You may be wondering why this chapter is so short. It's because this is part one of chapter 7, and the second part will come out sometime else. This fic might be a bit rushed, due to the fact that I've been roaving around for public computers all the time. Think of all the moneyI've wasted! Oh well.
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The Great Hall was luminous; everything seemed to shine in warm radiance. Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger seemed to be healthy and fine, but their expressions were stern and serious. It was a grave discussion, and they were talking softly, making sure no one else was listening over.
"Tomorrow is the day, Harry," said Hermione quietly, stirring her porridge, "We MUST do it tomorrow or never."
Harry shook his head, "It's impossible to trust anyone but you and Ron, it's impossible to do it tomorrow. Can't we move it a day after? How about before or after the Diricawl case? Can't you miss the case itself?"
Hermione was exasperated, "Harry please, we have to help Hagrid or he'll be sent to Azkaban… again. Do you want that to happen?"
"Of course not!" Hissed Harry, looking insulted, "It's just that--"
"Think about it, Harry," said Ron, looking around, "If we're late or don't attend the case all is lost. Being punctual is one of the best signs you could give the court. If we lose this not only do we have to pay money but also Hagrid will be convicted as a murderer… We'll help you think of other people, okay?" Harry shook his head. "I can only trust both of you… These are dark matters, you know. It should be kept secret. People can just turn Draco in and then what will happen? He'll be killed, not just be sent to Azkaban, but he'll be killed. He's not a wizard… well properly NOT a wizard… They'll kill him… they will…" he trailed off, eyes unfocused, seeming to be looking far, imagining the horrors that crept into his mind at night.
Hermione banged her fist on the table, standing up. A few people turned their heads to watch. "So you value him more than Hagrid?"
Her look was insulting. It was as if she was judging him, as if he did something that was actually wrong. All Harry did was ask a question! That blew it - he was offended, and suddenly irritated. He stood up to face her,
"You don't know how I feel about both of them. Why can't you stick your nose in someone else's feelings? "
Some in the Great Hall hushed and many watched, but Harry took no notice. He glared at Hermione, who looked stunned and pale, "Who do you think you are, trying to know my feelings like an expert?" "Harry! That's just low!" Ron gasped, standing up and looking at the Boy-who-Lived in a shocked manner. Hermione's eyes started watered a bit, and her face was red in embarrassment. But she shook her head, "I only mean it because you're…blinded. You use to care so much for Hagrid, and all this talk about moving the case or we not attending it… It doesn't seem like you… We only want to help you, Harry."
'What help is she doing just about now?' Thought Harry, his heart flaring in deep annoyance. "Help me by steering out of the way… If you have to read my every thought and every feeling just leave me alone."
With that he stalked out of the great hall. He didn't turn back. His hands were in fists. Just as he disappeared into the gigantic walls Ron moved to follow him but Hermione grabbed his cloak.
"He needs time alone to think…" She croaked.
Ron gazed at her. She had her head down. Probably crying.
"Harry didn't mean those things, Hermione…"
It took her a few moments before she sighed, "I…I know."
--
How could she SAY that? Thought Harry as he stormed into the corridors. How could she have the nerve to think I could not care less for the dear, gentle giant? Harry would do anything to prove his loyalty to him.
He had to admit, he had over-reacted at the accusation. But all this was coming in a rush. How could Hermione believe he cared more about his worst enemy than his close friend? Harry was hurt despite the anger he threw at her. He felt misunderstood, as if she was pointing out all the things that weren't true at all.
He cared for Draco the same way as he cared for Hagrid, not surpassing. He cared for them with the same tenderness. But…
Guilt began to emerge. He shouldn't have burst out at her like that; after all, she was just trying to help. He winced. He should not have pushed them away. He should have explained his rash behavior. He was only irritated because he was in deep shit, because pressure was building up against him. Hermione only wanted to help, and he had hurt her. He shook his head and turned to the left corridor; to the dead end to sit and think.
Then he froze.
"Draco! What happened?"
The corridor was splattered with blood. A strange, coppery scent filled the air. Harry swallowed, and walked towards the gruesome hallway. A blonde figure was kneeling, head leaning on the bloodstained wall. His shirt was soaked in the red liquid; eyes closed shut.
Harry's heart stopped. He paled.
Draco was dead.
Harry rushed forward. He didn't care about the warm crimson staining his clothes, or the strong smell; he took Draco into his arms. Tears of despair formed in Harry's beautiful eyes, and with a hand he frantically felt below Draco's shirt. 'No,' he thought. 'He couldn't be, he must not be.' Trembling, Harry laid his palm on Draco's chest. A faint heartbeat met his quivering fingers.
Relief washed over him and he leaned on Draco. He closed his eyes a few moments to calm himself.
"Draco," cooed Harry, shaking the blonde lightly. "Please… I can't carry you… Wake up…" A few moments passed. Harry gazed and traced Draco's pale face. A sleeping porcelain doll; not an innocent one, for his cheeks were stained with blood. He was cold, chilling; paling even more than he should. Why were his wounds bleeding again? Was this part of his twisted fate? Would Draco have to endure this and more just because he was a Talim heir, because he was born into his family?
The waxing moon moved out of the dark, voluminous clouds, giving rays of milky moonlight into the corridor from the single window. Harry slowly peeled the blonde's shirt from his body and used it to wipe the gashes on his arms. From afar, Draco's pale torso looked unmoving, as if dead, but Harry knew otherwise and continued to talk softly.
"Please Draco… Stir a bit. I can't carry you like this… Please?"
It took a few moments before Draco's icy fingers grasped Harry's wrist. Harry's scar started to burn but he ignored it for the moment, because Draco began to mumble incoherently. Harry inhaled and leaned closer. He could not understand the Slytherin's words.
The Gryffindor watched as the blonde muttered soft whispers, his eyebrows knotted, both sweat and blood smeared upon his face.
Harry held the colder boy closer.
Then Draco's eyes shot open. The two cruel, red gems glared in the moonlight.
In a flash Harry was on the floor, his head swirling, white hands tightening on his neck. Harry's sight was blurry; his glasses torn askew, but he could see the figure above him grinning viciously. He struggled and struggled but the vampire had more strength than he let on, and was successfully pinning him down easily.
Draco was smirking. But it was far from the way he leered before. There was a madness that glinted in those vicious eyes, something unnatural, something terrifying. Harry closed his eyes. He was getting dizzy, he could not breathe, and all strength seemed lost. He felt blood rushing up to his head; could imagine his face growing redder. He started to choke, "Draco…Please…. Stop…"
Was this the end?
Suddenly Draco's weight was thrown aside and the vampire landed with a thud. Harry winced and sat up, caressing his neck. It was probably bleeding, he thought, as his fingers ran over the painful wounds. Draco had used his nails to dig into him. Harry shook his head and strained to see who had pushed the vampire aside.
Two boys were now rolling in the blood. The blonde was on the ground, writhing and hissing, with a raven head on top of him, struggling to keep the vampire restrained. The raven head looked strangely familiar…
"Blaise!" Harry exclaimed, disbelieving.
Blaise turned his head to glance at him. There were blood marks on his cheek. Draco saw his chance, and with a new, unexplained strength he shoved at Blaise. At the vampire's power, Blaise flew and slammed into the wall.
Harry stood up as Blaise grimaced and whipped out his wand. He grinned, blood now dripping down the side of his face. He took a rockety step forward.
"Now I've got you in a tight fix, you Talim." He said, spitefulness lacing words. "Instant galleons if I blast you through the ceiling, isn't it? What a chance. At last I get to put a sock into your saucy replies. It's a pity, yes, well, too bad. Goodbye, Draco."
His wand was raised. His eyes were set. The vampire stood motionless, as if fearful. A green glow coated the tip of Blaise's wand. Harry recognized that glow from the nightmares that haunted his childhood nights; dreams that he had pondered upon time and time again. The same green light that killed his parents almost 15 years ago.
"No!" Yelled Harry, sprinting in a burst of newfound adrenaline. Before he knew it the Gryffindor had his back to Blaise, wrapping his arms around the blonde Slytherin. He did not know what he was doing.
Blaise lowered his wand.
"Harry get out of the way! Do you want to die for that thing?!"
"He's as human as both of us, Blaise," Answered Harry, closing his eyes, "Money's not worth anyone's life… Especially his."
Blaise was about to say that Draco wasn't human anymore but instead blinked, gripping his wand tighter. 'Noble words sound very stupid… And they suck,' he thought, watching Harry. But as he pondered over it, he realized that it was indeed true; that Draco was still considered human; and immediately felt ashamed for his recent acts of greed and selfishness. But before he could say anything, his eyes went wide.
"Potter!" Look out, He's going to bite!"
Harry felt breathing on his neck. He felt Draco's fingernails digging into his back so fiercely that he knew it would mark. 'Draco isn't hesitating,' thought Harry, 'Draco is gone. His Talim self has won over him. All he'll care for is my blood, and his happiness.' A pause entered his muddled mind. 'If this was happiness for him, so be it."
He kept still. He waited. Even drew closer. Blaise stomped when he realized what Harry was thinking.
"Potter you may be brave but you're stupid! Draco's been trying to fight his Talim self so that you wouldn't get hurt! He's been starving himself so that you wouldn't be his victim! Don't you get it; he'd forsake himself for you! What the hell are you trying to prove, suddenly giving yourself up and wasting all that Draco's done for you?"
It hit Harry as a pang in his heart. A moment's time froze. He had made the same mistake as before, taking his parents' sacrifice for granted. And now Draco's. What is he doing?!
His emerald eyes shot open, and he had tried to back away, but it was too late. A burning sensation stung his neck. Coldness ran through his veins. Two large fangs sank deep into his flesh. Harry cringed in pain. What had he done? How stupid he's been!
The world faded into darkness. Everything was silent. Was he dead? There was no more pain, no more noise, no more anything and he wished there was. He called out in this strange abyss, but no sound came forth from his lips. He could not even utter. Where was he?
So he had failed. He had given himself up. It was all in vain – all who saved his life shouldn't have even tried; Harry just wasted it in stupidity. He was a fool.
As he swam in his depression, thinking of so many other things he could have done, the conscious world licked him, until life became clearer and more vibrant, he could hear, smell, taste, feel, see.
A figure, one he could not recognize, was crouching before him. The figure was shadowy and blurry, and brought Harry's glasses back to the crook of his nose. Harry stared.
Professor Remus Lupin smiled solemnly back at him.
"Wh…what happened?"
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Ok this is only part one of Chapter 7. I had to cut it because I have so little progress each time I sit at a computer!
I'm sorry for the long wait, and please pray that I have my own computer soon? Hehe. Please review.