Within A Dragon's Tear

Chapter 3

The days pass by stressful for Draco. His only friends to even visit him are Crabbe and Goyle, even they have their problems to deal with as both their fathers are Death Eaters. The good news is Draco can keep his inheritance but the Ministry refuses to let him go back home till they have looked it over. His father used to keep many forbidden and cursed objects and now the family is most likely going to pay for it. His dreams still the annoying muggles such as holidays spent watching them stuff their faces and spoil their son. It really doesn’t take him long to know these are memories, especially when the people once in a while call him... Harry.

Draco is not sure to feel pity or rage over his spoiled sleep. Harry must have cursed him to see them. Maybe to get his pity>? Not in this lifetime! The attention seeking freak will just have to settle for the fact he sucks! He has nothing to lose while Draco is losing what\'s left of his world. Still the dreams slowly cause him to do the one thing he hates: think about Potter.

Lupin also pays him some visits, being one of the few to come and not question him about his activities with Voldemort. Lupin’s only interests are if Draco is eating and being treated well.

By the end of the week, Draco finds himself staying in Diagon Alley because they still refuse to let him have the house back. Not that he is eager to go back to a place filled with family memories, but his life seems to be in limbo.

Draco is sitting in his room, reading one of the several books he acquired from the local bookshop. Next to him on the bed is the Evening Prophet and Daily Prophet. Nothing news worthy inside them aside they are still hunting down the Death Eaters who insists the war is not over. Draco can’t see to focus even on the book anyway so he glances at the papers again. The news remind him of the war. It almost seems like yesterday.

The blinding rage as he wanted to get revenge for his family. Snape was chasing after in trying to stop his charge. Calling him a bloody fool. His declaration of his intent so short lived. The last view was Potter looking at him with pity.

Potter... The beginning and end of his misery so summed up in that name. The young man who lived. HAH! Overrated propaganda probably started by Potter. Always needed to be in the spotlight. Always spoken about even at Hogwarts.

Yet, the dreams come to mind. In the dreams, Potter never likes attention. Wants to be treated as anyone else. Wants to be loved. Draco ponders his own life in house of Malfoy. He can recall most holidays getting gifts. His mother’s eyes filled with love. His father on the other hand demanding perfection of him. Everything Draco did, he had to do right or face punishment. When Potter became the youngest seeker on the Gryffindor team, his father punished him for not being as good. Every lose he suffered in Quidditch was more punishment. How many nights of pain he spent despising Potter. Yet, has Potter also spent nights equally miserable?

Draco no longer is certain how to feel. It is just most easier to hate Potter then to understand him. Plus, Potter has him under some curse. That must be his problem! The curse is making him feel things against his will! He has to get back to Potter and have it removed!

Getting back to see Potter ends up not being quite easy due to people will not tell him where Potter has gone. Plus, they no longer even recognize that A Malfoy should be allowed anywhere he pleases. These days no one seems to appreciate this now that he thinks about it. The name Malfoy once could open any door anywhere! Now the people just give him a dirty look if he is that lucky.

Looks outside to see its late evening now. Something is wrong. Draco can feel the hair on the back of his neck rising. DeathEaters most likely are here to kill him. Draco clutches his wand in his hand. Glad to have it back, despite the protest of Weasley and that Mudblood girl. Maybe this might be his only means to stay alive. Uses simple trick to make it look like he is still in bed. At this hour they will expect him to be asleep.

The next few minutes goes as a blur. Not even Draco has the chance to see his attackers, who keep their identity secret under black cowls. The spells fly back and forth as Draco proves he hasn’t spent his time in Hogwarts picking his nose. Even then, he is forced to flee his room grabbing what he can along the way. By then, the Aurors have decided to show up. Kinda slow, he thinks, if not for his elite skills he would surely be dead. His powers are always being underrated by people. Then the questions come. Not like he knows who attacked him! Still they ask, wanting to be certain he isn’t protecting anyone aside himself. Little did they know they give Draco too much credit there. His father taught him one thing: Must take care of number one. Family also is the only other important thing out there and Voldemort removed that. Why will he want to protect his attackers? That is the only question that got to him the most. Times like this, he really misses having Crabbe and Goyle to talk to. Even they have the ability to see how stupid that question was and that\'s saying something.

It is late morning when Draco can finally get some breakfast. For the moment he is left alone to eat. Then He comes to the door. Draco is never so certain of who will be opening the door as he is now. This sudden insight is confirmed when Potter walks through the doorway that Draco has his back to. The beautiful eyes looking at him now makes him want to vomit!

Draco in that smug way, “ Kinda late... aren’t you, Potter?”

Potter is rolling his eyes, “ Get off your high horse for once , Draco!”

Draco bites back, “ And walk in the mud like you? Never!”

Potter makes his way over to his table and sits down. Draco finds this very insulting as he never asked permission to join him. Then again Potter always does what he wants. At least on this Snape agrees.. or would have. Strange ache begins in his chest thinking of Snape. His fingers curl around his wand instinctively.

Draco, “ What do you want?” Tries to ask that with an arrogant tone but comes off more weary then he wants Potter to know he is.

Potter, “ The Ministry wants to make an offer. They offer protect you if you promise to tell them all about Voldemort\'s activities while you were a death eater. To tell them all you know. ”

Draco takes a moment to look Potter over. Potter’s face is deadpan right now.

Draco, “ You expect me to take that offer?”

Potter then smiles slight, “ If I was you I would tell them to shove it.”

Draco is finding today is starting off filled with surprises. Uncertain if this really is Potter, “ Why did you make the offer?”

Potter, “ I said I would make the offer but I doubt they can protect you. They couldn’t even protect the head ministry during the war. I do think you should testify. It will help clear your name.”

Draco, “ They won’t stop coming if I do!”

Potter, “ They already tried once. Draco, you need help and your two friends will not be able to watch your back this time.” Then with a deep breath makes his offer, “ You can come to my place for a awhile and stay. I have a... “

Draco narrows his eyes. The idea of him needing protection from Potter is so insulting! “ Get out! “

Potter looks for a moment he might argue but sighs, “ My offers stays open for as long as you need to think about it. Just don’t take too long.” Sounds so tired himself.

Draco,” It will be a cold day in hell before I come begging for help from you, Potter!“

And Potter walks out in silence. Not till his leaves does Draco want to smack himself in the head. Should have demanded the removal of that bloody spell!

Draco yells, “ Bloody Hell! “

Draco finds himself running after Potter now before he can stop himself. The road is crowded with people. He can feel Potter has not yet left. In his haste, he fails to see the person pointing a wand in his direction.

Draco, “ Potter! Get your Arse back here!”

Hand yanks him hard as Potter pulls him out of the way. Something hot passes his cheek. As shrieks happen around him, he knows it was the forbidden curse and the spell missed him. The poor victim lays withering in death as Potter once again yanks Draco along the street. For the moment he doesn’t care who he is with, just the overwhelming desire to get away. They hurry in what seems like forever before Potter comes to a stop before an old house and Potter hurries him inside. The place is filled with many antiques. Must have been from a great family but did it belong to Potter?

Wait... Potter just saved his life!

Potter, “ So, have you changed your mind?”

Draco then recalls why he came, “ I only come to get you to remove this spell!” Shoving the back of his hand into Potter’s face, “ I want you to leave me alone! Its bad enough I have to see you when I’m awake!”

Potter just looks Draco in the eyes, “ I don’t know how... The spell was started by you.”


To Be continued.....