The Darkest of days the Coldest of Nights

Draco did not know what hurt more; waking up with a throbbing headache or waking up on a cold dungeon room floor. The platinum blond stretched his sore back; in return he heard an unsatisfying ‘crack’ after that he slowly sat completely up and gazed around his surroundings now was the time to figure out where the hell he was. There was a huge man made pond and a stone head of a breaded man with his mouth gaping open and tunnels that lead every which way ‘Merlin’s bread where the hell am I?’



Draco slowly staggered to his boots. Draco slowly drunk in his spot ‘how the hell do I get out of here?’



Draco looked at each tunnel neither one giving him a good feeling. However, he was determined to leave this place. Wrong tunnel or not he did not give a damn it was better then standing around doing nothing ‘Merlin why me?’



Draco attention focused on one tunnel that seemed to be illuminated from within. The light got brighter as the sound of footsteps grew emanate.



“Mister Malfoy wouldn’t have guessed to see you here eh, and passed curfew is we. Oh wait until the headmaster hears about this.” The platinum blond could not contain a snarl at the decaying teeth of Mr. Filch. Draco rolled his eyes heavenwards out of all the creatures, professors and even the ghosts, it had to be Filch.



ΩΩΩΩΩ ΩΩΩΩΩ



Harry returned to the Gryffindor’s dormitory tearing the blanket from Ron’s head ‘déjà vu’



“Bloody hell”



“Ron, you won’t believe the shite I just heard.” Ron stared at Harry as if he had eight sets of eyes instead of four, “You did what now?” He sluggishly sat up whilst rubbing the forming crust from both eyes. “No not what I did… What I heard.” Ron’s face went through five shades of red.



“And what was that?” He said flatly, why should he be shock? he was with Harry bleeding Potter nothing good ever happened when Harry over heard something. He wasn’t too thrilled about getting his precious sleep interrupted either, but hey what were friends for.



“Well, Professors Snape and Professor McGonagall were searching for a missing student.” Ron leaned in closely, his interest now peaked. “Yeah, then what happen? Was it someone we knew? Was he or she a fellow Gryffindor?” Harry’s lips press into a line, as he went over the best way to reword what he had just heard. “Well, yes and no, you see…” Harry scratch at the back of his neck nervously.

“Yeah, spit it out mate!” His crimson-haired mate urged. “The missing student was Malfoy.” Ron gave Harry a looked trapped between constipation and anger Ron Weasley plopped back into the bed; he rolled over so his back would be facing Harry.

Harry wasn’t expecting that kind of reaction. He thought that his best mate would at least start to bitch and moan over it.



“Just leave it be mate. I’ll say this though, if the git was lucky maybe his death was swift.”



Harry’s mouth twitched slightly. Why did his best mate have to joke at a time like this?



“Maybe, you’re right it was just a bit odd hearing that the spineless bugger had run off. He’s probably having some secret death eaters meeting with his dear ol’ dad.” Ron flinched slightly at Harry’s icy tone.



“Yeah, well I like the first theory more than the second.” This time Harry was the one to flinch. ‘So Ron wished death upon his enemy, eh?’



“Lets get some rest it’s going to be a long day tomorrow.” Ron grumbled.

Harry wanted to interrogate his friend further on his harsh words, however the light snores that caught his ears was enough to make him drop the whole subject and chop it up as nothing to get his trousers in a bunch over.



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Pansy could not stop herself from fidgeting in potions class. Her dragon had not returned to the Slytherin’s dungeon the night before. She knew because she stayed up half the night waiting for him. He also did not show up for breakfast this morning either, plus the head of Slytherin house, Snape was no where in sight; Both Slytherins and Gryffindors where starting to speak in and undertone to one another in fear the potion professor would come barging in. Snape was passed his usual fashionably late time he prided himself on.



Her musing abruptly cut short as the wooden door of the potions dungeon room was barged through by none other than Severus Snape, in the flesh. The potions professor had barged through in his usual fashion with black robes swishing behind him, the class immediately going still.



“You all are dismissed.” The ravened haired professor flicked his hand in a shooing manner once he realized his students had not move from their spots or even budge for that matter was just the cherry on his other wise crappy day. Snape inwardly sighed he was in a room full of some of the slowest teens; just what he always wanted. This time Snape decided to set the kids straight with and heated glare. In return the students huddled out of the class like a herd of cattle being chased by hungry wolves.



Pansy’s eyes widen about a miter or two. Something wasn’t right her Draco wasn’t back the professor had cancel class and Blaise was pretending as if everything was peaches and cream, she could just hex them all to oblivion for making her worry!







Later at lunch Pansy seated herself between Blaise and Crabbe at the Slytherin’s table she constipated on going to a certain somebody for help, pride aside she was worried she maybe a witch, but she was still a human being not and statue. So Pansy made a promise to herself to go to the ‘boy wonder’ for aid. She had not notice how her hands clenched and unclenched until she heard and crack of her knuckles. ‘Why is this affecting me so much?’



Meanwhile, in the potions room two Slytherins remained placid neither one ready to converse or break their little staring contest. The younger Slytherin sighed and began to speak, “Look I do not know how I winded up in the chamber of secrets. I am just as clueless as you lot are it was like I wasn’t there in my own body like I had no control over it.” Severus sized his godson up for good measure, “So, are you hinting at being under the Imperio curse Mr. Malfoy?”



Draco uncrossed his arms and with and open palm he slapped the armrest of his seat. “No, I am not hinting at that!” He huffed angry. Severus raised and raven brow toward his obvious sulking godson. “Well since you weren’t under attack or being harassed and you were not under the Imperio curse I can’t see why you shouldn’t serve detention with Mr. Filch for your disappearance.”



The platinum blond leapt from his seat. “That’s not fair!”



Snape pinned his godson with an icy glare, “be still Mr. Malfoy you’ll only proceed to embarrass your-self.”



Draco’s alabaster skin had twinged a pinched looking pink. His fist clenching at his sides the only thing going through his mind was, ‘that wanker that bloodly wanker! He’s doing this on purpose!’



Severus expression softened just a bit as he spoke, “you know you could come to me for anything.”



Draco bowed his head signaling his departure. He had enough of his head of house. Snape nodded. So he could not break through his godson’s defenses yet, on the other hand, he new his words had touched Draco someway or another and the blond would come to him when he was ready, so there was no need to press the subject just yet.



“The nerve of that stupid cow calling me and know-it-all, she has no right to judge me!” Hermione ranted. She, Harry, and Ron had a run in with Lavender brown. Hermione had snorted at Lavender’s overly friendly ways with handling Ron who looked like and babbling buffoon, thus, sparking harsh word between the two girls.

“Hermione don’t let her get to you please.” Harry pleaded with her, because he knew when she was in and foul mood she made sure anyone who encountered her knew it.



Hermione paused in her venting at the obstacle that seems to be foolish enough to place oneself in her path. “And what do you want,” She screeched her wand at the ready.



“I’m not here for you Ms. Ganger I’m here for the boy wonder, so if you could kindly move out of my way.” Pansy purposely bumped shoulders with the Gryffindor only furthering in souring Hermione’s mood.



“What do you want Parkinson?” Harry’s tone was strain, but not bitter.



Pansy advert her gaze from Harry’s and toward the ground, she sighed before beginning, “I know you have no reason to help me and you might even find my request a bit absurd but could you at least think it over before making and final decision.” She paused licking her lips before continuing, “I am worried about Draco…” Harry tense and Hermione blinked owlishly.



“He has not been himself lately and just the night before he has gone missing. I’m afraid he has gotten him self into a predicament where he can not get out of. And if you could keep and eye on him or even help him I would be in your dept.” Although her voice was quivering her face was a mask of cold indifference.



“You are asking me to help Malfoy, someone who has made my life here at Hogwarts and living hell. Pansy, do you honestly think I could just put aside five years of bad blood-“



“Harry.” Hermione choose that moment to interrupt him, “She said you do not have to make and decision right away.”



Harry stared in complete shock at his frizzy-haired friend. He thought she would be behind his decision not making any crazy suggestion. He had no reason to think it over what was there to truly think about Malfoy was and prat plain and simple.



“Just think about it Harry, okay.”



Pansy turned to one of Hogwart’s smartest witch given her a look that clearly stated her gratitude.



Harry sighed, “Alright, I’ll think about it.”



Pansy nodded with a smirk she did and about face leaving the two Gryffindors alone.



“‘Mione are you nutters! This is Malfoy we are talking about you know the one who took it upon himself to call you that foul name,” he snapped.



“I know perfectly well who we are referring too, while you stand here throwing a tantrum like a child a student has come to you for help, and you could at least try the devil’s advocate to see how much it took for Pansy to put her pride aside and ask for your help, however you are too wrapped up in your own prejudice of all Slytherins to help just one of them.” She retorted. With that she huffed and stormed off.



That night at dinner Harry watched, from his seat between and moody Hermione and a bubbly Ron, the Slytherins table closely there was still no sighed of Malfoy, ‘Is there really something going on?’ He had no real time to dwell on his thoughts because a hard jab to his ribs had the raven-haired teen looking wide eyed at his assaulter. “’Mione what’s the big idea!” Harry nursed his sore side shooting her a heated glare.



“Just thought you should know that a certain somebody just walked through the doors of the great hall and is having a very heated discussion there,” the frizzy hair teen jabbed her fork in the direction of the double doors.



Harry leaned back in his seat he peered over Hermione’s back and directly at the doors, true to her word a platinum blond stood with the grim faced night watchmen. It was obvious Draco was protesting about something from the way he stomped his foot down and flung his arms down as well. ‘He doesn’t look any different maybe Pansy was just over reacting?’



“YOU CAN KISS MY ARSE!” In and instant the Great Hall went still all attention drawn toward Malfoy. “I WANT TO EAT. I HAVEN’T HAD A DECENT MEAL FOR NEARLY TWENTY-FOUR HOURS. YOU BALDING OLD FOOL!”



“Oh now you done it, I think six weeks of detention shall be in order!”



The cream-colored flesh of Draco’s flawless face flushed crimson, but his mouth remained clamp shut a feat in itself since everybody knew the blond was quick to retort. Then just like that he was gone the doors slamming hard in his wake.





Draco held his head between both hands man did he have a hell of and headache he knew that was a sure sign for lack of nourishment his body so desperately needed since he discovered the awful secret about his family curse he ate like a bird only picking at his meals, because his apatite was practically placid. And now when he was hungry he couldn’t eat! Since then Draco was afraid to even take a glance at the book he did want to know how or when he shall become one of those things. A pale hand flew up to his chest as it started to constrict this was the same feeling he had when getting off of the Hogwarts Express. The Slytherin prince fell to all fours white strands falling over his face, well if he ever wanted to know what the floors of Hogwarts looked like he now had a chance.

Tear strung the corner of his eyes if this is what dieing felt like then he rather live.



Harry’s head snapped over toward the doors once again as did the whole great hall the yells coming from the other side was disturbing. Ron chose that moment to comment, “My Malfoy must be hungry ay.”

Harry felt his mouth twitch again as he tried not to laugh out loud. Hermione’s head snapped round to Ron a deep frown etched in her features. She didn’t even chide Ron instead she raised running to the exit Harry mimicking her actions as did Pansy. Once each one made it through the doors they all pause no one was there.



“Draco!” Pansy shouted looking feverously for her dragon.

Hermione turn to Harry who was standing behind her. “Do you feel that Harry.” Her brows knitted. Harry nodded. He though he was the only one to feel it. Something just didn’t feel right even though everything looked in place it still all felt different which was greatly confusing; it was like they were in Hogwarts, but Hogwarts seemed different.

Heads of students peeked from behind the doors at the three.



Draco was falling he could feel wind whipping at his body. He realized that he couldn’t see even an inch in front of his face everything around him engulfed in completely darkness.



I’m alone…



Forgotten by all



Slowly fading into the abyss of nothingness



Force to embrace this darkness



Force to face my inner demons with no one by my side.



Please some one help me!



I don’t want to become a soulless being.



I don’t want to be alone.



You are not alone…



All you have to do it accept that I am you and you are I



And your pain shall fade away



Your night shall become day



And you’ll be better than what you are or would ever be.



Just open your arms and embrace me.



Draco opened his eyes only to see black lifeless ones staring back at him. This person was a mirror image of himself only his eyes were a few shades darker. The other Draco held out a hand toward his stunned counterpart. His nails were black as tar and the smirk he held was as warm as a dead fish. Slowly though a bit hesitant Draco Malfoy rose his hand even though every nerve in his body told him not to shake the other’s he did it anyway and before he knew it two hands were gripping onto his shoulders from behind pulling him away from his darker eyed counterpart the illusion of darkness fading away to a light so strong it could rival day. Draco was latterly seeing bury emerald glowing. The fear emanating from the colored of emerald it was intoxicating it had completely engulfed him whole like a rush of power so addicting he don’t think he could ever give it up. Draco could feel the hairs on his body stand of end as he reached out to the emerald expecting to feel heat instead he felt the smoothness of flesh? He pulled it closer the fear increasing thus making the sensation in his body more pleasurable.



“M-malfoy?”



Why did that voice sound so familiar?



He pulled the thing closer in return his lips brushing across something moist and soft. The fear was skyrocketing. Draco’s eyes rolled in the back of his head as he groaned were this why Dementor’s stared the living hell out of people for the addiction that was the last thing that went through his mind as reality or something like it slipped away...