Dancing With Dragons

Chapter 16: Saving Lives, Thats Just Part of the Fun


Once again he was lighting the torches and looking down at Granger’s body. He wanted to fall down beside her, but he knew Pomfrey would ask questions. Maybe even say something to Snape and it wouldn’t just be bad news for him. Now that he had collected himself he could feel his exterior go cold. Maybe Granger had been right that being practical wasn’t always that great.

“Merlin,” Pomfrey was trying to cut Granger’s shirt of with a small pair of scissors, but it wasn’t working. He couldn’t stand to see her struggle with something so mundane. He knelt and ripped the shirt harshly revealing Granger’s stomach, untouched by the sun. It looked off and Malfoy could take it. He struggled back to his feet and started to pace.

A gargled whimpering came from Granger and he turned feeling like suddenly ripping the medi witch from Granger’s body. “What’s wrong?” He spat, his anxiety making him pissy. Pomfrey didn’t answer right away instead she started rummaging through her bag pulling out several vials.

“WHAT’S wrong?”

“Internal bleeding,” she growled. He was shocking to hear the older women have such heat and hatred in her voice.

“Well fix it.”

“I plan on it but I need Snape. Go.” Malfoy stopped pacing. Would Snape still be on the school grounds? “I said GO. I know you might not care if her life is fading as we speak but I’ll be damned if I see another student die.” He wanted to tell her just how much he wanted to capture the spilling life force and push it back into Granger’s body, how he hated the accusation that he would kill, but instead he left.
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She was pretty sure that she had seen Malfoy’s face. It had been nice even though she knew he had been horrible to her, but wasn’t it right to forgive. Didn’t she only a limited time to do that now? She couldn’t remember why she knew that. Then pain was ripping through her body and she wanted to call out, call out to anyone to save her but she couldn’t get her mouth to work.
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Malfoy caught Snape just as he finished knocking on the Headmaster’s poison room; the place Snape spent most of his time. Snape was soaked head to toe. He looked more like a greasy bat as the water beaded oddly off his hair and robes. Though finding Snape had been his only obsession for the last fifteen minutes the look in Snape’s eyes made him suddenly regret that obsession. Murder was the only word to describe the emotion radiating off of Snape. ‘And never forget,’ he told himself, ‘he was just that, a murder. For you of course.’

“I better hear fucking incredibly good news from you Draco other wise I won’t be held accountable for my actions.”

It was the first time Draco felt incapable of verbalizing his wants. But he reminded himself what was a stake. “Headmaster, Granger…” He didn’t get to finish. Suddenly his bare back was being slammed into the nearest cold, rough stonewall. He was being held there tightly by Snape’s hand at his throat. He tired not to chock out loud. Snape had never put his hands on Malfoy; it was a startling and madding feeling.

“You want to hear something funny.” Malfoy just set his eyes coldly on Snape. He had seen Snape this mad, but it never been directed at him. Those who disrespected Snape normally found themselves on the wrong side of his wand, except the Dark Lord of course. “While you were sleeping, it seems, Miss. Mihailvo found away to escape Amycu’s grasp. Not an easy task, no?”

“I don’t understand…” Snape’s hand tightened.

“DON’T play with me DRACO. I’ve pretected you presetine, lily arse for long enough. DO NOT think for a moment I believe that you didn’t have something to do with her escape?”

He was torn between genuine fear and joy. Kamilla was alive! But both thoughts were getting less clear as his breath was being stolen by the solid grip. “SEVERUS,” Malfoy managed to choke out. Using his real name seemed to snap something in Snape. Malfoy slummed down on the floor messaging his neck. “I didn’t have anything to do with that.”

“DRACO!”

“I will not pretend that I am unhappy her life isn’t in danger, but I couldn’t give two shits about her father or mother. I wouldn’t put my position in danger, even for her.” ‘Such a good liar,’ he thought darkly. “How could I have helped her escape when I was touring Granger, for nothing I might add?”

“Torturing Granger with no shirt on?” Though he didn’t want to talk about his involvement in Kamilla’s escape this line of questioning wasn’t good either.

“A new tactic.”

“Merlin, Draco, your good, really, you slimly little arrogant shit. Just the spitting image of Lucius, but his bullshit never fooled me and neither does yours. I see the way you look at Granger when you think no one is watching, like, like she is your possession. I heard how you owe Amycus a favor in turn for keeping Granger as personal crusade. How it was your idea that I keep that bushy-haired-know-it-all as Head Gril. WHAT is wrong with you?”-

‘Yes a very bad line of questioning indeed. Think quick Draco!’ “I simple think I deserve the pleasure of crushing her, bring down the Golden Trio, after all those years I had to suffer her presence. Talking of presence yours is needed in the southern dungeon, Granger’s…well, about to take a trip to the valley of lost souls, so speak.” That should get Snape’s mind away from his bare chest and stares at Granger. Dame him from being so easy to read.

Snape pulled Malfoy up and started pushing them both towards the dungeons. Malfoy was suddenly reluctant; he would rather stay in this moment than see Granger, hear that she wasn’t okay.

“Our Lord has been showing his appreciation for our lose of Miss. Mihailvo, he still has Amycus. Don’t think he’ll be to happy when he gets back.” He understood the warning. Get your self-protection because Amycus is going to be gunning for you. “He likes you Malfoy, as much as Amycus can like anybody, but, funny little think about him, he likes to crush those he likes the must. Take Granger for instance.” Malfoy ground his teeth trying to fight the urge to find Amycus and kill him. “Stay away from her Draco, don’t let this want to crush her sprit become an obsession.” Draco has the odd sensation that Snape wasn’t just telling him this for his benefit alone. No soft spots in Snape, right? Certainly not for a mudblood. Though of course Draco would have said that about himself five months ago.

“He can’t have her.”

“Talk like that will get you in trouble. A pissing contest you might not win. Plus, Amycus has no power here. He is beneath me and I won’t allow rape of my students, even those unworthy to be here.” They were reaching the door, but Malfoy couldn’t help but stop and stare at Snape like he was six-headed dog.

“Get that incredulous look of your half witted face. I get that rape is for humiliation. I’ve seen it hundreds of times, but to rape for pleasure is beneath a Death Eater. To actually sully yourself with a mudblood, unthinkable.” Snape seemed be done with the whole conversation pushing through them through the large wooden doors, taking up the whole space of room in only the way Snape knew how. Draco use to envy that about him. Now, with his words dripping like venom from a Baslik, he wasn’t sure how he felt about the man.

Once, Draco had wanted to be a mix of Snape and his father. Powerfully rich, playboy, handsome, and level headed like his father, but smart, dedicated, fearsome, and independent like Snape. He still did want to be those things but not the way those men, those once role models, had twisted those characteristics. As he slipped into the room something just snapped. He had sullied himself with a mudblood, and he had never even looked back. That hadn’t been the thoughts racing through his head when Granger ran away, or even the second thoughts. Draco would always been damaged goods. He would always have pieces of darkness in him, and the need for power and control. He would always have selfish ways about him, and he would must certainly always dislike the wankers that made up the other two parts of the Golden Trio, but he did want to hate anymore, and he didn’t want to give the pieces of him soul, damaged or not, to the Dark Lord.

Granger was lying in Madame Pomfrey lap, he could tell her eyes kept opening and closing. As he got closer he could hear her moans of pain and see her sweating.

“Sn…Headmaster.” Malfoy could tell she was trying to be nice as the young Gryffindor laid on her looking like death itself.

“Pomfrey what is going on here?”

“I am certain you would know better, for I certainly wasn’t there when the girl received the injury that caused her internal bleeding. Funny enough I wasn’t there after she received them either.” So much for civility, not that Malfoy could blame her. Malfoy felt anything but civil starring at her Hermione’s form. He would be blamed for this, except for Granger and him everyone would think he had tried to kill her. He didn’t care about that as long as she lived.

“Madame Pomfrey I will expect a level of respect from you. You certainly are not aware of Miss. Granger’s actions to night.” The look that Pomfrey gave should have killed Snape where he stood, and Malfoy would have been glad of it at that moment.

“I assume that you think a student deserves to die purely because they went against you. I dare say Severus this is unspeakable even for you. I insist you allow me to move the girl to the hospital wing.”

“Absolutely not.” Malfoy had to force himself to not gape at the man. “I haven’t figured out the true meaning of Miss. Granger braking into my office and until than I don’t want her to have access to an escape route.”

“I can assure you that Hermione won’t be able to go anywhere! I had the ability to slow down the internal bleeding, but I don’t have all I need here to stop it completely let alone heal the injury. She can’t even walk. I insist you allow me to treat her properly.” He could tell the medi witch was panicking. She had never been denied the ability to heal a student and never, that Malfoy was aware of, ever been unable to cure a student once she got her hands on them.

“Don’t tell me what you insist. She stays here. I don’t want any attention on her by putting her in the hospital wing. I absolutely will not allow her access to any of her so called friends. I haven’t been able to check my office properly and until I do I want her here for questioning. Furthermore, I will hear nothing more on the matter. You can however treat her here and have access to any of my potions or ingredients that you need.”

“How very kind of you Headmaster.” She put emphasis on headmaster as if to force all the meaning and responsibly entitled to the position into that one word. Than suddenly, as she looked down at Hermione, she became all business. “I need a few poisons for pain relieve, the strongest you have. Than I am going to need Kava Kava, Citerwood, Colts Foot, False Unicorn, and Antiabala. Yes, yes indeed that should seal up the wound. A blood replisher would be good as well, if you be so kind as to go to my office and retrieve three, no, four bottles.”

“You maybe go to your office Madame.”

“As if I would leave her with either of you.” Snape started to look dark. “Please Headmaster I refuse to budge on this issues.”

“Fine. I’ll retrieve them. Malfoy with me.” Malfoy almost didn’t follow, but finally he tore himself away from Granger. She would be okay, and he would have to play his part. He felt a new vigor because he felt like he finally had a path, even if he didn’t know where it would lead.

“Malfoy,” Draco noticed they were back to last names, which meant all business and no emotions, of which Draco was fine with. “I need to search my office immediately to make sure I don’t miss a thing.”

“You don’t think she was telling the truth?”

Snape looked pissed again, but his eyes didn’t shine with madness. This time, while rage still radiated, there was tiredness to them. “You would truly have to be stupider than I thought, more emotional and un-objective to believe Miss. Granger would put her life at risk. Not only her life, but also the life of her beloved friends, just to pull a prank. It’s juvenile and idiotic. You are still silly boy if you truly believe that Malfoy.”

Malfoy disliked being called a boy, and a silly one débuted, especially because he did not believe a word of what Granger had said tonight. But seeing as it was Snape he settled for a scowl. “I didn’t say I entirely believed her Sir, but seeing as how you, me, and even Amycus couldn’t get a word out her I wonder if her and her band of loyal wankers don’t have any left by juvenile and idiotic.”

Snape seemed to genuinely think about this a moment. Though Draco had never seen Snape do anything and not be genuine, in less it involved being a spy, but even that he did with certain honesty. It didn’t make Snape good. No honestly and truthfulness fell pray to the beholder, with no will of its own. If the truth held something evil than so be it. Truth didn’t choose sides, and it certainly didn’t give a dame how you felt about it. “I guess I shall find out tonight. I want you to retrieve the vials, but you are under no uncertain terms allowed to stay longer than to place those vials in Madame Pomfrey’s hands. I don’t want to see you look at her funny, NOT ONCE. I don’t care how much you want to be the one to see the Golden Trio ripped apart it is not your job. And these obsessions will lead you nowhere good, I can garinte you that young Malfoy. Your obsession will make you lose sight of you true goals.”

Draco wanted nothing more than to argue, but knew doing so would provide more questions. It was fate’s good luck that Snape even bought the idea that Malfoy was obsessed with Granger only for revenge. If Malfoy kept his current behavior up it wouldn’t be the last time Granger would be sprawled along a dungeon floor, and he would certainly be joining her. And he also realized it gave him the perfect alibi to reach the She-Weasel Ginny, tonight. He remembered the lost wondering eyes of Granger. The way her voice held more meaning than the words she spoke. As if she knew they may be the last she ever would speak. And although he knew they wouldn’t be now he planed on giving her this one last act of charity. He would go to Ginny and tell her what had been spoken and he wouldn’t even question there meaning. He would remember those words for as long as he lived, of that he was sure, but after he relayed the message to Wesley they would stay in his memory; locked away. Now he had to figure out how to get to her without her getting suspicious.

Malfoy quickly retrieved the vials from the potion’s room and the medical ward and personally handed them to the old medi-witch. He did not look at Granger, and he did not linger as he was told. It pained him to give an air of being unconcerned, but he was none less good at it.
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Malfoy slipped quietly into the Gryffindor Common room, not that the Fat Lady had been at all pleased to see him at first. “I most certainly will not let you in at this un-Godly hour.”

“I am Head Boy and I have access to all the common rooms.”

“I don’t care about your status as Head Boy, it is my duty to see to it no student comes to harm.”

“Than you will have to let me in.” Really Malfoy could have said the password and forced her to open for him, but he knew that would cause a scene.

“Listen, I need to get to a Ginny Wesley, Headmaster Snape asked for her personally.”

“Why not sent that Hermione Granger, she is a Head too, and a girl on top of it. To think I would allow you into the girl’s dormitory.”

“Granger is indisposed and it is of the utmost importance that I retrieve her. I could get the Headmaster down here. I am sure he would be pleased that he had to do the job that I was sent to do.” He was hoping that would be enough and

“No need, no need. But I will give you fifteen minutes to retrieve the girl and than the whole school will know of you presence in my common room.”

“Of course.” He tired to smirk and it felt off. It was going to be a hell of trick to get She-Weasel to trust him and out the door in fifteen minutes without letting the whole bloody lot of do gooders Gryffindors know, but he didn’t have a better plan. The portrait door swung open and Malfoy claimed inside.

It took him a second to establish his barrings as he had never been in the Gryffindor Tower. There was a warmth and plushness that the Slytherin Common Room never had, and though it should have felt nice it make Draco uncomfortable. Though Draco was use to plush and roomy at home and in his new Head Dorm, there was a feeling of hominess in all the grandeur and bright house colors. A home Draco had never belonged to, and was quite glad of it.

Finally he came to the long twisting stair case to the girl’s dormitory, he tapped his wand a few times on the wall braking the charm that make the stairs into a slide of embracement and doom if a boy dared try to proceed. He had learned the trick many years ago. He rushed up the stairs doing a silencing charm around himself and slipped into the sixth year’s dorms. He took the risk of lighting his wand to see which bed was Ginny’s, knowing it would be more risky to search each one. When he found the bedpost with the carving Ginny Wesley he placed another silencing charm around the bed and slipped into the curtains.

He knew he had to be quick and clean about this. Even though there was a silencing charm around them both to much movement could still wake the others. At the same time he knelt on the bed he grasped Ginny’s mouth.

The suddenly movement brought her a wake in a wave of panic and confusion. He felt her try to scream and when she realized she couldn't she started to kick. He pushed his body on top of her and it would have been sexual at any other time.

“Listen to me She-Weasel. I am not going to hurt you.” She didn’t stop fighting, he kind of figured on that not working. “Listen to me you dumb bitch, it’s Granger. She is hurt and she needs something from you. I am going to take you down stairs and we are going to talk about this like adults. I swear on everything I am worth if you scream and ruin this you’ll be hurting Granger, not me.”

He dragged her closer and pulled them both up; she didn’t struggle, which was a good start. He pulled her in close enough that the silencing charm that was still place around him now included her as well. Still he didn't take any chances. He pulled her down the stairs and as he did he felt hot tears brake at his hand. He felt like a monster, the monster everyone had always assumed he was. Funny thing was he was trying to do the right thing. But he was a monster and he couldn’t run from it anymore. But he was okay with terrorizing Weasley to help Granger.

They reached the common room and were feet away from the portrait before he stopped dragging her. While she didn’t resist she did make it easy. He could feel in her body that she didn’t trust him. She was scared, terrorized to the bone. But she also wanted to be sure Granger was okay, and before she knew that she wasn’t going to make his life hell.

“Listen to me. I don’t have time to fully explain this to you. I don’t expect you to trust me, but seeing as I have the upper hand you’ll do what I tell you to do until I can fully explain. Shake you head if you understand.” She shook her head, trembling as more tears found there way to his cupped hand.

“Stick out you hand and don’t move.” She did what she was told. He released his hand from her stomach, but increased the firm grip on her mouth. She whimpered, but it came out muffled and somehow more piteous. Malfoy reached his wand and place it in her hand.

“It’s the only thing I can give you to make you trust me. Now I am going to let go of your mouth, but don’t even think of moving away from me.” She shook her head again, but he didn’t trust her planting his arm back across her stomach. Holding her tightly he released her mouth. Of course she screamed loud, a murderous scream. Struggling like a son-of-bitch so that Draco had to hold her with both hands.

“Practicable Weasel. Thats why I put up silencing charm.” He gripped the hand that held his wand to stop her from removing it, but didn’t take the wand back. It was his only bargaining chip. “Clever, but I am stronger than you so don’t try it. Listen I have probably less than one minute till the Fat Bitch tells everyone in the school I’m here.”

“So what you fucking sick bastard. Good.”

“Listen to me. I was in the Headmaster’s office tonight. I saw what happened to Granger. If you want to know what happened and how she is you are going to take my wand as a promise of my good behavior, walk out that fucking door and tell that nosey fat bitch that you are fine and not to tell a soul what she saw.”

“Fine Malfoy, but I swear we go where I say and I’ll hex you into next week with your own wand if you so much as do anything that pisses me off. I leave when I say I’m ready. On my terms not yours.”

“Deal.” He didn’t even reminded her that he could drag her out of here kicking and screaming and claim that he had found out that Ginny had something to do with the office prank. And everyone said he had no couth.

“Ginny dear is everything quite alright. I almost alerted the whole school.” She gave Draco eyes, as if they could be transformed it to daggers that would pierce his flesh.

“Yes quite fine. Headmaster wanted to see me about…my family. With all due respect I would be grateful if you did tell anyone. I don’t need the rumors.”

“Of course dear. I hope everything is fine.”

“Me too.” Her voice was soft and sad. They marched off as if to go to the Headmaster’s office, but Malfoy lead the way knowing it would make Wesley feel more secure.

“Prefects bathroom. The one in the West Wing near Hugerburt Hall. Than I want to hear something good from you Malfoy. It would be a shame to have that pretty little face of your look more like Snape’s.” She didn’t should like it would be such shame at all, and she certainly wasn’t the only one the expected to hear something profound from his mouth tonight.


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Please review more....i know the editing isnt great, but any other comments?