Kindred

~Chapter 10~

The next morning all eyes were on the couple as they entered the dining hall side by side. Everyone watched in amazement as Draco pulled a chair out for Arianna at the Gryffindor table before making his way to the Slytherin table. No one spoke to him during breakfast, that was okay with him as long as Arianna kept smiling at him the way she was.

Pansy sat at the opposite end of the table seething with jealously and hatred.

Draco spent all of his free time, what there was of it with Arianna. Most of their time was spent studying and completing homework in the library or walking along the edge of the lake which is where Arianna and Draco met every afternoon after Quidditch practice. It had been a month and the affair showed no signs of fizzling out. A fact which enraged both Narcissa Malfoy and Pansy Parkinson to no end. Narcissa had stopped sending the treats and spending money she had previously showered Draco with and when she began to withhold school supplies as well a mysterious owl appeared anytime Draco needed anything.

The subject of Draco's benefactor was the frequently the topic of conversation between the new friends. The golden trio had warily accepted Draco Malfoy into their circle for Arianna's sake but they were quickly learning that he had changed. Draco's behavior was also a frequent topic of conversation when they were alone.

One cool fall afternoon, Arianna sat on the bank of the lake waiting for Draco to appear. She had wrapped her arms around her knees, her chin propped on them as she stared out over the lake as she contemplated the overwhelming changes in her life over the past year. She would have been lost without Draco's love for her. He was the only thing that made sense anymore in her topsy turvy life. She clung to him like a lifeline.

"Petrificus Totalus!" The words rang through the air and before Arianna could react she felt the muscles in her body tighten. The next thing she knew she felt hands on her back, pushing her into the cold, murky lake.
Terror overtook her as the water rushed over her. She couldn't move, couldn't even hold her breath or close her eyes. She felt scales brush against her skin as she sank deeper and deeper, the light fading above her head. Her mind screamed his name as she fought the curse that had been cast on her. It was no use, and she knew that by the time it wore off she would be dead. Her heart ached at the thought of them eventually finding her lifeless body floating on the surface of the water.
Draco was walking across the grounds, heading to the lake to meet Arianna. He was late, as he had stopped to discuss strategy with Crabbe and Goyle over that weekends match against Ravenclaw. He heard his name, and cocked his head. It sounded like Arianna but...then he heard it again, this time filled with terror. Fear clutched at his throat as he took off in a dead run towards the lake. By the time he gained the shore, sweat was rolling down his back and his breathing was coming in short gasps. He looked around frantically, but he couldn't see her anywhere. "No!" He screamed, he knew in his heart something was very wrong. Arianna was never late, always waiting there for him to spend a few minutes alone before heading to the castle to do their homework.
Turning he sprinted for the castle, he knew he needed help. He had only gone a few yards when he ran headlong into Professor Snape. "Professor! Help! It's Arianna...something is wrong!" He yelled snatching the front of the older man's robes.
"Mr. Malfoy!" He yelled "Get a hold of yourself!"
Draco's eyes were wide with fear "Professor please! Something is wrong! I can hear her...she's scared..."

Professor Snape took a deep breath. "Draco! Stop yelling. Focus...focus on Arianna...where is she?" he asked his voice low.
Draco willed the terror he felt to recede and used his occumlency skills to block out everything but the sound of Arianna's voice. His eyes shot to Snape's face "The lake! She's in the lake!" He hissed.
The two men turned and ran back to the lake. Stopping at the edge of the water Snape raised his wand and muttered incantations as the water began to swirl. Everything seemed to be happening in slow motion as the surface broke and two mermen appeared above the level of the water. One of them carrying something as he moved to the shore. Draco felt his heart stop as he recognized Arianna's red hair falling over the grayish skin of the merman. Wordlessly he placed her limp body on the shore and sank back into the depths of the lake.
Draco fell to his knees and gathered her into his arms, raining kisses on her cold face as he begged the powers that be to bring her back to him. He didn't hear the Professor until he shoved him away from Arianna. "We have to get her to the hospital wing! Now!" He yelled scooping Arianna into his arms and wordlessly moving towards the castle. Draco followed, his heart in his throat as the nausea rolled through his stomach.
Seven figures sat outside the hospital wing, no one speaking and all thinking about what was going on behind that closed door. Finally Dumbledore spoke. "No matter what the outcome, we must find out who did this," he murmured quietly.
Draco leapt to his feet "It was Pansy! I know it was!" he hissed "She hates Arianna because of me! This is all my fault!" He sank back into his chair as the pain swept over him. Tears flowed freely and he didn't bother to wipe them away, not caring who saw him cry.
"Now, now Mr. Malfoy, no need blaming yourself." Professor McGonagall tsked.
"That is a very serious accusation Mr. Malfoy, and against a fellow Slytherin at that...do you have any proof?" Snape sneered at the blond.
"Not yet...but I will," He muttered as the door opened. He sprang to his feet "Madame Pomfrey...is...is she..." He couldn't finish the thought as the words choked him.
She smiled gently at the young man "I think she will recover. She has a nasty bite on her leg but I managed to remove all the water from her lungs."
Draco breathed a sigh of relief. "May I see her?"
"Certainly, just don't wear her out, she's very weak."
"I won't." Draco moved into the room and immediately went to her side. Kneeling next to the bed he took her hand in his. She still felt so cold.
"Draco..." She murmured his name.
"I'm here princess..." he whispered as she opened her eyes.
"I'm not a princess anymore."
He smiled at her "You will always be my princess. I love you Ari...I was so scared," he admitted looking away from her.
He felt her fingers on her face "So was I...I was afraid I'd never see you again."
"You are not going anywhere alone again, do you hear me? Until this is resolved, you will not be alone."
Dumbledore cleared his throat. "I concur with Mr. Malfoy. It is good to see you awake Miss Huntington."
Draco cast his eyes up to the headmaster "May I stay with her sir? Please? Harry and Ron can bring me my lessons...I'll do them here...please...please don't make me leave her," he didn't care that he sounded desperate, he was desperate.
The headmaster nodded "I believe you are what she needs right now Mr. Malfoy. Permission granted." Dumbledore turned and swept from the room.
He went directly to his office, he had to resolve this issue and quickly. He had more than just Miss Huntington's safety on his mind this night. He picked up the letter he had received that morning and read over it again. He just couldn't understand how anyone could turn their back on their child. Granted, he didn't have any of his own, but he couldn't imagine it just the same. Looking down at the letter he sighed. Narcissa Malfoy was a cold hearted witch.