Chapter 21
Two months into the term had passed. Since her first night back at Hogwarts, Raven spent most of her days avoiding everyone. Food became the last thing on her mind. She would rarely show up to lunch and if she went to dinner she would pick at her food. Most days she would just grab some fruit or some bread and slip quietly out of sight.
The gossip around the school shifted earlier in the year from her break-up with George and rebounding to Draco, to the Triwizard Tournament. Hogwarts is going to play host to a tournament in which one representative from each of the three wizarding schools in Europe was going to compete in several challenges over the year. The announcement of the three school champions wasn’t going to be made for a little while, which made Raven happy because it meant her news would not exist, at least in the minds of the students. Representatives from the schools and their headmasters were going to be arriving in a week. The entire buzz around the school was meeting these foreign wizards. Raven could have cared less about the tournament. She had other pressing issues to contend with.
Her luck of avoiding everyone came to a crashing halt, though, when Draco caught up to her after Potions. She had gone almost two months without speaking to anyone and now she had no choice.
“Raven…I would like you to join me for lunch today.”
“I actually had plans today,” she said starting to walk away. He stepped in front of her and had an arrogant smile on his face.
“I don’t think I asked. You haven’t been to lunch in weeks and you are starting to look pale. I can’t have you getting sick on me.”
“Oh, yes. Your father would be so upset. You wouldn’t want him to think that you had anything to do with me getting ill.”
“Raven, darling,” he said reaching out to hold her hand.
Her anger was starting to rise and a wave of dizziness came over her. She took a wobbly step back then forward. Raven held her head trying to refocus.
“Now come,” he said pulling her along. “You're obviously hungry and you need to sit. We’ll go to lunch and you’ll feel better.”
Her head was spinning. She couldn’t tell what direction she was going in, if Draco hadn't pointed it out to her.
They made it to the Great Hall and sat down to eat. Draco filled her plate with various foods and Raven stared at it like it was foreign to her. She wanted to eat but had no energy at the moment to pick up the fork.
“Raven! Darling…eat,” Draco demanded.
“I am not hungry!” she said slamming her hand on the table. “Second…do not call me darling. I am no ones ‘darling.’ Now, please excuse me. I have work to do!”
“Well now, before you leave I have something I need to talk to you about,” he said grabbing her arm and pulling her back down. Raven rolled her eyes and gave him a look that told him to go somewhere. “As you know, we have a lot to do in all of our classes and I am having a heck of a time trying to get my History of Magic essay done. Do it for me.”
“Funny,” she said getting back up.
“Once again, I didn’t ask,” he said making her sit again. “Don’t do it and I get some serious revenge on Weasley.”
“For doing what? He hasn’t touched you.”
"He put Ton-Tongue Toffee in my Bertie Bots Every Flavor Beans last week.”
“Draco! You know that some first year did that! You pushed the little guy in the mud for tripping over your foot, that just so happened to be in his way."
“So? Who gave the candy to him?”
“The guys are testing them on first years. You ticked that kid off and he slipped it in your candy. And no…I can’t do your essay. That’s cheating and I am not about to stoop to your level just so you can take advantage of me.”
“It’s not taking advantage of you…okay well, maybe I am,” the little laugh that he gave rubbed Raven the wrong way. “You’re the one who made the promise. I never would have made a suggestion like that.”
“How many times do I have to fulfill one promise? First it was at the beginning of term when I had to walk into the Great Hall hand-in-hand with you. Second, it was to get me down here and now you’re throwing it up again. Really Draco, find a hobby.”
Raven tried to leave again but now Draco used more force in his approach. He pulled her down with a hard yank. He then got up very close to her face. His eyes were filled with evil. Raven noticed his top lip was quivering.
“I am tired of your attitude! Now listen up and listen good. You are not in the position to negotiate with me. I can make you hurt. I can make every bone in your body ache. I can-”
“Fine! I’ll do it because I know what you’ll do if I don’t,” she said finally getting up without restraint from Draco. He grabbed her hand again and she pulled away quickly. “Kiss it, and I will ensure that you will never walk down any aisle, ever! Negotiate that!
Raven walked away as fast as she could. Her energy level was already quite low and needed to rest. However, now that she has more homework to do, she didn’t know when that would happen.
As she walked back toward the Gryffindor common room, she made a stop to rest against a wall. All of a sudden she felt a jerk on her arm and before she knew it she was in an abandoned classroom and George was standing in front of her.
“George! What are you doing? What if Draco comes looking for me? He’s already mad at you.”
“He won’t find us,” he said grabbing her hands. “I know I promised you that I would stay away, but I am watching you waste away and can’t stand it. I’m worried about you.”
“Don’t be. I’ve been working hard trying to find an answer to all this. So I‘m not taking the best care of myself, I'm here aren't I?”
“I know you haven’t been sleeping. Hermione told me she has woken up in the night and you are either wide awake in bed, sitting by the window or you’re not there at all. And we haven't seen you at meal times. You’re scaring me.”
“I’m not hungry, ever. And every time I sleep,” she took a deep breath and let it out slowly, “I see Draco or I have this strange recurring nightmare.” The longer they spoke the more she felt like she was being watched. But part of her was happy to get this off her chest. She had gone so long without human interaction, that she was relieved to just speak to a friendly face.
“I have missed you. Are you sure you’re okay?” he asked. Raven could see the pain in his eyes and was doing everything she could not to give in to him. He loved her so much and she loved him too. But if she was being watched like Narcissa Malfoy said, she had to refrain from mentally or physically giving in to her love for him.
“George, I miss you, too,” she said. Raven knew at that moment that resisting him would not work. Before she could react, they were locked in an embrace. “I have missed you so much.”
Tears began to flow from her eyes. Raven's heart ached like it was about to break. To be in his arms after so long was like a forbidden piece of heaven shining down on her; in total bliss, but surrounded by fear. After a moment, he released her and gently caressed her face. Her eyes closed, she pictured George and herself as the only ones on earth, with no problems, no worries, and no fears. For a moment all was back to normal, at least in her heart. George gently kissed her and she felt complete happiness. Nothing could go wrong until her hand began to throb and soon the throb turned into piercing pain. She doubled over and began to hold her hand tightly. The pain was so strong she wanted to scream, but it was taking her breath away. The room was getting dark and the only thing she could hear was a voice, not George’s, although she could see his mouth moving.
“How disappointing,” said the voice. “You are not meant for him.”
“Shut up!” she yelled putting her hands over her ears. “Shut up!”
The room was fading to black. She saw George and then she saw nothing.
Raven found herself back in the maze. Once again, her strength was nearly depleted but she was running as hard and as fast as her body would let her. The same voice that was talking to her kept telling her how disappointed he was.
“If you would not fight this you would not be in pain. Let yourself go to your destiny.”
She kept telling it to shut up, but it kept going. She finally arrived at the mysterious light and once again saw the two figures getting ready to touch the center of it. She tried to tell them to stop but the words were not escaping her mouth. She ran towards the light and tripped. Looking up she saw Draco with his hand outstretched to her.
“Grab a hold of your destiny. It's yours. Take it,” said the voice.
She stood and started to grab his hand when she heard George’s voice.
“Rave! I’m here! Don’t do it! I love you, remember?”
She turned and saw George. Raven began to walk towards him when she was stopped by the strange voice.
“He is not meant for you! He is not your destiny! Take Draco’s hand!”
“NO!” she yelled.
“TAKE IT!” the voice was angrier.
“Raven!” yelled George.
“TAKE IT, NOW!”
“NO! SHUT UP!" she yelled again. Only this time she woke up to find George and her uncle kneeling over her.
“Raven! Wake up!” said Snape.
She sat up confused and in pain. Her hand was still throbbing and her head hurt. Apparently, she blacked out so fast that George couldn’t catch her in time and she fell and hit her head on the floor. Her body was shaking and was in total shock as to what just happened.
“Raven what happened?” asked Snape.
“Watching...”
“What are you saying?” Snape asked again.
“Watching...disappointed...” she said with her hands over her ears. Raven's mind was still in the dream but what she was seeing in front of her was not what she was seeing in her mind. “I don’t want to take it. Tell him I don’t want to take it.”
“Mr. Weasley I want you to take her to your common room and tell Miss Granger to give her this vial of sleeping draught. She needs rest and plenty of it.” he said. Raven heard these words and began to cry.
“I don’t want to sleep, Uncle. He finds me when I sleep,” she said. Raven knew exactly what was being said but she didn't understand why they were saying she needed sleep. Did they not see what happens when she closes her eyes? All she could see in her mind was Draco holding out his hand. “I’m not sleeping!”
“Raven you need to sleep!” Snape bellowed. “Talk to her Mr. Weasley!”
“No! You can’t make me sleep!” she said standing up. She was still pretty weak from passing out and could barely stand. George tried to help her but she pulled away. “You want me to sleep too! I’m not doing it and you can’t make me!”
“I agree with your uncle that it’s the best thing for you,” George said trying to hold her steady. Raven wouldn't let George touch her. She turned around long enough to give Snape and George a dangerous look.
Raven got to the door and George and Snape tried to stop her but with what physical and mental energy she had left, she pushed them back with a wandless, wordless spell. It only knocked them both back far enough so she could escape the classroom. She ran as fast as her weak body would let her. She knew she was late for a class, but she couldn't remember which one. After stopping for a moment to think about it, she decided to leave it alone and get some air. She went to her only place of refuge; a rock by the lake. To her this was the only place at Hogwarts where she felt safe and alone.
“They are not going to make me sleep!” she said out loud.
For the first time since knowing George, she was mad at him. He hated Snape. And now it seemed the two of them were teaming up against her. Soon he was going to tell her it was okay to give in to Draco. She couldn’t hate George. He was only trying to look out for her. But after seeing what happens when she closes her eyes, he should have known not to get her to take the sleeping draught.
Raven's body was still shaking. All she could see was her dream. Whatever was happening to her was happening quicker than she would have expected. Raven's thoughts drifted back to what happened in that classroom. She passed out when George kissed her. She has the same bad reaction when she goes against the spell as well as when Lucius and Draco kiss the ring. Nothing made sense anymore. She almost wanted to give up and not fight it anymore. But she swore she was not going to let the Malfoys win and she had to keep that promise to herself and to George.
“You weren’t in class today,” said Harry, who came up behind her and gave her an awful fright.
“Yeah, didn’t feel like going.”
“You didn’t miss much.”
“I’ll get it later.”
“Snape and George are looking for you. It's odd to see them after the same thing.”
“They have been bonding a lot lately. I think I liked it better when they hated each other.”
“They both have a common link…you.”
“Don’t give me that, Harry!” She was clearly tired of everyone at that point. “You are only saying this because you want me to go in there and take that sleeping potion.”
“What are you talking about?”
Raven stared at him for a moment and she realized that he, indeed, had no clue as to what she was talking about.
“They’ll find you eventually,” Harry said after a moment. “You can’t spend the rest of the year out here.”
“I know that. But I’ve done a great job avoiding everyone for the last two months until today. Maybe if I try real hard, I can slip around the castle completely unnoticed.”
“What about Potions? Snape’s your teacher. How will you avoid him then?”
“He’ll have to catch me,” she said with a small smile. Harry smiled back at her but she knew that he was right. Eventually they would catch up to her and she would have to explain herself, but they would have to accept it.
Harry and Raven got up and walked back up to the castle. By that time it was near dinner. Raven still wasn’t hungry but if it meant that people would leave her alone about not eating, she would force something down.
Raven sat as close as she could to the door of the Great Hall in case she felt like making a quick escape. The food, she thought, was good but as usual, she found herself picking at it. She glanced at the staff table and noticed her uncle looking directly at her. Then, looking down her table, she found she had an audience of George, his siblings, Harry and Hermione. The fumes were boiling inside of her. She felt like an experiment that had to be examined closely. Raven put as many vegetables on her spoon as she possibly could fit and stood up. Looking to everyone who was looking at her, she shoved the spoonful of food in her mouth. After she swallowed her bite, she grabbed a piece of bread and left. It was Raven's hateful way of telling everyone to get off her back because now they can’t say that she doesn’t eat.
Instead of heading to the common room, she went to the library. It was quiet due to all of the students still being at dinner and she could get some work done. She worked on hers and Draco’s History of Magic essay and started working on some homework for Divination. She found that when she was angry the homework seemed to get done faster. Soon she was left with nothing and just in time as students started piling in to study. She gathered up her books and started for the door when she was stopped by Draco.
“Here’s your essay,” she said pulling it out of her bag and shoving it at him. “I hope I don’t have to do that again.”
Raven didn’t give Draco a chance to respond. She immediately left and went back to the common room. When she got there, some were working on their homework or just visiting before turning in to bed. She, instead, decided to go to her dormitory and get into more comfortable clothes.
“Raven? You in here?” Hermione asked.
“Yeah, I’m here.”
“Snape wanted me to give this to you,” Hermione said nervously.
“If it’s sleeping draught, I don’t want it.”
“He just told me to give it to you.” She sat a letter and a vial on Raven’s bed, and then quietly slipped out of the room. Raven almost became angry again, but thought she would humor Snape and at least read the letter.
Raven,
I don’t understand why you don’t want to sleep but since it means that much to you I took the liberty of brewing a potion for you that will give you a dreamless sleep. I would give you enough for the whole year but it is not recommended for daily use. People have gone mad taking this every day. Take it tonight and at least have one night of decent sleep.
Severus
Raven stared at the letter and wondered if it was true. Would this potion actually give her a dreamless sleep, or in the off chance that she would have a nightmare, would she be able to wake up from it?. She didn’t know what to do.
“What did he say when he gave this to you?” Raven asked Hermione who was peeking her head into the room.
“He asked me to check on you every once in a while throughout the night. He wants to make sure you sleep well.” Hermione emerged from the door and walked to Raven’s side.
“What if I have a nightmare? What if you don’t wake up to wake me up?”
“You won't have one and I will wake up. Here is a glass of water. He said it won’t taste good."
Raven took the glass and the vile. She stared at it for a moment and looked at Hermione. “If I do this, will people back off for a while?”
“Yes."
Without hesitation, Raven drank from the vile, and then quickly drank the glass of water. Almost immediately she started to feel the effects of the potion. Hermione helped Raven get comfortable. She then sat on the edge of the bed and held her hand. But soon, Raven's eyes and head became heavier and the darkness of sleep took her.
Chapter 22 
.jpg)
I LOVE IT!! I hate Draco sooooooo bad. Raven and George are soo cute 
. Can't wait for more! 
x12 
x9
I'm totally with Suzy, comment-wise. When reading chapter 19, I totally was thinking "Smite Draco and Lucius" 
Cause they are just so evil and irritating.
i can't believe malfoy would get her to do his homework 
thats just not fair and total cheating,MALFOY YOU CAN'T MAKE HER DO THINGS LIKE THAT 
why can't malfoy stop it Raven obviously wants George... oh yeah it malfoy, is he ever nice ? i mean in a good way like be happy for her and george instead get her hand in marrige, jeesh. 
