Disclaimer: Miss Rowling High Priestess of The Harry Potter Kingdom owns everything in her lovely bubble filled world. I just snuck in :o)
Warning: Draco still angsting and in love with Harry all at the same time. (Run for the hills! Only kidding! Come back :o) )
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Karina Blithering: I won't keep you! But I thought I should say that my earlier ''note's page'' was not meant to draw out any apologies! Lots of people got to have their say and I thought I should to- seeing you know, as I was the one to write the story. I feel bad now cos so many of you have been so sweet and so supportive. You were so kind.
So I am saying thank you to all the lovely people in the only way I know how- by getting this chapter out earlier than anticipated. :o) Oh and Yes I am still having FUN! So much fun in fact that I am drowning in the fun-ness of it all snicker See my head bobbling? Yeah.
I must credit *DeepAmethyst* for her help on the final chapter of The Chariot and the first two chapters of The Hermit. And *Coffeecat* wears a credit badge for this chapter :o) I just pinned it on her.
P.S - I was told wisely that I should inform you that this is a very long fic, and I would ask you to be patient and read on. It is a romance and yes it has its fair degree of angst and drama. I hope you'll give it a chance and stick with it/ or not whatever you like. Thanks.
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Chapter ThreeRevelations
Continued from Chapter Two:
'He's dead isn't he?' He felt his heart stop as sheer terror gripped him once again.
'No, he isn't.'
'He is not dead,' said his potions master and Draco felt almost faint with relief.
'But there are some complications,' the headmaster added in a low voice.
'What?' Draco asked quickly,' what are they? Please I want to know.'
Dumbledore eyed him shrewdly for a moment. He then turned to Lupin and Professor Snape and said,' we had better go in.'
He opened the door to Harry's room and they trailed in behind him. Draco immediately went to Harry's side, his heart racing uncontrollably from the scare a few moments ago.
His throat tightened and he bit his lip hard, focusing on chewing the tender skin viciously rather than letting his tears fall once again. He had to be stronger than this. For Harry. He had to be.
'What are the complications?' Professor Snape asked Dumbledore, the question distracting Draco from his tears.
The tall wizard inclined his head towards Lupin. His teacher raised his eyebrows and looked at Lupin expectantly.
'Well?' came the voice with a waspish ring to it.
Lupin shot Draco a quick suspicious glance as he opened his mouth.
'Draco, perhaps you should leave the room,' Professor Snape interrupted before Lupin got a word out. Dumbledore's eyes rested on Draco with an interested air but he did not speak.
'No,' Draco said firmly, looking at all three men,' I'm not a child. I'm seventeen and I want to know, I need to know…' he stammered suddenly and cleared his throat as they continued to gaze at him. 'I… care for him. Please go on. Discuss whatever you need to discuss. I'm not going to tell anyone, and you don't need to worry. I'm not in any under-plot with Vol….Voldemort for God's sake.'
Professor Snape's expression hardened and his dark eyes narrowed as Draco held his chin up firmly.
Lupin's head had snapped up at Draco's words and Dumbledore merely nodded.
'Very well Mr Malfoy. You will not be treated like a child, but these are extremely serious circumstances and your discretion is very important to Harry's well being.'
'You have my word, I won't do anything that will harm him,' anymore his conscience said spitefully.
'Remus, go on please, we don't have time, what have you found?'
Lupin swallowed and then cleared his throat.
'I suspected earlier but I needed to be sure, so I went back to do some research and I'm fairly certain I know what is wrong with Harry. I have talked to the Healer in charge, and though he is a bit wary to agree with me he believes that there is a good chance I am right.'
Draco quietly set his clothes down on the floor, sat back down in the seat next to the bed and held Harry's hand in his again. He felt the need to keep touching him just to make sure...
Lupin walked over to Harry's other side and looked down at the motionless figure.
'I believe that Voldemort has put him under the Minuom curse.'
'Impossible,' Professor Snape hissed, looking stunned.
'Yes that is what I thought also but everything is indicating towards it,' Lupin said looking up. 'Are you familiar with it Albus?'
'I have heard of it yes, but if you would elaborate what you know.'
Draco listened attentively.
Lupin took a deep breath and began,' well I think that the curse derives from an ancient text of many centuries ago. The Cimmerian Grimoire.'
'That's a myth,' Professor Snape insisted dryly. ' There is no proof that it existed, it is a myth.'
'Or so it was thought to be a myth,' Lupin continued.' The legend of it has been repeated so many times that the reality became a myth, nothing more than folklore. The western world wrote it off as a mythical story yes, but there are some parts of the world that still today would lay testament to its existence.'
Professor Snape pursed his lips and Dumbledore sat down in a chair next to the wall. Lupin placed a hand on his chest and then proceeded on in his hoarse voice, which seemed even more pronounced as he carried on speaking.
'Grimoires are practically impenetrable books and can only be opened by immortal wizards. They are written in dead languages and some claim that the Cimmerian Grimoire's manuscript is written in blood and bound in the first victim's skin.
The wizard, to whom it belonged, eventually buried it in an attempt to rid the knowledge of its whereabouts. He was the head of a large group of wizards and was afraid that somehow the others may get a hold of it and learn how to use it against him. Even though they were all part of the same sect, they trusted no one but themselves and he was concerned that perhaps they may try to overthrow him.'
Professor Snape looked like he agreed with that theory.
'He was absolutely correct in his suspicions and his fellow companions did indeed try to get a hold of the Grimoire. However, they did not succeed in immortalising themselves beforehand and it could not be opened. The name of the wizard is unknown, but it is believed that he captured his traitors and initiated the Minuom curse upon them.
This curse was one of many found in the book and would most certainly be equivalent to an Unforgivable curse nowadays. The victims all died from the curse and there have never been any tales of any survivors or cures. However, we have come a long way since then and I believe that we may be able to find a way around it.'
Lupin paused momentarily catching his breath,' I believe that Voldemort has finally found success in his quest for immortality. There are specific rituals that must be performed before one can hope to initiate the curse.'
Dumbledore leaned forward slightly and Lupin paced around the room looking down at his footsteps.
'We've all been worried about the fact that no one has heard of his whereabouts since last summer. I believe he has been underground going through further transformation, making himself even more powerful. The Minuom curse is not just a curse spoken with a few words and a wand. It takes months of preparation.'
Draco kept his eyes on Lupin's figure as he continued to walk to and fro. Dumbledore was listening avidly and Professor Snape stood against the wall with a scowl firmly in place across his features.
'The point of the curse is to show how much power the curser wields over their victim. I think he did not mean for Harry to die, that, in fact, he was counting on Harry to live. Therefore, he could execute the curse fully and before our eyes.
The curse can only be carried out on very powerful wizards. The only good thing that has come out of this is that we know Harry is indeed a very powerful wizard to be able to withstand the onslaught of the curse. A weaker wizard would have died almost immediately. However, if Harry lives long enough for the curse to take affect, Voldemort will also know that Harry is very powerful and he will take great pleasure in killing him slowly right in front of us.
One of the rituals for immortality is to drink a potion called the Samanixin. The ingredients I don't know of…' he paused and looked at Professor Snape questioningly and Professor Snape shook his head. Lupin gave a small nod and carried on.
'The drinker enters an underground cavern for seven days. They drink the potion and wait for it to take its course. They vomit blood and then there is swelling of the muscles and worms creep out from all parts of the body. They are to be completely alone and no food or drink must pass their lips. On the eighth day rejuvenation begins. '
Draco swallowed hard.
' So, he can never be defeated? If he is completely immortal?' he asked softly.
A heavy silence filled the room.
'There are ways,' Dumbledore said,' for immortality to be reversed or at best harboured into deference for all eternity. Voldemort may have become immortal but he is not invincible.'
'What does the curse do?' Draco looked worriedly at Harry's comatose form. 'What does it mean?'
Lupin was taking an awfully long time getting to the point.
Professor Snape ran his hand over his mouth and turned on his heel, standing rigidly against the wall. Lupin's voice broke and then he tried again and cleared his throat for the second time.
'Minerva spoke with Ron and Hermione. They left Harry just before three thirty. The others say that Harry vanished quite soon afterwards.'
'I saw them,' Draco said,' Granger and Weasley, about four o'clock coming back to school. I looked at the time. And when I got to Hogsmeade it was nearly four thirty. I must have found Harry about four thirty.'
Lupin glanced at Dumbeldore,' so Harry was with him for an hour.'
Dumbledore dropped his head slightly.
'He was tortured for an hour?' Draco grasped Harry's hand tighter. He could not even begin to imagine the anguish that Harry had suffered at that monster's hand. An hour?
'I am not sure of how he managed to lure Harry out of the pub. I don't think we'll know that till Harry is able to tell us himself. But, yes, it would take about that long to execute the curse. The sword needs to be driven in and ending with the victim impaled upon it. Numerous incantations are said to seal the curse.'
'Details Lupin, if you would,' Professor Snape bit out.
Lupin ignored the potion master's agitated behaviour and carried on speaking.
'The idea is that the curser first chooses a victim and will then forge a sword himself. It is a laborious and complicated task at best and the sword must be forged and tempered with the curser's own blood. The next step is to execute the curse.
Once the curse is placed, no matter where the curser is or how far the victim is from them, the curse can be activated at any time the curser wishes. They need only utter a small incantation and it will force the victim, wherever they may be, whatever they might be doing – to bring up blood from their mouth. The curser has the power to control the intensity of the flow. If they say the incantation once then the victim will only vomit a trickle, if they continue saying it then there will be more blood loss. It could go on for days, weeks or even a year. It is at the curser's wish. The loss of blood drains magic from the victim and makes them weaken over time, killing them slowly. Nothing can be done to stop the blood flow.
Once Harry wakes up, the curse will be fully activated. The trickles of blood from his mouth show that the curse is already taking place. Voldemort will play with him and weaken him bit by bit, to show that he is in control, and we will be forced to watch Harry get weaker.'
Draco listened horrified. He could never have imagined anything so barbaric.
'As I said,' Lupin continued,' there have been no survivors of the curse.' He stopped short and then looked at Professor Snape. 'But I believe that we can come up with an antidote and that is why I asked you to be here Severus. '
Professor Snape moved away from the wall awkwardly.
'You are the best potions brewer I know. Albus and I both think so,' Lupin stated sincerely.
Dumbledore nodded,' you are Severus.'
Professor Snape did not look pleased in the least at the given compliments.
'I have many Dark Art books and Hogwarts has an impressive number of volumes on potion brewing. You have many yourself. Between you and I and other Healers – I believe we can come up with a cure.'
He turned pleading eyes towards Professor Snape and Dumbledore stood up. His height looking impressive and his face grave.
'You will help Severus?'
Professor Snape hesitated for a second and then gave a swift nod.
' I will do what I can but…'
' I have faith in you Severus.'
Lupin then moved closer towards Harry and Draco thought he was going to start crying, but he didn't. Instead he balled his fists up and said,' we have to come up with a cure, we have to. He is too young and it isn't…' his voice then shattered. He shook his head,' we have to,' he whispered.
Dumbledore came up behind him and squeezed his shoulder,' I believe you are correct about the curse Remus. And we will all do what we can, you can be certain of that.'
Lupin nodded and Dumbledore turned towards Draco.
'Mr Malfoy I will think it wise that you let Professor Snape take you back to school soon.'
' I don't want to,' Draco started to say. 'I want to stay here with him. When he wakes up. I...'
'We do not know of when he will wake and there is nothing that you can do for him right now,' his headmaster said firmly. 'It will be better for you to keep up your own strength and return to school. We will let you know of any changes.'
'Draco, it will be for the best,' came the potions masters' voice.
For the best? Where had he heard that before? He thought ruefully.
'Again, your utmost discretion is required Mr Malfoy,' Dumbledore said as he walked towards the door. 'What you have heard in this room cannot go any further, do you understand?' his blue eyes bored into Draco's face.
Draco nodded,' of course sir.'
Dumbledore seemed satisfied and inclined his head curtly.
'I will see you shortly Remus. Severus, I will see you back at Hogwarts.'
He then took a last look at Harry before leaving the room.
Lupin dragged a second chair from the wall and sat by the bed opposite Draco. An awkward silence fell in the room and Draco let out a deep breath. Professor Snape walked over to him.
' I will be back soon,' he said and then he too took his exit.
Draco looked past Harry and at Lupin's frail figure. The man had always looked bedraggled, but now he was even more worse for wear. He looked much older than his years. His hair was peppered with grey and frankly he resembled a tramp in Draco's eyes. And he was a werewolf, a beast…
The uneasy silence further filled the void in the room. Draco wished Lupin would leave and was quite sure that Lupin was probably feeling the same way. But Draco did not want to leave so the awkward silence would just have to make do.
After a few minutes Lupin glanced at Draco.
'You and uhhh Harry are friends?' he asked, obviously uncomfortable with the subject matter but trying to make conversation nonetheless.
Friends? Draco licked his lips. He and Harry were not friends. They had never been friends. Anything but friends in fact. They weren't lovers exactly…. They were….. Draco chewed the inside of his cheek. He didn't know what they were and didn't care much for defining it either. He loved Harry. That was about it. For now.
'Well er...'
'I heard you correctly before?' Lupin shot Draco a penetrating look.
Draco instantly knew what Lupin was referring to and nodded,' yes.'
Lupin studied Draco a moment longer and then looked away.
There was silence again and Draco sat quietly and Lupin's eyes glazed over as if he were lost deep in thought.
They had probably sat in complete silence for half an hour when Lupin pushed his chair back and stifled a sigh. He stood up and caught Draco's eye before he went towards the door and left the room.
Draco expelled a long breath and sat a little easier in his chair. He was alone again with Harry. A few minutes later a Healer came in and ran her wand over Harry's bed. She brightened the lights and scribbled something with her quill on the parchment she was carrying. Draco watched her movements and she smiled at Draco before she left the room. At least that was encouraging. Harry's condition had not worsened.
Draco dipped his finger into the glass of water again and wet Harry's lips. He then leaned forward and stroked Harry's left cheek as he pressed his lips against Harry's chin. He closed his eyes and could feel a headache start at the top of his head and push behind his eyes.
After a while he lifted his head up and moved back. He picked up Harry's right hand and kissed the back of it. The Healer had forgotten to dim the lights and the glare was hurting his eyes. He looked at Harry's hand in his. Harry had a tiny, tiny beauty spot on his thumb. His eyes drifted down over Harry's hand when something suddenly caught his eye. He blinked and inspected Harry's hand more closely. He could have sworn he had seen faint white marks just now…
He tilted Harry's hand this way and that, wondering if he had just imagined the dull white lines. He concentrated on the skin that stretched out beneath the knuckles and could make out a white skewed line. Now that he had found it, he followed its tail across the skin.
There were more of them, they looked like words… he kept his eye on them in case he lost sight of them again.
I must not
tell lies
I must not tell lies? Draco blinked and cleared his vision to make sure he was not just imagining those words cut upon Harry's hand. No they were still there…what on earth had possessed Harry to scratch that on his hand? Why would he do that?
Draco lightly ran a finger over the words. If he looked at the back of Harry's hand as a whole, it looked like it normally did, unblemished. The scarred tissue had faded with time and was only visible in bright light. The words only seemed to come alive for the trained eye.
He couldn't believe he had never noticed that before either. He had held Harry's hand countless of times. He reached over Harry and lifted his left hand and examined it closely for a moment. No, the words were just on the right hand.
God, he had been blind to so many things. There was so much about Harry he didn't know. He slumped back in the chair and sighed.
He stared tiredly at Harry's face. It was Sunday morning and it was only on Friday that he had been holding Harry in his arms and kissing him. It felt like months ago, yet it had been less than forty-eight hours.
As he gazed at Harry's closed lids, he recalled the vivid green of his eyes that were shuttered underneath now. The way Harry had smiled when he had come into the room on Friday afternoon.
'Hello stranger,' he had said turning around.
'Sending notes are we?' and there was that smile.
He had been right there in his arms. Talking, smiling and they had been kissing. Harry had been safe and well and…
Draco felt the swell of grief rise inside of him. He wished for this to end, the horror to vanish, for time to just move forward and Harry to get better.
He felt his tears well up in his eyes yet again. They filled to the brim blurring his vision, before spilling over slowly. He closed his eyes tight and took a deep breath. He hadn't cried like this ever. Never. Ever. The pain felt so raw and he was so scared of losing Harry he could hardly stand it. The mere thought of Harry not opening his eyes filled him with profound heartache.
For the first time in his life he realised just how fragile life was. That Harry quite possibly could have died. He could have died whilst Draco had been out of the room. It could have happened. Just like that. All your life depended on was a few vital organs and everything you were could be no more in a matter of seconds, minutes. Life was too fragile. And it was too frightening to comprehend.
The door opened quietly again.
'Draco, it is time to go,' Professor Snape said.
Draco lifted his head reluctantly. He didn't want to leave at all.
'What if he wakes and no one is here?'
'That will not happen Draco. Potter will have many more visitors- he will not be left alone. Come on Draco please gather your things. I have your cloak and your wand.'
His professor stood framed by the door and waited for Draco to stand up.
'Okay I am up.'
Professor Snape gave him a look and then walked back out of the room. Draco looked down at Harry and felt the tears rise again. He didn't feel right leaving him like this… he stroked Harry's forehead gently and then bent down and kissed his cheek softly.
'I'll see you soon. You're going to get better. I love you.'
'Draco…' Professor Snape whispered loudly as he opened the door a fraction.
Draco felt his anger flare up,' all right I'm coming,' he snapped. He picked up his clothes from the floor and straightened up. He walked out glumly with his head down.
'Here put your things in this,' his teacher said as he pushed a bag into Draco's hands. Draco noticed that Professor Snape was not wearing Wizarding robes. He was wearing Muggle clothes. He looked strange.
'We have to go out of the Muggle exit and portkey from around the corner.'
Draco nodded and walked by his side. Hospitals had the strangest affect on people, Draco thought. After spending such a concentrated amount of time in a hospital, you really felt as if you are cut off from the rest of the world. As if you were in some parallel universe that wasn't shared by Muggles. Something about the endless maze of white corridors made the building feel as if it were in another dimension. He couldn't help thinking this as he walked out of the door and found himself outside an empty, decrepit Muggle shop.
'Come along,' Professor Snape said and walked quickly ahead. His sallow face was pinched in distaste as his eyes flickered across the Muggle street. Draco got the feeling that his teacher was not at all fond of Muggle London. He walked hurriedly behind him towards a small alley.
Professor Snape looked around and then held out a long piece of blank parchment and muttered, 'Portus,' whilst tapping the parchment with his wand. The parchment glowed blue and shook slightly for a moment before lying still in his professor's hand.
'Ready?' he asked Draco.
'Yeah,' he replied and took a hold of one end of the parchment. He felt a slight sensation in his navel and was tugged off of his feet swirling dizzily and then landing shakily seconds later.
They were in Hogsmeade.
'There should be a carriage waiting for us up ahead near the station,' Professor Snape said, his face stiff in the cold morning air. 'This way.'
On approaching the station, Draco could see the carriage waiting for them.
Professor Snape opened the door and Draco climbed in first. Once the potions master was seated, he closed the door sharply and the carriage began to move.
Draco rested his head against the cool glass of the window and stared dully at the slow moving scenery.
'All the people who saw you in the alley and hospital have agreed to not speak of your presence at the scene,' Professor Snape informed Draco, breaking the silence.
Draco shrugged, he really didn't care.
'Draco, it is crucial that you do not disclose any information do you understand? No one can know where you have been.'
'Fine, whatever,' Draco said indifferently. His heart was aching and all he wanted was to be by Harry's side again.
' You will tell your fellow house mates that you were visiting with family last night.'
Draco again shrugged noncommittally.
They sat in silence and then Draco glanced at his teacher. Professor Snape was also looking out of the window. His face hard and his thin lips pressed into an even thinner line.
Draco suddenly felt his stomach twist and spasm as if he were starving or were going to be violently sick. Oh my God, of course….. Professor Snape was a Death Eater, an undercover Death Eater yes, but a Death Eater nonetheless. He felt nauseous.
' Are you actually going to help him?' he said out aloud.
'Pardon?' his teacher turned his eyes on him with an impassive look.
'Harry?' Draco ground out,' are you actually going to help him? You're going to find a cure with Lupin? I mean really?' his breath seemed to have got stuck in his throat and he swallowed to get some moisture back into his mouth.
'What are you talking about Draco?' Professor Snape turned his attention back to the window.
'You work for him don't you?' Draco spat out abruptly. 'The 'Dark Lord'?' he said in a sharp tone.
His tone was accusatory, which was rather unfair of him, as he had always known this. But only now had he realised what that actually meant. What that might mean for Harry and he couldn't let anything else harm Harry. He wouldn't.
Professor Snape sighed as if he really could not be bothered to be having this conversation but was going to, as perhaps that would be the only way to shut Draco up.
He looked at Draco carefully, as if assessing how much information he was about to divulge before he opened his mouth.
'The only reason I am telling you this is so you do not go into another bout of hysteria and add to your already, obviously, troubled mind.'
Draco stared hard at him and Professor Snape looked him in the eye, his face grim.
'There is only one person I work for Draco. Only one person that I serve and that is Albus Dumbledore.'
Draco blinked and his breath escaped his lungs entirely for a moment. Professor Snape leaned back into his seat again and resumed to look out of the window, one hand on his chin.
Draco carefully digested the information in his stunned mind and found himself stumbling. He shook his head, ' but… I thought you…'
The potions master did not look at him and said nothing.
'But my father thinks that you… He doesn't know does he? That you don't…' His thoughts ran haphazardly in his head. 'You're a spy? For Dumbledore?'
'A spy?' the teacher sounded amused, as his eyes swept over Draco's face. He raised his brows,' well I would not exactly say I was a ''spy'' but I do work solely for Dumbledore yes. ' He then hunched forward looking very serious,' Draco, you cannot repeat this, do you understand? I am trusting you.'
Draco nodded tiredly and rested his head back on the seat.
'Will you be sure to tell me if you get any news on Harry?'
Professor Snape nodded,' yes I will.'
'And,' Draco continued, his eyes burning brightly.' Will you do what you can to help him get better? Please? Will you do all you can?'
The silence fell in between them again and then his professor looked at him briefly,' yes,' he almost whispered it. And then, ' what have you got yourself involved in Draco.'
Not exactly a question, more of a defeated sounding statement.
'Everyone should still be in their beds so you should go and get some rest,' his teacher murmured.
'Do they know? In school about what happened?' Draco asked.
'The students who were in Hogsmeade at the time were told to go back immediately to school and nothing more has been said yet. Though I am sure the news has spread even though precautions were taken. Professor Dumbeldore will address the school later this morning.'
The carriage pulled up in front of the stone steps and Draco climbed out. Professor Snape looked straight ahead of him as he got out of the carriage. He muttered something under his breath and looked back for a moment and then proceeded to climb the steps. Draco went up after him.
They silently went down into the Dungeons.
'Get some rest Draco and please remember what I said.'
'Yes sir.'
He nodded swiftly and left Draco in the corridor alone.
Draco made his way towards the common room. Everything felt so strange. So surreal. Harry was in hospital and he was back at school. How was he going to pretend that he didn't care? That he wasn't anxiously waiting for Harry to wake up? He swallowed hard and hoped that he did not see a single soul as he made his way to his room.
Vincent and Greg were sound asleep and snoring when he reached the bedroom and Draco was thankful. He was not prepared to answer any questions they would have for him right now.
He caught sight of himself in the mirror above the cabinet, just like he had on Friday. He stepped closer to the mirror and touched the glass faintly with his fingers. He looked older if that was possible. Was it possible to age overnight? He looked haunted and shaken as if someone had shaken him so hard his teeth had rattled.
He suddenly was gripped by the strangest thought. Was it possible to have a singular experience that nudged you from childhood into adulthood? A solitary event that finally pushed you over the fine line… the slow transition of growing up, to have finally grown up.
'I'm not a child. I'm seventeen.'
Draco hadn't appreciated the world he had lived in when he was a child. He had taken the love and comfort of his parents for granted. He had always assumed that his parents could make any problem better; that they could solve anything, that they would protect him from everything.
And then the bubble had started to show cracks.
His father had been taken away. But Draco had held onto the firm belief that his father had gone to prison for a cause that he had believed in. His father was standing up for the purebloods of the Wizarding world that wanted to claim back what they had lost. He needed to believe that. That his father had been taken away from him for a reason. A good reason. And he had clung to his mother, even though she remained bitter and angry at his father's actions. But still she was his mother. She would protect him and sort out everything.
And then he had Harry.
He had held onto Harry. Harry had become everything.
And so he had his beliefs and Harry all mixed up in one convoluted bowl of thoughts and feelings and contradicting emotions.
And now he had nothing.
No beliefs and no Harry here with him.
His father had been taken away for nothing and the same nothing had tried to take away Harry.
And whom could Draco cling onto now? His mother? He couldn't tell her. He couldn't talk to her about this. He couldn't jeopardise her safety nor Harry's by saying anything. Professor Snape knowing did bring him some small comfort. He knew that the professor cared for him and would help Harry. And yes Dumbledore knew, but there wasn't any personal comfort in those two people knowing.
And for the first time Draco felt alone.
Completely and utterly alone.
And the world had become a scarier place in which to live.
As he climbed into bed, Draco clung onto the memory of Harry's smile and his love for Harry as he forced his eyes to remain shut.
TBC..
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NOTE: Info on Grimoires is from the monstrous website. Immortality potion info is from these funky books my mum got me when I was twelve. Knew all that reading would come in use one day! I took the liberty to change the name of the potion though and miss out some details. The actual curse was concocted in my own twisted little head. Any similarity to anyone else's curse in any other story is completely and utterly pure coincidence. smile
Thanks to: Liliku, Usually Immaculate Aristocrat, Sylvia Sylverton, aliba, Lrigelbbub, Thuban, JoKeR - For their reviews on The Chariot.
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