After the End
Blonde Dragon

Disclaimers: I do not own the characters used, nor the recap plot used in this first chapter. All are © of J.K.Rowling. It is by her grace fanfictions writers are allowed to write about her world and characters.
Author Notes: This chapter is where Harry finally makes his appearance! Yay! Semi-dramatic chapter, I warn you. No slashly-ness just yet. That may take another couple chapters for the 'good stuff' to kick in. : I need to build up!

Reviews:
Lone Wolf55 – I'm updating quickly. This chapter will have far more Harry/Draco interaction, which I said in my notes for the last chapter. :D I'll send you an email with my ideas. I have a few that are going to 3rd person, but I don't want to have you beta something you wouldn't want to read.
princess kyra – Not to worry! Here is the next chapter for you to see what's happening! Thank you for your review!
Shadow DarknessDragon – Well, now we're going out of the physical torturing of Draco for now and into the angsty goodness that results! I definitely plan on keeping up this story. Thank you for your review!
JadeLilyMalfoy – I don't know if you'd believe it from this story, but Draco is indeed my favorite character. I never usually seem to like the 'hero', anyway. Heehee. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter!
mintapotter – Thank you for your review:D I love trying to get into Draco's head and see what he's thinking. Heehee. And yup! You'll get to see a little more about what Harry's thinking, mostly due to Draco prying.
pixiedora – Thank you for your review! New people! And thank you about the name:D Here's the new chapter! Yay!

I was running, struggling to get away from what I knew was behind me. I felt the icy grip of panic tightening around my chest, making it hard to breathe. My legs were aching, but I couldn't stop. Dry, heated breath ghosted over the back of my neck as I seemed to run in circles. A hissing laugh echoed in my ears as I paused to catch my breath.

"You've nowhere to run, young Malfoy …I will always be able to find you…" Voldemort's voice hissed in my ear.

I cried out loud as pain flared in my left forearm, from HIS mark. I gripped the burning limb and grimaced. "No … No…" I repeated the word like a mantra, soon having enough adrenaline to push myself off the wall and take off.

Another laughter came to my ears, seeming to stem from right behind me. My father's voice. "Son, you're being a disgrace to the Malfoy name. You'll need to be punished for this insolence…"

I shook my head, not caring if my head ached or my platinum blonde hair fell about my features. "Leave me alone!"

"I'm afraid I can't do that, Draco…" My name was hissed out from the figure right before me. I couldn't stop myself and plowed right into the dark form. Skeleton-like fingers gripped my biceps and held on. My eyes widened and I looked up into glowing red eyes. "You're mine."

I shook my head again. "NO! I 'm not!"

Voldemort chuckled softly from the depths of his robe. "You will be one with me, young Malfoy. I may not kill your spirit…" He grinned; I cringed seeing the sickening whites of his teeth. "Hold still, boy, this won't hurt too much."

His dark hood descended slowly towards my face, so I was staring directly into those glowing pools of blood-red. His eyes filled my vision more and more…his fingers tightened their grip on my shoulders and the pain blossomed in my chest…I screamed.

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I shot straight up off the bed; the scream dying on my lips. The pain gripped my chest with such force I flopped back onto the bed unwillingly. My eyes squeezed tightly and reflexive tears of pain dampened the dark lashes. I couldn't help but smile faintly at the soft cushions beneath my head and the gentle springs of the bed's mattress cocooning my body. I blinked. 'Wait, this isn't home. I ran away from there. Where am I!'

"Welcome back." A masculine voice came from my right. I snapped my head over in the direction of the voice, causing pain to resonant through my head again. I gasped softly, before I let my eyes close again. After a few deep breaths, the pain stabbing in my skull became a dull throb. I opened my eyes once again, blinking away the blurriness and finally focused on the man now sitting beside my bed. His green eyes looked annoyed, but I could see worry creeping its way into them.

I didn't like the worry in his eyes; it looked too much like pity. I hate pity. I tried to sneer at him, he should be used to that expression after all, but my lips were too sore to do it. I just let off a soft sigh and looked up at him with a weak glare. It was the best I could do given my certain lack of strength. "Back from … where?" My words sounded like they were being forced out, which they were, with a soft and scratching texture. Very un-Malfoy like, in my opinion.

Harry blinked, before he frowned slightly. "It's just an expression, Malfoy. No need to take it so .. literally."

"..Oh." The small sound that came from my lips sounded like a pathetic form of reply. I turned my eyes from Harry's. I tried to think of something more scathing to add to the reply, but I couldn't think of anything. I settled for biting my abused lower lip.

Harry frowned again. "Stop doing that, Malfoy. It'll make you bleed more." There was scolding in his voice, but it didn't stop me from doing it. The taste of metallic blood in my mouth surprised me, even though I knew it would happen. Harry had the audacity to chuckle softly. "I told you."

I scowled at him, but still refused to look at him. I turned my gaze to look around the room. It most definitely wasn't my house – and Harry was here – but I still couldn't figure out exactly where I was. Or what happened, really. It was a little blurry. Without turning to look at Harry, I started my obvious questions. "Where am I? Better yet – what happened?" My voice still sounded horribly weak to my ears, but Harry could hear it just fine.

"You're in my house. I was taking a walk and heard someone being threatened in … disgusting ways. I stepped in to help, nothing more, really. I didn't know it was you, though. That was a wonderful surprise." His voice fell to a deadpan tone at the last sentence, but I chose to ignore it and make jabs at him.

"You finally realized h-how wonderful I am." I smirk, forcing my cracked lips back. "About time, eh?"

He growled low, a sound I didn't find particularly unpleasant, and shook his head. His voice lowered to a more threatening tone as he talked to me. "Listen, Malfoy. I didn't really mean to save your life. If I knew it was you out there, I'd have let them have their way with you. I brought you to my house after you passed out because I didn't want to have leaving you unconscious in a bad area on my conscience. You're wand isn't even in this room, so don't even try to hex me." I frowned lightly; he noticed my hand idly sneaking into my sleeve. "I haven't even attempted to heal anything on you yet, as you've noticed…"

"I have…" I growled out lowly. My ribs ached even more after I awoke than when I was being attacked by those muggles.

"…As I was saying." He narrowed those emerald eyes at me. "…I haven't tried to heal you yet because I wanted you to tell me something."

"Oh? Like h-how I manage to stay s-so perfect?" I arched a slender brow, forcing bleeding lips back into a smirk.

He glared at me again, and I couldn't help but enjoy these glares. They were relatively new on him and, though I had received my set of glares to last a lifetime, I couldn't help but think they looked stunning. I had always thought his glares were stunning, but that was back at school. There was just something about his emerald eyes that make it look wonderful. "No, Malfoy." He shook his head. "It's been two years since you were last seen in Hogwarts, where the hell have you been? I've even seen Snape more often than you …"

My eyes widened and I stopped listening after that. Two years? I've been stranded in that dudgeon and not seen the world for two years!

"Oi, Malfoy! You listening?" I blinked, my attention focusing on the fingers that were snapping in front of my eyes. I turned to look back up at him, the shock still in my system. Quickly, I managed to cover it up and go back to the normal coldness. "…Did you even hear a word I said?"

I nodded curtly. "It's been two years since I've been seen and you've seen Snape more than me." I smirked coldly as I looked at him. "..Anything else?"

"…Yes, but anyway. You haven't answered my questions…"

I snorted, wincing softly. I shook my head. "I don't have to, Potter. All I have to do i-is stay a-alive." I coughed softly; my throat was getting so dry. "N-now …. I need you he-help…"

"And why should I help you?" Harry snapped out, his temper flaring at my attitude. "Why should I help you when you've never once helped me? When, for the 6 years of Hogwarts, you were nothing but cruel and viscous to me? When you willingly became a Death Eater at 16! I only saved you because I didn't know it was you. Had I known it was you, I might have reconsidered."

"An eye for an eye and the world … goes blind, Potter." I weakly coughed out. Merlin, I hated how weak I was. This entire conversation was draining me more than I thought. And in the presence of my old enemy, who had saved me, and I needed help from. This sucked.

He blinked owlishly at me through his glasses, a growl of frustration resounding as he shook his head. "I don't understand!"

I couldn't resist a smirk. He didn't need to understand, though I'm surprised he didn't know the saying. It's an old muggle saying I heard once before, and it stuck in my mind. It was perfect. "You do-don't have to … Potter." Damn, my chest was tightening again. I grimaced as my throat burned from forcing those words out. I squeezed my eyes shut, letting the reflexive tears of pain soak my eyelashes once again. I painfully raised my hands to my lips and let the cough wracked through my body that had been threatening to go for a while. I could feel liquid flecking on my lower lip. I didn't even want to think about what that was.

After what seemed like forever, a soft hand held my aching head up and a brim of a cup was brought to my lips. I forced my eyes open; looking through the blurry veil up at Potter's hesitantly concerned eyes. "Here, drink this." He held my head to tip back a little and gently poured some water past my cracked lips.

I swallowed the soothing liquid slowly, letting it glide down and ease the burn from my throat. I almost smiled at the pleasant sensation. Once I drank all I felt I could get down, I weakly raised my hand to lay on Harry's arm. "E – Enough." I winced a little, my voice wasn't as scratchy as before, but it was definitely weaker.

Harry took the water away and set it down on the bed beside me. He frowned lightly at me. "Why should I help you?" His voice this time was softer and less angry than before.

I shut my eyes again, painfully raising my hand to lightly pinch the bridge of my nose. Even though it pained me to do it, it was a comforting position. It helped me get my thoughts in order when they were spiraling like a tornado. "…Because, Potter, I a-asked for it." I didn't need to open my eyes to see his annoyed look. Didn't he understand that when a Malfoy asked for help it was serious? Didn't he understand we were having the first ever nearly decent conversation?

He sighed. "Why do you need my help?"

Ah, smart boy. He decided to switch his tactics. I shifted my weight on the mattress, barely suppressing a groan of pain that went through my lips. I heard him make a soft noise in sympathy, but he didn't move. "…My pride isn't w-worth as much as my l-life." I opened my eyes this time, turning to look at him with weary silver orbs. "….P-please."

Harry seemed taken aback by the pleading in my soft voice. He seemed to recover swiftly enough. "Will you stop speaking in riddles, Malfoy? I'm not a Ravenclaw…"

I chuckled at the slip, turning the laughter into another coughing fit. My body strained against the movements, liquid again ghosting over my lips. I felt Harry help me again, lifting my head up and allowing more water to slip down my throat. Merlin did that feel wonderful. When I opened my eyes again, I found them staring into concerned emeralds. "Potter, I swear I will explain --- things --- when I am able. Right now isn't t-the time to ask me things…" I knew he could see my current state.

I could tell by the sound of his voice he was annoyed, but he'd accept it. His concern was winning out over his hatred. "All right. You have to explain everything, okay? I don't want you skimping out on the details." He tried to keep a stern tone to his voice, but I couldn't help but smirk at it.

"P-promise." I pulled my cracked lips back into a smile as I looked at him. My smile, I've been told, is contagious. And it seemed to be the case with Potter. He hesitantly broke out into a smile as well.

Harry nodded. "Good. Okay … um … I'm expecting guests over tonight, and I can't say this will go over well with them."

He sounded so nervous to say that. I smirked as much as I could. "You mean to say they'd hate my guts? No need to sugar coat it, Potter."

He blushed faintly, before giving me a small grin I didn't appreciate. It was almost devious, but too kind-hearted to be too bad. "That's about it." He reached over to get a glass from the nightstand beside my head. I blinked at him in confusion, and he just shrugged as he looked pointedly at my throat. He helped me pick up my aching head and I swallowed the cool contents of the glass.

As soon as the liquid cooled in my stomach, I knew I had been duped. My eyes widened as my tongue licked my lips. I remembered the taste of the taste of this potion – I used it many more times than I care to admit. The sleeping drought. I looked at him in confusion. "Potter … ?"

He smiled sheepishly. "I'm sorry, Malfoy. But it'd really be best for you to get your rest right now."

I couldn't stave off the panic I felt. I knew the scenes that would be behind my eyelids, memories or predictions in the future. "No … Potter! …" Sleep beckoned me though I tried my best to deny it my presences. A loosing battle. "Damned …. Git…" I managed to mumble out before I was once again gently embraced by the darkness of sleep.

A/N: Bwhaahaa! Well, this didn't turn out how I thought it would. But sometimes stories write themselves, you know? Oh well. I couldn't resist having the temperamental/sneaky Harry. It would seem to fit, I thought. Ah! But not to worry … soon, yes, soon my lovely reviewers, he will be more involved in the story! Oh yes. Just wait until Draco wakes up … I doubt our lovely little dragon will appreciate the dup. (cackles)

Thank you all for over 1,000 page views:D (Happy dances) I'm so happy about that:D