Surviving Malfoy, Part I - Shock and Denial

by Mrs. Lovetts

All my life I believed I was destined to be a Witch of Salem. A sister, daughter and future mother of Salem. Salem was my home, I'd known nothing else from the age of six. It was a simple sort of existence, my mother raising me along my sisters as if we were all her own. But my world crumbled one day with the arrival of one old wizard and one short message - You're his sister.

10. part 1 Chapter 10

Surviving Malfoy _ Part I : Shock and Denial

watch?v=JDaQF7FgqFE

/!\ WARNING: If you are easily triggered by notions of rape or sexual assault, or just don't like reading that stuff - you might want to sit this one out. I've included a quick, non-graphic summary for you at the end of this chapter, so you'll still be able to follow the story regardless. If there's anything further down the line that still needs clearing up for you, feel free to send me a message and I'll be happy to help! :)

Otherwise, happy reading!

Chapter 10:

The news of Ron's poisoning still hadn't really spread when Harry, Hermione and I made our way down to breakfast the next morning. Only a few Gryffindors seemed to have caught wind of the situation and they generally seemed more interested in the upcoming Quidditch match between their house and the Hufflepuffs, claiming Ron couldn't have been in that much danger considering he was with the school's potions master.

In fact, only one person found the incident interesting enough to approach Harry about it - Lavender Brown. I was already sporting quite the headache as it was and Hermione's eye-roll had my fullest sympathies, so we left Harry to his own devices halfway through Lavender berating him about not coming straight to her the day before.

It was still relatively early when we sat down at the Gryffindor table, not many students had made their way to breakfast just yet. Which made the shock of white blond hair sitting at the Slytherin table all the more obvious. Draco looked up when Hermione and I sat down. I avoided looking away too quickly, but couldn't quite help the dismal frown from spreading over my face. Malfoy's eyebrow rose up just the slightest before I looked away, concentrating on the baked beans in front of me despite my lack of appetite.

"I really don't know how he does it." Harry said, looking miffed when he plopped down on the bench opposite us. "She's a nightmare."

I noticed Hermione's fork picking her food a bit more forcefully than it did a second ago.

"In all fairness, you didn't let her know about Ron." I said shrugging.

Harry looked at me with raised eyebrows and I gave him an innocent smile.

"That doesn't mean she needs to discuss their entire relationship with me." He noted, now visibly annoyed. "How would I know how much Ron loves her?"

I gave him a slightly incredulous look. "That also doesn't mean we want to discuss their relationship." I said, discreetly nodding towards Hermione who was now positively impaling her food.

"Agreed Harry, please don't. I'd rather not throw up all over the table." She said making a face at him.

"Sorry." Harry mumbled.

I caught Blaise's eye from across the room. He'd sat down next to Draco without my noticing, but had now caught my attention with a wave. He lifted his hand slightly, quizzically raising an eyebrow at me and I shrugged at him, which seemingly was enough of a prompt for him to get up and make his way over to our table.

"What happened to you two?" He said once he'd reached earshot.

"What do you want, Zabini?" Harry asked him when he sat down next to him.

"Relax Potter, it's not you I'm interested in." Blaise said to him passively, not waiting for his response and turning straight to Hermione and me. "Everything okay?"

"Yeah." Hermione said. "We just had a bit of an incident yesterday."

"I couldn't find you anywhere." Blaise said when she didn't elaborate. "And the second she goes off to find you, I can't find either of you anywhere anymore. Define 'a bit of an incident'?"

"Ron got poisoned." I said and Harry shot me a look from across the table.

"Weasley?" Blaise said incredulous.

"What other Ron do you know?" Harry said sarcastically.

"Why Weasley though?"

"Wouldn't tell you if I knew."

Blaise raised an eyebrow at Harry. "They probably had it out for you, eh."

"Blaise." I said warningly.

"Sod off, Zabini."

Blaise just shrugged. "You two okay though?" He asked Hermione and I. "Excellent." He said when we both nodded. He proceeded to grab two slices of toast off of Harry's plate and made a run for the Slytherin table. "Nice chat, Potter."

"He's actually nice." Hermione tried reassuring Harry when Blaise had left, but he ignored her.

"Why did you have to tell him?" He asked me.

"Why not?"

"Because he's now going straight to Malfoy." He pointed in the Slytherins' direction, proving his point. Both Blaise and Draco had turned to look at us. "Malfoy's probably the one behind all this."

"He would have found out eventually anyways." I said. "It's not like news like this don't spread here at all."

"You're obsessing over him, Harry." Hermione added. "Even if he had anything at all to do with this, maybe let him see the consequences."

"You think he'd care about Ron?" Harry huffed. He carried on when neither of us answered. "I'm keeping an eye on him anyways. I'll figure it out if he's up to anything."

"You can't follow him around everywhere." I said.

"I don't need to. I've been checking where he's going on the Marauder's Map."

"That's stalking." Hermione said pointedly.

"What's the Marauder's Map?" I asked, feeling the skin on my neck begin to prickle uncomfortably.

"It shows people's location in the castle. Everyone's, wherever they are." Harry said matter-of-factly. "And we used it for the exact same thing last year Hermione, remember?"

I felt my heart leap into my throat.

"Yes, to keep an eye on the Inquisitorial Squad. Who were actively trying to hunt us down, may I remind you." Hermione said. "You have no actual proof Malfoy is up to anything, you're just invading his privacy here."

"How long have you been doing that?" I asked, actively trying not to gulp.

"A month." Harry shrugged. "Maybe more."

Oh Tituba.

"And what exactly has that brought you so far?" Hermione asked angrily.

"Nothing." Harry admitted darkly. "He sleeps, he eats, he goes to class. Hangs out with Crabbe and Goyle."

The wave of relief that rushed over me was almost palpable.

"There's times where he's completely off the map though." Harry continued and Hermione frowned at him. "I just can't find him anywhere, it's like he just vanishes."

Hermione changed the subject after that but still shot Harry disapproving looks whenever he tried mentioning Malfoy. I was just relieved Harry hadn't noticed me ever being alone with Draco. I was guessing the times he could not see Draco, were the times we were hiding out in the Room of Hidden Things. I was safe in there, as long as Harry never realised I was vanishing too.

I spent the next couple of days avoiding Draco all-together and kept to Hermione and Harry during meals. I was still torn about what to do about him. Carry on the way I had so far in the hopes of getting wiser. Tipping Harry off? It would be easy enough to let Harry know where Malfoy was vanishing all this time. But I couldn't keep Harry from trying to enter the Room of Hidden Things and I was done for if he ever did.

I was lucky Harry was quite preoccupied with the upcoming Quidditch match that week. The subject didn't come up again, not giving me a chance to pick it up but also not putting me in any delicate situation. Draco however, started growing more suspicious of me. When I still hadn't shared a meal with him and Blaise by Tuesday evening, he started shooting me curious looks whenever he was in my close vicinity. By Thursday afternoon, Parkinson had clearly picked up on this, slamming her shoulder into me hard and giving me a nasty smile in the corridor after our charms lesson.

"What's her problem?" Hermione asked.

"I don't know." I said, rubbing the shoulder she'd shoved.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, she just hit a nerve."

Hermione stopped walking and I turned around quizzically. The look she had on her face made my stomach sink.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

Hermione hesitated. "I talked to Blaise after lunch."

I didn't need to hear more. I turned around on my heel and started walking away, well aware of the tears stinging the corners of my eyes.

"Jay!" Hermione called after me.

"Don't bother." I said harshly.

"Jay, he just-"

She tried grabbing my hand, but I pulled it away. I turned to her.

"He had no right!" I said angrily. "And neither did you."

I marched off before she could say another word, leaving her standing in the middle of the corridor. I felt angry rather than upset and the strong urge to punch Blaise came over me. He didn't take Charms, but I knew exactly where he spent his free periods. I followed Parkinson over to the Clock Tower Courtyard and watched her join Blaise, all innocently huddled up with Draco, Crabbe and Goyle.

"Zabini." I barked at him. "A word."

The lot of them turned towards me. Blaise's mouth tightened when he saw my face but walked over regardless, to a drawn out ooooh from Parkinson. "Trouble in paradise?" She mocked.

I grabbed Blaise' arm and pulled him to a corner far away from his friends.

"What the hell were you thinking?" I hissed.

"Look, Jay-" At least he was smart enough to realise why I was mad.

"No, 'Look, Jay'. What the fuck made you think you had the right to tell her?!"

"I'm sorry, I didn't -" He tried putting his hands on my shoulder but I shoved him away.

"Don't touch me."

He raised his hands in defence, taking half a step back and I crossed my arms over my chest.

"You wouldn't talk to me about it." He said defensively.

"So you thought you could just go around and discuss it with everyone else?!"

"Not everyone else. Just Hermione."

"I don't care who, Blaise." I said forcefully. "It should be no-fucking-body." Our little quarrel had started attracting a few curious looks and I was well aware of it. I took a step towards Blaise and hissed under my breath. "This wasn't your story to tell."

I stepped away from him, readjusting the strap of my bag on my shoulder and walked away from him, not waiting for a response or another lame excuse. Draco was still standing in the middle of the courtyard. His face wasn't mocking like the other three's though, his lips were pursed disapprovingly. I could formally smell the 'I told you so'.

I stormed away, up to Gryffindor Tower, tears of anger still stinging in my eyes. Harry was sitting in an armchair by the fire, but I marched straight past his quizzical face, stomping up the stairs and throwing my bag in the corner of my deserted dormitory. I screamed in rage and punched the closed door with the side of my fist, instantly regretting it when the pain shot through it. I threw myself onto my bed, huffing.

I felt betrayed. Betrayed by Debbie for letting Blaise know. By Blaise for poking his nose into everything and then spreading the word. By Hermione for just letting him tell her. By Blaise and Hermione together for being in cahoots with each-other. I hated to admit this, but I should've listened to Draco. When had he become the most trust-worthy of my friends?!

And I felt alone. Completely alone in the world.

I locked the dormitory door, not that anyone would be coming in here for several hours anyways. They would all be at transfiguration now. I would already be late, there was no point in me going now. Not that I felt particularly up to it anyways. I could make up an excuse later. What kind without physically going to the Hospital Wing and faking an illness, I didn't know. But I didn't particularly care.

I hoped they were proud of themselves.

I closed the curtains on my four poster bed, tuning off all lights in the room and spent the rest of the afternoon staring into darkness. I didn't bother going down to dinner either. I wasn't hungry anyways. I heard the other girls slowly trickle into the room hours later. Lavender and Parvati first and Hermione had the decency not to speak to me with them around.

I got up before any of them the next morning, not having slept a single minute at night. My anger had started subsiding, replaced instead by a strong sadness I didn't much care for. I still resented Blaise and Hermione strongly, but the thought of looking them in the eyes made my heart clench with anguish. I made a point of ignoring the pair that day, making sure I sat next to anybody but them during classes and only showing up to meals briefly to grab a piece of bread before storming off again.

I wanted them to feel my hatred.

I didn't bother going to my dormitory to change that evening. Instead I went straight to the Room of Hidden Things, several hours before my scheduled meeting with Draco. I didn't care much, I wanted to be alone anyways. At least they couldn't find me here. Let them worry.

I fired up the wooden stove, pulling my school robes over my head and throwing them on the floor next to my bag. I sat down on the rug, hugging my legs to my chest. Anger and sadness were brewing in my stomach, competing with each other for dominance. I stared into the fire. Alone with my thoughts, I could feel tears welling up in my eyes again. I buried my head in my arms.

Why did they just have to rip open old wounds?!

That was my most prominent question. Why. I would've been fine on my own. I would've been better on my own, without their concern, without their worry and without their nosiness. There was no point in me feeling this way now. What had they even been thinking?!

"I thought you might be here."

I flinched. I hadn't noticed Draco coming towards our little hiding spot. He sat down next to me and I quickly wiped the tears off my face with the sleeve of my school sweater.

"It's not nine yet." I said quietly, sniffling a little.

"Just thought you might be hungry." He pulled two sandwiches wrapped in napkins and a bottle of pumpkin juice out of his bag and placed them both in front of me.

I hesitantly picked up one of the sandwiches. "Thank you."

"I know how unpleasant twenty-four hours without food feels like." He shrugged.

I didn't feel particularly hungry, but I started eating in small bites anyways, for Draco more than for myself. Neither of us said anything for a while.

"Bold move, skipping class." Draco picked up the conversation.

I shrugged. "I can deal with detention." I said. "At least I won't have to see their faces in the evening."

Draco smirked. "You won't get detention. Blaise told McGonagall you had a headache and went to Pomfrey for a pain killer potion. She never checks, trust me. Blaise hates himself by the way." Draco added quietly, helping himself to some of my pumpkin juice. "If that helps…"

"It doesn't." I shook my head.

Draco snorted. "I'm sorry."

I looked at him. "Not your fault."

He raised one corner of his mouth slightly. "You know I really want to say I told you so, don't you?" He turned his face to me and I turned back towards the fire, shrugging. Draco sighed. "Blaise has his issues with boundaries."

"No offence, but I really don't feel like talking about Blaise." I pushed the last piece of the sandwich into my mouth.

Draco grinned. "Fair enough." He said. "You know Granger is really upset too."

"Malfoy." I said warningly.

He just grinned broader. "Eat the other one." He pointed at the sandwich on the floor.

I thought about refusing it, but had a feeling Draco wouldn't let me. Plus even though I didn't feel hungry, my stomach didn't feel exactly full either.

Draco cleared his throat. "How's Weasley?"

I frowned at him, but he was avoiding my gaze. "He's fine." I said carefully. "Considering."

Draco nodded but didn't say anything more on the subject. I tried deciphering his face, but couldn't come to a satisfying conclusion. He had his unreadable mask on again. Troubled might be the word, but he might just as well be angry. Or frustrated, sad…

"Malfoy." I said quietly before I could stop myself. "Did you have anything to do with this?"

His features darkened immediately and my stomach seemed to tie itself into a not in response. I set my sandwich back down on its napkin.

"What did we say about digging, Potter?"

I gulped but didn't respond, waiting to see if he had anything more to say.

"Eat." He outright commanded, pointing at the sandwich.

"I'm okay, thanks." I said, trying to keep my voice neutral.

"Fine." Draco said, barely keeping the anger out of his own voice. He grabbed the rest of my sandwich, wrapped it back up and stuffed it in his bag along with the pumpkin juice.

I frowned. I should've picked that subject up differently. Even though I wasn't sure there was a situation in which he would react any differently.

"Draco." I said tentatively.

He furiously whipped his head around to me. "Potter." Was his only response though, making a point.

I sighed. "Never mind…"

I'd stalled the conversation quite severely and again, neither of us spoke for a while. I shot Draco occasional looks, his features relaxed slowly and he made no move to leave, but was refusing to meet my eye. I was feeling slightly uncomfortable, wanting to say something but not knowing how. He was toying with his wand, it had taken a good half hour of silence but his face had finally relaxed, only a small look of resignation left on it, when he said "Shall we do this?"

He raised his wand slightly. I took his hand as we always did and let him pull me to my feet. But I barely had the time to look up before he was in my head.

The heat was the first thing that hit me, as it always did. The feeling of familiar humidity on my skin and my shoes stuck in the mud. The alligator was nowhere to see and no attempt was made to find him.

No.

No, we were leaving the swamp and we were leaving my fourteen year old self. Her hair was shorter back then, she was even smaller, skinnier.

I missed her.

I tried squeezing Draco's hand - no reaction.

My heart leapt into my throat. I tried applying what he taught me. Clear your mind, think of nothing.

Salem. The grand old mansion. All white, deserted looking only until you crossed the wrought iron gate and several girls aged six to seventeen were revealed in the garden, on the all-round galleries, leaning against the fluted columns.

Malfoy had no regard for the beauty of my home.

He found Debbie in its kitchen, helping Martha, one of the matrons. One of the younger ones. More like an older sister.

High ceilings, chandeliers, all white walls and floors. The occasional mahogany detailing. My heart ached.

He found me in the dining room, setting the twenty-five foot table. Little seven year old Lizzie giggling when I made the glasses dance for her.

It was Christmas Eve.

I tried pulling away. He had my hand. He wouldn't let me go. I could hear my blood rushing through my head. I knew where this was going.

It was obvious where this was going. What he was doing.

"Can we go out?"

I knew she was going to ask. Not because I remembered, I'd already known back then she would ask. She'd asked the same question the previous year. And the year before.

And my mother had the same reaction. The same raised eyebrow.

"Home by midnight." Was her only response.

Debbie grinned at me. Up the grand staircase, left corridor, first door on the left. Double room. All white.

She forced a dark blue dress on me. Too short for my liking.

French quarter. It was dark out. Colder than in the afternoon. Jackets over our dresses, walking between the pretty, colourful houses. Under the many balconies.

The flowers.

Debbie flashed a blank card at the doorman, big smile on her face. I confunded. She pulled me inside.

Ten minutes at the bar.

A drink offer.

Brown eyes, ashy blond hair and a cigarette in his mouth.

I shook my head. I couldn't see this again. I tried squeezing Draco's hand again, over and over, pleading. But he was relentless.

I was stupid.

He tasted like cigarettes and alcohol. I didn't like it.

Then the world went hazy, blurred at the edges.

"Okay, I got'ya." I was in his arms.

I didn't want to be. I wanted to go home, get out of this.

My world got wrapped in cotton.

Where was Debbie?

No. No no no. Please don't. My cheeks felt hot and wet. I was still squeezing his hand, he must have had lost all feeling in it by then.

But still he didn't react.

The tiles were cold under my knees.

The hands on me warm.

The toilet bowl slick.

My world grey and undefined.

And the pain. The pain was tearing me in two.

I heard myself scream. At least I thought I did. It was unclear, but someone was screaming. Nobody could hear me in here though, whether it was in my head our in the room. Malfoy had made that clear.

I was throwing up.

I'd stuck a finger down my throat, trying to empty out my stomach. I missed the slick toilet once.

Lavender soap lingering on my skin.

The haze left. Time was unclear.

I stumbled up the grand stair case. The house was quiet, moonlight making it almost shine.

My shoes in hand, Debbie's silhouette asleep in her bed.

I tiptoed, I didn't want her to wake.

Where had she been?

I felt the rug under my fingers, Malfoy had let go of my hand, yet still wouldn't leave my head. I tried pushing. I'd done it before, I could push him out, couldn't I?

The bathroom lights were too bright.

The shower couldn't be hot enough.

The blue dress fell to the floor, my underwear followed.

Blood.

Malfoy was prepared. He resisted every push, seemingly flicking me away like an afterthought in my own mind.

I was sobbing, steam rising around my naked body.

"Tituba!"

Debbie threw a towel over my cowering form in the bathtub.

She pulled me out. Didn't ask. Put me to bed.

My world was still grey.

I needed my wand. All I could feel was the oriental rug under my hands, the layer of my school skirt and no wand. Where was my wand?!

Debbie crawling into bed next to me.

I hadn't eaten in days, dark circles under my eyes.

"It's done."

What?

My robes. My wand was in my robes. My robes were by my bag, my bag by the fire. Which way was the fire?!

The article was the worst, of course he'd focus on that.

'University Student Running Amok in Fraternity House'

"Essence of Insanity." Madam Fox.

My mothers hard face.

"You're the only one I ever taught how to brew it." Madam Vincent.

Please don't make me relive it.

"Disgraceful."

Get out.

"You jeopardised all our safety."

"You could've blown our cover."

Get out, get out, get out.

"A muggle, Joeleen."

Get out!

Debbie silent. Nowhere to be seen. And a flight back to London.

My hands on the hard stone floor came into focus. My knees were still on the oriental rug, I hadn't even made it close to my robes without seeing. I lifted my hand to my mouth. My face was soaked in tears, my head hurt and my vision was going in and out of focus.

I was sobbing. I didn't dare get up. I couldn't breathe, I couldn't confront Malfoy. I couldn't look him in the eye. My heart was pumping fast, I could still hear the blood rushing through my head. I curled up in a ball, right where I was and let the sobs roll over me, no point in trying to keep them silent.

I knew Malfoy was still there, it took him several minutes before he made a move however. I could hear his footsteps on the rug, then louder on the stone floor. He was walking away from me. Away from me crying on the floor, my insides in such nots I felt it could never detangle. I gasped for air. I couldn't hear him anymore and I tried getting up, buckling right back over from the pain in my stomach. I wrapped my arms around it and buried my face in the rug, letting my hair fall over it, shielding myself from the world.

I was lying right before the fire and still felt icy cold.

I didn't think this would ever pass. It didn't feel like it ever would. My stomach cramped up the second I tried uncurling and my head throbbed whenever I tried lifting it.

I flinched.

Malfoy was coming back.

I could hear his footsteps approaching and my brain's first instinct was to panic. What more did her want? He already had everything.

I felt his hand on my back. Gentle.

"Potter." He said softly.

No no no no no. I shook my head, turning my body away from him.

"I have something for you."

He grabbed my shoulder, gently pulling me up and my stomach clenched up. I winced.

"It's okay, come here."

He looped one arm around my stomach and slowly lifted my upper body. He was sitting behind me, one leg propped up, trying to pull me towards him. I tried pushing him away, but my arms barely listened to my brain.

"Potter, I need you to drink this." He said gently.

"No." I whimpered, no pushing both hands against his chest. "No, please."

He gently took my hands off him and pulled me against him so my left shoulder was leaning against his chest and my back against his propped up leg. I could feel a fresh bout of tears on my face, hot and sticky.

He took a flask off the floor, filled with a light blu liquid. I tried pushing his hand away from me, but he just wrapped his other arm around my upper body, holding me tightly.

"It's a calming draught."

He uncorked the flask with his thumb and put the opening to my lips. I turned my head around.

"It'll help. I promise you I'm not trying to poison you."

I shook my head violently, keeping my lips shut. Malfoy effortlessly took my chin in his hand, pried my lips open and poured the liquid into my mouth. It tasted minty, but he wouldn't let me spit it back out.

"Sh." He said, putting his handover my mouth and finally holding my nose closed when I refused to swallow. I felt like my tears had no end. I couldn't get out of his grip, he wouldn't let me go. I coughed when he finally let go of my face. I'd swallowed and for a split second my brain panicked again, thinking he had indeed poisoned me, before the fear died down completely.

I was gasping for air, tears still streaming down my face. Malfoy had one arm around me, holding my head against his shoulder with the other one.

"Breathe." He said, gently wiping my face with his shirt sleeve. I felt my heart slowing down, my headache was dying down, my stomach unclenching. I was still sobbing occasionally, but as long as I wasn't strictly thinking about what Malfoy had just done, there were no new tears.

I didn't know how long we sat like this. I developed hiccups after a while, but I refused to say a word to him. And he refused to let me go. Not that I felt strong enough to lift myself up off the ground anyways.

After a while Malfoy buried his own face in the back of my neck, my head still leaning against his shoulder. My eyes felt sore. I felt too tired to protest anymore and he didn't say a word to me. It took me a while to realise Malfoy was shivering behind me. He wasn't cold however, it wasn't constant shivering. More like occasional quivers.

It was silent, but Malfoy was crying.

/!\ SUMMARY:

Ron is still in the Hospital Wing the next morning, but the news haven't been picked up by the school as badly as Hagrid said it might be. People seem relatively unconcerned, except for Lavender.

At breakfast, Harry lets Hermione and Jay know he's been following Draco around via the Marauder's Map, to Jay's great concern. He hasn't noticed Draco doing anything weird however, and hasn't noticed Jay vanishing off the map as well whenever Draco is, even though he's been checking up on him for over a month.

Jay avoids Draco early in the week, suspecting him of being responsible for Ron's poisoning and is conflicted on whether or not she should continue meeting with him. She's abruptly reminded of her other problem when she realises Blaise had told Hermione about her rape. She confronts Blaise angrily, letting him know he had no right to do so and proceeds to ignore him and Hermione all-together for the the rest of the week.

Come Friday she's back to her old pattern of skipping meals and barely sleeping, feeling alone and betrayed by several of her friends. She skips dinner and avoid Gryffindor Tower by going straight to the Room of Hidden Things after class, seeking refuge.

Draco catches her sitting by the fire crying and bring her some dinner, which he makes her eat. Despite being uncomfortable, he asks Jay how Ron is doing and she lets him know he's okay. She then asks him if he had anything to do with it and Draco becomes visibly angry.

After he calms down, he offers Jay to carry on with her lessons. She accepts, but Draco has ulterior motives. Seeking revenge for her 'digging', he proceeds to dig through her memory, making her relive her own rape. He watches as she goes home, showers and as Debbie takes care of her afterwards, all-the-while ignoring Jay's pleas to get out of her head. He watches as Debbie lets Jay know 'It's done', which she doesn't understand until a muggle article emerges describing how a local university student had been running amok in his fraternity house.

Madam Fox, Salem Headmistress, and Madam Vincent, Potions Instructor, confront Jay having figured out the student had been given Essence of Insanity, which only Jay had been instructed on how to brew. They lecture her on how she risked their secrecy, with Debbie nowhere to be seen and send her straight back to London, effectively making her a Salem outcast.

Draco finally lets go of her, leaving her head and leaves her to cry on the floor. He returns after a few minutes, forcing her to drink a calming draught to get her out of the breakdown she's having. He continues to hold her and Jay, too weak to fight back, lets him until Draco too starts crying.