DISCLAIMER: All characters, settings, and magical occurrences were all conceived and created in the brilliant mind of J.K. Rowling. Nothing except the glorious plot is property of mine. No profits are being made from my writing.

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Chapter 9

Death. As he drug his battered body through the deserted corridor all that remained bitterly inside him was the desire for it just to be over. One more curse could've finished him off and they'd all known that. His will and pride diminished to nothing before them as he'd begged for mercy. Pleaded for it to be over. But that release never come. It just couldn't be that easy could it. He'd gotten himself into this mess and slowly he was paying for it.

With blurry vision his mind was set on only one destination, but also for the one person whom was more salvation than he'd ever fully understand. But only this time that salvation would never come and he had himself to thank for it. He took a deep breath which only resulted in a painful cough to be emitted from his lungs. He slid down against the wall, eyelids nearly shut completely, barely holding himself up. He was so close. He was almost to the Common Room and then he could sleep. Sleep. Something he so desperately needed. The dizziness he'd been experiencing took over and he fell backwards onto the stone floor.

His body ached violently as he tried to push himself up from the ground. He had to use his arms to steady himself twice before his balance returned. He staggered through the corridor, pushing himself along the wall as best he could. His head throbbed from the pain but he had to make. He had to get there. He'd be fine once he was in bed. Once he could sleep. His eyes came into focus upon the door. Only the password just wouldn't come to him. He was fairly certain that he wouldn't have been able to form words either. But thoughts didn't have much hope for him.

But to his surprise, the door opened. He didn't get the chance to look upon the face of his supposed savior, blackness was all he observed. Though if he had, he'd have caught an image of a very shocked and surprised Remus, sick with worry.

.-.

He knew it was morning but what he wasn't sure of was where he was. The room was nearly all white and instead of the warm sheets he was used to in his own bed, they were crisp and stiff beneath his body. His body which ached terribly. He rolled over onto his side and threw his feet over the bed reluctantly, groaning in pain. Just as he was about to stand up to investigate when the door flew open and in came a very huffy witch.

"Mr. Malfoy you will do good to get back in that bed this instant." She barked out the order so quickly he had no choice but to sit back in the bed. He didn't exactly trust himself to speak or he'd have barked out some hateful comment and sneered. "Dumbledore will be down soon to see you. Everyone has been rather worried." She was busying herself with all of the medication setting beside his bed as she ranted. "Snape, Dumbledore, McGonagall, Lupin, I think at some point even Harry Potter was down here. You can imagine the delight of keeping them out." She rambled on, probably more to herself than anything.

Now he didn't quite understand why she was even talking to him. He'd been there only a few times to see her and she'd never been friendly before. He had a feeling what that meant. She knew. She knew what he was. Well she'd healed him, she'd have had to. But there were other things were more important. Remus had been there to see him.

"Professor Lupin was here?" His voice was raspy, almost inaudible but she gathered what he'd asked all the same.

"He's the one who brought you here to begin with. You don't remember? Poor thing. He found you at the door to his quarters. He helped you as best he could while he tried to get you here." She seemed genuinely sympathetic for him. Draco was having other feelings however.

He didn't remember and it bothered him so much. His last coherent memory was dragging himself through the school intent on his destination. He'd told himself he was going to the Common Room but it seemed he'd unconsciously chosen another path to follow. He was grateful and angry with himself all the same. He'd made the choice to walk out. To leave with nothing but a hateful sneer in his place and then he'd gone back and expected something from him. Although it was different than he'd have suspected. Because despite the fact that he'd been awful for some time now, Remus hadn't hesitated to help him it seemed. Why was he acting so surprised? His father probably could've shown up and received the same treatment at this place.

But it was different. He'd been back. To see if he was ok. That had to mean something. It could mean anything. He refused to let reality sink in. It was just unfair.

"How much longer do I have to stay?" His voice was a little more stable this time, his raspy tone having faded a little.

"At least another couple days. Mr. Malfoy, the amount of magic you endured is unheard of. Most wouldn't have been able to walk from the Forest to the School let alone Apparating. Your level of magic would barely rival that of a first year. We're lucky you weren't splinched. It'll be replenished of course but over time." She explained busying herself still. He could tell she was one of those people. Who couldn't just sit back and relax. They had to be doing something.

He didn't reply to her statement. He seemed to have already known that much. He'd known it the night before. He had such difficulty with any magic he'd tried to do. But he needed to be back there. He'd be ok when he was back at the school. As foolish as it might have been, it seemed the only truth he would accept.

"Ahh...good to see you're up again, Mr. Malfoy. We were all wondering when you'd wake." Dumbledore greeted from the doorway, taking a couple steps in. His face was plastered with his customary smile. Although Draco was very certain if he'd been in his place, that bloody smile would be vacant. "Severus has been preparing a few potions that should help build up your magic levels again. It's most unfortunate what happened. We're all most grateful that Remus was there to help."

"Most unfortunate? I could've easily been killed last night? Does that thought not even occur to you?" Draco spat out in disbelief.

"It does indeed Mr. Malfoy, but when one ponders the negativity too long, it all becomes that much more easy to accept." Draco didn't reply and that was enough for the man to go on. "I do have one question. I've been told that you've decided not to report to Remus any longer? Would you care to explain."

"It's just not going to work anymore. It'll be easier for me without that." The words seemed so definite. So final. So true.

"Albus." There was a new voice from behind him and before Dumbledore could provide an answer, he turned to greet who that happened to be. It seemed only appropriate that it was Remus.

"Ah Remus. I was just speaking of you. Quite the hero last night. I think we'll all thankful you were there to help."

"I was just doing what I have to."

"Well, we're still thankful all the same. I believe there are a few students waiting in my office at the moment with a rather agitated Potion's Master. I best be off before any blood is shed, hmm? Glad to see you're doing better, Draco." He gave a slight nod and left the pair awkwardly standing there.

"I was just coming down to see how you were doing." Remus spoke calmly, taking a few more steps into the room, enough to carry on private conversation if need be.

"Fine. I'm just wonderful. Is that what you're here for? Cause you've taken care of that. Nice seeing you again." He sneered.

"Is all of this necessary?"

"What do you mean?"

"You don't have to act like a prat about all of this."

"A prat? I almost died last night to save some stupid bloody cause and I'm being a prat. Well excuse me. Next time I'll just ask them to finish me off."

"You know that isn't what I mean." Remus countered but Draco was very prepared.

"Then what do you mean because I have a headache and no time for this."

"I think you have plenty of time. No place else you can go." Remus had him stuck and Draco cross his arms over his chest giving him as much OK as he was going to get to go on. "I know things didn't go very well between us but that doesn't mean that you have to deal with all of this on your own.

On his own? It didn't really seem that strange. He'd been doing it his entire life. He was becoming very proficient in doing things on his own. Well he had been until he'd gotten tangled up in his current position, with only one thing lingering constantly on his mind. He found himself feeling dependent, weak, everything that he'd prided himself on not being. It was all slipping away from him, leaving himself with feelings he didn't understand and doubted he could.

"I've done it before and I'm fully capable of doing it again."

"Draco, don't let this be about pride. This is much bigger than either of us."

"Don't you think I realize that?! Every time I feel my flesh burning beneath a mark I'll never be free from? It's the only thing that forces me to leave the safety of the one place I consider home." He was bordering on livid at the moment. There were few who understood what is was like and many of them thankfully would never have to.

"Well my offer still remains true. My door will be open if you need it to be."

"Is that all?" Sure, he was being rude. And somewhere inside he was probably cursing himself silly but his defense had kicked in on him. One learned rather quickly how to avoid pain.

"I suppose it is. I hope to see you recovered soon." Draco didn't both with a good bye as Remus left. Instead, he sunk back against the bed, confusion settling in over him.

Could he handle this all on his own. He'd seen that last night. He was intent on the Common Room which certainly would've seen the end of him had he succeeded. His pride was cast over his rational thoughts and sometimes he wondered if they existed in there somewhere. But there were those moments of brief clarity where he knew, he just knew, that it'd be so easy to go back. And it was those moments when he assured himself why he couldn't.

.-.

A/N: I got this one out a bit earlier than I had planned to. I've been busy with school and tennis and this coming Tuesday is my b-day so I'm not going to have much time to write and the like in the coming week. But I would still LOVE to get a review from you. It'd make it all that much better :-D But without anymore waiting, to my VERY WONDERFUL REVIEWERS WHOM I LOVE SO MUCH...

silver-sunn101 Thanks so very much for the extremely kind words. I'm sincerely disliking all the bickering right now and I think sadly, it may go on for a bit longer. But have no fear, there is indeed a light at the end of the tunnel. Although I'm beginning to wonder how long this tunnel really is. :-D So anywho, I shall try not to ramble too much, I do enough as is. Thanks a whole, whole bunch!

empath89 You're entirely too nice! But thank you all the same. I'm getting that feeling. Remus and Draco just have kind of stuck around for me. I need to find some good fics of the pair. If you have any, let me know. But once more, thanks for sticking with me!

betsytheripper Goodness I understand completely. High School has more angst than is really necessary, doesn't it? Oh well, gives us all a source of...er excitement? I'm so glad you've taken time out of your busy schedule to read. I'm encountering that a little, although thanks to our scheduling, we're pretty lucky on the homework thing. But with tennis and all that good stuff, well it's tough. So I understand and I am even more grateful! Muchas Gracias!

GaBo0 Thanks bunches and bunches for the review. I very reluctantly am keeping Draco angry for the time being. It's just so darn hard, though! :-D Thanks a ton though for the kind words!