A/N: Dumbledore's so useless sometimes, isn't he?


Chapter 9

Ebony awoke to the sound of running water.

She stretched and smiled at the empty space that had previously been occupied by her boyfriend, who she'd had the pleasure of waking up next to for the past fortnight and from the sounds of it was currently in the shower.

She and Draco had decided to spend Christmas break at Hogwarts; it would be a perfect opportunity to continue to bond and Madam Pomfrey was quick to agree that only Morgana knew what Ebony would get up to left to her own devices. Ebony did not share that she was equally as worried for her other half. During the recovery process from "The Incident" they had become been practically inseparable; much to Pansy's dismay who had been hoping for a swift break up. This meant that Ebony had seen why Draco's bathroom was such a mess – she had been witness to the mood swings that he barely hid from the world, and been scared for her life when the plate he threw narrowly missed her head. But just as he put up with her silences and sudden outbursts, she would call a house-elf to clear up the mess and help him bandage his hand the way Pomfrey had taught her and then, more often than not, they would have sex until they fell asleep or one of them remembered they still had this thing called schoolwork and Draco, Quidditch. She often went with him to practices, so that he knew she was safe and he could focus.

Their relationship was fucking tiring but all in all, was worth it.

"Morning handsome," she purred as he walked out of the bathroom, hair dripping and a fluffy towel wrapped around his waist. She sat up, the sheets falling from her naked body, a clear invitation to her lover. A smirk flashed across his face.

"Ebony dear, I've only just had a shower," Draco said, crawling towards her, his kisses gentle. "You'll get me all dirty."

"Mmhmm, but you can have another later." She pulled him down towards him, pulling at the towel that stood between decency and the descent into debauchery. "And this time I'll be there too."

"And with your glamour up or down?" he murmured into her neck. He gasped as felt her chilled hands on his member, the touch electrifying after his hot shower.

"Let's not argue today, mm'kay? Let's just enjoy our first Christmas Eve as a couple, and then wake up and enjoy Christmas Day."

Draco rolled his eyes, but acquiesced. She was right – there was no need to spend Christmas Eve screaming at each other when they had a nice walk around the grounds planned, and then warming up with some mulled wine and maybe a wander down to the Great Hall to see if anyone of interest had stayed around for Christmas Break. Instead he reconciled his frustration the only way he knew how: taking back control.

There was nothing he loved more than seeing the marks of his love-making on his girlfriend's body. There was also nothing he hated more than to find the next morning that they had disappeared under her glamour.


They argued anyway; it was just too good an opportunity to pass up.

They'd had their chilly walk around the grounds, stopping to help some lower years in a snowball fight against the Gryffindors who cried foul because they, as seventh years, were using much more advanced magic than they had, but you know what they say: All's fair in love and war. They retreated to their room to change clothes, warm up and enjoy the mulled elf wine Draco's mother had sent over before making their way to the Great Hall, where the four tables had been replaced by one long table. On which was sat Harry Potter and Luna Lovegood.

Ebony didn't notice how Draco stiffened at the look Harry cast him. She noticed only the cold response when she suggested that they sit with them, just to make conversation with people other than Slytherins, with people other than them. She watched him sit as far away from the two as possible, and gestured for her to join him. But Ebony, being Ebony on wine, chose to introduce herself to the barefoot Ravenclaw and greet Potter like an old friend, who could do nothing more than be polite in the midst of this lovers tiff.

"He looks pretty angry," Harry commented when Draco had finished eating his food and stormed off, making sure the doors slammed behind him. "Maybe you should go after him before he begins breaking something."

Ebony looked at him in surprise. "How do you know what Draco's like when he's angry?"

He shrugged. "He's a fellow Seeker, and my self-declared archnemesis. You learn a thing or two."

And so Ebony excused herself, running once she was in the Entrance Hall and pounding on the door that hadn't been locked to her in a while. And as expected he told her to fuck off back to her new best friends, that clearly it was Potter's bed she would prefer to be sleeping in, that clearly he wasn't enough for her and he didn't want to see her tonight. So on Christmas Eve, she took the green and silver blanket he'd brought her for their two month anniversary especially for this purpose and spent Christmas Eve with Madam Pomfrey. She had made too many promises this time.


Christmas Day found Ebony waking up at the first signs of sunlight and dashing down to the Slytherin Common Room. Surely he'd have calmed down by now. Yes, the door was unlocked and the Christmas presents were piled up at the foot of the bed, including her own because she could spot the horrible Christmas wrapping that her Grandmother was so fond of using ever single year. But something didn't seem right – the bed was done and there was no sound of the running water.

"Draco?" Ebony called out uncertainly, her heart beginning to climb upwards until she could feel it beating in her throat as she edged to the bathroom. He wouldn't, stop being stupid Ebony, he wouldn't do that. Not on Christmas Day. She thanked Merlin it was just an overactive imagination, and that the bathroom looked like it did on any other day. But then, where was he?

She ran to her dorm, to see if he had maybe spent the night there, waiting for her to come back. No sign. She ran all over the Common Room, asking the portraits if they had seen any sign of him but were either unhelpful or gave disdainful sniff at being awoken by someone with no authority whatsoever. He wouldn't be in the Great Hall – it was too early. Maybe he'd gone for an early fly? Deciding to stay in one place in case he came back, Ebony crawled into his bed and reached for his favourite pillow. It was there she found the note.

I'm sorry that I hurt you. I can't live with myself knowing I caused you so much pain, that I can never be the one that you truly deserve. Please don't try and find me. I love you Ebony.

Forever yours, Draco.

It didn't make any sense. He was sorry that he had hurt her? When? They'd been over this – she had forgiven him, he knew that she forgave him, that she would always forgive him and that she loved him. Ebony read the note over and over again trying to make sense of it, but it didn't make sense. This wasn't Draco. Something was wrong.

Dumbledore was hardly sympathetic.

"I'm afraid Miss Dementia, that Mr Malfoy is of Age and if he so wishes to disappear into the dead of the night that is entirely his prerogative," the Headmaster replied, doing nothing to assuage Ebony's tears that were slowly turning into anger at this old man's unhelpfulness. "It wouldn't be the first time Mr Malfoy has left the castle without a teacher's permission."

"But that was different!" Ebony snapped. "There was a reason for us to leave the Castle. What is his reason now? We had plans, sir. He wouldn't just leave!"

"Ah, but if I am not mistaken, yourself and Mr Malfoy had a fight only last night."

"Yes, but-"

"Then could it not be simply be his way of worrying you? He could be currently at home, safely tucked away in Malfoy Manor, gleeful at the thought that you are running around headless, worried for him."

"He wouldn't do that, sir." Except as Ebony said it, she wondered if there might not be truth in Dumbledore's words. Draco could be cruel. But this wasn't style. And he had promised her he would never leave her, not without good reason, not like this.

"Miss Dementia, I suggest you go back to your dorm and prepare yourself for the upcoming festivities. Don't hate the player, my dear, hate the game. Lemon drop?"


It was a dungeon of some sorts, chains hanging from the dank stone walls. Draco was hanging from a pair of these, his face slick from the effort of keeping his body weight off his bleeding wrists.

"My father will hear about this, you disgusting little rat," Draco snapped at the man shuffling about the room, gleefully placing torturous instruments on the table. "And then you'll be sorry you ever crossed me."

"Your father already knows about this," the Rat said, laughing at the expression on Draco's face. "And there's not a damn thing he can do about it without needlessly putting his life in danger."

"You're lying!"

"If I was, then surely I wouldn't be able to do this?" Draco screamed as the man placed the hot poker on his arm, the pain unexpected and unbearable. "Oh there is nothing greater than hearing a Malfoy scream."

"You won't get away with this."

"We'll see about that, won't we?"

Ebony sat up suddenly, her body covered in sweat and her ears still ringing with the sound of Draco's screams. Everything suddenly made sense. Harry Potter was still alive. This meant that Draco was going to die.