Chapter Sixteen
Blood
I wake up in Draco's bed, the other boys in the room awake and getting ready for the day. I sit up, buttoning the shirt I'm wearing, covering myself just in case the curtains around Draco's bed gets yanked open. Draco is fast asleep next to me, catching up on some much-needed sleep. He tossed and turned all of last night; his sleep restless. I was hoping my presence would calm him, but no such luck. Draco turns on his side, his arms falling over my hips, snuggling closer to me. Laying back, I listen to the other boys in the room. The door opens and footsteps fade. I stare at the roof of Draco's bed, resting my hands on Draco's arm. Last night I had a glimpse into Draco's feelings and thoughts. It was brief, but what I saw left me with so many questions. It also made me revisit the conversation I had with Severus a couple of weeks ago. Is my love enough to safe Draco from his family? I study Draco's sleeping face, wondering again what he's hiding, and if he's ever planning on sharing it with me.
I slip out from under Draco's arm, and out of his bed. I get dressed as quickly and silently as possible. It's going to be impossible to sneak out of the boys' dormitory without being spotted. I wish I have Invisibility instead of Empathy. I run my fingers through my hair, hoping it isn't obvious that I spent the night. Who am I kidding? Any idiot will know exactly why I'm slipping out of the Draco's room. I hurry down the stairs and through the common room, hoping that I could blend in with the other students. Blaise catches my eye, giving me a knowing smile, shaking his head. He calls the two students standing by the door, distracting them so I can make a hurried escape. I send a silent thank you Blaise's way, hiding behind some seventh years walking towards the Great Hall. I slip up the stairs and hurry to Gryffindor Tower. By some miracle, I manage to get back to the girls' bathroom, shower and get ready for the day. "You really should be more careful," Harry says, as I walk into the mostly vacant common room. There are a couple of third years making their way to the exit.
"Sneaking around is your speciality," I fire back, not in the mood for Harry's judgement. He's the last one to preach about sneaking around. I'm not stupid, I'm very much aware that Harry, Ron and Hermione are often out and about after curfew, especially Harry. I don't question them, so I don't want them questioning me. I walk past him, wanting to get to the Great Hall for breakfast. "What do you see in him?" Harry asks grabbing my elbow, stopping me in my tracks. I turn to look at him, his green gaze studying me intently. I look down at his fingers curled around my elbow, pulling my arm free from his grip. "It's none of your business, Harry," I snap, leaving him in the common room. I hurry to the Great Hall, finding a seat next to Blaise. "Sleep well?" he sniggers, handing me a pastry. I roll my eyes, with a laugh. "I have no idea what you're talking about," I shrug, taking a bite from the sweet pastry. The food at Hogwarts is great, and I particularly love the pastries. The selection today is lemon curd, blueberry and cinnamon. "Of course, you don't," Blaise bumps my shoulder with his, laughing.
I roll my eyes and continue to munch on the pastry and washing it away with some orange juice. The lemon curd is exquisite. I look up as Katie Bell walks into the room, watching as Harry approach her. He has a hushed conversation with her, his body language tense. I turn my head when Draco walks into the room, looking as tired and defeated as he did yesterday. He walks in and pauses when he sees Harry with Katie, and the worry he's been carrying evident in his eyes. I watch as Draco halts in his tracks, meeting Harry's suspicious gaze. I get to my feet, ready to intervene if need be. Draco turns on his heels and leave the Great Hall a split second later, Harry on his heels. No one else appears to be aware or even concerned by the display I just witnessed. I sit down, shaking my head, processing what I've just seen. My gut telling me that it's not okay. Something feels off, feels ominous. I get to my feet and leave, following my gut and trusting the feeling that's leading me through the Entrance Hall.
I focus my thoughts on Draco, using his presence to guide me. Anger fills me, and I know it is Draco's emotions that I've tapped into. I follow them blindly, focusing on nothing but the emotions. I stop when the emotions are an angry blur, merging into one big cloud. I open my eyes, standing in the middle of the corridor on the sixth floor. I turn to my left coming face to face with a door. I take a step towards the door, my hand reaching for the doorknob, ready to open it. I hear loud voices, like people are shouting. No, fighting the emotions correct me. I push open the door with an urgency that I can't explain. I walk in finding Harry and Draco the culprits behind the emotions and shouts. I stop dead in my tracks as Draco aims a curse at Harry, but before he can finish his curse, Harry yells "SECTUMSEMPRA!" What happens next has me rooted to the floor in shock and horror. Blood gushes from Draco's face and body. There is blood everywhere. I collapse as an agonising pain course through me.
I gasp, crawling towards Draco, blindly. I don't need to see to know exactly where he is. Water splashes against me as I hurry to Draco's side. I blink away my tears and push Harry away from Draco. "Go get Severus," I say through clenched teeth, fighting the blinding pain coursing through me. Harry stares at me bewildered. "Go. Get. Severus!" I bite out anxiously, Draco's blood swirling in sickening pools around my hands and knees. I have a hard time keeping myself conscious, the pain and nausea locked in a struggle for dominance. Pain wins the fight hands down, leaving me gasping for breath. "I'll get Professor McGonagall," Harry says getting to his feet. "GET SEVERUS!" I bellow, my body shaking under the pressure of pain and fear. Harry dashes out of the room, his footsteps fading quickly. I turn my attention back to Draco. The blood is seeping through his shirt in dark red stains. It looks nauseating against his pale skin. Tears stream down my face, as I cradle Draco's head in my lap. My hands are shaking, and I don't know where the bleeding starts, or how I'm meant to stop it. I know I have to stop it, but there are too many cuts to cover them all.
"It's going to be okay," I snivel looking into his eyes. He smiles the tiniest of smiles, his eyes soft in the dim light of the bathroom. "Severus will be here soon," I assure him glancing at the door, straining my ears for sounds of footsteps. I turn my gaze back to Draco, who is looking translucent in the light, his blue veins dark against his skin. He's going to die, I think frantically. I lift my shaking hands and try covering some of the cuts, but it's useless. I don't have enough hands to cover them all. My whole body reacts to that thought with an anguished jerk. My heart gives painful thumps, like someone's hands are grasping it and are squeezing it tightly. Where the hell is Severus? I think. I look at Draco anxiously, and try to urge some of my own strength and life into him. I can't lose him, not like this. Think damn it! I tell myself, scanning my mind for some way to stop the bleeding and save Draco. Severus hurries into the room, Harry on his heels. He barely looks at Draco, before saying a quick incantation with a flick of his wand. The cuts disappear as fast as they appeared. "Get him out of here," I hiss, looking at Severus then Harry.
I don't have to explain, because Severus knows who I'm referring to. He drags Harry out of the room by his arm, leaving Draco and me alone in the bathroom. I get to my feet, and give Draco a hand. He stumbles to his feet, and I stop him from falling over. I place my arm underneath his and put his arm around my neck. When I'm sure he won't topple over again, we walk out of the bathroom. We make our way to the Hospital Wing as fast as we can. Madam Pomfrey greets us at the door, her eyes sweeping over Draco. "He's lost a lot of blood," I explain. He lies down on the nearest bed and I let Madam Pomfrey examine him. After a few minutes, which to me feels like hours, she says Draco will be fine, he just need rest. I exhale loudly, surprised that I held my breath the whole time she examined Draco. I walk over to his bed, with a faint smile. Madam Pomfrey return with a potion and hands it to Draco. He takes it in one big gulp, his face contorted in disgust. I laugh as he hands the beaker back to Madam Pomfrey. His eyes close and he falls asleep. Without letting go of his hand I pull the chair, that's sitting in the corner, closer and take a seat. It's an hour or so before Severus comes in to check on Draco. In whispered tones Madam Pomfrey gives him the information. I don't pay attention to them, my eyes on Draco. He looks peaceful, his chest rising and falling evenly. I feel Severus's hand on my shoulder. I tear my eyes from Draco to meet Severus's black ones. He looks angry, and I don't blame him. I too am, angry, my mood murderous.