Just beyond town, the season's brilliant colours
Highlight a gate usually kept unknown
It is the destination of my time-travelling journey
A faraway place in the past
How much longer will I be unable to smile with you?
Distance isn't all that keeps us apart
I pretended not to notice but I saw as you played
That you had forgotten me
Passing by passing by real world
I'll be swallowed if I close my eyes
Passing by passing by sweet times
Sweet, painful footsteps
You feel the same way, don't you?
Running through without your help
Running through without your vibes
Furthermore, as I hold out my hand
This meagre dream pursues us both
Passing by passing by real world
As the faintest flames die out
Passing by passing by sweet times
Today goes on into tomorrow
-Time Slip (the late great "L'Arc-en-Ciel)
I felt sick the moment I woke, throwing myself half over the edge of Draco's bed. Draco laid a hand on my back, trying to give comfort, but I shrug it off. /I don't need this right now.../ Quickly I tug on a pair of pants lying on the floor and walk out onto the balcony.
However, Draco has never learned the meaning of 'I need to be alone'. /He is dead, isn't he. It's happened./
So he had guessed. /what was your first clue, Draco./ I'm still shaking. I hadn't guessed that it would happen that way; that Draconis would- Draconis really was evil. He had hated me... Harold. I think I may have loved him. I laugh bitterly at the thought. I could never have loved him... but I love Draco. At least I think. Harold had truly fallen for someone who wanted to make his life hell; what does that say about me?
How many times did Draco have to lie or keep something from me before it was too late... He obviously knew what happened.
It was then that Draco wrapped his arms around me. I tried to struggle, to get away, but he refused to let go; he was still stronger/It will be alright Harry.../ he turns me in his arms so I could face him.
/It will not be alright/ I scream. He looks exactly like Draconis, in every way; there is no difference! But there was. Draco looked down at me, love and pain in his eyes... /You're a liar, Draco, and you know it. I really should hate you./
/I know./ Draco keeps holding onto me.
Nothing is going to keep me from finding Ron. Draco is leading me to Voldemort, and I can't help but be terrified. Even if we get there before he decides 'to hell with it' and decides to kill him, will we actually be able to help. If we get there in time, will Draco help me?
The trip is uneventful; Draco has refused to leave my side, even for a moment. He seems paranoid. I don't even bother asking. At the moment we're on a train, Draco said that Voldemort was in south France, near the Alps. Currently, Draco has his head in my lap with his eyes closed. I know he is not sleep; it's something he rarely does. His face is slightly tense, but I can tell he doesn't want to move. In fact, when I tried to move he refused to budge and I found myself stuck in the seat. I find it odd, both Draco and I are vampires, yet he has no problem overpowering me...
He rolls his head and kisses my stomach before lifting up, not doing anything more. He knows I probably won't want to do more for awhile; not until the memory fades...
"It's almost time to get off." He says, looking out the window, than at me. I can tell he wants to kiss me, but he holds himself back. I hesitate for a moment before I lean forward and press my lips to his. Draco's soft lips accept mine and I find myself sliding to sit astride his lap. He opens his mouth and I feel his tongue on my lip, but I flinch causing his to pull away. /It will all be ok, Arris./ I hear his words do through my head. /I will make it up to you. I will make everything up to you./
Unlike the train ride, the trek to Voldemort's keep was harder than I expected. I didn't think he would live in a simple cottage, but neither did I expect that we'd have to go into the mountains. Draco said it was in the foothills. I just know it's cold, even for a vampire. It didn't bother me at first, but after a while... Now I know why Draco packed a couple of his coats; now I know why Draco has coats, even though he doesn't seem to need one, even now. I feel like I'm going to lose a finger...
Nobody shows up on the way. No one attacks us. There's nobody. But according to Draco, Voldemort wants up to get there; he wouldn't have kidnapped Ron for any other reason than to draw me to him... He wants me dead. Now.
Draco helps me over jagged rocks and up steep hills. /...stupid rocks.../ I think after one snags my pants. I jerked my foot, unfortunately causing the leg to rip, letting in the freezing wind. /Damnit/
I hear Draco laugh slightly for a moment, before he kneels with his back to me. /Climb on. I'll carry you the rest of the way./
I hesitate, but I know it would be easier and my weight would do little to slow Draco down. I tightly wrap my legs around his waist as he stands. /How often have you done this/ I ask.
He hesitates. "I try to stay away as much as possible, so I've been here too many times."
/That doesn't answer my question./
"Only a couple. He doesn't want me. Voldemort doesn't care about me in the slightest." He sounds slightly bitter.
There's a lapse in the conversation for a few minutes.
"How did your father get caught up in all this?" I ask him. I've thought about this, but never actually voiced it.
"Lucius has been spying, telling me what Voldemort is up to. Making sure he stayed as far away from you as possible."
"Oh." I can't think of anything else to say.
We went on like this for the next hour. Sometimes talking of something of importance, sometimes nothing serious. I'm pretty sure I've frozen onto Draco's back... I've laid my head on his shoulder, watching his silver hair move with the occasional gust of air. I love its color...
I feel like I'm about to fall asleep.
What can I do to save Ron, anyway? It's just me and Draco against who knows how many vampires are going to be there? Where is 'there'?
Suddenly Draco stops.
I look up; it looks like we're in an abandoned town. The snow blows through the desolate place. It's a ghost town. The small stone houses stand gaping; the wooden doors on most have fallen off.
I recognize this place...
Quickly I climb off Draco's back, gaping in amazement and horror. We're there... the old kingdom. I look up at Draco, but his face is lifeless. He keeps his eyes on me, ignoring the houses. I'm frozen, staring at him for a couple minutes, before looking a way. I walk around, looking in the houses; Draco trails behind me, silent. I look back at him, curiously. His tall black clad body almost seems to blend into the bleak backdrop. He seems so cold...
He points to a far off place and my gaze follows it. There it is. The place that I was trapped in so long ago. Just in front of the looming castle is the town square.
I begin to shake as I walk closer, terrified. It's there. The platform is in stages of decay, but everything is there. The wood is stained red and stinks of old blood. I can spot in the rumble an old rusted ax. It's almost indiscernible where the rust ends and blood begins. For once, the smell turns my stomach. I feel Draco at my side and realize I've fallen to my knees. He pulls me up. /Let's go forward./ I let Draco lead me away.
Together we walked to the dark castle ahead.
The door opens automatically, blasting us with a sudden rush of warm air. Draco continues to go forward, with me behind him. /Draco/
"It's about time. Your majesty."
My gaze jerks up to see a tall man standing straight in front us. Draco stands in front of me. "Where's boy?"
"Straight to business? I was hoping we'd all have dinner, first." He says cordially. Voldemort. He's dressed darkly, as most vampires tend to do, with black hair, longer than Snape's, pulled back. "I'm so happy the boy has returned." The smile should have been nice, but something about it seemed wrong... "Follow me." he tuned away from up, but then stopped to look over his shoulder at Draco. "And do not think of killing me now. I still have the other and I will kill him." The vampire sneered.
Still in a daze, I follow behind them. Everything looks the same, except vacant. Darker. If I hadn't been changed I would probably get lost.
I hate this place. I do not want to go forward...
I'm torn from my thoughts when Draco suddenly speaks again.
"How do I know he is here?"
"You'll see the boy soon enough. You've never had any patience. Aw, here we are." Voldemort stops at a steel plated door, pulling a skeleton key from his pocket. "Severus?" He stretches the word out as he says it. "Are you still here?" No sound comes from the room. Voldemort turns to us. "He's mad at me, I am afraid," he says dramatically. He forces the door open. "Come in." We obey and he locks the door behind us.
I wonder if we've just walked into a trap, but I'm more afraid of what he will do if we don't... /Harry.../ I look up at Draco's mental voice.
/...no.../
Voldemort walks around, lighting various lamps in the room, but I didn't need the light to see what was in front of us. Severus Snape is huddled in corner of the room, shaking in threadbare clothes. On the other side is Ron. Dead.
AN: I almost left it at the point they reach the castle, but people keep asking for longer chapters...