What could go wrong after a sweet session of love making? Apparently everything. The boys' bright future seems to be snuffed out all at once as events begin to unfold. In this sad chapter Harry's world falls apart at the hands of Draco and all hope may be lost.
...
Draco awoke to a rattle from within his nightstand. He shifted around groggily, propping himself up on his elbows and rubbing his eyes. He felt something warm slide down his back and looked back to find Harry's limp arm resting on him. Draco took a moment to smile to himself as he observed a snoozing Harry, his eyebrows unconsciously posed in a serious look.
Then suddenly the rattle sounded again and Draco shifted his attention to his drawer. He reached over to open it and then began to fumble around, trying to find the unknown source of noise. Draco wondered what it could possibly be when his fingertips brushed against a hard, vibrating object. He grasped it and pulled it out of his drawer.
Draco felt his blood flow away from his hands leaving his fingertips frozen.
He stared down at the cold, silver snake statue. It stared back at him, its green eyes flashing as it continued to vibrate against his palm. Draco quickly got up from his bed, being extremely carful not to jostle Harry. He plodded out to the common room, his feet bouncing quickly from the cold stone to the carpet. Draco sunk into the couch, the ancient cushions attempting to swallow him whole. He stared for a moment at the statue, remembering Voldemort's instructions to press down on the head of the snake in order to communicate. He knew that he had to follow through; otherwise he would just be in more trouble for not answering. And what was worse, if Draco fell short his parents could also be in danger.
Draco felt his stomach turn. Perhaps Voldemort was watching him at this very moment. He would know of Draco's hesitance. He also wondered what Voldemort had and hadn't seen in the past twelve hours. He hoped that it hadn't been much. The thought of him seeing anything more left Draco feeling nauseous.
So, with shaking fingers Draco pressed his thumb against the snake, awaiting a response.
"Ahh, Draco. So good of you to finally answer," a familiar, raspy voice hissed from the silver snake's mouth.
"My apologies, My Lord," Draco replied, his head tilting slightly in a bow subconsciously. Draco could feel his fingers quake and shiver threatening to drop the snake. He took several deep breaths trying to gain control.
"So, Draco, would you be so kind as to report on the days events. I have had a difficult time locating you in the castle, unfortunately. You seem to have found all of the right blind spots to hide in. But from what I have seen I do believe that you may have something to tell me."
Draco felt his heart race. How much had Voldemort truly seen? Did he know of Harry's feelings, of his vulnerability? But more importantly, did Draco dare attempt to conceal the truth? Could he possibly lie to the Dark Lord?
Draco shook his head. This was all becoming too much. The consequences were much too dire for such a risk. This mission was important to him and his parents. Their lives depended on it. And as it was Draco needed to secure his place as a competent Death Eater who was faithful to Voldemort.
Not that he was. Draco was merely too afraid and had seen the dark wizard in action. Enough to be sure that he was not one to cross.
'But, Harry…'
Draco shook his head, wishing for his heart to stop throbbing and for his throat to stop constricting painfully.
"Well, boy? What have you to report?" Voldemort asked, irritation clear in his haunting voice.
Draco took several deep breaths. He had to answer quickly and calmly so as not to seem rattled, yet the only thoughts in his head were of the countless victims that had been tortured by Death Eaters, eaten by Nagini, or killed by Voldemort.
On his final exhale Draco knew what he must say. He had to do what was best for him and his future. He had no other choice.
…
Harry awoke with a start; the bed springs creaking violently as he jolted out of bed. He wiped a layer of sweat from his brow, trying to catch his breath. Upon glancing around he remembered that he was in the Slytherin Dormitory. Definitely not the best place for him to be.
He quickly dressed and walked cautiously towards the exit, trying to ignore his heart's panging at the fact that Draco was nowhere in sight. Nevertheless, Harry ducked out of the portrait unseen and dashed up the dungeon steps taking two at a time. He tried to keep up a calm pace upon reaching the upper floor, the afternoon sun beginning to sink behind the trees. However his heart wouldn't stop fluttering, each beat sounding like 'Dra-co, Dra-co, Dra-co.'
Harry nervously rubbed his chest, playing with the buttons on his shirt. He felt extremely jumpy, each whisper and exclamation from a passerby catching his attention. He felt himself straining to hear things in the distance hoping to locate the one person that seemed to have completely dissolved from Hogwarts.
'Where could he be? Where could he possibly be?' Harry wondered, his throat dry and his palms clammy from panic. He was going in circles around the castle with no result. But he couldn't stop moving. He felt that if he didn't keep searching, didn't keep walking, Draco would be lost to him forever.
"Hey, Harry!" A familiar voice called out causing Harry to jump and turn around, coming face to face with his red headed friend. A part of Harry noticed that Ron was looking better than he had lately: no dark circles under his eyes, no sad or blank expression, and a slight spring in his step. He was happy for that, but it couldn't distract him from the thoughts that were consuming him.
"Ron, Ron have you seen Draco?" Harry asked desperately, placing his hands on his friend's shoulders when he came into reach. He suddenly noticed how out of breath he was and how tired his legs were.
"Mate, are you doing ok? You don't look so good…" Ron said, observing Harry's pale skin and the droplets of sweat collecting like dew on his forehead.
"I'm fine I swear," Harry panted, removing his hands from Ron to wipe his face on his sleeve. As he caught his breath he realized that asking Ron for Draco's whereabouts was nearly pointless. He must have sounded like a maniac… but what else was he to do now?
Ron looked Harry up and down, taking in his anxious state. He could tell that Malfoy had done something serious this time. This wasn't like all of the other times Harry had been distracted by that particular Slytherin. Ron knew that he had to tell him.
"Harry… I have seen Malfoy," Ron paused and watched his friend's face contort in surprise and excitement, "but… the last time I saw him he was heading to the gates. It seems as though he's… dropping out of Hogwarts."
Static.
All Harry could hear was static. All he could feel were his insides spinning. His mouth grew incredibly dry and he was having a hard time remembering to breath. A question hung on his lips so heavy it spilled forth from his mouth.
"Why? Why is he…? Why?"
"Harry!" Ron shouted, shaking Harry's slumped shoulder, "If you hurry you can still catch him. His parents aren't here to pick him up yet."
Harry's head snapped up and his pupils flickering around wildly as he processed Ron's statement. All he could do was nod once before tearing through the corridor and bounding towards the grounds. Ron watched his friend vanish in the distance before following slowly behind. Although he did decide to stop pursuing Harry, they were still best friends. He would be there to pick up the pieces every time.
…
Everything was blurring together.
The green trees, the brown, ancient trunks, the grey stone steps and the hazy sky that settled dusk on the landscape; Harry passed by it all. He had no idea what he would say or how he would react to Draco's departure. All he knew was that he couldn't just sit idly by. He had to say something or persuade him to stay.
And if he couldn't do that, he was going to make him feel like shit for leaving.
Then suddenly he had reached the gates. He could see them coming closer and closer every second. He could also see a carriage drawn by Thestrals waiting on the grounds, and more importantly, a shock of platinum hair about to disappear inside it.
"DRACO!" Harry shouted with burning lungs, his throat sore with a coppery tang in his mouth. He plodded to a stop only meters away, sweat pouring down his face and soaking the back of his shirt. He spat in the dirt as he wheezed loudly as he tried to find the words to say. What could he say?
"Potter. What are you doing here?" Draco's voice was quiet and cold, but close. That's all Harry cared about.
"Draco…" Harry huffed, looking up at his distorted figure through watery eyes. "Draco, why?" Harry straightened up to watch and he blinked the saltiness out of his eyes. He wanted to hear what Draco had to say. He wanted to watch his facial expressions and be able to see the truth.
Harry observed as Draco's lips tightened and his eyebrows furrowed, his heart sinking with each millisecond. Harry felt himself shiver as Draco met his eyes with hard, silver irises that portrayed absolutely no uncertainty.
"I have no idea what you are blabbering about, Potter, and my goings on are none of your business in the first place. If you'll excuse me I must be going."
Draco began to turn, his eyes nasty and glaring, pinning Harry to the ground. He could hardly believe it. No, he wouldn't. Harry couldn't accept it. He was sure that he had seen something, something in Draco's eyes, in his posture, his words. There had to be something that gave away his true feelings.
"No! You can't mean that!" Harry shouted, his finger's tangling in Draco's cloak, pulling him back. "What about what we said? Everything we did? I know that meant something to you!"
Harry stepped towards Draco, yanking him into an embrace. He knew that if he could touch Draco, if he could kiss him again his guard would crumble. He was sure of it.
"What the hell are you doing!" Draco barked, jerking his cloak back. Harry reached forward to entwine his fingers in the fabric again, but was sent staggering back, a sharp pain throbbing in his left cheek.
Harry held his face, he could taste the distinct, warm flavor of blood in his mouth and could feel it dripping from his nose and dampening his lips. He stared at Draco in shock watching as the blonde rubbed his knuckles.
"Don't touch me," Draco growled in a furious tone, "And don't try to stop me. This is the way it's supposed to be. I'm certain that you know it as well as I do. We are enemies, and we can't do anything to change that! If you don't remember that you'll end up at the mercy of the Dark Lord's wand someday, Harry!"
With that he turned and ran, leaving Harry speechless. All the Gryffindor could do was helplessly watch as Draco leapt into the carriage and slam the door shut.
Harry sunk to his knees, his wobbly legs giving way as the vehicle lifted off and disappeared in the clouds, his heart disappearing with it. He felt hollow and hurt. Numb. Harry couldn't tell what he was feeling. He felt so full that he could burst… and yet so empty that he could fade away into nothing. He hung his head, fresh blood plopping onto his white shirt, soaking the snowy threads. Amidst all the sadness that made his whole body ache, Harry could only wonder…
'What do I have to look forward to now?'
...
And so we reach the end of this doomed relationship. A love so young extinguished before its time and... Wait. What's that? Is someone coming to the rescue? What an unlikely turn of events!
Only time will tell what will befall the boys in the next and final chapter of 'A New Curriculum'.
(Also there will be an epilogue and a possible bonus chapter. So don't give up hope yet!)