Post by Meluivan Indil on Nov 28, 2005 19:42:32 GMT -5
Chapter 11
It was the morning of Val’s first Quidditch match, and her and her friends were sitting in the Great Hall trying to eat a decent breakfast. Ron and Harry being used to Quidditch already, had no problem devouring a decent breakfast. Val on the other hand was so nervous that she barely touched a bite. She had flown in several practices since her accident, and had no problems since then, but she felt a dreading in the pit of her stomach.
“Come on, Val. You have to eat. You’ll be fine. The game is against Hufflepuff. They are usually a pushover.” Hermione said trying to convince Val that her first match wasn’t the end of the world.
“I’m not worried about how good Hufflepuff is. I’m worried about how good I am.” Val admitted pushing her eggs around on the plate in front of her. They had gone cold at least a quarter of an hour before.
“Don’t worry you’ll be great. You can out fly most of the Hufflepuffs on a bad day, even with you using a practice broom.” Ron said trying to cheer her up.
But that was the problem. Could she? The practice brooms were not meant to be used for tournament. It was a wonder that Madame Hooch had even consented to let her play. At that moment the morning owls began to swoop into the Great Hall delivering packages and letters to the students lucky enough to receive tidings from home. Val did not look up. She had no one to send her anything. But in surprise a large tawny colored owl landed right before her. She dropped her fork, immediately recognizing the animal. “Pem. What are you doing here?” She said reaching out and stoking the large bird. She could see the rather large package that the owl had been carrying. It had landed on top of her and Harry’s plates and splashed pumpkin juice across the table into Ron’s. The package was long and wider on one end and was wrapped in brown packing paper. “What is this?”
“I know what that is.” Harry called out remembering a day many years before when he had received a similar package himself.
“Well open it.” Ron said impatiently.
Val’s fingers trembled slightly as she reached out and began pulling the paper back. “It’s like yours, Harry.” She whispered looking at the shiny new broom in awe. “It’s a Firebolt.” She looked to Harry for a minute, and could see the amazed look in his eyes.
“Who sent it to you?” Ron asked fishing in the wrapping for a card, but there was none.
Val stared at the large owl in front of her, and knew who had sent it without a doubt in her mind. She looked around the Great Hall, and saw who she was looking for not at the Slytherin table, but leaning against the door leading into the hallway. He had a small grin on his face, and she smiled back at him, and mouthed the words ‘Thank you’. She watched as he shook his head with an amused expression and then turned to leave the Great Hall.
She wanted to follow him, but at the moment Harry and Ron stood. “It’s time, Val.” She took one last look to where he had been standing and then stood following the other Gryffindor team members.
Val’s nerves were on end, but her confidence had shot up immensely as she held her new broom clutched tightly to her side. As they entered the stadium Val searched the stands for one single person, but was disappointed to see that Draco wasn’t sitting in the Slytherin section. “I should know better.” She whispered to herself. Draco never attended any of the events. The only time anyone had seen him on the Quidditch pitch was during the Slytherin games, but that was only because he was still the Slytherin’s best choice for a Seeker.
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The school rang with cheers that afternoon. “Gryffindor. Yeah, yeah, Gryffindor. Yeah Gryffindor.” They had won the game two hundred thirty points to twenty after Harry caught the snitch within the first half hour of play. Val had scored five out of the eight Gryffindor goals.
But even as happy as Val was, and with all the celebrating in the common room, she still felt like something was wrong. As Ron was telling everyone for the fifth time how he had saved six goals Val snuck out of the common room as quietly as possible. Just as she slipped past the portrait of The Fat Lady she heard Harry’s voice behind her. “Sneaking off during the celebration.” He had seen her stealing away and had followed her.
She turned to face him and gave him a large smile, but he could see that the smile did not reach her eyes. “What’s wrong?”
Harry knew her too well she decided. “Draco wasn’t at the match.” She said.
“I noticed.” He answered.
“Harry, he sent me the broom.” She said not sure if he would understand.
Harry nodded though. “Yeah makes sense if he went to the trouble of sending you such an expensive gift, that he would at least want to see you use it.”
Her eyes widened. He understood exactly what was going through her mind. “I’m worried about him, Harry. You saw him in Hogsmeade. He never would tell me who beat him up.”
“Draco has always been one to keep things to himself, Val.” Harry tried to reason.
“Not with me, Harry. I know more about Draco than our father does. I know more than Draco does himself, sometimes.” Val said turning her head towards the nearby stairs. Harry could tell she was aching to go find him.
“Let me get something. It will help you.” Harry said turning back into the common room. He made his way up to his dorm as quietly as possible, so as not to draw attention to himself. He pulled his trunk open and removed two items tucking them into his robe, and then went back down to the hall outside the common room.
Val was waiting for him but she had moved closer to the stairs, as if she was tempted to leave anyway.
Harry looked around making sure that know one else was around. He pulled the items out of his robe. First he handed her a beautiful silvery cloak. “Thanks, Harry. But it’s not really that cool out tonight.” She said skeptically.
“This is my invisibility cloak, silly.” He said taking it and wrapping it around her shoulders. From her shoulders down she disappeared.
“Oh. I guess I forgot that one.” She said looking down in shock.
“Yeah well, you probably don’t know about this one.” He said pulling a folded piece of parchment from his robe. He unfolded it before her, and tapped it with his wand. “I solemnly swear that I am up to no good.”
Val watched in amazement as a map of Hogwarts appeared before her, along with beautiful scrolling writing. “The Marauder’s Map.” She whispered as she read the writing. Then she noticed the moving names and footsteps on the map. “Harry, where did you get such an amazing map?” She said in awe.
“Ron’s brothers, but it’s been circling around Hogwarts for many years now. My dad and his friends created it, though.” He smiled knowing he could trust Val with that bit of information.
“It’s wonderful.” She said staring at the moving names on the parchment.
“Let’s see now. There he is.” Harry said pointing to the owlry. There inside the owlry was the name Draco Malfoy, and he wasn’t moving. “Go on now. Take the cloak. Don’t get caught.” Harry said as Val wrapped her arms around him in a large hug.
“Thanks, Harry. I owe you one.” She said squeezing one more time and then pulled the hood up and took off down the stairs as quietly as she could.
Val made her way outside as quietly as possible, but as she hit the grounds and saw that no one was around to see her, she took off at a run towards the owlry as fast as she could. She took the stairs to the top of the owlry two at a time.
When she reached the top and stood at the door, she could see Draco. He was sitting on the floor in the corner looking out a low window. She could see Pem standing on the windowsill. Draco was softly stroking the owl’s feathers, and she could see that the bird enjoyed it immensely. It was very late and the room was dark other than the moonlight pouring through the window. She walked quietly through the room until she was next to the wall staring down at Draco. She swallowed hard seeing new bruises, and a long gash in his forehead. Blood had stained his blond hair so it looked pink in the moonlight.
“Oh, Draco.” She said in a heartbroken voice. He immediately pulled back, looking all around for where the voice had come from. Val could see the look of fear in his eyes. She had forgotten to remove the invisibility cloak.
She immediately pulled the cloak off, and kneeled in front of him. “It’s just me.” She said quietly.
Draco looked at the cloak in her hands. “Potter’s cloak.”
“He let me borrow it, so I could come find you.” She said putting it in the inner pocket of her robe. “I’m glad I did.”
“Sorry, I missed the match today.” He said looking back out the window.
“I don’t care about a Quidditch match, Draco. Look at you. Who did this to you?” She pleaded for him to tell her.
“I .. fell down the steps. I’ve been up here since. Don’t worry. The bleeding has stopped.” He said willing her to believe him.
“Two accidents in less than a week. No, Draco. I don’t believe that.” Val said angrily.
“Either you tell me what is going on here, or I will go to Professor Snape or Dumbledore.” She threatened.
“You wouldn’t.” He turned back to her. “You’ve never ratted me out before.”
“You’ve never kept secrets from me, or lied to me before.” She countered.
“Val, this time you just can’t be involved.” He said in a resigned tone.
“I am involved. It tears me to pieces to see you like this, Draco. Either tell me, or I go to the adults.” She said standing.
“No, don’t. That will just make it worse.” He said grabbing her hand, and pulling her back down.
“So tell me.” She said not releasing his hand.
“Malfoy is not the best name to possess at Hogwarts right now. The other Slytherin’s think our family had something to do with the raid.” He told her a half-truth, hoping she would accept it.
“But my name is Malfoy too. Why haven’t they gone after me?” She asked.
“I don’t know. Maybe they are afraid to, because Potter and his friends always surround you. Maybe they don’t see you as a Malfoy, since you’re a Gryffindor. I just don’t know.” He answered.
“What are we going to do?” She asked with a look of determination on her face.
“Nothing.” He answered her. “There’s nothing to do. I am a Slytherin. I am around them all the time. There’s nothing to do, except for stay out of their way as much as possible.”
“That’s not much of a solution, Draco.” She said thoughtfully. “If you told Snape, he would threaten them and they would have to stop.”
“I know Slytherin’s. They would never stop. They’d just make sure, I didn’t come out of it in one piece if I ratted on them.” He said bitterly. “No, if I want to stay alive, I have to just accept it, and try to stay away from them.”
“Well you say that I am protected because I am around Harry. What if you started hanging…?” She began to speak, but he interrupted her.
“Ask Harry Potter to protect me. Did you get hit in the head by a bludger during that match today?” He said scowling.
“It was just an idea.” She said defensively. “There’s safety in numbers you know.”
“No. I don’t want to talk about this anymore. How did the Quidditch game go today?” He said changing the subject.
Val shook her head in frustration. “We won, but that is not important. I don’t give a d**n about the game.”
“How did the new broom fly?” He asked as if he hadn’t heard the statement.
“You are so exasperating, Draco.” She said kicking him lightly on his shin.
“Ouch. That hurt.” He said grabbing his leg.
“I’m sorry. I kicked a bruise didn’t I?” She said as the look on her face turned to worry.
He broke into a large smile. “Gotcha.” He said then started laughing loudly, holding his stomach.
“Oh, you little git.” She said shoving him backwards. He tipped over landing on his back but was still laughing so hard that he barely noticed.
“You are the worst, Draco Malfoy.” She said standing to go.
“Wait, no. Don’t leave yet.” He said sitting up and wiping the tears of mirth from his eyes. “We never get to talk anymore.”
She paused, thinking it would serve him right if she just walked out, but he was right. They never got to talk, anymore. So instead she sat next to him so she could see the view from the window. “Tell me about the game.” He said when she was seated.
“We won, two thirty to twenty.” She answered.
“How many goals did you score?” He asked her.
“Five.” She answered blushing slightly. “Thanks for the broom” She whispered.
“Well I couldn’t see losing you to another Quidditch accident.” He said wrapping one arm around her and giving her a squeeze.
“Don’t worry. I’m not going anywhere.” She answered him laying her head on his shoulder looking out the window, just as she had done many times when they were younger. “Tell me about the stars, Draco.” She whispered. It was a game they used to play. He would pick out a constellation, and tell her something about it. Sometimes it was the truth, but more than often it was just something fanciful he had made up to entertain her.
He looked down at her and smiled. “Well you see that constellation over there. The one that sort of looks like a dragon.” He said pointing to a set of stars. “That’s Draco. It is said that when a dragon dies his soul is lifted from the earth and rests in the heavens as another star among that constellation. And when the last dragon upon the world dies he will complete the constellation, and it will shine brighter than any in all of the heavens. And then there will be only peace left in this world.”
“That’s my favorite.” She said smiling brightly. “I don’t wish to see the dragons leave this earth, but I certainly wish we could have peace, for just a little while at least.” She said as her voice turned a little sad.
“I’m not sure if that will ever happen. But at least we have each other. You know I will always strive to protect you, don’t you?” He said hating to see the sad look in her eyes.
“Yes, Draco. I know. And if you ever need me..” She began to say, but he again cut her off.
“You will always be there.” He said smiling.
Author’s Note: Yes, I know, Draco is very out of character here, but he has been going through a lot of tough sh*t this year, and he is realizing what is most important in his life.
The Gift of Flight
It was the morning of Val’s first Quidditch match, and her and her friends were sitting in the Great Hall trying to eat a decent breakfast. Ron and Harry being used to Quidditch already, had no problem devouring a decent breakfast. Val on the other hand was so nervous that she barely touched a bite. She had flown in several practices since her accident, and had no problems since then, but she felt a dreading in the pit of her stomach.
“Come on, Val. You have to eat. You’ll be fine. The game is against Hufflepuff. They are usually a pushover.” Hermione said trying to convince Val that her first match wasn’t the end of the world.
“I’m not worried about how good Hufflepuff is. I’m worried about how good I am.” Val admitted pushing her eggs around on the plate in front of her. They had gone cold at least a quarter of an hour before.
“Don’t worry you’ll be great. You can out fly most of the Hufflepuffs on a bad day, even with you using a practice broom.” Ron said trying to cheer her up.
But that was the problem. Could she? The practice brooms were not meant to be used for tournament. It was a wonder that Madame Hooch had even consented to let her play. At that moment the morning owls began to swoop into the Great Hall delivering packages and letters to the students lucky enough to receive tidings from home. Val did not look up. She had no one to send her anything. But in surprise a large tawny colored owl landed right before her. She dropped her fork, immediately recognizing the animal. “Pem. What are you doing here?” She said reaching out and stoking the large bird. She could see the rather large package that the owl had been carrying. It had landed on top of her and Harry’s plates and splashed pumpkin juice across the table into Ron’s. The package was long and wider on one end and was wrapped in brown packing paper. “What is this?”
“I know what that is.” Harry called out remembering a day many years before when he had received a similar package himself.
“Well open it.” Ron said impatiently.
Val’s fingers trembled slightly as she reached out and began pulling the paper back. “It’s like yours, Harry.” She whispered looking at the shiny new broom in awe. “It’s a Firebolt.” She looked to Harry for a minute, and could see the amazed look in his eyes.
“Who sent it to you?” Ron asked fishing in the wrapping for a card, but there was none.
Val stared at the large owl in front of her, and knew who had sent it without a doubt in her mind. She looked around the Great Hall, and saw who she was looking for not at the Slytherin table, but leaning against the door leading into the hallway. He had a small grin on his face, and she smiled back at him, and mouthed the words ‘Thank you’. She watched as he shook his head with an amused expression and then turned to leave the Great Hall.
She wanted to follow him, but at the moment Harry and Ron stood. “It’s time, Val.” She took one last look to where he had been standing and then stood following the other Gryffindor team members.
Val’s nerves were on end, but her confidence had shot up immensely as she held her new broom clutched tightly to her side. As they entered the stadium Val searched the stands for one single person, but was disappointed to see that Draco wasn’t sitting in the Slytherin section. “I should know better.” She whispered to herself. Draco never attended any of the events. The only time anyone had seen him on the Quidditch pitch was during the Slytherin games, but that was only because he was still the Slytherin’s best choice for a Seeker.
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The school rang with cheers that afternoon. “Gryffindor. Yeah, yeah, Gryffindor. Yeah Gryffindor.” They had won the game two hundred thirty points to twenty after Harry caught the snitch within the first half hour of play. Val had scored five out of the eight Gryffindor goals.
But even as happy as Val was, and with all the celebrating in the common room, she still felt like something was wrong. As Ron was telling everyone for the fifth time how he had saved six goals Val snuck out of the common room as quietly as possible. Just as she slipped past the portrait of The Fat Lady she heard Harry’s voice behind her. “Sneaking off during the celebration.” He had seen her stealing away and had followed her.
She turned to face him and gave him a large smile, but he could see that the smile did not reach her eyes. “What’s wrong?”
Harry knew her too well she decided. “Draco wasn’t at the match.” She said.
“I noticed.” He answered.
“Harry, he sent me the broom.” She said not sure if he would understand.
Harry nodded though. “Yeah makes sense if he went to the trouble of sending you such an expensive gift, that he would at least want to see you use it.”
Her eyes widened. He understood exactly what was going through her mind. “I’m worried about him, Harry. You saw him in Hogsmeade. He never would tell me who beat him up.”
“Draco has always been one to keep things to himself, Val.” Harry tried to reason.
“Not with me, Harry. I know more about Draco than our father does. I know more than Draco does himself, sometimes.” Val said turning her head towards the nearby stairs. Harry could tell she was aching to go find him.
“Let me get something. It will help you.” Harry said turning back into the common room. He made his way up to his dorm as quietly as possible, so as not to draw attention to himself. He pulled his trunk open and removed two items tucking them into his robe, and then went back down to the hall outside the common room.
Val was waiting for him but she had moved closer to the stairs, as if she was tempted to leave anyway.
Harry looked around making sure that know one else was around. He pulled the items out of his robe. First he handed her a beautiful silvery cloak. “Thanks, Harry. But it’s not really that cool out tonight.” She said skeptically.
“This is my invisibility cloak, silly.” He said taking it and wrapping it around her shoulders. From her shoulders down she disappeared.
“Oh. I guess I forgot that one.” She said looking down in shock.
“Yeah well, you probably don’t know about this one.” He said pulling a folded piece of parchment from his robe. He unfolded it before her, and tapped it with his wand. “I solemnly swear that I am up to no good.”
Val watched in amazement as a map of Hogwarts appeared before her, along with beautiful scrolling writing. “The Marauder’s Map.” She whispered as she read the writing. Then she noticed the moving names and footsteps on the map. “Harry, where did you get such an amazing map?” She said in awe.
“Ron’s brothers, but it’s been circling around Hogwarts for many years now. My dad and his friends created it, though.” He smiled knowing he could trust Val with that bit of information.
“It’s wonderful.” She said staring at the moving names on the parchment.
“Let’s see now. There he is.” Harry said pointing to the owlry. There inside the owlry was the name Draco Malfoy, and he wasn’t moving. “Go on now. Take the cloak. Don’t get caught.” Harry said as Val wrapped her arms around him in a large hug.
“Thanks, Harry. I owe you one.” She said squeezing one more time and then pulled the hood up and took off down the stairs as quietly as she could.
Val made her way outside as quietly as possible, but as she hit the grounds and saw that no one was around to see her, she took off at a run towards the owlry as fast as she could. She took the stairs to the top of the owlry two at a time.
When she reached the top and stood at the door, she could see Draco. He was sitting on the floor in the corner looking out a low window. She could see Pem standing on the windowsill. Draco was softly stroking the owl’s feathers, and she could see that the bird enjoyed it immensely. It was very late and the room was dark other than the moonlight pouring through the window. She walked quietly through the room until she was next to the wall staring down at Draco. She swallowed hard seeing new bruises, and a long gash in his forehead. Blood had stained his blond hair so it looked pink in the moonlight.
“Oh, Draco.” She said in a heartbroken voice. He immediately pulled back, looking all around for where the voice had come from. Val could see the look of fear in his eyes. She had forgotten to remove the invisibility cloak.
She immediately pulled the cloak off, and kneeled in front of him. “It’s just me.” She said quietly.
Draco looked at the cloak in her hands. “Potter’s cloak.”
“He let me borrow it, so I could come find you.” She said putting it in the inner pocket of her robe. “I’m glad I did.”
“Sorry, I missed the match today.” He said looking back out the window.
“I don’t care about a Quidditch match, Draco. Look at you. Who did this to you?” She pleaded for him to tell her.
“I .. fell down the steps. I’ve been up here since. Don’t worry. The bleeding has stopped.” He said willing her to believe him.
“Two accidents in less than a week. No, Draco. I don’t believe that.” Val said angrily.
“Either you tell me what is going on here, or I will go to Professor Snape or Dumbledore.” She threatened.
“You wouldn’t.” He turned back to her. “You’ve never ratted me out before.”
“You’ve never kept secrets from me, or lied to me before.” She countered.
“Val, this time you just can’t be involved.” He said in a resigned tone.
“I am involved. It tears me to pieces to see you like this, Draco. Either tell me, or I go to the adults.” She said standing.
“No, don’t. That will just make it worse.” He said grabbing her hand, and pulling her back down.
“So tell me.” She said not releasing his hand.
“Malfoy is not the best name to possess at Hogwarts right now. The other Slytherin’s think our family had something to do with the raid.” He told her a half-truth, hoping she would accept it.
“But my name is Malfoy too. Why haven’t they gone after me?” She asked.
“I don’t know. Maybe they are afraid to, because Potter and his friends always surround you. Maybe they don’t see you as a Malfoy, since you’re a Gryffindor. I just don’t know.” He answered.
“What are we going to do?” She asked with a look of determination on her face.
“Nothing.” He answered her. “There’s nothing to do. I am a Slytherin. I am around them all the time. There’s nothing to do, except for stay out of their way as much as possible.”
“That’s not much of a solution, Draco.” She said thoughtfully. “If you told Snape, he would threaten them and they would have to stop.”
“I know Slytherin’s. They would never stop. They’d just make sure, I didn’t come out of it in one piece if I ratted on them.” He said bitterly. “No, if I want to stay alive, I have to just accept it, and try to stay away from them.”
“Well you say that I am protected because I am around Harry. What if you started hanging…?” She began to speak, but he interrupted her.
“Ask Harry Potter to protect me. Did you get hit in the head by a bludger during that match today?” He said scowling.
“It was just an idea.” She said defensively. “There’s safety in numbers you know.”
“No. I don’t want to talk about this anymore. How did the Quidditch game go today?” He said changing the subject.
Val shook her head in frustration. “We won, but that is not important. I don’t give a d**n about the game.”
“How did the new broom fly?” He asked as if he hadn’t heard the statement.
“You are so exasperating, Draco.” She said kicking him lightly on his shin.
“Ouch. That hurt.” He said grabbing his leg.
“I’m sorry. I kicked a bruise didn’t I?” She said as the look on her face turned to worry.
He broke into a large smile. “Gotcha.” He said then started laughing loudly, holding his stomach.
“Oh, you little git.” She said shoving him backwards. He tipped over landing on his back but was still laughing so hard that he barely noticed.
“You are the worst, Draco Malfoy.” She said standing to go.
“Wait, no. Don’t leave yet.” He said sitting up and wiping the tears of mirth from his eyes. “We never get to talk anymore.”
She paused, thinking it would serve him right if she just walked out, but he was right. They never got to talk, anymore. So instead she sat next to him so she could see the view from the window. “Tell me about the game.” He said when she was seated.
“We won, two thirty to twenty.” She answered.
“How many goals did you score?” He asked her.
“Five.” She answered blushing slightly. “Thanks for the broom” She whispered.
“Well I couldn’t see losing you to another Quidditch accident.” He said wrapping one arm around her and giving her a squeeze.
“Don’t worry. I’m not going anywhere.” She answered him laying her head on his shoulder looking out the window, just as she had done many times when they were younger. “Tell me about the stars, Draco.” She whispered. It was a game they used to play. He would pick out a constellation, and tell her something about it. Sometimes it was the truth, but more than often it was just something fanciful he had made up to entertain her.
He looked down at her and smiled. “Well you see that constellation over there. The one that sort of looks like a dragon.” He said pointing to a set of stars. “That’s Draco. It is said that when a dragon dies his soul is lifted from the earth and rests in the heavens as another star among that constellation. And when the last dragon upon the world dies he will complete the constellation, and it will shine brighter than any in all of the heavens. And then there will be only peace left in this world.”
“That’s my favorite.” She said smiling brightly. “I don’t wish to see the dragons leave this earth, but I certainly wish we could have peace, for just a little while at least.” She said as her voice turned a little sad.
“I’m not sure if that will ever happen. But at least we have each other. You know I will always strive to protect you, don’t you?” He said hating to see the sad look in her eyes.
“Yes, Draco. I know. And if you ever need me..” She began to say, but he again cut her off.
“You will always be there.” He said smiling.
Author’s Note: Yes, I know, Draco is very out of character here, but he has been going through a lot of tough sh*t this year, and he is realizing what is most important in his life.