loyalotter | 16th Gryffindor Note [Written] / [Action for housemates plus Draco later]

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16th Gryffindor Note [Written] / [Action for housemates plus Draco later]

[Written]
[Early morning: Hermione's sitting at the dining room table with her journal and her notebook. There are a couple of ink blots where she's tried to write, but her hand is shaking too much. Eventually, she manages to get out what she needed.]

For those who have been here for a while. I know this is probably a silly question, but I admit I'm curious. After someone returns from the Malnosso, about how long do the effects take to wear off and how bad can those effects be? Call it a study, if you will.

[Action for housemates plus Draco later]
[It's been days since Harry got back from his mallynapping and he's steadily gotten worse. She's watched him flip out about Voldemort one too many times not to know that something is desperately wrong now. His scar's been hurting like it did all fifth year, and nothing anyone has said has done anything to help him. And now, when she just went in to check on him, she's noticed that he's asleep in his bed. But he looks sick. Something is so not right.

And what do you do when all else fails? Call on the DA. So, she's going to knock on each of your doors as soon as she can tell you're all awake. She looks about as worried as Hermione gets.]

"We need to talk. All of us. Something's wrong with Harry."

[And then it's down to the next person. She'll be waiting for you all at the dining room table, which is right under Harry's room so she can tell if something changes with him. Terri the otter will be waiting in the living room for you guys to lead you all to her when you get there, but the Patronus is flickering, like Hermione's having a tough time keeping her there. The witch has her notebook and journal open and she's scanning the pages of each, desperately searching for an answer. Feel free to threadjack into one action thread.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Ron's about to point out that Dark magic is always Dark magic, but Malfoy just had to make a comment about things going his way. The glare he shoots him would almost be physically painful, if Malfoy actually allowed such a thing to grate him, and it's really a testament to how much he values Hermione as a person that Ron doesn't just hex him on the spot. Instead, he makes no effort to hide the fact that he's biting back a particularly violent remark as he forces his gaze back towards Hermione.]

...Fine. Malfoy leads. And I swear, if I find you've touched any bit of her mind, you'll pay for it dearly. [There's a visible tremble in Neville's wand hand because what is this insanity and why are you so okay with it Hermione??.] You work your dark arts, then what?

Edited 2010-07-03 02:40 (UTC)

I think you should, Malfoy. [She almost almost slips and calls him Draco, but nope she catches herself.] I can't do it nearly as well as you. [Which is definitely saying something that she's willing to forgo her pride here in favor of Malfoy and helping Harry.]

[She's got something else on her mind, but she doesn't want to have that argument again in front of Neville and Ron for obvious reasons, so she holds it in for now. And she is going to owe Ron and Neville so much for trusting her and not going off on Malfoy.]

Hopefully that will allow us to see the best way to help Harry. And then we do what we have to, reassure him that Voldemort's not here, and hopefully that'll be the end of it.

I know you can't. [It's just a fact. He's going to slowly pull out his wand, weighing it in his hand for a moment before facing the three of them.]

This should work. Maybe somehow while in his head something can jar him awake enough. Anything in specific I should be doing in there?

[All of this trust in Malfoy rather than believing in Hermione's abilities is really, really grating on Ron's nerves. And watching Malfoy take out his wand isn't doing anything for him either, no matter how slowly he takes withdraws it. Without even bothering to be discreet, Ron's hand immediately goes towards his own wand, and he pushes the chair away from the table, ready to dive away or throw a hex or whatever seems appropriate at the time Malfoy inevitably stabs them all in the back.]

[Neville totally feels you there, Ron. But as frustrating as this is, it's at least a direction. Even if it's a direction fairly doomed to fail.] You should be making him normal again, and then you're getting out. That's it.

[When Ron gets up, Hermione shoots out of her chair, though she's facing him and looking at him imploringly. Please, Ron. You promised. She nods at what Neville says, though.]

Right. Just try to find out what's going on in his mind, whether he's seen Voldemort or if it's just his scar acting up again. [She doesn't want to mention the Occlumency stuff, but she does glance at Ron at this point, hoping he'll understand. She knows it's too much to even think of asking Ron and Neville to stay here with or without her while Draco goes upstairs, so she looks like she wants to follow him when he goes.]

Edited 2010-07-04 18:30 (UTC)

[ooc: reply to her with Draco's reactions and then we can go from there because Sol's whole thing about what's happening in his head is kind of extensive but epic so TL;DR DO NOT REPLY TO ME YET DX /waits for Sol]

[Draco immediately points his wand at Ron then, ready to defend himself but he lowers it a bit as soon as Hermione speaks. He's fine with her following him though, and he nods at the other two in almost a smug fashion.]

Right then. Excuse us. [He suddenly turns and starts heading up the stairs, waiting for Hermione to catch up. As soon as the two are alone in Harry's room with the Chosen One, Draco closes the door and hovers over him.]

I already know your thoughts on this, but you just have to let me do this. If something bad starts to happen, don't interrupt. Give me a few moments to see what I can find. [His voice is a bit tight as he says all of this though, if only because he's not quite sure what he's going to find once he pokes inside Harry's head. However, he does hope that this will be easier with a nearly unconscious victim.] Legilimens. [The spell is quite clear and his wand does the work he needs as he braces himself, anxiously waiting to see what was going on inside Harry's mind.]

[Harry has definitely seen better days. He's still sleeping fitfully and looking paler than normal. If he hears Hermione and Draco come in, there's no sign that he knows that they're there.

Inside of his mind, it's easy to see why. Rather than sink into a memory, Draco appears in a graveyard. There is a distinct blurriness to most of his surroundings in the distance, and there are black shapes that could easily be cloaked Death Eaters. The dream is incomplete at the moment, but the most important parts are there. To his left is a statue that looks like an angel, but in front of him stands the Dark Lord himself. Voldemort is surprised to see him there. He is definitely not pleased.]

Well, well, well. It seems my one and only Death Eater nearby has come to visit. [He approaches Draco with a hint of disgust. He's been in Harry's brain long enough to see which side Draco is truly on. His tone is mocking.] So kind of you to stop by, Draco, but I'm afraid I'm not ready for you yet. Potter is so very stubborn, wouldn't you agree? Now run along, and I will see you once he has been dealt with.

[Voldemort comes close to Draco, but then something knocks him back. To Draco's left, Harry has been bound to the statue with magical silver ropes that look like snakes. He looks exhausted but determined, and he breaks through some of the silver snakes to lean over and grab Draco by the arm. For now, Voldemort is knocked back by Harry's strong emotions. Voldy never could deal with any form of love. Harry's voice is desperate when he speaks.]

You have to get out of here! Show the others the Mark and get them away from me. I... I'm going to hold him back as long as I can. Tell everyone I'm sorry and try to keep them safe!

[At that, darker emotions start to sink in, and Voldemort regains his ground. As long as Harry fears he can't protect his friends and despairs over it, this part of Voldemort's soul can hold power over him. Voldemort hits him with a Cruciatus - which Harry will stir from visibly in the outside world - and more silver snakes appear to restrain him. He looms over Draco once again.]

Leave us, boy! Do nothing, and I may yet find it in myself to forgive you. Be silent, Draco, and learn to come when you are called like a good dog. [He raises his hand, and now Draco is being forced out of the dream and Harry's mind. So... how about that threat from Voldemort, guys?]

[As soon as Draco finds himself in the graveyard, he knows that this really, really isn't just some kind of hallucination like he had previously thought. He doesn't get long to absorb anything though before he practically yelps at the sudden appearance of the Dark Lord.

...Voldemort. Inside Potter's head! He instinctively backs up as soon as the Dark Lord starts approaching, though he's not able to say anything. He jumps again though when Harry grabs onto his arm, turning his head to face him. He listens to what the boy says, and he's flinching at the sudden brief pain shooting up his arm.]

Harry! [Granted, he doesn't get to say much more beyond that before the Dark Lord's back up in his business, looming over him and sending him off.

Back out in the real world, he does yelp and he falls backwards on his arse, scrambling a bit away from the bed and just staring with wide eyes, right hand covering his left arm as he stares at the unconscious boy on the bed.]

Shit.

[Hermione nods as Draco gives her instructions, though by now she's got her wand out, too, just to be prepared. She waits, trying to breathe, but every time Harry twitches, she nearly freaks out, and the look on Draco's face isn't really giving her any pleasant thoughts. As soon as Draco's mind is kicked out of Harry's, Hermione's scrambling over to be sure he's really not hurt or that everything's - oh Merlin, nothing's okay. Eyes wide, she approaches carefully, glancing back at Harry on the bed.]

What happened? What's wrong?

[He's not really hurt, but he's definitely not letting go of his arm. He's still keeping his gaze glued on Harry, not quite sure how to describe what happened.]

He...and it...and there was...I...we have to fix it!

[this is scaring her so much, but she's trying to be strong so he can tell her WHAT THE HELL JUST HAPPENED.]

Draco, you're talking in fragments. What's where?

[Give him a few moments so he can take a few deep breaths to try and clear his thoughts. Though he's giving her clear sentences, now he's speaking in a lower tone.] He wasn't lying. About the Dark Lord. He's there.

[She lowers her voice accordingly as she kneels down close by.]

What?! How can that... How is that even possible... Maybe it's some curse, maybe there's some way to convince Harry that it's all right and get him normal again...

[Careful, Hermione, Draco's a little more than rattled. And he's also busy trying to tear at his sleeve. GDI unbutton so you can be rolled up, sleeve!] It's not! It's not just a figment! [He's still clawing at his arm though to try and get under the fabric, also focusing on keeping his voice low and level.] I don't know how, and I don't know why, but he was there. He's got Harry trapped and he spoke to me. He's angry. He's angry at him, and he's angry at me too. [And still more clawing, but at least he gets one of the buttons undone even if he can't control his volume. This is how you know shit's really bad, Draco's not composed.] He's trying to kill him!

All right, all right! It isn't! [Definitely scaring her, but she doesn't move otherwise, watching. She takes a deep breath and with a quick wave of her wand, the buttons aren't a problem and the sleeve is rolling up and holy Merlin that Mark... Her eyes go really wide and she can't help scooting back a little. Just a little, but-]

Then the faster we get in there, the better. But how... how can we...

[Brb Hermione's thinking.] We'll have to tell Neville, Luna, and Ron. We need their help.

Edited 2010-07-04 22:25 (UTC)

[Yeah, that Mark is insanely dark now, very much an active Death Eater status. He's just staring down at it, gritting his teeth a little bit because no, no, no not now.] Harry said he's going to try and hold him off as much as he can and to get away, but we can't. [He's lifting himself up onto his knees though, speaking a little louder.] He can't hold him off much longer, the Dark Lord has him tied up and everything. He's controlling his mind. We need to find a way to get back in there and get him out.

Edited 2010-07-04 22:30 (UTC)

Spells, then. [She nods, taking a deep breath before standing and turning to be sure he can make it up, too.] We need to at least talk to the others about it. [She bites her lip, though.] We may need a combination of spells to make this work.

Right. Spells. [It's taking him a bit because he's still a bit shaken, but he does manage to get up.] We'll see if they have anything to contribute, but what we need is something like Legilimency but that will allow us to stay in there longer and fight back. That's the main thing.

...Right. I may have an idea. Come on. [She's going to look pretty shaken as well, but it's high time they moved back into the dining room.]

Edited 2010-07-04 22:40 (UTC)

[He just going to work on pulling himself back together and following Hermione to the bedroom door, throwing a brief glance at Harry before they head out.]

[Ron just manages to keep back a hex when he sees Malfoy's wand aimed at him, but... wait, what? What? Malfoy? Thinking he's going to see an incapacitated Harry with Hermione trailing along? No, seriously, what messed-up fantasy world is he living in?!

At first, he's too angry and stunned to do much of anything, accounting for Malfoy and Hermione's head start. But he soon bounds after them, counting on Neville to follow after him and back him up the second Malfoy starts acting like... well, like a Malfoy. Upon finding the door to Harry's room closed and hearing what sounds like Malfoy's voice, he assumes that he's started the Legilimency and doesn't want to just barge in, just in case he ends up disrupting something and inadvertently screwing over Harry pretty badly in the process. But damned if that doesn't mean he's not going to listen in at the door, waiting for the sound of an Unforgivable with baited breath.

... of course, the brief sound of Malfoy calling Harry by his given name rather than 'Potter' and Hermione's voice soon afterwards saying 'Draco' is almost as bad.]

... bloody hell is going on around here?

[And Neville does follow Ron, equally ready to show Malfoy the business end of his wand.

...Until, of course, the gasping, terrified Malfoy starts his sniveling. Death Eater or no, hysteria like that tugs at Neville's instinct to pity.] I'm not sure, but it certainly sounds like he's being truthful with her this far. He's not a good enough actor to fake fear like that.

[He's not really prepared for the bedroom door to be opening when it does, and trails off helplessly as their eavesdropping is uncovered.] I--I mean.. Hullo, Hermione.

[She can't really say she's surprised Neville and Ron are outside the door, but that doesn't mean she's particularly pleased to see them there anyway. She sighs wearily, looking quite the worse for wear.]

Something's going on Harry's mind. I don't know what exactly, but what D- Malfoy saw didn't sound good. I'm going to start thinking up spells and researching ways to help Harry. In the meantime, I think we ought to start watching Harry as much as we can. The last thing we need is for something to go wrong while I'm looking things up.

I'm glad there are people in this world secure in their insanity.

It's better than being one of those OTHER types of insane people.

s-sob I keep missing half these conversations

LJ hates sterra. Also can we do one more round before draco gets in his head? need to ask sol somet

I'm good with whatever the peanut gallery decides.

Can we be an almond gallery? They're more delicious than peanuts.

no DX I'll be cashews /does not like almonds - but sure Ty whatever XD

om nom cashews. SO HEY after this tag, Sol's gonna hop in real quick to reply as Harry and I'll--

/SUDDENLY ALL UP IN THIS THREAD. SUP GUYS?

HI SOL. BYE SOL /kicks Sol out <3? And now I guess Stella will reply to me?

lmfao - aaaahhhh

<3?

♥!

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♥! - normal tag order now?

♥! - yes ma'am o/

Jeez, you kids, get a room. Just not Harry's. :|

There's nothing wrong with a little love! :O

/LOVES EVERYONE