Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter's world. That is the property of JKR, a most talented woman. So, don't sue me.
Plot: Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger are normal talented wizards who, on their 16th birthdays, learn otherwise. They are now burdened with family secrets that no one can ever know. They return to Hogwarts and struggle to get their lives back on track. However, both vows to find out one another's secret when they notice something different about each other.
The Moon's Call
Chapter Sixteen
Dawn broke as he kicked over a man feebly crawling towards a dark corner of the courtyard. He couldn't see it, but he could feel it.
Dark storm clouds had gathered sometime during the night. They blocked the coming light. Thunder and lightning boomed and flashed, sending a second's light over the courtyard. It was enough, however, to see the man's slackened face, eyes wide in fear.
He growled deep, his chest vibrating with the force of it. MacNair wasn't so tough now.
Clutching the knife's leather-bound handle, he brought it swiftly down, burying it in MacNair's chest. MacNair's last breath rattled as it was released, eyes staring sightlessly.
The bastard had tried to knife him in the back as he physically fought with Bellatrix Lestrange. He'd seen at the corner of his eye Lestrange attack Hermione with a knife. He had turned and run at them both. Lestrange had knocked Hermione down on her knees and hit her. Hermione fell to the floor. Lestrange had raised the knife, silver gleaming as lightning flashed. He had tackled her, plowing her hand into the ground. The knife fell from her hand. Before Lestrange could do anything, he grabbed her by the head and twisted sharply.
Snap.
Lestrange relaxed in his hands. Then he'd felt something coming at his back and rolled away just as MacNair thrust the knife where he had been a second before, which now brought him to staring at MacNair's dead body.
"Blaise?"
He turned and saw Hermione rise from the flagstone. "Hermione, are you all right? She didn't cut you, did she?"
She shook her head. Hermione began to say "No, she just…" but trailed off when she saw Lestrange's body, her head at an awkward twist. She looked at him accusingly.
He shrugged. "She tried to kill you."
Hermione gazed long at Lestrange's body before she turned away deliberately. She walked carefully around a ruined stone bench and ran to him. He held out a hand to her, which she took and wound around her shoulders. He squeezed her gently to his side in a one-armed hug.
"You did what you had to, Blaise. I don't blame you." A long moment passed before she added, "I would have done the same, I think."
Blaise said nothing. He turned away from her, withdrawing his arm. The courtyard was a mess, riddled with blasted rock and charred marks…and bodies.
Some Death Eaters…some students.
He recognized Lavender Brown, Padma Patil, Theo Nott, Pansy Parkinson, Dean Thomas, Susan Bones, Seventh years he didn't recognize from the other Houses…there was far too many. He wondered what the damage was around the rest of the castle.
After Draco chased most of the Death Eaters away, another group came to reinforce the few that hadn't run away. They had rushed the line and broke through. A few had gone towards the windows and the rest went deeper into the castle. Blaise had sent some students down to the windows and more after the others. Then he had ordered the other students to come and take the doorway.
Potter stood by his decision and the rest followed. Then something happened by the front entrance. Potter mumbled something and ran in that direction.
Blaise didn't know what was happening at the front entrance, or what it was exactly Potter thought it was he was doing. Frankly, he didn't care. Too many people had died tonight.
And Draco…he never came back.
The courtyard was secured. That was the important thing. The fight was over. Professors were all over the castle, searching for any other intruders. No professors had come by the courtyard or windows, but he knew. He could hear them.
"Blaise? What about Draco?" Hermione asked.
He walked to the doorway, passing through the small dark corridor leading to the stone steps. He stopped and gazed into the forest. Hermione had followed him.
Where are you, Draco? Blaise thought. The trees moved in the wind. The lake showed ripples on the water. Nothing moved in the shadows.
"Why did he do it, Blaise? Why?" Her voice hitched.
He moved away from her slightly. His worry was slowly turning into something dark.
Hermione…she was special. He'd sensed something different about her the first time he saw her. She was stronger, harder. In all his years at Hogwarts, he watched others. He watched her sometimes in the Great Hall or during class. Comparing that girl with the Hermione of this year, she was different. The former was open and always laughing. The latter was secretive and spent more time by herself.
He had wanted her. Her scent was so different from the other girls. It was a heady scent of strawberry and pine. There was innocence in her eyes, but something shadowed it. He didn't think she did it consciously. When he actually spoke to her, she didn't seem upset over anything so much that it cast a shadow over her. Whatever it was, it was hidden even from her.
Blaise shook his head.
Hermione was the only girl he looked at in a serious way. A loyal sort of girl, one he could count on. She could have been his if not for Draco.
Draco.
He always got what he wanted, and if he didn't, he made damn sure no one else did.
Blaise shook himself. No, this was Draco. He may have been a jerk sometimes, but since coming into his werewolf heritage, he wasn't the same person at all. That had to count for something.
He had to find him. Blaise glanced behind his shoulder at Hermione. She was looking out at the forest, a worried frown on her face. He looked over her towards the castle. He heard the echo of voices saying the castle was secure.
It was safe.
Turning back, he started down the stone steps. He knew she would stop him, but he couldn't make himself tell her he was going to look for him.
"Blaise! Stop, where are you going?" Hermione yelled when she got over her shock. She ran down the stairs and grabbed hold of his wrist. "What are you doing?"
"I have to look for him." He shook her off.
"I'm coming with you, then." She went passed him, heading for the forest.
"Stay and protect her."
Blaise blinked and shook his head. "What? No, you are not coming with me, Hermione."
"Mia."
"What?"
"My name is Mia now, and it will be until we find him. Now, come on."
He stared at the back of her head for a moment before starting after her. "Herm—Mia," he hissed at her. "Wait! The castle may be safe, but the forest isn't."
She didn't pause for a second. Catching up to her, Blaise got in front of her. "We have to go quietly. Wands out now. Death Eaters may still be out there."
Mia huffed, but got her wand. "You are just like him."
"Yeah, yeah." Blaise brushed it off. He didn't like that she compared them just then. For some unexplainable reason, it didn't feel right, but then when would it?
They ran across the open hillside to the forest and stopped just inside the edge of the tree line. Blaise turned his head from side to side trying to get Draco's scent. He could smell the fresh washed scent of trees and earth. He could still catch the scent of water. Did he really think it would be easy to find Draco?
It would be dangerous, yes, but easy? He didn't think it would be. The forest was bursting with different scents. It wouldn't be long before one of the professors would notice they were missing. They had to find him.
Blaise looked down at the ground and shook his hand out. He hadn't realized he was clutching his wand so tight. "Her—sorry," he said quickly when her eyes narrowed. "Mia. We don't have much time to search. We'll have to split up if we want a decent chance of finding Draco."
"But you said—"
"I know what I said, Mia," he interrupted harshly. "But we're not going to have much time. It's our only choice."
Mia glanced around as if suddenly realizing they were in the Forbidden Forest. She bit her lip as she frowned. Blaise wondered if she even thought this far in her little plan to come with him to look for Draco, or if she even entertained the thought of splitting up. He knew he didn't until they were too far to turn back.
"What if I see Death Eaters?" she asked in a low voice.
Blaise smirked. "I trust your ability to use your wand. You can use it, can't you?"
The look she threw him was murderous. Blaise stepped back quickly. She growled, "Very funny."
He shrugged. "Or you could just scream. That'll bring me running."
Mia swung at him. She sighed. "Fine. We'll meet back here in ten minutes, Blaise." She moved off to the left and looked back. "Please be careful. Don't do anything rash."
"This is me, Mia. I wouldn't do anything rash now, would I?" he asked innocently.
She tilted her head to the side with a don't-try-to pull-one-over-me look. Laughter bubbled up inside him, but he kept it down. She'd never given him that look before. It felt…nice.
"Just be careful, will you?" she asked before turning and jogging away.
He shook his head at her and moved to his right before his gaze could move down to her, ah, lower back. That dress was riding up a bit, but he was too much of a gentleman to stare.
"Okay, Draco, where are you?" he whispered. Blaise weaved among the trees, following his nose. He climbed up a sudden rise in the ground and at the top, stopped in his tracks.
He asked himself why didn't he smell it before he saw it. The answer blew at his back. He was upwind of it. The sound of flies buzzing began to get at him. The whine of their flight was hitting his eardrums just right.
Death Eaters.
They were in a sort of circular dip in the land. It looked like they were surrounded when they died, and they died horribly. The look of terror on their faces was very telling. So, were the bolts sticking out of their chests, arms, and legs…
Centaurs.
He could see the imprints of their hooves going around the dip. Blaise couldn't even imagine how those wizards must have felt when they were surrounded, trapped.
A horrible thought occurred to him. Did they get Draco? Blaise struggled to keep his scent in mind especially when he went downwind of the carnage. He kept his ears open for the sound of hooves bearing down on him as well. Who knew if the centaurs were still around. He didn't want to take any more chances with his life than he already was. In fact, if the centaurs had taken care of the Death Eaters, that means the forest must be clear. However, what if they thought he was a Death Eater, or worse, if they knew he was a werewolf!
He quickened his step. The wind changed, bringing with it a whole new different set of scents.
Blaise took a moment to sift through them all. Something tickled at his nose. He pursued it, reached for it.
Draco!
Without a second thought, he ran in the direction of the new wind. It carried him further along and turned to the left. He lost it a couple of times, but backtracked and found it again. He moved in and out among the trees and found Draco's scent to be very strong. Blaise slid down a steep dip. Draco's scent was even stronger now.
He followed it, aware the trail was heading back to the edge of the forest.
A blood scent caught his attention and he hesitated. After a second or two, he turned and followed the blood trail only because Draco's scent was mixed in with it. That didn't make any sense, unless Draco turned at some point ahead and ended up near the blood.
Then he caught another scent that was very, very familiar and another scent that wasn't. The unfamiliar one was another wolf, but who? Had Draco run into trouble? As for the other scent…Blaise broke into a run and skidded to a stop when he saw the corpse lying there on the ground.
He couldn't move. It wasn't possible. Shock gave way to something else.
He felt violently sick.
Blaise stumbled back and turned away. He fell to his knees and retched. His stomach clenched and unclenched. His throat burned and his body felt weak.
Merlin, no…
Hot tears streaked down his face. Deep, shuddering sobs racked his body, weakening him even further. Blaise struggled to control himself. He glanced over his shoulder to make sure it was real, that this wasn't just a nightmare he had walked into, but it was real. It was truly real.
He was still there. His eyes were still half-closed, mouth gaping and covered in blood. His throat was still torn open, gristle and the shiny, white bone glistening. There were flies on him, too.
Blaise closed his eyes and vainly shook his head to brush away the image.
No. Please, not him. Not…his father.
His body reacted to this acknowledgment, shuddering with dry heaves. There was nothing left in his stomach.
Did Draco do this? Did he murder his father?
Stefano Zabini lay sprawled on his back.
Blaise rose unsteadily to his feet. Why didn't he Change? Why was he in human form? Why was Stefano here with the Death Eaters? His father hated Voldemort. As Blaise rounded his father's body, he leaned as close as he could to the wound and carefully scented it.
He breathed a sigh of relief when he did not detect Draco's scent anywhere near it. However, when Blaise passed Stefano's feet, he saw a clump of black fur clinging to the toe of Stefano's left boot. He snatched it and brought it up to his nose.
Draco's.
Blaise looked at his father with new eyes. Stefano would have known Draco was one of them. Why would he attack Draco?
Blaise looked around and saw paw prints—no, human tracks—going to a tree. He followed it closely and at the base of the tree he found an imprint of a wolf lying down. He crouched down and delicately traced the outline of a leg.
The tree gave off a peculiar scent. Taking a moment to place it, that slight scent of ozone, he remembered that's how apparating smelled like. Then it slowly dawned on him. Someone took Draco.
A breeze came, weaving its way past him. He smelled more blood. Blaise looked to his right and saw another body.
"AAAAH!"
Blaise jerked.
Mia.
He ran towards her. She screamed again. Blaise ran faster.
It seemed like hours before he reached her side. He slowed when he saw her.
She sat beside a large man, her small hand in his huge one.
"Is that Hagrid?" he asked, shocked. Sniffling, she nodded. Blaise added, "Is he alive?"
Mia shook her head fiercely. She visibly stiffened and straightened her spine. "They killed him with crossbows. They couldn't have done it otherwise with magic. His giant blood protected him against it. They had to get him another way to be sure he was dead."
Yes. The Gryffindor favorite was dead. His blood filled the air. The sound of a leathery snap had him swinging around. When he saw the dead white eyes of threstrals, he lowered his wand. Mia shifted and saw them as well.
Blaise held out his hand to her. "Come. Our time has run out. We must return to the school."
Still staring at the threstrals, she murmured, "No. I won't let them have him."
"Mia, please." Blaise felt his flesh creep as the threstrals meandered close to the big body. "We have to go."
"No, get away from him!" Mia cried. She jumped to her feet and waved her arms at the approaching creatures. They shied away from the quick movement, but soon resumed their careful advance.
Grabbing her arm, he spun her around to face him and shook her slightly. "Stop it, Mia. We have to go. The sooner we get to the castle, the sooner the professors can help him."
"But, Blaise—" She stopped when he began dragging her away from Hagrid's body. "Let go of me! I have to stop them."
"Come on then!" Blaise pulled her into a run.
"NO!" She hit him in the arm and tried to kick him.
"OW! Mia!" Blaise grabbed her other hand and tried to keep track of her feet. When she kicked him again, he swallowed a curse. She kicked him again and wrestled her right hand loose. Mia drew back and swung. Her fist hit him square in the jaw. Blaise grunted. He had never seen her fight so fierce.
There was only one thing to do. He didn't want to do it, but how else was he going to get her out of the forest?
He took a quick fortifying breath and looked at her. "Mia, I'm really sorry."
Blaise hit her. Mia crumpled, but he caught her before she hit the ground. Supporting her with one arm, he put her arm around his neck and stooped down to pick up her feet. Carrying her, he started to run in earnest for the castle.
They reached the edge of the forest and Blaise didn't hesitate to run into the open. He didn't care if there were Death Eaters hiding with their wands pointed at his back. Blaise had to get Mia away from that body. He ran up the stairs and nearly collided with Professor McGonagall in the doorway.
"Mr. Zabini!" Her gaze went to the limp girl in his arms. "What's happened to her?"
He scoffed. "I hit her." Her gaze sharpened dangerously. Before she could say anything, he said, "Professor Hagrid's dead. She found him in the forest. It…wasn't pretty. She wouldn't leave him."
"Hagrid? Dead?" The woman raised a trembling hand to her breast looking deeply shaken. For a second, Blaise felt vaguely sorry for her. She swallowed audibly and said, "Yes, I can see why you felt the need. Take her to the hospital wing."
Blaise nodded and passed her. Then he stopped and looked back. He had to say something else. "Professor, I've seen what became of the Death Eaters who fled into the forest. The centaurs have killed them. I'm not sure if Professor Hagrid met the same fate or if the Death Eaters were responsible for his death."
McGonagall nodded and waved him away. Blaise crossed the courtyard, which was blessedly devoid of the bodies of his fellow students. Some of the rubble had been cleared away, but the char marks were still there.
He passed some of his fellow Housemates, but didn't stop to exchange anything except a nod. He hurried by the Gryffindors, ignoring their shocked stares. He forced himself to keep his face blank and walk tall, as if carrying Mia was something he did all the time. He couldn't show anything on his face.
The hospital wing was a mess. Injured students aplenty, Madame Pomfrey had her hands full. Blaise saw no reason to get her harried attention. He spotted an empty bed tucked away in a corner and quickly claimed it. Laying her gently down, Blaise sat on the edge of the bed to keep watch over her. He brushed a lock of wayward hair away from her face.
"Zabini!"
He turned. Adrian Pucey stalked towards him. Just fucking great. What vengeful spirit allowed this asshole to live while others more deserving of life had died? Blaise rose from the bed and stood between Pucey and Mia.
"Pucey," Blaise nodded. Just looking at him was enough to make Blaise want to take him to the ground and beat him to death with a hospital tray.
"Where's Malfoy?"
"I don't know. We were separated in the assault on the courtyard." It was true enough.
Pucey leaned around Blaise and caught sight of Mia. Eyes filling with disgust and loathing, he asked rudely, "What the hell are you doing, Zabini? That's a Gryffindor you're waiting on."
Blaise moved in front of Pucey even more. "What are you going to do about it, huh? I'll stay with anyone I want to."
"Why don't you let me have a little piece of that, Zabini? You know, for all the trouble you and Malfoy put me through. She is, after all, just a Gryffindor," Pucey said in a low voice, leaning close to Blaise. "I bet that girl's a real wild one if you're interested in her, Zabini, right?"
Revulsion burned in his stomach as he took in Pucey's greedy eyes. If he turned his head just right, he thought he could see something else in Pucey's eyes—lust. Blaise felt his control fray and snap. He shoved Pucey away, hard. "You will stay away from her."
Surprise flickered across Pucey's pale face. "You're telling me what to do? Zabini, have you taken leave of your senses?"
Blaise repeated himself more firmly. "You will stay away from her. Don't you dare touch her, Pucey, with your foul hands."
Face twisting into a scowl, Pucey pushed himself up and stepped close to Blaise. He sneered, "I will do what I want, Zabini. Nothing you nor anyone else can do or say will change that."
He couldn't help himself. Blaise swung, striking Pucey in the face. Pucey fell to one knee and Blaise kicked him away. "Stay away from her or I will kill you myself."
"Blaise," came a weak voice. "Stop, please."
He suddenly realized he was breathing harshly. Turning, he watched Mia slowly sit up. "Mia."
"Leave him. He doesn't matter to us," she said in a low voice.
Blaise cast one last contemptuous glare at Pucey before returning to her side. "You should lay down. That was a pretty hard hit you took."
Mia lightly fingered her jaw. "You hit me."
He stared steadily at her. "You hit me." Blaise scratched his head as he remembered more. "And you kicked me."
She chuckled lightly, but slowly, the amusement drained out of her, leaving her somber. "Did you find him?"
Blaise thought of all he saw and the conclusion of his search. In reflection, he felt lost, at loose ends and his father… He shook his head. "I'm sorry, Mia. I followed his scent, but it just—I couldn't—I'm sorry."
Something must have shown on his face for she touched his hand lightly. "Blaise, what is it? What happened in the forest?"
He shook his head at her and he withdrew his hand from her touch. Blaise concentrated on taking deep breaths and the beating of his heart. He had to try to stop the pain before it consumed him.
The bed shifted beneath him giving him a moment's notice before Mia slid her arms about his neck. He felt her breath on his cheek. "Blaise, you're scaring me. What's wrong? You're shaking."
Blaise leaned forward and buried his face in his hands. "No."
She leaned closer. "Blaise…"
He felt scored inside, flayed from keeping his screams silent. A howl was building, making its way up his throat. What could he do to stop it from coming out? He couldn't speak. That would be opening the damn floodgates!
"Let it out," she whispered.
His throat closed up. He was shaking now from the force of it. Tears filled his eyes and his controlled breathing became sobs. He had to get it out somehow without making a bloody fool of himself. Blaise licked his lips. "In the forest, I—my father. He's dead."
She sighed deeply. "Oh, Blaise. I'm so sorry."
"No, don't be. He became a Death Eater."
"Wasn't he…" she trailed off.
He shook his head. Blaise took a moment to calm himself and to try to get his shivering under control. "He hated Voldemort with a passion. Why now? What changed? Why would he betray our family by joining him?"
So that was it. That's what was screaming in pain. It was Stefano's betrayal. For as long as he could remember, Stefano held fast to his opinions and actions. He never changed his mind.
But this…this was such a brutal, sudden change. What had forced his father to do what he swore never to do?
His father had sent letters since he had come to school, but there was nothing of this sort or anything even alluding to such an act. It was impossible to accept. The more he thought about it, the more he rejected Stefano's decision.
Why had his father been so weak? Why couldn't he resist Voldemort's grasp?
The nature of his death was something of a shock, yes, but it was fitting that he died in human form. He always preferred that form over the wolf. Blaise thought it was because Stefano was very particular about his appearance. If he was a wolf, he could never be clean enough nor change the color of his fur.
"How did he die?"
"Someone tore his throat out," he said blankly.
"Did Draco…do it?" she asked haltingly.
Blaise detected a hint of denial in her voice. It made him wonder just what exactly her feelings for Draco were.
Feeling her arms around him made something painfully clear to him. She could never be his. No matter how long Draco was gone, he would still be there. Even if she were to accept him as her mate, he would still be there like an unspoken specter haunting them.
How was it possible that he could feel so lonely, even in the middle of a room filled with people and someone holding him?
Nothing could happen between them. It could only end very badly, Blaise knew. He would give his heart to her, but she wouldn't do quite the same.
Looks like we both lost, Draco.
They had to find him.
I'll find you, Draco. I swear by the Moon that I will find you, even if I have to give up my life to do it, he vowed.
He turned slightly to look at Mia. Just as he was about to tell her what happened to Draco, someone came shouting into the room.
"HE'S DEAD! IT'S OVER! YOU-KNOW-WHO'S DEAD! THE WAR'S OVER!"