A/N: The Songs I used are Little Things by One Direction and 7 Things by Miley Cyrus. I don't own the songs!
Chapter 22
Hell or High Water
I gasped, already having millions of things whirring through my mind at top speed.
She did it. She broke the Death Eaters out of Azkaban and is starting to plan to get them into Hogwarts so they can get the Tome and kill me! I thought, swallowing. And the wedding…oh, God, Draco won't want to marry someone who is looking over her shoulder for Death Eaters! My life is over!
I bit my lip, not wanting to make my fear known.
Draco wrapped his arms around me from behind, kissing my temple. "I won't let them get you." he promised. "We're going to live like nothing's going on, you hear me?"
I nodded, shivering.
"Come hell or high water, we are getting married in June, no matter what happens." Draco muttered into my hair. "I've been waiting eighteen years to marry you, Miss Potter, and I'm not letting anything get in my way now."
I relaxed, one of my fears now seeming stupid. But I was now terrified that the Death Eaters knew how to get to me.
"In this case, we need to keep an eye on Hannah at all times." James told everyone. "Everyone make sure she's visible."
"That's a job being done by Potter and me." Draco assured him. "Hannah and I have the same classes so that's easy for me to keep an eye on her."
"We're in the same classes, too." Harry growled. "And I'm able to watch Hannah when Malfoy has Head Boy duties."
I nodded. "No complaints." I muttered, taking the newspaper and reading the headline over the picture of Kingsley Shacklebolt in Azkaban:
DEATH EATERS ESCAPE!
Purposes unknown in mass Death Eater breakout
Every known Death Eater that was tried this past summer escaped from Azkaban last night, under the noses of the Aurors sent by Minister for Magic Kingsley Shacklebolt.
"It was horrible." Auror Felix Lerwick stated. "One minute me and my mate Jade were playing Exploding Snap in the break room when all of a sudden there was flashes of red light, Jade was Stunned but I fought, and then next thing I knew, there was pitch blackness. When the blackness lifted, the Death Eater wing was completely empty!"
Upon being asked if he heard any Death Eaters, Lerwick said. "Yes, I heard them as we fought. They were shouting 'Hurry up! The sooner we get out the sooner we can get to the Harley Quinn brat!'"
I couldn't read anymore after that, I set the newspaper down. "I can't go to class knowing that the entire student body will be staring at me. They all know I'm Harley Quinn, I won't be able to be left alone!"
Instantly, two knocks came to the common room door and in came Faith Chamomile and Georgina Hawkins.
"We came as soon as we heard!" Faith told me, eyes wide. "The Death Eaters escaped?"
I nodded. "The Prophet did a whole story about it." I muttered.
Georgina looked up with a grin. "Well, we're here for you, Han."
I grinned, ruffling Georgina's and Faith's hair. "Thanks you two, you're real friends."
Faith looked up at me and smiled sheepishly. "Han, can I have a word? Alone? I'm not a Death Eater, if that's what you mean." Faith rolled up her sleeve to reveal pale skin, no trace of the Dark Mark.
"Sure." I said, nodding for everyone else to get lost.
"I'll be outside waiting for you." Draco told me, kissing my forehead.
I nodded with a smile before sitting with Faith, handing her some hot chocolate.
"Alright, what did you want to talk about?" I asked.
"Thank you." Faith said. "I feel like I can trust you." she told me. "I want to tell you something. I feel like you can keep a secret. You're like my hero. I want to stand up to my uncle like you did."
I cocked an eyebrow. "Ok, what are you talking about?"
Faith took a deep breath and started to explain her story.
She was brought up in a happy family, but her uncle abused and raped her. She was crying by the time she told me what sent a sickening lurch to my stomach.
"And so…this is what I do." Faith sobbed, lifting her other sleeve to reveal scars and some healing cuts.
"You cut yourself?" I whispered.
Faith nodded, lowering her sleeve.
I held her icy hands in mine, warming them up with Necromancy. "Don't." I todl her.
"Why?" Faith asked me. "All the Slytherins bully me because I'm a ginger and in Slytherin, they call me blood traitor, my uncle raped and abused me! Mel is the only one who understands."
I grabbed my dagger. "Because. If you cut yourself again…" I held my dagger to my wrist. "I will, too. You have no idea, Faith." I lifted my skirt to reveal some scars. "My uncle used to do even worse. He almost killed me more than you can know…in fact…" I lowered my blouse's shoulder to reveal even more scars, jagged, hideous and pale. "I cut myself when I was younger, too. I was anorexic, I was on the same path you're on. Faith, don't be like me." I held her hands again. "I'll go down that path with you if I ever catch or hear you doing it again."
Faith burst into sobs and threw her arms around me. "H-Hannah, y-you're a t-true f-friend! N-no one t-tried t-to s-stop m-me before!"
Hellion came in and stroked herself between Faith's legs with a purr.
"Hi." Faith sniffed, taking Hellion and petting her.
Hellion meowed.
Faith looked up at me. "Hellion says that her food bowl's empty."
I looked confused and filled the food bowl with my mind, setting it in front of me as Hellion pigged out.
"It's a gift." Faith muttered, nodding to the fire, which erupted.
I paled. "Y-You…?" I asked. Faith Chamomile…a Necromancer?
Faith shrugged. "What?" she asked as I gave her a tissue to wipe her eyes.
"You're controlling the elements!" I told her.
"I know. It's not complete, though." Faith muttered. "Only to a point. I can make fires, wet things, dry things off and that's it. I can't use them for rituals like you do."
I nodded and stood. "I'd better get to Transfiguration." I said, grabbing my book bag. "I'll see you later."
Faith grinned. "Thanks." she told me before running to the Great Hall for breakfast.
I grinned and found Draco leaning against the door.
"Well, come on, Bones, we're gonna be late for class." Draco smirked.
I grinned, running and hopping up onto his back so he could carry me to class.
…
When we got there, the class was strangely empty, all bar Professor Laventhorpe, who was sitting at her desk, drinking a cup of tea.
"Mr Malfoy, Ms Potter, what are you doing here?" she asked sweetly, standing to reveal something very odd.
Normally, she wore midnight colours, midnight blue, midnight green, dark red, dark teal, dark violet, etc.. But this time, she was wearing a black dress and robe, a pin on her breast that showed a silver woman with her arms in the air, a flame and water intermingling without destroying each other in the woman's hands, her hair flowing around her face like it was whipped around in the wind, her feet muddy.
"Where is everyone?" I asked when I jolted myself from the eerie familiarity of the pin.
"I gave them the class off." Laventhorpe stated with what looked like a triumphant smile. "I was figuring we would be able to train this class, in case those Death Eater escapees try to breech the castle's security."
I was a little uneasy at first, what with this sudden change of wardrobe and odd triumphant smile, but I eased myself into it. "Alright…" I said, starting for the mat that mysteriously appeared.
Suddenly, I fell face first against the mat, Suspiria standing over me, wand in hand.
"That was a bloody cheap shot!" Draco and I shouted together.
"The Death Eaters don't play fair now, do they?" Suspiria asked.
I struggled to my feet and conjured a ball of fire, throwing it at the Transfiguration professor.
Laventhorpe doused it with water from her wand. "Excellent attack, Ms Potter."
…
We spent the next fifty five minutes training until I turned to grab my book bag.
I went flying into a cluster of desks.
"Han, you're bleeding!" Draco picked me up.
I paled, seeing my blood dripping from my arm, some blood staining the wood of a desk as I cleaned it up.
Laventhorpe's face clouded over before she wrapped my arm. "Don't want you bleeding out, do we?" she asked me with a laugh. "I apologize, I didn't know my own spell's strength."
I risked a shaky grin as I grabbed my book bag.
"You'd best get to your classes, you don't want to be late." she said with a grin.
"Yes, Professor." I said, turning back with Draco in tow, leaving the room for Charms. "See you later, Professor."
"Yes, Ms Potter." Laventhorpe said behind my back. "See you later, indeed."
…
In the days that past, Laventhorpe was becoming increasingly odd, fulfilling her teaching duties, yet she was treating me and Draco increasingly different, almost motherly with her concern for me.
N.E.W.T's were coming up fast and now I was studying frantically for my N.E.W.T. exams. McGonagall made it crystal clear that in order to use the castle as a wedding venue, I had to attain at least "Exceeds Expectations" in all my exams, the same with Draco, otherwise, we were fucked for a venue because McGonagall wouldn't allow the wedding to happen.
"Hannah, love, listen to me." Draco told me as I freaked out in the library, cramming more for the Potions exam that was three weeks away. "We'll be ok, you're a brilliant woman, you'll get your N.E.W.T.'s, we'll go back to the Manor after our honeymoon and then that's the end of it."
I took a nervous breath and nodded.
"You didn't sleep at all this week, did you?" Draco asked me, massaging my shoulders.
I sighed, shaking my head.
"Go." Draco told me, kissing my temple. "Coming back to it with a clear head will help ease the stress."
I grinned, getting up and going back to my dorm to take a nap.
I flopped into bed and stared at the ceiling with a sigh.
Draco was right. In July everything would be ok. We'd be married and relaxing Skinner knew where, Draco was still keeping the destination on the mum.
I sighed, letting my eyes close.
…
Draco POV
I ran back to the dorm when I finished studying to confront Potter. "Is she -?" I asked him.
"Been in your bed dead asleep since she was up there." Potter told me. "Been checking on her every five minutes."
"Good." I sighed in relief and went up to check on her myself.
She was dead asleep, curled into her teddy bear.
I grinned, pressing a kiss to her forehead and going back down the stairs to let her sleep.
"She ok?" Potter asked me.
"Sleeping like a baby." I grinned, stretching out on the couch and wrapping my arms over my head.
"Good." Potter grinned as the door opened.
In came Granger with Weasley.
"Hey, guys." Granger said.
"Hey, Mione." Potter smirked.
"Granger. Weasel-bee." I smirked.
"Shut your mouth, Malfoy." Weasley growled.
I smirked. "Oh, not very friendly, are we?" I asked.
"Fuck off, Malfoy!" Potter growled.
"Or should we say Potter?" Granger smirked. "After that kiss at Zabini's bachelor party."
"How the fuck do you know that!?" I asked.
"My best friend and my boyfriend were at the party, and my best friend was too ashamed to say anything. So my boyfriend told me." Granger smirked.
"WEASLEY!" I shouted. "At least I didn't kiss the groom!"
Granger paled. "YOU WHAT!?"
"We were drunk, Mione!" Weasley explained. "And at least I didn't snog the brother of your bride!"
"At least I didn't snog the man who was getting married in the morning!" I snapped back.
"Wait…does Ginny and Hannah know about this?" Granger asked.
"What about them?" Potter and I asked together.
"Ginny is your girlfriend!" Granger started, nodding to Potter. "And Hannah is Malfoy's bride-to-be! Technically, you cheated on them by snogging each other at the bachelor party!"
"WE WERE DRUNK!" Potter, Weasley and I shouted together.
"But she's got a point." I sighed. "Hannah deserves to know what happened."
"And I guess Ginny should know." Potter mumbled.
"Good." Granger nodded. "And this is for cheating on me." Granger punched Weasley in the stomach, making Potter and I burst out laughing.
"Don't laugh too hard boys, you'll be next. Ginny's a whiz with hexes and Hannah's a Necromancer, when they find out you two snogged, you'll be getting double the fury. Malfoy will get a taste of Hannah's Necromancy and Harry will get it from Ginny, and then from Hannah for knowing he was snogging her groom to be."
I nodded, suddenly hoping that this time that something would happen to Hannah that will put off me telling her.
But, Z decided to let her alone that night, so I was stuck telling her.
Shit.
I got up, bid the Golden Trio goodnight and went up to my dorm, finding Hannah still asleep.
I got into bed and wrapped an arm around her, making her stir.
Damn it. Now I had no excuse. "Hey." I whispered with a smirk, kissing her forehead.
Hannah yawned. "Hi." she murmured, cuddling into my side.
I swallowed. I guess I had to get it over with. "Han, there's something I have to tell you."
Hannah looked up, instantly concerned. "Is everything ok?" she asked.
I nodded, kissing her forehead. "Don't worry, love. I'm not calling off the wedding." I assured her before taking a breath.
"Then what is it?" Hannah asked.
I swallowed and took a breath. "At Blaise's bachelor party…I sort of kissed your brother."
Then I held my breath, waiting for Hannah's reaction and ready for anything. Ready for her to burst into tears, start screaming at me…hell, I even braced myself for a slap across the face not unlike the time she slapped me on the Hogwarts Express.
But…what I didn't expect her to do was burst out laughing.
And burst out laughing was exactly what Hannah did. She was giggling uncontrollably.
"What is so funny?!" I asked her.
"You and my brother!" she snorted. "Snogging! You thought I'd be mad!"
"Well, yeah!" I raised an eyebrow. "Do you know what snog means? I kissed your brother!"
"I know!" Hannah giggled. "It's hilarious! Does Blaise have pictures?"
I sighed in relief, which was cut short when I heard Weasley's sister scream. "YOU WHAT!?" and start laughing.
Hannah sighed, cuddling into me with a smile.
"I still don't get why you're happy about this." I told her. "Why you aren't screaming at me, hurling fireballs at me or whatever it is you little Potters do."
Hannah grinned and traced patterns along my chest. "Because you didn't try to cover it up and you were honest about it."
I grinned, kissing her forehead. "You're amazing, babe." I grinned before finding something around her neck.
I fiddled with the fragile gold chain and pulled it out of her shirt.
Around her neck was a small emerald guitar pick with a small heart made from an upside down treble clef and a right way up bass clef at the tip. The rest of the pick was engulfed with one quote:
Music is magic beyond what a wizard can do.
"What's that?" I asked, taking it gently.
"Draco, don't!" Hannah squeaked, taking it back.
"That's a guitar pick!" I told her.
"Yes." Hannah nodded.
"Wait…" I took the pick and looked through it again. "This is the guitar pick I gave you when we were eleven!"
Hannah grinned. "Excellent observations, Hawkeye." she said sarcastically.
"When was this put in a necklace?" I asked.
"Second year." Hannah told me. "I didn't use it unless it was a special occasion. Like that time you forced me into singing in front of the entire house."
"Forced is such a strong word." I laughed. "I prefer to say I coaxed you into it."
"By threatening to bury me in Goyle's dirty clothes if I didn't!" she shrieked.
I laughed, crossing my arms over my head as I relived that weekend.
…
Flashback
Pansy was clinging to me giggling as I was trying to play my guitar. Crabbe had gotten the bright idea that the Slytherins should have an open-mic night.
"Dracy, you should go up and play something for everyone!"
I rolled my eyes. "How the hell am I supposed to do that?"
"Come on, Draco, don't be a wuss!" Hannah shouted at me with a grin.
"I am not a wuss!" I shouted to her, crossing my arms.
"Prove it." Hannah smirked. "Get your ass up there and play!"
"Are you going to let her talk to you like that, Dracy?" Pansy asked me.
I shuddered. I hated it when Pansy called me Dracy. Hannah got away with it, but when Pansy did…it just made me want to break the number one Malfoy rule: Don't hit a girl. When she called me Dracy it made me want to throttle her.
I shot up. "All right, all right!" I sighed, grabbing my guitar and getting up on stage, propping my guitar up and casting a smirk in Hannah's general direction.
"I'm up here, satisfied?" I asked her.
"Play something, dumbass!" Hannah told me.
"Oh, right!" I sat on the stool and adjusted my guitar. "Crap! Mic!"
Hannah snapped her fingers and the mic raised.
"Thanks." I muttered. "Alright, let's get this over with." I adjusted my guitar one more time and cast a look towards Hannah and grinned. "Let's just say I picked this song for someone." I muttered before starting to play the song I knew she loved by One Direction (with a few changes).
"Her hand fits in mine like it's made just for me. But bear this in mind, it was meant to be. And I'm joining up the dots with the freckles on her cheeks. And it all makes sense to me.
I know she's never loved the scar along her neck or the way that she groans in disgust when she hears a song by Beck. The way she says what the Skinner when she really means what the heck, well I'll love it endlessly.
I shouldn't let these little things slip out of my mouth. Well, it's true…and it's her…it's her they add up to. I lost my chance with her…and all those little things."
The minute I brought up Skinner, Hannah almost looked ready to pass out, and Pansy almost looked ready to strangle Hannah.
"She can't go to bed without an Oreo…or three, and that's probably the reason she talks in her sleep. And every conversation is a secret that I keep, but it makes no sense to me."
Hannah instantly flushed red with embarrassment and Pansy went red with anger.
…
I hopped down when I was done with my bit and turned to Hannah. "Your turn." I told her.
Hannah went from bright pink to chalk white. "No way." she told me.
I smirked. "Oh, you're going up." I told her. "Or I will bury you alive in Goyle's dirty clothes."
Hannah paled. "You wouldn't dare!"
I smirked. "Try me, princess."
Hannah looked from the front of the common room, to me and sighed. "Ok, to save me from being suffocated by Goyle's boy-stink from his skid-marked underwear. Fine." she huffed and stepped up to the plate.
Hannah took a big breath and took her necklace off. "Ok…I've been listening to this song for a few weeks now…so…I hope you like it…and I'll just shut up and sing."
She started playing.
"Corey's eyes are like a jungle, he smiles it's like the radio. He whispers songs into my window in words that nobody knows. There's pretty girls on every corner that watch him as he's walking home, saying 'Does he know?' Will you ever know…?
You're beautiful, every little piece, love. Don't you know, you're really gonna be someone? Ask anyone. And when you find, everything you look for, I hope your life, leads you back to my door. Oh, but if it don't. Stay beautiful.
Corey finds another way to be the highlight of my day. I'm taking pictures in my mind so I can save them for a rainy day. It's hard to make a conversation when he's taking my breath away…I should say 'Hey, by the way…'
You're beautiful, every little piece, love. Don't you know, you're really gonna be someone? Ask anyone. And when you find, everything you look for, I hope your life, leads you back to my door. Oh, but if it don't. Stay beautiful.
If you and I are a story…that never gets told. If what you are is…a daydream… I'll never get to hold, at least you'll know.
You're beautiful, every little piece, love. Don't you know, you're really gonna be someone? Ask anyone. And when you find, everything you look for, I hope your life, leads you back to my front door. Oh, but if it don't. Will you stay beautiful. Stay beautiful."
…
Hannah POV
I laughed. "So that's what you were doing when you took your necklace off!" Draco laughed.
I sighed, curling into Draco. "Yeah. I only take it out when I'm playing an important song. Otherwise it's around my neck." I murmured.
Draco grinned and kissed my temple as I let my eyes close. "Go to sleep, Han."
I grinned, letting myself drift off.
