Keep running

By Inkblot-Crisis

AN: This is little tale I'll be spinning while I'm having writer's block at my other fics. Pairing warning: eventual HG/DM

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Prologue

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Draco Malfoy was dead.

This was announced, whispered and even greeted with a sigh of relief. All of the Wizarding World, people discreetly rejoiced the demise of one of the most dangerous Death-Eaters In-training. He was said to have been put down by an unknown vigilante, probably someone who sought vengeance for some wrong the young warlock did...and believe me there was a list that started at one Point of Hogwarts Lake to the other side if it were ever written on quill and parchment.

I for one am rather stoic about this. He had potential...only it was unseen, or rather...unnoticed. He was gifted in the manipulation of his ether, his magical essence. This helped him greatly you see, as performing high-level spells often used much of your own magic to keep on casting. But this was now only trivial...as he'll never perform such spells again.

I...truthfully...I am deeply saddened that there were people actually celebrating his demise. True, he was indeed on the evil side of things...but...no one deserved to be ridiculed or cheered for in death...not even someone like Draco Malfoy.

Maybe it was because I saw him once...a long time ago...he was in one of the abandoned classrooms at Hogwarts; I was performing one of the duties as Prefect, taking my rounds after-dark. It had seemed that he was practicing a certain spell from the repetitive chanting he made. I crept closer to the door as my curiosity had, again, gotten the best of me.

"Expecto Patronus."

That was what I had heard. I was shocked at the realization that Malfoy was trying to summon a Patronus. I was about to go inside the room when I heard him let out a sigh of frustration...followed by words that I wouldn't forget.

"Nothing."

My first thought was how long had he been trying to call upon a Patronus? This particular event occurred in our sixth-year at Hogwarts...so it would mean that he could possibly have been trying to summon his Patronus since three years ago, when we first learned that spell. In all that time he could never recall a 'happy' memory that would help make a corporeal or even a faint ethereal one.

I was...disturbed by that encounter. My mind quickly asking questions that annoyed me...and shook me: Does he have any happy memories at all? Shouldn't he be happy with all that money? His Fame, Prestige, Pleasure at my friends' expense, as with my own?

He had been mostly silent to us Gryffindor all year long at that time...it gave us some peace of mind without his inane taunts and petty insults. Unfortunately...there was a price to that luxury.

There is no need for me to recall the events near the end of my...our...sixth year. It has been haunting our lives ever since the Dark Lord Voldemort openly declared war upon the Ministry and all those in its protection.

Without Dumbledore to guide us, and the Ministry had their doubts about Cornelius' capabilities, the masses were thrown into an uproar. Children were kept under lock and key at their homes, curfews for every wizard, witch and child...even those who were in muggle territories weren't safe...not anymore.

I shake my head. Where am I going? This has little to do with my first intention.

I am here to remember Draco Malfoy. Not Draco Malfoy the supposed Death-Eater, but Draco Malfoy the child. The Draco Malfoy I met on a magical red train all too long ago, in a time when smiles were plentiful and the tears coming down the children's faces were of joy...

...save for one.

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The Hogwarts Express, August the 31st, 1991 A.D.

"Trevor..." I called out. I had met a young boy, forgetful that one and he had said to have lost his pet toad. Now, normally I wouldn't think about looking about for an amphibian, but he was just too...lost without it, it seemed that he needed a friend. And perhaps if I find it, he'll be my friend as well.

Where are my manners, I am Hermione Jane Granger and I am what the Wizarding world would call a 'Muggle-born' or a child born with muggles as parents. Now to spare you the rather monotonous textual detail, let's just say that I am rather special, if I do say so myself.

"Here, Trevor." I called out again, completely forgetting that it wasn't a dog I was calling out to but a toad. It must have just been looking for some water to keep its skin moist; honestly, does this Neville even know how to take care of his pet?

My thoughts ceased, but only for a moment as my ears slightly twitched to a sound...a rather familiar, yet peculiar sound.

"Was someone crying?" I had thought as I moved closer to the compartment. I had then realized that I had walked the better half of the train...my thoughts must have gotten the best of me that day.

I tugged on the compartment's door handle...it gave a jiggle but it didn't open "Locked." I deduced in thought...well, here is where discovering you were a witch-in-training came in. I gleefully pulled out my wand and pointed it at the lock, remembering the text in the book I swished two times, flicked once and stated "Alohamora." in a whispered breath.

The lock softly clicked open and the door went slightly ajar. With the utmost care I peeked into the door and saw a rather sad looking young boy...pale as a winter's chill could make it and hair that resembled silver rather than blonde. A soft sniff confirmed that there was indeed someone crying...or at least...until now.

"Who's there?" he said as he got up from the little space in the corner of the compartment, hidden by the seat on the left. He quickly wiped his eyes as well as his nose free of evidence of his crying and stood up. Almost immediately his face became hardened and composed, almost instantly the vulnerability this strange boy seemed to have seeped away into somewhere hidden behind his eyes.

I made to leave when the train made a sudden jerk and caused the door to open ajar. I gave a rather shrill yelp and closed my eyes as I saw the floor nearing to my face whilst I fell from my lack of balance...but not before I heard the swift ruffling of a heavy cloak. I was rather surprised to find that I hadn't hit anything...as not even my toes were on the ground it seemed. It felt like I was...flying.

Cautiously I opened my eye and saw that I was indeed flying...or rather, floating, to be precise. I turned and saw the young boy, his wand maintaining a spell from the steady grip he had on its handle. I then felt myself being lowered gently to the floor and felt gravity's welcoming hold back into my senses.

"What, may I ask, were you doing?" his voice, though it had a rather nasal manner, was clearly refined and had a somewhat snobbish air to it...much like his stance, with his hand on his hip and his nose in the air. He looked at me with a cocked eyebrow and rather bored, unemotional eyes.

I hastily got to my feet "I-I'm terribly sorry, I was helping a friend of mine look for his toad. I must have hit the door ajar when the train-"

"No need to explain." he interrupted me, which I was secretly thankful for. I had this rather annoying habit of babbling when I was nervous, if he hadn't stopped me I would have went on for the entire trip.

"Once again, I am deeply sorry." I said, this time with a slight, but polite, bow of the head.

He didn't say anything, he merely nodded and drew back his cloak to reveal a wand-holster, he returned his wand to its place at his side and with a quick tug of the cloak's hem enveloped him in a black shroud, it gave him an air of darkness that no child should possess at that age.

It was then I realized that he had performed a levitation charm in the split-second I had before I almost hit floor. Such speed, such control...such accuracy...he seemed too young to be a second-year or a third-year...so that must mean he was affluent in wand-work even at their level.

"Do you need anything?" he asked in that nasal tone of his. I really have to find this boy when his voice starts to crack...it made me giggle slightly at the mere thought of it.

I shook my head "No." I simply answered.

His eyes, silver from my point-of-view, narrowed slightly in annoyance "That door was supposedly locked for a reason, you know." he said as he stayed in the corner, not moving an inch from where he stood.

"Oh..." I felt my cheeks warm up a bit as my embarrassment returned "...I'll, I'll close the door then." I was about to click the door closed when his voice stopped me.

"Try looking near the lavatory."

"I beg your pardon?" But before I got an explanation the door forcibly shut itself and with a loud click of the lock. Who was this rude boy? With a huff of indignation and a stomp of anger I turned and moved for the next compartment...

"...stupid fat rat yellow."

"What now?" I thought as I peered into the already open door.

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You could say that he was the first boy, well, after Neville that I had met and had conversed with. If I had been my usual curious self I would have spent the entire train-ride with him and bombarded him with my relentless thirst for knowledge. If I had stayed and talked with him...then maybe...no, never mind...it's just a silly thought.

Now.

He's gone now.

And I really don't know whether I should be sad or not.

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Prologue End: In Memory of...

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AN: First-person based chapters! Oh my...oh well...I'm trying something different with a DM/HG scribble...meh. Oh yeah, before I forget:

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Prologue Tag-along

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I felt my shoulder burning...it was as if someone had stabbed it repeatedly with a hot poker, not that I could react in any way. Other than that burning sensation I couldn't feel a thing, I couldn't move...I couldn't even groan.

"Ah...welcome to the land of the living dear boy." a voice I wish I never had heard of assaulted my ears...and my throbbing head "Feel a slight discomfort? Well...it is to be expected." the voice continued "You received a nasty bite from the Dark Lord's serpent, Nagini, if I remember its name correctly." the voice moved closer "Saved a Ministry-worker through that act didn't you boy? Thought it would make us think otherwise where your loyalties lay? Remembered as a hero instead of the murderer you are? Well too sodding bad...because we still say you're darker than the insides of the Dark Lord's non-existent soul."

I let out a rasp breath, meant to be a groan...or maybe it was a scream...it really didn't matter.

"And this is where 'we' step in lad." a new voice entered my ears "In exchange for your service, we'll let you live...in a manner of speaking."

I didn't know what happened...my entire body went rigid at the sound of that voice.

"Oh, you remember me then lad...or should I say my imposter." the second voice told me. What did he mean by impostor? My thoughts became a blur...I couldn't even fully comprehend what was going on let alone remember what had happened.

"In any case you won't be dying...well not now perhaps." the first one began "Not until we say so, for that matter."

The two voices let out a chilling laugh as I lay there...my mind still reeling from...something. I couldn't comprehend what had happened then...but now...I know now...even if they told me I wasn't going to...

...that was the day an important part of me died.

That was the day I stopped being human.

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Tag-along End

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AN: Yep, that's the end of the Prologue alright.