The gun shot rang throughout the forest, followed by three more, and Draco, still in dragon form, shot his head up at the noise, eyes wide, mouth open slightly in confusion, bellowing a roar.
"Izzy, did you hear that?" He asked, looking around at the trees. He had never heard anything like it before, but he had read about muggles creating sounds like that with weapons before in books. "Izzy?" Draco yawned, stretching his front claws against the dirt and leaves. "Wake up Toretto, were losing daylight."
He lifted his wing, and turned his neck into his side; panic and fear coursing through him when he didn't see her sleeping soundly beside him like she was supposed to. He was on his feet in seconds, eyes scanning the area for her. "Izzy!" He looked up into the trees, surprised to see his Eagle Owl watching him from above.
"Finster! Finster, where's Toretto?" He sounded, snapping at his owl; he didn't care how his owl had even found him; his main priority at the moment was finding Isabella and keeping her out of harms way.
"She went off with that ruddy bird of hers to find food. She told me to keep an eye on her." The owl said, shook up by the sudden noise.
"I swear she's going to murder me." Draco muttered through gritted teeth, biting down on the inside of his cheek.
"How long have they been gone?"
"About an hour or two, before sunrise came." The owl explained, quickly turning his head at the sound of wings flapping furiously.
"Which way did they go?!"
"They took off in-"
"Malfoy!" Danger exasperated, landing on the ground with a light thud in front of him. "Hunters. They've got Fuzzy trapped. You have to come with me. I heard a gun go off. I think she's been shot!"
"Shot? What do you-"
"Shot! With a gun! Look, its a weapon muggles use to kill each other, and they may have hurt Fuzzy with it! Now shut up and follow me, dimwit!"
No. Draco's heart was racing against his chest.
"Izzy." He let out a soundless breath.
"Take me to her!" He transformed back into his human self, keeping his eye on Danger and Finster flying high above him as he sprinted as fast as he could after them, feeling like was flying as he jumped over each root that was shooting up from the ground; running blindly into the deep part of the wood, following the winged creatures. He felt his heart breaking after traveling a mile or so, when he saw the still body of a wolf, surrounded by men, the leaves under her, soaked cherry red along the mud encrusted earth as he reached a clearing, the sun just beginning to rise sending a beam of light down, brightening the desolate area as Draco left the darkness.
"Get the bloody hell off of her!" Draco yelled, running towards them.
"What are you doing out here?!" The older man shouted, seeing Draco come storming out of the woods like a mad man. "This is private property and you have no right to-"
"Right to what?! Kill an innocent animal like you lot did?!" Draco growled, "I am going to make you pay for harming her!"
As if coming back from the dead, like the creature of Dr. Frankenstein, Isabella sprung back to life, shoving the younger gentleman to the side and running past them, to Draco still in wolf form, wagging her tail despite the situation they had been thrown into.
"What the-?" The young boy said, his mouth open in shock. He turned to his father, "I thought you killed her?"
The father looked at the dark red wet leaves stained on the ground, and stared at the wolf with bewildered eyes. "I did! I had to have shot her! She fell immediately!"
Draco stared at her in confusion. She wasn't dead? He glanced up at the two men one last time before looking down at Izzy.
"Come on, before they get any ideas about you being mounted on their wall." He said.
He turned to glare at the two men one last time, hearing branches crunching under the wolf's weight, a sign that Isabella was already running off, before sprinting back towards where they had made camp before. Those two were muggles, and there was a possibility that they had recognized him from the headlines from yesterdays print; staying here and allowing them to put two and two together and decipher that Draco was the boy everyone was hunting for, would not be ideal to say the least.
"I told you it wasn't an ordinary wolf. It's obviously a protector of the woods. Like those native's say."
The father shook his head, taking his weapon and watched as the strange boy and wolf run off into the wood. "Don't be stupid Nate!" The man huffed, picking his gun and throwing it over his shoulder. "Whatever it was. It's lucky one way or another! Let's go before that kid presses charges. That wolf looked to be his. He's probably the kid of those rich folks who own this place."
"Don't tell anyone what we did or who you saw here. Or it's the slammer for both of us. Understand?" The father ran off, as fast as his legs could carry him, "Hurry up Nate!"
"At least you got away." He said to himself, smiling and staring into the empty space once occupied by the animal he became so enchanted with.
When they reached camp again, Isabella jumped to human form.
Draco on the other hand was fuming, nostrils flaring as he, in silence, walked with a heaviness in his steps.
"I'm sorry for running off again. Don't be mad."
"Mad?! You were almost killed!" He pointed into the woods that they had just come from. "We're wanted in every single world right now, Isabella! Do you realize that if they recognized one of us, we're dead?! What if I had to use magic to keep you alive?! We would have been discovered. Sticking together is our only way of surviving." He was pissed at her, there was no denying it.
"It's not like I wanted to leave!" She yelled, and slipped the bag off, which was stained a dark red hue. The back of her shirt was also soaked damp. "I only left to bring you these." With that, she unzipped the bag.
Upon seeing that the blackberries were completely useless, their juices running and around the bag and completely crushed; she threw the backpack to the ground.
"Damn! They're all ruined!"
"I appreciate you going to get me food, Izzy, but I would have lasted two more hours!" He wasn't going to let her guilt trip him like she always did. This was a serious matter, and she had to know that he was angry. "It's not like I was lying on the forest floor starving to death. Hell, you're hungrier than I am! And don't deny it! I had that bread and you didn't! You haven't eaten in days. If there's anyone who should eat it's you!" He crossed his arms over his chest, staring at her.
"I can last a lot longer without food than you can!" She glared at him while he scolded her. "I can tell you're hungry. You're cranky! Don't lie to me! If you weren't starving, you wouldn't be acting like this. You wouldn't be yelling at me!"
His expression softened. He was still pissed at her, but she was alive, and she had tried to help him. Truth was, she scared the hell out of him when he saw her lying dead on the forest floor. "Yeah, I'm starving, but so are you. You were squirming in your sleep the other day because of how hungry you were." He sighed, walking over to her and wrapping her in his arms gently. "I'm sorry I yelled. You scared the shit out of me."
So she wasn't dreaming after all?
"I just wanted to help."
He made a move towards her, ushering her to come forward, and gesturing to her blood stained shirt. "Come here. Let me see-"
"He didn't shoot me if that's what you're referring to." She sighed, "When he fired those shots, it scared me and I tumbled and landed on the berries. That blood you saw was only berries." She sighed, "When I heard them running over to me, I faked death so they wouldn't go after you. And you could get away if you had to." Isabella admitted.
"And as far as the food goes, really I'm fine. Don't worry about me. My hide's tougher than yours, even though you have scales and I don't."
Draco kissed the top of her head, sighing, just happy that she was still alive. It had been a close call. Too close.
"I love you. I'm always going to worry about you. And regardless, you still need to eat. We can go searching together, hunt, or even steal so food from a grocery store if we need to. I can start a fire. We need to get our strengths up if we're going to be flying to another country."
"You hunt?" Isabella said, incredulously. "I didn't think Malfoy's knew the word: hunt." She shook her head and smiled. "There's no need to steal, we both have money. If we're that desperate to go to a muggle store, I suppose I could pretend to be your seeing-eye wolf, and you could disguise yourself. You are the one that needs to eat. You'll be flying not me."
Draco smiled at her. "Alright. But we need to make sure we don't leave anything behind so they can track us easily." He looked around the woods for any signs of any animals. "And as for hunting, you are the wolf. We'll go hunt together, me mostly hiding and not scaring the animals away, and then we'll cook. You're going to need your strength to hang on during the flight."
Isabella went up on her toes and planted a light kiss on his lips. "So what's the plan? Seeing as mine have a way of backfiring, I'll let you decide on what we're going to do."
"Give me the bag." Draco held his hand out for her to hand it to him, and when she did, he threw it over his shoulder. "I'm just going to go off on a wild guess here and say you've never hunted before."
"Really? Are you asking me that? I've never hunted before-"
"You're going to stand there and tell me that you've actually hunted?" He raised his eyebrow at her, crossing his arms.
She scoffed, and then looked up at him innocently. "It's not that I don't know how to hunt, I just don't like killing or eating something that I saw alive before it died. I'm not capable of murdering an innocent creature."
"I know." Draco frowned at her, but leaned forward and kissed her. "I'm not either. But this is about surviving. And who knows what else we'll need money for. Maybe once we find a safe place, we can get a home together, live out the war away from everyone and return back to England when it's safe." He smiled at the thought of starting a life with her.
"Just don't talk to them, alright? It'll make it less personal. I'll follow behind you and stay hidden so I don't scare anything away. And..try and get something big. Maybe a deer."
"A deer? A cute fuzzy deer? That's like asking me to kill Bambi." She gasped remembering a muggle novel she read years ago about a fawn who was born in the forest and how hunters invaded it, and killed off many animals. The forest was nearly destroyed in a fire. "I'll live off berries and tree roots thank you very much."
"Izzy, we need protein. We're not going to last long off of berries and tree roots. Besides..." He leaned in closer to her, showing her he meant no harm by what he was about to say, that he was only being honest. "You act like I can't go and kill something. Which I will, by the way. I told you I was going to do anything to keep you alive."
"You need protein. I'll find it for you, but you're on your own. You can kill and eat it. I'll gladly eat the berries if I have to." Isabella insisted, crossing her arms. She wasn't going to budge on the idea, no way was she going to kill another animal if there was another option.
Draco rolled his eyes. She was more stubborn then he was. And he didn't even know that that was possible. "Fine." Draco nodded towards the forest. "You'll cave eventually. Now, come on, we have to hurry. In case those hunters are still here."
"No I won't." She muttered under her breath and grabbed Draco's messenger bag that was on the floor and throwing it over her own back. She phased into her wolf form. "Come on you two, let's go; before bossy boots over here decides that there's something else he wants to do."
The Raven snickered, and perched comfortably on her back, daring a glance back at Draco, gaining a disapproving glare from the owl.
"I'm glad he can't understand you. Otherwise he'd be upset." The Eagle owl said, flying ahead.
Draco followed, eyeing Izzy. He watched her carefully, knowing he would have to transform at any time when she spotted their food for that day. She would eat. Even if he had to make her. He knew she was hungry, and berries wouldn't do much for her. She would be riding on his hard, scaly back for hours. It would be uncomfortable and if she was weak, she could fall off of him. And Draco, still being new to this, didn't know if he was going to be able to catch her.
"Oi, there's something up ahead." Danger whispered, jumping off her back and flying alongside the owl.
She quickened her pace, "I smell it too."
She sighed dejectedly and stopped. "Oh no. Not a hare." That poor little defenseless rabbit that was grazing on a few blades of grass, would soon know death.
"Couldn't you have found something less cute?" She whispered.
"Might as well catch him now, he's not much but why risk it. You might not find anything else." Finster explained, the voice of reason.
"Ugh, fine." Isabella looked to Draco and gestured to the rabbit who was eating a few feet ahead.
Draco looked in the direction that Izzy was nodded, and raised an eyebrow at her. A rabbit? He expected her to transform into a bloody dragon just to kill a rabbit. He sighed, doing it anyway and quickly before it could escape. He just hoped he was good at this. He crouched low to the ground, keeping his body as flat as possible and creeping towards the rabbit.
It sat up, perking its ears into the air, its whiskers moving quickly as the wind brushed Draco's scent in its direction. He was only a few feet from it now, and he knew he could pounce on it, but he had to do it quickly. Without a second to waste, he jumped, his claws digging into the dirt, the rabbit managing to run out from under them seeing as Draco missed, but with his long neck he was able to open his mouth and grab it just in time before it went back into his home. He put it on the ground, holding it with his claws, and without even thinking about the fact that he was about to kill an innocent creature, snapped its neck. It laid there lifeless under his claws, and Draco looked over at Izzy, knowing she wouldn't be happy with him.
Isabella turned around and closed her eyes, not wanting to see that once bouncing carefree rabbit, now dead. "You've got your kill. Can we go now?" She asked, her back still turned to him.
"I'm not happy about this either, alright?" He transformed back, grabbing the rabbit in his hand and following along behind Izzy. She wouldn't talk to him anyway.
"And keep that thing away from me." At that moment she wanted to vomit, and for a second, she thought she was, until she swallowed it and forced it back down her throat.
"But at least I know what it takes to survive out here. Which is surprising seeing the past I have. You know, being a pureblood and all." His anger towards her was coming back. He just wished she could see the seriousness of the situation that they were in. Because so far, it didn't seem like she did. He walked quickly, now walking in front of her and heading back towards the camp site. He would start a fire, skin the rabbit as best he could, and cook it. Regardless of what Izzy thought. He was starving. If she wanted to just eat berries, then fine.
Oh I'm sorry, I didn't know that it was so awful to be a Halfblood. Of course, having a brother and best friend who went camping with you every once in a while didn't prepare me in the least. I can't do a thing.
She phased again, angry with him for killing that rabbit. They could have survived on the forest without killing anything. "Can't believe your actually going to eat that." Isabella commented; picking a few berries she had found along the way back. "There's a knife in my bag if you need it. Just be careful it's very sharp."
When they finally reached a site further away from where they first landed, Draco started a fire and Isabella ate what little berries she picked. Her back to Draco as he cut open the rabbit.
Draco pulled away the skin, cutting off the meat and running a sharp stick through it, letting it sit over the fire and cook. He turned to look at Izzy and sighed. "Look, I didnt want to kill it, okay? I don't agree with killing anything innocent. Do you have any idea how many times my father tried to drill that into my head? That there was nothing wrong with killing something or someone innocent. I'm not doing this for fun, Izzy. It's not like I killed it so I can stuff it and put it on a shelf in my library." He snapped. "This is about survival. It's the way of life. It's been this way for millions of years."
She sat in front of him, keeping her eyes off the rabbit and only on Draco. The lingering smell of blood and innards still very much there. "I don't feel like arguing with you, Draco; do whatever you want."
Isabella stood up, and walked a few feet out of view. Her stomach was going back into her throat relentlessly. If she didn't get some fresh air soon; she would surely vomit all over the place.
Draco knew something was wrong with her. You didn't go through what they went through together and not know when something was wrong with a person. So he followed her behind the tree after giving the rabbit a turn over the fire.
Coughing and spewing, she held onto her stomach again, one hand on the trunk of a tree away from camp and the other holding herself together. She could take it no longer and vomited; the pit of her stomach lingering with fire and body shivering with the continued torturing her body was thrusting upon her.
He stood behind her quietly, watching her vomit with his arms against his chest. He sighed. She was in bad shape. He just wished she would admit it. He slowly walked up behind her, putting his right hand on her back to try and soothe her as best as possible.
"I'm fine Draco." She insisted, gently pushing his arm away. "Go ahead and eat." Isabella vomited once more. Having no food in her stomach but a few berries, all she expelled was pure water and nothing more. But she felt a little better, at least now there would be nothing for her to throw up given that her stomach was now completely empty. "I'm ok." and moved sitting at the base of a boulder nearby, upwind from the pungent smell, arms clutched around her waist.
"No, you're not." He walked back over towards the campsite, grabbing the rest of the bread that they had and walking back over to Izzy. "Please eat this. It'll help to settle your stomach." He watched her not move to take it, and tried the last thing he thought would work. "If you love me, you'll eat this."
"I'll just end up throwing it up." She closed her eyes and took a few breathes of fresh air to calm herself. "If you love me, you won't make me eat." She wasn't regretting this whole, taking the 'noble' way out plan. Everything now seemed to make her feel nauseous. She'd give anything to be able to scarf that piece of bread down in one bite.
"That's not fair, Izzy." Draco said softly, sitting down next to her. "It's killing me, watching you suffer like this." He sighed, looking down at her sadly. "We should get you some water, something... anything. It's not like we can go to a hospital right now."
Isabella sighed, and opened her eyes again. "I'm not suffering Draco. You act like I'm dying or something." She chuckled, trying to brighten their less than favorable predicament. "And I did drink some water. A lot, even ask Danger. He led me to a lake, that's how the hunters found me. I was out in the open."
The Raven jumped down to face them and nodded his head with a guilty look in his eyes.
She stretched out her hand and stroked his black feathered head, "This will pass in a day or two, the smell of the rabbit set me off. I'm not sick." She felt and assumed, looked, like shit.
If this is what being pregnant felt like, she was not looking forward to having kids. If Draco wanted them badly in the future, he could adopt as many as he wanted. A smile crept on her face at the thought of their house filled with wild and mischievous children, and she laughed at how their fathers' would never visit but both Narcissa and Katerina would sneak over frequently to see their grandchildren.
"I must be crazy." She said to herself and lifted her hand from Danger's head. "When did I become so submissive?" Isabella sighed for the second time, "Damn it Malfoy, only because I love you." and rested her hand on his which laid upon his knee.
"Give me the bread. Now go and eat, quickly. The faster that rabbit disappears the better." There was no way in hell she was going to touch that rabbit, not even if he tried to shove it down her throat. "Oh and don't forget to feed these two. I'm sure they're hungry. Danger eats anything, dead or alive, the disposable parts of the rabbit."
Danger responded, though all she heard were caws and clicks, neither could understand the birds now seeing as they were human again. "Nah. We're fine. Fluffy and I got some lunch earlier."
"I told you not to call me that!"
"Why not? I think fluffy is an improvement from Finster. And relax, they can't hear us right now."
The Raven jumped to her shoulder and perched there, nipping at her hair affectionately. "I'll keep an eye on her Malfoy. Make sure she eats. And if I'm not mistaken, your rabbit's burning."
Isabella giggled quietly and sniffed at the air, a sort of smoky smell was about. "Is something burning?"
Danger cawed loudly, and flapped his wings, "That's what I just said! Does no one listen to me?!"
"Shit!" Draco yelled, running over towards the burning rabbit. He pulled it off the fire and stared at the burning side. "Great, just great." He sighed, pulling it off the stick and staring at it. "This would be trash worthy if I wasn't so damn hungry."
"Sorry." Isabella apologized, looking into her hands. "I should have told you that rabbit cooks very quickly, and burns fast."
Regardless of Izzy assuring him that she would be fine, he wasn't going to just keep on going on like this with her being as sick as she was. He took the rabbit and bit into the un-burnt side of it. It was good compared to what they had eaten, which was nothing, but it still tasted burnt. "This is stupid. We can't keep doing this. Not with the way you feel. We need to get you some medicine."
"And I'm fine Draco. Really." She took a small bite into the piece of bread. It stuck to her throat and slid down her stomach, it was painful and soothing at the same time. She wanted to shudder at the feeling, but kept her composure. "See." She said. "I'm ok."
"I don't care." Draco quickly scarfed down what little he had that was salvageable from the rabbit and wiped his hands on his pants.
"Do you feel comfortable riding my back?" He asked, walking towards her. "I have a plan. But if you're not going to be able to hang onto me because you feel too sick then it won't work."
"Draco, I'm not letting you take me to a pharmacy or a hospital. Not while we run the risk of being caught. I don't care if you think I'm sick or not. I'm not falling for one of your tricks again." Isabella laid the bread back down onto the rock beside her and crossed her arms.
"One of my tricks again?" Draco asked, raising an eyebrow at her. "Izzy, first off I never tricked you into anything. Secondly, I'm not taking you to a hospital or a pharmacy. There's more places to get meds then just those places."
She shook her head, "And for the record, did you forget that you're good at potions? Just conjure something if you're that stubborn."
Draco rolled his eyes, still grumpy and took a step towards her. "We're going with this plan I have. I don't care what you say. I'm done arguing today. I'm a dragon. If you fight me I'll just pick you up and fly you to France."
"What?!" She exclaimed. "France?!" Isabella got to her feet, and stared at him in shock. "And what do you expect to do while in France? I'm not going and you can't make me."
"Watch me." Draco said dangerously. "I have a plan. And if you just trusted me, for ONCE, and stopped arguing with me, we would already be there!" He stared at her, nostrils flared in anger for a few seconds before he spoke again. "Don't make me carry you, Toretto."
"No." Isabella said simply, taking a few steps back. "I. Am. Not. Going. And if you dare try and take me there by force-" Her eyes darkened, the shade contrasting against her light skin even more so than before. "-I won't think twice about actually fighting you Malfoy."
"And when we're a thousand feet in the air, are you still going to fight me?" He asked, tone now serious. "Why can't you just trust me on this? What is so bad about France?"
In all honestly, the fact that it was further away from her family than she wanted to be. But she wouldn't tell him that. "Why do we have to go to France?" She answered the question with a question.
"Because my family has an estate there." He answered honestly. "With food, meds, everything we could want. We can get fresh clothes, blankets, things to shower with. And I'm not saying we have to stay. Because in all honesty that wouldn't be smart. But we NEED this."
A shower sounded wonderful right about now, considering she hadn't had a shower in about two days, her skin now feeling tight and slightly sticky. "Don't you think your parents will think to look for us there?"
Draco shrugged. "I don't think so, but we can't be sure. We'll have to be careful. It could be dangerous. But the meds... that's my main reason for going. If we can get that, everything will be a success in my opinion."
"I told you. I feel fine. This is nothing more than a stomach ache." Isabella smiled, coming back to him. "I don't need any medication. I promise."
Draco sighed, crossing his arms over his chest and staring at the ground, avoiding eye contact with her. "I'm sorry, but I really don't believe you. You haven't exactly been honest with me about your health lately, so excuse me if I still think you're lying to me." He looked up at her. "The wizard who cried dragon, right?"
"Ha ha, very funny. And it's cried wolf." She corrected Draco.
If they went, to France and ended up getting caught; it could be the final nail in their coffin.
"Please come with me." Draco walked up to her, grabbing her hands in his. "Please trust me on this. And stop lying to me. You don't feel well. I can see it in your eyes."
Isabella sighed, "Fine, I'll go. But I'm still sticking with my statement. I feel fine. The only reason I'm agreeing to go is only because I want a shower."
Draco smiled, leaning forward and kissing her on the top of her head. "Sometimes I think you're more stubborn than I am."
"Have you seen the family I have? I think it's safe to say that I'm a bit more than just stubborn."
He grabbed the bread she hadn't eaten and handed it to her. "Eat it. You need strength if we're going to be flying for a couple hours and I don't want you falling off when you're on my back."
"On your back?"
"Yes on my back. I'm flying you there, no sense in taking your broom when I can take you there just as easily. You're not feeling well; I'm not risking you falling off a broom. Besides, my back might be a bit more comfortable than a hard and thin broom."
"NO!"
"Toretto-" He warned, "Don't make me drag you there by force."
"Alright. Alright! Fine, I'll ride on your back." She grumbled, taking the bread from him and bit into it. "There, I ate. The faster we get to France, the better."
He pointed to the bread. "Eat the whole thing, I mean it. I don't know if I'm going to be able to catch you if you lose your balance and fall." He looked up at Danger and Finster, turning his attention to his owl. "You guys go ahead. Intercept us if you suspect someone of being in the estate."
"You mean I have to follow Fluffy?" Danger asked, astounded. "Geez, were bound to get lost then!"
Finster screeched and slammed into him, causing the raven to go a bit off balance. Then the two leaped into the air and flew off.
"I'm sorry! Lighten up!"
Isabella smiled at the two once more before turning her attention to Draco. He was still watching her, arms crossed against his chest. "I'm waiting." He said. Isabella rolled her eyes and took a few more bites. It took her a few minutes but she finished most of it.
"That enough?"
"No, but it'll have to do. We'll have to do a bit of a test flight first. Just to make sure you can hold onto me without falling off." He transformed, turning his head and looking at her once more before laying down on the ground so she could get onto his back easier.
"If it's anything like riding a horse. I think I'll be fine. I've ridden those and a Hippogriff once. That year when Sirius Black snuck into Hogwarts. If I remember correctly, Buckbeak scratched you and you thought your arm was going to fall off." She snickered.
"I think I'll be fine." And slid her foot over and around his back, holding on to the area near his long neck and shoulder blades. "Are you sure you'll be able to carry me though?"
Draco gave a small roar, turning his head and looking at her. He gently brought his head up to her and put the whole length of his head against her stomach, then pulled away, staring at her for a few more seconds before turning his head forward and standing up.
Isabella watched as Draco's wing's expanded, looking ready to take flight. Her grip around his neck tightened a bit, but not enough to choke him. But really, what chance did she have at choking a dragon?
He glanced back at Izzy, making sure she was okay before turning back and starting to take a couple steps, slowly quickening his pace.
"Whenever you're ready Mr. Malfoy." She said, kissing his scaly neck.
Draco let out another roar, this time louder, before breaking out in a full sprint and then soaring into the air, making sure he could still feel Izzy on his back. It was hard to feel her with his scales, but he could just make her out. They soared up into the clouds and Draco flew in the direction of his estate in France, all the while keeping his eye out for Finster and Danger. Any sign of them and he would bolt in a completely different direction. Either way, he was getting Izzy medicine.
"You fly quite well, considering you've only just learned to phase." She kept her eyes out on the view of the beautiful landscape they passed, mountainous ranges and forest. "It's beautiful out here."
She gasped suddenly after an hour of being in flight. Then that's when it got bad. They were beginning to pass over the ocean, and that's when she lost it. Isabella shut her eyes tight and hid her head in Draco's neck. Not daring to look down, and stayed in that position for the remainder of the trip.
Draco let out a small roar in the back of his throat, feeling Izzy becoming suddenly closer to her.
The flight went a lot faster than he had expected, and once he saw the city of France below him, he started to lower them towards the ground, head turning from side to side as he looked for his estate. And then he spotted it, hidden deep in the woods. He turned his head to look at Izzy, making sure she was okay before taking a dive towards the front lawn. Danger and Finster hadn't come to get them, so he assumed everything was safe.
Isabella felt her heart fall to her feet, which only meant one thing. They were descending, she opened her eyes and sighed in relief. The first thing she did when they touched ground was fall onto it.
"Land." She said, smelling the dirt with much happiness.
Draco quickly transformed back, pulling his wand out from his cloak and walking over to Izzy, keeping his eyes alert and studying the land, making sure nothing was out of the ordinary. "I'd get your wand out... just in case." He suggested, staring at his parents estate.
Isabella stood up and pulled out her wand, laying it on the ground. "It's safer this way." She phased before him, taking her wand in her teeth, and standing beside him. She gave him a muffled yelp and nodded her head, looking up at the estate.
It was grand. A giant fountain in the middle of the front vicinity. Large double doors at the entrance to the home and a giant fence surrounding the entire area of land. It had to be at least 20 feet high, the fence. But then again, it didn't really come as a surprise to her. The Malfoy's were wealthy. Though in all truth, seeing as wealth wasn't something she was unfamiliar with, but then again, the Malfoys did over-exaggerate most things.
Draco walked up to the front gate, staring at it curiously. "Merlin, please don't let anybody be in here." He whispered to himself as they walked up the front steps and heading for the door. He reached for the handle and pulled it open slowly, letting Izzy in behind him before shutting the door, wand pointing towards the estate, being as cautious as he thought possible. If he saw anyone, he could curse them in a second, regardless of the consequences.
Isabella sniffed at the air for any scent of a human or any other being at the area. "Danger. Finster. Where are you?" She called, looking for the birds.
"Boys! Where are you?" And started to search for them in the estate. It was huge, they could be hiding anywhere. Isabella barked, hoping Draco would follow.
Which Draco did. He wasn't about to leave her alone, not here. This was by far, the most dangerous thing they had done so far.
"Izzy, something doesn't quite feel right. I think we should get what we need and get out of here." He knew she was worried about their pets, but right now they needed to worry about themselves.
"Danger and Finster will be fine."
"Oh, stop worrying so much, there's no one here." She explained, back in her human form. "I don't smell anyone in here. And look at these desks." Isabella took Draco's hand, and led him to some furniture. "See the amount of collected dust. No one's been here in a while. Relax. We'll be fine." She continued to walk deeper into the Malfoy estate. "Where are those Bloody birds?"
Draco, however, was still keeping his eyes peeled. "Just because there's dust on the desk doesn't mean there aren't death eaters lurking around, just waiting for us to show up. They found us last time, didn't they? Let's go to the infirmary and get some meds we're going to need, then we can head upstairs and get clothes, blankets, you know... all that stuff."
"You really should stop with all the worrying. I'll eat anyone that tries to attack us." She scoffed, "And you. Well, you'll cook them." Isabella took his hands again, "Come on, I'm dirty. I'm tired, and you're no better. Can't we stay here for a while?" and pulled him while she walked backwards.
He sighed, licking his lips nervously. "I don't know if that'd be such a good idea." The idea of a bed, a familiar bed, did seem like a marvelous idea though. And they were both dead tired. But falling asleep together would be even more dangerous than staying here. "But I supposed we could. Only for a few hours though. Then we're gone. I'm not taking any chances."
"I knew you'd see it my way." She said triumphantly and looked around the hall. "Now where's a room that has a bathroom. What I'm really craving is a shower. We both could use one."
"There's a staircase coming up on your right. My rooms the first on the right. We can use that one." Draco followed after her, turning his head around every minute or so to just make sure that nobody was following them. "Once we shower we should find you some meds though. Just in case."
Isabella, with her hand tightly held around his, dashed up the stairwell, and straight into the room that Draco had suggested they go to. After she released Draco; Isabella dove for the bed almost instantly and just laid there. "I missed you." She said into the pillow.
Draco smiled at her, not able to help himself. He walked over to her, sitting down on the edge of the bed next to her. He ran a hand through her hair, pushing it out of her face. "Izzy." He said softly. "I need you to make me a promise."
Uh oh. This couldn't end very well. "You're not going to make me get get out are you? I know I should have showered first, but we haven't slept in a bed in days."
Draco laughed slightly, shaking his head. "No, you can sleep." His smiled faded quickly, tone serious again. "If... if something ever happens to me with the death eaters... if I get captured by them, I need you to promise me you'll run for your life and do anything to get as far away from them as possible. Don't try and save me."
"You're kidding right?" She sat up, looking at him dead in the eyes. "You're asking me to leave you here if you get captured? What do you think I am, stupid? I'm not about to leave you surrounded by death eaters. I'm not afraid of Voldemort or any of his idiots." She spat, "Trust me, after what they did to me-" She paused and lowered her gaze momentarily before turning to Draco once more. "-I'm glad to return the favor."
Isabella stood up and got out of bed, taking Draco's messenger bag with her. "Now if you'll excuse me. I'm going to shower." and walked into the washroom and closed the door behind her.
"Izzy, wait. I seriously want to talk to you about this. Because I'm not kidding." He walked up to the door, knocking on it lightly. "Please come out and talk to me. This is a conversation that's going to happen one way or another."
Isabella turned the faucet of the shower head, letting its constant pitter of water hit the floor, drowning him out. "Sorry, I can't here you." and quickly got out of her dirty clothes and jumped into the bath. She looked at the vast array of soaps and shampoo's in the room. Fluffly towels apparating and waiting for her near the table.
The Malfoy's had a small marble table in a bathroom? Oh Merlin. Really?
"Izzy." Draco groaned, turning away from the door and folding his arms over his chest. He couldn't just sit here, didn't want to. He needed to check the rest of the house, make sure nothing was or nobody for that matter was in the same house as them. Then he could know for sure if they were safe or not. He took one last look at the bathroom door before turning away from it and walking about into the hallway. He started to make his way towards the infirmary. He could get Izzy her meds, they would knock her out and in a few hours she would be healthy again. And maybe after getting her meds he could go to the kitchen and get her something to eat, win her over and force her to make the promise he asked her to make. But as Draco turned the corner to go down the hallway that held the infirmary, he froze.
Standing in front of him were three death eaters and Greyback. He could have run, retreated quickly, but they had already seen him, and were quickly approaching. Draco wanted to desperately run, sprint away from them, but knew it was no use. They would catch him eventually. And with Izzy being in the house... he had not choice, he had to protect her.
"Well, well, well, what do we have here?" Greyback smirked at Draco, the four of them descending on him. "I can't believe you were stupid enough to actually come here."
"People do stupid things when their desperate, I guess." He said simply, eyeing up the death eater that had his wand pointed at Draco now. They knew Draco couldn't do magic, that they had him beat. And he knew it too. But Isabella had to be protected, no matter the consequences.
"Where's your girlfriend at, Malfoy?" Greyback said, taking small steps closer to Draco.
He didn't answer right away, biting his lower lip.
"I asked you a question. Where's your girlfriend, Malfoy?"
"Dead." He said, lowering his head to the ground slightly, mocking a broken heart. "Izzy's dead."
