A/N: Hey everybody! Hope you guys are well, I tried to update as soon as I
could and I hope it's good enough for you to REVIEW! Again, replies at the
end of the chapter, blah blah blah... And again, sorry, hasn't been beta-
read, I didn't send it to Fire'N'Ice because I just finished writing it and
I'm posting it right away. Enjoy!
Oh, by the way... I know advertising for my own fic is distressing, but well, who cares? I've just posted chapter one of a new HP fic called More Than I Am. It's about the Malfoy family, but Draco is not the central character..... He he he, check it out, please...
Oh, by the way! Passage between the XXX~~ is flashback!
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Chapter 23:
*Dumbledore's pov*
Draco is sitting in a corner of my office. He's silent and locked up behind his walls. He stares at the floor in front of him and is discreetly rubbing his arm against the wooden chair in what is for him a soothing way.
The round clock above the door endlessly ticks the seconds away, and the rain seems to be copying its rhythm. It hits the windows and roof with intensity, like hammers trying to break walls, trying to tear a hole in this shelter. Apart from that, the room is so silent that I believe I still can hear Fudge's footsteps, slowly fading in the background. The soft shuffled pace of the old minister, impregnated with prudence and a slight fear. The man is a weakling hidden behind his title and he doesn't even realize he rules a world going to death.
I sigh and turn back my attention to the blonde boy. "Draco, do you want to talk about it?"
He jerks his head up and looks at me through strands of his nearly silver hair. His piercing eyes are burning with anger and lack of understanding.
"There's nothing to say," he replies through gritted teeth; his hands are balls and his knuckles a white. He suddenly stands up and storms out of the room before I can hold him back. He slams the door with all his strengths, which have considerably returned, and I can hear him run down the stairs. I go to the window and see him exit the building.
I spot him sprinting in the pouring rain, trying to escape something he is perfectly aware he can't. He collapses near the cliff, kneeling in the mud. The blade shines in his hand, through the thin fog, and my heart tightens as he clutches his only temporary way of escaping. The visit of Fudge replays in my head, but in a slow motion, emphasizing the tragedy of it. Adding anger in my eyes and worry for this kid.
XXX~~
"You can't do that Cornelius! You can't send him home! He's got the same right as the others to choose if he leaves or not for Christmas," said vigorously Dumbledore, gesturing toward Draco.
Fudge raised his hands to calm the old headmaster. "Albus, your theory about Mr. Malfoy might be true, but since he never complained officially against his father, I think it would be best for everybody if he went home and stayed there till things are worked out with parents. I'm afraid I can't do anything. Lucius Malfoy is a gentleman and the horrors you accuse him of are extremely serious. If you can't furnish evidence to support your accusations, his son will go home."
"Damn, do I have to take off my shirt and show you or what?" suddenly interrupted the teenager.
Fudge briefly looked at him before lowering his eyes to the ornate carpet. "It wouldn't change anything. Since you, ahem... well... self-harm, this argument fails: you could have done it yourself. I'm sorry but you'll have to go home for the holidays and if you don't comply, I will have to expel you from this school," he stammered nervously, hardly daring look at Albus or Draco.
"Yep, that's what I thought, he's got you wrapped around his finger," shot back the boy, staring insolently at the minister.
"Show some respect," yelled Fudge, rather upset that the boy had seen cowardice behind his function.
"Some people don't deserve my respect."
At that point, the minister was on the edge of going to Draco and give him a slap or two. "Cornelius, you should leave now. I'm sure plenty of parents are waiting for you at the ministry," broke in Albus' wise voice.
~~XXX
Unfortunately, Draco is right: Lucius has got power over Fudge. There's nothing I can do against them both and Cornelius is too scared to change his mind. Draco will be obliged to go home. How will we be able to retrieve him from that place? I don't think I can storm in the Aurors' headquarters and tell them that we've got to rescue the son of a Death Eater just because a teenage girl fainted a hundred miles away. I admit that he's strong and that his resistance amazes me, but can he survive? Won't we have his blood on our hands in a week or two? Unanswered questions echo endlessly as the child I vowed to protect prays to a scarlet savior, on his knees in a cathedral of mire.
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*Hannah's pov*
Myrtle and I are hidden behind a pillar and Peeve's hovering in the deserted hall. We hear footsteps and smile wickedly. Crabbe and Goyle on their way to the Great Hall, the perfect victims.
The fact is, we need a wand to pull our prank on Creevey and Weasley and how do you get a wand? You steal it from the two biggest morons in whole Hogwarts and you're nearly sure they won't understand anything at all. We'll finally have our wand and a good laugh as a joker, nothing could go better.
When the two Slytherins arrive under Peeves, I can catch snatches of their conversation. They're comparing Millicent Bulstrode to a chocolate muffin, both Myrtle and I have to hold back our laughter, it's hard. Suddenly, Peeves throws the two chiromancy books he "checked out" of the library and the two bullies collapse, rubbing their foreheads and not understanding why they're attacked by books. Peeves dives and grabs Crabbe's wand while Myrtle and I pop out of behind the pillar to divert their attention.
When we've got the wand, we start to fly away quickly. I look back and see both of them still staring at the books in awe. God, how ironical, these two morons don't even know how to read properly.
We hide in Myrtle's bathroom and start to teach Peeves how to use a wand. Ok, maybe it wasn't the best thing to do and he can become pretty dangerous with it, but it's worth a try, right? After having blown up half the taps of the bathroom, cracked the paving-stones, melted a toilet seat and burnt down a few doors, I can say that I'm rather proud of our student.
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*Draco's pov*
It's only when I feel the frozen mud under my knees that I completely figure out what my holidays will be. Beating after beating, having to hear my father's sadistic laugh as his cane rips me apart. I don't know how I can survive, this is stronger than my blade, I've got no way out. The false sense of security in which I tried to lull myself blatantly mocks me now. My mind revives hurting memories and I find myself with my knife in my hand before realizing it.
While my blood mixes with the rainwater, my sanity seems to fly away. I don't really understand where I am anymore, or what happened. All thoughts seem dulled by one specific word that always was nearly meaningless to me: home. Like I didn't know what a friend was before meeting Ginny, I never had the occasion of matching an experience or a feeling with the word home. It never meant anything else than empty, cold and violent.
I carve it in my left arm and watch the slashes become bright red before fading to a gloomy pink when the water hits it. It fades away as my life will next week. I hold my breath as I reopen all my healing wounds. Every single one. I let the blood rolls in my sleeves, on my pants. It melts in the puddle of mud surrounding me. I curl up in a ball and begin to slash my ankles, the knife has taken control over me, I can't stop anymore, I've got too much pain inside me, I've to get it out at all costs.
My schoolmates' fingers pointing at me or their spits in my face, they seem so ridiculous now. I would gladly wear a sign saying FREAK around my neck instead of facing my father. A lightening bolt makes me jerk my head up. I look around for the first time and it seems that my mind is taking its place again. I run a hand through my hair, taking in the pitiful state I'm in.
I get up and feel my blood rush to my head, letting dizziness take over me. I stumble a bit and frown as I think how much blood I must have lost. Frozen, soaked, dirty and exhausted, on the edge of anemia, I make my way back to the castle, I don't know how I'll be able to avoid people. I laugh madly and bitterly at the thought of them spotting me in such a state. One more thing to feed the rumors.
Of course, as soon as I put a foot in the castle, Pansy sees me. She shrieks, puts her hand on her mouth and stares at me in disgust. It's easy to ignore her now, I so don't care anymore about them all. It's only when I spot Ginny talking with Zabini that I start to feel really bad. I'm ashamed of my forceful cutting and what seemed so right just minutes before makes me want to throw up now. Both of them are in the hall and I can't avoid them; besides, Zabini has already seen me and point me to Ginny. I hang my head and lock my stare on the floor. I can't look at her, I don't want to see all that disappointment in her warm eyes.
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*Ginny's pov*
I'm talking with Blaise in the hall. I finally found out who he was and I wanted to talk to him about Draco. I closed our mind bond this afternoon. I feel slightly ashamed but I needed to find myself again under the emotions twirling in my head and through the bond. I needed a break to avoid walking the same path as him, I was slowly losing ground, lost in his land of suffering.
I closed the bond and my own feelings became clearer. The memories, too. The Chamber of Secrets and Tom, they haunt my mind and make me shudder. It has been some time since I last had a nightmare about them, but I know it's only because of Draco and the fact that his presence in my head is soothing, even if it hurts.
Then I see Blaise's eyes widen and his mouth open in shock. I spin around and spot him. Draco is there, standing in the hall, struggling to continue his walk without bothering. He's soaked and muddy, I see the blood covering him, tainting his hair. His lips are blue and swollen, they bleed too. His sleeves are rolled up and all his cuts are pouring crimson. I quickly reopen the mind bond and I'm crushed by anger and sadness. I feel my mind shrivel under the pressure of his emotions filling my head, my own thoughts fray and vanish, caught in the storm of silent screams coming from him.
My fingers turn to fists as my head pounds. Shame takes over my mind when I realize that I closed the bond when he most needed me. He hurts and I left him alone; tears well up in my eyes as it dawns on me how terrible this is. I run to him and throw my arms around his neck, I beg for his forgiveness while I try to make my way through the blistering feelings and reach the kid cuddled in the darkest corner of his mind.
As soon as I touch him, I shiver. He's so cold and his muscles are stiff. I look up at his face, he's pale and I can see the purple veins on his temples. His blue lips quiver and his teeth are chattering. I hug him tighter, in a vain attempt to drain all the ice from his body and replace it with soft warmth.
I finally react rationally and turn to Blaise who stands a bit uncomfortably a few feet further. He mumbles that he's going to get some dry clothes for Draco and to wait for him in Myrtle's bathroom. I nod vaguely and take that path. Luckily, we don't meet so many people and apart from the usual disgust glares sharpened a bit, nobody dares say anything.
When we reach Myrtle's realm, I make him take off his pullover, shirt and pants: I feel nauseous as I see his slashed ankles. I have to shake myself to take off my cloak and rub him down vigorously. He whimpers and shuts his eyes tightly when the rough material of my cloak scrapes his wounds but I don't care, he has to get warmer before anything else.
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*Blaise's pov*
When I come back from the common room with clothes, Ginny already has stripped his clothes and tries to warm him up. His blood marred skin gains some color again and he seems better. I see Ginny literally lighten up as she starts to clean his numerous cuts expertly; I can't help but wonder how many times she already took care of him like that. She takes gauze out of her bag, it seems that she's ready anytime for that sort of intervention, and bandages his ankles tightly. She then moves up to his arms but suddenly, she stops, frozen, her eyes locked on his sliced up skin.
I approach them and take a look. In the middle of the crimson network, a chain of cuts seems to stand out, brighter, deeper, redder.
"Why did you carve 'home'?" asks a shaken Ginny. He doesn't answer immediately but he looks like he's trying to swallow the ball in his throat.
"Fudge, he makes me go home for the holidays. Parents scared him and my father bribed him. I-" he trails off. "I'm scared," he then finishes in a whisper, directing his gaze to a crack in the pillar next to him.
I see Ginny's brown eyes wander to his neck, where his father's finger marks are still visible, slight bruises on his faultless skin. I lean against the cracked pillar and thump the back of my skull on the earthenware covering it. How did someone like Fudge land in the chair of the minister of a whole world? How can he ignore what is so striking in this situation? I feel murderous.
I look down at my schoolmate, wrapped in a cloak and miserable on the grey tile, and I wish with all my heart that I had a home where I could welcome him. Ginny finishes the wound cleaning with trembling hands, I know that she's got the same thoughts on her mind. Then we let him dress up and we note the disaster. Draco lifts a hand to his mouth and winces faintly at the contact on his grazed lips. His hair is wild and caked with blood at some places and Ginny wants to wash it in the sink but he refuses, he doesn't care.
Exhaustion is painted on his features and the loss of blood certainly didn't help. I take his arm and drag him to the door. He needs food and rest. I spin around a last time to tell Ginny that we're going to our dorm but she already has understood and smiles weakly at me, her bloodied cloak in hand. I force myself to smile back and we leave.
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And now..... my replies to your insane but always more than appreciated reviews!
JB-LIBRIMAER: Lol, you can push the next chapter button now! Yep, I know, surprising of Ron, but sometimes, people are not who you think they are. Why the hell would I give up on that fic? Are you crazy? It's my baby, my masterpiece, the only thing I'm really proud of till now! I couldn't give up on this fic, my first one ever and such a success! Continue to review!
Luna-is-my-name: Oh, you're in Wicca... I should be careful then, lol. Sorry, my mom is paranoid about Wicca, magic, whatever would drive us out of the normal course of our boring lives. Bit like the Dursleys, really, thought a lot less stupid, but I still find it highly comical that she's so fond of HP when she can't stand the fact that people believe in magic... No comment, please, I live with that everyday...*bangs head* I haven't seen that movie but I wrote down the title and I hope I can find it once. I don't really know if it's a good idea for me but well, I'll see.
Ohjuotaku: Ah, sorry, I never said he wouldn't change a bit! He'll change... not much though, or at least, not very soon, I don't know yet. Anyway, I don't think he'll ever become Draco's best friend or whatever. Lucius should make an appearance soon... Too soon to your own liking, trust me about that. *shudder* I've gone to Italy three times I think, but never to Florence, just stopped there with the night train and I guess we were a bit drunk so didn't really realize, lol.
Babysb: Ah, sorry about making you despise your fav character, I still don't know what I'm gonna do of him or of Colin. Almost made you cry, huh? Shit, I failed, I wanted you to cry... Yep, first Angst rule: Make your readers cry. Hmmpf, hope you cry in this chapter then.
Citty: He he he... the prankster ghost team! They're cool, aren't they? You'll see, you'll see...Soon! Lol, do you believe me if I tell you I can't write in French? It's my mother tongue but it's like words don't flow like in English, it's rather weird. Dictionaries and thesauruses are my best friends, lol. Oh ok, you meant Tom. I breathe again, I have to admit he's clearly not too bad. Only I find him a bit stuck-up, like Percy... I have NO clue about the final number of chapters... But we're reaching Christmas and thus, Voldemort's plot, then I guess I'll continue a bit with the Ron and Colin issue and then... OMG... I don't want to finish it, how will I live without this story?
Angelic fire: Thanks for the compliment, I hope my writing is even better in this chapter! Awh, Ron is not so bad.... deep down, lol.
Drxd: Of course I'm gonna write about those pranks! Honestly, would I miss an opportunity to humiliate those two bastards???? I don't think so *evil grin*
Bronx: You don't have to join Voldiepoo to slit their throats, but could you wait till I finish this fic? I need the morons a bit more, lol. Don't worry, I guess that at one point, Ginny will lose her temper freakin' badly, muahahahaha. Well... the summer holidays are far, but Christmas holidays are close, very close. *hides behind table, knowing that she'll receive a rotten tomato in the head*. Ahem, yeah... Read on. And I hope issue with your friend is better.
Jhaylin: Blaise is not confusing! He's just got a high sense of sarcasm, lol. Don't worry, you'll see in this chapter that he likes Draco.
Goldenhorse: Thanks, it was only Cinnamon before but do you know how many flaming Cinnamons there were on this site? So I changed it to that and I like it better. Duh, you can still change your name, it won't erase anything of your reviews and stories! I'm sorry you think that because it's not true but I sense some bitterness and harshness here so I won't continue on the subject of suicidal cutting. Muahahaha, I can't wait till they get their butts kicked, especially when you think it'll be by ghosts. *innocent smirk*
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * REVIEW! Yep, I know, somewhat lame ending comment, but what can I say? I want to read your insane rambling!
Oh, by the way... I know advertising for my own fic is distressing, but well, who cares? I've just posted chapter one of a new HP fic called More Than I Am. It's about the Malfoy family, but Draco is not the central character..... He he he, check it out, please...
Oh, by the way! Passage between the XXX~~ is flashback!
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Chapter 23:
*Dumbledore's pov*
Draco is sitting in a corner of my office. He's silent and locked up behind his walls. He stares at the floor in front of him and is discreetly rubbing his arm against the wooden chair in what is for him a soothing way.
The round clock above the door endlessly ticks the seconds away, and the rain seems to be copying its rhythm. It hits the windows and roof with intensity, like hammers trying to break walls, trying to tear a hole in this shelter. Apart from that, the room is so silent that I believe I still can hear Fudge's footsteps, slowly fading in the background. The soft shuffled pace of the old minister, impregnated with prudence and a slight fear. The man is a weakling hidden behind his title and he doesn't even realize he rules a world going to death.
I sigh and turn back my attention to the blonde boy. "Draco, do you want to talk about it?"
He jerks his head up and looks at me through strands of his nearly silver hair. His piercing eyes are burning with anger and lack of understanding.
"There's nothing to say," he replies through gritted teeth; his hands are balls and his knuckles a white. He suddenly stands up and storms out of the room before I can hold him back. He slams the door with all his strengths, which have considerably returned, and I can hear him run down the stairs. I go to the window and see him exit the building.
I spot him sprinting in the pouring rain, trying to escape something he is perfectly aware he can't. He collapses near the cliff, kneeling in the mud. The blade shines in his hand, through the thin fog, and my heart tightens as he clutches his only temporary way of escaping. The visit of Fudge replays in my head, but in a slow motion, emphasizing the tragedy of it. Adding anger in my eyes and worry for this kid.
XXX~~
"You can't do that Cornelius! You can't send him home! He's got the same right as the others to choose if he leaves or not for Christmas," said vigorously Dumbledore, gesturing toward Draco.
Fudge raised his hands to calm the old headmaster. "Albus, your theory about Mr. Malfoy might be true, but since he never complained officially against his father, I think it would be best for everybody if he went home and stayed there till things are worked out with parents. I'm afraid I can't do anything. Lucius Malfoy is a gentleman and the horrors you accuse him of are extremely serious. If you can't furnish evidence to support your accusations, his son will go home."
"Damn, do I have to take off my shirt and show you or what?" suddenly interrupted the teenager.
Fudge briefly looked at him before lowering his eyes to the ornate carpet. "It wouldn't change anything. Since you, ahem... well... self-harm, this argument fails: you could have done it yourself. I'm sorry but you'll have to go home for the holidays and if you don't comply, I will have to expel you from this school," he stammered nervously, hardly daring look at Albus or Draco.
"Yep, that's what I thought, he's got you wrapped around his finger," shot back the boy, staring insolently at the minister.
"Show some respect," yelled Fudge, rather upset that the boy had seen cowardice behind his function.
"Some people don't deserve my respect."
At that point, the minister was on the edge of going to Draco and give him a slap or two. "Cornelius, you should leave now. I'm sure plenty of parents are waiting for you at the ministry," broke in Albus' wise voice.
~~XXX
Unfortunately, Draco is right: Lucius has got power over Fudge. There's nothing I can do against them both and Cornelius is too scared to change his mind. Draco will be obliged to go home. How will we be able to retrieve him from that place? I don't think I can storm in the Aurors' headquarters and tell them that we've got to rescue the son of a Death Eater just because a teenage girl fainted a hundred miles away. I admit that he's strong and that his resistance amazes me, but can he survive? Won't we have his blood on our hands in a week or two? Unanswered questions echo endlessly as the child I vowed to protect prays to a scarlet savior, on his knees in a cathedral of mire.
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*Hannah's pov*
Myrtle and I are hidden behind a pillar and Peeve's hovering in the deserted hall. We hear footsteps and smile wickedly. Crabbe and Goyle on their way to the Great Hall, the perfect victims.
The fact is, we need a wand to pull our prank on Creevey and Weasley and how do you get a wand? You steal it from the two biggest morons in whole Hogwarts and you're nearly sure they won't understand anything at all. We'll finally have our wand and a good laugh as a joker, nothing could go better.
When the two Slytherins arrive under Peeves, I can catch snatches of their conversation. They're comparing Millicent Bulstrode to a chocolate muffin, both Myrtle and I have to hold back our laughter, it's hard. Suddenly, Peeves throws the two chiromancy books he "checked out" of the library and the two bullies collapse, rubbing their foreheads and not understanding why they're attacked by books. Peeves dives and grabs Crabbe's wand while Myrtle and I pop out of behind the pillar to divert their attention.
When we've got the wand, we start to fly away quickly. I look back and see both of them still staring at the books in awe. God, how ironical, these two morons don't even know how to read properly.
We hide in Myrtle's bathroom and start to teach Peeves how to use a wand. Ok, maybe it wasn't the best thing to do and he can become pretty dangerous with it, but it's worth a try, right? After having blown up half the taps of the bathroom, cracked the paving-stones, melted a toilet seat and burnt down a few doors, I can say that I'm rather proud of our student.
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*Draco's pov*
It's only when I feel the frozen mud under my knees that I completely figure out what my holidays will be. Beating after beating, having to hear my father's sadistic laugh as his cane rips me apart. I don't know how I can survive, this is stronger than my blade, I've got no way out. The false sense of security in which I tried to lull myself blatantly mocks me now. My mind revives hurting memories and I find myself with my knife in my hand before realizing it.
While my blood mixes with the rainwater, my sanity seems to fly away. I don't really understand where I am anymore, or what happened. All thoughts seem dulled by one specific word that always was nearly meaningless to me: home. Like I didn't know what a friend was before meeting Ginny, I never had the occasion of matching an experience or a feeling with the word home. It never meant anything else than empty, cold and violent.
I carve it in my left arm and watch the slashes become bright red before fading to a gloomy pink when the water hits it. It fades away as my life will next week. I hold my breath as I reopen all my healing wounds. Every single one. I let the blood rolls in my sleeves, on my pants. It melts in the puddle of mud surrounding me. I curl up in a ball and begin to slash my ankles, the knife has taken control over me, I can't stop anymore, I've got too much pain inside me, I've to get it out at all costs.
My schoolmates' fingers pointing at me or their spits in my face, they seem so ridiculous now. I would gladly wear a sign saying FREAK around my neck instead of facing my father. A lightening bolt makes me jerk my head up. I look around for the first time and it seems that my mind is taking its place again. I run a hand through my hair, taking in the pitiful state I'm in.
I get up and feel my blood rush to my head, letting dizziness take over me. I stumble a bit and frown as I think how much blood I must have lost. Frozen, soaked, dirty and exhausted, on the edge of anemia, I make my way back to the castle, I don't know how I'll be able to avoid people. I laugh madly and bitterly at the thought of them spotting me in such a state. One more thing to feed the rumors.
Of course, as soon as I put a foot in the castle, Pansy sees me. She shrieks, puts her hand on her mouth and stares at me in disgust. It's easy to ignore her now, I so don't care anymore about them all. It's only when I spot Ginny talking with Zabini that I start to feel really bad. I'm ashamed of my forceful cutting and what seemed so right just minutes before makes me want to throw up now. Both of them are in the hall and I can't avoid them; besides, Zabini has already seen me and point me to Ginny. I hang my head and lock my stare on the floor. I can't look at her, I don't want to see all that disappointment in her warm eyes.
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*Ginny's pov*
I'm talking with Blaise in the hall. I finally found out who he was and I wanted to talk to him about Draco. I closed our mind bond this afternoon. I feel slightly ashamed but I needed to find myself again under the emotions twirling in my head and through the bond. I needed a break to avoid walking the same path as him, I was slowly losing ground, lost in his land of suffering.
I closed the bond and my own feelings became clearer. The memories, too. The Chamber of Secrets and Tom, they haunt my mind and make me shudder. It has been some time since I last had a nightmare about them, but I know it's only because of Draco and the fact that his presence in my head is soothing, even if it hurts.
Then I see Blaise's eyes widen and his mouth open in shock. I spin around and spot him. Draco is there, standing in the hall, struggling to continue his walk without bothering. He's soaked and muddy, I see the blood covering him, tainting his hair. His lips are blue and swollen, they bleed too. His sleeves are rolled up and all his cuts are pouring crimson. I quickly reopen the mind bond and I'm crushed by anger and sadness. I feel my mind shrivel under the pressure of his emotions filling my head, my own thoughts fray and vanish, caught in the storm of silent screams coming from him.
My fingers turn to fists as my head pounds. Shame takes over my mind when I realize that I closed the bond when he most needed me. He hurts and I left him alone; tears well up in my eyes as it dawns on me how terrible this is. I run to him and throw my arms around his neck, I beg for his forgiveness while I try to make my way through the blistering feelings and reach the kid cuddled in the darkest corner of his mind.
As soon as I touch him, I shiver. He's so cold and his muscles are stiff. I look up at his face, he's pale and I can see the purple veins on his temples. His blue lips quiver and his teeth are chattering. I hug him tighter, in a vain attempt to drain all the ice from his body and replace it with soft warmth.
I finally react rationally and turn to Blaise who stands a bit uncomfortably a few feet further. He mumbles that he's going to get some dry clothes for Draco and to wait for him in Myrtle's bathroom. I nod vaguely and take that path. Luckily, we don't meet so many people and apart from the usual disgust glares sharpened a bit, nobody dares say anything.
When we reach Myrtle's realm, I make him take off his pullover, shirt and pants: I feel nauseous as I see his slashed ankles. I have to shake myself to take off my cloak and rub him down vigorously. He whimpers and shuts his eyes tightly when the rough material of my cloak scrapes his wounds but I don't care, he has to get warmer before anything else.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
*Blaise's pov*
When I come back from the common room with clothes, Ginny already has stripped his clothes and tries to warm him up. His blood marred skin gains some color again and he seems better. I see Ginny literally lighten up as she starts to clean his numerous cuts expertly; I can't help but wonder how many times she already took care of him like that. She takes gauze out of her bag, it seems that she's ready anytime for that sort of intervention, and bandages his ankles tightly. She then moves up to his arms but suddenly, she stops, frozen, her eyes locked on his sliced up skin.
I approach them and take a look. In the middle of the crimson network, a chain of cuts seems to stand out, brighter, deeper, redder.
"Why did you carve 'home'?" asks a shaken Ginny. He doesn't answer immediately but he looks like he's trying to swallow the ball in his throat.
"Fudge, he makes me go home for the holidays. Parents scared him and my father bribed him. I-" he trails off. "I'm scared," he then finishes in a whisper, directing his gaze to a crack in the pillar next to him.
I see Ginny's brown eyes wander to his neck, where his father's finger marks are still visible, slight bruises on his faultless skin. I lean against the cracked pillar and thump the back of my skull on the earthenware covering it. How did someone like Fudge land in the chair of the minister of a whole world? How can he ignore what is so striking in this situation? I feel murderous.
I look down at my schoolmate, wrapped in a cloak and miserable on the grey tile, and I wish with all my heart that I had a home where I could welcome him. Ginny finishes the wound cleaning with trembling hands, I know that she's got the same thoughts on her mind. Then we let him dress up and we note the disaster. Draco lifts a hand to his mouth and winces faintly at the contact on his grazed lips. His hair is wild and caked with blood at some places and Ginny wants to wash it in the sink but he refuses, he doesn't care.
Exhaustion is painted on his features and the loss of blood certainly didn't help. I take his arm and drag him to the door. He needs food and rest. I spin around a last time to tell Ginny that we're going to our dorm but she already has understood and smiles weakly at me, her bloodied cloak in hand. I force myself to smile back and we leave.
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And now..... my replies to your insane but always more than appreciated reviews!
JB-LIBRIMAER: Lol, you can push the next chapter button now! Yep, I know, surprising of Ron, but sometimes, people are not who you think they are. Why the hell would I give up on that fic? Are you crazy? It's my baby, my masterpiece, the only thing I'm really proud of till now! I couldn't give up on this fic, my first one ever and such a success! Continue to review!
Luna-is-my-name: Oh, you're in Wicca... I should be careful then, lol. Sorry, my mom is paranoid about Wicca, magic, whatever would drive us out of the normal course of our boring lives. Bit like the Dursleys, really, thought a lot less stupid, but I still find it highly comical that she's so fond of HP when she can't stand the fact that people believe in magic... No comment, please, I live with that everyday...*bangs head* I haven't seen that movie but I wrote down the title and I hope I can find it once. I don't really know if it's a good idea for me but well, I'll see.
Ohjuotaku: Ah, sorry, I never said he wouldn't change a bit! He'll change... not much though, or at least, not very soon, I don't know yet. Anyway, I don't think he'll ever become Draco's best friend or whatever. Lucius should make an appearance soon... Too soon to your own liking, trust me about that. *shudder* I've gone to Italy three times I think, but never to Florence, just stopped there with the night train and I guess we were a bit drunk so didn't really realize, lol.
Babysb: Ah, sorry about making you despise your fav character, I still don't know what I'm gonna do of him or of Colin. Almost made you cry, huh? Shit, I failed, I wanted you to cry... Yep, first Angst rule: Make your readers cry. Hmmpf, hope you cry in this chapter then.
Citty: He he he... the prankster ghost team! They're cool, aren't they? You'll see, you'll see...Soon! Lol, do you believe me if I tell you I can't write in French? It's my mother tongue but it's like words don't flow like in English, it's rather weird. Dictionaries and thesauruses are my best friends, lol. Oh ok, you meant Tom. I breathe again, I have to admit he's clearly not too bad. Only I find him a bit stuck-up, like Percy... I have NO clue about the final number of chapters... But we're reaching Christmas and thus, Voldemort's plot, then I guess I'll continue a bit with the Ron and Colin issue and then... OMG... I don't want to finish it, how will I live without this story?
Angelic fire: Thanks for the compliment, I hope my writing is even better in this chapter! Awh, Ron is not so bad.... deep down, lol.
Drxd: Of course I'm gonna write about those pranks! Honestly, would I miss an opportunity to humiliate those two bastards???? I don't think so *evil grin*
Bronx: You don't have to join Voldiepoo to slit their throats, but could you wait till I finish this fic? I need the morons a bit more, lol. Don't worry, I guess that at one point, Ginny will lose her temper freakin' badly, muahahahaha. Well... the summer holidays are far, but Christmas holidays are close, very close. *hides behind table, knowing that she'll receive a rotten tomato in the head*. Ahem, yeah... Read on. And I hope issue with your friend is better.
Jhaylin: Blaise is not confusing! He's just got a high sense of sarcasm, lol. Don't worry, you'll see in this chapter that he likes Draco.
Goldenhorse: Thanks, it was only Cinnamon before but do you know how many flaming Cinnamons there were on this site? So I changed it to that and I like it better. Duh, you can still change your name, it won't erase anything of your reviews and stories! I'm sorry you think that because it's not true but I sense some bitterness and harshness here so I won't continue on the subject of suicidal cutting. Muahahaha, I can't wait till they get their butts kicked, especially when you think it'll be by ghosts. *innocent smirk*
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * REVIEW! Yep, I know, somewhat lame ending comment, but what can I say? I want to read your insane rambling!