Chapter 8: Curiosity
"So now I'm a vampire," Draco mused aloud.
"Well, not for long," Ginny reminded him.
"Tell me Granger," he scowled a bit to himself, even the last name of the person with whom he was directing the following question to felt odd on his tongue. "What exactly are vampires supposed to do? What can we do?"
Hermione either did not mind the usage of her surname, or was far too excited to share her knowledge, for she jumped to answer Draco's question instantly. But she never actually had the chance to answer.
"Miss Granger?" Madam Pomphrey poked her head through the curtains that led into another room. "May I see you for a minute?"
She gave an apologetic look to her friends and followed Madam Pomphrey through the curtains.
"A lot of good that Pomphrey is. I'm still stuck in this dreadful polyester and now I'll never know if I can spontaneously transfigure myself into a bat."
Ginny giggled.
"How could Pomphrey tell you that?" Ron scoffed.
Draco cocked an eyebrow and glared. "Granger was about to—oh, nevermind." He muttered under his breath. "Idiot."
"Hey!" Both Ron and Ginny chimed together.
"What?" Draco groaned.
Ginny placed her hands on her hips and glared down at Draco.
"I haven't the slightest clue what you're looking at me like that for, but you should stop. It's downright frightening looking at you like that," Draco said, still trying not to look Ginny directly in the eyes.
Hermione suddenly slipped back into the room.
"What'd Madam Pomphrey want?" Harry asked.
Hermione stiffened a bit, gave a funny sort of look to Harry, then turned to everyone else. "Well, uh, she… well… she just had a question. Er… about a book. Yes. A question about a book. And, well, who better to ask about books than me, right?—Oh, look at these sheets," Hermione awkwardly began examining the sheets on an empty hospital bed. "Wrinkled. Completely wrinkled. I can fix that." And she went about charming all the sheets on the empty beds.
"Okay…" Harry stared at her until Pomphrey came back into the room.
"Mr. Malfoy? Drink." The nurse promptly shoved a goblet full of reddish liquid under Draco's nose.
"This…this is blood!" Draco spat, making a face.
Madam Pomphrey sighed. "Brilliant assessment, dear, now drink it."
Draco gawked. "No!"
Pomphrey sighed again. "I can see how this might seem revolting, and even though we are working very diligently to find a cure for your current, er, symptoms, you are right now a vampire, and unless you drink some human blood, the road to recovery will be a very difficult one."
Draco glared. "What use was that other junk you had me drink?"
"That potion was to control your bloodlust. You're still a vampire, but with the other potion, you won't feel like a vampire, thus protecting the people you are around."
Draco reluctantly took the goblet into his hands. It was filled quite near the top with the red blood. It smelled like blood and even made him slightly queasy. He swirled it around and watched the liquid cling to the sides of the goblet before quickly running back down the cup.
"Bottoms up," Draco muttered.
He took a deep breath, brought the goblet to his lips, and tipped the hot red blood into his mouth. At first, he expected it to taste bitter and salty, but it was anything but. The blood tasted sweet on his vampire tongue. Every drop that went down his throat seemed to reach out to every limb in his body, and all of it made his body feel warm and strong.
But suddenly, he looked over the cup and his eyes landed on Granger, who looked rather pale as she watched him drink. And that was when a sick, sick, sick thought dawned on him. Draco's eyes bulged and he stopped drinking. Spluttering and coughing all over the place, Draco glared furiously at the school nurse. "Where is this blood from?" Before Pomphrey could say anything, he added, "Who is this blood from?" He looked absolutely mad with a line of blood running down his chin and drops of blood sprinkled over his sheets.
Madam Pomphrey gave an exasperated groan when she saw Draco was pointedly glaring at Hermione. "From Miss Granger," she answered simply.
"No! How dare you trick me into drinking from that? That mudblood?" Draco hollered. "Why not Weasley, or even Potter?"
Hermione's cheeks had grown very red and her lower lip was trembling. Ginny knew it was all her friend could do to keep herself from crying, but was impressed when she still managed to answer Draco. "Blood type, Draco," she gasped. "There is no real pureblood or mudblood. You've got type O blood, and the only other person who can give you blood is another person with type O blood. Unfortunately, I happen to be the only person in this room with type O blood."
Draco ripped his gaze off Hermione. He was seething. "I'm not drinking anymore of this."
"Malfoy!" Harry hollered. "You've already chugged over half of it—it's already in you! Stop being ridiculous."
"I'm ridiculous—?" Draco began to protest.
"Drink it," Ginny ordered.
Draco, surprised to hear Ginny order him as such, could only stare. Then he put the goblet down on the bedside table and crossed his arms over his chest. "No."
Ginny began tapping her foot. "Ron? Harry?"
Before Draco could even process what was happening, Ron and Harry were on either side of him, holding him down. He kicked out and tried to squirm, but he couldn't move at all. Well, there was no way they could hold him down and open his mouth, so he clamped it shut.
Until Ginny slugged him in the gut.
"AGGHHH—!" Draco hollered out, only to have his shouts of pain muffled by Hermione Granger's blood, rapidly entering his mouth. Ginny stood over him, her eyes squinted as she made sure every drop entered his mouth.
It was okay—he just didn't have to swallow. But when Ginny realized the blood she was pouring into Draco's mouth wasn't going anywhere, she wrapped the fingers of her spare hand around Draco's throat and began to jostle it around a bit. Draco began coughing at his sudden lack of oxygen, and instinctively began to swallow as well. After the goblet was empty, Harry and Ron finally let go, and Ginny stepped back.
"Always have to do things the hard way, don't you, Draco?" Ginny placed her arms on her hips again.
Madam Pomphrey didn't exactly approve of Ginny's methods, but at least it worked. She tapped her on the shoulder and handed the girl another bottle.
"Now, this is the bottle with the potion that takes care of your bloodlust. Down the whole thing, you understand?"
Draco simply stared at her, wondering what it might be like to live with someone like her—no wonder Ron Weasley was always jumping at the littlest of things.
"Understand?" Ginny bit out again.
Draco gritted his teeth as he snatched the bottle from her and emptied its contents into his mouth. "There. Happy?"
"No," Ginny said. "Apologize to Hermione."
"For what? I drank the blood—? Hey! Stop that!" Draco hollered. Ginny had grabbed the hair near the nape of his neck and was pulling it hard. "ALL RIGHT! FINE! SORRY FOR CALLING YOU A MUDBLOOD, GRANGER—MERLIN, LET GO!"
Ginny finally let go. "See how simple things can be when you cooperate?" She gave him one of her sweetest smiles.
Draco happened to look in Ron's direction at that moment and found the boy giving him a look that seemed almost sympathetic. He was about to say something then, but an ear-piercing screech from an owl suddenly ripped through the air. Draco froze. "No," he whispered. "No, not now!" Draco whipped the covers off the bed and jumped down to the floor.
"Wha—Mr. Malfoy, where are you going?" Madam Pomphrey exclaimed.
Ginny's look of triumph from moments before was replaced with a look of concern. "Draco, what's wrong?"
"That owl—it's my father's. He's on his way here!" He said this as he took off his pajama top and replaced it with the black shirt he'd been wearing earlier.
"Your father? But isn't he in—" jail, Harry was about to say.
"Thanks for the reminder, Potter," Draco said, pausing to charm his pants back on. "Then it's mother. Even better," he groaned as he crouched down, looking for his shoes.
Ginny pulled him up, handing him his shoes. "But they can't take you away, can they?"
"It's my mother! What's so odd about a student leaving school with his parents? Of course they can do that," Draco replied. Then he ran a hand through his hair, took a quick look around the room, then said, "It's been real, it's been fun, but it hasn't been real fun. So I'll see you when I do." And he walked out of the room, leaving everyone staring where he'd been moments before.
"I can't believe he just used that line," Harry said in disbelief.
Wordlessly, Ginny followed after Draco.
"Ginny, wait!" Ron said.
"Maybe you should let her go," Hermione said. "She's only gone to say goodbye."
x x x
Draco had summoned his belongings on his way down the main staircase, and they were now neatly folded inside the bag slung over his shoulder. He opened the great Hogwarts doors just a crack (a crack compared to their grand size) and slipped through, the cold morning air greeting him. He stood at the top of the stairs leading out of the castle, slouching quite uncharacteristically, with his hands stuffed in his pockets. He felt awful. It wasn't that he was feeling ill or that some random vampire ailment had suddenly started to bother him, but he felt awful about leaving. The truth of the matter was that he did not want to leave. He was leaving Ginny behind, and he was upset about that, but… he surprised himself when he realized he was upset to be leaving behind Potter and his friends as well.
They weren't his friends, and it was quite clear they really didn't want to be his friends, but nonetheless, whether it was due to Ginny's fondness of him, or some other force unseen, they had accepted him, oddly enough. They didn't really ask questions, though they still harbored an odd sort of distaste for him, but awkward and out of place as he felt around them, he also felt two things he hadn't felt for a long time—maybe even ever.
He felt safe and he felt he belonged.
Draco was suddenly pulled out of his thoughts at the trotting sound of horse hooves. He immediately straightened his posture, and almost instinctively, he put on an imaginary mask of seriousness and nobility. When the horse-drawn carriage stopped before him, Draco soundlessly made his way down the stairs. He saw that his father's eagle-owl had been flying behind the carriage.
The carriage door opened and black fabric billowed and tumbled out the door. Draco heard two sharp sounds as the feet under the dress made contact with the ground, and he finally looked up. His mother was clad in an expensive, long, frilly black dress, and her platinum hair had been twisted into a bun with elegant curls falling over her bare shoulders. "Hello, mother," Draco said, trying very hard to keep his eyes on her.
His mother took a moment to look him over, head to foot. "Is this it, then?"
A bit uncertainly, Draco replied, "Yes."
She peered at her son oddly. "Well, don't you have companions to see you off?"
"See me off?" Draco questioned. "I'm coming back sooner or later, aren't I?"
Narcissa Malfoy then did something she didn't do often. She smiled. Then she placed her long, thin fingers on Draco's shoulder. "Of course, of course," she said, using her wand to move Draco's bag inside the carriage. "But what about that girl you've written to me about?"
Draco's eyes widened a bit. "How did you know about—"
"Pansy Parkinson—that was her name. What about her?" Narcissa mused aloud. "You two are still a couple?"
Draco's heart was about to burst out of his chest, as it was beating so hard. "Er, no mother. Sorry, it didn't work out. But may I ask you something?"
"Yes?"
"Why exactly are you here? The school year isn't over yet. There was no need for you to trouble yourself in coming all this way," Draco motioned at the horse-drawn carriage.
"Curiosity, Draco, is a very strange thing to play with," she replied.
"Mother, what do you mean?" Draco asked.
"I think you know what I mean," she replied.
Draco clenched his fists at his sides, his nails digging into his palms. He found he sometimes lightly pinched himself like this whenever he was nervous. Most of the time it was when he was speaking with his father, though. He probably appreciated the sensation he received from the pinching because it kept part of his mind occupied with the subtle pain it caused him, instead of whatever else was at hand.
Narcissa repeated herself. "Curiosity is a very strange thing to play with, but it can also be quite rewarding."
"What—?" Draco began.
"Miss Weasley?" Narcissa suddenly said.
Draco's eyes immediately shot open, but before he said anything, he realized his mother's eyes were looking over his head. He whirled around to see Ginny's head peeking out through the door. Draco's mouth dropped open, but he recomposed himself in time to give Ginny his best glare. "Weasley, what're you doing here?"
Ginny's mouth had fallen open as well when she'd seen Draco with his mother. "I… I… I was… It's none of your business, Malfoy," she finally said, making to go back through the door.
"Miss Weasley," Narcissa repeated more firmly this time. "I addressed you, and it would do you well not to ignore me."
Ginny's insides squirmed as she finally came all the way through the door and stood at the top of the stairs.
"Mother, really, we needn't waste time on her," Draco said. Why was Ginny out here?
"Silence, Draco," she barked at her son. Then she turned to Ginny. "I've heard very much about you."
Ginny eyed Draco oddly. "Um, thank y—," she began to say. But suddenly Mrs. Malfoy's hair began to do something very odd. Her curls were straightening, and the bun on her head was beginning to fall apart.
Draco saw how Ginny was eyeing his mother, so he turned and nearly fell back at what he saw. His mother's small, dainty features were slowly elongating. Her smooth skin began to look slightly rough and worn.
It seemed she'd realized what was happening because she lost all composure, shoved Draco aside, and pointed her wand at Ginny.
"Mother, no!" Draco shouted.
Ginny was too shocked to move or do anything at all, but it turned out she really didn't need to. All of the sudden, Narcissa Malfoy turned so quickly that her hair covered her face, but her wand was now pointed at Draco's head.
Helplessly, he looked up at her from the ground. But with a sharp gust of wind, Mrs. Malfoy's hair blew out of her face, and Draco cried out, "Father!"
"Imperio," he hissed.
And suddenly, Draco's eyes glazed over, his facial features stilled, and he got up and stood straight, next to his father, who was now clad in his traditional Malfoy robes.
Panicked, Ginny fumbled with her wand. Expelliarmus, expelliarmus, expelliarmus, she thought to herself. It was the only spell that would be of any help. Finally, she pointed her shaking wand at Lucius Malfoy. "Expelli—"
But he beat her spell and shouted, "Silencio!" Then he smirked at her as she went on mouthing wordlessly, completely powerless. "Find shorter spells, Miss Weasley," he advised. "And thank you for coming out here all alone. Very touching, actually. Come to see off my son." He sneered, watching Ginny look helplessly at Draco, knowing she was close enough to run to him, but also knowing just running to him wouldn't be of any help.
Then, Lucius pointed his wand at Draco, silently commanding his imperio-stricken son. When he finished, Ginny was horrified to see Draco standing completely still with his own wand pointed at his chest.
Knowing her pleas were helpless even if her voice had sound, Ginny silently tried to shout out, "Please, don't! Stop it! Don't hurt him!"
"Curiosity is a very strange thing to play with," he said for the third time that hour. He looked at his son scathingly. "He doesn't love you, you know."
"You're wrong," Ginny shouted silently.
"No. He does not love you." Lucius said. "He hates me, yes, but he doesn't love you. Perhaps he only hates you less than he hates me. But that is not love. Love is worthless, Miss Weasley. My son does not know how to love. He has never known love. And that is because love is a weakness. For instance," he said as he pointed his wand at Draco and again commanded his son through his mind.
Draco suddenly wheezed out, "Avada…"
Ginny's now tear-filled eyes shot open. Lucius Malfoy was going to kill his own son? She ran toward Draco, but instantly found she could not move. Lucius had used a silent spell to still her.
"Unless you come with me, Miss Weasley, I will be forced to have my son finish that spell. And before you think it won't work, remember—I raised my son with force. Some might even say with hatred." He smiled. "He has not known love. He harbors enough darkness within his soul to finish that spell, and to make it work. I should know. I raised him. Now," he pointed his wand at Ginny again. "I'm going to let you move again in a minute, and I trust you'll come with me silently? Even after I grant you your voice again?"
Ginny regained control of her limbs and heard herself quietly sniffling. She nodded and entered Lucius Malfoy's carriage on her own.
"You see, Miss Weasley? Love is a weakness," Lucius Malfoy said.
With that, he shut the door to the carriage and let Ginny have a look at Draco. Then he waved his wand and Draco uttered, "Kedavra…"
"NO!" Ginny shouted, trying to kick the door open.
But it was too late. The door wouldn't budge, and the mere second of bright green light was already gone, and Draco's recently rigid form now lay in a crumpled heap on the ground.
"RON! HARRY! RON, HELP ME! SOMEBODY, HELP ME—!"
But her cries for help were extinguished when Lucius entered the carriage from the other side and slapped her so hard with the back of his hand that she was now spiraling into a rapidly darkening abyss of darkness, sadness, loneliness, and despair.
"Love," Lucius said aloud, in an almost mocking, yet amused tone. He felt the carriage begin to move. "How very curious, indeed."
Author's Note: And on that merry ending, happy holidays! LOL, just kidding. Hopefully I'll be able to pop out the next chapter while I'm still on winter vacation. We'll see!
Chapter Nine: Um… so is this the fourth time I've killed Draco/ Yeah… about that… heh. So obviously, the others will be finding his body (dude, Lucius sucks… and he cross-dresses!). And we'll be finding out where Ginny's been taken and exactly why the Dark Lord's interested in her as well. Stay tuned!
Thanks to bigreader and Andromeda77 for reviews last chapter!