Chapter 17: Farewell to Sunlight
There had been no sign of Augustan since the attack a month ago.
Tension was running high; and there was a rumor that the long missing Golden Trio would be returning to Hogwarts before long.
Draco had not been visited by any vampires in his dreams and controlling the resonance was getting easier as time passed.
His relationship with Octavia was envied by other students. Why? He didn't know.
Draco and Octavia shared what the Muggleborn students called a Victorian Romance. It wasn't that one desired the other. Draco knew that quite well. At the same time, however, the vampire maiden still seemed so very fragile; still reluctant to open up that part of her. Draco didn't want to risk breaking her trust in him.
As May began to fade into June, it became harder for Octavia to attend classes, yet she persisted. Sometimes she would be supported to make it to the next class and drink extra blood from Draco, leaving him tired and unable to concentrate as much as Octavia.
Not only was Octavia showing symptoms equal to the flu, she was beginning to be emotionally, mentally, and physically drained.
Finally, Draco decided that it was a terrible idea having Octavia join the others in class. Not that it wasn't in the first place, but now it was getting quite ridiculous!
After one particularly tiring day in which Octavia passed out, Draco strode to the Headmaster's office.
"Bloody Marauder," Draco spat. The gargoyle began to move and he jogged up the stairs, skipping two steps at a time. He banged on the door. "Snape!" he shouted. "Open the door! I need to talk to you."
The door opened and a particularly livid Professor glared at Draco. "What," he hissed, "is so important that you'd interrupt a meeting with the Dark Lord?"
Draco ignored him—there were bigger threats to him than Voldemort—and pulled his teacher out. "Withdraw Octavia from her classes."
Snape blinked. "Come again?"
"It's hurting her health. Suspend her or something. At least until she's better."
"This is the important thing you wanted to talk about?" Snape shouted. "This is more important than the D—"
Draco slammed his mentor against the wall. "I have a two thousand year old vampire out to kill me and you're worried about some low time wizard? Just do as I ask. Please."
Snape rolled his eyes. "Fine. I'll just add it to my Last Will and Testimony." He reentered the office. Draco headed back to the common room.
He needed to sleep. For the past month, his anemia had increased drastically the more Octavia needed to drink. As he descended the stair case leading to the ground levels of the common room, Draco's head began to reel. His vision blurred and he grabbed the rail for support. The staircase began to move.
Draco eased himself down onto the step and put his head between his legs and gulped air. It was the most he could do for himself at that moment.
Draco? Octavia's voice echoed in his head.
I'm alright. Just a little bit dizzy. I'll be back soon. He thought back.
Controlling the resonance brought about the ability to communicate with her through telekinesis. It was quite handy, Draco believed.
I'll come get you.
No! Octavia, you need to rest. I'll be back soon.
She was gone. Draco groaned and rubbed his forehead. He didn't want her to strain herself more than she already had to. He forced himself to get up just as the staircase had changed position. Draco found the irony hilarious, and chuckled darkly.
Draco walked down the stairs, supporting himself on the railing. He had just gotten to the landing when Octavia showed up, covered entirely in a cloak. "I thought I said not to worry about it," Draco snapped. Octavia ignored him and embraced him.
"Thou art feverish again."
"Draco muttered under his breath. "Again?"
"Yes. Again."
"I could say the same for you—I talked to Professor Snape. He agreed to withdraw you from classes until you're better yourself. I don't want you pushing yourself till your better."
Octavia sighed and released him. They walked back to the common room, side by side. "I am stronger than thee believes."
"I know that, but you passed out today—I'm worried about you."
They stopped at the wall into the common room. "Vintianale," Octavia said. The door materialized and they entered the common room. "Now to bed," Octavia said. Draco gladly did as she said. Octavia followed. While Draco climbed onto his bed, Octavia locked herself in his wardrobe.
"I'm still wondering why you didn't take over the closet in the girl's room."
"They offered, but I have become quite accustomed to thy wardrobe that I can't seem to sleep anywhere else."
"I thought girls didn't really like the smell of us guys."
"True, at first the stench was quite nauseating, but not so much anymore," Octavia laughed.
Draco snickered and fell asleep…
That night, he woke again and sat up. His eyes were dry and his nose was plugged up. Damn! He thought, I don't want to go to the Hospital Wing. Draco grabbed his wand and conjured tissues. He began to blow his nose. I hate getting sick.
He stood and tiptoed to the wardrobe door.
"Octavia," he whispered.
"Over here," she snapped. Draco turned to the window; Octavia was climbing into the room. "I went to hunt. What's wrong?"
"Just wondering how you're holding up."
"Back to bed. Now."
"But I can't breathe."
Octavia pushed him onto the bed. "T'is a fever," she said. "Thy skin burns. I blame myself for your ailment, Draco. However, thou must rest. I will go make a fever-reducing potion for thee."
"Now?" Draco asked weakly, trying to sit up.
"Yes. Now. Until I return, try to rest. Breathe through thy mouth for now."
"That's troublesome though," Draco whined. Octavia kissed his forehead.
"Sleep as best thou can. I shall be back soon." She left. Draco lay in bed, closing his eyes and breathing through his mouth. Occasionally, he yawned. When the congestion became unbearable, he'd blow his nose.
"Drake," Blaise muttered after an hour, "Go to the hospital wing."
Draco ignored him and lay on his side, away from Blaise.
Another hour passed until Octavia returned, holding a goblet. She sat on Draco's bed and he sat up, taking the goblet. He drifted into a deep sleep and he began to feel much better.
Octavia leaned over his sleeping form and kissed his forehead before returning to the wardrobe…
Draco stayed in bed for another two days before Octavia was certain he could move about. Though Draco was certainly feeling better, he was still less energetic than usual. Even sluggish. Octavia never returned to classes afterwards.
The last Hogsmeade weekend of the year was a stormy day. Draco and the Slytherins stayed in the Three Broomsticks, drinking butterbeer and talking.
"What do you expect the Trio to do when they get back?"
"Isn't it obvious?" Pansy snapped. "They're going to get rid of You-Know-Who and the Death Eaters."
Draco shrugged. "I'm not too worried about the final battle between Potter and the Dark Lord. I'm more concerned about when Augustan's going to move again."
"Wow—a death eater in a neutral position—this is rarer than seeing a guy fold his clothes!" Millicent joked.
The group laughed. Draco shrugged and took another swig. "I guess I've been acting off for a Death Eater for the last couple of months."
By noon, the group decided to leave.
A cloaked man approached them. "Draco Malfoy?" he asked. Draco stood and stared at the man. "I've word from my master."
"Your Master?"
"Augustan Mello," the man said, holding a letter out for him to take. Draco took the letter and the man left. Draco opened the letter and scanned it.
"What was that about?" Pansy asked.
"Octavia," Draco said, crumpling the letter. "He wants to duel me tonight at the willow tree on the side of the lake."
"Wow. Maybe he's more serious about her than you think."
"He wants to kill me without getting her blamed. I need at least one of you guys to stay with her so that you can second her alibi. Blaise, come with me."
"Right. Wait…what?"
"I want you to be my second."
Blaise sighed and nodded. "Fine; I'll go with you. But I'm not too keen on fighting a Vampire."
"Nor am I," Draco agreed. "But what other choice do I have?"
Thunder cracked overhead. The group jumped. "Draco," Blaise growled. "For your sake, we better live this so I can kill you later."
Draco didn't answer him. Draco and Blaise went to a Weapon's store furthest from the school named Excalibur. Draco bought a dagger and a sword, both laden with silver. Blaise bought the brother set and they returned to the school, carefully hiding the weapons as best they could at the willow (they had little chance of sneaking them into the school).
Octavia rested in the wardrobe, so Blaise and Draco watched the clock anxiously. To pass time, they attempted to do homework and play wizard's chess.
Finally, Draco and Blaise returned to the willow tree. Two men were at the trunk, examining one of the swords. It was the man from before and Augustan. Augustan tossed a sword to Draco. "Pick it up," Augustan snarled.
Draco did so, handing his cloak to Blaise. Augustan unsheathed his own sword.
The man had them stand apart a few paces. Augustan flicked a coin and they prepared their stance. Draco's brain wracked itself for techniques. He was novice.
The coin fell to the ground and Augustan lunged. Draco, somehow, sidestepped the Vampire and parried his sword. Augustan kicked Draco in the stomach and Draco gagged. He fell, clutching his stomach.
Augustan too the chance to attack Draco again. Draco rolled away and stood, his arm still wrapped around his middle. Draco let go of his stomach and held his sword with both hands in front of him.
"Draco!"
Draco and Augustan lunged at each other. The swords crossed and blood spilled.
Draco dropped his sword and Augustan withdrew his. Draco cried out; blood spilling out of his wound and his mouth. Augustan stepped aside, cleaning his sword.
"You're a terrible fighter with a sword," he snapped. "You should have fought with a wand; at least the stronger spells might have done a little damage to me.
Octavia ran to them and caught Draco. Augustan stared at them, taken aback. "Thou art a bloody fool!" Octavia shouted at Draco. "Thou art a bloody idiot!" She cradled him. Draco tried to speak, but his tongue was thick in his mouth.
Octavia bit her lip, blood trickled down and she kissed him. Draco swallowed, unable to do anything else. Her blood…it tasted sweet. He didn't know how to describe the taste. It was something he never tasted before.
She released her lips from him and picked him up.
"Stay away from me," she growled. Draco's eyes closed, certain she spoke to Augustan. He drifted to a deep sleep.