Harry Potter - Series Fan Fiction ❯ Finding Draco Malfoy ❯ Midnight in the Garden of good and evil ( Chapter 8 )

A/N: Okay so here is chapter eight… it’s not quite as long as the last chapter, this one just did not want to be written. It is not at all the chapter that I had envisioned but… oh well I think you all will like it.
Thank you to all of my wonderful reviewers! You make my life a bit brighter.

CBT

Finding Draco Malfoy
Chapter Eight
Midnight in the garden of good and evil

Draco was sitting in the library with Blaise, Harry, Ron and Hermione when the door to Number twelve was slammed open.

“Poppy! Poppy! God damn it woman get down here!” Severus’ frantic voice rang from the entry.

Draco shot up out of his seat, raced out of the library and down the front stairs.

Harry glanced at the others as they all stood and made their way after Draco at a slightly more sedate pace. As he made it to the end of the stairs Harry saw Draco cradling the broken form of his mother on the floor. Snape was close by Draco’s side, checking the woman pulse periodically. Poppy pushed past him suddenly almost making Harry fall to the ground. Conjuring a gurney, Poppy ushered Narcissa out of Draco’s arms and floated her up the stairs and out of view. Snape held on to Draco keeping him out of Poppy’s way. Draco had tears spilling down his face as he fought to escape Snape’s grasp. Harry walked over to Snape and Draco, kneeling down he wrapped his arms around the blond restraining him and allowing Snape to step away and follow Poppy.

“Draco you have to calm down.” The brunette whispered. “Following will only distract Poppy, your mother is safe and in good hands.” Harry soothed. “Come on let’s get you to bed, Blaise could you come help me with him.” Harry asked as Draco went slack in his grasp.

“I think this week has just been too much.” Blaise commented looking down at his unconscious friend. The two men carried him up the stairs and to his room.

“Yeah… Hermione, Ron can you meet us back in my room in twenty?” Harry asked, as he and Blaise started up the stairs.

“Yeah we’ll be there Harry.” Hermione answered pulling Ron in the other direction.

Harry stared at Draco’s unconscious form; he and Blaise had just laid the Blond in his bed. Harry couldn’t remember ever seeing someone so beautiful. The brunette was confused, Draco was a man, but Harry seemed to be falling for him more each day. It made no sense, and he was sure Draco would shun him if he ever found out the truth.

Blaise smiled at the picture the two men made, he wondered if either of them had realized they were in love yet. It was obvious to the rest of the world, well at least to him. The lingering glances, the innocent touches that lasted just a bit too long, Draco and Harry had it bad. Blaise really wasn’t sure what to do about it though… he decided for now her and Harry needed sleep, he walked over and tapped the messy haired savior on the shoulder.

“Come on Harry, Ron and Hermione are waiting… Draco will be fine. He’s out for the night.”

Harry started looking away from the blond, turning he rushed out the door ahead of Blaise. The dark haired man sighed and followed Harry out the door, yeah he had it bad.

Hermione stood next to Ron; the Library was lit by the fire burning in the large hearth. She was worried about Draco… it seemed strange to worry about him; Draco had always been an annoyance at best and their enemy at worst. Trying to equate the man that had broken down next to his mother with the sarcastic Slytherin they had hated for so long was near impossible. Hermione glanced to at Ron, he had also changed in the last few months, he was still the brash excitable boy he had always been but now he had grown in to a brash excitable, thoughtful, responsible man. Hermione felt like she was losing her Ron, over the last few weeks she had realized she loved Ron more and more the way she loved Harry and less like a lover.

“So you think Draco’s mum will be okay?” Ron asked looking at his hands.

“I don’t know Ron… but if anyone can help her, Madam Pomfrey can.”

“I suppose Herm… “



Harry leaned against the wall just outside of the library, Blaise was looking at him like he was barmy.

“Harry, why exactly are we standing out here?”

“I… do I seem gay to you?” Harry asked scuffing his trainers on the floor.

“Well, you seem to like Draco. I’m not sure if that makes you gay… why?” Blaise asked leaning against the opposite wall.

“What! How did you know I liked him? I didn’t even know I liked him until this evening!” Harry exclaimed standing up ram rod strait.

“Ron, Hermione and I figured it out about a month ago. Don’t worry though Draco is still in the dark, he is kind of dense. I told them you weren’t that bad.” Blaise commented putting his hand on Harry’s arm. “Now come on, leaving Hermione out of this any longer than necessary will just incite her to kick us.”

“Kick us? That’s what you’re worried about?” Harry asked raising an eyebrow.

“You have obviously never felt the wrath of that particular size six.” Blaise replied heading in to the library with Harry.

Hermione started as Harry and Blaise walked in the door. Harry was glaring at the taller man; Hermione had to wonder what had happened between the two of them.

“How’s Draco?” Ron asked sitting cross-legged on the Italian rug in front of the fire.

“Sleeping… I think he’ll be fine in the morning.” Harry began dropping down next to Ron. “So why did none of you think it was a good idea to clue me in to the fact I liked Draco?” Harry asked casually.

“We figured you should figure it out for yourself mate. I don’t think you would have taken to kindly to being told you liked him.” Ron stated lying down and throwing his hands behind his head.

“Really Harry you do have quite a temper, we were worried you would try not to like Draco just because you hadn’t figured it out first.” Hermione added.

“Yeah… so what do I do about it now?”Harry asked leaning against the plush couch behind him.

“I say wait till it feels right and then tell him.” Blaise answered.

“What exactly do I tell him? I’m not even sure how I feel right now.”

“You’ll know what to tell him when the time comes Harry… so are we waiting up for Madam Pomfrey to finish with Narcissa?” Hermione asked taking a seat on the couch just above Harry.

“I am going to… I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep until I know how she is.” Blaise stated sitting on the couch nest to Hermione.

“I’ll stay up with you.” Hermione commented making herself comfortable against the armrest. “Harry you should get some rest, Draco is going to need a friend in the morning. If we are all exhausted we won’t be much help.”

Ron and Harry agreed and said their goodnights, getting up they headed for the door.

“So how long do you think it will take those two to get together?” Ron asked throwing an arm around Harry.

Harry laughed, bumping in to Ron. “Not long with you scheming mate.”

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Draco woke to the glittering light of the moon, for a moment he couldn’t understand why his chest felt tight. Then it all came back to him; his mother… she had looked so weak. Draco sat up and pulled his legs to his chest; he buried his face in to his knees. How could his father have done that? Draco couldn’t understand, Lucius had always been a loving husband and father. He had made mistakes but… to beat his mother that badly, Draco just couldn’t understand how his father could do that.

Blond hair fell in to Draco’s face, he pushed it away and scooted to the end of the bed to stand. He needed to make sure his mother was okay, Draco glanced at Blaise’s bed, it was still made. The blond wondered where his friend was, as he made his way down the moonlit hall. He made his way to the makeshift infirmary in the attic, he was sure his mother was being treated there.

When Draco peered in to the long silent room he could immediately recognize his godfather. Severus sat in a small uncomfortable looking chair next to one of the ten single beds lined up. Severus looked over to him as he entered and gestured for Draco to be silent. The blond nodded and carefully walked to where his mother was sleeping.

She looked so frail, he long blond hair was clean of blood and flowing free, it ran like rivers of starlight across the stark white hospital sheets. Her face was littered with fading bruises, and her lips were cracked with small red lines showing where Poppy had closed some wounds.

“How bad was it?” Draco whispered leaning in to Severus.

“Several broken bones, severe burning of her inner thighs, lacerations all over her face, she had been… violated repeatedly and there were signs of the crucio.” Severus whispered back holding on to the frail hand just a bit more. “She is luck to be alive… Poppy confirmed it was you fathers magical signature.”

Draco felt his eyes widen as tear began to gather just behind them. “How could he have done this to her, I thought he loved her.” Draco kneeled next to the bed and laid his head next to his mother. “I can’t imagine someone doing this to anyone they loved.”

“Lucius doesn’t love anyone Draco, I know he’s your father and you love him but don’t confuse your own feelings with your fathers.” Severus placed his free hand on to Draco’s head. “Come on now Dragon, if you’re not going to sleep in your own room then lie down on one of these beds and get some rest. I’ll wake you if anything happens with Narcissa, no arguments Draco sleep.” Severus gently pushed Draco to the bed on the other side of Narcissa’s bed.

Draco fell asleep staring at his mother’s sleeping face, he hoped that she would be awake by morning and his life could return to something resembling normal.

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Severus left the room once he was sure Draco was asleep, he was sure Blaise would be waiting for some news of Narcissa. He made his way down to the second floor library, the sight that he was presented with after entering made him grimace. Granger was curled up on Blaise, the two were breathing softly; both obviously asleep. Severus sighed and shook Blaise softly doing his best not to wake the girl as well.

“Hmm?” Blaise mumbled looking up at Severus.

“You may want to be quiet unless you wish to wake Ms. Granger.” Severus whispered smirking at the look on the younger man’s face when he realized that his love interest was fast asleep on his chest.

“How is she?” Blaise asked whispering just loud enough to be made out.

“She will be fine with a few weeks of rest and recovery. Narcissa is a strong woman.” Severus replied moving to leave the room. “You may want to find a way to get her up to bed she will have a crink in her neck if she sleeps like that the rest of the night.” With that he swept from the room.

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The next morning Harry and Ron trudged down to the kitchen, it was still early but neither of them had slept well. Molly was busy making breakfast and both boys were enlisted to help her finish everything. It was going to be a relatively small group of people at Grimwald this morning. Just the five friends, the Weasly family along with Sirius, Remus and Severus would be in attendance as Poppy and Narcissa would be staying in the infirmary for a few more days. Slowly people began to take their places at the large kitchen table. Harry smiled at each Weasly brother as they flooed in from their respective homes. Fred and Gorge were first followed by Ginny, Charley and Arthur from the burrow. Sirius and Remus came next both still half asleep, by the time Blaise and Hermione showed up the food was on the table and everyone was tucking in.

Harry was worried about Draco when he still hadn’t turned up when ten o’clock had come.

“Maybe I should go check on Draco… you said he wasn’t in your room when you made it to bed last night Blaise?” Harry worried giving Blaise a meaningful look.

“Severus said he was in the infirmary with Narcissa last night, I’m sure that’s where he is now.” Blaise comforted smiling at the worried savior.

“Well… I am going to bring them some breakfast... Molly made them plates so… I’ll be back.” Harry murmured, taking up two loaded plates and walking towards the exit of the kitchen.

“He has it bad.” Ron commented watching his best friend walk away.

“At least he knows that now.” Hermione commented snickering and sipping her tea. The three friends decided to grab some books and go research new spells by the small pond in the back yard.

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Draco looked up as Harry entered toting two plates loaded with food.

“How is she?” The brunette asked setting the plates on one of the side tables. “I brought you and Snape some breakfast.”

“She is getting better, Poppy says she won’t wake until sometime tonight at the earliest.” Draco answered running a hand through his blond locks. “Thanks for the food Severus is just in the loo, he should be out soon.”

“Would you like me to sit with you for a while?” Harry asked.

“Yes, that would be nice.” Draco smiled and pulled a chair next to his own for Harry to take.


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That same morning hundreds of miles away in the headmasters’ office at Hogwarts, Dumbledore stared at the multitude of open books laid out before him. He had hoped he was wrong about what the information he had gotten from young Mr. Malfoy meant. But here it was in black in white, there was no plausible reason for him to keep this from the others any longer.