Serenity Abandoned

“Serenity Abandoned”
By: MG / Shanibelle
Chapter Four –
“Quite A Fright”


.-.-.

Sir,

A new thought has occurred to me. Stop by when you wish; you are welcome at anytime. Please give fair warning before you visit, thank you, sir.

Awaiting your response,

D

Draco re-read his letter to Severus after Hermione had, as she promised, sent a school owl to his dorm but had forgotten to leave the window open. No matter though, things can be easily fixed by magic. He had taken his wand and muttering the opening spell, the chestnut owl hooted as it watched him tie the letter to its foot, surveying him as he sat back and closed his eyes, willing the pain away again.

“It’s to Professor Snape. Take it to him immediately.” He told it and it seemed to nod its head before it hooted again and left, leaving Draco to his lonesome.

Closing his eyes, he concentrated on the warmth that was falling on his shins from the open window and the slight breeze that came in through thus said windows, weaving through his hair and tickling his cheek.

And then, almost suddenly, it wasn’t the breeze that was against his cheek, but rather fingers, warm fingers. Turning his face into the simple touch of affection, he nuzzled them with his nose before kissing each one of the fingers and opening his eyes.

“Hullo dear.” The pink lips spoke softly, earning a smile coming from Draco.

“Hi.” He said just as softly and blinked lazily, “What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be at home?” he asked and his mother shrugged, her eyes flickering to look over his shoulder before coming back to his face. His perfect, unblemished face. Her Angel she would call him affectionately, a broader smile toying with his lips as the thought crossed his mind.

“I am, but I thought that I would come and visit, seeing as how you’re hurt.” She said and he took in a breath, sighing.

“I feel better. Oh, and I made Head Boy so I have my own private quarters, oh Mum, you would love it.” He told her passionately and she smiled lovingly down at her son.

“Yes, I’ll see them one day. But today’s not the day. I have brought you a gift, though.” Her soft-spoken voice frequently made his father furious, but he loved it.

“A gift?” he asked, awake now.

“Yes, a gift. Tell me if you like it.” She said and leaned back, away from his bed and motioned to the other side of him.

Turning his head with furrowed eyebrows, he was met with Hermione, dressed in a deep plum dress, smiling softly.

“Hermione!” he exclaimed, sitting up as she smiled wider.

“Hullo, Draco.” Her eyes flickered to his mother and Narcissa began speaking, “You see Draco, since your father was locked up, I’ve been thinking. I wasn’t brought up like Lucius was; aristocratic and pompous. I was brought up similar to what the Weasley’s are. Poor, but a very loving family with open arms to just about anyone in the wizarding world, no matter their background. Purebloods have their qualities, and so does the rest of the wizarding world. Muggle-borns have reasons why they're here, too, Draco. However, you must find those out for yourself. And I would love for you to forget the ways your father taught you and follow your heart, dear. This,” she motioned to the magnificent Hermione, “is a token of my blessing. You may choose whomever you want. Just be careful of your choices. They can have powerful effects on the later part of your life.” She told him wisely and smiled at him again before disappearing in a swirl of mist and glitter.

Grinning like a mad-man, Draco patted the space of bed next to him and she sat obediently, reaching out a hand to trace his brow. Watching her for a few minutes while she studied his features before his mouth opened and he spoke.

“Hermione?” he asked and she took her eyes away from his jaw to look at him in the eye, “I love you.” His pulse quickened considerably as he watched an emotion cross her face but before he could identify it, it passed.

“You what?” she asked, her chest heaving with her own quick heart rate.

“I love you.” He repeated himself and watched as her face broke into a large smile and she leaned forward.

“I love you, too!” they embraced tightly.

After opening his tear-filled eyes, Draco pulled himself from her and now they were standing in the entrance room of Hogwarts, dressed in school uniforms.

Her face held pure bliss before it fell and she looked at him, confusion seeping into her face.

“What is it?” he asked, his own smile falling to the floor with hers and tears formed quickly in her eyes before they raced down her reddened cheeks.

“Draco?”

“Hermione?” he asked and she looked deeply within his eyes before looking down where he hadn’t noticed her arms clutching her stomach where a growing reddened spot was manifesting. Her arms shook as they released her stomach and a clang of metal rang through the room.

Looking down, Draco realized that it was he who held the knife – he who had stabbed Hermione. He felt his breath leave him in a whoosh as a sob escaped his mouth and her knees gave way, making her fall into him.

“Why--?” she asked and he shook his head, his tears falling onto her face, mixing with her own.

“I didn’t mean to, ‘Mione. Please forgive me… I-I didn't mean to.” He begged her as he sank to the stone floor and he pressed on her stomach, “Hold on, Hermione, just hold on…” he said as he looked up, searching for someone.

“SOMEONE GET MADAM POMFREY! PLEASE! PROFESSOR SNAPE! HEADMASTER!” his yellings were interrupted by a sob as he looked feverishly around.

“Draco.” Hermione’s voice made him look down at her and he let out another choked sob as he raised his hand to touch her face, but decided against it after seeing that his hand was covered in her blood.

“I’m so sorry.” His breath was coming in haggardly now, shaking them both.

A tear leaked out of her eye, racing toward her ear and she smiled at him, “It’s okay, Draco. I forgive you.” She told him and his howls echoed around them as he brought her closer to him and whispered in her ear.

“I didn't mean to!” he closed his eyes tightly, his frame hunched tightly over her. He raised his head and yelled out, "I DIDN'T MEAN TO!" one last time.

-----

“DRACO!” a deep, sharp voice rose him out of his dream and his eyes lost and regained focus a few times before he was pushed back against his bed and it was Snape who was standing above him.

“Eat this.” He shoved chocolate into his face and Draco bit down, chewing slowly. Looking around, he noticed that it was now dark and various candles were lit around the room.

“What were you dreaming about?” Snape asked and Draco took another bite from the rather large bit of chocolate that his own hand was now holding.

“I was at home and my mum was next to me and she said that she didn’t want me growing up with my dad’s thoughts on how things should be run and said that she gave me permission to-to choose whomever I so wished. Those were her words. Choose. And Hermione was there and I told her--" he stopped and sighed, “Well, I'm sure you can guess... and we hugged and then we were in Hogwarts and I…” he paused, “stabbed her,” his eyes filled with tears as he saw Hermione’s hurt-filled, tear-streaked face looking at him like he had betrayed her.

“Anything else after that?” Snape asked in a voice very unlike his own and Draco closed his eyes, taking another bite.

“We fell to the ground and she died there in my arms, saying that she forgave me.” He choked out and brought up a hand to wipe his forehead and found that his face was cold with sweat.

Wiping both the tears and the sweat away, he looked at both his Potions Professor, the head of his house and his Godfather.

“Here’s the water that you requested, Professor.” Hermione said as she set down a basin filled with water on the nightstand with a washcloth over the rim of it and both turned their heads to look at her as she stood there, uncomfortable.

“Thank you, Miss Granger.” Snape leaned forward and took the washcloth, soaking it in the water before ringing it out and folding it expertly before laying it across Draco’s forehead.

“Miss Granger was the one who found you thrashing about and raced to tell me immediately.” He answered Draco’s questioning eyes and they both turned to face her and she rung her hands.

“You had fallen asleep and so I closed your window and when I was about to leave, you started saying something about your Mum and then you went rigid… and when you started to cough up blood, well, I brought the first person I came across.” She motioned to Snape and Draco’s eyebrows furrowed as he took the washcloth off his forehead to brush it across the rest of his face.

“I coughed up blood?” he asked and Snape nodded, “You did.”

Hermione turned to leave through the bathroom when Snape’s voice stopped her, “Just a second there, Miss Granger.”

She stopped and her muscles tensed as she stepped back into the room, “Yes?” she asked as politely as she could.

“I was wondering what your take on the situation was?” he asked, watching her closely.

“Well, I uhh... Don’t know what the dream was about,” she scuffed her shoe against the floor and went to leave again when he called her back.

“You don’t need to know the dream to assess the situation. What do you think?” he asked and she clasped her hands behind her back before looking at Draco and speaking, “I think that it either might have been a horrific nightmare that was purely his own imagination working against him,” she paused as he turned to look at her and they connected eyes and she licked her lips nervously, “Or it could have been due to someone who is very good in Legilimency. But I-I don't know if Draco's been taught in Occulmency or-”

“Very good,” he praised, cutting her off. An odd sensation went through Hermione’s chest at his approval and he continued on, “I assumed Legilimency, also. Who do you suspect is behind it?” he asked and she looked away from Draco to Snape.

“A number of people – his mother, his father, Voldemort…” and you her mind continued after she let the sentence drop and he raised a raven eyebrow.

“Anyone else?” he asked and she gulped, breaking the eye contact.

Shaking her head she fiddled with the hem of her skirt, looking down at the floor, “No, sir.” She turned and was allowed to leave this time, Snape only continuing after he had heard the door to her room close.

“I’m suspecting Lucius, Draco. You know your father is very well at Legilimency… very well, indeed. I will take it upon myself to teach you Occulmency. It’s tough – even Potter couldn’t do it – but the mind is not a book to be opened at will and examined at leisure, even if it is a relative’s.” Snape told Draco, passing over another favorable amount of chocolate.

He nibbled on a bit, himself, thinking, and stood, “We will discuss things later, among which is the time to practice Occulmency. I’ll have Miss Granger check on you and send me back with reports, at least until you're healed. Now is the time to sleep.” He told Draco after he looked as if he were to interrupt and argue.

Draco nodded, finishing off the last of the chocolate and Snape turned, exiting the room through the portrait, no doubt, to have a word with Hermione.

Throwing the covers over his lower body haphazardly, he let out a huff of air as he moved his legs to the edge of the bed and he stood, gripping the nightstand with whitened knuckles. After losing complete feeling in his hand, he began to walk steadily towards the bathroom. He needed to take a bath… warm himself up from getting a major case of the heebies.

Leaning forward over the tub, he grimaced as his lower back screamed at him in pain and he took in a few breaths and tried again, Hermione’s voice floating to him from the other side of the bathroom after she opened the door.

“Draco!” she gave out a yelp that was his name and he found himself sitting down in a chair with her hand on his arm, leading him into it, “What the hell do you think you’re attempting to do? Kill yourself?” she asked.

“Merely trying to take a bath…” he replied dryly, relaxing into the chair and she sighed.

“You can clean yourself with a simple clean –”

He promptly cut her off, “No. I want to take a bath.” He opened his eyes to look at her stubbornly and she nodded.

“Okay.” She turned and began running the water into the tub, shaking the remaining water off her fingers after plugging the drain. She spun to leave when he called her back with a slight, “Um.”

Hermione raised her eyebrows at him as she came back to stand by him and his cheeks tinted, “Can I have some bubbles?” he asked and she blinked blankly at him before smiling shrewdly and nodding, conjured bubbles into the tub after it filled.

“Can you – I mean,” he stopped and looked down at his lap, “Can you stay with me to make sure that I don’t drown?” he asked and raised his eyes to meet hers.

“Malfoy, if you think…”

“No, I won’t try anything… it’s just… I don’t trust my strength right now.” He explained quickly and her hands were placed on her hips, looking at him with a critical eye, making her look like an image of a younger Narcissa to Draco.

“Well, all right. Call me back in when you’re in the tub.” She turned and exited into her own room, closing the door.

He helped himself out of the chair and started to undress. Stepping into the tub, he sighed as he leaned back against the rear and called her back in.

“Oh dear, you haven’t drowned yet, well then… I’ll just leave until you have…” she joked as she sat in the chair and he threw her a look as she raised her legs up to prop her feet on the edge of the tub and consulted the lengthy piece of parchment in her hand.

He watched her tap the feathered end of the quill against her cheek, her eyes scanning across the parchment, eyes reading left to right only to continue until she scratched something out and wrote something in its place. She continued this for several minutes before she realized that he was watching her and she sighed, taking her feet off the tub and sitting up correctly, looking at him.

“I would love to know why you’re staring at me, Malfoy.” She set him with a hard stare and he seemed unfazed by it.

“Just watching. You’re curious to observe, is all.” He airily told her and moved his attention to filling his palm with bubbles and blowing them her way.

She flinched, expecting a face full of tiny bubbles, but stopped when she saw that they erupted into large, round bubbles that floated in the air, dancing around on their own accord.

“How’d you do that?” she asked fiercely, turning her attention to him with another stare.

He shrugged and did it again, sending one to the tip of Hermione’s index finger to pop there and leave glitter in its wake.

Sighing, she stared at him, pressuring him into making eye-contact with her, “What are you playing at, Malfoy?”

He shrugged, sitting up from leaning back and shook his head, “Nothing. I just want to… be civil to one another for once. Can you attempt to try that?” he asked and she unladylike-ly snorted.

“I should be asking you that question, seeing as how you’ve had the loathing all these years. But yes, I can try to do that.” She told him and he smiled at her and raised a hand out of the tub, reaching up to grab a sponge and dipping it back into the water, he raised his eyebrows and motioned to his back.

“Then I guess you wouldn’t mind bathing an acquaintance’s back, would you?” he asked and she rolled her eyes, shaking her head.

“Damn you and your hidden motives.” She said and he smiled, watching her as she took her shoes and stockings, sitting her backside on the edge so Draco was positioned in front of her legs. He passed her the sponge and she rinsed it over his back, lightly dragging it across his shoulders.

Leaning forward slightly, she filled the sponge again and continued lower on his back when she stopped and leaned farther forward, inspecting his back. His head turned to look at her out of the corner of his eye and her fingertips came millimeters away from touching his skin.

“Are these from – from the branch?” she asked, following the track of a thick scar with her eyes and he turned back around, shaking his head silently.

As she traced the sponge over his back, he spoke, “I was a bad child before I came to Hogwarts.” He didn't say what she had been thinking, but the implication was enough.

-----

I live on reviews. Keep me alive!