Title: Just like that
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Chapter 16: 'The ghost house'
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Draco saw Lucius drag Harry out of the window. He wanted to scream but his lungs didn't allow him to, al he managed to bring out was a soft whimper. Tears welled up in his eyes, he had lost Harry... Harry was gone... And he was completely useless right now. He remembered everything Harry had done for him, stayed with him, cared for him, cured him, Loved him. For nothing in return.
Draco forced himself to stand up, his muscles were screaming inside his body. It felt like his head was going to explode, but he had to stand up.
Leaning against one of the posters of Harry's bed he considered his options. He could go to Dumbledore, not that he liked the man much but Harry did. He could go to Severus or he could go after Lucius himself.
His eye fell on Harry's wand, quickly he grabbed it. Thinking of the curing spells he learned to heal. He muttered the spells and was relieved when he noticed they worked a bit. He didn't have time to go to the hospital wing. He decided to go to Severus and ran as hard as his legs could carry him. He ignored the strange looks everybody gave him and stumbled into Severus' dungeon.
"Severus!" Draco exclaimed, stumbling into a full first class.
Snape looked at him strangely, but knew there had to be something serious seeing the worried look on Draco's face.
"You will study the potion I just mentioned." Snape said to the class, before running towards Draco who was clenching his stomach. "What happened?" he asked when they were out of the classroom.
"Lucius... Harry.... took him." Draco managed to say, while catching his breath.
"Wait here." Severus said, walking back into the classroom to grab some healing potions.
Draco leaned against the wall almost collapsing on the floor. It was as if the healing spells worked out. He felt a strong arm support him, holding a bottle before his eyes.
Draco grabbed the bottle with shaking hands and drunk the liquid, feeling the pain go away almost immediately.
"Lucius took Harry, he somehow found out where Harry was and that he was alone with me." Draco said, "Luckily, he gave me a potion so I could walk through the barrier Dumbledore had made. And he wanted me to drink another potion, I think it was a potion to make me completely evil. Thanks to Harry I didn't, he stopped me and cured me from whatever Lucius did to me. But Lucius got us both and cursed us, taking Harry with him."
Severus looked at Draco strangely "Why did you come to me?"
"Because I know you're a spy. You're the only one who can safe Harry from Lucius and Voldemort. He doesn't trust me anymore, I'm no longer his son." Draco explained.
"You're a smart boy." Severus smirked, "I'll see what I can do. You go to Dumbledore and explain the situation to him, I'm going to floe myself to your house."
Draco nodded "Where is Dumbledore?" He asked realizing he didn't know.
"Wait I'll just call him," Severus said, grabbing his wand. He muttered a short spell, which Draco had never heard before. Green little flies flew from the wand. Severus grabbed a few in his hand and whispered to them in some kind of strange language before they flew away. "Just stay here. He'll be here in about one minute. I have to go, take care."
"Thanks!" Draco said, pulling Severus into a brief hug. "You take care too." He couldn't help to snicker when he saw a slight blush on his professor's cheeks.
He watched Severus walk away, speeding up his pace with every step he took. When he looked the other way he saw professor Dumbledore run towards him.
"Professor, I.." Draco started, wanting to explain the whole story.
"I know, Mr. Malfoy. I know the whole story, the Lapis Flies told me." Dumbledore said, putting his hand upon Draco's shoulder to comfort him somehow. "Come with me. We have to work out a plan."
Draco walked behind Dumbledore, feeling as if he wanted to cry. He had just lost the only thing he cared for and the only one who cared, truly cared for him. Meanwhile Dumbledore was asking him questions.
"Where do you think your father brought him?"
"Voldemort." Draco answered, that was one thing he knew for sure.
"And as far as you know, Voldemort isn't in your house?"
Draco frowned, "No, It would be to dangerous. The ministry of magic checks our house too often."
"Do you think your mother knows about your father's actions?"
"Well, I'm not sure." Draco admitted. "It depends on what she thinks of me, I think."
"And what do you think she thinks of you?"
"I think she'll be okay with it." Draco answered, suddenly he knew what to do. He had to go to the Malfoy manor and find out as much as possible. "Professor, I could go to my house and check out."
"I was thinking the same, actually. The house elves won't suspect you and if I'm right about your mother... she might help you. But if she doesn't you could be in danger. If she doesn't you have to get out of there as soon as possible." Dumbledore said firmly, walking into his office.
"Yes professor," Draco said.
"You may use this fireplace." Dumbledore smiled, pointing to a big fireplace on his right. "Make sure you have floo powder with you, so you will be able to come back if necessary"
"You professor, thank you professor." Draco forced a smile on his lips, but it became a half-smile. He was too worried about Harry to really smile, not to mention that Malfoy's don't smile, they smirk. But well, he wasn't a Malfoy anymore, and now that he was thinking about it he never was a Malfoy. He grabbed a bit of floo powder and putted it into his pocket, after that he grabbed another bit and threw it into the flames.
"Oh, Mr. Malfoy?" Dumbledore smiled, before he disappeared. "I'm glad the real you is back."
Draco forced another half-smile on his face, but he couldn't reply, that would bring him to the wrong place, if 'Me too' even existed. "Malfoy Manor!"
*
Draco stepped out of the fireplace in his room, on times like these he was lucky to have a fireplace for himself. But usually he hated it, especially when Pansy decided to come and try to seduce him into his bed... Really annoying, that woman just couldn't get a hint.
He swept the dust from his cloak. He always hated to travel like that. It made you so dirty and your hair would be completely messed up by the time you finally got there. But it didn't really matter right now, all that mattered was Harry.
He smelled the scent of his own familiar room and enjoyed it for a second, realizing he wouldn't be coming here anymore. All those days he spent in his room, doing whatever he wanted, mostly alone... He would never be able to do that here...
He shook his head, trying to get rid of those thoughts and walked to the door. Opening it a little bit to check if there was anyone on the large hallway... No one, so it would be safe to walk through.
His mother usually spent her days in her own wing. Painting, reading, having tea parties, gossiping. And whenever he was home, brag about him. She would probably be there now.
His father's office was near her rooms, so he would have to be really careful not to make much noise. With his heart beating wildly in his chest, Draco closed the door behind him and took off his shoes, to diminish the noise he would be making. On the top of his toes he began his trip towards his father's office.
The house elves had they're own ways to get from room to room, so with a bit of luck he wouldn't bump into one on his way.
He walked towards his father's office on the same hallway as his mother's room, he heard voices come from his mother's room. Meaning she had guests, probably one of her tea parties, which Draco hated. But this time he was glad she had one, that meant she was oblivious about everything. He closed his eyes and pressed his ear against the door. To his relief he heard nothing and slowly pushed down the door handle. It made some noise, but the women in his mother's room were making far too much noise to hear it.
He opened the door and stepped in the dark office, closing the door behind him. "Lumos" He whispered, still having Harry's wand with him.
He looked around quickly scanning the room for something he might be able to use or some information. The room was very neat, as was his father's ... correction: Lucius' desk. He had to remember himself that Lucius was no longer his father.
The drawers in his father's desk were locked. "Alohamora" Draco whispered, but there came no response. He should have known his father was smart enough to put a block spell for that curse on his drawers. He had no time at all to find out with spell did work, so he gave up.
His eye fell on a ripped apart note on the wood logs. He grabbed the pieces and whispered "Reparo".
The note repaired himself.
/'Dearest Narcissa,
As I told you, our son is not what I want him to be. He is a disgrace to this family, but we can't just get rid of him. They will suspect us, that is why I brew a darkening potion for him. So he will be an honorable heir in the eyes of outsiders. We know he is far from that, but we have to keep that a secret from everybody.
When Draco comes home, he will not be the son you had. He will be cold and vicious, the way I like him and the way you hate him. I'm sorry to inform you about this, but there is no other way. It is either this or death for the boy.'/
There were a few scrapes through the written part, meaning Lucius didn't want his wife to read this letter. But did it also meant Lucius didn't send another letter to his mother... Would he want his wife to know?
Draco pondered about this matter, if in fact his mother did know... He would have nothing to worry about according to this letter his mother didn't agree with his father. And if she did not receive a letter... He would have to explain the whole situation, but still have nothing to worry about. Which meant that he had to go and see his mother right away, to see if she had any information about this for him.
Draco hurried back to the door and walked into the hallway again, closing the door behind him. There he stood before another question, 'How was he going to get his mothers attention without being dragged into the room and forced to have tea with his mother's friends, so she could drag about him?'
He decided the best and quickest way was to pass a note. He walked back into Lucius' office and grabbed a piece of parchment and a quill. writing:
'Dear Mother,
I am standing in the hallway, waiting to talk to you about a serious matter.
Please hurry and do not inform your fiends about my presence.
Sincerely,
Draco'
Quickly he called, again with Harry's wand, for one of the many house elves. Within a few seconds one appeared before him.
"Master Draco! What are you doing home?" Draco favorite house elf exclaimed.
Draco putted his finger against his lips, signing him to be quiet and whispered "Shh... Hay there Dinky. I have no time to talk to you. Bring this to my mother, make sure no one else reads it. When did my father leave?"
"This morning, Master Draco. Dinky will make sure no one reads it, Master Draco. See you soon Master Draco." The house elf smiled, taking the letter from Draco and carrying it as if it was the most precious thing she had ever saw.
"Thank you, Dinky. Hope to see you soon too" Draco said, stepping out of the office once more. He heard a 'Plop' behind him and knew Dinky was bringing the letter to his mother right now.
He concentrated on the voices in his mother's room and waited until the door was opened.
His mother was looking distressed when she walked out of her room. Looking around to find him. When her eyes finally landed on him he saw her eyes were filled with tears as she ran up to him.
"Oh Draco!" She said, hugging him tightly. "I'm so sorry."
Draco locked his arms around her and smelled her familiar scent. At first he was quite startled by his mother's hug, normally she never did such a thing. It wasn't proper to do so.
Suddenly she pulled back from the hug and examined him. "Are you still my Draco?" She asked, eyeing him suspiciously.
"Yes mother, I am. I did not take the potion, thanks to Harry." Draco said, looking to his mother. His voice was thick with emotion, he never really knew his mother cared so much for him. 'Her Draco? I never knew she saw me that way'
"Thanks to Harry? So it is true, with that I mean that you love the boy." His mother asked, quite surprised. "I thought it was one of your father's tricks to get what he want. I always knew you weren't what he wanted him to be, but I never thought you would end up with Harry Potter. Quite funny if you think of it. Now you're exactly what your father was trying to prevent all your life."
"So you disagree with my actions?" Draco asked, his heart skipped a beat in fear.
"No, it's not that. I'm just a bit surprised that you're that clever to chose a decent and trust worthy boy. Now tell me what is this serious matter?" His mother asked, kissing his cheek.
Draco explained her everything, excluding the part that Lucius found them in a somewhat humiliating position. "What am I to do?" He ended his story.
His mother thought for a while and said. "You do know that you are asking me to betray my husband and tell your the place Voldemort is hiding, don't you?"
"You know where Voldemort is?" Draco asked, completely astonished.
"Yes, I do. I demanded Lucius that as his wife I had the right to know where he was."
"Mother, I love Harry and Harry cured me by saying he loves me. He would never say that if he didn't mean it. I lost everything, I can't bare to lose Harry as well." Draco begged his mother.
"In the name of Love I'll give you the location. I want you to have what I don't have, what died in your father among with Voldemort's rise, Love. But you must promise me that you will not, I repeat Will Not, go there all by yourself. It is far to dangerous for you alone." His mother warned him.
"But mother, If I don't go now it will be too late." Draco argued, knowing it would cost him too much time if he had to go back to Dumbledore first.
His mother stood before him, he knew there was a mental battle inside her head. Closing his eyes he hoped his mother would let him go, he had to safe Harry. Just like Harry had saved him.
"Write a note to Dumbledore, I'm coming with you." His mother decided suddenly.
"But mother, it's too dangerous for you." Draco argued again, not wanting to lose his mother too. "I don't want to lose you too."
"And I don't want to lose you too, just as I lost my husband." She said firmly. "I'm a good witch, Draco. You might not have noticed, because of 'the-perfect-wife-act' I've been playing all this time. But I do know how to handle this. Now, hurry up and write that note. Say that the place Voldemort's been hiding is in a place the muggles call 'The ghost house' near London. Dumbledore will know where it is."
Draco smiled running into his father's office for the third time to grab another piece of parchment. He wrote the note and gave it to one of the house elves, giving order to deliver it with the speed of light.
He walked out meeting his mother in the hallway again. "Hold on to my cloak, darling."
*
The next thing Draco knew was that he and his mother stood in the big hallway of a (counting the doors) big, old house. Behind them there were big stairs, in front of them three directions to go. One to the way out, the other two to somewhere Draco didn't know and of course behind them the stairs to the first floor. But the stairs looked really old, and not really safe to walk on. They were both silent, listening if they could hear any noise.
"Stay here." His mother mouthed to him, to Draco's disappointment. He wanted to do something, really do something, like kicking some Death Eaters in their crotch.
Draco watched as his mother walked away, she obviously knew the way... Should he follow her? In case she was going to betray him and this was all a setup, a trap. The thought had crossed his mind a few times, but he dismissed the thought. he didn't want to think of her like that. It just couldn't be...right?
A soft whimper from behind one of the doors broke his trail of thoughts. He listened again and after a few seconds he heard a second whimper, this time it was more like a groan. Quickly he walked past the door, listening again to find out from behind which door the noise came.
When he heard the noise for the third time he realized it came out of the cupboard underneath the stairs. He felt hope flew into his body, please let it be Harry... It would be something for Lucius and Voldemort to lock in there, one of their sick jokes. Knowing Harry had spent his whole childhood there... Please let it be him...
Draco unlocked the muggle lock and placed his hand on the door post. He was afraid to open it, afraid it wasn't Harry... Afraid it was Harry and he would be half dead... or dead by now...
Pressing his lips together, he opened the door. A body fell into his arms not facing him, clothes were soaked with blood. But it wasn't Harry, the person was too heavy. He knew it wasn't Harry, Harry was light and smaller than this person. Draco turned the body around and looked right into the face of Severus. Severus' eyes were thick and blue, blood was running over his face, but a smirk was firmly planted on his mouth. He knew Severus wouldn't let Lucius nor Voldemort see his pain.
"Severus!" Draco said hoarsely, reminding himself not to yell. "Can you hear me? Severus, you have to get out of here. Apparate!"
Severus opened his eyes slowly and humbled something that sounded like after that he couched up some blood and lost his conscious. "Too weak."
Draco didn't know what to do. He was standing in the middle of the hallway with a half dead man in his hands who wasn't Harry, but his potion professor. Which meant that they found out Severus was a spy. He had to find out what happened.
Draco grabbed Harry's wand and spoke the same spells he had cast over himself that morning, hoping they would help enough to make Severus tell him what happened.
He saw Severus slowly recover a bit. "Severus, tell me what happened. Is Harry still alive?"
"Got me trapped... Found out I'm spy... Wanted to kill me, but waited ... tonight ... I could burn next to Harry." Severus managed to say, wincing every now and then from pain.
"So Harry's still alive?" Draco asked, he wanted to cry. They were going to burn his Harry, burn like muggles did in the past. Burning someone was the most cruel thing to do. It took a long time until the person was dead, meaning they would enjoy it as if they were watching a good movie. Burning someone meant, hearing them cry and scream.
"Barely." Severus said, grabbing a few bottles out of his pocket. "Take this, when you find Harry give it to him."
"What do you mean barely?" Draco asked, taking the bottles and putting them in his pocket. But he insisted Severus would take one.
Severus drank the liquid in the bottle, now able to stand on his own. "Lucius and Voldemort tortured him, He's in a worse state than I was."
Draco had to bite his lip so hard it started to bleed to prevent him from crying. "So what do we do? We have to get out of here, it's too dangerous to stay here."
"On second thought... I'm taking you back to Hogwarts!" Severus said, firmly trying to grab Draco's wrist.
"No. I'm here with my mother, she's going to help me, us." Draco said, avoiding Severus hand by running away from him.
Severus stopped chasing him. "Your mother?" he asked, obviously very surprised. "So she finally realized Lucius isn't the man he was."
Draco frowned, wondering how Severus knew that. "Anyway, she went that way just before I found you. She'll be back soon." He pointed into the direction his mother disappeared. "Speaking of the devil, there she is." He said relieved when he saw his mother's figure walk towards him.
His mother walked up to them, and had to hold Draco not to faint when she saw the covered in blood Severus. She put her hand over her mouth, to prevent herself from screaming.
"I'm fine Narcissa." Severus reassured her, pulling her into a hug.
Draco stood there totally stunned.... A hug? They were hugging each other? He never knew they were friends... And he didn't have time for this! He had to safe Harry!
"Hello?!" Draco said impatiently, ticking his mother on her shoulder. "Does the name Harry Potter and the word Captured ring a bell?"
"Sorry darling." His mother blushed,. 'His mother Blushing?... Weird...' His mother grabbed his wrist together with Severus' one and apparated them back to the Malfoy Manor. Draco looked at her very indignant and opened his mouth to say something but she covered it with her hand and said. "Harry's still alive, but barely. They're going to burn him tonight, because that would be the most painful and they want to hear him scream and cry."
"I know, Severus told me." Draco said, looking down.
"Oh, well, we have to work out a plan. Harry lies at the feet of Voldemort, so if we want to rescue him... We'll have to get passed Voldemort And Lucius first." His mother sighed. "This is going to be difficult, Draco"
***
Hey! Hope you liked my new chapter! Don't forget to review!! Hugs, Cherish
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Chapter 16: 'The ghost house'
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Draco saw Lucius drag Harry out of the window. He wanted to scream but his lungs didn't allow him to, al he managed to bring out was a soft whimper. Tears welled up in his eyes, he had lost Harry... Harry was gone... And he was completely useless right now. He remembered everything Harry had done for him, stayed with him, cared for him, cured him, Loved him. For nothing in return.
Draco forced himself to stand up, his muscles were screaming inside his body. It felt like his head was going to explode, but he had to stand up.
Leaning against one of the posters of Harry's bed he considered his options. He could go to Dumbledore, not that he liked the man much but Harry did. He could go to Severus or he could go after Lucius himself.
His eye fell on Harry's wand, quickly he grabbed it. Thinking of the curing spells he learned to heal. He muttered the spells and was relieved when he noticed they worked a bit. He didn't have time to go to the hospital wing. He decided to go to Severus and ran as hard as his legs could carry him. He ignored the strange looks everybody gave him and stumbled into Severus' dungeon.
"Severus!" Draco exclaimed, stumbling into a full first class.
Snape looked at him strangely, but knew there had to be something serious seeing the worried look on Draco's face.
"You will study the potion I just mentioned." Snape said to the class, before running towards Draco who was clenching his stomach. "What happened?" he asked when they were out of the classroom.
"Lucius... Harry.... took him." Draco managed to say, while catching his breath.
"Wait here." Severus said, walking back into the classroom to grab some healing potions.
Draco leaned against the wall almost collapsing on the floor. It was as if the healing spells worked out. He felt a strong arm support him, holding a bottle before his eyes.
Draco grabbed the bottle with shaking hands and drunk the liquid, feeling the pain go away almost immediately.
"Lucius took Harry, he somehow found out where Harry was and that he was alone with me." Draco said, "Luckily, he gave me a potion so I could walk through the barrier Dumbledore had made. And he wanted me to drink another potion, I think it was a potion to make me completely evil. Thanks to Harry I didn't, he stopped me and cured me from whatever Lucius did to me. But Lucius got us both and cursed us, taking Harry with him."
Severus looked at Draco strangely "Why did you come to me?"
"Because I know you're a spy. You're the only one who can safe Harry from Lucius and Voldemort. He doesn't trust me anymore, I'm no longer his son." Draco explained.
"You're a smart boy." Severus smirked, "I'll see what I can do. You go to Dumbledore and explain the situation to him, I'm going to floe myself to your house."
Draco nodded "Where is Dumbledore?" He asked realizing he didn't know.
"Wait I'll just call him," Severus said, grabbing his wand. He muttered a short spell, which Draco had never heard before. Green little flies flew from the wand. Severus grabbed a few in his hand and whispered to them in some kind of strange language before they flew away. "Just stay here. He'll be here in about one minute. I have to go, take care."
"Thanks!" Draco said, pulling Severus into a brief hug. "You take care too." He couldn't help to snicker when he saw a slight blush on his professor's cheeks.
He watched Severus walk away, speeding up his pace with every step he took. When he looked the other way he saw professor Dumbledore run towards him.
"Professor, I.." Draco started, wanting to explain the whole story.
"I know, Mr. Malfoy. I know the whole story, the Lapis Flies told me." Dumbledore said, putting his hand upon Draco's shoulder to comfort him somehow. "Come with me. We have to work out a plan."
Draco walked behind Dumbledore, feeling as if he wanted to cry. He had just lost the only thing he cared for and the only one who cared, truly cared for him. Meanwhile Dumbledore was asking him questions.
"Where do you think your father brought him?"
"Voldemort." Draco answered, that was one thing he knew for sure.
"And as far as you know, Voldemort isn't in your house?"
Draco frowned, "No, It would be to dangerous. The ministry of magic checks our house too often."
"Do you think your mother knows about your father's actions?"
"Well, I'm not sure." Draco admitted. "It depends on what she thinks of me, I think."
"And what do you think she thinks of you?"
"I think she'll be okay with it." Draco answered, suddenly he knew what to do. He had to go to the Malfoy manor and find out as much as possible. "Professor, I could go to my house and check out."
"I was thinking the same, actually. The house elves won't suspect you and if I'm right about your mother... she might help you. But if she doesn't you could be in danger. If she doesn't you have to get out of there as soon as possible." Dumbledore said firmly, walking into his office.
"Yes professor," Draco said.
"You may use this fireplace." Dumbledore smiled, pointing to a big fireplace on his right. "Make sure you have floo powder with you, so you will be able to come back if necessary"
"You professor, thank you professor." Draco forced a smile on his lips, but it became a half-smile. He was too worried about Harry to really smile, not to mention that Malfoy's don't smile, they smirk. But well, he wasn't a Malfoy anymore, and now that he was thinking about it he never was a Malfoy. He grabbed a bit of floo powder and putted it into his pocket, after that he grabbed another bit and threw it into the flames.
"Oh, Mr. Malfoy?" Dumbledore smiled, before he disappeared. "I'm glad the real you is back."
Draco forced another half-smile on his face, but he couldn't reply, that would bring him to the wrong place, if 'Me too' even existed. "Malfoy Manor!"
*
Draco stepped out of the fireplace in his room, on times like these he was lucky to have a fireplace for himself. But usually he hated it, especially when Pansy decided to come and try to seduce him into his bed... Really annoying, that woman just couldn't get a hint.
He swept the dust from his cloak. He always hated to travel like that. It made you so dirty and your hair would be completely messed up by the time you finally got there. But it didn't really matter right now, all that mattered was Harry.
He smelled the scent of his own familiar room and enjoyed it for a second, realizing he wouldn't be coming here anymore. All those days he spent in his room, doing whatever he wanted, mostly alone... He would never be able to do that here...
He shook his head, trying to get rid of those thoughts and walked to the door. Opening it a little bit to check if there was anyone on the large hallway... No one, so it would be safe to walk through.
His mother usually spent her days in her own wing. Painting, reading, having tea parties, gossiping. And whenever he was home, brag about him. She would probably be there now.
His father's office was near her rooms, so he would have to be really careful not to make much noise. With his heart beating wildly in his chest, Draco closed the door behind him and took off his shoes, to diminish the noise he would be making. On the top of his toes he began his trip towards his father's office.
The house elves had they're own ways to get from room to room, so with a bit of luck he wouldn't bump into one on his way.
He walked towards his father's office on the same hallway as his mother's room, he heard voices come from his mother's room. Meaning she had guests, probably one of her tea parties, which Draco hated. But this time he was glad she had one, that meant she was oblivious about everything. He closed his eyes and pressed his ear against the door. To his relief he heard nothing and slowly pushed down the door handle. It made some noise, but the women in his mother's room were making far too much noise to hear it.
He opened the door and stepped in the dark office, closing the door behind him. "Lumos" He whispered, still having Harry's wand with him.
He looked around quickly scanning the room for something he might be able to use or some information. The room was very neat, as was his father's ... correction: Lucius' desk. He had to remember himself that Lucius was no longer his father.
The drawers in his father's desk were locked. "Alohamora" Draco whispered, but there came no response. He should have known his father was smart enough to put a block spell for that curse on his drawers. He had no time at all to find out with spell did work, so he gave up.
His eye fell on a ripped apart note on the wood logs. He grabbed the pieces and whispered "Reparo".
The note repaired himself.
/'Dearest Narcissa,
As I told you, our son is not what I want him to be. He is a disgrace to this family, but we can't just get rid of him. They will suspect us, that is why I brew a darkening potion for him. So he will be an honorable heir in the eyes of outsiders. We know he is far from that, but we have to keep that a secret from everybody.
When Draco comes home, he will not be the son you had. He will be cold and vicious, the way I like him and the way you hate him. I'm sorry to inform you about this, but there is no other way. It is either this or death for the boy.'/
There were a few scrapes through the written part, meaning Lucius didn't want his wife to read this letter. But did it also meant Lucius didn't send another letter to his mother... Would he want his wife to know?
Draco pondered about this matter, if in fact his mother did know... He would have nothing to worry about according to this letter his mother didn't agree with his father. And if she did not receive a letter... He would have to explain the whole situation, but still have nothing to worry about. Which meant that he had to go and see his mother right away, to see if she had any information about this for him.
Draco hurried back to the door and walked into the hallway again, closing the door behind him. There he stood before another question, 'How was he going to get his mothers attention without being dragged into the room and forced to have tea with his mother's friends, so she could drag about him?'
He decided the best and quickest way was to pass a note. He walked back into Lucius' office and grabbed a piece of parchment and a quill. writing:
'Dear Mother,
I am standing in the hallway, waiting to talk to you about a serious matter.
Please hurry and do not inform your fiends about my presence.
Sincerely,
Draco'
Quickly he called, again with Harry's wand, for one of the many house elves. Within a few seconds one appeared before him.
"Master Draco! What are you doing home?" Draco favorite house elf exclaimed.
Draco putted his finger against his lips, signing him to be quiet and whispered "Shh... Hay there Dinky. I have no time to talk to you. Bring this to my mother, make sure no one else reads it. When did my father leave?"
"This morning, Master Draco. Dinky will make sure no one reads it, Master Draco. See you soon Master Draco." The house elf smiled, taking the letter from Draco and carrying it as if it was the most precious thing she had ever saw.
"Thank you, Dinky. Hope to see you soon too" Draco said, stepping out of the office once more. He heard a 'Plop' behind him and knew Dinky was bringing the letter to his mother right now.
He concentrated on the voices in his mother's room and waited until the door was opened.
His mother was looking distressed when she walked out of her room. Looking around to find him. When her eyes finally landed on him he saw her eyes were filled with tears as she ran up to him.
"Oh Draco!" She said, hugging him tightly. "I'm so sorry."
Draco locked his arms around her and smelled her familiar scent. At first he was quite startled by his mother's hug, normally she never did such a thing. It wasn't proper to do so.
Suddenly she pulled back from the hug and examined him. "Are you still my Draco?" She asked, eyeing him suspiciously.
"Yes mother, I am. I did not take the potion, thanks to Harry." Draco said, looking to his mother. His voice was thick with emotion, he never really knew his mother cared so much for him. 'Her Draco? I never knew she saw me that way'
"Thanks to Harry? So it is true, with that I mean that you love the boy." His mother asked, quite surprised. "I thought it was one of your father's tricks to get what he want. I always knew you weren't what he wanted him to be, but I never thought you would end up with Harry Potter. Quite funny if you think of it. Now you're exactly what your father was trying to prevent all your life."
"So you disagree with my actions?" Draco asked, his heart skipped a beat in fear.
"No, it's not that. I'm just a bit surprised that you're that clever to chose a decent and trust worthy boy. Now tell me what is this serious matter?" His mother asked, kissing his cheek.
Draco explained her everything, excluding the part that Lucius found them in a somewhat humiliating position. "What am I to do?" He ended his story.
His mother thought for a while and said. "You do know that you are asking me to betray my husband and tell your the place Voldemort is hiding, don't you?"
"You know where Voldemort is?" Draco asked, completely astonished.
"Yes, I do. I demanded Lucius that as his wife I had the right to know where he was."
"Mother, I love Harry and Harry cured me by saying he loves me. He would never say that if he didn't mean it. I lost everything, I can't bare to lose Harry as well." Draco begged his mother.
"In the name of Love I'll give you the location. I want you to have what I don't have, what died in your father among with Voldemort's rise, Love. But you must promise me that you will not, I repeat Will Not, go there all by yourself. It is far to dangerous for you alone." His mother warned him.
"But mother, If I don't go now it will be too late." Draco argued, knowing it would cost him too much time if he had to go back to Dumbledore first.
His mother stood before him, he knew there was a mental battle inside her head. Closing his eyes he hoped his mother would let him go, he had to safe Harry. Just like Harry had saved him.
"Write a note to Dumbledore, I'm coming with you." His mother decided suddenly.
"But mother, it's too dangerous for you." Draco argued again, not wanting to lose his mother too. "I don't want to lose you too."
"And I don't want to lose you too, just as I lost my husband." She said firmly. "I'm a good witch, Draco. You might not have noticed, because of 'the-perfect-wife-act' I've been playing all this time. But I do know how to handle this. Now, hurry up and write that note. Say that the place Voldemort's been hiding is in a place the muggles call 'The ghost house' near London. Dumbledore will know where it is."
Draco smiled running into his father's office for the third time to grab another piece of parchment. He wrote the note and gave it to one of the house elves, giving order to deliver it with the speed of light.
He walked out meeting his mother in the hallway again. "Hold on to my cloak, darling."
*
The next thing Draco knew was that he and his mother stood in the big hallway of a (counting the doors) big, old house. Behind them there were big stairs, in front of them three directions to go. One to the way out, the other two to somewhere Draco didn't know and of course behind them the stairs to the first floor. But the stairs looked really old, and not really safe to walk on. They were both silent, listening if they could hear any noise.
"Stay here." His mother mouthed to him, to Draco's disappointment. He wanted to do something, really do something, like kicking some Death Eaters in their crotch.
Draco watched as his mother walked away, she obviously knew the way... Should he follow her? In case she was going to betray him and this was all a setup, a trap. The thought had crossed his mind a few times, but he dismissed the thought. he didn't want to think of her like that. It just couldn't be...right?
A soft whimper from behind one of the doors broke his trail of thoughts. He listened again and after a few seconds he heard a second whimper, this time it was more like a groan. Quickly he walked past the door, listening again to find out from behind which door the noise came.
When he heard the noise for the third time he realized it came out of the cupboard underneath the stairs. He felt hope flew into his body, please let it be Harry... It would be something for Lucius and Voldemort to lock in there, one of their sick jokes. Knowing Harry had spent his whole childhood there... Please let it be him...
Draco unlocked the muggle lock and placed his hand on the door post. He was afraid to open it, afraid it wasn't Harry... Afraid it was Harry and he would be half dead... or dead by now...
Pressing his lips together, he opened the door. A body fell into his arms not facing him, clothes were soaked with blood. But it wasn't Harry, the person was too heavy. He knew it wasn't Harry, Harry was light and smaller than this person. Draco turned the body around and looked right into the face of Severus. Severus' eyes were thick and blue, blood was running over his face, but a smirk was firmly planted on his mouth. He knew Severus wouldn't let Lucius nor Voldemort see his pain.
"Severus!" Draco said hoarsely, reminding himself not to yell. "Can you hear me? Severus, you have to get out of here. Apparate!"
Severus opened his eyes slowly and humbled something that sounded like after that he couched up some blood and lost his conscious. "Too weak."
Draco didn't know what to do. He was standing in the middle of the hallway with a half dead man in his hands who wasn't Harry, but his potion professor. Which meant that they found out Severus was a spy. He had to find out what happened.
Draco grabbed Harry's wand and spoke the same spells he had cast over himself that morning, hoping they would help enough to make Severus tell him what happened.
He saw Severus slowly recover a bit. "Severus, tell me what happened. Is Harry still alive?"
"Got me trapped... Found out I'm spy... Wanted to kill me, but waited ... tonight ... I could burn next to Harry." Severus managed to say, wincing every now and then from pain.
"So Harry's still alive?" Draco asked, he wanted to cry. They were going to burn his Harry, burn like muggles did in the past. Burning someone was the most cruel thing to do. It took a long time until the person was dead, meaning they would enjoy it as if they were watching a good movie. Burning someone meant, hearing them cry and scream.
"Barely." Severus said, grabbing a few bottles out of his pocket. "Take this, when you find Harry give it to him."
"What do you mean barely?" Draco asked, taking the bottles and putting them in his pocket. But he insisted Severus would take one.
Severus drank the liquid in the bottle, now able to stand on his own. "Lucius and Voldemort tortured him, He's in a worse state than I was."
Draco had to bite his lip so hard it started to bleed to prevent him from crying. "So what do we do? We have to get out of here, it's too dangerous to stay here."
"On second thought... I'm taking you back to Hogwarts!" Severus said, firmly trying to grab Draco's wrist.
"No. I'm here with my mother, she's going to help me, us." Draco said, avoiding Severus hand by running away from him.
Severus stopped chasing him. "Your mother?" he asked, obviously very surprised. "So she finally realized Lucius isn't the man he was."
Draco frowned, wondering how Severus knew that. "Anyway, she went that way just before I found you. She'll be back soon." He pointed into the direction his mother disappeared. "Speaking of the devil, there she is." He said relieved when he saw his mother's figure walk towards him.
His mother walked up to them, and had to hold Draco not to faint when she saw the covered in blood Severus. She put her hand over her mouth, to prevent herself from screaming.
"I'm fine Narcissa." Severus reassured her, pulling her into a hug.
Draco stood there totally stunned.... A hug? They were hugging each other? He never knew they were friends... And he didn't have time for this! He had to safe Harry!
"Hello?!" Draco said impatiently, ticking his mother on her shoulder. "Does the name Harry Potter and the word Captured ring a bell?"
"Sorry darling." His mother blushed,. 'His mother Blushing?... Weird...' His mother grabbed his wrist together with Severus' one and apparated them back to the Malfoy Manor. Draco looked at her very indignant and opened his mouth to say something but she covered it with her hand and said. "Harry's still alive, but barely. They're going to burn him tonight, because that would be the most painful and they want to hear him scream and cry."
"I know, Severus told me." Draco said, looking down.
"Oh, well, we have to work out a plan. Harry lies at the feet of Voldemort, so if we want to rescue him... We'll have to get passed Voldemort And Lucius first." His mother sighed. "This is going to be difficult, Draco"
***
Hey! Hope you liked my new chapter! Don't forget to review!! Hugs, Cherish