Chapter thirty-seven: The courage
'Whatever is done for love always occurs beyond good and evil.' - Friedrich Nietzsche
Harry
Harry felt as though he had been spun around mercilessly, as though the world had suddenly and brutally just upended right in front of his very nose and everything he had ever thought or believed about the past was wrong. Nothing was the same anymore, but oddly everything seemed to fit into place perfectly. Harry might not like his new perspective on life, it might have unsettled him, but he couldn't deny that it all made sense. No wonder Snape had always hated him. Harry could understand that now, for the very first time it was all clear to him. Disorientated and more than a little bit uncomfortable, Harry watched as the world around him reformed, and surprisingly the room that blossomed around him was almost identical to the one that had come before. The tall stone walls, covered in colourful, dozing portraits of previous headmasters, grew around him, tables and cabinets of glimmering, interesting and mostly unidentifiable objects appeared and ahead of Harry an elegant desk, covered in just as fascinating and peculiar items as every other surface, materialised into being, an empty birds perch shooting up beside it. It was the Headmaster's Office, when Dumbledore had still been alive, and exactly where Harry had been only seconds before. The same two people were in the room again, alone, but it was immediately clear to Harry that some time had passed, however, what it took him a moment to realise, was that a different topic of conversation was under discussion.
"I believe that our young friend is distancing himself from her," Dumbledore said as Harry took a step closer to better hear their conversation, as Dumbledore was once again sitting behind his desk, sounding thoughtful as he sat back in his chair, "is that correct?"
"Yes," Snape replied, with some satisfaction, "when I followed him to try and talk some sense into the fool hardy boy we came upon her, she tried to get his attention but he carried on walking and said not a word to her." Snape relayed and Dumbledore nodded at this news, as though this was of great significance. Harry was confused, as this seemed to have nothing to do with what Snape and Dumbledore had been disusing before, Snape's relationship with Harry's mum and how that affected Harry, but it was clear they were talking about someone else here.
"It makes sense that he would," Dumbledore said ambiguously and Snape looked on at the older wizard in bewilderment, clearly not understanding what he meant by that, but frustrated by the other man's somewhat optimistic tone.
"I was right," Snape said firmly, as though daring Dumbledore to disagree with him, "he cannot possibly love her, otherwise why would he distance himself?"
"Surely Severus, you of all people can understand that." Dumbledore said knowingly, and Harry caught a faint spark of connection then, a hint of what made this relevant, but it soon faded and he didn't manage to understand it just yet, "Could it not simply be that he is protecting himself and her by avoiding her, that the young boy is frightened by his own emotions and the position he is now in?" Dumbledore asked, sounding perfectly innocent, but Snape didn't look impressed by this statement, Harry noticed, watching the Head of Slytherin's frown deepen and his hands flex into fists.
"I can see the similarities without you constantly pointing them out." He said somewhat harshly, "but if you insist that Malfoy loves the Jones girl then I will have to say that I think she does not return his feelings. And why would she, her friend Potter hates him and the pair of them have argued the entire time they have known one and other. That he loves the girl makes this no better, if that is true then I have to watch as she breaks his heart, as she surely will." Stunned Harry looked between the two wizards, unable to believe what they were saying, that they were actually talking about this, about Ivy and Malfoy. It confused him and made him defensive of his hurt friend, who had been so badly wounded by the very boy they were discussing, and suddenly he was wary of what significance this would have.
"Ivy is headstrong and very deeply in denial, but you cannot argue that she doesn't return Draco's feelings Severus. You said that she tried to get his attention when you saw her today, why would she do that if she scorned him? No, their feelings towards each other have not changed. All is as it should be." Dumbledore said with confidence, one that didn't waver in the slightest as Harry, suspicious about this turn of conversation, noticed that Snape looked less than pleased by the then Headmaster's words.
"And why is that?" Snape asked irately, fast losing any patience he had left, this, Harry summarised, was as touchy a subject as the other one had been, if Snape's reaction was anything to go by, though at that moment Harry didn't know why that would be. "You avoided the question the last time I asked, why is it so important that the two of them maintain these…feelings?" Snape asked, sneering the last word as though it were repulsive to him.
"I did not avoid the question last time, Severus," Dumbledore said reasonably, "if you remember rightly we were interrupted, I have merely been waiting for you to ask me again. However in answer to your question, the reason you ask for is nothing more or less vital than their own happiness, their relationship may very well be their salvation."
"I am not naïve enough to believe that, Dumbledore. You forget I know you, you never do anything without at least fifty far reaching reasons behind it, you always have a design for everything, what is the true reason you encourage this?" Snape asked abruptly and Harry, seriously doubting his old mentor's words anyway, that Malfoy could do anything at all to help Ivy or make her happy, turned to look at Dumbledore expectantly, wanting an answer as much as Snape.
"I have not encouraged anything, Severus," Dumbledore said, causing Snape to pull a face that looked to Harry like he desperately wanted to groan in frustration, "I have merely prevented your interference in the natural formation of their relationship. I have no hand in this, the bonds Ivy and Draco have formed are purely of their own doing, but I do not pretend that they are not advantageous. As I said before, it will be their salvation. Their love for one and other will ensure that, no matter what, they will both make it out of this war. For neither one will sit back and allow the other to die."
"You cannot honestly believe that," Snape said, as though Dumbledore was being ridiculous, "by your own admission you said that Jones was headstrong, when she finds out that Draco is a Death Eater she will hate him, no matter what you believe she feels for him now. The hot-headed child will kill him herself and save anyone else the trouble."
"I have faith in her forgiveness," Dumbledore said simply, while both Snape and the watching Harry looked at him as though he were crazy, for neither one believed his words, "Ivy is not a cruel person, if she knows that Draco is in danger she will not forsake him, regardless of what he has done in the past."
"So you would put Draco's life in her hands, even though she is intolerant and impulsive?" Snape asked, his voice almost a challenge.
"Their lives are in their own hands, and those of the people who would protect them. All will be well." Dumbledore said with confidence, and Harry was reminded of what Dumbledore and Malfoy had said on the Astronomy Tower the night of Dumbledore's murder, of what was said about Ivy, and he wondered, somewhat cautiously, if the older wizard might be right. Snape however, showed no signs of wavering.
"But that's not it, is it, there is another reason why I must suffer through this isn't there? Surely this isn't all there is to this, it's far too simple for you Dumbledore and it doesn't affect Potter at all, I was under the impression the world must rotate around the boy." Snape bit out, not convinced in the least while Harry was still starting to sway, he remembered how Malfoy had looked in the Room of Requirement tonight, how he had reacted to Ivy and was reminded a little of how he had been with Ginny before they had gotten together, obviously without the animosity on her part.
"In a way you are right, Severus," Dumbledore admitted, much to Harry's surprise and distaste, "though I do not agree with the way you worded it, the world does not revolve around Harry and to say so, if you don't mind me saying, is just a touch spiteful. However, I concede that there is another reason that I am glad of Ivy and Draco's affections for each other."
"What reason?" Snape asked quickly and Dumbledore, looking every inch the educator he was, shook his head reproachfully at his companion's eagerness.
"Patience, Severus, I will explain all," Dumbledore said and there was no mistaking how very much Snape didn't appreciate that comment, "my final reason for approving of their relationship does indeed have to do with Harry." Shocked by this Harry honestly couldn't see how, standing up a little straighter the dark haired boy had wide eyes as he waited for Dumbledore to expand upon his words, abandoning the unsavoury task of trying to analyse the relationship between his friend and his enemy. "Ivy and her visions are of the up most importance to Harry's survival, and to the success of their mission. Without her, Harry cannot hope to do what he needs to, and without Draco's love Ivy will never be able to evade the Death Eaters. Voldemort knows of Ivy and her powers, and now that he does he will never allow Harry to have such an advantage, he will seek to use her abilities for himself."
"So that's what this is all about?" Snape asked, finding himself somewhere between satisfied to have discovered the truth and annoyed by what he was hearing, meanwhile Harry's head was reeling, Ivy had gone through what she had just so she could protect him? The idea was horrific to him. "History repeats its self once more, but now it is only so that Potter keeps his bodyguard and the Dark Lord is robbed of an advantage?" Snape asked, sounding in that instant as though he were more frustrated than his cold expression let on, Harry, pulling himself away from his guilt-ridden thoughts looked over at Dumbledore, hardly able to believe this. Until the two of them, both the furious servant and the invisible hero, heard these imperative words from the wise man's mouth, that silenced even them.
"And for their own happiness, Severus, never forget that."
Draco
Draco had never been especially intuitive, he never knew when to stop or when a line had been crossed, never knew when his taunting had gone too far or when someone was about to lash out at him. For the most part he never expected people to treat him such, and so it all came as a surprise to him when they did, allowing others to take advantage in certain situations and often landing him with a spell to the gut or as a newly transfigured rodent. However, while most things went past Draco, he would have had to be completely oblivious to miss the disdain rolling off the girl walking beside him in waves. Ivy was literally fuming with rage; even across the strict, ridged distance she put between them her animosity filled the air around her, as clear a sign of her mood as her tightly clenched hands and deep scowl. It struck Draco that it might have been wiser to wait behind, to let her go alone and spare himself the hostility and threat of attack at any moment, but he made no move to stop, nor to suggest she carry on by herself. Draco wasn't stupid, just a fool in love, and he wasn't going to let this opportunity pass him by, he had a golden chance here, to go with her and slowly bring her back around to him, to make amends for what he had done last year, and it was easier to make sure that she was safe if he was right beside her. So, despite the clear and very real danger the furious girl beside him posed, Draco kept close to her and carried on.
"Hurry up," she snapped, giving him a loathsome sideways glance but making sure not to look him in the eyes, before picking up the speed of her jog and racing ahead of him, so that a stunned but not at all surprised Draco had to run to keep up with her, "there are lives at risk here." She added and she didn't need to voice her next threat, that it would be his life in danger if they didn't get to the hat in time, for both of them to hear it.
Sighing Draco matched her fast and somewhat frantic pace, and found himself turning to look at her as they rushed up the staircases towards the Headmasters Office. There she was, the same war-torn vision as before, clothes ripped and singed, skin cut and bruised, hair a mess. She was still the same stubborn girl that he had always known too, but there was something different about her now, something hard and sharp that she had only ever hinted at before, a deep rooted hurt that Draco couldn't stand. His insides twisted as he looked at her clenched, trembling hands, wrapped tightly around a familiar wand, and he wondered if he had done this to her. Draco cringed at the thought, dodging it both mentally and physically he looked away from the girl whose presence he had been craving all year, ignored the need to turn back to her and walk that little bit closer, and stared over the edge of the railing into the quiet Entrance Hall bellow as the two of them raced up the stairs. The castle was in morning, a heavy cloud hung over the place, one with such potency that as with Ivy's fury he would have to be completely ignorant not to feel it. The inhabitants and defenders of Hogwarts castle were tired and beaten; he could see them, huddled together through the open doors to the Great Hall, seeking comfort in the time they had with each other, trying to tend their wounds and cling to what little hope they had left. In spite of everything, his poor experience here this past year, his isolation and complete and utter lack of any sense loyalty towards the school, he felt bad for them, felt some of their pain as they grieved the loss of their loved ones and fought for the courage to carry on themselves. On a level different to theirs, he could relate. However, this sympathy didn't weigh Draco down for long, he soon turned back to face the way he was going, spotting an impatient and aggravated Ivy several steps ahead of him moving at an ever increasing speed as she desperately tried to put distance between them, and frustration at his own situation hit him again. Frowning he hurried after her, not about to be deterred by her efforts, and thinking to himself that brooding over their misery wouldn't help the people downstairs, but freeing the Sorting Hat might, though Draco couldn't begin to understand why and Ivy wasn't about to explain.
"Would you just slow down?" Draco half puffed, half growled as he rushed after Ivy, who was practically bounding up the stairs.
Not slowing at all Ivy cast a scathing glance over her shoulder as she said in a nonchalant tone, "Why? That would defeat the whole object." Before turning away again, biting her lip and pulling the most peculiarly strained expression as she did, however, while Draco noticed this he thought nothing of the motion.
"You need me to get into the office, Ivy," He told her sternly, trying to get her to admit that she needed him too, however this time she didn't even turn as she gave her response.
"Unfortunately," Muttered Ivy, though she made no attempt to hide her words and Draco wanted to growl in frustration, "So hurry up, or else I'll find a way in on my own." Draco highly doubted that, but knew Ivy well enough not to say anything, especially given their fragile truce, and simply followed behind her as she ran onto the landing, before taking off to the left, in the direction of the Headmasters Office.
"You know," Draco said drolly, trying again as the two of them raced down the devastated corridor, dodging overturned tables and shattered statues, glass crunching beneath their feet, "you really could slow down a little," Draco wheezed as he struggled to keep up with her, wondering if it was her hatred for him or her vision that caused her speed, "the hat isn't going anywhere."
"And that's the problem," she told him, in a voice that was hardly contemptuous at all, giving him pause and telling Draco that whatever she needed the hat for, it was important if she could put aside her hatred long enough to tell him that truth.
Though Draco followed her mostly willingly, it was only then that he realised there was some significance to what they were doing, before he never really had, and could you blame him? What good could the raggedy old Sorting Hat do in this war? None at all as far as Draco could see, he had simply been glad of the opportunity to stay with her and try to get back in her good graces, one that he had readily taken. But there must be a point it this, a reason why Ivy was so desperate to get to the hat, she hadn't told him much about her vision, she still didn't trust him, but she had just said that there were lives in danger, that the liberation of the hat would save them. Draco still couldn't see how, but he supposed that as long as the girl in front of him knew then it didn't matter. Thinking about it, Draco looked up and spotted Ivy throwing a quick look at him over her shoulder, her expression not half so hostile as it had been and her demeanour more open, she saw him looking and quickly turned away scowling, though whether it was at him or at herself was unclear. Watching her as she picked up her speed once more, Draco felt that odd pull in his chest again and supposed that it didn't matter if she didn't know, because he would follow her anyway.
Ivy
Why did he have to be here? Couldn't he just leave me alone? I thought franticly, twitching with the urge to turn to look at him but adamant that I wouldn't. Being next to him was so difficult it was almost laughable; it hurt on levels unimaginable, made my cheeks flame with old embarrassment and sent my heart into overdrive. I was trembling, but I didn't know exactly why, I couldn't kid myself and say it was wholly to do with my rage, because I knew that it wasn't. Merlin, it wasn't fair, I thought as I sprinted down the corridor, Draco a good distance behind me but still too close for comfort and too far away for it too. Hadn't the Powers That Be had enough fun torturing me on this account yet? Wasn't throwing me together with Draco and watching us fight getting old yet? Because it was to me, my battered heart was pounding in my chest, the pain of it excruciating, and I wished myself anywhere, anywhere, but here. I'd held out strong so far but I knew me and him, knew how this went, it wouldn't be too long now before I started to waver, started to think that maybe he wasn't all bad, and it was a downwards spiral from there. Because I was right to hate him, right to be annoyed with what he had done to me and to believe that he was evil incarnate. But pretty soon all logic would fly out the window and relying solely on my love-struck emotions I would hand him the wand to curse me with once again. Why did he have to be here? I asked again, fighting the urge to groan and rake my hands through my hair, lest he see the effect he was having on me. Why couldn't he have gone back to his master like all the good little Death Eaters, why did he have to stay here and torture me? You didn't help matters; that annoyingly rational voice in my head intoned; you were the one that ran to him. To save his life! I insisted internally with some desperation, another mistake.
Head held high I did my best to ignore the emotional conflict breaking out inside of me, to resist the ever present draw towards him, the desire just to turn and look at him again. Every part of me responded to him in such terrifying way, and though it just about killed me to do it, I had to admit that I had missed him. In spite of the torment raging through me and how jittery and worked up he made me feel, it felt right to be near him again, to have him back, and I absolutely hated that, it was why I was so desperate to race ahead of him, I was hoping he'd give me up as a bad job and turn back. The old Draco would have done by now, he'd have called me impossible a long time ago and stormed off, however, this Draco seemed a lot more determined, and that frustrated me to no end. Doing my best to pretend that he wasn't there I could have cried out in relief at the sight of the gargoyle statue that guarded the Headmasters Office, if my jaw wasn't so tightly locked that making a sound was impossible. Unlike the majority of the corridor the large stone creature was untouched and unharmed, it stood pristine in its usual position as I slowed to a stop in front of it, momentarily captivated by the sight of it and the memories it sparked, just a year ago I had been coming here so often to send letters to my family in hiding, how could everything have gone downhill so rapidly? And then, the answer to the question stopped, panting by my side, and I tensed, my body reacting instantly and causing me to curl my lip in disgust.
"Password?" the gargoyle asked, and impatient for his part in this to be over I elbowed Draco sharply in the ribs, prompting,
"Come on, you're the one whose supposed to know."
Looking at me sideways, still trying to catch his breath and with his arm wrapped around his waist, presumably against a case of the stitch, Draco had the nerve to look disbelieving before, without taking his eyes off my hard expression, he said, "Dumbledore." And with that the gargoyle sprang aside, revealing the spiralling staircase that would take us up to the office.
Forcing myself to concede the staring match I turned to look at the entrance, feeling surprise and confusion trickle through me, before turning back to Draco, about to ask him about the unsuspected password before I caught myself and settled for just looking questioning. Draco shrugged, "it's just what I heard." He told me, his words and expression saying he knew no more about the reason behind this than I did. Not about to let us stand here and share even a moment of bewilderment, and not wanting to waste another second, I quickly started forwards, taking to the stairs and racing upwards.
I came to a stop on the landing, my breathing slightly strained from all the exertion, both emotionally and physically, my chest rising and falling in time with each ragged breath. Looking across at the wooden door with its brass knocker I felt the most unwelcome sense of déjà vu niggling away at me. Draco's steps, echoing off the stone stairs, only enhanced the connection, as I drifted unwillingly back in time, remembering the last time I had been here with the Slytherin, furious at him for his betrayal, for the danger he had put my family in. You would think that I'd have learned by now. Disconcerted I felt slow turnings in the pit of my stomach and a little light headed, but putting it all down to the unsettling memory, I determinedly stepped towards the door and took hold of the handle, just as Draco skidded onto the landing. He stopped abruptly, I could sense the movement just behind me, though I couldn't tell if he simply wanted to avoid touching me in the small space or if he too was remembering the last time we had been here. I didn't want to contemplate that though, cringing away from the thought I quickly twisted the handle, threw open the door and swept forwards, without a single word to the silent blond behind me.
Striding into the darkened room, its empty, shadowy chill settled around me like a damp blanket, snuffing out my anger under the gravity of the room. Sobering I slowed my pace as I took a tentative step inside, letting my hand trail over the cool wood of the door as I looked out into the sombre room, an air of morning seeming to hang in the space of a place that had seen the death of two headmasters in only a year. Taking another step my fingers found the chain around my neck and I clasped the platinum ring tightly, thinking for the first time, properly, about the man who had just died. He could only have been here a few hours ago, and now he was dead.
The dusky room before me sent a small thrill of surprise through me as I scanned it through the darkness; it wasn't what I was expecting at all. Even in the gloom I could clearly see that Snape had put his stamp on the place, much of the furniture was now more plain and intimidating, more to the old Potions Master's taste, and there were a good number of jars and bowls dotting the room, with creepy creatures squirming in their murky waters, creatures that I couldn't quite make out in the low light spilling from the corridor bellow. Yes, I thought I took in the hard man's possessions; Snape had clearly made his mark here, that didn't surprise me, after becoming headmaster he would surely want to change the office of the man he had killed to gain this position. I had expected that, however, what did shock me was how much of the old room still remained. The office was a bizarre blending of the last headmaster and his predecessor, Snape's jars sat next to Dumbledore's weird and wonderful inventions on the tables, Dumbledore's grand old desk stood before Snape's utilitarian high backed chair, with Snape's books piled high atop it, and the Pensieve glowed a ghostly silver-blue on the far wall, open and shining as though it had just been used. I frowned as I looked at the strange combination before me, unable to understand why it would be so until a cynical explanation crossed my mind and I snorted. Trophies, I thought with disdain as I shook off the odd sense of almost respect that I had been exhibiting for the recently dead man, he had clearly kept them to remind himself, and everyone else too, every day of just what he had done. Trying not to let myself get too wound up by the evils of nasty, lying Slytherin Death Eaters I focused on the task at hand, finding the hat, and rising my wand I muttered,
"Lumos,"
Instantly the room was bathed in the bright white glow, so at odds with its shadowy essence, and lost all of its supposed ethereal qualities, though I had switched myself off to all of that before I had so much as lifted my hand. Going to walk further into the room I stopped suddenly when I felt Draco walk in behind me, his footsteps slow and cautionary. The aura of Snape's office had felt like a wet blanket to me, smothering and heavy, but Draco's presence felt like a warm physical touch, like a hand brushed over my shoulders that sent shivers down my back in an none too unpleasant way. After the spectral feel of the room and thoughts of death, Draco's proximity soothed my discomfort like a balm, standing dangerously close behind me, all he would have to do was take another step and I could be in his arms. My eyelids fluttered and a sigh was on the edge of my lips before I caught myself, making a noise of disgust that he no doubt heard I wrinkled my expression and swept forwards, trying to shake of this ridiculous attraction…infatuation…I didn't know what it was, and searched for the hat. Hurrying forwards I quickly crossed the room towards the raised platform and bookshelves behind the desk, where the Sorting Hat had been kept before. Walking with swift, efficient steps I lifted my wand a little higher over my head as I went, trying to illuminate the high shelves. A glimmer of silver flickered in the wand light, grabbing my attention, and coming to a stop I lifted my arm just a little more, coming to a complete and stunned stop as the darkness fled and revealed what had been hidden.
"What is it doing in there?" I asked myself quietly, aghast as I stared up at the proud and ancient Sorting Hat, trapped in a cage high on the shelf. The hat's prison was square box made up of what appeared to be sharp, hard lines, however, the walls of the cage shimmered blue, silver and grey in the light, swirling colours making up a cell that was more magic than substance. I was watching the drooping hat as it slumped in the cage, horrified by what had been done to it, when Draco's voice cut across my pondering, jolting me as I had managed to forget about him for a moment there. His presence struck me like the pull of a magnet as he started to talk.
"Snape locked up everything of value after Weasley and the others tried to steal the Sword of Gryffindor." Draco explained and I thought that that made sense, even though I couldn't see why he would do this to the Sorting Hat or who he thought would try and steal it, unless of course he knew what I did but I didn't know how he possibly could.
"So Snape cast the charm? The one that's keeping it prisoner?" I asked, frowning thoughtfully as I looked up at the trapped hat and couldn't make sense of something, this thought niggling away at me.
"I should imagine so, who else would have?" Draco said, as though not really sure why that mattered or why I was even asking.
"Then how can it possibly still be working?" I asked, more myself than Draco as I took another tentative step forwards, "I though all spells broke when their casters died." I pondered tactlessly; unaware of what I had just said until the force of my words hit the blond behind me like a ton of bricks and I felt him stop, felt the awkwardness and surprise in the air. And immediately, in spite of everything, I felt like crap.
He must not have known. I thought, my heart twinging with a sympathy that wasn't tainted by my grudgingness I turned around to look at him, and how could he have, he'd been here in the castle the entire time. I only knew about Snape's death because the others had told me, Draco had no way of knowing. Draco was frowning deeply, his eyes downcast and his expression twitching as he digested the news that his mentor was dead with a harsh severity that bordered on coldness, however, I knew this boy well enough to know that as much as he might have complained about Snape in the past, his death still had a profound effect on him. Even if he refused to show it. "Draco-" I started to say, almost about to sooth him before the stubborn Slytherin spoke over me, not about to let me say what I was going to, that I was sorry for him.
"I know a spell that will open it." Draco said as though I hadn't just told him his mentor was dead, and with nothing more than his troubled but hardened expression to show his upset. Seeming confident he strode to walk around me as though nothing had happened, and just as I went to reach out to him, to offer my support, I was pulled up short when surprise sparked inside of me, shocking me upright and pulling a small gasp from my lips as my eyes shot wide and my head span.
The vision burst forth with no interval, no transitioning darkness, no waiting at all with an immediate urgency. Feeling as though I had been beamed up and then sent straight back down to Earth by aliens, I left the present at the foot of the platform and landed in the future in front of the shelves, only a few steps away. Acute but foreign irritation stoked my anger as I stood there; seething with a rage I didn't have a reason for yet. Hip cocked and arms folded across my chest I scowled up at the hat before turning to glare at the blond who was once again by my side. Annoyed I watched as he lifted his arm to point it at the hat, and snapped, "would you just drop the I-know-what-I'm-doing-when-I-really-don't macho nonsense and let me figure this out?" sick of the way he always thought that he was right and completely convinced that he wouldn't be able to do this, I KNEW that he couldn't, knew it automatically with every sense I had, but still he wouldn't listen.
Draco gave me a sideways glance before returning his gaze to the swirling silver of the Sorting Hat's cage, "I do know what I'm doing, have a little faith." I snorted at that, turning away in scorn, yeah, that was exactly what I needed. "Laxo!" Draco cast undeterred with a swish of his wand, shooting a vibrant jet of purple light upwards towards the cage, one that remained connected to his wand as it crossed the short distance, and didn't start to fade from the tip until it collided with its target. Then, three things happened simultaneously, Draco's face relaxed as he started to lower his wand, waiting expectantly for his spell to work, the light beaming into the cage flickered and stilled, appearing solid as it hung in mid-air before suddenly turning a firm steel grey, which shot back down the line of the spell to whence it came. Shock widened Draco's features as my own heart gave a jolt of panic and his clear blue eyes shot wide, right before the strange grey beam collided with his wand and with a yelp of pain, Draco was thrown backwards.
Horror-struck I span, "Draco!" I screamed, unable to do anything in my shock as he slammed into the wall and fell to the floor.
I surfaced gasping. The terror inspired by what I had just seen literally had me shaking as I opened my eyes to find myself at the foot of the dais again, heart thumping I just stared ahead, trying to wrap my head around what had been shown to me when a blur of pale white and black stepped into my blurred vision. Draco, confidently ascending the steps of the platform, turning I felt fear rise like bile in my throat as I watched him shake out his wand arm and knew what was going to happen.
"No," the word was a whisper of denial as I started forwards, my hand wrapping around Draco's wrist to pull him back just as I cried, "Stop, you don't know the spell."
Draco didn't resist as I turned him to look at me, however, standing even taller than usual an top of the dais Draco looked frustrated as I held onto him, "would it kill you to have a little faith in me?" he asked me and my heart plummeted with the familiarity of that, just before he turned to pull himself out of my grip and walk away. I panicked.
"Yes!" I groaned with effort as I tightened my hold on him and dragged him back, "yes it would, if I remember rightly it didn't serve me very well the last time I decided to trust you. But that's not the point now, you don't know the spell to release the hat, and you'll-" I reeled in mild hysterics as Draco looked down at me with the most open but unreadable expression before cutting across me.
"Ivy-"
"No! I'm being serious, Draco, I've just had a vision, if you use that spell it'll kill you." I said with earnest and at the look of surprise and something infinitely tender that he wore I caught myself, "So if you value your life at all you'll listen to me for once." I said in a somewhat gruff voice before roughly throwing his hand away from me and taking a step back.
Unable to believe that I'd done that, that I'd betrayed myself so badly, I could feel the heat rising in my cheeks as I stared away from him angrily, my arms folded tightly across my chest and shifting on my feet awkwardly. What an idiot, I chastised myself; why not just tell him that you never got over him? You pretty much already have. Frustrated with myself, with him, with Fates for this very uncomfortable and unnecessary situation, I chanced a look over at him to find Draco watching me, an expression of bewilderment and something else incomprehensible on his face. Oh great, I thought, quickly turning away as my stomach gave a lurch of humiliation while my heart was jolting for different reasons entirely, however, I soon decided that I didn't have to just stand there though this. "Besides," I said, with a confidence and surety that I didn't feel, "I'm not sure that magic is what we need to open this."
With my head held high I hastily took to the steps of the platform and passed Draco without so much as a glance in his direction, though I felt him with every nerve I had, I only kept my gaze firmly on the trapped hat, sighing hopelessly inside its prison. I didn't know what it was, maybe I had been around Hermione too long, but logic was starting to sink into me, something about the vision I had had made me think that to use any spell on the cage would be dangerous, and after what I had seen happen to Draco I wasn't about to risk attempting another spell, which meant there was only one option left that I could see. And that is where, most would argue, my logic ended, but hey, I never claimed to be rational exactly, only that my friends logic was rubbing off on me a little.
Striding forwards, my shoes slapping on the polished wood, I came to a stop in front of the bookshelf, right below the Sorting Hat. I looked up at it, trying to make out how thick its walls were but finding it impossible due to the churning texture of the cage, and succeeding only in gaining the despondent hat's attention. It pulled up straight in its jail as it spotted me, and the tear it used for a mouth opened and closed as though it were talking but the sound was trapped behind the mist. I'll get you out, I thought determinedly, turning to my left, my gaze searching for something, until it landed on a nearby end table, upon which there was an open book and a quill. Reacting instantly and feeling my resolve harden even more I grabbed the quill and turned my probing gaze to the right, lifting my wand when I spotted what I wanted, the rolling ladders that would be used to reach the topmost shelves of the bookcase and muttered, "Accio ladders,"
The spell set the wheels into motion instantly, running along their tracks the ladders swept along the front of the bookshelf before coming to a stop in front of me, reaching out I took hold of the cool, gold railing and raised one step onto the first stair as Draco, who had been silently watching up until now, asked, "what are you doing?" with a degree of urgency and rebuke.
"What's needed," I said with simple determination and before he could protest, as I knew he would he fought everything I did; I took to the steps and jogged upwards.
"Ivy!" Draco yelled up at me and I felt the ladders give a jerk as he reached them and grabbed the rails, wrapping my hand tightly around the banisters I kept my balance half way up, and looked over my shoulder down at Draco, who was looking up at me furiously, "use your head, you just told me that thing would kill me and now you're wanting to play around with it? Come down." Draco demanded, his pale cheeks flushed with pink as he frowned up at me reproachfully but didn't follow.
Not impressed by his commanding tone I pulled myself in towards the ladders so that I could see him better and looked down, my hair falling around my face and feeling unsettling emotions turning in my stomach that I was determined to ignore. There was something in his voice, something that sounded almost like concern, and it reached out to the part of me that was still stupid enough to believe in him. "I'll be fine; you were going to do it wrong." I said bluntly, putting off saying all the things his seeming worry had me wanting to say, and continuing up the ladders with such speed and vigour that they shook until Draco tightened his hold and steadied them.
"Ivy!" Draco repeated, somewhere between a shout and a groan of despair, "and you said I didn't know what I was doing! You're being rash, Ivy, please come back down." Draco added in desperation and while that one, pleading word, so rarely uttered from his lips, struck a chord deep inside of me, I continued to scramble up the ladder resolutely until I reached the hat.
"Let's get you out of there," I told the Sorting Hat, which was still talking and moving behind the faux glass. Despite my confident words, I hesitated then, doubt setting in as my focus shifted from the hat to the enchanted cage, the swirling grey colours allowing me to drift a little and really wonder if I was doing the right thing. If I was wrong, if my hunch wasn't correct, then that was it, I'd meet the same fate as Draco in my vision and Neville would never get the hat, likely never kill Nagini, and that risk was a great and terrible one. However, if I was right and this was all I had to do, and I was too much of a coward to do the right thing then I'd never forgive myself; never forget what didn't happen because of me.
Old fears were surfacing, old doubts left buried for years under a tough façade and hard attitude. I could hear Draco shouting me from bellow, but he sounded more distant, more echoy than he really was, I couldn't hear him properly, I was too within myself, too lost in indecision. Could I do this? I asked myself, dithering with my hand before the cage, and doubting myself and hearing the taunts of my old tormentors, those who had convinced me I was strange, a freak, and had made my childhood a misery. I didn't think I was strong enough to do this, it was all an act, all a front to keep myself from going through what I had all those years before and now things were serious, I needed to be brave, and I wasn't sure if I could. Unbidden the memory of my friends broke through my self-conscious thoughts, all that they had been through, all the fears they had faced, were brought like evidence to the forefront of my mind. Ron with his secret jealousy and insecurities about Harry, who had managed to suck up his pride and come back after he left and had destroyed the Horcrux even after it played on the one thing he feared most. Hermione who had remained strong and level-headed even after everything with Bellatrix and having to let go of the rules she clung to for support. Of Harry, who had been so strong this year, and even of Draco, the boy I had told myself I hatred for the past year but who I had still rushed up here to save, and I knew that I had to do this. Neville needed the hat, the Wizarding World needed him to kill the snake, sod it, I thought, shaking off these dark, troubling thoughts and setting my expression with resolution, I was supposed to be the reckless one anyway. And with that thought I released the golden railing and setting my jaw against the anticipated pain, plunged my hand into the cage.
I heard Draco shout out as my hand broke the surface of the cage, realising what I was doing far too late to stop me. The charmed walls felt cool and slick, like gel as my hand pushed through their swirling surface, expecting it to hurt I was pleasantly surprised when it did not, and I was only met by this slimy resistance. There was still time yet for something bad to happen, for me to be thrown across the room like Draco would have, I knew that, but I couldn't stop the lightening of the weight of the fear in my heart or the widening of my eyes, I was doing this. The wall was thicker than it appeared, but I finally burrowed my way into the hallow middle where the hat was kept, and being as gentle as I could I took hold of it at the rim, its ragged tear flapping again as though still talking to me. All of this was fine, confidence flooded me before I could stop it, I was blinded by cockiness and the pride of being sharp enough to spot this trick, to figure out that Snape would expect a wizard to try and use magic to get to the hat, and never attempt to get it by hand, and so didn't expect what happened next in the least. It was when I tried to pull my hand out that it all swung back around on me. A scream of agony and surprise tore from my lips as I tried to retract my hand, blinding pain burning away at my wrist like the raging fire of the Room of Requirement. Automatically I tried to quickly wretch my hand away but that only made it hurt worse, crying out again I had to stop, my skin raw and the pain too much, I couldn't bear it, it was as though someone were scraping away at my flesh, pulling it from the bone.
"Ivy," Draco shouted from the ground and the ladders shook again as he quickly took to them, hurrying up.
"No!" I said hurriedly, my pain in my voice and horrified that he would see me in this state. "I'm fine, stay down there." I insisted but Draco refused to do me even that small favour and carried on scrambling up. Biting my lip I turned back to the cage, the pain around my wrist having dulled to a mere throbbing now but it was still uncomfortable, however I knew I couldn't leave it in there, especially not with Draco here, I couldn't show such weakness, and Neville needed this. Once again I acted only on instinct, pure, careless nature, and bit down hard on the soft flesh of my lips against the agony that was sure to come, setting my jaw and flexing my fingers around the hat, that's rip was moving as though it were trying to advise me, I braced myself before I pulled.
A murmur of pain bubbled against the barrier I'd made with my lips but I didn't make a sound more than that as I steadily withdrew my hand from the cage of liquid gas. It was excruciating, there were no two ways about it. It hurt like nothing I'd ever felt before, it was a different kind of pain to the Cruiciatus Curse, to the burning spell on the gold in Bellatrix's vault, and in the slow, agonising moments it took me to pull my hand and the hat away, it felt as though the skin of my hand was being torn completely away, like the instrument that was doing to skinning was scraping the bones as it did so. I held my breath and it swelled in my chest, making my lungs ache, blood pounded in my ears and tears prickled in my eyes, defiant of my desire to stay strong. I let out a gasp of a breath and paused with my wrist half way out, drawing another deep into me my fingers twitched and I was about to carry on but I couldn't bring myself to, it was hurting too much, it didn't matter to me then who this would benefit or that I was almost there, all my mind could think about was the pain my body was being subjected to and stopping it any way it could. I was trying to gather my scattered wits when the ladder gave an almighty shake and I felt a weight behind me, Draco was there, one step below me, one hand wrapped around the railing and the other grasping my left shoulder. Fighting to remain strong I turned to look at him, unfamiliar bright red lines on his hand catching but not holding my attention, and I found myself staring into his hard blue eyes. Draco's expression was tight and strained, his left eye was twitching, but something told me that it wasn't due to irritation he was acting like this.
"Come on," he said in a gravely tone, no encouragement, no words of sympathy or promises that it would be all right, just those two words coupled with the curling of his fingers around my throbbing hand, and it was all the motivation I needed.
Turning away from Draco but still gathering strength from his touch I balled my hand into a fist inside the hat and, teeth bared and brow furrowed, continued to wretch my hand through the thick resistant spell, which like the gel I had likened it to, sucked on my hand as I tried to pull it out, making the task all the harder. The enchantment didn't hurt any less; the pain was just the same as it always had been, but with Draco there, it became more bearable, somehow. Finally, both my hand and the hat were free from the cage and I felt like letting out a cry of relief but I resisted, as the cool air rushed to sooth my stinging flesh and the oppressive burning vanished. A big smile of achievement plastered on my face I descended the steps with a silent Draco, jumping the last few stair, and feeling the lightness and joy of having completed this task fill me, of knowing Neville could do what he had to, I turned to face Draco, surprised to see that the blond had a face like thunder. Looking furious for some reason Draco stood there, watching me with his arms folded across his chest and his entire body trembling with the force of his emotion. Baffled I looked across at him as, appearing as though he were going to give me a piece of his mind, Draco opened his mouth to speak. However, the Sorting Hat spared me from whatever lecture he was going to give as it called in a loud, booming voice that had the both of us jumping,
"Jones!" its impressive voice rang with gratitude, "Thank you, I always knew I chose your house well, even for a Gryffindor, you have an inordinate amount of courage and daring. And I am grateful for that. As for the doubts that plague you even now, as repayment for what you have done for me, know that they have no founding. I am never wrong, you belong with your house and you always did, your actions today prove that, only one of true bravery could have the strength to free me, it was the bind of the spell."
Heat flooded my cheeks as my heart plummeted with the hat's words, they were meant to be reassuring, to sooth the worries I had secretly carried all these years, but I couldn't focus on the spirit they were intended in, only who else was present to hear them. Looking over the top of the tatted hat I grudgingly met Draco's gaze, his expression pinched as though in question, as he no doubt realised what the Sorting Hat meant. Humiliated to have my doubts voiced, my deepest fear, that I wasn't good enough, put out there in the open in front of HIM; I quickly turned away, glancing off to the side so that I wouldn't have to look at his confused expression. I knew he wouldn't be able to understand, he wouldn't be able to appreciate what it was like to feel like you were a fraud, to be a part of something and not feel like you belonged, to feel as though you were just there by accident. All my childhood I had been told by my peers that I was weird, had been bullied and because I was unable to stand up for myself properly I had been made to feel weak and pathetic. When I came to Hogwarts I had wanted things to change, and seeking to reinvent myself I had thought that being a Gryffindor would be the perfect way to make me brave, only I had never stopped feeling like a fake. I hated having that insecurity bare before him, when I had spent so long pretending I didn't have any.
"Why would Snape cast a spell that required bravery?" Draco asked, his voice cautious as he questioned the hat but a quick glance in his direction revealed that he was watching me with that same questioning look he had been wearing earlier, but he hadn't said a thing about what the hat had said before. A tug on my heartstrings pulled my head upright and I was looking back at Draco when he spoke next. "It doesn't make any sense; it's not a Slytherin quality."
"Very astute of you, Malfoy," the Sorting Hat commented in a calculating kind of way, as though he were weighing Draco up, but said no more and didn't expand upon his words.
What if that was the point, I wondered, though the thought was vague and slightly out of reach, maybe the cage wasn't supposed to keep people out forever, just until the right circumstances or the right people came along. However, that thought was ludicrous, why would Snape allow room for a Gryffindor or another brave student to take the hat, when he had already stopped some of the same students from taking the fake sword? It didn't add up, and though this troubled me we didn't have the time to stand here and figure this all out, we had the hat and that was the important thing, now we just had to ensure Neville got it. Lifting my other hand to hold the Sorting Hat up between the two I looked across at Draco, thinking back to my vision and trying to remember if I had seen how Neville got the hat. Had he just been given it or had something else happened? I was about to open my mouth to voice the question aloud, to see if the hat or Draco had any thoughts on what we should next, when a powerful, echoing voice sounded chillingly in the room, causing both Draco and I to freeze as we recognised it instantly. It was Voldemort, and the ceasefire was over.
"Harry Potter is dead. He was killed as he ran away, trying to save himself while you lay down your lives for him. We bring you back his body as proof that your hero is gone. The battle is won."
Author note: Sorry, sorry, sorry, I know this is horrifically late, and I never intended for this to take this long, but I've been working a lot lately and we've just moved house so all the jobs just built up until there was no time for writing. I hope that you guys like this, I'm rather proud of the first bits, but the further I get in the less I like it, but what do you think? That's what matters. I can't think of anything else to say, and a lengthy author note on top of my lateness would be inexcusable, so that's all, I hope you enjoyed this chapter.
Oh, and thank you to everyone for the Birthday wishes, I had a lovely day thank you :) x
Anonymous Review Replies
Naii: Thank you love, I'm glad to hear that you like it. :)
Sammi V: Awww, thank you so very much for such lovely compliments, don't worry about not reviewing until now, I can understand and do the same very often myself. I'd love to hear about your OC, if you ever need someone to talk it through with let me know, I like doing things like that and it often leads to me thinking more deeply about my own characters. I'm also thrilled to hear that you thought I kept Draco in character, which has always been one of my main aims, though I think I slipped a little here. And it's brilliant that you like Ivy too and think that she fits. Yay, I'm so glad I have you yelling at your computer screen with how completely Ivy ignores Draco's attempts, that's what I wanted. Haha, I get strange looks from my siblings all the time. Thank you for the birthday wishes, and I'll do my very best to get more of Foresight up soon.
Ellie: Thank you love, glad that you liked it and hope you enjoy this one. :)
Tink R Bell: Thanks for the review, glad that you enjoyed it and are looking forward to more Ivy and Draco, I hope this chapter delivered some of that, but there is still plenty to come ;)
Millie: Another Merlin fan, yay! I managed to sneak a few quotes at the chapter tops, which I was chuffed to be able to do ;) I'm so glad to hear that you're enjoying my writing and thank you for the review.
Unnamed: Gracias por la reivew;)
Monster: Thank you, so glad to hear that you like it and I hope this chapter met with your expectations. :) x