Chapter 41 - Old and New Relationships

After Draco crossed the barrier back onto the Hogwarts grounds, he expected to be immediately summoned to Severus's office, or perhaps be accosted by the headmaster then and there. After all, the last that Severus would presumably have heard about him was at the explosion back at Malfoy Manor, which no doubt had made headline news by now, and so naturally he would be...concerned. (Draco wouldn't go so far as to say 'worried', but then even though he was close to Severus, it was hard to imagine the man showing any expression whatsoever besides boredom or anger. Nevertheless, Draco knew that he must care especially as, in truth, his position had been fairly compromising ever since.)

But, surprisingly, no one greeted him at all, and the young Malfoy made his way down to the Slytherin common room without incident. Easter break was going to begin soon for everyone, so likely half of the students were in their rooms packing and the other half were already on their way home, but it still seemed a little uncanny for the castle to be really that empty. Had there been an unexpected incident that Draco was unaware of? Or an assembly in the Great Hall, perhaps?

Well, in either case, he was relieved to go by unseen and unchallenged (not that anyone would dare) as he made his way up to his room. He didn't plan to stick around for a long time at Hogwarts, so it was for the best really that no one see him. If Severus was already aware of his presence in the castle (which was likely), then maybe he would overlook it just this once because he was already busy or something.

Of course, all Draco's hopes and plans were scattered to the winds as soon as he opened the door to his room, and immediately discovered that he was not alone. But it was not Crabbe nor Goyle (his roommates) nor his godfather either who was there to greet him; it was his mother.

"Mother! What are you—" That was all that Draco managed to get out before Narcissa strode forward and, reaching behind him, slammed the door shut before wrapping her arms around her son. Draco was stunned to realize that she was crying, heartfelt tears dripping down her cheeks and onto his shoulder while she held him. For a moment, he didn't know what to do; but then quite naturally he returned her hug, doing his best to assure her that he was alright.

"Thank Merlin you're safe!" she seemed to be repeating over and over again, pulling back at last to behold Draco anew. She attempted a small smile and then seemed to collapse into herself altogether, and needed to be led over to Draco's bed to have a seat.

Draco, clearly the more composed of the two, quickly asked her what she was doing there and details of what had happened after he, Hermione, and Dobby had disapparated from Malfoy Manor.

"Father—did he—?" Draco began, but already Narcissa was shaking her head.

"No, Draco, of course not!" she insisted, bringing herself to rights as quickly as only a true and prideful Malfoy could. "He knows that it would be the end of all of us if the Dark Lord ever found out what happened there. Your aunt herself knows no better and blames Potter and his friends, who incidentally escaped not long after you did, or so I was told." With a few choice words from Lucius here and there to supplement the story, of course.

Draco sighed. "Yes, mother, I know that."

"You—?" Narcissa shook her head and echoed his sigh, sounding much more weary than ever before—and, given their family's experiences for the past two years, that was saying something. "Of course, of course you know. It was the Granger girl whom you insisted on bringing with you, after all."

Draco furrowed his brow. His mother was of course shrewd enough to pick up on that; really, anyone would be, given how his relationship with Hermione had appeared in the eyes of the world before. Still though, he wasn't looking to have this conversation with her right now. He was in a hurry.

"Even if you have questions, they'll have to wait," he said, straightening and stepping away from her. Reaching the trunk at the foot of his bed, he unlocked it using his wand, threw it open, and started scavenging through it for what he needed to carry out his plan. Thankfully, contrary to popular belief, Draco was quite organized with his things when he came down to it, and thus he found his potions book (his own personal one with notes not unlike those made in the potions textbook, property of the Half Blood Prince who was, of course, his private tutor and godfather) and the key to Severus's potions storeroom easily. That being said, he just needed to get the ingredients themselves, and them maybe consult with Severus on what he intended to do—especially to make sure that it wasn't going to end up killing Harry instead of saving him.

"You're leaving again," Narcissa observed, her voice dull and dead-sounding but otherwise complacent.

Closing and locking his trunk again, Draco nodded. "I have to."

Standing up at last, Narcissa looked down at her son with a mixture of emotions—worry, certainly, but also...perhaps a bit of surprise mixed with approval?

"I can't say that I know what you're up to," she said in a low voice, not quite meeting Draco's gaze. "And I can't say for sure whether or not it's the right thing. What I can say though is that...perhaps it needs doing, Draco. Perhaps, after all this time and no matter what your father or aunt say or believe, it needs doing." Reaching into her robes, she pulled out a thin, long bundle, wrapped in white cotton and otherwise lumpy and indistinguishable, but it was obvious what it contained.

"Mother...is this...?" Draco asked, reaching for it and yet unable to believe it.

"Every wizard, or witch, for that matter, needs their own wand, Draco," Narcissa recited, averting his look of gratitude and instead staring down at the floor. "I doubt that it's any different for a mudb—for a muggleborn than it is for a pureblood."

Accepting the bundle, Draco tucked it into his own rooms, a look of shock flickering over his face once he realized that the bundle didn't contain just Hermione's retrieved wand. "Mother..."

"On the other hand, Draco," Narcissa said, stepping forward and laying a hand on his shoulder, "not every witch or wizard that needs their wand should necessarily have it at all times. For the good of all, that is."

And that's when Draco truly understood his mother for the first time—understood that he could fully trust her as he never would have imagined before, and that no matter what he did, he was always her first priority. And neither the Dark Lord nor Bellatrix nor the fear of death itself would keep her from protecting her only child.

Until now, though he had been fond of her, he had never truly realized her value.

"Mother," Draco called back, just as she was about to disapparate. Pausing, Narcissa looked up and that almost set her crying again: for the first time in two years, she saw her son looking almost...happy.

"Thank you."

And then, with no time to lose, Draco sped away towards Severus's office, leaving Narcissa behind to once again grieve her son being taken away from her side. But soon, very soon she hoped, if she could at all rely on Potter and his friends to end things, then her son would never be taken away from her and be in danger ever again.

Back at Shell Cottage, after Hermione had examined and analyzed Harry's wound to the best of her ability and still not found anything to do that Fleur hadn't tried already, she took at seat in the kitchen and put her head in her hands in despair. She was no medical witch, but she was intelligent and adept enough to recognize the signs: Harry was dying. That was as sure as the fact that if he did, that was the end of the prophecy and Voldemort had effectively won the war.

Groaning heavily and ready to cry—if only she had the energy—Hermione didn't realize that Ron had come in and taken a seat beside her as well. He remained quiet until she realized that he was there, feeling awkward all the while but unwilling to disturb her. They were both losing their best friend, after all.

"Hey," he said when she finally looked up and realized that he was there. "How are you feeling?"

"Ron, I'm—"

"I mean if you're hurt," Ron cut in, as even he realized that it was stupid to ask if she was 'okay'—neither of them were. "After what that—well, I don't know something bad enough to call her right now, but after what Bellatrix did to you, I had to know that you were okay."

"Oh." Hermione brushed that off. "I'm fine, Ron, really. It was just a few scars—"

"Let me see," Ron insisted.

Hermione hesitated, really not wanting to show him, but then, why shouldn't she? If she didn't let it bother her, then it wouldn't truly mark her, not really. And if Draco didn't care—which she already knew he didn't—then why should Ron be any different?

Almost with an air of defiance, she rolled up her sleeve and uncovered her arm where, though it was fading, the word could still be seen: mudblood.

"Crickey! That—"

"It's already starting to fade, Ron," Hermione cut in, drawing her arm back just as Ron was about to touch it. "It's nothing."

"You're right, it is nothing," Ron quickly agreed. "But that doesn't mean that she won't get hers once this war's over and done with!"

The vehemence with which he said it made Hermione think that he would like to take on Bellatrix himself, though likely he would get killed in the process; it was just as well that she didn't mention that the scars were a result of the Cruciatus Curse, in that case.

"I think, Ron, that considering that I got away with just these, I'm really the lucky one," she mentioned, in the hopes of calming him down and, hopefully, distracting them both from the misery that threatened beneath the surface. Her scars, after all, were one thing, but Harry...

"That's right," Ron said. Then, looking up at her slowly and carefully, he added, "And it's all thanks to Malfoy, I guess."

"It is, Ron," Hermione agreed. "If not for him, all of us wouldn't have stood a chance back there."

Ron, if he had any valid points or strong arguments to make, no doubt would have suggested otherwise; as it was though, even though Dobby should be given the credit for apparating all of them out of there, in truth it wouldn't have mattered if Draco had turned Harry in when he was asked. That, in Ron's view, counted for the most out of everything that happened.

"I guess what you and Harry were saying to me earlier is the truth then," he admitted, however reluctantly. "Malfoy really is on our side. I mean, why else would he have risked his own neck like that?"

"Exactly." And while it was on the tip of Hermione's tongue to point out yet again how many other things Draco had done for them, for her as well, she decided not to. Ron had finally accepted him, and that was all that mattered. Oh, and speaking of which, where was Draco? Hermione felt that she really needed him nearby right now, despite the fact that there could be nothing obvious going on between them while everyone else was present.

"He went out, if that's what you're wondering." Luna, who had walked in just in time to hear the tail end of their discussion, took a seat across from Ron like it was the most natural thing in the world for her to insert herself into a private conversation. Both friends were so miserable and had in fact missed their ditzy friend though, so neither of them commented on how inappropriate the moment probably was for her appearance. Now all they needed was for Bill or Fleur to walk in, and things would go from comfortable to crowded; as mentioned however, neither Hermione nor Ron had it in them to care.

"'He went out?'" Ron repeated. "Where did he go to?" At the very least, there was no hostility in the way he was asking, which was good as it showed that he wasn't immediately jumping to any conclusions of Draco reporting them or the like.

Luna shrugged. "He didn't say, but he did want you to know that he'd be back soon."

Hermione stared at Luna intently. "When did he go?"

"Soon after you arrived," Luna confirmed. "He seemed set on something, but then he always looks grim like that, doesn't he? I think it comes from wearing too much black all the time."

Ron rolled his eyes, clearly ready to dismiss the subject, but Hermione wasn't too sure. She knew Draco, and for him to leave like this all of a sudden...there had to be a reason around it. "Luna, didn't he say anything about where he was going or what he was going to do?"

Ron's eyes widened. "You don't think—"

"No!" Hermione snapped, glaring at him. "I'm not thinking anything right now!"

Luna smiled. "That's rare, Hermione."

Ignoring her, Hermione pressed on, "I just want to know if he said anything to give a hint of where he was going or what he had planned?" And while she knew that it was foolish to expect Luna Lovegood of all people to notice any hints or particular details, right now she was their only lead.

But Luna only shook her head, completely at ease whereas Hermione was getting more worked up by the minute. "He only said that we'll soon know what he's doing. I think he might be back soon, actually."

"You seem pretty sure..." Ron observed, cocking an eyebrow.

Luna smiled, and when she leaned forward and folded her hands on the table, for the first time in her life she actually looked intelligent and keen. "I don't think I've told either of you just what Draco's done for me yet, have I?"

And that, with both the hint of calling Draco by his first name and making a valid statement that peaked both their curiosities, calmed Ron and Hermione down for a few minutes in an otherwise turbulent situation.

Meanwhile, Draco himself was actually making headway on his plan, consulting with Severus in utmost secrecy after his godfather had finished chewing him out for the dangerous situation that he had put everyone in. (Although, just as a side note, Draco could've sworn for a moment that his godfather was disappointed that the explosion hadn't actually taken out Bellatrix altogether. Other than that though, he was absolutely livid on Draco's foolhardiness, and almost looked ready to hex him as punishment or something. Fortunately though, with more pressing matters at hand, he did not.)

After their back-and-forth, with Draco being the most courageous that he'd ever been against Severus in defense of what he had done, he finally told his godfather what had happened afterwards (leaving out the personal details between him and Hermione, of course) and sought his advice regarding his plan for helping Harry.

Severus, for his part, gave the matter a lot of thought before setting down Draco's potions book and giving a nod of ascent. "Ordinarily, I would advise against trying out a potion like this for the first time when someone's life is on the line, Draco. However, you are the best chance that Potter has at this point, and it won't do any good for you to start questioning yourself now. If you have everything you need—"

"I do, sir."

"Including the unicorn blood?" Severus confirmed.

Draco nodded, and reached inside his robes to product the vial that Luna had given him.

Rather than confirm or not if this was what the unicorn blood had been put on the list for in the first place, Severus simply nodded in return. "In that case, I suggest you go and get it done, the sooner the better. But remember, Draco..." And for a moment, Draco wondered if Severus might not actually give him a warning that would make him nervous, but instead his godfather surprised him (or, really it wasn't all that surprising) by saying something grim yet ultimately his version of the truth: "Even if Potter owes you a life debt after this, don't expect him to pay it in return if ever the time comes."

Draco set his mouth in a firm line. "It seems you don't know him all that well then, Severus. All these years, and you don't know him."

Severus stiffened and looked away, not having expected for Draco to turn the statement against him. In a way, he had said it as a test, as never in even Dumbledore's estimation would this development between Draco and Harry—and of course not Draco and Hermione—have come about. Now though, for Draco to be defensive for a boy that he had every reason to hate, given their histories, it was more than a little encouraging. Severus himself longed to admit that he didn't think of Harry that way, and to acknowledge that Harry was in some ways much more like his mother than his father...

...but of course he didn't dare.

"Get going, Draco," he snapped, brash as always when his true feelings came close to the surface and he had to work harder to keep them hidden, including from himself. "And I'd advise you to go back home as soon as possible. Your father won't be able to pacify the Dark Lord forever, and something tells me that given the state he's in, none of us are going to be safe in the near future. Best to stay close to him and be prepared to prove your loyalty."

And that applied to both of them, Draco knew, even though Severus by all accounts should be the one wizard whom the Dark Lord should trust the most. How misjudged one could be!

"Goodbye, Severus," Draco said, taking out his wand to apparate. "Look after yourself."

It was perhaps the most considerate thing that anyone had ever said to him, but the grim headmaster didn't have time to reply before his godson apparated away, leaving him alone. As always.

A/N: Aaaaaand done! I know that numerous times readers have told me that I don't need to apologize, but I still feel the need to regardless. So...*sighs* yes, it's been almost a month since my last update, and after all that time a single chapter is all I could come up with. My apologies. *bows*

The reason actually doesn't have to do with being "that busy" in real life that I don't have time to update, but more with writer's block and a total lack of inspiration to write this month. I did start with this chapter several times, as I knew what I wanted to happen, but either the dialogue, the descriptions, or both were just wrong, and I ended up erasing what I wrote and starting from scratch. This happens to all of us at times, I know, but I do feel sorry nonetheless to have kept everyone waiting an entire month that really should have had more updates than just the 2. (Or, since today's literally the last day of the month, you can consider this to be a March update if you're only reading it on the 1st.)

Anyway, that being said, I hope that this mini-unofficial hiatus didn't discourage anyone from continuing to read, as I'm not giving up on this story and mean it when I say that I want to see it through to its conclusion. I really do hope that my inspiration to write comes back and that I can complete this story as I first envisioned it, so please bear with me for what it's worth.

Also, many thanks to everyone who's still sticking around! I hope I don't disappoint. :')