AN/DISCLAIMER: Disclaimed in chapter one, dedicated in the second. From this chapter on I'm going to write Ginny's thoughts as well. I hope you aren't too confused. Enjoy! Luinthoron, still the crazy romantic :).
Draco Liber – Chapter Four – Tears and worries
I'm so confused. Draco Malfoy… He loves me. And I… I don't even know what I feel; I don't know what I'm supposed to feel. I used to hate him; my family still hates him, even though he's now a Gryffindor. But he's different… or actually, he's not. He just doesn't wear this mask of evil he used to wear anymore. Oh, god, I'm defending him! The one who's changed is I. I'm not the little child I was anymore. I don't follow Harry like an idiot anymore. And Draco… I don't know. We were enemies, or so I thought. I saw only the mask he was forced to wear, never saw I the one behind it. But now everything has changed.
* * *
Draco woke up. It was only five in the morning, but something woke him from his sleep. An owl. An owl behind the infirmary window. A big eagle owl. His family's owl.
When Ginny reached the hospital wing to see Draco, the bed was empty. The only thing in the room was a letter on Draco's pillow.
---
Dear Draco
I heard the news about your father. I hope you are allright. I am very sorry, I didn't think he could do that. He must have been out there to kill you. I need to talk to you as soon as possible. No matter what you did, what you do or what might happen, I will always love you. And so will your father. It's just that his priorities were always a little bit strange. He loves you, but he's too loyal to the Dark Lord.
In hope to be talking to you soon
Sincerely
Your mother
Narcissa Malfoy
---
"How did you get here so fast?"
Draco had just stepped out of his homes fireplace and stood before his mother.
"I came as soon as I received your letter. Professor Dumbledore took me to the "Three Broomsticks" and then I used floo powder to get here. He said that I could take today off, as I was supposed to be in the hospital wing anyway."
"Why? What happened to you? I only heard that they caught your father before he had the chance to kill you!"
"Well, he didn't kill me… But he tried to use the Cruciatus curse on someone else."
"That still doesn't explain why you were supposed to be in the hospital wing."
"I… Well, I tried to rescue her and the curse hit me…"
"Her?"
"Yes… Her…"
"So who is she, if I may ask? Does she like you as much as you like her?"
"She's the reason I did what I did, the reason for me changing Houses. I didn't ask the Hat for Gryffindor, so don't be mad at me. I don't know what she feels for me, but I could die for her… And I nearly did…"
Draco smiled, but there was sadness in his eyes. And love.
"I think I understand. I have known your father for a long time. He wouldn't die for no-one, even not for his Lord. But I would still die for him, and for you. If you don't want me to know yet, you can tell me later. But if she should feel the same way as you do, don't hesitate to introduce her to me. I will always protect you. Even if it breaks my heart to cross your father."
"Even if she's a Gryffindor?"
"Even if she's a Gryffindor."
"Even if she hates you and father?"
"I will always support you."
"So," Draco smiled again. "Why did you want to talk to me?"
"You know what your father is. And after the Dark Lords rise even Azkaban couldn't keep him. So I thought that the safest place for you would be Hogwarts. If you want, you can take anything you need and move to Hogwarts. I don't think professor Dumbledore would have anything against it. Be wary, your father is not defeated yet. And now his friends will be after you."
"I know…" Draco saw the tears in his mothers eyes. "Don't cry! Somehow we'll manage it. I never would've thought I'd say that, but maybe Harry, you know, Potter, will help me. We're not very good friends yet, but neither are we enemies anymore. He's been in danger every year since he became a student at Hogwarts. He might know what to do…"
Draco trailed off, as he saw his mother crying. Her husband was arrested, her son was leaving her to be safe from his father. That was too much for her. So they sat there, Narcissa crying, and Draco comforting her as good as he only could.
"He's gone!"
Ginny Weasley would have never thought that she would ever worry about Draco Malfoy. But that was exactly what she was doing now.
"Dumbledore said he's all right."
It was Harry who said that. He had accompanied her to Dumbledores office, where the headmaster had assured them that Draco was not in danger and probably back before evening.
"I'm still worried… What if the Death Eaters catch him? What if…"
"Why are you so worried about Malfoy?"
"Can't you just call him Draco? He tries really hard not to call you all by the last names anymore. He even called you Harry…"
"You still didn't answer my question!" Harry smiled.
"Well, he just saved my life… And I know why he asked for a new Sorting."
"So tell me, why did he?"
Ginny's face went slightly redder than it should have been, but fortunately Harry didn't notice.
"I wont tell you! If he feels like it, he will tell you himself. And no more questioning! I am not going to tell! We have classes now!"
Ginny smiled and waved to Harry as she turned to take the next flight of stairs up, while Harry went down to Hagrid's house for Care of Magical Creatures.
Draco finished packing his belongings. No house-elves were there to help him. He wanted to do it alone. The surprising fact was that, despite being the only child of a rich and famous family, there wasn't many things he packed. Some robes and other clothing, a few books, some personal things and a portrait of his family…
* * *
My family… We were so happy there. The picture was made just before I first met Harry Potter. I didn't even recognize him first, I just kept talking about pure blood and my famous family. That was what I was supposed to talk about, what was expected from me. And as I learned who he was on the train, I kept on the mask. Maybe I shouldn't have… Everything could be different now. But I thought it was the best thing to do, it was what my father wanted me to be like. The second year changed it all, she changed it all. And now everything seems right again, but I'm losing my family…
* * *
Draco returned to Hogwarts late in the evening. The headmaster had sent Hagrid to the "Three Broomsticks" to wait for him. And Hagrid was trying really hard not to drink too much. Luckily Draco was back early enough to find Hagrid drinking only his third whiskey. As Draco reached the fifth year boys dormitory only Harry was still awake. But Draco really wasn't in the mood to talk.
AN: I'm really sorry this took so long, but I had no idea what to write. (If you still haven't noticed, this thing doesn't have a real plot, just some general ideas.) And when I got a fairly good idea, I didn't know how to write it. But now it's here. And where this came from, there's more to come! Just not right now… I'm exhausted! I had a job over the summer that took almost all of my time, that's the other reason it took so long for me to write this chapter. And big Thank You's go to all my reviewers! THANK YOU ALL! [SPOILER AHEAD:] And don't think I'm evil, Draco Liber will have a happy end after all, maybe not exactly the way you think, but definitely a happy end. With Ginny and Draco together. [:SPOILER END] Luinthoron.
Draco Liber – Chapter Four – Tears and worries
I'm so confused. Draco Malfoy… He loves me. And I… I don't even know what I feel; I don't know what I'm supposed to feel. I used to hate him; my family still hates him, even though he's now a Gryffindor. But he's different… or actually, he's not. He just doesn't wear this mask of evil he used to wear anymore. Oh, god, I'm defending him! The one who's changed is I. I'm not the little child I was anymore. I don't follow Harry like an idiot anymore. And Draco… I don't know. We were enemies, or so I thought. I saw only the mask he was forced to wear, never saw I the one behind it. But now everything has changed.
* * *
Draco woke up. It was only five in the morning, but something woke him from his sleep. An owl. An owl behind the infirmary window. A big eagle owl. His family's owl.
When Ginny reached the hospital wing to see Draco, the bed was empty. The only thing in the room was a letter on Draco's pillow.
---
Dear Draco
I heard the news about your father. I hope you are allright. I am very sorry, I didn't think he could do that. He must have been out there to kill you. I need to talk to you as soon as possible. No matter what you did, what you do or what might happen, I will always love you. And so will your father. It's just that his priorities were always a little bit strange. He loves you, but he's too loyal to the Dark Lord.
In hope to be talking to you soon
Sincerely
Your mother
Narcissa Malfoy
---
"How did you get here so fast?"
Draco had just stepped out of his homes fireplace and stood before his mother.
"I came as soon as I received your letter. Professor Dumbledore took me to the "Three Broomsticks" and then I used floo powder to get here. He said that I could take today off, as I was supposed to be in the hospital wing anyway."
"Why? What happened to you? I only heard that they caught your father before he had the chance to kill you!"
"Well, he didn't kill me… But he tried to use the Cruciatus curse on someone else."
"That still doesn't explain why you were supposed to be in the hospital wing."
"I… Well, I tried to rescue her and the curse hit me…"
"Her?"
"Yes… Her…"
"So who is she, if I may ask? Does she like you as much as you like her?"
"She's the reason I did what I did, the reason for me changing Houses. I didn't ask the Hat for Gryffindor, so don't be mad at me. I don't know what she feels for me, but I could die for her… And I nearly did…"
Draco smiled, but there was sadness in his eyes. And love.
"I think I understand. I have known your father for a long time. He wouldn't die for no-one, even not for his Lord. But I would still die for him, and for you. If you don't want me to know yet, you can tell me later. But if she should feel the same way as you do, don't hesitate to introduce her to me. I will always protect you. Even if it breaks my heart to cross your father."
"Even if she's a Gryffindor?"
"Even if she's a Gryffindor."
"Even if she hates you and father?"
"I will always support you."
"So," Draco smiled again. "Why did you want to talk to me?"
"You know what your father is. And after the Dark Lords rise even Azkaban couldn't keep him. So I thought that the safest place for you would be Hogwarts. If you want, you can take anything you need and move to Hogwarts. I don't think professor Dumbledore would have anything against it. Be wary, your father is not defeated yet. And now his friends will be after you."
"I know…" Draco saw the tears in his mothers eyes. "Don't cry! Somehow we'll manage it. I never would've thought I'd say that, but maybe Harry, you know, Potter, will help me. We're not very good friends yet, but neither are we enemies anymore. He's been in danger every year since he became a student at Hogwarts. He might know what to do…"
Draco trailed off, as he saw his mother crying. Her husband was arrested, her son was leaving her to be safe from his father. That was too much for her. So they sat there, Narcissa crying, and Draco comforting her as good as he only could.
"He's gone!"
Ginny Weasley would have never thought that she would ever worry about Draco Malfoy. But that was exactly what she was doing now.
"Dumbledore said he's all right."
It was Harry who said that. He had accompanied her to Dumbledores office, where the headmaster had assured them that Draco was not in danger and probably back before evening.
"I'm still worried… What if the Death Eaters catch him? What if…"
"Why are you so worried about Malfoy?"
"Can't you just call him Draco? He tries really hard not to call you all by the last names anymore. He even called you Harry…"
"You still didn't answer my question!" Harry smiled.
"Well, he just saved my life… And I know why he asked for a new Sorting."
"So tell me, why did he?"
Ginny's face went slightly redder than it should have been, but fortunately Harry didn't notice.
"I wont tell you! If he feels like it, he will tell you himself. And no more questioning! I am not going to tell! We have classes now!"
Ginny smiled and waved to Harry as she turned to take the next flight of stairs up, while Harry went down to Hagrid's house for Care of Magical Creatures.
Draco finished packing his belongings. No house-elves were there to help him. He wanted to do it alone. The surprising fact was that, despite being the only child of a rich and famous family, there wasn't many things he packed. Some robes and other clothing, a few books, some personal things and a portrait of his family…
* * *
My family… We were so happy there. The picture was made just before I first met Harry Potter. I didn't even recognize him first, I just kept talking about pure blood and my famous family. That was what I was supposed to talk about, what was expected from me. And as I learned who he was on the train, I kept on the mask. Maybe I shouldn't have… Everything could be different now. But I thought it was the best thing to do, it was what my father wanted me to be like. The second year changed it all, she changed it all. And now everything seems right again, but I'm losing my family…
* * *
Draco returned to Hogwarts late in the evening. The headmaster had sent Hagrid to the "Three Broomsticks" to wait for him. And Hagrid was trying really hard not to drink too much. Luckily Draco was back early enough to find Hagrid drinking only his third whiskey. As Draco reached the fifth year boys dormitory only Harry was still awake. But Draco really wasn't in the mood to talk.
AN: I'm really sorry this took so long, but I had no idea what to write. (If you still haven't noticed, this thing doesn't have a real plot, just some general ideas.) And when I got a fairly good idea, I didn't know how to write it. But now it's here. And where this came from, there's more to come! Just not right now… I'm exhausted! I had a job over the summer that took almost all of my time, that's the other reason it took so long for me to write this chapter. And big Thank You's go to all my reviewers! THANK YOU ALL! [SPOILER AHEAD:] And don't think I'm evil, Draco Liber will have a happy end after all, maybe not exactly the way you think, but definitely a happy end. With Ginny and Draco together. [:SPOILER END] Luinthoron.