A/N: Okay, I really don't have a life anymore. I might just finish this story tonight. You all would probably like that. Well, here's another chapter. Here comes the actually plot of the story. Things are going to get a little rough for Draco and Alana. Well, Readers, do what you do best!
Chapter 9
Problems in Paradise
Life ain't always beautiful
Sometimes it's just plain hard
Well, life can knock you down
It can break your heart
Life ain't always beautiful
You think you're on your way
And it's just a dead end road
At the end of the day
But the struggles make you stronger
And the changes make you wise
And happiness has its own way
Of taking it's sweet time
No, life ain't always beautiful
Tears will fall sometimes
Life ain't always beautiful
But it's a beautiful ride-
"Live Ain't Always Beautiful"
Gary Allen
Draco and Alana were walking to History of Magic together when they saw the one person that could always spoil a perfectly good day; Pansy. She was walking right towards them with Millicent. Pansy smiled at Draco what might have once been a sweet smile, but looked down her nose at Alana.
" Hi, Draco." She said in her usual syrupy way.
" What do you want, Parkinson?" He drawled, tightening his grip on Alana's waist.
" I was just wondering if you're getting bored of Lil Miss Perfect here yet, that's all." She said, innocently.
" Pansy, really, get over it already and move on. Draco likes me now, not you." Alana interrupted, irritatedly. " Now, can you move along. We have a class to get to."
" I can't believe how low you've sunk, Draco. You went from dating the most desired girl in the school," Millicent retorted, looking appraisingly at Pansy to glaring down at Alana, " to sleeping with blood traitors."
" Alana is not a blood traitor! If anyone is, it's the scum bags who devote themselves to the Dark Lord." Draco hissed. " And you got it wrong. I am dating the most desired girl in school. I've out grown sluts and skanks."
Pansy was nearly fuming now. Her cheeks were turning bright red. She pointed a finger at him and said in a dangerously low voice, " Do you honestly think that your father will let you marry that worthless piece of magic? Hmm, do you?"
" Pansy, first of all, my father can go to hell for all I care. I'm sick of having to kiss his ass. I've done that for the past sixteen years of my life and I'm through. Second, if anyone is a waste of magical talent, it's you. Alana is twice the woman you will ever be." Draco snarled, viciously. " Now, get out of our way before you make me even angrier."
Pansy stuck her head up high in the air and stared down at him venomously.
" Fine, Malfoy. If that's the way you feel, I'll leave, but know this. You will come to regret this day later on. Trust me...you will." She swore before her and Millicent walked away.
Alana looked up at Draco worriedly. His face was stony and cold, and his eyes had lost all of their laughter. She didn't like seeing him like this at all. It reminded her of what he used to look like before they had found each other.
" Draco?" She asked, nervously. " Draco, are you okay?"
Draco looked down at her, and his eyes softened instantly. He left out a sigh and nodded.
" Yeah, I'll be fine. She just pisses me off is all. Come on, we better get to class before we're late." He said as they started off again.
That was only the first of many spats they had with Pansy that week. One day, Pansy and a group of Sixth year Slytherin girls ganged up on Alana in the dungeons. She would probably have been severely hurt if Jezebel and Blaise hadn't showed up. Draco learned about it and insisted that she have someone with her at all times. He just didn't want her to get hurt. On a cloudy Saturday in April, the Quidditch Cup match took place against Gryffindor and Slytherin. Alana walked down to the pitch; her hand laced together with Draco's. When they got to the door to the Slytherin locker rooms, Draco wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her.
" You're going with me to the victory party, aren't you?" He asked.
" Draco, the match hasn't even taken place yet. How do you know for sure that Slytherin will win?" Alana replied, raising an eyebrow.
" Because this year I have you cheering me on. That will give me enough insentive to push the team." Draco answered with a smirk.
" Well, in that case, yes. I would be honored to go to the victory party with you." She replied, before kissing him.
They were really getting into it when Nott walked by Draco and slapped him on the back.
" Come on, Captain! We have a game to win and we can't do that if you're busy snogging your girlfriend's lips off!" He yelled, going into the locker rooms.
" You heard him. Get in there, Mr. Malfoy, and catch that snitch for me." Alana told him, pushing him towards the doors.
" When I do, I'll fly up to where your sitting and give it to you myself." He responded, bowing with a flourish.
Alana giggled and started up to the stands. Jezebel and Blaise were waiting for her. Well, really...they were snogging each other senseless when she arrived.
" Okay, okay, you two break it up! No one wants to see this!" She exclaimed, covering her eyes.
Jezebel and Blaise smirked at her when they separated.
" Well, now you know how we feel when you're doing something like this with Draco." Blaise commented.
Just then, Crabbe and Goyle showed up. Alana raised an eyebrow. She inched closer to Blaise and whispered while still keeping her eyes focused on the two, " Did you invite the goon squad here to sit with us?"
" Don't lay this one on me. If you want to blame someone, blame Draco. He wanted you to have protection, just incase if something were to happen today." Blaise answered in a low voice.
She rolled her eyes and said, " Oh honestly! He is taking this way too far. I can protect myself."
Crabbe and Goyle just looked at her stupidly. One swatted a fly away from himself, but otherwise they didn't move.
" I think they got dropped on their heads too many times when they were infants." Alana murmured to Jezebel.
" I've been telling people this from day one." She replied.
" Fine, well, come on you two." Alana ordered, starting up the stairs.
The good thing about Crabbe and Goyle was that they managed to push some First years out of their seats in one of the front rows. Jezebel sat in between Alana and Blaise. The two "bodyguards" sat behind them. Everyone in the second row shrunk away from them. Just then, the Gryffindor team was announced. They came striding out, brooms in hand, waving to their fans. Unfortunately, Alana was sitting by a lot of Slytherins, so basically all she heard were "boos" and hisses. Harry and Ginny found her and they both winked slightly. Alana waved to them quickly, trying not to be too noticeable. Shortly afterward, the Slytherin team was announced as well. The team came out all behind Draco, who as usual was the center of attention.
He strode onto the pitch with his cocky, confident smirk on his face. When he saw Alana, Draco blew her a kiss before winking devilishly. Jezebel noticed and jabbed her playfully, while waggling her eyebrow. Alana giggled and gave her a shove. Madame Hooch stepped out onto the field. She pointed her wand at her throat to amplify her voice.
" Now, let's keep this a nice, clean game. Captains...shake hands." She instructed.
Harry and Draco walked up to each other. They grasped hands firmly and bore into each other's eyes.
" Good luck, Malfoy. You're going to need it." Harry said, challengingly.
" Thank you, Potter. But, I won't need luck. I'm going to win this game for my girl. That alone is enough to beat you." Draco answered, smirking terribly.
" Okay, mount your brooms and wait for my signal." Madame Hooch ordered.
She walked over to the supply trunk and gave it a good, firm kick. It popped open, and the bludgers came out, followed by the snitch. Then, she took out the quaffle and put it under her arm. With her wand she shot a white flare into the air, and both teams kicked off of the ground, going up into the air. Madame Hooch threw up the quaffle, and the game began. It was the usual mess during the beginning. Both teams of course were constantly fighting over the quaffle. Bludgers flew this way and that, trying to hit the players. The sun was blocked out by the heavy storm clouds that were rolling in, but no one seemed to notice.
Alana was watching Draco speed after the snitch with Harry not very far behind him. Rain started coming down about half way into the game. Slytherin was ahead by twenty points, but they still needed that snitch. Draco followed it up into the clouds. He had lost Harry by now. The possibility of being struck by lightning didn't even phase him. Draco was too preoccupied on getting the snitch and winning the game for Alana. It was almost in his grasp when he saw someone flying towards him. Thinking it was Harry, Draco sped up to catch the snitch. Suddenly, it disappeared into thin air like it does on odd occations. When he looked at the other person, Draco noticed that they were wearing a long, black cloak with their hood pulled up, not the gold and red robes of the Gryffindor team. This was definitely not a Quidditch player.
" Who the hell..."
That's when the person pulled out their wand and threw a hex at him. When it made contact, Draco felt his body go numb and everything went black. He slumped to the right and he fell off his broom! Alana heard gasps around her before she actually saw Draco falling from the sky. She stood up and couldn't believe her eyes. A shrill scream escaped from her lips.
" Dracooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
From the teachers box, Dumbledore stood up and pointed his wand at him.
" Excioto Mentas!" He thundered.
Draco's body slowed down on falling, but it was too close to the ground to do very much help. He landed hard when he finally hit the ground. Without a second thought, Alana made her way down from the stands. She sprinted out onto the field where the Slytherin team was circled around him. Jezebel, Blaise, Goyle, and Crabbe were right behind her.
" Hey! Move!" She shouted, pushing her way though the Quidditch team. " Get out of my way before I make you!"
Alana saw Draco laying on his side, unmoving. She kneeled by his body and brought his head into her lap.
" Draco! Draco, please, speak to me!" She pleaded, helplessly. " Are you okay?!"
He didn't answer her. It was clear that he was deeply unconscious. His face was so pale, even more than usual. Thankfully, she could see that he was still breathing. The professors started to come through the crowd of people just then. Snape actually showed emotion on his face. At the moment, he looked terrified.
" I'll take him up to the Hospital Wing." He said in a quiet voice.
Alana was reluctant to give Draco over at first, but finally Jezebel and Blaise managed to make her let him go. Jezebel held her as she cried. She watched helplessly as the professors walked swiftly up the grounds towards the castle. Then, she looked around at the Slytherin team and yelled, " What happened? Answer me, God damnit!"
" We're not sure. One minute, Malfoy was after the snitch and the next, he was falling from the sky." Nott answered, looking actually scared of the Ravenclaw.
" Some team. Can't even keep track of its players." Alana spat, shaking herself free of Jezebel's grasp. " I don't even know why I'm even bothering to waste my time with you fools."
" Alana, wait up!" Jezebel yelled, running after her with Blaise in tow.
It seemed like forever before they reached the Hospital Wing. When they did, Professors Dumbledore and Snape were outside the door, talking to Madame Pomfrey in hushed voices. At first, they didn't even seem to notice them. Then, Alana cleared her throat irritatedly, and the professors turned to them.
" Aw, Miss Kaligaris," Snape said, coldly, " I was wondering when you were going to grace us with your presence."
" I was talking with your poor excuse of a Quidditch team. Sorry that I'm late." She said, through her teeth before regaining her composer. " Madame Pomfrey, is he alright?"
" Well...Mr. Malfoy broke his right arm in two places from the fall and he suffered a minor concussion, but otherwise he'll live." She answered with a weak smile.
Relief flooded over Alana at the news.
" May I see him?" She asked, hopefully.
" Sure, Dear." Madame Pomprey replied, opening the door and allowing the group inside before shutting it after them.
Alana looked around the room, having never been to the Hospital Wing before. There was a straight line of beds along the two, vertical walls. Next to each of the beds was a night stand, a curtain for privacy, and a chair incase if the patient had visitors. Then, her eyes rested upon the bed Draco was resting in. His Quidditch robe had been taken off and laid on the chair along with his boots. Alana moved these so she could sit in the chair. She noticed that his right arm was all bandaged up and put in a sling. He appeared to be sleeping peacefully, but his face was still so pale. She reached out and touched his cheek gently. Tears began to fill her eyes again. Her hand traveled down his neck to his chest.
Unable to contain it, a sob escaped from her mouth. She put her head down on the bed with one arm wrapped around it and the other clutching the sheets on Draco's chest. Jezebel put a hand on her shoulder and tried to comfort her. Blaise just stood there quietly, looking at her with sympathy.
" Alana, he's going to be okay. Please, stop crying." Jezebel begged.
Alana didn't seemed to have heard her. She just kept crying. Of course she knew he was going to be okay. It was the fact that he'd gotten hurt in the first place that scared her. And now, seeing him in that bed just made her even more upset. Draco always seemed so strong, so indestructable to her, but this incident made her realize that he wasn't. He was just as vonerable as she was. Then, she felt another hand start to caress her head. Alana recognized that touch immediately. Her cries stopped suddenly, and she looked up into a pair of stormy gray eyes.
" Hey! How are you feeling?" She asked, hoarsely.
" Well, except for the fact that it feels like I've been hit over the head with a bludger bat and my arm feels like it's on fire, I've never been better." Draco answered, quietly, still looking tired. " Love, please don't cry. It tears me up inside when you do."
With that, he wiped away her tears as Alana smiled at him. He returned it and settled back down into his bed.
" We should let you get your rest." She said, getting to her feet.
" No, stay." He objected, grabbing her hand. " I'm wide awake anyway. You might as well stay and entertain me, so I don't get bored."
" Fine. What does the almighty Slytherin Prince want us to do for him?" Jezebel asked, bowing with a flourish.
" Ha, ha, ha, very funny, Sinclaire." Draco laughed, sarcastically. " Just stay and talk to me. Sinclaire, you and Zabini both know that staying in here with nothing to do can kill you with boredom."
" Yeah well, at least you didn't have to stay in here for a month because your best friend wanted to try out a new spell that she learned over the summer on you." Blaise muttered, glancing over at Jezebel.
" I said I was sorry!" She exclaimed, wrapping her arms around one of his. " Besides, the green worts went away. If they hadn't, I wouldn't be dating the handsomest guy in school."
" You mean second." Alana put in as Draco tugged her down to sit on the edge of his bed.
" Hey, we could argue about this all day, but I'd rather not." Jezebel replied.
" Yeah, anyway...who won the match?" Draco asked.
" You're up here, laying in a hospital bed and you're wondering who won the Quidditch match today?" Alana responded, looking at him funny.
" Yep, that pretty much sums it up." He answered, smirking up at her.
" The match has been re-scheduled. It wasn't fair that one of the Seekers got knocked out by something outside of the game. I think they're scheduling it for three weeks from now." Blaise told him.
" Good. Hopefully I'll be all healed by then." Draco said as he held Alana's hand in his free one.
Then, Dumbledore, Snape, and Madame Pomfrey all came in. Draco sat up a little when he saw them.
" I'm glad to see that you're up Mr. Malfoy." Dumbledore said with a smile. " I'm sure your team will be happy to know that you're doing okay."
" They probably didn't even care that he got hurt in the first place." Draco heard Alana mutter under her breath.
He tightened his grip on her hand to calm her down. Alana turned her attention back to Madame Pomfrey.
" What exactly happened to him?" She asked.
" When I examined him, there was a strong dark magic aura coming from him. I'm guessing that he got cursed during the match." Madame Pomfrey explained, solemnly.
" Mr. Malfoy, can you remember anything at all about what happened to you?" Dumbledore asked.
" The last thing I remember is being up in the clouds when I lost sight of the snitch. Then, someone dressed in black robes appeared, and everything went black." Draco replied.
" Did you see their face?" Snape asked, his expression showed worry.
" No, they had their hood up."
The professors gathered together and started whispering to each other quietly. The four teenagers just stared at them out of confussion and curiosity. When they turned around to face them, Dumbledore gave them all a smile, but his eyes showed hints of uncertainty and worry.
" Well, if that's all you can remember, I suppose we'll leave you to get some rest. Professor Snape, come with me. I'll see the rest of you at dinner." He said, before turning around and walking out of the room with Snape.
" Now, you three, I want you to leave. Mr. Malfoy will see you all at dinner as well. Right now...he needs his rest." Madame Pomfrey said, ushering Blaise and Jezebel from the room.
Alana looked back down at Draco and smiled. He reached up and caressed her cheek lovingly.
" I'll see you at dinner, my love." She murmured.
Just then, Draco hand traveled down her neck and caught hold of something. He pulled on the silver chain around her neck and revealed the promise ring he'd given to her. It shined in the sunlight coming from the windows in the room. Draco smiled up at her and said, " I see you're still wearing this thing."
" I never take it off." She whispered.
He smirked and pulled a little harder on the chain, getting her to lean down. Their lips were mere inches apart.
" Kiss me." He whispered, huskily.
" You're wish is my command." She breathed, closing her eyes, their lips brushing together.
" Miss Kaligaris!" Madame Pomfrey called.
Alana pulled away slightly; her cheeks flushed, and Draco frowned in disappointment. She looked down at him with clouded eyes and licked her lips.
" I'll see you tonight." She said, quietly, kissing him briefly before getting up.
" Can't wait." He answered, still smirking.
Alana blew him a kiss before leaving the room. Draco rested his head back on the pillow and shut his eyes. He might as well get some sleep before that night. But, his sleep wasn't peaceful. Instead it was haunted by a mysterious cloaked figure and whispers of a disaster soon to come.
A/N: Ooo, freaky, right? I know, not really but still I gave you somewhat of a cliff hanger. The nest chapter is better, I promise. Review please! I'm begging you guys to review!