Dream Connections: Chapter 14
Together Again...?
Draco smiled to himself for the umpteenth time that week. He and Harry were back together after what seemed like an eternity of heartbreaking silence. He glanced down at the cushion beside him where his and Harry's hands were clasped. His heart was filled with so much joy he could hardly keep from shouting it to the world.
The adorably reunited couple was seated together on the couch in Hermione's room, waiting for Hermione to finish getting ready for their trip to Hogsmeade. Ron sat sullenly in one of the chairs. He was still slightly angered by the lengths to which Harry carried his grudge against him, Hermione, and Draco. He still couldn't believe that Draco had taken the prick back so easily.
"If it'd been me," Ron had said grumpily to Harry. "There would be no forgiving you that easily. You'd have to work to earn my trust again. Honestly, you acted like an utter and complete girl!"
Hermione had glared at the red-head and he'd faltered. "An unbelievably stupid girl, though, because no girls I know would have carried on for so long."
Thus, Harry and Ron were still slightly out of sorts. As for Draco, he was just glad it was over. In his mind, there was no use in grudge retaliation if it meant that he'd have to spend any more time without Harry by his side.
"I'm ready!" Hermione called to the boys as she wound her way down the stairs.
The group made their way down to Hogsmeade in a fairly comfortable silence, each couple simply enjoying the peace that they hadn't experienced for a full month. When they reached the entrance to the little town, however, Draco stopped in his tracks, squeezing Harry's hand tightly in his own.
"What the hell do you want, Zabini?" Draco narrowed piercingly gray eyes at the slimy git he'd come to despise.
Blaise stood his ground, holding his head high. "I would simply like a word, Malfoy... nothing more."
"Harry has nothing to say to you, you piece of Slytherin shit!" Ron spat angrily. He was still upset with Harry, but there was no way he was going to let Zabini interfere any longer.
"Relax, guard dog." Blaise smirked, dismissing Ron with a wave of his hand. "It's Malfoy I'd like a word with."
"I'll show you a guard dog..." Ron growled under his breath, balling up his fists.
Hermione gently tugged on his arm, however, and started to lead him forward. "Nobody has anything to say to you, Zabini. Why don't you just get lost?" She shook her head and glanced at Harry, who hadn't said a word. "Don't you think we should get a move on, Harry? Sirius is waiting."
Harry nodded and squeezed Draco's hand twice. "C'mon, Draco. Let's not waste any time on this piece of scum any longer. I think we've heard enough of what he has to say to last a lifetime."
Draco shook his head, his eyes narrowed to slits. "No. I think I do have some words for him. You lot go ahead and tell Sirius I'll be there shortly. As a matter of fact, go ahead and order a butterbeer for me. I just need to take care of some business first."
"I really don't think this is such a good idea." Hermione urged warningly. She cast a wary eye toward Blaise. "Previous experiences have shown us that he is not to be trusted."
Draco released Harry's hand and shook his head once more. "I think I can handle this fool, Hermione. Don't worry about me. I'll be along shortly."
Harry and Hermione started to move toward the Three Broomsticks but Ron lingered. "If you need anything, Draco..."
"I know, Ron, and I appreciate it." Draco nodded to the redhead, who turned to catch up with the others. He then turned his eyes back to the boy who'd turned his perfect relationship upside down. "Speak."
"Speak?" Blaise scoffed and crossed his arms. "I'm not afraid of you, Malfoy. If I were, do you think I'd have done any of the things I did? No, you're less than nothing to me. I know how weak and simple you are. You're not even man enough to acknowledge your own family responsibilities."
"What are you blathering on about, Zabini. I have better things to do, so cut the bullshit. What do you want from me?" Draco's temper was quickly escalating, and if Blaise didn't get to the point soon, he'd just hex the trash and be done with it.
"Well, I suppose I haven't been quite honest with you just now." Blaise smiled eerily. "I don't really want to have a word with you. I actually would like to show you something."
"And what would that be?" Draco asked wearily. "I don't have time for your games."
"Oh, this is no game." A cold voice suddenly came from behind Draco.
Whirling around, Draco suppressed a shudder. "Father..."
Sirius glanced up from his butterbeer to look at the door once again. "You sure he said he was coming?"
"For the last time, Sirius... yes... he said he had to take care of some business and he'd be right along." Harry sighed. Not much time had passed at all since they'd been there, but he couldn't shake the nasty feeling he was having.
"I don't think you should have left him with that boy." Sirius shook his head, still looking at the door.
"I said it was a bad idea." Hermione piped up anxiously.
"And yet you left him there..." Sirius responded quietly. "That boy cannot be trusted. Don't you lot remember the trouble he caused? You weren't speaking to each other for a month!" Sirius stood suddenly and tossed a few coins on the table. "I'm going to get him. You stay here. I have a bad feeling about this."
"Yes, Draco, it is me. Surprised?" Lucius smiled coldly at his son, taking a few steps toward him.
"Quite unpleasantly so..." Draco drawled, realizing that he had to maintain some sort of wits about him. He was in a bad situation and needed to stay in control of himself. This was no time to turn into a frightened little boy even if that was how he felt.
"Well, my son, you have every right to be. When I did not receive a prompt response from you, I began to question the intelligence of my heir. I began to wonder if I still granted you too much confidence." Lucius's eyes were trained to his son's every movement. He expected the boy to attempt an escape at any moment. "It was not until I was contacted by Master Zabini, however, that I was forced to realize how wrongly my faith was placed in you."
Draco spared a glance in Blaise's direction. The abominable boy was smiling. Draco's heart hardened with anger, and he clenched his fists at his side.
"Angered?" Lucius gave a short barking laugh. "Malfoys should never let their emotions be known to those around them. Our cold exterior is our strongest defense."
"If I felt the need to hide my anger from you, father, I would. I feel no need to defend myself from you." Draco lied through his teeth. Lying was another of the Malfoy defenses.
"Then you underestimate my disappointment in your actions, Draco." Lucius stepped forward again. "You must understand how I felt when I was informed that my only son is not only a homosexual, but is also involved with my master's arch nemesis." He narrowed his eyes slightly. "It was not disgraceful enough for you to decline my lord's extension of good faith in you. You found it necessary to betray us both in one fell swoop."
"I feel no sense of loyalty to you or that ungodly thing you blindly follow." Draco knew that he was crossing the line and could never go back, but he had to keep his father talking. If he didn't, his life as he knew it was over. Either his father would kill him, or he'd deliver him directly into the Dark Lord's clutches. Neither option looked good for him.
"So, you do not deny any of this, Draco?" Lucius's eyes flashed dangerously as he eyed his son.
"There is no point in denying what is inexorably the truth." Draco clenched his jaw and maintained eye contact with his father. It was crucial not to show weakness at the moment. "I am indeed involved in a homosexual relationship with the savior of the wizarding world, Harry James Potter. Is there a problem with that, father?"
Lucius gripped his wand tightly in his hand, brandishing it at Draco's throat. "I do not deny that you have upset me greatly, Draco. This, however, is not my weakness but yours. You have apparently not learned to never cross the path of a greater wizard than yourself."
Draco laughed. "Do not tell me that you are referring to yourself. A greater wizard, are you? I do not find it possible to believe that a greater wizard would ever bow down at the feet of a raving lunatic."
"You are causing me immense grief, Draco." Lucius closed his eyes momentarily before locking them with his son's once again. "I had developed such high hopes for you over the years since your birth. You had, of course, disappointed me numerous times. Yet, I still remained avid in my beliefs that you would ultimately bring glory to the Malfoy name, proving yourself worthy of your title, heir to the Malfoy legacy." He advanced even more closely to his son. "Our little chat is over, however, as is my period of grace. You will dearly regret all that you have done to defy your father and the Dark Lord."
Draco never took his eyes from his father. "Do your worst, father. No matter what harm befalls me, I will never concede that I have made a single wrong decision. I was wise in declining your offers. There is no possible way that you will be able to make me regret what I have done." He sneered in a way that would make any Malfoy proud, and crossed his arms defiantly over his chest.
"If I had not been completely disenchanted with you, Draco, I would admire your will. However, this show of bravery and resolution is lost on me. I have not the time to deal with your theatrics any longer. Come, Master Zabini, you have served me well." Lucius looked to the spot where Blaise had been standing quietly and narrowed his eyes.
The boy was gone. Lucius could not believe that he'd paid so little attention to his surroundings. His son had so enveloped him in their little discussion that he'd let his guard down.
"Something the matter, father?" Draco smiled smugly. "Did your little helper run off on you?" It must sting to be betrayed by yet another adolescent. Tell me, did you trust Zabini?" He did not truly know where Blaise had disappeared to, but it did not bode well for Lucius. He remained perfectly calm himself. He knew that there could not possibly any more danger for him than he was already in.
It was at that moment that Draco spotted Sirius edging up to Lucius from behind. His eyes darted quickly back to his father, but it was not fast enough to hide from Lucius. Lucius whirled around quickly, his wand pointed directly at Sirius.
"Cousin Sirius, how wonderful it is to see you among the living once more. I wonder if it was my son who delivered you from beyond the veil. I must say that it is a pity no one else cared to attempt a rescue previously, but alas the people who had the knowledge to do so were the ones to put you through in the first place." Lucius smiled serenely at Sirius. He knew that he would soon be outnumbered. Turning back to his son, he grinned evilly, pointed his wand at Draco's heart, and muttered under his breath. "Sweet dreams, son." Without a moment's delay, he spun on heel and was gone.
"Sure has a way of leaving, doesn't he, little cousin?" Sirius stepped toward Draco, but paused as Draco didn't respond. "Little cousin?"
Sirius rushed forward as Draco collapsed. He quickly caught the boy's limp and seemingly lifeless body up in his arms. Draco needed help immediately.
Harry, Hermione, Ron, Sirius and Pansy waited anxiously outside Madame Pomfrey's door. Once he'd delivered Draco into Madame Pomfrey's care, Sirius had sent word to the others to come quickly. Pansy had been contacted shortly after the trio arrived in the castle.
No one said a word as they waited for some news of Draco's condition. Harry would let out a quiet sob occasionally and instantly be wrapped in Pansy's arms. Ron and Hermione leaned heavily against the wall, holding hands. Sirius paced up and down the hallway, looking at his feet and wishing he'd come to Draco's aid a little sooner.
After a while, Snape walked through the door, leading Blaise Zabini behind him. Harry instantly hurled himself at the boy, only to be held back by Sirius.
"I hope you're enjoying this, Zabini..." Harry snarled viciously. "'cause when I get through with you, you'll wish you'd never been born."
"Do you hear that, Professor? Harry Potter just threatened me." Zabini smiled smugly.
"Indeed he did, Mister Zabini." Snape turned on Blaise and smiled caustically. "I'm afraid you should be more worried about what I will do to you than Mister Potter, however." With a billowing of his robes, Snape headed in the directions of the dungeons. "Follow me, Mister Zabini. Perhaps it is time for Mr. Filch to have his way with a student once again."
Blaise gaped, but followed Snape obediently. He could tell it was no use appealing to Professor Snape on his behalf ever again. Draco Malfoy was like a son to Snape, and he'd put Draco into harms way... completely unforgivable in Snape's eyes.
The door opened once again and Professor Dumbledore appeared.
"Well, Professor," Harry started. "How is he? Will he be fine? He's alive, right?" Harry was wringing his shirt in his hands apprehensively.
"Mister Potter, I am sad to say that I cannot give you any good news at the moment." Dumbledore shook his head sadly. "We are not exactly sure what is wrong with him as of yet. He is definitely alive, but remains unconscious. Also, he appears to be weakening constantly. We're not sure how much longer he'll last in this state."
Harry looked away, his eyes clouding with tears again. "Well," he choked out, "can I at least see him?"
Dumbledore nodded gravely, and held the door open for Harry. When Pansy, Ron, and Hermione started to follow, he swiftly shut it behind him. "I'm sorry children, but I think that young Harry and Draco should have a bit of privacy. Give them a moment or two before you enter." He smiled gently and turned to make the trek to his chambers. It grieved him to have to see his students experience so many troubles at such a young age.
The door to the Hospital Wing closed soundly against Harry's back, pushing him the rest of the way in. Harry felt at odds in there suddenly, unused to visiting someone else in that place. Normally it was him who was being visited and worried over. He instantly felt a surge of appreciation for his friends, who had had to make this journey for him numerous times over the years.
Harry walked timidly over to the only occupied bed, drawing back the curtains so that he could see his boyfriend. When he saw Draco lying there, unmoving and pale, he felt his heart drop into his stomach.
Draco had only been there for a short amount of time, but, as Dumbledore had stated, he was rapidly worsening. It was as though he was wasting away from the inside. Already he seemed thinner, and his skin was getting a grayish tinge to it.
Harry pulled a chair up next to Draco's bed, settling in for what he was sure would be a long wait for recovery. He took Draco's hand in his, and was surprised at how could it was. He let out a harsh, bitter cry and rested his forehead on the bed.
Harry looked up suddenly when he felt a hand on his shoulder. He hadn't heard the door open at all, and had expected his friends to wait outside a bit longer. When he saw who was standing at his side, he let the tears fall and his shoulders sag as his chest heaved.
Narcissa conjured the nicest chair she could manage at the moment and sat, wrapping both her arms around her son's boyfriend. She couldn't even remember if she'd ever held Draco as he cried, but vividly recalled him holding her the first time Lucius was summoned after the Dark Lord returned.
"Everything will be alright, Harry." Narcissa whispered in her best maternal voice. "Draco will be fine. You'll see. I promise."
Harry sniffed and pulled away slightly to look into Narcissa's eyes. "How can you promise something like that? Dumbledore and Madame Pomfrey don't even know what's wrong with him."
Narcissa saw more curiosity in Harry's face than anything and so took no offense. "Let's call it a mother's intuition." She pulled him back to her chest and decided to pat his messy hair for a little while longer.
A few moments later, Narcissa gave him a squeezing hug, stood, and kissed Draco softly on the forehead. Turning to Harry, who was watching her closely, she told him to listen intently. "There is still time, Harry. Your friend Miss Granger is bright, correct?" Harry nodded, so Narcissa continued quickly. "Tell her that I am certain that the lot of you can figure this out in enough time to save Draco. Also tell her that I am sad to say that I cannot interfere as it is a family matter and duty calls. Am I clear?"
Harry nodded and let Narcissa kiss his cheek. "Will you be back?"
Narcissa smile and walked to the door. "You know I will be."
As she walked out, Narcissa held the door for Pansy, Ron, and Hermione, who quickly made their way to Draco's bedside.
"Oh, my!" Hermione gasped, clasping the end of the bed in her hands. "He looks terrible!"
Pansy said nothing, but sank into the chair Narcissa had left behind. Harry reached over to take her hand in his, and she smiled sadly at him.
"Narcissa said to tell you something, Hermione." Harry said softly, his eyes drifting back over Draco. "She said that she is sure we can figure out a way to save him in time, and that she is sad she can't interfere because it is a family matter and duty calls."
"Well, what the bloody hell is that supposed to mean?" Ron spat. "She's got nothing more to do that say that duty calls?! My mum would be here night and day if it were me in that bed."
Pansy shook her head and squeezed Harry's hand. "You don't understand, Ron. Narcissa had to go home to Lucius. He probably didn't even know she was here. God help her if he did."
"That settles it then." Hermione declared suddenly, placing her hands on her hips.
Everyone simply stared at her for a moment before she realized that she hadn't been thinking out loud. "We'll have to figure this thing out as soon as possible, so there's no use sitting around here. We have work to do in the library. I'm not stopping until I find something, even if it means I have to miss class."
Hermione looked into the gob smacked faces of her friends. "What?" She shrugged casually. "Some things are more important than school."
Author's Note: Hey, I know it's been a while, and I'm not gonna make up any lies about why I haven't updated. Yes, I was busy with school... and, yes, my fiancé likes a lot of my attention… but, most of all, I'm just plain lazy. So, I wrote this a couple months back and never got around to posting it, 'cause my beta reader, Azu Luna, is just as much of a lazy bum as I am. So, this hasn't been beta-ed… don't shoot me.