Chapter 7

Past Tense

Draco woke slowly, his head hurting. When he opened his eyes he could see the ceiling above him and after a moment remembered where he was.

"Again?!" He swore silently to himself, he was getting really sick of waking up here. Three times in the last two months he had had to stay here overnight. Double that just in visits as well.

He had known he was going to have trouble, but he thought it would start to taper off after a while, instead they were trying to kill him, and it was really starting to get bloody annoying.

The first time had been the very first day, during dinner. The day had been fairly uneventful, yes, people recognized him but while he received a lot of glares and whispered threats, nothing had happened. For the most part the others in his house just ignored him, trying to pretend he didn't exist.

Luna of course was different, when wasn't she. When she saw him in the common room that morning, she skipped up to him, tilted her head to one side and said. "Well, look who's come home." Then she took his hand and though he tried to remove it from her, used it to pull him with her out of the room and down to the great hall. When he sat down next to her he knew heads were turning at every table, focused on him.

He used to like attention, that day he felt like a beetle pinned to a board, being examined as though he were some strange creature. He knew he was being watched because nobody trusted him, because he was a traitor, on all sides.

Even with Luna sitting beside him, nobody else at the table came close, a good 3 feet between them and everybody else. That is until Luna's two closest friends joined them. Those three girls, would be the best thing that ever happened to him. They made being at Hogwarts bearable when everything else was unbearable.

He smiled slightly now, at the memories of his first morning, Luna was mental but she was also very loyal. She seemed to believe in him when nobody else would. He had to wonder sometimes if that was because she only believed in the unbelievable.

Anyway, at the end of the day he was sitting at the Ravenclaw table, waiting for dinner to be served. There was room for at least three people between him and the next person at the table and it was the same on the other side. Then Luna sat down next to him, just as she had done that morning, her two friends, who he had not met yet, hesitated and then sat down across from them. A slightly disgruntled look covered their faces.

Her friends, obviously didn't feel the same way about him as Luna did, but still, that sat by him, so that meant something.

Astoria Greengrass, was a 6th year with long thick brown hair and brown eyes. She had known Luna since her first year, something about Luna drew her in and they had been friends ever since. Astoria had once told him it was because Luna had never been wrong about somebody and so they had no reason not to trust her that they even gave Draco a chance. Then she added that if Draco ever hurt Luna, she would hex him so hard, nobody would find anything. He believed she would too; the stately Witch had a will of iron and a strong protective streak.

Helen Dawlish, was a small girl with short red hair and blue eyes. She was Astoria's best friend; they had known each other since before school as they were near neighbors. While Helen was not a pure-blood, her father's side of the family was very well respected and her mother was an accomplished healer. She was the niece of their DADA teacher, and a seriously smart Witch. Like Hermione, she spent most of her time studying and was the smartest girl in her 6th year class. However, following her own rules, she would take one day a week off to do nothing. She called it "deflating", something Hermione Granger would never do.

"Hey Luna, how was your day?" Draco asked.

"It was ok, the new teacher for Defense Against the Dark Arts was interesting don't you think?"

"I guess, he should be a good teacher being a former Auror." Draco agreed. Though he had to wonder about Professor Dawlish, he had seemed to be very dedicated to the Ministry and that had often led him to back the wrong horse as the saying went. He wondered how much those bad bets had to do with his new post at the school.

Dinner appeared on the table in front of them and they started ladling food onto their plates.

They talked more about their day and how they had already received loads of homework from all of their classes. It seemed like this year was going to be just as heavy as his 6th year was. Personally, he thought it would be a vacation compared to what he had been doing last year and he was looking forward to it.

About half way through dinner Draco started to feel odd. His arms felt tired and heavy and his speech became slurred. He tried to clear his throat but found it difficult to breath. He knew then that he had either been poisoned (and he couldn't see how that was possible), or somebody had attacked him. The girls noticed his skin grow clammy and his body began to shake. Astoria started to ask him if he was feeling ok when his eyes rolled up into his head and he fell backward off the bench.

The girls all jumped up, Astoria and Helen let out screams. Luna dropped down next to Draco with her wand out. She waved her wand over Draco's body, casting a spell that would place him in a kind of temporary stasis. Other students were beginning to notice there was a problem even as Professor's Flitwick, Slughorn and McGonagall hurried down from the dais.

Draco woke up in the hospital wing the next morning. Apparently he had been hit by a combination of jinxes that had caused his system to seize, nearly killing him. Luna's quick thinking had saved his life.

He spent 2 days in the hospital, missing his first day working with the 1st year Potions students, and Transfiguration. Even Harry Potter had not ended up confined to the Hospital Wing on his first day.

He returned to school and went on with his life, choosing to proceed as if nothing had happened. Time passed and other than a couple of minor jinxes that annoyed but didn't hurt him nothing else happened for a month.

He was given permission to attend the Muggle Studies class and he found it surprisingly interesting. The Professor was a squib named Marcus Drake. He had recently married the Divination teacher Professor Trelawney and used to be a much respected magician in the Muggle world. Draco thought that must be why he seemed familiar since he advised them he had been on many of London's billboards advertising his shows. He had a unique insight into the Muggle world from the standpoint of magic and his classes were filled with examples of Muggle ways to mimic magic to such a degree that you often couldn't tell the difference.

Luna continued to eat with him, and they partnered together in many of his classes. Some started to make fun of him being stuck with Loony Luna, but he didn't mind, she was just plain nice, and he hadn't had much of that in his life. She was even in Muggle Studies with him.

Eventually though he ended up in the Hospital Wing again when, a number of Slytherin students had caught him on the grounds on a Friday evening on his way to his Astronomy class. They were brutal, and because it was so dark he never knew who actually attacked him. The class found him lying at the base of the tower two hours later, unconscious and nearly frozen. His wand lay on the ground beside him. The taste of Skelligrow potion stayed with him for a week after he was released.

After that, despite his saying he would be fine, Luna, Astoria and Helen almost never left him alone. After a time, even Astoria started to lighten up around him. He grew to really enjoy their company. Luna was always able to cheer him up just by being herself, even when it seemed he was in the pit of despair. Helen was always willing to help him catch up on his classes so he was still doing very well, despite the setbacks and Astoria turned out to be a surprisingly staunch defender. He found he liked them, a lot.

Some made fun of his needing to be protected by girls, others joked about his Harem, but the four of them knew the truth and eventually so did the rest of Ravenclaw. The common room had become a refuge; he had many nights of pleasurable conversation that focused on the future and for once, that future included hope. In that room the Ravenclaw house solved the Wizarding world's problems and worked on ways to make the world as a whole much better.

It was October 31st, Halloween and almost everybody had gone to Hogsmede to enjoy the day off, and as the four friends moved through the small Wizard town Draco was surprised that he didn't get attacked once. This was a perfect opportunity to attack him and not be caught. It took him a little while to realize that he was being tailed, and by no less than the Golden Trio. Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger seemed to be headed everywhere he, Luna, Astoria and Helen were. They weren't much of a trio anymore though as Ginny was with them, hand in hand with Harry.

When it was time to return to the school for the Halloween Feast, Draco pulled up and waited for Harry and the others to catch up.

"Hello, fancy meeting you all here." He said with a slight smile.

He and Harry had talked a few more times since the year started. Usually it was in the hospital wing, as Harry visited him every time he went there. Harry said it was because he remembered how lonely it can get when you're stuck there and Madam Pomfrey would often let him stay later than the others. Harry said it was because she had a soft spot for him and liked seeing him there when NOT confined to one of her hospital beds.

Now Harry smiled back, "Yah, well, you seemed to be headed to interesting places, can't blame us for thinking it was worth a look. Sides, you've been accident prone lately, we were just keeping an eye on Luna, I mean, you might trip over her or something."

"Oh, ha ha." Draco said.

Astoria stepped between Draco and Harry. "Hey!, It's not Draco's fault! He hasn't done anything to deserve the way he's been treated and you being a git isn't helping matters any." She practically growled.

Draco and Harry stared at Astoria.

Draco wasn't completely surprised at her vehement defense of him but he hadn't expected it being directed against Harry. Everybody loved Harry, I mean, he was a hero, who yells at a hero?

Harry however, was surprised, mainly at being called a git by somebody other than Ginny.

"It's ok Astoria; Harry was just making a bad joke. It's the kind he's best at." Ginny said, trying to calm the situation quickly. She had seen what the others hadn't. While Astoria had been the one to step forward, all three young women had taken exception to what Harry had said, even Luna looked ready to almost raise her voice.

"It's true," Harry said "it was a bad joke, nothing more."

This calmed the three girls, but then Draco said.

"No, Harry was making a good point. While nothing has really happened in the last few weeks it doesn't mean that it won't. The Slytherin's especially, hate my guts right now."

He looked at the Gryffindor students before him, "And some from Gryffindor aren't far behind, but at least I see them coming, they tend to be more up front about it, also, they don't try to do serious damage, more like…teaching a lesson. But whoever those Slytherin attackers are, they are going for a more permanent solution to their anger."

Despite how much they might protest, Draco and Harry's lot knew the facts. It was true that being around Draco right now could be hazardous, at least until things calmed down. They had to eventually.

Astoria turned to him and looked him in the eyes; he noticed again that her eyes were like chocolate, dark chocolate, and he lost his train of thought. "No Draco, you are a Ravenclaw and we will stand together. Thoughtful consideration will give us the answers we need to resolve this, peacefully if we can, not so peacefully if need be."

Draco put one hand on Astoria's shoulder and another on Luna's and looked at Helen, including her in the link. "Thank you, but I can't let you get hurt because of me…."

That was the last thing he remembered from what he assumed was last night, except for the pain. And now, he was in the Hospital Wing, again. He really hated it here, he wondered if Harry had been stuck in here as many times in one year. Draco chuckled, probably, Harry had spent a lot of time here, Draco had seen to some of that himself.

"What have you got to laugh about, they bloody tried to kill you again?" Ron's voice caused him to sit up in bed too quickly, and he dropped back down again, his head spinning.

After a moment he looked around and was surprised to see Luna, Astoria and Helen sitting around his bed. Harry, Ginny, Ron and Hermione stood at the end of the bed.

"How long have I been out?" He asked, looking at Harry.

Luna spoke first, "Only a few hours, you talk in your sleep did you know that, I think it was in another language, you may have been communicating with the Nargles in the room." She swished her hands around her and Draco's head as though shooing something away.

Everybody looked at Luna fondly. Except Ron, he just looked confused.

"What happened?" He asked.

"It was the Cruciatus Curse." Hermione said. "We didn't hear who cast it so it must have been done silently, but it was definitely the Cruciatus. Harry acted first, habit I guess, he threw up a Protego and the rest of us just followed along. Once it was up on all sides, the spell was interrupted and you stopped screaming."

Draco nodded.

"We hoped never to see that spell used again." Harry continued the story. "Once the spell was interrupted we sent our Patronus' to hunt down the casters. It was three Slytherin 6th years; they were probably the same ones that got you before. Luna sent her Patronus for the Headmistress and they have already been taken by the Ministry. Professor McGonagall said their own wands betrayed them, even though they tried to deny they had anything to do with it. Tried to claim we attacked them. Turns out they were all related to Deatheaters who had either been killed or captured last year. I'm not sure why they picked you and not me, you would think I would be the first one they would want to kill."

"Because, despite everything, you're not a Blood Traitor. Nobody else was hurt?" He asked, looking around at everybody, trying to see if anybody else was wounded in any way.

"No, we're all fine." Astoria said, resting her hand on his where it lay on the bed. "That was the most horrible thing I have ever seen, if Harry and them hadn't been there I don't know what would have happened."

Draco felt a tingle start in his hand and work its way up his arm.

Helen nodded and took Draco's other hand, Luna just said "You get used to it." And continued to waive her hands around Draco's head.

"Ok, you lot have all been here quite long enough, Mr. Malfoy needs his rest and he's not going to get it with you hanging about. Off you go now, you can come back in the morning when he is released." Madam Pomfrey came bustling into the room, shooing them all out before her. The last to leave were Luna, Astoria and Helen, throwing promises behind them that they would return in the morning.

"Now you lay back and rest, your body needs time to recover." Madam Pomfrey said.

Draco did exactly what he was told, he had learned from experience not to argue.

Now that the most troublesome people at the school were apparently gone, maybe the rest of the year would go more smoothly.

As he drifted off to sleep, the last thing that went through his mind was the image of a pair of deep brown eyes.

Hope you guys liked this chapter, I know I went from 1 day in 6 chapters to 2 months in 1. Thought I would switch it up a bit. Let me know what you think by leaving a comment and don't forget to vote.