Bound
By: Angel Of Music

Disclaimer: I would like to take a moment to give credit to my dear friend James for, although he doesn't quite know he did so, helping me with my story. Thanks for giving me the best quote in this fic, and making me feel the same way as Blaise does about Draco (Hahaha, you know I love you)!! So once again I offer my thanks, and this chapter is dedicated to you, James!

Chapter Six: The Struggle Of Morality

As soon as Draco had realized that he was simply standing there, he called after her. She heard him, but did not turn around. He scoffed and stamped his foot poignantly upon the ground.

"Granger, you're going to regret this!" He called, picking up the dagger and placing it in his pocket. He marched, flustered, up the stairs back to the Slytherin common room, mumbling nasty curses and barked "Parseltongue" at the dungeon wall. It slid open slowly, and Draco climbed down the rocky stairwell, trying to ignore the sound of the portcullis sliding shut behind him. He stormed into this dormitory, flinging himself upon his bed and pulling out the dagger. "Once and for all." He whispered, drawing it up into the air. "I shall end this misery." He tried to swing it down, but could not find the courage. And again he attempted to bring it to his skin, yet something held him back. "Damn it, Granger!" He yelled, hurling the knife across the room.

Collapsing on his bed, Draco heard the dormitory door creak open. Not caring who it was, he shut his eyes and tried to block out the image of Voldemort's face as he pointed his wand against Draco's skin. He shuttered and drew his cloak tightly around him. His right forearm throbbed, as if promising him more pain in store. He squeezed his eyelids tighter closed and bit his lip.

"Draco?" Came a soft voice from above him. He lazily opened his eyes, hardly noticing how worried the expression coming from Blaise was.

"Yeah?" He whispered in return, rubbing his forehead.

"You okay?" She silently sat beside him and ran the back of her palm down his cheek. He did not respond, and lay staring at her. She stifled her breath, and put a hand on his knee. "You didn't come to breakfast."

"I wasn't hungry." He told her, cocking his head towards the window. "I was tired."

"Tired. Right." She stated, bringing her hand backwards. There was a brief moment of silence where Draco would have done anything to break but speak, then Blaise coughed, "Did...everything go alright last night?"

"Alright? I don't know if things can go alright in a meeting of death eaters." He snapped.

"Sorry." Blaise muttered, drumming her fingers on her own knee.

"You don't know what it's like there. Darkness, pain, cruelty, deception, fear, lies...it's like a nightmare. There is so much death in the air, it's palpable. Funny..." He retained, shaking his head. "Father once told me that whatever hurts me only makes me stronger, but Blaise, I'm falling apart."

"You never trusted your father on anything else before, why'd you listen to that piece of advice?"

"Because up until last night, he was right." Blaise gave him a look of concern and placed he delicate hand upon his shoulder.

"You know, it's weird, when you get to know someone, even if you dont think of them as any more than a friend in the beginning, you get to know them so well that eventually you see that one totally unique thing that makes them amazing. And it's taken me this long, Draco, to realize that you are in fact one of the most amazing people I've ever met." She took her hand again, and instead of putting it back on her lap, she placed it on his cheek. "I love you, Draco Malfoy." He opened his mouth to speak, but she placed a single finger over her lips to hush him. She closed her eyes and placed her lips over his, embracing him and kissing him. After those few moments of glorious feelings, she pulled away and stood. "Merry Christmas." She stated softly, and left the dormitory.
* * *
"There must be some way to break it, something to do!" Draco hissed, bounding down the corridors. "I must research it. There has to be some way to break this damn bond." He ripped his way through the hallways, finally finding himself in the library. He darted over to Madame Pince and slammed his hand against her desk.

"What is it, lad? Don't get so fussy."

"I was wondering if you have any books on wizard's debt."

"Oh, my dear, we're sure to have at least one...let me check the files." She stuck out her wand and pointed it at the file cabinet. "Accio wizard's debt files!" She demanded, catching several pieces of parchment that were flying her way. "Ah yes. There are three, one by the name of 'Magical Favors, by Garson Gryndilflower.' Oh but that's out. Here's another: 'The Encyclopedia of Wizardly Wonders, by Magdolin Fatstraw...' My, that one's out too. Oh! This one isn't out: 'Debt by Death, by Sadie Pernstein.' It should be in the Dark Arts Defense section. You might as well take a look. Doing a report on it?"

"Er, yes." He lied, shuffling over to a row of books. He checked these, and most of the other books in that section, before realizing that someone in the library must be reading it. He went to inspect.

At first he found nothing. But when he spotted Hermione with her nose stuck in a large book, he made his way over to her. "Granger, I believe you have my book?"

"Your book? Malfoy, this book belongs to the library, and unless you've bought it, I have every right to be reading it."

"Every right to be reading it." He mimicked, flashing a girly face at her. "You've read every book in the library at least four times by now, you always sound like you've swallowed them in class, I think you should be kind enough to give me a turn."

"Give you a turn? She laughed, closing the enormous hard cover and tucking it under her arm. "Are you mad? I need this. If you want to prance around and borrow books that you'll never read, let alone return, you should get one that isn't so useful."

"What would you need to know about a wizards de-?" He laughed, catching what he was saying on the last word. Hermione raised her eyebrows and shook her head.

"No wonder you're doing horribly in school. You're dumber than Crabbe and Goyle, and that's saying something."

"Well, just because I don't suck up to teachers doesn't mean I'm dumb, Miss Professor-McGonagall-you're-looking-nice-today. You get your grades from getting on the teacher's good side, not by talent."

"And your suggesting, Malfoy, that you have talent?" Draco smirked. "Now isn't that the biggest overstatement of the year?" She retorted with a sneer. Draco's eyes narrowed.

"Give me the book, Granger. Someone in the Gryffindor common room who you've told must know something about a wizard's debt." Hermione sighed and clicked her tongue.

"If it makes you feel any more conceded, I haven't told anyone."

"Don't lie, Granger, it's not good for you."

"You don't have to believe me, that's fine. But don't you think a lot more Gryffindor's would be pointing and laughing at you? You must know by now that they all hate you." Draco scowled. "You really want to know why I saved you, Malfoy?" She began after a pause. He stared. "Because, not only was it that I couldn't live with myself if I had just let you die, but I blindly thought that maybe you'd see that there's more to life than you realize. I thought maybe you'd stop poking fun at people because it made you feel better, and start looking at things a little differently. But I can see you'll never change. I should have known that from the start." A little off-handedly, she took the book out from beneath her arm and shoved it towards Draco. "Have a nice Christmas alone, Malfoy." She stood and pushed her chair towards the table. Without a backward glance or any sort of warmth, she gathered her things and left the library.
* * *
Draco marched back into the Slytherin common room, running through the words Hermione had said to him. "Start looking at things a little differently." She didn't have any idea what she was talking about. She was just a stupid little mudblood with an ignorant basis of morality. He exhaled angrily. As he approached the emerald armchairs to sit, he caught Blaise's eye. He made his way over to her and noticed Nagini, huge and beautiful as ever, perched lazily on her lap. She was stroking the snake softly, and it was falling asleep.

"Hello, Draco." Whispered Blaise, handing him a slip of parchment. "Another letter from our friend." Draco bent over and somewhat awkwardly kissed her, taking the slip from her hands. He sat next to her and tore it open.

Dear Draco,

It stated professionally,

Another meeting is to be held in one week's time, same place, same hour. We are to discuss something of the ut-most importance. Your presence is truly needed. We will be observing a few facts that have haunted our Lord for ages. Fifteen years ago, when the Dark Lord fell, you were but one year of age. You didn't know at the time that so much would occur in your life, but two years ago, when Voldermort rose, was the critical time in all of our lives, especially Lord Voldemort's. As it was his assistant, Wormtail, who helped him come to power, many of our kind abandoned our Lord. This meeting, Draco, is to rid the earth of those who abandoned him. I hope you can join the...festivities. Send me a letter with Nagini.

Lucius.

He folded the letter up and slowly placed it in his robes. But he could not find any movement as he tried to stand, because Blaise was one of those people he was supposed to kill.
* * *