Lily in the Shadows

Chapter 10: Christmas Disappointments

Because of all of the new petrifications, Kathryn almost goes home for Christmas but decides to stay with her friends instead. She was slightly excited to stay once she heard about the dueling club, but then she found out Lockhart was teaching it and decided against going. Walking down an upper corridor with a wrapped package in her arms she makes her way towards Gryffindor tower. Getting directions from a few portraits she finally arrives. A large portrait of a large lady stares down at her suspiciously.

"What are you doing up here, you're quite far from the dungeons." The lady asks with a sneer. Kathryn takes a small step back from the hostility.

She holds up the wrapped box, "Hello," She squeaks. "I am here to give my brother his Christmas present." She knows that he probably already opened his Christmas presents as she had, and she knew that he didn't get her one this year, but that wouldn't stop her.

The woman hastily excused herself and disappeared into the portrait. It swings open to reveal Harry, Ron, and Hermionie. They clamber out of a hole in the wall and look strangely at Kathryn. "Hello Harry, I've brought you your Christmas present. I know it is a little late but I hope you like it all the same." She holds out the gift and Harry reaches for it, a surprised look on his face. Before he can take it, Ron stops him and whispers loudly in his ear. "What if she's cursed or poisoned it mate? She hangs out with Malfoy after all."

Harry withdraws from the box looking at Lily like she's burned him. Lily-Kathryn looks at him, hurt. "Why would I poison or curse you Harry? You're my brother." She feels confused, why would they think this of me?

"Because, you're a Slytherin, and everyone knows that there's not a bad witch or wizard who wasn't in Slytherin." Ron sneers. Lily's eyes fill with tears and she looks at Harry for help, whenever they were younger he would always stick up for her from people who would make fun of her hair or her clothes but he was just watching this happen. Looking at him now all she can see is suspicion and distrust. Throwing the gift at his feet she runs away, his face bouncing around in her head.

Bursting into the empty common room Lily throws herself onto one of the leather couches and begins to sob in earnest. She cries into the seat for who knows how long until the world goes black. 

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Draco walks into the common room from his dorm, looking for Crabbe and Goyle. Reaching the bottom of the stairs he notices a head of red hair on the couch, walking closer he sees Lily napping. Brushing her hair out of her face he can see face stained with tears long over. Damn you, Potter. Thinking that he needs to have Crabbe and Goyle go beat that boy one of these days. Walking out of the common room he makes his way through the dungeons when he hears talking up ahead.

"What do you two think you're doing out here?" Weaslebee, of course. Draco thinks to himself. "I could ask you the same question, Weaslebee?" He sneers.

"I am a prefect, Malfoy, show some respect."

Ignoring him, Draco turns to the two boys. "Crabbe (Ron), Goyle (Harry), where have you been? I've been looking all over for..." He stops, staring at Goyle's face. "Why are you wearing glasses?" Goyle starts, paling, "oh, uh, um reading." he croaks, taking them off with shaking hands. "Hm, I didn't know you could read," Draco shrugs. "Come along you two."

They enter the common room and the two start asking questions before being shushed by Draco. Walking over to the couch Draco scoops Lily into his arms, sitting with her in his lap, leaning on his chest. She moves in her sleep, curling her arms around his neck, head on his shoulder. Pushing her curly hair out of her face he massages her scalp. Looking up he sees the boys staring at him with wide eyes. "What," He asks, eyes flickering between them.

"Uh, nothing, nothing. We're just surprised you two are so close," Crabbe says, nudging Goyle as the two sit down on a couch. Goyle stares at the tear stains on her cheeks.

"Well, she was upset. She left to take Potter's Christmas present and next thing I know she's asleep on the couch and has obviously been crying." Draco rubs Lily's back as he speaks. After sitting for what feels like an eternity Draco suddenly remembers what he wanted to show Crabbe and Goyle. "Oh, right. I forgot," he begins rummaging through his pockets, doing his best not to disturb his sleeping beauty. Pulling out a clipping of the newspaper he thrusts it onto the coffee table between them. "Get a load of this." Crabbe and Goyle grab the clipping and begin to read the article about Mr. Weasley getting in trouble for the flying car. Seeing as they weren't laughing Draco inquired about their issue and they played it off as a stomach ache. 

Once he remembers all of the people petrified in the hospital wing he begins to wonder. "You know, I'm surprised the Daily Prophet hasn't reported all these attacks yet. I suppose Dumbledore's trying to hush it all up. He'll be sacked if it doesn't stop soon. Father's always said old Dumbledore's the worst thing that's ever happened to this place. He loves Muggle-borns, a decent headmaster would never have let slime like that Creevy in." He starts taking pictures with an imaginary camera, doing a cruel but accurate impression of Colin: "'Potter, can I have your picture, Potter? Can I have your autograph? Can I lick your shoes, please, Potter?' Not to mention the way he follows poor Kathryn is around like a dog, he's always like: 'Hey Kathryn, have you seen your brother around? Hey Kathryn, what's your favorite this, what's your favorite that? Do you wanna go to Hogsmeade with me, not like a date but like friends who go to Hogsmeade and drink butterbeer together? Do you think if we went I could see your brother, not like a stalker, but in a casual, cool way?' Makes me sick."

Goyle stares at him, first looking angry, then shocked, and now angry all over again. Rolling his eyes Draco continues, "I don't know what everyone sees in that Potter bloke anyway. He hangs around with that Granger Mudblood all the time and people think he's the heir of Slytherin, Merlin they're stupid." Crabbe and Goyle leaned forward holding their breath. "I wish I knew who it is," Malfoy whined petulantly. "I could help them. They could go after the really annoying ones, like that Smith girl who was pulling Kathryn's hair the other day."

The conversation continues to progress, Crabbe and Goyle stroking Draco's ego by asking loads of questions. It isn't until Draco states that there is a secret room under the floor of his house filled with dark artifacts that Crabbe gets really excited and exclaims a shout. He startles Goyle and Draco who shoosh him and look quickly at the sleeping Kathryn. She begins to shift and a long whine leaves her lips.

Deciding that now is the time, Draco rises quickly and carries her upstairs to her dorm. He lays her down and tucks her into her bed. Once he reaches the common room he looks around in confusion, wondering where the devil those boys had run off to now.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lily wakes up in her dorm room in a cold sweat. Disoriented and terrified she stumbles down the stairs into the common room. Seeing Draco she immediately rushes over, hugging him tightly. "Kathy," he questions. "What is it, are you alright?"

"I had the most horrible dream, it was dark, and I was outside in a sort of stone garden courtyard thing. There was someone there, standing behind a stone angel in the shadows. I've dreamt of her before but it was never this clear. It felt so real. She was a girl, short and thin, her voice was like bells when she spoke to me. She was warning me, she said;

'Beware the thing with the brain unseen,

Creature controlled by boy of sixteen,

The one that's guilty shall not fail,

If two do not follow the trail.'

"I have no idea what any of that means or why she felt like she had to tell me but I know that I am scared and confused." Lily burrows her face into Draco's chest, trying her best not to cry. Draco listens patiently, stroking her hair. "It's alright not to know Kathy, everything will be okay. Do you want us to go talk to professor Snape about it?"

Lily shakes her head rapidly, wiping her tears. "No, I'm sure it's nothing. If I have another one we'll go talk to him okay?"

"Alright."