For some reason, when I posted the chapter here it did not include the random characters I used to break up the story. I fixed it.
Draco was pacing. He had never thought that he, a Malfoy, would pace like this. A nervous, bumbling idiot.
"You've got to bloody do something. This is getting out of hand." Draco hissed as he looked at his godfather.
"Draco, you're fifteen years old. Don't speak to your elders like that." Severus said, hunched over in the corner chair. Draco huffed and stopped moving. Draco stared at the supine, unmoving form on the hospital bed. A dog, once meant to be Harry's dog, was curled up next to Ali. It watched Draco with wary eyes, easily sensing his anger and desperation.
"Where's Potter?" Draco spat out vehemently, "He's her brother, yet he is NEVER here when anything happens."
Severus sighed, "Draco, I grow tired of this. You know that he doesn't have a clue she is here. Be quiet." The man looked exhausted and stressed out.
"No! This is the fourth time that she has landed in the infirmary since the beginning of school, a month ago." Draco's eyes flashed angrily. He began pacing again, wringing his hands together.
Severus stood abruptly, Draco took a step back. He knew he had gone too far now. Severus stalked toward him, "I am aware of how often she ends up here. I am aware of WHO is doing this to her. Alisa asked me to do nothing. Therefore, I can do nothing."
Draco realized that Severus was asking him to do something and he simply nodded. He also knew exactly what he would do. Draco gracefully glided over to the bed. He kissed Ali's forehead and walked out of the room. He quickly walked to the Owlery, glad that he had managed to gather everything into his bag before rushing to the infirmary. Ageles, Draco's eagle owl, flew down on the site of his owner. The bird was able to sense the urgency.
Father,
I request that you make Alisa a bracelet. Incorporate a lily into it. If it is not too much trouble, include a protection spell (preferably a shield charm) and a rebounding spell (preferably geared toward only the caster of a spell).
Your son,
DLM
Draco tied the letter onto the bird's outstretched leg and gave it a treat. The bird flew off immediately after the treat.
"She is your daughter. Why do you insist on acquiescing to her request not to respond to these attacks?" Sirius snapped. His auror robes were thrown haphazardly onto Severus's couch. Severus frowned disdainfully at the robe. He flicked his wand and they neatly folded. He was not sure if he could handle a second heated argument.
"Sirius…don't presume that I am parenting incorrectly. I haven't proof of who is-" Severus was looking at the wall, just to the left of his husband's head.
The tumbler of whiskey Sirius held exploded in his hand. Severus knew better than to look anywhere besides Sirius's eyes, "Don't you bloody DARE say you haven't a clue who is doing this. I will fucking maim her if she does not leave my daughter alone. AND I am going to divorce you if you don't stop this, Severus Snape! I'll enroll the children at Ilvermony and you won't see us anymore."
"Sirius…" Severus muttered, "You are bleeding." All Severus wanted to say was what a drama queen his husband was but knew what would happened if he did.
Sirius looked down at his hand and scoffed, "If you think that you will be able to ignore this issue any longer, you are severely mistaken. I'm not sleeping here tonight. I'll be at home." He stormed over to the fireplace and was gone before Severus could say another word. The dark-haired man rubbed his face in irritation.
Lucius raised an eyebrow as he read the letter from his son. He passed it to his wife and summoned a sketch pad from his study.
"I suppose this means that idiotic Weasley bitch hasn't stopped." Narcissa all but growled.
Lucius raised an eyebrow, "She will soon, my love." He tossed his sketchbook toward her and she gasped.
"Lucius, this is beautiful." Narcissa traced the drawing with her fingers.
He smiled, "She will never become a Malfoy, but she is a daughter to me. She has always been there for our Draco. Now it is time the Malfoy's are there for her."
"Imagine my surprise when you proposed making jewelry as a career." Narcissa said softly, "You've created such a unique and successful business."
Lucius scoffed, "Yes, darling. It was an unprecedented idea for a Malfoy. Your suggestion to add protection charms was a wonderful idea."
Harry sighed as he made another attempt at reading the same line for the fifteenth time. Finally, he pushed the book away and stood up. He needed some space. Harry grabbed his invisibility cloak. He wasn't sure whether he would rather go to the pitch or the lake, so he let his feet do the wandering for him. He was not particularly surprised when he found himself at the edge of the lake. He was, however, surprised when he noticed the blonde-haired Slytherin sitting there already.
"Malfoy?" He asked. Draco jumped slightly, startled, and tried to surreptitiously wipe his face.
"Potter, kindly fuck off." Draco said but his voice didn't hold its usual venom. Harry wasn't sure what drove him to sit by Draco but sit he did.
"What's wrong?" Harry asked softly. The two of them were not friends, by any means, but Harry knew his sister adored Draco.
Draco snorted but said nothing. His silver eyes shone brightly in the moonlight. Harry noticed the slight puffiness from crying. Draco opened his mouth as if he might respond but closed it firmly after a moment. Harry stayed silent, hoping it would prompt Draco to speak.
"It is none of your business, Potter. I do not say that to argue. Your sister would only murder me if I told you. I can say that perhaps you could pay more attention to Alisa. If you truly love your sister, just pay attention." Draco muttered. He looked at Harry and shook his head, "She needs you, but you continue to run around with her worst enemy. Blood is supposed to be thicker than water…Did you know that she has nightmares? Every. Single. Night. Legitimately every night." He stood suddenly and rushed away before Harry could even comprehend everything Draco had said. He was quite astonished. Harry wanted to protest that he and Ginny were very on-and-off as a couple. He wanted to explain that he and Ginny had gotten back together before the end of last term. For some reason, Harry was disappointed that he had not had the chance to explain his relationship to Draco.
A week later, Alisa sat quietly at the Slytherin table. She was extremely pale and thin. Draco sat next to her, softly talking to her. She would occasionally nod or mutter something back. The owls flew in with the post. Harry noticed the Malfoy's huge eagle owl, father to Draco's owl, fly in and drop a package in front of Alisa. He watched as Draco opened it for her. He noticed her perk up as Draco pulled out what appeared to be a bracelet, as Draco clasped it on her wrist. Harry raised an eyebrow as Draco pulled a book out of the package, along with a long piece of parchment paper.
Ever since Draco's speech, Harry had hardly done a thing besides watch his sister. Watching his sister meant watching Draco as well. Harry's eyes widened when he saw a beautiful, azure colored forcefield surround his sister. She looked astonished. He jumped slightly when he heard a squeal beside him. He turned to see Ginny bleeding heavily from her nose. Harry felt rage bubbling in his stomach as the girl rushed off to the infirmary. Now he understood perfectly.
Harry stood up when he saw Draco standing and walking out of the Great Hall. He followed him down a long hallway that lead to the dungeons.
"STOP!" Harry thundered. He quickly caught up and shoved Draco against the wall.
"What do you want?" Draco snapped. He defiantly stared into Harry's eyes. He stumbled back as Harry's fist connected with his jaw, "What the fuck, Potter?" Harry punched him again, this time in the stomach. Draco double over with an undignified "oof" leaving his lips.
"Fucking hit me back!" Harry shouted. Draco shook his head, trying to breath.
"No…. you…can hit me all you need. You're taking your anger at your psychotic, or possible demonic, girlfriend out on me because you can't hit her." Harry realized almost immediately that Draco was correct in his reasoning. It did not stop him from pummeling the other boy.
"HARRY!" He heard a shriek before he was suddenly suspended in the air. He thrashed wildly, trying to see what had happened. He caught sight of his younger sister. She was glaring at him and he could feel her magic crackling around them all. She flicked her hand and he crashed to the floor.
Draco was staring at her in astonishment, "Ali…you just successfully did wandless magic." She shrugged and walked over to him. Blood was dripping off his face. She began speaking to him soothingly in French before she helped him stand up. The two of them headed toward the hospital wing.
Harry sat dejectedly on the ground. He jumped when he heard his father's voice.
"Do you feel better now? Did attempting to beat the life out of your sister's best friend help?" Severus was very angry. His voice was low, and his eyes glittered menacingly, "He's the only one who has done ANYTHING to help her. I am so disappointed that I can't stand to look at you. Get out of my sight."
Harry stood up, feeling rather ashamed, and hiked his way up to the Gryffindor common room. When Harry reached his bed, he was surprised to see Hedwig waiting on him with a copy of The Evening Prophet. He gasped when he saw the picture on the front. There were what appeared to be Death Eaters standing over several lifeless bodies. He immediately began reading the article:
Today, at noon precisely, a band of wizards (and quite possibly witches) attacked a group of muggles. Five dead, 22 injured. Head Auror, Sirius Black-Snape, was among the aurors injured. He has been transported to St. Mungos.
Harry dropped the paper and began running toward his father's quarters. Severus looked up and raised an eyebrow when Harry barged into his private potions room.
"What is it?" Severus asked, setting an ingredient back down and performing a stasis charm.
"Dad's hurt." Harry managed to get out as he tried to catch his breath. Severus frowned deeply.
"What? How-" Harry cut his father off.
"St. Mungos. Go." Harry was almost doubled over in his attempts to catch his breath still. Severus nodded and left the room. Harry presumed he went to his bedroom, it was where one of the only fireplaces connected to the Floo system was located. Harry sat heavily on the couch and caught his breath. He needed to get Alisa and head to the hospital himself.
Severus slipped into his husband's room at St. Mungos with a sneer. He was falling apart on the inside, but he would never reveal that to strangers. Sirius laid despondently on a hospital bed. He had a deathly pallor.
"Siri." Severus breathed, almost losing his composure. His husband looked dead. There were several unhealed cuts and bruises covering the man, "Why is he not awake?" His voice held no venom.
"Severus, he will wake soon. He's in a great deal of pain." Narcissa Malfoy, one of the top healers of St. Mungos, said gently. She had entered the room quickly after Severus had. She motioned everyone else out and walked over to her friend. Severus glanced around the white room and frowned. He looked extremely lost.
"Oh. What happened?" He asked softly, sitting next to the man he loved and taking his hand.
"He was….crucioed. Quite a lot. Among being beaten." She said slowly. Severus let out a despairing cry and Narcissa wrapped her arms around him, "I spoke with him when he came in. He didn't seem to be driven insane." Narcissa said tenderly, soothingly rubbing Severus's back.
"I'm not sure you can judge my sanity. Some would say that I have been insane for quite some time." Sirius said hoarsely. He gripped his husband's hand tighter, "We must reinstate the Order…He's come back."
The children rushed in at that moment.
"Daddy!" Alisa practically shouted. She would have climbed up next to him If it hadn't been obvious how much pain he was in.
"Oh, my loves. Come here." Sirius muttered, reaching for all three of his family members. Narcissa backed out of the room.
A week later, Harry and Ginny were sitting together in the library. They were quietly arguing about something trivial. Not many other students were present.
"I don't know if I ever plan to marry." Harry replied, scanning a book for the information he needed for his essay. He wrote an interesting fact down before continuing his original search.
"Well, I do! I plan on being married before I turn twenty." She practically growled as she stared at him. It annoyed her to no end that she was not receiving his undivided attention. Ginny knew that she sounded ridiculous, but she honestly didn't care.
"I may be more likely to marry someone who didn't attack my sister." Harry replied with a smirk as he met her eyes. His green eyes sparkled with some emotion Ginny couldn't name. He sat his book down
"I never attacked her." Ginny hissed. She was unable to hide the rage that shook her whole frame.
Harry snorted, the disbelief showing in his eyes, "Oh? I'd be more likely to believe that if I hadn't seen it for myself."
"I am DONE." Ginny shouted, earning them a sharp look from Madame Pince. Ginny had accidentally knocked a couple of books down in irritation.
Harry sighed and said softly, "Gin…Don't be like this. I don't want to fight." He reached for her hand and she took it after a moment.
She simmered down quickly. Harry wanted to pull her onto his lap and let life go back to an easier time.
"Perhaps you should try dating someone else. All I seem to do is anger you." Harry said softly. Ginny nodded, tears filling her eyes.
"Maybe you're right." She kissed him and quickly walked away.
"How could you still be dating her?" Draco asked icily when he walked around the corner. Draco took the seat Ginny had just left. Harry rolled his eyes, "Is she a good lay, Potter? I can't fathom any other reason why you'd stay in a relationship with her."
Harry slammed his book shut and hurled it at Draco's head. Draco barely managed to dodge it. His grey eyes glittered with laughter. Harry found that he quite enjoyed the look.
"Trying to add more bruises?" Draco asked with a smirk. He examined his fingernails in a very uninterested manner.
Harry rolled his eyes, "You're so damned dramatic! Those bruises and cuts could have been healed. You're keeping them to make me feel like shit."
"Nah, mate. I couldn't expect you to feel guilty unless…" Draco shrugged and picked up Harry's book.
"Unless what?" Harry snapped, knowing Draco wouldn't say anything until he did. He found his eyes drawn to the blonde's face.
"Unless you have some sort of feelings for me. Feelings beyond hatred." Draco stood up and handed Harry the book, "If you turn to page 1024, you'll find what you're looking for." Harry didn't have time to think of a response before Draco had already wandered off.