OLD MAGIC

Chapter 19: A Shocking Surprise for Draco

Draco cursed the blinding snow. He wasn't cold and wet as his father had taught him the charm for warming as well as ones for other basic needs, but he did hate how it stung his face and kept him from seeing anything. And, most annoyingly, the hulking idiot, Goyle kept kicking Draco's heels as they struggled along. If he weren't trying to keep his feet under him and one hand on the rope that kept them from going astray, he'd hex the stupid oaf.

When Goyle yet again bumped into him clumsily, Draco turned his head to shout at him when suddenly something huge reared up before his eyes and a pair of large hands reached out and snatched him by the waist, forcibly yanking his hands from the rope.

He yelled in terror and kicked frantically with his feet but it availed him nothing as whoever had him held his wildly struggling body away from themselves, then seemed to leap away from the line of students and run in a strange galloping fashion into the storm. The weird running motion took him some minutes to interpret and when he did he was even more terrified.

"Let me go! What do you want with me?" Draco yelled at the centaur holding him in a hard grip that made his waist hurt. He could actually feel the creature's fingers digging into his belly.

Much to his surprise, his question got an answer though not one he wanted to hear.

"Easy lad! No one's going to hurt ya, just calm down!" A deep voice shouted over the storm.

"You've kidnapped me! How the hell am I supposed to be calm?" Draco shouted back, shocked and mad.

The voice chuckled and began to slow down. The storm seemed to be lessening, at least enough so he could see not only the centaur carrying him but the Forbidden Forest they were walking deeper into, the centaur making nothing of the deep snow as he lifted his hoofed feet high.

"If ye remain calm, ye can ride me back to safety rather than be carried with yere legs dangling and easier on me arms too," the centaur said gruffly. Holding the youngster this way was starting to seriously strain his shoulders somewhat. However, he didn't stop moving deeper into the forest, much to Draco's distress.

At first, Draco couldn't believe what the centaur was saying and it was hurting his neck to turn it to speak to the hairy creature in the first place. When it appeared the fellow was serious, Draco couldn't resist asking, "Who are you and why did you kidnap me?"

"I be Magorian, leader of the centaurs and I be taking you somewhere safe as I'd been asked to do. You'll get your questions answered when ye get there, young wizard, if ye'll just be patient. Now, would ye rather ride or be carried in this indignant fashion?" The centaur asked again.

"How can you be taking me somewhere safe? I wasn't in danger!" Draco snapped, angry and upset.

Magorian rolled his eyes, shook his head in mild disgust and made the decision for the boy. "Back it is ..." So saying he turned his upper torso around and dropped Draco onto his horse-like back then turned forward and warned, "Hold on tight."

Draco nearly fell off before he quickly wrapped his arms around the waist of the creature as Magorian went into a full gallop. It was obvious he wasn't going to get any answers and dropping off into the middle of the forest when he had no idea where he was would be suicide so he held on grimly and tried to keep brave for whatever met him at the end of this trip. He would not shame himself by being cowardly.

~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~

The rest of the train ride was uneventful and soon the Hogwarts Express was pulling into the station by early evening. Harry said farewell to his friends before ducking away to reach the baggage train before the others. Collecting his trunk and Hedwig and placing them on one of the many carts, he made for the pillar that was the entry portal to the muggle King's Cross Station. He'd been so quick, he managed to slip clean away before any of the other students had even made for the platform. No muggles were near when he burst into the busy train station, took a sharp left toward another group of pillars behind which was his friend, Darius.

"Harry, so good to see you. You're looking well," the man said, giving the boy a quick hug.

Harry returned it with a huge smile then began pushing the cart along the track line, keeping himself from view to prevent any of his classmates from spotting him. Darius had parked the car just outside the closest exit so they were able to load up and leave quickly.

Only when Darius was moving out into traffic and heading away from the station did Harry completely relax. He hated having to be so sneaky but the safety of his family was more important than his friends hurt feelings.

"So how is everyone?" He asked, reaching for the box drink and ham sandwich that was waiting for him on the dash. Settling back, he peeled the wrapping from his sandwich and took a big bite.

"Everyone's fine and can't wait to greet you when you get home," Darius said, grinning. "So give me a bit of a head start on the news..."

Snorting in amusement, Harry finished his snack then gave his friend the low down on his first four months of school. He briefly glossed over his classes, the new friends he'd made, Draco's situation, and the threat he, Hagrid, and Snape were trying to deal with.

Darius' eyes flashed with anger. "Aye, I heard about that bit of nastiness. You think it is this Voldemort character then?"

"We're nearly 90% certain it's him. I just feel so sorry for Professor Quirrell. I wished I could reassure him and let him know we'll help but..."

"But you can't because it would also tell the monster he harbors inside. I understand and I'm sorry too for the poor blighter. There's no hope of saving him is there?" Darius asked, sadly.

"No. I could feel only a sliver of his soul still left before the castle helped put a barrier between me and his unwanted guest," Harry sighed.

Darius let that subject go as it was too upsetting for them both. "So how did the kidnapping go?"

Harry's sad expression quickly morphed into a smirk. "Went well as far as I know since I wasn't nearby when Magorian made off with Draco. The rumor mill swept through the train like the wind, telling the tale."

"Wonderful, though I dare say the poor young man is, or was since he is most certainly at your home by now, quite terrified," Darius said, amused. "Anything we have to worry about when people begin making guesses as to what happened to the young man?"

"Fortunately, no. Of course, I know Professor Snape planted the seed that the forest people were responsible and I helped it along a bit by pretending confusion and wondering aloud as to why they would take him. I'm certain Headmaster Dumbledore has contacted the aurors and a search is in progress as we speak but with the deep snow hiding Magorian's tracks and the wizard's reluctance to invade the Forbidden Forest, they won't be able to find him."

"Well, I'm glad it worked but I'm still concerned about how the boy will be treated once he's allowed to 'go free' as it were at the end of Christmas Break," Darius voiced his concern.

"What his family had planned for him would have been far worse than the tongue lashing he might get, Darius, but really, nothing should happen to him by anyone as he is the innocent party though we'll have to come up with a good reason for him to tell everyone why he hadn't tried to escape sooner. Otherwise, I expect him to have a wonderful holiday and, for a short time, feel safe and wanted rather than put through some brutal rite of passage that would scar him for life," Harry said, flatly, his eyes flashing with righteous anger at what he'd learned was to happen to Draco if he'd gone home.

Darius eyed the boy with grave concern but didn't comment further. He turned the subject to lighter fare for the rest of the drive.

~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~

Two hours later they passed through the small village just outside the part of the Forbidden Forest that was Harry's secret home. Darius drove as far as he could on the rutted forest path once they'd left the cobbled roads of the village then finally came to a halt when the car couldn't go any further.

Out of the forest surrounding them poured their friends. Farley was in the lead, reaching Harry first as the boy alighted from the car. Harry leaped upward and was caught and whirled around in a tight hug by his friend.

The giant teen already stood over ten feet tall and held Harry some three feet in the air, leaving the boy's feet dangling. Harry laughed for joy at seeing his friend.

"Wow! You've gained even more height since I saw you last!"

"Oh aye. We do grow fast ya know," Farley laughed, setting his friend back on his feet.

Other friends (Elves, centaurs, and other non-human creatures) came close and hugged or slapped Harry on the back in greeting as they gathered round him. A couple collected his things from the boot of the car, another released Hedwig from her cage. With a glad cry she flew over their heads then headed over the forest to hunt. Laughing and talking, the group including Darius headed for the Hagrid's homestead for a welcome home party.

~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~

Magorian was waiting on the path leading up to the house when the group cleared the trees. He smiled broadly at Harry! "Ah lad, so good to see ye looking so well."

Harry grinned and hugged the centaur leader warmly. "It's good to see you too, sir. So how is Draco? Did he survive his kidnapping alright?" Harry asked as they walked the rest of the way toward the house where smoke curled from the chimney in welcome.

The centaur laughed. "Aye, yere young friend be okay, Harry. Though afraid, he were a brave lad during the cold, hard ride. I added to his warming charm so he weren't frozen when we got here but he was exhausted so yere Mam coaxed him to take a nap."

"I imagine how tired he was and I don't think I would enjoy being whisked away by unknown people and dragged off into the forest without so much as a by your leave," Harry said, smirking.

"Beware young Harry. That fellow will want to take yere head off once he learns it were ye that instigated this," Magorian warned. "And he be nearly as well trained as yeself in spell craft."

Harry nodded his head. "Yes, I know ... his father's insistence which in this case was a good thing. Don't worry, sir. I'll take due care but he will be much happier here over the holidays than the foul thing his father had planned for him," he said more heat.

"Oh aye, ye'll not get an argument from me on yere decision to do this. I will leave ye now as I wish to get home before full dark. Weal be seeing ye on Christmas Eve," Magorian said, warmly giving Harry a final hug before calling to his people. The boy watched the herd turn and gallop off into the forest before turning back and preparing to enter the house with Darius and a few of the others that were staying the night.

~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~

The bed was unbelievably soft and he was loathed to leave its welcome comfort. The room he was in smelled of lavender and sage and was located in on the second floor. He blinked in the dim light before gathering his wits. Memories of what happened rushed to the forefront of his brain making him lunge upright and stare around wildly.

The small, simply decorated room, was quiet. He turned his head toward the only light which was coming from the small window with the lace curtains. The sun's rays were dim and fading telling him how late it was.

When he'd arrived at this amazing home in the forest, he was bone tired from the long ride but at least he wasn't frozen through. When he was helped off the centaur by a young giant, his legs wouldn't hold him up. The giant chuckled kindly and picked him up from the ground and carried him to the house.

Draco felt hugely embarrassed to be carried like he was a child though in the arms of this giant he did seem like a small child. Determined not to show his discomfort to these odd people, he studied the house they were approaching. It was a lovely rambling home with two stories, well maintained and huge, nearly the size of his own home. But inside it had none of the grandeur of the Malfoy mansion however, it held a quaint charm of its own with comfortable homemade furnishings and works of arts, beautifully woven rugs on the wood floor and carvings on the doorways and lintels. It had a feeling of warmth and safety.

To say he was shocked and surprised was putting it mildly. He'd thought for certain he was headed for some rustic cave somewhere and he'd be forced to do lots of nasty chores but none of that happened. Instead he was asked if he wanted cocoa or tea then coaxed to take a nap in this comfortable bed until other expected guests arrived to answer his questions. The female giantess was intimidating in size but gentle and warm in manner.

Draco was thoroughly confused. Why had he been kidnapped then put in such a nice place? No matter how hard he tried to wheedle an answer to his questions, everyone just smiled and shook their heads. Frustrated, he opted for the cocoa then allowed himself to be taken to this nice room and bade to rest. Since he was exhausted, it wasn't hard to obey.

Suddenly his nose caught enticing odors filtering from beneath the closed door. "Hmm, smells like dinner. Guess I better get up and go downstairs, that's if they'll let me leave this room," he thought. Shoving the bedding off, he put his shoes back on, availed himself of the basin with fresh water in it, combed his hair then, hesitantly, checked the door.

Surprisingly, it wasn't locked and when he opened it, he saw no guard. How strange. Still cautious, he looked both ways and noted the many doors that likely led to more bedrooms, then retraced the steps he'd taken earlier that lead him to the stairs. At the bottom landing, he had no idea where to go. Ahead of him was the huge foyer and main door, off to the left was a hallway with several rooms off it, and to the right was a shorter hall with a single closed door. From that direction came many voices and the source of the wonderful food smell.

Draco didn't move at first. He stared at the beautifully carved front door he came through earlier. He could just walk out, the door wasn't locked, but then how would get back to the castle? From the length of his ride, it was a long ways away through the deep snow. The answer was obvious ... he couldn't. He was stuck here which was why he wasn't guarded. Sighing in resignation, he turned and made for the door with the voices behind it.

Opening it, he was greeted by the sight of a large room with high ceiling, a long oak table that was surrounded by a lot of strange people and creatures, plus two muggles and ... wait one of those muggles was Harry Potter!

His fists balled in anger, Draco stormed across the distance until he stood toe to toe with Potter. "Why did you do this to me? I thought we we're friends?"

Harry eyed the furious boy calmly. "We are and because of that, I felt you needed saving so I had you kidnapped and brought here."

Draco back up and sucked in a breath. "Why would I need saving?"

"I had heard your father intended some kind of nasty rite of passage meant to induct you into the Death Eaters cult. I could see how scared and horrified you were about just going home so I got with people I trust and found a way to help you escape that fate, at least for the holidays," Harry said simply. He reached out and squeezed Draco's shoulder reassuringly, "Relax, you are safe here. I promise."

"Safe? Are you mental? My father will find me..."

Harry held up his hand and shook his head. "Trust me, Draco, no one will find you here. We're deep in the Forbidden Forest. Not even the aurors, who I know are searching for you, will find this hidden place. Until we take you back, you're free to enjoy yourself."

Draco's mouth hung open until he looked rather like a fish out of water. Shaking his head violently, he finally managed to say, "My father will have me severely punished for this."

Harry eyed him in concern. "Would he really, when it clearly isn't your fault?"

Draco paused a moment in thought then looked rather uncertain. "Honestly, I'm not really certain what he'll do. But if I appear whole and unharmed with no explanation of where I've been or with who, my father will suspect I had something to do with my own kidnapping."

Harry relaxed. They had already thought about that problem. "Don't worry, Draco, we will have a plausible story for you when its time for us to go back, promise. Meanwhile, please, enjoy your Christmas Holiday with us. It is a time of joy and togetherness and I wanted you to have that."

Draco stared at the boy for a long moment then glanced around at the people who were discretely finishing dinner preparations while giving the pair some feeling of privacy though he knew they'd heard every word. No one seemed upset or concerned about his being here. Perhaps, he could enjoy himself. It was true, he had been scared and unhappy about what his father had planned but now he could be safe instead, though he did worry about his mother. She would be very worried about him once she heard he'd been kidnapped.

That thought made him wince with guilt. He wished he dared to have someone tell his mother he was alright. He hated the thought of causing her needless worry, especially this time of year.

As if reading his mind, Harry leaned close and asked, "Is it safe to tell your mother you're alright but not where or why?"

Draco blinked at the boy in surprise then sighed. "I don't know. She wouldn't tell anyone about you but I don't know if it will endanger her to know," he admitted.

"Hmm, I'll ask one of the elders what they think then we'll go from there, alright?"

The boy was amazed Harry would even consider doing this for someone he barely knew. "If you think you can then I would be truly grateful. I don't want her to worry. If she knows I'm safe, she'll do a fine job of acting the concerned, distraught mother then slip away to somewhere safe for the holidays herself, though I'll miss being able to see her and exchange gifts."

Harry dared to gently hug the boy, offering what comfort he could. "I understand. I can't make any promises but I will ask if a message can be sent to her."

A shy, relieved smile broke out on Draco's face for the first time since the Christmas season had begun. "Thank you," he said softly.

Harry smiled warmly. "You're welcome."