[BeLieViNG iN You]
Chapter 10: Broken sky
Eloise swung open the door to her rather country home. Ugh. How she couldn't stand these old english rose, cottagey decorations around the house. What she wouldn't give to rip the paper off the walls and slash the stupid paintings with a big sharp knife.
She didn't bother notifying her parents that she was home. Why should she? It's not like they would care. She kicked off her shoes at the door, leaving them untidily stacked on one another, laces trailing.
So Hermione Granger, huh? It was indeed strange that they hadn't seen one another for almost five years. People change, dramatically indeed.
She growled and snarled as she pulled her clothes off to change.
Finally standing in front of the mirror clad only in her school skirt and bra, she gazed at herself critically. Nope, nothing wrong there, she thought smugly as she pivoted in the mirror. Perfect, unflawed skin, blue/grey eyes and long lashes. Proportionate mouth that could be described as a winter rosebud. Well, it was a frosty pink at least. Her hair was in top condition. Her skin was soft and creamy as always, and her figure left nothing to be desired. Well, ok...her thighs were a little too thick and she hated the roundness of her almost but not quite washboard stomach. It was just so...maternal, she thought with disgust.
So why the hell did Granger have boys following her everywhere and Eloise did not? It couldn't be that she was a slut. For one, perfect pristine Granger even being deflowered before marriage? Eloise raised a perfect eyebrow. No way in hell. Anyway, it wasn't like Eloise was exactly difficult to get in the sack, and all of her conquests didn't follow her around like lovesick puppies. Besides the pathetic ones, of course. So what was it? Were these two boys dependent on Granger in some way?
The blonde one, no way. She narrowed her eyes. The way he had treated her when she first saw them, they were definitely not close. So why would he be around? He must owe Granger something. But that second time at the park, when the dark-haired guy had appeared, the blonde and Granger had seemed a lot closer.
Eloise let out a harsh laugh. Wow, now all Granger needed was a red-head.
Well. By the end of this summer, she'd have Granger in a permanent state of living hell. How to accomplish this? Hmmm...she smiled delightfully as an idea went off in her head. Joshua Granger had always been a little in love with little old Eloise...
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Ignore the sweat.
Draco felt his face pale to ash as the door swung open to reveal two London Bobbies, with Hermione sandwiched between them looking tiny. His heart dropped to his stomach as his heartbeat raced and the blood rushed to his head.
She looked up at him apologetically and gave him a small, weak smile and he felt his body shiver.
His eyes went blank as he recalled his mother's voice
"Draco darling, somebody just walked over your grave..." She teased in a lilting, mocking voice.
He faintly recalled Sirius giving him a warning look as he welcomed the two policemen into the living room, but Draco didn't care. He just...he had to...
Draco made it into the kitchen before the spinning room finally overtook him and he passed out.
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"Good afternoon. You are, Mr Black, I presume?" Sirius nodded courteously.
"Indeed I am. May I offer you some tea?" The pale englishwoman with her tightly pinned straw-blonde hair and her heavy-set, ruddy-faced partner nodded gratefully.
"It's very cold out there, sir." She sipped at her cup thankfully.
"Herm'?" He offered, unsure of calling her by her full name with the police there. Absently she shook her head. She seemed to be in a world all of her own.
"Ms Granger is in a lot of trouble, to be frank, sir." Sirius carefully set his cup down.
"Go on." He remarked gravely.
"Well there is the charge of first degree manslaughter. There is also intent to aid and abet a known criminal, breaking and entering, and..." The young policewoman looked at her senior partner, as if unsure to go on. He nodded for her to continue.
"use of Underage Magic in a restricted area." She finished, disbelievingly.
Sirius folded his hands pensively as he gazed over his steepled fingertips at the police.
Every couple of seconds he would glance at Hermione and sigh.
"We understand that this is a difficult time for you, Mr Black. However, we wondered if we could ask you a few questions?" The older male officer asked.
"Go on." He began to rub his stubbled chin.
"I hope you do not mind us recording your answers in any need for evidence should the circumstance occur. First, what is your relation to Miss Hermione Evanalysse Granger?"
"She is close friends with my godson, Harry Potter. During the seven years they've known each other, Hermione has been a friend to me and like a god-daughter I never had." He said sincerely.
"Ok." The senior constable made a note on his notepad.
"And you would be willing to testify on Miss Granger's behalf as a character witness?"
"I would."
"Would you say Miss Granger is capable of throwing a grown and military-trained woman four feet through the air into a wall?" Sirius's eyes flickered.
"Definitely not."
"How would you describe Miss Granger, in a few words?"
"A brilliant young woman, hard working, somebody who will do great things in her life." The policeman closed the little blue hardcover book.
"Not if she goes to jail. But we will try our best to avoid that. Thank you very much, Mr Black. You've been more than helpful to our investigations and be assured, note has been taken of that."
"One moment, kind sir and lady." He rose, hand out to halt them with an apologetic smile. They never saw his other arm move.
"Obliviate." A flash appeared, the light reflecting off Hermione's horrified face.
Sirius looked at her.
"Sorry Hermione, it was-"
"Necessary, I know, I know." She put her head in her hands frustratedly.
"And you're going to hate me for using this next one."
"The...the next one?"
Sirius bit his lip.
"Imperius." Hermione let out a sigh of relief. Privately she slightly resented Sirius, but she couldn't help the funny and embarrassing thought that she had thought for a second, only a second, that Sirius was about to Avada Kedrava the two police officers.
As if...right?
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"Draco. Draco, please, wake up now." He was jerked back to reality by the strong smell of salts under his nose. He awoke groggily.
"Hmm. Where's 'Mione..." He muttered.
Blinking blearily he finally managed to get his eyes to focus.
"Oh shit. Hermione. I feel like I've been hit by a train." He managed to pull himself to a standing position, stumbling backwards.
"I was so scared. So absoloutely, fucking scared." He groaned, gripping his head in his hands.
"Draco, it's ok. I'm here now."
"It's not fucking ok!" He snapped, looking at her with bloodshot eyes.
"Do you know what you've gotten me into? Bloody Masako has Dragonbane in his system. Dragonbane! And now for some reason, you're here. When you came to the door assisted by two fricken Muggle pleasemen, or whatever they're called! I hate you mudblood, I really do." He groaned, burying his face into his hands again.
"Draco Malfoy, don't get narky at me, ok! This has been a difficult two weeks without you making it worse!" her face was pale and withdrawn, but he wouldn't notice. Couldn't. Too wrapped up in his own...
"Sometimes, mudblood, I get the feeling that you aren't really living in reality. That you've made some little world for yourself, somewhere else, where you can dream and ignore events as they happen at your will. And you've dragged me into it. Not just me, but Potter and his deranged godfather too!" he snarled.
"Tell me what it matters, Draco. What have you got to lose?" She hissed.
"Everything! Money, prestige. My life, Granger!"
"Which you wouldn't have if it wasn't for me. Remember that night I saved your sorry ass?"
The air turned cold around them.
"I never thought you'd be the kind of person to say I owed them, Granger. Maybe you would've been better off in Slytherin after all."
"How dare you!"
"How dare I what? I'm telling the truth Granger. It hurts, don't it?"
"The Sorting Hat never had any doubts!"
"That was then. This is now."
"How wonderfully cliche. Well, what are you going to do about it, Malfoy?"
"What can I do? I'm leaving."
"Then leave! Good riddance!"
He gave her one last, unclear look. Was it troubled, or angry? Upset or sad?
'It's time to get up. Time to get dressed. Time to go.'
'It's time to say goodbye.'
The thoughts echoed in his head.
"Goodbye Granger. I might see you in school, and do me the favour of pretending that we never spoke."
"Spare me, you stupid git. Fuck off."
"I hope you have fun in jail, mudblood. I hear they're pretty rough with little girls." With a sneer he strode from the kitchen.
Sirius came downstairs just in time to see the front door bang shut.
"Do I need to ask- nevermind. Come upstairs Hermione, Masako's in a serious way. Worry about Malfoy later."
"Who said I was worried about that Death Eater?" She muttered as she began to ascend the steps.
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He strode throughout the busy London streets, jaw clenched and fists tightened.
'How could this have happened? I honestly thought that she was...that she could have been the one...'
He felt a strange sensation, a tightened burning in his eyes and then a cool, liquid trickle trailing down his cheeks.
'I'm crying.' He stopped dead in his tracks.
'I haven't cried in 14 years.'
Suddenly, looking at the world around him, he saw it in a new light.
He stood, gazing in wonder at this muggle world, the electronic billboards and giant tv screens.
He shook his head.
"I can't go back. Not now."
A vision of his father, the man before the slave, the philosopher and gentleman flashed into his mind.
"Never start anything you wouldn't finish. Remember that. You are a Malfoy."
Suddenly Draco had a sense of where to go.
"Taxi!"
A blur pulled up abruptly.
"Take me to Grand Central. And hurry."
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It had taken them a night and a day but the toxins were finally all out of Masako's system. He was currently sleeping off the rest of the three days on a beanbag as he needed the rest. Hermione had gone home.
Harry lay on his back, staring at the ceiling.
What the fuck was going on? Malfoy had dropped Masako off, gone with Sirius to see to the door and never returned. He needed something to do.
He growled and threw a tennis ball at the door in frustration. It made an empty thud that nobody noticed.
The door swung open. Well, almost nobody.
"You alright there, Harry?"
Sirius's strange half-son.
"Yeah, no worries." He waited for the door to close. The motion began, but was paused in half-action.
"I'm going to Josh's now...did you wanna come with me to see Hermione?"
Now there was an idea.
"Yeah, sure. I'll be up in a second. Uhhh...ask Sirius what to do about Masako."
The door half-shut as Daniel talked to Sirius in the background.
Look at all the clouds making pretty pictures over the moon...
"He says just leave him, should be ok with just Sirius here."
"Ok. Let's go then." He rolled himself off the bed and got up as Daniel held the door open.
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It was now ten o'clock, pm. Draco stood on the edge of the roof, silently watching Daniel's car pull out of the Granger's driveway.
This house he had been in, not five hours ago. When he picked up the pieces of his life, stuck them in an expensive silk bag and moved out. Homeless, nowhere to go. Said goodbye politely to Mr Granger as he shook his hand, kissed Angelina on the cheek and quietly gave Jacob a thick roll of banknotes to give to his parents and to buy himself a treat with. And walked out. Tried not to look back because he knew if he did, he'd see a heartbroken and confused little kitten watching from the stairs.
He sat down, peering over the edge every now and again.
Sighing, he withdrew a heavy package from a pocket over his heart.
A glass book. Each page so delicate, yet so strong. Like a spider's web.
From his coat pocket he withdrew an expensive looking letter printed on heavy parchment. His expression never changed as he read it.
"Hermione Granger,
Be careful with this book lest it break into shards
And pierce that cold barrier that was once your heart
No apology given, receptance would be blame
Because I hear you mentally cursing every time you think of my name
Everybody goes on about how love is so cliche
But you took a risk and allowed me to partake in this game
I epitomise my name now, cold and ruthless as I leave
But one girl touched my heart and she'll always be special to me.
-M.
P/S Take care of Snowball please."
Biting the inside of his cheek, he withdrew heavy vellum from his pocket and proceeded to carefully wrap the small glass book, engraved and traced and detailed all over with runes. As he completed the last fold of the vellum it disappeared, leaving a seamless case.
"Granger una kei." He whispered, drawing a rune over the parchment. No sign appeared, showing that the key spell had been successful but he suddenly felt a slight weight in his hands that told him it was now enchanted. Nobody would be able to tell that hadn't been holding it before. He folded the parchment letter and bound it to the package before he sent it off on the wings of the night.
"Wingardium Leviosa."
And with that he stood, not wanting to see her face again and began to Apparate back to his hotel room.
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"C'mon Harry, we're here." Startled out of his reverie by a cold gust of wind, Harry looked to the other side of the car to notice the door open and only a pair of pants visible as Daniel stood outside the car.
"Oh." He slowly swung his door open and stepped out into the chilly night.
The main door opened, letting warm light spill out and a figure stood on the porch.
"You two coming in or what?" Josh asked mildly as he hopped from one leg to another.
As they ascended onto the veranda Harry noticed that the reason for Josh's temperature drop may possibly have been the fact that he was only wearing a pair of boxers and some old socks. Plus the fact that he had a bowl of ice-cream in one hand, of course.
"Thanks Josh."
"Yeah mate it's bloody cold tonight, isn't it?" They asked as they stamped their feet on the doormat and trudged along on the wooden landing. Josh shrugged.
"It's warm in here."
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"It's absoloutely fucking freezing. I don't know what's wrong with this hotel. The thermostat must not be working." Damien shook his head to dislodge a few rogue snowflakes.
"Probably not." Draco stood aside to let him in. He had no idea what a thermostat was.
"Thanks."
Draco remained silent.
Once inside Damien made himself comfortable in one of the arm chairs.
"Heat." Draco commanded, more or less. There was no fancy spellwork here, just a command, written in stone.
The room became mildly bearable, then pleasantly warm.
Damien nodded to himself, satisfied as he removed his heavy winter coat. Draco flopped into a chair and lounged elegantly.
"So. What happened?"
"Nothing happened."
Damien narrowed his eyes.
"There must have been something."
Draco looked away.
"No." Damien sighed.
"Of course there was. C'mon Draco, it's me. Damien. Your cousin. We always used to talk, about everything. We used to play video games together."
"What do you think I am, a child? It'll take more to open up than that."
"Well how about this. I am _all_ you have left. I am, everything." Draco clenched his teeth. This wasn't how it should be.
"This is wrong." He conjured a tiny dancing flame on his finger, and just watched the flame.
"Suit yourself. I've got all night." Said Damien, leaning back as he apparated a hot chocolate from the bar.
"All night and all day? And what if what I have to say takes weeks, months?"
"It won't. But if it did, I'd sit here and listen. Listen Draco, what I said was wrong. It wasn't just I'm all you have left. It's....you're all I have left too."
"Don't appeal to my heart, you forget I don't have one."
Damien gave a half snort, half laugh.
"Don't be stupid. If you didn't have a heart you wouldn't have fallen in love with a mudblood."
He was lucky he didn't move. The ellipse of flame just missed his ear.
"Don't ever judge me to have commited the same mistakes as you, cousin dear."
There was a reflective silence.
"They put Dragonbane in him."
Damien nearly dropped his glass.
"This Masako guy?"
"Yes."
"Geez. Christ....how the fuck did they get hold of that?"
"As if I'd know."
It was...different for Harry. He would never have been allowed into his father's potion shop to watch him brew lethal and dangerous concoctions. To be allowed to add ingredients. To actually take part in making Dragonbane. And to be subjected to it years later.
Damien knew about Dragonbane because his father was the same way. But, not so well associated with Voldemort. But a philosopher and a gentleman. And of course, prone to dabbling in the Dark Arts.
Damien also knew about Draco's time under the Dragonbane. He had been the one looking after him. He had to wear special clothing and be under a special spell so that whatever hallucinations Draco was going through wouldn't affect him, so Draco would never want to kill him. He would never have the stench of death, or the face of a corpse.
Damien was clever. He got out while he was ahead.
"I cried." Draco suddenly broke the silence.
"Emotions are a funny thing."
"I wish I didn't have them."
"Even the memories? After all, a memory is really just an emotion with pictures."
Draco frowned.
"No, not the memories. I'm going to keep those memories till the day I die."
"Perhaps you should say sorry?"
"What for? It was time."
"Time for what?"
Draco gave a short laugh.
"It's time to get up. Time to get dressed. Time to go."
"But never time to say goodbye." To his horror and shame he felt that burning at the back of his eyes. He quickly stomped on it and watched his vision clear.
"Fate has a funny way of deciding things."
"Very funny. Ha ha." He laughed drolly.
"You still have two weeks."
"I still have my father to sort out."
"Ahh. Well that one, come to me and I'll help you with it."
"No, it's my family. My problem."
"And am I not family?"
They stood.
Draco's mouth was dry.
"No, you relinquished the Malfoy family a long time ago."
Damien's piercing gaze watched him.
"I gave it up. I never gave up my blood."
They watched each other warily for a minute or so until Draco tore his eyes away.
"Thank you for dropping in." He remarked smoothly.
"Thank you for having me. You have my number?"
"Of course."
"I expect to see you before you return to school." Damien dis-apparated away.
Slowly Draco went about his nightly routine. He brushed his teeth, cleared the plates away and turned down the sheets. As he gathered his clothing to change however, he paused once he had shut the door to the bathroom.
He looked into the mirror. Examining himself. His eyes.
He couldn't look away from his own eyes.
He was a mess. His hair unbrushed and his eyes bloodshot and his skin dry. He needed a shave.
His eyes flickered towards the broom hidden in the bath tub.
Sighing and shaking his head, he got changed and switched off the lights, rustling the sheets as he climbed into bed.
Draco fell asleep uneasily, to the sound of his own breathing.
Something which hadn't been the loudest noise in a long time. Tomorrow would be a new day.
And who knows if we'll ever last till the morrow.
Chapter 10: Broken sky
Eloise swung open the door to her rather country home. Ugh. How she couldn't stand these old english rose, cottagey decorations around the house. What she wouldn't give to rip the paper off the walls and slash the stupid paintings with a big sharp knife.
She didn't bother notifying her parents that she was home. Why should she? It's not like they would care. She kicked off her shoes at the door, leaving them untidily stacked on one another, laces trailing.
So Hermione Granger, huh? It was indeed strange that they hadn't seen one another for almost five years. People change, dramatically indeed.
She growled and snarled as she pulled her clothes off to change.
Finally standing in front of the mirror clad only in her school skirt and bra, she gazed at herself critically. Nope, nothing wrong there, she thought smugly as she pivoted in the mirror. Perfect, unflawed skin, blue/grey eyes and long lashes. Proportionate mouth that could be described as a winter rosebud. Well, it was a frosty pink at least. Her hair was in top condition. Her skin was soft and creamy as always, and her figure left nothing to be desired. Well, ok...her thighs were a little too thick and she hated the roundness of her almost but not quite washboard stomach. It was just so...maternal, she thought with disgust.
So why the hell did Granger have boys following her everywhere and Eloise did not? It couldn't be that she was a slut. For one, perfect pristine Granger even being deflowered before marriage? Eloise raised a perfect eyebrow. No way in hell. Anyway, it wasn't like Eloise was exactly difficult to get in the sack, and all of her conquests didn't follow her around like lovesick puppies. Besides the pathetic ones, of course. So what was it? Were these two boys dependent on Granger in some way?
The blonde one, no way. She narrowed her eyes. The way he had treated her when she first saw them, they were definitely not close. So why would he be around? He must owe Granger something. But that second time at the park, when the dark-haired guy had appeared, the blonde and Granger had seemed a lot closer.
Eloise let out a harsh laugh. Wow, now all Granger needed was a red-head.
Well. By the end of this summer, she'd have Granger in a permanent state of living hell. How to accomplish this? Hmmm...she smiled delightfully as an idea went off in her head. Joshua Granger had always been a little in love with little old Eloise...
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Ignore the sweat.
Draco felt his face pale to ash as the door swung open to reveal two London Bobbies, with Hermione sandwiched between them looking tiny. His heart dropped to his stomach as his heartbeat raced and the blood rushed to his head.
She looked up at him apologetically and gave him a small, weak smile and he felt his body shiver.
His eyes went blank as he recalled his mother's voice
"Draco darling, somebody just walked over your grave..." She teased in a lilting, mocking voice.
He faintly recalled Sirius giving him a warning look as he welcomed the two policemen into the living room, but Draco didn't care. He just...he had to...
Draco made it into the kitchen before the spinning room finally overtook him and he passed out.
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"Good afternoon. You are, Mr Black, I presume?" Sirius nodded courteously.
"Indeed I am. May I offer you some tea?" The pale englishwoman with her tightly pinned straw-blonde hair and her heavy-set, ruddy-faced partner nodded gratefully.
"It's very cold out there, sir." She sipped at her cup thankfully.
"Herm'?" He offered, unsure of calling her by her full name with the police there. Absently she shook her head. She seemed to be in a world all of her own.
"Ms Granger is in a lot of trouble, to be frank, sir." Sirius carefully set his cup down.
"Go on." He remarked gravely.
"Well there is the charge of first degree manslaughter. There is also intent to aid and abet a known criminal, breaking and entering, and..." The young policewoman looked at her senior partner, as if unsure to go on. He nodded for her to continue.
"use of Underage Magic in a restricted area." She finished, disbelievingly.
Sirius folded his hands pensively as he gazed over his steepled fingertips at the police.
Every couple of seconds he would glance at Hermione and sigh.
"We understand that this is a difficult time for you, Mr Black. However, we wondered if we could ask you a few questions?" The older male officer asked.
"Go on." He began to rub his stubbled chin.
"I hope you do not mind us recording your answers in any need for evidence should the circumstance occur. First, what is your relation to Miss Hermione Evanalysse Granger?"
"She is close friends with my godson, Harry Potter. During the seven years they've known each other, Hermione has been a friend to me and like a god-daughter I never had." He said sincerely.
"Ok." The senior constable made a note on his notepad.
"And you would be willing to testify on Miss Granger's behalf as a character witness?"
"I would."
"Would you say Miss Granger is capable of throwing a grown and military-trained woman four feet through the air into a wall?" Sirius's eyes flickered.
"Definitely not."
"How would you describe Miss Granger, in a few words?"
"A brilliant young woman, hard working, somebody who will do great things in her life." The policeman closed the little blue hardcover book.
"Not if she goes to jail. But we will try our best to avoid that. Thank you very much, Mr Black. You've been more than helpful to our investigations and be assured, note has been taken of that."
"One moment, kind sir and lady." He rose, hand out to halt them with an apologetic smile. They never saw his other arm move.
"Obliviate." A flash appeared, the light reflecting off Hermione's horrified face.
Sirius looked at her.
"Sorry Hermione, it was-"
"Necessary, I know, I know." She put her head in her hands frustratedly.
"And you're going to hate me for using this next one."
"The...the next one?"
Sirius bit his lip.
"Imperius." Hermione let out a sigh of relief. Privately she slightly resented Sirius, but she couldn't help the funny and embarrassing thought that she had thought for a second, only a second, that Sirius was about to Avada Kedrava the two police officers.
As if...right?
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"Draco. Draco, please, wake up now." He was jerked back to reality by the strong smell of salts under his nose. He awoke groggily.
"Hmm. Where's 'Mione..." He muttered.
Blinking blearily he finally managed to get his eyes to focus.
"Oh shit. Hermione. I feel like I've been hit by a train." He managed to pull himself to a standing position, stumbling backwards.
"I was so scared. So absoloutely, fucking scared." He groaned, gripping his head in his hands.
"Draco, it's ok. I'm here now."
"It's not fucking ok!" He snapped, looking at her with bloodshot eyes.
"Do you know what you've gotten me into? Bloody Masako has Dragonbane in his system. Dragonbane! And now for some reason, you're here. When you came to the door assisted by two fricken Muggle pleasemen, or whatever they're called! I hate you mudblood, I really do." He groaned, burying his face into his hands again.
"Draco Malfoy, don't get narky at me, ok! This has been a difficult two weeks without you making it worse!" her face was pale and withdrawn, but he wouldn't notice. Couldn't. Too wrapped up in his own...
"Sometimes, mudblood, I get the feeling that you aren't really living in reality. That you've made some little world for yourself, somewhere else, where you can dream and ignore events as they happen at your will. And you've dragged me into it. Not just me, but Potter and his deranged godfather too!" he snarled.
"Tell me what it matters, Draco. What have you got to lose?" She hissed.
"Everything! Money, prestige. My life, Granger!"
"Which you wouldn't have if it wasn't for me. Remember that night I saved your sorry ass?"
The air turned cold around them.
"I never thought you'd be the kind of person to say I owed them, Granger. Maybe you would've been better off in Slytherin after all."
"How dare you!"
"How dare I what? I'm telling the truth Granger. It hurts, don't it?"
"The Sorting Hat never had any doubts!"
"That was then. This is now."
"How wonderfully cliche. Well, what are you going to do about it, Malfoy?"
"What can I do? I'm leaving."
"Then leave! Good riddance!"
He gave her one last, unclear look. Was it troubled, or angry? Upset or sad?
'It's time to get up. Time to get dressed. Time to go.'
'It's time to say goodbye.'
The thoughts echoed in his head.
"Goodbye Granger. I might see you in school, and do me the favour of pretending that we never spoke."
"Spare me, you stupid git. Fuck off."
"I hope you have fun in jail, mudblood. I hear they're pretty rough with little girls." With a sneer he strode from the kitchen.
Sirius came downstairs just in time to see the front door bang shut.
"Do I need to ask- nevermind. Come upstairs Hermione, Masako's in a serious way. Worry about Malfoy later."
"Who said I was worried about that Death Eater?" She muttered as she began to ascend the steps.
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He strode throughout the busy London streets, jaw clenched and fists tightened.
'How could this have happened? I honestly thought that she was...that she could have been the one...'
He felt a strange sensation, a tightened burning in his eyes and then a cool, liquid trickle trailing down his cheeks.
'I'm crying.' He stopped dead in his tracks.
'I haven't cried in 14 years.'
Suddenly, looking at the world around him, he saw it in a new light.
He stood, gazing in wonder at this muggle world, the electronic billboards and giant tv screens.
He shook his head.
"I can't go back. Not now."
A vision of his father, the man before the slave, the philosopher and gentleman flashed into his mind.
"Never start anything you wouldn't finish. Remember that. You are a Malfoy."
Suddenly Draco had a sense of where to go.
"Taxi!"
A blur pulled up abruptly.
"Take me to Grand Central. And hurry."
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It had taken them a night and a day but the toxins were finally all out of Masako's system. He was currently sleeping off the rest of the three days on a beanbag as he needed the rest. Hermione had gone home.
Harry lay on his back, staring at the ceiling.
What the fuck was going on? Malfoy had dropped Masako off, gone with Sirius to see to the door and never returned. He needed something to do.
He growled and threw a tennis ball at the door in frustration. It made an empty thud that nobody noticed.
The door swung open. Well, almost nobody.
"You alright there, Harry?"
Sirius's strange half-son.
"Yeah, no worries." He waited for the door to close. The motion began, but was paused in half-action.
"I'm going to Josh's now...did you wanna come with me to see Hermione?"
Now there was an idea.
"Yeah, sure. I'll be up in a second. Uhhh...ask Sirius what to do about Masako."
The door half-shut as Daniel talked to Sirius in the background.
Look at all the clouds making pretty pictures over the moon...
"He says just leave him, should be ok with just Sirius here."
"Ok. Let's go then." He rolled himself off the bed and got up as Daniel held the door open.
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It was now ten o'clock, pm. Draco stood on the edge of the roof, silently watching Daniel's car pull out of the Granger's driveway.
This house he had been in, not five hours ago. When he picked up the pieces of his life, stuck them in an expensive silk bag and moved out. Homeless, nowhere to go. Said goodbye politely to Mr Granger as he shook his hand, kissed Angelina on the cheek and quietly gave Jacob a thick roll of banknotes to give to his parents and to buy himself a treat with. And walked out. Tried not to look back because he knew if he did, he'd see a heartbroken and confused little kitten watching from the stairs.
He sat down, peering over the edge every now and again.
Sighing, he withdrew a heavy package from a pocket over his heart.
A glass book. Each page so delicate, yet so strong. Like a spider's web.
From his coat pocket he withdrew an expensive looking letter printed on heavy parchment. His expression never changed as he read it.
"Hermione Granger,
Be careful with this book lest it break into shards
And pierce that cold barrier that was once your heart
No apology given, receptance would be blame
Because I hear you mentally cursing every time you think of my name
Everybody goes on about how love is so cliche
But you took a risk and allowed me to partake in this game
I epitomise my name now, cold and ruthless as I leave
But one girl touched my heart and she'll always be special to me.
-M.
P/S Take care of Snowball please."
Biting the inside of his cheek, he withdrew heavy vellum from his pocket and proceeded to carefully wrap the small glass book, engraved and traced and detailed all over with runes. As he completed the last fold of the vellum it disappeared, leaving a seamless case.
"Granger una kei." He whispered, drawing a rune over the parchment. No sign appeared, showing that the key spell had been successful but he suddenly felt a slight weight in his hands that told him it was now enchanted. Nobody would be able to tell that hadn't been holding it before. He folded the parchment letter and bound it to the package before he sent it off on the wings of the night.
"Wingardium Leviosa."
And with that he stood, not wanting to see her face again and began to Apparate back to his hotel room.
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"C'mon Harry, we're here." Startled out of his reverie by a cold gust of wind, Harry looked to the other side of the car to notice the door open and only a pair of pants visible as Daniel stood outside the car.
"Oh." He slowly swung his door open and stepped out into the chilly night.
The main door opened, letting warm light spill out and a figure stood on the porch.
"You two coming in or what?" Josh asked mildly as he hopped from one leg to another.
As they ascended onto the veranda Harry noticed that the reason for Josh's temperature drop may possibly have been the fact that he was only wearing a pair of boxers and some old socks. Plus the fact that he had a bowl of ice-cream in one hand, of course.
"Thanks Josh."
"Yeah mate it's bloody cold tonight, isn't it?" They asked as they stamped their feet on the doormat and trudged along on the wooden landing. Josh shrugged.
"It's warm in here."
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"It's absoloutely fucking freezing. I don't know what's wrong with this hotel. The thermostat must not be working." Damien shook his head to dislodge a few rogue snowflakes.
"Probably not." Draco stood aside to let him in. He had no idea what a thermostat was.
"Thanks."
Draco remained silent.
Once inside Damien made himself comfortable in one of the arm chairs.
"Heat." Draco commanded, more or less. There was no fancy spellwork here, just a command, written in stone.
The room became mildly bearable, then pleasantly warm.
Damien nodded to himself, satisfied as he removed his heavy winter coat. Draco flopped into a chair and lounged elegantly.
"So. What happened?"
"Nothing happened."
Damien narrowed his eyes.
"There must have been something."
Draco looked away.
"No." Damien sighed.
"Of course there was. C'mon Draco, it's me. Damien. Your cousin. We always used to talk, about everything. We used to play video games together."
"What do you think I am, a child? It'll take more to open up than that."
"Well how about this. I am _all_ you have left. I am, everything." Draco clenched his teeth. This wasn't how it should be.
"This is wrong." He conjured a tiny dancing flame on his finger, and just watched the flame.
"Suit yourself. I've got all night." Said Damien, leaning back as he apparated a hot chocolate from the bar.
"All night and all day? And what if what I have to say takes weeks, months?"
"It won't. But if it did, I'd sit here and listen. Listen Draco, what I said was wrong. It wasn't just I'm all you have left. It's....you're all I have left too."
"Don't appeal to my heart, you forget I don't have one."
Damien gave a half snort, half laugh.
"Don't be stupid. If you didn't have a heart you wouldn't have fallen in love with a mudblood."
He was lucky he didn't move. The ellipse of flame just missed his ear.
"Don't ever judge me to have commited the same mistakes as you, cousin dear."
There was a reflective silence.
"They put Dragonbane in him."
Damien nearly dropped his glass.
"This Masako guy?"
"Yes."
"Geez. Christ....how the fuck did they get hold of that?"
"As if I'd know."
It was...different for Harry. He would never have been allowed into his father's potion shop to watch him brew lethal and dangerous concoctions. To be allowed to add ingredients. To actually take part in making Dragonbane. And to be subjected to it years later.
Damien knew about Dragonbane because his father was the same way. But, not so well associated with Voldemort. But a philosopher and a gentleman. And of course, prone to dabbling in the Dark Arts.
Damien also knew about Draco's time under the Dragonbane. He had been the one looking after him. He had to wear special clothing and be under a special spell so that whatever hallucinations Draco was going through wouldn't affect him, so Draco would never want to kill him. He would never have the stench of death, or the face of a corpse.
Damien was clever. He got out while he was ahead.
"I cried." Draco suddenly broke the silence.
"Emotions are a funny thing."
"I wish I didn't have them."
"Even the memories? After all, a memory is really just an emotion with pictures."
Draco frowned.
"No, not the memories. I'm going to keep those memories till the day I die."
"Perhaps you should say sorry?"
"What for? It was time."
"Time for what?"
Draco gave a short laugh.
"It's time to get up. Time to get dressed. Time to go."
"But never time to say goodbye." To his horror and shame he felt that burning at the back of his eyes. He quickly stomped on it and watched his vision clear.
"Fate has a funny way of deciding things."
"Very funny. Ha ha." He laughed drolly.
"You still have two weeks."
"I still have my father to sort out."
"Ahh. Well that one, come to me and I'll help you with it."
"No, it's my family. My problem."
"And am I not family?"
They stood.
Draco's mouth was dry.
"No, you relinquished the Malfoy family a long time ago."
Damien's piercing gaze watched him.
"I gave it up. I never gave up my blood."
They watched each other warily for a minute or so until Draco tore his eyes away.
"Thank you for dropping in." He remarked smoothly.
"Thank you for having me. You have my number?"
"Of course."
"I expect to see you before you return to school." Damien dis-apparated away.
Slowly Draco went about his nightly routine. He brushed his teeth, cleared the plates away and turned down the sheets. As he gathered his clothing to change however, he paused once he had shut the door to the bathroom.
He looked into the mirror. Examining himself. His eyes.
He couldn't look away from his own eyes.
He was a mess. His hair unbrushed and his eyes bloodshot and his skin dry. He needed a shave.
His eyes flickered towards the broom hidden in the bath tub.
Sighing and shaking his head, he got changed and switched off the lights, rustling the sheets as he climbed into bed.
Draco fell asleep uneasily, to the sound of his own breathing.
Something which hadn't been the loudest noise in a long time. Tomorrow would be a new day.
And who knows if we'll ever last till the morrow.