Chapter Ten

La Chasse est Allume

The Chase Is On

Now that Draco had obtained the potion that could bring Hermione back he was almost lost. So far he had had a plan but now he wasn't sure what to do. He clutched the potion in his fist and walked along the forest.

He knew he would have to find someone to sacrifice, but who? He himself could be the sacrifice but then Hermione would have to go on living alone. Harry or Ron could be sacrificed, but Draco didn't think Hermione would be pleased about that. Diavola could serve as a sacrifice, if she was still alive. His head was clouded with question and he couldn't clear it.

Knowing he couldn't just keep walking along aimlessly like this so he checked into a tavern somewhere along the rode. A friendly Muggle greeted him as he walked in.

"Hello chap, would you like a room here?"

"Yes, how much will it cost?"

"50 Euros"

Draco reached into his pocket and grimaced as he realized all he had was Wizard Money. Discouraged he walked out of the tavern with the man yelling out at him, "Wait lad!"

He walked down the dirt road silently debating what to do. Apparating to a wizard tavern sounded tempting and he decided that was what he was going to do. Landing down at a secluded tavern he walked in.

"What'll it be?" asked the grungy owner as he looked Draco up and down.

"A room, if you have any to spare."

The owner motioned to the back of the tavern and Draco saw the door he pointed at. Nodding Draco walked off to the room.

It was a nice room, not as nice as he was use to staying at but it did for his purpose, a hot shower and a place to sleep for the night.

He stripped down and got into the steaming shower cleaning off the dirt and grime he had gotten from the journey. Done washing he got back into his boxers and t-shirt and got into the bed. It was the first time he had slept in a bed alone since Hermione had died.

He tried to fall asleep hoping things would be better in the morning.

Diavola used an old witch tradition of finding a person by circling her crystal over a map of the surrounding area waiting for it to stop and point to where Draco was. She had been trying for hours but it wouldn't work. Annoyed she made the crystal fall to the floor.

"It's no use it won't work!"

"Stupid girl, why are you insisting on doing it that way? Why not just cast a locater spell?" Lucius asked from his sitting area.

Diavola huffed and replied, "Because, I am a ghost and ghosts cannot cast spells."

"Do I have to do everything myself?" Lucius asked as he grabbed his wand and cast the spell. All of a sudden an image burst from his wand and a sleeping Draco appeared.

"I know where that is that's the tavern near Diagon Alley." Diavola commented.

"Do you have to talk? I already knew that and I didn't need you to tell me. Now come on we're going."

They apparated into Draco's room to him asleep. Diavola walked over to him and placed her hand through Draco's head pulling out his dreams and replacing them with nightmarish images of him failing with his quest to bring Hermione back.

"This power is incredible!" Diavola squealed as Draco wriggled around in his sleep.

"Shut up!" Lucius murmured at her. "Where is the potion?"

Diavola shrugged and began to scan the room for the vile.

'I don't see it, why don't you help me look?"

Lucius began to look around moving things everywhere, and expert at finding anything he was looking for. Cursing he stood up.

"I can't find it, but it's not like he already used it. However, we can't leave until we find it."

"So what are we to do?"

"Wait for him to wake up."

Draco's pleasant dream of him and Hermione together, him the Minister of Magic, her the Headmistress at Hogwarts, had been interrupted by an image of Hermione coming back, then burning to flames as Diavola had done before she disappeared.

He was soon covered in a cold sweat. He was trying to find Hermione when he heard voices that weren't part of his dream and he abruptly woke up.

He looked around the dark room and found his father and Diavola's ghost staring at him in shock.

"What the bloody hell are you two doing here?!" Draco screamed.

"Shut up Draco. Where is the potion you bought from Francis earlier, I need it." Diavola whined.

"Damn Francis, knew he wouldn't be trusted. What makes you think I'd just give you the potion Diavola so you can come back to life? I wish you were dead, oh wait you already are." Draco laughed.

Diavola threw a searing look at Draco and turned to his father for support.

"Draco if you do not give us the potion I will have to kill you, or something that matters to you." Lucius added.

"Go ahead and kill me, that's what I want. If I can't bring Hermione back I might as well kill me at least then I would be with her. And as for the killing something that matters to me, nothing else does so really I see no reason to give you the potion."

Diavola went into her rage and screamed, "Give me the potion now Draco or, if you don't I'll break it! Then, there won't be any more potion to bring Hermione back and you'll still be alive."

"But at least you'll still be a ghost."

Diavola flung her arms in the air and grabbed a flower pot chucking it at the wall.

"WHY DO YOU HAVE TO BE SO BLOODY DIFFICULT?"

Draco shrugged. "Well, it's been fun." He said as he apparated away.

"He had it on him!" Diavola pointed out.

"I know that no need to bloody point it out. You know I don't need you anymore really. All you are is an annoying nuisance in my plan to stop him from bringing Hermione back. I do have a nice spell that sends ghosts away."

"No, I'll be silent, I'll get the potion back."

"Good"