Sorry yesterday I forgot to post.
Brace yourselves! THIS IS THE LAST CHAPTER...before the climax! The very next chapter is the climax!
A Curse and a Prophesy
The next morning, Draco slowly floated into consciousness. He heard shuffling of blankets. He heard people greeting each other softly. He felt slightly cold, especially where his pajamas had ridden up his legs and where his cloak had fallen off. He was laying on soft blankets. It was quite peaceful compared to last night…
Speaking of last night—a horrible thought struck him. What if Bella died, and he wasn't awake to say goodbye, to let her know that he was mad at her, only mad, and that was why he was mean after she became siblings with Potter? To tell her that he still liked her deep inside, that she was what he had wanted for years, but he didn't know it?
He realized he had fallen asleep the night before. He was curled up protectively against something small and warm. He could feel little-what-felt-like fingers and hands against his chest. Whatever the large thing was, he could tell part of it rose and fell against his ribcage. There was some long, stringy substance getting in his mouth, and a warm ball the size of a cantaloupe or bigger against his face. It had to be Bella. He dared to open his eyes…
It was Bella. She was very much alive, eyes open. She was smiling.
"You were there for me, I didn't give up," she said softly. "I-I think you saved me. I-I can't say thank you enough…"
He couldn't describe how he was feeling. He never before felt so happy. He felt like he could rule the world! He kicked the shred of guilt out—he didn't need that. He had just saved her life! She would live! It felt too great! Just wait till he told Harry!
"So I just saved you by being here?" Draco asked.
She nodded. "I—I think so." He clung to her tighter.
In your face, blood replenishing potion, turns out you weren't the only thing to save her, he thought fiercely.
"Why'd you stay?" Bella asked softly.
"You're my sister."
"That's it?" Her eyes widened. "I—I—"
He kissed her head, absolutely relieved that she was alive.
Harry woke that morning. He felt groggy and sluggish, as though he had barely slept, and his head ached annoyingly at the fringes as though he needed water. There was a grim air, it took him a second to remember—Bella! Was she still alive?
He threw off the covers. He ran out, without even noticing that Draco's bed was empty, even though Crabbe and Goyle were sitting up and staring at it.
Harry ran down the corridors fast as he could. He had to know. If she was going to die, he had to say goodbye.
"Tell me you didn't die," he panted. Reaching the hospital wing, he threw the door open and rushed in. He glanced at everyone he passed. None were his sister. His heart sank more with each one who wasn't her. What if—what if—
No wait, he ran back a bit. Was that—Draco? Curled up with his sister. So she was still alive! He ran over, clinging to her tightly. He laughed happily. When he was finally done hugging her, he realized something.
"Wait a sec," he said suspiciously, hopping off the bed so he could sit on it. "Malfoy, what are you doing here?"
"Nothing," Draco sneered. "I just saved her life, that's all."
Harry's eyes widened. "Do you like her?" he asked. He couldn't help himself.
Draco looked furious. "No," he spat, then calmed down. "O, I do, but not like-like her. I'm not gonna snog her or marry her or anything." He made a disgusted face. "I probably won't even hug her. I'm just mad at her." He crossed his arms and stuck his nose in the air.
"Will this change you or anything?" Harry said hopefully. Draco was a bit of a pain (and a danger) to work against.
"I'm on Bella's side now," he drawled. Bella squealed happily. "But only because—(Bella, you don't need to kiss my face)-Dad's planning this—the dragon nest and egg, I think they're connected—if this plot thing is gonna hurt Bella, then I gotta protect her!"
Harry stared at him as Bella hugged Draco around the waist. "What the heck," Harry muttered. "This is so weird! Errr, ok then, um, how can you help us then?"
Draco shrugged slowly, eyes scared. "Uhh…I dunno, I guess if I find anything out, I'll tell you guys."
Everybody was ecstatic Bella lived. Bella was happy her mum had come back from Mungo's. Draco hung back, watching the Bane crew (Bella's friends) hug her and say how glad they were that she lived. Draco was only a tiny bit annoyed she told her friends he saved her, but at least he got more respect from Harry. He did, however, lose a bit of respect from the purebloods, but whatever. Bella lived.
Bella asked the rest of the crew if they wanted to plan with Draco, but nobody did. Draco just decided to hang out around school, chat with his dad over owl hoping for a slip or two, trying to get clues. Nothing. His father was being disturbingly careful despite having a thing for boasting about his plans. And how would the Bane and Potter crew take it when Draco told them he hadn't actually lost the note?
A few days later, (Bella healed splendidly under her mam's eye) Mafalda went up the Draco after classes were out. She was one of the few who wasn't unfriendly to him. She whispered, "I saw your dad. He's out by the greenhouses…"
Draco swiftly ran down, cautiously making sure he wasn't caught. If he was, it would be over…He crouched behind a greenhouse. There his father stood just inside the forest, his back to him. Eustace cowered before his father.
"Did you FINALLY get what I asked of you?" Mr. Malfoy snarled.
"Y-yes," Eustace whimpered. "S-several nights ag-go—"
"Good," Mr. Malfoy interrupted, relaxing.
"I-I also know something that m-might help with your, um, experiment?" Eustace squeaked, half certain.
"…Yes?" Mr. Malfoy appeared intrigued already.
"I—I kind of thought—you see, I know someone who m-might be able to help. I-if the experiment goes right. We just have to think up a p-plan to get her to where we need her to be, th-that's all."
"And who is this you're thinking of?" Mr. Malfoy drawled, sounding bored.
"Bella."
Mr. Malfoy stiffened. He snatched the top of Eustace's shirt. "You sure," Mr. Malfoy growled dangerously in his face. "That girl is USELESS!"
"N-no, please! I-I mean it!" Eustace begged desperately. "I know what I'm saying! I b-bet she still loves you—she'll help you I'm sure!"
Mr. Malfoy frowned. "This is your final test, got it?" he growled. "You get me the last thing we need for the plan. You get me that girl. Or your mother gets it…"
Eustace nodded several times.
Mr. Malfoy let go of him. Draco raced to Hogwarts before his dad turned around. He couldn't let him know he had to change sides.
"Get Harry and the others," he whispered to Bella as soon as he found her at the darkest corner of the Slytherin common room.
The crew gathered in an empty classroom. Slowly, Draco creaked the door open and went in. Everybody stared at him. Bella hugged him.
"Why's HE here?" Ron said indignantly between bites of a pasty.
"He's Mr. Malfoy's son," Hermione said primly. "I bet he knows something."
"I do," Draco said. "First of all…" He took out the note from his pocket, where he hid it so no one could find it. They gasped. "Here's the note—OI!"
Caly had snatched it out of his hand. "Why were you holding it back?" Caly hissed, keeping it out of his reach.
"Because my father wrote it!" Draco said.
"No wonder!" Bella cried.
"Makes perfect sense," Hermione said. Bella went up to Caly and peered at the note.
"Who did your dad send it to, though?" Ron said.
"It was Eustace," Harry said suddenly. "He said Draco's dad's owl dropped by the first time we met him!"
"Blimey! Poor bloke," Caly said. Mafalda nodded.
"What did you hear your dad say?" she asked urgently.
"Right, I know more," Draco said grimly. "So Eustace got what my father wanted several nights ago."
"A dragon's egg," Hermione said.
"That's why he was tired!" Bella muttered. "He said there was a nest, and the dragon didn't look like she liked him."
"And now father wants one last thing but he didn't say what it was," Draco continued. Neville, who happened to be holding Trevor his toad at that moment, clutched him tighter. "O relax. Why would he want a toad? But he does want Bella. He gave Eustace one more chance, saying Eustace needs to get him Bella for his—Eustace called it an experiment."
They all stared at him. The whole room seemed to feel darker. The one candle high on the wall died out. The only light filtered in from a thick paned window.
"Why on earth would he want a dragon's egg…and Bella?" Hermione mused. "It doesn't make much sense!"
"I bet there's something we're missing," Harry said. "We have to keep an eye out, and protect Bella. Wait-I bet this has something to do with the rumor about her. People think she's powerful since she survived the night the dark lord died." Neville nodded.
"I'll watch Bella," Mafalda said.
"Me too," Neville quickly put in.
"Can I have the note?" Mae asked. "Uncle said he wouldn't investigate anything unless he had proof." Draco handed her the note.
The next day, Mae announced that her uncle would now talk to Mr. Malfoy. She also alerted Draco that he was going to be asked questions too.
That day, Harry was rooting through his trunk to find the present for Bella he bought since she almost died. Socks, Quidditch books, other books, candy wrappers, a single Gryffindor sock he got from Ron—blimey, where was it? He searched through his things twice when he realized something important was missing.
The invisibility cloak.
The present forgotten, he ran to Bella.
"My invisibility cloak is gone," he whispered urgently once he found her outside Snape's classroom. She gasped.
"So now we can't go sneak for any clues," she said.
"I guess we're on our own now," Harry said softly. "I didn't leave it anywhere. I wonder if someone took it. I didn't give it anyone…"
"Let's call the crew then. After school."
"Bella—it's a Saturday."
"No wonder! OK, come on!"
"Did you see anything strange?" Harry asked the crew once they had gathered in an empty classroom. Neville was quietly crying in a corner.
"T-trevor," Neville sniffed. "M-my toad, I don't know where he went…"
The room seemed to turn dark. Bella hugged Neville for his comfort.
"I'm sure we'll find him soon," Mafalda said softly.
"Wait," Caly said slowly, "Harry, I saw you walking out of the main door with something silvery peeking out of your school bag. This was yesterday, when it was dark."
"I—don't remember that," Harry said uncertainly. "In fact, I don't remember last night at all—just going to bed, and before that, um, homework."
"You were going through your stuff last night," Hermione said. "I saw you. I asked you why you weren't writing your answers like you asked me to come help you with, but you didn't answer. You didn't notice when I poked you."
"You poked me?"
"Fred says he saw you talking to Eustace out in the dark," Ron said. "You handed him something." Harry looked even more confused.
"How come you don't remember this, Harry?" Mae pressed. "Seems like you really should."
"I don't know," Harry whimpered.
"This sounds like some kind of spell," Hermione said seriously.
Draco stepped up. "This is very serious," he said grimly. "Harry—we can't trust Eustace at all now. I think my dad is forcing him to do this. Because…" He stared at Harry solemnly. "I think, I really do think that he put the Imperious curse on you." Bella gasped hard. "He could control you, and you won't remember it. If he's found out, he goes to jail."
Bella wailed and clung to Harry. "Oh, this is so bad!" she cried. Mafalda was pale.
"Oh no, Oh no, Oh no," Neville whimpered. "I-I didn't do anything, d-did I?"
"Not that I know," Ron assured him. Neville relaxed.
"Ok guys," Bella said seriously. "Let's stay away from Eustace, ok? And we'll tell Snape and Mum." Everyone nodded.
"Speaking of which," Draco said, voice shaking slightly, "I have to go see Snape...see you."
A bit later, they all gathered again to ask a pale Draco how his interrogation with Snape went.
"Where's Mafalda?" Caly asked. Ron shrugged.
"Dunno," Draco said tightly. "But Snape says that he's got his eye on me. He's going to keep me away from my dad. He says something more sinister than we thought is afoot. I told him everything…"
"Good," said Harry. "Did anyone see anything strange?"
"Or hear," Bella put in. Everybody shook their heads.
"There were three girls in Slytherin," Ron said. "Where's the tall one?"
"Mafalda?" Caly gasped. "Where! She said she would be here!"
"Oh boy," Hermione said. "Do you think this has to do with…" They all nodded.
Mae said softly, "Things have been speeding up."
"Guys," Ron said, "Maybe Mafalda will turn up. Maybe she went to the kitchen because she was hungry. I know I would."
No, Mafalda did not turn up that day. Or the next day. Everybody was panicking. The Slytherins looked everywhere. The teachers were asking everyone if they knew where the girl went, especially Snape. The final exams and the end of the year were two days away…
After dinner, Draco got the mail. He stared at his letter—from his mother. Slowly, he opened it.
Dear my sweetie Slytherin,
I am coming over to Hogwarts tonight. Your father is working on his brilliant plan. He wants everyone who knows about it to come over to the place he's conducting the experiment. I will come pick you up after dinner, out in the entry hall.
Love,
Your mother
Shakily, he stood to alert the others. He couldn't disobey his mother. Just as he and Bella (who read the letter over his shoulder) were just about to leave the main hall, Professor Trelawney came up to them. Draco cringed. He remembered her first prophecy, not kindly…
She grabbed his shoulder. Staring him in the eyes so hard he was uncomfortable, she rasped, "New terror, new breed, new bond. An ally has taken things of value from you and your friends. You will go to reclaim them, one unlikely shall join you. The fight will make or break—Malfoy against Malfoy."
The last three words swirled in Draco's head and he nearly staggered…Malfoy against Malfoy…
"O boy," Bella gulped, sounding distant. Draco felt thin arms around him. Probably Bella. He glanced around. Trewlawny had disappeared mysteriously.
"Should I go?" Draco stammered.
"You can't disobey your mother," Bella said softly.
Draco forced his feet forward. He found Harry first. "Mum wants to see us," he croaked. "She's going to take us to dad. All of us."
"What?" Harry gasped.
"Get them all," Draco said, almost dangerous. "Do it! This might be our only chance to confront Dad." Harry scurried away.
Soon, they all stood in the entry hall. Everyone was there; Professors Snape and McGonagall, Anwen, Mae, Draco, Harry, Neville, Bella, Caly, Hermione and Ron. Mrs. Malfoy stood before them.
"O my," she said softly. "Quite a few people here."
"Where's Bella?" Neville said.
"She's right here," Anwen said, tucking her arm around her daughter. Harry nodded and Draco agreed. Mrs. Malfoy was looking right at her.
"But I don't see her," McGonagall said in confusion.
"I'm right here," Bella said. Everybody jumped. "I'm just wearing my silver ring, that's all!" She took it off and everyone jumped again.
"That's what it does!" Draco said in awe. "Just like that old Norse legend you would read to me a long time ago."
"Yay, now we have something to keep you invisible!" Harry said happily.
"I wish I had one," Draco muttered.
"Borrow it then," Bella offered.
"No," Draco said. "It's gonna be dangerous going to wherever it is…keep it."
Author's question: O boy! We have more clues! Any more guesses for what Mr. Malfoy is doing? It's you're last chance before we finally find out!