Summery: Draco decides to stay away from Harry for their last year at Hogwarts. But being separated from him finally makes Draco realize how much he cares for the depressed Gryffindor.
Disclaimer: As much as I would love too, I do not own anything that has been previously mentioned in The Harry Potter Books, which is very unfortunate for me.
The Tale of a Dragon
Ch5: Blood Is Thicker Then Water
"Good morning class."
"Hi Professor Fable."
"Excellent, you managed not to sound like mindless drones, congratulations." The class laughed at their new teacher. Today she was wearing black velvet pants, a white shirt and purple lace robes with the occasional light blue velvet flower attached to it.
Draco, despite having a massive headache, had decided to drag himself to class to see what the fuss was about. The Slytherins had been talking non-stop about Fable, saying that she was even better then Lupin (none of them were happy to see him go, but, of course, they would never have admitted that to anyone). So after brewing and forcing down a potion that deadened his enhanced sense of hearing and smell, he was now sitting in the back of the Defence Against the Darkarts classroom, as close to the door as possible.
His superior eyesight noticed Fables nose-stud for the first time. It was a small star made out of a carved sapphire with bronze around the edges. He was surprised that he could see it in so much detail from the other side of the room.
"Today we will be doing written work." The class groaned. "Yes I know, I know, but we have to. It's part of the requirements to do some written work this year. Everyone take out a quill, ink and parchment so we can get this done as soon as possible."
Everone did as they were told.
"Ok people, write this down" (another groan), Fable cleared her throat to show that she was getting annoyed with their attitude and words appeared on the board. 'To defeat ones enemy, you must first know their weaknesses and other information about them.'
"That is your heading thingy. It's not much of a heading, but it's the only think I can think of." A few people chuckled. "Today we are going to learn about Tom Marvolo Riddle." Everyone looked confused at this. "Tom was a half blood, with a witch mother and a muggle farther, who he was named after. Tom's dad left his wife when he found out of her magical, tendencies, without the knowledge that she was pregnant. She died giving birth to Tom and he was sent to go to an orphanage by his father. Tom killed his father when he was sixteen." Everyone started muttering to the others around them. "Now, that's all I'm going to tell you. Your homework if to find out everything about Tom Marvolo Riddle, as well as the name he is using now. I'll give you a hint. I will be very pleased if you can come up the front and tell us his name. Class dismissed."
'Well that was short. That homework's doesn't sound too difficult.'
"Mr Malfoy, can I have a word"
Draco stopped in the doorway and went over to his teacher's desk.
"I was just wondering where you've been for all my classes. Care to put me out of my misery… That's an expression by the way."
"I wasn't feeling well." It came out snappier then it meant it too.
Fable raised an eyebrow, the expression on her face clearly saying that she didn't believe him"Well next time got a note from Madam Pomfrey. Mr Malfoy… Can I call you Draco" he nodded. "Draco. I advise not making lying a habit in my class. I'll let this slide but only once, but I don't want it happening again."
Draco decided to agree. There was something about her that gave him the impression that she could be extremely powerful when she wanted to.
Draco woke from a light sleep by the sound of the bell that signalled it was time for lunch and that his History of Magic class was finally finished. He made his way into the hall and sat down at the Slytherin table and was about to reach for his cutlery when he withdrew his hand as it reflect light into his eyes and he saw that it was silver.
He was starting to hate that colour very quickly. He had skipped breakfast to make the potion and was now regretting it, so he would have to stay hungry until he could afford to skip another class and head down to the kitchens… Where ever they were.
After sitting in silence for a while, the potion suddenly wore off and the new smells and sounds almost knocked him off his seat.
Blaze was sitting opposite Draco, talking in hushed voices to someone beside him, and didn't notice Draco as this happened. Now his lowered voice, almost a whisper, was like shouting in Draco's ears. If Draco hadn't known his hearing would improve, he might have thought everyone was using a sonorus spell.
All the aromas of over a thousand different foods wafted through his sinuses and it took every bit of energy he could muster to stop himself gagging. The worst smell was the ones he could pick out on the people. It was a horrible mix of over a hundred different shampoos, conditioners, perfumes, deodorants, soaps and the smell of those who didn't use any of the five fragrant products mentioned. He could even smell the washing powder smell used on their robes.
As far as Draco was aware there was only one person he knew who could teach him get used to all this, and to teach him control his senses at will. And as much as he didn't want to admit it, he really did needed help.
Lying in the hospital wing, in a private room away from prying eyes, was none other then Remus John Lupin. In his sleep-like state he was oblivious to what the weather was like, what went past his window, what was forced down his throat or who was sitting in the chair next to him with their knees to their chest, and blonde hair uncharacteristically messed up.
A knife lay was balanced on Draco's knees as he watched it glisten. It was silver so Draco had put four dragon skin gloves between it and his robes, yet he could still feel it burning his skin.
He put his tongue between his teeth (which seemed like a good idea at the time) and grabbed the knife with his right hand. He bit his tongue so he wouldn't scream at the pain and the smell of burning flesh. The knife, guided by his hand, dug into his left wrist.
This time Draco did cry out, as tears of pain ran down his face and he bit a chunk of his tongue off by accident. By now it felt like his right hand was in flames and his left hand was being burnt from the inside, out.
It was an amazing feet that, through the blinding pain he still had the right mind to move his wrist over the small cauldron that contained a metallic yellow potion so his blood would drip into it. With jerky motions, Draco let go of the knife so it fell to the floor leaving a smear of blood where it landed.
With his vision slipping in and out of focus, he poured the yellow and red liquid down his ex-professor's throat, then rubbing his Edams apple to make him swallow the stuff.
Draco had been learning how to become an animagus and he figured now was the best time to try the transformation, because he was about to pass out and he didn't want to be found looking so weak. He closed his eyes and he felt himself shrinking. He didn't bother to find a mirror to see what animal he was. All he knew was that he was a lot closer to the ground, he felt long and he walked on four feet. He scurried over to the bed and was only just able to get into the shadows before he collapsed.
"But how Albus? There couldn't be another Werewolf in the castle, could there? I'm the only one. It's impossible."
Draco opened his eyes when he heard the Lupin's voice.
"I don't know if there is another Werewolf in the castle, but it definitely seems like it." This voice belonged to Dumbledore. No one else sounded that old. "But the question we must ask ourselves is: Why did he want to revive you"
"Not to mention" Aha! There was no mistaking that voice. It's Snape's. "That said Lycan used a silver dagger as it was specified in the book. Therefore he wouldn't have been able to get very far as he would be extremely weak."
Draco scoffed. 'Yeah, that would be the reason why I'm hiding, idiot.' Draco sneezed violently because of the dust that was surrounding him.
He tried to breath through his mouth, but it didn't work. He didn't hear the next part of the conversation because he had been having a sneezing fit. When he moved over to a less dusty part, he cursed at the high-pitched tone of his sneezes and pleaded to no one in particular that he hadn't turned into the one animal that he utterly despised.
"It might be Mr Potter, he's been acting very strangely lately."
"Poppy, he lost his Godfather, of course he's acting differently."
"Plus there's the Prophecy he's obviously been thinking about."
'Prophecy?'
"I still find it hard to believe Sybill actually made a prophecy… A real one."
The conversation trailed off and the ground vibrates softly as they left. The bed sagged and the springs squeaked as someone (presumably Lupin) lay down, letting it take his weight.
Draco made a mental not to owl his father as soon as he got out of the hospital wing.
At the moment he was feeling slightly dizzy from blood loss and he stumbled out from under the bed and called out to the fellow Werewolf.
"Hey! Down here" unexpectedly, it came out in English and in the same deep voice that he had as a human, except quieter.
The bed creaked as a sickly face covered in scars, with now almost completely grey hair, looked over.
"Oh" Lupin was slightly surprised; it showed on his face. "Hello" He grabbed Draco the animal up and looked into his eyes. "Did you just speak English" Draco nodded weakly and Lupin's eyebrows went together as he thought. "You'd be an Animagus then. Yes" Another nod. "Can you change back" This time he shook his head.
Lupin grabbed his wand and pointed it at Draco. Blue light and white light mixed together and Draco felt it was no use struggling against it as it changed him back into his human form.
"Mr Malfoy! I should of known. Who else would have been a ferret"
"I knew it. Of all the animals I had to be, it had to be a bloody ferret." He was trying to sound angry, but was failing miserably; he was too light-headed to put any effort into it. Lupin looked Draco up and down his eyes lingered on his wrist and hand. He put two and two together.
"Wait here." Lupin got off the bed and Draco fell forward, burying his face into the pillow.
Lupin came back a few minutes later with several vials of different potions, a bandage and a bowl filled with Essence of Murtlap. He soaked the bandage in the Murtlap before wrapping it around Draco's bleeding wrist and guiding his other hand into the bowl. Draco forced down the potions and felt his head clearing.
"Thanks Professor."
"I assume it was you who finished the potion off for me."
"Yeah" he smirked"I hope you don't mind."
"No, not at all." There was a silence where each were consumed in their own thoughts. "How long"
"About two and a half weeks. I slept through almost all of it."
"How have you been coping"
"It's hard sometimes, but I'll live. I hope I do anyway." Draco felt at ease with his former professor now. It was hard to explain, but Draco felt that if he couldn't trust Lupin then he couldn't trust anyone.
"You should if you learn how to handle it."
"Don't you want to ask me why I revived you"
Lupin sighed and sat down in the chair Draco had sat on before. "Well, I have to admit, I am curious. Helping people isn't really like you."
"HOW WOULD YOU KNOW! YOU DON'T KNOW ME"
"Clam down Mr Malfoy. I didn't mean to offend you."
"Well you did, so next time just keep your mouth shut"
"Take a deep breath and relax. You are doing what my friend used to call 'wolfing out'. Here." He handed Draco a mirror and he snatched it off him. Draco stared at himself. His eyes were a sharp amber colour.
"F-." He muttered his under his breath so the older man wouldn't hear him. Unfortunately he forgot about Werewolf hearing and Lupin frowned, but said nothing. "I woke you up because… I need… Help."
"A Malfoy just asked for help. I must still be dreaming." Draco scowled. "Ok, Ok, I'll stop. I can teach you how to block out your senses. It will be difficult."
Draco nodded and urged his on to continue as he pushed him self up into a sitting position so he could listen better.
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