The Many Warnings

Draco POV

I awoke in the middle of the night with a start. Those stupid hospital beds weren't the greatest. The only reason I was able to sleep was probably that Talia was there. She must have snuck in here after I fell asleep. I smiled down at her. Ever since I promised her that I wouldn't kill Dumbledore, it was like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. Well, actually, it was more like an anvil had been taken out of my stomach.

And when Harry defeated The Dark Lord, Talia and I could finally be together. REALLY together. Maybe even forever. She gave me confidence I'd never felt before. I looked down at her, while she was sleeping, with her mouth open, and I pulled her close. I always felt this burning need to protect her when I was with her, even though I KNEW she could handle herself just fine. Just as I was drifting back to sleep, I heard someone speak.

"Mr. Malfoy."

I looked up, and even though it was dark in this room due to the lack of moonlight coming through the window, the dark silhouette was hard to mistake.

"What is it, Professor Snape?" I said, with a little more snark in my voice than was necessary.

"We need to discuss this… situation." He said, and waved a hand toward Talia. That sparked a little bit of annoyance.

"What about her?"

"This relationship is most inappropriate."

"What, because she's a Gryffindor? Because she's friends with Potter? I don't think so."

"You need to understand the circumstances."

"No, you need to understand the circumstances. I love her, alright?"

"You love her?"

"Yes?"

"Well then that makes things even worse."

"How can this be bad, Snape? Tell me? She's changing me. She made me realize—"

"Realize what, Draco?" Crap. Now I'd have to tell him. I sighed, and looked him straight in the eye.

"I'm not doing this task. I'm NOT killing Dumbledore." And then Snape went quiet, as if deep in thought. And then after a while, his face softened a little.

"Draco, you know I'm just concerned for your safety, right?"

"I… suppose."

"So don't get mad at me when I say that this girl makes not completing this task impossible for you."

"What are you talking about?"

"The consequences are very severe, and very specific. If Dumbledore doesn't die, you and your family will."

"You don't think I know that? That I've considered all that?"

"Of course you have. But have you considered where Talia lies in all of this?" That surprised me.

"What?" I said. Well, it was more of a choking noise, as I was not fully able to collect my voice at that moment.

"Miss Jackson changes everything, Mr. Malfoy. Before it was just your family you could lose. But if you care for her as much as you say you do, her life is also at stake now."

"I… didn't think of that." I said. I was such an idiot.

"Yes, well, maybe you should before you make any more decisions." He said. I nodded, and he walked out, taking my confidence from earlier with him.

Talia POV

I woke up to sun shining on my face. It looked like a beautiful morning. I felt a bit of moisture on my face, and looked up to see Draco already awake. His face looked wet.

"Hey, are you okay?" I said, sitting up so we could see each other better. "Have you been crying?"

"What? No, of course not. I just yawned, and it made my eyes water. That's all."

"Oh, okay. Did you sleep well? These beds aren't very comfortable, and you don't have a sexy guy to cuddle with." I said, smiling, trying to lighten his mood. The corner of his mouth quirked just a little bit.

"True, but I DO have a sexy girl to hold." Success.

"True, AND you only have to spend a few nights in here. How should we celebrate once you're all better?"

"You mean, how should we celebrate us both having strong, healthy bodies? I can think of a few ways…"

"You're speaking my language, Mr. Malfoy. Come on, we should get dressed. Classes are probably starting soon, and I don't want to miss writing to you in our special notebooks instead of actually paying attention." I said, and we got dressed and left. But as I watched him walk away, I couldn't help but notice how distracted he seemed. It was just like before… but no. He wouldn't, he promised. And I had complete confidence in him.

….

"Talia, you don't look so good." Hermione said. She was very observant.

"I don't feel good, either. My head is pounding." I said, clutching an ice bag to my head. We were in potions class, trying to brew some potion that does… something. I couldn't think at the moment.

"Wait, you have a headache? But… that only happens when—"

"When something horrible is about to happen, yeah. OR when I have a hangover, but that's not the case this time. God, I hate being psychic."

"Talia, this is serious. Do you think something is going to happen?"

"Well, maybe. I've had false alarms before, but this is worse than usual. Maybe I'm just stressed."

"Well, okay, but you should tell Harry. He's going on that trip with Dumbledore tonight."

"Yeah, I will." After a few more minutes of trying to read my potions book, I decided to give up and accept the bad grade. I'd make up for it by doing awesome on the next potion. I put my stirring stick down and rested my head in my hands. I hadn't had a headache this bad since fourth year, when Voldemort came back to life. This was bad. I was about to close my eyes to block out the light coming from the lamps, when I saw some writing appear on my notebook. Draco.

Are you okay? You look like you're feeling awful.

I am feeling awful. I have this headache, and it's horrible. I don't know what to do, and I can't concentrate on anything.

I noticed. Maybe you should go to the hospital wing?

No, there's nothing Madame Pomfrey can do. This is a psychic headache.

That doesn't sound good.

It isn't. I think it means something terrible is going to happen, and soon. He took a little time to write back, and if my head didn't hurt so much, I would have lifted my head to look at him. When he did write back, it was strange.

Everything's going to be okay. I promise.

Are YOU okay? You've seemed so nervous all day. You wanna ditch class and go somewhere?

I'm good. But you should go lie down or something, your face is starting to lose color.

Crap. That's gonna make my make-up look like shit.

You look beautiful. That made me smile.

I love you. I wrote.

I love you too. More than anything. He wrote, so I decided to look up so I could smile at him. I did, and he smiled back, but in a sad sort of way. I wished he would just tell me what was bothering him.

"Hey Tal, Hermione said you needed to tell me something." Harry said. I looked at him, closing my notebook so he couldn't read our conversation.

"I just wanted to tell you to be careful tonight. I'm having this massive headache."

"Crap. I know what that means." I nodded.

"Yeah, and this is worse than usual. This is just like the one I got right before Voldemort returned." I turned to Ron, because he had thrown his usual complaint about using Voldemort's name. "Oh get off, Ron." Back to Harry, "Just be careful, okay? It's bad enough that you're my best friend, but now you're my other best friend's boyfriend. Not to mention my best friend/brother's best friend… and another one of my best friend's best friend… and I'm gonna put my head down now because I'm starting to babble."

"You're a really great person, you know that?"

"Well, it's not the first time someone's mentioned it." He chuckled and walked away, right after tousling my hair. Gently, because he knew what's good for him. I looked back to my notebook, because there was something I needed to confess to someone.

I'm scared. And I don't know why.

I know. And then class was over, so I decided to skip the rest of the day and go lay down in the hospital. It was getting really bad, and I didn't know what else to do.

I was walking, slowly, down a hallway when I ran into Blaise.

"Hey, Tal, what's—Shit, what's wrong with your eyes?" He said, so I ran into the nearest bathroom. When I looked into the mirror, I saw that my eyes were glowing green once again. Great. I concentrated really hard, and the green faded. I plastered a fake smile on my face, and walked back out to Blaise.

"Oh, I guess it was just the light." He said.

"Yeah, maybe."

"Where are you heading?"

"The hospital wing. My head hurts."

"Ouch, sorry about that. Want me to walk you?"

"Well, sure." We walked in silence for a few minutes, and then he decided to break it.

"So, how are things with Malfoy going?"

"What, you guys don't talk about it?"

"No, except for how hot your ass is." I slugged him in the arm. "Just kidding!"

"We talk about YOU, actually." I said to him. He looked surprised.

"I'm not gonna lie, that makes me a bit nervous."

"It's not bad. We just talked about him growing up, and how you and your family were a big help. He even told me about his guitar collection."

"Wow, he told you that? He must really care about you."

"Yeah." I said, and then my vision started to go fuzzy for a second, and the next thing I knew was I was being held up by Blaise. "Thanks."

"You sure it's just a headache? You really don't look so good."

"I just need to get to the hospital and lay down, honest."

"Okay, if you say so." And he half-carried me the whole way to the hospital. As he sat me down on the bed and covered me with a blanket, I felt a little pang of guilt.

"Blaise, I'm so sorry I hurt you." He smiled.

"You didn't hurt me. Well, I was a little hurt for, like, a second, but then I realized that you're REALLY good for Malfoy. He's so much better with you." And then I smiled.

"Thanks, Blaise. That means a lot to me." He leaned down and kissed my forehead. "And don't worry, I know you'll find someone, someday, that makes YOU better." He had started walking away, but then he turned back.

"Yeah, maybe. And hey, if things don't work out with Malfoy, you know where to find me." He said, jokingly, and winked. I laughed.

"Oh, of course!" I said back to him. He laughed and drew the curtains. And then I heard the doors open, and a familiar voice say, "What are you doing here, Zabini?" in a not so nice tone.

"Chill, Weasley. I ran into your friend Jackson on her way up here, and she wasn't doing so good, so I helped her up here." Dear God, Ron.

"That was very nice of you, Blaise, thank you." Said Hermione. "Is that her over there?"

"Yeah." And he left. A few seconds later, Hermione, Ron, Harry, and Ginny all walked through the curtains.

"How you doin', Tal?" Ginny asked me.

"Yeah, can we get you anything?" Harry asked.

"Bloody hell, people, you'd think my dog died or something. It's just a headache."

"Yeah, but it's a 'special' headache." Hermione said, air quoting.

"Yeah, which means YOU people should be worrying about yourselves. Especially you, Harry, these dumb headaches are usually about you."

"Speaking of, do you still have my cloak?" Harry asked.

"No, actually, I gave it to Crabbe and Goyle so they could watch girls in the bathrooms."

"So it's in your trunk, then?"

"Yeah."

"I'll grab it later."

"So, what do you think is going to happen? And when?" Ron asked.

"I don't know. These things aren't usually very specific, but I can tell some serious shit is going to go down SOON. Very soon." I looked pointedly at Harry. "Watch your back later, okay? We need our Chosen One." I said, patting his hand.

"I will. This isn't exactly our first disaster, right?" He said, and we all smiled.

"Yeah, a year at Hogwarts without some serious shit just isn't right." Ron said, and then we all started laughing. I thought about telling the guys about Draco. We were having such a nice, laid back conversation, and I thought it was now or never. And I wanted it to be NOW. But then Harry had to go and open his big, fat, Chosen One mouth.

"I bet it has something to do with Malfoy." He said, and everyone sighed in exasperation. Well, except for me.

"Seriously, mate, just give it a rest." Ron said.

"I have a really bad feeling about him! He's been too… quiet. Haven't you noticed?"

"Actually, yeah, I have. He used to make fun of at least one of us at least once a day. But this year: Nothing."

"Exactly!"

"You guys, maybe he just has a lot on his mind." They both looked at me like I was out of my mind. I guess it was never. Hermione saw the look on my face, and changed the subject.

"Ginny, where did you and Harry end up hiding that book?"

"The Room of Requirement."

"Ah, brilliant. Now no one will ever find it."

"Exactly why I hid it there." Then the guys started talking about their essay for Charms class, and Hermione and Ginny each grabbed one of my hands. I had the best friends in the world. I mouthed "Thank you" at them, and they smiled at me. And then I accidentally let out a damn tear, and Ron noticed.

"Talia, you okay?"

"Why are you crying?" Asked Harry.

"My… headache. It just still hurts, that's all. Normal healing potions never really work on these ones."

"Oh, we're sorry. All our jabbering can't be helping much. You want us to go?"

"Yes, but only because I don't want you all to fail your classes just because your best friend is in the hospital for a puny headache. Especially you, Ginny. Don't you have your O.W.L.s coming up?"

"Yes, and I'm more than prepared for them." She said, but they still got up anyway. They all hugged me, and then started to leave.

"Hey, Harry?" I said before they left. Harry turned to me.

"Yeah?"

"Can you stop by here once you get back tonight? I just want to make sure you're okay. I don't care how late it is." He smiled.

"You got it."

"Thanks. Oh, and Hermione? When you get a chance, can you bring me the book that's on my nightstand?"

"Of course. I'll bring it when we all come see you for lunch."

….

After they came and ate lunch with me, I started reading my book, and couldn't put it down. So you can imagine my surprise when I looked at the time, which said it was almost dinner time. I had spent five and a half hours reading! Just as I was about to put it down and start settling in, I heard the door open again. I had TOLD them to not come see me for supper, but did they listen? Of course not. But when the curtain was pulled back, it wasn't my friends. It was Draco. My face lit up.

"What are you doing here? You're not supposed to be here until curfew, which isn't for another three hours." I said to him. He grabbed his chest in mock devastation.

"I'm hurt that you don't want me here." I smiled and scooted over so he could join me. He kicked off his shoes, took off his robe, and slipped under the blanket.

"I do want you here." I said. He chuckled.

"I know." He opened his arms so I could come closer. "Actually, Blaise came and talked to me right after he brought you here. Said you might need me. I would've come sooner, but every time I headed up here, I saw your friends coming up here too."

"That's okay. This is nice." I sighed and closed my eyes. "I was actually just a second away from telling them everything about us earlier." I had a feeling his eyes widened.

"Really? What stopped you?"

"Just before I opened my stupid mouth, Harry jumped in about how he thinks my headache has something to do with you. It made me realize that they might never be able to accept this." He had suddenly gone very tense. "What is it?"

"Listen, there's something I have to tell you."

"Oh God. My least favorite words. Well, right after 'He's back'." He didn't answer right away. Maybe he was thinking of how to put his words. "Come on, what is it?"

"I… I think you're wrong about your friends. I mean, if they're REALLY good friends like you say they are, they should accept whomever you want to be with. No matter what."

"Maybe you're right. But I STILL think it's gonna be a while."

"I'll have to agree with you on that." I snuggled close.

"I'm glad that you're here. It's nice to know that when, IF, something bad happens, you'll be here to protect me." Again, the stiffness. What was with him? "Hey, let's get some sleep, alright? Maybe it will help this throbbing pain in my skull." I took my clothes off, because I didn't have pajamas with me, and I was starting to get a little warm.

"Well then, sleep we must!"