"Hello father" came a voice from behind the girl and Lucius looked up to meet the even stare of his son. "I came to check on both your progress" he responded dropping the girl like one would do garbage and moved over to the tall teen who stood his ground "I'm working on it father" he responded never backing down "Hayley, get back to your dorm" the boy ordered and the girl took one look at her brother to know he was serious and would not be argued with and so she rushed out of the way but hid behind a small nearby wall watching the two Malfoy males staring at each-other. She back up slightly and her heart skipped a beat as she bumped into someone and she stifled a scream of fear slowly glancing up to see three people standing there. A raven-haired with a lightning-bolt scar, a bushy haired brunette and a red-head. The girl swallowed and gazed downward until the brunette kneeled down "Are you alright Hayley?" she asked and the girl nodded instinctively. She then realized they must have seen what had happened, and once again she was frightened. Draco was not going to like that... maybe now he wouldn't care about her anymore? Her mother had left as well, and her father had told her that was her fault, even though her brother had insisted it had nothing to do with her and that it had been his fault.
The blond boy had just been thrown to the floor with an agonizing thud and a crucio was sent the boy's way. He closed his eyes in pain but kept silent. The Malfoy Patriarch threw in a few kicks to the boy's chest and the foursome could hear something snap. Lucius's cold gaze swept over the boy disgust written over his features "You better hurry up boy" he hissed, his voice like ice before turning around and walking away soon to disappear outside the Hogwarts grounds where he apparated back to his Manor. The blond heir stayed down for a few minutes before he carefully pushed himself from the floor, his steel eyes scanning the area "You can come out now" he hissed and Hayley bit her lip before stepping around the corner of her hiding place. She gave him a frightened look and his expression softened "It's alright Hayls" he sighed straightening his clothes. The girl walked over "I'm sorry Draco... I didn't mean to disobey..." she whispered. He raised an eyebrow "Yes you did" he smiled "But that's okay sweetie". Hayley smiled and looked him over "Are you okay?" she asked concern evident in her voice. He simply nodded picking her up "Yes I am fine" he insisted rolling his eyes "Enjoyed the show Potter, Granger, Weasel?" he drawled his silver/blue eyes narrowed as the three now stepped from their hiding place.
"You should go see Madame Pomfrey Malfoy" the girl commented and Draco frowned "Oh really Granger? You really think my father is foolish enough for his teachings to be remedied with magic?" he sneered. The girl scowled and Hayley smacked her brother on the arm "Be nice" she scolded and the three didn't even try to hide their amusement "Yes Malfoy, be nice" the red head snickered. The blond grit his teeth "Very, very amusing Weasel". The little girl laid her head on the boy's shoulder "I'm sorry Draco" she muttered but the teen shook his head "Listen to me sweetie, it is not your fault" he insisted fiercely "I'm sorry I wasn't there sooner" he told her and the 'golden trio' were beginning to feel increasingly uncomfortable. This obviously was a private moment.. "Let's get you to bed eh?" Draco commented and the girl sighed but nodded. She didn't want to cause her brother more grief by giving him trouble and so she allowed him to carry her back to her dorm and tuck her in "Take this" he told her holding out a vial for her. She smiled and drank the potion before closing her eyes and falling into a dreamless sleep. The teen left the dorm quietly and headed down to the library.
He really needed to get some more work done. He settled himself at a table opening a book and taking out a scroll to write some notes and answers. He rubbed his eyes before sighing and getting to work. He was interrupted by a female voice behind him "Malfoy.." he turned his head slowly heaving a heavy sigh "Yes, Granger?" he snapped really not in the mood. The girl clenched her jaw "You really should go to Pomfrey... I think you broke some ribs..." she told him. He raised an eyebrow "Really Granger.. you think?" he mocked his tone dripping with sarcasm. The girl rolled her eyes "Look... it could puncture a lung.." she started but was cut of by the boy "Spare me your freaking pity party filthy mudblood" he hissed locking his blazing eyes with hers. She huffed "Honestly Malfoy, can't you come up with anything better... or at least something new… something original?" she smirked staring right back at him but no matter how much she tried he could still see the hurt flash over her features and it satisfied him. At least the subject was changed.. or so he thought "How long has this been going on?" she questioned softly and he rolled his eyes "And why pray tell why would I tell you?". The brunette sighed "Will you just answer the question?" she responded "I don't want to have to hit you again" she threatened and the boy rolled his eyes once more.
How humiliating that had been. He sighed "I can't remember it ever having been different" he answered and then rubbed his temples as his head was starting to pound. This was just his luck... "You should get some rest..." the girl's infuriating voice cut through the air again and he gave a frustrated sigh "Don't you think I want to?" he snapped "I can't" he shrugged. She raised an eyebrow and frowned "Since when do you study anyway?" she frowned. The boy sighed rolling his eyes "I did not become second in our year by doing nothing" he simply stated "I usually just study in my dorm" he shrugged. There were less people there... since he'd pretty much throw the rest of his dorm-mates out when he really needed to get some work done. The girl nodded in understanding "What are you working on?" she asked and he rolled his eyes "Why should I tell you?" he sneered and the girl threw up her hands in frustration "Whatever Malfoy" she sighed and turned around walking away.
The blond boy remained in the library for another hour or so before finally having had enough and heading back to the Slytherin rooms. He then went to his dorm and let himself fall onto his bed closing his eyes. He sighed and did even bother changing before falling asleep. Hayley woke up to a new day. She took a shower and got dressed before heading towards her brother's dorm and jumped on her brother's bed who groaned in protest "Hayley" he grumbled in protest but the girl persisted "Come on Draco! You need to eat" she insisted and the teen opened his eyes "Alright" he conceded and headed down into the shower, greeting a new day. The blond heir headed down to breakfast with his sister who eyed her brother carefully. Their father had hurt him and even the bushy haired brunette had told him to have himself checked out. Hayley however knew her stubborn brother would never agree to that. No matter how hurt he was, he wanted to deal with things himself. They sat down and the girl simply started eating while the boy simply shoved his food around on his plate.
"Draco" she carefully nudged him "You have to eat..." she told him softly. He looked at her for a moment before sighing but nodded forcing some food down his throat. He really wasn't hungry, but he knew that he needed to at least eat something. Then it had become time for classes and he sighed as he now had potions. Normally he'd be thrilled, but not today. He sat down in class staring ahead blankly. When the class was over the Hogwarts resident potion-master stopped in front of his godson "Mr. Malfoy can I see you for a minute" he ordered the young heir. A blond head snapped up "Certainly professor" he replied stiffly as he moved up to the front-desk. The potion-master bore his obsidian eyes on the blonde's mercury ones and watched his godson, as much as the young teen would never admit it, squirm under his trained gaze.
"Mr. Malfoy" he sighed producing a vial from his robe pocket "Care to explain this?" he asked. The blond frowned shrugging his shoulders ever so slightly "No" came the simple, harsh reply as he grabbed his bag, slung it over his shoulder and turned on his heels.
"Not so fast Draco" the dark-haired spoke up again reaching out an arm putting it on the boy's frail shoulders immediately feeling all the muscles tensing underneath his touch. He sighed inwardly "You know the dangers behind the dreamless-sleep potion" he commented and the blond simply whirled around "Your point being?" he sneered his eyes blazing. The man rolled his eyes "Draco, you know my door is always open for you if you ever need to talk...". The blond narrowed his eyes slightly "I'm just fine" he insisted before turning around again and heading to the door. He just sighed and slammed the door shut behind him. Snape was left standing at his desk. He hated not being able to do anything. Too much was riding on Lucius' trust of him. Maybe he should talk to Haley, even though she seemed absolutely terrified of him.
He sighed pushing this all to the back of his mind as the next class started to seep into the room. He scanned the group and started to drone out the days' lesson.
After classes Draco walked outside and decided to let some his frustrations out on the quidditch-pitch. He grabbed his brook and his own small golden ball. Yes, of course he had his own... His father had to keep up appearances didn't he? The boy mounted the broom and soared through the air at high-speed his eyes scanning the grey skies and smiled as he quickly spotted the tiny golden ball and his hand closed around it. This continued for the better part of an hour until the youth dove towards the ground and arose from his broom and he decided to simply head back inside where he was grabbed by the arm. He sighed "What do you want scar-head?" he hissed eying the raven-haired before him. The boy simply raised an eyebrow "What the bloody hell was that all about last night?" he demanded and the blonde teen raised an eyebrow frowning "That, Potter, would be none of your business now would it" he simply remarked.
Harry sighed shaking his head "You really should let Madame Pomfrey have a look" he stated conversationally and the other teen smirked "Oh, yeah, that's really going to happen" he sneered and Gryffindor golden-boy sighed and rolled his eyes "Get of it Malfoy" he sighed narrowing his eyes for a bit... He was trying to help him for God sakes... "You need medical attention" he insisted. Why he was even bothering was beyond him, but hey hadn't the Slytherin before him once accused him of having a 'hero complex'? The blond closed his eyes "What on earth do you even care Potter?" the blond hissed narrowing his eyes. Why did this people insist on pestering him? This was the last thing he needed. The dark-haired teen gave him a sceptical once-over before shrugging "Hero-complex remember?" he smirked. Draco rolled his eyes "Do both of us a favour Potter, and stay out of this one" he sighed his exhaustion shining through just a little. "Damned Malfoy, you need help, at least think about your sister" he told his rival.
The look he received was enough to make the raven-haired take an involuntary step back and eye the blond with care "I'm warning you Potter, do not bring my sister into this" he hissed his eyes filled with such anger and promise it scared Harry. The raven-haired however didn't back down "What is going to happen to her, if you aren't there..." he told him. Draco was about to say something in return but sighed knowing the other boy was right. He shook his head "Whatever Potter" he sighed in defeat as he leaned against a nearby wall and Harry was amazed that even in this simple and casual gesture the blond was able to retain an air of aristocracy. It always seemed to amaze the 'golden boy' but he supposed it wasn't so strange after 16 years of having the importance of it drilled into one's brain. The young heir pushed himself from the wall before turning around and walking away without saying another word, leaving a bewildered Harry behind. He could only hope he had taken his advice and gone to the infirmary. He sighed "Why do I even care" he muttered under his breath as he shook his head turning back to the Gryffindor common-room. Okay, so maybe care wasn't the right word, perhaps he just felt pity? He muttered the password and stepped inside.
Draco had wandered off outside, he couldn't go to the infirmary. What was he going to tell Pomfrey? Besides, she couldn't heal the injuries anyway, his father had made sure of it. He sat near the lake staring out over the rippling water. He really needed to hurry up with his assignment, or else he knew he'd pay the consequences, and not just him, Hayley would go down as well. He really didn't have a choice. He had a few ideas running through his head and now he would have to put them into execution. He sighed, his hands balled into tight fists wishing he could just call it quits. He yawned stretching his lithe frame... he was just exhausted, the past years finally catching up with him. He stared out over the rippling waters before deciding that on his next Hogsmeed trip, he'd put his plan into action. This was just going to have to work. He sighed making his way back inside into the dungeons.
"Mr. Malfoy, a word"
What did that greasy git want now? It was as if he was following him around, and the blond heir was no fool. He had felt the potion-master trying to probe his mind... Draco was so glad he had mastered occlumency a long time ago. It really paid dividends with the likes of Snape around.
He turned around "Of course professor, what is it?" he replied his eyes searching the obsidian orbs of his godfather. Snape eyed the blond teen knowing he was treading on thin ice. This kid was so damn good at hiding everything and keeping it all inside. "Would you mind stepping into my office please?" the teen shrugged shaking his head "No" he replied coolly following the head of his house into his office. He watched as Snape sat down in a seat in front of the fire and gestured for his student to sit beside him. The blond did as he was told, sitting down.
"Draco is something wrong with Hayley?" he asked, his voice hardly betraying any of the concern he felt. Draco simply eyes the man beside him "Not to my recollection" he shrugged "Why?" he then frowned. What was Snape doing being worried about his sister? The older wizard sighed shaking his head "I just ran into her yesterday and she seemed like something was troubling her" he answered. Draco glared at the person beside him "And that's why you think something is wrong?" he raised an eyebrow "Just let me deal with what it could be that is bothering my sister" the boy simply snapped before rising to his feet "Now if there isn't anything else..." he asked and the potion-master shook his head "No Draco, you are dismissed" he sighed and with a nod Draco was gone. The teacher was left alone staring into the fire. Why wouldn't that bloody stubborn boy talk to him? It was the only way he would be able to help him... wasn't it? Well, of course there was this unbreakable vow he had taken, but he'd rather help the teen before it would get to that... he just had not figured out how to go about that just yet.
