Chapter 10 The Curse of Regrets
"There, you have your answer, can we end this now?!" Snape said, turning toward Dumbledore.
"Yes, Harry, take Draco upstairs and keep him there till morning. Minerva, would you please help them upstairs." Dumbledore said quietly.
"Of course, come along boys." she said sadly.
Harry placed his hand on Malfoy's arm and gently pulled him out of the room, no one making a sound as they left.
Professor McGonnagal walked behind them, inaudibly talking to herself and occasionally sighing or snuffling.
Harry turned to see the blonde walking numbly beside him. Draco had just admitted to the Order that he had been raped throughout his teenage years. It made a huge impact on Harry. Malfoy had given away his deepest secret, all so Harry wouldn't have to tell his own.
As they entered the den, McGonnagal instructed them to be silent, pointing to the sleeping forms of Ron and Hermione on the rug in front of the hearth. The three silently made their way up the steps and finally to the bedroom, McGonnagal helping Harry with his crutches.
"Now, Harry make sure Draco stays inside of here until morning. The potion has not fully worn off. If anything happens come and get us. Don't answer anyone's questions if you don't feel safe in your judgment to answer. Someone will be here in the morning to speak to you, I'm not sure who yet, probably Remus or someone already staying in the house. Stay out of trouble and remember, if you need us, feel free to contact us." she said, offering her goodnight to both boys and leaving them quickly, muttering something about waking Ron and Hermione up before the meeting was dissmissed.
Once the door closed, Harry went over and locked it, making sure no one would come in that night. Turning back he saw that Draco had gone over to the window and was now sitting on the ledge, peering at the moon. Harry set his crutches down and hobbled over, not really sure of what to do.
"Are you alright?" he asked softly, coming up to lean against the wall beside the blonde.
"Yeah."
Silence lasped again. Harry sighed and stared up at the moon as well.
"Why did you do it? You could have let me take the fall. No one needed to know that about you."
Draco turned his attention to the raven-haired boy.
"Harry, look at me and listen to me full well because you know I'm still under Veritaserum and can't lie. I did that because if you had told them your secret, it would have leaked out. The world can't afford a broken savior. Once everyone had found out, you would have been in the papers again, and everyone would have been trying to protect you, to make sure you were never alone and they would never give you a moments peace. The people would panic, thinking they had no one to turn to and the whole thing would be a mess. Plus, you would have to walk around, having people feel sorry for you and give you pitying looks, knowing that your biggest secret was out. Soon, Voldemort would get wind of it and use this weakness to his advantage. Trust me Potter, I had less to lose." he said as he headed back over to his bed.
Harry sighed and continued looking out the window. He had to tell Draco the whole story. It was only fair.
Thunder boomed through the house, announcing the down fall of rain as it began to cascade upon the roof.
"Draco, I need to tell you something." he said, intently staring at the moon.
Draco turned and looked cautiously at the boy.
"I, never really, told you the truth..about what happened to me at my Aunt and Uncle's house. I did get beaten, but that's not just it either. The..same thing happened to me..that happened to you."
"They raped you?" Draco asked, looking down at his clenched hands.
"Yes. My uncle did. He didn't do it as often as your father did to you, but I thought I should let you know. That's what happened to me. Before I came here, my uncle beat and raped me worse than he ever had done before, and I knew that if I stayed, I wouldn't make it. I'm sorry I didn't tell you before. I was just afraid of what you would think. I didn't know you had gone through the same thing."
Draco got up and walked over to Harry's side. "Don't be sorry. It's not your fault this happened. I didn't tell you either, so I know how you feel. Fear that people will think you're weak or sick. It's not something we need. That's why I took the fall for you earlier. You need to be as strong as you can for this war. No one needs to know what holds you back."
Harry looked over and smirked at the blonde. "Who knew you could be so sensitive."
"No one. Tell a soul and I'll rip your throat out." he said with a joking wink.
Lighting flashed outside and both boys looked down in the yard to see two moving figures. The forms were moving quickly and jerkily, and with the next flash of lighting the boys could tell that it was Moody and Kimbly. They both appeared to be struggling with one another.
"What's going on?" Harry asked, leaning closer on the window.
A flash of red light shot from one of the men's wand and streaked across the distance between the them and slammed into Moody's chest, flinging him backwards.
"Oh God, Kimbly is escaping! I've gotta get help. Stay in the room Draco. Turn the lights out and stay hidden. Don't come down unless we say to." Harry said, grabbing his wand and rushing out the door,leaving his crutches behind.
Draco felt helpless, but understood why he had to stay upstairs. What was going on? Why had Kimbly attacked the ex-auror?
Doing as Harry instructed, Draco turned off the lights and layed on the bed. He would find out what was going on once Harry came back up. It was starting to unnerve him, so he hoped Potter would hurry.
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Harry clambered down the stairs, ignoring the pain in his legs, and turned the corner, running into Ron, Hermione, and Professor McGonnagal, who were now sitting on the couch, casually talking as if nothing were happening.
"Mr.Potter? What on earth are..."
"It's Kimbly! He stunned Moody!" Harry said, catching his breath.
"What! Oh heavens are you sure?" McGonnagal asked, getting up and rushing to the kitchen with Harry at her side.
"Yes, Draco and I saw it through the window!"
"Ron, Hermione, go upstairs and to the library. Floo for help and stay in your rooms!" she said with determination.
The two teens ran upstairs and out of sight as Harry and McGonnagal burst into the kitchen. Remus and Snape were sitting close together, both composed yet looked quite sullen.
"Quickly, Kimbly has attacked Alastor! We must find him!"
At her words, both men shot up and bolted out the door into the rain. The four looked cautiously around as they searched for Moody in the grass.
"There!" Remus shouted, pointing to a dark, solid form on the ground.
When they reached him, Snape did a quick overview to determine what he had been hit with.
"Its a dark curse. I have to get him to the lab in the basement."
"But it hasn't been used in years. Will there be anything useful down there?" McGonnagal asked in concern.
"Yes, I left a few things there in case, and a hidden phial closet is down there as well. Try to find Kimbly. He can't have gone far." Snape said as he levitated Moody beside him and walked into the house quickly.
Just as Severus entered the den, Dumbledore, Hagrid, Arthur, and Tonks came down the stairs.
"What's going on?" Dumbledore asked worrily.
"Ron said Moody's been attacked?" Arthur said, coming up behind him.
"Yes. as you can see, he's been hit with a dark curse. I'm going to try and revive him, but Kimbly is still out there."
"You heard him, lets go." Dumbledore said, casting a glamour charm on himself so he wouldn't be recognized.
The four wizards hustled outside and up to the other group.
"Harry, which way did he go?" Remus asked once everyone had gathered.
"That way, behind the shed." he said, pointing to his left.
"Alright, Harry you go back inside with Draco. In case something happens we need you here and out of harms way. Aren't you still hurt? Go rest before you damage yourself more."
"Yes sir." he said, a bit reluctantly, but hurried his way inside.
Once inside, thunder shook the house and Harry rushed through the entryway and up the stairs. Ron peaked his head out of the door to his bedroom.
"Hey mate, what's going on?" he asked in concern, Hermione close by his side.
"Here, let me in, I have alot to tell you." Harry said, going inside and getting comfortable.
He told them bits about the meeting, nothing he would get in trouble for, and nothing about Draco's past. He did mention how he couldn't tell them anything about the meeting's meaty details to ensure them all entering; but all he really told them, was that they went over Voldemort's plans and a man from the Ministry was sitting in on the meeting. He described to them that Kimbly had an outburst and was magically held silent and still. He also told them that Moody went to Obliviate the meeting from Kimbly's mind, but he had gotten away before anything happened and he stunned Moody with a dark curse. Now they were frantically looking for the fugative before he told any information he heard.
"Bloody hell. Why did they let him in there in the first place?"
"I agree, it was very unwise of them." Hermione shook her head.
"I'm not sure. I guess Dumbledore had to prove to the Ministry that they were really against Voldemort."
Just as Harry finished his statement, the sound of shattering glass met their ears.
"Draco!" Harry yelled, "Stay here no matter what!" he said to Ron and Hermione before getting up and running into his and Draco's room.
Broken glass was strewn about the floor and Kimbly was standing with his wand pointed at a weaponless Draco.
His gaze shifted over to Harry. "Don't move or the Malfoy boy dies."
Harry's eyes narrowed. "What do you want with him?" His dream of many nights ago flashed through his mind. He needed Draco to defeat Voldemort. Did the Dark Lord know that?
"His father greatly misses him." Kimbly said with a vile sneer.
Draco clenched his fists at his side. He couldn't move...for Harry's sake. Right before Harry had burst in, Kimbly had said that he was planning on taking both boys back to Voldemort. He had to help somehow while Kimbly's focus was on Harry.
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"Remus, have you picked up his scent?" Tonks asked through the howling wind and rain.
"Yes, but its very faint."
"We are nearly three blocks from the house by now, do you think he might have disapparated?" Dumbledore asked, looking around and scanning the perimeter.
"He might have disapparated, but I'm not sure where to. His scent has just stopped."
"Alright, Nymphadora, Hagrid, you both keep looking, call for backup from the other members if you need it. The rest of us will head back to headquarters and make sure everything is secure there with Harry and Draco."
Parting their separate ways, the rest continued searching while the other four hurried back.
"Minerva, Arthur, I'll need you both to go to Flitwick and ask him if the offer is still open. I had Ron and Hermione visit him earlier because I couldn't make it. Don't ask details, just ask for a yes or no answer and the soonest date. Report back to me when you know."
With a nod, both disapparated, leaving Remus and Dumbledore to make their way back to the house.
"Do you think he's a follower of You-Know-Who?" Remus asked.
"Yes, I believe he is connected to him somehow, but I don't believe that he is a Death Eater. He had no mark and Severus did not recognize him, neither did Mr. Malfoy. If he leaks out that I am alive before the proper time, our plan is ruined."
"What is your plan Albus?"
"I'll mention it soon enough, but now is not the time." he whispered back.
Once they reached the house, Remus lifted his head in the air. "Kimbly's scent is strong again..too strong, he's here somewhere."
Dumbledore's eyes shot up to the bedrooms. "We must hurry!"
They both ran inside, hoping it wasn't too late.
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"His father misses him greatly." sneered Kimbly.
"Well thats a right shame isn't it. He finally sees how he misses his son at the last minute. What a convenience." Harry said mockingly.
"Sometimes the love of a father is at a convenience, but you wouldn't know would you? You never had that priviledge."
Anger boiled inside of Harry, "Stupi.." but before he could finish his spell, Kimbly hit him with an "Expelliarmus!"
Harry's wand flew from his hand. "Foolish move Potter, now you're unarmed. You should really control that temper, the Dark Lord was right about you."
"What exactly did he say?" Harry asked, gritting his teeth.
"Just that the simplest way to hassel you would be by insulting your parents. I hadn't even said what I was going to before you reacted. Kidnapping you both proves easier than I expected. I will be rewarded greatly for my services. The new information of Dumbledore being alive is going to promote my standing as well."
"Well I won't leave without a fight, and I'm sure Voldemort wants me untouched. I won't cooporate so easily."
"No? Crucio!" Kimbly said, turning back to Draco, hitting him hard with the curse.
Draco fell to the floor, writhing in agony. "Still not willing to cooporate?" he said evilly, still concentrating the curse on Draco.
"Stop!" Harry yelled, moving towards the Kimbly.
"Take another step and I will kill him. No one cares if he lives or dies."
Harry stopped in his tracks. What would he do? "Fine, I'll cooporate, just stop!"
Kimbly let up on the curse, facing Harry with a sly grin. "I thought so."
Draco felt like thousands of knives were cutting him open from the inside out. Hearing Harry agree to cooporate, he felt the curse lift. No, Harry, don't ... he thought. Forcing open his eyes, Draco saw that Harry's wand was only a few inches away from his hand. It had been thrown slightly under the bed from the Expelliarmus curse. He had to act fast.
Harry looked behind Kimbly and saw Draco inching his hand closer to the wand. He needed to distract Kimbly.
"First of all I need to know, who are we going to see? Did Lucius send you, or Voldemort himself?"
"Neither, I just happened to agree to go on an important assignment that the Ministry appointed me to, only to find out that Draco is here in the headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix. The Dark Lord of course will be pleased with this outcome now that we can defeat you. The Dark Lord also would love to see Draco again, although I know Lucius has been itching to see his dear son a bit more." he insinuated. "Yes, Draco will get quite a warm welcome." Kimbly said, turning around to face the blonde.
Panic flashed in Kimbly's eyes, but before he could react Draco shouted, "Crucio!"
The man fell to the floor and dropped his wand to clutch his sides. Harry scrambled over and took the wand, just as Remus and Dumbledore burst through the doorway.
"Finite Incantatem!" Remus shouted at Draco. Then turned to Kimbly, "Incarcerous!"
It was over. Harry breathed a sigh of relief, then ran over to Draco's side. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, I just need to rest. The pain will go away soon. It always does." he smiled through gritted teeth.
"Is everything alright? What happened up here?" Remus demanded.
"Kimbly broke though the window. I came in and he had Draco at wand point and was going to take us to Voldemort. I lost my wand and Draco was Crucio'd because I wouldn't agree to leave with Kimbly. I said I would agree if he stopped and Draco took him off guard before I cooperated. Then you two came in."
"I saw that you used an Unforgivable on him as well." Dumbledore said, looking accusingly at the blonde.
"Sorry sir, I had to give him a taste of his own medicine." Draco winced.
"Well let's get him back into bed and get a relieving potion from Severus." Dumbledore said as he and Lupin carefully hoisted Draco into his bed.
"What about him?" Harry asked, pointing to Kimbly.
"Obliviate!" Remus shouted. "Now he's taken care of. Let's get him out of here while he's unconscious."
"Wasn't that a bit harsh Remus?" Dumbledore said, a twinkle in his eye.
"Let's see how Moody is doing while we are down there. Will you two be alright?"
"Yes sir." they both said.
"Alright, we will get that relieving potion. Severus will probably bring it to you because I'm sure he will be worried about you when we tell him what happened." Dumbledore said as he and Remus walked out the door, leaving the two teens alone.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Harry asked, going over and cleaning up the glass on the floor.
"Yeah, the pain is already starting to go away." he lied.
"Malfoy, why didn't you let Kimbly take me to Voldemort?" Harry asked, lookng confused.
"Bloody hell Potter! I already told you I was on your side!" Draco said, a bit annoyed.
"Ha, I know, I just wanted to hear you say it again. Who knew, the ferret, finally on my side for once."
"Shut up Potter. You're such a vain twat."
"Hey!" Harry laughed in mock hurt.
The laughter died down and their conversation turned serious. Harry looked over at Draco. "So Kimbly said Voldemort didn't know where we are, do you think he was telling the truth?"
"Yes. It might be a good idea to put up extra wards just in case, but I honestly think Kimbly was the first to know."
"Besides Snape?" Harry narrowed his eyes.
"Yes, besides Snape, and he wouldn't tell. Believe it or not Sev is a good guy, he hates Voldemort. He has been more of a father to me than my own and I can promise you, he's on the right side."
"Fine. I'll trust you. But if you're wrong..."
"I'm not."
"Okay. Well I'm gonna go check on Ron and Hermione. I kind of left them in their room. I'll be back in awhile."
With a nod Draco watched Harry leave. Sighing he relaxed into the bed. The pain was still coursing through his body, but slowly easing up. He hoped Severus would get there soon. Till then, he tried to focus on his pain, instead of on the raven-haired boy a few doors away.
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Severus scoured through his phials, occasionally adding a drop or two of this and that. Sweat formed on his brow as he hurridly tried to concoct the antidote for this deadly curse that had been caste on Alastor Moody. Guilt began to plant itself in his mind as he recalled how he had helped create this curse.
Severus was supposed to be working as a double agent, and he was, but the only problem was that he had let himself be pressured by the Dark Lord. You-Know-Who had given an order for the Death Eaters to create a new curse, with Severus and Avery in charge. Normally, Snape would have told the Order this new information, but the Dark Lord had prepared for someone to tell his secret. He announced that every Death Eater had to take a Vow to never reveal this curse's formula, nor the antidote to anyone. If they did, the vow would slowly constrict their lungs and stop their blood flow, killing them in a day. Therefore, Snape never revealed the curse to the Order, and now a prized member's life was on the line. Damn the Dark Lord, and damn himself for ever allowing himself to be drawn into this hell. Moody was one of the best, if not the best Auror out there, but even skill can't save someone from a curse like this. Although Moody appeared to be merely stunned on the outside, he was being dissolved on the inside. The only way to tell that the curse had even been caste, was to look for the slightly red moon-crescent sliver's above the eyelashes. Severus had to make the antidote, and fast before Moody was lost.
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Lupin and Dumbledore quickly left Harry and Draco's room with an unconscious Kimbly levitating his way behind them.
"This is a sticky situation Remus. We are going to have to alter Kimbly's mind. The Ministry is expecting a full report from him on how the Order meeting went, but we couldn't keep his information on the meeting. How much of his mind did you obliviate with that blast?"
"Only the meeting. I know it sounded powerful, but I was just a bit angry."
"I see, well that's good. Now, lets hold him in the cellar until tomorrow morning when everything has calmed down. Then we can give him a few moments of the meeting, but nothing revealing. That way he has something to report on to the Ministry." Dumbledore concluded. They reached the end of the stairs and made their way to the cellar, where Severus was busily working on the antidote.
Severus looked up momentarily and sighed with relief. "Lupin, can you give me a hand? I need you to stir this while I prepare his entry point."
"Of course. So you're almost done then?"
"Yes, just a few more touches." he said wearily.
"Good, "Dumbledore said, levitating Kimbly to an empty room and locking him inside, " let me know how it goes. I just thought of something that I need to correct in my files. It could prove useful. Will you two excuse me. Remus, go ahead and tell him. I don't know when I'll be done."
"Alright. Once we finish this I will."
"Let me know of his condition." he said, and after casting a pitying look on Moody, he left the room.
"What do I need to know?" Severus said, pausing from preparing Moody.
"Nothing until you finish this. One thing at a time Severus. You're almost done anyway, correct?" Remus said while stirring the potion.
"Yes." He said, getting back to work.
The two remained silent as Severus came over and filled a phial with the potion. He went over to the cabinet and got out a lid for the phial, which looked oddly like an eye drop top.
Remus stepped aside and watched the black haired man work precariously. Keeping his hand steady, Severus leaned over Alastor's face and put three drops into each eye, then put three into his mouth.
"There, now we wait a few minutes for it to kick in."
"How do you know it will work?"
"The reaction wi...I'll just know." he said, saving himself. He wasn't sure if explaining what happens when you know the antidote works went along with giving away the secret, so he just rather stayed away from it.
Remus curiously looked at Severus' face. "Something is wrong."
Snape rolled his eyes in disgust. "Why do you always suspect the worst? Just because I don't tell you how I know doesn't mean anything is wrong."
A murmur came from behind them and they turned to see Moody stirring.
"Alastor!" Remus hurried over to his side.
"Are you in anymore pain?" Severus asked, skipping the niceties. Remus looked strangely at him.
"No, it stopped right when I woke up. Where's the grimy son-bitch that did this!" he squirmed.
"No, lean back, Dumbledore and I are taking care of it. You lay here." Remus said, urging him back down.
"I've never seen a curse like that. It burns you on the inside. You can feel your organs disinigrating, you're completely aware but you can't do a thing about it."
"That's horrible..." Remus said, astonished.
"He must have been a Death Eater. Only they would come up with curses so powerful."
"He isn't, he didn't have a scar, but he is working with You-Know-Who. After he escaped, he led us all on a chase, but snuck back here. He tried to kidnap Draco and Harry. He didn't succeed thanks to the boys' quick thinking, but Draco did undergo the Cruciatus curse." Remus explained.
"What!" Severus roared.
"That's what I was supposed to tell you Severus, but you needed to finish the potion first." Remus tried to explain.
Severus scowled and went up the stairs.
"Wait here and rest." Remus said to Moody, then rushed up the stairs after Snape.
"Not yet Severus. Not until you tell me something." he said, pausing midway up.
"What the bloody hell is it!" he said, stopping at the top of the stairs and turning to face him. He just wanted to get to his Godson.
"How did you know about the curse?"
"You know, reading helps if you look in the right places."
"Bullocks! How can you know of a curse that Moody wouldn't know of if it wasn't recently created! And how did you know the antidote? It sounded to me like you had it memorized. You didn't even have to look at a book and you knew exactly what to do!" Remus said, getting angrier by the second.
"I ..." Snape, stuttered. He had never seen Remus that angry in a long time. He didn't know what to say, anything he did would be his death sentence. He had to word himself carefully.
"It was recently created by the Death Eaters." that wasn't giving the potion away...he was still safe.
"If the Death Eaters truly did create it, why hadn't you told us before!"
"I have my reasons!"
"Why would you keep such a deadly curse from us? Whose side are really on Severus! You obviously don't care what happens to any of us if we can't even trust you to give us all the details."
Snape rushed down the stairs and wrapped his hand around Remus' neck, forcing him against the wall.
"Don't you ever say I don't care!"
"Well do you? Alastor might have died Sev! Don't you think a curse as bad as an Unforgivable is worth telling?"
"Yes!" Severus said, letting go and turning his back to Remus.
"Then tell me what it is!"
"I can't!"
"Why not!"
"Because .."
"Because why Severus!"
"Because I'll die!"
Remus paused. "What..."
"I made the curse...I took a Vow for Voldemort, if I tell any details to the curse, I'll die." he said, giving up the fight. "So if saving my own life by keeping this a secret means that I don't care, then I'd rather die. Would you like me to tell you! You want to know so bloody badly!"
"No! Sev,... I'm...I'm so sorry. I..." he tried to reach out to Severus, to hold him, but he couldn't.
"Just leave it...You might want to go tell Dumbledore that Moody is awake." the seething man said bitterly, going up the stairs to check on his Godson.
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Harry hadn't even been gone ten minutes before the door creaked open again. "Well you're back so.. oh, Sev, its you."
"Nice way to greet your Godfather. Are you alright?" he said, quickly coming up to Draco's bedside, leaving on his mask of indifference.
"Yes, I'm fine. The pain is practically gone. It's not like its the first time."
"I know that, but it doesn't make it any less important. Take this just in case." he handed Draco a phial from his cloak.
"Are you alright?" Draco asked in return, seeing Snape's uncomposed demeanor.
"Draco, do you remember Kimbly from any of the Death Eater meetings or being at your father's house before?" he said, skipping the question asked to him.
"Uh, no, I've never seen him before. Are you wondering how he is working with You-Know-Who too?"
"Yes, but that probably isn't the best thing to be talking about behind closed doors. I was only wondering."
"How is Moody? What was he hit with?"
"He should be fine. He was hit by the curse of no name. Remember the one I told you we couldn't speak of?"
"Yeah, so you helped him in time?"
"That, and the old codger will never die no matter how much one might hope..." Snape said, morphing back into his sarcastic self.
Draco smiled, then leaned back on the pillow. His smile faded however before he spoke. "Sev, are you thinking about what I said in the meeting?"
Snape tensed. He had completely blocked the meeting from his mind and everything that Draco had said about his father. Everyone had been so caught up in the drama of Kimbly escaping that it slipped everyone's mind he assumed.
"I'm sorry if it bothered you, but I had to tell someone. I didn't want to, but I had to."
"I know Draco, its alright. I just wish it never happened. Don't be sorry for something like that though. It will make you stronger in the end."
"Yea, I hope so. Me pretending to be strong is annoying me." he smirked.
"You seem to be taking on a new personality the more you stay here. God-forbid you turn into another Golden child."
"That will never happen Sev. I am trying a different outlook though. Alot has happened in the short time I've spent here."
"Well, there are no rules saying you can't stay yourself, so don't think you have to change."
"Alright." Draco yawned.
"Here, you need rest, that potion seems to be kicking in. If Potter comes in here screaming about Quidditch or how badly life is treating him, just throw something heavy at him and tell him thats a personal message from his Professor saying to shut the bloody hell up."
"No problem there."
"Goodnight Draco." Snape said, quietly turning out the lights and exiting the room.
Draco closed his eyes and suddenly realized how tired he was. What time was it? Better yet, what day was it? He had lost track of time staying in Grimmauld Place. Then again, there wasn't really a need for it. Draco fell into a slight sleep, Kimbly's voice saying "No one cares whether he lives or dies" echoed through his head. Luckily his sleep was soon disturbed by the sound of Harry coming into the room. He heard the boy sneak in, change quietly, then hop into bed. Alot had to be discussed in the morning, he just hoped he could get a good night's sleep before hand.