Disclaimer: Yup, definitely don't own seeing as the series is over and my name wasn't mentioned anywhere.
One Step at a Time
Waiting for Someone to Call Our Leader
xxx
xxx
When they all come crashing down mid-flight
You know you're not the only one
When they're so alone they find a back door out of life
you know you're not the only one
We're all grieving
Lost and bleeding
All our lives
We've been waiting
For someone to call our leader
All your lies
I'm not believing
Heaven shine a light down on me…
-The Only One; Evanescence
xxx
xxx
"We don't have much time left… an answer needs to be found. Now!" the man snarled, making the most timid member of the group draw back in fear. "It's been nearly a year since we've had this and we still have almost nothing to show for it!"
"Calm down," a woman shushed, her pointed black fingernails coming to rest on the enraged man's shoulder. "Yelling will not get us anywhere. Where's that Malfoy composure, hmm, Lucius?"
Lucius glared at Bellatrix and wrenched his shoulder out from under her hand. "Do you know what our lord will do if we fail to solve this blasted prophecy?" he said, scowl taking over his face.
"But it's not our fault," she whined, curling a piece of her dark hair around her finger. "It's so difficult to understand! It's not like we're supposed to figure out a stupid riddle anyway…"
"M-Master wouldn't b-be very h-hap-py if we d-didn't figure it out," Pettigrew stammered, large eyes still watching Lucius with apprehension.
"How he expects me to work with the two of you is ridiculous," Lucius muttered. "I'm sure that stupid half-giant would have more of a brain than the two of you."
"Excuse me?" Bella hissed, eyes narrowing. "Wasn't it me who figured out the date in question was December twenty-sixth? Hmm?"
"And it's thanks to me we even have the prophecy," Lucius bit back, "and I will not let my contribution be forgotten."
"You would have shown our lord the prophecy even if you hadn't gotten credit for it," the woman sneered. "It does decided the outcome of his fate, after all, and none of us would want a world where Potter is still alive. It was just some crack pot old tale your relative spun out. If she'd wanted to help she would have made it clearer!"
"Do not insult my family!" Lucius said, anger rising. "Pendal Emille Malfoy was a genius seer and it's only because of her we have this chance to aid our lord!"
"M-maybe we s-should reread it," Pettigrew said, voice still shaking.
"We've read it so many times now, I could probably quote it!" Bella said, eyes flashing. "As it is, whoever wrote it down, spaced it all funny so it resembles a poem. And it doesn't rhyme!"
"P-poetry d-doesn't have to rhyme B-Bella," Pettigrew said.
"Shut up! I wasn't asking you!"
The rat yelped and dove behind one of the plush armchairs in Lucius' study as the infuriated witch cast a hex bolt at him. Lucius, however, pulled the ancient parchment towards him. Back when Pendal had said the prophecy, there were no orbs to contain them; only paper. And fortunately, someone had been on hand to hear her as she said it.
Silver eyes scanned the document, looking for any clue that might lead them to finding the chosen… the person who would speak another prophecy to tell the Dark Lord how to kill Harry Potter.
To obtain the power
To break the bond
Halves shall collide
Gemini born.
Moon washed innocence
Stained red from
family before
That never defied the dark
Thrived in first shadows.
A small golden ray
Destroy the cloak.
Golden apples
Northern sky
Appearing at night
Roaring free
The chosen shall tell
The chosen will see
The chosen will speak the truth
The chosen will be.
Sprig of peace
Sunk in God's second gift
Drank an hour after new dawn
On the day following the new birth
The chosen will speak
To tell of the power
And the ruler to wield.
The only part they had figured out was that 'on the day following the new birth' was referring to December twenty-sixth, the day following Jesus Christ's birth. How Bella had known that, he still had no idea, but it made the most sense. Even the Malfoys practiced the Christian faith… many wizards did. (1)
As it was, time was counting down. They were starting November now, and had a little less then two months to decode it. Otherwise, they'd be forced to wait another year to uncover the secret. And they didn't have the time for that.
Lucius' frown deepened as he tried to ignore Pettigrew's frantic cries and to concentrate on the prophecy. He had to figure it out! He had been Head Boy at Hogwarts and one of the smartest wizards while he attended!
He couldn't let this chance slip through his fingers… if he did….
The consequences would be deadly.
xxx
Just minutes after Hermione's confession, in which she sat and listened to the sound of the heart monitor, Snape entered once more, followed by a nurse. "It's time for you to head back, Hermione," he said, frowning slightly as he said her first name.
Hermione understood and nodded. "Of course, Mr. Snape. I'll come back later when Draco wakes up. Will you call?"
"Of course."
Hermione grinned as she left the room. It felt strange to hear Snape call her by her first name. But in order to keep up appearances as her being a friend and him being Draco's guardian, he wouldn't call her 'Miss Granger' just as she wouldn't call him 'Professor'. Plus there was the fact of seeing Snape and Dumbledore in muggle clothing. So use to Snape's robes the new clothing was a bit of a shock. And Dumbledore's beard seemed out of place with anything not wizard.
Dumbledore was waiting outside the room to lead her back to the fireplace. Once they'd entered the small room, Hermione felt the need to speak, and without all of the titles.
"Professor? Will you be coming back to Hogwarts soon?"
"Not for a while, I'm afraid. I have to stay until an Order member arrives before I can go back."
Hermione bit her lip, wondering if she would appear rude if she were to ask her question. Dumbledore was, after all, the headmaster of the school.
"Is something troubling you?" he asked, looking at her with concern.
"It's Harry," she admitted. "I know Draco was badly hurt, Professor. But Harry… he says he's all right, but he's really upset and is still blaming himself for all of this. And those bonds you placed on him… I know they're meant for protection, but you've already stuck him in a cage. Putting those on him is just making him feel more trapped.
"I think it would really help if you could just go back to remove them. I know you shouldn't leave, but isn't Professor Snape enough for just a few minutes?"
Dumbledore regarded Hermione with all the seriousness of a sphinx. "You are quite right," he said after a few moments. "I will go tell Professor Snape and I'll accompany you to Hogwarts."
Albus had known the consequences of leaving Harry like that. But if he wanted Draco to live it needed to be done. These hours though, which he could have spent consoling Harry and making him understand that it wasn't his fault, had been instead spent consoling Severus and watching over Draco. Both weighed equally, and it was difficult to choose. Now though, that Draco was stable and Snape was here to stand guard, it made no sense of why he hadn't yet returned to Hogwarts.
A few minutes later, he rejoined Hermione, Snape taking the news well and telling Dumbledore that he would begin to work with Potter on Occulumency once he went back to the school. The sooner, the better.
"How are things over here?" Dumbledore asked, stepping out of the fireplace and into his office, Hermione right behind him.
All of the staff members were gathered at a large table in the middle of the office, some sitting in shock, others (like Trelawney) tearing and mumbling about 'ominous dark clouds'. McGonagall was at the head, having just finished debriefing the teachers about what had happened earlier that day and all of the precautions. Harry would be attending classes, once they resumed (there was a weekend break starting tomorrow though), but he would be monitored closely and a member or two of the Order might even be on guard.
"As well as to be expected," Minerva sighed wearily. "The students think it's a teacher institute day and most are off enjoying themselves. Both Weasleys have gone back to stay with Potter and Parkinson is with Zabini in the Infirmary, with Poppy standing guard. How's Draco?"
"Still sleeping. He's looking better than earlier today though, so I guess that's some good news," Dumbledore said with a small smile. "Severus is with him now, and an Order member should be there hopefully within the hour.
"I myself have some business to conduct with Harry, so I'll leave you to your own devices. I ask, however, that we do nothing to raise the students suspicions that anything has happened. If word that Voldemort-" several of the teachers flinched "-was able to control Harry while he was in Hogwarts, there will be immediate panic. And that cannot be afforded."
Dumbledore left the room by way of the winding staircase, Hermione in the lead, and walking at a rather fast pace, the older wizard fortunately having no trouble keeping up thanks to his long legs.
"I do suggest, Miss Granger, that the two of us not be seen together," Dumbledore said, stopping before they hit one of the busier corridors. "Why don't you head on up to the Gryffindor Tower? I'll send Mr. and Miss Weasley along shortly. I need to speak to Harry alone."
"Of course, Professor." Before she turned to head in a different direction, Hermione said, "Sir? I'm really grateful for all you've done. For Harry and Draco."
His eyes twinkled happily behind the half-moon spectacles. "Looking out for all of the students is my job, Miss Granger. I am only too happy to help."
Splitting ways, Dumbledore arrived at the Safe Room a few minutes later and entered. Ron and Ginny were sitting on the couch, Harry in-between them with Ginny holding his hand. That's all they'd done really. Harry hadn't wanted to talk…hadn't wanted to do anything. And his friends respected that need, but that didn't mean they were going to leave him alone.
"Ah, Mr. Weasley and Miss Weasley," Dumbledore said, making both redheads jump at the sudden noise, Harry not responding at all.
"P-professor! You startled me!" Ginny gasped, clutching her racing heart with her free hand.
"My apologies, Miss Weasley. I sent Miss Granger up to Gryffindor Tower just a few minutes ago if you would like to join her. I'd like to have a word with Harry alone."
"Of course, Sir," Ron said, hopping to his feet. Quieter, to Harry he said, "Everything's going to be all right, Mate."
Ginny gave him a soft kiss on the cheek and then silently followed her brother past Dumbledore and out of the room, the portrait closing with a snap behind them.
Dumbledore was slightly perturbed that Harry hadn't so much as moved a hair during the entire exchange. Coming around, the headmaster took a seat across from Harry on the couch, his concern mounting when the boy made no effort to look up at meet his eyes.
Dumbledore's blue orbs traveled down to look at the bonds he'd placed on Harry's wrists, the harsh glow of them reflecting against Harry's skin.
"Harry?" Dumbledore ventured, voice inquisitive yet gentle. "Harry, would you look at me?"
The head slowly tipped up so that a pair of emerald eyes, ridden with exhaustion, guilt and fear, bore into Dumbledore's soul, the man almost flinching away from the pain filled depths.
Taking his wand, he lightly tapped the bands of light and muttered the release, the bonds disappearing in a sizzle of light. "Harry? What's wrong?"
"I…" Harry faltered, his voice wavering.
In that one hour he'd been alone, everything had hit him again. Everything that had happened. All of his faults. His mistakes. His errors. Everything that could harm the ones he held most dear. Everything that could happen if Voldemort were to take control again.
All of the things that were his fault because of his own weakness.
And he was afraid it would happen again. He'd be locked up in that cage again, forced to watch as his body did things beyond his control. Maybe even more disastrously things than it had done just hours earlier.
"I'm… I'm scared, Professor," Harry whispered. "What if he takes control again? And this time I actually kill someone?"
"That will not happen. Starting today, once Severus arrives back from the hospital, you will begin occlumency. I know it will be painful," he said, watching as Harry's eyes widened, "but it must be done. If we can shield your mind from Voldemort's probing than nothing like this will ever happen again."
"You're so casual about it!" Harry said, voice rising. "I almost killed someone! What if I had? What if Draco really had died? Would you still be taking this so calmly? Would I still be 'innocent' ?"
"Harry, calm down."
"How! How can I calm down?" Harry burst out, tears gathering at the corners of his eyes. "I almost killed someone! I almost took away someone else's life! All because I can't stop Voldemort! Because he gets into my head and I don't even notice! I ALMOST KILLED SOMEONE!" he shouted, voice breaking and tears overflowing. "IT WAS MY FAULT DRACO WAS HURT! MY FAULT HE ALMOST DIED! DO NOT TELL ME TO CALM DOWN!"
"Harry!" Dumbledore bellowed, rising and shoving Harry back onto the couch, the younger wizard staring at Dumbledore in surprise of the man's sudden strength.
"I am going to repeat this as many times as I must," the headmaster continued, kneeling down so that he and Harry's eyes were level, his hands still pressed on the boy's shoulders. "This is not your fault.
"I know you think it is. But you did not ask for that scar, nor the burden that comes with bearing it. The only one at fault, the only one that we will blame is the one solely responsible… Voldemort. I will not let you continue to feel this guilt over something that you could not control."
"But Occu-"
"Occlumency is not the condition here. True, you did not master as I would have hoped last year. But that was my fault for trying to have Professor Snape teach you when I knew of your differences. I should have enforced finding another teacher rather than letting you stumble through the dark. That is my mistake, and I deeply apologize.
"You actually, Harry, saved Draco. Had you not broken free of Voldemort's control, Draco would have died, regardless of whether you were aware of what was happening.
"I know this will probably be difficult, but it is of the utmost importance. I need you to tell me what happened. What is the first thing you remember?"
Harry was silent for a few moments, silence Dumbledore didn't dare press. His face was shadowed, eyes staring down at his clasped hands. "I remember hearing Draco shouting at me… yelling at me to wake up," Harry said quietly. "And when I opened my eyes I was in a cage. I couldn't get out and my wand was missing.
"Then Voldemort appeared and I remember asking him if this was just a dream. And he said it wasn't…that he had taken over my body to complete a task. And then he showed me," Harry said, shuddering. Dumbledore, gave Harry's knee a reassuring pat and waited for the boy to continue.
"I was looking through my eyes…but more like peering through a window, since I couldn't control anything. Draco was on the ground and I'd… I'd shot him. I asked Voldemort why… He said… he said that he was giving Draco a chance. Draco would either live, but kill me, or I would kill Draco and then Voldemort would cast a memory charm on me so I wouldn't remember any of it.
"I tried to… to make him leave Draco alone, but he said Draco was being taught a lesson. Then I… no, Voldemort," Harry said, shaking his head while Dumbledore resisted the urge to beam. If Harry could being differentiating between what were Voldemort's actions and what were his own, then he was slowly coming to terms that he had been a puppet in all of this, and had had no choice in the matter, thus making him innocent.
"Voldemort and Draco were arguing, and then Draco pointed my wand at me… I didn't think he would kill me, but… I was scared. Really scared," Harry admitted, tears making their way down his face. "He had this gleam in his eye, but he cast the Cruciatus Curse instead. I think he was trying to slow Voldemort down.
"It hurt… it really hurt. But I knew it was nothing close to what Draco was going through. He tried to shoot Voldemort with a stunning spell, but Voldemort just shoved it away and shot him again. Then, he asked Draco if he really wasn't going to kill me. And Draco said how it should have been obvious by now," a strangled laugh mixed with a sob choking Harry.
"He said… he started going on about how he was just a pawn in all of this, while I was a knight," Harry said quietly. "And you were a king, the one who would guide us. He said he was… replaceable. That's not true. Draco is just as important as both of us."
"That he is," Dumbledore said quietly. "We all play a part in this war, and we all mean something. It is true, both of our roles are likely be larger, but it does not mean his is insignificant. I, a king though?" Dumbledore said, a small smile on his face. "I'd think of myself more as an adviser than a king."
Harry managed a smile at Dumbledore's attempt to lighten the somber atmosphere, and then continued, knowing he was almost done.
"Voldemort said it was a shame Draco felt that way, and that if he had joined Voldemort's side, he would have been a knight. But he was just a fool now, and Voldemort didn't want to keep him around anymore." Harry closed his eyes, remembering the coldness in his voice as his hands had lifted the muzzle of the gun to Draco's head.
"I was about to shoot him, and I was screaming and shouting at Voldemort. He told me it was my fault… that if I hadn't tried to change Draco's mind it wouldn't have come to this. I'm still not quite sure what happened after that."
"Voldemort had gotten slightly closer to the cage, and he was laughing and toying with the gun. I met his eyes, and my scar suddenly started hurting. Everything went white and then there was a swirl of colors, and both of us were screaming. When I sort of opened my eyes again, there was this crystal thing shining on one of Voldemort's hands… I think it may have been one of my tears," Harry finished quietly. "And the next thing I knew, I was holding a gun, back in control of my body, and it had gone off. But I must have pulled it up somehow since Draco didn't…" he said, trailing off.
"I believe it must have been one of your tears as well," Dumbledore said, face speculative. "Love is the greatest weapon you have, Harry. Voldemort has never shed a tear for anyone, never felt remorse or the desire to protect. Tears are one of the purest and most compassionate gifts a person can possess, and when it touched Voldemort it burned him. However, as my guess goes, because he now shares your blood it hurt you as well."
A comfortable silence enveloped the room after that, all of the cards laid on the table and no more secrets or feelings of guilt. No longer was there tension as heavy as a dragon, but now it was as light as a snitch.
"Professor," Harry said after a moment, "when will I be able to leave here?"
Dumbledore sighed. "The reason you are here, Harry, is for your safety as well as the other students'. I cannot, however, keep you here for the rest of the year," he chuckled. "You will be allowed to leave as soon as Professor Snape comes back and helps you with your occlumency for a little while. Your wand will also be in possession of Miss Granger, which she will give to you during classes, until you have mastered occlumency. I know those restrictions are a bit steep, but it is for the best."
Harry nodded. He would miss his wand dearly, but if he didn't have it there was a much greater chance that he wouldn't be able to harm anyone. Waiting for Snape though… on one hand he could wait several more years happily before having to endure having his mind sifted through, but he also wanted to get it over with quickly so he could get out of this room and maybe…maybe see Draco.
"I myself should be going," Dumbledore said, rising to his feet. "Thank you very much, Harry, for sharing all of that with me. I'm hoping Professor Snape will be able to come back within the next few hours. Until then, I'm sure you have some homework to contend yourself with."
Harry wrinkled his nose at the thought, but glanced at the stack of books and rolled parchments that had appeared on the table. "Yes, Professor."
Dumbledore chuckled and patted Harry on the head. "I'll see you later, Harry." And then in a swish of robes (he'd changed upon arriving at Hogwarts; students would surely realize something was wrong if he was discovered in muggle clothing) he was gone and Harry was alone once more.
However, unlike the previous time, Harry didn't feel quite so guilty…quite so alone. Spilling it all had lessened his burden as the lesson Dumbledore wanted him to see came clear. He wasn't at fault. He hadn't done those things to Draco. He hadn't almost killed someone. Voldemort had.
And in good time, Voldemort would pay.
xxx
The hospital was finally quiet. Well, as quiet as it was going to get. Nurses had stopped coming by every fifteen minutes and the halls had grown silent. Snape was relishing the silence, the quiet time he got to spend with his godson. In fact, the only noise was the heart monitor and Draco's slow, deep breaths. Snape could have listened to them all day.
One of his hands was lightly holding Draco's while the other gripped his wand that was hidden in the folds of his jacket. One could never be too careful after all. Just as the Potions Master was starting to relax, his body jumpstarted as Draco's heartbeat started to rise.
Not that Snape really knew what the increased beeping meant. But any change was probably bad. Just as he was about to call for a nurse there was a slight moan and his hand paused over the red button. Draco shifted ever so slightly and his eyelids flickered.
"Draco?" Severus whispered, crossing back to the Slytherin's bedside, not quite daring to hope that his godson was awakening, but unable to squash the flicker.
Tired, unfocused eyes blinked open, the silver dulled. But open they were and they stared owlishly up at Snape. Draco's lips moved, but no sound issued forth save a croak. Snape, ever prepared, gently helped Draco to lean against his pillows as he brought a glass of water to the boy' lips. Draco greedily drank it down, but the Potions teacher pulled it away before he could finish the glass.
"Better?" he asked, lowering Draco once more into the immaculate white sheets. He was bursting to gather Draco into his arms and never let him go, sing to the heavens that he was alive, and even do an interpretive dance to express his joy. Yet he settled for a simple smile and a stupid little phrase.
Draco gave a hesitant nod, looking curiously at Snape's garb before glancing around the room, puzzlement marring his fair features. And then so unlike the lifeless doll that had been lying on the bed just moments before, he came to life.
"What happened? Where are we? What are you wearing? What's-" he broke off, fear suddenly crossing his face and he turned, almost whiplash speed, to Snape. "Harry! What happened to Harry? Is he all right? Voldemort-"
Snape held up a hand for silence and the questions dwindled from Draco's mouth. "You need to take it easy," he cautioned. "You've been in critical condition the last few hours and we are not going to jeopardize anything, understood?" Draco gave a slow nod from his pillow.
And then, he suddenly found himself pulled into an embrace so gentle is was like feathery wings held him instead of a pair of arms. "I was so worried," Snape whispered, a lone tear trickling down his cheek as his own walls crumbled. "I thought I might lose you."
Draco hesitantly brought his arms around his mentor, feeling a tear of his own gently caress his face. Not a second later though, he hissed as he pulled against the IV, not even sure of what the thing in his hand was.
Snape immediately withdrew and cupped Draco's face in his hand, dark eyes as warm as chocolate. "Lie down and rest, Draco. I'm going to go get a nurse and-"
"Don't go," Draco said softly, interrupting Snape. "Please, Uncle Sev? I don't… want to be alone." Draco cast a look again around the room. Something was off from the usual St. Mungo's. And last time he'd checked, there hadn't been the use of the wire things in his hand. It didn't feel right and he didn't like it.
"All right," Snape conceded. "I'll just push the button and one should be here shortly." Truthfully, Snape had been wanting to push the button for quite some time in a childish sort of way. And now that he didn't need to push it for reasons in which Draco could possibly die if he didn't, he could enjoy it much more.
Hiding the grin that was threatening to cover his face, Snape pushed the button in and watched as it blinked three times before settling back to the dull red sheen. Schooling his face back to its normal impassive look he seated himself once more at Draco's bedside.
"'I'm going to give you a brief rundown so you know the story, but nothing more and no questions. Got it?" he said, knowing they had about two minutes before a nurse came. Draco gave a nod from his pillow and Snape continued. "You're at a muggle hospital because we deemed it safer than St. Mungo's based on Harry's explanation. This hospital, in fact, had you as a patient eight years ago and they're very curious about some issues."
Draco blanched and his face became paler if that was even possible. "I'm sure they won't ask right away so we'll have some time to come up with a plausible explanation. I, however, would like an explanation as to why you were here in the first place. But we'll get to that later as well as what you remember from last night. Harry is fine; just shaken. Dumbledore and I brought you here under pretense that you were caught in a gang fight. I'm your legal guardian; your parents have been dead for several years and Dumbledore is a family friend. Several of your friends, Miss Parkinson and Miss Granger, have already been by to visit and I'm sure they'll be back later. Myself, Dumbledore, or an Order member will be your guard till you're out of here, in which we're hoping is today if possible. We can't risk the lives of the muggles here with any potential Death Eater activity. You, yourself sustained several bullet wounds and are not to move," Snape said, pushing Draco back onto his pillow as he struggled to sit up again. "The nurses are also curious as to where the burn marks came from and neither Dumbledore nor I had an explanation. I want that story cleared up as well after the nurse sees you."
Just as Draco was about to speak, the door opened and a tall, blonde nurse entered, eyes slightly panicked until she rested on the calm scene before her.
"Draco, this is Beth; the nurse who has been taking care of you," Snape said as an introduction.
"It's good to see you awake," Beth said, stepping forward and peering at the heart monitor. "How're you feeling?"
"All right," Draco said softly, staring up at her from his back as she adjusted the IV drip.
"No pain?"
"Just a little…"
She grimaced. "The morphine must still be in your system. I know this sounds rough, and it is, but once it passes through we can't give you any more; it was just for after surgery because of your near heart failure and we wanted to stabilize your system. We'll put you on a different analgesic, but you'll still feel some pain."
"How badly was I hurt?" Draco asked, his voice uncharacteristically small as the weight of what happened settled on his shoulders. When he'd first awoken his own well being hadn't been a primary concern and Snape's quick explanation hadn't fully explained his injuries.
A sad smile crossed her face. "I don't want to scare you, but we came pretty close to losing you. If you hadn't gotten here when you did it would have been too late. Right now though you're pretty stable and your heart rate has returned to almost normal. We were able to remove your chest tube about an hour ago and your body is functioning well even with the injury to your lung."
She finished filling out her charts and then pulled a thermometer out of her pocket and stuck it in Draco's ear, the boy flinching at it. "Does that hurt?" she asked, pulling it out quickly and looking at the reading.
"N-no… I was just surprised, that's all," he said quietly while Snape hid a smirk. Even the Potions teacher didn't know what that device was and he'd been just as surprised as Draco.
"Well, your temperature isn't too bad; one hundred and one point two. Down considerably from earlier this morning. With that taken care of, I'm going to go file these reports and go talk to your doctor. He'll be in shortly to see you and get you your new medication… I think the morphine is going to run out pretty soon. Hang tight, Draco," she said, giving him a smile and then leaving.
Once outside the door she blushed and shook her head in amusement at herself. When he wasn't lying deathly still her patient was actually quite cute. Shaking her head to rid herself of the thoughts, after all one of the girls earlier that day had to of been his girlfriend, she continued down the hall to her desk.
"Are you feeling all right?" Snape asked a minute later, noting how Draco had closed his eyes and a frown marred his features.
"Not so great actually," he whispered, now realizing just how much it hurt to move. The act of shifting his arm made pins race across his body and his head felt like hippogriffs were dancing on it. He felt hot now too, despite the fact only a thin sheet lay over his lower body.
"Just close your eyes and rest," Snape said gently, taking one of Draco's hands between his. "When you wake up, everything will seem better."
Draco only too gladly complied.
Within minutes, he was sound asleep, furrows in his brow betraying the pain he felt even in slumber. The doctor, Doctor Salus who had performed Draco's surgery, arrived moments later and after doing his own check on Draco and giving him his new medication left.
Snape was once more beginning to relax and enjoy the quiet when the door opened again to reveal a royal purple haired woman, her dark eyes full of worry.
"Wotcher, Snape," she said in greeting, plunking down into the second chair by Draco. "How's he doing?"
"As well as can be expected," Snape said quietly, staring at his godson's face. "He fell asleep just a little bit ago and his doctor came and gave him a new pain medication."
Tonks studied Draco's face and reached out her hand to brush several of his stray bangs away, and then frowning at the array of bandages across his face. "Well, I'm here on Dumbledore's orders," she said after a moment of silence. "He wants you to go back and help Harry with his Occlumency while everything is still quiet. Dumbledore wants to keep everything quiet for now, so you have me as your one and only honor guard. For all appearances, I'm Draco's cousin, which I really am," she said with a quick grin that faded a second later. "I'm here because you had to attend to a family matter and will be back in a few hours. Sound good?"
Snape gave a rigid nod, not quite wanting to leave Draco's side yet. It wasn't that he didn't trust Tonks to keep an eye on Draco. He just felt better when he was doing it.
"It'll be all right," she said, her face compassionate as she placed a comforting hand on Severus' knee. "I won't leave him for a minute. I even brought him his first 'get well' card so he can read it when he wakes up."
"If anything comes up-"
"I'll owl you right away," she said, interrupting the slight note of panic in Snape's voice. "But seriously, what could happen?"
"Famous last words," Snape muttered, but rolled his eyes and collected his jacket from the back of the chair. "I'll be back as soon as I can."
"Severus? Just… I know Draco needs you, but Harry does too. You'll help him, right?" Underlying the sentence was 'You won't hurt him, right?' and Snape picked it up.
He nodded. "I won't leave until Potter is ready."
And with the quiet snap of the door, he was gone.
xxx
Harry was lounging on the couch, his nose inches away from his History of Magic text as he forced himself to read the next line. After all, if he was reading and absorbing new material it left to room in his mind to dwell on what had happened.
'Hermione would be really impressed with me,' he grinned to himself as he jotted down more dates on his parchment and started the next chapter. But the stray thought of Hermione didn't show the smiling, studious girl he had always known, but rather a girl with her face tear streaked and eyes haunted.
Shaking his head, Harry chased the image away and pulled his Herbology homework towards him. They were all supposed to pick a plant and write a four foot long essay on its properties and why it had value in the Wizarding world. Certainly a plant would occupy his mind, right?
However, the first page he flipped the book open to showed a picture of the Feathery Florescent Flower and the image of a small boy cowering beneath a table while he and Hermione laughed surfaced.
"Damn it," he muttered, slamming the book shut and shoving it across the table. "Everything reminds me!"
"That would be because you're not really blocking out the memory; you're just trying to ignore it."
Harry whirled around, wide emerald meeting calming black. "P-Professor? I… I thought you went to the hospital."
"I did," Snape said, gliding into the room, once more in wizard robes, and stopping in front of Harry, who was still sitting down. "Draco is in good hands at the moment and I came back to help you with your Occlumency."
"So Draco…" Harry ventured, shifting uneasily on the couch.
"Is currently stable and actually woke up for a few minutes before I left. He's anticipated to make a full recovery with just a bit of scarring and a slight limp." Noticing Harry's guilty expression Snape continued, "Of course, once we get him back here there's bound to be a potion that'll fix both of those since neither are magical injuries."
Harry breathed a sigh of relief and leaned back into the cushions. "This does mean though, that now it's time to work on Occlumency so that this won't happen again," Snape said, sitting down in the opposite chair. "I won't push you like last time, so we'll-"
"No," Harry said softly. "The sooner I can block him the better. And if that means you go full out like you did last year, then so be it. But," he said, eyes nearly glowing and hands clenched so tight his knuckles were white, "I will not allow anyone else to get hurt while I 'take it slow'. I want to stop him now."
Snape resisted rolling his eyes at the foolish Gryffindor bravery, but did allow a small, almost minuscule smile to grace his lips. Despite how foolhardy this endeavor was, it would probably help Harry more in the end.
"All right. But if I think we're moving to fast I will stop and we will go slower. The mind is a very fragile, Potter. And even if you think it best to make your barriers stronger as fast as possible, just be warned that those walls may be built quickly, but may not be as strong as you'd hoped. The goal is to provide you with a solid defense… not a quickly constructed one, understood?"
"But the faster-"
"Listen to me Potter and listen well," Snape said, voice low. "Too much and your mind will shatter. And if that happens Voldemort will have no trouble at all and meet no resistance. We will take your lessons at a moderate pace; one that should appease you. Today, the goal is just to build a beginning defense around your mind so you can leave here. At night, when you're most vulnerable, for the time being you will take a dreamless sleep potion. That will prevent you from waking as well hopefully blocking any visions Voldemort may try to send.
"Now, if you're ready we'll begin. I'm going to cast a temperate amount of Legilimens- enough that you may be able to block it, but not enough to over power you. The trick to blocking me out is to form a wall in your mind, so pick an image that you can focus on."
"Why are you being so nice about this?" Harry asked quietly. He knew that Snape had changed his attitude about him sometime during the Parenting Class, but it didn't explain the patient and kind person before him. Normally, only Draco could bring Snape to act like this.
Snape sighed and for a moment Harry thought he was going to yell. But then, very softly he said, "I have harbored a grudge against your father for a long time… I still have it in fact. And when you came here you reminded me of him so much… and I took that out on you. I learned though, that you are not the person your father was. If anything, you share Lily's compassion and kindness," he said, a warm smile gracing his face as he thought back in the past. "And that's why I'm being so nice as you put it… In a strange way, you remind me of Draco; always trying to take the world on his shoulders. And at your age, you shouldn't be like that. You shouldn't have my hate that I pressed upon you just because of your father. I'm trying to see you as you, Harry Potter, without all the prejudice I've held onto. So, that's why I'm doing this. I also shoulder the blame for what happened last night; if I hadn't allowed you to walk away last year then this would not have happened. Many things that could have been prevented would have happened. And now, it's time to make things right.
"So, if you're ready then stand up and face me. Face me and keep your thoughts locked inside."
Harry had felt tears gather in his eyes at Snape's slight confession and as he rose he wiped his hand across his face, hoping Snape didn't notice. And if he did, then he just had something in his eye.
"I'm ready," he said quietly, facing Snape with his fists at his sides and a grim look of determination on his face.
Snape nodded and flicked his wand at the teen. "Legilimens."
For a few seconds Harry held, his eyes squinted shut and his frame shaking like a leaf in the brutal winds. But slowly the warm glow that he was holding began to disappear as a biting darkness invaded and swarmed over the walls.
Sirius was falling through the veil, his mouth open in a silent cry of surprise and pain; hair surrounding him like a halo as he tumbled into an eternal abyss.
Cold hands grasping his throat and slowly choking him while the dampness soaked into his clothes and stole his breath away. Chilling laughter echoed in the stone chamber while spots danced before his eyes.
A cage held him prisoner, a dark robed figure standing in front and twirling something on his finger. Ruby eyes glittered with maliciousness while crying could be heard in the background.
Blood coated his hands, shimmering in the moonlight. Draco lay lifelessly on the grass, blood mingling with tears on his cheeks and skin ashen as hands fumbled with a wand.
Curled up on a couch, flames lurking in his vision. Bonds encircled his wrists… like a monster. He'd been caged like a monster… no one cared… no one cared about a monster…
Snape broke the spell as Harry collapsed, tears flowing down his face and hoarse wails breaking from his throat. He never hit the ground though. Instead, he found himself enveloped in a pair of arms, like dark wings.
Sobbing, he clutched handfuls of the robe, shoulders wracked with nearly physical pain as the memories assaulted him. Snape knelt there, tightening his embrace and bowing his head over Harry's.
Neither one noticed as a tear dripped from Snape's eye to land in Harry's dark hair, forever being swallowed. Forever wishing he could free Harry from the pain of the burdens he was forced to carry. Forever haunted by the memories of someone too young to have experienced any of them.
Like dark angels they sat, drawing comfort from one another and drawing the courage to go on. Because without courage there is no light. And with no light there are only shadows.. and shadows only bring despair and fear.
Forever haunted. Forever burdened. But not forever in shadow.
xxx
xxx
Author's Notes:
1. I am assuming most wizarding families are from Christian backgrounds as Hogwarts celebrates Christmas as well as many of the students. Christmas is a religious Christian holiday. However, because one of the commandments is 'no killing' the Malfoys don't necessarily follow the religion. xD
I am really bloody proud of that prophecy! And the second one I wrote is even cooler! I won't have Lucius and co. solve it just yet… I want to see if any of you can. Post your guesses in a review or a PM. If you're super close, (and I don't mean just the chosen person, I mean what the clues mean) I'll reply and finish explaining it to you. If not, you'll all understand in a chapter or few from now.
I actually love writing the Death Eaters. So, they'll be appearing several more times. In a strange, twisted way, those three are like a certain Gryffindor trio I can think of. Just a little more evil… Maybe a lot more.
And look, I updated within three months! I know, don't die of shock on me, please. I've become fed up with finding nothing of interest to read anymore so I decided I'd just have to entertain myself with my own fics xDD Horrible, I know, but at least I'll update faster. :D
I'd like to thank everyone who takes the time to review. It really does mean a lot to me and I appreciate all of the comments. For those of you who just read and don't bother to review, I'd really like if you could; just a few words even. It's nice to know I deserved a few seconds of your time after I spent quite a while working on the chapter. So again, thank you very much to those of you who did review.
For the poll question I had last chapter… most people didn't respond but those that did were all girls :P Either all those guy writers are just shy or there really are none. So, here's a job for us all (me too!). If you know a guy who's obsessed with a show, or movie, or book, or something, get them on here and writing!
I've got another question. As you can see, I've been posting music lyrics at the start of most recent chapters in any fic. I'm curious; what is your current favorite song? I'm trying to broaden my musical interests :P So, if you could post the title to your favorite song and the artist/group in your review or a PM that'd be great! If we happen to have some of the same favorite songs I'll call you on it :D
As always, please review!