in which Draco meets the Panic Attack Boogeyman
It was Augusta who asked the questions. The Prewett twins hoovered over a map of the shore as Hermione gave the instructions. Since Draco had been fighting for dear life when he had gotten there, he didn't really remember anything about the place.
And then, he mentioned Greyback. He knew for a fact that the man had been working under Riddle's orders, but he couldn't help thinking he was missing something.
Potter seemed oblivious, which Draco had come to realise he really was. The poor sod had no idea just how famous he actually was. Merlin, if his father knew he had met the Boy who Lived, he would have harassed Draco into befriending him.
But, at the same time, his father had also invaded his school.
Draco didn't feel safe. He was way too related to the pain of these people for him to feel safe with them. His aunt had tortured Augusta Longbottom's son and her daughter in law. His father had attacked the place of work of Molly snd Arthur's kid. He highly suspected there was something to uncover about Greyback as well ; Greyback who his father had worked closely with in the past. And now, he was the reason Neville was probably getting eaten alive as they talked.
He wanted out of here.
Of course, the members of the Order would hear none of that.
"No. Absolutely not. We are not letting you two children by yourself in such close range to Greyback. I practically lost a son to him already, I will not let him lay a hand on anyone's child ever again."
The Weasley matriarch had spoken, and for some reason Draco found it hard to go against her. So he accepted. After all, she was right. Surviving out there when there were six of them had already been hard.
Draco and Hermione had made it through the two days by themselves with great difficulty. They had to see things as they were : if they got back out there now, they would die of dehydration, or perhaps Granger's tiger would grow hungry and eat them in their sleep. Besides, it wasn't like they had a goal. They had just busied themselves with escaping his father's men, but he had to recognise he didn't know what they would have done hadn't Potter found them.
***
Of course they would decide to go fetch Neville in the middle of the night instead of waiting for morning.
Luna had explained to Draco that they - the different families - had only gotten together after Percy's letter. Because the Order's members had each other's back.
They had been sitting in front of the fireplace (how a ship could have fireplaces, Draco had no idea, but he surely didn't complain) along with Ginny, the Weasley twins, Ronald, Potter and Granger. The Weaslette recalled the mayhem it had been when Harry had gone missing. Most of them already knew the story, but she told it anyway for Draco, Potter and Granger.
The adults had made it very clear that once they retrieved the four kids from the Werewolves' shack, all of them would be staying with them as long as they didn't have a safe place to be dropped at.
Of course, Neville would go back with his grandmother. Draco suspected Pansy and Granger might want to go back home. Blaise too. They were lucky ; him and Theo would probably have to stay here as long as they hadn't figured out whatever the fuck was going on with his father.
It was just a few minutes later that the adults left. As in, all of them. Harmed to the teeth with a bunch of weapons Draco had only heard about in stories.
Even Augusta Longbottom looked deadly. Draco had realised that the older woman liked fancy clothes, and had been as dressed up as a member of nobility. It really was no wonder Neville studied at the Academy.
But right this moment, she wore practical clothings - nonetheless pricey, Draco was sure of it - and was holding a scythe that looked sharp enough to cut through diamond. Draco had pity for Greyback and his Werewolves. They wouldn't know what had hit them.
Mrs. and Mr. Weasley both had short swords. Pandora bore a spear that was taller than her by a head. Marlene had twin pistols, one in each hand. Dorcas was armed with... a hook tied at the end of a rope ? Merlin he was sure Pansy would love her. First the tigers, now this ; it must be a thing under the Parkinson Crown to just be bloody.
And then they were gone. The kids had been forbidden from coming with them.
Hermione had seen red. Draco wondered for a second if the girl knew how to fight. Then he remembered the makeshift spear she had pointed at Harry. Well, that was the Parkinson Crown. She had only calmed down when Dorcas accepted to take Crookshanks. It gave Granger the impression of taking part in the expedition.
Luna and Ginny were both clearly fidgety, and Draco realised that Neville might actually be their friend. They were all kids of Captains after all, must have known each other since birth.
Ron wasn't at ease either, but Draco had a feeling he did his best to keep himself together for his little sister. The Twins had long retreated to their shared room.
Strangely enough, it was Hermione who broke the silence :
"I'm hoping everything goes well. I've known Neville since I was eleven. He's my friend too."
The She-Weasley released her pigeon (Pig ?) from her grasp, and the thing flew directly to Hermione. She caught it with a small laugh and started petting him. It made Draco root for Diogenes. He hadn't seen the bird since the Werewolves had taken him to the shack. Granger had told him he guided them there. When they had gotten out, he had been nowhere to be seen.
She had used their last invisibility amulets to get them out. One on Crooks, one on her, and the third one safely packed away in her pocket for when she had gotten to Draco. He had been in a poor state.
He also knew that they had been planning on selling him back to his father.
Of course.
Of fucking course Lucius Malfoy would have placed a bounty on his son's head. Was it "dead or alive", or did Draco still mattered enough to the King for him to let him live ?
Draco was lost. His closest friends were in danger. He couldn't help wondering if he wasn't in danger as well. Were the pirates aware of the reward for getting him to the King ? Would they tie him up and keep him in a chest until they made it there ?
Draco felt the hand on his back before he felt the tears prickling in his eyes. He was afraid. So fucking afraid. For himself, his friends, his bird, his mother. It was so much. Too much. He couldn't see shit through his closed eyelashes, he didn't want to. He was afraid the fire would eat him alive, consume him.
He barely realised he was trembling. The hand on his back was soothing. Whoever was behind that hand was stroking circles between his clavicles. He could feel its warmth through his shirt. Draco focused on it with all his might. He had never had a panic attack before, and he refused for it to happen on a ship where the only person he was remotely close to knowing was Hermione Granger.
He then felt a glass being pressed in his hand. He drank from it without even thinking about it. Merlin, it would be so easy to poison him. He mentally slapped himself for his carelessness.
The room slowly came back in view. It was empty. Except for the person stroking his back. Who just happened to be Potter.
Draco's first thought was to wonder if all the "saviour" thing was coming back tenfold now that he was free from his monstrous relatives.
Draco had learned it had been Dumbledore who had kept him away all these years. It made so much sense, and somehow not at all. Draco could understand if he had kept Harry away for a few years, to give him the chance to develop normality. But what had happened was that Potter had been bloody sequestrated.
It then clicked to Draco that the room was empty. He had noticed, of course. But hadn't payed much attention to it.
"Where-"
Before he was able to finish his sentence, a bloody scream came from the deck.