A chaotic burst of flapping and screeching from the ceiling signalled the arrival of the morning post. Draco absent-mindedly scanned the flock of owls as they descended into the Great Hall, there wouldn't be any post for him, who would send it? He noticed Potter's snowy owl battle its way through with a delivery for him and scowled, returning his attention to his breakfast. Oatmeal was possibly the most boring breakfast he could have, he hated it but it was all he felt he could manage so he forced it down his throat. He yawned, he had hardly slept all night,
"Politics," he snarled,
"What did you say?" Pansy's voice sounded in his ear making him jump. He hadn't noticed her sit down,
"Nothing, I was just thinking aloud," he turned back and dug his spoon into his oatmeal,
"What's wrong Draco?" Pansy purred in his ear,
"What?" he glared at her, she drew back slightly but not far enough so he sat up straight,
"You look depressed,"
"I'm just tired, that's all. And I wish those stupid birds would stop making such a racket," he gulped down another mouthful, nearly biting through the spoon in the process. He was aware of Pansy watching him for a moment before she turned to her own breakfast. There was a louder flutter of wings, he looked to see Ardent, his owl landing in front of him carrying a package. 'What the?' he reached out and united the small box from the bird's leg. Ardent pecked at his oatmeal once then, apparently not impressed with it, he turned his attention to Pansy's bacon,
"Shoo," she waved him back, Ardent clucked his beak at her and hopped out of the way, "Bloody bird," Pansy moaned, "What's in the box Draco?" Draco didn't answer immediately, he just stared at the box. He didn't need to open it to know what it was, he had received dozens of packets just like it over the years. It was a box of sweets, from his mother. In the past she had always sent them to him, or at least she had had the staff send them. He couldn't help but smile, something from his old life still survived. Pansy repeated the question, he turned to her,
"Oh just a care package from home…from Mother," he pulled at the straps and opened the box to reveal the sweets he had expected to find. Sitting on top of them was a note, neatly folded and sealed with wax. He dropped the box and took out the note, noticing Pansy stealing a sweet as he broke the seal and unfolded the parchment,
"News from home?" Etean's voice was light, he sounded unconcerned as he sat down opposite him. Draco looked up,
"A letter from my mother,"
"Oh yes," Etean reached out and stroked Ardent's head, "How is she?"
"What?"
"Your mother? A delightful woman if I recall correctly,"
"You know Draco's mother?" Pansy jumped in,
"Oh yes, she and his father were both regular guests at our annual summer ball," Draco frowned, Etean had switched smoothly back into smarmy lord of the manner mode,
"So, how is she?" Etean raised an eyebrow at him. Draco shrugged, 'May as well play along,' he thought to himself,
"She's fine as far as I know. I actually haven't spoken to her in a while,"
"Well," Etean said as he loaded his plate with bacon and sausages, "give her my best," he looked at Draco. There was no doubt that he understood what was going on in Draco's mind. A letter from his mother was almost certainly to do with Lucius. Either he had put her up to it or he knew about it, either way he was involved.
"Have you had any word from home lately?" he asked. He wanted to hear Etean's opinion, his real opinion concerning the letter. But carrying on the polite conversation was preferable to communication at the moment, tired as he was. Etean shrugged,
"Actually no, I haven't," he bit off half a sausage and swallowed it before he continued, "Not that I'm worried, it's not like there is anyone there that would write to me,"
"Nobody?" Draco raised an eyebrow,
"No, not really. The only people there are staff these days and they can pretty much take care of things by themselves,"
"You don't have any family or friends?" Pansy asked,
"Oh I have family, my grandfather lives in Poland and I have a couple of cousins dotted around," he shrugged, "we just don't usually write to one another," Draco looked up as Blaise appeared behind Etean. He dropped a scroll of parchment into his lap,
"Here, study this before practice tonight," he ordered and marched off, stopping beside Nott and Daniels to deliver similar scrolls before leaving the hall,
"What is that?" Draco asked as Etean unrolled the parchment,
"Quidditch stuff. It looks like Blaise has come up with another radical new set of tactics for us to master," his voice sounded scornful. He set the parchment down between the two of them, spreading it out so Draco could see. Draco's eyes followed the complicated pattern of lines and swirls. Tiny pictures of players with numbered labels danced about following the lines, occasionally obscured by the notes that Blaise had added to explain some manoeuvre or other. Draco watched the number seven, the Seeker as he shot about, running interference for the Chasers,
"What is he doing? You can't tie up the Seeker with stuff like that, he's supposed to be hunting for the Snitch," Etean sighed,
"I know, but tell Blaise that. He seems to think that the 'traditional' role of the Seeker is wasteful, chasing the Snitch the whole time. He believes that using the Seeker sort of like an extra Chaser on certain plays is a better idea," Draco heard Pansy mutter,
"Quidditch!" under her breath as she turned to the conversation between a couple of the fifth year girls beside her,
"That's nuts. It would leave the other Seeker free to catch the Snitch at will," Etean nodded,
"I have told him that, but he won't listen. It interferes with his 'plans' for the team,"
"What plans?" Etean shrugged,
"He seems to have gotten it into his head that if he can manage to beat, cajole and coax the rest of the team into doing things his way, that it will guarantee us the Cup this year, and he'll go down as some sort of Slytherin legend,"
"By letting the other team catch the Snitch?"
"Like I said, he doesn't listen," he sat back and sighed, "How did I ever let you talk me into being on this blasted team?" Draco swallowed another mouthful of oatmeal,
"I don't recall you putting up that much of a fight mate,"
"No I suppose I didn't. Still it isn't like its forever or anything, how's the hand?"
"Better," he held it up and slowly clenched a fist, "Sort of anyway,"
"Good, you'll be back on the team in no time. And I won't have to put up with," he grabbed the scroll and rolled it up, "this crap anymore. Come on, we'll be late for Transfiguration."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"There you are Mr. Etean," McGonagall's sharp tone spun Etean round, stopping him in his tracks, Draco paused then, seeing McGonagall glaring at him, carried on into the classroom,
"Hello Professor," Etean used his most sincere voice, "I'm glad I ran into you before class,"
"Are you?" she stepped up to him, "And why would that be?"
"I wanted to apologise, I understand that you were teaching the Defence class that I missed yesterday. I'm sorry about that,"
"Are you indeed?" she set her stance, preparing to berate him, "And just why did you miss my class?"
"I…" he paused and put on a sheepish smile, "I'm a little embarrassed actually, you see I fell asleep,"
"Asleep?" she puffed her chest and pursed her lips, apparently not taking being asleep as a valid excuse,
"Yes, you see, I wasn't feeling well…I had a headache. I went to my room at lunch to lie down and I just fell asleep. It was nearly dinner time before I woke up,"
"Is that so, well if you are ill, perhaps you should visit the Infirmary?" Etean shook his head,
"No, I'm fine now, I must have just been tired," he gave her his most sincere look, "It won't happen again Professor, I promise you that," McGonagall nodded,
"Yes, well see that it doesn't. I don't care what your title is Mr. Etean, you will obey the school rules," Etean nodded and tried to look chastised,
"I understand Professor," she marched around him into the classroom, "Thank you," he called after her. Once she was out of earshot, he added, "You acerbic old bat."
Etean followed McGonagall into the room and shut the door behind him. Dumping his bag, he dropped into his seat beside Draco,
"What did she want?" Draco asked,
"To grill me for missing class yesterday," he looked under the desk and pulled his book from his bag, "Anyone would think it was the end of the world or something," He dropped his book onto the desk and flicked through it as McGonagall read the role,
'We had better have a proper chat,' he sent to Draco,
'I was just going to say that,' he saw Draco rub his temples as he answered, 'I got a letter from home this morning,'
'You said that. Interesting was it?' Draco seemed confused,
'I don't know. In five years my mother has never once written to me. She sends me sweets and cakes pretty regularly but never one letter. Today,' he pulled out a crumpled scrap of parchment and showed it to Etean under the table, 'I get this,' Etean took the parchment and read it,
'Draco,
I hope this note finds you well. I am sorry we were unable to see one another over the summer but circumstances…well I'm sure you understand the circumstances well enough that I need not explain them to you.
I am troubled by your apparent absence from home throughout the summer. Jenkins informs me that you left for a holiday in Paris shortly after you arrived home from school and that you failed to return before term started. He was concerned enough to contact me, uncharacteristic for him don't you think? I have assured him that you must have been having too much fun to return home, but something tells me that I do not know the full story.
To be honest I am worried about you Draco, I feel we should talk, face to face as it were, in private. I wonder if you could arrange to be alone by the fireplace in the Slytherin Common Room tonight (Thursday) at 1 a.m. I don't believe that I should say more in this letter, I hope to see you tonight.
Narcissa
X'
'Well?' the question floated into Etean's mind as he finished reading,
'Interesting,' he responded, answering his earlier question himself, 'What are you going to do?'
'I was just about to ask you the same question,' Etean raised an eyebrow and looked at Draco out of the corner of his eye,
'Why ask me? She's your mother,'
'Yes, but don't you think Lucius put her up to it?'
'To what end?'
'I don't know but this feels wrong, she never writes to me, never,'
'Have you ever spent an entire summer apart before?'
'No…what does that have to do with it?' Etean smiled,
'She's your mother Draco. Mothers worry whenever their children show the least sign of growing up. I think it could be that not seeing you over the summer has upset her and she just wants to know you're OK,'
'If she is then this is the first time,'
'You don't think it's at least possible?' Draco shook his head slightly,
'So you don't think this has to do with Lucius then?'
'I didn't say that Draco, I don't know him or your mother as well as you do. It is possible she is acting in accordance with some plan of his, some…'
'Trap!' Draco interrupted, Etean nodded as he turned his book to the page McGonagall had just instructed,
'That could be it I suppose,'
'So what do I do then?'
'Like I said, that is your choice Draco, you can either talk to her or not talk to her. It's up to you,' Draco rubbed his temples again and shut his eyes. Etean heard him take a deep breath,
'What would you do?' Etean paused,
'I have never liked to deprive myself of knowledge. If it is as you suspect, if this letter is part of some plan that your father has dreamed up, then it is certainly better that we know it. It is possible that talking to your mother, gauging her responses will allow you to figure the plan out, and then figure out how to defeat it,' there was a pause as Draco considered this, then he nodded,
'Fine, so I talk to her. Can we arrange to have the Common Room deserted?' Etean shrugged,
'Shouldn't be too hard, not many people will be up at that hour anyway. Right,' he deliberately raised the volume of his thoughts, making Draco jump, 'to business,'
'Business?'
'Yes, you need to work on your telepathy. We need to strengthen your mind and there is only one way to do that,'
'Yes I know, practice, practice, practice,'
'Precisely, so here's what we are going to do. I give you a target, and your job is to tell me what they are thinking about at that moment. Got it?'
'Yes, I got it so who's the target?' Etean scanned the room. Who would he choose? Not Potter, he had quite impressive mental defences, a trained Occlumence he was not but reading him was still difficult. Draco wasn't nearly ready for that challenge yet. His eyes rested on the back of Hermione's head and he bit back a curse, resisting the urge to actually touch her mind – who knew what he would find there? What would it do to him? What would it do to her? Besides, he shook his head slightly, Draco's fixation with her would cloud the contact, his own thoughts would get in the way. So who then? His eyes moved to the end of the row, to Neville Longbottom. Perfect,
'Longbottom,' he sent to Draco. Beside him he felt Draco prepare and then extend himself. He watched as the mental link formed and Draco struggled to read Longbottom's mind. His eyes narrowed in concentration as he fought to sift through the random noise to a discernable thought,
'He's thinking about Potions class,' Draco sent eventually, he relaxed, slumping into his seat, 'He's worried about messing up again, he thinks that Fracken's potion is too complicated for him to ever get it right,' Etean extended himself and lifted the thoughts from Longbottom's mind,
'Well done Draco, correct. Now,' he reached out again and gently derailed Longbottom's chain of thought, sending him down another mental pathway, 'Read him again,'
'Longbottom again?'
'Yes, his thoughts have changed, what is he thinking now?' Again he felt Draco tense, he saw him raise his finger and rub his left temple. He didn't have to sense him to know he was in pain, telepathy always hurt at first. Draco struggled but it didn't take him quite so long this time,
'Now he's wondering if his grandmother will send him the extra socks he forgot to pack,' Etean nodded,
'Correct, two for two,' he gave Neville another mental shove, 'Do it again,'
'Again? Why Longbottom all the time?'
'Your goal is to become comfortable with reading the minds of others, but you must get used to doing it first,'
'But I can do it, I read Weasley and Longbottom during the duel yesterday, and I used what I saw to beat them,'
'Yes, you did. Well done by the way. But the fact remains that you still have a long way to go. Repeatedly reading the same person is the easiest way to increase your mental strength, and that is our primary concern. Later we can work on the flexibility you will need to easily read different subjects. For now, for today, we'll stick with him,' he nodded to Longbottom and waited as Draco extended himself again.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The door of the changing room opened behind Etean,
"Have you been avoiding me?" Ginny's voice spun him round. He stopped fastening his robes and looked at her,
"Are you supposed to be in here?" he allowed his voice to sound playful,
"Don't give me that, just answer the question," he frowned, she seemed annoyed,
"What did you ask me?"
"I asked have you been avoiding me," Etean frowned,
"What makes you say that?" she stepped forward,
"You were supposed to meet me an hour ago, in the classroom remember?" 'What is she talking about?'
"No," he shook his head, "What are you talking about?" she set her hands on her hips,
"I sent you a note before lunch,"
"Note? I didn't get a note,"
"What do you mean you didn't get it? I put it in your bag," Etean looked round and picked up his bag. He opened it and looked inside, he couldn't see a note,
"Where?" he asked, holding the bag out to her. She looked in, then dug about inside, finally taking out a small scrap of parchment from somewhere deep in the corner,
"Here," she held it up to him, unfolding it so he could read it,
"Ah," he dropped his bag, "I didn't find that,"
"Apparently," she pocketed the note and turned to leave. Etean dodged round to stand in front of her,
"Hey, don't be like that. Why didn't you just ask me? Why bother with a note at all?"
"You were with Malfoy all day, and I don't want to be anywhere near him,"
"Oh, right,"
"Yes well," she made leave again, "Some other time maybe," he put an arm out, blocking her exit,
"Some other time what?" he raised an eyebrow at her, she blushed bright red,
"I dunno," she shrugged, "I thought maybe we could…" she hesitated,
"Yes?" he prompted,
"Finish reading through those books," she smiled through her blush,
"Well," he put an arm round her, "I suppose we could. After all, yesterday was…"
"Yes?" she interrupted,
"Fun," he grinned, "I never thought spending the afternoon up to my neck in dusty old schoolbooks could be so…interesting,"
"Is that right?"
"You didn't enjoy yourself?" he asked,
She looked up at him, keeping her face blank, "I remember you got me drunk and…"
"Hey," he interrupted, "it's not like I forced you to drink that stuff. And I did try to warn you it was strong,"
"Yeah you did," said Ginny, "but you didn't warn me about the hangover did you?"
"No," he laughed, "I guess I didn't, but now you know don't you?"
Ginny leaned into him and looped her arms round his neck, "Yes I do," she kissed him.
Etean held it for a few seconds before he heard Blaise calling him and pulled back, "I have to go," he growled, "training," he flicked his head toward the door and stepped back to do up his robes,
"I'll see you later?" she asked, he leaned in and kissed her on the forehead,
"Sure, after training, I'll find you," and he darted out the door.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Draco yawned as he entered the Common Room. Etean was standing by the fire with his back to him. He looked around, there was nobody else in the room,
"What time is it?"
"Ten to one," Etean didn't turn round, "I thought it best not to wake you until the last moment. How's the head?"
"Sore, it feels like a there's a gnome running around in my brain with a hammer, trying to bust loose," Etean laughed at the image,
"Try to relax your mind, the pain will fade,"
"Why does it hurt so much?" Draco asked as he sat down on one of the leather couches, Etean shrugged, still staring into the fireplace,
"You're using your mind in a way it has never been used before. The forces you are channelling are powerful, they cause damage to the nerves in your brain which in turn causes the pain,"
"Damage? What kind of damage? Is it permanent?"
"No," he turned to face him, "The damage minor if you don't push yourself too hard. It is repaired by the same natural healing process that heals a cut on your arm, the same process that you have accelerated within you through your training. What you're doing really amounts to repeatedly damaging the nerves and allowing them to heal, this forces them to become more resilient. It is a gradual process but, as they become stronger, it will hurt less and you will be able to do more,"
"Oh," he yawned again, wincing as the little gnome in his head got a bit more vigorous with his hammer, 'Did you contact The Circle?' he grimaced, even communication hurt,
"It's alright to speak Draco, there is nobody listening. I have seen to that,"
"Ok then, so did you?" Etean nodded,
"I sent them a message, warning of a possible breach in security that they should look into. I also requested that they send me any information they have regarding the Death Eater attacks, specifically any on Circle members or anyone even remotely connected with The Circle. It will probably take them a few days to check everything out and respond,"
"I thought you were going to leave the investigation to them,"
"I am, but I think I should keep myself up to date all the same," Draco nodded and sat back,
"It must be nearly time for her to show up," he looked up at Etean, "Are you going to hang around?"
"If you want me to," Draco thought it over. His mother had requested to meet him in private, but maybe it was better if Etean herd the conversation first hand. If this was a trap, or the beginnings of one, then Etean might spot something he missed,
"Yes, stay. But don't let her see you," Etean nodded and lifted his hood. He faded away, vanishing before Draco's eyes. He suddenly felt alone, he knew Etean was still there but he felt alone all the same. He shut his eyes and tried to relax. His breathing slowed and he felt the pain start to fade. A sharp jab in the chest stirred him, his eyes snapped open, he looked around and saw his mother's head bobbing gently in the fire. He leapt off the couch and knelt before her,
"Hello Draco," her voice sounded only slightly distorted from inside the flames,
"Hello Mother, how are you?" she sighed,
"I'm fine, as well as can be expected but the real question is how you are?"
"I'm OK,"
"Really? I heard you were hurt,"
"Hurt?" he frowned,
"Your hand was injured, yes?" 'How did she know about that?'
"Yes, last week. It was an accident,"
"An 'accident' you say? Last week?" her tone was suspicious,
"Yes, an accident in Duelling class. Professor Flitwick got a bit excited," his mother frowned,
"Are you lying to me Draco?"
"No,"
"Draco?" he felt nervous, like he always did whenever she had caught him doing something he wasn't supposed to be doing,"
"I'm not lying Mother, why would I?" she tilted her head and looked pensive,
"That is what I have been trying to figure out for the past two days,"
"What do you mean?"
"I had a visit from your father Draco,"
"You did?"
"Yes, he was most agitated, and you were the primary topic of conversation,"
"I was?"
"Indeed and according to him, your hand was injured before last week," Draco sat back on the floor,
"What did he tell you?"
"He said that he contacted you two weeks ago and offered to present you to the Dark Lord. He said that the Dark Lord wished you to serve him," she shook her head, "and he said that you reacted like a coward, that you panicked and attacked one his companions and that in the ensuing confusion, you were wounded. Is that an approximately accurate account of the events that transpired?" Draco foundered, what would he say?
'That's close enough Draco, let her run with it,' Etean sounded calm, his voice echoing through Draco's mind steadied him, his eyes darted to the side, assuming that was where Etean was standing,
"Well?" his mother's floating head seemed impatient,
"Yes," he sighed looking back to her, "That about covers it I suppose," his mother nodded,
"I see," she frowned, "Tell me, why you ran? I want to hear the truth Draco,"
'Tell her," Etean's thought was a whisper, 'tell her the truth,' Draco hung his head,
"Voldemort doesn't want me to serve him Mother," he looked up into her eyes, "He wants to kill me," it was a simplified version, but it was the truth. Her eyes widened,
"Why?"
'Careful,' the warning stopped the answer on the tip of his tongue,
"I don't know why Mother, but I know that he does," she shook her head,
"I refuse to believe that Lucius would willingly…sacrifice you for any reason,"
"Well maybe you don't know him as well as you think you do Mother," he lifted his hand and tugged the glove off his fingers, "Look, this is what he did to me," a look of horror spread across his mothers face as she saw his hand, she reached out, her hand extended from the fireplace but disappeared before she could touch him,
"What did he do to you?"
"I told you, Voldemort wants me dead. Father and his cronies tried to kill me, but all they got was my arm,"
"What?" she sounded terrified and confused,
"My arm is dead Mother. The rest of me would be too if Father had had his way,"
"I don't believe it," Draco laughed,
"That's not my problem Mother," he stood up and turned his back on her, "I have enough to worry about at the moment. So you might as well just run off and tell Lucius that I'm not going to fall for whatever little trick he's got you to help him with," his mother was silent for quite a while as Draco paced back and forth in front of the fireplace,
"You're right Draco. Lucius did want me to help him. He asked me to contact you and to try and persuade you to reconsider your decision to serve the Dark Lord, he wanted me to ask you to run away from school and return home," Draco scoffed,
"Trust me Mother, that is never going to happen," she was silent for a moment more, then she sighed,
"I believe you Draco and I want you to believe me when I say that I don't want you to," Draco stopped,
"What?"
"There is a war coming Draco, things are going to be very bad for everyone involved. I don't want you to have anything to do with this,"
"You don't?"
"Of course I don't Draco. I don't want you to get hurt,"
"It's a bit late for that don't you think?" her head grew larger as she leaned further into her fireplace,
"I know you've been injured Draco, but I need you to listen to me. Things are about to happen that you cannot be involved in," her tone was serious, her behaviour confused him,
"What are you talking about?" she shook her head,
"That is not your concern, but I need you to do something for me Draco,"
"What?"
"I need you to stay at Hogwarts," he opened his mouth to question her but she cut him off, "Promise me Draco, no matter what happens, no matter what you hear about…about anything, you stay put," her tone became more and more anxious with every word. Draco felt his own confusion echoed by Etean,
"Tell me why," she shook her head again,
"I can't, I don't have time to go into it now and it's probably better for you that you don't know. I believe I can protect you Draco, keep you safe but you must remain in school. Swear it to me Draco,"
"But…"
"No buts, I'm your mother and I need you to do it for me, I need you to promise me. Give me your word, I know you won't break it,"
"Mother…"
"Please Draco," a tear rolled down her cheek, "Promise me," he looked at her, he couldn't remember her ever showing this much concern for him in his whole life,
"I promise, I'll stay here," she smiled,
"Thank you Draco. I love you, always remember that," he felt his lip start to quiver,
"I love you too," he answered but she was already gone. His confusion was joined by a sudden fear. He looked up as Etean emerged from the shadows and lowered his hood. "What was all that about?" Etean shook his head,
"I don't know Draco,"
"You didn't read her mind?"
"No," he shook his head again, "She wasn't really here, not enough for me to get her thoughts. I did sense her emotions though,"
"And," he took a step closer to him, "what did you sense?"
"She's afraid, terrified is more like it,"
"Of what?"
"I can't be sure, but I can guess,"
"Voldemort," he nodded,
"Seems to be a developing theme doesn't it? If I were to guess, I would say that your mother has for the first time realised just how deep into this situation she is," Draco nodded, it made sense,
"She always believed she was safe, that nothing could hurt her because Father wouldn't allow it. The wife of Lucius Malfoy had nothing to fear,"
"To an extent, she was right. But, I think it is becoming clear to her that she is not top of his list of priorities, her protector isn't what she thought he was," Draco ran through the conversation again,
"What do you think she meant when she said she could protect me?"
"Good question," Etean moved over to a chair and sat down, "I take it that wasn't normal behaviour from her?"
"You can say that again," Etean paused, thinking. Draco sat down on a couch opposite him, Etean leaned forward, "She must know you're safe as long as you stay here, she said Lucius wanted her to lure you out, that would explain why she was so adamant for you to stay in Hogwarts. Maybe she thinks she can stall him, put him off his plans for you," Draco shook his head,
"It sounded like more than that to me, she knows something about what's going on. Something we don't know,"
"Maybe, or maybe she knows something we already know and she just doesn't know that we know it," Draco ran it through his head again but it made no more sense than the first time,
"What?"
"She doesn't know what we…I mean what The Circle knows about Voldemort and his operations. She has been around Lucius for a long time, it's possible that she has learned some of his secrets. That might include some information about what Voldemort is doing,"
"That he's coming for me?" Etean shook his head,
"That isn't the impression I got, she may know something about Voldemort's strategy but I doubt she knows anything about the Ascension. At last report, The Council believed that only Voldemort's inner circle knows the truth about his plans for you," Draco sat back and sighed,
"Fine, but am I the only one that is starting to think that there is more going on here than the Ascension?" Etean sighed,
"Of course there is Draco, welcome to my world. Here we are, stuck between everyone, between the Ministry, the Death Eaters, the Order of the Phoenix and now," he pointed to the dying fire, "your good mother. Each of them has plans, each of their plans involves the others in some way and we are stuck trying to figure it all out before we get ourselves killed. You should be starting to get an idea of the kind of problems I am asked to solve on a regular basis,"
"So, what do we do?"
"Nothing, there isn't anything we can do without further information,"
"So?"
"So we wait until we hear from the Council, hopefully any new information they give us will shed some light on this mess," Etean stood up and stretched. Draco rubbed his eyes, he was exhausted but there was no way he was sleeping tonight. "Here," he looked up to see Etean holding a goblet out to him, "drink this,"
"What is it?"
"It will take the pain away and help you sleep, trust me you need it," Draco took the goblet, it was full of something that looked like pumpkin juice, "It isn't," Etean added, "In fact it tastes like shit," he smiled, "but it does work,"
Draco drank the stuff, it tasted worse than he expected but he managed to swallow it. He felt warmth spread out from his stomach and the pain faded from his head. His eyes drooped shut, now he felt as if he could sleep,
"Come on," Etean lifted him from the couch and steered him toward the stairs, "Bed!"