"What's your name, angel?"
"Manon... look, I've got money, take it!"
"Shhh... Manon, for the next few minutes... we're going to get close."

She whimpered in fear.

"... We're going to be a team, and we're going to work together, to make
sure that you don't die."

She could only nod as he pressed his blade against her neck.

"Manon... tell me, do you have a boyfriend, a husband?"
"No... a busy life..." Tears were pouring down her face.
"A pretty young girl like yourself, and no special someone?"

She shook her head.

"Well I'll tell you, Manon... when I'm through with you, you'll have a new
appreciation for life, and you're going to understand, that life is too short
to go through it alone."

She tried to break free. He cut along her neck with his blade.

"Manon... what happened to teamwork? You're not making this very easy
for me, angel." He let a hand slip along her arm, taking her hand in his.
"The last man I questioned, lost a few fingers... but I'm going to do
whatever I can to save you from a similiar fate." He brought her hand to
his lips as he spoke.

She could only quake in fear as a small little man, who probably worked
alongside her, came ambling along. He knew Priggo was there, behind
her, and he foolishly tried to calm him.

"Easy now, fella."

Priggo reacted quickly, swinging his umbrella around, petrifying the man.

"... now tell me, Manon, do you know a young woman named Gabrella
Crystanya?"

The french model gasped and nodded.

"Where... is... she...?" He drew the blade tight across her throat.

He would have easily continues from there, had the french b---h's friend
not decided to interrupt.

"... get her out of here, or she dies."
"Get out of here! Now, go!!" Manon shoved her friend away.

"... no, I'm your friend... tell me what's wrong!"

Priggo had had enough. Tossing his cloak of invisibility aside, he rushed
forward, hexing both women. He turned to face the hall before him, as
dozens of people rushed through the doors, curious as to the cause of the
commotion.

Priggo slowed his stride, taking his time.

One by one, the muggles came at him. Some of the women didn't even
bother, and could only back away in terror at the wizard's approach.

Within a few moments, Priggo was surrounded by statues... statues that
were once people. Turning the corner casually, he smirked as another
flock of muggles poured in.

He still had another trick up his sleeve.

Raising his hands above his head, the shadow that clung to the corners of
the dimly lit dressing room exploded, devouring the hallway, extinguishing
all sources of light within its ravenous attack.

Priggo stalked his prey through the darkness, before he slipped into the
light once more. Gabrella stood at the far end of the hall, shocked.

Priggo had vanished, disappeared into a cloud of black ash. Nobody even
noticed him reforming behind her, wrapping his arms around her as he
apparated out, returning to Hogsmeade.

Hell, at least now he had a date to the ball.

_________________

The black jaguar cooed gently at the girl before him, licking at her neck,
making no attempt to shield her soft skin from his yellowed, cracked
teeth.

The night air hung like a pool of darkness over Hogsmeade, slipping into
every crevice of the town, pooling in the unlit recesses behind each
building, each softly rolling hill.

Two dark shapes, silhouetted against the moonlight, formed at the crest
of a particularly rocky outcropping, beside the lumbering, creaking
structure of the Shrieking Shack.

The animal's claws extended and retracted uncontrollably as he lost
himself in the moment, his irregular heartbeat quickening with each
passing minute, frustrated whimpers following each loving stroke he
recieved. He was on the verge of revealing himself, and doubted he could
contain his urges much longer.

Minutes passed like this, until the animal had started twitching wildly, the
wizard inside having to actively concentrate to avoid switching back.

As a panther he was radiant, beautiful, luxurius and powerful. As a human
he was... just Priggo, and the thought of it haunted him, leaving a
powerfully bad taste in his mouth.

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

... hoping the blindfold would be enough, he ravenously bit at her mouth,
passionate hunger overwhelming all reason. She was still young, innocent
and inexperienced; she returned the affection as best she could.

Fearing his lack of control, he hesitated, and pulled back. She smiled
happily, the cover over her eyes leaving her partner's identity
mysteriously hidden. She turned red as she felt a lick at her face; Priggo
had returned to his animal form, and the night carried on.

_________________

Priggo stares up into the night sky, his umbrella on the floor beside him.
He sighs, wondering how he could have been so stupid, so careless.

He had been right all along, he was better off just staying an animal.

_________________

"You've had such a profound effect on me... when you fell for me... you
fell for something that wasn't there."

"No, I can see it in you now."

"I'm not a nice person, Nina."

Priggo looked at Nina, his eyes full of compassionate love. Her existence
was a poison, and it flowed through his veins painfully. She was the
sweetest poison he had ever had, and was addicted to its snare.

Priggo didn't think she'd be upset with him breaking things off, she had
acted like she didn't care, he assumed she'd easily move on. But after he
tried to break the relationship, he learned that she had been harboring
some intensely passionate feelings towards him.

"Nina... I really wish we had had this conversation earlier... I really do.
But I've made decisions, I've had to move on."

She couldn't help but blush, he had spent the past ten minutes
complimenting her.

"I'm Priggo, that a--hole with the umbrella who ties first years up and
locks them in chests at Durmstrang... not this guy who'll let his girlfriend
change who he is. But that's how sweet you are, that's what you've done
to me."

He told her exactly what would happen. He told her to break up with him,
and though she resisted it at first... begrudgingly did. He told her that if
anyone asked why she did it, it was because he was a pig who was only
interested in sex.

A lie, but one that would save her her dignity, at least.

Priggo Seville was in love with two different women, and he'd kill and die
for either.

_________________

Tick tick tick tick tick...

The familiar croaking of his pocketwatch was the only sound available to
his starving ears in that cold, bitter place. The rest was at peace, a clear,
constant calm that ran unchecked through the Durmstrang country side.

His boots were frozen over with ice, his shoulders covered in white
powder, his gloved hands trembling slightly in the dangerously low
temperature. But he didn't move to cover himself, to start a fire, to rub
the cold from his aching limbs.

The only movement was from his eyes, which narrowed as he peered out
over the frigid valley, snaking its way through the mountains like some
coiling serpent.

After a long, painful moment, he reached up with a shaking hand to brush
the frost from the furry hair at his cheeks. The hairs, once vibrant and
lush, were now brittle and sharp, plastered to his face with ice.

He'd been standing up on the peak for a few hours now, the warmth of the
arcane power that flushed through he and his artifacts being the only thing
keeping him alive.

He inhaled sharply, cringing at the pain it caused him.

_________________

"Help Priggo! Angelique in the commons!"

Priggo and Drado follow, both ready to vent their immense hatred.

The fight is quick, she isn't so strong.

... she goes so far as to challenge Priggo to a fist fight.

"... only a fool uses fists as the last resort. I wage wars with my mind."

There is a sigh.

A calm before the storm.

The tension is thick enough to taste, to touch, to drink, to cut with a knife,
watch it bleed.

Angelique laughs, she calls him a coward. He vents his rage.

He's vented.

Things seem to fade, as smoke settles in.

Priggo has always known this day would come.

The Price of Power... is infinity.

_________________

He casually shuffled through the pages of the Witch's Weekly, his eyes
skimming the headlines. He had been doing this with increasing
consistency, keeping a lookout for anything out of the ordinary, anything
that might need Priggo's... unique approach.

But today his mind wasn't in his work... it had been left to wander, to
ponder the day's events. Cookie had expressed her obsessive infatuation,
Miriam and Scottie had propositioned him to the "study of friction between
three bodies," and he'd had to go through the gut-wrenching experience
of telling Gabrella that he didn't love her anymore.

It's amazing how much attention he drew from the opposite sex,
considering how generally repulsive he was. At only 3ft tall, the mere
inconvenience of things should have been enough to drive most away.

... then there was that ugly reputation of his.

Yet the more he worked to avoid attention, the more it seemed to
hungrily attach itself to him.

He tossed the magazine aside, hopping off the couch. He decided to take
his mind off of things by committing himself to the genocide of the local
pixie population... that always seemed to work.

Things were far too "high school," for him.

_________________

Priggo had reached the ultimate in mental collapse.

One day he was at his happiest, bright and cheerful.

The next he was in a slump, full of misery and despair.

His moodswings, both massive and unpredictable, had slowly begun to
undo his relationships. Jealous and paranoid, he trusted nobody, and at
the end of each day, sat alone in the darkness of his room, only able to
barely imagine what his "friends" were doing behind his back.

Demons chased him through the halls, each shadow sneering, just out of
reach, just out of his line of sight. His animagus powers were out of
control. He spent nearly 75% of his time as a panther, and his diet
consisted almost entirely of caught food.

His grades, while still top in his year, were slipping, and it was only a
matter of time before the decaying fabric of his mind became obvious.

Even the girl he loved, he felt abandoned by. The blackness that he had
created hung heavy over everything that he did.

He had once more taken to talking with Rose, his panther... the only one
he still fully trusted.

_________________

Priggo opens his hand, his palm up, his fingers spread. With a look, a tiny
blue flame is created, and he balances it in his hand, staring into it.

"... sometimes, we say things, because we think that's what someone
wants to hear... to please them... to satisfy them..."

He looks to Felien.

"... but no matter... what we choose to let others see... some things are,
and always will be... illusions."

He closes his hand over the flame, which vanishes.

"I can never be satisfied."
"Can -anyone- be truly satisfied with what they have?"
"I don't know... would you be satisfied with me?"
"I can't guess at what I don't know."

He smiles.

"Until I hear those words... dripping from your precious lips... that you'd
have me over him... I can... never... be... satisfied."

He looks to her, that devious smirk spreading.

"And I promise you..."

A feline purr escapes him.

"I will hear you say it."

She could merely blush, and in his eyes, her fate had been secured.

_________________

Last Will and Testament of Priggo Linio Seville


Nina Hymndust
Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry, Hufflepuff House
Fiance
Bequest: All umbrellas found in the property of Priggo Linio Seville, as
well as all liquid funds found in the property of Priggo Linio Seville.

Felien Siana
Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry, Slytherin House
Friend
Bequest: Seville Family Pocketwatch, as well as all jewelry, enchanted or
otherwise, found on the property of Priggo Linio Seville.

Drado Bolton
Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry, Ravenclaw House
Friend
Bequest: All alcoholic beverages found on the property of Priggo Linio
Seville, as well as all magically enhanced containers found in the property
of Priggo Linio Seville.

Emily Roberts
Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry, Hufflepuff House
Friend
Bequest: All magically enhanced cloaks found on the property of Priggo
Linio Seville.

Paul Millington
Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry, Ravenclaw House
Friend
Bequest: The snake, Madeline. The owl, Twilight.

Seril Kane
Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry, Hufflepuff House
Friend
Bequest: Priggo Linio Seville's magically enhanced boots and hood.

Anastasia Galliano
Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry, Ravenclaw House
Friend
Bequest: The Song of Kings.

Alabaster Dawson
Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry, Gryffindor House
Friend
Bequest: Autographed photo of Gilderoy Lockhart.

Gaius Barker
Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry, Gryffindor House
Friend
Bequest: The Katana of Priggo Linio Seville.

Kris Marner
Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry
Friend
Bequest: All prototype Panther Amulets found in the property of Priggo
Linio Seville.

Willow Zynther
Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry, Hufflepuff House
Friend
Bequest: All books, scrolls, letters, documents, deeds and bonds found in
the property of Priggo Linio Seville.

Lacidus Seville
Pittsburgh, The United States
Father
Bequest: The Panther Amulet of Priggo Linio Seville.

Remaining, Specified Orders:

The Meditation Book of Priggo Linio Seville - Burned
The Body of Priggo Linio Seville - Buried
All remaining items of Priggo Linio Seville - Dispersed among anyone
listed above, at the decision of Nina Hymndust.

_________________

The panther's furry paw crunched down into the snow, and the icy slush
burned at his limbs, painfully.

Priggo continued on through the valley, his whiskers bristling as he closed
his eyes, his tail twitching in the gentle breeze. Behind him the stack of
letters he'd recieved grew ever larger. He would have a chance to read
them later.

Out before him, perhaps 50 yards deeper into the canyon, the stag limped
on, his head lowered as he stumbled. Priggo had been following the
diseased animal for days now, and the opportunity had finally arrived.

Shifting to human form, the tiny wizard darted through a mound of frost
covered undergrowth, his umbrella in one gloved hand, a knife in the
other. Slipping down the dangerously steep slope, he fell on the
weakened animal, bringing his blade into its neck.

The runes on his body glowed momentarily as he closed his eyes,
speaking quietly:

" 'Dey 'dat sow in 'ears shall 'eap joy." His words were nearly impossible
to understand. He hadn't spoken a single word in the entire month he'd
been confined to his self imposed isolation.

Blood seeped down the serrated edge of his knife, washing over his hand
as he continued, " For 'any are 'alled, but few are 'osen." Finishing the
corrupt little ritual, he retrieved his weapon, the animal's head detaching
from its neck and collapsing in the scarlet ice below.

_________________

Letter one... Delivered by Hannah -Nina's owl Week one.

Dear Priggo -

If you got my message then good. I constantly worry about every single day. You are the external flame in my heart and soul... So never go out. We had dream interpretation today and I lot of weird thoughts and suggestions were put into my head. It was suggested that my nightmare meant you were gonna either leave me or die... Though I know and trust you saying that I am the only girl for you. I will not let you die either. I love you so much and I am counting the seconds you are away... I've been to our spot everyday since you left... I miss you.
-Nina-

Letter two... Delivered by Hannah --- Week two

Dear Priggo

So all of us girls got bored today, and decided to get some alcoholic drinks and such for fun... and because honestly I missed you. We had no intention of getting drunk-drunk.... but we ended up doing that. It was a blast when we finally got back to the Hufflepuff commons. Though you wouldn't believe what happened... Though you can't tell Felien I told you... or anyone for that matter and you better promise not to... but Felien and Melissa kissed... I tried so hard not to laugh about it... It really was kind of cute. They'd kill me if it got out, thought you'd find it funny. Anyway... I've began studying Animage on my own and so far I am having alot of fun with it.. Though... I miss you more and more everytime i think about it. I want you to know I really love you... and I can't wait for you to return.
-Nina-

Letter 3 Carried by Nami, Nina's Parrot week 3

Today was uneventful... So I passed my time under our tree in hogsmeade like I have everyday since you left. I'm so counting the days till I can see you my love... I miss you more then anything. I hope you take care of Nami while you are gone... She is quite helpful, but totally not smart enough to return home... hell I dunno if she'll even arrive... I sent her to find Hannah as she is hopefully on her way back from my last letter and just got lost. Sweetie... I can't wait for you to return... I'm so on edge... and I really... need you... *the rest of the paper looks like it has been eaten by Nami.*
-Nina-

Letter 4 Carried by Hannah. Weel four.

So this is like hell on earth right... Drith I found in my bed room tonight so I ejected him from our common room... then he has the gull to call you a deatheater... He is swine. God damn. Melissa was leaving but I brought her back and It looks like she is staying with us now... So that was a plus... but I really want Drith to leave me alone... Though I got help from an Unlikely ally. Angelique got Drith off my back... and your back is mine. So Angelique said she'd beat him up if he bothered us... Though she doesn't know about the plot unless Drith told her... which now he denies about... ugh... I can't wait for you to come back..... I can't wait to have you all to myself again.... I love you babe.... I'm still counting the days.
-Nina-

His eyes dialate as he scans the words scrawled across the letters.

He ignores the surges of emotion, crumpling the letters into balls and
tossing them aside.

Flashes of Felien and Melissa kissing burn in his mind as he rips apart the
bloody remains of his most recent kill.

"Jealousy is 'uel as da grave. 'Da coals thereo' are coals of 'ire."

He tries to calm himself, but his blood is already pumping faster through
his veins. He can't let these emotions weaken him. He has a purpose, and
denying that purpose is distasteful... ugly, a pox.

Already he is calm, his breathing slowed. Too long has he been away from
home.

Nina's "love" is shallow and untrue.
Felien has betrayed her promise, after only weeks.
Drith is preparing to close in.

Nothing left to live for. Plenty to die for.

Sheathing his knife, he looks out at the sinking Sun, and sprints into the
patch of woods to the south, transforming.

He tromps towards Hogwarts, he's trained enough.

_________________

He slinked by the fountain, deciding to leave Felien alone with Kris. His
ears were flattened down on his head, showing his discomfort as he
padded through the hall, his whiskers bristling anxiously.

Myth seemed to be forcing Nina on him, something she obviously
despised. Myth took the time to glare at him at every available
opportunity, he who had been her "guardian panther."

Emily seemed to attract crowds around the pillar, and Seril always had
somewhere to fly, buzzing around and annoying first years.

He hadn't seen Anastasia in weeks.

Miriam seemed to love trying to ruin his relationships.

Angelique had befriended his group of buddies.

Perhaps he had been wrong all this time. The house of cards he had built
had toppled finally.

Maybe he'd start from scratch, and rebuild. Maybe, like forest fires, some
painful things were necessary for growth.

_________________

She freezes up at the mere sight of him, quickly scrambling to escape his
presence. Her friends comfort her, patting her back as they shield her
eyes, they don't want her to have to see him.

They cast dark glares back at him as they guide her away.

He still doesn't know for what imagined crime he's being punished, but he
can only watch, tired of fighting for someone who has no reason to trust
him. Tired of fighting for something that doesn't seem real anymore.

Maybe if he were treated human, and not like a stray, diseased dog that's
best avoided, he might be better off.

He spends more time in his animal form these days, because panthers
don't care about rejection, about relationships, about the petty dance
macabre that school life has become.

... but... he's not really a panther.

The walls of Hogwarts are filled with claw marks, the signs of his
unending frustration.

_________________