Black Stained
Chapter 17: Missing
IMPORTANT Author's note:
This scene happens at the same time as the last chapter.
'Missing person? You reported her as a MISSING PERSON?'
Draco Malfoy stormed into Harry's office, holding up a file and dropping it on his desk with a thud.
'Oh, Malfoy. By all means do come in. Is 'Knocking' not in your dictionary?'
Harry rubbed his tired eyes and sighed. Long day at work, finally time to go home and now this. All he wanted was going home to Grimmauld Place and and collapse on his bed.
'When it's urgent I don't do formalities, Potter.' Draco hissed.
Harry looked at the angry slytherin and closed his eyes for a moment. He somehow had suspected Malfoy to barge into his office one day complaining about something, although he did not think it would be about... Aral. About Aral. He raised his wand, which felt terribly heavy, and conjured a chair. With his hand he indicated for Malfoy to sit down.
Malfoy sat down in one elegant move and straightened his back, not once breaking contact with the tired, green eyes. Draco was tired also and his skin just as pale. His all black suit was neat and surprisingly wrinkle-free, considering he just came barging in.
'I understand that you miss her and that you want to find her, but clearly she doesn't want to be found.'
'Oh do you understand? Did you loose a sister? A piece of your family, the only real family you had?'
Draco's face hardened. When he came to confront Harry he hadn't intended to start a war, like they usually did when they were younger. Harry noticed his jaw clenched and he felt a bit guilty.
'I understand perfectly well.' Draco managed to get out through gritted teeth.
He didn't say anything further on the matter and he didn't have to. Harry knew his situation; his family was currently facing the consequences of years and years being a follower of the dark lord and being blood prejudiced. Though Narcissa Malfoy kept her family from being imprisoned by saving Harry and lying to the dark lord himself, the trouble kept finding them. There were still enormous groups of wizards and witches who's families had been tortured and even killed, surpressed and hated by them. You'd think that after a war everyone had seen enough death, but they are blinded with hatred and loss. Narcissa and Lucius have been transferred to a temporary save location and Draco was left. All alone. He wasn't hated as much as his parents and his trial had been swift and he had managed to get off with no punishment. He was now probably the only resident in Malfoy Manor and left alone to run the entire estate. Upon seeing the Malfoy family ring on Draco's finger he confirmed his suspicions. No wonder he looked like a ghost.
Although, Harry thought, I probably don't look any better.
'Harry,' Saying his name sounded weird, to both of them.
But he did not know how to speak further and his lips didn't move.
Harry turned his head and faced the window. After thinking hard for a moment he bent down and opened a drawer. In his hands he held a thick package of bound letters, from Aral. He dropped them on top of the file Draco had earlier throwed on top of his papers.
'These are letters. From Aral. Although I don't even know if they are from her for certrain.'
Saying her name was hard. Almost like he spoke of the dead.
No!
She's not dead!
She's strong.
Merlin's beard, Harry.
Don't think like that.
He closed his eyes again, trying to get rid off the horrible thoughts that had crossed his mind. But it didn't help. He opened his eyes again when Malfoy spoke.
'I know. I've received them also.'
Harry frowned.
'You too?'
Malfoy nodded. Harry wanted to press on, but Malfoy quickly cut him off and steered him back to the point.
'She has sent us letters telling us she's alright, she's not missing. Then why, Potter. Why report her?'
Harry sighed again. Why did Malfoy have to interfere? He leaned with his elbows on the desk and head in his hands. A horrible head ache coming up again.
'She has sent us prove that she is alive! Is that not enough for you?'
'Is it for you?' Harry shot back, pulling his head up and looking straight into the silver eyes.
Draco wasn't prepared for this question and his eyes widened slightly. Harry had surprised him and he now sat there frozen, not being able to say a word; out of character. He quickly shook it off and straightened up again.
'This is not about me.'
Harry snorted.
'I thought everything was about you.' He sneered.
'I did not come here to bicker, Potter.' Draco snapped.
Harry knew he was right, although he hated to admit it.
'It's just... she must be out there somewhere. And I don't understand why she won't come back, come back to her family.'
He shook his head. He continued when Draco didn't interupt him.
'We all know she has had to endure dark times,-'
Draco snorted.
'-but that doesn't mean she had to run away and leave-' His voice broke.
'And leave me behind.'
It came out as a cry and he hid his face in his hands. Draco did not move. The sight before him pained him very much, although Harry would never believe it if he said so.
'Even you,' His head shut up.
'Even you said she wouldn't stay away this long.' His eyes were swimming with tears, but he fought them back.
Harry didn't want to cry in front of someone he had hated almost his whole life and only recently had come to terms with. He was broken in milions of pieces.
'You said,' he coughed to get his voice back. 'you said you would help me find her if I wanted your help.'
'If that's your way of asking for my help...' Draco quirked a brow.
'Will you help me?' Harry asked. 'Please.'
The please was hard for him to say out loud. In the war he had understood -though also not easily- that he had needed help, he was young and the war was... a war. But now he was of age and an auror! How come he was not able to find his own sister? He felt so hopeless, lifeless.
Draco looked him in the eyes and nodded.
'Of course.'
They both had changed. And they both shared this unspoken understanding.
Draco stood up and Harry followed. Harry extended his arm across the desk.
'A truce?'
'For Aral's sake.' Draco said and firmly shook his hand.
Draco stiffly turned around and walked towards the door. Before he could walk out Harry called out to him.
'Malfoy?'
He turned to look at Harry.
'You really care for her, don't you.'
Draco avoided Harry's eyes and looked at the wall behind him instead.
'In that summer, I...' He paused for a moment.
Needing a minute to pick his words and form his sentences. Harry waited patiently.
'I was the only one there to care for her, and to heal her wounds. And she was the only one who wasn't disappointed in me. Besides my mother.'
This confession shocked Harry. And Draco quickly turned and left before Harry could say anything.
Back at Malfoy Manor, Draco slammed the door shut and the bang echoed through the hollow house. With big steps he stalked to the staircase and went up to his room. He was still filled with rage and sadness, therefore he didn't notice the small house elf peeking around the corner in the hallway. Its big eyes and hanging ears disappeared around the corner and silently it returned to the lady in the house. Draco's face was hardened and he splashed some water in his face. He took off his clothes and threw them on the ground. He muttered angrily under his breath.
Potter only thinking about himself!
Was he?
'she had to endure dark times'
Dark times?
Pitch black with no the-boy-who-lived around to save her!
the-boy-who-lived my ass
the-boy-who-left-her-to-die sounds more like it
But she didn't die
He sighed and he rubbed his face.
The squeaking noise from his door alarmed him and he quickly turned around. His face softened when he saw his mother.
'Mother.' His voice with a tone of surprise.
'It's not save for you to be here.'
She walked into his room and spread her arms. He embraced her and calmed down a bit.
'I know, but I just wanted to see my boy. What has made you upset? Not work I believe.'
'Well, technically it happened at work, but...'
Narcissa sat down on his bed and pulled him down to sit next to her. Again he sighed.
'Potter.'
She nodded at him, but then frowned again.
'I thought you two had made peace?'
When he didn't say anything, she took a hold of his hand.
'I see, you mean the other.'
He nodded.
'Any news on where she is?'
'No, and that is just the thing. Potter -Harry- has reported her missing, though not publicly so the press won't know, but still he wants to find her.'
'Don't you?'
How come everyone knew what he wanted? Malfoy complained.
'Yes, mother. But she doesn't want to be found and he's acting like she's abducted or worse.'
Dead.
Though the word hung in the air he did not dare to say it.
His mother again hugged him, but now didn't let go.
Grown up hugging his mother. Malfoy sneered at himself.
Finally she let go of him.
'I didn't want to show you actually. But you are bound to find out sooner or later.'
She showed him the paper she had been carrying apparently. It was the daily prophet.
'This article showed up this morning.'
Draco took it from her hands and read the whole thing. When he had reached the end he threw it against a wall, disgusted by it.
'How dare she?!' He exclaimed.
He wanted to stand and furiously stalk around his room, but his mother pulled him back down, surprising him of her strenght.
'You sit down and listen!'
She stood up and with one hand on her hip she picked up the paper.
'I know you care about her and I know she cares about you. You need to find her.'
He wanted to interupt her tell his mother what he had said to Harry over and over again. But she held up her hand and stopped him.
'No, do not interupt me. The girl may have told you she doesn't want to be found. But for once in your life Draco listen to your gut and more importantly your heart.'
Malfoy stayed silent. She did have a point there, he always made choices based on logic. His father had made sure he taught him that. His face grimaced at the thought of his father, but his thoughts got pulled away when his mother bent over and placed a soft kiss on his forehead.
'There is always a way to find the thing you lost.'
With those words spoken she left. He was still sitting on his bed and was rethinking their conversation.
'Always a way.' He muttered.
But his mind was blank and he couldn't think of anything clearly. His mind began to scramble of words and no idea sprang up. He felt tiredness fall over him again and suddenly all he wanted was to sleep for 48 hours straight. He glanced at the clock on his nightstand and groaned when it said it only was 4 pm. Well, he could nap. He laid down and turned untill he found a comfortable position. He closed his eyes and already started to drift away. Finally he was able to sleep.
But no sleep for him that day, or night.
Before he fell asleep, his eyes flew open. An idea had struck him. A part of him was happy he had come up with an idea, an other part of him was screaming because it meant he had to leave is comfortable, warm bed and get up. Before his bed became too comfortable that he wouldn't be able to get up, he jumped out of his bed and pulled on his trousers. Half-way through the door he pulled his shirt over his head and when he made his way down the stairs he accio-ed his shoes, and magic-ed them on. An elf walked up to him and looked at his master with curious eyes.
'I'm going out.'
The elf tilted its head. Draco didn't look at him when he pulled on his coat.
'I don't know for how long. Could be an hour, or a day.'
The elf nodded at him.
'Do you have any other request or chores for us to do, while you are gone, master Malfoy?'
Draco was already making his way over to the door and answered quickly, not wanting to waste anymore time.
'Keep the house clean, as always, and make sure to send my mother a note.'
'What must it say?'
Draco halted in the doorway and turned around to look the elf right into its eyes.
'Thank you, mother.'
With that he left.
His quick steps echoed through the deserted, stone halls of the ministry. His breathing was steady but hasty.
Please, make it work. Please, make it work.
He rounded a corner and saw the door to his office appear, he quickened his steps until he almost ran. Somewhere in his mind he heard the sharp and cold voice of his father.
Malfoy's never run, Draco.
But he didn't listen to the voice, he didn't even notice himself thinking it. He was too preoccupied to pay it any attention. The door of his office opened and bounced off on the wall with a loud bang. He didn't care.
If my colleagues have a problem, let them leave a comlaint with my supervisor.
He hastened over to the small table next to the fire place and picked up an item.
A necklace.
When he reached for it his hand was shaking. A strange aura came from the dark, green and silver amulet. When his finger touched the chain it burned him and quickly he pulled away. His brow furrowed. This was very strange; never had it been like this or felt like this. He turned his hand and expected to see red burn marks on the tips of his fingers, but there was nothing.
It must be charmed pain than. He figured.
He gritted his teeth and clenched his fist around the necklace. An unimaginable pain shot through him and he fell down on one knee, one hand clinging to the table and the other still holding the necklace. After a moment the pain weakened and became more bearable. With his eyes closed he focused everything on Aral, making his mind remember who she was. What she smelt like and how she sounded like, how she looked like and how she felt. His eyes shot open, but he couldn't see his office anymore. No, he was in a dark room. Another wave of pain overwhelmed him and he felt like letting go, but if he let go of the necklace, he would let go of Aral and he forced himself to continue this road of pain. The vision changed and he felt heat. He didn't understand why, or where he was. A bright light blinded him and he grunted. The first thing he saw was green and blue, after a moment he realized it was a landscape. But the sight suddenly got blurred again and was filled up with a great red figure. The heat. Draco heard a roar coming from it and he realized what it was. Images flickered by and he felt things he had never felt before. Indescribable things, like colours of magic and elements. A blackness fell over him and then a streak of ginger hair,
or was it brown, in the middle maybe?
He couldn't focus his thoughts and as quick as the images flew by they left again and the pain left him too. He gasped and felt a force pull him back. He was sweating and laying sprawled on the floor of his office. The necklace a few feet away from him. He breathed out a trembling breath and pulled his thoughts back. After a minute it dawned on him what he had just seen and felt. He quickly crawled up and took some flew-powder.
There was no time to loose.
Malfoy's never run, Draco.
Rules and traditions are made to be broken.
