Disclaimer: See Chapter One.
A/N: Only one more chapter left after this.
Chapter Nine
Panic rose inside of Harry as he realized that the tidal wave had taken Draco. He quashed the instinct to cry and knew that he needed to find his fiancé.
"Draco!" he screamed. He ran through the water closest to what had been the ocean's edge, although it was much higher now do to the excess water. "Draco!"
"Harry? Harry!"
It was Kingsley, but Harry paid no attention to the man who was calling his name. He had to find Draco and make sure that he was okay.
"Draco where are you?"
There was no blonde hair or body in sight and his vision was becoming blurred despite his best efforts to not cry.
"Harry? What happened?"
Harry refused to look at Kingsley and show him his despair.
"He's gone!" he shouted as he continued to search the water. "I thought he was with me, but he wasn't! And now he – he's disappeared!"
Tears were flowing down his face and when Kingsley touched his shoulder her jerked away from the touch.
"We'll find him Harry," he said softly. "I promise."
"You can't promise that!" Harry screamed, finally turning to the man and facing him. "If he dies the hovercraft will take his body so no, you can't possibly keep that promise!"
Kingsley remained silent for a moment as Harry turned back to continue his frantic search.
"I'll help you then."
Harry did not say thanks. His throat ached from trying to suppress the urge to sob and give up, but the cannon had not gone off so he knew that Draco wasn't dead, not yet at least.
He continued to shout and cry out Draco's name, but it was to no avail. If Draco was nearby he had to have been unconscious which was what Harry was hoping. He couldn't think of any other consequences such as his body traveling to another part of the arena from the wave and being subjected to some other destruction at either the hands of another tribute or a ploy of the gamemakers.
Some time must have gone by because he heard several people coming from the jungle. He did not have the patience nor the time to stop to greet and explain what had happened to the other three.
"What in the world?" was Cedric's first reaction.
Kingsley went to them and in a hushed voice explained what occurred.
"Angelina and I will go further down the beach this way," Cedric informed them.
Harry ignored him and also Tonks when said she would go the opposite direction. Kingsley stayed with him.
The search continued and as the sun set the others returned with no luck. Cedric approached the despairing Harry and touched his shoulder.
"Hey," Cedric said softly. Harry jerked his arm away from Cedric as if he had shocked him. "Everything will be alright. The cannon hasn't gone off so we know he isn't dead."
"Not yet!" Harry shouted.
He was furious at himself for not having watched Draco better as they ran towards the jungle during the tidal wave. He knew Draco wasn't as fast as him and he should have waited for the blonde. The feeling of letting down Draco and losing him was overwhelming.
Harry collapsed in the damp wet sand and began to sob, his shoulders shaking with each cry. Cedric sat next to him, but even his presence was not enough to help Harry. He felt utterly alone and knew that he failed in protecting Draco.
Harry was not sure how or when he had fallen asleep, but when he woke the sun was shining brightly. He blinked his eyes several times to wipe the sleep away and then he remembered. Draco had been lost in the tidal wave and their search had not brought forth the blonde.
Harry rested his head on bent knees and took deep breaths.
"You should drink this."
Harry turned his head slightly to see Tonks of all people offering him a basket of water. He accepted it and took a long drink from it before handing it back.
"Thanks."
His voice was slightly scratchy, more than likely from all the screaming and crying he did yesterday. He still felt exhausted and even more hopeless than before.
"He's still out there," she told him, her voice more gentle than Harry had ever heard it before. "Someone stayed up all night to make sure the cannon didn't go off. We took turns."
She sat next to him and Harry found the situation very surreal. In the past the woman seemed like she wanted to throttle and kill him so this compassion was foreign to him.
"Why?" he asked. "Why are you all doing this?"
She shrugged and began to trace patterns in the sand with her finger. "Let's just say keeping you two alive is in everyone's best interest."
His mind couldn't handle word games at the moment so he ignored what she had said. If she expected a response she said nothing about it.
"Where are the others then?" he asked, noticing that they were alone.
"They went searching again. I offered to stay and watch you."
He was once again surprised at this statement, wondering what exactly had been said or done for her to have changed her attitude towards him. Maybe it was just pity, but she didn't seem the type to feel sorry for others.
"I've looked more around this area, but I think we've scouted it out pretty well," she added.
Harry didn't reply and he looked out to the ocean, knowing that Draco's body wasn't there because if so he would have been dead by now.
Tonks sighed and moved away from him and began to busy herself with other things while Harry just continued to stare. He felt as if he was emotionally and mentally removed from his physical being and nothing would change that until they found Draco alive. And if Draco did die then he knew he wouldn't be that far along. They made a promise to each other that they either came out of the arena together or not at all and Harry wouldn't go back on that.
The sun was high above him in the sky when Cedric and Kingsley came back with no Draco in sight. Tonks and Kingsley walked away from Harry and Cedric who sat down next to him.
"He's still out there. You can't give up."
"I know. I wish you all would please quit telling me that though. It doesn't help."
"Well you need to hear it. Are you really going to give up if Draco does end up dying?"
"Yes!" Harry said harshly, turning towards the man and glaring. "We promised each other and I won't go back on that."
"And what will Snape think?"
"Snape? What does he have to do with anything? I don't fucking care what he thinks. He probably would expect it anyway."
"Don't you have family back home? What about the boy you went in the reaping for?"
"Don't you dare bring up Teddy!"
Harry hurriedly rose to his feet and began to walk away from Cedric. Who did he think he was, questioning Harry and his reasoning behind his decisions?
"Harry, I'm sorry!" Cedric called after him.
Harry ignored him and kept walking, their figures becoming smaller in the distance and when Harry felt he was far enough away from them he sat back down in the sand.
He knew he should have been prepared for this from the very beginning. Within the first few minutes of the Games Draco was almost taken from him and he had been naïve enough to think that because Draco hadn't been harmed then that they wouldn't be separated for the rest of the Games. Instead he had pictured one of them being killed while the other was right there, but he always saw them together.
It wasn't so anymore though and that realization made him wonder what exactly he was doing, sitting there on the beach hoping that Draco would waltz up. It wasn't probable and Draco was more than likely injured. Suddenly it felt like he was back in his first Hunger Games when he made the conscious decision to search for Draco who he knew at that time was indeed seriously injured.
With newfound determination Harry rose and walked back to the stretch of beach the others were at. Angelina had returned and the three were standing talking to one another. Harry ignored them all and grabbed his bow and arrows, slinging it around his body, and then he headed down the opposite stretch of beach.
"Where are you going?" Angelina shouted. "I just came from that way."
"Did you?" Harry replied sarcastically. "And did you search through the jungle or just stay on the beach?"
She didn't reply.
"That's what I thought. We don't know what's in the jungle further down and I'm willing to risk going through there to find Draco. He's alive and knows which parts are dangerous."
"You can't just go off alone," said Cedric.
"Why not?" Harry shot back. "None of you are going to stop me. And if I'm right it's best for you all to move anyway. I imagine the tidal wave will be back in an hour or so."
He began to walk down the beach, not caring either way if the rest followed him or not. If they did then it meant more watchful eyes and if not he didn't have to worry about them later on in the Games. If he got much further.
The four tributes didn't take long to decide to go after Harry and tag along with him for the more intensive search. Nobody said anything and it seemed that the leadership position had shifted from Cedric to Harry in that moment.
"Here," Kingsley said abruptly. Harry stopped and turned towards him.
"Here what?"
"This is where we came out of the jungle at after the yellow jackets attacked," he explained. He pointed to an oddly shaped piece of driftwood that was lying on the sand. "I remember seeing that when we came out."
"Oh, yes, you're right," agreed Angelina. "I imagine if we walk a bit more we could go into the jungle then since we didn't go any further."
"Alright," Harry said. "Thanks."
They walked for another minute or two and then made their way into the jungle.
"If we can we should look for the stream," said Cedric. "We all could use some water."
"Good idea," Harry replied, and, as an afterthought, he added, "Don't you all think it's a little odd we haven't run into any other tributes yet?"
"I thought of that too," said Cedric. "We know the Lestranges are left along with Bill Weasley."
"Don't forget Karkaroff and Flint," Tonks said. "And I think that's it besides us."
"That's five we need to find then," replied Harry.
"Find them?" asked Tonks incredulously and then laughed harshly. "You plan on going on a manhunt?"
Harry stopped and glared at her. "We'll have to eventually if we want to end this."
Without waiting to hear a response he continued on, ignoring the muttering that was occurring between the tributes following him. They walked on for a while longer until Harry saw the stream up ahead.
"The stream's just right up there," he said, nodding in the direction. "I guess it would be a good time to -," but he was interrupted by a cry of horror from Angelina.
Immediately Harry's hand flew to grab an arrow and he had his bow at the ready to fight off whatever creature or tribute that sneaked upon them, but as soon as he saw the sight he lowered his weapon.
Marcus Flint was pinned to a tree about a foot off the ground by a spear, the weapon going straight through his stomach. The tribute had blood all over his body and his face was badly beaten, but the most amazing part was that he was still alive and attempting to speak.
"Flint?" questioned Cedric, daring to take a step closer. "Can you speak?"
There was a gurgle and a nod laced with pain.
"What happened? Did the Lestranges get you?"
Another nod. The man coughed as he attempted to speak and blood trickled from his mouth.
"G – got me," he said, his voice nearly a whisper and scratchy. "Outta nowhere. Left about twenty minutes ago."
"Which way?" Harry demanded.
"That way," he said, his hand shaking terribly as he pointed to their right.
"Did they have anyone else with them? Did you see anyone pass through here besides them?"
Flint shook his head. They all stood there staring at the man who they knew was going to die. No amount of potions could heal a wound like that and for the first time Harry understood what Cedric meant when he said that Bellatrix and Rodolphus Lestrange were cruel vicious people.
"I'm sorry," Cedric said to Marcus. "You know we can't do anything in the state you're in."
Flint nodded in understanding and tried to speak again. "In the – the jungle here. Quicksand. And the next pa – part over are lethifold. Only at night."
Harry recalled learning about the dark cloak like creature that only came at night and tried to smother its sleeping victims.
"Thanks Flint," said Cedric and just as they began to walk away from the man destined for death he called back.
"D – Diggory!"
Cedric turned, his face somber.
"Tell my sister I'm sorry."
Cedric nodded and Flint sagged, his eyes closing.
"I think he's gone," Tonks stated quietly.
"Yes," said Cedric. "Best get moving then before the hovercraft comes. Remember to watch out for quicksand."
The cannon fired and they quickened their pace. They followed the stream and walked some distance before stopping by the stream, watching as a shadow passed when the hovercraft moved over them.
Harry stood in the shallow stream and ran his hands over his face, cleansing it as best as possible. Cedric was sitting on the bank rather close to him while the others were further downstream talking quietly.
"I thought you didn't know Flint very well," Harry remarked, staring at Cedric.
"Not well. We were always civil if he mentored when I did."
"Did you know his sister well then?"
"I met her once at the Ministry, but she's the only family he had left."
"Oh."
The conversation ended quickly and Harry decided they should keep going.
"We can at least search through the jungle for a few more hours since we know it'll be safe unless another tribute shows up. We can sleep on the beach where the lethifold can't reach us."
It was agreed upon and they searched for several more hours until the sun was sinking low in the sky.
"I couldn't even find a footprint," complained Tonks as they ate clams that Cedric recently caught in the ocean. It was cool on the beach and Harry wished Draco was with him for comfort. "Flint said the Lestranges went in that direction, but I couldn't find any trace whatsoever."
"They're smart," said Kingsley. "They'll clean up any trail they left if they are thinking clearly."
"What do you mean?" Harry asked, thankful for the distraction to keep him from thinking of Draco. His fiancée had been missing for a day and a half and every hour that passed meant less of a chance of his survival.
"The Lestranges certainly know how to fight and use dark spells, but sometimes in the thick of things they can be reckless. They both have extraordinary tempers, especially Bellatrix, and anything can set her off."
"She's batshit crazy is what you mean," Tonks added dryly.
Angelina snorted and Cedric laughed.
"Let's just say that several years ago she killed her brother-in-law in a fit of anger. She then proceeded to dismember the body and sent it in a box to her in-laws."
Harry's mouth dropped open in revulsion and wondered how Bellatrix Lestrange was even allowed in the Games after that.
"What did her husband think? And why wasn't she punished?"
"Her husband thought she was justified in doing it and he wasn't fond of his brother anyway. She was a victor so the Ministry only confiscated her wand for a short time apparently. They were willing to overlook this 'minor incident'."
"That's awful," Harry said, his mind reeling. He hoped that they didn't come across the Lestranges and that Draco was nowhere near them either.
The next day they continued their journey until Cedric stopped them. He was squinting and then frowning as if in confusion.
"Someone's coming towards us," Cedric said. "Look."
Indeed there was a figured walking on the beach, but he was somewhat odd looking as if he was carrying something.
Or someone.
It clicked in Harry's mind and his heart began beating faster.
"Draco," he whispered and without giving another thought to the others he began to run.
Ignoring his name being shouted, he ran as fast as he possibly could while the person coming steadily closer into view kept the same pace. As he approached, he noticed red and platinum hair.
Bill Weasley was carrying Draco in his arms and Harry could barely think or come to any conclusion because he was so focused on seeing Draco.
"Put him down!" Harry shouted and he stopped, reaching for his bow and arrow and pointing it at the redhead.
Bill stopped, but remained carrying Draco.
"I said put him down!" yelled Harry angrily. "Or I'll kill you!"
Slowly Bill put what appeared to be an unconscious Draco on the sand and he held up his arms in surrender.
"I didn't hurt him."
By that time Cedric, Kingsley, Angelina, and Tonks had caught up to Harry.
"Weasley," said Cedric coolly. "What did you do?"
The demanding tone surprised Harry, but he said nothing, waiting for an answer.
"Nothing, I swear. He washed up on the beach and was unconscious. He's come to a couple of times, but he must have hit his head and gotten a concussion because he's always been confused and calling out things."
No one said anything or moved until Cedric nodded at Harry.
"Go on, Harry. Get him."
He threw his bow and arrow down and ran to Draco, picking him up and retreating to where the others were before laying him back down on the ground.
"Draco?" said Harry softly. He didn't want to take the chance to try and wake him in case his head injury was worse than Weasley thought it was.
"What should we do with him?" Angelina murmured, indicating Bill.
"Kill him," said Tonks none too softly.
"Tonks," warned Kingsley.
"What?" she hissed back. "Why shouldn't we?"
"I know," Bill interrupted.
This quieted the group although Harry was hardly paying any attention, his focus solely trained on Draco.
"What?" demanded Cedric harshly.
"I know."
Blue eyes flitted towards Harry and Draco before staring back at Cedric.
"Angelina," Cedric ordered. "Watch Harry and Draco. See if Harry needs any help."
She nodded and Cedric, Kingsley, and Tonks approached the redhead.
"How is he?" Angelina asked, kneeling in the sand on the other side of Draco.
"I don't know yet. Do you know anything about concussions?"
"Not much. I don't think a potion can really heal it, but when he comes to for good there may be something that can help with the dizziness and help stabilize him better."
Harry nodded, hoping that Draco would wake up soon. He stroked the dirty blonde hair and resisted the tears that sprang to his eyes. He had never had the urge to cry so much in his life and he felt like a hormonal young girl, but he supposed that it was because he was in love so much.
"He'll be okay," Angelina told him. "We should find some water for him though. When the others get back some of us can go to the jungle and get some."
"Thanks," he whispered, wondering why everyone was being so helpful and protective of them. He still didn't understand it even from the very beginning when Cedric helped Draco in the ocean.
Several more minutes passed before the others came back, Bill Weasley in tow. Tonks was glaring which obviously meant she didn't get her wish in killing him. Harry wondered why they didn't kill him and was surprised that for once he agreed with Tonks.
"He'll be staying," Cedric said. "For now."
Bill averted his eyes and said nothing.
"I think we should go find some water," said Angelina. "Draco will need it when he wakes up."
"I'll go," volunteered Tonks moodily. It appeared it would take some time for her to calm down about the decision of Bill staying.
"I'll go too," said Kingsley. If anyone could help calm down the woman it would be the older man.
"Thanks," muttered Harry and the two set off into the jungle.
Cedric came over to where Harry and Angelina were and he sat down with a weary sigh.
"Really Cedric?" Angelina muttered. "Bill Weasley? You do realize Harry killed his brother and sister."
Harry's attention turned towards the two and Cedric gave him a sidelong glance.
"Yeah, I realize. We took his knives so we don't have to worry about that."
"Oh that's a huge relief," she said sarcastically.
Cedric frowned and lowered his voice, although it was rather pointless since Harry was sitting right next to them and could hear every word.
"He knew Angelina. Why else wouldn't he have killed Draco after he found him?"
"What are you two talking about?" interrupted Harry. "You know, I've found this entire situation bizarre from the very beginning and I don't mean Weasley, I mean you all."
Neither said anything, but Harry was distracted by sudden coughing coming from Draco.
His attention was directed towards the blonde and he helped Draco sit up who was still coughing furiously.
"Draco? Love, are you alright?"
Draco coughed for a few more moments before nodding.
"My head hurts a bit."
Harry wanted to yell for joy that Draco was alright, but only smiled.
"Hopefully Snape will be kind enough to send us something."
His hand brushed away sand from Draco's face and right now he would use any excuse to touch his fiancé, to be able know that he was alive and still breathing.
"Don't get your hopes up then," Draco replied back dryly and Harry laughed, leaning forward to kiss the blonde, not caring that there were others right by them.
Draco responded eagerly, his mouth opening and allowing Harry's tongue to slide in to meet his while his arms wrapped around Harry's shoulder.
It was only when Draco moaned in his mouth that Cedric put an end to it.
"Alright alright!" he said jovially. "I'm sure half of the people watching this unfold are melting at the cuteness of it all, but can you two please refrain from doing it right in front of my face?"
When they turned Cedric was grinning and they knew he meant no harm.
"You're just jealous," Draco replied airily. "You wish you were getting snogged right now too."
Angelina muttered, "I do," and Cedric laughed.
"Well you must be feeling better to have such a comeback!"
Draco only grinned back.
"Look," said Angelina, pointing to the air.
They watched as a silver parachute fell and Harry grabbed it, unveiling a bottle of a thin dark purple potion.
"It'll help with the headaches and dizziness," she informed Draco as he uncapped it and downed the potion.
"How do you know so much?" Harry asked. "You knew about concussions somewhat too."
She shrugged. "There's not much to do once you're a victor so I studied some healing."
"I guess that's true."
Harry supposed that he was in too much inner turmoil during his hiatus from the Games to have had much time to focus on a hobby. And not to mention he was too paranoid about the Ministry trying to kill him. Now that he was sitting on a beach in the arena that paranoia seemed justified.
Kingsley and Tonks returned bearing water and fruit. The woman still seemed pissed off, but she kept her snappy comments to herself and only had a scowl permanently etched on her face.
"You're awake!" said Kingsley, smiling at Draco when they joined them.
"Yes."
A bowl was handed to them and then they explained that a potion had been sent so he should be alright by the next morning at the very least.
The others were busy talking quietly, quick glances flashing to Bill Weasley every so often.
"Let's go for a walk," Harry whispered in Draco's ear. "Not too far from here, but far enough so that we're alone for a bit."
Draco shivered as Harry's breath tickled him and he nodded.
"We're going for a walk. We'll be back," he announced.
He grabbed his bow and arrows just in case before taking Draco's hand, ignoring the gagging noises that Cedric and Tonks made behind their backs.
"Are you sure you're alright?" Harry asked once they were far enough away that the others couldn't overhear them.
"Yeah, I'll be okay I think. This isn't nearly as bad as when Krum got me."
"That's true, thankfully. That was horrible."
"I know. Then I truly believed I was going to die, but this time everything was so confusing and I wasn't sure where I was."
"Weasley said you were talking out loud, but do you want to start from the beginning?"
Draco nodded and their pace slowed.
"When the wave came you were further ahead of me and I knew I wasn't going to make it to the trees, but I kept going. I really don't know how to explain it when the wave hit. All of a sudden I was being pulled down and I couldn't breathe. I think I may have hit something, but I'm not sure. It's all rather confusing like I said. The first time I woke up I was on the beach, but was delirious and I passed out shortly after. I kept coming to, but I couldn't move and every time I attempted to I would get too dizzy. One time when I woke up I saw red and I knew someone else was there." He shook his head and sighed. "I'm sorry I can't really tell you more, but I don't remember much."
Harry squeezed his hand in support before stopping. Draco turned towards him and Harry hugged him, the water licking their feet as they stood in the wet sand.
"It's okay. I was so terrified that you were gone, but we knew that the cannon hadn't gone off and you were still out there somewhere."
Draco's face was nestled in the crook of his neck and when he spoke it came out somewhat muffled, but Harry understood him.
"I wouldn't leave you. Ever."
"I know. And I wouldn't leave you."
Draco turned his head and then they were kissing openly, moaning as loud as they wanted because nobody else was around. Their bodies were pressed to one another's and they pulled away when breathing became a necessity.
"I missed that," Harry confessed.
Draco laughed. "You and me both."
They snogged once more before reluctantly walking back to the others, but not before Harry told Draco his suspicions of the others.
"I don't understand why they are trying to protect us, because I think that's what they are doing. Why else would Cedric have helped us in the ocean and not killed us on the spot when we were outnumbered? Or why were they willing to help me look for you?"
"There's something they definitely aren't telling us. And it is strange that they are helping Bill Weasley. He did save me, but these are the Games and everyone is being too kind for their own good."
"Well, not everyone is kind," Harry said, recalling Marcus Flint. He explained to Draco about the Lestranges and what happened to Flint.
"That's terrible. I hope we don't run across them."
"Me either."
They were approaching the others so they let their conversation rest and sat down by the rest of them.
"Nice walk?" asked Cedric cheekily with a smirk.
"Shut it," Harry mumbled, not looking at the other man.
"Look," said Draco seriously. The others turned towards him, including Bill Weasley who was sitting closer than before. "Harry and I know you all have something that you aren't telling us. We want to know why you all are protecting us and where this is going."
Everyone was silent and averted their eyes, some glancing towards Cedric as if putting this weight on his shoulders.
"Tell us," Harry demanded when no answer was forthcoming. He would find out one way or the other what was going on between their fellow tributes and would deal with the consequences. Harry's hand moved to rest on his bow and he knew the others saw it
"Alright," began Cedric warily. "We can't really explain because well, you know."
He gave a pointed look to their surroundings and Harry realized that he was indicating everyone in the Ministry and across the nation listening. That at least was a promising indication.
"But we can show you this. Come closer."
Harry and Draco inched closer to the group and watched as they all pulled something out of a hidden pocket in their clothes. Together they unclenched their fists and what lay inside their palms caused both Harry and Draco to gasp.
