Suppose that I missed you? Suppose that I cared? And suppose that I spent all my nights running scared - Secondhand Serenade.
Gabrielle was under 3 days of observation. There were days that she would get really bad headaches, and hid under the blankets because the light would hurt her eyes. Everyone in the school knew about the attack on Gabrielle de Famille and were all gossiping about it. It even made Quidditch Gossip at the tryouts. Draco knew who it was, it was only a matter of time before he could insight his own personal revenge. Draco did his usual thing when dinner was over, he would go to the infirmary to check on Gabrielle, and if there was a conversation happening, he would listen in. Then afterward he would go to the Room of Requirement to do a few more tests with the Vanishing Cabinet. But afterward, he would still return to the infirmary to check on her one more time before disappearing back to the Common Rooms.
Fred had stayed with Gabrielle for 2 days by her side. "When I find out who did this Gabbie, I will feed them so many puking pastilles, they won't even know what hit them. See how they like being in the infirmary for a few days" he said as she sat on the bed.
"Fred" she shook her head "you're not like that"
"When it comes to you, I am" he nodded "I would do anything to make sure you're safe"
"I know" she smiled at him "but you don't have to break who you are, to protect me. I would never want anyone to do that" she held his hand. "Madam Pomfrey says I have one more day here. It'll be good to get back to the Gryffindor Common room.
"I'm glad nothing more happened to you" Fred kissed her on the forehead.
"As am I" she smiled "Hermione has been sending mother letters on my progress"
"Has she been using Ceraphine?"
"She tried once, and Ceraphine came back. Hermione's French needs some practicing" giggled slightly "but mama is updated and she knows I'm ok, so she is more than grateful" she nodded.
"Are you going to be ok, when I'm gone?" as he gently caressed her face.
"I'll miss you" Gabrielle answered "but that is always happening when you're not here" she nodded.
"I can be back like that" he clicked his fingers "if you need me"
"What about George? He needs help to run the shop you know. You always said he was hopeless without you"
"He is, I'm surprised if our shop hasn't gone to hell" he laughed.
"He needs you too" Gabrielle nodded "I'll be fine, I can handle myself"
"You promise?"
"I promise" she smiled.
"I love you, Gabbie" he kissed her on the lips.
"I love you too" Gabrielle smiled. After that exchange, Fred stood up, said a few words to Madame Pomfrey, even tried to bribe her on giving Gabrielle the upmost and best care and left.
Gabrielle had returned to class as normal the next day. And the few weeks that she had returned, everyone that she didn't know would look and treat her awkwardly. They didn't know what to say, the culprit hadn't been found so everyone was still asking the questions as to who it was and why was Gabrielle the target?She did feel awkward with everyone looking at her, but she chose to ignore it and tune it out. She would always feel Draco's presence around, watching her, looking at her. That night in the infirmary was a constant thing on her mind. Did she dream about it? Or was it real?
It was time for Study Hall and Quidditch tryouts were on. "Gabbie, I'm going to go see Ron tryout, wanna come?" Hermione asked.
"Its ok, I have alot of catching up with homework" she said as she references the amount of scrolls and books that she had sitting in front of her "let me know how it goes" she smiled.
"I will" Hermione nodded and left. Gabrielle felt uneased on her own, so she took out her wand and did a protection spell. "Protego totalum" she was then surrounded by a heat haze. She smiled, she felt safe and continued to do homework.
Draco had entered the Study Hall and saw Gabrielle back to her usual self and studying on her own. He smiled slightly, barely noticeable and walked over to the Slytherin table. "Everybody's talking about it" he heard as he approached.
"Everyone is asking who did it" Milicent Bullstrode looked at Pansy.
"Who cares" she shrugged it off her shoulder "as long as no one tells, we'll be fine" Pansy nodded "that way, I can do it again when it all dies down" she snorted. Draco sat away from them, he didn't want to hear them talk about Gabrielle. "She looked so pathetic, Potter and Weasel were carrying her out, see that? It require two to carry her!" she laughed. Draco looked over at Pansy, laughing with her friends. He got irritated with her shrieking laughter and her constant insults of Gabrielle. He took out his wand subtly and pointed it toward her.
"Silencio"
Pansy's laughter, came to a halt. Everyone around her looked confused as she tried to speak but she couldn't. "Pansy! Say something!" Millicent looked at her. Pansy tried, but nothing would come out. The Slytherin girls looked around, no one was seen. Draco put his wand away and continue to keep a watchful eye on Gabrielle, as he smirked to himself.
Once study hall was over, Gabrielle decided she freshen up for dinner. She headed out of the Great Hall and toward the Gryffindor Common room. Draco had another test to do with the Vanishing cupboard, so he left the Great Hall and went toward the Room of Requirement.
Gabrielle was minding her own business, but her eye caught a suspicious looking Draco Malfoy looking around to see if there was anyone following his actions. She noticed around the same time, almost every few days that he would disappear and go somewhere, looking suspicious and always watching where he went. She decided that this time she would follow him and see what he was up to...
Draco would keep walking, and constantly check behind him. Gabrielle would hide around a corner or a wall if he would stop and look. He arrived at his destination and went into the Room of Requirement. Before the door could disappear, Gabrielle managed to run toward it and get in just in time before it disappears. Gabrielle slowly and stealthily followed Draco. He walked over to this gigantic piece of material, he pulled it down and revealed a cupboard will all these ornaments. Next to it was a canary in the birdcage. He decided not to send the bird, but opened the door and put another apple in it and closed the door cupboard. He muttered a few words and then opened the door. The apple had vanished. He nodded and closed the door and used the levitation spell to hide the cupboard. Gabrielle took a step forward, and then an ornament fell on the floor. Draco turned around and pulled his wand out "Who's there?! Show yourself!"
Gabrielle took a deep breath and stood up from where she was hiding. Draco looked like he had been Stupefied with his facial expression. "Curse when you're ready, Malfoy"
"Char?" he slowly lowered his wand "what are you doing here?"
"What are you doing here?" she asked him "and more importantly" she walked over and pulled down the curtain that was containing the cupboard "what are you doing with this? I know what this is, this is a Vanishing Cupboard, my father used to take me at Borgin & Burkes and there is one like this one in there. What are you doing with this, Malfoy? Who are you trying to send in here?"
"That…" he looked at her "is none of your business, you filthy little blood traito-" before he could even finish his sentence, Gabrielle had slapped him in the face. Draco was taken aback by what she did. He couldn't even bear to look at her.
"Look at me, Malfoy" she said as she tried to catch his gaze "I said LOOK at me." Draco slowly lifted his face and his eyes met with hers. "Why?" she asked him.
"Why what?"
"Why are you doing this?"
"Lord Voldemort…wills it"
"Wills it?! Wills it does he? Oh so he will will you to kill yourself you'd happily do it?"
"You don't understand, Gabrielle…"
"Oh I understand plenty, Malfoy" she looked at him "you are a Slytherin, proud and pure. Anything to prove your worth. And to prove that people like me, like Harry, Hermione, Ron…anyone who thinks different about it, will suffer"
"I…" he began.
"Why?"
"Why?" he looked repeated "why are you you following me? You couldn't keep your nose out of my business"
"Well it seems you can't keep out of mine!" she answered "you can deny this all you want but I know you were there when I was in the infirmary, the day I woke up. I heard your voice talking to Madam Pomfrey, and every night since I was in there she has seen you coming to check up on me when Fred wasn't around - so if you're going to lecture me about keeping out of your business, that's a bit rich coming from you. Or was it, that you felt so bad that you cursed me that you had to make sure I was ok? Was it a ploy to get a laugh out of your fellow Slyhterins? What? Did Pansy say you defended me on the train and you had to show them that I was nothing?"
"You think I did it?"
"You and many others" she nodded "I can't remember what happened that day. Only from when I woke up" she answered "why did you check up on me?"
"I…"
"I want the truth Malfoy. And I can get it out of you" she said as she pointed her wand at him "they may be unforgivable but they-" she cut herself off from revealing too much.
"You've had them happen to you enough that you don't care anymore"
"How do you know that?" she said as she point her wand to his face.
"I heard Fred talking to you about it, your father…how he tortures you. Uses the curses on you when you get into trouble"
She lowered her wand "You had no right to listen in on that" she started to tear up "what now? You're going to laugh about it?"
"WHY DO YOU THINK I'M SUCH A MONSTER!?" He raised his voice "You're making it sound like I don't care about you!"
"You don't! How could you possibly even care for me when you haven't spoken to me for 5 years?!"
"It never went away, Char"
"I told you to never call me that" she said as she tried to slap him again, he stopped her this time as he grabbed her hand before her hand impacted on his face. "Let go of me, Malfoy"
"No" he said. Draco pulled her in close and wrapped his arms around her for a hug.
"Let go of me!" Gabrielle said as she balled up her firsts and started hitting at his chest as she tried to pull herself away from him, but he was too strong for her "Let me GO, Malfoy!" she kept struggling, but Draco kept his arms around her firmly. She started to cry "Let…me…go" she broke down and the tears started to fall. Draco held her closer as he could feel her tears slowly seeping into his clothes.
"Char, I'm so sorry" he said as he whispered into her ear. "I'm sorry. I'm not going to let this happen to you again. I promise"
And it begins…