Chapter Nine
(Beta: Liz)
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Harry awoke slowly, feeling very groggy. The first thing he became aware of was that he hurt. His entire body was sore, as though he'd just played a long and quite violent game of Quidditch.
He kept his eyes closed, not wanting to move. He just wanted to stay where he was, lying on the... Cold ground? Huh?
And why was it so quiet?
His eyes snapped open as the events of the evening came rushing back to him.
As the world came back into focus Harry realized he was indeed laying on the cold, hard ground. It was still night, and still quite cold.
He struggled to sit up; every muscle in his body seemed to protest that movement.
Harry thought he gasped when his eyes caught a huge shape lying in front of him.
It took him a moment to realize it was one of those troll creatures that had attacked he and Draco. It appeared to be dead.
Harry stared, wide-eyed. Had he done that?
He didn't realize he had that much power. If he'd managed to destroy a creature as huge as the one lying in front of him, he didn't even want to think of what he could do to another person.
His heart jumped to his throat when he remembered he wasn't alone in this mess. Draco had been with him the whole time. But where was the other boy now?
Harry was starting to feel sick with dread when it occurred to him his little stunt could have killed the one he had been trying to protect.
So he was quite relieved when he saw Draco sitting beside him, alive and apparently uninjured (other than the injuries he'd already procured.)
He was bemused to see that Draco was shivering almost uncontrollably. Then he realized why.
Some time when Harry had been unconscious Draco had covered him with his cloak, leaving himself exposed to the almost frigid night air for an unknown amount of time.
Harry was touched, grateful and a bit surprised. That was a very un-Malfoy like thing to do. Draco wasn't known as the self-sacrificing type. Harry was definitely starting to look at the other boy in a different light.
Concern interrupted his musings when he noticed that Draco's lips were starting to gain a distinct bluish tint from the cold. The other boy only had on a thin shirt.
How long had he been exposed to the cutting wind?
Switching back to protective mode, he staggered to his feet and wrapped Draco back up in his cloak. The other boy must have been so miserable he didn't even respond at the sudden contact.
"Thanks." Harry muttered, suddenly feeling awkward (and cold!) Not to mention sore and still very exhausted.
He stiffly sat down next to Draco, shoulders touching.
Now it was Harry's turn to shiver. He felt a sudden wave of helplessness and defeat. He was tired, sore and cold and just wished it would all be over, one way or another.
He would have been quite content to just sit there and wallow in his own misery for a while but Draco had other ideas.
He grabbed Harry's arm tightly, that now familiar terrified expression on his face.
Harry resisted the urge to roll his eyes (not that Draco would have been able to see him do it either way).
What now?
He just didn't have the energy to fight anymore. Especially considering they would more than likely freeze to death if they were victorious anyway.
But Harry couldn't help but tense for battle when his eyes caught what was distressing Draco so.
Something was emerging from the bushes nearby.
He could just make out its shadow in the darkness. It was certainly much smaller than the trolls had been.
It stepped into the moonlight and Harry sighed in relief. Going limp as the tension left his body.
He never thought he'd actually welcome the sight of Professor Snape, but Harry found himself resisting the urge to jump up and envelope his sour teacher in a hug.
He also couldn't help but notice, with amusement, that his teacher looked more miserable then Harry felt.
Snape actually looked disheveled. Twigs and leaves stuck in his tangled black hair. His scowling face covered in scratches and dirt. His normally immaculate robes were rumpled, torn and dirty. And.wasn't that Harry's cloak he was wearing??
When Prof. Snape caught sight of them his expression went from obvious relief to a strange mixture of concern and anger.
But Harry would gladly face Snape's wrath rather then stay out in the forest.
He allowed himself another tentative sigh of relief. At last the ordeal was over.
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Draco listened as Harry slowly started to revive, but he couldn't really bring himself to care.
He was so cold.
It had taken all his self-control to not take back the cloak he'd covered Harry with. He was starting to regret his moment of generosity.
Even his sore, throbbing ankle had ceased to become an issue as his body slowly froze.
He almost considered crawling under the cloak with Harry. But just the thought turned his stomach.
While Draco might have felt some almost friendly feelings towards the other boy they didn't quite extend to sharing any more close physical contact. He'd had quite enough of that riding on the boy's back, thank you very much.
Better becoming a human ice sculpture then snuggling up with Harry Potter.
But he was quite grateful when his companion had woken up and given the cloak back. Draco was already starting to warm up under the heavy fabric.
As Harry sat back down next to him Draco felt that annoying stab of guilt again.
Harry had saved his life and now Draco was leaving him in the cold to freeze.
He felt quite foolish for hanging on to a childish grudge at a time like this and was about to offer to share the cloak when a nearby sound diverted his attention yet again.
Please not again!
He didn't even realize he had gripped Harry's arm until he felt the other boy tense beneath his fingers.
Draco felt an insane urge to scream in frustration.
Why couldn't they just be left alone?
He was quite baffled when he heard Harry.. Sigh with relief?
His confusion/panic must have shown because a familiar voice spoke.
"Relax, Mr. Malfoy. It's just me." Even in the cold of the forest Prof. Snape spoke in his typical near drawl.
Snape's voice was the most welcome sound to Draco's ears.
But he still managed to sound quite petulant when he said through chattering teeth, "Finally! What took you so long?"
He could almost hear Prof. Snape bristle at that remark.
Draco chastised himself. This was no time to act like the spoiled brat everyone thought him to be. If he kept it up, he'd never get his sight back.
Snape chose to ignore Draco's comment and instead he asked, "Are you okay?"
Draco bit back the sarcastic retort he wanted to give that question. Answering with a simple, "No."
Despite his best attempt not to he still managed to sound grumpy and sullen.
He had almost forgotten Harry was there until the other boy spoke up. Voice overly loud again, yelling into the near silence of the forest.
"What?"
'Oh no, he wasn't going to start that again.' Draco thought with a stab of disdain. His earlier feelings of gratitude forgotten in light of being rescued.
"Keep you voice down Mr. Potter!" Snape hissed. Voice full of his usual venom.
Draco suppressed a snicker at the fact that Harry couldn't hear Snape's admonitions.
Harry must have understood though, because the next time he spoke his voice was much quieter.
"So, are you going to set us right then?" Draco heard him ask, at least attempting to sound respectful. But he didn't doubt that Harry was just as unhappy as he was with their professor.
When Prof. Snape spoke Draco was pleased to note that his head of house sounded a bit, well, flustered. A state Draco never thought him capable of.
"Of course, but."
He idly wished he had his vision back already. He'd love to see the dreaded potions professor in his moment of humility.
Served the man right, Draco thought malevolently. He wasn't feeling at all forgiving at that moment. Not after the night he'd just spent. In fact, in the back of his mind, he was already plotting his revenge on his teacher. Maybe he could even get him sacked.
Nothing could have prepared him for what Prof. Snape said next though.
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A/N: Very special Thanks to... bthatcher2002, zeynel, NemKess, Canceria and nite3 for their much welcomed reviews! They are very much appreciated :o)
(Beta: Liz)
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Harry awoke slowly, feeling very groggy. The first thing he became aware of was that he hurt. His entire body was sore, as though he'd just played a long and quite violent game of Quidditch.
He kept his eyes closed, not wanting to move. He just wanted to stay where he was, lying on the... Cold ground? Huh?
And why was it so quiet?
His eyes snapped open as the events of the evening came rushing back to him.
As the world came back into focus Harry realized he was indeed laying on the cold, hard ground. It was still night, and still quite cold.
He struggled to sit up; every muscle in his body seemed to protest that movement.
Harry thought he gasped when his eyes caught a huge shape lying in front of him.
It took him a moment to realize it was one of those troll creatures that had attacked he and Draco. It appeared to be dead.
Harry stared, wide-eyed. Had he done that?
He didn't realize he had that much power. If he'd managed to destroy a creature as huge as the one lying in front of him, he didn't even want to think of what he could do to another person.
His heart jumped to his throat when he remembered he wasn't alone in this mess. Draco had been with him the whole time. But where was the other boy now?
Harry was starting to feel sick with dread when it occurred to him his little stunt could have killed the one he had been trying to protect.
So he was quite relieved when he saw Draco sitting beside him, alive and apparently uninjured (other than the injuries he'd already procured.)
He was bemused to see that Draco was shivering almost uncontrollably. Then he realized why.
Some time when Harry had been unconscious Draco had covered him with his cloak, leaving himself exposed to the almost frigid night air for an unknown amount of time.
Harry was touched, grateful and a bit surprised. That was a very un-Malfoy like thing to do. Draco wasn't known as the self-sacrificing type. Harry was definitely starting to look at the other boy in a different light.
Concern interrupted his musings when he noticed that Draco's lips were starting to gain a distinct bluish tint from the cold. The other boy only had on a thin shirt.
How long had he been exposed to the cutting wind?
Switching back to protective mode, he staggered to his feet and wrapped Draco back up in his cloak. The other boy must have been so miserable he didn't even respond at the sudden contact.
"Thanks." Harry muttered, suddenly feeling awkward (and cold!) Not to mention sore and still very exhausted.
He stiffly sat down next to Draco, shoulders touching.
Now it was Harry's turn to shiver. He felt a sudden wave of helplessness and defeat. He was tired, sore and cold and just wished it would all be over, one way or another.
He would have been quite content to just sit there and wallow in his own misery for a while but Draco had other ideas.
He grabbed Harry's arm tightly, that now familiar terrified expression on his face.
Harry resisted the urge to roll his eyes (not that Draco would have been able to see him do it either way).
What now?
He just didn't have the energy to fight anymore. Especially considering they would more than likely freeze to death if they were victorious anyway.
But Harry couldn't help but tense for battle when his eyes caught what was distressing Draco so.
Something was emerging from the bushes nearby.
He could just make out its shadow in the darkness. It was certainly much smaller than the trolls had been.
It stepped into the moonlight and Harry sighed in relief. Going limp as the tension left his body.
He never thought he'd actually welcome the sight of Professor Snape, but Harry found himself resisting the urge to jump up and envelope his sour teacher in a hug.
He also couldn't help but notice, with amusement, that his teacher looked more miserable then Harry felt.
Snape actually looked disheveled. Twigs and leaves stuck in his tangled black hair. His scowling face covered in scratches and dirt. His normally immaculate robes were rumpled, torn and dirty. And.wasn't that Harry's cloak he was wearing??
When Prof. Snape caught sight of them his expression went from obvious relief to a strange mixture of concern and anger.
But Harry would gladly face Snape's wrath rather then stay out in the forest.
He allowed himself another tentative sigh of relief. At last the ordeal was over.
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Draco listened as Harry slowly started to revive, but he couldn't really bring himself to care.
He was so cold.
It had taken all his self-control to not take back the cloak he'd covered Harry with. He was starting to regret his moment of generosity.
Even his sore, throbbing ankle had ceased to become an issue as his body slowly froze.
He almost considered crawling under the cloak with Harry. But just the thought turned his stomach.
While Draco might have felt some almost friendly feelings towards the other boy they didn't quite extend to sharing any more close physical contact. He'd had quite enough of that riding on the boy's back, thank you very much.
Better becoming a human ice sculpture then snuggling up with Harry Potter.
But he was quite grateful when his companion had woken up and given the cloak back. Draco was already starting to warm up under the heavy fabric.
As Harry sat back down next to him Draco felt that annoying stab of guilt again.
Harry had saved his life and now Draco was leaving him in the cold to freeze.
He felt quite foolish for hanging on to a childish grudge at a time like this and was about to offer to share the cloak when a nearby sound diverted his attention yet again.
Please not again!
He didn't even realize he had gripped Harry's arm until he felt the other boy tense beneath his fingers.
Draco felt an insane urge to scream in frustration.
Why couldn't they just be left alone?
He was quite baffled when he heard Harry.. Sigh with relief?
His confusion/panic must have shown because a familiar voice spoke.
"Relax, Mr. Malfoy. It's just me." Even in the cold of the forest Prof. Snape spoke in his typical near drawl.
Snape's voice was the most welcome sound to Draco's ears.
But he still managed to sound quite petulant when he said through chattering teeth, "Finally! What took you so long?"
He could almost hear Prof. Snape bristle at that remark.
Draco chastised himself. This was no time to act like the spoiled brat everyone thought him to be. If he kept it up, he'd never get his sight back.
Snape chose to ignore Draco's comment and instead he asked, "Are you okay?"
Draco bit back the sarcastic retort he wanted to give that question. Answering with a simple, "No."
Despite his best attempt not to he still managed to sound grumpy and sullen.
He had almost forgotten Harry was there until the other boy spoke up. Voice overly loud again, yelling into the near silence of the forest.
"What?"
'Oh no, he wasn't going to start that again.' Draco thought with a stab of disdain. His earlier feelings of gratitude forgotten in light of being rescued.
"Keep you voice down Mr. Potter!" Snape hissed. Voice full of his usual venom.
Draco suppressed a snicker at the fact that Harry couldn't hear Snape's admonitions.
Harry must have understood though, because the next time he spoke his voice was much quieter.
"So, are you going to set us right then?" Draco heard him ask, at least attempting to sound respectful. But he didn't doubt that Harry was just as unhappy as he was with their professor.
When Prof. Snape spoke Draco was pleased to note that his head of house sounded a bit, well, flustered. A state Draco never thought him capable of.
"Of course, but."
He idly wished he had his vision back already. He'd love to see the dreaded potions professor in his moment of humility.
Served the man right, Draco thought malevolently. He wasn't feeling at all forgiving at that moment. Not after the night he'd just spent. In fact, in the back of his mind, he was already plotting his revenge on his teacher. Maybe he could even get him sacked.
Nothing could have prepared him for what Prof. Snape said next though.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A/N: Very special Thanks to... bthatcher2002, zeynel, NemKess, Canceria and nite3 for their much welcomed reviews! They are very much appreciated :o)