Disclaimer:All characters belong to JKR.

Dose of Your Own

By: OurLoveIsForever

Chapter Twenty-Four: Sound

There are times when the world around ceases to exist. Those times are few and far between. It is the event in which all thoughts end and there is only you in a large empty space. You feel invariably alone, surrounded by a world that is full of haze. I had never experienced death, but I had always guessed it would be something like that. The feeling of floating, of being free from the bonds of a human body, of the material world.

I didn't experience a bit of that.

My eyes flew open to see him standing above me, his arm still outstretched and his face void of all emotions. Chills ran down my spine as I turned my head to see Amycus Carrow dead at his feet. The man's eyes were still open with shock. The film of death shrouded them. Shaking, I pushed myself up. Every single muscle in my arms and shoulders screamed for me to remain lying on the Nott just stood still, almost as if, should he move, he would break. Toward the edge of the forest, I heard shouts. Something was happening over on that edge of reality.

After a few long moments, Nott spoke. His tone was apathetic. "Will you listen now?"

I bit my lip, waiting.

He sighed, drawing his hand over his hair. His eyes turned down toward me. I glared back, not yeilding.

"Nott? Are you alright in there?" A voice I did not recognize called from the wood's edge.

Nott nodded though the person could surely not see him. "I'm fine. I have Astoria Greengrass. She is shaken, but appears to be in good health." Taking out his wand, I tensed. He waited patiently, glancing back over his shoulder. "I suppose you have the right to distrust me."

"Distust? That's putting it lightly." I hissed as he tapped his wand on my head. A feeling of peace swept over me, washing down over my hair, through my sore muscles and into my bones. I felt rejuvenated, but that didn't serve to aid my bad mood.

"It's a spell version of Pepper-Up potion. It won't last long, but long enough to get a statement and get you home." I raised a brow as he leaned forward to sweep his arms beneath my shoulders and knees. "Do shut up before you start protesting. You lost a lot of blood with that foolhardy escape attempt. If you had simply waited five minutes…" He didn't finish his thought as we broke through the trees and into the manicured gardens of Pucey Manor. I glanced this way and that, taking in the bustling sight.

Toward the terrace where I had escaped stood Evleen, Tiernan, and Laura. They seemed to be dirtied, disheveled, but otherwise in good health as they discussed in hushed tones with a tall olive skinned man. My eyes traveled to thin body that lay on the ground between the terrace and where we stood. I could recognize Crabbe's dirty blonde hair though blood was matted through it. He was lying face down, but I knew for certain. My sister was nowhere in sight. I assumed that she was still alive, though I couldn't really bring myself to care all that much.

Finally, my eyes found Draco as he sat on a cement bench. Behind him, a hole had been blasted through a thick row of white roses. I felt my breathing catch in my throat while my eyes washed over him.

He was a blood-spattered mess. His hair was red from the amount of crimson pouring from a deep gash just above his left ear. I don't know why I was so worried, but I wanted to run over and make sure that he was well enough. As if he could feel my eyes on him, he glanced up, sliding his right hand over his face as he stood. Brushing off an approaching Healer, he began to stride toward us, a malicious glint in his eyes as he reached for his wand.

Nott stopped. I glanced up with an expression of 'put me the hell down' before he gently shook his head. I felt his grip on my knees and shoulders tighten a bit. Draco looked ready to kill and by the looks of Vincent Crabbe Senior, he meant it. "Draco, calm down."

Whipping his wand around to a dueling position, I felt Nott's muscles tense. "Put her down."

"She's weak and obviously needs medical attent-"

"She'll be seen to, as soon as you put her down." Draco bit out, inching forward.

I turned to look at Nott. "Set me down. Now."

Nott's eyes swiveled to look down at me. A strange expression floated over his them before he leant down, settling my feet on the ground. I stood awkwardly, my legs tingling. He took a quick step back. My legs gave way. They nearly folded underneath me before I felt an arm snake its way around my midsection, holding me up.

Draco kept his right arm at the ready. Around us, I noticed that all conversations had ceased and now the entire of the Auror squad was watching the exchange with calm, curious expressions. "What are you playing at, Nott?"

Nott sighed slightly, shrugging. "It's a bit complicated, mate."

I could imagine Draco's eyes flashing. "Enlighten me. I'm daresay I can keep up."

At that moment, a cough interrupted the tense air between us. "Inside may be best. We need to get statements." It was a thick Russian voice with a deep baritone timbre. My eyes darted to Demidov as he placed a hand on Nott's shoulder which was shrugged off with a glare. With a final glance in our direction, he walked away, following after Demidov. I thought he looked a bit defeated with the way his shoulders slouched.

I began to follow as well only to find that my waist was still being held. I froze, looking back over my shoulder at the man clutching me. His bloodied fingers held onto the fabric of my robe. Gently, I slid my fingers over his. "You came."

He didn't respond. Instead, he placed his face in the crook of my neck. I kept very still, not wanting the moment to end. I loved being held like this, just simply to be in his arms. I knew that I loved him. That, I could understand, but nothing had ever felt so good. Draco breathed me in before muttering into my skin. "I thought I had lost you."

My stomach felt as if it were being set upon by any numerous kind of havoc wreaking creatures. Gently, and keeping a firm hold on my hand, he turned me around. We were molded to each other, my chest against his, my pelvis against his pelvis. Everything felt so perfect in that moment. Around us were dead bodies being levitated away, blood was still dripping from his wounds, but none of that mattered. The great Draco Malfoy had apparently lost all sense of pride for in the next moment, his lips met mine.

My eyes closed automatically as he pressed me against him. Considering the length of most of our other kisses, this one was short. Simple yet romantic in a way that anyone sane would not understand.

"Can you imagine the repercussions if I didn't show affection," he spat the word out like a curse, "to my ruddy girlfriend?"

Laughter bubbled up in me as we turned to walk toward the house. "Yes, because we both know that would harm your already pristine reputation."

Perhaps I really am dense. It would explain a lot. One thing it would explain would be my confusion as to how Theodore Nott expected us, me, to understand. When I tried to break things down, such as the fact that he had lied to me for months, he denied it. What really did me in was the fact that he was not a double agent. He was a bloody triple agent. Pulling the hood over everyone's eyes until he got the outcome he wanted.

The master manipulator.

And I had been his prey. We all had to some extent.

"So, let me get this straight." I muttered, taking a sip of the now cooled coffee. "You were first contacted by Pucey, with whom you worked for months orchestrating the entire breakout. It was planned for nearly six months prior. After the completion of the plan, you went into sleeper mode. At that time, you befriended me. When the breakout occurred, you at once regretted it and snitched to the Ministry. Thus began your double agent role." Nott nodded looking at me as if I were a five year old. I set the mug on the table, glancing to Draco. His arms were crossed over his chest as he listened, absorbing every detail. "Not only did you spy on us for the Ministry, but also for the crazed lunatics, all the while feeding us information."

"Tad creative, isn't it?"

"It's mental." Draco nodded. "Three sides? Why didn't you add Scarhead in there and make it a bloody party!"

"He was invited, but it seems that Potter isn't the partying type." Nott responded just as quickly. I suppressed a betraying smirk.

I really didn't know what to think. Nott was going to Azkaban. That much was for certain. There would be no way he could get away with the murder of that— "Considering that I didn't kill anyone, save for Carrow, I think my plan worked quite well."

"Wait, what about—"

Nott seemed to realize what I was about to ask and cut me off. "I used a nonverbal spell to 'kill' the Mole within the Ministry. The man is very much alive and is actually standing just outside if Draco would like to confirm. He's been on holiday with his family in Germany giving me the perfect cover I needed. I couldn't very well break cover simply because you got—"

Demidov stepped into the parlor, his hands in the pockets of his black slacks. "Nott, Potter would like a quick word before you head out. These two are free to go." He nodded his head toward Draco and I before backing out.

Draco was coiling beside me, drinking all of the new information in with little expression. I could feel by the way his muscles tightened that it would be only moments before he— "What was your bloody aim, Nott? Even now, you are talking in circles. Was it money? Power? Prestige?"

"Jealousy." Nott supplied, standing. Draco jerked in surprise. "Power. Revenge. Hate. Love. Want. Need." His eyes roamed the room, looking anywhere but in our direction. I felt slightly nervous though I couldn't pinpoint why. "You know me, Draco. There is a reason for everything I do. Every move that I make is carefully thought out, planned." His eyes finally settled on me. "I originally did it because of a blood debt to Pucey's father, Pascal. He saved my father once during the war. The debt was passed to me with his death. When I realized what I had done, the danger it posed to someone I cared for deeply, I went to the Ministry." Slowly, he moved toward the double doors leading out of the Pucey study. He stopped just beside the door, turning about to face us.

Draco tensed.

"Don't worry so much, Draco. I won't steal from you. I have no desire to. I am content with what I have. Are you?" With his slightly cryptic message said, Nott left, closing the door quietly behind.

We sat in silence, a tense air between us. I never thought that my trust would be shattered by one of the men that I trusted most. It was a cruel twist of fate and yet, I somehow felt that we were finally privileged to Nott's true personality. Shaking my head, I turned to Draco's stern face. I didn't know what to do or what to say. Just as I began to stand, I felt his fingers wrap around my right hand. I paused, slowly sitting back down.

His face was hard as stone before the mask melted into disbelief. "He outsmarted all of us."

I didn't respond.

"He was my bloody best mate!" The frustrated tone made me cringe. "Bastard."

Squeezing his hand, I leaned forward a bit, bringing my other hand to brush the fringe of red-tinted bangs from his forehead. His gray eyes turned to me. "Let's go home, Draco."

Another loud crash echoed throughout the halls. I winced, turning to Lady Malfoy. She shrugged slightly, shaking her head warily. Within the past thirty minutes, the time it had been since we had returned, Draco had ransacked nearly three rooms. I, however, didn't feel the need stop him. I felt as if I wanted to break something myself. Perhaps Nott's nose would be the choice thing to break, but that was far out of reach. A glass of wine did something to ease my nerves, but did nothing to help the pain.

Upon arrival, Draco had taken off up the staircase leaving me standing alone in the front door.

"This is simply how he copes."

"Yes, it appears that way." I nodded.

"Something you must learn to deal with, my dear." Narcissa smiled slightly, bringing her hand thoughtfully to her chin.

I jerked my head up, staring at her with wide eyes. Her implication was obvious. Shaking my head all the more violently, I stood. "I think perhaps it is time I prevent him from completely destroying the second level."

"Good luck." She sighed watching me walk out of the room. It felt so reminiscent of the first time I had walked up those stairs. Once again, I was going to calm down an out-of-control Draconis Malfoy.

Drawing closer to the large wooden door of Theo Nott's old room, I pulled out my recovered wand. Regardless of my affection for the man within, in the state he was in, he was dangerous. "Alohamora." I whispered to the lock. It unlatched easily with a click. "Draco? Do you feel like calming any time soon?" A crash of what sounded to be a lamp was my reply. I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms. "Honestly, I am just as upset as you are! I thought of him as my brother!"

"So did I!" Came his angry growl.

Growing impatient, I whipped my wand ahead of me, slinging the door open. Draco stood on the other side of the bed, his eyes almost glowing with rage. I noted that his wand lay on the bed while the various wood-works and décor items were strewn across the room. Sighing, I brushed my hand through my hair. "Wouldn't you feel a bit refreshed if you got that blood and grime cleaned away?"

He didn't respond. Instead, he just continued to stare at me, deep in thought. It was as if he was entranced by my every move. Slowly, I moved toward him, my wand falling to my side. He kept his eyes on mine as I walked toward the chest of drawers at the far end of the room. Turning my back to him, I looked up at the picture on the wall. It was the same house as before, the villa that was painted in his room, the only difference being that this one was a nightscape. As I stared up at the brushstrokes, I felt warm arms wrap around my torso. He was breathing hard, more than likely from the physical exertion of nearly destroying a whole room. His lips didn't meet my skin, nor did his touch become sexual. We simply stood, his forehead on my shoulder, his arms holding me tightly. I rested my hands on his as they clasped above my navel. My eyes drifted shut.

Images and flashes of memories flickered in my mind's eye. The bar, Nott, the dinner party, his smile…that mask that hid the truth of his treachery. I wouldn't allow tears to come to my eyes. Instead, I leaned my head back defiantly, my head resting on the crook of Draco's shoulder.

"I swear if you ever do anything like that to me again, I will kill you myself." Draco muttered after a few minutes. He heaved a heavy breath, seemingly building up the nerve. I beat him to the punch.

"Dually noted." I agreed, opening my eyes. "I would assume that you got my message?"

"I did." Before I could respond, he pulled his head up and whispered in my ear. "I would say that our relationship is fairly sound, wouldn't you?"

Smirking, I felt a bit of laughter welling up within me. "If by sound you mean the incessant whining and constant verbal spars, I suppose that you could, indeed, call our relationship a sound one."