9- An Empty Shell
Harry ran out in the Hall and continued going to wherever his nose would lead him. He didn't want to even think about getting back to the Gryffindor common room right now. He was sure Ron would kill him at sight. He did admit to himself that he had been too harsh, but the redhead should have seen it coming. Hermione had even warned him…
Harry stopped dead in his tracks, wondering why exactly had Hermione warned Ron.
Is now everybody thinking that I love that blonde bastard?
Well, he hadn't been too subtle while running around and cursing everyone that didn't appear to care about Malfoy's disappearance. He smirked imagining a possible confrontation and how he would defend himself. No, it's not how it looks, you all have absolutely misunderstood. I just have a really big heart, I care about people! But he knew he had nothing to be afraid of, after all, he wasn't even gay for starters. So any Malfoy-loving was out of the question.
Harry settled for a slow walk around the grounds of Hogwarts, trying to imagine what his possible action plan could be like. All he needed to figure out was, where Malfoy was and how to get there. Almost a piece of cake…
As he was going through one of the first floor corridors, and heard Snape's distinctive sarcastic drawl. The man was talking to Madame Pomfrey.
Is that woman now everywhere I look or have I begun to hallucinate?
"You have to give me something stronger. The glamour seems to wear down so easily. But it is going so fine at the moment, Severus," the school nurse was talking to Snape, but if Harry wasn't mistaken, she was also trying to flirt.
"This is the strongest possible Glamour Charm there is! And I can't really help you out with the pink candles, because it is not exactly my style, as you could imagine," every time the nurse stepped a bit further, trying to touch him or his hair, he stepped back.
"This is all what you have of lavender oil?" she pouted and looked down at the huge jar that most probably had a capacity of at least three liters.
"That's all I have left from lavender oil and you have emptied my supplies severely since you started to brew this crazy glamour stuff. It doesn't even mostly work!"
"But you just imagine how passionate he has become!" the nurse purred at the Professor and he stepped back once again. "Alright, I am really thankful for your help, Severus. And if you need something from me, don't be shy and just ask."
When the nurse had finally left, the man leaned against the wall and exhaled a long breath. Harry chose to step around the corner at that moment. He smirked at the professor as he saw him: "You do realize that now you have to tell me everything?"
Snape pushed himself back from the wall, straightened and started walking away: "And what makes you so sure I will do that, Potter? If I don't obey, you'll do what? Tell Dumbledore? And then he will whip me? I seriously doubt that, and I think that even you're not so stupid to believe that."
"No. I will tell the reporters that you tried to sexually harass me. It's not like I care what will happen with your image in the eyes of Voldemort. I have heard, he isn't exactly open-minded…"
Harry's smirk widened as the professor halted. It was a typical Muggle trick, but at the moment the Gryffindor didn't care.
Snape whirled around and hissed: "You would never do that! You don't have the guts to do it!"
"Oh, you should never doubt Gryffindor courage, Professor. The reporters believe everything I say and I bet they would even frilly it up a bit. You have to stop giving Pomfrey ingredients. She is making everyone go crazy because of the tons of glamour charm she is using! It just can't go on like this."
"What? She isn't overdosing…"
"Are you blind?" Harry stepped towards the professor and then it dawned on him. "You're gay?"
Snape looked baffled for a minute, if he hadn't been so pale, the slight blush his cheeks acquired, wouldn't have been so noticeable: "Well… I…" He tried to stammer out as Harry just grinned at him, but then the older man sobered, "What makes you think that you can ask something so obscene to a professor?! That is none of your business, Potter!"
"That's why you don't see what she has done to others. And she is using that charm on Dumbledore, isn't that right? That's why he has gone bonkers and talks about love all the time."
Snape stalked forward and hissed in a low voice: "If you let this get out, Potter, and I will be murdered, trust me when I say, I will haunt you till you go crazy, start seeing little pink ponies and have to be locked up!"
"You can buy my silence with a little favor," Harry knew he was being evil and gloating about it, but it was the only way to do something for Draco.
"I will not change my attitude or do anything to humiliate myself!" Snape hissed in anger, his eyes staring daggers.
"No, nothing so childish, I just need you to teach me one thing."
--
Harry had lost all sense of time. It was twilight or maybe just a clear night, he wasn't sure. The boy was sitting in the Owlery and waiting for a message from Snape. The professor had said that he did agree with the deal, but they would have to wait for night time.
Harry hated waiting. He didn't know what to do in the spare few hours. He was twiddling a crumpled piece of parchment on which he knew was Hermione's dragon research. He didn't know if it would help him, or only distract. For a few minutes he wondered, maybe he should just throw it in the lake or burn it, but instead he opened it and started reading in the vague light.
In Hermione's neat handwriting it said:
Wyverns are the vicious and envious vipers of war. Because of their power and endurance they cannot be tamed. They are pestilence itself and bring strength to those who bear their symbols. They are symbols for the rich and wealthy.
Several heads on a dragon means decadence and oppression. The dragon is said to be one of the most cunning magical creatures and is always linked together with unorthodox practices and beliefs, but if their magic is linked with a newborn it might very well for the bearer bring apostasy- a formal abandonment and renunciation of religion and any beliefs. Apostasy might go even as far as a defection or revolt. A person who has been magically linked with the power of dragons' becomes a free thinker and a leader never to be under anyone's command. The greatest wizards of the Wizarding World have borne the symbol of wyvern.
However, nowadays these protection rituals only rarely show any effects, because the wyverns are creatures hard to please. But if the desired connection between them and a wizard has been established, the dragons will go as far as death to protect the bearer of their symbol.
Harry was shocked how directly to the point it all characterized the Slytherin. There were a few things he would disagree on, but mostly, it seemed that Draco resembled a dragon not only because of his name. And it was now for sure that he was protected by the magic of dragons. But Harry was still doubtful about his safety because of what he had heard in his dream. Voldemort and Lucius had done something to avoid Draco's protectors. And he still had no idea what the two of them wanted with the blonde.
--
"You, Gryffindors, never cease to amaze me with your endless trust. Potter, did you even stop to think that you received an unfamiliar owl, saying to meet outside Hogwarts grounds and with no name of the sender? Do you ever consider consequences?"
A voice came from behind him and Harry turned around. He knew it would be useless to try and talk sense into the man, instead he decided to play along.
"Why should I? I have you to do it for me, so why bother?"
"You have finally understood your Slytherin side, haven't you, Potter?" Snape smirked as he saw how Harry's eyes had widened in shock at that statement.
"No matter how I just adore our little talks, we are not here to chat. So, how do I Apparate?"
Snape looked like a vampire in the moonlight, because of his dark robes, long black hair and the pale complexion. Harry imagined that maybe it had been the man's goal. After all, he was pretty weird.
"Potter, it is usually taught in long and safeguarded courses, you know you can splinch yourself, not even mentioning Apparating to Siberia or Antarctica. There are no wizards or even people to help you and I will not be able to trace you. I hope you do realize the credible possibility of danger."
"I trust you to teach me well, after all everyone will blame you, if something happens," Harry smirked, getting tired of everyone worrying about him so much.
"I hope you have not planned to Apparate yourself afterwards on a top of a mountain screaming on top of your lungs- Voldemort, I beg you- take me, I can't wait any longer! I want to be part of your orgies, do as you please with my body! And by the way, set Malfoy free!" Snape sneered with so much malice, that the blood in his veins seemed to be boiling.
"If I didn't know any better, I would swear that you don't care about Malfoy," Harry answered, trying to copy the older man's tone.
"That is exactly how it is supposed to look like, Potter!" Snape stalked forward and grabbed Harry by the throat. "Tell me, why should I, a Death Eater, and knowing the boy's defection, care?"
"Because he defected, as you so nicely put it, of the same reason why you are living in a closet!" Harry hissed and freed himself from the man's grip.
"Then do your best to learn this, Potter," Snape answered and grabbed his wand to be ready if something really bad would happen. He decided not to help if something not too bad happened. After all, a man does need his payback.
"To Apparate you need to concentrate not only on the place you want to arrive in, but also your body and then imagine yourself in the place of choice. You have got to feel every part of your body. And I do mean every part; otherwise you'll get splinched of the part you were not conscious about at the moment. You have to be cautious and envision your whole being and then concentrate your magic on moving you between the layers of place," Snape paused and looked at the boy who was just standing not knowing what to do exactly. The professor sighed. "For Merlin's sake, Potter. Close your eyes, relax. Just stand straight, imagine yourself flying, if it makes you feel free. For now feel your mind, imagine your being and start flexing the muscles. One by one. Start with your toes, leg muscles, just flex them, feel them and then let go and start with the next. It's like meditation to calm yourself. You don't need any incantations or your wand to do it because the magic is in you, not your wand. After you have exercised your muscles you should be aware of them and feel every one of them. Every human being is a biological organism with a mind that makes it function. When you have finished, try to find in your mind your magic. It is a thread going all through your body. And then Apparate. For example, imagine yourself by a tree just few meters further and call upon your magic to take you there. If it doesn't work, you have to do it all over again. In the end, if you have not been successful we will have to stop, because, and this is a rule, memorize it, when you are tired, never Apparate!"
Snape jumped back in shock when he saw Harry disappear for a moment. But he appeared back in the same spot where he had been standing.
"Imagine yourself by the tree, open your eyes and look at it," Harry obeyed and looked. There really was a tree by the edge of the Forbidden Forest. It looked old and ready to fall to the ground by any stronger breeze. "Now close your eyes, keep the image in your head, add yourself to the picture, envision how it would be to stand right now by the tree. Do the exercise again. When will have gotten the touch of it, you will not need to-"
But Harry disappeared. Snape whirled around and saw Harry grinning like a mad man by the tree.
"Quidditch helps, Professor. It also teaches you to be aware of every part of your body, just like any other sport. But I did it!"
"Congratulations," Snape sneered and started heading back to the castle. "Just try to be careful."
--
Harry ran into the common room at five am in the morning. Waking up everybody in his dorm while he was rummaging through his trunk, trying to find things he might need. When he had taken out his father's Invisibility Cloak, Ron sat up in his bed and opened the hangings.
"What are you doing, Harry? Why are you not sleeping?"
The dark-haired boy was surprised that Ron didn't erupt in uncountable curses, but he didn't have much time and he was much too excited to answer.
"Harry what's wrong? Where are you going?" Ron got up, and came over to his friend's bed, but he still was ignoring him. "That's it, I'm getting Hermione."
By the time Harry had packed his things, shrunk them and stuffed his jeans' pockets full and was exiting the common room, Hermione and Ron appeared. They both looked horribly sleepy and not by their right senses.
"Harry, stop! Where are you going?"
Harry didn't stop, he only started running down the stairs, wanting to get this over with as fast as possible, not wanting to worry his friends.
"Harry, are you going to look for Malfoy? This is insane, you don't even know where he is," the boy heard Hermione's bear feet padding fast after him.
He felt pity and turned around, still moving to the exit: "I don't need to know where he is, Herm. I just need to get to him. It doesn't matter where he is."
"Then we are coming with you!" Ron reached them and the trio got outside.
"Yeah, Harry, although you are mental, we are going with you, and will not let you get into trouble," Hermione added.
"You can't," Harry just answered after a sigh. He did want them to come along.
"What?"
"I said, you can not come along!"
"Is that how it is now?" Ron stopped and so did the two of his friends, dreading the tone of his voice. "Is the ferret really more important for you now? More then our friendship?!"
"Ron," Hermione tried to calm him down. "What did I say about being more understanding?"
"More understanding? What the hell is this all about? Do you two think there is something going on between Draco and me?" Harry yelled, disturbing the quietness of the night.
"Then why don't you want us to come along?" Ron yelled back.
"It's not what I said. I would love to have you two by my side," Harry answered a little hurt they thought he didn't want them anymore.
"Then what did you say? What did you mean?"
"I said you can not come with me! That you are not able to come!" Harry yelled in frustration.
"What do you mean by that, Harry?" Hermione, the voice of reason, came forward.
Harry sighed and then ran to the gates. Both of his friends followed. When he was finally outside the Hogwarts wards, he said: "I mean this…"
And he Apparated away, finding inside of him the bond he had with Draco, he even saw in his mind the boy with blonde hair and then he went to him.
Hermione and Ron stood baffled and shocked for a few moments looking at the space where Harry had just stood.
"What the fuck?" Ron mumbled, turning around, looking for Harry, maybe he had hidden somewhere.
"I… I think he Apparated, Ron," Hermione took his hand and started dragging him back. "Now there is nothing we can do."
Halfway to the castle she hugged the boy tightly and burst into tears.
--
Harry found himself in a dark hospital room. The blinds were pulled down covering the windows, but through a few cracks the bright full moon was shining into the room and revealing the locations of furniture. Just by the window there was a bed.
It was just an ordinary Muggle hospital bed and, judging from the devices and overall appearance, it was just an ordinary Muggle hospital room.
With one exception- Draco Malfoy was lying in the bed, wired to the uncountable machines that were measuring his heart rate and helping him breathing and doing other things Harry couldn't imagine and didn't know. All he realized at that particular moment was that Draco looked real bad. He was pale and if there hadn't been the only slightly noticable rise and fall of his chest, he would look dead for certain.
The boy stepped closer, afraid that he could be noticed or could do something to influence the Slytherin's current condition. After a few small and cautious steps he was by the bed and was reaching out to touch the blonde, but his hands were grabbed back and held tightly.
Harry's first thought was that somehow the nurse of the night shift had spotted him and called the security guards, but then he realized that the situation was much worse.
"We have been waiting for you, boy," he heard a hissing voice behind him, coming from the man that was holding him. There was another man, he recognized him from his dream, it was one of the vampires. He was looming over Harry as the boy was being dragged backwards. "Took a long time for you to finally get here, but the Dark Lord will be pleased with your predictability."
"What have you done to Draco? Is he dead?" Harry tried to struggle against the strong arms holding him.
"Don't worry about your precious little playmate. He is only in a coma. The Muggles take care of him. Without his soul his body is just like an empty shell. And we have no use for empty shells..."
Harry started pondering, maybe it was better to start shouting and calling for help, but he didn't have time to do any of those things before he was Apparated away.
The next time his eyes were open, he recognized the large room which he had seen in his first Voldemort dream after he and Draco had been attacked.
Only now it stood empty with one exception- floating in midair in front of them was what seemed to be a large glass ball of liquid light. And then he realized that in the middle of it was Draco.
"What-?" Harry exclaimed looking at one of the vampires.
The man was just sneering: "Let me introduce to your playmate's soul. Don't worry, boy, you will have enough time to get acquainted."
Harry was staring openmouthed at the body inside of the ball trying to comprehend everything. The weirdest thing was that Draco had wings that had wrapped protectively around the soul. The white feathers were moving in the quiet stirs of the liquid like his hair was, that right now looked pure white. He looked asleep and calm, as if he didn't have a sole worry. Just like people often look when dead.
"Almost like an angel, don't you think? A deterrent beauty… And nothing will ever change that, it's not surprising at all that he couldn't be marred," the man was looking pensively at the soul. For a minute it seemed that he admired it and its strength. "Even in the whole world history there have been only a few like him."
"Why did you bring me here? What do you want of me?" Harry asked still gazing at the soul that was calmly swimming around in the ball in an embryo-like position, holding itself in arms; Draco appeared to have an unusual power to be addictive, but Harry tried to break from the trance.
"Don't you care about your little playmate? Just concerned with what will happen to you?" the vampire smiled an unpleasant grin as if mocking Harry.
"I do, so what? But what do you want me for?"
Shock splayed about the creatures face: "Our master didn't tell us you would be so independent of your heart. He said you are more of a soft being."
Harry sneered: "Is that what Voldemort told you? Well, then it appears that I am not so predictable after all. Answer the question!"
"You will have the opportunity to ask himself," the vampire hissed, irritated by the boy's daring.
Harry heard the vampire mutter a curse and then he fell limp against the death grip, the whole world going black.
Author's Note: Lately I have been thinking of the damned summary of this story. I find it dull, after all I was never a short-sentences/limited-characters-sort-of-guy. And I wrote that after the first two chapters where finished, when I had only a vague understanding of what will be in this fanfic. So, if anyone of you would like to help me, I'd appreciate it greatly, by all means, maybe you could give a few hints, the most attractive and pronounced guidelines of this story so far. I myself am so deep in this that I can't even see the beginning and the end, and I don't want to spill any mysteries. So help me, while waiting for the next chapter. Hope you enjoyed this one, thanks to those who take their time and reviewed:)