Blaise watched his team seeker flit about the pitch, no longer interested in real practice. His own concentration fading he gave a quick whistle, catching Graham's attention. Blaise nodded over his shoulder towards Draco. Graham scowled before waiving Blaise off.
"Do what you want! I am only the captain!" Graham bellowed over the wind, "but I expect you two to run double drills later!" Blaise laughed as he chucked the quaffle towards Graham, blatching right towards Draco. When he finally caught up he reached out trying to snag Dracos broom in a sloppy attempt at blagging. When that didn't work he leaned forward to give himself a boots, this time effectively locking his handle with Draco's, blurting him right towards the Ravenclaw bleachers.
"Knock it off Blaise, now is not the time!" Draco said without heat, dislodging Blaise's broom from his. Draco performed a half felt Woollongong Shimmy, landing in their own Slytherin stands. Dismounting his broom, Draco let it lean against the barrier as he took a seat. Blaise followed not far behind, taking a seat next to the sullen seeker. He didn't have to wait long.
"Have you ever done something incredible stupid and not sure why?" Draco said in a soft breath, not waiting for an answer before he continued. "Last month if you had told me any of this was going to happen I would have replied with something sarcastic like, 'and Snape has taken up ballet and washed his hair!'" Blaise laughed with Draco at the thought of the head of Slytherin wearing a pink leotard doing pirouettes ending in a grand jeté.
"I feel like I am missing some vital parts to this, but am I wrong to think the great Draco Malfoy's luck is finally beginning to run out?"Blaise idly commented as he continued to watch the others practice. Draco's eyes however were glued to the castle, as if it contains all his problems in life. Which for the most part, it kind of did. "I am afraid I can't be of much help, unless you start telling me what is going on."
Draco gave a large sigh.
"She sort of found out," Draco began, "and then I sort of lied again…" he finished, he words trailing off faintly.
"Well then, I suppose you 'sort of' got yourself into quite the mess. Now how about you help a mate out and tell me what has been going on with you lately. Let's start with what I do know. You pulled out a very powerful family heirloom, got a very powerful witch to wear it, lied about what it was, have yet to tell your family whom it was for, um let's see," Blaise continued as he counted off on his fingers, "thrown away family tradition, oh, and yeah, all for a girl whom until recently you couldn't give a rats ass about! Now can you tell your best bloke, why? Why are you doing any of this, it doesn't quite make sense. I mean I understand your girl has looks and brains, but there are plenty others. Why go through so much trouble!" After finally saying what has been building up, Blaise let out a huge burst of air before letting himself fall back onto the bench, gazing into the sky.
"Just the other day you were spilling your woes about the she-weasel, excuse me, Ginny Weasley," Draco tossed out, trying to take some of the heat off himself. "'Merda di pollo', I believe those were your words."
"Ah, not so fast mate, this here is about you, not me. For now I have lost my chance, perhaps I will have another, on a day I am not going to make such a fessacchione of myself."
"Are you sure this can't be about you? I hear that Potter didn't get his chance to even talk to your Gryffindor, heard that she blew chunks into his face. Some bad stomach thing…." Draco said lightly, not sure if he wanted to go further into this discussion.
"Really!" Blaise said with a laugh before sitting up forcefully, "Ah ah ah, wait a minute, you can't shake me so easily Draco. I know you. Now what big lie did you tell the little lady this time?" Blaise took a strong hold of Draco's sleeve as the blonde looked like he might jet at any given moment.
"I might have led her to believe that this might not be what it just is…." Once again Draco was talking in circles to avoid the reality of the mess he himself created.
"Seeing on how you are not willing to just outright say it, let's back up again, how did this all start, I mean really?"Blaise questioned. When Draco didn't answer him immediately he shook his arm for emphasis, "come on now, out with it," He demanded.
Knowing he wasn't going to get out of it this time, and truly needed a friend to have his back later, he decided it was time to let it out.
"I guess you could say it started because you stood me up in the library," Draco began.
"Oh no, you are not pinning any of this on me Draco Malfoy!" Blaise began to interject.
"Come off it will ya? I'm not looking to blame, just listen."Draco paused, collecting himself while waiting for affirmation from Blaise that all that he was about to say would be kept in confidence. "So, I was in the library, bored and with nothing good to do. You were off tailing the Weaslette, yeah I knew where you slunk off to, Goyle and Crabb were in detention, and honestly I have been avoiding Pansy since the beginning of the year. So yeah, there I was in the library with the evening in front of me when I saw Hermione sitting there by herself." Draco sighed as he ran his hand through his loose hair.
"It wasn't supposed to be anything. I go over there, tease her a bit, and ruffle her feathers. I don't know, I guess out of the three she was always my favorite to pick on. She would just get so flustered and her face would go all pink and red….I didn't think it meant anything." He paused to sigh once again.
"Draco, as much as I'm glad you are actually opening up to me, I think we should keep the heavy breathing to a minimum, don't want the guys over there to get any weird ideas about us." Blaise said, trying to move Draco along. This only prompted Draco to put his face into his hands, and to heave an extra big sigh before continuing.
"That day was different. She wasn't responding to my taunts, it wasn't feeling sporty. Then I saw she was working on their homework, but when I grabbed it…" Draco paused for a very long moment, reliving that night in his mind. Blaise was about to prod Draco again, only to have to jump back as Draco burst from his seat, now pacing as he exclaimed, "Her own friend were using her! Those fagging idiots! They gave her the choice to do their work or to, to…" here Draco stopped in his pacing and turned, grabbing Blaise by the shoulders, staring him in the eye as he whispered, "Those mangy curds wanted her to be their fag hag and help them get their jollies!" Out of steam Draco sat heavily on the bench next to Blaise.
"Correct me if I'm wrong mate, but did you just tell me that Potter and Weasley are a, a, zona paio di fascine che lo apprezzano in groppa? Ora penso di essere l'unico che vuole vomitare!" It was Blaise's turn to stand and pace. "Scopare! Well I guess that's why Potter is always turning Ginny down, he likes the other Weasley!"
"Yeah, well, even though it seems he is an outright uphill gardener, it doesn't appear that Potter is too picky. We got them one bad grade and they came after her," Draco growled out, hitting the bench next to him with his fist.
"They what?!" Blaise exclaimed.
"I told Hermione that I would help her do their work, like I said, it didn't start as anything. But I helped her, we worked together, laughed, Blaise, I even kissed her! That morning I was on top of the world, only for it to come crashing down. I wasn't there for her when she needed me most. They took her and was about to do…things, to her. I was able to save her, but only by mere seconds." Draco looked Blaise in the eye as he spoke the next part, "I wasn't there when she needed me, I don't deserve her, yet I did the most selfish thing I could. I took advantage of her trust and shackled her to me, and she still doesn't even know everything!"
"This is a bunch of cazzata! And I guess this was the big lie you were talking about earlier?! Draco what did you tell her?"
"She was mad, so mad just now. I just didn't want her to be mad at me, so I lied. I said this wasn't real. But it is…I just want her to cool down a bit before she knows everything. I need her on my side when my parents show up. Between the three of them they would find a way out of this."
"And that would be bad?" Blaise questioned.
"Yes!" Draco shouted, "It would be bad!"
"Why?"
"Because, I think I might actually love her! There, happy? I think I do love her and I don't want her to find a way out of this. It started off just me protecting her while collecting dirt on the 'Golden Boys', and now I'm too far in."Blaise sat and put his arm on Draco's shoulder,
"There is a large gap between thinking you love someone and feeling it. You need to figure that out, and quick." Blaise's words were punctuated by rain drops falling softly from the sky. He stood, and grabbing his broom took flight to the locker rooms, leaving Draco to figure out his thoughts in the thickening drizzle.
oOo
Ginny was on her way to the Quiddicht pitch. It might be raining, but it was their time slot to practice. In the absence of Harry and her brother Demelza took charge of the teams practices, and she had no sympathy for those who skipped. Ginny was absently thinking of how Demelza would make a great captain next year when she heard a cough from an adjacent corridor. Turning she saw Harry, half hidden in the shadows.
"Oh, hi Harry, I um, forgot something, you go on ahead and I will be right back," Ginny tried to turn away, awash in her embarrassment anew, but Harry caught her wrist.
"I was hoping we might talk," Harry began as Ginny tried to pull away, "Please, I need a favor, I'm a bit desperate here."
"If this has anything to do you and my brother you can forget it, I don't want to get in the middle of that." Ginny started off harsh, but saw the sincerity in his green eyes and melted a bit as she remembered this was still the same Harry she has liked all of these years. The only difference was this was a Harry that loved her brother in a way she used to want. "Look, Harry, I'm sorry I threw up on you. I wasn't feeling well. And I'm sorry I have been avoiding you, but..."
"You heard then." Harry whispered. "It's ok, you tossing your cookies like that; I hear it's a natural reaction to bad news."
"Actually, that had nothing to do with it!" Ginny laughed nervously, "A lot of the sixth years were feeling rather ill, Pomfrey said it was due to a batched potion that we inhaled." The two stood there, looking awkwardly at the floor for a while before Harry broke the silence.
"Well, I am glad you are feeling better…can I ask you something?" Harry pleaded.
"Once again, if this has anything to do with your relationship, I would rather stay out of it."Ginny took a firm stance.
"Oh, not at all," Harry blushed, "It is what I came to talk to you about the other night actually." Taking his eyes off the floor Harry asked, "Back in your first year, when you were, you know… when you had him in your head…did you know it? Did you know when he was telling you to do awful things?"
"Harry!" Ginny exclaimed, "Is Vol- is he making you do or say things you don't want to? Is this what Hermione meant when she warned me not to be alone with you?" Ginny was torn between taking a step towards her friend to comfort him, or a step away to protect herself. Rooted to the spot she waited as Harry gave a merciless laugh.
"I messed up really big Ginny. I hurt Hermione, in a very, very awful way. I am always getting my friends, people I love, hurt." Looking at her he declared, "You should stay away from me. It is just like that Hermione's snake said,"
"You are not making sense Harry, Hermione doesn't have a snake!" Ginny said, deciding to step closer to Harry, reaching towards him with arms of comfort.
"She does, it told me! It sees him!" Harry was beginning to babble now.
"Ok Harry," Ginny said calmly, stepping closer yet again, aiming to guide him towards a teacher who could help. "Ok, Harry, she has a snake, and it told you something?"
"I see the evil great within, fight him or he will win. To harm your friends he will urge, until your souls together merge. There will be no way for you to atone, leaving you all alone" Harry repeated in a sing song fashion. "See Ginny, it is my fate to hurt everyone around me. Voldamort is a part of me, and I have to kill him, be killed, or we all die! Everyone should just leave me like it said; I don't want to hurt anyone else..." Harry began to sob. Ginny closed her arms around him, making cooing sounds,
"It will be okay Harry, you didn't mean to hurt anyone. If you-know-who is in your head, then you will fight him out, just like you fought him to save me, remember Harry? And you have beaten him loads of other times. You can do it again, and you don't have to be alone in it." Harry threw Ginny off and she landed hard on her backside.
"You don't understand, I will hurt you!" Harry Shouted, "Just like I hurt Hermione, I will hurt everyone around me!" He went to run past her but she grabbed his ankle, making him stumble and look down at her.
" Harry, No!" was the last thing he heard before his world went black.
oOo
Draco returned to the castle, still wet from the world outside. He debated if he would shower in the Jade Elephant or take a moment to grab some needed things from his dorm. His thoughts were interrupted by a violent squeeze at his wrist. The silver snake slithered about, tensing before falling still. A chill ran down his spine as he ran towards the stairs, taking them two at a time towards the library. When he arrived on the landing there was nothing. The Contegam Uxorem was silent. After the message of urgency and trouble it lay dormant against his skin. That was not how it was supposed to work. If she was in trouble it was to guide him to her. Why was it not working?
Without another moment wasted he tore into the library, running in between the stacks, searching. He was about to run around another bend when he ran right into Madam Prince.
"And what exactly do you think you are doing !" Madam Prince harped. She was already in a bad mood from all the students' crowding into the library due to the rain. Many of whom did not bother to dry off first. As they were surrounded by the fleeting sounds of student laughter Draco shouted back to her,
"Hermione! Have you seen Hermione!" Madam Prince was thrown by the bewildered look of his eyes, the haphazardness present by his hair fly every which direction his clothes dripping onto her library floor.
"If you are referring to Ms. Granger, I have not seen her since she left earlier, long before the rain started. Now unless you wish for detention I suggest you make yourself just as scarce." Madam Prince thought the threat of detention would pull him back to his good senses, but he threw a quick thanks over his shoulder as he ran out of the library.
He searched all the places he could think her to be in, starting at the ground up. After checking the Jade Elephant he decided to go to the Gryffindor tower. That portrait liked him right? Surely it would let him pop in for a moment to check for her. Right? Rounding the last turn he came face to painting with the fat lady.
"Miss!" Draco started, trying to catch his breath. "Miss, I must know, is Hermione in there!"
"Now now, young man," the fat lady chastised. "One does not simply run up to a person and start demanding things, no matter how their last conversation ended." The fat lady peer over her fan at him, waiting for an apology.
"Ma'am, I don't mean to be rude, but this could be very serious!" seeing that she was not convinced he held up his arm, "The Contegam Uxorem sent me an alarm, but now nothing. I need to know if she is in there and if she is alright. Please."
"Well then, are you sure that is a genuine Elric-Cellini? They are not known for their malfunctions after all." Draco didn't even bother to respond, but sent her a trademarked and patented sneer. "Aright, of course it is real. In that case I do wish I could be more helpful, but I have not seen her since that last time that you came up with her." Draco slumped against the wall, dejected at being unable to find her when Longbottom came out of the portrait.
"Malfoy? What are you doing up here, this here is Gryffindor Tower." Longbottom said in a burst of bravery, knowing there was a room full of Gryffendors behind him if he needed back up. Draco leapt from the wall, seizing Longbottoms shoulders.
"Hermione! I need to know where she is! I think she could be in trouble!" Draco once again had a crazed look in his eye.
"Did that tell you something?" Longbottom said, gesturing to the serpent glinting on Draco's wrist. Draco gave him a light thump on the wall. Longbottom winced, "I suppose it would. Did you check the infirmary? Last I heard she was headed there, something serious." Draco let go instantly, practically flying down the stairs. "A guy thinks his gal is in trouble and doesn't think to check the most logical place? I know I'm forgetful, but that's just embarrassing," Longbottom said to the Lady.
"Hush child," she chastised, "Love will blind a fool sometimes."
oOo
Hermione sat next to the cot in the infirmary, looking down at the boy who lie sleeping. Guilt and shame filled her as she thought over all she had learned in the last half hour. After leaving Draco on the pitch she had returned towards the castle, lost in her own thoughts. Before she knew it she was on the stair when she heard a voice shout down the hall,
"I will hurt you, just like I hurt Hermione; I will hurt everyone around me!" Recognizing that voice she ran down the hall, turning a corner to see Harry standing over Ginny. Rage filler her as she heard Ginny say, "Harry, no!" Hermione whipped out her wand and her spell hit Harry square between the shoulder blades. She was so confused when Ginny screamed and crawled to Harry, cradling his head in her arms.
"Why did you do that!" Ginny had shouted. Hermione defended herself, telling Ginny how she had come to save her from Harry. Ginny sobbed,
"Hermione no, he needs our help." Ginny tried to lift him, "Please Hermione, you will understand, just help me get him to Madam Pomfrey."
They levitated him to the infirmary and the older witch took over. She asked several question after sending an interning student to get the Headmaster. When Dumbledore arrived he talked for a moment with Ginny as Hermione tried to drift out of the room.
"Not so fast Miss," Dumbledore began, his voice drifting over her like the pages of an old book. He turned back to Ginny, "If you would be so kind Miss Weasley to fetch your brother. I see there are many things we must discuss." He waited for her to leave before speaking again. "Let us sit, I feel this will take a while, and these old bones don't care for this weather we are having today." Hermione walked over and took a chair by Harry's side, pulling it away from the cot a bit, but like most minute things, the headmaster noticed.
"Miss Gran-," he started, but stopped with a slight cough, "Hermione," He continued, "It appears that an apology is first and for most due to you. May I begin that I would never condone harm to befall any of the students in my care, lest of all those in my school. Alas, I know you, young lady, have been hurt most deeply by one so close to you." Hermione took in a sharp breath. "Yes, I know what happened to you and I am very sorry that you had to go through such terrible things."
"You knew?"Hermione was shocked. He knew? Anger once again filled her and she stood to leave, "You knew, but you let them? They were right! Anything to help him win this bloody war!" As she neared the exit the doors slammed shut and her chair swept her off her feet, the arms holding her as it went back to its place of rest next to Harry. Hermione was not going to look at either of them until she heard the thinly veiled fury in the old wizard's voice.
"Tom always knew how to hurt people most, for it comes from his own hurt deep within." Hermione chanced a look at the headmaster, but on his face she only read sadness. "I knew what was happening, but you must understand, there is more at work here than you see. Tell, what do you know about Mister Potters afflictions as of late?"
"Harry," Hermione was not sure where to begin. She glared at the older wizard through teary eyes. "He said he would hurt me and he did. He said you would do nothing to stop him, and he was right. But I don't understand why! If I had brought it to you, it hurts to know you would have done nothing!"
"Once again, I say that I am sorry that in the way of things that I too have hurt you. But I need you to focus you mind on the question that I am giving you. How has Harry been acting lately?" Hermione saw the Professor was trying to lead her to some bigger answer, but was reluctant. She did not want any reason to justify Harry's actions. They were inexcusable! But still, knowing the headmaster, there was a reason behind this thread of conversation. He nodded to her and she began to list the things she has noticed.
"He has been distracted, secretive, often agitated, easy to anger …" Hermione trailed off as thing clicked into place. "It can't be! I thought Harry was taking lessons to block You-Know-Who from his mind? How has he been able to enter and influence Harry's actions so much?"
"That, I do not know." Dumbledore admitted.
"But you did know what they were doing, what they did to me. Why? Why did you let them? How could you? If you knew Harry was being possessed by You-Know-Who, why didn't you help him?" Hermione hiccupped as she wiped some of the tears from her face. She heard the wizened wizard take a deep breath, centering himself before answering her.
"I was told Tom would try something of this magnitude to hurt Harry by breaking his friendships. He is learning that it is part of Harrys great strength. He does not understand it full, but wishes to take it away from him still. What he does not know is that he has unwittingly given Harry yet another piece of armor in which to protect himself, with your help of course." Here the Headmaster gave a small sad smile to Hermione. " I understand knowing that it was not entirely Harrys fault doesn't take way the hurt you are feeling. Yet, do you know what one of the greatest types of love is?" When Hermione declined to answer the headmaster continued his monologue. "Unconditional Love. That is a love without limits, a love that is kind and nurturing, but most of all; it is a love that is forgiving. I am not telling you what to do, but rather am arming you with the knowledge that you can turn things about and make it into something better and anew."
"How? How did you know? How could you decide that this was absolutely the way things needed to happen? How did you get the right to decide on things so personal as this!" The headmaster's face became stern as he released the spell binding her to the chair.
"I did not, it was foretold. This was only one half, there is yet more that you will do to turn the tables for the side of the light. I could not, and would not, change any of it. There is too much at stake here." Dumbledore stood to leave before Hermione could give her retort about prophesies being utter bullshit. "Another time Miss, I believe you are about to have a visitor." And with that he exited to Madam Pomfrey's office.
Hermione had half a mind to follow him, she was not done here! Her steps were halted when she heard a great slam. Turning to look at the entry, there framed between the large heavy doors was none other than Draco Malfoy. He was not his usual well put together self. He stood there, dripping in his quittich uniform, hair sticking out at all angles, his breath ragged as if he had been running a marathon. Hermione did not get a moment to collect herself as he charged into the room, gathering her into his arms. He pulled her in tightly, burying his face in her hair.
"I," He gasped, "I thought you were hurt. I looked all over for you. I couldn't bear the thought that I wasn't there to protect you this time." Taking in a deep breath, he pushed back from her, this time studying her to check for anything out of place. "Your okay!" He exclaimed.
"Yes, I am, now what is this all about? I am fine! Been fine!"She protested as he embraced her once again. She heard a muffled response containing the words 'Longbottom', 'serious', and 'hurt'. "What? Why are you going to hurt Neville? What has he got to do with any of this?"
"He said you were off to the infirmary, that you were seriously hurt." Draco's voice quivered between worry and pouting. "If you are unharmed, then why are you here?"
"You're right, I wasn't hurt," Hermione pulling away from Draco to look at the prone form lying on the bed, "Harry was."
"Who cares if Harry Bloody-Potter is hurt! Serves him right it does. Now come on, we have better things to do, like cuddling the whomping willow, or even swimming with the giant squid preferably." He took a firm hold of Hermione's hand, urging her to follow him. Instead of compliance Draco experienced a sharp tug as she stood her ground.
"I care because I was the one to blast him in the back!"Hermione's words were met with the roll of his eyes.
"And I am sure you had good reason to, in fact, you have plenty of reasons to do more than that. If you want to kick him about while he is out, I am all for it, otherwise lets go."
"That's just it, I thought I was doing the right thing when I sent my spell at him, but now I'm not so sure anymore." This time instead of trying to break free of his grasp Hermione took both of his hands in hers, looking him directly in the eye. "Draco, what I am about to tell you is something I know you are going to disagree with, I don't even know if I agree with it yet. But I need you to accept it, and to stand with me." Draco looked uneasy suddenly, her words building a pool of dread inside his stomach. "Please," She enquired, leaning close to him, "Please say that you will support me in my choice, and that you will stay by my side in this difficult decision. You have helped me through so much recently, and I know it isn't fair of me to ask, but," Hermione closed the gap between him, returning his kiss from earlier, "I need you."
"Fuck me, I can't say no to that Hermione. With a build up like that I know I am not going to like it, but call me an idiot, because, yes, I agree to whatever. I'm not leaving you." Draco's inner glow of happiness was short lived; it withered underneath other much more negative emotions as Hermione spoke.
"I'm glad, because I am about to do one of the hardest things I will hope to do in my life." Hermione's hands were still clasped as she glanced over her shoulder with Harry still motionless on the small bed. "I think I am going to forgive Harry."
oOo
A/N:
Just to let you guys know I haven't forgotten or stopped working on this story. I rewrote this chapter several times and was never happy with it. Finally I took a break until my mind was clear and I started this chapter from scratch. The only thing that I kept from the original drafts was what the snake said to Harry. I had an alternate non-rhyming version of it, but it just didn't have the same feel to it. I was also able to outline how I wanted to finish the story, before I was driving without a destination. One of the biggest things I was hung up on was how to write Malfoy senior, and he should be in the next chapter. This story is very close to its end and I think that also held me back for a while, but I have been collecting several ideas as they come to me and I want to spend time flushing them out as well. They are mostly Hermione and Draco so I hope that after I finish this story that you return to read those as well.
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