Je crois qu'il est trop tard. (It think it's too late)
Pour te dire que ça fait mal . (To tell you that it hurts)
Mon cœur n'est plus comme avant. (My heart's not like before)
Car il s'endort tout doucement. (Because its falling alseep slowly)
Si l'on me perd, sache que je serai la tienne . (If they lose me, know that I will always be yours)
Et au creux de ses bras, la mort nous bercera . (In her arms, death will rock us to death)
Car si l'on me perd, c'est seulement pour rester la tienne . (Because if they lose me, it's only for me to stay yours)
Et au creux de ses bras, la mort nous bercera. (And in her arms, death will rock us to death)
La petite mort par Cœur de pirate.
XX
The next morning, he woke up with a strange feeling of déjà-vu. He stood up, impatient to start the day. First of all, he had to investigate on mermaids, than he had to investigate on the fishermen and their reasons to capture his Hermione.
He didn't even need to ask questions, he just had to sit at the bar, once again. This time he was eating a dark burnt toast, but he couldn't care less.
''I heard Snape is back,'' somebody said taking a seat behind him. ''Can you believe that? The old man has been walking the west coast for 10 years now, and he's still as nuts as when he left.''
''Pumpkin juice please,'' asked Draco, all ears to the conversation happening behind. Drinking something he used to drink back at the castle was kept him grounded in this completely new environment.
There were at least ten men in the Philosopher's Stone. They all smelled fishy, but again, it was a fishermen village. Every village on the coast could only live out of the sea. But two men caught his attention, for even though it was morning, they were all drinking alcohol. They also were the two fishermen talking about a certain Snape.
''Oh man, everywhere Snape's, bad luck follows,'' complained another fisherman drinking down every drop of firewhiskey in his glass. ''I'm tired of being out at night, I never get to see my kids anymore, and my wife won't stop compla-'' he continued.
''Will you shut up, wanker?!'' Said another one. ''Stop complaining, we'll be bloody rich before you can say ''mermaid''. So rich your wife will never complain about you never again.''
''So many people know about it now, if the thing's caught, it's not going to be by us.''
''You should have thought about it before you told the whole village.''
They lowered their tone, and Draco did all he could to hear their conversation.
''You know the witch is going pay whoever brings her the mermaid. If you just had shut up – ''
''Goyle we've talked about this before – '''
''You bloody git you ruined everything – ''
Their tones were slowly growing louder and louder, two men were cutting each other's sentences with accusations, until Draco heard the screech of a chair being pushed down to the floor and fists hitting flesh. He turned around only to see one of the man's nose cracks under a strong punch.
''I NEED THE MONEY, CRABBE, DON'T YOU GET THAT!''
''WE ALL NEED THE MONEY, GOYLE!''
They would have fought under one of them died until Draco interfered between the two men and forced them to sit down.
Draco ordered another around of alcohol for the two men, and himself and sat until there, silent, until they noticed his presence and calm down. His confident tone and permanent smirk must've had the desired effect because the two fishermen did as asked.
''Now, now, you two had a rough night, eh?'' Asked Draco with a light tone full of sympathy. ''What happened back on the sea?'' He asked taking a sip.
''Why would you care?'' Said the first one.
''Yeah why would you care?'' Repeated the other one.
''Because,'' Draco took a moment to think about it,'' I am just a lord questioning the happiness of his people.''
''A lord?'' said the first one.
''A lord?'' Echoed the second one.
Apparently, they were not as bright as Draco would have thought them to be.
''Why yes, I am Draco Malfoy, I thought the blond hair would give it away,'' said Draco. ''But please, don't tell anybody.''
The two large men exchange a long glance, in which they seemed to communicate while five other men entered the tavern.
''Alright,'' nodded the first one. ''I'm Crabbe, this is Goyle,'' he pointed at his mate. with his chubby fingers.
''Nice to meet you both,'' Draco shook their hands briefly. ''So I get that you two are fishermen?''
Goyle nodded.
''I also heard that you're looking for a mermaid,'' continued Draco.
Another glance. Crabbe nodded slowly, as if he didn't wait the rest of the population to hear. As if he had never yelled about it, 15 minutes before.
''Here's what I suggest,'' Draco put 20 galleons on the table. ''You tell me everything you know, and help me find her, and I will make you the richest of fishermen on Hogwarts' land.''
They didn't even need to made eye contact this time, they simply nodded.
''But not here,'' whispered Goyle, ''meet us by the sea tonight, midnight, we'll tell you everything.''
Draco nodded, adding another 20 galleons to support his words and intentions.
''Good day, lads,'' he stood by stayed still, ''one last thing, who is Severus Snape?''
The two large men gulped in, their skin slowly turning to red.
''He – he is the only man know to meet a mermaid, sir.''
The blond prince could feel there was something missing, one piece of the puzzle, the master piece.
''And had survived – ouch!'' Goyle had finished the sentence, but Crabbe had elbowed him rather roughly in the ribs.
Draco smirked, and left.
He had to find that Severus Snape.
Draco paid for his breakfast and walked out of the tavern, breathing in the salty air deeply. The Chamber of the Secrets was located in a small village on the coast, named Godric's Hollow.
First of all, Draco had to find a place where he could find books, or records about a man name Severus Snape. Then, tomorrow night, he would leave the next morning, after meeting Goyle and Crabbe at midnight.
So he walked in the main street, looking for anything that could remind him of a book, entering every shop and looking everywhere.
He finally found a book store. He pushed the door opened, the bell ringing softly. The book store was a terribly dusty place, but still cozy, in which were covered of books dozens of shelves. Draco did not know where to start. He sneezed because of the amount of dust, which moved a cloud of dust over him. While he was busy brushing off the dust, a voice rose from the darkness behind the counter.
''May I help you, sir?'' he heard.
The voice was low and lazy, trailing on every syllable. He turned around only to face a man with long, black, greasy hair with dark eyes and a long nose. The man's high cheek bones were accentuating the edgy traits of his face. He seemed empty, for no light, neither sparks were shinning in the back of his eyes.
''Why yes, my good sir,'' Draco spoke with sudden lack of confidence, ''I am looking for records on mermaids.''
''No.'' The man cut his request with a one syllable word accompanied by a gesture of the hand.
''Er, yes I am pretty sure this is what I'm looking for.''
''I beg to differ, sir, with all due respect, you don't want to know about mermaids. If it's to kill them – ''
''No! That's not what I want,'' protested Draco, hitting the counter with his open palm. '' I – ''
''Oh Merlin.'' The man grabbed his face with his dirty hand and came so close Draco could feel his hot breath on his face. The man looked deeply into his eyes.
All of sudden, the black haired man moved from behind his counter and walked to the front door of the shop. He locked the door, and turned the ''open/close'' sign so that the bookshop seemed closed. Draco felt his stomach tingling and he slowly and discreetly put a hand on his sword, which was hidden under his large dark green cape.
''Oh, there's no need for that, mister Malfoy,'' the man slowly turned around.
''Oh do you – ''
''Blond platinum hair, dark colored green robes and cloak, Slytherin crest on your cape, you must be a Malfoy. And from your age, you had to be the prince, nonetheless.''
His dark eyes searched Draco's soul for something, which troubled the young prince very much.
''You've met one already, haven't you?'' Asked the man. ''Does anybody know you're here?''
Draco slowly nodded to answer questions at once, gulping and breathing hard. His hand fell back on his side lazily, abandoning his sword. He was struck.
The man sighed, pinching the edge of his nose with two fingers and his eyes closing for a brief moment. He walked behind his counter to a lamp he turned to the side, as a door Draco had never noticed before slowly vanished inside the wall to reveal a black hole.
''Then you're ruined, mister Malfoy,'' the man said before stepping into the darkness. ''Follow me.''
Grabbing his courage with two rather shaky hands, Draco entered the darkness as well. He walked in a humid corridor for what seemed to be an eternity, but it must have been only five minutes. When he crossed the line between dark and light, he felt revealed and let out a breath he didn't even know he was holding back.
The man was already brewing tea for both of them, sat on what seemed to be a very comfortable sofa.
''Take a seat,'' he invited Malfoy to do, which the prince did immediately.
''Severus Snape, that's who you are,'' said Draco when the realization dawned on him.
The man took a sip of his burning tea, then nodded slowly his head from up to down.
''You need not to go fight her, Draco,'' he suddenly said with an incredible sadness in his eyes.
Draco burned his tongue with the tea, but didn't wince nor showed his pain.
''Tell me about her, Severus, tell me everything.''
The man's carapace seemed to literally crumble down under his words.
''If I do, will you promise me not to go after her?'' His voice had become raspy and low.
It didn't take more than a second for the heir to answer.
''No, I can't. Because I love her, I love her deeply.''
Severus Snape sighed,'' It is not love, my boy. It is fascination, utter admiration. Mermaids are not meant to love, only men are fool enough to love,'' he finished bitterly. ''They are vile creatures. Beautiful, but heartless,'' he continued his story without Draco interrupting his train of thoughts,'' They use man only to reproduce. She, my darling, my precious darling, Lily, marked me as hers,'' he tossed his robes aside to reveal a mark on his chest, right on his heart,'' She took was she need. One morning, I woke up on the shore. This,'' he pointed at the scar over his chest; it looked like somebody had bit him to bone, ''is the only proof it ever happened.''
Draco took a second two digest the information. Mermaids actually marked man as theirs, as a possession, as a price.
''But Hermione – ''
''Hermione? Is that her name?'' Snape questioned sipping his tea.
Draco nodded, ashamed to tell he didn't know. He didn't know. He had thought of her so often, but never had he spoke to her. Thinking of her without giving her a proper identity seemed to enhance her absence. He had to name her.
''Fishermen from all around the coast are chasing her. They want her blood,'' he explained.
''Oh no, oh no,'' his interlocutor repeated again and again under his breath. ''The cycle's being repeated!'' He seemed to be taken with panic, terror striking him, ''She must not find your Hermione, she must not – ''
All of sudden, a dark grey smoked entered the room by the door, keeping both men from breathing. Draco cough, his eyes watering quickly. Snape grabbed his arm with strength and forced his way across the place to show him another door to escape.
''Snape, Snape, Snape,'' a feminine voice whispered. It was so incredibly soft and enchanting, it made Draco wants to puke. Green flames started to lick the floor, burning everything down to ashes in an instant. The smoked grew thicker, it was almost impossible to see. Something was coming from the door they had first walked through.
''You must go!'' Yelled Snape, ''Find Hermione – keep her safe!'' He pushed him across a door, which again had seemed to appear out of nowhere.
Draco started to run in the corridor, an arm covering his mouth and nose to help in breath as much oxygen as he could through the thick smoke.
When he turned around, he saw the back of Snape, standing with tall with nothing in his hands to defend him from whatever was coming to get him.
From the door, a dark figured, floating above the floor and slowly making its apparition entered the room. The smoke seemed to embrace her and the flames didn't hurt her one bit. Draco's eyes grew bigger as a flash of recognition crossed his face.
I just had to introduce these two gorillas. I love making links with the real books and the fic, I hope it amuses you as well!
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xx