Chapter 7
The moment she disappeared from view, Draco let out a breath he didn’t know he’d been holding. He stood for a moment in shock before bursting into action. He padded quietly back to his room and slipped on his shoes. Then he cast a disillusionment charm over himself, and a silencing charm on his feet. He crept through the halls as quickly as he could, avoiding the few patrolling prefects with ease. He had made it all the way to the fifth floor before he finally hit a snag. Mrs. Norris, the caretaker’s creepy cat, was patrolling the hallway. Draco didn’t know how, but she was able to sense troublemakers a mile away, and no one had ever been caught by her and gotten away with it. He ducked behind a pillar to hide.
Draco knew the moment he was done for. The cat’s ears perked up, and her head snapped straight toward where he was standing. She began slowly stalking toward him. Draco cursed silently and prepared to make a run for it. But just at that moment, Peeves the poltergeist came around the corner, singing a bawdy song at the top of his lungs. Mrs. Norris yowled in fear and ran out of the hall. Draco let out a breath, and then almost yelled out loud when Peeves’ face appeared two inches in front of his own.
“You’re weeelllcoooommmeee!” Peeves said in a sing-song voice as he flew back the way he came. Draco wasn’t one to look a gift horse in the mouth. He took off at a breakneck pace. He ran all the way to the hidden room and didn’t stop until he was inside. He needed to see her and confirm that she really was alive, and not a ghost, or some figment of his overactive imagination.
He looked into the mirror and willed it to show her to him. Too slowly, the image of her came into focus. She looked exactly as she had a few minutes ago, except for the fact that she was no longer translucent. She was sitting in an armchair in what looked like a teacher’s office, talking to someone. Draco couldn’t hear what was being said, try as he might. But it was enough that he could see her and know that she was alive and well. And real. He had spoken to her. And she hated him. She’d called him a monster.
Draco turned from the mirror and crawled into his childhood bed. She was a mudblood, and his parents had tried to murder her. She was everything he had been taught to hate and fear. She was supposed to be the enemy. And yet all he could think about was how he could be with her, see her, talk to her again. All he wanted from his life was to prove to her that he was not a monster like his parents. But he knew that all of those things were completely impossible. He would never see her again, and even if he did, there was nothing he could possibly do to convince her that he was not what she thought he was. He pulled the covers over his head and tried to go back to sleep.
The world blurred as Hermione opened her eyes. “Ungh!” was all she could manage to say. Her head felt as though it were being crushed by a vice. She could just make out a blob of color moving toward her, and then she felt a small glass vial being pushed to her mouth. She opened her mouth and drank, trusting that whatever it was, it would help. Within a few minutes, her eyes were able to focus, and the headache had receded just enough that she could think again.
“Why?” she managed to say, hoping Professor Kowalski would understand.
“Oh, honey. I’m sorry about the headache. I didn’t think you’d be able to actually do it right away, especially after all the other work we did tonight. I can’t believe it, to be honest! It’s amazing! I’ve never heard of anyone being able to Astral Project on the first try! It takes a lot of willpower and a lot of practice, and that’s for people who are expert Legilimenz. Most people are never able to manage it at all. It’s really quite remarkable!”
The professor’s perkiness, which Hermione usually found endearing, was grating on her nerves in her current state. “Uhhh… Thanks, I think?” Normally Hermione would be ecstatic to discover she had such a natural talent for something, but she couldn’t even enjoy it. Between the pain in her head and her complicated feelings about the experience she’d had, she was all tapped out. “I’m sorry Professor. Can we talk about this tomorrow? My head is killing me.”
“Oh, yes! Of course, honey! Here, take this. Drink the whole thing right before you get in bed. It will help you sleep and help your magic heal after all that work.”
“Thanks Professor,” Hermione said as she attempted to stand. Her head swam, but the world quickly righted itself and she was able to gather her things and walk safely back to her room. Once there, she prepared for bed as quickly as she could, drank her potion, and fell asleep almost instantly.
She was surrounded by a sea of gray mist.
“Hello?” She called into the void. “Is anyone there? Hello?” She started walking, trying to find her way out of the mist, but there was nothing. She stopped and closed her eyes and tried to calm her beating heart. When she opened them again, the mist began to retreat. In the distance, she thought she saw a castle.
No sooner had she seen the castle, then she found herself inside it, surrounded by a group of young witches and wizards, all looking very nervous. One small head was covered in a shock of white blonde hair. Draco. He turned and she knew instantly that it was him. His eyes were bigger and his cheeks were rounder, but still clearly him.
The world spun, and now she saw him writhing in pain on the ground, still just a boy, next to a man with a gleeful expression on his face. Another man, dressed in head to toe black and with greasy black hair, swept up and appeared to be reprimanding the other adult while helping Draco to his feet.
He was younger now, maybe five or six. He was playing Wizard’s Chess with a house elf, smiling and laughing. The scene changed to one of horror as his parents demanded he cast the Cruciatus curse on the elf. After the attempt, his father held his eyes open and forced him to watch as his mother cast Avada Kadavra on the elf. Draco threw up in a corner.
Next he was back in the castle, being told to cast the Cruciatus curse on an elderly muggle woman. She wept and grabbed the hem of his cloak, begging for mercy. The man who had been torturing him before looked on. Hermione watched as he cast the curse. She could see a mix of emotions on his face. Horror, disgust, pity. And then his face changed slightly. Now it seemed as though he was beginning to enjoy the harm he was causing. Suddenly he broke off the curse, looking absolutely mortified. He ran to the corner and threw up.
Scenes of torture flashed before Hermione in a blur. Sometimes he was the victim, sometimes the aggressor, though always under duress. She saw him grow thinner; watched the light drain from his eyes. Saw him using drugs, usually with friends, but also alone. She watched him become a shell of himself, with hollow eyes and a hopeless expression. And then his gray eyes met hers.
“Save me,” he pleaded, and reached out to touch her face.
“Hermione! Wake up! You’re scaring me!” Hermione couldn’t understand where the voice was coming from, or what they could possibly want from her. She struggled to consciousness, her heart still being pulled half a world away. The details of the dream were already fading, but the feeling stayed with her.
“Mione!” The voice came again.
“Ugh!” was all she could manage in return.
“Oh, thank goodness. Wake up, Hermione. We have our Charms midterm with Professor Hicks in 15 minutes. And you’ve been asleep since Saturday night. I thought you were dying!” Chepi yelled.
This made Hermione sit up, fully awake now. “What? No. That’s not possible. It’s Sunday. It has to be Sunday. There’s no way I have been asleep for more than a day.” There was something she was forgetting. What had she been doing before she went to sleep? Her brain still felt like it was stuffed with cotton.
“Hermione. Listen to me. It is Monday. I was so worried about you yesterday I went to Professor Kowalski to find out what had happened at that meeting you had.”
Oh, right. I was with her last night, but what were we doing? Hermione thought. Occlumency. Legilimency. And then…
“She said you were fine, that you had just overexerted yourself and that I should let you sleep, but I know you, and I know that if I let you miss a test you would never forgive me. So get up and brush your teeth. We’ve got to go!”
Five minutes later, Hermione was still rubbing her eyes and trying to wake up as she and Chepi rushed to class, entering the room just as the bell rang. She struggled to concentrate during the written portion of the exam. Flashes of blonde hair kept appearing in her mind, along with feelings of desperation and hopelessness. She hadn’t even finished all of the questions when time was called, yet for the first time in her life, she failed to care. Things were starting to come back to her.
As she waited for her turn to perform the practical portion of the exam, she laid her head down and closed her eyes. The low sounds of the classroom lulled her, and she began to drift. As she drifted, the memories surfaced. Astral Projection. Hogwarts. Draco. Images from her dream wove themselves into her memory of meeting him, confusing her attempts to hate him even further.
She jumped slightly when she felt a gentle hand touch her shoulder. Professor Hicks’ ebony skin, still smooth despite her advanced age, and kind brown eyes took shape as Hermione blearily opened her eyes. “Are you alright, dear? It’s very unusual for you to fall asleep in class, and you didn’t finish your test.”
Hermione tried to sit up straight and look attentive, but could tell she was not successful in the slightest. “I’m so sorry Professor Hicks. You’re right. I’m not feeling well. I stayed in bed all day yesterday, but I didn't want to miss your final.”
“That’s very admirable, Miss Granger, but your health is more important than a test. Why don’t you go get some lunch and go back to bed?” Hermione hesitated. “Don’t worry about the test, Miss Granger. I’m well aware of your capabilities. You pass. Now go get some rest.”
Hermione was in no shape to protest, so she packed up her things and did as she was asked. She made her way to the kitchens, not wanting to deal with the noise of the dining room, and hoping to avoid any probing questions from her friends. The house elves were hard at work, darting back and forth across the kitchen at breakneck speed. Hermione managed to avoid being run over by them as she made her way to the elderly man standing at the island in front of the large brick oven. She could smell the scent of baking bread and sighed in pleasure as she slid onto a stool across from the man.
Jacob Kowalski was doing what he did best- making pastries. He was currently rolling dough into strips and folding them into pretzels. Hermione’s mouth watered. His giant soft pretzels were legendary. He looked up as she sat, and a wide smile split his face.
“Hermione! It’s great to see you! It’s been a while since you’ve come down here. How are you doing?” He made his way around the island and gave Hermione a hug. She had to bend slightly to hug the short man, but he gave great hugs and always smelled like donuts.
“Um, well, overall the year is going well. But I’m really not feeling well today. I have a horrible headache,” she said as she laid her head on her arms again.
“Oh, that’s right. Queenie said she was worried about you. She wouldn’t tell me anything other than that you’d been working together and overexerted yourself. I know just the thing. Hold on.” He turned back to the oven and pulled out a tray of pretzels. He pulled two off the tray and put them on a plate. Then he turned his back to Hermione and busied himself at the stove doing something she couldn’t see. Then he placed the plate in front of her and she smiled.
One was covered in cinnamon and sugar and had a cream cheese dip, while the other was covered in large flakes of salt and had a cheese sauce next to it. The smell was divine. She eagerly ripped the salted pretzel into pieces and dipped one in the sauce. As she chewed, she closed her eyes and hummed in pleasure. Suddenly, the fact that she hadn’t eaten in more than a day and a half caught up to her, and she practically inhaled the treats in front of her. Mr. Kowalski just laughed.
“That look on your face is one of my favorite things about cooking. I love making people happy with my food. I don’t get up to the dining room much these days, so it’s nice to see someone appreciate my food in person again. Are you still hungry?” Hermione nodded. “What can I get you? The specials today are Potato Soup, meatloaf and mac and cheese, or chicken nuggets and french fries. But if you want something else, I can have Mimsy whip it up for you.”
Hermione considered her options. Mimsy could use her magic to make any dish in the whole world, but Hermione knew from experience that Mr. Kowalski’s homemade food was always better. She considered just having a bowl of soup, but her hunger won out. “Meatloaf and mac and cheese please.”
“Coming right up.” To her surprise, three plates of food were brought over by a cheerful house elf in a bright yellow sundress. Mr. Kowalski came and sat next to her, and she gave him a questioning look. “It’s about time for my lunch break, anyway, and Queenie’s exam should be over any minute. Besides, she reads my mind from across the school all the time, so I can almost guarantee she already knows you’re here.”
As if his comments had somehow summoned her, Professor Kowalski appeared in the doorway. Her husband gave Hermione a conspiratorial wink. “Hermione dear! How are you feeling this morning? I’ve been so worried since Chepi came to talk to me. Let me see you.” Hermione could feel the professor carefully graze her mind. It felt like a rush of wind blew through her head. She shivered.
The professor looked at her with a concerned look. “Did you feel that, hon?” Hermione nodded.
“Just barely. It felt like a breeze in my mind. It kind of tickled, actually.” Professor Kowalski still looked concerned, but she just nodded and began eating her lunch. “You should eat, sweetie.”
Hermione looked at her askance, but did as she was told, mostly because she still felt famished. The Kowalskis kept up a pleasant conversation, to which Hermione was required to contribute very little. She was grateful, since her head was still pounding. When she’d finished her lunch and a large tankard of butterbeer, she sat back in her chair in contentment. House elves came and cleared their plates. Mr. Kowalski turned back to Hermione.
“Thanks for coming down to see me. I’ve missed seeing you. Don’t be a stranger, ok?”
“Ok. I promise I’ll try to get down here more often.” They hugged again, and he went back to his baking. Hermione turned back to the professor.
“Hermione, I’ve only got half an hour before my next exam starts, but can we go back to my office and talk for a few minutes? I want to check you more thoroughly and make sure you’re okay after the other night.”
A few minutes later, Hermione was once again sitting in an armchair across from Professor Kowalski. She was starting to get worried that something was actually wrong with her. She’d never seen the professor look so serious.
“Alright, sweetie. I’m gonna take a little look-see inside your head, ok? Nothing to worry about!” This did nothing to allay Hermione’s worry. “Just lean back, close your eyes, and try to relax, ok?” Hermione obliged. “Okay. Build your walls for me so I can check your defenses.”
Hermione performed her Occlumency, trying to be as thorough as possible. Once again she felt the strange breeze in her mind, but the professor did not enter her protected space. She heard her teacher’s voice say “open your eyes, dear.” When she opened her eyes, she found a confused look on her teacher’s face. “Professor? Is everything alright?”
“Yes! I don’t honestly understand how, but yes!” The teacher stood and began pacing. “I’ve always prided myself on my Legilimency. I’ve always been able to do it painlessly. And by the time I graduated from here, I could do it without anyone ever feeling anything. I haven’t had someone feel my Legilimecy in decades. But you felt it somehow.” She still wasn’t looking at Hermione, just pacing back and forth as if trying to figure out a puzzle. “Not to mention the fact that two days ago, you were just learning Occlumency for the first time, and now you have the strongest walls I’ve ever seen! This is the first time I’ve ever been completely blocked!”
She stopped and turned to stare at Hermione. “I have no idea what happened. My only guess is that this has to be some as-yet undiscovered inherent talent. It certainly is not something that can be taught.” She sat back down and took Hermione’s hands in her own. “I’ve always been proud of you and known you were a very special witch. This talent that you have is incredible! It’s such a gift!”
Hermione wasn’t so sure it was a gift, but she was relieved that nothing was wrong with her and that she was starting to feel better. Come to think of it, she not only felt better, she felt good. She felt strong and focused. If she needed to complete every single exam in one day, she was sure she could do it. It would be easy.
She thanked the professor and decided to head out into the woods. She managed to get outside without running into anyone she knew, and began walking down a well worn path that led to a waterfall. It was colder than she’d thought, so she found a pile of leaves and transfigured them into a fur coat. As she neared the waterfall, she veered off the path and wound her way to her special hiding spot. She didn’t think anyone else had ever discovered it. She came to the familiar overhanging rock and ducked beneath it, heading into the cave it concealed. The cave eventually opened up onto the back of the waterfall, which was perfect for keeping cool in the summer.
Hermione sat on the mat she had brought here last year and leaned against the wall of the cave. She closed her eyes and relaxed her muscles as she tried to process everything that had happened over the last few days. Her body and mind felt tough as nails, but her heart felt torn to shreds. What was it about this boy that had her in such a state? It wasn’t just that he was the most beautiful boy she’d ever seen, although she had to admit that was a factor. Slowly, she began remembering the dream she’d had that morning, a dream that didn’t feel like a dream. Strangely, the more she thought about the dream, the more she could remember. The details became sharper, instead of slipping away like dreams normally do. She took another deep breath and focused on one memory in particular.
The room gradually came alive in her mind, and she could make out every detail, even down to the titles of the books on the wall. She saw the small blond boy playing chess with a house elf. She walked over and sat next to the elf, across from the boy. She saw the love in his eyes as he looked at the elf, and the smile they shared as they laughed and played. The sound of Draco’s laugh made Hermione’s heart clench as she remembered later scenes she had witnessed.
Suddenly, the door burst open and banged loudly against the wall, making the three on the floor jump. Draco’s face went from happy to terrified in an instant, and Hermione wanted to grab him and hide him with her body, though she knew it was impossible. A woman with wild black curls and a manic look in her eye entered the room, followed by a man and a woman who both had blond hair. Hermione knew instantly that these must be Draco’s parents, and struggled to contain her disgust for the people who had tried to kill her as a baby. The dark haired woman came and sat next to Draco, and Hermione could practically feel the insanity pouring off of her in waves.
“Draco, darling. I have wonderful news! The Dark Lord has asked me to teach you a new spell! Isn’t that wonderful?” The woman pitched her voice so high, Hermione was surprised anyone other than a dog could hear it. She was also speaking very slowly, as though she were talking to someone whom she wasn’t sure spoke English.
Draco nodded, still looking slightly afraid. “Yes, Auntie Bella. What spell are we to learn?”
The woman clapped her hands excitedly and got to her feet. “It is a very special spell that allows us to show our superiority over other species and to motivate others to do our bidding. It makes you powerful. Do you want to be powerful, Draco?” Draco simply stared back uncertainly, but the woman didn’t seem to notice. She clapped again. “Wonderful! This spell is called the Cruciatus Curse.”
Hermione looked at Draco’s parents to gauge their reaction. Draco’s mother looked as if she were going to be sick, and his father seemed to radiate anger. Hermione was confused. They were killers and torturers. They were the epitome of evil in Hermione’s mind, knowing that they were both high level Death Eaters. You don’t get to where they are by being squeamish about torture. So why did they seem so bothered by this?
Hermione watched in silent horror, impotent rage burning as she watched the woman teach a small child the technique necessary to torture another living being. When she finally felt that she’d taught the boy as much as she could, she turned back to Draco’s mother.
“Cissa, darling. Would you be a dear and call back the elf your son was fraternizing with when we came in?”
Draco’s mother blanched. “Dobby? Why? What do we need Dobby for?”
“The boy needs something to practice on, does he not?”
“Now, see here, Bellatrix!” Draco’s father roared. “Teaching him the spell is one thing. Even teaching him to use it on this rat you had us bring is one thing.” He held up a small cage Hermione hadn’t noticed he was holding. “But asking a young boy to perform that spell on a trusted member of this household is beyond the pale, even for you.”
Bellatrix’s eyes flashed sinisterly. “Sister, dear. Will you kindly remind your husband that I am the Dark Lord’s right hand, and as such, my word is not to be questioned?” She said this in a sickly sweet voice, but her expression was dark. “The Dark Lord has ordered the extermination of all magical creatures who will not bow to his will, and we will oblige. But before we do, we will allow Draco a bit of fun first.”
Draco’s mother looked confused. “But Bella, Dobby has served our family faithfully his whole life, as have his entire family before him. He will bow to the Dark Lord because we tell him to. There is no need for any harm to come to the elf. Let Draco practice on the rat. Please.”
Bellatrix smiled her manic smile. “Oh, dearest Narcissa. How naive you are. House elves are the most insidious of all. They pretend to be faithful as they learn our secrets. But they are NOT faithful. They are creatures of light, and they cannot be turned to the darkness. The Dark Lord has tried. Some seem to follow his ways for a time, but they always turn on him eventually. And their bands of loyalty only last as long as they want them to. Despite what we’ve been told, they actually have the ability to leave at any time! They have the power to break the confidences we have given them! And then what will happen? They will tell our enemies all of our secrets, and we will lose. We cannot lose. This is why the Dark Lord has ordered the complete extermination of their species! Now call that vermin here, or I will demonstrate the Cruciatus curse on you for Draco to watch!”
The couple looked at one another and gave a grim nod. Narcissa said, “D-d-d-Dobby?” and the elf appeared with a loud pop and looked up at her adoringly. Narcissa’s eyes filled with tears. “Dobby, go sit next to Draco, and no matter what happens, don’t move a muscle, alright?’
“Yes, Miss!” he piped in his high pitched voice, and went to do as he was told. Bellatrix leaned over and whispered something in Draco’s ear. Draco nodded and lifted his wand.
“Crucio!” Hermione felt as though a bullet had struck her heart as she heard his small voice say that ugly word, and she watched Dobby twitch and scream and slump to the floor. Draco screamed and dropped his wand. He scuttled backward until his back hit the wall, and he looked at his aunt in betrayal as he sobbed. His aunt looked disgusted at his display of emotion, but shrugged her shoulders.
“Well, he was able to cast it, and cast it well. We can work on his hysterics later.” She sniffed disdainfully. “Now, on to the next lesson. Narcissa, you will do the honors. This elf needs to be dealt with, and Draco needs to learn the way of the world.”
“I don’t know what you mean,” Narcissa said, but by the look on her face, she knew exactly what her sister meant.
“I mean, dear sister, that you will perform the killing curse on the elf, and Draco will watch. Two birds with one stone, as they say.”
“No!” Shouted Draco’s father. “I refuse to endure any more of this. You have provided no proof of the Dark Lord’s extermination order, yet you expect us to do as you say? I think not. Dobby is a trusted member of this household, and I will not allow this to happen unless I have received direct orders from the Dark Lord himself!”
Bellatrix grinned maniacally again, pulling a piece of paper from in between her breasts. She unfolded it as she said, “Oh, but I have his order right here!” She giggled a girlish giggle that felt completely out of place coming from her mouth. She handed the paper, and Hermione watched the color drain from the man’s face as he scanned the page.
“Lucius! No! We can’t. I can’t!” She turned to her sister. “Please don’t make me do this, Bella. I beg you.”
Bellatrix grinned. “I’m sorry, Cissa. Your reticence to kill has been noticed, and the Dark Lord is not pleased. He demands that you prove your loyalty by following his orders to the letter.” She giggled again.
Lucius took Narcissa’s hand and led her to a corner, where he spoke to her in low tones. Hermione walked over and sat next to Draco, who was still on the floor, rocking back and forth, banging his head on the wall as he stared at Dobby’s unconscious body with tears streaming down his face. She tried to put her hand on his head, but it passed right through him. After a few minutes of holding silent vigil, she watched in mute horror as Lucius came and picked Draco up. He held the boy tightly to his chest, whispering reassuring words as he walked to the couch and sat down with Draco on his lap. He calmly explained what was going to happen, and held the weeping boy as he screamed and beat his father’s chest. Tears streamed freely down Hermione’s cheeks as she listened to him pleading in desperation. She watched as Lucius held him tightly, and Bellatrix reached over Lucius’ head and held the boy's eyes open so he wouldn’t miss anything. She looked at Narcissa and saw tears and mascara streaking her face. Dobby was waking up now, and looked up at his mistress with a mixture of fear, love, and confusion.
“Avada-”
“NO!” Hermione heard herself scream, and when she opened her eyes, she was back in her cave all alone with her eyes full of tears.
____________________________________________________________________________
Draco had just finished his Potions exam and was on his way to the Great Hall to grab some dinner. As he walked down the corridor, his mind was on Hermione. His mind was always on Hermione, he admitted to himself. Ever since he was able to see her, to talk to her, his obsession had grown. He had tried to see her again in the mirror the next morning, but the mirror had remained stubbornly blank. He had been busy the rest of the day studying for today’s exams, so he hadn’t had a chance to go back to The Room. Studying had taken every ounce of willpower he possessed, and focusing on his exams was just as difficult. He was desperate to talk to her again, to find a way to convince her he wasn’t a monster after all.
But you are a monster, came a voice from inside his mind. You’ve done unspeakable things. She could never care for a monster like you. She is better off without you. Draco slumped against the wall and slid to the floor, dropping his head into his hands. He rubbed his face and took a deep breath, trying to calm his aching heart. It was then he noticed a strange sensation in his head. He knew what it was, but had only ever felt it in his Legilimency lessons with Snape, and it had always been accompanied by pain. But this was not painful. It just felt… odd. Suddenly, a memory came into his mind, completely unbidden.
No, no, no, no, NO! Thought Draco. Any memory but this one. He had fought so hard to rid himself of this memory. How was this happening? Who was doing this? How had they gotten past his defenses? But against his will, the memory played on. The first thing Draco noticed was that every detail of the memory was crystal clear. He could see every fleck of gold in Dobby’s eyes. He could feel the smooth coolness of the chess piece in his hand. He could feel the innocent happiness his younger self had felt, which was quickly replaced by terror as his aunt burst into the room, her hair flying and her eyes wide. He had forgotten she was there that day. In his memory it was always his parents playing the part of the villain, but now he remembered the truth as he watched it play out in front of him once more. They had been forced against their will just as he had.
Draco was forced to relive the worst thing he’d ever done, and no matter how hard he tried, he was unable to break free of the memory. It sickened him to feel the rush of pleasure that came with casting the curse, and sickened him more to watch Dobby’s suffering in such vivid detail.
Draco listened to the adult’s conversation over the sound of his younger self’s crying. He’d been too overcome as a child to listen to any of it, but now he needed to know why. He wanted to roar in triumph hearing his father stand up to his aunt, something he’d never seen him do again. He watched from his position rocking on the floor as Bellatrix handed his parents the decree that would change Draco’s life forever. He saw the horror on his parents’ faces. It honestly shocked him. He had always seen them as loyal soldiers, blindly following the Dark Lord’s commands with complete devotion, but now he saw a side of them he didn’t know existed.
Next he was picked up by his father, and this time he heard the things his father whispered into his ear. “I’m so sorry, Draco. Please believe me. I’m so sorry. I wish there was another way. But I have to keep you and your mother safe. I’m sorry. Be a good boy. You’re going to have to watch. I’m so sorry.” He tried again to pull himself from the memory, but to no avail. He felt fingers hold his eyes open, but realized they weren’t his father’s as he’d always thought. His father’s hands were holding him tightly but gently, trying to offer what comfort he could. He desperately tried to close his eyes so he wouldn’t have to witness this a second time.
“Avada-”
“NO!!!!!”
With a jolt, Draco was back in the hallway. Hermione? He could swear that was her voice. He sat there with his head in his hands for several minutes, trying to calm his racing heart and commit everything he’d just seen to memory so he didn’t forget again. Dinner forgotten, Draco made his way to the Headmaster’s office.
“Lilly!” he shouted at the gargoyle, and ran up the spiral staircase as quickly as he could. He burst into the Headmaster’s office with a loud bang that made several of the portraits wake up and glare daggers at him. Professor Snape looked up from his desk with a sneer.
“Mister Malfoy, I demand you explain yourself right this instant. What do you think you’re doing bursting into my office unannounced?”
“I’m sorry Professor,” Draco said, suddenly feeling very foolish. “I just.. Erm… Well, the thing is…”
“Spit it out, Draco!” the Headmaster said impatiently. Draco took a deep breath.
“Well, sir, I was hoping you could teach me Astral Projection.”