Chapter 11
Unexpected Enemies
Everything was good again between the four friends. Helen and Luna were happy for Draco and Astoria, though Helen did worry a little about what would happen to their friendship if the two of them didn't work out. She discussed her concerns with Luna but Luna didn't share them, she was completely comfortable with the situation.
Between the three of them Draco received the unconditional love he didn't have when he was growing up and it made so much difference in his life. Luna was the little sister he always wanted, Helen was almost mother-like with her wise ways while Astoria was his childhood sweetheart.
The following Saturday, Draco spent a good part of the day working with the Ravenclaw seeker. Jeremy was coming along real well. The boy was a true bullet on the field and with additional training he would learn the tips and tricks that would make him unbeatable.
On Sunday Luna and Draco sat down to discuss their Extra Credit Project for Muggle Studies in the Library. Draco searched the shelves for any clue where to start. Muggle related books tended to focus on the history of Muggle attacks on Wizards and Witches.
However, there was one book called the "Theory of Magical Evolution" that discussed the possible origins of magic and why only some humans evolved to be able to wield the forces of nature. It also briefly explained the history and purpose of wands to focus magical energy. The use of wands actually allowed for the discovery of some hidden Witches and Wizards whose magical ability was so small it was nearly undetectable.
But nothing in the school's Library had information on Muggle technology that would be helpful. So Luna and Draco sat at one of the tables and tried to think of ways they could find information in the Muggle world instead.
"Maybe we can ask Hermione? She may have learned something prior to finding out she was a Witch, I doubt her love of books started here." Draco suggested.
"That's true, she would be a good source of information, however, I have been thinking about it and I might have an idea." Luna replied.
"Oh yea, what is it?"
"Well, you know Daddy is the editor for the Quibbler. I remember something in one of the issues from a couple of years ago that dealt with giving Muggles magic powers, but I can't remember exactly what it was supposed to do or how it worked. I could write to him and have him send me a copy; it could be here in a couple of days." Luna said this with a normal tone of voice but she was watching Draco intently.
Draco considered for a moment. The Quibbler was notorious for taking the most insane ideas and rumors and publishing them as fact, and trying to do a school project based off the information in the highly questionable magazine might not only cost them a grade, but also make them a laughing stock.
However, part of being a Ravenclaw meant you took nothing for granted. Just because something hadn't been proven didn't mean it wasn't real. Since they currently had no good leads on anything there was no reason not to look at both this and still speak with Hermione. There were other Muggle-borns who may have heard things as well. It was a pitty the project was due before the holiday break instead of after, this would have given the Muggle-born students time to ask their families questions as well.
"That sounds like a good idea Luna, you can do that and while we wait for it to arrive we can talk with Hermione as well. We can do interviews with the students who have Muggle family and maybe something will shake loose for us to use in the project." They should have plenty of time to come up with something before they had to turn in the subject matter.
They left the Library and went to Gryffindor tower, Draco knew where it was because he had staked it out years ago when he was trying to spy on Harry. When they got there they asked the Fat Lady to let it be known somebody was at the entrance.
Less than a minute later Dennis Creevey pushed open the portrait but before Draco could say anything he had yanked it shut again. Draco had gotten only a glimpse of his face but what he saw wasn't good. He shared a look with Luna and then asked again for the Fat Lady to announce visitors. This time it was longer before the entrance again opened. Instead of Dennis it was a girl that Draco didn't recognize who pushed open the portrait. "Don't let that bastard in here Jess!" Draco was sure it was Dennis yelling in the background. The girl held the edge of the portrait with one hand and only opened it far enough for her to see out, Draco and Luna moved to where they would be easily visible.
"If we don't ask them what they want, why would you think they would leave Dennis?" She called back, clearly exasperated.
Draco reached out and put a hand on Luna's arm, she had opened her mouth to say something and Draco didn't think it would be good. "Hi, Luna and I were wondering if Hermione is in, we'd like to talk with her."
The girl named Jess looked back into the room, just as the door was pushed out of her hand. An enraged Dennis Creevey stood in the opening. "The only reason I would tell anybody you were here would be to warn them Malfoy. You may have others fooled but I know better, you should be in prison with the rest of your Deatheater and murdering friends. Now you and your Deatheater girlfriend get the hell out of here before I do something you'll regret."
Dennis's voice was pitched low, but because of the anger behind it, it carried very well down the hall and in the common room. Everybody in there had turned to stare at the entrance. To say they were stunned would be understating it, Dennis, like his older brother, was (or had been) very friendly and almost overly enthusiastic. None of them had ever heard Dennis so much as raise his voice before and it caught their attention.
"Leave Malfoy, before I make sure you pay for what you've done." Dennis grabbed the portrait and started to close it again. Draco was frozen; the color in his face had drained away. He had never heard such hatred in a voice before, at least not from a non-Deatheater. He took a step back, but Luna took one forward, and stopped Dennis from closing the portrait.
Before Draco could react, before any of them could, Dennis had pulled out his wand and pointed it at Luna. Luna's body flew back and when she hit the wall, the sound of her head cracking against it was deafening. Luna slumped to the ground, unconscious.
Jess screamed and the entire common room came rushing forward, ready to defend Dennis, wands coming out.
Draco let out an inarticulate yell and rushed to Luna's side before the sound of others running penetrated his brain. With a roar he turned on the entrance to Gryffindor tower and pulled out his wand. A red haze had settled over his vision and all he could think was that he had to hurt them, they had hurt his sister and they would pay for it.
Before he could say anything though, or even think it, the wand flew out of his hand as he heard a familiar voice yell "Expelliarmus!" and he fell back against the wall.
"What the hell do you think you're doing Draco?" Harry yelled, wand pointed squarely at Draco's chest.
Draco, didn't hear him. Wand gone, he pushed to his feet, intent only on reaching Dennis physically but Harry moved forward and met him face to face, Harry's wand now pointed right at Draco's head. He had no choice but to stop or be impaled.
"Back off Malfoy before you get hurt!"
But Draco wasn't listening, he slapped Harry's wand to the side and pushed past as Dennis yelled, "Let the bastard through!"
Draco heard nothing, everybody else in the room gasped and a few screamed when Draco charged the few feet that separated him and Dennis Creevey. Even as Dennis yelled "Crucio!" Draco had grabbed his wand with his left hand and punched the younger, smaller boy right in the face. Dennis fell backward and Draco went with him, still holding the boy's wand hand. Before anybody could react, Draco had punched Dennis two more times. When he felt himself grabbed from behind he twisted the wand out of Creevey hand. Even as he was pulled back, he took the wand in both hands and snapped it cleanly in two.
Dennis Creevey was moaning on the ground, Harry and Ron held Draco fast, keeping him from reaching the younger boy. Hermione and Ginny pushed through the crowd and seeing Luna sprawled in the hallway, blood pooling under her head, ran to her.
"Luna!" Ginny cried, dropping to her knees beside the still blond girl.
"Draco! What did you do to her?" Hermione yelled, even as she too, dropped down at Luna's side.
"It wasn't him!" Draco stopped struggling to reach Dennis, his attention immediately refocused on Luna, his abrupt change of direction threw Harry and Ron off balance and he broke free, moving quickly to the only sister he would ever have.
"What do you mean Jess, who did it then if not Malfoy?" Ron yelled, clearly inclined to believe anything of Draco Malfoy.
The girl burst into tears, "It was Dennis, they just came to ask to talk to Hermione and Dennis attacked Luna." It was a little difficult to understand her through her tears but Harry got the point quickly.
"Dennis, why would Dennis attack Luna?" Ron asked, bewildered.
"That doesn't matter, we need to get her to Madam Pomfrey, she is bleeding really bad." Ginny said, holding one of Luna's hands and watching Draco through narrowed eyes, Luna's other hand tight in both of his.
In a voice so quiet only Ginny and Hermione could hear, Draco was saying "I'm sorry" over and over again to the still girl.
Professor Sinistra came hurrying up to the crowd of children. She had been named Head of House of Gryffindor after Professor McGonagall was named Headmistress. While not a member of Gryffindor house when she attended school, the students respected her greatly because of her defense of Hogwarts last year.
"What is going on here, The Fat Lady came screaming that a girl has been attacked!" She looked around and her eyes grew wide at the sight of Luna lying on the floor with the pool of blood under her head still growing. Ginny and Hermione were in tears, as were all the other girls, many of the boys had wands out, some half pointed at Draco, the others half pointing at Dennis who was still moaning on the ground just inside the common room.
Harry spoke up, "I'm not sure Professor but it involves Draco and Dennis, and Luna has been hurt. A couple of kids have already run to get Madam Pomfrey."
"Professor!" Ginny called out, "She's bleeding a lot and she's not waking up." Professor Sinistra moved to kneel at Luna's head, slowing moving her wand over the unmoving girl.
"She has a cut on her head, but head wounds look worse than they typically are. For anything deeper we need to wait for Madam Pomfrey, we can't move her until she says its ok." Saying this she did mutter a quick charm that siphoned up much of the blood that lay on the ground.
Dennis Creevey had been helped to his feet by some class mates and seemed to be regaining his wits. His broken wand lay at his feet and he stared at it a moment before starting to struggle against the hands that held him up. It was clear to everybody he was trying to reach Draco.
"I'll make you pay Malfoy, you'll be sorry you ever messed with the Creevey's, I swear!" Dennis screamed.
Harry turned to Dennis and without a pause used his wand to silence the boy. Dennis continued to mouth words for a while before realizing he couldn't hear himself, he turned his glare on Harry at that point. Clearly mouthing the word "Traitor".
"I don't know what your problem is Dennis, but you need to get a grip. If what Jess says is true, you are in more than enough trouble already. Don't make it worse for yourself." Dennis made a rude gesture and Harry sighed as he turned away.
Professor Sinistra looked up at the commotion and simply nodded at Harry's actions. Pointing to the three boys holding Dennis she said "You three, take him up to the Hospital Wing, stay with him and ensure he doesn't leave that room." She turned to Harry "Harry, would you go ask the Headmistress to meet us there?"
"Yes Ma'am." All four said together and moved off to follow their orders. Dennis continued to struggle, his words still inaudible but the meaning clear to everybody. He kicked out at Draco as he was pulled past him. Draco merely looked up and snarled, a sound nobody had ever heard come from Draco before and it surprised Ginny and Hermione sitting near him.
Draco was pacing outside the Hospital Wing while Ginny, Hermione, Ron and what seemed half of Gryffindor house looked on when Professor McGonagall hurried into the waiting room. She took in the full room and said "Wait here!" and then went into the Infirmary.
Some time later the Headmistress came back out, shutting the door behind her. "First, Miss Lovegood is going to be fine, Madam Pomfrey will be out later. Now, Mr. Potter, what happened?" She asked.
"I'm not entirely sure Headmistress, when I got there Luna was already hurt and Draco was going after Dennis.
"That crazy kid attacked Luna!" Draco ground out.
McGonagall turned her attention to Draco "Why would Mr. Creevey attack Miss Lovegood?"
"I don't know! He was yelling at me, I got that he was mad at me, but I don't know why he would attack Luna." Draco sat, hard, on the floor where he had been standing. "If she doesn't wake up, it will be all my fault." Draco dropped his head into his hands, and his shoulders started to shake.
Everybody in the room, except Harry and the Headmistress were stunned by Draco's actions. The idea of Malfoy caring about anybody was more than they could accept. Even though they had thought they understood that he had changed, it had not really been something they believed.
"Excuse me Headmistress?" Jess spoke up, almost too quiet to be heard. "I saw everything."
Again the Headmistress shifted her attention, this time from the crying blond boy to Jess Winter, a 4th year student in Gryffindor house. After a moment she turned to speak to everybody. "Did anybody else see everything that happened?"
After receiving several heads shaking in denial, she released all the other students accept Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Draco and Jess. She got them all to sit down as she went over to Draco. Very quietly she said "Come Draco, up to go, come sit over here." She gently drew Draco to his feet and moved him to a chair along the wall. Once this was done she turned to Jess.
"Ok Miss Winters, tell me what happened."
After Jess had told what happened and Harry added the information he had she leaned back in her seat, a thoughtful look on her face.
"Let me see if I have this right, for some reason Mr. Malfoy and Miss Lovegood came to Gryffindor house to talk to Miss Granger. When they arrived Mr. Creevey became very upset and threatened Mr. Malfoy and ordered them to leave. Mr. Malfoy backed up, Miss Lovegood moved forward, apparently to stop Mr. Creevey from closing the portrait hole, at which point Mr. Creevey pulled his wand and attacked Miss Lovegood." McGonagall paused and looked to Jess for verification.
"Yes Ma'am."
"Mr. Malfoy was going to then attack Mr. Creevey but Mr. Potter showed up and disarmed him. Mr. Malfoy then pushed past Mr. Potter to physically attack Mr. Creevey who was continuing to throw insults. Mr. Creevey then tried to use the Cruciatus curse on Mr. Malfoy but was stopped when Mr. Malfoy punched him?"
She received nods from everybody but Draco who still had his face in his hands.
She took a deep breath, "Mr. Creevey had to be sedated since he couldn't be calmed down. Have any of you noticed Mr. Creevey acting strangely or voicing such anger before today?"
"No, Dennis has always been one of the nicest kids, a little quieter than in past years, but understandable I think." This was from Harry, everybody else just stated they hadn't noticed anything.
"It was like he turned into a different person when he saw Draco Ma'am. I had no idea he hated him that much and I don't know why he does. Unless….." Jess trailed off.
"Continue Miss Winters." McGonagall prompted.
"Well, from the things he was saying, I think he was blaming Draco for his brother's death."
"Why wouldn't he." Draco said.
They all turned to look at him, his head was up, his eyes bright and cheeks wet.
"I blame myself all the time, I was one of them, it would make sense for him to blame me. Nobody else is left for him to blame. I would be a constant reminder that his brother is dead and that those I was with did it." Draco's eyes grew hard now "But that does not excuse his attacking Luna, she has never hurt anybody. I don't regret hitting him for that."
The Headmistress regarding Draco for a moment and then turned to the others, "You may all go, do try and quell the worst rumors before they get completely out of hand. While I don't recommend you broadcast the entire story, too many students heard what Mr. Creevey tried to do to keep it from being public knowledge, do try and ensure the truth is out there. That Mr. Creevey was acting out of character and that Mr. Malfoy did nothing wrong in defending himself or Miss Lovegood. Am I understood?
"Yes Ma'am" they all chorused once more. At that they all stood and left, Harry was last and laid a hand on Draco's shoulder a moment, once Draco met his eyes Harry nodded and left the room.
Professor McGonagall turned her attention entirely on Draco at this point.
"I cannot excuse fighting Draco, however, in this case it was obvious that you were acting out of self-defense and in defense of others. There will not be punishment for you on this. That being said, it appears you have more enemies than we thought, additional cautions would not be out of order."
Draco just nodded, his eyes going to the door of the Infirmary.
"Miss Greengrass and Miss Dawlish are waiting in the hall to see you. I will send them in when I leave. Before I go, in order to ensure I know all the facets of the situation, am I correct in thinking that you and Miss Lovegood have an understanding?" The Professor seemed uncomfortable asking this question.
Draco snorted softly in amusement "No Ma'am, Luna is like a sister to me, she's special, but not like that."
"Ah, then is there another girl you have an interest in? I only ask because it is important to ensure she is protected as much as possible."
"Luna and Helen are like sisters to me. Astoria and I have an 'understanding', but it's still new. No matter what they are all special and they all need to be protected. Those who would hurt me, won't care if one is more special than another."
"Very well, there is something I can do but I don't want it to be public knowledge. When you come next week for your meeting with Professor Dumbledore I will have something ready for you. You are to keep this a secret, even from the three young women, are we agreed?"
"Yes Ma'am, I understand."
"Good." The Headmistress stood "I will leave you now; Madam Pomfrey will be out shortly to give you a status update." Like Harry she came over to him and put one hand on his shoulder, "Do try to be careful Draco. While your path is not easy, I think it is an important one."
That was the understatement of the century, his path wasn't easy? Draco would have laughed if he didn't want to cry again.
Helen and Astoria rushed into the room and Draco stood up. He was enveloped in a group hug from the girls. It was obvious they had been crying but now they hugged him like he was the one who needed reassurance from them rather than the other way around.
When they finally released each other Astoria stayed in front of him. She reached up and lightly touched his cheek with one hand. "Are you ok?"
"Yes, I'm fine." He placed his hand over hers on his cheek, leaned down and kissed her lightly on the lips. Astoria smiled slightly under the kiss. Soon however, they broke apart and both girls listened as he explained what had happened.
Astoria, as he expected, was livid. That they would be attacked like that was unthinkable and once again Draco had to wonder how she didn't end up in Gryffindor with her fierce protective instincts.
As they waited to hear about Luna, Draco idly thought that he never did get to talk with Hermione. He decided that when they were done here he would arrange to have an owl deliver his request to speak with her, that way they could meet without it becoming common knowledge. Then, when Luna got out of the Hospital Wing they would be able to move on with their project.
After what felt like hours but was really only about 30 minutes Madam Pomfrey opened the door to the Infirmary. "Miss Lovegood is awake now; you may visit with her for a few minutes but only a few minutes. She needs to rest."
"Is she going to be ok?" Helen asked.
"She is going to be fine; she took a nasty hit to the head, which resulted in a minor concussion but that has been healed. She is feeling weak, dizzy and a little confused but that will pass with a good night's sleep. She will be staying here overnight and tomorrow, she can probably be released tomorrow afternoon."
"What about Creevey?" Draco asked, a slight growl in his voice. Helen and Astoria each put a hand on his arm.
"Mr. Creevey will also be fine, but I ask that you not go near him or his bed. Something more is going on with him and we've had to sedate him. But Mr. Creevey is not your concern right now."
"Not my concern?!" He nearly killed Luna, he tried to use an unforgivable curse on me, how is he not my concern." Draco was starting to see red again.
However, before he could work up a full head of steam, it was all let out of him. "There are indications that Mr. Creevey was not acting entirely of his own free will. Until we get to the bottom of this, it is not my place to discuss it further, even with you Mr. Malfoy." The nurse was more abrupt that was normal, even for her and Draco decided not to pursue it. If it turned out that something else was influencing the kids it would be terrible for moral in the school. Draco looked at the two girls at his sides and they all nodded.
"Ok, we'll keep quiet but you'll let the Headmistress know what we know I assume?"
"Of course."
"Good."
With that Draco and the girls moved into the Infirmary to see Luna, paler than ever, with a bandage around her head lying on one of the beds. Her eyes had dark marks under them, and she looked something like a very pale raccoon. The girls moved to either side of her bed and each took a hand in theirs. Draco moved to the foot of the bed and looked at her as she lay quiet and still on the white sheets.
He reached out a hand and rested it on one of her legs; very quietly he repeated what he had been saying to her in the hall as she lay bleeding. "I'm so sorry Luna, I'm sorry you ever got mixed up in this."
"If I were smart, I would leave all three of you alone, it's not safe to be around me."
Helen and Astoria looked up at him, "You better not!" Astoria said.
"Ravenclaw may not be brave like Gryffindor, or selfless like Hufflepuff or ….whatever it is Slytherin is. But logic dictates that if you don't have support those who are trying to hurt you will succeed and that would impact us no matter what. You can't keep us from getting hurt if you getting hurt is what hurts us." Helen said.
From the bed came another voice of reason. Soft, tired but there. "We are family, and family helps each other, even when it seems impossible." Luna said.
The four friends spent a couple of minutes reassuring Luna that Draco was ok after which Luna was given a very quick and shortened version of what happened. Draco didn't even have time to think about what the three girls had said, but his heart was warmed by their support.
"I thought something was wrong with Dennis, his spirit didn't feel right." Luna seemed unsurprised by anything they told her, but then again, she never seemed surprised by much of anything. Once again, they got the impression that Luna was more Fey then anybody thought.
Madam Pomfrey came out of her office at that moment, indicating that their time was up.
"We'll see you in the morning Luna, promise; you just get some rest and get better." Astoria told her, giving her a kiss on the cheek.
"Yea, get better and don't think about anything." Helen kissed her on the other cheek.
After the two girls had moved aside, Draco moved up beside Luna. "Thank you for being there for me Luna, thank you for being my family." He leaned in closer and whispered, "I love you little sister."
Luna's eyes started to close as she started to drift off. "Sister, I remember now, the article in my dad's paper was about Rowena Ravenclaw's little sister and the Phoenix Ring." With each word Luna's voice got quieter.
"Later Luna, sleep now." Draco kissed her on the forehead and after a moment looking down on the most precious girl he had ever known, he turned to the two women at the end of the bed. Together the three of them left the room.
In the hospital bed a blond girl dreamed of another blond girl who with the help of the beautiful ring her sister had given her, could make rainbows with the wave of her hand.
Another chapter down. I hope you all liked it. Make sure and comment, vote and let me know what you think.