Black Stained
Chapter 6: Back into Hiding
The smell of herbs and Molly's cooking drenched the ground floor, with a light, spirited and friendly touch, as Molly hoped would lighten the dark mood around her house it has been in since christmas. She tried so hard, even had bought a -rather expensive- door knob with the -so said- ability to give happines to all who touched it. The lullaby bird she bought Harry and Ginny, whom now lived together, didn't help very much, it ended up on the balcony after Harry tried to throw it out in the middle of the night.
Molly could still remember his words: 'I'm sorry, I know you meant it well, but it just doesn't work.' He had avoided her gaze and ran his hand through his hair, revealing the bags underneath his glassy eyes. 'It doesn't bloody work.' His appearance had darkened dangerously since christmas.
Molly hissed as she felt her knife sink in her skin, she had missed the carrot's tale. She slowly broad up her finger, examining the wound. She never cut herself while cooking, she never had. Sadly she watched the blood, slowly forming a droplet, thick and dark red. She pulled out her wand and cleansed the wound and, while it wasn't deep, also made it heal.
The blood remembered her of Ginny when she and Hermione had returned from Diagon Alley. Aghast and wide-eyed, Hermione's eyes were also a bit reddish. The thought made Molly shiver, the state her daughters had been in, still were. But now the bruises had healed, after this long time. The hidden scars, the emotional ones, not so much.
Ginny started explaining, aided by Hermione sometimes, what had taken place just before. Hermione was also appologizing many times, saying she wasn't in a good mood and she didn't mean anything to happen. Harry had arrived that evening, owled with a letter telling him it was very urgent and his sister was involved. He came in storming through the door, almost breaking it. -The love he had for his sister, was unlike anything else Molly had ever seen. But it must have come with no parents and the horrible Dursley family.- On that evening the whole family -excluding Charlie- had arrived at the Burrow. They all listened to the story, all were distraught. After just a few minutes it was Harry -obviously- who spoke first.
'Well, we must find her of course!' He jumped up from the couch. He looked around the room filled with the red-heads. 'What are you all waiting for?'
'Harry,' Ginny started. 'I don't think we should.' Memories of the incident flashed in her mind, reminding her of how teribly afraid she had been, she didn't like to be afraid.
'What- Why...' Harry stuttered. 'But of course we have to find her! She is my sister! Your sister too!' He indicated at the whole family.
Everyone frowned at him, looking puzzled. Harry noticed his mistake in choice of words. 'Well...' He looked at his finger where his engagement ring was placed. 'Well, soon anyway.'
Molly gasped, forgetting the topic of the conversation at the moment. 'You mean...' She jumped up and quickly paced over to him, pulling him into a hug. She let go of him after less than a second, Harry was surprised he had never got such a quick hug of the all loving mother. 'Oh Ginny!' She cheered happily giving her a hug too. Ginny clearly was still in bit of a shock, not hugging back her mother or responding to her in any other way.
Arthur slowly stood up and sighed. 'Molly, dear...' He scratched his head. Molly turned around. 'This is not the right time.'
And upon seeing everyone else's expressions on their faces the topic worked its way into her head again. She took a deep, haistly breath.
'I'm sorry, dears.' She turned to Harry, who nodded at her as a sign he accepted her appology.
She stood there in the middle of the room, shuffling awkwardly before returning to her formerly occupied spot.
'I think it can be said, we are all happy for you.' Bill said, breaking the intensive silence.
Everyone nodded in agreement, faces brightened explicitly upon receiving the happy news.
'Now this delighting news has past, I want to return to the former and sad news.' Everyone turned back into their frowned and stiffened poses.
'You say -you think- not looking for her is a good idea.' Harry said, turning to face Ginny. 'Why?'
Ginny saw the confusing is his eyes, knowing his instict were to be the hero he always was and find his sister.
She took a deep breath. 'It isn't just thinking, I know we can beter leave her alone, for the time being.'
Harry's expression only turned more confused, as did everyone else's, except for Hermione's she was nodding in agreement, silently. Harry opened his mouth to argument, but she quickly cut him off, standing up as she did.
'You don't know what happened. Well you do know, but you just weren't there. And I'm her friend Harry, I know.'
'I'm her brother!' Harry exclaimed frustrated. 'I think we should look for her.'
Ginny didn't know how to persuade him, she just knew, she was certain of it, she could feel it.
'No Harry,' Hermione joined them, also standing. 'We shouldn't.'
'No, you shouldn't, obviously, I should.'
Hermione and Ginny sighed at the same time, Harry could sometimes be so impossibly stubborn.
'Right?' Harry looked around, trying to find support, but he didn't.
Everyone had been strangely silent for the last couple of minutes.
'Well, I think it all matters about what exactly happened.' Bill said. He turned towards Hermione.
'What exactly, if you don't mind me asking, did you accuse her of?'
Everyone now turned to look at Hermione, all curious to what she had to say.
'That isn't important.' Ginny jumped in to protect Hermione.
'No, it is.' Hermione said weakly. 'I didn't accuse her of something specificly, but it had something to do with her harsh comments.'
George started to smirk, she was always so witty when she did that, he thought to himself.
'She never meant those, you know that.' He commented, giving Hermione a small, reassuring smile.
'I know, it's just,' Hermione groaned slightly. 'I quess they have been stinging unconsciously.'
Hermione rapped her arms around herself. Ron finally stood up to join Hermione's side and held her. Hermione was already starting to wonder if he was ever going to do it, but he was here now.
'I think the question we all want to have answered is not what you did to her but; what did she do to you?' A voice spoke from the shadows. Everyone turned, shocked by the sudden appearance, to see who it was, except for Harry. He new the voice, he had heard it for the last couple of days and was really getting sick of it.
From the dark shadows someone stepped into the light. The soft light from the fire fell on a long, blond wizard.
'Malfoy.' Harry gritted his teeth.
Everyone was surprised, what was he -of all wizards- doing in the Weasley home? Arthur's voice returned after a moment of speechlessness.
'I do not remember having an appointement, Malfoy, and certainly not at my home!'
Malfoy only smirked and glanzed over at Hermione and Ginny. They glared back angrily.
'No, you don't. Harry, however does.' He turned to Harry. 'Or didn't you get my owl?'
'I did, Malfoy, and I told you I could meet you tomorrow. Not tonight and certainly not now!' Harry growled, stepping towards Malfoy to push him out of the room to the backdoor.
Malfoy, however, wasn't planning on leaving this entertaining and interesting spectacle and simply stepped sideways. Harry didn't fore see this move and almost fell against the wall.
'Malfoy, stop playing stupid, you need to leave!' Harry said angry.
'I have something urgent to discuss with you.' Malfoy insisted, he had stopped grinning.
'Than leave it urgently and we will discuss it tomorrow, I have other things to worry about now!'
'Oh, yes. A lost and emotionally unstaible sister, it must be quite a challenge to get her back.'
'How long have you been listening in my home?' Molly exclaimed.
Arthur put his arm around his wife, to stop her from storming at the unwelcome wizard.
'I need you to leave this home, mister Malfoy, otherwise you will be arrested for trespassing.' Arthur said, calmly warning Malfoy.
Malfoy glansed over at the family, who were now all standing as if protecting the home from the unwelcomed man. He understood it would be better to leave and nodded.
He made clear he was going to leave, but first leaned over to Harry.
'I just want you to know, it involves something dark, something no one understands. The dark mark.'
He grapped it unconsiously and before Harry could respond he turned, facing Hermione and Ginny and said:
'I don't think she won't show her face again. I have seen her worse. Just wait.'
And with that he left, leaving the Weasley's in absolute perplexity.
Four months later
Harry was sitting in his office, staring at the paper work. He looked at the watch on his thin and bony wrist and saw he missed the dead line, they should have been finished hours ago. He rubbed his face with his left hand. With his right he reached for his wand. He felt hole and drained, having no energy to stand up and take three steps to simply put away the papers. He now instead magiced the papers and they flew back into the drawer. It wasn't even nearly time to head home already, but not being able to work he stood up and left. The department was almost deserted, everyone locked behind their doors, reading paper work, writing or owling people. He took slow steps almost dragging his feet. He sighed deeply and thought back at the night before christmas. The memorie had become a nightmare at night to him. Everyone else seemed to be so happy, of course with the war being over and life going easier. But he, he seemed to have become a black spot in the happy wizarding society. His sister, Aral, the person he could always find and support. She was now gone, simply gone. He had waited one week, patiently satisfying his soon to be wife and his soon to be family. The wedding... He could not possibly be thinking about that right now, with Aral gone. She was supposed to be there and help him choosing his dress robe and comment him on how anxious he was. His constent head ache worsened. Why? Why couldn't he find her? What did he miss? He was an Auror in training, he was supposed to know how to find people, but she just... She fanished in thin air. He put in as much effort as possible, the Weasley's too. After the first week of waiting -which had felt like a life time-, he immediatly stopped by at her apartment. He blamed himself for not looking for her earlier. There was a note on her door, with the words:
'I'm sorry. I'm not at home, took a small vacation. I need to think. Please, Harry, don't try to find me.'
The words had hurt him, he was used to Aral seeking help from him and now she didn't. Hermione called it independence, Harry called it avoiding. After a few minutes, walking through the ministry Harry found himself at a black, wooden door with a heavy silver door knob. The words 'Mr. Malfoy, Head of Magical Artifacts and Relics'. Harry frowned at first and wanted to keep on walking, but something pulled him back. Something he couldn't quite remember as if it was buried deep in his mind. He hesitated for a moment and then knocked on the door. For a moment he hoped and believed it wouldn't be answered, but unfortunately it was.
'Come in.'
Harry slowly pushed the door open, cursing himself for knocking on it. Malfoy didn't look up from his work and was bowing over papers, a lot of it. It pleased Harry to see him also being busy with what seemed to be a bit more paper work than his. He took a few steps forwards, slowly. Malfoy finally looked up, clearly annoyed Harry wasn't hurrying. When his eyes identified the person opposite him, his pose changed. He straightend his back and leaned on the back of his large, comfy chair.
'Potter.' His face staid emotionless, as always. 'I'm surprised to see you here.'
Harry regretting his choice in visiting Malfoy. He just stood there, not sure what to do. To his surprise Malfoy took out his wand and conjured a chair, gesturing to sit down with his free hand.
'Sit.'
Harry didn't like to be commanded, but sat down anyway, too tired to argue. He might as well have the conversation that was pulling on his mind.
Malfoy gazed at him, curious to why Potter visited his office on this day and at this hour. They were silent for a moment. Malfoy was on the verge to break the silence, but Harry was faster.
'You must be wondering why I came here?'
Malfoy thought about it for a moment and then shook his head.
'No, I was wondering why you haven't come any sooner.'
This took Harry completely by surprise. Another silence came and this one endured longer than the former. Harry took the time to look around the room. It was everything he had suspected; grant, classy, excellent furniture, silver detailing and some bits of green worked into the dark place. There was also a fireplace in the room, spreading light and warmth, although it was still chilly in the room. It was on Harry's left and he stared at the flames. He broke his gaze and followed the black wood to a table right next to the fire. His eyes fell on a small object placed on it, next to it was a sneakoscope, but he didn't pay much attention to the latter. The object was small, he couldn't examine it properly from his sitting position. He looked back into the fire, memories started peering back, slowly a sentence slipped into his mind.
'I don't think she won't show her face again. I have seen her worse. Just wait.'
I have seen her worse, he had seen her worse?
Harry looked back into the cold and emotionless grey eyes.
'At the night, the night before christmas you said something.'
Malfoy didn't stir, but his insides twisted a bit, not really liking the turn in the conversation.
'You said-' But Harry was cut off.
'I know what I said.'
'When?'
Malfoy had to think about it for a moment. He decided it was better to give him some information, but not wanting to give him too much, he didn't want to please Potter.
'Summer 1997.'
Harry did't know what to say. He never thought about Malfoy probably seeing Aral everyday that summer, she was after all held capture at Malfoy Manor. Another silence erupted, but Malfoy didn't want it to last and quickly broke it again.
'Did she ever spoke to you about... then?' He asked, realizing it wasn't the best question to ask him, while she was missing, but he didn't show it.
'No. Not a word.' Harry spoke the thruth, there had been a silent agreement to never speak of it.
Malfoy looked directly into his eyes. 'Do you want to know?'
'Yes, but not from you. That's something between Aral and me.'
Malfoy nodded.
'What do you want to know from me?'
Harry looked back into the fire. 'After that period, at the battle she...'
Harry could remember every moment, every person who had been there. He stared at his hands. His sister... he had never seen her like that.
'She changed.' Harry looked back up, to see Malfoy looking... sad? Harry didn't expect this.
'Yes, she did.'
'Did you see her often?'
'Every day.' Malfoy looked away quickly, Harry's eyes remembered him of the witch, both green and pleading. He looked at the object on the table instead, focusing his eyes on it.
Harry noticed this and curiosity flowed through his body.
'Was she okay?' Harry asked almost begging for a good answer. Aral had send him the message that she had been okay, but he figured it could easily haven been a lie.
'Do you want me to lie?' Malfoy asked, still trying to keep his face emotionless.
'Tell me the truth. Please.' It surprised both Malfoy and Harry that he said 'please'.
'No.' Malfoy's face began to break, showing a sad and tired person. 'Far from okay.'
'Then I failed her.' Harry never had felt this beaten, his heart broken. 'I failed.'
Malfoy couldn't help it, he had tried to keep the hate away from this conversation. He tried to get rid of the hate he considered childish. But he did think Harry had failed his sister, he won the war, yes, Aral did return to the good side, yes, but he hadn't taken care of her, he hadn't helped her after the war. She had been all alone.
'How many times have you seen her after the war?' He asked sharply.
Harry didn't want to answer the question, but it felt like he had to, as if it would give him a clue of what was going on.
'A couple of times, the war affected us all, she parted a bit but...'
'Don't make up excuses.' Malfoy couldn't restrain himself, not anymore.
Harry was startled by the sudden sharpness of the wizard he had considered not his enemy. He staid silent, giving Malfoy the chance to bite again.
'She was alone and hurt, and you didn't think of her after the war. You only had eyes for the good things you've done, auror training and that Weasel you asked to marry.'
Harry felt anger rising, Malfoy too.
'You think I haven't tried to reach her? She never came back to the Burrow and when we asked her she always made up some stupid excuse!'
'So you judge her?'
'No! No, of course not!' Harry tried to put together a sensible sentence. 'I lost her! The war took her away, she was never the same again!'
Malfoy looked at Harry, who suddenly looked very pained and lost, he didn't want to admit it but he felt simpathy.
'I never thought...' Malfoy looked at him. 'I never thought she would stay away this long.'
'You say it as if you know her.'
'I did.'
Harry frowned. Malfoy started explaining, knowing better than to hold information about Aral to himself.
'Ever since she got captured, Voldemort wanted to keep her close,' He started, clearing his throat, he had never spoken of this to anyone. 'But she was weak and heavy luggage, so they decided to keep her at Malfoy Manor.'
He looked back at the fire and memories started coming back. The witch, bounded and tortured. Her green pleading eyes flashed behind his eyes.
'She was held in the room next to mine.'
Harry saw something he never thought to ever see in Malfoy. He saw that he cared.
'You care about my sister?' He asked slowly, still angry.
'Yes, but not as you may think.' Malfoy said. 'More like a sister.'
Harry couldn't possibly think of Aral caring about Malfoy as a sister and vice versa. The image repelled Harry.
'Yeah, well she is my sister.'
Malfoy kept in some snarky remarks, something with Harry doing a terrible job at being a good brother.
'Are you going to find her?' He asked instead.
'If I can.' Harry realized something, maybe his sister didn't need him. But another person... The thought made him go angry again and his insides turned at the idea.
'If I can, and if it is wanted, I will help.' Another surprising comment from Malfoy.
Harry only nodded.
This conversation did clear some things up for him after all.
Author's note:
Hey,
thank you for reading this!
You must all be thinking; 'Where is Charlie?' and 'What is this sudden Draco Malfoy-OC thing?'
Well, to answer your first: He's still in Romania, because he never really was present at family things. And his relationship with Aral isn't that far on, but (here it comes) he will go looking for her the chapter after the next (Chapter 8)(I'm planning to do the next one about a flashback).
The second question: I'm not planning on bringing them together, not now or in a flashback. It will be explained in the following chapter. And it's like he said; A brother-sister relationship (I'm still not sure about it, so if you have any comments about it please review).
If you have more question, just ask!
Thank you for reading and until next time!
-Jody
