Chapter 25: Mirror Reflections
Hermione sat quietly listening to Professor Snape continue his long lecture to the class. Turning her head slightly, she smiled seeing Ron struggle to stay up in the seat next to her. Between them on the desk her quill laid untouched as well as some blank parchment. No matter how much she wanted to, she couldn't bring herself to take some notes.
Something just felt wrong.
She didn't know what exactly was wrong, but it just felt so. Sighing, she tuned back into Snape's talking once more, feeling foolish for being so suspicious. If she didn't pull herself together soon she was going to go crazy.
Suddenly, a mind gripping fear and an excruciating pain tore at her. Sucking in a huge breath, her right hand quickly came to rest over her heart, as she balled her fingers into a fist in an attempt to make the feeling go away.
"Hermione? Mione?!" Ron whispered frantically. "What's wrong?"
Hermione turned to him breathing erratically, tears stinging the corners of her eyes. "It hurts Ron."
"What? What hurts?!" Ron said, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder.
"I don't know. Something is not right."
"Miss Granger. Mr. Weasley. What may I ask is causing you to disrupt my class?" Snape said stoically, as he unexpectedly appeared before their desks.
Hermione looked up at him with tears in her eyes and such grief that it even made Snape take a step back. "Miss. Granger, what is going on?", he asked uncharacteristically gentle of him.
"Professor, it's not right. It's not right." She cried. "Not right. Make it stop hurting."
"What is not ri-", but cut himself off when a small glass orb on his desk turned black and let out an endless repetition of loud beeps. His brow furrowed and he turned addressing the rest of the class. "All of you are dismissed. Head to your dormitories at once!"
Students quickly scrambled to collect their things, confused as to what was going on. It was right at that second when the doors to the dungeon classroom burst open and Professor McGonagall stood at the entrance, worry etched across her face. Looking around the classroom she focused on Snape and nodded at him before heading down the corridor.
Students stood in their same place even more puzzled at the turn of events. Seeing their feet firmly glued to the floor still Snape barked, "What are you still doing here? Didn't I say head to your dormitories?"
At the sound of his voice, the students jumped and were out the door in a matter of seconds. Meanwhile, the fear and pain that Hermione felt was gone as suddenly as it had appeared. Breathing in slowly, she smiled at Ron letting him know she was okay, the red headed boy never letting his eyes leave her for a second.
"What is going on Professor?" Ron asked, once he was sure that Hermione was okay. However, Snape was no longer at their desk and was already rapidly walking out of the classroom. "Professor!"
Snape didn't turn around, but slowed his steps considerably. "You are to take Miss. Granger to the infirmary. Someone will be there shortly."
"No!" Hermione exclaimed, jumping from her seat.
At this Snape did turn, surprised at her evident refusal. "No?"
"I have to get to Devlin! I don't have time to go anywhere else!" Hermione cried, throwing her items into her book bag.
"Mione, maybe you should listen to Snape. Something is obviously not right here." Ron said, trying to placate her.
Hermione turned to him, determination in her eyes. "No Ron. I need to get to my baby."
Ron nodded, pushing his chair back and standing. "I know. Let's go."
They turned and were mildly surprised to see the potions master no longer in the classroom. Ron shrugged, slinging Hermione's book bag over his shoulder as well as his own, before leading them out of the classroom.
Hermione knew before the portrait swung open to reveal the common room that something was horribly wrong. Once open, the sounds of Devlin's cries immediately flooded her senses. Rushing forward she saw Sarai in the middle of the room holding him, trying to soothe him as best as she could.
Seeing Hermione and Ron, Sarai finally allowed herself to breathe. "He's been like this for the past five minutes or so." She said handing the baby to Hermione. "He was fine one minute and the next second he was crying."
Hermione held Devlin close to her, swaying her body soothingly as she tried to calm him down. "Shhhh. Shhh. Mummy's here baby." She pulled back a little, to look into his face. Tears fell from his violet eyes and Hermione kissed them away. "What happened my luv?"
"Ma! Ma!" Devlin continued to cry as his hands clutched at Hermione's shirt.
"Mummy's here. She's here." Hermione turned towards the portrait as it swung open once more. Blaise, Pansy and Ginny all came rushing through.
"What is going on?" Ginny asked. "All classes have been dismissed for the day. The professors are in a frenzy!"
"We don't know either." Ron said. "All I can say is that something really bad just happened."
"What's wrong with Devlin?" Pansy asked.
"I don't know! He's so frightened!" Hermione cried, panic completely laced in her words.
"Da! Da! Da!"
It became deathly silent in the room. All heads turned to Devlin who continued to cry into Hermione's shoulder.
"Did he just say 'Da'?" Ginny asked.
"Devlin look at Mummy." Hermione said softly, tilting his face so that he could look at her. "Daddy? Did you see Daddy?"
"Da! Da!" He responded.
"Oh Merlin!" Hermione breathed. She could feel the room start to spin slightly. "Baby, what about Daddy?"
"Da! Da!" Devlin whimpered, burrowing his face into the crook of his mother's neck.
Knees weak, Hermione began to fall to the floor, tears beginning to pool in her eyes.
"Hermione!" Came the worried voices of her friends. Ron wrapped an arm around her waist not a moment to late, steadying her against him.
"What is it?" Ginny asked.
"Som…something happened to the guys. I just know it. Devlin senses it too."
"Look we can't rush to conclusions yet. We just need to calm down and think this through." Ron said, as he struggled to keep things together.
However as soon as those words left his mouth there was a blinding flash of silver light that flooded the entire room. Instinctively everyone closed their eyes, Hermione covering Devlin in her arms securely as well.
After several seconds the light faded away and they all slowly opened their eyes. Nothing could prepare them for what lay before them.
Hermione was sure that the rest of them were talking but she could not hear them. There was only the sound of her rapid breathing flowing through her ears. Then she heard "La mia vita."as she stared into familiar gray eyes.
It was only until those eyes closed that noise came rushing back to her.
Draco and Harry laid on the floor in a tangle of limbs, pools of blood flowing freely from the numerous cuts and gashes that covered their bodies.
Somewhere behind her she could her Sarai scream Harry's name. Blaise and Ron were immediately next to Draco and Harry, moving them apart so they could lie more comfortably on the ground.
She waited.
She could hear Pansy running from the room, most likely in order to get help. Ginny stood next to Sarai holding her hand, offering what little strength she could spare.
But she waited still.
She waited hoping to wake up from this nightmare. She had seen this scene too many times in her dreams. However, whenever she woke up she knew those dreams were lies. So she just needed to wake up from this nightmare and everything would be back to normal.
She waited for those grey eyes of the one she loved to open.
They never did. So she closed her eyes too.
Her eyes felt heavy as she opened them, but she immediately closed them as fluorescent lights blinded her. Someone was calling her name and she struggled to open them once more. Her eyes fluttered several times until she clearly saw Ginny's tear streaked face next to her.
"Oh Merlin! Hermione! Thank goodness you're awake." Tears flooded the red headed's eyes. "I was so worried."
"Don't cry Ginny. Everything's fine." She looked around the white room. "Am I in the infirmary?"
"Yes. Don't you remember anything?" Ginny asked.
Hermione tried to thing back to what could have happened but came up with a blank image. "No, nothing."
"You fainted Mione."
"That's silly. I've never fainted before." It was then that Hermione noticed that Ginny had never stopped crying. Pulling herself into a seated position, she asked, "What happened?"
Ginny looked down unable to meet Hermione's gaze. "Draco and Harry. They're here." It was all she was able to get out before a choked sob escaped her.
Hermione shook her head, as memories tried to resurface.
Draco.
Harry.
Draco.
Harry.
Blood!
Her head snapped upward as she threw the covers off her. She pulled the curtains open so hard it nearly tore off its hinges. Putting a hand to her head she took in the scene before her.
Draco and Harry were each on a bed with Madame Pomprey switching between the two as she rushed to heal them both. Hermione watched almost mesmerized as drop after drop of their blood spilled over their beds and onto the floor. Their bodies were hardly recognizable because of the cuts and bruises that marred them.
Even Dumbledore, McGonagall, and Snape were offering any assistance that they could. Ron, Sarai, and Blaise were off to the side staring, a haunted gaze in their eyes.
"No. No. No." Hermione repeated over and over again. By then the others in the room had noticed that she had woken up.
Ron cautiously walked over to his best friend. "Mione…" But he had no words of comfort to offer. Instead he simply wrapped his arms around hoping to ease her in any way.
"Why?" She asked.
"We don't know. There wasn't any indication or warning that they were in trouble." Rom answered.
Hermione couldn't tear her eyes away from Draco. "What's going to happen to them?"
"Everyone is doing the best they can." Ginny said coming to stand beside her.
"But there's so much blood. It wont stop." Hermione said emotionlessly. Suddenly she whirled around, eyes darting in every direction. "Where's Devlin?!"
"He's with Pansy. She offered to stay behind and watch him." Ron said.
"Oh."
Ginny took her friend's hand in hers. "Why don't you lie down. You just woke up yourself."
Hermione smiled tiredly. "I'm fine."
Without any warning sirens began to wail within the room and her attention quickly focused on Draco and Harry once more. Tremors were racking Harry's body and Dumbledore and Snape both had to hold him down.
Draco was just lying there. There was no sign of movement. He had stopped breathing. His chest no longer rising and falling on its own accord.
McGonagall quickly ushered them out of the infirmary and in the next instant she was staring at the double wooden doors that held her loved ones captive inside.
"Has he woken up or said anything?" Hermione asked walking into the infirmary.
"Nothing that made any sense. He's been drifting in and out of it." Madame Pomprey said. "We really couldn't hear what he was saying. He's just been muttering words here and there."
"Oh. I see."
It had been four days exactly since Draco and Harry had been rushed to the infirmary. Harry's injuries had been extreme and the poison in his body was made to kill within an hour or so. Miraculously Snape had remembered a potion that he had concocted years back that could stop the poison from continuing. It gave them enough time to remove the poison completely from his body and heal his damaged organs. The majority of his bruises and scrapes had healed. His left arm was the only one that had not quite healed so fast. Even with Madame Pomprey's skills it still required some time to heal. Within two days time he woke up and it brought relief to many. He still slept a lot but his healing body took a lot out of him.
Then there was Draco. If only he had been so lucky as Harry. He still had not woken up.
No matter what he was given his body continued to reject any healing potion he was given. Shortly after he had stopped breathing McGonagall had quickly went into action. It was because of her that he still had a fighting chance. She soon had him breathing on his own, though it was labored.
His body was still covered in many bruises and his cuts were barely starting to heal. It was unheard of, that potions were not able to have any effect on a person.
Ron had joked very weakly that Malfoy was not one to go with the crowd. Yet, Hermione did not give up any hope. She spent hours on top of hours with him staying by his side.
Hermione looked down at his sleeping face and smiled. She brushed his fair hair from his face before bending down and kissing his forehead.
Turning to the bed a little further from Draco's, she stared at Harry's own sleeping face she asked, "And how is Harry doing?"
"Much better. He fell asleep about an hour ago. He's been complaining about the taste of the potions recently, so that's a good sign that he's returning to his old self." Madam Pomprey said with a slight chuckle.
"Same old Harry." Hermione smiled, "Thank you Madame Pomprey. You've done so much for them and I don't know how I can ever truly repay you."
"Nonsense dear. These two have practically lived here since they've started school during their first year. With the amount of trouble these two get into it's no surprise. I have come to love them as much as anyone else. Now, I'll be in my office. Let me know if you need anything."
"I will." She said, watching as the nurse left the room. Settling into the chair between to the two, she grabbed a book from atop the bedside table. From day one she had never stopped researching any way that could help Draco. She cracked open the book and with another glance towards him she immersed herself in the book, determined to find a solution.
Hours later into the current book she was reading, she heard a yawn. Immediately her head snapped towards Draco.
He laid perfectly still with his eyes fully closed.
With a smile on her face she turned in her chair to see a wide awake Harry staring at her.
"Morning Mione." Harry greeted.
"Actually Mr. Potter, its past noon." Hermione corrected with a teasing grin.
"Already?" He asked with genuine surprise. "I am still in seventh year right?"
Hermione almost laughed at his serious expression. "Yes."
"Good. I didn't want to be the nerd that's still living at school even though his seventh year ended many years ago."
"Regardless of whatever would have happened, you'd still be a nerd."
Harry grinned. "But a nerd with a beautiful girlfriend." He looked around the white room. "Where is Sarai? Usually she's practically attached to my side."
"She doesn't want to lose you is all. Sarai's with Draco's mother right now to update her on his condition."
Harry looked past Hermione's shoulder. "Nothing huh?"
Hermione mustered a small smile. "Well Pomprey said he's been muttering here and there. However, it was nothing that she could make sense of."
"Malfoy hardly makes sense." He chuckled.
"Oh, Harry." Hermione shook her head playfully at him.
Harry looked down at his bandaged torso. He gently ran a finger over the white bandages. "I owe him my life."
"What?" Hermione asked in surprise. Harry had been very adamant about not mentioning anything about that day to anyone.
He looked back over shoulder to look at Draco's bruised face. "We were outnumbered thirteen to two. We tried to leave but couldn't. It felt as if our magic was being blocked from going any further than a certain distance. Thankfully we were able to use some magic to defend ourselves or we would both be in the ground buried by now."
"Don't say that Harry." Hermione whispered interrupting.
Harry looked at her seriously. "But that's the truth. I don't know how long we fought them, but it felt like days were passing before us. We stuck through but I can't imagine how."
"Because you two are strong."
"It was plain luck." Harry corrected. "I got hit in the stomach with a curse I didn't recognize. Bugger hurt so much I almost passed out. Malfoy got us to a tree that hadn't been blasted or burned yet. Area was a wreck. Next thing I know purple foam is spewing out from the cuts and blacked out. Last thing I saw was the remaining Death Eaters coming from behind Malfoy." He paused. "We shouldn't be here. We'd be captured or dead. But here we are in good old Hogwarts." Harry nodded towards Draco. "And it's because of him."
Hermione turned around wordlessly in her chair and reached for Draco's hand, fingers lacing together.
"You know, he's supposed to be some kind of monster, but from here he looks like a hero." Harry said.
She used her free hand to brush through his hair, that was so much like their son's. "Yes he is."
Harry coughed. "But, uh, don't tell him I said that."
Hermione smiled knowingly. "Why?"
"Don't get me wrong. I still hate the guy and all. Last thing I want is to see his smug expression."
Unable to contain the bubble of laughter within her, she said, "I won't say a word. Promise."
Harry leaned back in his bed against pillows he propped up behind him. "Good to hear you laugh again Mione."
Blushing she lowered her head. "Well there hasn't been much to laugh about lately."
"There's always Devlin." Harry shook his head in disbelief remembering the one time he had been brought to the infirmary. "My little nephew sure did grow up. Last time I saw him he was barely crawling if I'm not mistaken. Now he's walking and talking! Unbelievable."
Hermione sighed sadly. "I know. I want to stay stop and hold him in my arms forever. I don't want him to get any bigger."
"You can't just stop time."
"I could always use a time turner. I'll just keep going back in time so that I only have him as a little boy."
Harry chuckled. "You're such a mother Mione."
"If there's any one to blame it's you and Ron. With having to look after you two constantly I'm not surprised. Honesty, I don't know whether you two or Devlin is more trouble."
"We're not that bad!" Harry defended.
"Yea, says the boy who can't go a week without landing himself in detention. Or shall I go year by year? Do I have to mention Fluffy?"
"Oh! Since we're heading back to the good old days, need I remind you of the troll incident?" Hermione glowered , to which he supported a grin. "Anyways, in my opinion Devlin beats me and Ron. He's Malfoy's kid. Enough said."
"He certainly does have Draco's attitude at times. Especially when it comes to the word no."
"Devlin looks so much like him. More now than before if possible." Harry remarked.
"It's amazing that they're not technically blood-related."
"The only thing that sets them apart are their eyes. Draco's eyes are always that silver color."
Silver!
Hermione jumped from her chair within seconds. "Silver! Of course! Harry, you're a genius!"
"I am?" Not once in his life did he ever think that he would be hearing those words from Hermione. Maybe she accidentally took one of his potions. That had to be the only reason.
"Absolutely!" She pressed a kiss to Draco's temple and then a quick one to Harry's forehead. "I have to talk to Dumbledore. I'll be back as soon as I can."
Leaving Harry in a whirlwind, she was off in a flurry. Shrugging his shoulders, he made himself more comfortable on the bed. At least she didn't remember to remind Madame Pomprey that he was up. He was due for another potion and that was something he felt was unnecessary.
He rubbed his hands together grinning. This was turning out to be his day after all. He found out he was a genius and no more potions for him.
Madame Pomprey came into view with a vial of a brown colored liquid. Hermione had not forgotten.
"Bugger it!" Harry muttered unhappily.
The door to Professor Dumbledore's office flew open with a resounding bang that echoed throughout the room. Professor Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall turned to their new arrival standing in the entryway. Hermione stood breathless but with a grin nonetheless.
"Miss. Granger? Is everything alright?" McGonagall asked looking her over for any visible injuries.
Hermione practically glowed as she crossed the room towards them. Dumbledore's eyes once again twinkled mysteriously with glee. "I believe everything is alright. Minerva, if you please, have Severus come here immediately. For the meantime, I ask that you take over his class."
"Certainly Albus."
When she was gone, Dumbledore gestured for Hermione to take a seat. Though she was now sitting, it didn't stop her from fidgeting in her seat.
Dumbledore smiled warmly at her. "I'm sure Professor Snape's class will be able to breath a little easier from having a substitute for the remainder of class. Severus has been in somewhat of a gloomier mood since Draco was admitted to the infirmary."
Hermione tried her best to stifle her giggles. She smiled at her headmaster grateful for the distraction to ease her nervousness. Neither said a word until Snape arrived minutes later.
"You called Professor." He drawled taking a seat. Then noticing Hermione for the first time said, "Miss. Granger. I presume you are the reason I am here."
Hermione took a deep breath collecting herself. "I have a theory as to what is happening with Draco."
"Do tell." Snape said emotionlessly.
"His powers are not the same as ours. He's on a different level of magic than normal wizards. Am I right?" She asked, eyes darting between the two professors looking for confirmation.
"He told you?" Snape asked incredulously, his voice giving away his surprise.
Hermione bit her lip in thought. "Not exactly. I've seen him use it plenty of time though."
"Reckless boy." Snape muttered in annoyance.
"So, it is true! I don't understand why or how he has them. What is he?"
Dumbledore stroked his beard thoughtfully. "It really is not our place to tell Miss. Granger."
"I know, but I thought if I understood more I'd have more than a mere theory to go on." Hermione said softly.
"You never mentioned what this theory of yours was." Snape pointed out dryly.
"Right. I believe Draco's in a magic induced coma. A whole other world in which he can't get out of. His mutterings and those news cuts and bruises that come from seemingly nowhere, just help prove this even more."
"What is affecting him in his "dream", so to speak, is affecting him in this world." Added Snape.
"I also believe that he is unintentionally refusing the potions. It's as if his powers are placing a barrier around him and rejecting the medicine as a means to protect him."
"What exactly brought you to this conclusion?" Snape questioned.
Hermione went on to explain what Harry had told her about what had happened before they arrived back in Hogwarts. "It is possible that since Draco's magic is different he was able to use it then and apparate them to the Head's Common Room."
"That still doesn't explain how it might have caused this type of coma. A magic induced coma is very rare, even in this world and time."
"Draco, from what Harry told me, was already at his limit. Think of it this way. When brewing a potion, pressure is key. Too much can cause the potion to spill over. In this case, Draco's use of his magic caused him to go into a coma and his magic caused a different kind. His magic has completely taken over and is protecting him from anything foreign. Thus no spell or potion can work on him." Hermione finished with a deep breath.
Snape for his part was speechless. He and Hermione turned to Dumbledore who had been relatively quiet through the whole conversation.
"A magic induced coma is simple but yet very complicated at the same time. The person in the coma must find the answer." Dumbledore said at last.
"The answer to what?" Hermione asked, unfamiliar with the technicalities involved with the coma.
"Depends on the person. It can be an answer to one question or an answer to solve many puzzles."
Hermione groaned. "I know him too well. With everything that he keeps inside, who knows what he is looking for."
"There is another thing." Dumbledore continued. "The longer he remains in the other world, the more real it becomes for him."
"What can we do?" Snape asked.
"Nothing. He is the only one who can figure it out on his own."
Hermione looked at her fingers twisted and locked together. She felt her happiness draining by the second. Nothing was ever fair. Why did he have to go through this on his own? So much of his life was already spent on his own. What good was her information if there was nothing that she could with it?
Hermione felt her body sag on to the couch as soon as she entered the common room. After leaving Dumbledore's office she headed directly to the library. The one place where she could always think straight, but as soon as she sat at her usual table in the back of the library, her gaze landed to the seat on her right.
The seat that Draco always sat at when she went to the library. He always insisted that he had work to do as well when she had to go there. Usually all he would do was lean back in his chair and fall asleep. Other times he would be talking a mile a minute and she found herself completely intrigued with his thoughts that her work was soon forgotten.
As those memories washed over her she hastily left the place she once called her sanctuary.
Brought back to the present with a chorus of "ma's", Hermione squinted at the light when she opened her eyes, to see Devlin squirming in Pansy's arms.
"I swear he has his mummy sensor on." Pansy said in a way of explanation.
Hermione took Devlin from Pansy with a gracious smile, despite the drool that was now dripping from her face as Devlin gave her raspberry kiss. "Thank you for watching him for me."
"Don't mention it. You're busy with Draco. How is he by the way?"
Not feeling up to reliving the day over again, she answered, "The same."
"Oh." Pansy said, her smile dropping slightly.
Hermione cursed her self for letting her bad mood act so rude. "But we've almost figured out how to help him."
Pansy smile returned to its previous state. "I'm so relieved. It gets kind of boring without his personality 'shining' through."
Another small smile. "Where's everyone else?"
"Blaise and Ginny are at dinner. You just missed Sarai. She went to go see Harry." Pansy said counting off on her fingers. "And Ron's in his room waiting for me." She finished perkily.
Hermione resisted the urge to laugh. "I see."
"Well I'm going back to Ron."
"Thanks again."
"I'm not his favorite aunt for nothing." She said grinning.
"I'm not sure if his other aunts would agree with that."
Pansy dismissed the comment with a wave. "I'm Pansy Parkinson. I don't give up easily."
When Pansy had left Hermione turned to bundle of limbs that was her son. He was currently standing on her lap, his mouth firmly attached to the back cushion of the couch.
Smiling she began to poke and tickle his sides. Devlin fell backwards laughing and Hermione effortlessly caught him. Seating him on her lap, she brushed his baby fine hairs. Devlin then went into a fit of giggles. Hermione looked at him suspiciously before turning her head slightly to see Devlin's set of plastic keys floating by her in the air.
With a shake of her head, she grabbed the keys handing them to Devlin.
As he stuffed the toy in his mouth, she lightly tapped him on the nose. "Sneaky Devlin."
Putting Devlin down to sleep later that night, had her thinking once again about Draco. Closing her eyes she grabbed his pillow, burying her face in it. There was so much that she had to do. So much that they had to do.
She felt the corners of her eyes sting, as tears threatened to spill again. Squeezing her eyes tightly, exhaustion came to her in full force, letting her fall into a fitful sleep.
He stood right in front of her as if he had never left her. Just an arm's length away, yet neither made a move to touch the other. Raising his head to the sky, his hand came to cover his squinting eyes from the sun.
"It's sunny." He commented.
"What's the point of being in the sun, when the person you want to share it with can't see it with you?"
He lowered his head to look into her eyes. "To know you're still alive."
"I don't want it to be just me." She whispered.
"What's your biggest fear?"
"That you'll die."
"I'm human. I'm going to die."
"I don't want you to."
"You can't control that."
She glanced around, watching the plain's grass sway in the wind. They were alone. "I don't want you to die." she repeated.
He smiled. "Me neither."
"No more blood then."
"Words or scratches? Either way, you are going to bleed."
"Your blood."
"You cant live your life wondering what if. What if you hadn't said yes to me? What if I didn't say no to my father? What if you didn't love me? What if I had gotten the Dark Mark? It doesn't matter shorty. What matters is what we want today. It's all that matters."
"I'm yours."
He smiled softly, the light illuminating his face. "Always."
"Always." She echoed.
"Your heart doesn't know where mine's been. I'll never let it go where's mine's been."
"But I can't reach you. You're too far."
He bent down, his breath caressing her neck. "I'm right here, Hermione. Open your eyes. Hermione. Hermione!"
She woke up with a start, taking in her surroundings. Breathing in rapidly, she blindly reached for Draco's body finding nothing. There was just the coolness of the sheets. Rising from her bed she quietly tiptoed across the room, grabbing the baby monitor from her nightstand. She continued on until she was face to face with Ron's room. Tentatively knocking on his door, she waited for his answer. Noticing for the first time the complete silence of the common room and the lack of life, she realized it must have been much later that she thought. It explained why he wasn't answering. Ron slept like the dead.
She turned the doorknob quietly with closed eyes and prayed to Merlin that Pansy was not in bed with him. Walking further into the room with blind eyes she called out his name. Nothing. Taking a risk she opened one eye. No naked Pansy. With the little light that was in the room she saw a haphazardly Ron sleeping with sheets askew. Smiling she placed the monitor on his nightstand. Slipping out of the room just as quietly as she had entered, she walked until she was standing outside of the Head's Dorm.
Her body began walking on the familiar path to the infirmary as her mind continue to puzzle over her dream. She didn't understand much but she knew that even as his life was on the line, Draco somehow was still able to giver her comfort. Even if it was only in her dreams.
Opening the doors to the infirmary, her hands came to rub at her arms as if to ward off the sudden chill that ran through her. She saw him lying on his bed, Harry fast asleep on the bed next to him. She began crawling onto the bed and snuggled into his side, her head resting lightly on his uninjured shoulder.
Her fingertips brushed over his bandaged torso. Sighing at the sight of new bruises marring his skin, she let her fingers continue to drift across them. She let her hand rest against one particular wound that was not there a day ago.
"I love you Draco." She whispered, as her other hand held his own. "Come back to me, because I'm right here. I'm not leaving you. I'm yours. Don't forget. Always, luv, always."
Warmth.
It was a long forgotten comfort he thought he would never feel again. Too long it had been since he felt a chill within his bones. Here, there was nothing but the cold constantly biting at his skin. His pale hand came to rest upon a recent wound he had acquired. The prickling sensation of warmth came directly from this point. He reveled in the fact that it seemed to spread throughout his body.
Groaning he sat up from the icy stones that made up the floor of the dungeon. Grimacing at the sight of his blood dried on the ground, he slowly looked at the damage on his body. "Not a pretty picture." He mumbled.
Draco sighed, wondering how long it had been since he had arrived back in this place. He had stopped counting after week three. It didn't make sense to him to know. Knowing would always bring back reality, and make him depressed.
His head turned at the sound of a steel door being opened accompanied by the sound of heavy boots thudding across stone. Standing up, the door to the dungeon opened, a familiar cane making the first appearance.
"Like clockwork. Every day, same hour." Draco stated.
"I believe…." Lucius started.
"I know what you believed. You can't expect that I wouldn't see what everyone else knew. It's all lies."
"There was a time when you had the same agenda as I did. We had the same goals, the same expectations."
Draco chuckled, the hollow sound vibrating off the stone walls. "If there was anything we had in common, it was our stubbornness. You won't bend and I wont break."
"Is that so?" Lucius asked.
"I'm not the same." He raised his eyes to the man he once called father. Stormy grey eyes staring into identical ones. "And I don't need to explain to you why that is."
Lucius sneered. "I might not be able to break you, but I can hurt you."
"You can try. Put your curses on me." Draco challenged, leaning back against the wall. "What will it be today?"
Lucius raised his wand and pointed at his son's hands. "Necto."
A pair of manacles appeared from the wall on both sides of his head, as his hands automatically rose to the constraints in a locking bind. "You're acting as if I could just get up and walk away from this. Do you really need to confine me?" Even as he spoke, Draco could feel the cold creeping back into his skin, seeing the smirk forming on his father's face.
"Oh no dragon. You will want to run. You'll want to scream." Lucius sauntered closer to his son with every word. "You'll want to kill." With a flick of the wand to his right, a door that was hidden in the darkness opened with a resounding creak. Nothing could prepare Draco for what came out from the dark. Hermione stumbled out looking worn and tired, her eyes clouded in confusion as she tried to make sense of the dark. "Though in my opinion, I think I'll be the one to kill."
"No!" Draco roared, his body lunging forward only to be pulled back by the manacles.
Hermione hearing his voice, saw him and started running towards as her tears burned. "Draco!"
When she was within inches of him, a rough jerk of her arm had her face to face with Lucius. "I don't think so mudblood. That is not part of the plan." He ran a pale hand down her trembling face to trail down to the back of her neck. In seconds he had his hand fisted in her head, yanking her head back. Rejoicing in her sudden cry of pain, he turned her around to face his son, who was gazing at her in a terror-stricken grief.
"Let her go." Draco growled.
"I'd rather not. Tell me, is your lover so good that you felt the need to throw your life away? Hmmmm." Lucius contemplated, pulling on her hair harder. He leaned his face against hers, his eyes closing briefly. "Maybe I just might find out for myself firsthand."
"Don't touch her!" Draco pulled at his restraints, feeling the metal bite at his skin. Hearing his father menacing laugh only caused him to pull harder. As he continued to fight against the manacles, his wrists burned and bled, as his eyes gazed into her frightened ones.
"Crucio." Whispered Lucius.
"No!! Stop!!"
But Lucius paid no attention to him. For hours Draco listened to her screams, to her pleas. Listened to her beg for it to end. Watched as drop after drop of her blood was spilled without mercy. All the while knowing there was nothing that he could. And so he prayed for the end of his pain. For the end of her pain.
It was only until time no longer held no meaning that it happened.
She stopped screaming.
She stopped breathing.
Her lifeless eyes dully reflected in his own. His body hanging limply from the chains in defeat, Draco didn't notice as his father walked away, sporting a grin of victory. It barely registered that his father removed the charm holding him up from the chains as he fell to the ground on his knees.
Draco waited for the light to come back into her eyes and to see her smile once more. But he was no fool. He knew what had happened and what could no longer be. He yearned to reach out to her but his fear of the truth kept him away. He remained rooted to his spot, unsure of where to do.
He should have known that things would end up this way. No matter what changes he went through and how far away he was away from his father. Everything came back to this. Came back to the fact that there is always death. He lived in a place where everything is a lie. The truth would not rise up against all the hate and fear.
Gently he pulled her body against his, as he leaned back against the wall, cradling her head in his arms. Brushing the bloodied curls from her face, his fingers traced over her eyes, her lips, and nose. Places he knew from memory. Places he had touched and kissed.
"You told me you loved me. Said that you would never leave me. I heard it. I felt it. You whispered it into my skin," Draco whispered, vacant eyes focusing on Hermione's face.
He could feel everything he had hoped for die away. Now there was nothing he could do. Only hope that death could come to him. With her gone, there was no other option because there was nowhere he could run and still feel safe inside.
He closed his eyes, and it was just for a second, but the darkness was so inviting. He saw red and black, blood and death. The two things he only knew.
When light filtered through to the dungeon, Draco woke immediately, clutching the body close to him protectively.
"Now, now Draco. Why don't you drop that filth and come with me?"
Draco only eyed him, watching every move his father made. Never once easing up on his hold. He could taste the hatred he had for this man in his mouth. His body shook with anger and his grip on Hermione was the only thing keeping him from killing.
"I can't believe that you are the same man that I once called my son. Look at you now. You are nothing but a shriveling, mess of a boy." Lucius eyes narrowed. "The mudblood is dead Draco.
"Don't." He murmured, his voice laced with pain.
"I will. You've had your fun, now it's time for you to come back and serve the Dark Lord by his side faithfully."
For the first time in many years, Draco looked upon this man with terror. He was the son of this man. The same blood running through him was running in him. Was he as gifted and twisted as this man? Shame flooded him, as he realized that he might very well be the same.
The disgust, the repulsion filled him. He was sure that there was a time that he was innocent. A purity that had turned vile because of selfish gain. Destroyed countless times over the years.
Lucius saw a change come over his boy and instantly recognized it for what it was. "We both knew, that this was what was meant to be."
He looked at his father, seeing the man he was to become.
Eyes of glass staring directly at death.
Intentions that had started pure, were now obscure.