The witch before Draco was intoxicating, to say the least, and she watched him with sharp eyes that all pureblood witches seemed to possess naturally. He wondered why he had never seen her before, there was certainly a short list of witches his age that were worthy of his attention. His teeth clenched at the thought, worthy of what exactly? The drunken attentions of a cold blooded killer? He glanced warily around the room of his fellow Death Eater, reminding himself that despite his advanced ability of occlumency, he should still keep his thoughts predictable.
His company tonight was certainly not advanced, Draco was with the new recruits for the Death Eaters, whose IQ allowed them to kill and then party without much thought. Needless to say his former cronies, Crabbe and Goyle, were both present, drunk off their rockers. They were congratulating each other on a well planned raid. All of them were content with witches and fire whiskey. All of them had only recently taken the mark, and yet were still being trained, not yet worthy to stand before the Dark Lord himself. Draco was their official babysitter. He had surpassed their talents long ago, and had stood before their master many times. His father had never been prouder.
Feeling ill, Draco swept past the witch, handing her his half finished glass of Dwarf rum. She turned surprised, but he neither waited for her nor turned his head. Draco, as calmly as possible, left the common room they had been celebrating in, hands shaking as he closed the door behind him. This had been happening more and more, when he was left to his own thoughts for too long, when his conscious decided to sink in. Throwing out a sweaty palm Draco leaned against the cool castle wall and headed slowly towards the nearest loo. His eyes remained on the floor; he couldn't stomach the sight of the once glorious castle in its present state. That, of course, had been the Dark Lords bidding after the death of Dumbledore. The Death Eaters had inhabited and laid waste to the empty castle that had once been a home of learning; Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Draco glanced warily up at the corridor swimming before his eyes. It was the one on the west side of the castle, opening to the courtyard. Sighing he paused and closed his eyes. She was the last person he needed to think about. That would be beyond treachery. After all he wasn't even sure if she was still alive. Hermione Granger.
With shame Draco recalled to memory the day his life had ended. The day he had killed Albus Dumbledore. Yes, he had not been the one to cast the killing curse, but without Draco's planning the event never would have occurred. Running through the castle that night, however, she had been the only thing on his mind, and he had prayed while he and the other Death Eaters attacked, that she was out of harm's way. Now, nearly five years later, every time he saw a witch, a muggle born, or even long brown hair, his heart seemed to stop beating. Draco shook his head, hell, she had been the last thing on his mind when the Dark Mark had been burned into his skin.
Hermione Granger had captured his heart at the Yule Ball, and the days after he had nearly revealed himself to her. But she was with the resistance. Draco refused to think of any other possibility. She was very much alive, and fighting on the opposite side…
With a gasp Draco lost all of his remaining energy, and he collapsed against the wall. Coughing he reached into his robes for his wand, but instead someone grabbed his arm. With a shock Draco turned to see the same witch wordlessly throw his arm over her small shoulders and slowly lead him down the corridor. He didn't have energy to push her away, knowing if any of the others saw, it would not be good. Weakness was not allowed.
In what took much longer than necessary, they arrived at the female loo, the male's loo being further down the corridor. With a heavy grunt Draco separated himself from the witch, and collapsed against the row of sinks. Turning on a faucet he splashed his face, his mind already rationalizing that he needed to take care of this witch. No doubt she would run back to the others as soon as he left an opening. With a calming breath Draco straightened and turned, meeting the eye of the witch, whose sharp eyes betrayed nothing.
"I'm fine," He whispered hoarsely, and saw her eyebrows raise slightly, "Too much of that damn rum. Too sweet."
"I can escort you to your chamber." Her voice was soft but straightforward, emotionless. He didn't trust her at all.
Draco watched her for a moment, and then nodded. Once upstairs he could simply obliviate her memory. The witch came forward and took his arm around her shoulders once again. Then they turned and staggered out of the loo. Though Draco still felt the urge to throw up, he could wait for a calming draught up in his chambers.
They turned immediately down a hallway, and Draco did his best to make himself appear to be improving.
"Where are you staying?"
Draco swallowed dryly, "The north tower." Formerly Hufflepuff House, he added silently.
The witch nodded, and headed towards the main staircase. Draco spotted the secret passage way beneath a tapestry, but decided not to tell her, this witch didn't need to know about it. But she automatically slowed before the large dragon tapestry, her wand lifting it aside. Draco stiffened, how had she known?
"Don't think you are the only one who knows these castle secrets." The witch murmured, helping him up the narrow steps.
Automatically Draco reached for his wand inside his robes. How had she known about a passageway that the Death Eaters themselves had only just found?
"You were a hufflepuff?" Draco asked wairily.
The witch shook her auburn head of hair, with a grin that once again reminded him of her pure blood status.
"Of course not," She said, "But I was in your year."
Draco stiffened again, and was grateful when they finally reached the door into the former Hufflepuff common room. Someone from his past.
"Not to worry," She smiled emotionlessly, leading him to a chair, "I won't say a word to your friends downstairs. About your...intolerance to rum."
Draco gripped his wand, and leaning against the chair, turned towards this overly friendly witch, keeping his face a mask.
The witch only smiled again her bright blue eyes glinting, "I only wonder what your real ailment is. It couldn't have anything to do with your raid on that muggle family today?"
Instantly Draco had his wand pointing between her eyes.
"I would be careful, "He said slowly, "implying anything about my loyalties."
The witch took a step closer, but bowed her head, "I meant nothing, I apologize," She whispered. When she looked up again Draco saw a hint of fear in her eyes, "I must have had too much rum as well."
Slowly he lowered his wand, feeling sick again. Those lies on his tongue burned. Turning Draco again forgot about the witch and staggered to the first bedroom, and promptly threw up in the water basin.
Gasping, Draco looked at his reflection, what was happening to him? Then instantly he stood, wand out again pointing at the witch who had followed him.
"You poisoned me."
Her eyes flashed, "I… I simply wanted to prove the others wrong."
Draco kept his face still, searching her face for signs of lying. He found none. The witch, however, quickly lost any former appeal, as she stuttered and wrung her hands.
"They said…they said, that no one comes to your bed, ever. And I...I…"
Draco lowered his wand, disgust welling up inside his body, "You wanted to sleep with me."
The witch stared at him nervously, than nodded, brushing a loose strand of auburn hair from her eyes.
"Well, I hate to disappoint, but what they say it true."
"They say it is because you love someone who died in the war."
Draco turned away, so they talked about him, did they? Grabbing a glass, Draco filled it with water, than with another flick of his wand, he cleaned away the evidence of his upset stomach in the basin.
"Who was she? How do I not compare?" The witch ran forward, pleading. Draco only shoved her aside. From the desk drawer he pulled out the calming draught and drank the vile down, following it with the water. Instantly he felt more awake, and his mouth felt clean. Now to deal with the last nuisance.
"What was she then? Was she that prettier then I?" The witch's voice became scornful, as Draco only glanced at her stonily.
"I don't need to tell you." Draco turned, and shrugged out of his hated Death Eater Robes, "Now leave, before I force you to."
The damn witch didn't move, and so Draco flicked his wand and she was ungracefully tossed out of the room. For an added measure he put up a shield charm in the doorway.
That only seemed to fuel her on, and her fists banged against the charm. God, how pathetic, Draco thought.
"You don't need to say anything," The witch taunted, "Your thoughts were perfectly clear down in the corridor."
In a flash Draco dissolved the shield charm and was face to face with the witch, "Meaning?" He whispered darkly.
"What would your friends think if they knew you loved the enemy?" The witch's eyes flashed in triumph, only to find Draco's wand under her chin.
"It's true then." The witch whispered, her voice shocked.
Draco dug the wand into her throat, "Prepare to forget that," He glared at her, his whole being on fire.
The witch swallowed, and Draco saw her eyes watering, she was truly terrified now. Now, his inner voice yelled, kill her, obliviate her, do something! But the calming draught had worked wonders, his normal rage had been subdued, honestly Draco felt almost relieved that someone else knew his darkest secret.
With a last glare he lowered his wand and went into his room, slamming the door behind him. Sitting on the bed he cradled his pounding head, not even glancing up when the door opened.
"Go then, expose me. I don't care anymore."
"Why would I do that?" The witch whispered, and Draco glanced up, thoroughly confused. But instead he saw auburn hair turn chocolate brown, pale skin darken to a light tan, and blue eyes turn brown. Draco was convinced he had just died, because standing in front of him was the one woman he thought never to see again.
"Hello, Draco." Hermione Granger whispered.
