Chapter 13
Accusations
“I know there is no way you did it?” Val said sitting next to Harry at the Gryffindor table in the great hall, ignoring he plate and turning towards him.
“Did what, Val?” Harry asked knowing exactly what she was speaking of.
She gave him a look that was too familiar to the scowls he received from Draco. “It’s all over the school, Harry. Harry Potter attacked Draco Malfoy last night. I tried to go see him in the Hospital Wing, but Madame Pomfrey said he was speaking to Dumbledore and Snape. Why didn’t you come and talk to me? What happened?”
Ron and Hermione were sitting in silence across from her. Harry had refused to tell them exactly what happened the night before also. “Listen, I found Draco in the Room of Requirement. He had been beaten. I took him to the Hospital Wing. End of story. If you want to know anything else, you’ll have to ask him.”
“Harry, you don’t lie too convincingly. I know you know more. You two weren’t dueling again, were you?” She asked wondering if they had been fighting over her.
“Listen. You of all people should know that after the last time we did that, I don’t want to repeat it again. I promised you, I would not hurt your brother. And he promised you that he would not interfere in our friendship. So get it out of that pretty little head of yours that we were at it again. Now, as I said, if you want anymore information go talk to Draco.” Harry stood angrily and stalked out of the Great Hall. He was beginning to wonder what it was about the Malfoy’s that could exasperate him more than any other family in the Wizarding world.
Val looked to Ron and Hermione with a look of surprise on her face as if to say. ‘What did I do?’
“Don’t ask us. He told you more than he did us.” Ron said shrugging.
“I do think I’ll go wait to see Draco. If you see Harry, tell him I’m sorry I pushed it.” She said sighing heavily. She hadn’t meant to sound accusing. She was just so worried about Draco, and all the rumors floating around the school made it seem so much worse.
As she approached the corridor outside the Hospital Wing Dumbledore and Professor Snape exited in deep conversation.
“You know who did this.” Professor Snape said bitterly.
“Yes, Severus, I do. But unless he turns them in, we can do nothing.” Professor Dumbledore said sighing.
“He won’t do that. He has had loyalty driven into him since he was a toddler.” At that moment Snape saw Val standing in their way.
“Headmaster, Professor Snape.” She greeted them. “May I see my brother?”
Professor Snape scowled slightly, but didn’t say anything. Professor Dumbledore smiled kindly at her though. “Of course, you can. Maybe you can convince him to tell us who did this to him.”
“Um, there’s something I should probably tell you.” Val said deciding. “This isn’t the first time someone’s attacked him.” She looked down wishing she had told them after the first time she’d seen the bruises.
“I know that. It was obvious that something was happening.” Snape said his scowl deepening. “I’m just surprised you didn’t try to help him.” He said rather cruelly.
“I helped him as much as he would let me, Professor.” She said the shame burning her face.
“Val, did he tell you who has been beating him?” Dumbledore asked still in that kindly voice.
“He wouldn’t say names sir. I just know they are from Slytherin.” Val answered. “I begged him to tell one of you, but he said it would only get worse. But it looks like it got worse anyway.”
“Well, Ms. Malfoy, I’m afraid the only way we may take action, is if Draco admits who is to blame. If there is any way at all you can convince him, I’d appreciate it.” Dumbledore said then walked away.
Snape did not leave so quickly. He could see that the girl was almost in tears. “Look at me, Ms. Malfoy.”
She immediately looked directly at him. He studied her face for a moment. He could see why Draco felt such an overwhelming need to protect the girl. She was the exact image of her dead mother. Her hair was a slightly darker shade, but she was her mother all over again. He remembered looking into identical emerald eyes, brimming with tears, and wanting more than anything to protect her. “Dumbledore, may not be able to do anything about this, but I promise you, I will do something.” With those words he walked past her with a determined step.
Valissa felt a chill enter her bones. The cold hatred she heard in Snape’s words frightened her. She would not want to be a member of the Slytherin house at that moment.
After wiping her eyes, trying to look like she hadn’t nearly been crying, Val walked into the Hospital wing. Draco was in a bed at the end of the room, and she could see that he was staring out the window. She made her way quietly to his bed. She sat on the end staring at him. “Well, looks like our places have exchanged.”
He looked sharply to her, and gave a half smile, but did not say anything.
“Draco, why won’t you tell them what happened. I know you can’t still want to be loyal to the people who did this to you.” Val said in a pleading voice.
“I can’t, Val.” He answered softly. He hadn’t admitted it to Harry the night before, but his biggest fear was that they would decide to take it out on her if he ever did tell on them. They knew she was his one weakness, and they also knew that as long as Val stayed at Hogwarts he would never rat them out.
“I can’t watch over and over again as you turn up beaten and bloodied, Draco. I just can’t do it.” She said as the tears started slipping down her face.
“I’m sorry, Val. It’s better this way.” Draco said looking back out the window.
“Better than what? Better than living without pain and fear.” She said standing as her desperation turned to anger.
Draco turned to look at her. “Don’t do that, Val. This is my business. I will handle it.” He said seeing she was not giving up.
“You keep saying that, but I don’t see you handling anything. What, do you want them to beat you? Do you enjoy the pain? Do you want to die?” She wasn’t sure what brought on the angry accusations, but she knew that she had to do something to shake him.
“Of course I don’t.” He said beginning to become angry himself.
“Well then, be a man about this and do the right thing.” She yelled.
Madame Pomfrey came out of her office at the shouts. “Ms. Malfoy, if this is the way you are going to speak, you need to leave now.”
Valissa stared at Draco for a moment and then turned leaving the room.
After she left, Draco sighed heavily. “I am being a man about this.”
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Three days later was the Slytherin and Gryffindor Quidditch match, and Val was not looking forward to the game at all. She had not talked to Draco since the Hospital Wing. She hoped he would not participate in the match, but as stubborn as he was she was not surprised to see him walking onto the pitch with the rest of the Slytherin team. The rest of the team kept away from him. None of them had been involved in his attacks, but they still did not want to get involved with the feud within their own house.
The match was a long and tiring one. Val concentrated on her job as chaser and tried to ignore what Draco was doing. Even though the few times she would catch a glimpse of him he seemed to be giving Harry a hard match as they sped over and around the pitch, trying to catch the elusive snitch. It was fast becoming apparent that the Slytherin team was highly outmatched. The Gryffindor goals piled one on top of the other, until they were 140 points ahead.
Draco and Harry were battling fiercely over the snitch every time it would near the field. And yet again they were neck and neck spinning into the air and then diving to the earth again. In times past Draco had pulled up as they did so, while Harry continued to plunge down until he caught the snitch, but Draco was having nothing of that. He dove right next to Harry and refused to pull up as they neared the ground. Just as they were within inches of the snitch a bludger shot strait through the center of them forcing Harry to veer wide left, but Draco did not veer. He was hit hard on the shoulder toppling off his broom, which luckily was only a few feet from the ground. He hit the earth hard, and lie still not moving. Harry jumped from his broom, and strode to where he was lying. Draco rolled over holding his hand above him. Harry saw with surprise that the hand held the Snitch.
“Draco Malfoy has caught the snitch folks.” Dean Thomas called from were he was commentating. “And with the last goal that was scored by Valissa Malfoy, that leaves the two teams with a tie. I can’t believe it.”
The smile on Draco’s mouth faded. He hadn’t heard when Val had scored. It couldn’t end like that. The first time he had managed to beat Harry Potter at anything, and the game was a tie. Harry saw the dark look on Draco’s face and decided it was best to join his own team. He walked a few feet away where his team was grouping. Val had just jumped from her broom. “Sorry I couldn’t get one more goal in, Harry.”
Meanwhile the Slytherin team captain had walked over to stand above where Draco was still lying on the ground. “Get up, Malfoy.”
Draco wasn’t sure if he could. His shoulder was throbbing from the pain, and he hated to admit it but he was still feeling weak from the beating he had taken. But instead of refusing he stiffly pushed himself up on one elbow and then managed to stand.
“Three seconds earlier, and it would have been ours.” The captain said in anger.
Draco was fed up with being blamed for everything wrong in Slytherin. “If you chasers had scored a few more goals that would not have been a problem, now would it?” He shot back.
The captain got a mean look on his face. “We did our job. You failed yours. Your off the team, Malfoy.” He said spinning and walking away.
“Well, what do you know? That’s a big surprise.” Draco said tossing the snitch high into the air, not caring if it got away. Let someone else chase it for a while.
Val and the other Gryffindors had heard the conversation, and she started over to Draco, with the others behind her. “Draco, it wasn’t your fault. You did your job.” She started, but when he turned to look at her she shut up. He had a look of pure hate on his face.
“Oh, shut up. I’m tired of all your pep talks, and worrying. Just leave me alone.” He said angrily.
“Hey, she’s only trying to help, you git.” Ron piped up walking a few steps forward.
“It’s none of your business, Weaslebee.” Draco scowled.
“You know, I don’t know why she even tries to be nice to you. You wouldn’t even be nice to your own mother, if she were here.” Ron piped up.
Draco’s hands began to tremble in pure rage.
“Ron, stop it.” Harry said knowing that the words were crueler than Ron ever intended.
Draco wanted to hurt him. He wanted to pound him into the dirt. But instead he resorted to the tried and true humiliation tactics from when they were younger. “So tell me Weaslebee, how is your mother doing now a days. Popped out anymore ugly brats like you recently. How many does she have now? A dozen. You know her and your father really should figure out what is causing that and put a stop to it. Save us all from having to deal with idiots like you.”
Ron had, had enough. He had listened to insults against his family for years. “Well at least my dad stuck to one woman. How many B*st*rd kids does your dad have now, besides for you that is?”
Val spun looking at Ron like he had grown an extra head. Draco heard the words and it took a moment for him to realize what Ron was saying. Then he turned to Val with an accusing look. “And just where did he get that information, Sis?”
Val looked to him with an incredible look on her face. “I swear, Draco, I never told anyone.”
“Save it. How many of my secrets have you told them? I thought I could trust you.” He said bitterly and then turned to walk away.
“Draco, I didn’t..” She started but he just kept walking.
“Save it.” He yelled back seething with anger.