Wow! I can't believe how many hits the previous chapter got! Thank you! Although I was hoping for a few more reviews, but I'm satisfied. :)
Think of you
The curiosity was killing her. There was no way she would restrain herself at school for two days without thinking about that woman.
That particular woman that inadvertently turned her life around completely. Silver now had a brother in Harry Potter and it was all very strange to her. Greater emphasis on the strange.
She received her first letter from him that morning. He was checking in with her and let her know he had arrived safely along with Hermione, Ron and the rest of the Weasleys. She wrote back immediately, writing about her boredom at school for the time being. Dominic had gone off already and she wasn't really acquainted with the Ravenclaw's who were staying for the rest of the break.
Silver sat alone, enjoying her breakfast – she was famished. And was eagerly awaiting a response from Rupert and Lucy, her dear friends from Salem. She sent an owl to Lucy yesterday morning, and still no answer, she had never taken so long to reply. And then, almost working like clockwork Hermes came swooping in right as Hedwig was on her way out carrying a small letter in her clawed feet.
She dropped the parchment in front of her and then flew back out in haste.
She untied the ribbon around the paper and rolled it open. It was from Lucy!
Silver read through the writing swiftly and then rolled it back up once she was done with it. Perfect, she thought as she took a biscuit she had buttered just before with her and then dashed out the doors.
"You haven't touched your breakfast Draco dear." Narcissa's worried gaze fell on her son as he picked at the food in his plate. She sat on the stool by the counter beside him and gently laid her hand on his shoulder. He shrugged.
But she knew what was bothering him, for the most part at least. Lucius and his expectations for him, the dark lord and his expectations for him. And even the added pressure from Silver, who pressed on him the desire to break away from it all. Although, that was the most part Narcissa wasn't aware of.
"I'm not hungry mum, thanks." He glanced over at her with a cursory glance, "Where has father gone off to?"
Narcissa only lowered her head, "He'll be back soon..at least I hope so." she tried to smile.
A half hour later, Silver found herself recapping her walk with Harry the other day trying to retrace the path to Madam Fortescues ice cream parlor. Luckily, she succeeded. The area in front of the door was the only piece of floor that wasn't entirely covered in snow, although a woman kept sweeping at it in order to maintain it for the snow was now falling softly, piling up repeatedly after she cleaned.
"Watch where you step!" she said while glowering down at Silver, "It took me just about an hour to sweep!"
A bell abover her made a small ring as she pulled the door open, letting the shop owner there was a new customer in the vicinity.
She scanned the room, wandering off from one table to the next and then the next until she found herself staring into a pair of warm brown eyes of a girl with a bob. Silver felt her chest swelling as if it were about to explode. "Lucy!" she cried as she ran over to her friend.
Lucy quickly pulled her into a hug on the verge of tears, "Oh Silver! I've missed you so much! I can't believe you're here!"
Just then, she felt a pair of strong arms wrap around her neck and whisper into her ear. "What? Did you already forget about me?"
She turned her head and stared into Rupert's face before she threw her arms around him. She was so happy, she couldn't even speak.
"Oh well I have to keep my distance a bit I think, since you are a taken man now aren't you?" Silver pulled away winking and gestured over to Lucy.
Lucy rolled her eyes. "Seriously, out of all the girls I know – you're definitely the last one I have to worry about.
Melinda has her grimy paws all over him."
Rupert laughed, "it's not like I can help it."
Melinda was the Draco Malfoy of Salem, she would bully without end. And when she wanted something, she would have it, no questions asked.
"He can get so cocky sometimes."
"I missed you guys." Silver grinned. But just then something caught her eye, a woman with familiar graying red hair and a black cloak. The woman that had been there yesterday providing an insight strong enough to change her life.
Lucy was speaking, what about Silver couldn't possibly say because all she caught was 'Salem' being mentioned on several occasions. Worried the woman would disappear she thought fast and decided to go after her. "Hold that thought." She maneuvered her way between Rupert and Lucy and began walking towards her.
"Excuse me ma'am." She called out as she grew closer. The woman twisted her head to face her for a moment but quickly turned away, still walking. Did she just ignore me? Silver thought to herself and once again attempted to call out to her, she was certain the woman was near enough to hear her clearly. She followed her into a dimly lit hall that was dark enough to remind her of the dungeons at Hogwarts. It gave her the chills - and it reminded her of Draco.
"Ma'am." She said again and with that the woman reached down for her wand. Silver nearly fell back fearfully and threw her hands in front of her in submission. "No! I'm sorry I didn't mean to startle you.."
The woman looked at her kindly whilst she pointed the wand at herself and chanted a quick spell. The woman suddenly vanished, and her body began to deform and convulse and in nothing flat the woman became a tall, thin man.
Silver stood in wonder, studying the man that had magically appeared before her.
"Don't be frightened," he smiled, "I just thought you might be more convinced of listening to the groundbreaking revelation from a sweet and kindly old woman."
"Who are you?" she stammered.
His face was friendly, complimenting his smile, "Merlin, forgive me how entirely rude of me. I'm Remus Lupin and if sources serve me correctly you must be Silver Crouch."
A boy on his way to the loo passed right by them, giving Silver some time to think. "How do you know my name?"
"I'm sure you don't remember me. You were so awfully young."
"I've met you before?"
"You have, long ago, you were just an infant. But certainly you must not remember me, just like you don't have any recollection of having two brilliant parents and a courageous brother."
Now this was what she was waiting for. "How do you know all of this?" She straightened her back and broadened her shoulders, affronted, "Would you care to enlighten on how you know more about my life than I do myself?"
Remus Lupin inhaled a deep breath,"I know this might be a bit difficult to swallow , but I was a very close friend of your parents, so close in fact that they entrusted me as godfather to one of their children." He exhaled.
Her mind was hard at work as he spoke. It was almost as if levers were clicking and wheels were turning, madly searching for answers. And the first that came to her aid was this; Harry is the only brother she has, that she is at least aware of, and his godfather was a man named Sirius Black.
And so she concluded,"To me?"
He nodded. "I understand what you might be dealing with, this is all very new to you and I have no intention of adding an extra lot to your burdens. Just know, that if you ever need anything, anything at all don't hesitate in calling for me," he continued, "I'm going to be in Grimmauld place for about a fortnight along with Harry."
Silver only nodded.
"And please, do not speak of this to the Malfoys, most importantly Lucius- he can not know about this, at least not at the occasion."
This was too much to comprehend, just two days and she had discovered a new family. She continued nodding and stretched her lips into a small smile, "I'll send an owl when I arrive at the manor."
Maybe this wasn't so bad. She certainly wasn't ready to pack up and move in with Remus and Harry of course, but they were there if she needed reassurance of family. She stepped away from where Remus stood and into the main area of the parlor. Lucy and Rupert were sitting anxiously awaiting her arrival and immediately pressed her on where she had gone off to.
Lucy made sure to tell her how much she loathed when Silver does that, those instances that she just walks off without warning, it worried her sick. Rupert was nearly done with his bowl of orange and green ice cream and glared at Lucy. Silver decided she would tell them – everything. She didn't know whom else she had the permission to confide in, surely Rupert and Lucy were allowed. After all it was them two which have been family to her for the past five years.
After Silver had finished she found her friends speechless. Rupert dropped his ice cream, Lucy almost dropped herself. They looked just about as dumbstruck as Silver must've looked at Dumbledore's office yesterday. It was hardly plausible, the story that is. The last thing you'd expect to be prepared for was how to react when a friend told you about an estranged brother you never knew you had, and now to add to those troubles, a godfather. Silver wasn't expecting a response, she knew after thinking it over Lucy would write and tell her what to do. After all that's how it always happened. Lucy was the thinker, she would sometimes take hours, days even conjuring up solutions or advice and once she did the information was brilliant.
Rupert slid off his seat, inching behind Silver and placing both hands on her, one on each shoulder. "I don't know about the two of you but I think this is really great. " he looked back from Lucy to Silver, "Silver, I'm happy for you. Now you know you don't come from some mysterious line of evil wizards like Barty or the Malfoys, it's the complete opposite.
"And besides, now Lucy and I aren't the ones that have to wait on you hand and foot."
That worked to ease the thick tenseness between them, and they all laughed.
"Excuse me Rupert, but you didn't even go to Salem so I'd say Lucy did a lot more than you ever did, thank you very much."
Lucy nodded, and then shook her eyes wide open, "That's not fair!"
Rupert shifted his hands over to Lucy and pecked her on the cheek. "It's alright babe, don't be afraid to admit it – she's done horrible things to us."
Silver bent over in laughter, "This isn't fair! Now that the two of you are all lost in love you're going to team up on me!"
The couple grinned. "Remember when you and Lucy were the ones that would always outnumber me?" Rupert chortled, "My, my how the tables have turned."
"I don't think so..," Lucy unwrapped herself from Ruperts grasp and headed over to Silver, "They haven't turned as much as you think they have." She smirked in a flirty, come and get me way, which Silver found a little nauseating.
"Ha! C'mon Lu, let's get out of here." Silver stood up and laced her arm around hers leading her outside.
Rupert stayed behind and had to pay the bill.
The snow hadn't stopped falling in days and Silver found every step in the four inch deep snow a struggle, so they couldn't run far before Rupert caught up with them.
But they're good time was suddenly stifled when Silver noticed a pair up ahead. Pansy Parkinson and Blaise Zabini were waddling out of the three Broomsticks together.
"Oh no.." Silver whimpered and turned around so her back was to them.
"Silver, what's wrong?" Lucy smiled, "What are you doing?"
"I just – I just think it's better if we go that way." She pointed ahead of her.
"But that's where we just came from.." Rupert said, not quite understanding her.
"Crouch!"
She cursed under her breath, lovely timing, she was completely unarmed. She recognized the screech of a voice to be none other than Pansy's, her shriek was unmistakable. Silver abided to respond and tried her best to to seem the least disconcerted.
"Parkinson." She scoffed.
Pansy found it funny and nudged Zabini in the ribs, who seemed to reaching for something in his pocket. Upon closer inspection Silver saw the wooden brim of a wand emerging from his pocket and it worried her to death.
"Enjoying our holidays now are we?"In reality, Blaise had no interest in how her holidays were going. He noticed the two unfamiliar faces by her, "Aren't you going to introduce me to your new friends Crouch?"
"No." Silver placed her hand on Lucys back and started leading her away.
"Arent's so brave now are you?" he said snidely, "you can't just put a wand to my head and then pretend it never happened Crouch." He lanced his wand towards her.
Hermione was about to say something before Blaise silenced her. "And what were you going to say? Eh Mudblood?" He smiled arrogantly at her silence. "Would you look at this Malfoy – seems like we have quite the lot beside us. A mudblood, a Weaslette – short of her Weasels, Looney Lovegood, and…" Blaise trailed off to the spot where Blake sat and landed on Silver, whose face was hot with anger.
"- and the orphan." he added. Most of the Slytherins close to Draco knew of her situation, mostly because they were together as children.
"Shut up Blaise." Draco said. Silver pushed her seat back and made her way to his table, lancing her wand at the boy. Ginny gasped.
"One more word Zabini." She threatened an icy edge in her usually warm voice, advancing towards him.
He hadn't noticed the wand pointed at his chest and backed into a bookshelf, startled, erasing the smug look on his face. Hermione jumped in her seat, throwing her hands over her mouth. "Silver stop it. If someone sees you –."
"Right. Listen to Granger ." Zabini stammered, stepping away from her wand.
Silver could feel Draco's eyes on her and wondered why he hadn't said anything to mediate his friend. She discreetly pulled down her wand and placed it in the pocket of her jeans. "You can go change your pants now Zabini." She said before she trudged back toward her bewildered friends.
Silver's eyes widened in terror, "Put it away Zabini." She tried to say with minimal shaking in her voice.
"She's frightened Parkinson, look at her! Tell me, is it because Malfoy isn't here to save the day?"
The name stung, the memories flood into her without cease.
"And so you expect me to just defend the lot of you in front of him and Millicent like that? I've told you about my reputation here – I can't just go around committing to good deeds and standing up for Gryffindors!" He tried to explain but to no avail.
"Well then, I don't see why you need me around then." She said realizing how saying it out loud stung sourly at her sides.
"No that has nothing to do with them." He said exasperated. She had no idea how much he really needed her, in more ways than one -especially now, after feeling her soft body laying on top of his. "You haven't the slightest idea of what's been going on." his voice almost sad.
"I'm not asking you to tell me anything. Your life is all your own." She spat before remembering she had knocked him down on the floor. "You're alright then?" Her voice softened a bit.
"He's fine Crouch." A sneering voice interrupted. Her body stiffened as Blaise Zabini rounded the corner. "You on the other hand, should be more concerned with your own health." He made his way to stand beside his friend. His hand inched towards his wand when Draco firmly grasped his forearm to stop him, the look on Blaise's face causing him to cringe internally. He had never seen him so angry. "What are you doing Malfoy?" He spat venemously but Draco kept a firm hold on his arm.
If she wasn't careful, the tears threatening to come out of hiding would have their ambitions fulfilled. She was in no state of mind to be the brave girl she had been before. Had she been too blind to notice before? Both times where she stood up to Zabini, Draco was there. Like if he was the one who gave her the strength to take chances and be more outspoken. And now he wasn't and she felt small and unimportant, she didn't know what to say or how to get rid of them. But she just wished they would leave.
"Expelliarmus!" Rupert chanted and Zabini's wand violently flew out of his hand into the thick snow, "Run." He whispered frantically leading the way while Silver and Lucy followed suit.
They ran the opposite direction, shoving the crowds out of the way until they were sure they were far enough.
"I'm glad you're making friends." Lucy noted sarcastically.
"I've met her before, I think." Rupert said.
"You must've, that's Pansy Parkinson." Rupert came from an esteemed Pureblood wizarding family they did partake in a lot of the events of high society, including those of the Malfoy family. As a matter of fact, Silver first met Rupert at the annual Christmas party she was behest to attend this year, but this was before she had gone to Salem and cut her ties with Barty. Rupert went on to attend the parties up until last Christmas so that would mean, "Oh my god why hadn't I thought about it before?" Silver practically yelled, "You're going to their Christmas party this year as well aren't you?"
He nodded, "That's right, you're back in high society now."
"But what about Harry Potter?" Lucy asked incredulously.
"We haven't talked about what happens next Lu, we're just taking this one step at a time. And besides it's absolutely principal that I attend this party." She desperately longed to see Draco again.
---
"But are they both In danger?" Sirius sat around a large table with others, Molly Weasley and Remus Lupin amongst them.
"Maybe, maybe not? Who's to say really? Does the Dark Lord know and if he does, does he remember?" Remus Lupin asked himself more than he to the rest, his arms crossed in front of him.
"Only time will tell I'm afraid," Molly Weasley was worried, very worried for now there were two children at risk as opposed to just one, "Do we burden Arthur with the news when he returns from hospital?"
"I'm afraid so Molly," Sirius added, "He's the only one working with the ministry."
"Thus the only person who can possibly provide us with any answers at the moment." Remus finished.
I know you guys want some Draco and Silver action and although it was unfortunately scarce in this chapter, I will send each one of my reviewers a preview!
I think the next chapter will make up for it :)
So I think you might want to press that little button down there..
By the way I saw Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, and I loved it! I know it didn't follow the book as much as it should've but I still thought it was amazing!
So it got me thinking, sequel? Draco and Silver in their sixth year in Hogwarts? Hmmm..
But I obviously need to finish this story first, so we'll see.
Please review!!