Chapter Seven
"What's the plan?" Draco asks.
Harry sighs. "We go through the trap door," he says.
Draco groans. "Let's go prep. If we try now, we'll get caught," he says, "McGonagall is on the lookout." He nods toward the professor watching them.
Fred, George, Lara, Blaise, Pansy, and Millicent sit in the courtyard.
"Did you find anything out?" Pansy asks.
"It'll be fine though. Thanks for all the help," he says.
"You don't need any more help?" Fred asks.
Draco shakes his head and glares at the others.
"I cannot wait for the summer. I need a break from this place," Millicent says.
Draco nods.
"I prefer it here," Harry says.
Draco rubs his temple and nods. He doesn't want to be here or at home.
Father punches my stomach. He falls to the floor.
"Why did you try to befriend him?" he asks.
Draco sobs. "I didn't know it was him," he says.
He punches his stomach. "You did. I know you did. Don't lie to me again and do not talk to that boy," he says.
Draco nods.
He leaves Draco on the floor of his study.
He wraps his arms around his stomach and falls over. Tears fall down his face.
His father didn't do this last time. He encouraged Draco to talk to him.
Fred says, "This year has been more interesting than before."
Draco nods. This year has been very interesting.
Reggie nips his ear.
"When did you get back?" he asks.
He clicks and rubs against his cheek.
"Feed well?" he asks.
He coos.
Draco scratches his head and leans against Harry's side.
"Tired?" Harry asks.
Draco nods. He did not sleep well on that stupid couch.
"Sleep then," he says.
Draco's eyes droop closed.
Draco wished he could do better. He seemed to be failing at every turn. Voldemort came to them because his family should be able to do this, but Draco keeps embarrassing them.
He tripped on his way to giving tea to the Death Eaters and spilled it everywhere. He broke the cups and saucers too. Voldemort looked disappointed but not surprised.
His father put the Cruciatus Curse on him again.
"The boy is basically useless," Voldemort says.
His father sighed. "I know. I am sorry," he says.
Voldemort sighs. "He will have another chance," he says.
Draco would almost believe that he's hallucinating. He gets another chance. The spell falls from his body and the pain ripples through even after. He's surprised it still has such an effect on him.
"Don't disappoint us, Draco," his father says.
Draco nods. He pushes himself up and pulls himself to his room to ride out the rest of the pulses through his muscles.
"Draco, it's dinner time," Hermione says.
His eyes open. Harry's shoulder is still under his head. Hermione is crouched in front of him with a small frown.
"Let's go," Ron says. He also has a frown on his lips.
He sighs and stands. His legs wobble beneath him. He looks up and the rest of their group is staring at him with frowns.
"Are you okay?" Pansy asks.
Draco nods. "Why? You're all staring at me like I just told you Reggie died," he says.
Reggie lands on his shoulder and pecks his cheek and flaps his wings.
Draco swats at him.
Harry laughs.
Draco turns to him.
He waves for me to crouch.
He does. "What's wrong?" he asks.
"You were mumbling in your sleep, nothing we could hear, but you seemed to be in pain," Hermione says.
Harry moves his hair around. "Yeah. It sounded like you were about to cry," he says.
"It's slightly better," Ron says.
Hermione nods.
They enter the castle and head to the Great Hall. "Weird. I don't remember what I was dreaming about," Draco says. He does. He remembers every detail. The pain, the hatred, the sadness. Everything.
Lara pulls him to sit beside her.
"Did you ditch me?" Draco asks.
She shakes her head and then nods. "I had to study for finals," she says.
"Still rude, but it's fine," he says.
"You were sleeping," she says.
"Still," he says.
She laughs. "They're your best friends so I trust them to take care of you," she says.
"You shouldn't," he says.
She rolls her eyes.
They pile food onto their plates. The golden trio barely eats any of the food. Draco can't stomach much either. They finish before any of the others.
"Meet on the third floor at nine," he says.
"You three have an invisibility cloak and I do not. Such privileged people," Draco says.
"We can meet you closer to Slytherin," Hermione says.
Draco shakes his head. "That would be a stupid risk. I'll find my way. Make sure to bring a musical instrument," he says.
"I got one for Christmas from Hagrid," Harry says.
He nods. "Good night," he says. No one will be sleeping tonight though.
"Good night," Harry says.
Draco goes to the Slytherin dorm and get in bed. He casts a silence spell around his bed.
Reggie clicks.
"Yeah. Are you staying or coming?" he asks.
He rubs his head against Draco's cheek.
"Good luck getting to Dumbledore," he says.
He squawks.
Draco laughs. "Thanks for your confidence. You know if the others understood you, they would understand my offense," he says.
He butts his head against Draco's chin.
Draco scoffs but scratches his head.
He takes off out the window.
Draco lays on his bed and waits. Just before he is supposed to meet them, he sneaks out of the Slytherin rooms.
He looks around the corner and sees Severus going toward the front of the castle. He checks the other directions and creeps forward. Light shuffles come closer to him. He hides in a doorway. Mrs. Norris walks past. Draco holds his breath and waits for her to disappear. He sighs and slinks further down the corridors. He peeks around each corner until he arrives at the third floor's door.
"Harry?" he whispers.
He drops the cloak. Hermione and Ron smile.
"You didn't get caught," Ron says.
"Mrs. Norris almost got me."
Ron nods. "She's harder to notice."
They push the door open. Fluffy growls at them.
"Hey, you seem like you could do with a nap," he says.
Fluffy's head tilts.
"My friend is going to play a song. Is that okay?"
He lies down and pants.
"Fluffy, could you move off the door?" he asks.
He glares.
"Someone's down there and we don't want to disturb your sleep," he says.
He huffs.
"We all make mistakes. The guy was pretty cunning," he says, "Would you prefer if we assisted you in getting rid of him?"
"We don't have time for this," Ron says.
Draco glares at him.
Fluffy nods. He moves off the door.
"Don't worry about Hagrid, he loves you. You're a good pup," he says.
Fluffy pants and his tail wags.
Draco pats each of his noses and waves for them to go through.
They jump down the trap door.
"See you again, Fluffy," he says.
He licks his face with all three heads.
He groans and jumps. He lands on something soft but also firm.
"Devil's snare," Hermione says.
Draco shrugs. "Just don't fight," he says. He relaxes against the vines.
Hermione nods and goes still. Harry and Ron flail against the plant. Hermione and Draco fall through onto the floor.
"How do we get them out? Apparently, they don't understand not fighting," Hermione says.
"Fire and light should work," he says.
"So, we need wood?" Hermione turns in a circle.
Draco groans.
"Are you a witch or not, Hermione?" Ron says above them.
She claps and pulls her wand out.
Draco turns to the doorway to their next trial. So, it isn't just one or two things. Draco presses his face against the door. A closed door with fluttering behind it.
He sighs and leans against it. He opens the door and push Harry and Ron in then follow with Hermione.
"Birds?" Harry asks.
"No, keys. Look at them," Draco says.
"We need to get the key to the door," Hermione says. She tugs on the other door.
"You're up, Harry. After all, you're the one on the quidditch team," he says. He also refuses to touch a broom. "Hermione and Ron can assist."
He nods and steps closer to a broom. Hermione and Ron stand next to theirs too.
"You want that one," he says. He points to the one with a broken wing.
Harry narrows his eyes and nods. He gets on and the keys shoot at him. He grabs the key and tosses it to Hermione who jabs it in and opens the door. Draco runs in and the others fly.
The next room has large tiles on a platform full of pieces.
"Wizard's chess?" Ron whispers.
"We take spots," Draco says, "You're in charge, Ron." He's the best one of them at the game. He could probably beat Draco.
Ron directs the game. Some pieces are shattered and crumble apart on the board. Draco sees it as soon as Ron says they'll have a checkmate soon.
"No, Ron," Hermione yells.
Draco laughs. "Good job," he says.
Harry glares.
Draco shrugs. Sure, he doesn't want to see them hurt, but it'll be fine...unless he messed something up by integrating himself into the situation.
Ron's piece gets smashed, and he falls to the ground. He's still breathing but unconscious. They leave the chess game and go into a hall. In front of the next door, they pause.
"So, we've had Professor Sprout's, Professor Flitwick's probably with Professor Hootch, and Professor McGonagall's. Knowing Dumbledore, he had Professor Quirrell and Professor Snape do something and probably a trick of his own," Draco says.
"Snape's probably going to do something with potions. Maybe identifying them?" Hermione says.
Draco hums. "Quirrell chose a troll," he says. He can smell it and it's what he used the first time. Quirrell did it.
"So, you'll go with him to the potions?" Hermione asks.
Draco shakes his head. "You go to the potions. I stay with the troll. I'm more battle-ready than you," he says.
"So, I have to go alone?" Harry asks.
"You're the one who has to go forward. You have to continue and beat Voldemort here. I believe in you, Ron, and Hermione do too. That's why we're helping you. You can do it and even if you can't we will support you as long as you'll have us," he says.
He nods. "Thanks, Draco, you be careful," he says.
Draco nods. "Let's go," he says.
Hermione and Harry go in first. Draco follows.
"Hey, stupid," Draco yells.
The troll turns to him and swings his club at him. He somersaults out of the way. Hermione and Harry run to the other door and run through. He uses the shield charm to deflect the club and the knockback jinx to distract it. It recovers quickly and hits his head with the club. The room swims. Draco uses the knockback jinx again and then he casts stupefy and the troll falls. The world darkens and he falls face-first onto the ground. He can still hear around him, but he cannot get his eyes open.
"Let's get you out of here, Draco," McGonagall says.
She picks him up with a floatation charm and carries him to Madam Pomfrey.
"Three of them?" she asks.
"Yes," McGonagall says.
"These kids," she says.
"Sleep, Draco," Dumbledore says, "Your friends are safe."
Draco lets his consciousness leave.
"Are the others okay?" Harry asks.
"Ron woke up a couple of hours after we got him, and Hermione made it out fine," Dumbledore says, "Only some scratches and bruises on Ron."
Harry shuffles. "Draco?"
"He's right here," Dumbledore says.
The curtain pulls back.
"I'm okay, Harry," he says. His head pounds.
Harry smiles. "What happened?"
"The troll got one good hit in," he says.
Dumbledore nods. "Good thing you are awake."
"Did we miss the exams?" Draco asks.
Dumbledore shakes his head. "We canceled them," he says.
Draco frowns. "Does everyone know about what happened?" he asks.
Dumbledore chuckles. "Of course. It was supposed to be a secret, so everyone knows," he says.
Draco laughs.
"Get dressed your friends are expecting you, both of you," he says.
"Okay," he says.
Dumbledore glides out of the infirmary.
Harry sits on Draco's bed facing him. "Tell me everything about the troll?" he asks.
He nods. "Tell me everything about the last areas," he says.
"The last room was covered in fire. We had to find two vials. One to send someone back and one to go forward. The others were to incapacitate the drinker," he says, "Hermione found the two vials and took the one to go back and I went forward. The last room had the mirror from Christmas. It gave me the stone. Dumbledore said it was because my intentions were pure. Quirrell was combined with Voldemort, and they were trying to get the stone from me. I tried to get away, but Voldemort noticed. They got close to me, and I touched them. Then they turned to ash or something and fell asleep."
Draco's eyes widen. That's a lot. "Wow. Okay. The troll swung his club and nearly hit me a couple of times, but I avoided it. Then I used the knockback jinx to distract it, but I didn't know it recovered. It hit me. I pushed through and used the jinx again and stupefied," he says, "Then it fell, and I did too."
"Wow. Wouldn't getting hit be deadly?" he asks.
Draco hums. "I got the shield spell partially up," he says.
Harry sighs "Can we sit here for just a few more minutes?" he asks.
Draco nods.
Reggie coos.
"I am," he says, "Just a little headache."
He rubs his head on his cheek.
Harry takes a deep breath. "Okay. Let's find Ron and Hermione," Harry says.
Draco nods.
They leave the infirmary and go to the Gryffindor common room where Hermione and Ron are whispering on the couch.
"Harry? Draco?" Hermione says.
They wave.
"Good to see you," Ron says.
Draco nods. "You too. Good job with the chess game and the potions," he says.
"And you with the troll," Hermione says, "Sorry, I couldn't help you when I passed through."
Draco shrugs. "It's fine," he says, "Thank you for getting Professor McGonagall."
She nods. "Any injuries?" she asks.
"Just a slight bump," Draco says. Not mentioning the definite concussion.
"Same with me," Harry says.
"Let's go eat," Ron says.
Draco nods. "We'll talk later since I must go to Slytherin and you Gryffindor today," he says.
They nod with frowns.
They talk on the way to the Great Hall. Draco goes to the Slytherin table and sits.
"Ah, you've awakened," Blaise says.
Draco nods. "Now we eat and lose the house cup," he says.
"How? We're decently ahead of the other houses?" Pansy asks.
Draco sighs. "You'll see," he says.
"But the decorations are for us," Millicent says.
"I know, Milli, never get your hopes up," he says. Every year they would be close and then they would lose.
She sighs.
"We studied and did everything we were supposed to," Pansy says.
Draco shrugs. "They aren't going to forget about Gryffindor's help with the stone," he says, "Plus, Dumbledore loves Gryffindor."
She sighs.
"It's not like you cared either," Blaise says.
Pansy shrugs. "It isn't so much that, but the principle of the thing. We worked all year to get points and win the cup but as soon as Harry Potter and his group do anything they're going to win. What's the point of trying?"
Draco nods. "I understand how you feel. Although, I would like to point out I am technically part of Harry's group."
"Maybe you're wrong Draco and we will win?" Millicent says.
Draco shrugs. "Maybe," he says. But in reality, no.
"In light of recent events, we would like to distribute some more points." Dumbledore stands at a podium.
A round of applause around the Great Hall.
"Starting with Valara LeStrange, she stuck to her nature as a Ravenclaw and used her intellect to assist her brother and his friends, twenty points to Ravenclaw," Dumbledore says.
The students clap.
"Next we Ronald Weasley who played the best game of wizard's chess this school had ever seen, fifty points," he says.
They clap again.
"To Hermione Granger for using her intellect and helping her friends, fifty points," he says.
Draco claps as hard as he can.
"Does that mean you get points?" Blaise asks.
Draco shrugs. "I didn't do much," he says. They must have defeated the troll without him so he couldn't have done much.
"You fought a troll," Pansy says.
He shrugs.
Harry catches Draco's eye and smiles.
Draco smiles back.
Reggie butts his head against his chin.
Draco chuckles.
"To Harry Potter and his bravery, sixty points," Dumbledore says.
"You were brave," Millicent says. She pouts.
Draco laughs.
Murmurs about Gryffindor and Slytherin's tie echo through the room.
"To Neville Bottom, because standing up to your friends is very difficult, ten points," he says.
More applause.
Gryffindor erupts.
Draco stands. "Ugh, I'm full. Are you all packed? Because I am not," he says. He turns to the door.
"To Draco Malfoy for fighting for what he believes in, fifty points," he says.
The people in the hall stare at Draco.
He sits down.
Slytherin, Harry, the Weasel twins, and Hermione clap.
He bows his head.
"Draco, are you blushing?" Blaise asks.
Draco shakes his head.
"Your ears are red," Millicent says.
"Reggie, why don't you attack them?" he asks.
He coos.
"Liar," he says.
"Congratulations to Slytherin and their incredibly good year in academics and extracurriculars," Dumbledore says.
Draco scowls. "You didn't finish," he says.
Dumbledore pauses. "I didn't?"
Draco shakes his head. "There were two more people that assisted in the feats accomplished," he says.
Dumbledore waves a hand. "Who might that be?"
"Fred and George Weasley. They helped find information. I propose twenty points each," Draco says. He waves his wand, and the banners turn red and gold again.
There are some confused murmurs.
"I believe that deserves you to get another fifteen points, Mr. Malfoy," Dumbledore says, "For fighting for what is right."
Draco gawks. "Wait, another twenty to Harry because he-he did two tasks," he says.
Dumbledore smiles. "You're fighting hard for them," he says.
Draco isn't sure what he's doing, but he can't win house cup. That doesn't make sense. "Just leave the banners red and give them the cup," he says.
Dumbledore holds his hands up. "After some consideration it seems Gryffindor won the cup," he says.
The Gryffindor and Slytherin students gape at him.
"Dude, why did you do that?" Blaise asks
He shrugs and puts his face on the table. He wraps his arms around his head. "I couldn't," he says.
Students file out of the hall and whisper to each other.
"Draco, here is my address," Harry says.
4 Privet Drive, Surrey.
Hermione holds a slip of paper out too.
8 Heathgate, Hamstead Garden Suburb, London.
"You know mine," Ron says.
He nods.
"What's yours?" Harry asks.
Draco hands him a paper. Malfoy Manor, Wiltshire.
"I thought you were moving out," Ron says.
Draco shakes his head. "Lara is moving out," he says.
Harry's eyebrows furrow. "You always talked about it like you both were," he says.
"She wouldn't agree if she thought I was staying behind," he says.
"There's the Slytherin traits," Hermione says.
Draco shrugs. "I need to stay," he says. His father is for sure involved in what happens next year and later. He needs to keep an eye on things.
The train stops at the station. Draco pulls his stuff off the train and walks with Lara to Andromeda and Ted.
"You must be Draco and Valara," Andromeda says.
"Thank you so much for housing my sister this summer," Draco says.
All three of them stare at him.
"I'll see you next year, Lara," he says. He turns to look for one of his parents or a house elf.
She grabs his arm. "Draco, what are you doing? I know they hurt you. You have a way out," she says.
Draco smiles. "I don't need a way out. I'm fine," he says.
She squeezes his arm slightly. "Draco, I don't care if you think you need to fix something. I watched father kick you until you weren't breathing and now you want me to accept you going back. No, you're my brother."
Draco shakes his head. "I'll see you next year. Remember to write me," he says.
She sighs and rubs at her face. "Fine. I can't force you to come with, well not ethically," she says, "Be careful and write to me."
He nods. "Goodbye, Andromeda and Ted. I hope to see you next year," he says.
They nod.
Draco leaves the train platform and keeps watch for someone he knows.
Reggie nibbles his ear.
"I don't want you at the manor," he says, "Mother is fine with you but father was distracted and in a good mood before we left. If he sees you now, he will likely be upset. I want you to avoid the manor as much as possible."
Reggie rubs against his cheek
"He will, Reg," he says, "Stay away."
He chirps.
Draco pets his head.
He takes off.
He sees the driver waiting by the curb.
"Is Lara not coming home?" mother asks.
Draco shakes his head. "She made arrangements to hang out with someone else," he says.
She nods. "My children are growing up quickly," she says.
Draco's stomach plumets. He nods. She never would have allowed for that to happen before.
The driver takes them to the manor.