~¤~ THE PROPHECY OF DRACO ~¤~
By Crimson Flame
Disclaimer:::
See chapter 1 for more details…..
Key words:::
7th year, Harry, Draco, Voldermort, Prophecy, Dragons, New Powers (what else?^__^;;), possible slash, etc.
Summary:::
A class assignment leads to the uncovering of an ancient prophecy, whispered freely among many beasts, yet rarely mentioned by any man. When the time comes, will Harry and Draco play their part in it or will they forge their own destinies…
Legend:::
º…bla bla…º denotes speech in Parseltongue
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"When there is no enemy within, the enemies outside cannot hurt you."
African Proverb
~¤ Chapter 5 ¤~
~¤ And Dragons ¤~
I sat curled up in the sofa in the Gryffindor common room by the warm fire. Classes for the day had ended and it was getting late. Everyone was settling in. Some were already in their dorms and the others were scattered about the common room. Ron came up to me with Hermione in his arms and both of them sat down next to me.
"Hey Harry, sorry about what happened yesterday. We did tell Snape about the staircase. Honestly we did." Ron told me in an apologetic and hopeful tone.
"The stubborn git wouldn't have believed me in a thousand years. Don't worry yourselves over it." I told them, meaning every single word I said.
"We just feel so bad Harry. With you getting detention and everything. It sounds so awful."
"I know, Hermione. They'll probably try to kill me and make it look like an accident. The 'Oh the poor thing slipped while he was cleaning the floor and hit his head on the edge of the table' or the 'He was just cleaning the open window but lost his balance and fell to his death' kind of scenario. You'll know what had happened if I don't return from detention tomorrow in one piece."
I laughed out sarcastically. Both of them looked at me with guilt and concern clearly written in their expressions.
"I was joking! Really you two take things way too seriously. They can't do anything to me. Besides, I'm not that thick that I can't defend myself if they tried. I will destroy them single-handedly."
At that they lightened up a bit and managed to smile. Luckily they had forgotten about the part where I wasn't allowed my wand the entire time. Change the subject, change the subject, I chanted mentally to myself.
"So are you two set on going to the library to do the research tomorrow?"
"Of course!" Hermione said excitedly.
"You are coming too right Harry?" Ron added giving me a pleading look. Clearly going to the library with Hermione alone would scare anyone, even her boyfriend.
"Yes. I'm coming. This is a shared assignment after all." I said struggling not to laugh.
"Great Harry! And Ron, have you owled Charlie yet? Any information from him will indeed be very helpful."
"I already did that, Herm-own-ninny darling."
"Ron don't call me that!"
"What? Darling?"
"No! Herm-own-ninny."
"But I didn't. I called you Herm-own-ninny darling."
"Oh I give up."
Ron gave a broad grin and tackled Hermione onto the floor. Soon both of them were rolling onto each other, giggling and laughing.
"Take it inside you two." I said trying to mimic Professor McGonagall's stern voice.
"Yes sir. Assistant Beast Master sir." Ron said saluting at me.
"Oh yes Harry. Before we forget. Congratulations on that!" Hermione said in between her giggles as Ron hauled her up to her feet and dragged her towards the dorms.
"Behave you animals!" I managed to shout out laughing before they disappeared into their rooms.
Alone again, I sat staring ahead into the flames, my hand brushed absent-mindedly against where my supposed wound was.
What in the world happened yesterday? What did Malfoy do to me? Perhaps I should've told Ron. Or Hermione. She might know of a healing spell. I had heard a very faint murmur before the pain had stopped. But Malfoy wasn't holding his wand. What does this mean? And why did Malfoy say 'we're even'?
º Good evening, my dear young one,
Do questions trouble you beneath the setting sun? º
My mind snapped away from my thoughts. I looked down towards the sound of the voice and was greeted by a familiar serpentine smile and a flick of forked tongue.
º Iris?! How did you get in here? º
I hissed back quietly to make sure no one else would notice. Even if Seamus and Dean were the only ones left in the common room. Before the snow-white creature could answer, Neville came bursting in.
"Everybody!!!….W-watch!!..Out!!…There's!!!…A!!…S-snake!!!" He shouted out gasping between breaths. Then he fainted.
Oh dear.
"A SNAKE?!! WHERE?!!!" Dean shouted out in panic. Then he saw Iris curled up at my feet.
"It's alright. She's harmless!!!" I stood up and tried to calm him down.
"Harmless? That's a boomslang for crying out loud. They're extremely poisonous!" Seamus yelled at me while pointing a shaky finger at Iris. Mentally I thanked the gods above that the doors to the dorms had been shut tight. If not the room will be flooded with people attracted by the noise.
"I know that Seamus! What I mean is, she won't harm you. Unless of course you harm her first."
"How would you know that Ha…Oh I forgot." Dean seemed to have recalled my ability of talking to snakes.
"I see. Then we have nothing to worry about, do we? Harry, you can control your pet right?" Seamus said with relief.
"She's not mine." I said with a sigh.
"She's not? Then.."
"Iris is Malfoy's pet."
"MALFOY??!!!! DRACO MALFOY??!!!"
"Yes Dean! How many Malfoys are there in this school?" I said annoyed.
"Why don't we kill it right now?" Seamus suggested casually.
"Good idea! We'll be able to get back at Malfoy." Dean beamed.
"No!" I shouted out horrified. Even though I'd like to get back at Malfoy, killing an innocent creature isn't the way to do it.
"You're no fun Harry. Didn't think you'll take your role as the Assistant Beast Master that seriously." Dean laughed.
"Better be careful Harry. Never trust anything that's Malfoy's." Seamus warned.
"Yeah, don't come running to us when you're bitten by it." Dean said laughing again.
Then, they both left to their dorms hurriedly, wanting to get as far away as they can from the Slytherin's snake.
I let out a sigh in relief and plopped back into the sofa. Iris slithered up the arm of the said furniture and rested on my lap. She raised her head and spoke to me worriedly.
º Will the poor thing be all right?
Did I give the boys an awful fright? º
Iris then glanced anxiously at Neville who was still out cold on the floor.
º Don't worry about him. He does that all the time. º
I told her with a smile and she smiled back graciously.
º Of that, I am most relieved,
Myself to be fearful, I had believed. º
I am curious however.
º How exactly did you get in? Why are you here anyway? Did Malfoy send you? Or worse did he hurt you? I will kill him if he did. Are you here to accept my help? º
She gave me another of her beautiful smiles.
º Many a question you do procure,
My dear young and curious sir,
That boy was in a hurry to be within,
He hadn't noticed until I had slipped in,
Sent me here, my master did not,
I was lonely, your company I had sought,
My master was occupied with work,
He hadn't the knowledge, here I now lurk,
And onto myself, he has never harmed,
Thank you for the offer, I am indeed charmed. º
So Neville must have let her in without knowing it. She came here because she was lonely and I'm the only one here who could speak in Parseltongue. She said Malfoy is busy with some work and doesn't realize that she's here right now. Strange. Is Malfoy really treating her well? Perhaps I have been judging Malfoy too harshly. After all animals are good judges of character.
º Still wary about my beloved master,
Are you not, my dear Mr. Potter? º
I gave no reply but nodded slightly. Iris shook her head regretfully.
º I wish there a way to end this game
For my master too is also the same. º
º Game? º
º A contest of wit and will,
Prolonged too long, it shall make you ill. º
º Forgive me Iris, but I don't really understand. º I said a bit confused. Iris looked like she was sighing.
ºYou dear sir, are cautious of my master,
My watchful master, has the same conjecture,
How else to make you both see,
This is pointless and not meant to be. º
Did she just say that Malfoy, the Draco Malfoy doesn't really have to be my enemy, that he is merely suspicious of me? That I didn't really have to be his enemy, that I too am just suspicious of him? That he and I could actually get along if we just trust each other?
I checked to see if my ears are still functioning. Iris must have seen the disbelief in my face, because she shook her head sadly.
º Come now, let us leave,
For in my words, you do not believe. º
I wanted to apologize for hurting her feelings. I could very well have laughed in her face just now instead of staring at her skeptically. It was almost the same thing.
º Iris, I'm sor…º
º Never mind that my dearest sir,
All is forgiven, all is forgotten,
However, the words I have spoken,
I do hope you will remember. º
I nodded, not daring to open my mouth lest I say something insulting. This earned me a sweet and satisfied smile.
º Come now for the time is soon,
My master spoke of a lesson under the moon. º
I had almost forgotten! The dragon sighting! Apparently someone had told Hagrid today that there had been a glimpse of a supposedly pure-white dragon near Hogwarts. Needless to say, Hagrid the dragon lover, was too excited to even think properly. He had postponed the Slytherin's Care of Magical Creatures class this afternoon to midnight tonight. I tried to make him change his mind. But…
"But Harry! Yeh don't understan'! No one has really seen a white dragon before."
"Which is why it's most probably just a rumor."
"But aye' hav' to make sure Harry. It's just 'n observation. No harm done."
Sure…..'just an observation', he had said. 'No harm done' he had said. I shuddered, thinking of what could happen even if it was only for two hours. Sometimes I worry for Hagrid's fascination with wild beasts. No wait, make that all the time.
Letting out a huge groan, I got up and headed out with Iris wrapped comfortably around my arm.
º I'll have to return you to Malfoy, Iris. He's going to be in my class anyway. º
º I am grateful for the company my good sir,
My master shall know that it had been a great pleasure. º
º My dear Iris, don't even bother. º
¤
Damn. Where is she? I told her to always tell me where she wanted to go.
I looked under another table. Another sofa. Another bed.
Nothing.
I am getting very worried. If she's nowhere in the Slytherin Common Room, then she has to be outside. Students had been walking in and out. She could have easily had slithered out without anyone's notice. Just like a slippery snake. I hope none of the Gryffindors had gotten hold of her. Iris may be poisonous, but she's no match for foolish wizards who hex first and ask questions later.
"Hey Draco, we'll look for her later. Right now we have to go to class."
"You go on then. I will search for a while longer."
"Suit yourself."
I watched them with narrowed eyes as they left for the 'special' lesson that giant idiot Hagrid had planned. Or rather, the lesson he had suddenly announced out of the blue due to a rumor of a white dragon roaming the land near Hogwarts. Perhaps I should be more careful while taking a stroll around Hogwarts.
º Iris where are you? Iris? Iris? º
No answer.
Dong….dong…..dong
The low toll of the bell broke the silence of the night.
Oh great.
I hurried out of the disordered common room. I increased my pace as I ran down a flight of stairs and rounded another corner. Suddenly I slammed into something and fell down hard, hitting my head and injuring my shoulder. A weird sense of dejá vu rushed through me but I quickly brushed it away.
"Damn it!" I swore. Who in the world put that thing there in the middle of the corridor?! If I find out they are as good as dead. Cursing and swearing under my breath, I concentrated on healing my wounded shoulder. That done, I continued on towards the hut that giant calls home.
When I arrived, everyone was already gathered in a group, with the giant standing out in the front. Apparently, I am late for class after all. Even my speed could not compete with time.
"Mr. Malfoy. I 'm surprised. Didn' think you would be late fer anything. May aye' ask why?"
I didn't answer him. Too much effort. I gave him a lazy yawn.
"Malfoy, your professor just asked you a question."
I should have known.
That big oaf had made Potter, Assistant Beast Master. How appropriate. I laughed at the irony.
My eyes trailed from Potter to Hagrid and then back again to Potter. Contrary to his beliefs that I live to make sure that the Beast Master is sent away packing, I actually do not. I do have some respect for him even if it was in such tiny a fraction.
A creature like that half-giant is rare albeit not as rare as the one standing next to him. I know he means well but his methods are hardly applaudable. If he brings in another egg-snatcher like that Hippogriff called Buckbeak…I'll just have to say that I may not be able to control myself like I did before. I may just kill it myself. I wonder what happened to it after all I did to give that beast what it deserved.
I do however wish for Potter would get sacked.
"If you really must know Potter, I was looking for someone."
"Really?"
"Yes, Potter. Really. Want to make something of it?"
"Maybe. Maybe not."
"And why not, pray tell?"
Yes I know. I'm asking for it. But I love taunting Potter. It adds more spice to my so-called existence.
"Because, with me, you'll find what you've been looking for all along."
"And what might that be?"
"A friend."
My heart stopped. I stared. Tears threatened to break out.
A friend. The sound of his voice rang in my ears. It's true.
A friend was indeed what I've been searching for all along. Not goons who guard me. Not girls who swoon over me. Not kindly pets who give motherly advice.
I wanted a friend whom I could depend on and a friend who could depend on me. Someone whom I could trust and someone who could trust in me.
For that one moment, I've never felt more alone in my entire life. I had this urge to hit him in the face and run away to lock myself in my dark chamber. To be alone. By myself. Safe. When you're alone you won't be able to hurt anyone else and no one will be able to hurt you.
But I don't want to be alone.
"Malfoy?! Malfoy?!"
Malfoy? Who is this Malfoy? Stop shaking me you idiot. Let me go. Leave me alone.
"Malfoy?!"
Leave me alone.
"DRACO!"
"WHAT??!!"
"What? Damn you! I'll tell you what. You were staring ahead, you weren't moving. For God's sake, I thought you were having a heart attack or dying or something!" Potter shouted out in my face.
That broke me from my trance.
"S-so what if I was? No one would care." I shrugged.
No one would care. You'd be better off, Potter. It'll save you the time and trouble. Not that I would let that happen.
Potter just stared at me with those emerald eyes of his. His mouth slowly whispered out words that I would never have thought to hear from him.
"I would."
¤
Malfoy had turned up late for class. That was odd. As far as I remembered, he never was.
Thank you God for the chance to get back at Malfoy. Amen.
Hagrid had asked him why but being the little git he is, he didn't answer. Normally I'd care less if it means a chance of giving Malfoy detention but I was curious.
"Malfoy, your professor just asked you a question."
He stared at me defiantly then looked away at Hagrid and finally back at me. There was a small hint of anxiety in his face.
"If you really must know Potter, I was looking for someone."
Is that so? Were you looking for Iris? Were you worried about her? Even to the point of being tardy?
"Really?" I had to be certain.
"Yes, Potter. Really. Want to make something of it?"
He really cares for Iris. Malfoy is actually capable of caring for something. Tomorrow house elves will play Quidditch against Voldemort and his Death Eaters.
"Maybe. Maybe not."
"And why not, pray tell?"
He taunts me. He seems to like doing that. I resigned to tell him about Iris' current whereabouts.
"Because, with me, you'll find what you've been looking for all along."
"And what might that be?"
"A friend."
Those two words set off a reaction that baffled me. Malfoy froze. His gray eyes turned into a darker shade and he stared into nothing. His body looked tense and he stood there unmoving. His expression changed from one of lazy mockery to one of plain despair. He didn't look like he was breathing.
Shit.
Is he having a heart attack? Do wizards have a disease where you could suddenly freeze up and just die?
I panicked. Grabbing his shoulders, I shook him hard yelling out his name.
"Malfoy?! Malfoy?!"
No response.
I was about to hit him to his senses when a name slipped through my lips without thinking.
"DRACO!"
"WHAT??!!"
Thank God. And Damn You.
"What? Damn you! I'll tell you what. You were staring ahead, you weren't moving. For God's sake, I thought you were having a heart attack or dying or something!"
The lost look on his face quickly became cold and indifferent.
"S-so what if I was? No one would care." He shrugged.
No one would care. Did he feel that way?
He shouldn't. Only I'm allowed that. No one would care if I had died. No. They would only care if the boy-who-lived had died before saving the world. After or if I did manage save the world, it'd make no difference in their lives.
I don't concern myself with that anymore. Let me die if that was what is meant to be. But I don't want anyone else to die. No. Please. Please. I had witnessed and heard too much of death to last me a hundred lifetimes.
No one would care. But.
"I would."
I looked sadly into Malfoy's eyes which were opened wide in shock and disbelief. He didn't say anything. Not a single word. It was as if we had shared the same thoughts and there was a silent agreement. For a moment, I felt a strange bond form between us. As though we both understood how the other had felt.
"Eh…Ahem…yeh'll need ter write me a report about tonight's lesson. So pay attention and observe carefully."
Hagrid's voice interrupted our private chat. The bond I had felt earlier melted away and I had to resist from kicking Hagrid for doing so. Malfoy just looked away uninterested with a slight blush on his pale cheeks. It was cold. And I didn't just mean the weather.
"Also before I ferget, like all the other 7th years, yeh have written assignments fer this semester. I want yeh to present me with everything yeh know about dragons. More marks will be given fer added infermation. You can work alone, in pairs or in a group no more than three."
"An' ten points from Slytherin fer being late, Mr. Malfoy. Harry, why don't yeh decide on his detention later. Will that be alright?"
Hagrid was looking at me impatiently. Apparently our strange exchange had lost him some precious 'observation' time. Sighing, I nodded.
"Great! Now follow meh closely, or yeh might get lost. It'll be at the edge of the Forbidden Forest. There is a small clearing and there is a full moon teh' night. Can anyone tell meh why we ar' having this observation at night and not in the day?"
Malfoy raised his hand, all the while keeping a blank face.
"Mr. Malfoy?"
"Dragons are known to be more active in the night rather than in the day. They also have a liking for 'sunbathing' in the moonlight. It is said that they can absorb energy from the moon. This is however unconfirmed."
"That is correct. Er..ten points ter Slytherin. All right kids, let's go. The sooner we get ther' the better."
With that Hagrid turned and lead the class into the forest. Malfoy looked on at the retreating figure as I walked past him to join the group. Just as I did however, he grabbed my arm and pulled me to a stop. I was about to shout out at him when the strangest thing happened.
He smiled.
Not a smirk or a sneer. But a genuine smile that hid a tinge of sadness and regret. In a whisper so soft I could barely hear, he said into my ear,
"Thank you, Harry. But for both of our sakes, I do hope you would not care."
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I HOPE YOU ALL HAVE A GREAT YEAR THIS…UM YEAR!! AND HOPEFULLY THE FIFTH BOOK WILL BE OUT SOON...THIS YEAR!!! ^_____^
To,
eMJay::: Thank you!!! Luv it when people kiss me ^___^ Hehehe. Yup, it'll mostly be from their POV; they are the main characters after all. Iris mainly plays a part in Harry and Draco's relationship. And well I forgot about the rule thing, hehehe, so…um just ignore it and pretend that 7th years are allowed a larger variety of pets coz they are expected to be more responsible. @___@
Leon::: Thanx for the feedback. And Happy New Year 2 you too!!! Hmmm..I don't recall making such a resolution….Hehehe, just teasing.^___^
canceria::: I will explain the Iris comment…but later. Hehehe^___^…And thank U!! About your comment on Iris's way of speaking, I would just like too say, WOW. Do you study music? If not, you have great imagination. Now I like Iris even more ^___^. Anyway, I did want to make it more mysterious but I was afraid it would be too confusing. I have a rough plan, but sometimes ideas just come on their own and I end up writing some scenes I didn't plan on writing. For example, I hadn't really planned the detention thing.
*blank space?* ::: Thanx!!! ^___^;;
Diana Lucille Snape::: Wow. Long review….*gasps* Ur welcome!! Glad you liked it...*sighs in relief* ^___^ Anyway, thanx 4 the feedback bout the format. The detention, um well as I said, I hadn't really planned one before I started writing that chapter. So we'll have to see what comes into my fickle mind.
zipzoey::: Thank you very much!! Keep reading!!
Notes:::
(1) I'm telling you. Thinking of Iris's lines is killing me!! @___@;;
(2) I made up about the part where dragons are more active at night. And that they love to 'sunbathe' in the moonlight. Please forgive me if I'm wrong ^___^;; There's gonna be a lot of stuff I'll invent about dragons in later chapters too. And I only got Scamander's book to refer to for the canon version. And not much is said there either.
(3) I don't really know how Hagrid speaks. ^__^ And Hagrid did learn how to read and spell. How can he not when he's a teacher now?
(4) According to Newt Scamander in his book 'Fantastic beasts and where to find them', the Hippogriff burrows for insects but will also eat birds and small mammals. According to Crimson Flame in her fic ^___^;;, Hippogriffs are also known to steal dragon eggs once in a while because it could sustain them for a long period of time. Buckbeak had gone over the line by doing this too often. This angered the dragons dearly.
(5) 'Tomorrow' there aren't any classes. It's a rest day. So there's time for some research and detention…hehehe(poor Harry@.@). As well as sleeping in a little late. ^___^ Is this allowed?
(6) It was dark. But there still is enchanted light and the moonlight. So they can see quite well for the very least.
(7) Angst, angst, angst. Anyway just a bit of mental breakdown for the both of them…hehehe@__@;; Sorry if it sounds OOC.
(8) I know that a lesson in the middle of the night, in a dangerous forest is not anyone's idea of a lesson. Personally, I wouldn't think that Dumbledore himself would approve of it.@__@;; but he works in 'mysterious' ways.
(9) Hopefully this chapter wasn't too boring. I had meant for the lesson to continue on but my word count kept increasing. So it'll continue in the next chapter.
(10) I did not forget about Iris. But apparently someone did. Someone=Harry (Hahaha^___^;;)
SO SORRY for the delay. Please don't kill me or curse me for that matter. ^__^;;; My classes just started up again. Sigh…If I were going to Hogwarts, I wouldn't have minded a bit…Another sigh….
Next chapter…The lesson under the moon and Draco's detention…I think.