Written by: Blissful Darkness
Rated: R
Disclaimer: Nothing. That's right. Nothing. All I own are my blue suede shoes. No heh. I don't even have those. So yeah. Let's just say I'm a penniless writer like our dear friend Christian from Moulin Rouge, another something that I do not own.
Author's note: Well, here it is. The third installment! I actually had difficulty in writing the beginning of this chapter. Then at the end everything was flowing so smoothly that I didn't want to stop. But I realized that I couldn't keep writing, because I had to leave it at a certain point. I had to leave you guys hanging. Lol. So yeah, there's a reason why this chapter is short. There will be a few questions answered in this chapter, so I hope you all are satisfied until you realize that I have sprouted even more questions in your overactive imaginations. Lol. Enjoy!
Redfox13- Wow, you're really good at analyzing my fic. Heh. But Dumbledore was gonna tell Draco something all of you already knew. Lol. Didn't realize that one did you? Pweh. Thanks for reviewing!
Dragon Firefairy- Dumbledore will tell him in this chapter. Hehehe.
Mistress Vamp- Hehehe. It's finally here! I hope you like it!
Without Permission- Dude! Mine rocks? Yours rocks! gasp My fic just got rocked by a good fanfiction writer. dies with happiness I've been reading your stories. They're the best!
Serylis- Heh. I try to get a chapter out every weekend, so they'll be coming. Hehehe. She'll be coming round the mountain when she comes! Ignore me. toddles off
Jo Raven- I'll check your stories out when I have time, but you have to realize the only time I have on the Internet is a few hours on the weekend. I'm kept quite busy. Lol. Thanks for reading and reviewing!
Lita-2003- I'm glad you liked the last chapter. Hopefully you'll like this one.
Clodia- Wow! So many compliments! I ish loved.
BeautifulLady- thank you! Please review again.
Dairygirl- hmm yes. Poor Draco is going to have a very tough time in this story. Poor thing. cuddles Draco He needs all of you lovely reviewers to review so that he can have at least some happiness in his tragic life.
Kat Davi- my beloved cousin! You finally reviewed. I'm glad you like the story, and don't worry. My creative juices are flowing, unlike yours. J/K.
Morniea Inglorion- Well someone else probably has used dementors before, just not in the way that I incorporated them into this fanfiction.
There were six other reviewers whom got lost when my computer decided to die on me while I was writing my response. So yeah. I lost the reviews. Forgive me? I promise I'll write in responses to reviews on the next chapter!
"Blah" –speaking
Blah –thinking also could mean emphasized word
"Blah" –parseltongue
Blah blah blah blah blah. - flashback
Gather round kiddies. It's story time!
I hate you.
"WHAT THE BLOODY HELL IS THAT BASTARD DOING HERE!" came the furious yell from one Ronald Weasley.
His wife covered her eyes with her hand, shaking her head in dismay. "Ron…" the brunette warned, placing her hands on her hips, unconsciously imitating Molly Weasley.
Draco stood from his seat beside Harry's bed, warily watching the gangly man come toward him. The blonde sighed, waiting for Ron to come closer before swinging his fist, his knuckles connecting with the red-head's jaw. A dull thud sounded as the man hit the ground.
"Really Mr. Malfoy, you didn't have to knock him out," Albus Dumbledore said from the doorway, a twinkle in his eye.
"He was about to threaten my life with physical attack. I'd prefer to hit him before he hits me," Draco replied, blinking once with a blank stare.
Draco shook his head as if snapping out of a trance. He cast a distasteful look at the male Weasley before returning to his seat beside Harry's bed.
Hermione ceased with rubbing her temples, and gazed at her former headmaster. After so many years, Hermione had trusted most of Dumbledore's decisions. But brining Malfoy in was just ludicrous. For all she knew Malfoy could have been the reason for Harry's current state. Of course, Dumbledore had always known whom to trust. Maybe, like Snape, Draco was a spy for the light in the time of the Final Battle.
Hermione vaguely realized that Albus was speaking, and to her nonetheless.
"What? Excuse me, but could you please repeat what you just said?" she asked, an apologetic smile on her lips.
"Yes, I believe that Draco might be of some help. I have asked him a few questions, which have revealed some startling answers," Dumbledore repeated, a forgiving upturn in his lips.
"What were these answers about?" the brunette asked, a pout shadowing her expression.
Draco had remained silent all this time, but he was suddenly compelled to answer the question that was directed towards Albus.
"I told him what really transpired that day," Draco said in a monotone, those pools of granite flashing sharply in the light.
A shiver passed down her spine as she stared into those emotionless, bottomless orbs. She turned away, walking around to the other side of Harry's bed and taking a seat on the edge. She took his hand in hers, squeezing gently. She knew she would not receive a reaction, but she had always held Harry's hand when he had been in the Hospital Wing. Hermione missed those times.
Ron suddenly groaned, sitting up slowly on the ground. "'Mione, where are we?" Ron asked in a groggy voice.
Seeing her chance for escape before Ron came to his senses, Hermione stood and ushered her husband out of the room, promising to explain why they were in St. Mungo's.
"Mr. Malfoy, I have brought you here to tell you of a recent event that had to do with you," Albus said once the pair had left, steepling his fingers beneath his hand.
Draco turned his gaze towards the headmaster, his eyes blank. "And what event do you speak of that you find so important to bring me here?" he asked.
Draco looked as if he had not slept in a week, Albus realized. Dark rings shadowed the man's gray eyes. His usually groomed hair was mussed and limp, and his skin was far too pale. Dumbledore hated to drop such a burden on this worn man, but it was necessary for Harry's sake.
"Harry had a reaction after a memory of the dementors. Usually he just stills and continues his never-ending gaze at the ceiling. But the other day, he cried and said your name," Dumbledore explained.
"So? He was probably thinking of killing me," Draco hissed in a bitter tone, his eyes narrowing upon the aging form of the headmaster.
Dumbledore closed his eyes whilst shaking his head. Why was Draco always so complicating?
"Draco—" the headmaster began, but was immediately cut off by Draco's words.
"No! Do you not understand old man? Potter hated and will always hate me, and the feeling is mutual. The whole fucking wizarding world wants me for a crime I did not commit, and your asking me to aid the one person I've loathed ever since we were children? Well fuck off you senile git. I will have none of this," Draco growled, standing and sending a vase full of flowers crashing into a wall with his momentary loss of control.
Dumbledore silently repaired the vase with a wave of his hand before returning his attention to Draco. He was absolutely seething with rage as he glared at the older man.
"Mr. Malfoy, you tell lies, for if you truly hated Mr. Potter then you would not have tried to save him eight years ago. Your rivalry with Mr. Potter in school was just that. A rivalry. Mr. Potter needs you. You have somehow triggered a memory that has never been within Harry's mind before. You are his recovery, Mr. Malfoy, his remedy. Please Draco, you are Harry's only hope," Albus explained in a gentle tone.
Draco absorbed this silently, but he would not give in. He left the room and slammed the door shut behind him. All cleared a path for him as he left the building. Draco would not stand for this. He needed to get away from this place. Have time to think. He shook his head vigorously in his annoyance and got into his car, jamming his key into the ignition. He drove away, vowing to never return to that horrible place.
That night Draco could not sleep. He tossed and turned, but the painful memories that lurked behind his eyelids refused to vanish. He groaned into his pillow, wishing to Merlin for peaceful sleep. And him. He would not stop appearing in his mind. Draco sat up in his frustration and stormed into the bathroom. He leaned over the sink, bracing his arms on the side edges of the smooth marble. His gaze was downcast, staring at the gaping mouth of the drain. So much like the mouth of a dementor. He immediately closed his eyes to banish the image before looking in the mirror. Draco looked terribly, his appearance reminding him somewhat of his father's last moments within the man's dying body. The body that Draco himself had killed. The similarity in Draco's appearance to his father's haunted the young blonde.
Why me? He thought to himself.
Draco looked upon the many scars that marred his arms, 'milestones from my depression' Draco liked to call them. The concealing charm had finally worn off. Why did he hide these thin, gashing white lines? His mother knew not of his painful release of emotions. So many times Draco had tried to end it, but he had never let the blood flow completely. He would suffocate the gaping wound upon realizing that he had to protect his mother. Narcissa needed protection.
Harry… whispered his traitorous mind.
He growled before suddenly apparating into the very room that he had occupied that morning. The very room he had vowed to never step foot in again. The room was dark and empty except for Draco and the lone figure on the only bed in the spacious room. Why the Boy Who Lived needed a room all to himself, Draco did not know, causing an instant bitterness to well within. The blonde approached the bed, looking down at the raven-haired man. Hatred crawled into Draco's abdomen as the soulless adult continued to stare at the ceiling, oblivious to Draco's presence. He who had caused Draco so much pain would not acknowledge the blonde.
"I hate you. I've always hated you. You made my life a burning hell. You who I could not corrupt at my father's bidding when we were young. You who thwarted the Dark Lord every year, making my father all the more violent. You who hated me with a passion so like my own towards you. You who refused my friendship. You who unknowingly forced me into hiding from the world that I had once loved," he growled, his fury building with every accusation until hot tears spilled down his face.
Harry continued to stare at the ceiling, his eyes as blank as before. Draco howled with rage, collapsing to his knees. His body shook as forbidden sobs escaped him. He pressed his forehead against the mattress, closing his eyes in shame. Finally with a sigh of defeat, he fell into a dreamless sleep with barely audible words.
"You who haunts my dreams. Dreams in which I find sacred solace."
Ending A/N: So. bounces up and down in excitement whilst taking a pain reliever to sooth the ache in her hands Did you like it? It took forever to type. 2,000 words! Geeze, this one seems a lot shorter than the last chapter. Hmmm. Well, this one is loaded with angst. Hehehe. Poor Draco has so much pent up anger. He needed to release some before the next chapter. Oh, and who wants Draco and Harry to reply to your reviews in the Author's Notes. If you don't know what I'm talking about, refer to Kat Davi's fic Saving You. She very nicely holds the characters hostage. Hehehe. Review!