Signatures
“You really think today was the best time to push her?”
He shrugged. “Is there ever really a good day?”
“She wasn’t brought up like us, mate. She’ll break under that kind of pressure... She is already pretty cracked for Salazar’s sake.”
Draco stayed silent. He knew that Hermione had done some of her best work while under pressure. He thrust his hands in his pockets when an inkling of doubt crept in his mind. Had he gone too far with her?
“I see you seem think it’s a good idea to push your own control while you’re at it.” Blaise chastised.
“Are you finished?” Draco snapped back. Now annoyed with more than just himself and his lack of precaution.
“Far from it actually. We’d follow you anywhere and you know that, but you’re starting down a path that’s going to take us all to Az.”
He didn’t need this lecture. Between the kiss, his increasing guilt for throwing Granger in the deep end (literally), and the constant weight on his shoulders to keep everyone safe, the power within him was bursting at the seems to be let free. He attempted to walk out of the bathroom to cool down but was stopped by a hand placed on his chest leaving the two of them shoulder to shoulder. Draco looked down at the rich skin pressing against his shirt.
“I’m stronger than you.”
It wasn’t a threat per se, more so a reminder.
“Magically, maybe. Mentally, no.”
He felt a pick against his mind and immediately sent out a wave of energy to shove Blaise away physically. It was met with a black film that acted like a shield. Behind his glare, he added the new power to the list of what Blaise was capable of.
Blaise stepped back with raised hands in a gesture of peace. “Your walls are down. Which means anyone can get in, including me, a piss poor legilimens, and whatever you have inside can get out, without restriction.”
Draco stared over his friend’s shoulder.
“Look, I’m not saying you can’t be with her… I’m just saying you need to be careful and regain control of yourself before something happens and the Ministry comes for you.”
He was halfway out the door when Blaise called out stopping him again.
“Draco?”
He turned his head over his shoulder from the doorway.
“Theo is gone again.”
“You’re unable to track him?”
“Clearly.” The word was sinister, full of anger and irritation.
He’d add that to the list of magic he wanted to practice, right after he figured out what the fuck Theo was.
_____________________________________________________
The night air whipped around him as he sat on the high up limb of the whomping willow.
You can’t lock me away forever, Theo.
He huffed and kept looking up at the castle. Their common room was on the other side of the building facing the lake, and as he looked out at the black shimmering water, he pretended that’s where he was. Sprawled out on the couch while the rest of their crew littered the spaces around him and the girl that embodied sunshine let her fingers dance across the keys of her piano lulling him into a false sense of serenity.
You’re out of the suppressant. It’s only a matter of time.
Theo continued to ignore the voice inside of his head as it slithered around and around, looking for an opening or a crack so that it could come to the surface and share his body. To be able to use the dark magic that had been festering within since before the end of the war. He wouldn’t be able to conceal it much longer, there was no amount of sarcasm and nonchalance that would be sufficient.
The whomping willow swayed him like gentle a swing. It sensed the power inside of him, recognized the destruction and rage and chaos, accepted it as a kindred being, allowing him to be near and find solace within the branches.
I’m not going to hurt anyone.
He snorted. Last time the beast within had said that they leveled an entire manor with Death Eaters and innocents within twenty-three minutes of it being unleashed.
Okay that was one time, and I did it for you. The being countered with what he could feel was an eye roll. I’ll rephrase; I won’t hurt anyone you care about. Although, no promises on your father…
“Theo?”
Please! Please let me meet her!
“Absolutely not.”
C’mon. Why delay the inevitable?
“Theo?” The soft voice tried again from below.
His branch dipped down low enough for him to jump off.
“Here.” He grunted, righting himself before leaving the shadows and approaching her where she stood just outside of the Willow’s strike zone. “I thought we agreed you wouldn’t coming looking for me anymore.”
She shrugged and wrapped her arms around herself.
Her light calls to me. Let me out, Theo.
His eyes closed and his entire body tensed as the being within thrashed at him.
“I wanted to check on you. Make sure you were-”
The second her small hand touched his, he jerked away from her as if she had burned him.
“I’m fine.” He clipped and then immediately melted as he watched her deflate from his tone and reaction to her. “I’m okay,” he soothed, “but I need you to promise me something…”
“Okay?”
“If I ever seem... different, stay away from me. Can you do that for me?”
“I suppose.”
“I mean it, Sunshine.” He implored bending his knees slightly so that he was looking into her eyes purposefully. Desperately trying to get her to understand how serious he was. Susan nodded her agreeance.
“And always let me touch you first, it’s just safer that way.”
“Oh. Okay.” She responded awkwardly and looked down.
His insides clenched. He was hurting her and all he was trying to do was keep her safe from him. The voice inside his head was uncharacteristically quiet, so he figured it would be okay to try and ease a little bit of the sting he had just delivered.
“Come,” he stated as he took her hand in his, “let’s get you back inside.”
His thumb brushed back and forth over hers as they made their way up to the castle silently.
Susan looked up at him once they crossed the threshold. “My family took in a stray cat when I was little… you sometimes remind me of him.”
“He must’ve been a good-looking cat.” He chuckled and then winked down at her.
“When he let us bathe him, he was. The bathing part was a nightmare as you could imagine. But the end result was always worth it.”
“Sunshine, are you trying to tell me you want to bathe with me?”
The blush on her cheeks was beautiful in the dimly lit hallways as she slapped at his arm with her free hand.
“No.” Susan shook her head with smile. “I’m trying to tell you that he was skittish and feisty but then would turn around and surprise you with how sweet and cuddly he could be.”
Theo hummed in response, unsure of how to respond.
When they reached the common room it was empty. He stopped them before they split to go into their respective rooms and kissed the back of her hand.
“What happened to him, your stray?”
She looked down in sadness. “He got sick, rabies I think, we had to put him down.”
Theo’s heart stopped.
It’s only a matter of time. The dark voice sang.
_____________________________________________________
“Are you going to sit in the shadows and watch me all night?”
No response came from the trees at her back but she knew he was there.
Ginny sighed. “I can feel you there.”
A twig snapped and then he was beside her.
“What do you mean you can ‘feel’ me?” Blaise demanded.
“Just because you exist in the shadows doesn’t mean you’re invisible.” She bent to place the various bottles she had carried at her feet. “You four snakes move silently, which is really fucking creepy by the way, but the world around you still reacts.”
“Explain.”
“I believe you’re missing a word in that sentence.”
“Ginevra, would you please explain what you mean?”
She smiled at him and his sour expression. “Of course, because you asked so nicely…” Ginny folded her legs underneath her and came to rest on the blanket she had spread on the ground. “The same way I was able to tell which family member was going up or down the stairs at home, or how to tell which of the twins was behind the prank, everyone has a signature to their energy... Some are more obvious than others. For example, everything goes deadly quiet when Theo is around even though he is loud and full of life. The temperature drops around Draco while Pansy exudes a more subtle shift of energy. Susan is like a walking ray of sunlight, Hermione radiates organized chaos, and I’m sure you could guess how Luna and Neville might appear. You, even though I know you’ve learned how to physically hide and mask yourself in the darkness, have always been easy to spot. Has to do with your magic I think. Pansy once said you were good at finding things, whether it be you or your magic looking, it raises the hair on the back of my neck.”
Blaise clipped out a hum as if deep in thought or skepticism.
“Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to get ready.”
“What exactly are you doing out here?”
“I’m a witch… It’s a full moon…”
“I’m failing to see the connection between the two unless you’re also trying to tell me you’re somehow also a werewolf?”
“We may have spells and wands and magic now, but witches were once much simpler creatures. We followed the moon, respected spirits, and gave thanks to the earth and realms beyond. After the war I decided to get back in touch with our roots.”
“I see.” There was a stagnant pause that she ignored. "Ginny, are you and P-"
“Blaise! Are you joining our circle tonight?” Pansy inquired as she walked towards them, the humor in her voice hard to miss.
“I wouldn’t dream of disturbing you two,” the boy said smartly, “was out looking for Theo when I ran into Weasley here.”
Ginny raised her brow at him and mouthed LIAR while Pansy settled in next to her and uncapped her own vials to collect their charged moon water once they were finished. Blaise narrowed his eyes at her.
“He was walking into the common room with Susan as I was on my way out.”
He inclined his head in a slight bow at them, “Pans. Weasley.” He said and then he slipped back into the darkness from which he came.