Chapter 17
Days past, during which, Draco and Ebony mainly kept away from the Golden Trio, and of course, keeping to themselves, many more kisses ensued, and the couple seemed happy on the surface, as did Harry, Ron and Hermione, but under the happy façade all the teens were putting on, unrest was stirring.
X.x.x.X
Thrown once more into the oppressive darkness as she lost control of her body and senses again, Ebony tried to grasp at any feelings she could as she was stranded helpless in the inky black of Something unknown. She could smell the coppery tang as she watched through the pane in the black nothingness that surrounded her, cloying her senses, rendering her helpless as she stared through the window into the mortal plane, unable to look away. The white mist, metallic and acrid, poured out of her mouth, she could taste it coming up her throat, it consumed her senses, it was all she could see, all she could taste, all she could smell. There was no sound. Like before, she saw Draco, felt his soft skin under her fingers, with no control, no way of stopping herself. She tried to call out, but the silence wound its way into her throat, clutching at her voice as she tried to speak. She could see Draco, he was yelling something, his mouth twisted harshly with words she could not hear, struggling against her hands, his eyes filled with a hatred that tore at her heart as they seemed to bore into her…
Then she would wake, wrapped in downy feathers and Draco's arms, and she would realise it was a dream once more, back to torture her again, and she would fall back into a fitful sleep, soothed by Draco's soft words and touches on her back…
X.x.x.X
He would replay it over and over in his head, the moment she had walked through the door, those eyes, the dark fiery pits of her eyes that captivated him…
But he hadn't seen her since, not since Malfoy had come, and she and he had gone to her room, and not left it, not even for meal times. He hated Malfoy even more now, now he had taken her away from him, now that he had got to her first…What could she even see in the smarmy little ferret? It's not like he was good looking or anything, was he?
He wouldn't sleep at night because his bedroom was next to hers, he could hear her thrash about in her bed, and just when he'd pluck up the courage to get out of bed to help her, she would stop, and through the wall, he could hear Malfoy's voice, soft and coaxing, something he had never heard before. Then there would be some rustling and everything would be still once more. And he would curse Malfoy; for being in the same room as her, and he would curse himself; for not being man enough to talk to her, and he would curse everyone else he could possibly think of because it was their faults too. And finally he would curse Sirius; for not being there to help him out with the snotty little git.
And then he would realise what he had thought, and be revolted with himself again, sick with guilt from his feelings, and disgusted with himself as he cried bitter tears that soaked the pillows and formed hard salty crusts by morning.
X.x.x.X
She would worry at night. She was always prone to worrying. If it wasn't about school subjects, or if she was going to pass her OWLs, it was about whether Ron would still like her. But lately, it was none of the usual superficial things that she would worry about. It was about Harry. And how lonely he seemed. It was also about Ebony. The girl was special for sure, why else would a muggle girl be at Grimmauld Place, then again, what normal muggle girl had wings sprouting out of her back that she couldn't get rid of?
And this of course, kept her up for hours, thoughts flitting through her head. She could see Harry liked Ebony, anyone could, even Ron, who had the emotional capacity of a small rock could see his best mate had a crush on the extraordinary girl who had appeared at their door. But none the less, Ebony had not appeared out of her room since the day Malfoy appeared, and it was obvious that the two of them were together, and she could see it was causing Harry pain. So she continued to worry, because it wasn't every day she couldn't solve problems with texts books and hard facts…was it?
X.x.x.X
He could hear that gravely voice now, even when he was alone at night, with her curled next to him, and it WAS her, he knew it was, because she smelt sweet, of jojoba and apple, her hair still damp from her bath, her skin soft, her breathing even, the nightmares subsided for another night, kept at bay once more by soothing words and caresses.
But he could still hear it; it was there at the back of his senses, the acidic smell forcing its way into his nose, the freezing touch around his neck, the harsh snickers as the Power inside her retreated into its semi-conscious slumber. It was only a matter of time before it appeared again…
They hadn't discussed what had happened of course. Ebony had not woken up for almost 24 hours after the incident, and he had kept a strict vigil by her side the entire time, and hadn't left her alone once. His hand had been perfectly steady each time he had held the person who opened the door each time to wand point. They had learnt to leave him alone. That it wasn't clever to offer him food, because he was likely to hex it back in their faces. Even the stupid Mudblood Granger, who had obviously hurt Ebony in some way; because she would whimper her name while she had nightmares, had learnt to keep well away, after a record breaking 17 Malfoy glares and one particularly well cast jelly legs hex to stop her walking into the room.
He was still vaguely shocked by the events at the manor, at his home. The one he couldn't now return to, after the Dark Lord had discerned feelings for Ebony out of his sub-consciousness that even he wasn't sure of…
He tended to block out those thoughts, the harsh memories of a spell that cut like a knife across his body, cast by his own father in his wrath. But at night, when he let his defences down, he could still see his mother's horrified face as he staggered down the stairs from his father's study…
It had been her that had contacted Lupin, the stupid half-breed she had been having liaisons with since he was young. She had told him everything, while hiding him in her wardrobe, while his father ranted and stormed around the manor, screaming for him to come out…she had saved him…not father…mother…he had no father any more…no father to protect him…just a mother to save him…and a girl whom he loved…she would care for him…and he would defend her from the Dark Lord and his Death Eaters till the end of the world…
X.x.x.X
Hermione was pretty, there was no denying it, but so was that new girl, Ebony, with her long dark wavy hair, and intense eyes…but he was happy with Herms. He did worry about Harry though…and the Ferret, what was he doing here? The stupid little git deserved what he got! Whatever that was…Wonder what's for food tomorrow? Man…he felt hungry…He wondered if anyone would be in the kitchen, if he snuck down to get a snack…Sneaking around was a lot easier now there was no creepy portraits to yell at him. That was another thing that odd girl had done, got rid of the portrait, or so Remus had said. He'd overheard him talking to Kingsley about it, saying that Mrs Black had said something out her and Ebony being related…But she was muggle wasn't she? He suspected someone was lying around here…But he couldn't concentrate on anything properly, not when he was this hungry…Best to sneak down to the kitchen and get some food, then continue thinking about it…
Mmm, chocolate brownies!
X.x.x.X
Ron had just stuffed his third chocolate brownie into his mouth when he was frozen into place by an immobilising charm, coming from the corner of the room. Unable to move, he watched as Malfoy came out of the shadows, grinning like the cat that had got the cream, "Hungry were we, Weasel King?" he asked snidely, picking up the brownie left on the plate and popping it delicately into his mouth, "you're right, they are good…Shame you won't be getting any more of these, I made them for me, they're all mine…well, and Ebony's too if she wants some…" he added as an after thought, "but anyhoo, laters Weasel King, hope you like spiders, its just, without lights on in here, there are a few who like to come and take a look around…I saw one the size of my hand here a minute ago…" and he walked off with the second plate of brownies, laughing cruelly.
Completely frozen by Malfoy's spell, Ron mentally cursed himself, as he listened for a sign of anyone else in the house moving around. Considering it as almost half three in the morning, he wasn't all that surprised when he heard no signs of life. Sighing vehemently, he hoped what Ferret had said about the spiders wasn't true, and he was looking around furtively within his limited line of vision when he heard something.
