Lost and Found
Chapter One:
A Death Threat and Unintended Target
It was a beautiful day in May and the students of Hogwarts castle were eating their breakfast beneath the enchanted ceiling which mimicked the clear blue sky. The day's weather had a good outlook for that morning's Quidditch match of Gryffindor vs. Slytherin. As usual all the student's were looking forward to the biggest rivals of the school having it out on the pitch but first came the mail then the match would begin.
Owls of many colors came swooping in, landing beside their masters and delivering letters, care packages, and delicious sweets. One teen in particular, a young wizard known as Harry Potter, looked for his own owl, Hedwig. He was expecting a package from a Broomstick weekly order he made a week prior. Again, his snowy white owl was a no show but was still surprised when an amber-brown owl dropped a letter on his near empty plate.
Harry didn't recognize the bird as belonging to any of the students, teachers, or the school. Shrugging it off, Potter picked up the unaddressed envelope and opened it, reading the short note after. The sixteen year old wizard blanched suddenly as his bright green eyes darted to the familiar blonde head of Draco Malfoy. As was habitual, the Slytherin prince sat directly across from his dark haired rival, looking carefree as he spoke with Pansy Parkinson. With his hands shaking, the note became crumpled in the Gryffindor's grip, the words replaying over and over again in his mind.
Draco Malfoy,
Today you die.
Harry had no idea how anyone could mistaken him for Draco but that was the least of his worries now. Someone was after the blonde's life and the raven had feeling the killer would try to get his job accomplished during that day's match. It was amazing how such a great day could take a sudden turn for the worst.
Figures, just when things were starting to change between us for the better something like this has to happen. But I won't…I won't let him die. I can't. Harry thought with determination, intending to save the unsuspecting blonde no matter the cost.
Potter was all nerves when he was getting ready for the last game of the year. It wasn't about winning or losing though, his nervousness was from the innate possibility of Draco getting killed. His heart was pounding as he pulled on his Quidditch attire and headed out to the stadium after, along with his teammates. His bright eyes darted around the entire pitch and stands, looking for the one targeting the blonde.
He discovered no one suspicious and felt a hope that it was just an overly done prank. However, his nervousness didn't calm down at all as he climbed onto his firebolt and shot into the air. He took his usual place as seeker above the rest of the players and looked out once more over the crowd. His attention was diverted moments later upon hearing a familiar jokingly sardonic voice.
"Scared Potter? You're as pale as ghost." Malfoy taunted teasingly. When he received no response, joking or otherwise, the blonde lost his smirk and became concerned. "Potter?"
"Uh, no it's nothing. Don't worry about it." Harry responded with a weak smile as he stared at the boy he was hell bent on protecting.
"Are you-" Draco started but was interrupted by madam Hooch's whistle that signaled the start of the game.
The snitch was nowhere to be found, which was a relief for Harry because his attention was elsewhere at the moment. He again took to looking for anyone suspicious and, after rising above the stands, finally spotted the one after Draco. Based on the broad shoulders, the Gryffindor could tell it was a man but that was all, the rest of him hidden beneath a thick black cloak. He was watching from the very top of the stand colored in the Slytherin colors, watching his target and waiting for the opportune moment to strike.
Much to the raven's horror, the blonde had just begun to fly directly into the line of fire. Harry watched as the killer took aim and felt his heart stop as he raced forward. It seemed like time was frozen as Potter flew through the air at lightning speed, trying to stop Draco from flying to his death.
"MALFOY, LOOK OUT!" The Gryffindor screamed as he pushed harder to get there faster. Suddenly a bright purple light erupted out of the attacker's wand and it was right on target.
Upon hearing Harry's shout, Malfoy turned to look at him then glanced in the opposite direction. His silver-gray eyes widened in fear as a large purple light came hurtling toward him but it was too late, he didn't have time to dodge it. Just as the curse was about to hit him, the blonde Potter grabbed him out of the way, getting hit in his side as the rest of the cures flew off into the air.
As the two started falling, the Gryffindor managed to stun the attacker before slamming into the ground. Both teens got up minutes after on shaky limbs, and looked at each other. Malfoy had a cut up arm and shoulder from the fall but was otherwise unharmed.
"Are you alright?" Harry asked as he trembled uncontrollably.
"Y-yeah." Draco stuttered out, in shock of what had happened.
"Good, I'm glad." Potter said in an uneven voice before collapsing.
"Harry!" Malfoy yelled out as he caught the raven before he hit the ground again, panic and fear beginning to build for his friend and secret crush, "No, Harry stay with me!" The blonde begged as he saw the damage the curse caused. Harry's side had a deep gash in it and blood was pouring out of the trembling teen like a stream. Incapable of staying conscious any longer, Potter's eyes fell shut as the Slytherin continued to call him, a blurring image of Draco being the last thing he saw before the world around him went dark.
"Harry, open you're eyes! Come on, don't die! Please don't die!" Draco shouted as tears began to fall from his molten silver eyes. He screamed out for someone to help as he clung onto his dieing friend and it seemed to take an eternity before anyone showed up. The raven was taken from the blonde by Dumbledore and they disappeared. Harry was taken to Saint Mungo's and, after eighteen hours, the healers realized that they could do nothing to save him.
Back at Hogwarts, Hermione and Ron find out from the headmaster that their friend is dieing. Draco read in the Daily Prophet that Harry's in critical condition and approaches Granger and Weasley about it.
"Please tell me they're wrong." Malfoy pleaded as he held up the paper, his hand shaking. Ron nodded as his lips trembled. Hermione sobbed suddenly and answered.
"It's worse! Harry's dieing!" The bushy haired girl said hysterically and threw herself into the red head's arm as he too started crying.
Draco dropped the paper without realizing it as he felt hot tears run down his pale face. Everything around him seemed to disappear into nothing as the thought of never seeing Harry again pierced his heart like a serrated knife, over and over again. It took so many years to finally win his secret crush over just a little bit and now he was going to lose him. The weight of that realization was a crushing force and the blonde felt like he was going to suffocate. When he heard footsteps, the blonde came back and saw Minerva approaching the three of them.
"The three of you need to come with me." The transfiguration professor said sadly. She led the suffering students to Dumbledore's office and saw their parents were already there.
"Oh, mom!" Hermione yelled as she ran into her mother's arms, even more hysterical now, her father hugging her from behind. Ron and his parents were crying silently as Mrs. Weasley hugged her son tight. Draco looked at his parents, trying to speak as tears continued to run down his smooth face.
"He…Harry's d-d…"the blonde couldn't say it as his whole body shook. He was close to becoming as hysterical as Hermione. Narcissi hugged her son to her, stroking his hair gently.
"I know." She whispered as her son cried on her shoulder. Lucius watched his son in silence, unsure of how he was feeling himself. If it wasn't for Potter then Draco would have been killed but he couldn't be sad. Sadness was unfamiliar territory for the elder Malfoy but anger, anger was not. That's one thing he was though, angry at the one who tried to kill his son and angry for the one took Potter from his son.
When Dumbledore received the go ahead, everyone went to St. Mungo's via portkey and waited for news on Harry's condition. Two hours passed before a healer came out to tell them it didn't look good. Those words were what finally set Draco Malfoy off.
"WHAT THE HELL DO YOU MEAN IT DOESN'T LOOK GOOD? THIS BUILDING IS FULL OF HEALERS SO DO SOMETHING!" Draco shouted as he threw chairs around the waiting area, kicked tables into the walls, breaking them, and throwing magazines and books everywhere, all the while his tears streaming down. Narcissi pulled her son to her again as the blonde cried hysterically. It was then the head of the building came out looking grim.
"I'm so sorry, but we've done everything we can. The curse Harry was hit with is killing him too fast and blocking any efforts to slow it down. It'd be best to say goodbye to him now while you have the chance." The brunette woman said and led the group of students, parents, and teachers to the raven's room.
They crowded around the extremely pale teen's bed as one at time stepped forward and said their goodbye's, their thanks, and gave him their love and swore they'd miss him forever and looked forward to the day that they would meet again. Draco was the last one up and took off his silver necklace that was given to him at birth. He placed it around Harry's neck, loosing his self control once more, as he held the younger teen in his arms. Moments later he heard the heart monitor go flat line. Draco knew then that Harry Potter, the boy he never told he loved, was dead.
Draco was running, chasing after the person he couldn't live without, but never seemed able to catch up. The blonde called out to him then, "Harry!" but received no response that he was heard. Malfoy tried running faster as he chased Harry Potter, pushing himself to his limits and beyond. He didn't know what would happen if he stopped moving but he knew it would be horrible.
Suddenly, something tripped Draco and he fell, getting slamming into the ground of swirling black and gray. Panting as his heart raced, he looked up and saw the Gryffindor farther than ever before. Panicking, the blonde pushed himself up before he saw a flash of purple light.
Malfoy froze in horror as he watched the purple light hit Harry. Blood seemed to splash all over the swirling darkness, adding a macabre look to the already haunting atmosphere. With a shout of Harry on his lips, the blonde rushed forward only to be knocked down by a severely painful crucio curse.
The Slytherin grit his teeth together as he attempted to stand in the hellish void, desperate to get to the fallen raven. Just when he was within arms reach of the dieing teen, someone appeared beside him and kicked him hard in his side. Draco was forced onto his back from the impact and looked at the one responsible for attacking his secret crush.
It was a black cloaked man who was laughing maniacally at the blonde's distress, his face hidden beneath a heavy hood. Malfoy tried to get his wand to avenge his fallen love but the killer was faster and the same purple light was turned on him, its target dead center.
Draco sat up with a choked yell as sweat dripped from his shaking frame and tears fell like a rainstorm. For a few seconds he couldn't breathe, the terror of his dream keeping his lungs frozen. Suddenly, he took a deep gasping breath and fell back against his pillow as he sobbed out Harry's name.
It had only been a few hours since his love had died in his arms and he knew there would be no healing the pain he felt. His entire world seemed to have come crashing down after the loss and it hurt to breath, it hurt to think. His every thought was full of all the memories he had with the raven, both good and bad as well as what could have happened. Now though, none of that possible and there was nothing he could about it.
Alone in his room, Malfoy sat up in his bed and stared out the window across from his four poster, king sized bed. The moon was full and bright, shining in and lighting up his Victorian styled room, the shimmering silver of his bed curtains acting as mirrors to the moon's brightness. It all depressed the blonde so much more.
He knew there would be a new day once the sun rose. He knew there would be happy people in the world while he mourned his lost love. He knew some people wouldn't care about Potter's death, like the Voldemort and his death eaters. He also knew he wasn't the only one suffering but still felt so alone all the same. With those thoughts in mind, the Slytherin stood up and walked to his writing desk. He sat in the intricately carved serpentine chair, picked up a quill, and started writing.
I'm frozen as you walk away
I'm screaming at your back
But you don't hear a word I say
You can't
Please, don't leave
Come back to me
The rain is pouring all around
The grass and trees drinking from the ground
My tears join in and water your flowers
Your wooden bed joining nature without a sound
Please don't leave
Come back to me
A rock with your name
I haven't changed, still the same
Staring, unsmiling
My heart is broken and my eyes are filled with tears
Wishing always that you were here
Please don't leave
Come back to me
Your final resting place will soon be moved
Incapable of letting you go so soon
A new place to live
A new place to sleep
But still you're gone
Please don't leave
Come back to me
My heart has shattered
My soul has died
I miss you dearly
But you're in your bed
Gone forever
An unreachable place
Forever I mourn you
I hate this empty space
How could you leave?
Please come back
Come back to me
With that last written line, Draco dropped his head onto his arms and cried until he fell asleep, his tears leaving water marks and making the ink run on his, now exposed, shattered heart.