PART FOURTEEN
Forever Consequences
I had actually believed that I would have a good vacation. But right before the holiday break, I stayed up all night, trying to ponder on the sixth vision I was given. Broomsticks…broomsticks were zooming here and there, so fast that I couldn't make out the people riding on them. It was deafening. There was too much noise around, and then everything suddenly went silent. All the broomsticks stopped in mid-air and fell to the ground, and then there it was. The Dark Mark. It shone brilliantly in the sky and cast a horrific glow over everything. And a sudden surge of emotions built up inside of me…something that made me want to snap…
***
Darn that McGonagall, Ginny thought angrily, stomping her way up the stairs of the girls' dormitories. All the carriages were already parked outside the castle, and countless students were milling around the grounds here and there, excited at the hubbub of going back home for Christmas. Everyone would be leaving in a minute, and now McGonagall had asked Ginny to go fetch Hermione, else she be left behind at Hogwarts.
The problem was, Ginny didn't know where Hermione was. It was already late in the morning and she'd searched almost the whole castle, and now she was heading towards Hermione's room as a last resort. Ginny knew Hermione couldn't possibly have overslept, but somehow she felt obliged to check her room as well in case she really was still in bed.
And I strongly doubt that, McGonagall, so the next time you go commanding me to go on a scavenger hunt for people, ask someone else to help you, okay? Ginny sighed irritably and finally reached the Head Girl's room. She knocked exasperatedly. "Hermione? Are you in there?"
There was no response, and so she rapped louder. "Hermione? Get off the bloody bed, will you? McGonagall's going nutters."
Ginny waited for a while, and when there still wasn't any answer, she finally whipped out her wand. "Alohomora!" She pointed to the door and it clicked open. She pushed the door and stepped inside. "Hermione, were you—" Her eyes widened and she screamed as soon as she entered the room.
Hermione instantly sat up from the bed, screaming as well in shock, apparently waking up. She seized the covers around her and desperately tried to cover herself by instinct, still shrieking.
All the noise immediately woke the sleeping Malfoy beside her and he sat up touchily as well, frowning at all the racket. But his eyes widened as soon as he saw Ginny in the doorway. "Holy sh*t!!!" He made a quick grab of his wand on the floor with his scattered clothes and pointed it at her.
"No, wait!!!" Hermione stopped screaming and grabbed his hand, putting it down. "No Memory Charms, okay? She knows," she said, trying to shake her disheveled hair out of her face.
"She does?" Malfoy frowned. "Then what the hell is she doing here???"
"I'm the one who's supposed to be asking you that question!!!" Ginny spat out angrily, obviously in utter disgust at the scenario before her: clothes strewn all over the floor, Hermione looking harassed, Malfoy all messed up, and both of them naked under the same covers, hair sticking out in all places, looking like they'd just had the wildest night of their lives. And in the air filling the room was the smell of…the smell of two people…of two people who'd just made lo—"Damn it, Malfoy; you're disgusting!" she said repulsively.
He opened his mouth furiously and was just about to snap another one of his trademark comebacks, when Hermione placed a hand on his bare chest that made him shut up and look at her. "Draco, please…"
Malfoy bit his lip and merely glared at Ginny. He took a deep breath. "Okay, Weasley. Tell me what you're doing here. Haven't you heard of the word 'privacy'?"
"For your information, McGonagall sent me to look for Hermione because the carriages are leaving for the Hogwarts Express any minute, in case you haven't noticed," Ginny replied sarcastically. "Come to think of it, I did see Snape looking for you in the grounds a while ago, too. So you better get a move on."
"Oh no," Hermione gasped, turning to Malfoy worriedly. "I don't mind being late but didn't you tell me last night that your father wanted to see you right away for some important stuff today?"
Malfoy's eyes widened. "Damn," he muttered to himself, as he pushed the covers aside and began to shuffle out of bed. Ginny immediately turned her back to the two of them impatiently, blushing.
"I have to get going; my father's going to kill me," Malfoy said, fumbling on the floor for his clothes. Hermione wrapped the covers around her completely and climbed out of bed as well, helping him dress up. "Draco, are you sure you're going to make it on time?" she asked worriedly, helping him to his coat and trying to make his hair look at least a little bit presentable. "Because I can make up a pretty good excuse if you want—"
"It's okay. I think I'll manage," he ran his hand through his hair after the last piece of clothing was put on. He turned to Hermione and they both stared at each other for a while. It was then that Hermione leaped at him and kissed him, making him take a step back. They closed their eyes and deepened the kiss, and as they moved closer, Malfoy dug his hands under the covers on Hermione and squeezed her waiting breasts. Hermione moaned into his mouth and reached under his pants to toy with his arousal, causing him to moan as well. It was when they were both groaning and panting that Ginny cleared her throat loudly and obviously disgustedly, and they both let each other go, trying to regain control.
"Er…sorry…" Hermione panted, blushing madly and adjusting the covers around her. Malfoy smiled and kissed her forehead. He took a deep breath and placed both his hands on her shoulders, looking seriously into her eyes. "Hermione, you do love me, don't you?"
"Of course I do, silly…" she chuckled, but trailed off when she saw that he was looking at her more seriously than ever.
"And…you always will…no matter what I do…?" he continued.
Hermione's brows began to furrow in worry. "What…why are you asking me this…? Is something wrong?"
"Look, just please remember, that no matter what happens in the future, I will always love you, okay Hermione?" he said, and Hermione couldn't help but notice that his grip on her shoulders was tightening a bit, almost as if he were afraid of something.
Hermione's lips began to tremble as well. "You're scaring me, Draco…what's wrong? Is something going to happen…? Tell me—"
She got cut off when he kissed her passionately, deeply, fervently, as if wanting to prove something…or wanting to keep this moment alive forever…and she couldn't help but feel like it was going to be the last time they'd kiss this way.
Tears immediately sprung from her eyes when they broke the kiss. This time, when she peered into his face, she could almost see the fear in his eyes. But…fear of what? "Draco—"
"I love you; just promise me you'll remember that," he said again, this time more urgently. "Promise me."
She reached out and touched his cheek. "But—"
"Please," he pleaded, his voice quivering a bit.
She looked at him lovingly for a while, at the imploring look in his eyes, and the desperation in his voice. There was something wrong, she knew it, but she couldn't do anything about it. All she had to do was trust him. Trust him that everything would turn out right in the end… "Okay…I promise."
"Thank you." He gave her a small peck on the lips before letting her shoulders go, and heading towards her window. He grabbed his broomstick and paused to look back at her worried face. He smiled. "It's okay, love. I'll see you soon."
Hermione tried to smile back. "Be careful." Malfoy nodded and hopped onto his Light Year Twenty Ten, finally speeding off, without looking back.
She sighed and tried not to think that this goodbye was for good, even though it scared her like hell the way Malfoy had acted a while ago. There was definitely something up, but she knew that if she held on to her promise, she would somehow make it through.
She turned around, just about to get dressed, when she got faced by a very disturbed Ginny, wearing the biggest frown she had ever seen. She'd almost forgotten that she was there, and was able to witness what just happened between her and Malfoy—especially the part where they both almost got it on again.
Hermione gulped and grinned sheepishly. "Er…hey Ginny…"
***
"Harry…"
So many questions…
"Harry…"
It's so confusing…
"Harry…"
I can't do this on my own…
"Harry…"
Will somebody please help me…?
"Harry?"
Harry was snapped from his reverie when he felt a warm hand touch his face gently. He looked up to see Cho's face peering worriedly at him.
"Harry, you're starting to frighten me, you know…" she said, rubbing her thumb soothingly on his cheek. "Speak up, will you? Please tell me what's bothering you…"
"I'm sorry, Cho…but I…can't tell you just yet. Please understand," he replied, placing an arm around her reassuringly. "I'll be fine, though; thanks for the concern."
Cho wordlessly laid her head on his shoulder, letting him put his arms around her. The two of them had been sitting alone in a private compartment inside the Hogwarts Express for about an hour now, and yet Harry had never really paid much attention to her. He was always so wrapped up in his own world, and he didn't seem to realize that she was right there beside him. She never dared to bring this up to him, though. She didn't want to complain because she knew there was something serious on Harry's mind, but still, she couldn't help but feel neglected and unappreciated.
She closed her eyes and snuggled sadly into his embrace, not wanting to think about it anymore. She just wanted to enjoy this moment they had together, even though he didn't seem to even notice her. She wanted to be thankful. She rarely had the chance to be alone with him at school. In fact, they rarely had any intimate moments together. But right now she knew they had a long trip ahead of them, and no matter how oblivious Harry might be, she still wanted to savor their "alone time" while it lasted.
Harry looked down at her in his arms, reading the hurt expression on her face even with her eyes closed. He wanted to smack himself right then. How could he always ignore his girlfriend like this? He knew he'd let her win during the second Quidditch match, but that really didn't make up for all the times he'd neglected her. He was lucky that she even wanted to be his girlfriend, considering the danger he always carried with him. And now, even in this solitary compartment, he couldn't even find time to appreciate her. What kind of a boyfriend was he?
He shifted in his position and pulled Cho closer to him, making her open her eyes in question. But before she could even speak, Harry lifted her chin and kissed her, since he didn't really know how to apologize well.
Luckily, Cho completely understood. She wrapped her arms around his neck as he carried her onto his lap, pulling her closer still. Cho made a sound as Harry sunk intensely into her mouth, savoring her very taste. He wanted to show her how much he truly did value her, and he wouldn't allow himself to take a breather. Right now, he didn't care if he ran out of breath…he just wanted to kiss her forever…
But just then, the door to the compartment slid open. "Hey Harry, do you want some—" Ron stopped short and his eyes widened at what his friend was doing.
Harry and Cho immediately stopped kissing and they both turned to look at Ron in shock, neither of them moving from their very naughty position. All three of them started flushing beet red.
"R-Ron, er—"
"Oh geez, look at the time! I'm mighty sorry about this; I didn't mean t-to…interrupt—" Ron stuttered, slowly backing away from the reddened couple. "Go on; don't mind me!" And he shut the compartment door closed. "Whew," he shook his head, amazed at how horny Harry could actually be.
Ron continued walking down the aisle of the train, clutching his box of Every Flavor Beans. He was tired of playing Snap with Seamus and Dean, and since Harry was obviously out of the picture to hang out with, Hermione was his last hope.
He approached the compartment where he knew Harmione and Ginny were seated in, but then stopped when he heard them talking.
"But I thought you said you wanted us to get back together!"
"I did but I never said you should have sex with him!"
"What difference does it make?"
"I reckon you've gone mad, alright! He was in the girls' dormitories, for crying out loud!"
Ooookaaay…what's that all about? Ron thought curiously, as he slid the compartment door open. Hermione and Ginny immediately froze.
"Hey guys," Ron greeted. "What's up?"
"Well—er—we—" Ginny's eyes darted nervously towards Hermione, who gave Ron a very nervous smile. "Ron…you…haven't by chance heard a word we've said, have you?"
He grinned. "Actually, I was kind of wondering who was having sex, but I guess that kind of conversation is totally, perfectly, and utterly normal."
Hermione reddened automatically at Ron's sarcasm, but quickly made a fix-it. "Ginny was just helping me rehearse my lines for our…Muggle Christmas play back home."
"Right…sure you are…" Ron said skeptically, taking a seat across from the two girls. "And your scripts are…where?"
Hermione cleared her throat. "Not here, silly! I'm trying to memorize my lines, you know!"
Ron shrugged and popped some Beans into his mouth. "Whatever you say."
"So, Ron," Ginny said hurriedly, trying to change the topic. "What brings you here? I thought you were with Dean."
"You do have a thing with Dean, don't you?" Ron teased and Ginny blushed. "Well, for your information, I got tired of Dean and Seamus so I went to look for Harry, but he was totally getting it on with Cho so I figured I should come visit you two."
Hermione gaped at Ron's words in horror. Ginny's eyes widened. "And by 'getting it on', you mean…?"
Ron cocked his eyebrows at her. "They're making out in a private compartment."
"Making out???" Hermione gasped. "Here???"
"Okay, okay! They were just kissing, okay? They were kissing really passionately! Honestly, I don't see what's the ruddy problem. I can't believe we're even talking about this. Ugh," Ron shivered and started munching on some more Beans.
Ginny grinned knowingly at Hermione. "Oh, don't mind Hermione; she's just recovering from some hot action of her own."
"Ginny!" Hermione threw her empty box of Chocolate Frogs at her and Ginny started giggling like crazy.
Ron rolled his eyes. "Now I know why no one likes to hang out with girls," he stood up and left, shaking his head at his still giggling sister.
***
"Need anything else, Master Draco, sir?"
"No, Misty; thanks," Malfoy said absently, and the house elf bowed her way out the door of the spacious room. He shifted in his seat and bit his lip nervously, thinking about what his father could possibly want from him now. Right after he'd flown from Hermione's room, he quickly dashed back to the Slytherin dungeons into his dormitory and packed his things, and—having explained his need to go home as quickly as possible to Snape—was allowed to use Floo Powder to transport him immediately to the Malfoy Manor's fireplace. It had been more than half an hour since the house elves took care of his luggage and asked him to wait for his father in this office, and he was getting pretty tense.
He knew that whatever it was that his father wanted wasn't going to be good. They never did have any confrontations that had no painful punishments or awful news in them. And this time, he couldn't help but feel that this was going to be worse than the last.
He let out a panicked breath of air and decided not to dwell on the horrors his father might unleash on him for now, instead thinking about the wonderful evening he'd spent with Hermione and how she was doing on the Express at the moment. He knew it had only been an hour or so since they parted, but he was missing her badly already. In fact, he truly was afraid. He had a strong feeling that he would never be able to share that same intimacy with her or kiss her full cherry lips again, not after his father's lecture later on. He had a feeling that everything would change the moment he got back to Hogwarts from the holidays, and that he would return to being the student obsessed with the Dark Arts and with making Harry Potter's life a living hell. Hermione had changed all that the moment Malfoy opened up to her, and fell in love with her. But he knew it wasn't going to be forever. He knew that the time would come when he would eventually have to face his own destiny, and return to the path he'd treaded on from the moment he was born. He wasn't supposed to fall in love with Hermione in the first place, and now it was his fault that he had to bear the pain of letting it all go—letting Hermione go. He wasn't allowed to continue his relationship with her. That was why he was reflecting back at the castle on the day the students went on a trip to Hogsmeade. He needed some time to think on what he was supposed to do, not to mention he didn't want to show his face in the Three Broomsticks just yet—not after he'd made a scandal to make Pansy pay.
But he didn't want to just simply let his relationship with Hermione end that way. He knew there was still a tiny bit of hope, a little ray of light that told him he could still make it with her in the end if he tried hard enough. And that was why he didn't say goodbye. On the contrary, he told her even more how much he truly loved her, so that they could both hold on to that, and not let it all just shatter and fade away. He only wished that it would be strong enough, and that they could cling long enough to surpass the storm that he knew would come his way soon. Because it wasn't going to be a smooth sailing sea from now on.
"Please trust me, Hermione…" he whispered, hoping against hope that he would make it back to her after what he would have to face in his life.
"Oh, I'm sure she does," a sarcastic voice said, and Malfoy immediately turned around to see his father standing by the door with a sly smile on his face. "You're not backing out on her now, are you?" He walked towards his desk and sat down on the chair behind it, eyeing his son across the table.
Malfoy straightened up in his seat. 'W-what are you talking about, father?"
"Don't play games with me, boy. I know what's happening between you and a certain Mudblood you once despised and reviled." Lucius leaned back in his seat.
Malfoy kept quiet. His father knew? But how? No one could possibly have suspected them, much less tell on them! And how much did his father really know about what he and Hermione had been doing?
"It's good that your overly active mouth doesn't have any witty comebacks today. You know you're never going to win anyway, so why bother, am I right?" Lucius grinned. "Am I also right in assuming that you are wondering how I got hold of the news of your precious secret love life?"
Malfoy looked down and Lucius grinned even wider. "Ah, too meek to speak. As you can see, I happened to bump into a crying Slytherin girl on the streets of Hogsmeade a few weeks ago."
Malfoy's eyes widened. Could it be--?
"I, having the heart of gold, asked her what was wrong. And it was a very interesting story that she told me indeed." He placed a hand on his chin. "She told me that she was inside the Three Broomsticks, just minding her own business and having her usual fun, when a boy of her own House grabbed her wrist and said a few…unforgivable words to her. Can you imagine that?"
"Father," Malfoy interrupted, "I was only trying to—"
"Protect the woman you love? How very romantic of you," Lucius said. "It might have been impressive to some swooning girls but as you know, I do not tolerate such behavior in my family. Mudbloods are Mudbloods and you are not supposed to have some nauseating fling with any of them!"
Malfoy winced as the tone in his father's voice rose. He knew it. It was coming.
"You know, I actually shrugged away the conclusion that was fast forming in my mind after hearing your friend's story, but your behavior did strike me as odd," his father continued. "So I kept a close watch on you, Draco. Your Housemates served their purpose pretty well, I must say. Twice you sneaked out of the Slytherin dungeons at midnight with your broomstick, and the second time you did, you never came back until late in the morning the next day. Don't think I don't know that you used Floo Powder to get here because you were afraid you were going to be late. You were too busy toying around with that Gryffindor slut to realize you've overslept—"
His eyes immediately flicked towards his father, glaring at him angrily at what he'd just called Hermione. Unfortunately, Lucius saw this and immediately whipped out his wand and pointed it at Malfoy's right hand.
"Argh!" Malfoy gripped his right hand tightly, holding back a cry of pain. Instantly, the closed wound on his hand opened up again and he groaned as the blood oozed out with searing pain.
"I see you've removed the bandages you used to put on that wound. Did you actually think that it has healed itself?" Lucius said smugly, his wand never wavering as he looked at his writhing son. "You really are too naïve. Did you not notice that your wound only hurts whenever you are away from that foul Mudblood? Did you not notice that no matter how much it would be damaged or injured, you would not experience pain as long as you were with her?"
Malfoy bent over his chair this time, as his right hand trembled with excruciating pain. He gripped it more tightly, sweat trickling down his temples. What the hell was his father getting at?
"Are you wondering why, dear Draco?" Lucius pressed on with a triumphant look on his face. "I made that wound, boy! I carved that cut into you the moment you started your seventh year. I reserved it so that I could use it to punish you whenever you would stray from your assigned tasks!"
"I'm extremely disappointed—no, ashamed—that you couldn't even accomplish the final task you were assigned! You never did falter from the first five tasks; on the contrary, you accomplished them all at the beginning of the year! I never had the chance to make the wound hurt to punish you—and I thought I never would—but then you had to go and procrastinate on your sixth and final task, even though she was right there in front of you!" Lucius said angrily, and Malfoy cried out even more when he increased the pain. "I could never be happier when Hogwarts assigned her to be your tutor! It gave you the chance to kill two birds with one stone—you could've gotten high marks on History of Magic and accomplish your task so easily! All you had to do to finish your final task was take her blood covertly—you even had a private study! Everything was so perfect; but you messed it all up!!! Half the year has passed and you still haven't gotten any Mudblood blood for the ingredients, you still haven't gotten the Dark Mark, and you still haven't earned the title of a full-fledged Death Eater!!! YOU ARE A DISGRACE!!!"
Malfoy collapsed on the floor from his chair, gasping when Lucius finally withdrew his wand and the pain stopped. His right arm was drenched in dark red blood, spreading out all over the carpeted floor. He closed his eyes, panting heavily.
"Perhaps I was wrong about punishing you by causing your wound to hurt whenever you were away from that girl, or should I say, your final task. Because even though you were an idiot enough not to realize my intentions, you did become close to her, yet in the most abhorred way possible. You fell for the repulsive Mudblood! And since you've already sickeningly given some of you inside her all those times you fooled around her, then she does not qualify for a pure Mudblood and you no longer need her blood for your ingredients. She's had, unfortunately, made sexual contacts with you and we can't have her blood now that you've polluted it!" Lucius winced in utter disgust. He looked loathingly at his son, panting on the floor.
"It's you who's made this harder on yourself, foolish boy. Because of your stupidity, we can no longer count on that Gryffindor; you do know how tremendously important—and difficult—finding completely pure Mudblood's blood is, and it is your fault that you are suffering now. Face the consequences, Draco; you deserve it all," Lucius stood up. "Now, you leave me no choice but to look for another Mudblood victim for you and make that set-up I mentioned before. You will do this the moment you step back into Hogwarts, and you will get your Dark Mark as soon as you do. And as for the slut, we no longer have any use for her."
Malfoy immediately opened his eyes. "What—"
"You've passed the latest History of Magic practice test—all on your own, I've been told—and you no longer need her blood, and so the only thing to do is dispose of her." Lucius grinned evilly. "She's interfered with your life—making you think twice about your tasks—long enough."
"No, please!" Malfoy struggled to get up. "She has nothing to do with this! I…I made hesitations…on my own…"
Lucius cocked an eyebrow skeptically. "On your own?"
"Yes, father, I—I did," he pushed himself up on the chair. "Hermione had nothing to do with it, so please just…leave her out of this. I swear I'll do everything flawlessly from now on. Just don't…hurt her…"
"Good lord, are you becoming a martyr now, Draco?" Lucius shook his head. "How very touching. Do you honestly believe that I will comply to that proposal of yours?"
Malfoy looked down furiously. "I promise I will do everything you want me to," he clenched his fist. "What more do you want?"
Lucius sighed in amusement. "My dear, poor boy," he shook his head, as if at a great loss at his son's undesirable words and pathetic choice of action. He sighed again. "Very well, then. If it would mean your immediate becoming a Death Eater, then you have yourself a deal."
He looked up in surprise. Was his father really agreeing to his terms…?
"However," Lucius lifted a warning finger. "Should you make any unnecessary contact with her—any contact at all—I assure you that she will never be able to do so again for as long as she lives, which I'm sure won't be for long if you decide to break off our deal."
Malfoy swallowed heavily, looking away from his father to hide the angry tears welling up in his eyes. His father wasn't being reasonable at all. How could he possibly live through the rest of his year without even talking to Hermione? He loved her too much…he had to at least be able to hold her…or smile at her…but…he knew that if he did, his father would do something terrible and Hermione would be in so much of a predicament that he couldn't even imagine it. Heaven only knew what his father would do…he didn't really care about himself—he was used to all this—but Hermione…she was a different story. He knew he would die if anything ever happened to her.
He took a deep breath and reluctantly—very reluctantly—nodded. Lucius smirked triumphantly. "I trust you will keep your word this time, Draco. Because if you waver one more time, the Dark Lord will not be pleased."
Malfoy gritted his teeth and held back everything he wanted to snap back, choosing instead to just leave the office wordlessly and head straight to his room. It all wasn't fair, but he knew that this would come. This probably was what his recurring nightmares were warning him about—him being punished for defiance. He knew that it was somehow his fault that he hadn't seen it sooner, and that he'd gone and fallen in love with someone who was merely supposed to be a tool to get the last ingredient for his tasks. He sighed silently and stood to leave, clutching his bleeding right hand. His father was right. He deserved all of this.
Lucius watched as his son disappeared from the office, seeing the inner struggle and the jumble of emotions in his eyes. He smirked slyly and whispered almost inaudibly, "I believe Draco will be doing just fine, my Lord…"
And, out of nowhere, a voice replied lowly, "See to it that he will."
***
I remember that I almost told her about everything that was happening to me at the Hogwarts Express that day—she seemed so upset about it that I almost couldn't resist. But I knew it wasn't the time—not yet—because I couldn't even tell my two best friends about it. I knew they suspected that something was wrong, but there was no point worrying them any further by telling them everything—they had their own problems to deal with and I didn't want to bother them with mine. I was seventeen then, and I had thought that I could do everything on my own and without my friends' help for once, but the longer I kept it to myself, the more I knew that I couldn't do it alone. So I sought help on whether I should tell them or not. That was why I went home for Christmas—not to the Dursleys, but to Sirius.
Ta-da!!! Hip-hip HORAAAAYY!!! The mystery narrator is finally revealed!!! Yey! You guys can go back to the other chapters and check out the narrations and you'll see that they all really point to the boy who lived, plus the context clues pretty much say it all. Sorry if I made you guys wait too long; I kind of wanted to let the realization sink in…that Harry's the one narrating it all hehehe:D And please, please, please forgive me if it all sounds weird in my fic because I purposely haven't read the fifth book, so I don't really know what events occurred there that may be contradicting to the events that occurred here in my fic. This is set in their seventh year by the way, if ever I didn't make it clear before. Anyways, I know that a certain "someone" died in the fifth book (a friend of mine unfortunately spoiled me and oh-so-gracefully revealed to me who that person is), but since I'm writing this fic without any other reference but the first four books, I won't register that dead person here in my fic:D Hope it doesn't get too confusing for those who've already read The Order of the Phoenix out there:D
Anyways, I promised to upload four or five chapters today, so off I go to write some more! Please continue R&R-ing!:D