A/N:
Thanks for the reviews, people! And also thanks to those who put me on their Author Alter and favourites lists, too! My counter was definitely lacking in that department. You don't know how happy you make me with that! Thanks!
And now, go on, read the chapter, enjoy, review!
Chapter 13 - Things We Said Today
The next day Rhiannon was permitted to leave the Hospital Wing again. She was still pale but looked better than before. Draco and Tracy came to fetch her and since it was a weekend they spent the rest of the morning in the Common room, playing Exploding Snap.
At lunch they were in a good mood and joking around with various people. Tracy and Mark went for a walk around the Hogwarts grounds after that and left Rhiannon and Draco to themselves.
As soon as they were out of sight Rhiannon's mood dropped. It had been easy to shut out her talk with Rowena when she was occupied with other activities, but now she was alone with Draco. Silence was bound to come up sooner or later.
"We can go to my room once we're finished with eating," offered Draco.
"Okay, I think I'm finished anyway. What about you?" Draco also sat in front of an empty dish. "I'm just asking in case you want a second helping."
"No, I'm full." He stood up, Rhiannon followed suit. Once they were outside the hall and walking to the Slytherin's rooms Draco took her hand. Instantly Rhiannon felt bad. It had occurred to her that she would need to talk with Draco about what Rowena had told her - as soon as possible. But he looked happy. He had done so ever since she had left the Hospital Wing and she hated to spoil it for him.
In Draco's room the fireplace was already lit and they both sat down on the sofa. Draco put his arms around her in a possessive embrace and tucked her head under his chin. From this position Rhiannon could her the soft, steady beating of his heart and it calmed her down.
They would go through this together - he had promised her that.
"Draco," she said gently. "What will do after we've defeated Lord Voldemort?"
"Get married," he replied equally gentle and kissed the top of her head. "And I'll clean the Malfoy name. I don't want you to have a tainted name and be labelled as evil as soon as someone hears the name. You're the most caring and nicest woman on this earth - you don't deserve that."
Rhiannon smiled up at him.
"Is that why you love me?" she asked, suppressing a wide grin.
"That and so much more that I can't even begin to explain." He kissed her again.
"I'm glad," she told him. "I would never have thought that there would be someone who cared so much about me. My nurses only told me I'd have to marry you, like it or not."
Rhiannon relaxed a bit more and the two remained like that for the better part of an hour without speaking a word.
"Draco," Rhiannon said finally. "About yesterday... I'm sorry I made you worry about me."
"You got well again, so it doesn't matter. Why were you there though, you didn't look ill the day before yesterday. And you were so strange during breakfast yesterday."
Rhiannon bit her lip and tensed.
"You remember that d'Arbanville held me back, yes? I thought about her and then Rowena came to help me. And then I remembered her. Draco, I..." To her surprise she felt tears welling up in her eyes. "I found out why I really was taken in by your parents. That d'Arbanville is... is my..."
She couldn't go on - now the tears ran freely and no matter how much she tried. Draco tightened his hold on her.
"She's related to you. Very closely. And you didn't know about it, believing everything my parents told you."
"What else could I do?" Rhiannon's voice had became high-pitched with desperation. "They were the only ones telling me something."
"You hate them," Draco noticed.
"Yes." Rhiannon's voice came out in a choked, bitter whisper and Draco couldn't blame her. Maybe he had once thought his father was the greatest person ever. Over the years it had only become clearer that he did not appreciate what his family had been doing. But these few seconds and Rhiannon's grief where the last straw.
"I'll renounce the Malfoy name. I don't want to be a part of them anymore. I'll make my money in an honest way."
Rhiannon rolled over in his arms and hugged him back. It didn't take more for Draco to convince him of her support.
Draco was close to falling asleep when someone knocked on his door. Carefully he stood up, not to wake Rhiannon, who had fallen asleep some time ago.
He went and opened the door, only to find Professor Snape standing in front of him.
"Sir? What is the matter?" asked Draco. Snape had never come to his room so far.
"Mister Malfoy, please, follow me. Your mother is waiting for you in my office," said Snape. Draco could only nod his consent, without truly realizing why his mother was at Hogwarts.
His surprise lingered until they reached the office of the Potions Master. His mother had never come to see him at Hogwarts before. Why was she doing it now? Unless something had happened to his father that she needed to tell him.
Snape opened the door and Draco stepped into the room. His mother sat in front of the desk, as cool and regal as ever, looking at him with a sharp glance. Draco always felt a little uncomfortable, whenever she looked at him like she was doing now.
"Hello," Draco said and after a bit of hesitation he added: "It's nice to see you, mother."
"Good afternoon, Draco," Narcissa a replied. "Professor Snape, would you please leave us alone for a little while?"
Snape nodded and closed the door. As soon as Narcissa was sure, that the door was really shut, she dropped her regal aura and smiled.
"Draco, it's good to see you again." She stood up and came over to him. "I'm afraid that it's not good news that I have to tell you, though."
"I thought you might say that," said Draco.
"Good, then I don't need to prepare you for it." Narcissa took a deep breath. Somehow this convinced Draco that something was up with his father. His mother wouldn't be so concerned otherwise. "The Death Eaters are going to attack Hogwarts."
For a few seconds Draco felt stunned. Attack Hogwarts? Then an other thought crossed his mind. "I'm not going to fight alongside them," he declared with determination. "If anything, I'm going to fight against them."
"I'm... surprised to hear that, Draco," his mother said, "I always thought the way your father educated you would make you support the Dark Lord readily."
"No, not anymore. I've changed my mind about it. And even you can't change it back again."
"I'm not going to tell you to change your mind again."
Now it was Draco's turn to be surprised. Hadn't his mother always supported how his father educated him?
Narcissa guessed what was going on in her son's mind.
"I was going to tell you to keep out of it," she told him. "You're my child, Draco. Every mother loves their children, no matter what they do or who they become. I only want to protect you. So, please, keep out of the fight - for my sake."
Draco saw the hope in his mother's eyes. Not fighting seemed like an acceptable choice. It seemed easy.
But he couldn't do it.
"No," he said finally. "I have to fight with Dumbledore - for the sake of someone else. She is more important to me than anybody else in this world."
"I see," Narcissa answered. "I hope she is worth it. I'd hate to lose you to someone who doesn't deserve you."
"She is worth it."
"Good, if you think you can protect her from your father and the Dark Lord I'm not going to do anything about her."
Draco lowered his head. He would never have thought his mother would be as supportive as this.
"Yes, mother. Thank you."