"Come on Mel, it will be good for you to get away, maybe even have some fun. You need a break from this school and I don't think you should go home alone."
"I'd rather be alone Hermione. Iris will be off with her friend Ruth for the break, I could use some peace. Besides, Harry is still furious with me and I don't think we should be under the same roof."
"Harry can make due, I know Molly will be upset if you don't come and we tell her you're at home alone. Plus, I'm sure Fred and George are chomping at the bit to see you. Come on." Hermione whined.
I held my hands up in defeat and Hermione clapped her hands excitedly. She had spent the duration of the term trying to persuade me to come to the Weasley's for our two week holiday vacation. I had planned on staying home alone but I suppose I was safer at The Burrow with the Weasley's.
Recently, I had felt the strangest paranoia as I walked the corridors. Draco and I hadn't uttered a word to each other since the incident with Katie Bell, I felt like I had hardly seen him at all. My heart ached painfully as I longed to just speak to Draco. He wandered the halls like the undead. His eyes were despondent, he looked exhausted, and I hadn't even heard his voice in weeks. Draco was only a shell of the person he used to be and I didn't know why, I never would.
"Get to packing Mel." Hermione squealed enthusiastically.
I felt distant as I mindlessly packed my trunk. I wanted to force myself to be happy, for Hermione's sake, but it seemed impossible. I wanted to at least see Draco before I left, even if it meant he would push me away again. I quickly finished packing my trunk and pulled on my coat, I would try one last time to get through to him. I walked to my bedside table and pulled the wrapped gift for Draco from the drawer. I had gotten it before all the turmoil and I would at least try to give it to him. Hermione looked at me sorrowfully as she folded her clothes.
"The train leaves in thirty minutes Mel."
"I'll be there, I just have to talk to him before we go."
Hermione nodded, though she didn't want me to go. While she didn't want to believe Draco was guilty with what happened to Katie Bell, she was still very wary of him. Even I was wary of him now, he was acting so apathetically.
I hastened through the halls towards Slytherin. I knew Draco would be going home for the holidays but I hoped he wouldn't be gone already. I jogged now.
I jumped backwards as Draco exited his common room, I was shocked to see his mother behind him, holding tightly to his arm. His eyes widened when he saw me in front of him. He was begging me to turn around, my mouth dropped as I heard his thoughts for the first time in weeks.
Draco's mother Narcissa Malfoy stared at me deliberately, as if she already knew me. Her mind was blank, she must have been taught Occlumency too. I forced the worrisome tears to the back of my mind as I tried to contemplate what to say to them.
"Aren't you going to introduce me to your friend dear?" Narcissa said snidely.
I had never met Narcissa before but she was exactly how I imagined. Her angular face was perfect and stern, her cold eyes watched me carefully. She was dressed in a stiff black suit, she didn't look comfortable, and she looked stressed. She looked like she didn't want to be at Hogwarts a moment longer than necessary.
"This is for you Draco, happy Christmas." I said shortly.
Draco remained silent as I forced the gift into his hands and turned away from them to run back towards Gryffindor. He was a coward too in his mother's presence. I was out of breath as I reached Gryffindor Tower, Hermione was waiting outside the common room with both of our trunks at her feet.
"How'd it go?"
"He was gone already." I muttered as my breathing recovered.
I hated lying to Hermione but I knew she would panic if I told her that Narcissa Malfoy was at Hogwarts. Ron, Harry and Ginny were beside us after a few moments and we started walking towards Hogsmeade Station. Harry wasn't trying to hide his disdain at my presence. His thoughts were making my head ache.
I remained quiet the entire train ride back to London. I could hardly even concentrate on my book. Why had Draco's mother come to pick him up? I wished he had been on the train with the rest of us, it would have been a lot harder for him to avoid me. Despite his coldness towards me, I still loved Draco and desperately wanted to help him through his troubles.
"We're here Mel." Hermione whispered as she touched my knee.
I wiped away the tears that had unexpectedly come to my eyes and nodded. Harry scoffed when he saw my tears and Hermione pinched his side.
"It's alright Hermione."
"Oh she's suddenly so noble." Harry scorned.
"Stifle it mate." Ron said.
Harry rolled his eyes and walked ahead of us out of the train. Hermione hugged me tightly, urging me to ignore Harry. I nodded against her shoulder and she released me. I grinned genuinely when we exited the train and I saw Ron's older twin brothers Fred and George waiting on the platform for us. I dropped my bag and nearly collapsed into George's extended arms. I had always been close with Ron's brothers, our similar humorous personalities brought us together immediately. Unlike most others, I had always been able to keep up with their shenanigans.
"Rough term so far?" George asked as he released me.
"The worst." I moaned as I hugged Fred tightly.
"Well you're ours for the next two weeks Mel."
"Thank Merlin for that, you broke into your father's Firewhisky stash right?"
Fred and George's synchronized laughter made me smile. My genuine happiness was halted as I heard Harry's negative thoughts towards me.
"Can we go already?" Harry whined.
"What's eating him?" George whispered into my ear as we all linked hands to apparate.
"Long story." I groaned.
George chuckled as we all braced ourselves to apparate to The Burrow. George held tightly to my arms as I nearly stumbled to the ground. Apparating was something you never got used to. I nearly stumbled backwards again as I was swarmed by Molly Weasley's secure hug.
"Good to see you dear. It was odd not seeing you at my home all summer."
"I know, I'm glad to be here now though."
"Arthur and I as well, come in everyone. Dinner is on the table." Molly said excitedly.
We all gathered together around the dinner table. The room was filled with happy chatter but I knew there was a constant worry in the back of everyone's' minds. There was a growing anxiety for the impending war, it was hard for everyone to focus on Christmas. I felt the same but my worries were the complete opposite of everyone else's. I couldn't keep Draco from entering my thoughts. I yearned to know if he had made it home safely. I wondered what his holidays would consist of, if they would even be joyous at all. Hermione cleared her throat which broke me out of my thoughts. Apparently Molly had directed a question towards me, I hadn't been paying attention.
"She's too busy thinking about Malfoy." Harry muttered bitterly under his breath.
Harry groaned loudly as Hermione kicked him forcefully from underneath the table, but everyone had heard him. There was complete silence now, it was very unusual for The Burrow.
"What's Harry mean by that?" George whispered concernedly, staring only at me from his seat across the table.
"They've been snogging for months." Harry snorted loudly.
We all jumped as Molly's fork clanged against her plate. Molly and Arthur were certainly surprised to hear that, my cheeks reddened immediately. I couldn't even form sentences to try to deny it. The rest of dinner remained completely silent. No one could fathom what to say. After dinner we all immediately retired to our bedrooms, the awkward tension was hard to diffuse.
Hermione, Ginny and I sat in Ginny's room. They were talking animatedly to each other, I couldn't force myself to follow the conversation. Now I was wishing I had just gone to my own home in London. I wasn't sure if I could withstand being in the same house as Harry for the next two weeks. We were in much closer quarters now, it would be harder to ignore him.
"I'm going to go talk to Harry." I breathed dejectedly.
"Good luck." Hermione said with a quiet laugh.
"Be sure to holler if you need us to hex him." Ginny teased.
I smiled and closed Ginny's bedroom door behind me. My hands trembled slightly as I walked upstairs to Ron's room. Harry was constantly so angry with me, I wasn't sure how this conversation would go. I knocked twice on Ron's door and immediately heard footsteps to answer it. Ron smiled as he opened the door, Harry sniggered when he saw me.
"I'll give you two a minute." Ron said as he tiptoed from his room.
I closed Ron's door behind me and Harry sat straight up on his bed. He felt he had nothing left to say to me after my actions with Draco. I sat beside him anyways and his hands clenched into fists at his sides. I looked directly into Harry's eyes as I spoke, this was the first time we had conversed alone in several weeks. He hadn't given me the opportunity before.
"I know you're angry with me Harry," I started quietly, tears already welling in my eyes.
Harry shifted uncomfortably on the bed, immediately affected by my tears. He looked away from my eyes and I reached for one of his clenched hands.
"I'm so sorry for hurting you so badly. You're my best friend. I don't know what I was thinking when I started up with Draco, but I'm so sorry for hurting you."
"I just don't understand how you could care about someone so wretched. He's going to hurt you or worse Mel." He whispered, he felt tears coming to his eyes.
"Harry, Draco's family is what's wretched. He can't help what family he was born into, just like we couldn't help what happened to our families. He's helpless with those horrible people."
"He didn't seem so helpless when he was breaking my nose at the start of term."
I closed my eyes tightly and forced back the tears. "I can't make any excuses for him. And I can't force you to understand what I'm saying. But I'm sorry for hurting you, I never wanted that. We have been through so much together and I can't imagine continuing without your friendship, I need you Harry."
"You're so cruel Mel. You're so bloody cruel for saying that to me when you know how strongly I feel for you. And you know I could never abandon you completely because of it."
I gaped at Harry and allowed the tears to fall. Even with my apology I was still hurting him. Harry loved me dearly and no matter how hard I tried to avoid hurting him, I kept pummeling him further. I hugged Harry tightly and we both sobbed openly. I didn't realize how overwhelmed Harry was this term, our feud wasn't helping at all.
"I'm so sorry Harry." I mumbled through my tears.
Harry pulled away and held both of my hands tightly. It was exhausting for him to stay so angry with me. I touched his cheek and wiped the tears away.
"I suppose it doesn't matter anymore now that you and Draco aren't speaking."
"No we're not."
"I'm sorry. I'm not too proud to admit that Malfoy was a bit more tolerable lately. Aside from cursing Katie with that necklace."
"You're biased Harry."
Harry nodded and still despised Draco but felt a lot less anger towards me. He hated that we had been fighting for so long, he was through with it for good.
"I am so happy to hear that Harry. I guess I'll let you get some sleep now."
Harry nodded and hugged me again. I finally felt like a large weight had been lifted from my shoulders. I hated how strained our friendship had become and I was so happy it was over now. I kissed the top of Harry's head as I stood up to leave Ron's room, he smiled crookedly. I jumped as I opened the door and Hermione, Ron, Ginny, George and Fred tumbled through the entryway, they had been eavesdropping.
"Slick guys." Harry teased.
I rolled my eyes as I pushed through them towards the stairs.
"So that went well then?" Hermione beamed.
"Very, thankfully."
"Brilliant. Now we just need to resolve this Draco nonsense and maybe things will finally be normal again."
Hermione laughed as I hugged her tightly. I knew how difficult it was for Hermione to even say Draco's name, it meant so much to have her support.
"Thanks Hermione, really."
"Of course Mel. Now let's get to sleep, I actually have some last minute shopping to do."
"Sounds great."
My heart ached painfully as I laid against my pillow. I was trying so hard to be brave and to be happy, but I couldn't stop thinking about Draco. I needed to see him. I needed to make sure he was okay. I closed my eyes and tried to clear my mind as much as I possibly could, thinking only of Draco. I tried to envision him as clearly as I could, as if he were right in front of me. I nearly fell from my bed when I saw what Draco was seeing.
His father Lucius Malfoy was standing over him, delivering blow after blow with his foot. Draco was powerless against him. Tears welled in my eyes as I saw his mother standing behind his father, refusing to look at him. She was surrounded by other hooded figures. My skin went ice cold when I heard cackling laughter.
I jumped from my bed and pulled my sweater on, I would have to find Draco. He was being beaten mercilessly by his own father and wasn't being defended by anyone.
"Where are you going Mel?" Hermione asked as she rubbed her eyes, she had just fallen asleep.
"Draco is in trouble. I need to find him."
"What? Now? Are you sure you weren't dreaming?"
I sat against my bed and rubbed my eyes. I supposed it could have been possible. What I saw reminded me of Draco's incessant nightmares. Maybe I had cleared my mind so well that it put me to sleep. But it felt too real to be just a dream. Hermione and I both jumped when we heard loud pounding on the front door.
"I'm not imagining that right?"
"Unless I'm mad too."
Hermione and I both jumped up from our beds, not disturbing Ginny whatsoever, she hadn't been awoken by the knocking. I sprinted down the stairs, nearly tumbling to my feet as I reached the bottom. There hadn't been anymore knocking since the first time and I was worried about why. I yanked the door open and sank to my knees when I saw Draco sprawled on the front porch. His arm was outstretched as if it was a real struggle for him to even reach the front door. I screamed when I realized that Draco was covered in blood, it was seeping from his nose, mouth and a large gash on the back of his head. I hadn't been dreaming at all.
"Wh-what-do I-do?" I mumbled incoherently through my tears.
"Get him inside Mel." Hermione shrieked in a panic.
I reached towards Draco's shoulders, afraid to touch him, afraid to cause any more pain. I looked back at Hermione and was shocked to see the entire Weasley family and Harry standing behind her, they were horrified by what they saw.
"Lemme help you Mel, Fred?" George elbowed Fred who jumped and they raced towards us.
"Carefully please." I begged.
Fred and George barely touched Draco as they lifted him into the house. He was completely unconscious, he hadn't stirred at all as they moved him. I pressed my ear to his chest, his heart was beating so slowly. I frantically searched through my mind for some kind of incantation that might heal him.
"Episkey," I mumbled repeatedly as I touched Draco carefully.
"It's working Mel." Hermione said through her own tears.
"Here Mel." Ginny said as she crouched next to me holding a basin of water and washcloth.
"Thank you Ginny." I whispered as more tears flowed from my eyes.
I watched in amazement as Draco's wounds slowly began to close. I hadn't used this spell on anything more than a mere broken finger on a first year; Draco's injuries were much more severe but it worked. I pressed my ear to his chest again and sobbed as his heartbeats sounded much stronger. I continued to hold onto Draco with one hand as I turned towards the Weasley's.
"Please, can he stay? Please? I know-you-you don't like-"
"Hush Mel," Arthur said as he crouched in front of me. He touched my cheek gently and kissed my forehead. "He can stay as long as he needs. No child deserves something like this, I don't care who his horrible father is."
"It was his father who did this to him." I mumbled.
"Molly, please get some blankets for this boy, Ron start a fire and Fred or George, get some fresh clothes for him."
"Thank you Arthur. I'll never be able to repay you all for this."
"Nonsense dear. Let's get him moved to the couch now."
I was amazed by the Weasley's unhesitant kindness towards Draco. I knew Draco didn't deserve it after all the ridicule he had inflicted on them, I would be forever grateful. All the Weasley's lingered and watched as Draco slept peacefully, wondering when he would wake up. Molly Weasley especially thought how angelic he looked while he slept, and how cruel his family must have been to hurt him so severely. There was a great amount of sympathy accumulating in the room. I jumped as I felt Hermione's gentle touch on my hair, I couldn't force my eyes away from Draco as she spoke.
"Come sleep Mel, he'll be okay now."
"I'm not leaving him."
Hermione released my shoulder and I heard her step up the stairs with the rest of the Weasley's. I could feel only Harry's gaze on us now.
"Go to bed Harry, I'll be fine."
"Well I'll keep you company then."
I looked back at Harry and he stared only at Draco's arm. We hadn't changed Draco's clothes yet, I didn't want to disturb him prematurely. Harry was hoping to catch a glimpse of Draco's Dark Mark to confirm his suspicions.
"That's unfair Harry. You should have seen what I saw. They were going to kill him. His own father was going to kill him."
"How'd he end up here then?"
"I don't have an answer for that Harry. He must have apparated somehow. But I'm not going to let you confront him after the hell he has been through tonight. If I see anything, I will tell you."
"Will you?"
"Snape was once a Death Eater remember? And he's changed his allegiances. Why couldn't that be true for Draco? Even if he is a Death Eater, it doesn't make him like them. It doesn't matter to me one way or the other, he's here now. I won't let anyone hurt him, not even you Harry."
"And I will never understand that." Harry said defeated as he retreated to the stairs.
I kissed Draco's hand as I heard the door to Ron's bedroom close. I brushed the stray strands of hair from Draco's eyes. He looked so serene now, as if he knew he was with safe hands. He breathed rhythmically now. I closed my eyes to attempt to merge his mind with mine. Tears immediately welled in my eyes, he was dreaming of my face. I laid my head against his arm and allowed his dreams to consume my mind.