Dancing With Dragons

Thank everyone who is still reading and those of you who have reviewed. This is a bit of a short chapter, but I thought it was due time to give me readers something....enjoy

CHAPTER 17: Oaths

“Ginny dear is everything quite alright. I almost alerted the whole school.” She gave Draco her eyes, as if they could be transformed in 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 didn’t 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. When there were out of ear shot, or painted ear shot they stopped.

“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 yours look more like Snape’s.” She didn’t should like it was a shame at all, and she certainly wasn’t the only one that expected to hear something profound from him tonight. Oh well things hadn’t been going well for him this year, well maybe his whole life, why should today be different?

“You got it Weasel.” He felt the shacking of her body from fury. The amount of fury was too much for the simple, everyday insult, but probably just right for being kidnapped from your dorm and told your best friends was hurt. It almost made him smile; it had been a little fun. He was sick but he had to admit he liked pissing her off. There was something interesting about getting under someone’s skin. Seeing how far you could push them. Not that he wanted to do permanent damage, but there was something about pushing someone to their limit that gave you more insight into who they were than talking, or even spending years with someone.

“Your cruelty and stupidly never cease to amaze me Malfoy. Considering that I am holding your wand and have it pointed at you back I would shut the fuck up.” So She-Weasel got pissy when she was scared. A lot of people reacted with anger in face of danger it helped to dull the fear. Draco knew he did, but what this little girl hadn’t learned was to swallow it. Anger could be good, really good, because it could clear the head but too much and it could cloud it. Showing to much anger allowed people see where your weaknesses were, and how to make you mad.

“You’re just so easy.” She slowed down. He ignored her until he realized that she had come to a complete stop.

“I am not that easy Malfoy. We talk hear, now.”

He realized that she thought he meant easy to handle, easy to push her into a trap. He hadn’t but the look on her face established the fact that she wasn’t going to believe that. He wasn’t even sure what he was going to say to her when she got around to asking why she should believe him and why would he do this for Granger. It was really the same question. A question he was hoping to think more about on the walk to prefect’s bathroom. Too late.

“I meant you were easy to tease, but fine lets get this done with so I can go back to sleep. Looks like you could use it Shh…Ginny.” And really she did. He hadn’t noticed before but she had dark circles under her eyes, she wasn’t wearing sleeping wear, instead looked as if she had fallen a sleep in her robes, which was probably exactly what happened.

“I do. What did you do to her Malfoy?” He saw the end of his wand spark. Using someone else’s wand was imperfect at best, but Malfoy was positive Wesley would work her way through it.

“I didn’t really do anything to her. I happened to be in the office when Snape caught her….” He cut his sentence off prematurely when his own wand bit into his neck.

“Did you follow…did you know? Did you get her caught on purpose?”

He pulled his cold smirk on. He should let her keep talking until she let it slip what Granger had been doing in the office tonight, but if he did than she wouldn’t trust him. “Watch yourself Wesley, Snape and the Carrows came to my dorm tonight seeking my help. Imagine my surprise when we found No-Wits, Thomas, and Granger running around in the Headmaster’s office.” His wand pushed further into his neck.

“I can just imagine your surprise you dirty Death Eater.” But Ginny pulled the wand back and stepped out of reach. “Dazzle me asshole.”

The name-calling was starting to get old. He was a MAFLOY and was certainly not use to this abuse by those so obviously less than him, but he swallowed his pride. “Just listen to what I have to say before you judge or this will take all night. I was dealing with important work when I headed to the office. Trust me I didn’t think Granger stupid enough to sneak into Snape’s office. I don’t know what she thought to find.”

“What she though to find is none of you business snake.” ‘Ahh, so Granger was looking for something,’ it was a nice little piece of self-knowledge to have, and if, no when that is, he stopped being consumed by Granger it might be a nice piece of knowledge to share.

“Tisk, tisk Miss. Wesley as I was saying about taking all night…”

“Than start saying something worth hearing.”

“Alright, long story short Granger and Neville didn’t give much up which as you can imagine didn’t make for a pretty scene.” Sparks flew and Draco dogged mere nanoseconds before the spell hit the wall behind him.

“You better not have anything to do with that pretty sight Malfoy or we might just reenact it here.”

He didn’t more from the ground more startled than he would let on. He could tell that it was Ginny’s anger that forced the spell out of the wand and seeing how Draco was technically a dark wizard his wand might know spells that Ginny didn’t. It was a funny and scary thought how he suddenly didn’t want to be on this end of his own wand. It gave him an odd but just view of what others might feel facing him. It should have been a powerful feeling but right now it was disturbing.

“Can I finish? AND no I didn’t touch a hair on Granger’s head.”

She stared him in the eyes for a few second and all though they weren’t Granger’s eyes, not soul piercing, there was something to them that made him want to squirm. “Go on.” She lowered the wand and without saying it he realized that Ginny trusted him at least on the matter of not touching Granger’s hair. Funny thing was he had, but hell she had liked it when he did it.

“ Snape told me to take her to the dungeons. I was to check on her periodically until he returned, but when I came back she…” A lump formed in his throat and for a second he knew his eyes held the horror. Ginny was suddenly on her knees in front of him, but the wand was held passively at her side.

“Malfoy what has happened…” All he could see were those dame eyes. “DRACO, please tell me what happened to Hermione. She is not…” He shook his head fast and collected himself. His name sounded refreshing from a girl’s lips. Not sexual and alluring like when Granger spoke it, but there was something nice about being seen as Draco the person and not Malfoy the heir.

“She was sick. I pulled her up not knowing just how injured she was. I swear when I left her I didn’t know she was that hurt. She was walking and talking…like always... yammering away.”

“Shut up Draco I believe you.”

“When I tired to ask her what was wrong she just said tell Ginny go to my dorm there is a journal. She wanted you to write Bryant Park and than burn it.”

“Thats what she said?”

“Well it came out more harsh and broken, “ he spat “but that was the jist.”

“Oh God, what was wrong. Will she live?” He could see tears forming in her eye and her emotions left him cold and confused. The confusion helped to clear his head and he stood suddenly.

“Get a hold of you self it’s just the mudblood.” But Ginny wasn’t really listening. She lifted herself to her feet.

“I have to see her!” Draco grabbed her arm.

“Bad idea she-witch.”

“Get. Your. Hand. Off.” She growled and if Draco hand lived his life with Snape and his father he might have said it was a very good growl.

“She not in the hospital wing, and if you try to see her Snape will know that I told you where she was.”

“Like I care.”

“Ahhh, but you should seeing as than he’ll want to know what Granger told me and he might have you followed.”

“SHIT. Wait, how do I know you told the truth? I don’t know about a journal. And if it is the truth how do I know it not a trap? AND furthermore why would you help us?”

The last part was the hardest question of them all. “I don’t care if you believe me. It well could be a trap, but really if I wanted to I could just have hauled your ass out of the dorm and told Snape that you were part of the group tonight, and it’s probably the truth.”

“Okay, lets say that this is all true why would you do Hermione a favor? Even if Hermione happened to tell you that, thinking in her wounded stupor that she could trust you, why wouldn’t you just run off to Snape? Hmmm?”

“Not that you should be looking a gift horse in the mouth bitch, but I happen to owe Granger a favor.”

“Oh really and what kind of favor would that be?”

“Not one I'm going to share with you. If you care so much ask Granger. I mean really if she wanted to tell you she probably would have.” He saw quick emotions play in the she-weasel’s eyes and he felt powerful once more. She might just buy this yet. “Anyway, I don’t like owing that mudblood a thing, seeing how I stupidly put myself in the need of a mudblood I quite deserve it. But here I am keeping my word, as all Malfoy’s do, and now I can feel free to make Granger’s life a living hell once more.”

“Only you would make owing someone a favor into something so selfish. You’ll never change.”

“Sticks and stones bitch. The dorm’s password is CLEANSING. I picked it out myself. Like it?” She growled. “I’ll give you an hour to figure out what the hell Granger and her dirty mouth was talking about.”

“If it’s truth you speak Malfoy I’ll owe you.” He pushed the sentiment a way.

“If you find what you want and I’ve been a good little boy it would so kind of you to leave my wand on the common room table.” He quickly strode off, but he heard her murmur, ‘and if you’d be so kind as to rot in hell.’ He laughed, didn’t she know they were already in hell?
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Hermione stirred, opening her eyes and figuring she was quite dead. But than why wasn’t there bright lights, fluffy clouds, and something warm to lie on. Heaven needed a remodeling. What if she wasn’t in heaven! She sat up fast and than screamed.

“Miss. Granger! I didn’t expect you to come around so soon. Don’t try and move around too much. I gave you a medicine that works kind of like muggle stitches.”

“Madam Pomfrey. Wait, I am not in hell?” Hermione heard soft chuckles.

“I wouldn’t be so sure of that but if your asking if you’re alive than yes.”

“Oh Merlin what happened?”

“Internal bleeding dear. You’ll need to sleep for a few hours until the healing is complete.”

“Well it would be much nicer to sleep in a bed,” she grumbled.

“Yes, I would agree but seeing as how Snape wont let me move you that is impossible. What were your thinking going into his office! I must implore you never do that again. You are must lucky Mr. Malfoy found you when he did.”

“Malfoy? Draco saved me.”

“The one and only I am afraid. Though I am sure he is the one you put you here.”

Hermione thought back on the night. It was like shifting through sand, but eventually she pieced it together, not that it made her feel better in the least. “No Malfoy didn’t do this. It was Amycus Carrow. I remember the look in his eyes when he kicked me that last time. It read death.” They both shuttered and Hermione decided she didn’t want to talk about her near death experience. She wanted to cry and sing and laugh. She wanted to kiss the ground and soak up every bit of goodness she could find, but that was impossible so she stayed still and distant. “Neville?”

“I checked on Mr. Longbottom a few minutes ago. I snuck him a few pain relievers but he should be well. He’ll need water and food when he gets out but he’ll survive another day.”

“Another day, that may be all we have.”

Madame Pomfrey didn’t speak. “Can I have a sleeping draught?” Hermione asked.

“I am sorry dear if you could stay safe with me I would have given you one already, but seeing as how I cannot stay with you I don’t like the idea of putting you in a coma like sleep in here.”

“Oh.”

“Don’t move tonight. I’ll try to come check on you later, and dear when you are released I would like to see you and Mr. Longbottom immediately. NO BUTS!”

Hermione lied gently back on the stone flooring listening to the footsteps of Madame Pomfrey disappear. She wanted to curl into herself, but was afraid she would ruin the magical stitches. She felt suddenly so lonely, vulnerable, and very, terribly scared. She had almost died tonight, and there was something sicker about the fact that it had almost happened between Hogwart’s walls. It hadn’t really bothered her when she had almost died with Harry. This was some how much worse. She shivered for some time before she fell asleep, but it wasn’t from the cold.
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Draco walked stiffly into his dorm room calling out “She-BITCH?” He was glad to hear not response. He maneuvered to the common room table and blessed be there was his wand. He snatched it up and creased it like a lover. Than he noticed a note that had been sprawled beneath it.

Malfoy,
I will hopefully say this once and only once, but thank you for telling me about Hermione. I don’t understand why you would do so and just so YOU know I don’t trust it. I will, more than ever, be keeping an eye on you. I hate knowing that Hermione must spend any of her time alone with you. I see the path you’ve chosen Malfoy. The path to pain and suffering but in the vain of inflicting it on other people’s lives. I’ve never liked you (oh and I never will), but still it saddens me too see you, someone who could be so much more, be nothing. It sickens me more that people like you stand in Hermione Granger’s way.

However, your act of charity is beyond me and I am grateful for it. I don’t know what you owed Hermione, but it must have been something extraordinary, but of course it would be, as Hermione does nothing that isn’t. I left your wand in one piece even though it pained me to do so.

- She-BITCH (and remember that Malfoy)

PS. I foolishly said back there that if you told the truth I would owe you. Seeing as I left you wand in one piece that should be good enough, but as a Wesley I always keep my oaths. When the time comes Malfoy I will owe you a favor, but be warned I wont do anything that hurts another person or helps in any of your evil little plans. Other than that never it let it be said that a Wesley didn’t keep their oath, even if it is to a Malfoy.

Malfoy tucked the paper away into his pants pocket and claimed into to bed. It would be interesting to have a Wesley at his peck and call even if it was only a one-time deal. He wanted to be angry at her self-righteous spew but he couldn’t. It was the image he had set forth for himself and who gave a shit what that poor little do gooder thought. And honestly he was just fucking tired. He creased the necklace a few time before slipping off to sleep. It gave him an odd feeling of happiness and he knew that was the first sign of insanity for a Malfoy.
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SOME very interesting things are about to happen at Hogwarts...it may involve more snogging and Hermione's head girl position....hmmmm