A/N: Hey guys! It's gonna be a super short chapter today (I have been crazy busy) but I wanted to update anyway. :) Oh, also, I wanted to let you guys know that I haven't been able to reply to any PMs for the past few days and won't be able to until later this weekend. Sorry! I just wanted to let y'all know so you don't think I've abandoned you! :)
Anyways, please enjoy!
Draco sat up with a gasp. He'd been dreaming of the Room of Requirement, fire and falling. A shout was still on his tongue. Swallowing hard, he blinked. Where was he? Heart beating fast, he tried to stand, but fell back onto the folded blanket he'd been laying on. Rubbing his eyes roughly, he looked around. He was in a tent. A slight breeze seeped through the cloth walls, turning the sweat on his chest cold. Slowly, his eyes adjusted to the darkness and he could make out several forms across the floor from him. Trying to stand again, he pressed his left hand on the ground but instantly regretted it. A shooting pain flowed up his arm. With a dry gasp, he clutched it to his chest. The same dirty bandages were still wrapped about his wrist, but it looked as though someone had tried to wash away most of the blood. Biting his lip in frustration, he eased back onto the blanket, supporting his head with his right arm. Suddenly, the tent flaps flew open. There was a small noise.
"Are...are you awake?" A familiar voice asked.
Sitting up once more, Draco saw who it was by the light of the full moon: Ginny Weasley. With a groan, he felt his last little bit of hope slipping away.
"Ron! Hermione! He's finally awake!"
Two people sat up and stretched.
"Lumos." Hermione's voice rang out.
Ron made his way to his sister's side. "Well, Malfoy, I think you might owe us an-"
"Just kill me." Malfoy whispered, voice hoarse and shaky.
"Gladly." Ron retorted, crossing his arms.
"Ron-" Hermione shot him a warning glance. "You do know we just saved your life, don't you?" She glared at Draco.
"You should've just let me die. But I suppose you wanted the pleasure of saying you killed me? Well it doesn't matter. He'll kill me if you don't." His eyes were wide with panic.
"Shut it, Malfoy. We're not going to kill you-" Ginny snapped.
"That's not to say we wouldn't like to-" Ron interrupted.
"Ronald!" Turning, Hermione glared at him. Then, she whispered, "Look, we don't know who's side he's on-"
"Making him all the more dangerous."
"Please, just...take Dennis outside and-"
"And what?"
"And...I don't know! Do something! You're not helping here."
For a second, Ron's eyes held a look of pain, then he frowned and marched out of the tent, followed by the youngest Creevey. Sighing, Hermione turned to face Draco. The blond Slytherin's face had drained it's color and his eyes were wide with agony.
"What is it?" She asked, eyes falling to his left hand. It was clenching into a tight fist and his fingernails had punctured his skin. Slowly, crimson blood became visible.
"What the Hell is wrong with you?" Ginny stepped back, her face wrinkling in disgust. With a flinch, Draco clutched his arm to his chest. Then, his eyes rolled up into his head and he passed out.
Draco shouted and cried in his sleep all night, but did not wake again. Sweat continued to pour down his face. Luna had used a wet cloth to wash the blood off of his hand but did not change the bandages on his wrist, for she knew what they were covering.
"Do you think it's his Dark Mark that's causing him all the pain?" Ginny asked, falling beside her.
"I think so." Luna replied, uncorking a bottle.
"But, why all the burns?" Ginny questioned further, grimacing as she watched Luna change the bandages they had put on Draco the previous night, which were now yellowed and stiff.
"I'm not sure. Maybe when he tried to escape, You-Know-Who cursed him." Pouring the potion onto a cloth, she began to wipe down the gruesome skin.
"What is that stuff anyway?"
"This? Oh, it's just a concoction my father and I invented. It really helps with healing."
"How?"
"Well, it contains cancan root, which attracts valki. And valki saliva is very healthy, you know."
"Interesting. Er, have you ever tested it before?"
"Oh, dozens of times." She wrapped a clean rag around Malfoy's hand, leaving the old one still in place.
"Alright, we're ready to move on." Hermione said, strolling into the tent. Ron followed, walking to Malfoy's side. With a grunt, he hoisted the blond boy onto his shoulder.
"Bloody Hell, ol' Malfoy should lay off the pudding."
"He can't be that heavy. You can see his ribs! Speaking of-" Hermione said, slipping her satchel over her arm, "do you think you can give him your extra shirt, Ron?"
"Fine. Gosh, why are you all obsessed with making him comfortable?"
"Until we know that he's our enemy, he's our friend. Now, let's pack up this tent and go."
A/N (Again) Anyway, hope you liked it! I hope to update again this weekend (Maybe on Sunday. We'll see) As always, please follow, favorite, and review! A very special thanks to ArumaR, ElsaElphieGinny, notsing, and Brian1972. You guys are "totally awesome" (I hope you got that reference) Honestly, I was not expecting to get as many reviews as I've gotten so far, so thank you all so much! Please keep reviewing y'all!