AN: Thank you to all of my readers if you're making it to this chapter, especially with the long wait for this chapter. Special thanks to sierraemilie, 9 pieces of 8, and SunLover92 for reviewing, they really brighten my day and keep me writing and updating.
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Song suggestion: Someone New, Hozier.
Chapter Eighteen: Worrisome Emotions.
Pansy became concerned when Draco didn't return and motioned for Blaise to follow her out of the room once both their plates were cleared and goblets empty. As soon as the door shut behind the watchful crowd she indulged vocally her concerns for their missing friend to which Blaise frowned, considering the options.
"They wouldn't attack him." His deep timber echoed in the empty corridor, already presuming her current thoughts.
"Blaise, these people are the friends and family of every victim. Of course they would." She snapped, "They have every right to angry and vengeful. Blaise, we've come from the frying pan to the fire! Oh Merlin!"
"Pansy, everyone is in there, stop worrying."
"But what if there are visiting Order members, what if they're waiting to attack us separately. Blaise, we could be in danger now!" Her panic escalated.
Malfoy's unexplained absence worried her. She knew if roles were reversed the Death Eaters would have beat and tortured the defectors for not turning sooner. The Weasley temper alone was something to be concerned with; they were neither very forgiving nor forgetful. Revenge surely ate at their mind.
"Pansy, calm down, they won't touch us." Blaise wanted to roll his eyes at her. He held no concern for his friend's whereabouts. Malfoy was a brilliant dueller after practising constantly and most likely, in Blaise's mind, to be checking out the safe house, looking for security and familiarising himself with his surroundings.
"But-" She tried to object, various scenarios haunting her thoughts. Draco wounded. Draco tortured. Draco dead. It made her sick to her stomach to think such things about her best friend, her brother, and her anxiety increased tenfold.
"We'll go look for him if you're that worried." Blaise resisted rolling his eyes. He knew his best girl friend too well; she would worry the warts off a warthog given the time to panic about the littlest of things. Pansy nodded in agreement and they wandered off down the corridor, glancing in at different rooms.
Across from the dining hall was a library/living room with a warm fire and mahogany furnishings. Next to that was a conference room with a large round table opposite a training room full of metal dummies of various sized Death Eaters surrounded by mirrors. At the end was the medical wing they'd previously been in with Draco.
Easing the door open the two friends peered inside. To the left was a store room on the same wall as the entrance, a desk, and three beds just as the other side did. In the bed closest the door on the right Pansy gasped and Blaise raised his brows at the sight.
Draco, who rarely showed concern for anyone other than his closest friends and family, was holding the hand of the girl he had bullied mercilessly for six years. Murmuring reassuringly to her as he used his other hand to stroke her hair away from her tear streaked face. Droplets of deep sorrow were quickly wiped away as Granger sobbed to Malfoy.
"I'm sorry." Hermione whimpered, "It's…it's just a sh-sh-shock…I'm sorry." Pansy's heart throbbed for the poor girl. She'd never seen Gryffindor's Princess so beaten and defeated. Vulnerability contrasted with the girl's normally fiery nature. In previous years Pansy would have laughed at the sorry sight, but now she only felt pity. She could not imagine the terrible state Granger was in. Torture evidently was worse than death.
"Don't you dare apologise." Draco replied gruffly. Blaise considered his friend curiously. Malfoy's new found compassion for the girl both puzzled and interested him. Zabini had always believed his best friend harboured some form of emotion towards the curly haired witch, but always assumed it was hatred. It made him question how thin the hatred and love line truly was, especially between the two.
Draco raised his hand from brushing Hermione's tears from her weeping face and delved into his pocket, unaware of his audience. Withdrawing his wand and holding the tip by the girl's temple he uttered a spell as she choked on her cries. Granger fell limp on the bed, red tinted tears running dry on her face.
Pansy stepped into the sterile room as the pale wizard murmured to the unconscious witch. She wondered briefly what his private words were but knew she would never know. It surprised her that he had developed such affection for his victim but was thankful, concluding without it they'd still be in the Death Eater hell. Placing a hand on his shoulder, she smiled softly, as he looked up defensively, his wand poised for attack.
"How is she?" Pansy asked quietly and gazed at the girl she'd hated for many years and had saved them all.
"From her waist down she's leaded." He explained simply and stood up, his face expressionless, "Obviously, she's blind and traumatised by the experience." She nodded as Blaise reached them, "I'm going to work on the antidote." And he strode off.
They watched him barge into the store room and rummage noisily for ingredients before emerging in a studious fervour. His hands and eyes twitched with thoughts as the fire sparked. Draco had never been so singularly focused for so long it surprised them at the rare intensity. It was as if all of the Death Eater pressure had released him and allowed him to pursue a true mission that captured his mind in a way they hadn't seen since before Voldemort rumours began to circulate. While it was pleasing to see, it also made them curious.
"Strange." Pansy turned to Blaise thoughtfully, "I've never seen him warm up to someone so quickly. Just yesterday he was raving about Mudbloods and cursing Granger to death." Frowning at her dark friend's smirking expression she snapped quietly, "Whatever you're thinking, spit it out, for Salazar's sake, tell me!"
Blaise simply sent her a 'wouldn't you like to know' look before wandering over to Draco to help with the potion making leaving Pansy confused in his absence.