Sing for Me, Cry for Me

19. Looking for an Answer.


“D’you mind explaining why exactly it doesn’t fit?”

“Later. Let’s have dinner first.”

Ron thought that it was too good to hear. Finally he was going to eat and relax.

At the doors to the Great Hall Harry and Ron stumbled into Draco who eyed Harry with the uncertainty and apprehension Harry never remembered Draco displaying ever before. But he couldn’t bring himself to speak first not knowing for sure if he was allowed to or not. So the initiative to speak first fell upon Draco and he knew that he had to take this responsibility in order to earn Harry’s friendship. Draco understood that Harry didn’t know for sure if they could continue their relationship and so he decided to do everything in his abilities to reassure the person who was hurting because of his father. But the fact that Harry wasn’t looking at him with hostility but rather warmth and the fact that Ron wasn’t cracking his fists at him reassured Draco himself and made him bolder.

“Harry, I wanted to apologize though I know it won’t change anything but I feel the need to apologize for all the hurt and pain and suffering my father is inflicting upon you at the moment. And I need you to know that I had absolutely nothing to do with him coming today to Hogsmead. And I want to spend all the time I’ve got with you again of course if you want it still. And I even hope though I know this hope is rather far fetching but I hope to become your friend if you allow me too. But of course if you don’t want me around I will understand that and I won’t follow you ever again even if my father orders me too.”

Harry looked Draco deep in the eyes seeing that the boy was truly sincere knowing beforehand that Draco had nothing to do with this encounter.

“Draco, you shouldn’t talk like that, you know. It sounds as if you are not sure you’re worthy of my friendship. And you should never doubt that you are worthy of anyone’s friendship after all you’re a Malfoy, “ here Harry smiled wryly, “and you deserve the best. You should never forget that and you should never doubt that. That’s how you were raised and that’s what you are and I believe that it’s true. And I really want to be your friend and let’s put your father and my relationships with him aside they won’t damage what we’ve already started. I don’t know for sure what your father needs and wants from me but if friendship is what you want friendship you will get and I will be more than happy to be your friend. Just today I told Ron that with the two of you right by my side I feel happy and protected. Please Draco don’t doubt that you are worth of something. This thought should never cross your mind.”

“Thank you Harry.”

“For what?”

“For giving me a chance.”

“Draco haven’t you listened to the word that I said?”

“I listened all right and I will be a true Malfoy like I always was but with minor changes. You see I came to one conclusion: that you have the power to affect people greatly and to make them see the errors of their ways changing them for the better.”

“I told him the same. But before we continue maybe we’ll go and have some dinner. I am indeed hungry and Harry you promised that we would have dinner first.” said Ron

“Indeed. All right, but I want us to eat together.”

“Oh no, don’t even think about me sitting at the Gryffindor table.”

Harry snorted.

“I wouldn’t dream of having a Slytherin at our table. What I meant is that we can go to the kitchens were Dobby will serve us.”

“Kitchens? With house-elves? A Malfoy never takes a meal among house-elves!” stated Draco haughtily.

“Well, that’s the Draco I know. But now it’s quite irrelevant.”

And with that Harry took both Draco’s and Ron’s hands in his own and dragged them to the kitchens.

After they were fed and relaxed it was time for some serious talk.

“I think we should go somewhere private. I think we need to have a talk.” said Harry motioning for Ron and Draco to follow him.

They found an empty classroom, charmed the door shut and soundproof. Each of the boys conjured a chair for their liking and sat down comfortably. Harry was the first to speak.

“First of all, Draco I’d like to know what you know about your father and I.”

“Nothing much. He wouldn’t tell me why he asked me to spy on you or why exactly he is after you but he told me that it is a permanent thing though you might not understand it now.” and after some hesitation Draco added, “and he told me that he loves you and is going to pursue a relationship with you.”

Ron snorted.

“Your father has a very strange way of showing Harry that he loves him.”

“Yes I told him the same thing but he said that it has to be done.”

“It seems to be his favorite excuse. He told me the same thing after he raped me and he keeps telling me it every time we meet.”

“What!? He raped you!?”

“You didn’t know?”

“No, well he told me that he forced you into something but I didn’t know that my father raped you.”

“He did. While I was serving my detention for professor Snape. The last one I got because of you.”

“I can’t believe it. He raped you…” Draco knew for sure that there were tears for the first time in his life shimmering in his eyes.

“Don’t be sorry for me Draco. I don’t need pity. All I need is some help.”

“He raped you and you don’t hate him? You seem to be so calm about the fact.”

“I suppose that I hated him before and it would seem logical if I hated him now even more but I can’t all I can feel for him is… love.” said Harry in a defeated voice. “And as for being calm I think I’m learning from the best.”

“That’s why we thought that your father and Harry might be soulmates though Harry says that it doesn’t fit.” interjected Ron and continued while Harry was out of it, “Harry was having a certain dream about a serpent and a raven intertwining together in a dance and today he saw this picture in a book on soulmates. It turned out that this dream showed him the image of his soul. His and your father’s. We came back to the store and asked its owner to tell us about soulmates. From what I understood they very well might be. At least it would explain Harry’s feeling towards him. They are confusing, uncontrollable and totally unconditional.”

“Thanks Ron I think I can take it from here. The next time I saw him after the rape, it was two days later during the Potions class and instead of feeling hate and dread I felt anticipation and happiness and his presence instantly calmed me down. When he touched me I felt a knot forming around my heart and I needed him closer and closer. I can still feel this knot and sometimes it feels like it’s growing and at the same time it feels like it’s always been within me. When I’m with him he usually starts with hurting me because I simply can’t understand whatever we have but in the end I always calm down and he always holds me and he always turns from being cruel and sardonic into a loving and tender person. Though I know he’s not a nice man, sorry Draco.”

Draco snorted and bowed his head in acceptance of this truth.

“All in all no matter what he does he makes happy in one way or another.”

“So why do you think you aren’t soulmates?”

“Because there are things that just don’t fit. First of all the process of sensing a soulmate should be simultaneous on both parts, though someone can feel it stronger and the one who feels it stronger makes the first move. They start slowly and gradually wooing and seducing the one and it takes some time before they decide to bond. I don’t know where Lucius could get an idea of me being his soulmate and I certainly didn’t feel it at the same moment as he did. And instead of taking it gradually he raped me. It can’t be considered as wooing. Besides there’s nothing said about this knot around the heart. There is always a rush of different feelings that capture you. But in my case it was all concentrated around my heart though I do have rather confusing and controversial feelings towards him. Besides we were supposed to be enemies so if he felt that I am his mate he would have started it with a peace offering. Which he didn’t. Once again I don’t think rape a peace offering. Of course there are things that indicate that we might be soulmates. Our feelings for one and a token for another.”

“Token? What token? I didn’t know he gave you anything.”

Harry showed Ron a snake like ring that glittered silvery green on his finger.

“What is that?” asked Ron in utter fascination at a shimmering piece that seemed to slither on Harry’s finger.

“It’s a Malfoy engagement ring.” stated simply Draco.

“Engagement?” Harry smirked, “I was sure it was something more than just a Portkey.”

“A portkey?” inquired Draco with curiosity.

“After the explosion in Potions class he grabbed my hand and put that ring on my finger saying that it was a Portkey and that I would be transported to Malfoy Manor at midnight.”

“You were in Malfoy Manor?”

“Yes.”

“Under mother’s very nose?” Draco burst into fits of laughter.

“You seem very calm with your father’s inclinations.”

Draco shrugged his shoulders.

“I guess I am. He asked me about it too but I really can’t explain it. I just have this feeling that you would do well for each other as soon as you overcome all the differences and contradictions you have and as soon as we find out what is it all about because father insists on your finding about it on your own.”

“Why though?”

“He believes that if you find it out by yourself than it would be easier for you to accept it and you won’t feel tricked or betrayed…”

“Not to mention that I will be only too glad to finally understand what was going on and would be only too happy with my found-out knowledge to be mad at him for whatever he did and would forgive and accept him and me and us together in a wink and without hesitations because by the time I learn the truth I would be to exhausted to fight it.”

“Maybe that too. Knowing father I would say that he will be only too glad to see you surrender.”

“And what about your mother?”

“My mother? And what about her? They never loved each other. Their marriage was an arranged affair and I hardly recall them even talking to each other while I’m at home. So mother is quite irrelevant in the matter and if father wants you he will get you and no one will stop him.”

“Yes I gathered as much.” said Harry bitterly.

“Did he tell you anything about us?” asked Harry after a moment.

“Just that it is inevitable and unstoppable. When I asked him if you were soulmates he said that the general course of my conclusion was right though not accurate.”

“Meaning that there is a sort of soul connection between the two of us?”

“And meaning that there is something else that we don’t know or simply can’t see.”

“Could your father be anymore vague?”

“He’s a Malfoy. Everything works the way he plans.”

“Now I really hate him.”

“Wait, wait, wait.” interjected Ron once more, “But what about that token of his? That ring?”

“Oh yeah I completely forgot. This ring or a token is the second thing in the whole soulmate stuff along with all those emotions that fit. Most of the time we are apart but I don’t feel too anxious or too distressed or unhappy on the contrary I am rather calm. And when I feel a sort of anxiety I just have to touch the ring and it immediately calms me down as much as Lucius’ presence when he’s not too aggressive.”

“So he interwoven the ring with his power and magic and his love for you so that you don’t feel the need to run looking for him and so that you stayed content.”

“Right.”

“So we know from what you found out and what father told me that one way or another your souls are connected besides that dream of yours clearly showed that but what we don’t know is how exactly this connection is formed and how father knew about it and why he acted the way he did.”

“Exactly.”

“So what do we do now?” asked Ron.

“We wait for another sign.” said Harry resolutely.

“Wait? Again?”

“Well, it helped us once and it will help us again. Am I right Draco?” appealed Harry to Draco while Ron was boiling with indignation.

“I think we should stay on guard and if anything seems like the answer we grab it and use it to our advantage in order to solve the mystery father plunged us in.”

“Does it mean we have to wait?” asked Ron.

“Positively.” replied Draco and Harry together.

“It’s not fair! I want some action!” whined Ron turning his head to both Harry and Draco.

“Patience is a virtue, Ron, so be quiet.” said Harry sternly.

Draco looked at him quizzically.

“Watch out Harry, you begin to sound just like him.”

Harry rolled his eyes and then smirked.

“Indeed? Than I really should call upon some discipline. You seem to allow yourself too much recently.”

“You’re getting scarier and scarier. I wonder what would you be like with your kids?”

“One thing I know for sure is that my kids would never be as spoilt and as arrogant as you.”

“Right. They would be spoilt all right. You will be spoilt too. As soon as you and father get together you will understand what it means to live a Malfoy and than we’ll see who would be still more spoilt and arrogant.”

“I think you will be holding the first place. After all you’ve been spoilt since the day you were born and there’s no way I will catch up with you. Ever.”

“Thanks Merlin for that. “said Ron no longer whining, “But as long as you remember your friends he can spoil you as much as he wants.”

“By the way, Weasley, you seem quite comfortable with this situation too. I would expect you to explode.”

“Well, like you said earlier Harry has a way of influencing people and showing them the errors of their ways. And I don’t want to loose Harry as a friend and I promised to be everything a best friend should and if it means that I have to put up with two Malfoys in Harry’s life than so be it. You can call me, Ron, by the way.”

“The same goes here, Ron.”

“All right Draco.”

“Well aren’t we a happy family.” drawled Harry laughing hysterically as both Ron and Draco launched themselves on Harry making him fall on the floor and tickling him from all sides.

“I can’t believe it, “ called out of breath Draco to Ron, “the great and famous Harry Potter is ticklish!” and the tickling attack on poor Harry started all over again with renewed vigor from both Draco and Ron.

“I will be of great use to my father with the tips I can give him on you.”

“Don’t you dare!”

“Or what?”

“Or I will give birth to another heir to the Malfoy line and demand that all the inheritance is bequeathed to it.”

Draco stopped tickling Harry and looked at him through his disheveled blond hair.

“Are you sure you were sorted into the right house? It’s so unGryffindorish of you to do something like that. You won’t give a birth to an heir, will you?”

Harry looked at him with a devilish glint in his emerald eyes and grinning widely said:

“It all depends on you my dear Draco it all depends on you.”

And reversing their positions it was now Draco being mercilessly tickled by Harry and Ron.