Goodbye to You
By Cherished Dreams
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. I do not own the song.
II. The Ghosts
Draco slumped in the high back chair, twirling the liquor within the glass, in his hand. He watched the fire crackle softly in front of him. News had been relayed back to the Malfoy Manor after last month's attack at the wizarding communities in East Sussex. His father had been killed by Sirius Black. And he didn't know what to feel. It had been six years since he had really felt anything.
He had become a Death Eater just after he had graduated from Hogwarts. He had been forced by his father, into the 'organization'. But now that he was gone, he didn't know what he was going to do. He had always hoped that one day he could do as he pleased, and help others. He conducted assigned missions with Pansy, Crabbe and Goyle, which were given by the dark lord himself. They had raided many mixed blooded, muggle supporters, and.. muggle witch and wizard homes.
He closed his eyes; he did not want to think about that at the moment. He didn't want to think about all the innocent lives that were tortured and killed. Just because of something that wasn't their fault. He snapped open his eyes and shook his head of his thoughts. He stood angrily and threw the liquor glass that he was holding into the fire place, and watched as the liquor as it made the fire blaze angrily.
Walking over to the fireplace, he leaned on the mantle for support. He seriously needed to sleep. He longed for sleep to take over him, and dream of nothing. But that would not happen. He didn't have a dreamless potion nearby whenever handy or needed. So he made haste of his nights writing endless amounts of information and creating curses, which he might need in the future.
He sighed, and stared into the fire. He always hated when October came into view. He would deliberately do something wrong in front of his father's eyes, wishing to be punished, and his father had always obliged. But even after the large number of unforgivable curses, hexes and such he had received from his father; he could not help but still feel guilty for his past mistakes.
And the reason he could not feel free of his guilt and not sleep for long at night was because of the eyes. Those brown eyes that had fire in blazing within them, haunting him for what he had done in the past. Back then, they were always filled with determination, love, warmth and hope. But his dreams would show him, scarlet liquid on his hands and those same eyes filled with fire, but this time, they were fueled by anger, directed solely on him.
And then memories would fill his mind. Joyful moments with the owner of those eyes, which made him feel even guiltier than he was already feeling.
Closing my eyes and
You chase my thoughts away
He heard a soft click and he swiftly took out his wand from his robe pocket and directed it at the door. Narcissa stood there nonchalantly standing her ground, her face filled with love and sadness for her son. He lowered his wand and his mother made his way across the room to him.
She placed a slender hand on his cheek and his eyes softened at sign of affection from his mother. He nuzzled his cheek closer to it. His mother smiled her beautiful smile, one that he had only seen on rare occasions before. "Draco.." She started softly, "you should go to him."
To a place where I am blinded by the light
But it's not right
He blinked at her words and stared at her. How could she..? "There are secrets that even you cannot hide from me, my son." She dropped her hand and embraced him as tight as her frail body could. He breathed in his mother's scent, and held her close. She smelt of the sweet scent of roses and watermelons. How she could smell so good, he did not know. She smelt faintly like.. At that moment, she released him and looked up into her son's grey eyes. "You are so handsome." He grinned softly, and she snapped her fingers.
A small house elf, not dressed in rags but in suitable clothing, appeared. He smiled at his kind mistress and at his master, and presented his broom to him. The light from the fire made the Lightning Bolt's black wood coat shine. Draco smiled at the house elf, thanked him and took the broom from him before he disappeared again.
His mother had once again taken over the Manor's up keeping, while he took over their stocks and assets that were scattered all over the world. His mother seemed happy to be doing something in her own home again, besides cowering in the shadows, from her husband. The mansion was renovated, and the place seemed more inviting and bright. The dungeons were replaced with house elf quarters, where they lived and spent their leisure time entertaining themselves.
His mother draped a warm riding robe over his broad shoulders. He stared at her hard, and she smiled softly but happily saying, "You are free at last Draco." She waved a hand at the two French doors that opened to a balcony and they slowly opened, revealing the silver moon half hidden by clouds and glistening white snow.
Her eyes seemed like life was sparking within them once again. It had been so long since he had seen that spark and he hoped that it would stay from then onwards. Through the years she would tend to the wounds that his father had inflicted on him. He, of course, beat her too for being so soft on him, blaming her for their son's flaws and wrong doings.
Her eyes, though through beatings and such, were red, puffy and filled with fear, had returned to those that he remembered when she used to look at him as a small boy. He noticed that the pride, determination and warmth that had vanished due to his father's rage had sparked up within her again and they showed greatly in her crystal blue eyes. They made her look less vulnerable.
He looked at her in silent awe. He didn't think he could have survived this far without her. He couldn't live without her.
I still get lost in your eyes
And it seems that
I can't live a day without you
Images flashed in his mind suddenly and his hand shot up to his head. His mother's happy expression disappeared and she took out her wand pointing at him, she muttered a few strange words over and over again. She glowed a light blue. Her glow covered him and he felt the images leave his mind. She held him close. "You need to go now Draco." The images were starting to terrify him, and he nodded.
He embraced her again, and walked to the balcony. Finally with one last glance at his mother, he mounted his broom and flew towards the place where he had first sensed freedom from his father's wrath, Hogwarts. He heard the doors close behind him. He stopped and hovered for a moment in the sky and cast an unplottable spell on the house. Satisfied, he flew on towards the tiny castle just in front of him. He predicted that it would take an hour or so to get there.
The moon was still peeping from the clouds up high in the sky illuminating the beautiful white snow that fell gently from the clouds in the sky. The white snow had covered the whole mansion and it looked beautiful. Winter had seemed came early, bringing the cold white snow with it. He frowned, but snow had always appeared around the early weeks of November. Snow was cold.
The voice that he had loved so much in his mind, called out,
You're so cold.
He felt a sudden pain within him again, but it left as fast as it came. His breathing became rugged, white puffs of air forming in front of him. His body had become ridged, and his fingers were stiff. Using his wand, he placed a warmth charm over him. His tense muscles became relaxed again as he let the warmth take over him. He was getting closer to Hogwarts, and he grinned before speeding off towards it. It didn't take long before he reached the castle. He landed down on the soft snow that had covered the Quidditch field.
He slowly planted his feet on the white snow, holding his broom. The snow crunched under his boots and he winced at the sound of it. He stood there for a few moments staring at the castle he had once called home during his schooling of seven years. It still stood tall and magnificent, just like the first time he had seen it.
He looked up and surveyed the area around him, and spotted the Slytherin quidditch viewing box. He mounted his broom again and flew up. Talking could wait until later. He would understand. Too many years had passed, before he had returned to this school. And he knew the reason why. To face his past again, would be murder. Too much had happened, good.. and bad. He had sacrificed the comfort of this place, the Quidditch field, because he used to fly here. With her.
"We'll be free one day.."
Thoughts and images ran through his mind again, with such ferociousness that he bent down clutching his head tight. He had to bite his bottom lip to keep himself from screaming out in pain. No unforgivable -- save avada kedavra, he hadn't experienced that -- that he had received from his father or otherwise, felt this bad.
He saw her, as beautiful as ever in her emerald green robes, on the day of their graduation ball. He felt the softness of her soft porcelain skin. He saw the raw, untainted passion of love behind her brown eyes. Then with an abrupt flash of red, he saw red. Scarlet blood on his hands. A body in front of him. Red hair. He saw her unblinking eyes, still full of fear and shock.
Dead.
He saw brown eyes again. But this time instead of seeing raw love, he saw resentment, shock and pure anger directed solely towards him. He felt the anger radiate off her when they passed each other. She resented him for what had happened. Angry for trusting him -- he knew. He heard her words, spoken quietly --as if she was keeping herself from lashing out at him-- not knowing how much those words hurt him so. He never thought that after hearing those three words so many times, that it would hurt even more coming from her.
"I hate you."
He let out a stifled cry, and he let himself fall to the wooden floor. The pain suddenly stopped, and he panted, letting out small puffs of air. He was worn out and he felt his usually tense muscles, relax. He pulled himself onto the bench, and dusted off the snow that attached itself onto his robes. He sighed.
Hermione
He wondered how she was, how she did over the past years. She wondered how many times, she comforted her friends, and how many times she cried. Cried for the unforgivable thing that he did. He wondered, what she would do if she saw him again. If it would still be anger and hate directed towards him or not. He wondered if she had moved on. He asked himself these things so many times, never once getting an answer. His talks with Severus, were always short and there were never any mention of Hogwarts or her. He wondered if he knew.
He stood up from the bench, feeling strength come back to his muscles. He should go talk to him now. But something compelled him to stay. His feet were stayed where they were, rooted to the white wooden floor. He heard a familiar swoosh, and his head turned swiftly to the source. He watched a rider on their broomstick, do twists and turns and -admittingly- many feints that he could not possibly do. He was impressed.
"I love you.."
She had said those words with great passion as they flew in the air and out of sight from others. He remembered. They used to fly free from their responsibilities, allowing their wild and untamable passion and emotion absorb them freely. They disregarded their life on the ground, the prejudice and morals their magic and kind brought upon them.
The mystery rider stopped abruptly in mid-air, in the sky. The clouds disappearing, allowing them both the sight of the magnificent velvety black, blue sky, covered with stars. He held his broom tightly, when he noticed them watching him. The mystery rider, descended, but had trouble controlling their broom.
He gripped onto his broom, then after another heartbeat mounted his broom, and willed it to the speed faster to the falling rider. He reached them, and caught the figure in his arms just before it fell to cold hard ground. The mysterious rider's hood fell back, and when he saw their face, the hairs on the back on his neck stood up.
A/N: Will be continued.. ;D Please review and tell me what you think.. Its really nice to know that the stories that you're writing is being appreciated, read or otherwise.. :S thankies none the less.. Butter beer for everyone who reviews this chapter coz.. this chapter was hard to write..
Song: "Goodbye to You" by Michelle Branch
