Chapter:11
Thanks: To the reviewers for being so dedicated to this fic. To Misty, for once again beta reading this fic wonderfully.
------------------------------
Hermione could only take so much of Ginny's pacing up and down the hallway. "Could you calm down?" she asked as politely as possible under all the stress.
"I'm sorry Hermione," Ginny said sighing, "I'm just so worried, that it's killing me. The ministry people have already left for Hogwarts, but since they can't apparate it's going to be awhile longer until they get there."
"He's fine," Hermione said smiling, "Don't worry about it. Nothing could have happened to him in such a short time."
"You're right," Ginny nodded, "I'm always like this... panicking when I don't really need to. I do just need to calm down."
"We'll hear something soon," Ron said quickly, "If any of these people would act like we existed or something."
"I know," Hermione said softly, "I hate having Harry's fate in their hands. They are very irresponsible for grown wizards don't you think?"
"What can we do?" Ginny said softly, "Remember, just leave it in their hands?"
"Sorry," Hermione laughed, "I guess I just feel the same way you do."
Then a young wizard walked up toward them. He smiled and said, "Kids, I've just got word. You're friend is pretty much in safe hands now okay? The ministry is taking care of the situation down there right now."
"Really?" Ginny said happily, "Is Harry all right? Is he hurt?"
"Sort of," the man looked uneasy, "It wasn't an easy case. They were ambushed by Death Eaters when they got in there... but he'll be okay kids. No problem."
"What happened to him?" Ron demanded, "I'd like to know exactly what happened to my best friend!"
"Come on kid," the man sighed, "I think you know what they can do. Something's up, they're powerful, more so now than ever since You-Know-Who returned. You know your friend is lucky to still be alive and in one piece."
Ron nearly jumped on top of him in a panic, "Can I get to him? Where is he?"
"The local wizarding hospital, it's only a few miles from here. Maybe I can ask my boss to get you down there to him. Come with me and we can work something out."
"Hermione," Ginny turned, "You and Ron go, see Harry and try to help him if you can. I have a strong feeling that he's not in as stable of a condition as they say. I need to stay here to find out what happened at school."
"She's right," Hermione said softly, "Okay, Ron and I will go with you." The man motioned for them to follow, so Ron and Hermione left Ginny alone.
'Pretty soon' Ginny thought pacing around some more, 'Harry will be all right, Draco will be all right. It all will get better'
Even while Ginny hoped for better, things weren't looking so good for Draco. He ran quickly through the dungeons, searching desperately for his mother. Where could she be? Could he get to her in time? He turned a corner and reached a long pipe. He jumped up into it. It was big enough for him to even walk through. It was one of his last hopes, he could hear footsteps near him. He ran quickly through it, it ended in a drop. He jumped, but landed on his back, hitting the hard stone floor.
"Ah..." he said softly, but instantly regained composure. He stood back up and ran even harder than before. Finally he reached the person he'd been working to find...his mother. She was unconscious on the floor, in the corner of the room. She looked really hurt from where he stood and in an instant her son was by her side. " Oh my god..." he said looking her over. He could no longer speak. "Please... Mom..."
Flash. In an instant her eyes were open and she was staring at him in confusion. She spoke softly, "What are- what are you doing here? Draco... it was your father! It was..."
"I know, I know..." he said in a soothing voice, "Mom, I am going to get us out of this. I don't know exactly how I am, but I will. He's going to have to pay for this."
He tried very hard to look her over, but the darkness made it near impossible. He wondered how his father had pulled off beating her like this, especially in that body... still she did not look good at all. "I'll kill him someday... for doing this to you."
He looked around desperately for an escape or a place to hide away. It was still hours before the sun was to rise. How could even he pull this one off? Where could he go without being found, when he wasn't even sure if he could get out of the dungeons without being killed?
"Ah, I didn't even expect you to get this far," came a mystical voice from afar. Draco realized that with his father approaching he didn't have much time. He helped his mother to her feet slowly. She leaned on him for support. Her weight on top of his was difficult to move. He struggled to walk. His mother then started talking quietly. Then she got louder and Draco could understand what she was saying.
"Let me go," she said sharply, "How can you get away from him with me? If you let me go, he'll never catch you."
He shook his head and said calmly, still walking, "It isn't necessary. I can still manage all right? This should be nothing to before. I've escaped him once."
"Don't be stupid," his mother warned, but she was too weak to continue. He helped her run through the numerous pipes. His father was not going to catch them.
"Isn't this pipe..." his mother said softly, lifting her head to look up.
"Yes, you're right!" Draco almost screamed, "It seems like it might lead to the Slytherin common rooms. They're low in the dungeons and about at this location...Yes!" He jumped up into the pipe, practically pulling his mother along the path. They walked up and were in the Slytherin Common Rooms. All of the Slytherins looked at him suspiciously. Everyone looked scared. "Get over it!" he snapped at them, putting his mother down on a chair, "Obviously you idiots have an idea of what's happening?" He didn't exactly trust most Slytherins to be too intelligent. Clever, but not smart they nodded. "I'm probably putting you all in more danger coming here. We're being chased by one of them, my father. Yet, sadly they're probably some of your parents too, huh? Slytherin is going to have to fight them ourselves."
"What are you saying?" a tall girl with long dark hair laughed, "Little boy, you are telling us that Slytherin House is going to fight a group of Death Eaters alone? Like you said, half of us are related to them."
"I'm going to fight them," he said softly, "I have to stand up and do something about this. You don't have to- they can kill you. The final battle's gonna be here."
"What if we know they won't kill us?" she asked calmly.
"Then please leave. Use the exit we came out of. Trust me though, my dad's down there. He's not going to think before killing you." It was true, what he said. Unfortunately for them, his father had already figured out that they were in the Common Room . He entered with an evil laugh. The Slytherins didn't know what to do. They all moved around confused, but Draco stood with his wand pointed at his father. Some younger girls were taking care of his mother in one of the dormitories. He knew that she was safe, she would not be hurt. Draco planned to make sure of it.
"You lose now," Draco said looking deep into the eyes that were still his fathers, even in this body, "You keep trying to ruin our lives. Well, now it's over."
"You think half of these brats are going to fight with you?" he laughed in the Professor's shrill voice, "Most of them are loyal supporters themselves. You're alone here."
"I don't care," Draco said, "I don't need any of them to help me now."
Both of them tried to curse the other at the same time. They were both then sent flying across the room.
~*~*~*~*~
"Nobody's here," a Ministry official said panicking, "Where is the administration?"
"I don't know," a woman said softly, "I don't know..." A loud noise sounded from behind a brass door.
"What was that?" asked the man quietly.
"It's the Slytherin Common Rooms," she recognized the familiar door toward her old Common Room.
"Let's go now." They headed toward the door. The man pulled at it. He turned and shook his head at his partner. The door was sealed shut. He tried to unlock it magically, but nothing happened. They knew now that this was where they needed to be. The man tried to push it again.
"What do we do?" he asked.
"I'm not sure," she said softly, "I just think we need to get in. Is there another way?"
"I don't know!" he yelled frustrated, "We've got to get in there. Something is wrong. Let's try to push it in together." They did. It moved slightly, but barely enough to matter. The man, who was beginning to lose patience decided to use another method of magical moving. He used a basic dueling spell on the door, as if it were an opponent, and knocked it to the floor. They ran down the many spiraling steps to face a small issue. Neither of them knew the Slytherin password.
"Please," the woman said annoyed, "Ministry of Magic, let us through." Finally she convinced the second door to open for them. They came into a terrible scene. A duel was taking place between a student and what looked like his teacher. Some other students assisted, but just barely. It seemed that the brutal fight had taken a toll on both participants.
The man and woman, still unseen decided that they needed to get the adult off of the child. "Stupefy," they both simultaneously stunned the woman. She fell to the ground. The boy turned and looked at them suspiciously.
"What is going on?" the woman asked plainly. She was very confused at what she was seeing.
"Get him..." was his only reply as he rushed to tackle the female teacher. Her partner, who'd remained silent used a bonding spell to tie the woman.
"Who is this? It's not the teacher is it..." the official asked Draco.
He shook his head, but couldn't find the words.
He breathed in deeply and finally said softly, "It's my father. A Death Eater... all the teachers are... they took over the school. Trying to get something or other. Tried to get Potter killed, I don't know what happened there..."
"Calm down son," the woman said quietly, "You act like we won't believe you. We don't have any reason not to.... do we?"
"No, not at all," Draco stammered surprised, "He said- he said by sunrise they'd have to leave."
"He did..." she replied, "What kind of plot is this? No killing at all... just entering."
"I think," Draco dared to say, "It was an attempt to scare the public. You-Know-Who's back and they had to show-"
"Their power?" she asked.
"I think so. I've lived with him long enough to figure them out."
"I see." Draco looked out the window and saw the sun rising over the hills. "It's done..." he muttered feeling the fear leave him, "Whatever they wanted from the school... they got it... but it's still done. "The professor possessed by Lucius Malfoy was beginning to wake.
"What on earth happened?" she asked tiredly.
"We'll explain later," the woman said amazed.
"Oh all right," Professor Trelawny replied, "I predicted that I would be in an odd situation today... so I don't mind. With a power like mine... nothing is surprising."
"I need help," Draco said quietly, ignoring the teacher, "My mother... she's a teacher here. He really hurt her badly, I think she needs help."
"Where is she?"
"In one of the girls dormitories," he replied, "I got her out of the way, so he wouldn't hurt her."
~*~*~*~*~
Three hours after the incident, Ginny found out all about it. Draco returned with the Ministry to their office. She nearly knocked him down when he returned, then she realized that he'd been in a fight.
"What happened to you?" she yelled surprised.
"Father was back," he laughed darkly.
"You've got to be kidding," Ginny looked at him in amazement, "Please tell me that you're kidding."
"Sorry, no... he possessed the body of that wacky Divination teacher. He was out to get my mom. Did they find out about Potter?"
"Yeah," she said looking relieved, "He's okay. They haven't got to talk to him yet, I think he's not even awake. It was bad, but they got him out just in time. Or else he would have..."
"Good," he said also sighing, "That means they only got half of what they wanted. I assume they wanted something from school and they probably got it. Still, they didn't kill Potter... and Dad didn't kill me or my mother so it turned out rather well."
"I guess," she smiled, "I'm glad you're okay."
"It's good to see you again," he laughed and played along with her, "I really didn't know if we were going to get out of that."
"Are you serious?" she asked, "It seems that you and I could get out of anything doesn't it?"
"Possibly," Draco replied, "Care to test that?"
"No," she said softly, "I'd rather go home and not worry about what happens next."
__________
Only one more chapter! And it's sort of a type of epilouge. Just to let everyone know, the sequel to Healing Spells will come around soon.
Thanks: To the reviewers for being so dedicated to this fic. To Misty, for once again beta reading this fic wonderfully.
------------------------------
Hermione could only take so much of Ginny's pacing up and down the hallway. "Could you calm down?" she asked as politely as possible under all the stress.
"I'm sorry Hermione," Ginny said sighing, "I'm just so worried, that it's killing me. The ministry people have already left for Hogwarts, but since they can't apparate it's going to be awhile longer until they get there."
"He's fine," Hermione said smiling, "Don't worry about it. Nothing could have happened to him in such a short time."
"You're right," Ginny nodded, "I'm always like this... panicking when I don't really need to. I do just need to calm down."
"We'll hear something soon," Ron said quickly, "If any of these people would act like we existed or something."
"I know," Hermione said softly, "I hate having Harry's fate in their hands. They are very irresponsible for grown wizards don't you think?"
"What can we do?" Ginny said softly, "Remember, just leave it in their hands?"
"Sorry," Hermione laughed, "I guess I just feel the same way you do."
Then a young wizard walked up toward them. He smiled and said, "Kids, I've just got word. You're friend is pretty much in safe hands now okay? The ministry is taking care of the situation down there right now."
"Really?" Ginny said happily, "Is Harry all right? Is he hurt?"
"Sort of," the man looked uneasy, "It wasn't an easy case. They were ambushed by Death Eaters when they got in there... but he'll be okay kids. No problem."
"What happened to him?" Ron demanded, "I'd like to know exactly what happened to my best friend!"
"Come on kid," the man sighed, "I think you know what they can do. Something's up, they're powerful, more so now than ever since You-Know-Who returned. You know your friend is lucky to still be alive and in one piece."
Ron nearly jumped on top of him in a panic, "Can I get to him? Where is he?"
"The local wizarding hospital, it's only a few miles from here. Maybe I can ask my boss to get you down there to him. Come with me and we can work something out."
"Hermione," Ginny turned, "You and Ron go, see Harry and try to help him if you can. I have a strong feeling that he's not in as stable of a condition as they say. I need to stay here to find out what happened at school."
"She's right," Hermione said softly, "Okay, Ron and I will go with you." The man motioned for them to follow, so Ron and Hermione left Ginny alone.
'Pretty soon' Ginny thought pacing around some more, 'Harry will be all right, Draco will be all right. It all will get better'
Even while Ginny hoped for better, things weren't looking so good for Draco. He ran quickly through the dungeons, searching desperately for his mother. Where could she be? Could he get to her in time? He turned a corner and reached a long pipe. He jumped up into it. It was big enough for him to even walk through. It was one of his last hopes, he could hear footsteps near him. He ran quickly through it, it ended in a drop. He jumped, but landed on his back, hitting the hard stone floor.
"Ah..." he said softly, but instantly regained composure. He stood back up and ran even harder than before. Finally he reached the person he'd been working to find...his mother. She was unconscious on the floor, in the corner of the room. She looked really hurt from where he stood and in an instant her son was by her side. " Oh my god..." he said looking her over. He could no longer speak. "Please... Mom..."
Flash. In an instant her eyes were open and she was staring at him in confusion. She spoke softly, "What are- what are you doing here? Draco... it was your father! It was..."
"I know, I know..." he said in a soothing voice, "Mom, I am going to get us out of this. I don't know exactly how I am, but I will. He's going to have to pay for this."
He tried very hard to look her over, but the darkness made it near impossible. He wondered how his father had pulled off beating her like this, especially in that body... still she did not look good at all. "I'll kill him someday... for doing this to you."
He looked around desperately for an escape or a place to hide away. It was still hours before the sun was to rise. How could even he pull this one off? Where could he go without being found, when he wasn't even sure if he could get out of the dungeons without being killed?
"Ah, I didn't even expect you to get this far," came a mystical voice from afar. Draco realized that with his father approaching he didn't have much time. He helped his mother to her feet slowly. She leaned on him for support. Her weight on top of his was difficult to move. He struggled to walk. His mother then started talking quietly. Then she got louder and Draco could understand what she was saying.
"Let me go," she said sharply, "How can you get away from him with me? If you let me go, he'll never catch you."
He shook his head and said calmly, still walking, "It isn't necessary. I can still manage all right? This should be nothing to before. I've escaped him once."
"Don't be stupid," his mother warned, but she was too weak to continue. He helped her run through the numerous pipes. His father was not going to catch them.
"Isn't this pipe..." his mother said softly, lifting her head to look up.
"Yes, you're right!" Draco almost screamed, "It seems like it might lead to the Slytherin common rooms. They're low in the dungeons and about at this location...Yes!" He jumped up into the pipe, practically pulling his mother along the path. They walked up and were in the Slytherin Common Rooms. All of the Slytherins looked at him suspiciously. Everyone looked scared. "Get over it!" he snapped at them, putting his mother down on a chair, "Obviously you idiots have an idea of what's happening?" He didn't exactly trust most Slytherins to be too intelligent. Clever, but not smart they nodded. "I'm probably putting you all in more danger coming here. We're being chased by one of them, my father. Yet, sadly they're probably some of your parents too, huh? Slytherin is going to have to fight them ourselves."
"What are you saying?" a tall girl with long dark hair laughed, "Little boy, you are telling us that Slytherin House is going to fight a group of Death Eaters alone? Like you said, half of us are related to them."
"I'm going to fight them," he said softly, "I have to stand up and do something about this. You don't have to- they can kill you. The final battle's gonna be here."
"What if we know they won't kill us?" she asked calmly.
"Then please leave. Use the exit we came out of. Trust me though, my dad's down there. He's not going to think before killing you." It was true, what he said. Unfortunately for them, his father had already figured out that they were in the Common Room . He entered with an evil laugh. The Slytherins didn't know what to do. They all moved around confused, but Draco stood with his wand pointed at his father. Some younger girls were taking care of his mother in one of the dormitories. He knew that she was safe, she would not be hurt. Draco planned to make sure of it.
"You lose now," Draco said looking deep into the eyes that were still his fathers, even in this body, "You keep trying to ruin our lives. Well, now it's over."
"You think half of these brats are going to fight with you?" he laughed in the Professor's shrill voice, "Most of them are loyal supporters themselves. You're alone here."
"I don't care," Draco said, "I don't need any of them to help me now."
Both of them tried to curse the other at the same time. They were both then sent flying across the room.
~*~*~*~*~
"Nobody's here," a Ministry official said panicking, "Where is the administration?"
"I don't know," a woman said softly, "I don't know..." A loud noise sounded from behind a brass door.
"What was that?" asked the man quietly.
"It's the Slytherin Common Rooms," she recognized the familiar door toward her old Common Room.
"Let's go now." They headed toward the door. The man pulled at it. He turned and shook his head at his partner. The door was sealed shut. He tried to unlock it magically, but nothing happened. They knew now that this was where they needed to be. The man tried to push it again.
"What do we do?" he asked.
"I'm not sure," she said softly, "I just think we need to get in. Is there another way?"
"I don't know!" he yelled frustrated, "We've got to get in there. Something is wrong. Let's try to push it in together." They did. It moved slightly, but barely enough to matter. The man, who was beginning to lose patience decided to use another method of magical moving. He used a basic dueling spell on the door, as if it were an opponent, and knocked it to the floor. They ran down the many spiraling steps to face a small issue. Neither of them knew the Slytherin password.
"Please," the woman said annoyed, "Ministry of Magic, let us through." Finally she convinced the second door to open for them. They came into a terrible scene. A duel was taking place between a student and what looked like his teacher. Some other students assisted, but just barely. It seemed that the brutal fight had taken a toll on both participants.
The man and woman, still unseen decided that they needed to get the adult off of the child. "Stupefy," they both simultaneously stunned the woman. She fell to the ground. The boy turned and looked at them suspiciously.
"What is going on?" the woman asked plainly. She was very confused at what she was seeing.
"Get him..." was his only reply as he rushed to tackle the female teacher. Her partner, who'd remained silent used a bonding spell to tie the woman.
"Who is this? It's not the teacher is it..." the official asked Draco.
He shook his head, but couldn't find the words.
He breathed in deeply and finally said softly, "It's my father. A Death Eater... all the teachers are... they took over the school. Trying to get something or other. Tried to get Potter killed, I don't know what happened there..."
"Calm down son," the woman said quietly, "You act like we won't believe you. We don't have any reason not to.... do we?"
"No, not at all," Draco stammered surprised, "He said- he said by sunrise they'd have to leave."
"He did..." she replied, "What kind of plot is this? No killing at all... just entering."
"I think," Draco dared to say, "It was an attempt to scare the public. You-Know-Who's back and they had to show-"
"Their power?" she asked.
"I think so. I've lived with him long enough to figure them out."
"I see." Draco looked out the window and saw the sun rising over the hills. "It's done..." he muttered feeling the fear leave him, "Whatever they wanted from the school... they got it... but it's still done. "The professor possessed by Lucius Malfoy was beginning to wake.
"What on earth happened?" she asked tiredly.
"We'll explain later," the woman said amazed.
"Oh all right," Professor Trelawny replied, "I predicted that I would be in an odd situation today... so I don't mind. With a power like mine... nothing is surprising."
"I need help," Draco said quietly, ignoring the teacher, "My mother... she's a teacher here. He really hurt her badly, I think she needs help."
"Where is she?"
"In one of the girls dormitories," he replied, "I got her out of the way, so he wouldn't hurt her."
~*~*~*~*~
Three hours after the incident, Ginny found out all about it. Draco returned with the Ministry to their office. She nearly knocked him down when he returned, then she realized that he'd been in a fight.
"What happened to you?" she yelled surprised.
"Father was back," he laughed darkly.
"You've got to be kidding," Ginny looked at him in amazement, "Please tell me that you're kidding."
"Sorry, no... he possessed the body of that wacky Divination teacher. He was out to get my mom. Did they find out about Potter?"
"Yeah," she said looking relieved, "He's okay. They haven't got to talk to him yet, I think he's not even awake. It was bad, but they got him out just in time. Or else he would have..."
"Good," he said also sighing, "That means they only got half of what they wanted. I assume they wanted something from school and they probably got it. Still, they didn't kill Potter... and Dad didn't kill me or my mother so it turned out rather well."
"I guess," she smiled, "I'm glad you're okay."
"It's good to see you again," he laughed and played along with her, "I really didn't know if we were going to get out of that."
"Are you serious?" she asked, "It seems that you and I could get out of anything doesn't it?"
"Possibly," Draco replied, "Care to test that?"
"No," she said softly, "I'd rather go home and not worry about what happens next."
__________
Only one more chapter! And it's sort of a type of epilouge. Just to let everyone know, the sequel to Healing Spells will come around soon.