27 - After The Exams
HALEY
With the OWLs right around the corner, there was barely anything else on everyone's mind besides studying. It was Friday night and Hermione had just beaten a thousand years of wizarding history into Haley and Ron's head. Tiredly Haley rubbed her eyes beneath her glasses. She was in desperate need of a break.
"Where are you going?" Hermione asked suspiciously.
"Er… out? I really need some air." Haley answered, slowly getting up from their study table.
Hermione narrowed her eyes, before sighing. "Fine. Let's take a break. We can get started on potions afterwards."
Potions. Haley groaned.
"Make sure to be back in an hour."
Honestly, she started to sound more like Ron's mum by the hour. Haley shared a look with Ron, who gave a shrug. He looked just as tired as her.
"Right," Haley muttered, slinking toward the portrait hole. "Join me?" She asked, addressing Ron.
The boy yawned. "Next time. I can't even feel my legs."
Haley rolled her eyes. "You?" She asked her other friend.
Hermione shook her head, pulling a huge book out of her bag. "I need to check my Runes notes. There is this one word I keep getting wrong. Ehwaz, was it 'partnership' or 'defence'?"
Haley made a face. Well, it seemed she had to keep herself company.
Strolling across the castle grounds gave her some sort of peace. Nobody was out there at this hour. In the distance she could see the faint lights coming from Hagrid's hut, gleaming invitingly. She really hoped Umbridge wasn't going to kick him out.
To the left were the green houses, peaceful and strangely familiar. Maybe she could rest there for a bit. Like always the door was unlocked. Nobody had probably ever tried to steal any of the plants.
"Fancy, seeing you here."
Haley stopped in her tracks. In the dark, surrounded by thick leaves Draco was sitting in a heap of green pillows, smirking at her. She looked around, making sure they were alone, before allowing herself to smile at him. It looked as though they'd had the same idea. He patted the space next to him. Haley sank into the sea of pillows. Where had they all come from?
"Practising Transfigurations?" She asked mockingly.
Draco shrugged. "That spell is useful for something at least. Tell me you've read my mind and brought me food."
Haley chuckled. "Sorry to disappoint you. I've just escaped from Hermione's revision obsession. If I didn't know any better I'd say, she enjoys torturing her friends."
He raised an eyebrow, clearly doubting her words. It looked adorable. Everything about him was adorable. Well, maybe not everything but… his eyebrow was a start.
"It's true," she emphasized, nudging him with her shoulder, grinning. Despite her tiredness, his presence was enough to lighten up her mood.
"I'm sure," he drawled, voice still haughtily sceptical.
"Prat," she hissed, dropping sideways and letting her head fall into his lap. "Don't mind me. I'm just taking a quick nap."
Both of his brows shot up, vanishing into his hair. Definitely adorable.
…
DRACO
It was embarrassing how his heart skipped a beat. A moment ago, he'd been ready to complain because of the interruption. He'd been so close to finishing his revision for Transfigurations. But somehow… he was quite okay with the distraction. One minute, he was transfiguring pebbles into pillows and the next… his whole focus zeroed in on the girl, staring up at him from his lap.
And there was something in the way she looked at him. Something new and different. A riddle, he'd been trying to solve for weeks. It absolutely drove him mad. What was the secret hiding behind her eyes?
He traced the line of her dark brows with one of his fingers. But he was still no closer to the root of her secret.
"That tickles." She chuckled, sending him an absolutely radiant smile. It killed him a little bit. Then she picked up his hand and inspected each of his fingers closely.
"You're so pale," she mused. "I'm still not convinced you're not a vampire."
He huffed. "Ridiculous."
"But-"
"Obviously, you need to look at your Defence notes again. Good thing the exam isn't tomorrow." He shuddered. All this talk of exams was seriously getting to him. It was a good thing he knew one of the examiners. Somewhat. Well, he'd seen one of them at a gala once. Surely, she remembered him? And favoured him?
"What's that?"
Huh? Haley had found one of his practise objects from earlier.
"It's pretty." She said, sitting up and looking at one of the light yellow sheets of letter paper he'd practised with earlier. "Don't tell me you've got a secret admirer."
"Tons actually."
She snorted.
"Jealous?"
Haley sent him a contemplative look, then shrugged her shoulders. "Not really. Who else would even put up with you?" She lifted a brow. "Has your chin always been this pointy?"
"Don't push it, Potter."
Her eyes were glittering with mirth. "I'm just saying. Maybe I just never noticed it before-"
"That's it. Now you've gone too far." He said darkly, tackling her to the ground and letting his fingers wander across her sides, seeking out her ticklish spots.
"Stop it!" She squeaked, trying not to laugh. "Stop it, I swear! That tickles!"
"That didn't sound like an apology." He purred into her ear, looming above her.
"Stop – you – prat!" She giggled breathlessly.
"Pardon?"
"It's – not – pointy," she gasped. "It's not pointy, okay?"
"What?" He stopped tickling her for a moment.
"Your chin. It's not pointy. It's… really cute."
"Oh?"
"Yes, totally."
He narrowed his eyes at her for a second. "Fine." He let her up then. After all, he didn't want her to pass out because she didn't get enough air.
"Oh no!" Haley burst out, as soon as she got her breath back. "It's all crinkled." Pouting, she stared down at the ruined letter paper. Sometimes, she really acted more like a muggle than a witch.
"I'm sure there's a charm for that." He said.
"You do it. We haven't started revising charms yet. My head is full with dates of wars and political agreements." She replied.
Draco sighed. "I can't remember either."
Haley kept pouting, as if the stationery had been her biggest treasure. She smoothed her fingers along the white lilies in one of the corners. Originally, the parchment had been completely blank. But somehow he'd gotten inspiration from a certain potions notebook and tried out some of the spells he'd been revising anyway.
"There are more of them in my bag. I've been using them to practise the Protean charm."
"Really? Sure, you don't need them?" She asked, already grabbing his bag.
"Yes. The stupid charm didn't work any way." He was still irked about that. Granger had used the same spell on those coins. Why couldn't he make it work?
Carefully, Haley stashed the sheets of letter paper inside her robe pocket.
"Well, I could ask Hermione if you want – ah shit."
"What is it, potty mouth?" He'd always wanted to say that.
"Really?" Haley rolled her eyes. "She'll wonder where I am."
"Your friend?" He asked, making it sound like he was referring to an uninvited guest.
"She granted us – Ron and me that is – a study break. But that's almost over." She said dramatically.
"So?" Draco frowned. "Just stay here. What's she going to do? Hunt you down? Tear out your eyes?"
"You obviously don't know how scary Hermione can be."
Oh. He knew. He remembered that slap from two years ago all too well.
"Fine." He sighed dramatically. "Go. Leave me alone in the dark. At least this mandrake will keep me company. Won't you, darling?"
"Darling?" Haley repeated, indignantly. "Looks like I've been effectively replaced."
"Sometimes it's that easy." He shrugged.
Haley got up in one swift move. It was fun to rile her up a bit. She did the same to him all the time. But he didn't want her to just leave like that. For every push he gave, he wanted to pull her that much closer only a second later.
"Sometimes. I didn't say it's always that easy." He got up, blocking the doorway before she could get out.
"So?" She crossed her arms, tapping her fingers on her arm impatiently.
"And in your case, I –" He bit his lips nervously. "I don't plan to replace you. Ever." He averted his eyes sheepishly. Somehow that had sounded less cheesy in his head.
…
HALEY
Where did he always find exactly the right words to make her melt like chocolate in his hands even though she wanted to be mad at him?
…
DRACO
There it was again. A flash of the puzzle in her impossibly green eyes. What did it mean?
…
HALEY
It was impossible to fight the pull that was coming from him. The words… and the hint of uncertainty in his voice. It made her feel things… she didn't even know. She stepped forward, crowding Draco's personal space and held onto his sides. Looking upward, she leaned her forehead against his, nuzzling his nose gently. Draco's arms found their way around her waist.
"You think you're so charming," she whispered, feeling grounded and weightless at the same time.
"I do. Don't you agree?" He asked mischievously.
Haley hummed in disagreement, shaking her head. "You're far too arrogant for that."
"Arrogant?" He leaned forward, as if to kiss her but Haley ducked away before he could. She was trying to make a point here.
"Definitely arrogant. And smug. And haughty. What's charming about that?"
"Worked well enough on you."
She snorted. "See? That's exactly what I'm talking about."
He shrugged. "Nobody's forcing you to be here. With me." He said it lightly, but the way his arms tightened around her spoke an entirely different story.
He was right, though. She wouldn't be here if she didn't want to be. She was here and she would keep coming back because this boy had planted something in her heart. Strange foreign seeds that were slowly starting to bloom.
Draco was arrogant yes. And smug. And haughty. And freaking rude. But for some strange reason, she found herself drawn to that. All of it.
"So… why are you here?" He asked hesitantly, breaking through her thoughts.
"I…" She started to say, looking for the right words. "Because I…" Because I love it. Because I love…
"Yes?" He urged, his fingers coming up to trace the outline of her lips, as if the words were written there.
"I… " She swallowed nervously. "Next time! I–I'll tell you next time, after we're done with the exams."
…
DRACO
He'd been so close. But now it seemed the secret had slipped right through his fingers like nothing but mere smoke.
…
HALEY
"Promise me. After the last exam." He insisted.
She shook her head at his stubbornness. Then disentangled herself from his one-armed embrace.
"Hey, you never-" He started to protest, when Haley pushed him away from the door.
"I promise." She cut him off, diving forward to plant a clumsy kiss on his oh so soft lips. Anything. She vowed silently.
It was meant as a short good-bye kiss. But he eagerly kissed her back right away, as if he couldn't help it. As if she'd pushed a button.
"I really have to go," she said quietly, against his lips. "We don't want Hermione to kill me."
He bit into her lower lip softly. "I'm starting to want to kill her." He growled.
Haley chuckled. "That's a fight I really don't want to see." She could go on like this forever. Teasing, touching, kissing in an endless loop of bliss. If only there wasn't Hermione's voice in her head, telling her she'd fail all her classes if she didn't return to the castle now.
She stepped back resolutely, feeling like she was tearing herself in two and reached for the door.
"Good luck on the exams," she said quietly. It was unlikely that she would get to see him again like this before the start of the OWLs.
"For you, too." It was a testament of how anxious he was about the exams that he didn't say anything on the lines of 'Luck is for Hufflepuffs'.
"Although I'm not a Hufflepuff." He added with a smirk.
Haley chuckled. She wanted to shrink him, put him in her pocket and just take him with her.
"Go now." He said softly. "Before I decide to keep you here and hide you from the world."
She smiled. If she was honest, she'd love to take him up on that offer. Maybe another time.
…
…
DRACO
The beginning of the end. The final exam had finally come. History of Magic. This whole torture was finally coming to an end. There were so many things he planned to do afterwards. Like looking more into the connection between Snape and Lily Evans. And coaxing that secret out of Haley. After the exams. That was what she had promised. And one good thing about Gryffindors was that they always kept their promises.
Ten more minutes. Only ten more minutes and he was done with his OWLs. It had always seemed daunting, the way the OWLs had loomed in the future. Like a silent, ever present threat. And then, in actual, it had breezed by in the blink of an eye. All the stress, the anxiety, the worries… finally in the past. For two years at the least. Now, he could focus on other important things. He still hadn't decided what he'd do in the near future. Which choice to make… But there was still time, wasn't there?
He glanced over to the left where Haley was sitting a few rows in front of him. She wasn't writing any more. It looked, as if she'd fallen asleep. In the middle of an exam! She probably hadn't gotten enough sleep the last week. Just like him. Like all of the fifth-years probably. Maybe he could steal one of Snape's ambrosia draughts for her. They made you feel as if you were born anew–
Someone cried out heartbreakingly and Haley suddenly fell out off her chair. Only then he realized, that it had been her screaming. Draco was on his feet faster than he could think 'bad idea'. His first instinct was to hurry to her side and make sure she was okay. But of course, he couldn't do that with all of the students and the examiners watching. He balled his fists. At least nobody found anything strange about his behaviour because they were all focused on Haley who was still screaming for no apparent reason.
"Please get back to your exams," Professor Marchbanks reminded, while Professor Tofty guided Haley out of the hall.
"Draco," Pansy whispered from behind him. He turned around, noticing that everyone was in their seats again. The girl grinned amusedly and nodded to the front, forming the word 'nuts' silently.
He forced his mouth into a mocking smirk that probably looked more like a grimace and quickly sat down again, willing the exam to be over. Each second ticking by seemed to last an eternity. Then Tofty returned. Without her. What was wrong with her? What had happened? Was she sick? Hurt? Was it merely the stress?
He'd meant to go through each of his answers once again but nothing was further from his mind now.
"And the time is up. Please, put down your quills, students." With a swish of her wand, Professor Marchbanks collected all of the parchments at once.
"Hey Dray, do you want to go down to the la-" Pansy started but he never heard the end of her sentence. He was already at the entrance where a mass of students was blocking his way. He didn't have time for this!
An arm clutched his from behind. "Wait for me, Dray." Pansy again. "Did you see the freak show just now? Guess the stress finally drove her mad," she cackled. "So, as I said, we should go celebrate by the lake. What do you think?"
Celebrate. There was little he wanted to do less.
"Sure," he agreed. "I'll meet you there. Got to head to the restroom first."
"Oh, of course. That's why you were in such a hurry earlier, wasn't it?"
He nodded, glad he thought of an excuse so quickly. The crowd was finally thinning out, so he could slip through the doors. There was no sign of her in the hall. Where could she be? The Infirmary, perhaps? Without spending another thought on Pansy, he hurried up the stairs toward the first floor.
"What is it now?" Madame Pomfrey asked, when he stormed into the Infirmary. "If you're looking for Professor McGonnagall as well, she's not here. Like I told Miss Potter earlier, she's been transferred to St. Mungo's. Poor Minerva." She sighed. Miss Potter?
A quick look over the beds told him Haley wasn't here. But maybe she had been here, looking for McGonnagall. Where was she now? In her common room? But he had no way of checking there. Well, it was better than standing here, twiddling his thumbs. He left the Infirmary and stormed up the stairs toward Gryffindor tower. A handful of students were gathered in front of that Fat Lady's portrait. Haley wasn't among them. If only they talked about something useful. But all they were blabbering about was some party. He was wasting his time. But where else could he look? The Gryffindors started eyeing him suspiciously. He sneered at them. Then started climbing down the stairs…
Maybe it was nothing. Maybe Haley was sitting in her common room, already preparing to celebrate the end of the exams with a party… But the way she'd screamed. He could still hear it echoing in his mind. At least she hadn't been in the Infirmary. Apart from looking for McGonnagall. Why though? Did that mean she had a problem only a teacher could help her with? If not McGonnagall, who else would she seek out for help? Dumbledore. Only, Dumbledore wasn't here any more. That oaf Hagrid? Wasn't there either. Then who…? The owlery. She'd probably gone there. And like that, he raced up the stairs leading to the owlery.
No one.
He walked toward the ledge through which the owls flew in and out. If she was out on the grounds, he should be able to spot her. But as expected, there was no sign of the girl either.
"Where are you?" He whispered, trying to stifle the feeling of anxiety slowly growing in his stomach.
With a sigh, he trudged down the stairs again, no aim in mind.
Draco had reached the Transfigurations class rooms, when a familiar voice made him stop. Wasn't that Weasley? He could ask him! Surely, he knew where Haley was or what had happened-
Another voice made him halt in his steps once more. Was that… Umbridge?
He tried to hide but the witch had already noticed him. "Oh perfect. Mr Malfoy. Help me get this lying weasel to my office. He seems to think he's especially clever." She smiled sweetly, nodding toward the boy who was edged into a corner.
"What are you waiting for? Take his wand as well." Umbridge instructed, when Draco didn't follow her orders at once.
"Of course," he said mechanically, grabbing Weasley's arm and snatching his wand out of his pocket.
"Bastard," the red-head hissed, while Draco pulled him down the hall, after Umbridge. He followed her extra slowly, so she was out of hearing distance.
"Is Haley okay? Where is she?" He whispered, loosening his grip on the boy's arm.
"As if I'd tell you that." Weasley scoffed.
He forced himself to stay patient. "At least tell me if she's hurt."
That made the other boy actually look at him. Maybe the worry was actually etched into his features.
"She's fine." Weasley muttered reluctantly, pulling his arm free.
Draco sighed in relief. "Thank Merlin."
"Hurry up!" Umbridge yapped impatiently. "We need to catch her!"
"Of course," Draco called, grabbing Weasley's arm once more and walking faster.
"Knew you couldn't be trusted." Weasley spat.
"What?"
"You're leading her right to Haley."
"I – She's in Umbridge's office?" Draco asked in surprise. No wonder he hadn't found her anywhere…
"Yes. Tried to distract her." He scowled at Umbridge. It was a scowl worthy of a Slytherin. Draco was almost impressed.
So, if he'd been trying to distract Umbridge… it meant Haley needed time. For whatever she was doing inside Umbridge's office again.
"Here," he handed Weasley his wand. "Jinx me."
The Gryffindor stared at him as if he'd just asked him to marry him. Which was probably as unlikely as the thing he had actually said. Well, he couldn't say the words had come across his lips easily. The things he did for Haley Potter.
"Quick," Draco urged. "You won't get a chance like this again."
"Er – I –" Weasley stammered, clearly still shocked about the turn of events. "Melofors!" He pointed his wand at Draco, summoning a huge pumpkin that encased his head. He'd used that jinx countless times on other people, never knowing how claustrophobic it actually felt. It didn't hurt. But it was anything but pleasant to have your head trapped inside a gigantic pumpkin.
Draco cried out dramatically. "You obnoxious little wea-"
"What do you think you're doing?" As it seemed Umbridge had noticed their little 'fight'.
"Weasley attacked me," he lamented, holding onto his pumpkin head.
"How dare you! Attacking a member of my Inquisitorial Squad! This will have consequences."
"Is that you, Dray?" Oh, he knew that voice. "What happened to you? I've been waiting for hours!" He doubted Pansy had waited for hours.
"Catch him! He's trying to flee!" Umbridge screeched.
Although his whole world had turned orange, Draco could see vague contours of his surroundings. It looked as though Weasley had made a run for it, Pansy following behind, firing hexes at him.
"My head, professor." Draco whined, relocating Umbridge's attention to him. She looked positively furious.
He could only hope this little distraction would buy Haley a smidgen of time.
…
RON
That pesky Slytherin at his heels, he reached Umbridge's corridor. Or, well, not her corridor, but the corridor where her office was in. Honestly, she was a curse. He'd reckon, banshees were nicer. Talking about nice, he still didn't know what to make of Malfoy's behaviour earlier. Had he honestly been trying to help them? How surreal.
"Ginny!" He spotted his sister. "We've gotta warn them, Umbridge is on the way!"
"Shit," Ginny cursed. "Watch out!"
But it was already too late. He felt a spell hit his legs and was on the ground a second later.
"Caught you!" Parkinson said gleefully. He'd totally forgotten about that annoying Slytherin.
"Run!" He called out to his sister. Maybe she'd have the chance to warn the others. But no such luck. Right then a group of Slytherins raced toward them, Umbridge in tow.
"Catch them!" She screeched. "Catch every last one of them!"
Well shit.
To his amusement at least Malfoy was still wearing a pumpkin as a head.
…
DRACO
People ran away, fired spells at each other and cried out in general. It was a single chaos. At some point his head was hit with something – a jinx? – and he was freed from his pumpkin prison at last. He sneaked into Umbridge's office right behind the witch herself, not knowing what to expect.
"Quick, take their wands," Umbridge instructed. Pity, that none of the spells had hit her. In front of the chimney, Haley was kneeling on the ground. Umbridge stood above her, pulling on her hair, and bending her head backwards. Draco could have fired his own curse at that horrible woman in that moment. Instead he slunk over to them and squeezed Haley's shoulder briefly before fetching her wand from her pocket. Perhaps he'd prefer a pumpkin head over this after all.
…
HERMIONE
That terrible beast of a Slytherin, Millicent Bulstrode crushed her against the wall, keeping her from doing anything useful at all. Umbridge was all over Haley. And their friends were shoved inside by all these other bulky Slytherins. She had to think of something. A plan. Quick, Hermione, she thought, It's on you again. If she didn't think of a plan, nobody else would.
…
DRACO
First Veritaserum. Now the Cruciatus Curse? Had this woman finally gone insane? He couldn't do it. He couldn't stand here and watch his girlfriend be tortured by this bad excuse of a witch. He had to stop her somehow. Maybe he could somehow disguise it as an accident. He could say he'd tried to hit Haley…
…
HERMIONE
Oh no. This didn't look good at all. The Cruciatus Curse? And Malfoy looked like he was about to do something stupid. Incredibly stupid. There was no time. She had to act now.
"We have to tell her!"
…
DRACO
One second more and he would have cursed Umbridge out of her office. He felt slightly disappointed he'd lost that chance. What was Granger talking about anyway? A secret weapon? For Dumbledore? That couldn't be true, could it? And now her and Haley were going to show it to Umbridge? Draco didn't want to let Haley go anywhere alone with that crazy woman. Even if Granger was with them.
"Professor Umbridge," He started. "I think some of the squad should come with you to look after–"
"I am a fully qualified Ministry official, Malfoy, do you really think I cannot manage two wandless teenagers alone?" The witch interrupted him. "In any case, it does not sound as though this weapon is something that schoolchildren should see. You will remain here until I return and make sure none of these escape."
Draco wanted to protest, but Granger shook her head barely noticeably. She seemed to have a plan. He glanced over at Haley who surprisingly didn't show any indication of an emotion.
It would only be suspicious if he kept arguing the point. "All right." He said. Maybe he'd get a chance to follow them.
"And you two can go ahead of me and show me the way. Lead on." And with that Umbridge left her office, keeping Haley and Granger at wand point.
The image was more than a little disconcerting. She'd talked of using the Cruciatus Curse. Surely, she wouldn't… actually use it, would she? If she touched one more hair of his girlfriend he would make her pay.
…
RON
His little sister was brilliant. He hadn't known, she had it in her. Quick as a fox, she wrenched out of her captor's arms, snatched back her wand and fired a jinx at Malfoy who was standing by the window. A bunch of bats flew out of his nose surrounding his head, similar to his pumpkin earlier. Only now, his whole body was covered. With bats. Not pumpkins. Who'd come out of his nose. How nasty was that? While the room sank into chaos, Neville shot a hex at the girl who'd been guarding Ginny. An Impediment Jinx. Sweet. Parkinson seemed shocked over the bats attacking Malfoy. Then Ginny hit her with another hex. Wow, she was on a roll.
And Luna… Ron tried to think of a useful spell to free her from her own captor but the girl sort of slowly ducked out under Warrington's arms, giving him a smile and whispering an incantation that made his eyes droop and him fall asleep at once. Ron blinked. Impressive. It seemed, she knew how to defend herself.
Glancing around, it looked, as though all the Slytherins had been effectively knocked out. And he himself hadn't even fired a single spell.
"All right! Let's follow them," Ginny proposed, blowing some hair out of her eyes and sticking her wand back in her pocket like a weapon that had done its duty.
Right. Follow them. Hermione. And Haley. And Umbridge. Who knew what that old witch was capable of doing. On the other hand… Hermione usually knew what she was doing. She'd had that tone earlier. The one that meant he could stop mulling about in his head and rely on her brains. Leave the plotting to her and just go along with whatever she came up with. Umbridge was no match for her, really. Even without a wand.
"Ron, are you coming?" Ginny urged, breaking through his thoughts with a brutality that his delicate little sister really shouldn't have in her. He was the big brother after all. Also, a little brother come to think of it, but to her he was the big brother.
"We don't even know where they went," he mumbled grumpily.
"The school grounds," Luna explained, in her soft dreamy voice that always put him in some kind of strange trance. "I've seen them head toward the forest just now." She pointed toward the window, which Malfoy was still leaning against. He seemed to be unconscious.
Funny. Usually, the sight would have been more enjoyable. But now…
Cautiously, he stepped around the unconscious Slytherins toward him. His arm was outstretched in a weird angle. And there… in his open hand – almost invitingly – were Haley and Hermione's wands. Quickly, Ron grabbed them, storing them safely in his wand pocket next to his own. For a split second, he swore he could see the boy's mouth twitch somewhat. Was he smirking?
"Quick Ron, we don't want to wait until they wake up again." Ginny said.
"Yeah, yeah." He turned around, hastily jumping over the Slytherins and leaving the office. Maybe there was something… about that Malfoy prat after all.
…
DRACO
Two minutes. He waited two minutes until he followed them. That bat-bogey hex was something else. First a pumpkin and now those flying beasts. This day was getting worse and worse. The forest, Luna had said. So, to the forest he was headed. Although that was really the last place he wanted to go. He still remembered going in there his first-year. The thought made him shudder. But he had to pull himself together. For Haley.
…
HALEY
Umbridge. Centaurs. Grawp. All the time she was wasting. She needed to get to Sirius. And now them. Neville, Ginny, Luna pestering her to come along. Like she was planning to go to an amusement park. Like she was off to some fun ride. She didn't have the patience for this! She needed to leave now! Nothing was more important than that. But when a whole group of thestrals arrived, she didn't have any strength left to argue.
"Fine then. Let's go."
…
DRACO
He stumbled through the trees, grateful for the trail of jingle berries someone had left along the way. Didn't Luna have a fondness for them?
Finally, he saw familiar figures between the trees. Two heads of red hair, two blond, the others darker. But something wasn't right about the sight. Some of them were… floating in the air. It looked as though they were sitting… on invisible chairs. What…?
Then he watched the blonde girl – Luna? – help another one mount the invisible thing like someone would mount a horse… Were those invisible things… thestrals?
He took a step backwards instinctively, a twig breaking under his shoe.
Six pairs of eyes turned to him. The Weasley girl, atop one of the invisible creatures, fetched her wand. Oh no, he'd had enough of her bats. But to his surprise it was her brother who reached out an arm to stop her. Huh? That was peculiar.
But there was no time to linger on Weasley's strange behaviour. He'd spotted Haley, who'd helped Granger onto one of the thestrals. Now, she was looking at him in confusion. And she was covered in blood.
…
HALEY
More complications. She didn't have time for this! This was a matter of life and death!
"What are you doing here?" She hissed at the same time as the boy said. "You're full of blood."
"Oh," Haley looked down at herself. "'s not mine."
"What?" He asked blankly.
"Look," she sighed. "there's no time. I'll explain later, okay?" She turned around, hoping he'd leave it at this. Of course, he didn't.
"What is this?" He asked, sounding more than a little confused. "Are you leaving the school grounds?"
Haley whirled around, frustrated. "Yes!"
"But where-?"
"Look," she took a deep breath and a step closer, pulling him behind a wide a tree. This probably looked extremely weird to the others. Neville and Ginny in particular. But she didn't have time to care about that now. "My godfather is in danger. I have to rescue him. Okay?"
"Your godfather?" He repeated. "How do you know tha-?"
Her impatient glare made him stop.
"I mean," He seemed to change his approach. "If you really have to go," he took her hand determinedly. "I'm coming with you."
Haley closed her eyes. This was getting more and more complicated. "You can't." She said opening her eyes.
"Why not?" He protested stubbornly.
"It's too dangerous."
He frowned. "Even more reason to come with you."
He wasn't going to take no for an answer. That much was clear. She sighed. "There will be Death Eaters. They're the ones who captured him." Not completely true, but Voldemort usually didn't go far without his cronies. And as much as she cared about Draco, she knew his inner conflict would only be an obstacle to her mission.
"I–" Draco started, taken aback.
"I wouldn't ask you…" She said softly, raising her hand to his cheek. "To fight against your own father."
"I–" He started again, pale brows pulled together as if he was fighting with something. "I can…I…"
"I understand." Her fingers stroked across his skin tenderly. "It's not your fault."
He closed his eyes. As if he thought reopening them would solve all their problems. "Still… I should be with you… I hate this." He sounded defeated. And when he opened his grey eyes they seemed to be drowning in sorrow. She'd never seen him like this. It made something ache deep inside her chest. He placed his hand on top of the one cupping his cheek as if he needed something to hold on to.
"It's not… that I don't want you to come." She explained. "It's just… everything's so complicated, you know?"
He nodded. "I hate complicated things," he said in a small voice.
"Me too." Haley said, smiling softly. When Draco pulled her forward, wrapping her up in his arms, she didn't hesitate hugging him back, her arms finding their way around his middle on instinct.
"Come back to me." He whispered, pressing his face into her hair. "If you don't, I'll have to kill you. You promised me something, remember?"
Right. That promise. In the green house. She'd almost forgotten about it. It seemed like forever ago. Everything before her vision felt like it belonged to another life.
…
DRACO
"Threats don't work on Gryffindors," she replied, pulling away slightly and tapping his nose. "But I'll come back. Promise. I'm the Chosen One after all." She grinned. As if the topic of her maybe-demise was something remotely funny.
"I'll be back in a blink," she promised, her hands finding his cheeks again, fingers caressing skin gently. Then she leaned upwards and lightly pecked his lips. Like someone who planned to be gone for ten minutes at most.
He didn't want to let her go. Something terrible was going to happen if he did. He could feel it.
"See you later," Haley said. And then she was gone.
And he was left wondering when he would see her again.
If he would see her again.
She promised. Draco reminded himself. She'll come back.
After all, she was a stupid, noble Gryffindor. And those always kept their promises, right?
…
A/N: Hello dears, I know y'all curse me because I left you at that kind of place... and I don't even have an excuse. It seemed like a reasonable place to end the chapter. Don't you agree? I don't know if I've mentioned it but we're kind of slowly nearing the end... Just to give you a heads-up. There will be a few more chapters of course and I'll probably write extra stuff even once the main story is done but... yeah there are a few more chapters to come. Thanks to you all for hanging in there and leaving me your thoughts!
By the way. I strangely enjoy writing from Ron's POV. It's so much fun in his head. Maybe I should write a story about him soon ;)