Chapter 29- Support Me
Their first match being against Hufflepuff, Draco was not in the least bit worried. He had chosen his team well. They would fairly slaughter Hufflepuff.
He was a bit depressed, however, that Hermione would not be there to watch him and cheer him on. He realized as he pulled on his uniform that he had come to rely on her support. He always did better when she was around. *It's your own damn fault. You've been cold to her since beginning of term. She wanted to talk to you, remember?*
He was quite surprised by what he saw halfway through the match. In one secluded part of the Gryffindor section sat a lone female figure. He knew her immediately. It was Hermione. She had brought books with her, and parchment and a quill, but he saw her constant glances in his direction as he watched her.
"Better watch it," Sagittus muttered as he passed. "Or someone else will get the Snitch out from under your nose."
Draco looked down. The golden winged ball flittered a few feet below him. Smiling subtlety at Hermione, he spun downward, grabbing the Snitch in his hand. They had won, not surprisingly. Draco flew by the Gryffindor stands before alighting on the ground. He exchanged a meaningful look with Hermione. She looked about to cry, but she smiled before burying her nose into her book.
He spent the next few minutes predicting their Quidditch season. They would win against Ravenclaw, no question. They were not about to start losing *more*. Gryffindor was another matter. They had not beaten them since he had been at Hogwarts. He wanted to, to show people that Potter was human, to show them that someone could be better at something than the famous Harry Potter. They would have to work to beat Gryffindor.
After this, he flew slowly around the Quidditch pitch alone, trying to distract himself from…other things. Damn it. She was the one thing he wished he could stop thinking about, and the one thing he just could not get out of his head. He wondered if she thought about him, aside from working together as Head Boy and Girl.
*Forget it. You ruined your chances to be happy with her. She was going to be with you, you know it, but you just will not let her close. I don't care. As long as she's safe, it doesn't matter. Her life matters much more than your happiness, you selfish prick.*
He became aware of the approaching figures slowly. They were dark-robed and hooded, and wore masks. All had wands out. He had only a second to react. He muttered a spell, pointing his wand at his broom, and he sent it off on its own.
He barely had time to turn before several voices yelled "STUPEFY!" and blackness enveloped him.
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Draco awoke with a start and knew one thing immediately. He had been kidnapped. He was bound to some kind of chair, but it was not in any place that it should have been. It was, instead, in a clearing in the middle of a forest.
A forest.
He struggled against his bonds, holding his arms and legs in place, but it was futile. The effort of trying to rip his ties apart with sheer force was cutting off his circulation. He froze at the sound of his father's voice.
"There was a question," he said, "that we wanted the answer to. If a dragon falls in the forest, and nobody is there to see it, will they ever find the body? We decided to do an experiment. You were our first choice. Don't you feel honored?"
*Oh, no. No. Please, no, do not let this happen. It worked, it worked, I know it did, she'll be here, she'll bring help. She wouldn't let me die. Would she? It worked, she'll come. No, please, no.*
"Crucio!" his father cried. He strained against the ropes preventing him from curling into a tight ball. He felt his muscles hardening, an intense pain directed at his stomach. Oh, yes, it was definitely his father. He knew his worst spot. He had not yet cried out, and he would not. He would not, WOULD NOT, ^would not^…
It stopped suddenly. He breathed heavily, his arms sagging in whatever was holding him. No matter how often his father had used the curse on him, he could not build up any resistance. That was one reason why Lucius *had* done it so often.
"I'll bet that did not feel too good. We could stop this right now." Draco did not respond. He knew what was coming. "If you joined the Dark Lord, this would no longer be necessary. All you have to do is say the word."
Draco was silent as he continued to stare at the ground. If he had his wand, then perhaps… his wand. Where was it? Ah, there-
His father held his wand close to his face. He had just used it on him. His own father. Had just used his own wand. To perform an Unforgivable on him. His own bloody fucking wand. His own damned father, his own fucking wand.
"No? Well, perhaps you just need more convincing. Crucio!" The pain spread through his body again, causing him to scrunch up his face. But he did not cry out. He would not. Even though it felt like he was being slowly ripped into a thousand pieces after having his skin peeled off with a red hot dull iron.
Once again the pain receded, but he did not hope for a true respite before Lucius asked him to join Voldemort for the second time. Draco still said nothing. Lucius sighed, as though in regret, though he obviously enjoyed this job immensely.
"CRUCIO!!"
The pain was so many times multiplied that Draco could not even think. He lost control of his muscles, and jerked in restrained spasms. He heard a terrifying scream rent the air, only vaguely knowing that it was his own.
The curse was cut off abruptly. He went limp, not daring to move lest his aching muscles give out completely. His eyes were closed because when he opened them he only saw spots. Just one more to add to the list of times his own fucking father had used Cruciatus on him.
Someone untied him, gently rubbing his arms and ankles to restore circulation. He concentrated on his breathing, just to be sure that he still was. Someone called to him, but he was unable to respond.
When he finally opened his eyes, he saw Hermione's face.
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Hermione sat in the Head common room, doing research for her Transfiguration essay. She was hard pressed to concentrate, too distracted by the look she had shared with Draco earlier that day. It had been a look of love, she knew it. So why was he ignoring her, acting as though they had never been more than acquaintances?
At first she thought the tapping at her window was that of an owl. That was, after all, the only thing she knew of that made that sound. She opened the window, which was larger by far than was necessary, and a broom flew in, hovering above the floor. She was not familiar with brooms, but somehow she knew that this was Draco's.
"Why would he send me his broom?" she wondered aloud. He knew she was terrible at flying, so unless he had no other choice, he would not ask her to-
He had no other choice. She left the broom for a minute, and ran to Dumbledore's office. Professor McGonagall emerged just as she reached it. She was out of breath, but managed to get out, "Draco is in trouble! We have to- help- Dumbledore- help-"
Tight-lipped, the Transfiguration teacher whirled back around and into the headmaster's office. The two of them emerged a moment later, and all three of them were in Hermione's dorm in no time.
"He sent me his broom. I think he put a spell on it, for it to take me to him."
"Perhaps I should take it, Miss Granger."
"Headmaster, I know Draco. He would have spelled it so that only I could take it. Just to be safe, you know? He is a little paranoid."
Dumbledore solved the problem by sending Fawkes along with her. She stood for as long as she dared, waiting to mount the broom. She was scared out of her wits to be that high above the ground all alone.
*If you do not get on the damn broom, he may be dead by the time anyone can reach him.* With the memory of her flight with Draco supporting her from behind, she swung her leg over. The broom took off, as fast as it dared with a person aboard, and she hung on for dear life to the handle.
The broom flew her over the trees, to a clearing deep into the forest. She was getting used to flying again, but also had to imagine Draco behind her to feel safe. But he was not, she could feel it. And she did not think she alone would be enough.
The clearing contained a fair number of Death Eaters, and a figure tied to a chair in the middle. He had pale, slicked back hair, and he was writhing in pain. She almost panicked when she saw Draco under the Cruciatus Curse, and the broom had to lower itself to keep her from falling to her doom.
Dumbledore arrived close behind her, and charged forward, wand at the ready. The Death Eaters (cowards) did not even try to fight him. They scattered in all directions, knowing that he could easily out-magic them all. Hermione saw, in the hand of one Death Eater, a piece of wood she could recognize immediately. She could not let the evil bastard get away with it.
"Accio Draco's wand!"
It flew to her, straight into her hand. When she had the wand in her possession, she ran to the chair, using her own wand to quickly untie the ropes holding Draco. She rubbed at his arms when she saw the lines left by the ropes, and the limpness of his muscles. It would not restore all of the circulation, but it would help.
"Draco," she said softly, standing in front of him. She wondered where Dumbledore had gone. "Draco, come on. Please get up. Draco, please. You have to get up."
Eventually he did open his eyes, and he looked extremely relieved to see her. Dumbledore appeared at her shoulder, startling her. "He looks as well as can be expected. We have to get him back to the castle. Help him up."
"My wand," Draco said. "Where is my wand? The bastard took it, didn't he…"
"I have it, Draco," Hermione told him. "Don't worry. You need to rest now, but first you have to stand. Come on."
With the help of the headmaster, she managed to get him on his feet. He leaned heavily on her. Upset by his helplessness, she managed to find the strength to support him while Dumbledore made them a portkey. It took them directly to the hospital wing.
"What is going- oh, my word!" Madame Pomfrey exclaimed. "Get him into a bed, right away! What happened to him?"
"The Cruciatus Curse, Poppy. He was taken by Death Eaters."
"Death Eaters! Merlin, no. Now they're popping up on school grounds, picking off students left and right. This cannot be allowed, Professor Dumbledore!"
"It will not be. All we can do right now, however, is put Mister Malfoy in a bed."
Draco was put into the nearest bed. He sank down in delirium, unaware of the people surrounding him, not even knowing where he was. "Miss Granger, you can come back tomorrow to visit him. It is very late, past visiting hours, and-"
"Poppy," Dumbledore said calmly, "let her stay. She has my personal permission to stay with the Head Boy tonight."
"Yes, headmaster," Madame Pomfrey acquiesced. She bustled about, tipping a potion down Draco's throat, before disappearing again, admonishing Hermione that if she was going to stay, she must at least get some sleep. Hermione said yes, but she had no intention of sleeping.
It was late. Very late. It had to be a few hours past midnight. Hermione knew she should have been tired, but she could not bear to leave Draco's side. She was afraid something else would happen if she was not paying attention. She fell to stroking his hair, soothing him in sleep. He stirred slightly, turning toward her. His eyes flickered open. "Hermione."
She froze. "Yes, Draco?" she whispered. "I'm here."
"I love you," he said, and drifted away again.
Tears sprang to her eyes. She took his hand in hers, kissing it. She wept for a few minutes, tears of happiness, anger, horror, sadness, stress, and everything else she could think to feel. He woke fully, though still bleary-eyed, to her crying.
"What is the matter?" he asked, wiggling his fingers as though to make sure his hand was really there- or hers was.
She wiped some of the moisture from her face, sniffling. "I love you too."
He pulled her close, into the bed next to him. She felt his supporting arms around her, even though a few hours ago he had been the one needing the strength of another. Now she needed his strength, and she was receiving it. For the first time, she realized, since May, and that night under the tree. She snuggled against him, finally admitting to him and to herself her true feelings.
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"Lavender! You will never guess who I just saw when I was walking past the hospital wing!" Parvati cried out. Of course, she had no real reason to walk by the hospital wing. She and Lavender alternated going up there from time to time, to be sure they were on top of all the gossip.
"Who, Parvati?"
Harry was about to gag. They went through the same routine every day. He looked at Ron, who pretended to vomit, then rolled his eyes. Harry tried not to laugh, staring at his mashed potatoes.
"I saw Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger. And they were in the *same bed*. And they were *cuddling*! Can you believe it?"
Harry and Ron exchanged worried glances. Well, Harry would call his own glance worried, but he thought furious would describe Ron's better. "Ron, you are not going up there."
"Yes I am."
Harry stalked after him, but not fast enough. Ron reached the hospital wing before he did. Harry prepared himself to see someone being strangled or cursed when he entered, but he only saw Ron, standing in the middle of the otherwise empty hospital wing.
End Chapter 29
Your prayers have been answered! They're back together! I hope you liked this chapter, because I did. Poor Draco.
Thank you for your reviewses. CONFETTI!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Their first match being against Hufflepuff, Draco was not in the least bit worried. He had chosen his team well. They would fairly slaughter Hufflepuff.
He was a bit depressed, however, that Hermione would not be there to watch him and cheer him on. He realized as he pulled on his uniform that he had come to rely on her support. He always did better when she was around. *It's your own damn fault. You've been cold to her since beginning of term. She wanted to talk to you, remember?*
He was quite surprised by what he saw halfway through the match. In one secluded part of the Gryffindor section sat a lone female figure. He knew her immediately. It was Hermione. She had brought books with her, and parchment and a quill, but he saw her constant glances in his direction as he watched her.
"Better watch it," Sagittus muttered as he passed. "Or someone else will get the Snitch out from under your nose."
Draco looked down. The golden winged ball flittered a few feet below him. Smiling subtlety at Hermione, he spun downward, grabbing the Snitch in his hand. They had won, not surprisingly. Draco flew by the Gryffindor stands before alighting on the ground. He exchanged a meaningful look with Hermione. She looked about to cry, but she smiled before burying her nose into her book.
He spent the next few minutes predicting their Quidditch season. They would win against Ravenclaw, no question. They were not about to start losing *more*. Gryffindor was another matter. They had not beaten them since he had been at Hogwarts. He wanted to, to show people that Potter was human, to show them that someone could be better at something than the famous Harry Potter. They would have to work to beat Gryffindor.
After this, he flew slowly around the Quidditch pitch alone, trying to distract himself from…other things. Damn it. She was the one thing he wished he could stop thinking about, and the one thing he just could not get out of his head. He wondered if she thought about him, aside from working together as Head Boy and Girl.
*Forget it. You ruined your chances to be happy with her. She was going to be with you, you know it, but you just will not let her close. I don't care. As long as she's safe, it doesn't matter. Her life matters much more than your happiness, you selfish prick.*
He became aware of the approaching figures slowly. They were dark-robed and hooded, and wore masks. All had wands out. He had only a second to react. He muttered a spell, pointing his wand at his broom, and he sent it off on its own.
He barely had time to turn before several voices yelled "STUPEFY!" and blackness enveloped him.
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Draco awoke with a start and knew one thing immediately. He had been kidnapped. He was bound to some kind of chair, but it was not in any place that it should have been. It was, instead, in a clearing in the middle of a forest.
A forest.
He struggled against his bonds, holding his arms and legs in place, but it was futile. The effort of trying to rip his ties apart with sheer force was cutting off his circulation. He froze at the sound of his father's voice.
"There was a question," he said, "that we wanted the answer to. If a dragon falls in the forest, and nobody is there to see it, will they ever find the body? We decided to do an experiment. You were our first choice. Don't you feel honored?"
*Oh, no. No. Please, no, do not let this happen. It worked, it worked, I know it did, she'll be here, she'll bring help. She wouldn't let me die. Would she? It worked, she'll come. No, please, no.*
"Crucio!" his father cried. He strained against the ropes preventing him from curling into a tight ball. He felt his muscles hardening, an intense pain directed at his stomach. Oh, yes, it was definitely his father. He knew his worst spot. He had not yet cried out, and he would not. He would not, WOULD NOT, ^would not^…
It stopped suddenly. He breathed heavily, his arms sagging in whatever was holding him. No matter how often his father had used the curse on him, he could not build up any resistance. That was one reason why Lucius *had* done it so often.
"I'll bet that did not feel too good. We could stop this right now." Draco did not respond. He knew what was coming. "If you joined the Dark Lord, this would no longer be necessary. All you have to do is say the word."
Draco was silent as he continued to stare at the ground. If he had his wand, then perhaps… his wand. Where was it? Ah, there-
His father held his wand close to his face. He had just used it on him. His own father. Had just used his own wand. To perform an Unforgivable on him. His own bloody fucking wand. His own damned father, his own fucking wand.
"No? Well, perhaps you just need more convincing. Crucio!" The pain spread through his body again, causing him to scrunch up his face. But he did not cry out. He would not. Even though it felt like he was being slowly ripped into a thousand pieces after having his skin peeled off with a red hot dull iron.
Once again the pain receded, but he did not hope for a true respite before Lucius asked him to join Voldemort for the second time. Draco still said nothing. Lucius sighed, as though in regret, though he obviously enjoyed this job immensely.
"CRUCIO!!"
The pain was so many times multiplied that Draco could not even think. He lost control of his muscles, and jerked in restrained spasms. He heard a terrifying scream rent the air, only vaguely knowing that it was his own.
The curse was cut off abruptly. He went limp, not daring to move lest his aching muscles give out completely. His eyes were closed because when he opened them he only saw spots. Just one more to add to the list of times his own fucking father had used Cruciatus on him.
Someone untied him, gently rubbing his arms and ankles to restore circulation. He concentrated on his breathing, just to be sure that he still was. Someone called to him, but he was unable to respond.
When he finally opened his eyes, he saw Hermione's face.
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Hermione sat in the Head common room, doing research for her Transfiguration essay. She was hard pressed to concentrate, too distracted by the look she had shared with Draco earlier that day. It had been a look of love, she knew it. So why was he ignoring her, acting as though they had never been more than acquaintances?
At first she thought the tapping at her window was that of an owl. That was, after all, the only thing she knew of that made that sound. She opened the window, which was larger by far than was necessary, and a broom flew in, hovering above the floor. She was not familiar with brooms, but somehow she knew that this was Draco's.
"Why would he send me his broom?" she wondered aloud. He knew she was terrible at flying, so unless he had no other choice, he would not ask her to-
He had no other choice. She left the broom for a minute, and ran to Dumbledore's office. Professor McGonagall emerged just as she reached it. She was out of breath, but managed to get out, "Draco is in trouble! We have to- help- Dumbledore- help-"
Tight-lipped, the Transfiguration teacher whirled back around and into the headmaster's office. The two of them emerged a moment later, and all three of them were in Hermione's dorm in no time.
"He sent me his broom. I think he put a spell on it, for it to take me to him."
"Perhaps I should take it, Miss Granger."
"Headmaster, I know Draco. He would have spelled it so that only I could take it. Just to be safe, you know? He is a little paranoid."
Dumbledore solved the problem by sending Fawkes along with her. She stood for as long as she dared, waiting to mount the broom. She was scared out of her wits to be that high above the ground all alone.
*If you do not get on the damn broom, he may be dead by the time anyone can reach him.* With the memory of her flight with Draco supporting her from behind, she swung her leg over. The broom took off, as fast as it dared with a person aboard, and she hung on for dear life to the handle.
The broom flew her over the trees, to a clearing deep into the forest. She was getting used to flying again, but also had to imagine Draco behind her to feel safe. But he was not, she could feel it. And she did not think she alone would be enough.
The clearing contained a fair number of Death Eaters, and a figure tied to a chair in the middle. He had pale, slicked back hair, and he was writhing in pain. She almost panicked when she saw Draco under the Cruciatus Curse, and the broom had to lower itself to keep her from falling to her doom.
Dumbledore arrived close behind her, and charged forward, wand at the ready. The Death Eaters (cowards) did not even try to fight him. They scattered in all directions, knowing that he could easily out-magic them all. Hermione saw, in the hand of one Death Eater, a piece of wood she could recognize immediately. She could not let the evil bastard get away with it.
"Accio Draco's wand!"
It flew to her, straight into her hand. When she had the wand in her possession, she ran to the chair, using her own wand to quickly untie the ropes holding Draco. She rubbed at his arms when she saw the lines left by the ropes, and the limpness of his muscles. It would not restore all of the circulation, but it would help.
"Draco," she said softly, standing in front of him. She wondered where Dumbledore had gone. "Draco, come on. Please get up. Draco, please. You have to get up."
Eventually he did open his eyes, and he looked extremely relieved to see her. Dumbledore appeared at her shoulder, startling her. "He looks as well as can be expected. We have to get him back to the castle. Help him up."
"My wand," Draco said. "Where is my wand? The bastard took it, didn't he…"
"I have it, Draco," Hermione told him. "Don't worry. You need to rest now, but first you have to stand. Come on."
With the help of the headmaster, she managed to get him on his feet. He leaned heavily on her. Upset by his helplessness, she managed to find the strength to support him while Dumbledore made them a portkey. It took them directly to the hospital wing.
"What is going- oh, my word!" Madame Pomfrey exclaimed. "Get him into a bed, right away! What happened to him?"
"The Cruciatus Curse, Poppy. He was taken by Death Eaters."
"Death Eaters! Merlin, no. Now they're popping up on school grounds, picking off students left and right. This cannot be allowed, Professor Dumbledore!"
"It will not be. All we can do right now, however, is put Mister Malfoy in a bed."
Draco was put into the nearest bed. He sank down in delirium, unaware of the people surrounding him, not even knowing where he was. "Miss Granger, you can come back tomorrow to visit him. It is very late, past visiting hours, and-"
"Poppy," Dumbledore said calmly, "let her stay. She has my personal permission to stay with the Head Boy tonight."
"Yes, headmaster," Madame Pomfrey acquiesced. She bustled about, tipping a potion down Draco's throat, before disappearing again, admonishing Hermione that if she was going to stay, she must at least get some sleep. Hermione said yes, but she had no intention of sleeping.
It was late. Very late. It had to be a few hours past midnight. Hermione knew she should have been tired, but she could not bear to leave Draco's side. She was afraid something else would happen if she was not paying attention. She fell to stroking his hair, soothing him in sleep. He stirred slightly, turning toward her. His eyes flickered open. "Hermione."
She froze. "Yes, Draco?" she whispered. "I'm here."
"I love you," he said, and drifted away again.
Tears sprang to her eyes. She took his hand in hers, kissing it. She wept for a few minutes, tears of happiness, anger, horror, sadness, stress, and everything else she could think to feel. He woke fully, though still bleary-eyed, to her crying.
"What is the matter?" he asked, wiggling his fingers as though to make sure his hand was really there- or hers was.
She wiped some of the moisture from her face, sniffling. "I love you too."
He pulled her close, into the bed next to him. She felt his supporting arms around her, even though a few hours ago he had been the one needing the strength of another. Now she needed his strength, and she was receiving it. For the first time, she realized, since May, and that night under the tree. She snuggled against him, finally admitting to him and to herself her true feelings.
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"Lavender! You will never guess who I just saw when I was walking past the hospital wing!" Parvati cried out. Of course, she had no real reason to walk by the hospital wing. She and Lavender alternated going up there from time to time, to be sure they were on top of all the gossip.
"Who, Parvati?"
Harry was about to gag. They went through the same routine every day. He looked at Ron, who pretended to vomit, then rolled his eyes. Harry tried not to laugh, staring at his mashed potatoes.
"I saw Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger. And they were in the *same bed*. And they were *cuddling*! Can you believe it?"
Harry and Ron exchanged worried glances. Well, Harry would call his own glance worried, but he thought furious would describe Ron's better. "Ron, you are not going up there."
"Yes I am."
Harry stalked after him, but not fast enough. Ron reached the hospital wing before he did. Harry prepared himself to see someone being strangled or cursed when he entered, but he only saw Ron, standing in the middle of the otherwise empty hospital wing.
End Chapter 29
Your prayers have been answered! They're back together! I hope you liked this chapter, because I did. Poor Draco.
Thank you for your reviewses. CONFETTI!!!!!!!!!!!!!