My Verdict

The fair has been wonderful. While I was not happy to see so many people, I was more then happy to haggel prices with the venders. Not that I got anything note worthy. But again, I couldn't wait to tell Mother of all the things I had seen. Of the one vender that winked at me after putting a few more slices of fruit into the platter I had wanted. Of the friendly way people laughed over my haggeling. Of how I had proudly told them my Mother was the one to teach me.

Leaving the villa was refreshing.

At some point Marc must have left me because I find myself alone. I look around, willing myself to focus in the middle of a see of faces. Green eyes catch mine for a second before I continue on. My eyes dart back. Green eyes stare at me in shock, wide and bright.

Harry Potter is looking at me.

And he is moving.

Toward me.

Harry Potter is looking at me.

He is moving toward me, pushing people out of his way.

He is calling out to me.

I turn and run, not caring for the people in my way. Breathing hard. My eyes have blurred. I realize I am crying.

A hand closes around my arm and I am pulled into an alcove.

"Hush, mon petit."

Marc.

I can feel my mouth moving but I don't think any sound is coming out. Then again I could be screaming. I think I am in shock.

"Hush." Marc says in a deeper voice.

My face is pressed against his neck, my eyes watching the entry way of the alcove.

I can see Potter, turning on spot and looking at the crowd before walking back the way he came.

"He is gone."

Slowly I can feel the world coming back to me, the people in the crowd seem overly loud, my heart is thunddering. "I can't go back, I can't."

"Hush, Dragon."

"I can't!" I scream, pulling back to look at Marc. "Don't make me! I can't go back!."

"No one will make you, please, hush now." Marc holds my face between his hands, touching my softly and leaning his forehead against mine.

"Please don't make me go." Tears are running down my face again. "I can't go back. Please."

All I can think of is my father, sitting cold in cell, my sweet sweet mother having to sell our family heirlooms to survuve in a world that hates her.

"Please, don't..."

Marc kissed my forehead. "I should not have brought you here today. Forgive me."

And with that, Marc pulls me close and we disapparate.

***

I groan as I full the pillow over my head, blocking the light coming in from the newly opened doors leading to my terrac.

"Rise and shine, Dragon." Marc calls in a sing-song voice. "It is time to get up."

"I never want to get out of bed again." My voice is muffled and thick.

"Come now, Draco. You have been in this bed for the past two weeks. I have not seen you leave once. Are you really that worried about Potter? You need not be. They all left yesterday. I saw them myself. Madam Delecour's daughter is due to give birth within the week."

"How do you know?"

"I just told you, I saw them leaving."

"No." I say, sitting up and looking at Marc for the first time. "How do you know she's about to give birth?"

"Ah! Well, you see we visit the same market. I was there getting more guave for you when yound Fleur reached for the same piece. I congradulated her and she was more then happy to tell me all about it." Marc smiles and sits beside me. "Potter was with her, carrying her basket. He seemed... let down." Marc looks me in the eye. "Why was he chasing you?"

"He wants to put me in Azkaban." I whisper.

Marc 'humms' at me. "I wonder then."

"What?"

"It is only..."

"What is it, Marc? Just tell me."

"I wonder why it is then, that he spoke for your mother at her trial?"

"What do you mean?"

Marc looks at me, his brows coming together, as if I have gone insane. "You didn't know? She sent word to Sir Alphard, to keep you safe and not let you return. She told him about the fine and that if it wasn't for Potter, that she would have been given the Kiss."

"I knew about the fine but..." I fight the emotion catching in my chest. "Why would Potter do that?"