CHAPTER EIGHT: Enrapture of Death
I walked into Hermione's room; she was sitting on her bed bopping her head up and down and some sort of wires were attached to her ears.
'Hermione?' I called.
There was no response; she carried on bopping her head.
I walked over to her bed and I saw that her eyes were closed; I tapped her on the shoulder and she jumped. Then, she took the wires out of her ears.
'You scared me, Draco!'
'Sorry, I called you but you didn't hear, what were you doing with wires in your ears?'
'Wires? Oh, you mean these,' she said holding up the wires, 'they're earphones, they are attached to my Walkman, a small CD player that you can carry round, I was listening to some muggle music.'
She showed me the Walkman and then Hermione showed me the CD case of the muggle singer she was listening to.
'Her name's Mandy Moore, she's my favorite muggle singer, you can borrow the CD if you like, that is if you're interested.'
I looked at the picture of the girl on the front cover, I had to admit, she was very pretty for a muggle. I glanced at Hermione, she was taking the CD out of her Walkman and then she asked me for the case, so she could put the CD in. I handed it to her, and then she held the case out to me, once she put the CD inside.
'Do you want to borrow it?' Hermione asked me.
'Yeah, I guess. I'll have a listen - but what with?'
'You can borrow my walkman as well, if you like, I'll show you how to work it.'
So, we spent a nice morning of Hermione teaching me how to operate a muggle Walkman.
When I walked back to my hospital room, I saw a letter on the bedside table. I placed the Walkman and the CD case down next to it. Then - I took the letter and ripped it open.
Draco,
I see you are managing to survive in the muggle world. Getting quite close to the Mudblood, are we?
Meet me tonight at the forest, you know where that is. Be there at 11pm - do not be late. You know, I do not tolerate lateness.
If you are not there, you will receive more punishment, even more badly than the punishments you have already received. There are many things I have to punish you for.
Bring Potter and his friends, if you wish.
Father
I shivered. The letter was cold, unfriendly and creepy. I stuffed the letter back into its envelope. Should I tell Harry? Harry would be able to help. Should I tell Hermione? But, I didn't want her to worry. I would worry about telling Harry later.
I switched on the Walkman and put the earphones in my ear - track five started playing.
"Some people tell me, that you're not my kind
And I believe them, but I can't get you out of my mind
Some people tell me that I should stay away
Maybe I will... some other day
'Cause it feels right
You know it feels good
And I don't do always that I should
And I know what makes me happy
And in my heart you're it exactly
I don't wanna do right, I just want you tonight
Not just only in my dreams
Save my best behavior, for a little later
'Cause I'm only 17
Think I made my mind up; I got time to grow up
Face responsibility
Livin' in the moment, keepin' my heart open
While I'm only 17
(Only 17...)
I'll learn my lessons, and I'll make mistakes
And If I get burned (get burned), it'll be my heart to break
It isn't easy, hearing what they say
Sometimes you've got to (got to) take a leap of faith
'Cause it feels right
Yeah, it feels good
And I'm not gonna do something stupid
Just this once, I wanna feel like
I can do what I want when I hold tight
I don't wanna do right, I just want you tonight
Not just only in my dreams
Save my best behavior, for a little later
'Cause I'm only 17
Think I made my mind up, I got time to grow up
Face responsibility
Livin' in the moment, keepin' my heart open
While I'm only 17
(Only 17...)
Anyone, who's ever been in love
Has got to know
What it means to have a dream
And no one can say anything
To change my mind, no, not this time
I don't wanna do right, I just want you tonight
Not just only in my dreams
Save my best behavior, for a little later
'Cause I'm only 17
Think I made my mind up; I got time to grow up
Face responsibility
Livin' in the moment, keepin' my heart open
While I'm only 17
(Only 17...)
Baby, got time to grow up...
... To face responsibility...
...Hopin'... open...
Cause I'm only 17..."
I smiled as the song ended. It was exactly like how I felt for Hermione. Who would have known a muggle singer could sing such good songs? I looked at the back of the case and my eyes scanned to track five, the song was called '17'. Track six was called 'Cry'. I restarted track six again and I listened.
"I'll always remember
It was late afternoon
It lasted forever
And ended too soon
You were all by yourself
Staring up at a dark gray sky
I was changed
In places no one would find
All your feelings so deep inside (deep inside)
It was then that I realized
That forever was in your eyes
The moment I saw you cry
The moment that I saw you cry
It was late in September
And I've seen you before (and you were)
You were always the cold one
But I was never that sure
You were all by yourself
Staring at a dark gray sky
I was changed
In places no one would find
All your feelings so deep inside (deep inside)
It was then that I realized
That forever was in your eyes
The moment I saw you cry
I wanted to hold you
I wanted to make it go away
I wanted to know you
I wanted to make your everything, all right....
I'll always remember...
It was late afternoon...
In places no one would find...
In places no one would find
All your feelings so deep inside (deep inside)
It was then that I realized
That forever was in your eyes
The moment I saw you cry"
Then, Harry came in. I switched the music off and I showed Harry the letter my father had sent me earlier. He looked puzzled.
'You're in great danger, Draco. I'll come with you; I'll drag Ron as well. Ask Hermione if she wants to come, if she says yes - don't argue with her. She's very stubborn and she'll throw a tantrum if you don't let her come with you, she's very bad-tempered!'
After that, Harry left. I thought I'd better return the CD back to Hermione, I attached a note to it.
Dear Hermione,
I'm in great danger; I have to meet my father tonight. Harry is coming and I think - so is Weasely. You can come too, but it is dangerous and I don't want you to get hurt.
There are some pretty good songs on this album. Listen to track five '17' and track six 'Cry'. It explains a lot about how I feel about you. I have no more to say.
Love,
Draco
'So, Draco, you have come at last and you have brought along Potter, Weasley and the Mudblood with you! Perfect!' My father drawled.
'What do you mean by perfect?' I said menacingly.
'I had a little fun in mind.'
'You will not hurt any of them!' I said angrily, the rage inside me bubbling.
'We will see about that!' My father smiled and he pointed his wand at me, 'Crucio!'
My whole body was suddenly on fire, seized in such pain, in such agony. I heard a scream, it sounded like Hermione. Then - the pain passed away.
'Hurt, did it, son?'
'Why am I here?' I said not answering his question.
'I asked you a question.'
'So did I, I am not answering yours until you answer mine.'
'Have I not taught you to show respect, when did you become so cocky?' Father spat.
I glared at him, keeping silent. I glanced at Hermione; she was slowly walking up behind me. She held her hand out as she reached me. I squeezed it reassuringly.
'Display of affection, I see?' My father smirked, 'Now that won't do!'
I stepped in front of Hermione, shielding her. Father was not going to harm one single hair of her.
'Perfimio Mora!' Father shouted pointing at me and I stumbled backwards and Hermione was left standing in front of my father - alone.
'You know what a gun is, Mudblood?' My father said.
Hermione whimpered and I saw her eyes widen. I took a step forward.
'Leave her alone!' I shouted.
My father drew the gun and he pointed it straight at Hermione. She froze.
'Take one more step forward and she will die!' My father said.
'RUN!' I screamed at her, 'RUN, HERMIONE!'
I rushed forward to push Hermione out the way, just as the Weasel ran to stand in front of her.
BANG!
Hermione lay on the floor but she wasn't dead. Neither I, Hermione or Harry was hurt - but Weasley was. Hermione and Harry rushed to Weasley's side, tears spilling from their eyes. No tears came out of mine; I was filled with such anger and rage! I stood in front of my father who was smiling gleefully at the scene.
'Accio!' I shouted pointing my wand at the gun and my father's wand that was poking out of his robe pocket. They flew into my hand.
'Father,' I spat, 'you have done too many wrong things in your life, you have killed too many good people, hurt too many others, you never cared about mother, you never cared about me. I don't want to hurt you. Even though, you never acted the way a father should have. Do you realize how sad I felt every time I saw sons and daughters laughing and joking with their father, with their faces happy, did I ever get any of that from you? Did you ever do your duty as a father? You were never a father to me, by blood we were related but a real father cares and looks after their family. I have no father. '
Father froze on the spot, he would never guess, what I was going to do next. He was defenseless.
'I'm sorry, father, but I have no choice,' I said bitterly, 'AVADA KEDAVRA!'
A burst of green light shot from my wand and it hit my father in the center of his chest. And, he lay dead on the ground.
'I had no choice, I didn't want you to go on in life doing more wrong, I don't want you to get hurt or end up in prison, I did it for your own good, I want you to be born again as a good person, not the bad person you were now.' I said sadly to my father's dead body, as tears spilled from my eyes, 'I'm ever so sorry. I'll forgive you for not doing your duty as a father, if you'll forgive me for what I have done to you. I'm so sorry.'
I walked over to Hermione and Harry and bent down to Ron.
'I - I - I'm - so - so - sorry - Draco - you'll always - be - be my - friend.' Ron struggled.
I smiled.
'You'll always be my buddy too, Ron. I'm sorry we couldn't work things out sooner, I'll always remember you, I'm so sorry.'
Ron managed a weak smile, and he turned to Harry.
'You were always my best buddy, green eyes.'
Harry took his hand.
'And, Hermione, I use to you hate you because you were such a know-it-all but now look - you're my best friend, the best girl a boy could have as his best friend.' Ron said weakly, and he turned to me and whispered, 'Look after her, Draco.'
'I will, Ron.' I said sadly, as my tears fell on to him.
'Goodb - ...' Ron ended with his last breath.