Chapter 33 – The Duel
"Are you serious?" I asked. "All this killing and everything just so he could gain immortality?" I was revolted.
"Dumbledore is really going to take you along the next time?" Ron's eyes sparkled. "That's so cool!"
"Can't believe he was researching all this while he was still in school!" H was sad that someone misused the school's resources.
Harry casted 'Muffliato' during Charms class and told us how he extracted the memory and his talk with Dumbledore. I can't believe Horcruxes are objects in which a person traps a part of their soul so he or she can live forever. Well, from the various vampire novels that I've read, living forever is not such a great thing.
"And there are six of them?" I asked him.
He nodded. "But we've already gotten the diary, the ring and the locket."
"Half way to go." Ron cheered.
"But he asked Slughorn if making seven was possible? What if he made seven?" H asked doubtfully.
"The seventh part is the one that is still in his body." Harry answered confidently.
I looked at H. She didn't look convinced. She was thinking something, I could tell by the look on her face.
"Where do you reckon Dumbledore is going to take you?" Ron asked.
"Dunno. He said he would tell me when he knows for sure."
Just then Prof. Flitwick came over and asked the boys to cast the spell in front of him.
"I think if he thought of seven then he may have been successful in making seven." H whispered to herself.
"Hmmm H what are you whispering about?"
She shook her head, "Nothing."
"Practise boys! Your homework for today, practise the spell." Prof. Flitwick told Harry and Ron when they blew up their goblets.
The bell rang and we all began packing our bags, that's when I saw Lavender with red puffy eyes.
"What's wrong with Lavender?" I asked Ron.
He sighed, "Right, you weren't there. So, last night the three of us went to our dormitory, Harry wore his cloak and left the room and we ran behind him." He gestured to H and himself. "Lavender saw the both of us and went ballistic! It was horrible she kept yelling in front of everyone." He smiled delightfully, "At least I didn't have to end it."
"Coward." H murmured loud enough for the four of us to hear. "Looks like it was a bad night for relationships. Dean and Ginny broke up as well."
Harry suppressed a smile and asked, "How come?"
"It was something stupid. She was irritated by how he always tries to help her through the portrait hole, like she can't do it herself. Anyways they've been fighting for a while now."
I looked at Harry. He was lost in thought. I wondered if Ginny being single now changed something for us. No, Harry kissed me last night. But he was under Felix Felicis. Maybe I'm just thinking too much. "Everything is fine." I told myself as we entered the portrait hole. It was one of those rare free period that all of us had together.
"Katie, you're back!" I heard H say. "Are you fine? When did you leave the hospital?"
"Yes, I'm good, thank you." She told us. "They let me out of the hospital last week, I spent some time at home and came back. Harry, Leanne was just telling about the last match."
"Doesn't matter. Now that you're here and Ron's fine, there's a good chance we can beat Ravenclaw and still be in the running to win the cup." Harry beamed.
I just realised that Katie coming back meant that I'm not on the team anymore. But I'm not sad about it. I think, if Harry and I have some time apart, it'll do us good.
That's when I realised Harry was looking at me sadly. I knew what he was going to say.
"Harry, it's totally fine. We both always knew that I was a substitute for Katie so it's okay." I told him.
He smiled uncertainly at me, "Are you sure?"
"Yeah. Don't worry about it Harry." I pecked him on the cheek. That seemed to have put him at ease.
Then the detective look came over his face and he asked Katie, "Do you remember what happened?"
"No." She shook her head. "The last thing I remember is going into the ladies room in the Three Broomsticks. After that it's a blank."
"So, you did go into the bathroom then." H inferred.
"Yeah, I figured whoever imperiused me must have been right behind me. Listen, I've to get to class, lemme know when the practice is." Katie told Harry.
Harry nodded and Katie left with her friends. We sat down in front of the window seat and talked about Katie. Harry was quick to remind us that Draco stole polyjuice potion and may have given Crabbe or Goyle the necklace to be delivered to her. I wanted to stop him from blaming Draco for everything. But I can't do that without raising suspicion.
"I should use the potion and try getting into the room." Harry thought out loud.
"That would be a waste of the potion. Luck can't be used for everything, Harry. With Slughorn it worked because you always had the ability to persuade him. Luck will not help you get through a powerful enchantment. And the room of requirement has a lot of magic in it."
"Besides, don't you want to save the potion for when you go along with Dumbledore for the hunt?" I asked.
That seemed to have put the idea out of Harry's mind.
"We should make the potion." Ron suggested happily.
Harry opened the Prince's book and when through the potion, "Blimey! It's so complicated. And it takes six months to make it!"
Both the boys sighed in defeat.
The next few weeks Harry came back from Quidditch practice very happy and pleased. Not having McLaggen on the team apparently lifted everybody's spirits. It was not just Harry. Jimmy and Ritchie met me on the corridor one day and they told me how practice was so much fun and Ginny is like the biggest joker on the team. She imitates Ron on the goalposts or how Harry was trying to gain control of the situation right before McLaggen knocked him out.
One evening when he got back from practice, I was sitting on the window seat and going through my Herbology textbook. For once, I didn't have a pile of pending assignments to do so I decided to do study a bit.
Harry came and sat in front of me. "Hey." He kissed me.
"Hi. How was practice?" I saw Ron sitting on his favourite armchair.
"It was great. I think we are going to win the cup for sure." Harry beamed.
"That's nice." I said.
His smiled flickered, "What's the matter? You seem pretty down."
"It's nothing. I'm tired."
He took my hand in his, "I can tell when something is bothering you."
I bit my lip wondering if I should ask him, "Harry… do you like someone else?"
His face showed so many emotions that it was difficult for me to understand what he was exactly feeling, "We've already talked about this. Ginny is just a teammate." He said in a deadpan voice.
"But ever since she and Dean broke up, you've been looking at her a lot more. Apparently her jokes make you laugh a lot. You weren't really that sad to let me go from the team, were you?"
He was angry now, "So, you're saying that can't laugh on other girls' jokes? I can't look at her other girls? We've already been through this yet we keep coming back to this. Either you trust me or you don't."
I wanted to say that I trust him but I was scared.
"Well you're faith in me is really encouraging." He got up. "Way to kill the mood, Natalie." He went and sat with Ron.
He's never reacted this way before. I've to figure out a way to make it up to him.
With the Gryffindor-Ravenclaw match just a few days away, the tension was running high. Players were getting mysteriously hexed and rushing off the bathrooms. But this is usual before any final game. All anyone could talk about was the match. Even H seemed to be excited about the match. Gryffindor was hoping for a miraculous victory. Only if we beat Ravenclaw by three hundred points or more would we win the cup.
Harry and I had made up. When I approached Harry to apologise to him, he apologised to me instead. That took me by surprise, I almost forgot to apologise to him. Harry was being more attentive to me. Any free time we got, he was with me. I know, I should be enjoying all the attention but instead alarms were going off in my head.
One particular evening, Harry had me pinned against the wall in one of the unused classrooms. He was showering kisses from my jaw to my neck.
"Harry…" I moaned.
"Hmmm…"
One of his hands was under my skirt and he was moving them along my inner thigh.
"Harry...please stop."
He kissed me hard and he continued to run his hand along my thigh. He was getting a little too close to comfort.
I tried to push him but he won't get off.
"Harry please!" I pushed him hard this time.
"Nat, we've been together long enough," He breathed in sharply, "I think we can go a little further. Do you not want to do it with me?"
I took a couple of breaths, "Harry, it's not that I don't want to do it with you. I'm just not comfortable doing it right now."
"Natalie, do you trust me?" He asked me suddenly. I'm beginning to notice how he uses my full name when he on the verge of getting angry or is already angry.
"I… I do."
"Then why can't we do it just once?" He asked.
"Harry, what's really going on here? We've talked about this before. I'm not comfortable."
"Is it a crime to want my girlfriend? Send me off to Askaban then!"
"Harry, calm down. I can tell that something else is going on. Do you want to talk about it?"
"Nat, why do you always think there's something else going on? Why are you so suspicious lately?"
I bit my lip, "You are suddenly taking an amazing amount of interest in me. Is it because of the match? Are you nervous?"
Relief washed over his face, "Yes." He admitted.
"Is it because this is your first match in the final as a captain?"
"Yes. Everybody just expects me to win it. There's a lot of pressure on me."
"I understand. It's okay. We could just sit and talk or just sit quietly, enjoy the silence."
"No, I think I'm going to go for a walk." Harry said and left the room before I could say anything.
Next day after classes, I headed straight to the library. It's better if I start exam preparations now. I don't even have Draco to study with this year so I'll have to begin studying if I want to maintain my grades. I decided to begin with Potions.
I don't know how long I was there but I felt someone take a seat next to me.
"Blaise?! What a surprise!" I exclaimed when I saw Blaise.
Madam Pince shushed me.
He looked grave, "Something has happened."
"What? What, do you want me to set up circumstances in which you'll be with Luna again?" I teased.
He shook his head, "It's Draco."
My stomach sank, "What happened? Is he okay?"
"He's in the hospital wing."
I began to pack my bag. When I got up from the table, Blaise caught my hand, "Don't stop me."
"You can't go there now. Pansy is all over him right now."
I sat down but my eyes began to fill up, "What happened?"
"I don't know exactly. Prof. Snape took him to the infirmary. Rumour is that Draco and Potter got into a duel in the Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. If Prof. Snape wouldn't have entered the scene at the right time, Draco would have bled out and died."
I was shocked, my jaw dropped, "Harry did this? Harry almost killed Draco?" I was distraught. I started crying.
Blaise put an arm around me, "He is doing well now. He has been slipping in and out of consciousness. Madam Pomfrey said this happens when there has been a lot of sudden blood loss. Although, I suspect it might be because Pansy just won't leave his side."
I nodded.
"He will be fine. I saw you here so I thought I should tell you."
I nodded again, "Thanks Blaise. But I have to go now."
"You can't go the hospital wing now."
" I don't care. I'll wait outside the hospital wing, if I have to but I have to be there."
I ran to the hospital wing. I caught my breath when I reach the infirmary's doors. My hand shivered when held the knob. I opened the door slightly. I saw Pansy, Daphne Greengrass and Tracey Davis sitting around Draco's bed, so I couldn't see him. Prof. Snape, Prof. McGonagall, Madam Pomfrey and Dumbledore were deep in conversation. No doubt Prof. Snape was telling them what happened. Prof. McGonagall went from shocked to angry in a matter of seconds. Madam Pomfrey covered her open mouth with her palm, in shock. Dumbledore listened to Prof. Snape, patiently, he looked his usual self – calm and serene. The girls didn't look like they were paying attention to elders but I'm sure they were trying to listen in on the conversation.
I decided to wait outside. If it were just the teachers, mediwitch and the headmaster inside, I would have gone in. I sat down on the floor, put my head on my knees and began to cry. How did this happen? On my way to the infirmary, I heard Moaning Myrtle shouting at everyone who was passing her – "Harry Potter murdered Draco Malfoy!" Did Harry confront him? "Just be alright, Draco, please. You promised you'd not die on me."
"Hmmm… Ms. Shepherd?" I heard a warm voice say.
I looked up and saw Dumbledore, Prof. Snape and Prof. McGonagall standing around me. Prof. McGonagall looked shocked to find me here
"Sir, how is he?" I asked Dumbledore.
"He should be fine by tomorrow. Madam Pomfrey suggests that he should spend the rest of the day in the infirmary. He is resting now."
I looked at Prof. Snape, "Professor, please tell me what happened?"
"Shepherd, what are you even doing here?" Prof. McGonagall asked me.
"Minerva, it's alright." Dumbledore stopped her.
"Professor, please tell me. I need to know." I implored on Prof. Snape.
He let out a breath, "I am not aware of what happened in between Mafoy and Potter. I heard screaming that Potter had murdered Draco from the lavatory. When I went in Draco was on the floor, bleeding profusely. I used the counter-curse and stopped and bleeding and brought him here."
"So, Harry really did hurt Draco?" Fresh tears spilled from my eyes. They didn't say anything but let me cry it out. When I was able to regain control I asked, "Does Mrs. Malfoy know?"
Prof. McGonagall looked confused now. Like she couldn't understand whom I was concerned for.
I took pity on her and told her, "Draco and I have been friends since we were little."
"Yes, Mrs. Malfoy has been informed." Dumbledore answered.
"Is she going to visit?"
He looked unsure, "She has not yet replied to our owl."
"I'm sure she'll be here."
The door opened and the three girls stepped outside. When Pansy saw me she was furious. "What are you doing here?"
"Isn't it enough that your boyfriend attempted to kill him and now you're here? For what? To finish the job he started?" Greengrass said coldly.
"Enough!" Dumbledore stopped them. "No one is allowed to visit Draco Malfoy anymore. You girls may leave now." I've never seen Dumbledore get irritated like this.
The girls left without saying another word. No one dared to oppose Dumbledore.
"Sir, I need to see him. I don't think I'll find peace without seeing him."
He smiled kindly at me, "I know that. I only said that so no one would disturb you."
I was so relieved that I hugged Dumbledore. "Thank you, Sir. Thank you so much, Sir."
He patted me on my head, "Go in, child."
"One moment, Shepherd. You don't know where Potter is?" I could tell Harry was not going to have a pleasant time with McGonagall.
"I've not seen him, professor. I came here straight from the library."
She nodded in a way that told me that I was dismissed.
Draco was on the very first bed on the left side of the infirmary. He was sleeping. I sat on one of the stools on the left side of his bed. I put my palm on his. I sat there looking at him. He looked at peace, like he had no worries in the world. Relief washed over me.
I had no idea how long I sat there. Mrs. Malfoy visited some time before dinner. She was thinner than usual. She hugged me when she saw me and began crying. I told her that I was here so she didn't have to worry. She sat with me a little while. I wanted to ask her what was going on but it was not the time and place to ask her.
Mrs. Malfoy told me to take care of myself and she left. I sat there waiting for Draco to wake up. I brushed a few strands of his hair to the side. His hair had grown longer. It looked nice. 'He is going to be alright', I told myself.
"Ms. Shepherd, you should go back to your dorm." Madam Pomfrey told me when she came to check on Draco.
"I'm not going anywhere." I told her.
"It's almost curfew. You haven't moved since you got here. You don't want be caught by the prefects or Filch."
"No, I'm staying here."
"I will be forced to call on the Headmaster then."
"Go ahead. I don't care who you call. I'm not leaving."
She sent a patronus message to Dumbledore. About ten minutes later, Dumbledore entered the infirmary.
"Ms. Shepherd, Madam Pomfrey is right, you should go back to your dorm."
"I'm not going anywhere. He needs me."
Dumbledore smiled kindly at me, "You are not doing anything useful by waiting here. You can come back tomorrow."
"It doesn't matter. I want to be here. He needs me more than ever. I'm not leaving him alone. Not tonight. He almost died today." I pleaded with Dumbledore. "Don't make me go. If you want, you can give me detention but I'm not leaving."
Dumbledore chuckled, "My dear, I'm not going to give detention just because you want to stay here with your friend." He huffed, "Just this once."
"Albus!" Madam Pomfrey was outraged.
"Poppy, it's fine. Just for tonight. She can use one of the beds here."
She agreed reluctantly but I could tell she was not happy with the decision.
Dumbledore turned to me, "Just tonight."
"Yes, sir. Thank you."
I felt someone nudge me. I opened my eyes. I must have fallen asleep. My head and hands were on the bed but I was still sitting on the stool. I opened my eyes and sat up.
"Hi. How are you doing now?" I asked Draco.
He had a small smile on his face, "I feel better. Umm… you were drooling in your sleep."
My eyes widen and I quickly wiped the thin line of drool. He laughed.
"Shhh! You'll wake Madam Pomfrey up." I told him.
"So you sneaked in here?" The idea seemed to have amused him.
I shook my head. "I've been here for a long time. Dumbledore let me stay." I gave him a glass of water.
"He did?" He took the glass from me and drank it all in one gulp.
I nodded, "He also said no more visitors were allowed so I could stay here. He even let me stay the night."
He smiled but it didn't reach his eyes, "Why did you stay?"
"You don't want me here?" I was confused.
"No, I do." He assured me. "But shouldn't you be with Potter?" He said 'Potter' bitterly.
I put my palm on his palm, "You need me more, Drake. You almost died." Tears started filling my eyes. "I've not even seen him till now."
He sat up on his bed and hugged me, "I'm fine."
I pulled back. "Lie down." I pushed him down gently. He didn't protest. "What happened?"
Draco began telling me what went down in the Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. Harry was listening in on what Draco was saying and instinctively he took out his wand and attacked Harry but he missed him. When both of them missed a few spells, Draco got irritated and shot a cruciatus curse on Harry but Harry countered with a spell that Draco had never heard off.
"As soon as the spell hit me, I felt like a million knives were tearing through my flesh at the same time." Draco finished.
"You were going to hit him with a Cruciatus curse! Are you mad?" I whispered angrily.
"It just popped in my head. I couldn't think of anything else at that point." He defended his actions.
I thought about this for a few moments and I remembered the memory charm he placed on me.
"Would the curse have worked? Would it have hurt Harry if the spell had connected with him?"
He opened his mouth to retort. I could tell he was going to say 'Of course! It would have.' He closed his mouth. He pouted his lips like he was mulling over my questions.
"I don't think so. I didn't put enough intensity into the curse." He answered finally.
"Okay. I'm glad to know this. You should sleep now. Wait! What were you and Myrtle talking about?"
He was not expecting this. "I don't want to talk about it."
"I could just go ask Myrtle you know."
His eyes widen, "You wouldn't. I don't want you to. Not that she knows anything important. She wouldn't talk to you anyways."
Draco was getting worked up and I didn't want him to stress about this now.
"Fine. I won't ask her anything. Now sleep. I'll be right here." I assured him.
He moved a bit to the side, moved his blanket and said, "Get in."
"I'm not sure that's a good idea. You are still recovering. I don't want to take any chances."
"We both know you're not going to take any of these empty beds, you might as well get in with me. I don't want you to sit the entire night."
I took off my robe, tie, shoes and socks and got into the bed with Draco. I put my hand on his chest. I heard his heartbeat and it was comforting. He pecked me on my forehead. I looked at his face, wanting to ask him a lot of questions.
"You want to ask me so many questions. Go on, I don't think I can go anywhere now. This is your opportunity." Draco urged me.
"Now…is not the time and the place. You need rest. I will have other opportunities to ask questions."
"I am very sorry. I have to keep you safe." Draco told me earnestly. His fingers were drawing circles on my arm absentmindedly. "This is not easy for me either. As much as I hate to admit it, maybe when Potter ends this, things will go back to normal."
"End as in, Voldemort dead?"
He nodded. "You have to help him to do whatever he has to do, to end this."
I was curious to ask him the one thing that has been on my mind for the longest time, "Are you… never mind, don't answer it. I don't want to know."
I saw Draco's eyes fill with sadness. "Nattie, no matter what happens, just know that I love you, okay?"
I nodded. "We should sleep now."
"Okay. Good night."
"Good night." I closed my eyes and I felt Draco pull me closer.
"Where were you last evening?" Ron asked as H and I were taking a seat in the great hall for breakfast.
Harry was right next to Ron. He looked curiously at me.
"I was in the library when my stomach started hurting so I went back to my dorm and slept. And now I'm here." I answered. "H told me what happened, Harry, how are you doing now?"
H and I had discussed everything before coming down. I told her that I was Draco the entire time. She told what happened in the common room after dinner. Only when she told me everything did I realise that Harry used Sectumsempra on Draco. She and Ginny got into an argument when H was berating Harry for his recklessness. Ginny, the Harry Potter fan, believes Harry was right in using the spell that almost killed Draco. I was angry at Ginny and Harry. H asked me not to take it out on Harry because it would be suspicious. Also, Draco wants to this to end. I won't be able to help if I argued with Harry. I reluctantly agreed with both of them.
"I'm fine now. Snape gave me detention. Every Saturday with him until the end of the year."
"That's good." Three of them stared at me, "It's better than getting suspended or expelled from the school."
Ron nodded in agreement, "But Harry can't play the final game this Saturday."
I forgot the final match was this Saturday, "I'm sorry Harry. I knew how important this was for you."
Harry put his hand on mine. I resisted the urge to pull my hand back. "I don't mind getting punished. What I did was wrong. I deserve this detention. But… but wish I could play this match." Harry was sad.
It made me happy that Harry regretted his actions. It restored the fact that Harry is a good guy. "Harry, there's always next year."
"Natalie!"
I turned around and I saw Katie, "Hey Katie!"
"Hey, could we talk?"
"Sure."
She looked at Harry uncomfortably, "Could we go elsewhere?"
"It's fine. You can say it here." Harry said.
"Natalie, I want you to come back to the team. Since, you've already played with the team, it would be easy for all of us."
I looked confused, "I'm not a seeker."
She snorted, "I know that. I need a chaser. Ginny is going to be playing seeker in this match. So will you join the team again?"
I looked at Harry. He nodded his encouragement. "Sure."
"Great. Practise at six." Katie said and walked away.
"I was not expecting that." I told my friends.
"I was. Katie and I spoke last night. We decided it would be good if you joined the team." Harry told me.
"Thanks Harry."
Just then Butterscotch landed in front me. He had a lot of letters with him. "Hello, Butterscotch. Good to see you." I took the letters from him. The letters were from various members of my family asking if Draco was fine.
"Who are they from?" Harry asked curiously.
"My family."
"How come everybody wrote to you on the same day?" Harry asked.
"Just a coincidence!" I quickly went through the letters and stuffed them in my school bag.
Hello! I apologise for not posting a chapter for so long. At first, it was writer's block and then i went on a couple of trips so it was tough to write. This chapter was ready before i left for the trips but i was not satisfied but reading it now, I feel it is good. I hope you like it as well and enjoy reading it.
Thank you for waiting! Please read and review!
Enjoy! Neepa...:-)
