted the devil inside him that night. She tempted him and he wasn't sure how long he could fight his temptations.


(Phase 3: To Be Like Glass)

[RM] The Student Becomes the Teacher

The Red Moon series

Phase One: The Student Becomes the Teacher

---


It was the start of another school year at Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry. The past year had held all the excitement as the 5 years before it. Harry Potter had found himself inside a web of plans all designed by the Dark Lord Voldemort as a means to destroying the Boy-Who-Lived. Once again Harry Potter, with the assistance of his two friends, Hermione Granger and Ronald Weasley, had once again escaped the clutches of the Dark Lord, sending the dark wizard back to his drawing board.

Now, as Harry Potter's seventh year begins, changes have happened around him, which he is oblivious to. However, this story is not about the great Harry Potter. In contrast, this story is about his arch nemesis at school, Draco Malfoy. This boy, destined to be one of the next great Death Eaters has some problems of his own, all of which begin on a dark night in the middle of August. But our story does not begin in the summer, no, it begins on that first day back to school.

---

As the students sat at their tables, antsy to get this year's sorting over with, one student in particular seemed even more disinterested in the event than any other. Draco Malfoy sat at the Slytherin table with his chin propped up on his palm, his gaze going anywhere and everywhere but the sorting taking place. He didn't see the importance of it happening before the entire student population. He recalled his own sorting and it wasn't anything exciting, so he wondered why they all had to sit and wait for it to happen every year like something fantastical would suddenly happen. Of course, nothing ever happened.

"Why weren't you on the train?"

Draco's gaze slid to the corner of his eye for a brief moment before continuing its pointless search around the Great Hall,

"I didn't realize you missed me that much," Draco drawled,

"If it wasn't for Pansy's whining the entire time I probably wouldn't have noticed," Blaise hissed back, "Now after listening to her pine for you the entire ride I'm quite curious as to know why, my friend, you were absent on the train."

"I had better things to do than waste pointless hours on a train. So I portkeyed here a few minutes you arrived. Happy? Can we cease this pointless interrogation?"

"It was pointless, sorry," Blaise quieted his voice even further as to assure himself that only Draco would be able to hear, "I know what happened."

All at once, Draco froze. His gaze stopped wandering and for a few seconds, he even stopped breathing. He was sure that his heart had even forgot to breath in that moment after Blaise said those words. Blood suddenly running cold and all heat left from his body, Draco finally turned to look at Blaise directly. After his initial shock, Draco resumed back to normal and his eyes narrowed,

"Don't tell me I need to kill you Blaise-" he said under his breath,

It was Blaise's turn to look away seeming disinterested, "You don't. I've never betrayed you since birth, why start now?"

Draco felt a tension in his body, which he hadn't realized, was there leave. "How?"

"Later," Blaise replied as he joined in the monotonous clapping with the rest of the Slytherins as another first year joined them.

---

As Draco prepared himself for bed, he looked around his room. He had always wanted private chambers at Hogwarts so he could have peace and quiet to himself, but this year above all others, he needed it rather than wanted it.

"Draco?"

Sighing at the familiar voice, he left his bed chamber and went into his own common room.

"What good is it to be Head Boy when I have a pest like you still around me at night?" Draco asked as he sat down in an arm chair before the fire.

Blaise, who had already made himself comfortable in another arm chair chuckled, "It's your own fault for telling me how to get in. You have it easy though, apartments of your own, far from everyone else. Where are the Head Girl's quarters?"

"Somewhere on this floor. Easier to find each other in case of emergency or some bollocks like that," Draco explained before sarcastically adding, "Now what, praytell, do I owe the honour of having you here?"

"You wanted to know how." Blaise said simply.

For a fraction of a second, Draco remembered that initial shock. He sighed deeply, "Go on then."

"I was there," he held up a hand to stop the retort from escaping Draco's lips, "Near the end. Just seconds before it ended, I had arrived. I would have gone to you but by the time I got out of my shock, you had already apparated away."

"You never mentioned it after. I do recall us having a few drinks a few days later at my mansion," Draco reminded coldly,

"Oh, I did. I just waited until you were pissed before I said anything. The truth comes out when you're drunk," Blaise said knowingly.

Draco scowled at his friend, "And it didn't take me long to get drunk that night- I wanted to forget what happened."

"Does Dumbledore know?"

"Of course he does, why do you think I was able to portkey here?" Draco snapped,

"So what's going to happen to you?"

"Nothing. I continue life as always. No one besides you, Dumbledore and Snape know and I continue on having it that way. Not even Voldemort knows and I'll do everything I can to make sure it stays that way. If he ever finds out, I'll end up like my parents," Draco said bitterly.

"Draco?" Blaise began in an uncomfortable tone. Draco looked at him in question, "You didn't eat anything at dinner. Aren't you hungry?"

"I ate earlier when I arrived. Dumbledore, Snape and I had a discussion in Snape's office and while we were there I ate because Dumbledore noted I looked like I hadn't eaten in weeks," Draco rolled his eyes exasperatedly,

"Had you not eaten in weeks?" Blaise questioned again in that uncomfortable tone, but this time, it was accompanied by concern.

"I had not," Draco replied before casting a glare at Blaise, "And don't get any infantile notions or fears in your head about that."

"Sorry- Draco?"

"What?" he spat,

"What about Quidditch this year?" The question came at a whisper as if Blaise thought it would break Draco if it were asked any louder.

The expression that crossed Draco's face looked as if it had broken him. He was silent before answering, "I don't know."

Blaise, being Draco's closest friend, had only seen that expression once before on Draco's face. He had only let his guard down once before and it was the night when Draco found out that both his parents were dead.

"Don't worry mate, we'll figure out something," Blaise offered.

However, no words of appreciation or gratitude would come from Draco. "Go away," was all he muttered before getting up and heading to his bed chambers. The slam of his bedroom door was the last noise Blaise heard from him that evening.

With one last look of concern towards Draco's door, Blaise got up and left the Head Boy's chambers.

---

"It's a good thing I've never been a morning person," Draco muttered spitefully as he left his chambers and headed down to the Great Hall. After reaching the main floor, he saw Blaise leaning casually against the wall by the Great Hall's doors. Draco brushed past him towards the Great Hall but in seconds, Blaise was by his side and stopped his progress,

"What?" Draco scowled as he shook off Blaise's grip on his shoulder and stared straight into his best friend's eyes.

"I was in the Great Hall earlier and you know how it's been made so it reflects the weather outside-" Blaise said in a warning tone,

Draco continued walking and pushed open the doors to the Great Hall, Blaise following in silence. As they sat down at the Slytherin table, their food appeared before them. As Blaise began to eat he stopped and looked at Draco quizzically. He got a glare in return.

"DRACO!"

The glare disappeared and an expression of great distaste replaced it. Pansy sat down in front of them and glared at Draco,

"Where were you yesterday? I didn't see you on the train and then at dinner I didn't even get to sit beside you! THEN, once dinner was over, you left before I could even talk to you," she whined,

"I don't have to explain myself to anyone, especially you Parkinson," Draco growled in a low tone. He stood up and left the Great Hall.

"Well he's in a right mood," Pansy huffed as she began eating, cutting her food violently,

"Shut up," Blaise spat before spooning one last morsel of food into his mouth and running after Draco.

---

Draco rubbed his right temple as a pain thudded in his head. Turning the corner, he didn't see the person who also was turning the corner. In a moment after a few books had become airborne, Draco found himself stumbling backwards, only gaining balance after bumping back into Blaise.

Draco looked down at the person responsible for the collision (because, of course, he wasn't to blame), "Watch where you're going, Weasley! You're almost as bad as your brother," he sneered before walking away.

"Damn Malfoy, I oughta - what are you doing Zabini!?" Ginny questioned as Blaise began to collect her books.

Unconsciously, he had got down and began gathering her books for her. Standing up with her books now in his possession, he helped her up with his free hand before shoving the books into her arms. Ginny remained silent being unsure of how to respond to the first kind act ever administered by a Slytherin. About to say some sort of words for gratitude, Ginny stopped herself when she glimpsed at the expression on Blaise's face just before he ran after Draco: worry.

When Blaise caught up to him, Draco stopped and turned abruptly to look at Blaise, "I don't need you to follow me everywhere!"

"Draco, obviously something's wrong," Blaise pointed out,

"Then if there is, I can handle it myself. I don't need you fighting my battles for me Zabini! Next time, mind your own bloody business. What are you, another bleeding heart of Gryffindor!?" Draco snarled.

Blaise held up both hands as a gesture he'd stop. After a second of silence between the two friends, Draco turned on his heel and walked away. That's how it remained for another week, Draco spoke to no one and was never seen with anyone. After the third day of school, he had even stopped showing up at meals. The only contact he'd have with anyone was when he'd go to his chambers after his Head Boy duties and Blaise would be standing at the entrance, leaning against the wall. He'd look at Draco in question and Draco would merely nod. Satisfied with his answer, Blaise would push himself off the wall and leave Draco to his own thoughts.

---

It was in the middle of the second week of school when Draco finally spoke to someone. Potions had just concluded and as he was closing his text and packing his things, Professor Snape approached him.

"Mr. Malfoy, I'd like for you to tutor a younger student," Snape said in a tone that expressed his dislike of having to teach a student who needed extra tutelage in the first place.

"Professor-"

"It was Professor Dumbledore's request, not mine. So if you have a problem with it, speak with him, not me. Until you've done that, you can come here directly after dinner and beginning the sessions."

Draco sighed exasperated and rubbed his temple, a familiar thud in his head again, "How long are these sessions?"

"Just a few hours,"

"Who is it? How bad are they Professor?" Draco asked, he had a feeling he would want to see Dumbledore as soon as possible to get him out of the situation.

"They have the lowest potions level in their year. It's a Gryffindor," Snape answered,

"Professor! I'm not teaching an idiotic Gryffindor Potions!" Draco suddenly announced,

"Well then Mr. Malfoy, I suggest you say that to the Headmaster." Draco let out a frustrated sigh, "And what are you waiting for? Class has already ended and yet you're still here!"

Scowl painted on his face, Draco grabbed his belongings and left. The potions master could never be pleased, favourite student or not.

---

He had been bewitched. That had to be the answer. Afternoon classes were starting and Draco had already finished his meeting with Professor Dumbledore. The problem was, Draco wasn't quite sure how it ended with him still having to tutor some dense Gryffindor. On his way to Transfiguration, he attempted to recall his arguments to Dumbledore. He couldn't exactly remember what they were, only how transparent and weak they were; Dumbledore was able to dissuade each of them. If he hadn't been bewitched during the meeting he must have been bribed one way or another. Yes! That was it. Draco's step quickened slightly as he recalled some of the things Dumbledore had told him,

"This student is in dire need of assistance in potions Mr. Malfoy, and who better but the top student in all of Hogwarts for potions to help them?"

A sneer crossed his face, the Headmaster sure new how to compliment a person into complete silence. After that Dumbledore had continued on about the importance of student-to-student tutoring and why he should do it. When Draco had attempted to argue once more, Dumbledore had said something about it being a way to keep his mind off other things then somehow - somehow - Dumbledore had managed to dismiss him without actually doing so. Draco couldn't exactly remember how it happened, but the Headmaster had made it clear that the discussion was over without saying it was. Instead, from an outside point of view, it seemed like Draco had ended it by saying exasperatedly that he needed to get to class.

Fortunately, Draco was able to slip into the classroom moments before Professor McGonagall entered the classroom herself. He slipped into a seat beside Blaise and began to think about what tonight would be like tutoring the student proclaimed to be the worst of his year in potions.

---

Blaise let out a laugh as he walked down the hall with Draco after they had finished their dinner. Draco, of course, hadn't eaten anything.

"Sod off," Draco hissed, shoving Blaise away from him,

"Oh, I wish I could, but I want to see this pathetic student that you're teaching potions to. I bet the boy's so bad he has a higher explosion rate than Finnigan! I cannot believe you let Dumbledore manipulate you into not getting out of it," Blaise laughed again, holding his stomach. It was only in the presence of Draco did Blaise show his true self; his true self being a carefree Slytherin who wanted nothing more than to end the whole basis of the light and dark side and to eliminate all thought of war - he had seen too much death in his seventeen years already.

As they turned the final bend to the Potions room, Draco felt his stomach jump into his throat as he saw the student standing outside the classroom, leaning against the wall. Draco sighed exasperatedly as he felt a familiar thud in his head,

"Bloody hell," the words had left his mouth before he realized it.

Blaise muted his laughter when the student looked up at them and their own face showed complete disappointment and dread.

"Malfoy."

"Weasley."

"Definitely not a boy," Blaise muttered before throwing Draco another grin and leaving the two.

"Let's get this over and done with," Draco said crisply as he walked past Ginny and into the empty classroom. Of course, Draco thought, Snape would let him weather this alone. "Oh, and Weasley,"

Ginny looked at him cautiously from the seat she had chosen,

"Try not to blow us up."

"I'll try not to blow myself up, that's as best as I can promise."

Draco glared at her as she began to take out her material. Things had gotten from bad to worst.


(Phase 2: Taste of Poison)