I Love To See You Cry
~hotsleekeyz~
Chapter 9
The Cursed
***Harry***
**************************************************************************** **********************************
"Hermione!"
Harry eyed Hermione three feet away. The snake made its way around her and seemed to have been guarding her. Harry didn't dare go near it even though Hermione was already in grave danger.
"Get away from her!", Harry pleaded as if assuming it would attack Hermione again in her unconscious state.
The snake eyed Harry with sharp yellow eyes piercing through his. The snake slyly dared him to come close.
"I said get away!"
Harry wasn't able to speak properly.
//I dealt with snakes before right? Yes! Speak Parseltongue!//
Harry muttered words undeniably in Parseltongue. He asked the snake to leave the room but the snake refused. Harry queried to whom the snake was getting orders from.
The serpent replied, "She's mine."
//Draco? No, he can't be an Animagi!//
"By what name does your master hide?", Harry asked.
The snake suddenly opened its mouth, and surprisingly, spoke in human words.
"By the name of Lord Voldemort", the Serpent replied.
Harry's eyes narrowed. "Draco Malfoy? Is that you?"
The snake lowered its head and continued to circle around Hermione's unconscious body.
"Draco, get away this instant before I call on Professor Dumbledore!", Harry yelled as he panicked at the thought that Hermione could die any time.
The snake stopped and glared at him.
"Harry Potter. . . I don't get orders from anyone. I am Lord Draco Malfoy. . .the most powerful wizard in the world. . .Heir of Salazar Slytherin. . .and you! You are nothing. . . you are the same disgrace as Dumbledore is. That old man doesn't seem to scare me a bit Potter. DELENDA EST ALBUS DUMBLEDORE!"
"You are not the powerful wizard Draco! Wake up! You are in a trance!", Harry screamed seemingly feeling stupid as he talked to the snake on the flor.
"You see this as absolute rubbish don't you? ECCE SIGNUM! The end is near and Albus will not get in the way of my plans! You shall all die in my hands!"
"I will not! And I order you to stay Hermione out of this, or I will---"
Before Harry could even think of taking his wand out of his pocket, he blasted off, rolling on the floor stopping at the edge of the fireplace. Next thing he saw was fire all around him. Draco burned him at his slightest glance.
Screaming in agony, Harry tried getting all his strength he could to walk to the portrait and open it to scream for help. Fire was still burning him, scorching his skin through his flesh. It stung but it couldn't matter. They were in serious danger, even the snake--- who was Draco Malfoy.
"Going anywhere? I guess not", the Serpent voiced in a tone of arrogance.
A thud came from the floor. Harry thought he would go through more torture and so he tried to look around to see what happened, while he gripped on to the table next to him. Harry caught sight of the snake flat on the floor, with his book 'Unfogging the Future' over it.
Hermione was able to gather strength to grab the book and hit the snake with it.
"Harry, this is only the beginning. It could get worse. . .", Hermione whispered in a very soft voice, almost not audible to Harry's ears.
"Mione, don't talk. Save your strength. We shall go to Dumbledore this instant", Harry replied with tears rushing in.
Harry was about to grab the snake when Hermione's hand stopped him.
"No need. . .That is not the real Draco Malfoy. . .", Hermine said in between long, deep breaths.
"Mione?"
"This curse. . .Harry, just go to Dumbledore, NOW!"
Hermione wasn't able to continue what she was supposed to say for she could not speak any better than she did. Her breath was deep. . . and her voice was extremely soft but agonized. She felt that she was drifting to her end. The venom of the snake went fast through her system.
Harry, still feeling the sting of his burning skin, quickly took Hermione into his arms out to Dumbledore's office.
It seemed like years as Harry ran, since Hermione's weight was boring onto him, as if a dead man's weight was on him. Add to that, Harry's scar started to burn as well. His sight was failing him as light from torches along the corridors came to only a blur in his sight.
"Hermione, hang on. . .", Harry managed to whisper into Hermione's ear while he ran as fast as he could.
Hermione haven't opened her eyes since they left the Gryffindor Common Room.
At last! They were there, at the footstep by Dumbledore's office.
"Professor. . .", Harry panted.
Harry dropped to his knees, and dropped Hermione to the floor as well. His hands cupped upon his knees with his head lowered as he tried to catch his breath.
"Fawkes, call on Mr. Draco Malfoy and the other teachers", Dumbledore exclaimed.
Fawkes instantly flew out of sight.
"Professor. . .Mione. . .Mione. . . she was bitten by Draco---no,by the snake---", Harry mouthed rather confused and outraged.
"Yes, yes, we will have to wait for Mr. Malfoy. He will know what to do"
"NO! He was the one who bit her!", Harry yelled furiously.
"Now, Harry, calm down. He could be here any minute now"
"I can't calm down! Hermione's going to die if we don't do anything right now!"
"Patience, Potter"
"NO!"
Harry clutched his forehead as it burned more every second. Any moment, he expected his own self to where Hermione was as well headed. With all pain, Harry was still able to think what best thing could save Hermione---the woman he loved.
Harry reached for Hermione's ankle and closed his eyes as he put his lips on Hermione's skin, around the snake bite. He bit the area hard to let the venom out. Very careful not to poison himself, Harry didn't let any other part of his mouth come in contact with the wound but his front teeth. As he was on it, panicking voices were heard from the entrance of the room. Professor McGonagall was first to come in followed by Professor Snape and Professor Flitwick.
"Good heavens! The Three Dark Witches had inflicted their curse completely on these students!", Professor McGonagall almost let out a shriek as she saw Hermione on the floor, almost greenish in color--- nearly lifeless.
"Don't panic Minerva. I believe Mr. Potter knows what he is doing", Dumbeledore claimed to minimize the tension.
Another person came into the office. His sleek blond hair undeniably spoke of its owner, Draco Malfoy.
"What happened? Hermione!", Draco asked upset.
Draco ran to Hermione, quite shoving Harry away to hold Hermione in his arms.
"No. You won't go near her again Draco!", Harry spat immediately.
Harry pulled the cloth of the robe by Draco's shoulder, taking him away from her.
"Potter! What are you doing?"
A punch met Draco on his left jaw, almost making him drop Hermione to the floor.
Dumbledore pulled Harry away and lifted him up to stand.
"Harry, let him. He hasn't any idea what happened tonight. He wasn't the one you were talking to a while back", Dumbledore voiced as he still had Harry in his grasp.
"I'm sure he was! He even said he is who HE is and even had the courage to say ill things about you"
Dumbledore released Harry from his hand. Harry fixed his robe as his cheeks gained color of the utmost anger and fury he had to contain.
"Now, now. You don't understand. That Draco Malfoy you saw would be the Draco Malfoy when time of war has come. He is, by that time, Lord Draco Malfoy"
Harry's mouth hung open. So it was all true. Draco will go with the Dark Side and fight against the Good wizards.
"But Professor, he uttered something in Latin. I didn't quite understand it", Harry said in a lighter volume.
"And what was it he said?", Dumbledore queried calmly.
"One was 'Delenda Est Albus Dumbledore' and the other 'Ecce Signum'. I know it didn't sound good Professor"
"It did sound as bad as you think Harry, for the words meant, 'Albus Dumbledore must be destroyed' and 'Behold the sign'. But I reckon I woldn't have to worry about that until war comes and we fight against him and the Death Eaters. Until that time comes---"
"MORSMORDRE!"
A female voice filled the room and the Dark Mark appeared by the ceiling, high up in Dumbledore's office.
"NO!"
It was the first word that came out of Draco as he figured Hermione had pulled his wand out from the pocket of his robe. Hermione's eyes were sulken and it emitted different colors and then she suddenly gone rigid on her back as if she was stupefied. The Death Mark was gone and the other teachers stood there in shock, not knowing what to do.
"This day has gone far off. I believe we shall keep Ms. Granger in the hospital wing. . . I believe she has overcome the snake's venom in her body. And you two, you stay"
Dumbledore lost the glitter in his eyes. He was for the first time seen with such concern since the Dementors were around the castle while Sirius Black was on the loose.
Hermione was floated on a stretcher towards the hospital wing accompanied by Madam Pomfrey who arrived just in time that Dumbledore said the Hermione should be taken there.
Dumbledore eyed Draco over his spectacles. "I believe you know about the prophecy of the Lioness and the Serpent"
"Yes", Draco and Harry replied together.
"And as it seems, the curse has been taking full effect on Ms. Granger. She was able to make the Death Mark appear because the evil in the Serpent somehow was 'shared' with her, as they were both in love with each other. I'm afraid she shall suffer more than she already is"
Draco fell silent. If all of that happened was of his doing, he should have blamed everything on himself---how everyone's life was at stake and how much Hermione was put up to take the punishment that should be due him.
"Professor, I don't think we could go on through the year studying as if everything's normal, especially, Mione. She's going through a lot and I reckon she wouldn't be able to maintain her grades", Harry said calmly for the first time that night.
"I don't believe this!", Draco stood from his chair and took hold of a water goblet made of glass and it shattered into pieces in his hands. Blood made its way through the cuts on his skin. But he didn't feel anything. Draco clutched the sharp pieces tighter, pressing them harder onto his flesh. . . Then Draco felt a hand on his shoulder. He looked behind him and saw it was Harry.
Draco felt vulnerable as he yelled out to Harry all that went through his mind. "It's all my fault! If I didn't pursued asking Granger out this wouldn't have happened. If I didn't like her the least, those damn witches wouldn't have to choose us to be cast over with this stupid curse!. . . I want to die!"
Harry felt sympathy for Draco, for the first time in his life. he knew well that Draco was the enemy and the man who took the woman he loved, but all that he thought of that time was how to help Draco out. "Draco, none of this is your fault. It's the prophecy. It was all planned. And now, all we got to do is work together and stop blaming ourselves of what has been happening to Hermione. For now, Draco, let's settle our differences. . . for Hermione. . ."
Draco led his eyes towards harry as he cried his heart out. "You really loved her don't you?"
"Don't you?", Harry asked back.
"I do. And I'm more than willing to settle this in love for her"
Dumbledore cut in with a grin on his face.
"Right then. We'll take about this again before Christmas vacation comes", Dumbledore said while grinning endlessly as the two exeunt out.
~Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling owns characters, setting, etc. Except: the plot is mine.~
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Alrighty! There was the edited 9th chapter. God! As I went through the whole thing over again, I saw the mistakes you guys were pointing out. And I should thank you for that! That's the reason why I ask you guys to drop reviews so that you'd be able to point out several aspects of the story plot and the format itself that needs to be changed or improved. Honestly, right from the start, I didn't want to get a beta reader since I thought that if I had one, that person might change the words I wanted to use, and slowly lose the essence of the story itself. And now, I've been able to find the time to edit my fics, and hopefully too, re-edit them for your reading. I know some parts suck, and that's why I'm putting the effort to improve it.
Thanks again to those who reviewed! I appreciate it very much and I hope you don't get tired of dropping me those notes!
Chapter 9
The Cursed
***Harry***
**************************************************************************** **********************************
"Hermione!"
Harry eyed Hermione three feet away. The snake made its way around her and seemed to have been guarding her. Harry didn't dare go near it even though Hermione was already in grave danger.
"Get away from her!", Harry pleaded as if assuming it would attack Hermione again in her unconscious state.
The snake eyed Harry with sharp yellow eyes piercing through his. The snake slyly dared him to come close.
"I said get away!"
Harry wasn't able to speak properly.
//I dealt with snakes before right? Yes! Speak Parseltongue!//
Harry muttered words undeniably in Parseltongue. He asked the snake to leave the room but the snake refused. Harry queried to whom the snake was getting orders from.
The serpent replied, "She's mine."
//Draco? No, he can't be an Animagi!//
"By what name does your master hide?", Harry asked.
The snake suddenly opened its mouth, and surprisingly, spoke in human words.
"By the name of Lord Voldemort", the Serpent replied.
Harry's eyes narrowed. "Draco Malfoy? Is that you?"
The snake lowered its head and continued to circle around Hermione's unconscious body.
"Draco, get away this instant before I call on Professor Dumbledore!", Harry yelled as he panicked at the thought that Hermione could die any time.
The snake stopped and glared at him.
"Harry Potter. . . I don't get orders from anyone. I am Lord Draco Malfoy. . .the most powerful wizard in the world. . .Heir of Salazar Slytherin. . .and you! You are nothing. . . you are the same disgrace as Dumbledore is. That old man doesn't seem to scare me a bit Potter. DELENDA EST ALBUS DUMBLEDORE!"
"You are not the powerful wizard Draco! Wake up! You are in a trance!", Harry screamed seemingly feeling stupid as he talked to the snake on the flor.
"You see this as absolute rubbish don't you? ECCE SIGNUM! The end is near and Albus will not get in the way of my plans! You shall all die in my hands!"
"I will not! And I order you to stay Hermione out of this, or I will---"
Before Harry could even think of taking his wand out of his pocket, he blasted off, rolling on the floor stopping at the edge of the fireplace. Next thing he saw was fire all around him. Draco burned him at his slightest glance.
Screaming in agony, Harry tried getting all his strength he could to walk to the portrait and open it to scream for help. Fire was still burning him, scorching his skin through his flesh. It stung but it couldn't matter. They were in serious danger, even the snake--- who was Draco Malfoy.
"Going anywhere? I guess not", the Serpent voiced in a tone of arrogance.
A thud came from the floor. Harry thought he would go through more torture and so he tried to look around to see what happened, while he gripped on to the table next to him. Harry caught sight of the snake flat on the floor, with his book 'Unfogging the Future' over it.
Hermione was able to gather strength to grab the book and hit the snake with it.
"Harry, this is only the beginning. It could get worse. . .", Hermione whispered in a very soft voice, almost not audible to Harry's ears.
"Mione, don't talk. Save your strength. We shall go to Dumbledore this instant", Harry replied with tears rushing in.
Harry was about to grab the snake when Hermione's hand stopped him.
"No need. . .That is not the real Draco Malfoy. . .", Hermine said in between long, deep breaths.
"Mione?"
"This curse. . .Harry, just go to Dumbledore, NOW!"
Hermione wasn't able to continue what she was supposed to say for she could not speak any better than she did. Her breath was deep. . . and her voice was extremely soft but agonized. She felt that she was drifting to her end. The venom of the snake went fast through her system.
Harry, still feeling the sting of his burning skin, quickly took Hermione into his arms out to Dumbledore's office.
It seemed like years as Harry ran, since Hermione's weight was boring onto him, as if a dead man's weight was on him. Add to that, Harry's scar started to burn as well. His sight was failing him as light from torches along the corridors came to only a blur in his sight.
"Hermione, hang on. . .", Harry managed to whisper into Hermione's ear while he ran as fast as he could.
Hermione haven't opened her eyes since they left the Gryffindor Common Room.
At last! They were there, at the footstep by Dumbledore's office.
"Professor. . .", Harry panted.
Harry dropped to his knees, and dropped Hermione to the floor as well. His hands cupped upon his knees with his head lowered as he tried to catch his breath.
"Fawkes, call on Mr. Draco Malfoy and the other teachers", Dumbledore exclaimed.
Fawkes instantly flew out of sight.
"Professor. . .Mione. . .Mione. . . she was bitten by Draco---no,by the snake---", Harry mouthed rather confused and outraged.
"Yes, yes, we will have to wait for Mr. Malfoy. He will know what to do"
"NO! He was the one who bit her!", Harry yelled furiously.
"Now, Harry, calm down. He could be here any minute now"
"I can't calm down! Hermione's going to die if we don't do anything right now!"
"Patience, Potter"
"NO!"
Harry clutched his forehead as it burned more every second. Any moment, he expected his own self to where Hermione was as well headed. With all pain, Harry was still able to think what best thing could save Hermione---the woman he loved.
Harry reached for Hermione's ankle and closed his eyes as he put his lips on Hermione's skin, around the snake bite. He bit the area hard to let the venom out. Very careful not to poison himself, Harry didn't let any other part of his mouth come in contact with the wound but his front teeth. As he was on it, panicking voices were heard from the entrance of the room. Professor McGonagall was first to come in followed by Professor Snape and Professor Flitwick.
"Good heavens! The Three Dark Witches had inflicted their curse completely on these students!", Professor McGonagall almost let out a shriek as she saw Hermione on the floor, almost greenish in color--- nearly lifeless.
"Don't panic Minerva. I believe Mr. Potter knows what he is doing", Dumbeledore claimed to minimize the tension.
Another person came into the office. His sleek blond hair undeniably spoke of its owner, Draco Malfoy.
"What happened? Hermione!", Draco asked upset.
Draco ran to Hermione, quite shoving Harry away to hold Hermione in his arms.
"No. You won't go near her again Draco!", Harry spat immediately.
Harry pulled the cloth of the robe by Draco's shoulder, taking him away from her.
"Potter! What are you doing?"
A punch met Draco on his left jaw, almost making him drop Hermione to the floor.
Dumbledore pulled Harry away and lifted him up to stand.
"Harry, let him. He hasn't any idea what happened tonight. He wasn't the one you were talking to a while back", Dumbledore voiced as he still had Harry in his grasp.
"I'm sure he was! He even said he is who HE is and even had the courage to say ill things about you"
Dumbledore released Harry from his hand. Harry fixed his robe as his cheeks gained color of the utmost anger and fury he had to contain.
"Now, now. You don't understand. That Draco Malfoy you saw would be the Draco Malfoy when time of war has come. He is, by that time, Lord Draco Malfoy"
Harry's mouth hung open. So it was all true. Draco will go with the Dark Side and fight against the Good wizards.
"But Professor, he uttered something in Latin. I didn't quite understand it", Harry said in a lighter volume.
"And what was it he said?", Dumbledore queried calmly.
"One was 'Delenda Est Albus Dumbledore' and the other 'Ecce Signum'. I know it didn't sound good Professor"
"It did sound as bad as you think Harry, for the words meant, 'Albus Dumbledore must be destroyed' and 'Behold the sign'. But I reckon I woldn't have to worry about that until war comes and we fight against him and the Death Eaters. Until that time comes---"
"MORSMORDRE!"
A female voice filled the room and the Dark Mark appeared by the ceiling, high up in Dumbledore's office.
"NO!"
It was the first word that came out of Draco as he figured Hermione had pulled his wand out from the pocket of his robe. Hermione's eyes were sulken and it emitted different colors and then she suddenly gone rigid on her back as if she was stupefied. The Death Mark was gone and the other teachers stood there in shock, not knowing what to do.
"This day has gone far off. I believe we shall keep Ms. Granger in the hospital wing. . . I believe she has overcome the snake's venom in her body. And you two, you stay"
Dumbledore lost the glitter in his eyes. He was for the first time seen with such concern since the Dementors were around the castle while Sirius Black was on the loose.
Hermione was floated on a stretcher towards the hospital wing accompanied by Madam Pomfrey who arrived just in time that Dumbledore said the Hermione should be taken there.
Dumbledore eyed Draco over his spectacles. "I believe you know about the prophecy of the Lioness and the Serpent"
"Yes", Draco and Harry replied together.
"And as it seems, the curse has been taking full effect on Ms. Granger. She was able to make the Death Mark appear because the evil in the Serpent somehow was 'shared' with her, as they were both in love with each other. I'm afraid she shall suffer more than she already is"
Draco fell silent. If all of that happened was of his doing, he should have blamed everything on himself---how everyone's life was at stake and how much Hermione was put up to take the punishment that should be due him.
"Professor, I don't think we could go on through the year studying as if everything's normal, especially, Mione. She's going through a lot and I reckon she wouldn't be able to maintain her grades", Harry said calmly for the first time that night.
"I don't believe this!", Draco stood from his chair and took hold of a water goblet made of glass and it shattered into pieces in his hands. Blood made its way through the cuts on his skin. But he didn't feel anything. Draco clutched the sharp pieces tighter, pressing them harder onto his flesh. . . Then Draco felt a hand on his shoulder. He looked behind him and saw it was Harry.
Draco felt vulnerable as he yelled out to Harry all that went through his mind. "It's all my fault! If I didn't pursued asking Granger out this wouldn't have happened. If I didn't like her the least, those damn witches wouldn't have to choose us to be cast over with this stupid curse!. . . I want to die!"
Harry felt sympathy for Draco, for the first time in his life. he knew well that Draco was the enemy and the man who took the woman he loved, but all that he thought of that time was how to help Draco out. "Draco, none of this is your fault. It's the prophecy. It was all planned. And now, all we got to do is work together and stop blaming ourselves of what has been happening to Hermione. For now, Draco, let's settle our differences. . . for Hermione. . ."
Draco led his eyes towards harry as he cried his heart out. "You really loved her don't you?"
"Don't you?", Harry asked back.
"I do. And I'm more than willing to settle this in love for her"
Dumbledore cut in with a grin on his face.
"Right then. We'll take about this again before Christmas vacation comes", Dumbledore said while grinning endlessly as the two exeunt out.
~Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling owns characters, setting, etc. Except: the plot is mine.~
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Alrighty! There was the edited 9th chapter. God! As I went through the whole thing over again, I saw the mistakes you guys were pointing out. And I should thank you for that! That's the reason why I ask you guys to drop reviews so that you'd be able to point out several aspects of the story plot and the format itself that needs to be changed or improved. Honestly, right from the start, I didn't want to get a beta reader since I thought that if I had one, that person might change the words I wanted to use, and slowly lose the essence of the story itself. And now, I've been able to find the time to edit my fics, and hopefully too, re-edit them for your reading. I know some parts suck, and that's why I'm putting the effort to improve it.
Thanks again to those who reviewed! I appreciate it very much and I hope you don't get tired of dropping me those notes!