Title: Love's Whisper
By: Saotoshi and The Fire Goddess
Category: Harry Potter Song Fic
Characters: Draco, Hermione & OCs
Disclaimer: Neither Saotoshi nor Spooky own Harry Potter. If they were,
they'd be filthy rich and would own the world...(ahem) You didn't hear that.
In any case, if they were rich, Spooky would be going out with Johnny Depp
in real life because she could probably hunt him down and meet him, and
Saotoshi would be with Orlando Bloom, even if she had to use Imperio on
him...You didn't hear that either. Oh, just read the story.
Summary: As unexpectedly as it had come, love was torn away from the once,
cold-hearted Slytherin known as Draco Malfoy. A year later, and still, his
torn heart is finding it hard to recover. Even Harry and Ron, enemies
turned friends, can't find a way to help him recover, and he buries himself
in his work as an Auror, much to his father's disgust. (The job, not
burying himself in it). Even nearly a year after her death, the void
created by Hermione's death has yet to be healed...
Chapter One
Whisper
Draco Malfoy looked at the report he and his once
greatest rival had just finished. Between him and Harry Potter, they had
taken in three Death Eaters in a little under a week. But still, he felt
unfulfilled. Not only were there still an unknown number of other Death
Eaters about, but also, those that they knew were still free could not be
taken in without any solid evidence. For instance, a certain Lucius Malfoy...
However, what made his feeling of un-fulfillment more
acute was the fact that Voldemort had yet to been thwarted. True, he wasn't
as at large as he had once been before he had tried to kill Harry, but he
was still out there. Somewhere.
Draco walked down the hall toward the Minister of Magic's
office was. After years of working for the ministry, Arthur Weasley had
acquired that position. His hard work and dedication to the ministry and
the safety of Muggles had finally paid off after Cornelius Fudge had been
killed. Despite his minor dislike for the Weasleys that would probably
never fully die, Draco had to admit that Mr. Weasley deserved the position.
Especially after putting up with Fudge for as many years as he did. At
least, that was Draco's opinion.
"Come in," said a voice from inside at Draco's knock. Mr.
Weasley sat at his desk with an owl waiting for him to finish the letter he
was working on. Draco put the report at the edge of the desk and turned to
leave when Mr. Weasley spoke. "You and Harry are doing a great job. I think
the two of you have become better Aurors than even Mad-Eye Moody."
"I guess," Draco said. He stood near the door, arms
crossed, waiting to be dismissed. "Potter's not that bad. Although he makes
a better Seeker."
Mr. Weasley gave Draco an assessing look before speaking
again. "How are you doing these days?"
Draco stiffened a bit. Why was it no one could stop
asking him that lately? Sure, it had been a couple of days ago had been the
anniversary of...But still; they should mind their own business. "I'm fine.
How else would I be?" Without waiting for a reply, Draco turned and left
with a clipped good-bye over his shoulder.
Going back the way he came, Draco passed Percy Weasley's
office. He was Head of the Department of Magical Cooperation. Inside, he
glimpsed a head of unruly black hair and knew that Harry was in there. And
by the sound of it, Percy was boring Harry with some regulation or other.
Popping his head in, Draco interrupted the redhead as if
he hadn't been speaking at all. "Hey, Potter, can I talk to you for a
minute?"
Harry looked absolutely ecstatic at the interruption,
which meant that Draco had been right in his presumption. "Sure. Will you
excuse me Percy?"
Percy just nodded his head, muttering about having work
to do before going to meet Penelope for lunch. Why Penelope Clearwater had
willingly agreed to become Mrs. Percy Weasley was beyond Draco. However, in
his opinion, anyone willingly committing themselves for life to a complete
bore like Percy deserved all the years of boredom they'd asked for in
saying 'I do'. In the hallway, Harry waited until they were out of earshot
to speak, a consideration that Draco would have never even considered to
do.
"Thank you so much!" Harry said. "Bloody hell, I was
nearly hoping for some dark wizard to blow the wall up and end my misery!
Who cares how thick cauldrons are anyway?!"
"Percy," was Draco's simple reply. "So, any lead for
today?"
"None," Harry said. "We're completely free for the day."
"Hm, well then, I think I'll head home early," Draco
said.
Draco saw the look on Harry's face. For a moment, it
seemed he, too, would ask how he was holding up. A second later, the look
was gone like a fleeting glance and instead he said, "I'll owl you if
anything comes up."
"All right, later."
~ ~ ~
Catch me as I fall
Say you're here and it's all over now
Speaking to the atmosphere
No one's here and I fall into myself
This truth drives me into madness
I know I can stop the pain if I will it all away
~ ~ ~
Three hours later, at about 1:45 P.M., three people stood
in front of Draco Malfoy's house, which was located on a street with only a
few other houses. It was a long street, and there was plenty of yard room
in between them. The largest belonged to a Mr. Sirius Black who lived there
with his nephew, the famous Harry Potter. Draco's was the next largest. A
medium sized house further down somewhat near the middle of the street
belonged to Ron Weasley.
"Are you sure this is his house?" asked one of the three
teens in front of Draco's house.
"That's what Aunt Narcissa said," the other girl replied
looking the house up and down. The third person, a guy, stood picking
strings on a guitar slung over his shoulder.
In a normal neighborhood, the sudden appearance of three
American strangers just standing in front of a house would have been deemed
unusual and would have possibly earned a call to the police from a
suspicious neighbor. However, in an all wizard neighborhood, it wasn't that
uncommon. Especially when the house they were standing in front of belonged
to someone who worked in the ministry.
The last girl to speak stretched. She was thin and stood
at 5'5" with straight, dark brown hair that went just past her shoulders
and framed a pale face. On her brow was an eye ring above her sparkling
blue eyes. She was seventeen years old and her looks showed it. Her name
was Rose Malfoy, Draco's cousin from America. Just out of school, she was
glad to be away from her parents and happy to be in a new place with only
her friends and soon, her cousin.
"How should I know? You know I have absolutely no sense
of direction," said Rose's best friend next to her.
Ayin Scarlet shielded her brown, almond shaped eyes from
the sun as she looked up at the house. Her chocolate colored skin seemed
darker in the afternoon sun. She had a medium frame that suited her height
of 5'5" well. Her dark brown hair looked nearly black with red streaks in
it. It was straight and went down to her shoulder blades. She was a couple
months older than Rose and just turned eighteen.
"If this is the house, why don't we just go in? It's hot
out here and I don't want to just stand here when I'm wearing black," said
the guy.
He was Rose's boyfriend. He was also a wizard, and a cute
and talented one, both in magic and music. His hair was dark brown on the
sides and short, but a dark blonde on top that reached down to his dark
brown eyebrows above brown eyes. He was an inch or so taller than both
girls and he was slim and muscled. His punkish-style clothes fit perfectly
with his personality. And like Ayin, Evan Brown was also eighteen years
old.
"Okay, okay, let's go," Rose said, marching across the
lawn. "But, uh, I don't know how Draco's going to take to unexpected guest,
so, I cannot be held accountable for any jinxes, hexes, charms, or curses
that may be put upon you upon ringing the doorbell."
When the reached the door, they stood there for a moment,
not doing a thing. Ayin looked at Rose, who just looked at the doorbell as
if unsure if this was a good idea.
"What's wrong?" Ayin asked.
"What if he has some kind of huge pet? That would really
suck," Rose was saying.
"Goodness, I'll do it," Ayin said, reaching over and
ringing the doorbell.
"Fine, but if some huge, monstrous dog comes bounding
out, you'll have to deal with it," Rose said.
"Wow, such a friend," Ayin muttered. Rose simply smiled.
A minute later, a house-elf opened the door. The house-
elf was a boy, or at least, that's what Ayin and Rose assumed. He wore a
striped, blue and red shirt with blue pants and mismatched socks. One sock
was yellow and red stripes, the other, completely green.
"Can Dobby help you?" the house-elf asked.
"Hi, I'm Rose Malfoy, Draco's cousin," Rose said to him,
squatting down as if she were talking to a child. "Is he home right now?"
"Oh yes, Master Draco is here," Dobby said. He held the
door for them. "Please, enter. Dobby gets Master Draco. Come, follow Dobby
to parlor."
"Okay, thank you," Ayin said. The three followed the
little house-elf after he closed the door. He led them to the parlor,
although it being right there, there had been no need. After he left, Ayin
said, "Hey, he was wearing clothes. That means he's a free elf. Wonder what
he's doing working for your cousin. Unless he's changed, I don't think any
house elf would willingly work for him."
"Hey! That's my cousin you're talking about," Rose said
in mock anger. She walked over to the love seat and plopped down
gracefully.
"Admit it, as cool as he was with us, you're cousin was a
prick to everyone else last time we saw him," Ayin said as she walked
around the room along the bookshelves examining different books.
Rose thought about this for a moment. "Hmm, good point.
But that didn't stop you from liking him!"
"Oh, shut up! That was three years ago!" said Ayin
defensively. "Besides, the way he embarrassed me them was a big indication
that he didn't like me then, and I doubt that's changed." Rose just
shrugged while Evan ignored the both of them trying to get the tune he was
playing.
~ ~ ~
Don't turn away
(Don't give in to the pain)
Don't try to hide
(Though they're screaming your name)
Don't close your eyes
(God knows what lies behind them)
Don't turn out the light
Never sleep, never die
~ ~ ~
A knock on his bedroom door jolted Draco from his
reverie. It took him a moment to realize that that was what it had been.
With an indication to enter, Dobby, his paid house-elf entered. Seeing him
only brought back what he had been thinking about earlier. Two years ago,
he had made amends with Dobby for how he had been treated while in his
father's employ. Afterwards, after Draco left Hogwarts, he had come across
Dobby by accident buying socks, as was the norm. He had offered the house-
elf a job, and all because of one person...
Realizing Dobby was speaking to him, Draco shook himself
and asked him to repeat himself.
"Sir, Dobby said that your cousin is downstairs with two
other people, sir." The house-elf was wringing his hands. "Dobby thought he
should show them to master's parlor since she's family. Was that all right
of Dobby?"
"Yes, that's fine. Did my 'cousin' say their name?"
"Rose, Dobby thinks."
Draco thought for a moment. He knew his father wouldn't
have informed him of his cousin from America visiting, but his mother would
have. He wondered if he had simply forgotten, but to his memory, his mother
had never said anything about Rose visiting. "Where did you say they were?"
"In the parlor, sir." Dobby answered, his large dewy eyes looking straight at Draco as if he could see down to his master's earlier thoughts. "All right," Draco said standing. "Ask Lily to bring in some sodas and something to snack on. If memory serves, something with chocolate." "Yes, sir," Dobby squeaked before turning and leaving. Draco took a deep breath before heading downstairs. His cousin could always see through his masks, and so could her best friend Ayin. If Ayin was with her, he doubted he could get off with lying about his state of mind as he could with the rest of the world. ~ ~ ~ I'm frightened by what I see But somehow I know that there's much more to come Immobilized by my fear And soon to be blinded by tears I can stop the pain if I will it all away ~ ~ ~ "Now, who told you that you could drop by uninvited?" came a familiar drawl from the parlor door. Rose turned and smiled at her cousin. "Since when do I need an invitation?" "Since forever," was her answer. "Nice to see you too, Draco," she said. "Honestly, three years and we don't even get a hello. Just like him, isn't it Ayin?" Draco looked to the girl Rose was speaking to. She stood with a book open in her hands and smiled when he looked over. She looked different from the last time he'd seen her. Both she and Rose looked taller and older. Then again, three years was a long time. "Nope, still same old Draco. No manners at all," Ayin said. She put the book back on the shelf before adding, "So what's up? Your mother tells us you're an Auror? That's unexpected." "And what's wrong with being an Auror?" Draco asked, realizing that he wasn't hearing things and that there was a guy in the room playing a guitar. "And who's this?" "Name's Evan," the guy answered for himself. He stopped playing his guitar and stretched his hand out, "Nice to meet you and nice house." "Draco. Thanks," Draco answered shaking the guy's hand. "And he belongs to who?" "He's not an item and he's my boyfriend," Rose said. "And as for the job, there's nothing wrong with it. Just not something we would have associated with you." "I don't know whether that's a compliment or an insult," Draco said walking over to the desk on the other side of the room and sitting on the edge of it. Ayin opened her mouth to answer, but Draco added, "Before you say anything, keep in mind that whether you get any chocolate in a minute depends on your answer." Rose threw Ayin a look of horror, obviously afraid of what her friend was going to say. Ayin said, in a non-too-convincing voice, "It's a compliment of the highest regard, of course." "So they've always been slaves to their craving for chocolate," Evan mused from his seat next to Rose. He'd put his guitar leaning against the armrest. "Smart choice of words then." "Now, let's cut to the chase, to what do I blame for you being here?" Draco asked. "Honestly, you'd think I wasn't your favorite cousin!" "You aren't, your sister is," Draco said. He barely managed to dodge a seat cushion thrown in his direction. "Jerk. Anyway, can't I just miss my complete ass of a cousin and wonder what the heck has been going on that he didn't come see us or write to us except for an emotionless holiday greeting card?" Rose said sarcastically. "No, you can't." "Well, that was the truth, so there," she said sticking her tongue out. "Plus a few minor other things," Ayin muttered. "But in any case, can we stay here for a bit?" Draco let an exaggerated sigh out, and said, "I guess I have no choice. I guess Aunt Audrey wouldn't very well be too happy with me if I let you sleep outside." "No she wouldn't!" Rose agreed happily. She stood up and pulled a few things from her pocket and set them on the table. "Engorio." Where three tiny little toy like suitcases had been, there were now three. Rose looked at them as if something was wrong before digging in her back pocket and pulling out a fourth one. This one turned out to be a guitar case which Evan grabbed and put his guitar in. "So what's your father think of Evan," Draco asked casually. Rose let out a nervous laugh before saying, "Why do you think we're in England?" ~ ~ ~ Don't turn away (Don't give in to the pain) Don't try to hide (Though they're screaming your name) Don't close your eyes (God knows what lies behind them) Don't turn out the lights Never sleep, never die ~ ~ ~ That night, they had a pleasant dinner cooked by Draco's house-elf Lily. Dobby entered along with another house-elf named Blink a few times. After the final time, Ayin just had to ask. "Draco, Dobby is a free house-elf, isn't he?" she asked. "Yes, he is," said Draco. "As his array of multi-colored outfits indicate." "Are all your house-elves free?" Rose asked. "No, but that's because they don't want to be," Draco said. "Dobby is, and he gets paid and everything. Mother once suggested I have them all wear uniforms to indicate they aren't slaves, but I know only Dobby would be comfortable with that idea, so I told her no." "Oh, but they'd look cute!" Rose said. "Rose, you have to explain this whole house-elf thing to me," Evan said to her. Rose nodded while she took a bite of a chocolate cake that Lily had made and Dobby had set out a couple of minutes earlier. "Draco, you're definitely full of surprises today," Ayin said after taking a bite of her own piece of chocolate. "I distinctly remember someone saying that house-elves were a nuisance among other things..." Ayin trailed off and exchanged a look with Rose. The other girl had apparently also noticed since she was looking at Ayin with an identical expression of concern. At some point while Ayin was speaking, Draco's face had turned into a complete mask. He was still smiling, and to someone who didn't know him, like Evan, nothing seemed wrong. But the distant and cold look in his eyes said otherwise. It wasn't an evident look, but one that someone who'd known Draco Malfoy for a long time and was close to him would notice. ~ ~ ~ Fallen angels at my feet Whispered voices at my ear Death before my eyes Lying next to me I fear She beckons me shall I give in Upon my end shall I begin Forsaking all I've fallen for I rise to meet the end ~ ~ ~ After they were in their rooms, Rose knocked on Ayin's door and was answered immediately. "You noticed too, didn't you? At dinner?" Rose asked. "Yeah." Ayin looked down the hall where she saw Draco retreat to earlier after he had led them to their individual rooms on the second floor. "There's something going on. First of all, the way your uncle acted. Draco use to be the apple of his eye, and today, when we mentioned him, he got really angry and just left." "And then the fact that Draco, of all people, became an Auror," Rose said thoughtfully. "I mean, no offense to my cousin, but he was just as fascinated with the Dark Arts as my father and uncle. Plus the whole free house-elf thing." "And the way he was distant for the rest of the night afterward, as if he was here, but not. Like he was off somewhere," Ayin added. "I think we should ask him about it already," said Rose. "Otherwise, I'm never going to get any sleep, and that just won't do!" Ayin shook her head as she went back in her room to turn off her lamp. She reached the doorway and closed the door before following Rose down the hall. "I know you care about what happens to him," she said to her friend, "So you don't have to make excuses." "Whose making excuses?" Rose asked, not denying caring about her cousin. "I'm seriously tired, and I want some sleep!" They knocked on Draco's door, wondering if he'd even answer. It was possible he'd already gone to sleep, and they'd been wrong in assuming he was awake. In that case, they wouldn't be able to ask him anything since he'd probably jinx them then kick them out of his room. After the third knock, they were about to head back to their rooms when the door opened. "Sorry," Draco said. "Didn't hear you the first time." Rose and Ayin entered the room and went straight to the fireplace. It was November and it was already chilly in the house. In their pajamas, they really felt it. They sat down cross-legged in front of the fire for a minute before Draco spoke. "Unprepared seventeen-year-olds," he said. He went to his bed and pulled the comforter off and tossed it at them. "Hey, I'm eighteen," Ayin said defiantly. "So there." "Really?" "Duh, Draco. Her birthday's on the fourteenth of this month, it just passed," Rose said. "Goodness, you're out of it. You never forget things." "Yeah. Draco, what's been going on? You've changed," Ayin said. "I'm not saying that's bad, but you're so distant. We haven't seen you in ages." Draco sat on the bed, suddenly looking very exhausted. As if he hadn't slept in the longest time. He smiled a small smile at them. "I figured I couldn't hide it from you guys. Well, it's not like you guys wouldn't have heard it eventually. Potter or Weasley would have probably ended up saying something, in any case." Draco sighed. "You really want to know?" The two girls nodded, both silently tugging at the comforter to get more than the other. "Then I should tell you from the beginning. It started in my fifth year. About three years ago, after the last time you guys saw me..." ~ ~ ~ Don't turn away (Don't give in to the pain) Don't try to hide (Though they're screaming your name) Don't close your eyes (God knows what lies behind them) Don't turn out the light Never sleep, never die ~ ~ ~ This song is "Whisper" courtesy of Evanescence, who completely rock.
"In the parlor, sir." Dobby answered, his large dewy eyes looking straight at Draco as if he could see down to his master's earlier thoughts. "All right," Draco said standing. "Ask Lily to bring in some sodas and something to snack on. If memory serves, something with chocolate." "Yes, sir," Dobby squeaked before turning and leaving. Draco took a deep breath before heading downstairs. His cousin could always see through his masks, and so could her best friend Ayin. If Ayin was with her, he doubted he could get off with lying about his state of mind as he could with the rest of the world. ~ ~ ~ I'm frightened by what I see But somehow I know that there's much more to come Immobilized by my fear And soon to be blinded by tears I can stop the pain if I will it all away ~ ~ ~ "Now, who told you that you could drop by uninvited?" came a familiar drawl from the parlor door. Rose turned and smiled at her cousin. "Since when do I need an invitation?" "Since forever," was her answer. "Nice to see you too, Draco," she said. "Honestly, three years and we don't even get a hello. Just like him, isn't it Ayin?" Draco looked to the girl Rose was speaking to. She stood with a book open in her hands and smiled when he looked over. She looked different from the last time he'd seen her. Both she and Rose looked taller and older. Then again, three years was a long time. "Nope, still same old Draco. No manners at all," Ayin said. She put the book back on the shelf before adding, "So what's up? Your mother tells us you're an Auror? That's unexpected." "And what's wrong with being an Auror?" Draco asked, realizing that he wasn't hearing things and that there was a guy in the room playing a guitar. "And who's this?" "Name's Evan," the guy answered for himself. He stopped playing his guitar and stretched his hand out, "Nice to meet you and nice house." "Draco. Thanks," Draco answered shaking the guy's hand. "And he belongs to who?" "He's not an item and he's my boyfriend," Rose said. "And as for the job, there's nothing wrong with it. Just not something we would have associated with you." "I don't know whether that's a compliment or an insult," Draco said walking over to the desk on the other side of the room and sitting on the edge of it. Ayin opened her mouth to answer, but Draco added, "Before you say anything, keep in mind that whether you get any chocolate in a minute depends on your answer." Rose threw Ayin a look of horror, obviously afraid of what her friend was going to say. Ayin said, in a non-too-convincing voice, "It's a compliment of the highest regard, of course." "So they've always been slaves to their craving for chocolate," Evan mused from his seat next to Rose. He'd put his guitar leaning against the armrest. "Smart choice of words then." "Now, let's cut to the chase, to what do I blame for you being here?" Draco asked. "Honestly, you'd think I wasn't your favorite cousin!" "You aren't, your sister is," Draco said. He barely managed to dodge a seat cushion thrown in his direction. "Jerk. Anyway, can't I just miss my complete ass of a cousin and wonder what the heck has been going on that he didn't come see us or write to us except for an emotionless holiday greeting card?" Rose said sarcastically. "No, you can't." "Well, that was the truth, so there," she said sticking her tongue out. "Plus a few minor other things," Ayin muttered. "But in any case, can we stay here for a bit?" Draco let an exaggerated sigh out, and said, "I guess I have no choice. I guess Aunt Audrey wouldn't very well be too happy with me if I let you sleep outside." "No she wouldn't!" Rose agreed happily. She stood up and pulled a few things from her pocket and set them on the table. "Engorio." Where three tiny little toy like suitcases had been, there were now three. Rose looked at them as if something was wrong before digging in her back pocket and pulling out a fourth one. This one turned out to be a guitar case which Evan grabbed and put his guitar in. "So what's your father think of Evan," Draco asked casually. Rose let out a nervous laugh before saying, "Why do you think we're in England?" ~ ~ ~ Don't turn away (Don't give in to the pain) Don't try to hide (Though they're screaming your name) Don't close your eyes (God knows what lies behind them) Don't turn out the lights Never sleep, never die ~ ~ ~ That night, they had a pleasant dinner cooked by Draco's house-elf Lily. Dobby entered along with another house-elf named Blink a few times. After the final time, Ayin just had to ask. "Draco, Dobby is a free house-elf, isn't he?" she asked. "Yes, he is," said Draco. "As his array of multi-colored outfits indicate." "Are all your house-elves free?" Rose asked. "No, but that's because they don't want to be," Draco said. "Dobby is, and he gets paid and everything. Mother once suggested I have them all wear uniforms to indicate they aren't slaves, but I know only Dobby would be comfortable with that idea, so I told her no." "Oh, but they'd look cute!" Rose said. "Rose, you have to explain this whole house-elf thing to me," Evan said to her. Rose nodded while she took a bite of a chocolate cake that Lily had made and Dobby had set out a couple of minutes earlier. "Draco, you're definitely full of surprises today," Ayin said after taking a bite of her own piece of chocolate. "I distinctly remember someone saying that house-elves were a nuisance among other things..." Ayin trailed off and exchanged a look with Rose. The other girl had apparently also noticed since she was looking at Ayin with an identical expression of concern. At some point while Ayin was speaking, Draco's face had turned into a complete mask. He was still smiling, and to someone who didn't know him, like Evan, nothing seemed wrong. But the distant and cold look in his eyes said otherwise. It wasn't an evident look, but one that someone who'd known Draco Malfoy for a long time and was close to him would notice. ~ ~ ~ Fallen angels at my feet Whispered voices at my ear Death before my eyes Lying next to me I fear She beckons me shall I give in Upon my end shall I begin Forsaking all I've fallen for I rise to meet the end ~ ~ ~ After they were in their rooms, Rose knocked on Ayin's door and was answered immediately. "You noticed too, didn't you? At dinner?" Rose asked. "Yeah." Ayin looked down the hall where she saw Draco retreat to earlier after he had led them to their individual rooms on the second floor. "There's something going on. First of all, the way your uncle acted. Draco use to be the apple of his eye, and today, when we mentioned him, he got really angry and just left." "And then the fact that Draco, of all people, became an Auror," Rose said thoughtfully. "I mean, no offense to my cousin, but he was just as fascinated with the Dark Arts as my father and uncle. Plus the whole free house-elf thing." "And the way he was distant for the rest of the night afterward, as if he was here, but not. Like he was off somewhere," Ayin added. "I think we should ask him about it already," said Rose. "Otherwise, I'm never going to get any sleep, and that just won't do!" Ayin shook her head as she went back in her room to turn off her lamp. She reached the doorway and closed the door before following Rose down the hall. "I know you care about what happens to him," she said to her friend, "So you don't have to make excuses." "Whose making excuses?" Rose asked, not denying caring about her cousin. "I'm seriously tired, and I want some sleep!" They knocked on Draco's door, wondering if he'd even answer. It was possible he'd already gone to sleep, and they'd been wrong in assuming he was awake. In that case, they wouldn't be able to ask him anything since he'd probably jinx them then kick them out of his room. After the third knock, they were about to head back to their rooms when the door opened. "Sorry," Draco said. "Didn't hear you the first time." Rose and Ayin entered the room and went straight to the fireplace. It was November and it was already chilly in the house. In their pajamas, they really felt it. They sat down cross-legged in front of the fire for a minute before Draco spoke. "Unprepared seventeen-year-olds," he said. He went to his bed and pulled the comforter off and tossed it at them. "Hey, I'm eighteen," Ayin said defiantly. "So there." "Really?" "Duh, Draco. Her birthday's on the fourteenth of this month, it just passed," Rose said. "Goodness, you're out of it. You never forget things." "Yeah. Draco, what's been going on? You've changed," Ayin said. "I'm not saying that's bad, but you're so distant. We haven't seen you in ages." Draco sat on the bed, suddenly looking very exhausted. As if he hadn't slept in the longest time. He smiled a small smile at them. "I figured I couldn't hide it from you guys. Well, it's not like you guys wouldn't have heard it eventually. Potter or Weasley would have probably ended up saying something, in any case." Draco sighed. "You really want to know?" The two girls nodded, both silently tugging at the comforter to get more than the other. "Then I should tell you from the beginning. It started in my fifth year. About three years ago, after the last time you guys saw me..." ~ ~ ~ Don't turn away (Don't give in to the pain) Don't try to hide (Though they're screaming your name) Don't close your eyes (God knows what lies behind them) Don't turn out the light Never sleep, never die ~ ~ ~ This song is "Whisper" courtesy of Evanescence, who completely rock.