Disclaimer: JKR owns all recognizable characters.

Dose of Your Own

By: OurLoveIsForever

Chapter Twenty-Six: Punishment

Draco skidded to a stop in front of me just in before his father's portrait. I slowed to stop just beside him, staring up at the panicked face of Lucius Malfoy. His white hair was wild, whipping this way and that like albino snakes, lashing out. His ice eyes were frantic as he barreled forward. "Go back to the Manor, son! Now!" He threw his cane up, catching it in the air. "Move, quickly! There's not much time."

"Father, what in —"

"Go! Now!" Lucius Malfoy disappeared into the shadows of his portrait. I stared at where he had been. What was happening? What could it possibly be now?

Before I had a moment to even think of the possibilities, Draco took hold of my hand as he spun to the left, running so fast that I could barely keep up. Stopping at a large wooden door, he flung his wand to propel it open, dragging me down with him into the stale darkness. He moved deftly, his senses obviously heightened by the urgency. "I don't know what's happening." He hissed, letting go of my hand. His wand pointed at a cork to a wine bottle. "We'll have to continue this later. Do you have your wand?"

I nodded.

"Take it out. Portus." His eyes turned back to me before he frowned, the light of life that had been in place all evening, snuffed out instantly. "Your hand, Astoria." I grabbed his hand and clasped the other over the cork. My heart sped up as the familiar pulling feeling of a portkey began to take over my senses.

Peace. It was unachievable, an unattainable goal. I had been foolish to have been lulled into a sense of stillness and calm. At once, those dormant feelings of adrenaline roared to life in the seconds of thought between Malfoy villa and Malfoy Manor. I was scared. I could easily admit to that. Terrified of what I would find upon arriving. Thinking of this, I tightened my grip on reality, Draco's warm hand.

I landed hard, but still upright. Before I could even get my bearings, Draco took off toward the open front door. I raised my wand, ignoring the shaking of my arm as I walked quickly forward.

"Mother?" I heard the call as it echoed through my heart and mind. I stepped into the entrance hall, my heels clacking on the marble. The desk that sat to the side of the parlor door was overturned, one leg missing. I felt panic sweeping through every nerve of my body. "Astoria!" I stopped momentarily, but overcame my momentary shock to run toward the back of the house. I knew that something was horribly wrong by the anguish in Draco's yell.

Upon arriving in the conservatory, I first noticed Draco on the floor, holding Narcissa in his arms. He was rocking back and forth, cradling her to his chest. I thought she looked paler than she usually did. I began forward only to find myself frozen at the sight that caught in my peripheral vision.

A lone figure standing in the other doorway, the way that lead to the back lawn. My head snapped around.

My blue eyes found green.

He was bloody. A deep gash in his abdomen was bleeding profusely causing me to move forward on instinct yet at the same instant, I raised my wand. His half-closed eyes rolled. It was hard to tell, but I could. In a quick movement, he threw his wand toward the ground at my feet, catching Draco's attention.

"What the hell did you do?" Draco yelled, raising his own wand. I stepped between them.

I couldn't say why I did it, but I had moved before I thought the action through. My back was to the blond on the floor, his wand still pointing. Nott shook his head slightly before he began to fall forward, losing his weak grip on the door jamb. Once again, my body moved of its own accord, catching the man in my arms. Blood marred my dress, flowing over my arms and legs. I turned him over, muttering a quick healing spell. The wound did not heal. The skin closed in a few select places, but the red continued to seep out. Nott's hand came out of nowhere to run a bloodied finger along my cheek. "She's a—alive." He heaved a rattling breath. I felt like crying, like pulling my hair out. "I gave chase as—as long as I could." His palm flattened against my face. "Mungo's. Aurors." He was fighting to remain conscious as I felt and heard movement behind me.

"What the bloody hell?"

"Blaise, Saint Mungo's!" I heard Draco say somewhere in the back of my mind. I kept my eyes on Theo's face. His lips moved as he continued to speak, but I could hear nothing. His body became limp. My panic became doubled.

"Nott! Nott!" I whispered with growing urgency. "Nott! Theo! Wake up!" Davis came up beside me, her wand waving over his body. She looked at a red smoke for a moment before a look of relief came over her features.

"He's unconscious. Mobilicorpus." Her voice held authority. Nott's body floated into the air, remaining stationary. I turned my eyes up to her to see her jaw set with determination. Her eyes were not focused on me, but now on Narcissa Malfoy. "It is a simple diagnosis spell. Try: terminatio." I turned to watch Draco wave his wand over his mother. Tracey's eyes moved over the blue smoke. "She's very much alive. Unconscious, but alive. We need to get them both to Saint Mungo's." Draco didn't look up, his eyes remained on his mother's unconscious face.

"Draco!" I said in almost a whisper. His head snapped up. I felt a wave of some odd emotion. It felt something akin to sadness, perhaps desperation. I tried to calm him with my eyes and to some extent, my efforts seemed to work. He gently laid his mother down, coming up to his full height.

"Mobilicorpus." Narcissa Malfoy floated into the air. Her beautiful hair wrapping about her.

I watched momentarily as the two bodies drifted out of the conservatory. Nott soared past me as I crawled to my knees, my entire body shaking. The rational, albeit cold, part of me wanted to leave him to suffer for all that he had done. I contemplated the idea briefly, but only that. I moved automatically, standing with aching muscles. I followed like a zombie, my arms and legs moving in tandem. They made their way to the fireplace. I fell behind, unable to keep up with their speed. Arriving a second later, Blaise tossed floo powder in hurriedly, helping to carry Nott into the flames. "Saint Mungo's!" They disappeared leaving just Draco, Narcissa and I.

Draco turned his eyes to me as he pulled his mother into his arms. Her head lolled to the side. Something in his eyes made me want to cry out. Desperation. Fear. Despair. He stepped into the fireplace, his features set. "I'm going to kill him." With that he threw the powder down, muttered the words and disappeared, leaving me alone.

"She's a—alive."

"I gave chase as—as long as I could."

"Mungo's. Aurors."

Taking the floo powder in my hand, I could feel the grainy substance on my palm. My heart nearly jumping out of my chest, I threw the powder down. "The Ministry of Magic."

A plan may have been nice. Perhaps a second thought would have been preferred. Alas, my judgment had been skewed by something I had deemed 'caring too much'. I cared far too much for the man called Theodore Nott. He might as well have been named 'traitor'. I couldn't understand what I was doing as I threw open the door to Mikhail Demidov's office.

His head snapped up from paperwork. "Miss Greengrass to what—"

"What was Nott doing at Malfoy Manor?" I growled, slamming my hands on the desk.

"I assure you, I have no idea what you are—"

"Narcissa Malfoy and Nott are at Saint Mungo's right now and you tell me that the Ministry didn't have a hand in this?" I leaned forward. "Nott works for you, right? So, tell me. What were you planning?"

Demidov's eyes grew wide as I went on until he was on his feet, moving toward the door, without a word to me. Slamming his hand on every door as he passed it, I followed behind, determined to not let the man out of my sight. I nearly stepped on his heels as we traveled down a familiar dark hallway. We were heading for the training area. "Is Nott in critical condition?"

"I wouldn't know. I came here directly." I hissed, watching as a number of Aurors filed in. Among them I noted the lanky frame of Harry Potter. I turned my glare to Demidov. "What is your—"

"There has been a sighting of Adrian Pucey and Daphne Pucey in Wiltshire. I want a detail doing a search from Malmesbury to Salisbury." Four men took off at those words. I felt entirely confused. "I want two Aurors sent to the target home. It is obvious that once again Mr. Nott has gotten in over his head." He pointed out two Aurors standing side by side. "Garner, Hall get yourselves to Saint Mungo's. I want an owl on both Lady Malfoy and Nott's conditions by twenty-two hundred hours." He crossed his burly arms. "What are the rest of you standing around for? We need to find these two. They've attacked one of our own. You will do your best to take out the targets. Is that clear?" With a shout, the other Aurors departed leaving only two behind. I watched, with somewhat wide eyes, as Potter and who I assumed to be Ronald Weasley walked up toward us.

Potter was the first to speak. "Nott was on guard."

"I am aware." Demidov stated, his eyes darting to me.

"I wonder how it is they got around him."

"Potter, you know as well as I do that Nott would no sooner let harm come to Narcissa Malfoy than he would any of the others he has deemed worthy of his protection." Demidov bit out, obviously growing irritated. "My only question would be: how? He should have known an attack was coming. The guard was due to change at midnight regardless."

"Hold on," I spoke up, looking between the two men. "Guard?"

Demidov seemed to deflate, as if he knew my demeanor well enough to get a good ringing for what he was about to say. I waited, almost tapping my foot in impatience. "The Ministry has been guarding the Malfoys and yourself since the attack and ultimate escape of the Puceys. There has been evidence that they are trying to complete the ultimate object of their obsession."

"To kill Narcissa Malfoy." I muttered, nodding my head.

Both Potter and Demidov nodded as well, Weasley was staring at me as if I had a blast-ended skrewt coming out of my ear. Potter leaned onto one leg, his hands coming to his hips. "But it seems as if these two are smoother in their actions. They don't want to draw any more attention to themselves. This, of course, goes against the previous workings of Crabbe, Jamison, and the Carrows."

"Because of this, it seems there is a smaller risk to the larger population. This is operating more as a 'hit' than a simple attack."

"Neither of them is skilled enough to pull anything of that sort off. My sister gets drunk and falls down the stairs. Pucey is—"

"Far more skilled than he chooses to let on. The man must have quite the skilled mind. He graduated near the top of his class, has charm, and also has the support of numerous pureblood clans. You should end your denial, Miss Greengrass. It will not do you any good." I leveled a hard glare in Demidov's direction. "That aside. I would like you, Mister Potter, perhaps you as well, Mister Weasley, to make your way to the Pucey residence. Do what investigating you can. I want a report by twenty-three hundred hours." The two nodded before turning away from us. I snorted slightly when Weasley turned his head about with a confused look in my direction. "Miss Greengrass, I think it best that you get to Saint Mungo's."

I raised an eyebrow slightly. "I will, but answer me this: just how did you get so much power, Demidov?"

"Being the head of the Auror department does that, Miss Greengrass."

Smirking slightly, he motioned toward the door. "I would get back to Mister Malfoy. If I had my guess, you came here without telling him." I laughed a bit and began moving away. "I would prefer to keep you from blackmailing me again."

"Blackmail is the way the world goes 'round."

I could have sworn that had I shown my face one second later, Theodore Nott would have been the end of his bloodline. Stepping into the small room, I felt my pulse leap. Draco was holding his wand over the barely conscious man in the bed. I gasped despite myself. "Draco, what in bloody hell do you think you're doing?" His head snapped around, his wand remaining at Nott's chest.

"Where the hell have you been?" He practically shouted. I thought I saw Nott's eyes open a bit more, but I couldn't be sure. Draco's expression was a mix between furious and relieved.

"I went to the Ministry." I stated slowly, edging further into the room. Where were the bleeding medi-witches? Useless people… "Draco, it wasn't his fault."

"The hell it wasn't!" Draco growled, pressing the wand into Nott's chest.

Knowing exactly how to influence the man with the wand, I shrugged. "Fine, Draco. Kill him. If you do, we will simply be repeating the past. That's where you're safe, right? In the past? You want those around you to simply fear you and see nothing else? Kill him, Draco. I know that you don't want to convince people to give you a chance." Neglecting the feeling of wanting to smirk, I held my breath. Draco's eyes turned back to me as he pulled his wand away with a frustrated growl.

"You had best impress me or I swear that you will earn a bed here as well." He threatened.

In the bed, Nott made a disgruntled sound at the threat. I simply crossed my arms. "Draco, you attempt anything of the sort, you will find yourself in the bed next to me in far worse condition."

Finally something of a smirk dawned in his eyes. "Just what is so important that you had to scare me witless to go to the Ministry about?"

"Just the fact that Nott was actually our guard, was protecting your mother against an attempted assassination by my crazed sister and brother-in-law. Other than that, I am not sure just how to impress you." I shrugged my shoulders, looking to the man in the bed.

His hair was matted down, the blood was gone, but his eyes were still half-shut. I could sense that he was listening intently. "Nott, none of this is enough. Perhaps someday I will trust you again."

"It's my job now." He murmured lowly, so quietly that I almost couldn't hear him.

"And we were your friends." I answered back. "Regardless," I started toward the bed, feeling Draco's angry eyes boring into me. I ignored him for the time being. Drawing closer, I laid my hands on the white fabric beside him, eventually lacing my fingers with his. His green eyes looked tiredly over at me with an almost curious glint. "Regardless, I'm thankful for what you've done." Leaning forward, I placed my lips on his cheek. My hand tightened on his. "Everything you have done in past three months has been for us—"

"For you." Nott whispered into my ear. I eased up, smiling. "I love you, Astoria." As a sister, I read in his eyes. He wasn't saying it aloud though for what reason I didn't know. His gaze flickered toward Draco.

I knew what he meant. Even if I could feel the aura of pure hatred flowing from Draco's general direction, I understood. I could see the corner of Nott's lips pull up just a bit. I was sure he felt the almost literal waves of anger coming in his direction. Gently, I placed my left hand at his hair line, running my fingers and palm over his smooth hair. "Same here, my guardian, same here."

His eyes slid shut as he lost consciousness once more. Upon noticing this, I stepped back only to be grabbed roughly by the wrist and pulled out into the hallway. Before I could say any words of defense, lips covered my own. They were not sweet or sensual, as they usually were, or ever passion filled. They were possessive, trying to stake claim to the whole of me. I felt his hands holding my wrists to the wall. I attempted to kiss him back but found that he would have none of it. I simply allowed him to continue until he was finished throwing a tantrum like a child. After a few moments of that horrible attempt at ownership, he released me, taking a step back. I lowered my head.

"I—" He started, but I cut him off immediately.

"One, I swear, if you ever touch me like that again, I will not hesitate to make your life a living hell. Two, do not drop into an endless pit of jealousy, Draco. It's not like you. Three," I charged forward, pinning him against the wall. "Three, if you ever kiss me like that again, you cannot fathom the punishments that you will endure." I leaned forward, pecking my lips onto his. "Four, you know that I am completely in love with you so I can hardly see why you feel it necessary to get jealous. You are, after all, Draco Malfoy."