Thanks to everyone who's been commenting, really. It makes it much easier to bring out new chapters, knowing the stories enjoyed. -Mel

Chapter Ten

-Comin' down the world turned over And angels fall without you there And I go on as you get colder Or are you someone's prayer?- ---Goo Goo Dolls

Hermione Granger was not an impatient witch. She liked perfecting things, taking her time to get it just right before trying a spell. She loved research, learning all about a subject from other older witches and wizards, and then improving on their basic research. Everyone said she'd go very far academically.

She had everything to be thankful for. Without her two best friends, then yes, she'd go far researching in a small office, locked away to discover the secrets of the universe. But Harry and Ron had opened her eyes to so much more. She knew she'd no longer be happy in a small office. She wanted to be out in the field, to be using the spells she'd learnt.

And now Harry, her first friend, was in trouble. Everything she knew wasn't enough. Wild magic was something she had only vaguely encountered. Right now there was nothing she could do to help him. She couldn't even start researching it. The Hogwarts library held nothing within its walls bar three parchments that argued about how much better wand magic was. She had to wait for a few specialists to get in contact with her, but this Athena had the best references in the subject so far; her research covered every nationality and style of the magic.

She was the best help to Harry right now, not Hermione.

Blinking, Hermione dragged her mind out of her thoughts. There were other ways she could help. When Harry had worked his way around the curse, he'd want to find a way of defeating the Dark Lord. That meant finding his Horcruxes.

So far two were unaccounted for. She'd gone through them all with Harry at the end of the last school year. It was obvious they'd be tokens of the remaining two Founders; Hermione couldn't imagine why he'd use Slytherins and Huffelpuffs, but not the remaining two. So far, the Dark Lord had reacted like any creature of habit, and Hermione couldn't see why he'd break the cycle now.

Still, that didn't mean Hermione was any closer to finding what or where they might be.

She turned the chapters of the tome in front of her, one of many strewn over her corner of the library. She had hunted for every book that contained the merest mention of the Founders, for anything that could perhaps point to their tokens. That task had taken her a whole day.

Going through the books one at a time, however, was taking a lot longer. Every couple of pages she had to stop and read. Something about a Founder, or a place they had been, or an idea that they had had would appear on the page and she'd have to stop. She didn't know how much time she had to spare, but she certainly felt like she was wasting it.

Sighing, Hermione stood and stretched. Perhaps she could convince Ron to leave his plans to get Harry away from Malfoy for long enough to talk some sense into him. Hermione was worried too, but she was certain that researching a way around the curse would be a lot better than trying to force Harry away from the only person who could hear him.

Trying to slip around the table, Hermione inadvertently knocked one of her piles of books, sending them scattering to the floor. She huffed, thanking Merlin that it wasn't one of her taller piles, and bent down, starting to retrieve and restack the books. One, a book of influential wizards and witches, had fallen open.

The portrait, sketched the Muggle way onto the page was of the four Founders. Hermione sat as she drew the heavy volume onto her lap, pushing her hair out of her eyes. The artist had taken their time with the beautiful image of the four. Rowena and Helga sat in plush chairs, with Godric and Salazar standing behind them, in front of the hearth in the great hall.

What drew Hermione's attention was not their young faces or happy smiles, but the elegant cup sitting in Helga's hands. Looking closer, she could see the Slytherin locket around Salazar's neck. Rowena didn't seem to be wearing anything that could be considered an important token, but beside her, on a small table, was a silver mirror.

And Godric not only proudly bore the Gryffindor sword, but also a shield with a lion on it. It would only be fitting that the Dark Lord would use his enemy's defences as a place to hide his soul.

She stood hurriedly, keeping the page with a scrap of paper. Dashing from the library, she couldn't stop the delighted smile that stretched across her face. Hermione had found them, the remaining two Horcruxes. Relief flooded through her. It was happening, one little step at a time, but this nightmare was starting to end.

---

Draco woke with a start, groaning as he moved too fast and his body started to cramp on him. Beside him he could feel Potter also stirring, though he did so a lot slower, saving himself the trouble with a stiff body.

It's what you got for falling asleep in your chairs. Stupid bloody curse.

Rubbing his calves as fast as he dared to stop the cramping, Draco noticed they were still in the classroom where Tobias and Athena had been going over the finer points of wild magic. He vaguely remembered Athena telling them how to separate their feelings from the magic, and that there would always be instances where these things couldn't be helped. That was when he must have passed out, listening to their even voices as they explained these things.

"You're both awake."

Looking up a little, Draco could see Tobias sitting on the floor a few feet from the chairs. He had some parchment beside him; paperwork Draco assumed. The tawny owl sitting on the back of a chair, cleaning its feathers must have delivered it. Athena was curled up beside him, her silver head atop a pillow in his lap. Tobias watched them, not seeming put out that they had fallen asleep halfway through his lessons. He looked relaxed, his hand resting gently upon his wife's head and he watched the two of them with his serious dark eyes.

"We fell asleep." Draco managed to sit a little straighter, rubbing the kinks from his neck. Potter seemed to be fighting to pay attention to their conversation. Really, did he always have these problems forcing himself awake? He'd have to remember not to discuss anything vital until Potter could string a full sentence together.

"It is all right." Tobias's fingers ran gently through her hair. "The wild magic does the same to her. It seems that the sheer concentration of the magic wears your body out a lot more then wand magic does. You will both be prone to sleeping irregularly until the curse can be lifted, or the magic altered someway."

Or we die, Potter muttered sleepily.

"Oh lovely, something to look forward to," He glared at the other boy, and Potter mirrored the look.

"You two could stand to get along a little better," Athena groaned, pushing her body up. She looked so bone tired Draco that could see the weight of carrying the magic on her frame.

Tobias steadied her. "Athena is right. Due to the nature of circumstances, it would ridiculous to do otherwise. What would happen if the only way you could communicate to someone was through each other? You both need to put a little of the past behind you and work together. There is a lot more than your pride at stake here."

"We know," Draco spoke for both of them, purposely not looking at Potter. He had no desire to see the loathing he was sure would be there. He hated himself enough; he didn't need to see the Magnificent Potter's stare to remind him of the level he had sunk to. The Malfoy's used to have such a proud name. Now it only wallowed in the dirt.

"Harry!" The door of the classroom burst open, Granger and Weasley were standing there, breathing heavily from their apparent dash. Granger clutched a heavy tome to her chest, a delighted smile stretched across her face.

Well, this was interesting.

"Harry, we've got something to show you!" Hermione gushed. The spell that the Headmaster had cast was still working.

"C'mon mate!" Weasley looked just as excited as his girlfriend. But there was something in the way he glanced towards Draco that sparked the blonde teen's senses. The youngest of the Weasleys was up to something.

"We won't be long," Granger was already saying to Athena and Tobias. Really, that young witch could charm the wings off a dragon. "We'll bring him almost straight back."

"That shouldn't be a problem," Athena said, stretching and standing. "We can work with Mr. Malfoy for now, and Mr. Potter can catch up afterwards. He has learned much of the basics now."

"C'mon mate," Weasley said again, taking Potter's hand and dragging him to his feet. "You have to hear this now."

For one second, Potter looked back to him, his green eyes a little wide. He looked a little like he had when Dobby had grabbed him earlier. Draco nodded, rolling his eyes. It wouldn't do to let his friends know of his little fear, but Draco tried to let him know that he would be fine.

Whatever it was, that seemed to be enough for Potter and he followed his friends from the room. As the door closed behind him, Draco realised it was the first time Potter had left his side since he had appeared in the cell. For the first time ever, there was complete silence. He couldn't hear Potter, and he couldn't hear his own voice. He couldn't hear his own heart beating.

---

Harry couldn't stop the infectious grin as he looked at Hermione. She was all giddy as she placed the book in her hands on the table in the great hall. It was empty, the teachers and Order members must have been else where, but that was ok, it certainly made it an easy place to congregate.

"I found them Harry," Hermione whispered excitedly, opening the book. It occurred to Harry how strange it was to have a one-sided conversation with his best friend. "The last Horcruxes, I found the tokens he would have used."

This was amazing news, and Harry hunched over the picture. Yes, he could see this. Voldemort might be a twat, but he was methodical in his little idiosyncrasies. This was just the kind of grand and arrogant gesture he'd use for the items that held his soul. At least now, they knew what they were looking for. He beamed at Hermione.

"Harry."

A little startled at the gravely tone in Ron's voice, Harry looked over at him. For once, he'd forgotten that Ron was there. That in itself was strange. Ron wasn't particularly outlandish, but there was never a time when they'd been together that Harry hadn't noticed his presence. And now, his face was so cold and severe. It startled Harry to see his friend changed so much.

"Harry, why are you acting like you're friends?"

Harry opened his mouth, remembering belatedly that he could not actually speak. Still, he was sure he must look puzzled. He and Hermione had always been friends.

"He's talking about Malfoy, Harry," Hermione murmured softly.

Oh.

Well, he guessed that must be hardest for Ron to understand. It was hard for Harry to understand too. He shook his head slowly, trying to convey to Ron that they weren't really friends, more like temporary allies. Ron wasn't looking at him anymore though; his eyes were burning a hole into the table.

"He killed them, Harry, and you're always sitting near him," Ron hissed.

Harry opened his mouth again. He wanted to tell Ron that Malfoy hadn't killed anyone. That really, he had much less control on what happened around him than anyone else he knew. That really, being inside Malfoy's head was like watching the world shatter over and over again.

He couldn't talk. Even if he could, he was beginning to doubt that Ron would listen.

"You can't be friends with a monster like that, Harry," Ron continued, oblivious to his friend's internal struggle. Hermione's eyes were carefully watching him though. "You can get on fine without him. This curse, we'll break it without his fucking help, and then he can go to Azkaban like he should have in the first place. So snap out of whatever spell he's got you under Harry. He's scum, he's-"

It was at this point two things happened.

Ron's hands, which up till now had been gesturing wildly as he continued his sermon, grasped Harry's thin shoulders.

And there was a sharp tear of pain through Harry's soul. He could feel his wild magic burn and bubble his insides. Like his skin had peeled off and what was left was suddenly placed on his Aunt Petunia's hot stove.

He could feel Malfoy's pain slicing through him.

Between the searing pain and the panic of Ron touching him, Harry lashed out. Thankfully he was able to curb the magic so that it was only a physical reaction, but his arms came up and he ripped himself out of Ron's hold.

Ron had stopped mid rant, his mouth falling open. Harry knew without looking that he glowed. He responded almost instinctively to the pain that lanced through him. Malfoy's pain. He glared at Ron, really glared. He wanted to yell and scream at him. To tell him he had a loving family and a doting girlfriend. That he had no idea what it was like to have no one. And that the only person you did have was slightly mad and hated you as much as you hated him. As much as you hated yourself.

To tell Ron that right now, at this time and place, he and Malfoy were practically the same.

He couldn't though. So he glared, before turning and running. Stumbling into the wall as a second wave of the tearing pain shot through him. If he could have screamed, he would have. Instead, Harry's back arched and his mouth opened in a silent howl, reverberating though him, running through the wall he leant against.

The pain eased and he could run again. It was almost like a deathly slow heart beat. Every few moments Harry would have to stop, fight the pain and then keep moving. The third time Harry threw up, body fighting the pain the only way it could. Still retching, he stumbled back into the class room.

Malfoy was floating in midair. He was screaming in the way Harry wished he could. An awful, shrieking sound. It truly sounded like Malfoy was ripping his own body to pieces. He was curled in a small ball, hands clawed, pulling, tearing, at skin and cloth. Wild magic shimmered around him.

Athena and Tobias stood beneath him, not to catch him should he fall. They were trying to keep the hysterical magic from spilling out.

Harry moved, still stumbling, still fighting wave after wave of pain. He stepped between Athena and Tobias. He ignored their shouts. He ignored what could only be Hermione's scream. He reached up, through their magic that washed over him. It was Malfoy's magic that burnt him, it was his magic that was peeling, bubbling, burning the skin of his hands.

He didn't flinch. He kept reaching until his hands cupped smooth, cool skin. It was now that he closed his eyes, body relaxing into the pain, holding onto Malfoy's face with burning hands.

Draco.

---

The screaming still echoed when Harry knelt beside Draco. He gathered up the pile of shuddering cloak and blonde hair. He rocked him back and forth, resting his head against the scratchy material.

He hummed gently. He didn't whisper that it would be okay, or that he was sorry. Harry just kept up the gentle tune, moving from one song to the next effortlessly.

Draco continued to scream, but that ebbed with Harry's continual rocking. The huge, wet, retching sobs continued for much longer. Eventually there was calm silence, broken only by Harry's continual humming.

"Do you know you do that all the time?"

Draco's voice was drained, ripped raw from the screaming. The words wobbled some at the beginning, but grew firm towards the end. He didn't shift out of his hold, and Harry didn't feel like letting go. The darkness around them pulsed in harmony with their even breaths.

"I didn't notice it, but your mind hums. It sings all the fucking time. I'd be pissed off, but I didn't even realise you did it until it stopped," Draco looked up at him then, his scars on his cheeks open and bleeding, mixed with the tear tracks running down his face. "You said you wouldn't leave me alone anymore. I won't listen in to your conversations, just…"

"We know better now." Harry sat down beside him. "We won't let it happen again."

Draco sighed, body sagging against Harry's in relief. "That's good. Nothing has ever felt like that. Even when they used to lock me in my room, I could still hear myself."

"I promise that if I can help it, I'll never leave your side again." Harry smiled. "Ron's angry; he thinks we're becoming friends."

There was silence for a moment, before Draco asked softly, "Can we?"

Harry didn't think, wrapping an arm around Draco's thin shoulders. He rested his head against Draco's shoulder, closing his eyes. "Yeah. No one understands this like you do."

Tentatively Draco took his hand. "I won't let you forget your promise, you know."

"I know."

---

The hands that shook him were firm, but gentle. Draco forced his body to respond, opening his eyes. He groaned at the harsh light, snapping his eyes shut. When he blinked them open, it was a little easier. He was staring up into Tobias's concerned face. It had been a long time since anyone had looked at him like that.

He hoped his mother was safe somewhere.

"How are you feeling, Mr. Malfoy?"

"Like someone ran over me." Draco's mouth felt like sandpaper as he talked. He looked around a little, realising he that he was lying half on someone's legs. Surprised, he stared up at Potter. Potter wasn't looking at him though; at that moment, Granger was trying to squeeze him to death. He was trying to pull her off, grimacing every time he touched her with his bandaged hands.

"Oh dear."

Potter managed a smirk at him.

I knew you were pissed off at me. And now I have the scars to prove it.

"Now you know what happens when you leave the mentally damaged alone," Draco muttered, sitting up, prying the witch off Potter. "Don't smoother him," he told Granger without thought. "Are they going to heal?"

"Probably not," Athena knelt beside the two of them. She unwrapped the bandage a little, showing already healed angry red burns. "They already have healed as much as they can. You've only been out for a little while. What happened, Mr. Malfoy?"

Draco cringed a little, "I didn't take the silence too well."

"So we noticed," Tobias muttered dryly. "It won't happen again."

"You're lucky you didn't kill yourself, or Mr. Potter," Athena told him reproachfully. "Only Hera knows what we would have done if you'd both died."

Hera?

"Wait, who's Hera?"

He'd been wondering about this. The name sounded familiar when she had told them; it was that dream. But with everything happening, Draco hadn't had a chance to think much on it. Neither had Potter by the sounds of it.

"A Greek Goddess. I am half Greek, on my mother's side." Athena looked at both the boys. "You've heard the name before."

"She said her name was Hera and Juno though, in the dream. How can she be both?"

Athena rubbed her face with her hand, looking tired. "Juno is what the Romans called her. Most of the Greek gods and goddesses were adopted by the Romans. You can still find little shrines in the south from when the Romans conquered Britain." She scowled a little. "You talked to a goddess in your dreams and neither of you thought it important enough to mention? What did she say in the dream?"

"That the Father was being woken, and that we had to find her husband that the Serpent one had bonded to his sleep." Draco was a little surprised at how well he remembered the dream. With Potter nodding, he guessed it had nothing to do with their memories. They had been made to remember.

Athena cursed in Greek; something Draco found a little amusing. It wasn't a language he heard often, and he didn't know what she had said, but it sounded funny. She took a deep breath and then another, before looking at the two of them.

"Then we can't stay here; there's just not enough information in the Hogwarts library to help us find her husband."

"We'll go to Brighton, I keep a house down there with my family's library," Tobias said, lifting his wife to her feet. "I'm sure there's something in those books that will help us. In the meantime, the two of you can explain in detail what she said to you." His dark eyes flicked to Weasley and Granger. "Should I expect that you two will be coming with us?"

"Yes," they said together without any thought. Great, Draco sighed, Granger wasn't too bad, but Weasley?

Tell Ron that I know when I'm being bewitched and I'm quiet capable of picking my friends.

Draco looked at Potter, whose eyes were glaring at Weasley.

"I'm not telling him that," Draco said, standing and stretching. "He'll eat me alive. You can tell him yourself when the curse is gone. C'mon, I don't think Athena or Tobias are going to want to hang around long." He reached down, grabbing Potter's wrist just above the bandage and hauling him to his feet.

It wasn't much, but it felt like they'd taken a tiny step forward. Moving slowly to whatever goal awaited them.

---