A/N

I'm so sorry I didn't upload last weekend, I was away and then I never got round to writing the chapter during the week. So instead, I'm uploading two today! Yay!

I've realised through a review that Draco changed way too fast, so I've beem going back and changing a few of the things he says and does in the first few chapters. The first chapters are terribly written. I might re-write them...

Anyway, I hope you like these chapters!

Please review, I'm up at half twelve in the morning uploading this ;)

[Disclaimer: Stuff you recognise belongs to the wonderfully talented J.K.R]

Chapter 14

She couldn't breathe. She was surrounded by an icy cold sensation which was smothering her, freezing her lungs. Her limbs were slowly becoming numb as hissing whispers floated in and out of her brain.

'Mudblood.'

'Filthhh.'

She struggled to think clearly through the icy fog clouding her brain. What was going on? Her teeth began chattering, and still the spirits didn't stop accosting her. They flew around her, surrounding her in an icy blanket. Her breaths became slow and laboured, and she could hear them hissing in triumph.

'Kill.'

'Leave.'

An inky patch of darkness came towards her through the silvery haze. It began shrouding her, blocking out all other feelings. Slowly, she lost all her thoughts, drifting away into a sea of nothingness.

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DPOV

Draco saw them as soon as he appeared in the hallway. They were surrounding Granger, who was lying on the floor, her lips a nasty shade of blue. No.

He sprinted towards her, scattering the spirits as he went. They hissed at him, whispering names and insults. He didn't pay any attention to them. They couldn't affect him. They were of the same flesh and blood as him.

He knelt down and picked Granger up from the floor, holding her close so she would warm up faster. He had to get her away from this place. He cursed under his breath. How did she even get here in the first place?

He decided not to use apparition, due to the blood wards on the Manor, deciding to run towards the nearest guest room instead. As soon as he began running, the sprits began following, trying to snatch Granger from him. He had to manoeuvre her into one arm for a moment so he could grab his wand from his pocket.

'Vadam.'

The spirits recoiled and hissed as they were sent away by an invisible force. He knew they wouldn't actually be gone, as they were bound to the Manor. They were probably just being herded into some old room in an unused wing for now. He'd have to deal with them later.

He kicked open a large door and hurried towards the bed, where he laid her down. He pulled the duvet over her and muttered a heating charm to hurry up the process.

Just then his Mother appeared in the doorway, a concerned expression on her face.

'Where did you find her?'

'The ancestral corridor.'

She grimaced and walked into the room, standing next to him.

'Why was she there?'

'I have no bloody clue.'

'Language. How close did they get to her?'

'They had almost frozen her to death by the time I arrived. I don't even know how long she'll take to warm up again.'

'We really do need to find a way to control them.'

He turned to face his mother. 'Why can't we just get rid of them?'

'Because they're part of the Manor. They're your family, Draco-'

'I don't give a damn about whether they're my family, Mum. Bellatrix was part of our family. That didn't change how evil she was.'

His mother flinched slightly at the mention of her late sister, but he carried on speaking.

'They're no family of mine. Not if they go around smothering innocent people for no reason.'

'I know.' she responded. 'You misunderstood me, Draco. I'm not saying I like them. But don't you think Lucius would have got rid of them straight after the war if he could? It's a very hard task, vanishing something that's bound to your home, to your blood. They're your family whether you like it or not.'

'We'll find a way.'

She smiled at his determination.

'Okay. We will.'

And she walked out the room, leaving Draco to his thoughts.

Why could he never be in time to save Granger? Why did he always find her after she was hurt? He sat down on the bed next to her, his head in his hands. If they hadn't come to the Manor, she wouldn't have been attacked. Now she had something else to have nightmares about. Great.

You're doing a great job, Draco. In the past week, you've found her on the floor in two dark corridors. And she's even been attacked by something else! Two different types of attacks! Well done! You're so good at protecting people.

He felt like a bit of a failure, to be honest. He lifted his head to look at her. Her lips were regaining some colour, but they were still tinged with a bit of blue.

He reached over to check her pulse. Her wrist was still ice cold. He could feel a weak pulse under the icy veins. Frowning, he picked up the other wrist. It was ice cold too. How come the heating charm was working on her lips but not her hands?

He cautiously touched her lips, checking how warm they were.

They weren't warm at all. He ignored the feeling that came over him as he touched her lips. He had to focus on helping her for now.

A horrible thought came to him. She was just so cold that even the blue had gone. Was that even possible? Regardless, that was way too cold. Surely she couldn't survive if she stayed this cold for much longer.

He quickly cast another heating charm, hoping that this one would work. But instead of just relying on magic, he knew he had to do something else too. Slowly, he put his arms around her and pulled her closer to him, hoping against hopes that his body heat would warm her up.

'Come on.' he muttered.

He didn't know how long he lay there, praying that she'd wake up. He cast numerous different charms, hoping they would help.

Slowly, she began regaining some heat. He could feel the warmth returning slightly to her limbs, causing him to sigh in relief, thanking Merlin she was fine.

He sat up when he was sure she would be fine, and wrapped her up snugly in the duvet. He didn't need to invade her privacy more than was necessary.

Draco stood up and began pacing the room. He had to tell Potter and Weasley. They had kept her safe all through school. Seven years. He hadn't even been able to keep her safe for one week.

Why had she been there anyway? Why had she left the drawing room?

His thoughts were interrupted by a small groan and a rustle from the bed behind him. He turned instantly and hurried to the large double bed.

Hope you liked it!

AK :D