Chapter 14
Draco yawned slightly, slowly opening his eyes to stare up at the still darkened ceiling of the Hogwartz hospital ward. The rising sun streamed through the window, bouncing off objects and forming shadows. He suddenly found himself turning his head down, to gaze at the pretty face tucked against his shoulder. Makoto slept, face peaceful and pain free.
He smiled, gently running his fingers through her loose brown curls about her shoulders. The seventeen-year-old Slytherin hadn't woken up to the lovely scene in quite a while, fully intending to savor every second of it.
Then he froze as he suddenly heard feet shuffling, he had completely forgot that he was supposed to leave last night. So with a dark scowl, he carefully extracted himself from his girlfriend's embrace and slipped off the bed, making sure to watch the creaking strings.
He took one more look at Makoto, scowl deepening by the second before turning his heel and making a mad dash for the Slytherin dormitories.
Same swift, agile movements last night, through the hospital ward, up the empty hallways, and through the common room. The light-haired boy eased the door open and shut it just as quietly, though he really didn't have to since Crabbe could sleep through a tornado.
He trudged up the steps and into his room, flicking the lights on and taking a step back in fright. His father stood in his room, leaning against his computer desk with his arms crossed over his wide chest. Expression remained bland but eyes pierced through him like a warm knife through butter.
"Spending nights in the hospital ward with that disgusting thing, yelling at Professor Snape, attacking another Slytherin in her name!" Lucius roared, eyes narrowing into thin slits.
"Look what she's done to you Draco, that bitch has changed you!"
"She's not a bitch father! You barely even know her!" Draco cried out, grabbing his needed clothes for the day and stepping into his personal bathroom.
The tall, dwarfing man glowered and pushed himself off the desk, marching over to the bathroom door.
"With your looks you could get anyone you wished for and you choose that muggle. Our family has a lineage of pure-bloods and you're just going to throw it all away for a good fuck!" The former Death-Eater gnarled, the bathroom door flying open to reveal a very angry, red-faced Draco Malfoy standing on the opposing side with nothing but a towel around his waist.
"God fucking dammit dad, she's not just a good fuck. If I just wanted a good fuck, I would have chosen any other witch, a pure-blood. I love her and I don't expect you to understand emotions or anything but for once in your FUCKING life stop thinking about the name and think about the person under it!" Draco snarled, nostrils flaring like a wounded animal and eyes narrowing into dangerous slits.
The older male howled with dark laughter, smirking cruelly as he stared down ridiculously at his son.
"What on EARTH gives you the privilege? Why should I even consider your feelings when you're tainting the family name?"
Lucius was never the sentimental, loving type, it was true. And Draco hadn't really felt anything close to overwhelming affection from his father. But his father had never stood in the way from Draco's happiness, purchasing the boy anything he desired, spoiling him rotten.
But Draco had forgotten the fact that his family were big about the purity of their blood and how much more superior they were to all the other witches and warlocks, hell he himself had been that way. He had changed though, his priorities rearranged by the little brown-haired girl resting a few halls down. Purity of one's blood hadn't mattered; it was the quality of the person bearing the blood. A little tid bit Makoto had taught him.
Draco came back to his senses, face hardening with cold determination.
"Because I'm your son. Makoto isn't a bad person father, just give her a chance. She's smarter and more skilled then half the school."
Lucius Malfoy was just as pig-headed and stubborn as his son, refusing to give in even if the proposition was reasonable. He would only give in if it were assured to go his way.
"How about this," Lucius droned out with a devil-may-care smirk, "You leave her be and I'll return the necessary ingredients for her potion."
Draco felt his eyes widen and mouth gap, almost losing his grip on his towel. All of his common sense screamed that the attacker was his father but a small part of him refused it, still believing that the man was good. What a foolish idea it was.
"F-father! How could you?" his son cried, shaking his head in disbelief.
"You've put her and her family through hell, you know that? You've put this whole school through SHIT dad, just how ruthless can you be?"
The older male snickered and pushed himself off of the wall he was leaning on, strolling over to the entrance of the room.
"Quite frankly, I don't care. Our reputation was at risk. Now a one time offers, leave her and I'll return all the necessary ingredients for the cure." He murmured, face stony and foreboding.
Dracp clenched his teeth, leaning against the doorframe and growling under his breath.
Leave Makoto…the girl who cursed him out in the cafeteria, the girl who's kisses over powered his by tenfold, the girl who had him singing in pink bunny ears.
The girl who loved him.
The very same girl who he had promised to make the pain stop. He had felt so useless before, unable to help her. For her well-being, all Draco could do was…
Let go.
"Going once, going twice,"
"Sold." Draco finished softly, eyes glazing over with tears as his gaze dropped to his feet.
Lucius grinned, biting back the cackle of victory he wanted to express.
"Good job son, you're sense are returning to you."
With that, he spun around, hair and robes fluttering behind him as he exited the room.
Makoto sighed heavily as she stared up at the immaculately clean white ceiling above her, fighting back a cry of pain. The pains had left and returned several times throughout the passed hour and that was just as bad as having it 24/7. Thinking you were free and there it comes creeping back.
"It appears that you have some visitors Miss Kinomoto."
Makoto blinked some and turned her head slightly to see who had come to see her. Everyone was there, all of Syaoron's sisters standing in a half circle around her bed while Fujitaka and Touya stood behind them, a small black wolf cub perched faithfully onto her brother's shoulder. But what really got her attention was Sakura, who stood in front of her bed with the medium sized pink Star Staff in one hand and a Star Card in the other.
"What's the deal guys?" Makoto questioned suspiciously, brows furrowing with confusion.
Cho rolled her eyes, sighing slightly and crossing her arms over her chest.
"What, we can't visit?"
Makoto mimicked her movements, crossing her arms over her chest and rolling her eyes.
"Well I'm surprised you're here, I'd expect you to be shacked up in some closet sucking face with Harry."
The two girls started a full out cursing match, teasing each other both about their boyfriends. All in good humor it was, Cho biting her lower lip from outright laughing in mid insult.
"Okay guys stop…stop, you guys…STOP!" Fanren intervened, pushing her arms between the two and pushing them apart.
The two laughed slightly, but stopped, pulling back while Makoto placed a odd stare back onto her younger sister.
"So what's with the staff and card?"
"Well, I made a new card!" the small girl announced proudly, jumping up and down with excitement.
"I couldn't stand watching you in pain like that Mako-chan and since the ingredients for the potion are so rare and have vanished I decided to take things into my own hands. So, I stayed up late concocting a new card, with the help of Windy, Watery, Earthy, Firey, the Time and the Shield cards. Which of formed this!"
Sakura happily pulls out the card and shows the face side to Makoto. The Heal card.
"Oh Sakura," Makoto mumbled, touched deeply that her little sister had done all this just to cure her. Makoto would do the same in the heart beat, willing to exchange her life for Sakura's any given time.
The chipper disposition was stifled slightly as Sakura heaved a heavy sigh, gaze dropping.
"But it's only temporary. I couldn't seem to work it right so that the effects of the card could be permanent. The card can only pause the curse from continuing for seven hours then the curse should return."
Everyone's joyous smiles fell a little; Makoto a bit crushed too but quickly shook it off, pulling her sister near and into a hug.
"Hey, it's better then nothing kiddo. It's real sweet that you did this, it is." Makoto assured her, smiling wide.
"Now do your magic!"
The bright-eyed girl smiled slightly, joy and confidence renewed as she stepped back and tossed the card that she had been holding between her pointer and middle finger. She then swung her staff about in a fancy manner, catching the card before it could fall.
"Star Card Release!"
A soft, white light enveloped the card and Makoto, both floating in mid air as the card did its deed. With a final flash of bright white light, the card returned to normal, falling into Sakura's waiting hands.
Makoto continued to glow however, everyone staring eagerly to see if it had worked. When the glow faded, Makoto laid across the bed, eyes shut.
Everyone was too scared or shocked to utter anything, gapping slightly and waiting for her to stir. Her eyes suddenly re-opened, revealing a familiar energetic glint sparkling in its depths.
She blinked a few times, shaking her head a bit before she pulled herself up into a sitting position. Makoto waited for a moment, clutching her stomach and pressing in at certain places.
"Well?" her father piped up, leaning in eagerly.
With a wide grin, the young witch spread her arms wide and announced happily,
"Good as new!"
Draco sighed as he made his way down the bustling hallways, slinging up his sagging knapsack every now and then. He was going to his room for the lunch period, really not in the mood to talk to the others.
He wanted to be alone and think about something.
…well, someone.
He had debated on ways that he could fix Makoto's ailment without having to make a deal with the devil, better known as his father. All the usual spells that would reverse or stop the curse have failed; even Finite Incantatum couldn't stop it.
Something suddenly struck him, how was that possible? His father might have been a strong warlock but not strong enough to inflict a curse so severe that Dumbledore couldn't reverse it.
As the distraught teen stepped into his room, the sound of a shower, more specifically his shower, was heard running.
'Oii…damn that Crabbe!' he thought with a scowl, tossing his bag onto the floor and stomping up to his bathroom door and slamming on it with a curled fist.
"CRABBE, OUT OF MY BATHROOM!"
What on Earth was that imbecile using his bathroom for? He had his own, though much more simpler and smaller, still one of his own.
The large, pale hand slapped down once more, only this time onto something soft and malleable.
"OW!"
Draco blinked twice and stared at Makoto, who was standing on the other side of the door with one of his fluffy green towels around her middle.
"That hurt you, dork!" Makoto whined, cupping her bruising chest.
The slightly chafed girl continued to mutter some curses under her breath, massaging the sore out of her bosom as she stepped out of the bathroom.
It took Draco a moment to recover from the fact the sick girl who had kept him in lala land all day was standing in the middle of his room, getting dressed and seeming perfectly fine.
Zillions of questions flew through his mind but he quickly pushed it aside realizing that his Mako was fine and that's all that matters.
He slowly stepped up behind her, slipping around her still towel clad form and drawing it near against his chest. She blinked a bit and tilted her head up to peer into a pair of icy blue eyes.
"I have to get dressed, bunny-poo." She said with a little smile, sticking her tongue out at the end and fluttering it between her lips.
He smiled and laughed to himself, bending down and placing a tender kiss onto her forehead.
"I missed you." He murmured soon after, shutting his eyes and letting out a breathy sigh.
Makoto murmured a little aww before turning around and wrapping her arms around him, pushing herself onto her tippy toes and gently pecking his nose with a kiss.
"I missed you too."
They remained in that embrace for quite some time, relishing in their embrace and just allowing the atmosphere to envelope them.
Makoto suddenly detached herself from his hold, grabbing her clothes and ambled over back to the bathroom.
"Hey..HEY!" he calls after her, "Where are you going?"
Makoto pauses at the doorway, leaning against the doorframe and giving her boyfriend a skeptical look.
"To get dressed and don't even bother offering to help me."
"But I do get the clothes off," Draco reasons with a smirk, eyes glinting and Makoto just rolls her eyes, trying to stifle down a laugh.
She rolls her eyes and steps into the bathroom, shutting the door. Just before it shuts, she pops her head out and smiles a little.
"Yes, you do get them off, and rather fast at that. BUT I never seem to get them back on."
"Oh go get a room you guys." Harry drawled, rolling his eyes as Hermione, Ron and he strolled down to the cafeteria.
Ron and Hermione separated from their lip lock and placed a queer stare onto their companion.
"Oh I wouldn't be talking Harry, not after last night." Ron teased which caused the dark-haired boy's face to become as red as a tomato.
"Oh Ron, leave Harry alone. Him and Cho look adorable together!" Hermione squealed with a smile, clasping her hands together and swooning slightly.
Harry groaned and walked a few feet ahead of them, shoulders slumping foreword as he tried to hide the huge blush on his face. He didn't get that far when a,
"Harry! I've been looking everywhere for you!"
He blinked a bit, straightening and turning his head slightly, just in time to see his newly established girlfriend amble out of the shadows. She smiled kindly at him, pushing herself on her toes to place a kiss onto his burning red cheek. At that she blinked, face all but concerned.
"You feel hot hunnie, do you have a fever?"
"Oh, no no. Just had a quick run." Harry fibbed, ignoring the sudden oddly loud coughs erupting from behind him, from his best friend Ron no less.
She nodded and slipped her arm around his middle, quickly melting to his frame.
"So, whatcha need any who? Not that I mind you scouring the school for me," he murmured with a smile, fiddling with his spectacles.
"Oh…well, you'll see soon enough," she said, smiling in a mysterious little way.
He blinked and looked down at her with a questioning stare, an eyebrow quirked. The slight Chinese girl only shrugged, eyes twinkling with something that of 'I-know-something-you-don't-know'.
They remained silent the rest of the walk and finally reached the arch-way of the main hall, where it was oddly empty.
"We're early or late?" Hermione asked to no one in particular, assuming a faintly confused visage.
"We couldn't possibly, it's deathly quite." Ron answered with a shake of the head, tilting his head back to see if anyone was behind them. No one was.
Unknown to the three Gryffindors, the dark-haired girl at Harry's side burst out into a devious little grin.
"Oh well, let's go." She insisted, tugging at Harry's arm and leading them in.
Hermione let out a little gasp while the boys at her side just gapped. The luncheon hall was full with all the students, sitting idly in their respective seats and staring at him. It was decorated the same, though the table cloths more elaborate and draperies and wall-tapestries hanging about in great festoons. At the very end of the long hallway sat a row of six cathedra chairs, the one in the center raised higher and more elaborate compared to the rest. There was a thick, tawny yellow banner draped above the chairs, the words 'Happy 18th Birthday Harry!' written across in neat, bold red script.
Cho suddenly stepped back, whirling around and standing in front of the entire school, arms spreading wide.
"SURPRISE! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" everyone cried in unison, Cho leading them.
A few shakes of his head and Harry stepped foreword, throwing his arms around his girlfriend and swinging her around in the air.
"You didn't have to do this for me Cho," he murmured into her hair, "But thank you none the less."
"Oh don't thank me," she was saying as she grabbed his hand and lead him to the Gryffindor table.
"Look at all this work you did, of course Harry would thank you!" Hermione piped up.
"Especially with these little cakes," Ron suddenly added as he stared at the small, white frosted cake placed on his dinner plate.
Harry and Hermione groaned as they rolled their eyes and turned to look at Ron oddly.
"All you ever think about is food Ron," Hermione grumbled under her breathe, Harry nodding in agreement.
The Weasley whined and picked up the plate, shoving it into their faces.
"Look at that! It's personalized and everything!" he defended with his cheeks puffing.
"Oh no no! I didn't do the cakes, I helped out with decoration and getting you here and stuff. She did the cakes." Cho explained and the three looked up at her with an odd stare.
"Who's she?"
And right then the girl in question stepped out of the shadows, arms outstretched for a hug.
"Happy birthday Harry!" Makoto exclaimed as she embraced the tall boy.
"Mako! What are you doing here?" Ron asked shocked, rubbing his eyes a few times to make sure he was looking at Makoto.
Hermione swung around to give the boy a reproachfully glare, leaning back and stomping down hard onto his foot. This caused him to howl in pain, clutching to his injured appendage and hopping around on the other foot.
"I'll have to amputate this foot by the end of the year!" Ron cries with tears gathering at the edges of his eyes. Hermione sighs, saying "I don't hit you that hard.", before turning about to face Makoto, face all bright smiles.
"We're glad to see you're doing well!" she proclaims happily, stepping foreword to hug the taller girl.
Makoto releases a breathy sigh and hugs her back, face suddenly blanking out.
"It's good to be back….good to be back…"
After the hug, there was a period of awkward silence where everyone just stared at each other. Makoto shook herself out of it, smiling slightly.
"Well you guys go eat and DON'T eat the cake yet," Makoto commanded, whirling her scolding glare onto Ron.
"And I mean it Ron."
The pale, lanky boy heaved an offended gasp, frowning and stomping his foot.
"WHY DOES EVERYONE LOOK AT ME WHEN THEY SAY THAT?"
"Cause you're a bottomless pit, almost just as bad as Goyle."
The little group looked up to see no other then Draco standing there, smirking faintly and dressed in a pair of loose fitting blue jeans and long-sleeved white sweater type shirt, loose and baggy, the hem reaching about to mid-thigh.
His remark would have came off as a biting insult if had put the usual tone behind it., this time coming off as a friendly joke.
"Eh…tis true." Ron murmured with a sheepish grin, rubbing the back of his neck slightly.
Draco and Makoto fell off to the side a little, Harry and the others starting up a different conversation.
Blue-eyes studied Makoto's frame, dancing with enjoyment as they traced over her tantalizing outfit. Her shirt was a form-fitting, peach colored shirt with strap-like sleeves, one of them constantly slipping off her right shoulder. A short, tight denim skirt that fell just around mid-thigh encased her hips, riding low and exposing just the tops of her pink underwear. Her curls were pulled back into its traditional high pony-tail and matching pink flip-flops encased her feet.
"You know," he suddenly started, licking his lips slightly, "I should have INSISTED on dressing you earlier."
Makoto laughed hard, punching him in the gut. He took it with stride, grinning like a fool and throwing his arm around her shoulders.
"Hey, just trying to lend a friendly hand."
The party was in full swing and the hallways of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry were filled with music, clapping, laughter, and chatter. Even brooding old Snape was feeling the mood, laughing uproariously about one of Flitwick's anecdotes.
The birthday boy in question sat in the center of a group of friends, arguing with no other than Draco Malfoy on who's turn it was to sing. Touya had arrived a little later with a karaoke type machine he had purchased from a store in Hogsmeade.
"It may be your birthday but it does not mean I will let you take my turn after singing three times already, Potter." Draco snapped, a familiar edgy, coldness returning to his tone.
"Oh stop being a party pooper Malfoy, so what if it's his fourth turn, it is his birthday!" Hermione intervened, taking a sip of her butterbeer.
"How about," Cho followed, tapping her chin with the tip of her finger as her face contorted with deep contemplation.
"You both sing." Little Sakura suddenly added, pulling out another mic and handing it to Draco.
"A competition?" Ron stupidly mumbled, voice slightly muffled as his face was buried in the thick mane of Hermione's hair.
The congregation of friends let out groans and loud exclamations as the two arch rivals suddenly agreed, snatching a mic and flipping open the song book. They both tried to look at it, each of them pushing at the other for a better look.
"I wanna sing number 236." Harry suggested but Draco blanched, tongue sticking out.
"Kai? I don't think so. How about number 190?"
Harry frowned at that.
"I don't like Rufio."
"Grr…what about this?" Draco heaved, pointing at somewhere in the book. Harry leaned in, adjusting his glasses to get a better look.
Surprisingly, he didn't blanch.
"Yeah."
They slammed the book shut before anyone could see, turning around and typing the combination into the machine. With that accomplished the two enemies stepped onto the stage in front of the school, gaining the attention of the entire student body while doing so.
They all watched as the Gryffindor and Slytherin murmured something amongst themselves, Harry laughing, that's right LAUGHING at something Draco had just said. The other boy grinned and then motioned towards mini-screen where the song title and song artist blinked onto the screen, "The Rock Show by Blink 182."
Harry started off, singing loud and proud, hitting each note to key.
"…I'm kinda nervous, cause I think all her friends hate me. She's the one, she'll always be there. She took my hand and I made it I swear!"
Then Draco joined.
"Because I fell in love with the girl at the rock show. She said "WHAT?" and I told her that I didn't know. She's so cool, better sneak in through her window. Everything's better when she's around. Can't wait until her parents go out of town. I fell in love with the girl at the rock show!"
The two boys caused quite the show, the students laughing hard and clapping, singing and cheering them on.
"Yeah Draco!" Makoto suddenly called, grinning wide and flashing him a pink head band with fuzzy bunny ears attached.
Makoto and Cho giggled, pointing at their boyfriends and whispering something between each other. The two said boyfriends took notice of this and exchanged looks before nodding and grinning.
"Everything's better when she's around…" Harry droned as he stepped off the stage, Draco in foot.
"…until her parents go out of town…" Draco sang with a grin as he approached Makoto in a very predatory manner.
"Oh no…" Cho mumbled eyes wide with mortification as she realized what they were doing.
Makoto shook her head and slowly eased herself out of her chair, Cho doing the same but it was too late. The nimble teens were quick to capture them in a hold, one hand locking solidly around their waists and drawing their backs to their chests.
"Black and white picture of her on my wall." Both boys cried in unison, holding back the girls who tried feebly to escape.
"I waited for her call, she always kept me waiting. And if I ever got another chance I'd still ask her to dance. Because she kept me waiting."
"Draco Lucius Alfred Malfoy, you let me go this damn instant!" Makoto tried to sound firm but it came out in a whine, her cheeks growing hot with chagrin as everyone pointed at them.
They continued the song, suddenly swinging their girlfriends around and swaying them to the beat. The girls squeaked with shock as they were swung about then pulled back, only to be twirled around.
The song finally finished and the teens received a standing ovation, students clapping and cheering enthusiastically.
"Way to go!"
"Encore! Encore!"
"I cannot believe you did that!" Cho mumbled helplessly, hiding her face in Harry's shirt for refuge.
Harry laughed, murmuring his apologies before turning his head to look at Draco with a teasing glint in his blue-eyes.
"I can't believe Malfoy's middle name is Alfred!"
Draco scowled and glared down at his girlfriend with an embarrassed blush cross his cheeks.
Makoto giggled nervously as she suddenly wrenched away from Draco's hold and backed away slowly.
"Uh well yeah…ahem…uhhm…" she stammered and Draco just shook his head, approaching her.
"Mako…" he started and that just caused Makoto to release another nervous giggle.
"Uh..yes dear?" she murmured sweetly, pushing on the sugar and rocking back on her heels, smiling wide.
"Did I mention I love you baby?"
But Draco just shook his head with a 'it-won't-work' smirk.
"Makoto, Makoto, Makoto…" he repeated scolding, wagging a finger in her face and she blanched somewhat.
"Draco, Draco, Draco…later!"
With that she spun her heel and made a mad dash, Draco her heel screaming "You can't escape!"
Harry and Cho shook their heads and laughed, walking off to join their friends for refreshments. But unknown to them, a pair of icy-grey eyes watched them with a deadly glint.
Yeah. :
