(Hello everyone! Thank you so much for your responses, I'm glad everyone loved it as much as I do. I just wanted to clear something up, because it seemed to confuse a few of you, and I'm sorry about that. Haley will not have a scar like her brother. She's clutching her head in pain because she smacked it on a tombstone.
Also, for those of you who are wondering how she survived, your wait is over. Enjoy!)
XOXOXOXOXO
Haley's growling stomach woke her up from her nightmares. Fully awake, she clutched at her empty belly. She couldn't be positive, but she figured she had to have been there for at least seven days because school ended a week after the tournament.
Though more days could have passed because she couldn't be sure how long it had been since she saw Draco, it could have been hours, or even days. All she knew was that she couldn't survive many more days on what little food they were feeding her.
Where was Draco? Is he keeping his word on visiting me again with food? she thought as she rubbed at her aching stomach.
Once again, another door opened, and light spilled in. One figure stepped in front of the cell, and Haley was defeated. If it was Voldemort, she had no more energy left in her to fight him.
The cell opened, and the figure walked towards the back without lighting his wand. "You here, Haley?" the person called out.
She sighed in some relief. Though she didn't know she could trust him, she was just thankful it wasn't Voldemort. "Here," she called out.
He walked towards her voice, and dropped the things he was carrying. Lighting his wand, Haley could see Malfoy's face. He sat down across from her, and pointed his wand towards the objects he dropped and said, "eat."
Haley's eyes widened as she took in all the food he brought her. Without thinking she picked up the closest item and shoved it in her mouth, almost choking on it.
"Slow down, don't choke yourself," Malfoy said.
"Sobby," she said around the food in her mouth. She slowed her actions, and actually chewed her food.
He picked something up and slowly chewed it as he contemplated on what to say. "It's bloody hard trying to sneak down here, especially with food."
She swallowed her food and downed some water he brought her. She nearly choked again because she gulped to quickly. She coughed as she tried to catch her breath.
Finally, she was able to talk. "How long have I been here?" she croaked out.
"It's been about nine days," he said.
Haley's eyes widened in surprise. "Seriously?" she asked in shock.
"Yea. I don't know how you've managed this long. I can't believe you're alive. How did you survive?" he asked curiously.
Haley shrugged, "no bloody idea."
"Start from the beginning and maybe you'll think of something. We have to figure out how to get you out of here," he said.
Haley looked at him, "why are you helping me?"
Malfoy looked confused. "Why wouldn't I?"
She shrugged again, "maybe because you hate me?"
He looked appalled. "Just because I don't like you doesn't mean I want you dead. Or for you to go through what I can only imagine you've been going through."
Haley tried to cover her smile by shoving more food into her mouth. When she swallowed and had more water, she told him everything that happened at the cemetery.
He seemed thoughtful as he tried to think about everything that she said. "What I don't get is, if the killing curse hit you in the chest, then why aren't you dead?" he asked out loud.
Haley thought about that as well. She didn't even think about it before as her mind has been on other things. "Dunno," she finally said.
"Is something on your chest? A necklace or charm or something that maybe absorbed the curse?" he asked.
"No, I don't think so," she said as she reached under her robes. Her hand landed on something, and she frowned as she pulled the object out in the open. Her eyes opened in shock and understanding as she gasped.
"What is that?" Malfoy asked as he reached out and touched it. "Is that an Invisibility Cloak?"
Haley's eyes were wide open as she nodded.
"It must of absorbed the curse," he said.
Haley smiled too. This was it. This was her answer of getting out of here.
As if reading her thoughts, Draco said, " When he comes back, put the cloak on and hide behind the cell door. When he steps in, you sneak out. Come up the cellar steps, and stay to your left. Go up the stairs. My room is the first door on the left. Keep the cloak on until it's safe to take it off."
Haley nodded in agreement.
He started to gather what was left of the food he brought. "I should go, they'll be coming soon. Good luck," he said as he left.
When he was gone, Haley sat back, and smiled. For the first time, she was full, and had a plan to escape.
XOXOXOXOXO
As she daydreamed for the next couple of hours, she snapped out of it when she could hear a door opening. Quickly she threw on the cloak and hid beside the door.
Again, it was Voldemort as well as two other Death Eaters. They opened the cell door and stepped through. Haley snuck out behind them, and as quietly as she could, ran down the hallway. As she reached the door, she could hear them cry out in surprise, and knew she didn't have much time.
She stepped through the door and made her way towards the stairs which she took two at a time. Panting as she reached the top, she could hear them come through the door, crying out to the other's that she escaped.
She reached the first door on the left and opened it enough to squeeze through before she shut it behind her. She took in her surrounding and saw Draco sprawled out on his bed looking around for her.
Not saying anything, she walked around to the other side of the bed and leaned against the middle of the wall trying to get her breath back.
From outside she could hear pounding footsteps making their way up the stairs before the door burst open and Lucius Malfoy and one other Death Eater entered Draco's room.
"What the bloody hell is going on?" Draco cried out in shock as his father and the other started searching his room.
"The prisoner has escaped," Lucius said as he reached the side of the bed she was on. Just barely missing her, he crouched down and looked under the bed. When he and the other didn't find anything, Lucius said a few spells, and when nothing happened, he ordered Draco not to leave the room until summoned, and left.
Haley breathed a sigh of relief, until he held up a finger to his lips to silence her.
He made her wait for so long that her legs could no longer support her, and she dropped to the ground. She almost dosed off when she heard him shift on his bed. Looking up, she could see him get up. He walked to his door, put a Silencing Charm on it, then turned around and asked, "Where are you?"
"Here," she said as she took the cloak off of her head. He looked over onto the ground and walked over and sat on the edge of his bed.
"I had to make sure they stopped searching," he said.
She couldn't respond in anyway because it felt like her body had shut down and she was stuck in her position. Her head fell forward and her eyes closed; she was so exhausted. The adrenaline rush she experienced a few minutes ago wore off and she was left bone tired.
"Haley?" he whispered.
She could hear him and she wanted to respond, but she physically couldn't.
XOXOXOXOXO
Haley woke up screaming. Not knowing where she was, it took a minute to sink in.
Her eyes adjusted to the weak sunshine streaming in through the closed curtained windows and realized she must have drifted off and slept through the night.
Today was a brand new day, and she was free. Well, maybe not entirely free, but free from the one person she hated and feared the most.
She took the cloak off and looking down she could see how dirty and torn her robes were, and knew she needed a shower, because she could smell herself and it wasn't pleasant.
Slowly, she stretched out her legs and waited for the pins and needle sensation to pass. When it did, she carefully got up on her feet with the help from the wall. She took a step towards the bathroom, and almost fell. She felt lightheaded, and weightless at the same time, causing her to almost faint. At the last second she clung to the wall, waiting for the moment to pass.
When it did, she used the wall as a guide, finally making it into the bathroom.
After relieving herself on an actual toilet, she stripped off her clothes and turned on the shower, the whole time avoiding the mirror. She didn't want to see what she looked like, because she knew it would be bad, and she wasn't sure it she could handle it.
When the water was the right temperature, she climbed under the spray and cried in relief. Never had a shower felt so empowering before. The water not only washed away the dirt and grime, but also her negative feelings leaving her fresh and clean and in a better mood.
After what felt like hours, she finally turned off the shower and almost climbed out on her hands and knees because standing still for that amount of time left her weak and stiff.
When she dried off and had the towel wrapped around her, she slowly walked back into the bedroom where Draco was still asleep on his bed.
Not wanting to put her robes back on or wake him, she went through his dresser until she found boxers, a t-shirt, and sweatpants.
After she got dressed, she took some pillows and blankets, put on the cloak, and made a bed under his bed, where she lay down and reflected on everything she's survived. She was wide awake now, and so was her stomach.
"Bloody hell, Potter, would you shut it already," came a muffled voice from above her.
"I can't help it, I'm famished," she replied.
She could hear him sigh, and shift his position until she could see his feet hit the ground. "I'll be back," he said before he went to the bathroom, then left his room.
A half hour later, he returned, closed his door, and put the Silencing Charm on his door again.
"Where are you?" he asked.
"Still under the bed," she replied.
"Come out, I've got food."
At the sound of food, she crawled out from under the bed and sat on the floor while exposing her head so she could eat.
"Here," he said as he handed her a bottle.
"What's this?" she asked as she took it.
"It's a sleeping potion. You'll be able to sleep without dreaming, therefore not waking me up with your bloody screaming."
XOXOXOXOXO
Weeks went by, and Haley was still devastated. Everyday she lived was just a constant reminder of what she lost, and what she was going through. There was no peace for her. During the day she cried silently, and at night she only slept because of the potion she was taking. It was a dreamless sleep, and for that she was grateful.
As for Malfoy, she was exasperated with him. Every day she tried to convince him to let her contact Harry, but he refused, saying it's too dangerous and that even his own owl was being searched every time he wrote a letter.
She wanted so badly to send an owl and tell Harry she was alive, even if it's in code. She was frustrated because she couldn't think of a code he would understand, and knew Malfoy was right and it was too dangerous. Especially because Voldemort was still living in the Malfoy Mansion.
In the end, she decided to try and tap into their twin psychic connection to contact Harry. They had only done it twice, and each time they had been touching. She knew it would be next to impossible, but she needed to try. She hated the thought of him thinking she was dead, and she needed contact with the outside world. She was slowly going insane. She wasn't allowed outside of the Invisibility Cloak besides her head, and she basically wasn't allowed out from underneath the bed incase someone decided to enter his room, especially their house-elf when he needed to clean the room.
They had a few close calls, but other than that, it was sheer boredom as well as mental torture. The only good thing was that her belly was getting fed more than it was in the dungeon.
Closing her eyes, she tried connecting to her twin, but to no avail. In fact, it took her about three weeks before she was able to do it.
On August 18th, around noontime, Haley sat cross legged with her hands on her knees and her eyes closed underneath the cloak, and tried making contact. After almost an hour, she felt her body falling through a black hole; she fell so fast, it took her breath away. When she landed, she was in the familiar meadow of the first time they made the connection.
Yes, I did it! she cried out in relief.
Looking around, she didn't see Harry right away, so she made her way over towards her rock, and put her feet in the water.
As she leaned back and soaked in the sun, she could hear Harry land behind her.
"What's going on?" she could hear him say.
She turned towards him and called out his name.
He looked in her direction, as his jaw dropped open. "Haley?" he cried out in disbelief.
She nodded. "It's me, Harry," she said as she stood up and made her way to him.
She stopped just before him, soaking it all in. How she missed him! Her wonder threatened to take over her whole body as she was twitching with the need to touch him.
However, she took her time so he could get used to seeing her.
"Are you really here?" he asked in disbelief as he lifted his hand, and stopped just shy of touching her cheek.
"It's really me," she said as she grabbed his hand and placed it on her cheek.
"Are you an angel? Am I dreaming?" he whispered as he explored her face with both his hands.
"Neither Harry, I'm alive!" she said as tears fell from her eyes.
Harry had a hard time believing. "I wish this were true. I dream about it everyday, but every time I wake, your always gone," he said as tears of pain and sorrow fell from his eyes.
"Look around you Harry, and tell me where you are," she said softly.
Not taking his hands off of her, he did as she said.
"We're in some type of meadow, with a lake," he said in confusion. "Nowhere I've ever been."
"Ahh, but you have. Think Harry. We've been here before, at the beginning of the school year." She encouraged him to remember because it was the only way he would know she was truly alive.
He scrunched his forehead as he concentrated. Finally, his eyes and face lit up. "The connection!" he cried out in disbelief. "It's true, your alive!"
He threw his arms around her, lifting her feet off of the ground and twirled her around, as they laughed in relief and joy of being together again.
Finally he put her down, and they sat in the grass across from each other holding hands.
"How is this possible?" he asked in confusion. "The other times we were touching hands in the real world."
"No idea, Harry. I've been trying for nine days to reach you, and I finally did it! Though I can feel a strain on my body, so we better make this quick," she said.
"What happened Haley? I saw it with my own eyes, you were dead. How are you still alive, and where are you? How can I save you?" words spilled from his mouth.
"Daddy dearest saved my life," she said. Harry looked confused so she added, "his Invisibility Cloak."
She knew he was reliving the events, as his eyes widened in recognition and he said, "the cloak! I forgot you were wearing it. But how would it save you from the killing curse? It's just a cloak."
Haley shrugged her shoulders, just as much at a loss. "No idea, Harry. All I know was as I watched Voldemort talking to you, I crept up behind you, and when he put the Cruciatus Curse on you, I fired my own curse, but it missed. He lifted the curse, and sent one at me. I dodged out of the way, but tripped over a tombstone, and the cloak came off. I stuffed it down my robes, and when he sent the killing curse at me, I think the cloak absorbed the curse, or deflected it or something. I was only unconscious because I smacked my head on the tombstone and passed out. When I came to, well I don't really remember the first few days, but they realized I was alive and they sent Voldemort to see me," she explained sadly. Just reliving the events had her shaking, which he noticed.
"What did he do to you?" Harry growled in frustration and fear of what he might hear.
She shrugged her shoulders and tried to play it cool. "He just wanted information, and he showed me a different version of the cemetery, a version where you died. Harry I thought you were dead, but I refused to believe it. And I was right!"
Wanting to change the subject and knowing she was running out of time, she said, "Enough about this, we need to discuss my escape. I've managed to get away from Voldemort, but I'm still a prisoner. I can't get to my wand because he keeps it in a magical box by his side at all times. If I can get my wand, I can use the fireplace and floo out of there. I dare not go to the Burrow in case something happens, so we need an alternative meeting place."
Harry thought about it, then finally said, "how about on August 24th, you get your wand and use the floo network to get to Diagon Alley. Bill, Ron and I will get a room at the Leaky Cauldron the night before with Hermione. You get there in the cloak, and when you spot one of them, tap them on the shoulder, and they'll lead you to the room, where you'll floo back to the Burrow."
She thought about this, and liked the idea. "Deal. I'll meet them there at noon on the 24th."
She never got to hear a response because once again she was falling down the black hole. When she came to, she was in agony. Her head felt like someone was driving a stake into it repeatedly, as stars exploded behind her closed eyes; she screamed out in pain before she blacked out.
XOXOXOXOXO
Shoutouts: paigematthewsfan21, namu156, Cinderella98, maximumride123, R2-D2106, writer. Of. The. Gods, xXMizz Alec VolturiXx, Faith, thatfreakypottergirl, peygoodwin.
PleaseDontForget, wow you read the whole thing in a day? Lol I've done that before and know how it feels. I appreciate it.
Lovesaphira, I know I have a major problem describing major events that have already happened. I do need to work on that, and I feel I have a bit. It's hard for me because I feel like I'm repeating what's already written. But I'm working on it.
Ellie Clemon, I always take your thoughts into consideration. These are great suggestions, but unfortunately, it doesn't go in that direction.
Vritra, my second beta! Yay! Thank you!
