Disclaimer: We don't own Harry Potter or the song. Characters belong to J.K. Rowling and the song is by T.a.t.U.
"Pygmalion"
A Drarry Fanfiction by Destiny Commence
OoOoO All About Us OoOoO
It's all about us, all about us.
It's all about, all about us.
All about us.
There's a thing that they can't touch,
'Cause you know
It's all about us, all about us.
It's all about, all about us.
All about us.
We'll run away if we must,
'Cause you know
It's all about us (it's all about us).
It's all about love (it's all about us).
In you I can trust (it's all about us).
It's all about us.
She just sat there parallel to him as he skillfully ran the paintbrush over the soft canvas. A picture was slowly appearing. The picture of the being that haunted his very dreams for the last few—several months. The constant pain he had been receiving, waking every morning only to realize that he was alone, and that the creature never did exist.
"Is that another painting? Of your Galatea?" his ever-so-cunning sister taunted, shining her beloved sword. He just looked at her as she did so, her gray eyes surveying the blade.
"Yes…yes, it is."
"Has he plagued your dreams last night again?"
"…"
"I have heard your words, you know. We all heard you. You kept calling him as if he was leaving you. And when Aphrodite and I went to check, you were hysterical. Wild, if you may."
She sighed and put his palette and brush down. "You know, I would be able to sleep better if I knew that I am safe in my own room every night."
She stopped shining her blade and stood up, sheathing the dreaded sword. "You know very well that it is my duty to keep an eye on all of you. I have to do rounds every night. I would really like it if you at least appreciate me for that."
"I do appreciate it, soror," he retorted, using the term they had for sisters. But what I don't appreciate is you watching me whenever I dream."
"I do not watch over you simply over the pretext of seeing you move around because of your dream. I watch over you because I am afraid that your omen dreams may get the best of you. You do know that it would be extremely dangerous if ever you were to get any more…addicted to those prophetic visions."
He had wanted to frown, but he restrained the action. It was suicide to frown in front of his concerned soror. Instead, he forced a small smile. "As you may know, I am perfectly in control of my visions. I am not controlled by them, and I will in no way be addicted to them."
Athena did not answer him. Instead, she approached his easel, his undone masterpiece, and surveyed the figure slowly appearing. Then she threw a look at him, those gray eyes boring holes into his body.
"But what about him? Galatea?"
"What the--?"
Draco awoke with quite a start. He was lucky the Head Boy got his own room, or else he would have woken everyone else up.
"That was…some dream…"
He held his head in his hands, his breath coming in rapid gasps. Sweat damped his shirt and boxers, as well as his platinum blonde hair. The stray strands hung at the sides of his face, sticking to his skin.
Tossing the covers aside, he swung his legs over the side of his bed and got up. "Maybe a little walk in the middle of the night can help…"
And with that idea in mind, he changed into his robes and walked out of his room, his wand lit with a lumos spell.
His walk was uneventful. He went down the stairs and out onto the grounds. He was not afraid to get caught. Head Boys did have some privileges. From afar, he spotted the lake, as well as the silhouette of the giant mollusk that hid within its depths. He sighed as he passed by, his mind roaming back to that weird dream.
He had been someone else. An artist, he concluded from the materials he had been holding. And he had been talking to someone. Ah…a girl. Her name was…Athena. Yet, he called her soror, a word that meant sister. But he had no sister. At least, none that he knew of. And by the way they were dressed; he presumed it was a very long time ago. They were dressed in tunics, pretty much like the ancient Greeks.
And…
Athena was talking to him about someone…someone named Galatea. And the painting…he cannot remember it well, but he knew he was painting someone. Was it male or female? And visions…Athena was also talking about visions…What did she mean, anyway? More importantly, what did his dream mean? And what is that sobbing he is hearing?
Sobs?
Draco stopped and looked around. Yes, he did hear someone crying. Someone near the lake. He spun around and walked toward the big body of water. He barely noticed he was sprinting. And then he stopped just at the shore. He looked around, finally spotting a figure with its back turned on him. The person was shaking, probably from crying.
"Who in the…?"
With a few careful steps, he approached the figure, laying a hand on the small shoulder. "Excuse me?"
The person looked up, and he saw long silky hair cascade down past his hand. It was followed by a pair of emerald green eyes staring back at him.
Harry…?
"Harr…Potter! What are you doing here? It's way past the curfew, and I do not suppose you are doing this for me to take house points from Gryffindor."
Harry sniffed and wiped away the tears in his eyes. "No, most certainly not. And am not doing this to please you either." He stood up and would have walked away, if Draco had not pulled him by the hand.
"Why are you crying?"
"Why do you care?"
"Lupin made me your guardian, remember?"
Harry snickered. "Oh. As far as I remember, the war is over. Your duty's considered over as well."
"That's the point. The war is over. I don't think there is any other reason for you to cry."
Harry spun around to face him, his eyes burning. "You don't know how it feels, do you? How it feels to not have any parents while you grown up, to watch your godfather die in front of your very own eyes, as well as several of your beloved friends? To have the responsibility of having to save a whole world when all you want to be is a normal person? Well, do you?" Tears were streaming down his face.
He stopped when he saw the look on Draco's face. Disbelief, sorrow, disappointment, hurt… That was when he realized what he had just said, and covered his mouth. "Oh, Merlin…Draco…Draco…I'm so sorry…"
Draco looked at him sadly and shook his head. "It's fine. You weren't really in control of yourself. It's nothing."
"No, no…"Harry started crying even louder, gripping Draco's arm. "I didn't want to say that. I'm sorry. I really am. For what happened to your parents and everything…"
It was true that Draco felt a pang in his chest when he heard his parents mentioned, but he felt an even greater pang upon seeing Harry and his tears.
Draco gently wrapped his arms around the smaller boy, who gratefully leaned against his chest, weeping.
"Sh…It's going to be fine…" He whispered into the other's ear.
"I miss them, Draco! My Dad…my Mom! Sirius! Dumbledore! They're all gone because of me! Why can't I just die instead of them?"
"Don't talk like that! You still have to live. You can't die after what had happened. After you had already won the war." He rested his chin on top of Harry's head, rubbing his back soothingly.
Draco's brows furrowed when he heard Harry's breath coming in rapid gasps. "Harry?" He pulled back to put his hand on the other's head. "You're burning! We should get you to your common room!" He picked Harry up like a bride, taking also the crutches that lay at their feet. He was surprised at how light Harry had become, but decided to focus more on getting Harry to his common room.
He panted as he ran toward the Gryffindor common room. He had already run from the lake, up several flights of stairs and down five corridors, with Harry and his crutches in his arms.
He finally got to the Fat Lady's painting though, who looked at him curiously and asked, "Password?"
Sht! I forgot the Gryffindor password… He grimaced. "Uh…Bloody pops?"
"Wrong."
"Chocolate frogs?"
"Wrong."
"Dumbledore's Army?"
"Wrong."
"Argh, crap! Look, can you just make an exception tonight? I need to tell the other Gryffindors about Harry!"
"Sorry, but I can only let in those who can tell me the password."
Draco swore again and spun around, deciding to run to the infirmary and take Harry there himself. He did not want to risk their reputation as rivals, but there was no other choice.
"Draco Malfoy?"
Draco stopped and turned around. Nazareth was the one who met him, carrying a latern in one hand, and her wand in the other. "Oh, it's you, Versailles."
"What are you doing? And is that Harry Potter?"
Draco winced. "He has a fever. I found him in the grounds. I need to get him in the infirmary as fast as possible. Now, if you would only help me…"
"Ah? Oh! Okay! Give me his crutches and I'll help you down the stairs."
Draco gladly complied with the offer, handing the wooden crutches to the girl and cautiously making his way toward the infirmary, Nazareth at his heels.
Once they had reached the huge twin doors of the infirmary, Nazareth pushed them open and they both barged in, Draco calling out Madam Pomfrey's name desperately.
"Mister Malfoy! I would really appreciate it if you stop that infernal racket!" came the healer's irritated shout. She appeared, with a night robe draped around her. She approached them and immediately spotted the small figure in Draco's arms. "Merlin! Is that Mister Potter? Come then! Lay him on the bed!"
Draco nodded and laid Harry on one of the infirmary's beds. He saw, at the corner of his eye, the healer tell Nazareth to get something. The transferee nodded and rushed to the woman's desk, pulling out a vial of silver potion and a piece of chocolate before returning.
"Now, Mister Malfoy, kindly take off Mister Potter's cloak. I need to get a better look at him."
An intense blush appeared on Draco's face. He tried to keep his composure as he took off Harry's black cloak and tossed it aside. Why was he embarrassed? They were both males. What would be wrong with that?
After Madam Pomfrey checked Harry, she made him drink the potion and put the piece of chocolate on his side table. "He's going to be fine. It was just a fever. The potion should make him well by tomorrow. By the way…" Her eyes set on Draco, who winced. "How come you two are the ones who accompanied him here and not Mister Weasley and Miss Granger?"
Draco gulped and rubbed the back of his neck nervously. "Well…actually…"
Nazareth faked a cough. "Actually, Draco and I were outside. We found him out cold near the Gryffindor common room. He must've wanted to get here but collapsed not too long after going out."
"What are you talk—Ow!" Draco stopped when he felt Nazareth's elbow press painfully against his ribs. He gave her a questioning look and she answered her with a glare that told him everything. "Ah! R-right! I w-was just showing N-N-Nazareth around."
"I had insisted, and we managed to get a permit from Headmistress McGonagall. He was showing me around the inside of the palace when we came across Harry Potter."
"Ah, is that so? Very well, I will tell the Headmistress about this tomorrow, to verify what you said. But as for now, you can both go back to your rooms. Mister Potter will be fine in the morning."
The two Slytherins nodded and walked out of the infirmary. The moment the doors closed behind them, Draco felt the aftermath of running. His feet gave way, and he sat on the cold floor, his back against the wall. His chest rose and fell with every breath. "Merlin…Did I really run that far?"
"Apparently, yes," Nazareth answered nonchalantly. "And apparently, we are also on first name basis now."
"What?"
"I called you Draco, you called me Nazareth."
Draco waved his hands in the air. "It was a spur of the moment. You made a stupid decision of calling me Draco."
"Why? I thought that you had already resented the Malfoy name?"
Draco opened his mouth to retort, but he suddenly realized he had nothing to retort with.
Dang, she's good.
She raised a brow at him. "Well?"
"Arg…Bloody hell! Just shut up!"
"Anyways, we should get back to our rooms. We have quite a day before us tomorrow."
"Tomorrow? Ah! Fking hell! McGonagall is gonna have fits after learning that I let two students go past the curfew right under my nose! Agh! My badge is in so much trouble!"
"I wouldn't say that."
"What?"
"You'll find out tomorrow." Nazareth turned around. "It's not your badge that's in trouble. It's your reputation."
Before Draco could even ask what she meant by that, she gave him a quick wave and went off, her long raven locks swaying left and right as she did so.
Draco just watched as her figure disappeared. He sighed and leaned back, looking at the castle ceiling. It took him a good five minutes before he managed to recover a little of his energy and get to his feet. He still wobbled a little, but he was able to walk.
Making his way back to his room, his mind wandered to Nazareth's words.
"It's not your badge that's in trouble. It's your reputation."
OoOoO
"Argh! Fcksht!" Draco swore as his faithful owl dropped by the Slytherin table and dropped a copy of the Daily Prophet on his lap. He had already unrolled the paper when the front page made him gasp out.
THE MALFOY HEIR'S SECRET
Last night came as a shock as one of our correspondents (Rita Skeeter nonetheless, Draco thought.) spotted Draco Malfoy, known as the only heir to the Malfoy clan and the son of the late Deatheater Lucius Malfoy, by the Hogwarts lake, embracing what seemed to be a young female student enrolled in the same school. Unfortunately, our correspondent was not able to identify the lucky girl.
As everyone would remember, Young Malfoy had sided with the Light during the Great War, and was even assigned under the leadership of the Great Harry Potter. There had been rumors that he had been assigned another more important role, but we are yet to uncover that.
As for the girl, just who is she? She seems to be new to Hogwarts. Then again, with the sudden ballooning of the school's population, it would be near impossible to uncover her true identity. But we are sure that it would not be long until Mister Malfoy and his significant other surface. Until then, we would need to cross our fingers and wait.
Draco ran a hand through his hair exasperatedly as he slammed the paper on the table, catching the attention of the whole of his house. That managed to take their attention away from the paper for a moment, at least. He buried his face in his arms and waited for them…
"Huh?"
"WHAT!"
"Really?"
"Oh.My.Fking.God."
"Are they serious?"
Draco could feel the eyes of the whole Great Hall on him, and he did not dare move an inch. He will be damned if he did.
"I have to go." He stood up, catching a glimpse of Pansy's disbelieving face before he managed to escape.
He groaned the moment he was out of the hall, ducking behind the nearest corridor. He leaned against the wall and muttered curses under his breath as he once again buried his face in his hand.
"Are you planning to escape?"
His eyes shot up. Versailles. He turned to his right and saw Nazareth there, her hips tilted to the side and her arms crossed over her chest. Her raven hair (which he had only seen let down before) was now swept up in quite a high ponytail with a green satin ribbon and a few black tendrils hanging loose at the side of her face. She was now wearing the complete Hogwarts uniform: that annoyingly short skirt, white shirt, and gray vest. On her black cloak was the ever famous house symbol of Slytherin. Draco had to blink twice before he fully recognized the girl.
"Pardon me, Naza—Versailles?" He frowned at the slip of his tongue. He knew Nazareth would…
"I told you, we're already on a first name basis! You always want to stay far from people, Draco. And no, Parkinson and Zabini are no exceptions. Though, a certain lion may be an exception…" The famous Slytherin smirk made its way to her thin lips. Dang! The Sorting Hat didn't make a mistake in putting her in Slytherin…
"Are you blackmailing me?"
"You don't want to drag him into this, do you?" Her tone became serious, and she stood straight.
Draco rolled his eyes and nodded. "It was my fault, anyway. He had nothing to do with it. And as far as I know, he's savored the absence of the paparazzi on his tail. That little crap won't help him."
She suddenly clapped her hands and grinned. "Then that settles it! I can help!"
He raised a brow. "And how?"
"She tossed her dark hair back and winked. "Let's see…I have long black hair…I'm roughly his height…Madame Pomfrey saw us together last night…I am fairly new to Hogwarts…Do you want me to go on?"
It took a moment before Draco finally understood. The moment he did so, he jumped to his feet. "That's it! You're a genius! You can pretend and…Wait a minute…That would mean we have to pretend we're…"
"Together? Yep." She faked a pout. "Unless you'd want the Daily Prophet to be all over the little angel you are guarding over."
"N-no!" he blurted out. "A-ah well…O-of c-course not! I-I made the Vow…I can't take that back." His left hand unconsciously moved to rub his right shoulder. "I promised to protect him, no matter what."
Nazareth held out her hand. "It's a deal then, Draconian Lucius Malfoy. I'll take on the role of your supposed girlfriend. But you have to do a favor for me."
He frowned. "A favor?"
"Have you ever fought with a sword before?"
"Eh? Well…as a kid, yeah."
"The favor I want…is for you to let me teach you the art of swordfight."
"Swordfight? Why would I need to learn that? I can fight very well with just my wand, thank you."
"I know. But you never know when…you might need it in the future."
There's that Trelawney-ish tone in her voice again. Is she really just a transferee? Oh well, if she can help me get Harry out of this trouble…
"Fine. But you have to make sure that no one else finds out about this and that Harry would really not be dragged into this."
She drew a cross over her chest with her thumb. "Cross my heart and swear to Merlin. I never break my word. I can assure you that." Draco just looked at her, feeling like his head was going in circles. She took a step toward him and patted his shoulder. "Well, when do you plan to start, dragon?"
Draco cringed at the nickname. Pansy used to call him that in front of everybody, as a sort of endearment. Nazareth just sounded too much like Pansy there…
"Uh…as soon as possible…now. Though I still have to adjust to that idea of yours."
"Hey, we're on the same boat, so you don't have to worry. Just tell me what I have to do and I'll do it." She waved her hand in the air and all of a sudden, a notepad and a quill appeared in her hands. She flipped the notepad open and pressed the quill's tip against the face of the paper. "Well, Mister Malfoy? I'm waiting for your restrictions…"
Draco rolled her eyes. When she said she was an aspiring journalist, she was not kidding.
"Okay…"
I have to do it…It just has to do with me. It has nothing to do with Harry…I still want to do my job…
He flinched.
Yeah…it's my…job…
OoOoO End OoOoO
(A/N Duty: Yuki)
A/N: I'm really sorry to pass this to you, Jez! Oh…Well, to explain, I was supposed to finish this chapter on my own, since I drew second. Unfortunately, the other guys and I have to attend to our OJT's. Jeza was the only one available since she's the only one not in college…
Jeza: Sure, sure…I'm just supposed to upload it anyway…yawn…
Oh well…I'll just have to buy her a glass of iced coffee to make it up to her…