A Turn of Events

Two days later Draco made his way up to the Great Hall for breakfast with a slight spring in his step. Yesterday he and Krista had gone to Hogesmade after easily convincing Slughorn the previous day of letting them do so. Overall, they had a good time. They spent their day walking through the snow fallen streets and browsing through the shops before settling into a little secluded corner at The Three Broomsticks for a butter beer where they spent the remainder of their afternoon exchanging pleasant conversation. With Christmas being a little over a week away, Malfoy had secretly purchased a gift for Krista without her knowing as her attention was focused on figuring out what to select for her grandfather and her brother for the holiday.

Approaching the entranceway to the hall Draco saw Professor Slughorn exit from the Great Hall. The man spotted him instantly, "Draco, dear boy!" the potions teacher waved at him enthusiastically as he rushed to meet him. "Did you and Ms. Autwin enjoy your visit to Hogesmade?"

Draco had to strongly resist the urge to roll his eyes. He had hoped that he would be able to make his way to breakfast without running into any obstacles especially as one as nosy as Slughorn, but he tried to be as pleasant as possible. "Yes, we did, sir. Thank you for convincing McGonagall to let us do so."

"It was my pleasure," he said happily, "think of it has my way of rewarding you two for helping me out that one night. Don't think that I didn't forget that favor you two did for me. It really helped me out, truly. Shame to hear about Ms. Autwin, though," he said his smile fading to a frown of worry.

"What about her?" Draco inquired instantly. To his knowledge everything had been fine when he and Krista had returned to the castle the other day. He couldn't possibly imagine what could have happened to the Ravenclaw in such a short period of time. All that he could hope for was that he wasn't about to hear that she had performed another disappearing act like last year.

The Potions teacher looked at him with surprise, "Didn't you hear? Strange, I thought the two of you were becoming quite the pair. Well, from what I have heard from the rest of the staff is that her grandfather was admitted at St. Mungo's only just the other day. I hear that he is not in the greatest condition. Professor McGonagall had told her the news last night, poor girl." It was at this point that Draco stopped listening to Slughorn. All he could think of right now was Krista and how she was handling the news. As his mind was thinking this Slughorn was just starting another one of his rambles, "In fact her grandfather, Jack Autwin, was an old colleague of mine from years ago. In fact, we still send each other the occasional owl now and again. Still, I find it odd, I had assumed that Ms. Autwin would have told you. The two of you have been spending a lot of time together as of late. Is love in the air for you two?"

Draco ignored the pesky question. He didn't have the interest or the time to humor the man or listen to the professor's "extravagant" and overly embellished stories. "Where is she, Professor?"

"Autwin? Merlin's beard, I haven't the faintest idea."

"I have to go…" Draco left as a million thoughts began to run through his mind. He remembered on many occasions Krista mentioning her grandfather to him. She was very close with the man, the closest one out of all her family members besides her kid brother. It was obvious that she cared for him a great deal and if something had happened to her grandfather there was no doubt in his mind to think that Krista would be in the Great Hall at such a time.

Professor Slughorn watched with curiosity as the Slytherin departed with a clear goal in mind. "I dare say that boy is smitten."


Draco was standing in front of the wall that hid the secret door to the room of Requirement. He had paced along the wall pleading his need for what felt like hours before the door finally carved itself out of the stone. He clasped his hand on the door handle hoping that his hunch was right and, if not, he was prepared to search the whole school from top to bottom if it meant finding her. This was the first place he could think of Krista seeking refuge away from the prying eyes and the looks of pity that the teachers would no doubt give her.

Bracing himself for the possibility that she wasn't in the chamber, Malfoy opened the door to find nothing but darkness before him. The only light found within was seeping in from a lone window on the far side of the room. Peering into the darkness from what he could see the room was completely barren and not one piece of furniture decorated the layout of the empty space. As his eyes adjusted to the darkness Draco could make out one figure bunched up in a corner near the window just an arms reach from the thin ribbon of sunlight that was able to stream through the banks of grey clouds outside.

"Krista?" he called out softly, the darkness of the room seeming to swallow the echo of his voice.

"Hey," she answered her voice hoarse, barely a whisper and not needing to look to see whom it was that disturbed her and her thoughts. Draco closed the door behind him quietly before making his way over to her. Krista sat on the bare cold stone floor with her knees pulled up to her chin and her arms wrapped tightly around them. She looked so small like that.

"Thought I might find you here," he calmly said approaching her. "How come you didn't tell me about your grandfather? I had to find out from Slughorn of all people."

She shrugged, "I needed some time to digest it all."

"Is he going to be okay?" he asked lowering himself to the floor to sit next to her. He knew that Krista was closer with her grandfather than she was with either of her parents. From what she had told him Draco knew that she and Warren spent most of their summers with the man while their parents were busy with work. Real workaholics they were.

"I don't know," she said quietly, her voice on the verge of breaking. "All I know is that he was admitted into the hospital yesterday and I don't know why he's there, how's he's doing or how serious it is," she took a shuttered breath before continuing, "Professor Dumbledor is making arrangements for me to go to St. Mungo's today." Krista was scared. Her grandfather was usually very careful in everything he did, not once in her life did she remember him having to go to St. Mungo's for anything. "Can you come with me?"

Draco was surprised at her request, "What?"

If possible, Krista curled herself into a ball even further afraid he would say no and that she would have to deal with this on her own. "I know it's a lot to ask, but it would really make me feel better having someone there. My parents are on their business trip and the only other person I can count on is my aunt, but she is in North America with a dilemma of her own. There is no other family to go check on him-only me and… I don't think I can do this on my own," she whispered.

"What about your brother?"

"I haven't told him yet and I've asked Dumbledor and McGonagall not to say anything to him. I need to see what state our grandfather is in before I can tell him anything. I don't know how bad it is yet." Professor McGonagall was able to tell her very little of the condition that her beloved grandfather was in and the unknown in this situation frightened her a great deal. She didn't know what she would do if worse came to worse. Krista had spent more time with her grandfather than she ever did with her parents because they were always so busy with their own careers. Her grandfather always found time for his grandchildren. He wasn't just a big part of her life, but of Warren's too.

Krista was startled out of her thoughts when she felt Draco gently reach for her hand. Not just from the action itself, but the warmth she felt from it. Her hands, of course, were about as cold as the stone floor she was sitting on. "I'll go with you," he said giving her icy hand a comforting squeeze trying to transfer some of his heat over to her. Draco wanted to go, he wanted to be there for her because her cared for her and the condition of her well-being. He wanted her to know that she could depend on him in her time of need and could trust him to see this through with her no matter what may happen.

His answer surprised Krista even more and finally she had the courage to meet his gaze for the first time since he had entered the room. The emotion she saw there swirling in those cool depths nearly stunned her. Concern was evident, but there seemed to be something else that she saw that she couldn't quite place. "Thank you," she said relieved and grateful that she wouldn't have to be alone in this. Krista was glad to know that she would have Draco to help and support her through this whole ordeal.

That afternoon Krista and Draco traveled by floo to St. Mungo's where they now sat waiting in the main lobby of the hospital for a healer that the woman managing the main desk said would be with them any minute now. They had been waiting for the past forty-five minutes.

"Krista, it's going to be alright," Draco said as he sat in the chair next to her watching her trying not to pick at her nails. It was a habit he had noticed she did whenever she was extremely anxious or really nervous.

"You sound so sure of yourself," she said as she started picking at her index finger on her left hand, but before she could any real damage to the nail itself Draco had clasped his hand over her's. She immediately looked up at him to see him gazing at her calmly.

"I know you're anxious, but just wait a little longer. They said a healer was on their way here to explain the whole situation."

Krista couldn't help it. The longer they waited, the more panicked she became. "I can't lose him, Draco, I can't, I just can't." Even the mere thought of losing her grandfather was too much to bear. What would become of her? Of Warren? There would be no more summers in Ireland and Warren would lose one of the few great role models in his life. Who would she talk to about the difficulties of living at home with no one else to trust to say anything? Of the parents that left her home alone regularly when she was old enough to look after her brother? All of that would be gone.

"You have to stop thinking about the worse possible outcome, okay?" Draco tried to calm her. "Look at you-you're a complete fidgety mess," he poked at her offering a small smile of reassurance as he saw her other hand start tapping madly away on the armrest of her seat.

He was right, though. Krista felt if she didn't do something to preoccupy herself then she would no doubt burst into tears at any moment. "I know, you're right," she admitted before taking a deep breath to force herself to calm down. "I'll try to think more positively." Shortly, after she spoke those words they were approached by a man in bright lime green robes showing the status of a healer.

"Ms. Autwin, I assume? Jack Autwin's granddaughter?" he asked.

"Yes," Krista responded standing up to shake hands with him not noticing that her other hand was still firmly clasped in Draco's.

"I am Healer Charles Galesmen. I'm the one who has been seeing to your grandfather."

Krista asked the question she had been dreading to ask, "Is he going to be alright?"

Galesman, in a calm and soothing voice, explained the situation, "Your grandfather is suffering from some mild burns and a few other minor injuries. He needed a few bones healed here and there, but he's managing just fine. Did your Headmaster tell you why your grandfather is here, Ms. Autwin?"

"No," she sighed before voicing her suspicions as she remembered the reason why she and Warren hadn't been able to go to her grandfather's for the holidays and instead had stayed at school. "But let me guess. Dragons?"

"Yes, dragons," he looked at her surprised at her accuracy. "I suppose he told you he was going to Romania, didn't he?"

"Yes, he did," she sighed tiredly. Figures that it had to be a dragon, of all the creatures, in the wizarding world.

"He was trying to treat a Norwegian Horntail," Galesmen explained, "one nasty piece of work they told me. The man that your grandfather was working for said not to worry about it but your grandfather insisted on taking a look at it."

The smallest of smiles was able to creep up on her face, "He's stubborn like that."

"Anyway, long story short, your grandfather is going to be okay," he assured her with a kind smile. "He's been dropping in and out of consciousness for a while, but we expect him to fully wake up any time now."

"Can I see him?"

"Yes, I can take you to him right now." Following Galesmen through the corridors of the first floor where healers dealt with creature-induced injuries he stopped them in front of a door numbered two hundred and fifty-six in gold before opening the door. There, inside was another healer dressed in the same lime green robes next to the bed where Krista saw her grandfather lay.

"Ah, there you are Galesmen," greeted his colleague. "He had just regained consciousness not too long ago."

"That's good to hear," Galesmen smiled as he went to stand by the bedside. "How are you feeling, Mr. Autwin?"

"Like hell," a rough voice coughed out before groaning in whatever pain the old man was in.

"You have a visitor, sir," Galesmen said waving Krista over to the bed. Draco let go of her hand allowing her to see her grandfather while he stood by the doorway to give the two their family moment. Though he knew how much Krista needed this, he couldn't help but sulk a little at the missing warmth of her hand in his.

"Hey, grandpa," Krista greeted as she tried to blink back the tears of relief at seeing the man all in one piece.

Looking past the healer the man showed a ghost of a smile at seeing his granddaughter, "Hey there. How's my little spit fire doing?"

"Better now. How are you feeling?"

"Like I said before- like hell."

Krista let out a small laugh, as she got closer to examine him, "Well, you certainly look like it."

"Oh, of that I have no doubt."

Krista looked at her grandfather's tired face; besides the odd nasty looking burn marks that dotted his arms and his slightly scorched silver mustache, he didn't look too worse for wear. She shook her head thinking of just how lucky her grandfather got off, "But seriously, grandpa, a Norwegian Ridgeback? Just what was going through your mind to make you think that was in any way a good idea?"

The man let out a weak chuckle before replying, "I was thinking 'damn, now that is one big dragon'."

"Typical," she couldn't help but smile while rolling her eyes.

"Now who might that young man be?" He asked looking over at Draco.

Draco took this as his queue to approach the bedside, "Draco Malfoy, sir."

"He's a friend from school," Krista explained a bit more clearly.

"Please to meet you, Draco. Sorry it isn't under better circumstances. I am Jack Niles Autwin. As you already know I am Krista's grandfather," he reached out to shake Draco's hand, which he gave a surprisingly firm grip despite the condition he was in.

"Pleased to meet you, sir. Krista has told me a lot about you." Now that Draco was able to see the man up close he wasn't as old as he had first expected. Jack Autwin, by the looks of it, was in his early seventies; he had a head of nearly pure silver hair with subtle wisps of white here and there with a mustache to match. He was a strong scruffy-looking man for his age, but he still possessed strong straight facial features and a pair of sharp piercing clear blue water eyes.

"Good things, I hope," he joked.

"Please, there is nothing but good things to say about you, grandpa."

Draco smirked at the easy flow of banter between the two, "I assure you, sir, she has only spoken of good things about you."

Jack gave Krista a comical mocking look, "He's so formal," he murmured to her before turning his attention back to him. "Please call me Jack, I hate it when people call me "sir" makes me feel too god damn old."

Healer Galesmen entered the room then. It seemed like he had left without their notice earlier.

"Ah, there's the good healer. So when can I get out of this place?" Jack asked.

"Well, we have patched you up as best we can, Mr. Autwin, but we would like you to stay for over night observation."

"Spend the night here?"

"I'm afraid so, sir," Galesmen said regretfully seeing how eager the man was to leave.

"Well, what if I don't want to?" Krista rolled her eyes at her grandfather's stubbornness kicking in.

"It's just a precaution, sir," the healer told him. "We want to make sure you are in a stable condition before we send you home."

"Oh, don't make such a face, grandpa, it's just one night," Krista chided at him, "If you want I'll go back to the house and pick up some things to make you more comfortable, okay?"

"Ah, don't bother. I'll just read the paper and sleep since that's all there really is to do around here," he grumbled.

"I know you don't like the idea of staying the night, grandpa, but they just want to make sure you're alright and so do I."

"You sound as though you want me around forever."

"You know I do," she smiled.

"Alright, fine. No sense fighting it, I guess," he huffed giving into his granddaughter's sweet talk.

"Great," Galesmen said, "so you can come and pick him up around noon tomorrow. That will give us enough time to do some examinations and make sure everything is the best it can be."

"Thank you, Mr. Galesmen," Krista said with deep gratitude for all that the healer had done.

"My pleasure. Now if you will excuse me, I have other patients I need to attend to, but I will be back later this evening to check up on you, Mr. Autwin," Galesmen waved before leaving the room.

"Yep, see you then," Jack mumbled now in a grouchy mood at the idea of having to stay the night.

"So, grandpa, are you sure you don't need me to get anything from the house?"

"No, I'm fine, don't worry you're pretty little head over me. But could you do me a big favour, sweetheart?"

"Anything."

"Well," her grandfather started, "I actually thought that I would be home by today. I was actually trying to leave Romania early to be home for Christmas, but that idea didn't go exactly has planned, as you can see. Thing is, I gave my staff the rest of the holidays off. And since I'm stuck here I was hoping that you could go back to my place and take care of Stormwick and the rest of the gang?"

"Of course, I will. I'll send a letter to the Headmaster and, when I come back tomorrow morning, I'll bring Warren along to see you."

"Thanks, kiddo. I really appreciate it."

"I'll go now so you don't have to worry about it. Besides you look like you can use some more rest." Krista could already see her grandpa's eyelids starting to droop down now even though he tried to fight off sleep.

"I'll see you tomorrow, Krista," he yawned before giving in completely closing his eyes.

"Love you, gramps," she whispered while giving his hand a squeeze.

"Right back at you, Krista," he mumbled before he was out like a light.