The Dragon's Child Bride

NEW A/N: This is the beta\'d version. It actually came a few days ago, but I was busy with birthday stuff, you know. So thanks again to Megan for speedy, efficient beta work, complete with pirate lingo. I particularly enjoyed that. Please, please review as I continue my personal pilgrimage to make it too 100 reviews. Any and all help, even if it\'s not positive, so long as it is honest it is appreciated.

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Chapter 32: Unravelling


After sitting around for a few awkward minutes, Draco finally spoke.

“Alright Granger, why did you bring us here?” She looked surprised.

“Me? This is your meeting!”

“How is this my meeting? You called it!”

“I most certainly did not. You did!”

“I did not!”

“You did too!”

“Did not!”

“Did too!” Head Boy and Girl frowned at each other, eyes locked in steely gazes that silently demanded the other admit responsibility for the meeting that neither was prepared for. They remained silent for a moment, each deciding how to proceed without arguing in front of the prefects. It was, after all, unprofessional.

“Macmillan told me there was a meeting today. I can only assume you called it.” Draco finally offered.

“Ron told me about the meeting. I didn’t call it.”

Draco scowled. Something was definitely wrong here. “Well, I didn’t either. Macmillan,” He turned to where the Hufflepuff sat, “Where did you hear about this ‘meeting’?”

Ernie adjusted his tie nervously. “Er, Hannah told me about it.” Hannah’s naturally pink face flushed red.

“Well, Ron told me!”

“I heard it from Michael.”

“Justin told me!”

“I heard it from Anthony!”

“Well, Millicent told me.”

“Well, I heard it from-”

“Enough!” Draco bellowed. “Granger, did you call the meeting?”

“No.” she said firmly.

“I didn’t either. Is there anything you can think of that needs to be discussed?”

“No.”

“Good then. Meeting adjourned.” Just then, the door burst open to Harry, looking as if he’d just run a mile in a minute.

“She-” he panted, “She’s running away. She’s trying to leave.”

“Who?”

“Malfoy-” Harry paused again to gasp for air and all eyes turned to the Head Boy. “Is he here? Did he leave?”

“Of course I’m here. It’s a prefects meeting. They couldn’t have the damn thing without me. Now what are you blathering on about?”

With a fierce scowl, Harry launched himself at the unsuspecting Head Boy, driving him to the ground as he began a vicious assault. With the first swing, Harry was sure he’d broken Malfoy’s nose but he didn’t stop there. He could here a female scream somewhere in the background

“Fucking bastard,” he seethed as he continued to pummel him, “Fucking smug, selfish son of a bitch!”

Ron and Ernie grabbed Harry by either arm, forcibly dragging him back from the angry and bewildered Head Boy. He struggled against them, unable to get the picture of Laylani out of his head, lying on the floor, crying as if her very heart was breaking, as if she couldn’t go on.

“Bastard!” he yelled with renewed vigor. “I’ll fucking kill you!”

“Harry!” Hermione shouted trying to gain her friend‘s attention, stepping between him and Malfoy. “What’s wrong with you?”

“It’s him! Fucking ferret! Lied to her the whole goddamn time! I knew it!”

“‘Her’ who?”

“Laylani. He lied to her this whole goddamn time, telling her he loved her and all the while he’s looking for a way out!”

“What the hell are you talking about, Potter?”

“He got his daddy to do his dirty work and when he finally found a way out of his marriage he broke her fucking heart, told her he didn’t love her. That he never did.”

“I did no such thing!”

“You fucking coward! Don’t you fucking lie about it now! The proof is on her goddamn face!” Harry struggled more forcefully against his friends, thinking about the bruise that Malfoy must have bestowed on her.

“What happened to her face?” Draco asked, worried her scars might have somehow reappeared.

“You hit her, you fucking bastard!” Draco’s blood ran cold. Someone had hit her? His hands balled into fists. Harry went on. “She’s trying to run away. She’s trying to leave, Goddammit!”

Draco was immediately on his feet, if unsteadily. Not bothering with the blood gushing from his nose, he quickly strode towards the door.

“That’s right! Run away you fucking coward! Run home to daddy!” Potter called after him.

Draco didn’t let his words deter him. Let him think what he liked. He had to get to her before she left, before she disappeared from his life again. If she were to leave now, it would likely be forever.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

She hurriedly shoved items into her trunk, pausing only to brush away the tears when they clouded her vision and to drink from an uncorked bottle of Firewhiskey.

How could she have been so stupid? Hadn’t she been smarter than that? She had once. But she’d been so desperate for something, anything good and when it had happened, so spontaneously, so wonderfully, she’d foolishly let down her guard.

“Stupid Laylani,” she mumbled to herself. “Stupid, stupid, stupid.”

Well, she’d learned, hadn’t she? She wouldn’t be so foolish any more, never again. She made a silent vow to never trust another man, not ever. No matter how amazing, sweet, caring, or honest they seemed…

She hiccupped out a loud sob and took another long drink. Damn Draco fucking Malfoy. He’d played her well, she had to admit. Not that she had made it hard for him. No, she’d been putty in his hands from the very beginning, him and his entire family. She’d been so desperate to please them, to earn the affection they had seemed to give so freely.

She choked out a bitter laugh; now look at her. The family despised her for the trash she was. Soon everyone else would too. People would ask about her disappearance, and this wasn’t the type of information Draco would keep to himself when it concerned someone he seemed to loathe so deeply.

Laylani truly had nothing left. She’d lost the love of her life, the only family she’d ever known, any friends she’d had would soon be gone, and she was losing her mind. She had nothing, no one, and nowhere to go.

Her initial plan had been to stay with Adrian, but what would have been the point? It wouldn’t have been long before he’d found out about the reasoning behind Draco’s abandonment of her, and he would have her off too. No, she’d rather not see the day he found out he’d been friends with a whore. She would have to find a way to make it on her own.

The flurry of her packing came slowly to a halt. What was she doing? None of this was hers. None of it, not one single thing. It was all bought and paid for by the Malfoys and she wanted nothing from them. They could keep it, all of it. Give it to the next foolish girl. They could burn it for all she cared.

Abandoning the items she held, she stripped of her clothes and dug to the bottom of the trunk and pulled out the black garbage bag that contained the only things that were truly hers. She’d have to keep the knickers and bra she wore but only because the ones she’d arrived in had long since been thrown away. Dumping her clothes from the bag, she pulled on her worn and faded jeans. They felt a bit stiff but fit alright, if a little loose. Her red halter still fit rather snugly, and she noticed the house elves had patched it up quite nicely.

She looked down at her bare feet and was reminded of all the scrapes and cuts she’d received walking barefoot. Alright, she would take one pair of socks and one pair of shoes.

Casting a look to her bedside table, she gracelessly pulled out the drawer and dumped its contents on the floor. Raking through the odds and ends, she pulled out her silver notebook. That was hers.

Laylani stood up, clutching her notebook to her chest. She caught a look at herself in the mirror and saw a glimmer of her charm necklace, her union symbol, hanging around her neck. She felt around the length of chain, desperate to find a clasp but she knew there wasn’t one. There had never been one. She yanked at the chain, willing it to break but it would not. She pulled harder and harder, tears welling up in her eyes both from the cut of the metal as well as the hurt it represented. She gave it one last hard yank and cried out as the chain cut through her skin. She let go of the chain, letting out a sob of defeat.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Draco skidded to a halt, a hair’s breadth short of crashing into her portrait. It took him a few brief seconds to collect himself enough to get out the password.

“Follow the yellow brick road.”

Nothing.

He said it again, louder and clearer.

Still nothing; the portrait stayed firmly shut.

“Goddammit!” he shouted, flinging himself against the portrait to beat on it mercilessly. He had to get to her. “Laylani!” he shouted. “Laylani!” Was she even there?

He was close to hysteria when the thundering of footsteps pulled him back. He quickly moved away from the portrait and pushed the loose hair out of his eyes. He turned to face Potter, Granger and Weasley with the little Weaselette in tow. They stared at each other for a moment.

“It won‘t open.” he said at last, trying to sound nonchalant.

“I’ve sealed it, obviously with good reason.” Potter looked smug, making Draco’s blood boil. He fought to remain calm.

“Well, unseal it.” The tremble in his voice did not go unnoticed. Harry smirked.

“No.” Draco took a menacing step towards Potter.

“Open the goddamn door.” His voice was low and threatening.

“Not for the likes of you; you won’t hurt her again.” Potter turned away from him, dismissing him.

Malfoy grabbed him by the collar, shoving him hard against the wall. “Goddammit Potter, I didn’t hurt her! Open the fucking door!”

“Ron, don’t!”

Draco could feel the tip of Weasel’s wand pressed against his throat but he didn’t care; Potter was the one keeping him from Laylani, Potter was the one he would deal with.

“Let him go, Malfoy.” Draco didn’t even look up.

“So help me, Potter,” he seethed, “If I have to kill you to remove that spell, I will. Open the door.”

“Let him go, Malfoy!” Weasel repeated, jabbing his wand harder against his neck.

“Stop it, all of you!” Hermione shouted. She knew she couldn’t reason with them like this, it had spun far out of her control. Not knowing what else to do, she drew her wand. “Immobulus!” The boys remained frozen where they were, unable to do themselves harm.

She took a deep breath, trying to decide where to go from there. Hermione glanced towards the portrait leading to Laylani’s room. Her friend was behind that painting, probably in the worst anguish she’d ever imagined and the one who seemed to have caused it may be the only one who could relieve her of it.

She didn’t think Malfoy had done this. Certainly, she’d seen him do plenty of cruel hateful things, had even been victim to some of them, but she had never once seen him do anything to hurt Laylani. She could clearly remember the day on the train; Malfoy had been willing to use his own body to protect Laylani from Pansy. Hermione had thought it decent of him, perhaps even noble. It had been the first selfless thing she’d seen him do. The first but definitely not the last, at least where Laylani was concerned. She couldn’t believe he’d didn’t care for her.

But what if she was wrong?

She was still trying to formulate a plan in her mind when she noticed what Ginny was doing. She was opening Harry’s robe.

“Ginny, what on earth do you think you’re doing?”

Ginny looked up from inside Harry’s robe to Hermione’s scandalized face. She rolled her eyes.

“Relax Hermione, I’m getting their wands.” She fished Harry’s wand from his back pocket and stuck it into her own.

That seemed sensible enough. Circling behind Ron, Hermione slid his wand back through his fingers, slipping it out of his grasp and into her robe’s pocket. Now to disarm Malfoy.

Ginny stood offside of him, not sure how to go about this. Hermione pursed her lips.

“I’ll do it.” She announced with a sigh. She approached Malfoy with the same stern determinism she approached everything else. With an air of detachedness, Hermione began to unclasp his robe, ignoring his gurgle of protest. She found his wand where he usually kept it, in the robe’s inner pocket. Sliding it out, she tossed it to Ginny.

“Now what?”

“Well,” Hermione said slowly, “I guess we let them go and open the door.” Harry made a noise of disbelief in the back of his throat. Ginny looked the boy s over and sighed.

“I guess so.”

Hermione drew her wand.

“Wait!” Ginny ran towards Draco and pried Harry’s collar from his fingers. Wrapping her arms around his waist, with great effort she tugged him backwards, away from Harry. When she was satisfied with the distance between them, she returned to her place next to Hermione. “Alright. Now.” Hermione released the spell.

“Hermione, are you crazy?”

“Are you absolutely mad?”

“Give me back my wand, Granger!”

Hermione flinched under the immediate attack, but did not back down.

“We’re going in and Malfoy will be unarmed. I don’t think he did this, but if something happens, he’ll be harmless.”

“I think he’s proved to Laylani he’s plenty dangerous without his wand.” Harry snapped

“I didn’t hit her!”

“That’s why Ginny and I will have our wands.”

“You can’t keep my wand, Granger.” Hermione turned to face Malfoy, her hands on her hips.

“I can and I will.” She said primly. “If you wish to set foot in Laylani’s rooms, you’ll accept it.”

Draco scowled but said nothing. If that’s what it took to get to Laylani, he would do it, at least for now.

“I won’t let him in there, Hermione.”

“Harry, you’ve got to.”

“No I don’t. Not for him.”

“B-but Harry, of course you do. We have to find out what really happened.”

“I know what happened. That bastard-”

“Harry, you only know what Laylani told you. I don’t think-”

“That’s more than enough for me.”

“Harry” Ginny interrupted, “Laylani is back there in agony, thinking the man she loves doesn’t love her back.” Ginny paused, avoiding Harry’s gaze and her voice became soft. “That he never did. If that’s not true, if she’s wrong, she needs to know. Harry, we owe it to her to find out. Please, you’ve got to let him in.”

There was a long pause.

“Fine.”

Harry sighed heavily and waved his wand muttering a soft incantation. The portrait glowed brilliantly for a moment.
Draco took a deep breath. “Follow the yellow brick road.”

Nothing.

Draco turned to face Potter incredulously. “Dammit Potter, don’t fuck with me.”

“I think she changed the password.”

“To what?” Harry smirked.

“Draco Malfoy is a cocksucking bastard.” Draco scowled.

“She did n-” He stopped abruptly as the portrait swung open behind him. A faint flush stained his fair skin as Potter and Weasel snickered. His scowl deepening, he quickly turned to step through the portrait.

Laylani stood up, hurriedly wiping her eyes. He would not see her crying over him.

“Get out.”

“Laylani, we need to talk.”

“Get. Out.”

“Look, I don’t know what happened but-”

“Get out!”

“Laylani, listen-”

“Get out!”

“Goddammit Laylani, listen to me!”

“No! I’m done listening to you! Get out!”

“No Laylani-”

“Get out! Get out! Get out!” A bottle of fire whiskey shattered against the wall, inches from where he stood. Where the hell had she gotten that?

Without his wand, there was little Draco could do to gain control of the situation. Out of options, he rushed her, trapping her between his body and the wall. Her hands flew up to strike at him but he quickly pinned her wrists. He could see Potter from the corner of his eye, rushing to protect her but Granger and the littlest Weasel managed to hold him back. Transferring both her small wrists into one hand, he used the other to force her to look him in the eye.

“Laylani, I’m not going to leave until you hear me out.” For a moment her anger left her, and Laylani let out a choked sob.

“Let go of me! What do you want? What’s left?” He wanted nothing more to take him in his arms and comfort her, to stroke her hair and assure her everything was alright.

“Laylani, please. Please listen to me. I didn’t- I didn’t do this. Someone else- someone else pretending to be me did this. I would never, never hurt you.”

“What?” she shrieked. She couldn’t make sense of what he was saying. What was he trying to do?

“Someone - I didn’t - I don’t know who did this. But I’m going to find out. It wasn’t me Laylani, I wouldn’t – I would never.”
He attempted to stroke her cheek with his fingers, but that only caused her to struggle harder against him.

“Don’t! Don’t touch me! Get off of me!” She tried to push him away, but he was too strong. Still she did not stop. She had always been a fighter.

“Laylani, stop. Stop it! Calm down!”

“Don’t tell me what to do!” The room trembled with her anger. He braced himself for whatever might happen next, but the room suddenly fell into an eerie stillness.

“Oh, I see.”

“You do?” Her eyes were not on him, but the doorway where the four Gryffindors stood.

“You’ve come to humiliate me with an audience. It wasn’t enough you broke my heart, you want everyone else to know. Of course.”

“No, Laylani it’s not like that. They’re-”

“Why are you doing this?” she snapped angrily, twisting in his grip. “What did I do to make you hate me so much?”

“I don’t hate you. I could never hate you. I love you, you know that.” For a moment Laylani seemed stunned into silence and Draco saw a glimpse of vulnerability. Before he could react, her features hardened.

“You’re lying! You’re trying to trick me. Stop lying to me. You did it, okay! You hurt me! You hurt me deeper than anyone else ever had, deeper than I thought possible. You win, okay! You win. Just leave me alone.”

Her voice had become soft and mournful, and Draco could feel his very heart breaking inside him. He silently vowed that whoever had done this to her, whomever had made her feel this way, they would pay and pay dearly.

“I’m not lying, love. Someone else pretending to be me-\"

“Oh, right. Your evil twin.” Draco scowled.

“I didn’t say that. Someone took a Polyjuice potion to look like me.” For a moment Laylani stilled and was silent as she racked her brain to understand what that meant. Polyjuice, Polyjuice….the word was familiar. She knew about it, she did. She tried to force her mind to clear and searched her memory desperately for any information on the potion in question.

She could recall it being fairly simple to make, though it took some time to brew. Add a bit of someone’s hair and drinking the potion would make you look identical to them for a time. It was vague recollection, but perhaps somewhat plausible.

After a pause, Draco said hopefully “You see?”

Sensing a moment of weakness, she twisted free and shoved him hard, making him stumble back and she scrambled away.

“Jesus, Laylani.” He wheezed.

“Then what about the letter?”

He frowned, straightening up. “What letter?”

“Like you don’t know.” she snapped. She reached into her pocket, from which she pulled out a balled-up piece of paper.
She smoothed it out as best she could and shoved the crumpled piece of parchment under his nose.

“This letter.” She snapped.

He quickly read it over. “What is this? This isn’t even my father’s writing.” She rolled her eyes.

“No, look.” He rushed over to her desk where she kept the letters she received, yanking open the drawer to a chorus of clanking bottles. Furrowing his brow, he pushed them aside to pull out her stack of letters. He flipped through them quickly to find the single parchment his father had sent her. Pulling it out from the collection triumphantly, he held out both papers for Laylani to see. “See? The signatures aren’t even close.”

Her brow knit together and she was momentarily at a loss for words. The signatures definitely did not match. What the hell was going on? Disoriented, she went on. She would not let him trick her again.

“What about Arianna? She told me - she told me - you were seeing each other. That you’re seeing lots of girls! That you told her you were desperate to get away from me!” Draco frowned. Why would Chambers say something like that?

“I-I don’t know why she would say that, but it’s just not true.”

“It’s just your word against hers. What reason does she have to lie to me?” Draco sighed, hanging his head.

“I don’t know. What do I have to do to prove to you I’m not lying?” The barely concealed emotion of his face made Laylani looked away. It made her want to believe him, but she would not leave herself open to being hurt and ridiculed.

“I don’t know if there’s anything you can do.”

“Veratiserum.” The two turned to Hermione as she stepped through the portrait where the Gryffindor foursome had stood. “We could give him Veratiserum.” Draco rolled his eyes.

“Oh yes, a highly controlled, barely legal potion. Clever, Granger. And where, pray tell, would we get that?”

“Snape’s stores. I know for a fact he keeps it on hand.”

“Oh, and how would you suggest we get it? Just waltz in there and ask if he has a spare vial we could borrow?”

“No, we-” Hermione paused, glancing over to Harry and Ron; the Invisibility cloak still served them well, she shouldn’t divulge it. “We have our ways.” Draco sighed; that was hardly reassuring but it might be his last hope.

“Fine.” He sighed. “Laylani, is that acceptable to you?” There was a short pause, and then she nodded.

“Alright.” Hermione said. “Harry, you and I will go fetch it then. Ron, Gin, will you stay and watch Malfoy?” The two redheads nodded.

“I don’t need to be watched, Granger.”

“Laylani’s face tells another story, Ferret.” Potter snapped. Hermione pulled him away before Draco could reply and the Weasleys stepped through the portrait. It closed noiselessly behind them, and the room was filled with awkward silence.

Always mindful to keep Draco in her line of sight, Laylani darted towards her bookshelf and grabbed her potions text before scurrying to the far end of the couch. She sat on her haunches, ready to spring away if necessary and began to flip through the book.

“Vee…Vee…Vee.” She murmured softly.

“Laylani, what are you doing?”

“Looking up Veritaserum. I want to be sure of what it is and how it’s going to work.”

“Well, Veritaserum is a clear-\"

“No. I want to be sure; I’m looking it up.” She looked back to her book, missing the slight trace of hurt that passed over Draco’s features.

Veritaserum, there it was. Her hand unconsciously crept up to her face and she bit down on her ring finger, her little finger tapping against the side of her nose. She forced herself to focus on the words.

***

Veritaserum - The most powerful truth serum available, this colorless, odorless potion forces the drinker to tell the truth. Three drops will have the drinker reveal their innermost secrets.

***

The book went on to describe the proper brewing instructions and the specific properties of several of its ingredients, but that held no interest for her. Laylani read and reread the description over and over until her head pounded in pain, trying to memorize the words. She wanted to know exactly what to expect.

With a sigh, she set the book aside. It was awkward as she tried to look anywhere but at Draco. She could feel him staring at her. Finally, after long moments, she let her eyes meet his. His eyes were dark and intense, focused solely on her. She quickly looked away. The silence stretched on, and everything Laylani wanted to say, everything she wished she had told him when he’d broken her heart built up inside her, swimming inside her head until she couldn’t take it anymore.

“You could have just told me.” She muttered darkly.

“Told you what?”

“That you didn’t want me, didn’t love me. I would have understood. I would’ve just disappeared back the way I came.”

Draco opened his mouth, but thought better of it and shut it with a sigh. What was the use of arguing when she would never believe him?

“Coward.” She scoffed, turning away once again.

Not another word was spoken until Harry and Hermione returned. Stepping through the portrait, Hermione triumphantly drew a vial from her robes, nearly empty but for the little clear liquid pooling at the bottom.

‘Just three drops.’ Laylani thought. Any more might kill him and she didn’t wish him dead just yet…perhaps only badly hurt.

Harry kicked forward the chair from Laylani’s desk and gestured for Malfoy to sit. Rolling his eyes, Draco took a seat at the couch. Hermione attempted to bring the vial to his lips. Frowning, Draco snatched it from her hand and downed its remnants.

He swallowed.

They waited.

Draco looked to Laylani. “Well?”

Before she could open her mouth, Harry jumped in.

“Did you hit Laylani?” Draco scowled at Potter but was compelled to answer.

“I’ve never hit her; I never would.”

Frowning, Laylani pushed Harry aside and stood in front of Draco. She wasn’t sure where to begin. It all seemed too simple. How could she know he was telling the truth?

“What’s your middle name?” Draco scowled. He tried to force the word back, but the potion’s compulsion would not allow it.

“Edmund.” He grit out, glaring daggers at her. Ron snickered and Ginny smacked him over the back of the head.

Laylani nodded; she knew he was being made to tell the truth. He would not have revealed it otherwise. She took a deep breath. This was it. She held up the discarded parchment.

“Did your father send you this letter?”

“No.”

“Did you ask your father to find a way out of our marriage?”

“No.”

“Do you want out of our marriage?”

“Of course not.” She paused.

“Have – have you been seeing Arianna Chambers behind my back?”

“Absolutely not.”

“Have you been seeing any other girl behind my back?”

“No.”

“No one?”

“No one.”

“So do – Do you…” She paused again, drawing a shaky breath. Her voice was soft. “Do you still love me?” He gave her a small, warm smile.

“Of course. Always.”

“Oh.” Laylani took a faltering step towards him, looking unsure. “I…I’m sorry.” A slow tear rolled down her cheek. She made to turn away but Draco took hold of her hand. She looked at him, and he gave her hand a light pull. She came to him willingly.

Laylani sat stiffly next to him, tears slowly and silently sliding down her cheeks, which she tried to wipe away. Draco slowly moved closer to her, carefully putting his arm around her. That simple gesture broke her, and she crumbled. The tears came faster and she began to sob. Draco pulled her to him, letting her cry into his shoulder.

“Shh.” He soothed. “It’s alright. Everything’s alright now.” She didn’t quiet; if anything, she bawled harder. Carefully, he combed his fingers through her loose hair as he murmured soft words of comfort to her, having all but forgotten the four Gryffindors still present.

Draco waited until she calmed somewhat and eased Laylani into his lap. He pressed a light kiss to her temple.

“I love you.” The words were said so softly that they might have not been heard had it not been for the complete stillness that surrounded them. She gave a faint smile and looked up at him through her tears.

“Tell me again.” Her voice was nearly a whisper. He smiled.

“I love you, Princess. I love you and I will never leave you.” He lifted her hand in his own and twined her fingers with his, kissing each of her fingers. “You’re everything to me. I couldn’t live without you.”

Hermione knew that this was something they weren’t meant to witness and began to usher her friends towards the portrait. Ron and Harry protested quietly but followed.

Draco waited quietly as Laylani’s sobs came to a slow stop, murmuring to her softly now and again. When she finally quieted, he tipped her chin up so he could look at her.

“Draco,” she said softly. “Why would someone do this?”

“I don’t know.” He lifted his hand and she flinched. Frowning, he softly trailed his fingers over the bruise on her cheek. “I’m going to find who’s doing this.” he said solemnly. “I’m going to make it stop.”

“It doesn’t matter. You can’t make it stop.” He smirked. She obviously underestimated his power and influence as a Malfoy. “Once you leave this room,” she went on, “How am I ever going to know you’re really you? We can’t just dose you with Veritaserum every time you’re out of my sight.” Tears began to well up again in her eyes as she cried out in frustration. “I can’t do this! I can’t eat, I can’t sleep, I can barely think straight. And it’s not enough I’m going crazy, but now someone is deliberately fucking with my head. I just- I can’t…” She paused. “Draco,” she said tiredly, “I just can’t keep this up.”

He sighed. “I know. I- I’m taking care of it. It won’t be for much longer, I promise.” She gave him a questioning look. “Please, just a couple more days, that’s all.”

“Alright.”

She didn’t ask what he was planning. Perhaps it would be better for her not to know.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The four Gryffindors walked in heavy silence down the hall. Hermione tried to break the tension. She elbowed Ron gently.

“How come you never tell me you love me like that?” She teased. Ginny giggled and Harry smirked. Ron blushed. Hermione realized only too late that perhaps using the word ‘love’ when he’d never even hinted at it before might make Ron uneasy. Ron shrugged.

“Because.” He said. “I intend to make sure you never have to question it.”

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Laylani lifted her hand to Draco’s nose and he winced. She tried to clear her mind, willing herself to fix his broken nose like she’d once fixed Harry’s. Nothing. She sighed.

“You should go see Madame Pomfrey.” He shrugged.

“I don’t mind.” Actually, it hurt like hell, but he didn’t want to leave her. She had been right; once he left her sight, she could never be certain of him.

“Draco, you nose is broken, don’t tell me you don’t mind. Go to the infirmary.”

“Only if you come with me. You need to have that bruise looked at anyway.” She rolled her eyes.

“It’s just a bruise. Besides, we can’t go in together; we’ll look like we got in a fistfight.” He smirked.

“Then we’ll tell her you won. Come with me. I- I don’t want you to be alone.” She pursed her lips for a moment and considered his words.

“Alright.” She began to stand up. “I need to get changed, I guess.”

Draco took a moment to scrutinize her as she walked away. He’d noticed her clothes were different when he’d first arrived, but there had been much more pressing matters at hand and he hadn’t put too much thought in it. Now that he had a chance to look at her, her clothing was definitely off. They were worn and drab, too small and too revealing. Definitely not something she had received from the Malfoys.

“Laylani, what are you wearing?” She stopped in the archway to her bedroom.

“My clothes.” She said quietly. “The only things that are really mine.” She continued into the bedroom and out of sight.

“That’s not true. You have lots of clothes.”

“Your clothes.” She called. “The clothes you gave me. They aren’t really mine. Nothing’s mine.”

“Of course their yours.” He answered as he got up from the sofa. “We bought them for you.”

“Yes. You bought them.”

“For you.” He amended, stepping into the bedroom. He picked up the red halter she’d carelessly dropped onto the bed. “Where exactly did you intend to go wearing this?” She looked out from behind the door of her wardrobe.

“Back where I belong.” It took a moment for Draco to absorb what that meant.

“Really? You’d really go back to that?” Laylani began to blush and ducked back behind the door.

“I wouldn’t want to. I just didn’t have much choice. What else could I do Draco? You were – I thought you would tell everyone…everything. I couldn’t stay. I don’t know anything else but…” she let her sentence trail off. Draco got up and walked towards her. He slipped his arms around her waist and pulled her close.

“You don’t belong there. You belong here with me.” She felt stiff in his arms but he tried to ignore it. He dropped a quick kiss on her shoulder. “Are you ready to go?”

“Yeah.” He took her hand and they went to the door. They stopped at the portrait.

“Laylani, could you do me a favor?” She looked up at him. “Change your password back?” She grinned sheepishly.

“Alright.”

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Draco shut the door quietly, resisting the urge to slam it, and held in a heavy sigh.

Madame Pomfrey had been easy enough to deal with; she’d taken their rather clumsy explanation at face value and hadn’t asked too many questions. In short order, she’d had them treated and on their way.

Laylani had needed to stop at the library for a book for tomorrow’s Transfiguration paper and Draco had insisted that she check it out rather than stay to study. She’d been nervous as they walked, ducking her head and moving quickly, refusing to meet anyone’s gaze. It made him uncomfortable to see her like this. She was reverting to who she had been when she’d first returned to him, scared and guarded, and he didn’t like it.

It had taken him long minutes to coax her into returning to his rooms. She’d been resistant, and he imagined she’d felt that she would be unsafe, at a disadvantage in his private rooms. He’d had to convince her that only they were the only two that knew the password to his private rooms, and even offered to change it once they arrived.

He’d helped her set up on the floor of his bedroom to work on her paper. He was sure to light the fireplace and drew one of the soft blankets from the bed around her to keep her warm. She looked up at him.

“Aren’t you staying too?” She was a clever girl. He hadn’t set them up in their usual spot in the front room, and his bag with all his school things was left untouched.

“No.” She opened her mouth to speak but he continued. “I’ll only be gone for a little while pet. I need to get some supplies for our…plans.”

“Can’t I go with you?” He shook his head quickly.

“No.” Laylani looked hurt, and he went on, choosing his words carefully. “I don’t want you out in the open like that. I need to know that you’re here and that you’re safe. Please.” She frowned but gave him a short nod.

“When will you be back?”

“A couple hours. Maybe around eight.”

“So…you won’t be back for dinner.” He sighed.

“No, I won’t. You can stay here Princess; I’ll have Dobby bring you up something. Alright?”

“Alright.” Perhaps Laylani should have gone to dinner, should not have let this drive her into hiding. But she didn’t want to, not alone. Draco’s doppelganger, whoever they may be, would be out there somewhere. And she didn’t want to spend a meal under the pitying gaze of Arianna, and who knew how many other girls. Hiding suited Laylani just fine.

“I’m going to change the password to ‘Dragon’s blood,’ alright pet?”

“No!”

“No?”

“No. That’s too like you. Someone might guess.”

“Oh…well, what should I change it to?” Laylani took a moment to think.

“\'I love muggleborns.\'”

“No.”

“But-”

“That is nonnegotiable.”

“How about just ‘muggleborn’ then.” Draco sighed. It was less demeaning. And it would only have to be for the evening.

“Alright.” She gave him a wane smile.

“Thanks Dragon.”

And here he was, back against the door, frustrated and looking for something or someone to hex.

A sudden motion from his common area caught his eye and he was immediately on guard, drawing his wand.

It was Hermione.

“Malfoy, we need to talk.”

“No, we don’t Granger.” He walked towards the portrait but she stepped in front of him.

“Yes we do. I think we should go to Dumbledore.”

“Absolutely not.” He scoffed. “Don’t be ridiculous.”

“Ridiculous? You don’t think this could be important?”

“Of course I think it’s important. Not only has someone been lying to my girl and sullying my good name, but someone hit her, and for that they’ll pay. But do I think it’s part of some cocked-up prophecy you and your do-gooder club believe so dearly in? Of course not.”

“But-”

“Look, Granger, unless you have proof that this event is connected to your prophecy, you have nothing to go to Dumbledore with.”

“Draco-” Deciding to go for broke, Draco tried to play on her emotions.

“Laylani and I are already on borrowed time. Don’t take her away from me before you have to.”

The seconds ticked by interminably, stretching long moments of silence between Head Boy and Girl. Finally, with her lips pursed tight and arms crossed, Hermione relented.

“Fine.”

“Fine.” Draco brushed past her and calmly walked out, but inside he was panicked. Granger would not sit on this for long. She may have agreed for now, but it wouldn’t take long for her to reason herself out of her word. He’d be lucky if she kept her mouth shut for a day. His strides quickened and his feet guided him without conscious thought. Draco found himself at the entrance of the Slytherin common room. Passing through the portrait, his eyes immediately fell to the dark-haired boy reading by the fire. He crossed the room quickly.

“Zabini. Change of plans.” Blaise looked up.

“What’s the matter?” Draco sat down.

“I need to meet with your father, soon.”

“How soon?”

“Soon as he can. Tomorrow.” Blaise was adept at reading people, and even the inscrutable Head Boy could not hide his state of urgency from him.

“Very well. I’ll notify him straight away.” Blaise marked his page and set his book aside. As he rose, Draco set a heavy hand on his shoulder.

“I’m trusting you, Zabini.” Blaise nodded solemnly and quickly walked away.

Draco took a moment to look over Slytherin’s common room. It was a Slytherin who had done this to Laylani, to them, he was certain. The design had a certain Slytherin flair. Underhanded, devious, inflicting maximum damage with little possibility of repercussion. It was the Slytherin way. Ravenclaws would have over-thought the process and likely leave some telling signs. Hufflepuffs wouldn’t have known where to begin with underhandedness. If a Gryffindor had wanted to hurt either of them, they would have just hauled off and had at it. No, this was a Slytherin. But who?

Standing up, Draco smoothed out his cloak, casting one last dark glare around the room as he left. He would find out who did this, and he would see to it they suffered for daring to cross him.

Striding down the dark corridors, Draco made his way to the statue of the hump-backed witch on the third floor. Ducking down into the passage, Draco disappeared into the darkness.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Shivering, Pansy decided it was time to go in. She carefully removed her white mask, storing it in an inner pocket of her black robes. Extracting herself from her hiding spot in the outlying brush of the Forbidden Forest, Pansy seethed. All the stupid bint had to do was leave the goddamn building! Where the hell was she?

Stalking through the empty halls, Pansy quickly strode to Laylani’s room. The hell with caution, she’d just stun the bitch and levitate her to her colleagues in Hogsmeade. Most of the students would be in the Great Hall now anyways; it was nearly time for dinner.

She came up to the portrait, barely able to bring herself to utter Stanner’s filthy muggle password. “Follow the yellow brick road.”

The portrait swung open into darkness and Pansy stormed in, throwing on the lights as she went. The room was empty.

“Goddammit!” she shrieked. She rushed into the bedroom and kicked in the door of the bathroom. Still, nothing.

Drawing her wand with a frustrated cry, she hexed the mirror into breaking, cracks splitting loudly across the glass.

The Dark Lord would not be pleased.